Again

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!

~ Ezekiel 37:5

Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide you continually,
  giving you water when you are dry
  and restoring your strength.

I didn't realize I had posted this previously. But I guess it bears repeating. I am so encouraged by verses that point to the reality of being dry and not having it all together.  It helps me know it's ok to be less than perfect.  Still expecting The Lord. 

Continually

The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.

~ Isaiah 58:11a, NLT

I'm not sure if I've ever seen this verse before.  If I have, maybe it just hit me in a different way today.  I have felt peaceful for several months now.  Nothing has been solved in my relationship with God.  But, I have felt peace instead of anxiety about my need to fix it.  Maybe that is the water I needed after being so bone dry.  Perhaps restored strength is right around the corner?  I love that it says he will guide me continually.  I believe that.  Even though I haven't felt God as closely as I once did through the past few years, I've always felt he was still at the helm.  Guiding me through every season and dark path.  Continually.  

I don't have it on my own

It's so interesting that this verse says God is giving me the desire and power.  He knows I don't have it on my own, so He gives it.  I'll take it.  I need it.  

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

- Philippians 2:13, NLT

More words for the "missing"...

I'm not sure why, but I've held on to these words that appeared in my inbox to post here for all of the "missing" people.  (The people missing God, that is.)

Until... today!

I picked out a few of the words I focused on when I read them.  Maybe they will resonate with you as well?

FIRMLY:

You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life.

~ Deuteronomy 30:20, NLT

 SURELY:
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

~ Psalm 23:6, NLT

ALWAYS?:
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again rejoice!

~ Philippians 4:4, NLT

By the hand

Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

~ Psalm 37:24, NLT

I Miss God- Endurance

I've recently begun training for my first ever 5k. I've never been a runner, so I'm surprised at how easily I seem to be tolerating the training... walk a little run a little... By the end of the week I'm supposed to run 20 minutes straight. I don't see how that will be possible, but I'm guessing since it's part of the training somehow my body is going to cooperate. I was pondering all of that this morning and wouldn't you know this verse was forwarded to my inbox:

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

~ James 1:3

I thought for sure by now (four years in) God would have reset the way he speaks to me. I desperately wish things were different but for today... I'm chalking it up to my growing endurance.

I Miss God - Keep on

Sometimes I find it hard to "Keep On". But, then I read things like this and know somehow I'll come out on the other side of this. I wish it was sooner than later... but for now, I'm trying to be patient, believe, and keep asking.


I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.

~ Psalm 40:1, NLT

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him

~ Hebrews 11:6, NLT |

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

~ Matthew 7:7, NLT

I Miss God - Don't Abandon Me

The Lord will work out his plans for my life - for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.

~ Psalm 138:8, NLT

I Miss God - Surely.

I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.

~ Proverbs 8:17, NLT

I Miss God - Still.

I can barely believe that it's been three years since my original post titled "I Miss God". It feels so much longer than that now. And if you're missing God too, you know exactly what I mean.


"Hold My Heart" by Tenth Avenue North

How long must I pray, must I pray to you?
How long must I wait, must I wait for you?
How Long til I see Your face, see You shining through?
So many questions without answers, Your promises remain.



Download the song on itunes.


I love that he says "waiting is being content with being discontent." Yep, that's me. I miss God - still.

I Miss God - Working on an answer...

Found this verse particularly intriguing. Maybe God is all ready working on an answer...

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

~ Isaiah 65:24, NLT

I Miss God - But, believe I'm not abandoned.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

~ Psalm 9:10, NLT

I Miss God - So I will know He is good?

Such a fascinating verse. Reading the first half makes complete sense. The last part makes it more interesting though.

The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.

~ Lamentations 3:25, NLT

Cheers to a dependent search.

I Miss God - Words of encouragement

So, I just read through several more comments on my original post "I Miss God". I am so in awe of the fact that people continue to share their thoughts and create this place of encouragement for the next person searching for God online.

I just got a batch of Bible verses in my inbox and they are smacking me in the face. Thought I'd share a few words of encouragement.

For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer for me, O Lord my God.

~ Psalm 38:15, NLT

I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.

~ Psalm 3:4, NLT

I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.

~ Psalm 120:1, NLT

For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

~ 2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT

Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

~ John 14:1, NLT


And this one drives me insane!

Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

~ Jeremiah 33:3, NLT

Insane because I truly felt like before I quit hearing from God, he was telling me REMARKABLE SECRETS about things to come. Not for me necessarily, but about things He was doing. And I went from a euphoric secret keeper to begging for a crumb. Aaaaaahhhhh... I guess I will keep asking and believe that answers and secrets will come again one day.

I Miss God - Give It Back

Heard this song a few weeks ago and felt it was somewhat of an anthem for us... the God Googlers.

Sixpence None The Richer - "Amazing Grace" (Give it Back) off the My Dear Machine ep.



I knew a song that played in me
It seems I've lost the melody
So please, lord, give it back to me
Yeah please lord, give it back to me
Years in the desert with no drink
Strike the rock, make it bleed
And please lord, give it back to me
Yeah please lord, give it back to me

If you'll blow on the embers
The light will shine on my face
The streams will run in the desert
And sing amazing grace

You're everywhere in every time
And yet you're alwyas hard to find
So please, lord, I don't wanna sign
No please lord, I don't wanna sign

I need your breath on the embers
I need the light on my face
I need the streams in the desert
That sing amazing grace
That sing amazing grace

I MIss God - and so did they.

But Lord, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble.

~ Isaiah 33:2, NLT


I guess having a community of people waiting on God is no new concept. Loved reading these ancient words in my inbox this morning. Helps me feel less alone in my waiting. Hope it does the same for you.

I Miss God - Not all who wander are lost.

I was intrigued when I eyed this bumper sticker the other day. I've often heard the expression, but it resonated loudly with me this time.

A little research and digging as to where the phrase originated from:

All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter is a poem written by J. R. R. Tolkien for his fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. It alludes to an integral part of the plot. The poem reads:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.[1]

I Miss God - Are you quiet or...

Last week I was randomly looking at the twitter home page and this popped up.

prodigaljohn "Are you quiet lately or am I loud?" (Question I ask God sometimes.)

Not sure if you're familiar with him but after digging around I discovered that he wrote the humorous "Stuff Christians Like" book and subsequent blog.

I've asked the question too. You?

I Miss God - Wandering for 40 years?

Every night before my daughter's bedtime we read a story from "The Beginner's Bible." Of course it's very simplified (and if I was completely honest... watered down) but I'm always amazed at how re-reading the stories I have come to know like the back of my hand still strike me in different ways.

Last night we were reading about the Israelites and how they wandered for 40 years. Man. That's crazy talk. I feel like I've been searching around for WAY too long all ready... I certainly hope I don't have 36 more years of this to go!

Even still, it was somewhat of an encouragement to me. We're not alone. We're not freaks of spirituality. We're human. We're on a journey. And I have faith that we'll get there at some point! Keep one foot in front of the other until then!