Circumstances

 Phil.1:12-18/Acts 19:21/Romans 1:15

"Paul wished to travel to the Great City of Rome in order to represent His Savior as a Preacher, however, the Bible records that instead of arriving as a preacher, God sent him as a Prisoner."- Johnny Hunt

Friends when I read this, this morning I could barely sit still from excitement! How do we view our circumstances? What do we consider the end of the world? Do we consider adversity like maybe we misinterpreted what the Lord wanted? Did I do something wrong, or even worse does it cause us to doubt God?

When my circumstances get crazy-it means God's about to do the miraculous out of my surrendered crazy!

When you're grounded in the Lord and facing challenges, even challenges such as facing imprisonment in the mission field! 

When I surrender myself, I surrender my circumstances-

-and THAT is where I find Peace and am able to place my HOPE in the Lord!

It's not "Why me?"  It's  "Where is Your hand at work Lord? Use me!" 

If He's using me to encourage others. If He's using this time for me to pour into my children so that they will know Him by seeing Him in me!  If He's using me to witness to the people I wouldn't have otherwise met.  If He's taking time just to shape me and my heart into what He desires.  Whatever my circumstances I can promise you they are not out of His Grasp and I can assure you that your circumstances do not render you incapable of being used by Him!  You don't have to go overseas to be a missionary, nor do you have to leave your current situation.  Actually, I challenge you- If you're not radically surrendered and being used right where you are, how do you think you would act differently on a foreign mission field?

"The Church in Philippi got word of Paul's imprisonment and were very concerned about his welfare and feared that his incarceration severed him from all possibility of witnessing. That was not the case at all.  Paul stated in Phil. 1:13 "that my chains are in Christ." It was not that Paul could not get away from the guards, he could not get away from Christ." - Johnny Hunt

 Lord, Where ever You Sovereignly place these hands and feet I pray that they will be surrendered and used!

HIS Clay~

Melissa Bradley

Laid Bare

Oh friends have I failed! When I surrendered before the Lord, in the Beautiful Mommy Challenge, I mean to tell you, the enemy heard every word and threw some very handy devices at me. I will not get on my soap box but long day (few weeks) short, my children whined, fussed or cried ALL Day long. My foster daughter has a few stalker(ish) guys and I am so annoyed by it, I don't know how to talk about it with her calmly. 
I never want to have a conversation (where change is expected on their part) with my children that comes across harshly, and this one is laying harsh on my heart!


I am airing this out in hopes that you will see my imperfections. I want you to know, "Imperfect is okay- being complacent in the imperfect is not."  I would go into more detail but I won't, it doesn't matter. 
The point is, I'm overwhelmed and in desperate need of surrendering and I am laying down my pride laying myself bare before you and before GOD and praying for surrender right now.

Lord, Search me and know my thoughts. Search me and Know my ways. If there is anything in me that is not Glorifying to YOU remove it! Lord, this hurts, but YOU'RE worth it!  I've only had 2 days of having my deficits thrown out in front of me and it hurts. I am so inadequate and so far from where YOU want me to be and where I want to be before YOU. If I'm not surrendered I can't be useful.  

Lord, I'm a mess. There is nothing good within me.

Lord, remove my pride - It's going to hurt.

Lord, remove my tendency for anger - It's going to hurt.

Lord teach me to love with Your Love.

Give me YOUR peace through this.

I am not in this for the short haul. Lord, I've accepted the pain, I am going to endure. I want to be Your vessel.  Lord, remove my impatience, take it easy on me Lord because it's buried deep in me. I have absolutely no power over my weaknesses, they consume me but Lord, YOU are my LORD! I pray for YOU to consume me. Lord fill my weakness with YOUR Holiness. Fill my inadequacies with Your grace.  Help me to see You for WHO YOU ARE and to place me where I belong.  

Lord, I pray that You will help me to not take myself seriously but to take YOU seriously! I pray that YOU will teach me to hear YOUR voice, and know how to respond. Fill my mouth with YOUR praise. Fill my tongue and my mind with YOUR grace. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my mind correspond with YOU.

Lord, I am so unworthy of YOUR love. I am so unworthy of YOUR pursuit, but God I pray that YOU will not give up on me! Continue to pursue me and pursue others through me. Give me YOUR strength to endure this. Lord take hold of me! Remove my will from me. Help me to love and serve my family. Help me to Love and serve my children, foster children, my neighbor, my friend and my enemy. 

May YOUR grace flow through my life. More of YOU less of me!  Take radical control of my life. Lord, I have no power of surrender, take it from me. Remove every un-Holy area from my life!  I want to be YOURS fully!  Help me to see others above myself.  Fill me Lord! Place a seal over my mouth, do not allow any of me to slip from my lips! Give me YOUR Grace to endure this me-Detox.

YOUR Clay~