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God Said No

8/23/2020

16 Comments

 

​Maybe I’m alone in feeling a bit stressed the past few weeks, or maybe not!  Thoughts and preparations for Back-to-School, both at home and at work, have consumed my mind.  Additionally, I just finished writing a novel and have been looking into the possibility of traditional publishing, after having self-published eleven prior books. I have been attending Bible Study Fellowship since 2013, and have been asked to take on a leadership role.  I am humbled, honored and excited about this new opportunity to serve the Lord, but also feel inadequate to perform the duties as they should be performed.  My home needs a good top to bottom cleaning, as it has seen more of its inhabitants in the past six months, than ever - and it shows!  Regarding Back-to-School, I seem to have more questions than answers, and that leaves me uneasy and in prayer for the new year.  With so much on the horizon to begin in September, I asked the Lord if I could, maybe, with His blessing, I could change this blog to a monthly publication, rather than weekly.  I’ve been praying about this for the past few weeks, but would only make such a change once I had a clear answer from Him, a clear Yes, I hoped!  I am here to report, however, that God said No. 

I didn’t hear His actual voice this time.  I can imagine it, in hindsight, but even without hearing His actual voice, He told me No, moving to a monthly blog model is not what He wants from me right now.  I have quite a few responsibilities, and the burden of all of them has been weighing on me.  God told me No by removing one of my other weekly duties - not the blog, but something else.  He told me No by giving me more time to focus on the blog - and other things He wants me to pursue at this time.  

I could, easily, have missed this answer to prayer.  I could, easily, have assumed that in what seemed like His silence, it was up to me to make the decision.  So often, our prayers are, “Lord, I need X to happen, so Y can happen, so Z can happen, please, Lord, let it be so!”  We say, “Lord, please X and Y and Z, I can’t take it anymore!”  We say, “Lord, I really need X, because Y and Z..!”  Sometimes we are guilty of trying to answer our own prayers.  Sometimes our prayers leave little room for God to be God.  My prayer may or may not have sounded like the examples above, but He still responded.  Although His response was not what I proposed, I understand His response, as His response.

In the book of Job we read about unimaginable loss and suffering.  Job loses his children, his servants, his animals, his crops, then he is stricken with painful sores all over his body.  He is left with a wife who suggests that he curse God and die, a dog, and friends who, initially, don’t know what to say, then they start saying ridiculous things and wondering what evil he did to cause this.  When I read Job, I am sad for him, and I wonder why, too!  As humans, this is what we do!  We use our big brains and our rational minds to plan, propose, reason, and solve.  God has given us the ability to do such things, but we must always remember, that although we have some reasoning ability, some ability to solve problems, and some ability to plan, we are human and have great limitations.  Thirty-eight chapters into the book of Job, the Lord responds to Job and to all of us who want it our way. ​
1 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
2 Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man I will question you,  and you shall answer me.
4 Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?  Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!  
   Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone--
7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?


Wow.  Crickets.  He leaves no room for man to continue to question or think he makes his own way.  He is the Creator of all things, and all things are His to control.  
- - - - -
As we each enter our new season, whatever it may be - back to school, back to work, off to the military, retirement, a diagnosis, a job loss, or new job, a or even a season without someone we love - we must maintain hearts of gratitude, pray without ceasing, and realize that we are not supposed to understand everything, but we must have faith in the One who does.  Amen.

8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 
9“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)





Have a wonderfully blessed week!
Stay safe, sanitized, and wear your face mask!  Amen!
Kim

​
16 Comments
Michelle
8/23/2020 09:50:10 am

I love your weekly blog! You are an inspiring amazing women. You are a leader in the school district, a mother, a dog owner, an author, a wife, a leader in your religious group as well as many other things I probably don't know about. You have a lot on your plate and you are SO good at it. Higher a cleaning person, you will not regret it, you will love it, you deserve it. Give away some tasks, if you burn the candle at both ends you will burn out. I have to take my own advice. I love your weekly blog.

Reply
Kim
8/23/2020 11:19:34 am

Michelle, you are the second person in 5 days to suggest I hire a cleaning person. I don’t think that’s a coincidence! Thank you! Be blessed!

Reply
Alex Fair
8/23/2020 10:16:51 am

WOW. Thank you for your weekly blog! Your words always touch my spirit.

Reply
Kim
8/23/2020 11:21:26 am

Thanks Coach Fair! I hope things are well! It’s been a while! Take care and be blessed!

Reply
Sonya
8/23/2020 12:04:53 pm

I enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for your faithfulness and obedience.

Reply
Kim
8/23/2020 02:33:04 pm

Thank you Sonya! Praying for you to have a safe year at YTC. Be blessed!

Reply
Stephanie L DeGange
8/23/2020 04:54:16 pm

Kim, God is giving you a full plate of things to accomplish. Bless you for not backing down.

Reply
Kim
8/23/2020 10:36:53 pm

Thank you, Stephanie, I will keep pressing on - and you do the same! Bless you!

Reply
Jennifer Weaver
8/23/2020 05:38:41 pm

This week’s blog blessed me and met me exactly where I was. As have all of your other weekly blogs. Thank you!

Reply
Kim
8/23/2020 10:38:20 pm

Hi Jennifer,
Glad you found a blessing in this post! :-)

Reply
Cynthia SPRATLEY
8/23/2020 05:56:22 pm

Kim
If you need a house cleaner let me know I have references in Springfield in Fort Mill. I cleaned for three people for three years and then I had so much at the museum I had to quit. I don’t do blinds. 😂 let’s talk if you are interested. I have been receiving some No’s as well and it does make me spend more time listening and searching for what is next. Thanks for being a role model for us of not doing the easy or convenient thing but simply being obedient.

Reply
Kim
8/23/2020 10:40:02 pm

Cynthia, you are a woman of many hats, too, and the downstairs blinds could use some attention! :-) Thank you for reading! Be blessed!

Reply
David Guyton
8/23/2020 06:19:07 pm

Kim, you communicate too well to only publish your blog monthly. I hope you can see from the responses that you heard God's answer clearly! I pray that God will shine his favor on your life and that others will seek and find God through your words. Bless you.

Reply
Kim
8/23/2020 10:42:15 pm

Thank you, David, but these are not my words. This was the message given to me to share. I could have missed it, but I'm glad I didn't. Thank you for your prayers and thank you for reading! Be blessed!

Reply
Mom
8/23/2020 11:51:05 pm

Glad to hear God said no! What did He allow you to give up though!

Reply
Cynthia SPRATLEY
8/25/2020 09:53:10 am

You know I still see pastor in your future!😉

Reply



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    Kimberly G. Massey, Author

    I am a wife, mother, and auntie who loves to share her perspectives on life through God's Word.  Watch my video. 

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  • Home
  • Message2022
    • Message 2021
    • Blog2020
    • Blog2019
    • Blog
  • Kimberly's Books
    • Sowing Seeds with Brother Wali
    • Abstinence Books
    • But I Love My Husband / But We're Not Married
    • Fungi Books
    • Good Girl / Single Dad 19
    • Start Writing
    • Turn North
  • More Information
    • About the Author
    • Human Terms Publishing
    • Upcoming Book Events
    • Presentations
    • Pictures