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Freedom Friday – God is Greater Than all our Storms

September 8, 2017 by Patti 10 Comments

A brand new day is dawning here in South Carolina and the weather forecasters say it will be a beautiful weekend, sunshine and 70’s.  But a storm is coming, and we’ve had a state of emergency declared, as Hurricane Irma blows her way toward Florida and then into the southeastern states.

Today my mood is light and, like the weekend forecast, I anticipate a fun weekend ahead with my hubby.  Right now the worries over my own life storms seem far, far away . . .

We all have stuff that can weigh us down don’t we?  The negative thoughts (real or imagined) that assault our minds, or actual outward circumstances that we can’t control.  The good news is:

God is greater.

 God is greater than our thoughts

So many times a negative thought has popped into my head and I’ve allowed it to stay.  Scripture tells me to do spiritual battle and take every thought captive to obedience in Christ (II Cor. 10:4-5), but what do I do?  I’ve taken that thought and allowed my mind to run with it, and before I know it the thought has overtaken and overwhelmed me. 

These thoughts of mine might be reminders of the times I’ve failed, or point out my weaknesses, they might be words of doubt over my ability to accomplish a task that lies before me, or they may whisper to me of my lack of training and experience to achieve the dreams I’m pursuing.  My thoughts have often condemned me with reminders of my great sin.  But God is greater than my thoughts!

Even though our hearts condemn us God is greater than any accusation I John 3:20 Click To Tweet

God gives us the ability, through spiritual warfare, to take every thought captive to obedience in Christ (II Cor. 10:4-5) and He  commands us in Romans 12:2 not to conform to the pattern of this world (with it’s stinking thinking), but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

God is greater than our circumstances

Maybe it isn’t the accusations in your head but your outward circumstances that cause you to feel weak and beaten down.  The storms of life, sickness, money concerns, worry over your children, the storms you see on the horizon and the great “what if’s.”  Perhaps your particular life circumstance has gone on and on, and you’ve wondered, “When will it ever end?”  I’ve had these same thoughts friends.

But listen, when we allow our minds to dwell (reside, live, lodge, put up, stay in) on our circumstances:

We are living in reaction to circumstances rather than to who He is! Click To Tweet

God is greater than our circumstances and may even reveal Himself in a grander way than He ever has before through our circumstances!  He is pretty amazing that way.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 says that those who trust in human wisdom are like little shrubs that live in the wastelands.  Their growth is stunted and withered.  But those who trust (dwell) in God are like trees planted by streams of water, growing deep roots, lush green leaves, and abundant fruit.  They live without fear of drought, or storms either.

God is on our side even when we are unaware of what He’s doing.

In II Kings 6:15-17 Elisha was being pursued by the king of Aram because he was always alerting the king of Israel to where he planned next to mobilize his forces.  One morning a servant of Elisha’s came to him warning him that they were surrounded by troops, and chariots, and horses.  Elisha’s response was to tell him not to fear.  He then asked God to open the servant’s eyes and when the young man looked up he saw the hillsides filled with heavenly horses and chariots of fire!

Lord, make what I cannot see the greatest reality of my life. Click To Tweet

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, please help us to take our eyes off the turmoil around us and open our eyes to heavenly realities.  Help us to dwell on You, instead of dwelling on the negative thoughts that come into our minds or on the outward circumstances of our lives.

Show us Lord, how to become deeply rooted in Your Word, how to enjoy time in Your presence, praying yes, but also listening for Your voice.  Meet with us as we offer songs of praise and worship to You, just as You tell us in the word, that You inhabit the praises of your people.  I want that!

And may we become more aware of heavenly realities as You become our dwelling place.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Don’t let circumstances determine your day, but remember that every day is a great day because He is on the throne!

Blessings friends,

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

SundaysAtHome, TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired,  InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStory, What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends

Tuesday:

TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CedarHillFarmhouse, TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles,  Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday,  WriterWednesday

Thursday:

ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner,  Thought Provoking Thursday, SincerelyPaulas, ThoughtfulThursday, Tune-inThursday

Friday:

FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration,  Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus FreshMarketFriday

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents,  SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet

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Filed Under: Christianity, Freedom, Freedom Friday, God's Grace, Perseverance, Prayer Tagged With: Christianity, Freedom, Freedom Friday, God's Love, God's Provision, Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, The Bible

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Comments

  1. hopeful50 says

    September 8, 2017 at 3:22 pm

    I am so preoccupied with praying for my loved ones in SO FL Patti but this beautiful post and gorgeous pics took my mind off for a few – thank you. AND THAT GREEN hydrangea!!!

    Reply
    • Patti says

      September 12, 2017 at 1:09 pm

      Thank you Susan. I’m so happy to hear that your loved ones were all okay after the storm. Hugs!

      Reply
  2. Marlene Stephenson says

    September 8, 2017 at 4:02 pm

    Thanks i truly needed that today.

    Reply
    • Patti says

      September 12, 2017 at 1:09 pm

      Thanks Marlene and God bless <3

      Reply
  3. Karen Donnelly says

    September 8, 2017 at 6:48 pm

    Patti I am in Southern California with a couple of my BFF’s and I read your post and we were so blessed by your words of encouragement. Luv and miss you

    Reply
    • Patti says

      September 12, 2017 at 1:12 pm

      Ahhh, thank you Karen. I’m so glad you got to be with your besties in SoCal and really happy that you all read and were blessed by my post. Love and miss you too!

      Reply
  4. Tommie says

    September 8, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    Thank you so much for this post. We all know that this is true, but we still need the reminder that HE is in control.

    Reply
    • Patti says

      September 12, 2017 at 1:13 pm

      We DO know it intellectually Tommie but it can be so hard to remember when the storms arise. Blessings 🙂

      Reply
  5. Rhonda says

    September 11, 2017 at 11:57 am

    Thank you Patti. As a veteran “what if’er”, I have great difficulty trying to take those thoughts captive sometimes. It is so hard for those of us who are prone to be anxious. It is so hard to “Be still and know that I am God…” Ps. 6:10 sometimes. Your reminder is totally true and very timely.

    Reply
    • Patti says

      September 12, 2017 at 1:29 pm

      I know how hard it is Rhonda. It does take a concentrated effort to overcome anxious thoughts! Thank you for weighing in.

      Reply

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Welcome! I am Perfectly Imperfect Patti and I’d like to invite you to come in and take a seat in this creative space of mine.

I love the process of hunting for orphaned and cast off furniture (particularly my Chosen Chairs) and then taking the time to transform each piece into something new and beautiful. This process allows me to reflect upon my own story of transformation and blesses me over and over with each piece I redesign.

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“In 1965, Charles Schulz, a devout Christian and “In 1965, Charles Schulz, a devout Christian and creator of the Peanuts comic strip, was asked to create a Christmas special for CBS featuring the Peanuts Characters. He agreed with one requirement, that they allow him to include the story of the birth of Jesus. Although the stations executives were hesitant and tried to convince him otherwise, Schulz was insistent. As a result, for the past 50 plus years, millions of people have watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and heard the story of Jesus and “what Christmas is all about.”

It wasn’t until a few years back that I realized a “hidden message” in the film. Linus, a child who seems to have some insecurities as he carries a security blanket with him at all times. In fact, Linus NEVER drops his blanket, except once....

While sharing the message of “what Christmas is all about,” Linus drops his blanket at the exact moment he says the words, “fear not!”

In this seemingly innocent moment, Linus delivers a powerful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. We are to “fear not”, for Jesus is born. We needn’t rely on material things for security, we have God with us, “Immanuel”, (Matthew 1:23) Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior - the true meaning of Christmas.

Awhile back, someone informed me, indignantly so, that Linus picks up his blanket at the end of the speech so my interpretation must be wrong. Well, he was right, Linus does pick up his blanket at the end of his speech. However, he “drops” it again later... 

Amid big, bright, colorful, shiny artificial trees, Charlie Brown chose the least of these, a little, wooden tree with just a few branches. Shortly thereafter, Linus uses his blanket to wrap about the base of the tree and says, “Maybe it just needs a little love”. In that moment, the tree “awakens”, stands tall and firm. A reminder that no matter who we are, how many mistakes we’ve made, a “little love” can make all the difference.

Let’s strive to “fear not” (Luke 2:10) and “love one another” (John 13:34), not just at Christmastime, but the whole year through.”

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