Tag: ask God for help

Bible

Are You Hungry?

meghanewhite

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Photo by Valeriya Kobzar from Pexels

Each morning I grab my beat up old Bible from the nightstand. I’m very attached to my old Bible. The binding is taped. Pages are falling out. It’s a mess and I love it. My Bible holds a spiritual legacy. It was my mom’s first Bible when she placed her faith in Jesus. Mom gave me her Bible when I was in Junior High and she bought a new one. It’s the only Bible I’ve used ever since.

Mom’s notes are written in certain books of the Bible that she studied. Every so often as I’m flipping through the pages I’ll see Mom’s perfect handwriting reminding me of her passion for God’s Word. When she got saved it ignited a hunger in her to learn as much as possible about Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. 

I see the craving and passion in Mom’s words scrawled on the pages of her old Bible. She was blessed as a new Christ follower with great Biblical teachers at our church. 

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I love these notes. It’s Mom reminding me of what really matters.

  1. Remember your Savior.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3, NIV 

  1. Love one another.

 Love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22b, NIV 

  1. Rid yourselves of sin. Malice, envy, deceit, etc. Crave pure spiritual milk.

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3, NIV

As a new Christian my mom was so excited to devour the Word of God. She couldn’t get enough. Mom was spiritually hungry and she was going to the right place to get fed. Mom was feeding on God’s Holy Word. It was filling her up and she kept coming back for more.

We are all hungry. We were born hungry for more. The only satisfaction is in Jesus Christ. Nutritious food for our soul is in the Word of God. We can feast on it day and night and never get full or bloated. We can’t get too much of God’s Word in us. 

If I feast on worldly things that temporarily fill me up I will get queasy, and never truly satisfied. It leaves me empty, so I have made the mistake of pursuing more of the worldly things in hopes of satisfaction that never comes. It’s a vain pursuit. 

When we fill up on God’s word it changes us. God’s words are alive. There’s no other book like it. The entire story of humankind is written in the pages. God wrote the end from the beginning. God’s word stands forever.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,

“All people are like grass,

    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

    but the word of the Lord endures forever.” 

1 Peter 1:23-25, NIV 

There is a beautiful feast waiting for us in the pages of the Bible. One verse can transform a heart. The more I read the Bible, the more I am changed, convicted, filled with hope, joy, love, wisdom, knowledge, and excitement. God’s words to us are more powerful than any book we have ever read. 

I have to ask myself what am I feeding my soul with? Am I settling for the junk food of the world? Am I sitting at the table with the Lord filled with inexhaustible resources of grace and mercy? I want the same hunger for God that my mom had as a new Christian. 

Thanks Mom for the legacy you left me. Each time I hold my torn up Bible in my hands I am reminded that’s where it all began for you. It continues on for me and I pray the same for my sons. 

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4, NIV 

Love you all,

Meghan 

Father God, 

Thank you for Your incredible book, the Bible. It has the power to transform hearts and minds for it is Your life giving words. Give us a hunger for Your word, a hunger for Your presence, a hunger for more of You in our lives and our world. Help us to make daily Bible reading a priority and a passion. We praise You almighty God!

Amen

Prayer, Trials

God Is Answering Our Prayers

meghanewhite

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I have another praise report. I am so happy to share with you that my husband is doing much better. His catheter was removed earlier this week, after 10 weeks! He was in constant pain. Sometimes it was unbearable. No pain meds, and the few prescriptions the doctors gave him to alleviate pain did not work. So, my amazing husband endured. He is my hero.

Tom’s kidneys are slowly beginning to recover. His numbers keep improving. We are praising and thanking God. It is an answer to our prayers, and the prayers of so many friends, family, and strangers from all over the world. Countless people have been praying for Tom. We cannot thank you enough.

We are still believing for complete healing. We trust God to get Tom to the other side fully healed. We have not arrived yet, as he has another surgery soon. God has brought us this far, and He will finish what He started.

Our faith has been tried and tested. We have had some discouraging difficult days through all of this. God continues to care, comfort, carry, and provide for us. He is faithful even when we cannot see. That’s part of the faith test. Sometimes its dark, but you have to trust in what you cannot see. We trust God.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; and trust also in me.” John 14:1, NIV

Thank you so much for your many prayers! May God bless you abundantly for being a blessing to us.

If you need prayer please leave your request in the comments or send an email to meghanewhiteauthor@gmail.com

Love you all,

Meghan

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for hearing and answering our prayers. Your love and faithfulness is overwhelming. You are our perfect Father. Praise your name! Bless each person who has prayed for us. Strengthen their faith, provide for their every need, and bring blessings to their homes and lives.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Family, Trials

I’m Believing for a Miracle

meghanewhite
landscape photography of clouds
Photo by Josh Sorenson on Pexels.com

It has been a very long and difficult week.

It all started last Tuesday, March 9th. My husband has needed hernia surgeries for some time now. The surgeries have already been rescheduled once, and Tom was finally getting prepped and cleared by his doctor to have the procedures. He left our house Tuesday morning to get an ultrasound. I went about my morning and headed to the grocery store.

After completing my errands, I was sitting at the traffic light to leave the shopping center. My light turned green and I proceeded through the intersection like I’ve done hundreds of times. In the corner of my left eye I could see something coming at me, and I quickly realized it was a vehicle, coming fast.

The vehicle came barreling through the red light and hit the front end of my car, slamming my head into the drivers side window. I barely got my car to the side of the road and started realizing what had happened. I called 911. Within minutes it was a blur of cops, and tow truck drivers. As this was all happening I received a text from Tom letting me know he was going to the hospital to receive blood transfusions because his hemoglobin was really low.

Tom was admitted Tuesday and has not left the hospital. I had to go the doctor on Wednesday to get checked after the car accident. Tom and I have the same doctor so I was able to get more details from him. Before my examine, the doctor updated me on Tom. The first thing out of his mouth was, “acute renal failure”. My heart sank, and my eyes got big. “Is Tom in the ICU?” I asked.

“No,” the doctor told me. He reassured me that Tom was receiving excellent care. He then proceeded to say a lot of things as he concluded and sent me off to get x-rays. I was in shock and was trying to process what exactly was happening to my husband. Up to that point Tom and I had not had much communication because of my accident.

I finally got to see Tom Wednesday evening. Thank God the hospital recently allowed one visitor per day. He was in pretty good spirits but writhing in pain. They had given him a catheter to drain the fluid on his kidneys. Catheters are incredibly painful. I have never had one, but my mom had to many times over the years.

It was too much to bear watching Tom in so much pain. They had been giving him morphine but it was pretty useless. I was asking the nurses for any help to relieve his suffering and they were doing the best they could do.

When I left the hospital that night I collapsed in the car and cried the ugly cry. I hadn’t had a chance to feel much of anything for two days. I had to go through the motions to deal with my totaled car, and the other drivers insurance, and getting a loaner car, and doctors, labs, and finally my husband’s very serious health crisis.

Tom has received 5 blood transfusions. The doctors do not know why he is losing so much blood. His kidneys have slowly improved each day but they are still really bad. There are still many questions as to what is happening in Tom’s body.

I was able to meet with the nephrologist over the weekend. He painted a very grim picture of the seriousness of Tom’s kidney failure, mentioning possible dialysis, and even worst case, kidney transplant. I let the doctor know I’m praying for full kidney function and healing. After my not enjoyable visit with the kidney doctor, we met the hematologist.

The blood doctor seems determined to get to the bottom of Tom’s anemia. The hematologist mentioned cancer and possibly doing a bone marrow draw. The hematologist wants to rule everything out to get to the cause of low hemoglobin.

I know this is a lot of information. There is a lot going on with Tom. More tests are being done today.

My husband is tough. His attitude is good. Tom is hopeful for a full recovery. He is tired, worn out from dealing with constant pain for days, and would love to not be in the hospital.

I am grateful to so many wonderful people throughout this entire crazy experience.

Thank God for good Samaratins. A man pulled over immediately after my car accident and checked on the other driver and myself. He did not have to stop. Everyone else drove right past us, but he chose to stop and offer help. God bless him, wherever he is.

Thank God for first responders. The 911 operator was amazing. She was kind, and patient, and walked me through everything. God bless her. The two cops on the scene were kind, helpful, and reassuring. God bless them. The tow truck driver took me home to drop off my groceries. God bless him.

Thank God for excellent doctors and nurses and all hospital caregivers. Tom has had great care with brilliant doctors determined to get him better. God bless them all.

Thank God for blood donors. They save lives, including my husband’s. God bless them.

Thank God for friends and family. We have had so much love and care poured out on us. We have no family living near us, but our church small group has blessed us greatly. They have helped us with dinners and are proving two meals per week since my two boys are still at home. God bless all our wonderful friends and family, and church family.

We trust God and know that we are in His mighty hands. This is not an easy place to be right now and is very difficult. We are in a faith walk, and are trusting Jesus to lead us out of this.

“Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23, NIV

I am asking for your prayers. Please pray for Tom to be completely healed.

Love you all,

Meghan

God, Jesus

Birds Don’t Worry

meghanewhite

photography of small blue and brown bird
Photo by Tina Nord on Pexels.com

If there was a contest for the best worrier I would have been in the running. I may have even won. The old me was a worry wart. I like to say that I was a born worrier. I was very good at it. The champion of worriers. This is not the kind of accomplishment to be proud of.

These days I worry much less. Worry still tries to rear its ugly head and take over my thoughts, but now it doesn’t have me captive. When worry threatens to take over, I know how to fight back. I did not learn this overnight. This has taken many years by the grace and mercy of God.

Jesus is quite clear that we are not to worry. He does not suggest or recommend that we do not worry, Jesus commands us not to worry. He uses the illustration of birds to show the importance of trusting God to take care of us.

Birds are beautiful, majestic creatures. I love bird watching. The lovely songs they sing, and their extraordinary colors are awe inspiring. With all their flying and forging they aren’t worrying. Birds don’t have barns or warehouses for their food, yet they are always fed because their creator, Father God, feeds them.

You and I are much more valuable than birds. We are made in the image of God, the pinnacle of His creation. If God takes care of the birds, won’t He take care of us?

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:25-27, NIV

I love this passage in Matthew. I have read it so many times over the years that the page is falling out of my Bible. These incredible words from Jesus have penetrated my heart and my mind to set me free from worry. That’s how much our Heavenly Father loves us. He does not want us worrying. He cares for our every need and we do not have to worry.

Worry does no good, only harm.

Worry changes absolutely nothing.

Worry places our focus on our problems, or potential problems.

Worry cannot take care of our needs.

Worry takes our eyes off of Jesus.

God loves all of His creation. He cares for the birds He made by providing food and shelter for them. We are much more precious to God then birds. God knows what we need.

God will take care of you.

There is a key component to trusting God for all of our needs. We must seek His kingdom and His righteousness first.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33, NIV

We must seek God first and foremost. If we are earnestly seeking God, we must expect to find Him.

God is sovereign over everything. He rules over all creation, including us. He is our provider and we need to look to Him and trust Him, because He is trustworthy. God loves us and will take care of our needs.

What are you worrying about today?

You can give every single worry over to your Heavenly Father. He is able to take care of your every need. Seek Him, and His Kingdom, and He will take care of your needs. He will replace your worry with peace.

Love you all,

Meghan

Father God,

You are worthy of all our praise. Forgive us when we don’t trust You and we worry. Replace our worry with faith, peace, and complete trust in You. Thank You for loving us and providing our every need.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Read the entire passage in Matthew at the link below.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206%3A25-34&version=NIV

God, Trials

Where Are You God?

meghanewhite

A number of years ago I was at the end of my rope. I was frustrated, discouraged, and looking for answers. I had prayed all the right prayers and read all the right Bible verses, yet things were not going the way I wanted.

Where are you, God?

In an instant, I saw large red fingerprints on everything. My family, my home, my children, my problems, and concerns all had fingerprints. They were God’s fingerprints. He showed me that He was in fact at work in my life. From the smallest detail to the largest concern, God’s hands were holding it all together. I just hadn’t seen it.

I was so busy looking at my problems that I took my eyes off of God. He graciously reminded me that He was there the whole time. He was always there. My problems did not disappear that day. Something bigger happened. I was encouraged. My hope was restored. Peace came back in my heart because I knew God was handling it all.

God did not shake His head at me, and tell me, “How dare you!”. He lovingly showed me His presence in my life. God’s patience and kindness is overwhelming.

There are times when I know in my head that God is omnipresent, but I don’t always feel that in my heart. I am not always going to feel it, and that’s O.K. I have learned when I don’t feel God, I can trust the truth of His word, the Bible.

“For I, the LORD, do not change” Malachi 3:6, NASB

God never changes, ever. We can trust God fully and completely knowing He is constant.

“and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30, NASB

We cannot be taken out of God’s hand. Jesus and the Father are one. Those of us in Christ cannot be taken out of His mighty hand.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b, NIV

God will never leave us, ever. God will never abandon us or give up on us.

These are the verses that come to mind when I don’t necessarily feel God. The Holy Spirit reminds me through His word, the truth. God is omnipresent. God loves us. God will never abandon us. God is always working in our lives, even when we can’t see it.

I have also learned to press in to God when I can’t see Him. I know He is my source for everything. I know when I ask Him to help me, He will. God is faithful. God’s love and care does not change based on my feelings. I’ve heard it said that if you do not see God that He did not move, you did.

When we feel far from God it is an opportunity for our faith to grow. Every time I go looking for Him when I can’t see Him clearly, He shows up.

God is as close as your next prayer.

Love you all,

Meghan

Heavenly Father,

You are perfect, awesome God. Thank you for your love and grace. I lift up all those who feel far from you today. May they experience your amazing presence and peace. Touch their hearts and lives. Give them eyes to see You.

In Jesus Name,

Amen