Conversations With God

August 7, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

So often people send me an e-mail or stop me in a conversation and tell me how ‘lucky’ I am that God speaks to me in the way He does. I have simply replied with a smile or a knowing nod, and left the topic at that. Thinking I should elaborate, but never delving into that discussion.

Until now.

This entire week, I have been nudged by the Lord to speak about this – about the way He speaks. To all of us. Yes, every single one. All we have to do (and we aren’t) is listen.

Job 33:14-18

¹⁴For God speaks in one way,
    and in two, though man does not perceive it.
¹⁵In a dream, in a vision of the night,
    when deep sleep falls on men,
    while they slumber on their beds,
¹⁶then he opens the ears of men
    and terrifies them with warnings,
¹⁷that he may turn man aside from his deed
    and conceal pride from a man;
¹⁸he keeps back his soul from the pit,
    his life from perishing by the sword.

Why do we think that the God of the Bible isn’t the same One who reigns today? He is the same miraculous, omniscient, wonderful Guide and Counselor who spoke to Moses, Abraham, Job & Paul. He wants nothing more than to have a real, true relationship with His children – and we are His children.

Let’s take into account what prayer is. Prayer is a conversation with God -conversation means both parties speak! When you pray you come to God was thanksgiving; you come to God with requests; you come to God with concerns. But do you realize that if you only sit and listen, He answers?

You may not hear from Him in verbalized words. He may speak to you as you are reading His Word. He may speak to you through a friend or loved one. He may speak to you in the written words of another. He may speak to you within a sign in the environment. Remember that this world is His creation, and He can speak to you however He chooses.

He chooses how you will listen best.

Personally, I have asked God to be blunt with me. I need that. I will be the first to admit I am hard-headed as a brick wall! And literally, He answered that prayer for me! He is blunt
with me… As long as I listen!

Think about the nature of God. The Bible tells us that God literally is love. So what kinds of things do you think of when you think of love? What are traits that go along with love? Generosity, kindness, happiness, goodness, caring, diligence, compassion … If God is love and these traits and many others are representative of love, then wouldn’t these things be spoken to you by God?

We humans, by nature, are not filled with love and generosity and peace and goodness. We are filled with the greed, with selfishness, with anger. These things are human traits. These things are of the world – not of God.

So when you feel something deep in your bones that is good, honest and pure. That is God. That is not you; that is not the world; that is not Satan.

When the desire to do something out of the kindness of your heart comes about, that is the Lord speaking to you.
You can even test what you heard to make sure that it is of God and not yourself. You can read the Bible to see if what you feel is coming from God is biblical. You can pray about what you feel God is telling you. You can see the work of God in the lives and environment around you, and qualify that it is verifiably from God.

If you are one of a married couple, you can speak to your husband or wife and let them know what you feel God is telling you. I tell Craig when I feel God is speaking to me. We both pray about what I feel the Lord is saying or what Craig feels God is telling him.

If it is truly from God, and not of ourselves, we will both begin to feel the same way and feel without a shadow of a doubt that the message is from God. If not, we know that it is a personal desire and not of the Lord.

For example, when we first put our house on the market, we looked at another home. We both, after much prayer, felt that the Lord was leading us to humble ourselves. We felt that He was leading us to do more for His Kingdom and less for ourselves. The home we felt He was leading us to would be small and well under our budget.

We found one that fit the bill and I, for one, fell in love with it! It was way under budget, and it was the kind of house I could see us in, complete with a front porch swing! Craig did not feel the same way. Not at all. But still I really felt like this could be our house!

We both prayed about it for months! But Craig never felt God speaking to him in that way at all! In the end, I realized it was my own personal desire. I felt the house would be a quick fix for us, and I personally wanted the house. God was not leading us to that place. He was, in fact, leading us to be more humble, but not to that house.

He really does speak to all of us! We need only be still and listen to him!

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

Why You’re NOT Winning Souls For His Kingdom

July 31, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Whoa. That title is harsh, huh?

Yep, it took me a minute or two to convince myself to actually title this post that way.

But let me tell you something. We don’t need sugar-coating.

When we meet our Lord at the end of our lives, He isn’t going to pat us gently on our shoulder when we take a moment to explain why we didn’t show others His love, or truly follow Him in the ways He placed before our feet. As Christians, we need to realize that His Way isn’t always the way that is EASIEST or the way that makes others the happiest.

1 John 2:3-4 ESV

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him

Romans 11:19-22 ESV

Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

Our God is a demanding God. He is relentless until we give ourselves completely over to Him. If anyone ever alludes to you that following Christ is easy, that person doesn’t truly know what being a Christian is all about.

If He asked you to move more than 1,000 miles away from your family, and go from making over $100,000/year to making half of that, would you do it? Or would you find an excuse to stay?

What if it meant many you thought were your friends and close to you suddenly turned their backs on you?

Would you still go? Or would you say, “Well, maybe I should stay – I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”

Galatians 1:10 ESV

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

The way to lead others to Christ is to be right where God wants you, right when He wants you there.

The way to lead others to Christ is to let His light emanate from you, so that just in being you are bringing His Spirit with you wherever you go.

If you are not following God, above all else (and anyone else – and their thinking), how can you accomplish anything for His Kingdom?

We can talk the talk and walk the walk – as long as it is an easy road, all we want, but if something happens that isn’t in our plans, and we don’t face that decision, or challenge, or change with a Christlike heart, all our preaching and Bible-quoting is in vain. For if we are truly Christ-followers, our lives will be a testimony to Him and the way He walked upon this Earth.

John 5:44 ESV

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

Taking A Leap of Faith

July 24, 2014July 24, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

What if God asked you to do something you were unsure about?

What if God asked you to go somewhere you didn’t want to venture?

What if God made a demand of you that made you uncomfortable?

It’s quite a challenge for our (very) human selves, but unless your will and the will of the Lord are one, the questions above just may prove to be true for your walk with Christ. Where He wants us and what He wants us to do is not always easy, or fun, or within our comfort zone. Sometimes “letting go and letting God’, means standing at the edge of a proverbial cliff and taking a giant leap of faith.

We see this plainly in Jesus’ plea to God to let Him forgo the suffering of the cross:

Luke 22:42 (NLT)

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

It is not always ‘suffering’ but some of the destinations God has in store for your life are certainly uncomfortable situations. Check out the video below {Click the title of this post if you are reading it within an e-mail to view this in a browser!} from Beth Moore:

If that didn’t bring tears to your eyes… (If you didn’t watch the video clip above, please make sure to do so. It is a POWERFUL story!)

What amazing things can happen if you just allow God to lead you in every single step you make!

So what will you say to Him the next time He compels you to venture into the unknown?

Say Yes!

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

How Much Faith Do We Have?

July 10, 2014July 10, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

FAITH

{PLEASE VIEW THIS POST WITHIN A BROWSER TO VIEW THE VIDEO(S) BELOW. THESE ARE PART OF THE EXPERIENCE FOR THIS POST.}

As Christians (as humans, really), we have a decision to make: our way or His.

Are we going to make decisions based solely on our desires or will we wait on our Lord to direct our steps? True surrender to God takes TRUE FAITH that God is The Supreme, Our All In All, The Lord of Our Lives. Is that the kind of faith we live with on a daily basis? Do we make our decisions and take our steps based on His Word or our whim?

Hebrews 11 is known as a text of the Bible that truly describes how to live a life of faith. (I urge you to read and study the whole chapter on your own. It’s powerful, friends.)

Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God. Because of our faith, we know that the world was made at God’s command. We also know that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.

FAITH makes us sure. Faith is confidence in God and in our total surrender to Him. And here, is also explained the difference between HOPE and FAITH. We don’t HOPE in God. We have FAITH in Him. “Faith makes us sure of what we hope for…” Hebrews 11:1a

The difference is this – Faith supersedes hope. Noah didn’t build his ark at God’s command because he HOPED it would rain. I seriously doubt he would have spent longer than the average person’s LIFE SPAN to build a huge boat on dry land based on something he only hinged HOPE on. Noah must have been 150%+ sure The Flood would come.

And THAT is the kind of faith we need to have.

Matthew 17:20

Jesus replied: It is because you don’t have enough faith! But I can promise you this. If you had faith no larger than a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be possible for you.

A mustard seed. Do you realize how teeny-tiny that is??

With THAT little faith, we can command a mountain to move. I am not one who believes Jesus spoke in riddles all the time. I have faith that the Bible is literal. Unless Jesus says He is telling a parable, I have faith (not hope) that the Bible is completely true, accurate and literally written. So, when God says it only takes mustard seed-sized faith to command mountains, I begin to wonder how teeny-tiny our faith is??

If mountains are not moving in your life, you need to increase your faith! Here are three simple steps to do just that:

HEAR, don’t just read silently, the Word of God.

Romans 10:17

No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.

2. OBEY/LIVE OUT God’s Word, i.e. “Don’t just talk the talk; rather, walk the walk.”

James 1:22

Obey God’s message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it.

3. PROVE God’s power in your life. The Lord tells us to test Him in one way – by tithing, with the first ten percent of your income.

Malachi 3:10-11

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.

James tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3, NIV).

Faith. It changes everything.

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

Pray. Even On A Bad Day. Pray.

June 26, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

Y’all.

It’s one of those days where I am so fired up about something at the office that I don’t even think I can write a blog. Not a soul-searching, Thirsty for Christ Thursday one for sure.

My mind is flooded with which e-mail to send to whom, what day which meeting is on and who to invite…and then there are the catty/chatty goings on about the office; my boss in my ear about my counterpart here at work; rumors that changes are ‘about to take place at the company’…. A lot of noise.

But it dawned on me that really, when you need to pray and worship most, you usually aren’t ‘in the mood’…

When you feel like praying the LEAST, that’s when you should the MOST.

{Watch the video above (in a browser) for a great song about prayer!}

He will get you through. Whatever storm cloud you’re caught up in – stress, sadness, worry, discouragement – Jesus, and Him alone, can pull you through your troubles.

John 8:12

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Colossians 2:7

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Let Him be your light. Even on the worst or most stressful day, He makes all things work together for the good.

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

Relief

June 19, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres8 Comments

Aaaah…I can honestly say that one of my favorite parts of the week is going to the chiropractor. Each week I go, during lunch, and have an adjustment and then an hour-long massage. All the tense muscles from the stresses of daily life become relaxed, and I feel like a brand new girl.

Seriously. Hands-down. Best. Lunch. Ever. 🙂

But as I was lying there today, my muscles relaxing, my tension releasing, I heard the familiar PING of a text message come from my phone.

When my massage was complete, I checked my messages and saw the one that had arrived during my moment of relaxation. It was from my dad:

Ma is doing much better now. They moved her to a regular room; sodium levels are up and white count is down…Prayer does work. I’ll keep y’all updated.

Love, Dad

Wow.

The relief of that message took more tension out of my neck than the massage I just had had. And then, it hit me – The relaxation. The release. The awesome feeling of having a massage. That’s what God wants us to get from prayer.

Being in His Presence should be a wave of warmth and comfort and peace over us. Our faith in Him should lead us to healing. Out reliance on Him should cause tension to leave us because we don’t have any reason to worry when we are following the Lord with all that we are.

Matthew 11:28 (AMP)

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

Do you truly realize that we serve the God of the Universe who wants to hold us tight and make us feel like a million bucks?!

Just as I laid on the massage table this afternoon and my tired muscles found relief, so is the feeling for your whole body, soul, mind and spirit when you lift your heart up to God in prayer and worship. He wants to have a “Daddy” relationship with you!

Let him be your relief from this world.

P.S. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all of you who lifted up my grandmother in prayer! He listens. He answers. He is The Healer. He is The Sustainer. We are blessed with your prayers, your love and your friendship!

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

Encounter!

June 12, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

{To View The Video Below, Please Open This Post In A Browser By Clicking The Title (If Opening Within An E-Mail)}

We would absolutely truly appreciate your prayers during this time. We are so excited to see what God is going to do this weekend and how He will touch and change our lives!

Galatians 1:13-20

The Message (MSG)

13-16 I’m sure that you’ve heard the story of my earlier life when I lived in the Jewish way. In those days I went all out in persecuting God’s church. I was systematically destroying it. I was so enthusiastic about the traditions of my ancestors that I advanced head and shoulders above my peers in my career. Even then God had designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother’s womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity! Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell non-Jews about him.

The Apostle Paul’s encounter with Christ completely changed the entire course of his life, and we know that God can – and will! – reach out and dramatically alter our hearts, minds and souls to advance His kingdom – If we only open our hearts to Him, and say YES.

Until Monday, we bid you farewell! Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there, especially ours and the two NEW SOON-TO-BE DADS in our life – Mike & JW!!! All our love!

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

YOU Are Qualified To Be His Disciple

June 5, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Folks, I apologize, but I am not feeling well. I can’t leave y’all hanging with no post for two days in a row, though, so I am going to leave you with an awesome message from our pastor, Alan Mushegan. For all those of you who have asked about the church we have grown to feel is more and more like family, here’s just a GLIMPSE at how the Holy Spirit is moving at Full Turn Church:

Show His Love through your love for others! I have so much to say about this message and how it has touched our lives, but I also feel as if I may lose my lunch so I better not stare at this computer any longer. Say a quick prayer I feel better soon!

Hopefully, I’ll feel better tomorrow because we have a killer recipe for y’all – Easy & Delicious! If I don’t feel well, I’ll make sure my better half posts the steps and ingredients so you, too, can enjoy this meal!

In Christ,

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

No Fear!

May 29, 2014June 5, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

I remember, back in middle school, all the ‘cool guys’ wore t-shirts with this on the back:

Craig, did you have one of these? 🙂

Why is it that having “no fear” is something we only apply to our secular lives? Jesus calls us to have “no fear” when it comes to our relationship with Him and where He leads us and guides us.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

But when He calls us to do something, we think:

“I can’t make that happen. I’m too busy.”

“Our schedules don’t allow for that.”

“I’m not good enough.”

“Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!” Isaiah 44:8 NLT

So, we are left at a crossroads…

Craig and I have been at this crossroads. And last night it became very apparent that there were three ways to go at this particular crossroads (as with most all of them):

So, we are thanking God for leading us and gently guiding us to this place of peace. We are choosing His Way – knowing He is our leader, and the only one we should be following or fearsome of at all.

But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”Mark 5:36 NLT

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

What Does A Christ-Follower Look Like?

May 22, 2014May 22, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Have you ever thought about the answer to that question: “What does a Christian look like?”

Do any of the people above look the same? Not in the least on the outside. But they all follow Christ. So our hearts should ALL LOOK THE SAME.

The point is that, as Christians, we are all called to be ‘ambassadors’ or ‘representatives’ of Christ here on Earth. This not only means we CANNOT judge someone by how they appear to us; it also means that we need to keep in mind that when we present ourselves as Christians, we are now in our peers’ minds as representatives of Christ in ALL THAT WE DO.

That can be VERY powerful – in either a good or a bad way, depending on how we handle ourselves!

Read through Phillipians 2:1-18 below:

Philippians 2:1-18

Thinking Like Christ

Are you cheerful because you belong to Christ? Does his love comfort you? Is the Holy Spirit your companion? Has Christ been gentle and loving toward you? 2 Then make my joy complete by agreeing with each other. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and purpose.

3 Don’t do anything only to get ahead. Don’t do it because you are proud. Instead, be free of pride. Think of others as better than yourselves.

4 None of you should look out just for your own good. You should also look out for the good of others.

5 You should think in the same way Christ Jesus does.

6 In his very nature he was God.
    But he did not think that being equal with God was something he should hold on to.
7 Instead, he made himself nothing.
    He took on the very nature of a servant.
    He was made in human form.
8 He appeared as a man.
    He came down to the lowest level.
    He obeyed God completely, even though it led to his death.
        In fact, he died on a cross.
9 So God lifted him up to the highest place.
    He gave him the name that is above every name.
10 When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone’s knee will bow to worship him.
    Every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow to worship him.
11 Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.
    And God the Father will receive the glory.

Living Like Christ

12 My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling. 13 God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose.

14 Do everything without finding fault or arguing. 15 Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault in a sinful and evil world. Among the people of the world you shine like stars in the heavens. 16 You shine as you hold out to them the word of life. So I can brag about you on the day Christ returns. I can be happy that I didn’t run or work for nothing.

17 But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering on your sacrifices. I’m talking about the way you serve because you believe. Even so, I am glad. I am joyful with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and joyful with me.

We are the gateway to His Amazing Love for so many out there. Christians should look like Christ – inside and out.

The more we allow Him to lead us, the more He transforms us.