Showing posts with label high school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label high school. Show all posts

Friday, June 2, 2023

Holding Pattern - Karen Huffaker

holding pattern
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 NIV

Daily, it seemed as if we were in a holding pattern.

With all the happy excitement of high school graduation season ahead, the weather didn’t appear so bright and sunny. The final weeks were a flurry of last-time activities: senior walks, revisiting primary schools, enjoying fond childhood memories and early teachers, field day, senior picnic, senior parade, graduation practices, ceremony at the racetrack, and pool and garden parties galore. Unfortunately, forecasts of rain, showers, or thunderstorms loomed.

Many prayers were made, flowing through prayer circles and prayer chains almost daily. We would make it through one event with only moments to spare, thankful that the weather cooperated, only to repeat the process the next day. I prayed, as many others did, that the Lord would hold back the rain.

The Old Testament prophet Elijah came to my mind. He announced that dew and rain would not fall until he said so. Oh Lord, please let it be that way, I thought selfishly. We were dependent on God to withhold the rain.

On graduation night, weather apps forecasted rain again, and heavy clouds surrounded the racetrack. We held our breath with ponchos and umbrellas on standby, but the Lord held back the rain—sending only wind.

Two days later, thundershowers threatened our lakeside graduation party. Again, we prayed. Just as the celebration began, the sun appeared. The party was a wonderful event for family and friends. Later that night, the skies opened and delivered rain while we slept.

God often shields us from storms, hardship, harm, evil, temptation, negative influences, disease, and disaster. Our prayers for help are effective, and the Lord hears them. We must not give up hope. He also protects us from many things we may never know about. He is a loving God who is merciful and compassionate. He cares about us and what is important to us. Like any good father, He watches over us and bestows blessings.

If we keep our hearts right with God and believe in Him, great things happen.

Prayer: Father, thank you that you care for me so deeply.

Tweetable: Are you in a holding pattern because you haven't prayed?


Karen Huffaker is a freelance Christian writer. She has taught children’s Sunday school and single mom’s Bible studies and written poetry. She is from the Deep South and loves reading Christian books, devotionals, genealogy adventures, fishing, and all things family. She is also passionate about her grandchildren’s sporting events. 


Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Infinitely More - Martin Wiles

infinitely more
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 NLT

Dropout wasn’t a word with enough negative connotations to keep me from becoming one.

By the midpoint of my senior year of high school, I’d had enough. Education had disgusted me for quite some time. I could now legally decide whether I wanted to continue. I chose not to. But after several months in the work world, I saw how important a high school diploma was.

Reluctantly, I returned and graduated. A few years later, God confronted my “I hate education” attitude by calling me into the ministry, which required I attend four years of college. Several years later, he allowed me to earn my master’s degree. One year later, he put me in touch with a gentleman who offered to pay the tuition and book fees for me to earn my Doctor of Christian Ministry degree. By God’s strength, I was able to accomplish infinitely more than I ever could have by myself.

Sometimes I forget about the mighty God I serve and about the presence of His Spirit within me. Occasionally, I launch out into tasks with the plan mapped out, thinking I have all the answers. Periods of failure remind me I control nothing but myself and that even the best laid-out plans can go awry. God also has a habit of reminding me I can only do all things through Him and His power—not my own.

Underestimating God’s power and being satisfied with less than He wants to give or accomplish is tempting. This verse reminds me He can do infinitely more through me than I could ever imagine. God’s power over the world is limitless, and it is unlimited in believers as well. When our focus is where it should be, and when our faith is great and pure, God will take us to new heights and greater accomplishments for His Kingdom.

Don’t sell God short. Let Him achieve more through you than you could ever dream of.

Prayer: Father, prepare our hearts so that You might accomplish more through us than we could ever imagine. 

Tweetable: Are you experiencing God's infinitely more? 


Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.