June Quotes

You feel now that you have no reason to hope. But the night is darkest before sunrise. Christians believe that the dawn will come. Faith can be put in two words: “though” and “yet”. In the Book of Job we read, “Though the Lord slay me, yet I will trust Him.” Many times these words come together in the Bible. They tell us to have faith in the darkest moments.

-Richard Wurmbrand

Have you ever heard the wonderful silence just before the dawn? Or the quiet and calm just as a storm ends? Or perhaps you know the silence when you haven't the answer to a question you've been asked, or the hush of a country road at night, or the expectant pause of a room full of people when someone is just about to speak, or, most beautiful of all, the moment after the door closes and you're alone in the whole house? Each one is different, you know, and all very beautiful if you listen carefully.

-Norton Juster

Discernment is not simply a matter of telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather it is the difference between right and almost right. 

-Charles Spurgeon

You ever heard that saying 'He's so heavenly minded, he's no earthly good'? Well, most people are so earthly minded, they're no heavenly good.

-Paul Washer

Oh restless heart, that beat against your prison bars of circumstances, yearning for a wider sphere of usefulness, leave God to order all your days. Patience and trust, in the dullness of the routine of life, will be the best preparation for a courageous bearing of the tug and strain of the larger opportunity which God may some time send you.

-Oswald Chambers

What is sin? 

It is the glory of God not honored. 

The holiness of God not reverenced. 

The greatness of God not admired. 

The power of God not praised. 

The truth of God not sought. 

The wisdom of God not esteemed. 

The beauty of God not treasured. 

The goodness of God not savored. 

The faithfulness of God not trusted. 

The commandments of God not obeyed. 

The justice of God not respected. 

The wrath of God not feared. 

The grace of God not cherished. 

The presence of God not prized. 

The person of God not loved. 

That is sin. 

-John Piper

Peace is not absence of conflict; it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means. 

-Ronald Reagan

We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend. 

-Robert Louis Stevenson

You don’t need to hoard today what you can expect God to supply in his mercy on the morrow. 

-Dr. Bob Jones Jr.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never tasted victory or defeat.

-Teddy Roosevelt

For those of us who are in trouble and are trying to keep our eyes on Christ our refuge, a word of encouragement:

The day is coming when we will be in the presence of the Lord. Fully, finally, forever delivered from all trouble. But until then, we have a God who is our refuge, our strength, and a very present help in trouble, amen.

-Nancy Leigh DeMoss

When people are deeply affected by the Word, they tell it to other people. God has willed that we should seek and find God’s living Word in the testimony of other Christians, in the mouths of human beings. Therefore, Christians need other Christians who speak God’s Word to them. They need them again and again when they become uncertain and disheartened. 

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life that I may burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life but a full one like You, Lord Jesus. 

-Jim Elliot

The same God which had brought us thus far, would not forsake us even now. 

-John Geddie

Legalism says “what a shame”.

Grace says “that could be me”.

Humility says “that IS me”.

-Unknown

The Reading Habits Tag

Well, there's an extra Friday this month, so I thought I'd pick up a book/reading tag from Lady B's blog. I don't write much about myself here anymore, but perhaps this will give my readers a little inside look at the author of all the Facing the Waves devotionals. I'm not just a writer. I'm a reader.

Random Facts about Me (and My Books)
Last year, I bought the lifetime version of LibraryThing.com and began cataloguing all my books. It was a long process at first, but now it's much easier, as I just add them in as I get them. Currently, I'm at 963 books. The scary thing is that I should be able to make it to 1000 books by the end of the year. Without any trouble.

I have nine individual shelves of books. Seven of which are in my room. I have two shelves of the books I used to read as a kid. One shelf holds counseling/coaching/life type books and my special fiction books. Another shelf has my favorite non-fiction books. The shelf above my bed has all the books I've never read (easily accessible ;), and the remaining two shelves holds fiction and non-fiction books that I don't read much.

I have the Kindle app on my laptop and I have several hundred books in there, I think. I'm trying to do better at reading them, because sometimes I forget they exist. I like my "real" books better. ;) I also have a Pinterest board of book quotes and book shelves and pictures and book house ideas. Maybe someday the hidden rooms or stairs or windowseats made out of books will be come a reality. 

I don't throw away books. Perhaps that's a fault of mine, but unless a book is completely bad with no hope of redemption, then I don't throw them away. I might not recommend them to people or display them where people can see them, but they're still there somewhere. 

I love series of books, and I attempt to collect them when I can. There are some amazing Christian fiction and allegory-type books coming out by young authors, and I'm hoping to find more series as I find good ones. The covers of books in the last 3-4 years...oh my. They've been amazing. I wish I could say that the content is always as good, but as I haven't read all the new books, I can't. However, the authors and illustrators and publishers are doing an amazing job of cover details. 

My family tells me I have book radar. There are few book stores or book sales that I can go by and not stop at. I also don't miss the signs leading up to them. I always take a book with me wherever I go. You know. Just In Case. I sign up for all the websites that offer free books, and I enter the giveaways for books (never won any, of course). And I'm starting to try to help out authors and buyers by posting short reviews--haven't created a habit of that, yet, but I hope to!

I don't like reading a series as it's published. I'd rather wait until the whole series is complete and then just read straight through it all. And I'm not one of those people who loves the books better than the movie necessarily. In some cases there are extreme differences, but somehow I can love the books and movies as they are and for what they show individually. 

So...all that because those are extra details you probably won't find in the answers to the tag questions. ;) 

1. Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
My bed or my desk(s). It really doesn't matter actually. I can read anywhere in any place. I like to read at my desk if it's a Kindle book or I read in my bed before I go to sleep. I remember when I was younger I cleaned out under my desk and created a little hideout by covering the desk with a blanket. Then I'd just sit under my desk and read there. It wasn't very comfortable, though, so it didn't last long. I think I liked the idea better than the reality of it. Couches are great for reading, too. 

2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?
Both. I use bookmarks primarily, but if I don't have one accessable, then I use paper, money, kleenex, tissue paper, grocery lists, receipts, bobby pins, another book, earbuds, or whatever happens to be lying around. I don't like lying the book face open, though. That's just horrible. I always stick something in it rather than splitting the spin by lying it down open. But I try to carry bookmarks around with me. I have a container next to my bed with all my special bookmarks in it.

3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/ a certain amount of pages?
Non-fiction books I can stop anywhere, though I always try to finish the chapter. When reading fiction, I try to end the scene, wherever that might be. But when all else fails, I just stop--fiction or non-fiction. I can usually pick it up just fine later on, so I don't think about it too much. 

4. Do you eat or drink while reading?
Yes, I have done and do both. Sometimes I'll avoid it if it's a really special book or if it's brand new, but I'm pretty good at not damaging books while I read. Comes with practice I guess...and from being homeschooled and doing online college. :P

5. Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?
Well, we've never had a TV, but I can read with movies and music. Sometimes I listen to music on purpose while reading. I don't typically read while watching a movie, but I have been tempted to sometimes. I can read through most noise and distraction, which I think is nice. It has it's pros and cons. ;) I can do many things while reading: listen to lectures for school (which isn't the best idea ever, actually), texting, music, listening to conversations, walking around the house, eating. And audio books are great when driving. I'm just finding that out recently!

6. One book at a time or several at once?
Several at once. I like finishing a book on a fairly regular basis, and that doesn't happen if it's a slower-going book. I have about four on the go right now. I tend to read fiction very quickly, so it's good to throw one of those in now and then to balance out the non-fiction that sometimes takes longer. I read several non-fiction at once to give me variety in topics and to connect mentally with another topic if one book is just not working. 

7. Reading at home or everywhere?
Everywhere! In doctors' offices, airplanes, cars, libraries, parks, beaches, malls, bedrooms, dentists', backyards, barns, lofts, alone, with friends. Anywhere, basically. When it's not rude. ;) And read late at night or early in the morning. 

8. Reading out loud or silently in your head?
In my head. I can read fine out loud, but I read much quicker in my head so it keeps me mentally alert, rather than forcing my brain to slow down to verbalizing each word. I understand things quicker and better when I read in my head, than when I read out loud. Though, when things are hard to understand (like for school or exams), I have been known to say the sentence or paragraph aloud to try to understand it better. I like reading in my head, because the imagination creates the voices and scenes which can be shattered if someone reads it aloud. 

9. Do you read ahead or even skip pages?
I read ahead. Particularly the endings. Especially if I'm suspicious of the author's plot and I want to make sure some character makes it to the end. In reading non-fiction, sometimes I'll skip ahead to a topic that I need or that is more relevant. However, I don't read ahead often, and if I do, I read it again when I come around to it a second time. I never skip pages not to read them. I just return to them later on. I once attempted to read ahead on a short story someone was writing for me. *cough* It didn't work very well despite my pleas and arguments. But they can't say I didn't try..and it was most fun in the process. :D 

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
I like to keep it new. Breaking the spine does eventually happen, but I try to keep my books in as good condition as they came (or better, if they were bought second-hand). I don't mind getting books in rough shape. I like to think they get a better home with me, but on the other hand, I love the new-new of books straight from the bookstore. 

11. Do you write in your books? 
The first thing I do when I get a book is write my name and the date in it. I didn't always do that, so I'm guessing that many of my books are missing that, but I've been doing it for several years now, and I intend to keep up the practice. I don't write in my books, but I will underline sentences or bracket paragraphs if I find them meaningful. I didn't used to do that, but college courses cause me to mark things so I wouldn't spend hours trying to find that one paragraph. I highlight in my Kindle books when I remember to do so. Other than that I don't typically write in my books. But I do write messages on the first available page when I'm giving books to friends. That's a special part of giving and receiving books. 

There you have it. A little more about me and my books. I read to learn...to educate myself, but also to find people, places, and characters who have lived life and come out victorious on the other side. I read to find hope. But the best place to receive wisdom, education, and hope is from the Bible. All other stories and authors are only tiny replicas of The Greatest Story ever written. And they are replicas in and of themselves, because, regardless of the content (and yes, sometimes it can be very bad content), people are made in the image of God and they have eternity set in their hearts. So whatever we do (though we can use it for good or bad due to our human nature) stems from an internal knowledge of a Creator, and is a tiny copy, a mirror, an imitation of the Best Author. 

So, yes...

What about you? 

The Dark Before the Dawn

“The Dark Before the Dawn”

In dark Gethsemane that agonizing night
Darkness prevailed, suppressing the light
His closest companions, to safety they fled
As in their stead, the Savior was led

To the anguish of the cross, as a Lamb
Stumbled the innocent Son of Man
Fear gripped mortal men’s hearts
As Satan threw his fiery darts

The spiritual war remained fierce
As the King—His hands and feet—were pierced
“Father, forgive them” the Sufferer cried
Releasing men from bondage, He died

Man’s deceit, rebellion, and injustice reigned
The Righteous One was crushed, His Life was claimed
Broken hearts, grief, sorrow, and pain
His promises, His words, forgotten once again

In the heavenlies, the battle raged
As men on earth, took and laid
The Healer’s body, broken and bruised
The Master of earth, by sons of men, abused

His followers weary and wounded
The ache of sin and death was not unfounded
Three nights He was cursed for hopeless men
Their hearts, like the torn veil, were ripped. Again.

The sting of death hung over the Almighty’s grave
His enemies rejoiced…yes, the ones He forgave
The Branch of Jesse, now a broken reed
Hope was shattered, the darkness oppressive indeed

The faithful women still wounded and weary
Made their way to the tomb that held Satan’s fury
Their hearts aching, broken, and sore
Still wounded from the pain of the nights before

But at that grave at the break of dawn
They found the stone and the Savior’s body gone
“Remember His words. He is risen indeed!
There is healing and atonement for your deepest need.”

There was hope and there was healing
For the pain and thick darkness they were feeling
The suffering Savior lives to intercede
The Throne of grace is where we, and He, kneel to plead

The broken-hearted will be healed
For the Sun of Righteousness is now revealed
The weary and hurting now rise
And on eagles’ wings the fainthearted fly

Though the spiritual battle still rages
In the Word of God, it’s written on its pages
That victory, justice, and hope will prevail
For the Sovereign One’s glory shall not fail

And through the darkness, the light we see
The banner of truth and love that provides victory
Christ Jesus conquered death and has made us His own
His hope and joy through pain—“I will never leave you alone”

So to the truth of the cross and the grave we must cling
For the High Priest intimately knows our suffering
Sin, pain, and affliction in this transient life is certain
But our Comforter’s open arms meet us behind the temple curtain

So, my fellow soldiers, though the injustice and pain we fight
Victory is ours already—from darkness comes the morning bright
Stand fast in the truth. Hold on to your Lord
The inheritance of the faithful saints is your reward

The battle for justice was not given to the strong
For in our strength, it’s impossible to right the wrong
Yet our weakness is where Sufficient Grace begins
And in the Healer’s strength, the wounded warriors win

-Kaleigh Stroink (age 21)

Friendship: With Young Ladies

He who loves purity of heart,

and whose speech is gracious,

will have the king as his friend.

~Proverbs 22:11

This was an article I wrote for a young ladies online newsletter in August. It is written specifically for the audience of other girls, but I thought I'd share it here as well. And, in doing so, I have no intention of diminishing the value of friendships I have with the young men in my life, for I value those friendships just as highly. And in more ways than one this article could also describe the Biblical model for friendships with anyone. The people in my life and the close friends I have made have indeed been godly friends to me, and I am grateful for them all. 

May the Lord bless you all, my friends. :)

*****

Friendships with sisters in the Lord can bring great joy and encouragement to us. I have had few close friends growing up, but during my late teens, I formed some very special relationships with other girls. Not all of them lasted, unfortunately, but even though some were temporary, both those and the ones that have endured have always blessed me in some way.

One of the things I have most enjoyed and appreciated in my friendships with young women is the closeness that we share in the Lord. The solid foundation that bonds believers together has only strengthened our friendships. We are able to encourage one in Christ as we share trials and joys. I find it difficult to open up and share with certain types of people, but the young ladies who have remained close friends know how to create a safe environment for me to share. I appreciate them so much for this. They also encourage me in my walk with the Lord by listening and gently rebuking when the Lord directs them to do so. They have learned that A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11).

These young ladies have been faithful ambassadors of Christ in their interactions with me, and provided refreshing direction when the way was clouded for me. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters (Proverbs 25:13). Another way they encourage me most is by taking the time to talk with me. Several friends and I communicate online because of the vast distance between us, but technology has been a blessing to us, as it has provided a means for us to use the written word to keep up with each other’s hearts and lives.

There are several principles that I believe must be in place for friendships to exist, not only with girls, but with any other person. However, in light of communicating with our sisters in Christ, here are some of the more applicable points.

Friends talk freely with one another. This does not mean we have the liberty to gossip, but rather it means there shouldn’t be sin hindering our communication with one another. Talking should provide a means for encouraging one another in the truth, and sharing from the heart about how God is working in your life. Talking also provides a way for each young lady to talk through deep issues and to learn to trust one another.

Friends also should be loyal, not forsaking one another, but loving each other in the Lord. We all will face disappointments, trials, and confusing situations in our journey through life, but this should only draw us closer to one another. A friend loves at all times. A friend loves enough to rebuke when you’re sinning, but also loves enough to weep when you weep and rejoice when you rejoice. Loyalty is shown in words and actions, and it’s necessary to demonstrate love, loyalty, and sacrifice in order to keep a friendship strong.

Friendships must be maintained over time. Life’s activities, busyness, and general responsibilities often make us shove aside other people so that we can “get it all done”. It will take work, perseverance, and determination to seek out time and set it aside in order to maintain the relationship. Just getting together or chatting online might take effort in setting aside time, but it will be worth it in the long run. When you enter Heaven one day, you won’t be standing beside the list of things you accomplished or the degree you earned or the money you made. No, you’ll be standing beside fellow believers, sisters in Christ, and praising the Lord with them. Take the time to invest in the young ladies around you so that you can encourage them to pursue greater Christlikeness.

There is great encouragement in finding like-minded young ladies to walk along life’s pathway with you. They will encourage you, support you, strengthen you, rebuke you, and laugh and cry with you. But you must also reach out to them in the same way in order for the relationship to deepen and grow. Thank the Lord for the girls in your life who point you to Christ and share a bond in the Lord that can stand the test of time.

“It is a mercy to have a faithful friend that loveth you entirely

to whom you may open your mind and communicate your affairs.

And it is a mercy to have so near a friend to be a helper to your soul

and to stir you up in the grace of God.”

~ Richard Baxter

“Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life.

Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial 

had they not found a friend.”

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

The Power of the Written Word and The 100th Post

Heaven and earth shall pass away: 

but my words shall not pass away.

~Matthew 13:31

When Christ bids a man leave the ship and come to him over dark troubled waters, 

he stretches out His hand to hold him.

~Flame in the Wind (movie)

There must be a divorce between you and sin, or there can be no marriage between you and Christ. 

~Charles Spurgeon

It is in the unknown that fellowship with my Lord is sweetest. 

It is in the unknown that God's mercy is most beautifully manifested. 

It is in the unknown that our faith is refined and comes forth shining more brightly.

~Unknown

It is a great deal better to live a holy life than to talk about it. Lighthouses do not ring bells and fire cannons to call attention to their shining--they just shine.

~Dwight L. Moody 

The hope is not that you're going to get what you want when you want it. The hope is that you belong to the God of the universe, and He is going to be glorified. And your greatest desire is for Him to be glorified. And because He's sovereign in the affairs of men, your greatest desire is going to come to pass - whether you see it or not.

~Voddie Baucham

God always gives his very best to those who leave the choice with Him.

~J. Hudson Taylor

When the devil throws our sins up at us and declares, 'You deserve death and hell.'
We ought to speak thus:
'I admit I deserve death and hell. What of it? Does this mean I shall be sentenced to eternal damnation? By no means! For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ the Son of God. Where He is there I shall be also.'"
~Martin Luther

‎Everything that God is doing to you and permitting to be done to you is serving to conform you ultimately to Jesus. 

~John Piper

...faith must be tested and tried before it becomes real in your life. 

~Oswald Chambers

Ah, the love of God knows no change—it faintest not, neither is weary. Darkness makes no difference and serves not to conceal its object from it. Unfailing love watches over the believer during the hours when he is insensible to its presence. ‘Having loved His own which were in the world He loved them unto the end’—unto the end of all their wanderings and unworthiness.

~A.W. Pink (in his book Elijah)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

~John 1:1

***

This is the 100th post on Facing the Waves, my friends! It's taken a couple years to get here, but I am grateful for all those who have read, commented, and encouraged me on in my writing. It is truly a blessing to be able to share some of my thoughts with you all, and I pray that each of the posts here would encourage you to draw closer to the King of kings and Lord of lords. May you seek to serve Him all your days, so that when you reach the Celestial Gates, you will hear Him say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things...enter thou into the joy of thy lord." 

To God be the glory, 

Kaleigh 

Coaching Defined

Christian coaching is the art and practice 

of enabling individuals and groups to 

move from where they are 

to where God wants them to be.

~Gary R. Collins

August 18th marked the beginning of my first online college course through Liberty University. As my passion for coaching, counseling, mentoring, and discipling other believers increased during the past three years, I traded out a few of my free elective credit tests for coaching and counseling courses. This course is entitled "Introduction to Life Coaching". It is eight weeks long, and during the course, I will be sharing four of my assignments here, Lord willing. These assignments (500 words maximum) are based on the textbook and lectures that I listen to, as well as answering the given questions for the assignment. 

The conversations that have resulted with friends or with my CP coach have been wonderful. This is a topic that daily catches my interest (whether or not I'm studying it), and I believe it's a ministry that the Lord has called me to in the near future. What that will look like, I'm not sure, yet, but gaining this knowledge and wisdom from my studies and others around me will be invaluable for whatever He has in store later. 

I'd love to hear thoughts or comments about the assignments I share here. I'm always seeking to learn a bit more. ;) Because of the specific word count, I'm not able to detail many terms in each assignment, as it is assumed the student is pulling from the text and lectures. Feel free to ask questions, as I would be happy to clarify, if needed. :) 

Week One's assignment prompt was this: Describe the difference between coaching and counseling, mentoring, and discipleship? What makes Christian Life Coaching distinctive from secular life coaching? 

*****                         

Coaching is a fairly new term used to describe a method of ministering to people. It differs from counseling in that it is proactive--looking ahead to the future, setting goals, determining outcomes, and walking a person through the needed steps to fulfill specific goals. It is referred to as positive psychology because it focuses on the present and future, in order to turn ideals into tangible outcomes. (Collins, 2009)

Counseling typically refers to helping a person heal and move on from difficult life situations that have affected their everyday living. Counseling deals with emotional trauma, addictions, or mental instability. It’s known as negative psychology because it focuses on the past, and works through it, in order to bring healing to the present and future. (Collins, 2009)

Mentoring is defined as dealing “mostly with succession training and seeks to help someone do what the mentor does”. (Collins, 2009, p. 20) Mentoring is focused on supervising a person, in order to each him something the mentor already knows. Often the older will teach the younger. Titus 2 mentions the older women teaching the younger women how to care for a home and love her husband and children. Mentoring doesn’t work on healing past experiences like counseling, nor does it focus on having a person “draw from his or her own resources and experiences” (Collins, 2009) like coaching does. Mentoring is teaching people to learn.

Discipleship is a spiritual endeavor; one that Jesus specifically demonstrated and used on His own disciples. Making disciples was also one of the commands He left to His followers in the Great Commission. (Collins, 2009, p. 25) It differs from coaching, in that it is spiritual by Divine design, but coaching can definitely demonstrate discipleship aspects, such as giving “instruction and guidance that will enable individuals to grow in Christlikeness and in the knowledge and favor of Jesus Christ”. (Collins, 2009, p. 21)

Secular coaching often directs its mission toward helping people achieve their own personal goals and get from where they are now to where they want to be in the future. (Collins, 2009) Christian coaching takes this basis and raises the standard even higher. Christian coaching is distinctive from secular coaching, in that its focus is directed toward Christ. Secular coaching may include spirituality such as New Age or Eastern spiritual themes, but Christian coaching has an eternal purpose, vision, mission, and reward. (Collins, 2009) A Christian coach will direct others to pursue God’s vision and fulfill His unique calling for their lives. A Christian coach will create an awareness of God’s work in a person’s life, and strive to help him set goals and accomplish missions that will further that person’s spiritual growth and lead to the advancement of God’s kingdom. (Collins, 2009)

References:

Collins, G. R. (2009). Christian Coaching: Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality. Colorado Springs: NavPress.

*****

You don't need lots of techniques or years of experience to be an effective life coach. What contriubtes to people most is your level of commitment to them. That commitment doesn't come from technique or experience. It comes from the depths of your being.

~Dave Ellis

The Power of the Written Word

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: 

but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 

~Isaiah 40:8

Every experience God gives us, every person  He puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see. 

~Corrie Ten Boom

Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to bring them. 

~Elisabeth Elliot

We are locked in a battle. This is not a friendly, gentleman's discussion. It is a life and death conflict between the spiritual hosts of wickedness and those who claim the name of Christ.

~Francis A. Schaeffer

The BIBLE -- banned, burned, beloved. More widely read, more frequently attacked than any other
book in history. Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it, dictators of every age have
outlawed it and executed those who read it. Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it more powerful than their weapons. Fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless
killers into gentle saints.
~Charles Colson

Play is a tithe on our work. When we play, we trust God to provide for us while we take time off.

~R.C. Sproul, Jr.

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet. 

~John Stonestreet quoting Frederick Buechner 

If you can be a Christian at home, you can be a Christian anywhere.

~Adrian Rodgers

…the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly pray what He taught His disciples to pray: Thy will be done.

~Elisabeth Elliot

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

~Mark 13:31

When Grace Wears Thin: Guest Post

Today's post is written by a dear friend of mine. Schuyler M. is an avid reader and 
writer, and she willingly used her life experiences 
to share from her heart in this post.

I have known Schuyler for about two years now, and her godly example 

and faithful friendship to me has been a most welcome blessing.

May this post by her bless you as it has blessed me. 
Leave a comment for her, if you wish!

Thank you, Schuyler. 

~Kaleigh

________________________________

Some nights, we wonder if God's grace is quite enough. When we're laying awake, hurting, thinking over present pains and coming struggles, we wonder where the God is that said "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness".

One night I was lying awake like that. I had been having nightmares night after night; terrible ones that left me feeling exhausted at the end of them. And there were other struggles going on at the same time--broken dreams, and daily crosses, and blessings I wanted that God chose not to give. It was all too much to bear, so I lay awake thinking about it.

The darkness was very dark. And God's grace seemed to fray around the edges as I tried to lean into it. 

I'm not the only one to experience this. Parents, children, friends, ministry leaders--we all go through dark times in life, even as dedicated Christians. It's natural. We experience just what David did in the Psalms. We wrestle with the effects of sin in ourselves, and in those around us. And in our battle with light and darkness, we know that Jesus has the ultimate victory, but sometimes we wonder if the darkness will swallow up a poor, lowly foot soldier before He even notices we're losing in the fray.

I lay awake, and the night pressed in heavier. And if I didn't know better, I could have sworn that God had forgotten to dispense Schuyler-grace that night.

Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?
Do  you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

~Isaiah 40:27-28

One of the things we do when we are going through darkness is to wonder if God really knew what He was doing when He gave us this particular struggle--and if He gave us the strength we would need to get through it. In our minds we know He did, but we struggle to get the mind knowledge to the heart knowledge. We forget that God gave us a struggle or denied us a blessing because His fathomless understanding saw how He could turn it to our good and His glory.

Time and again I've cried out to the Lord "I want more grace! I want more!" But He says, "I've given you sufficient grace. Not grace that will take away all your problems, but grace that will bring you through them. Enough for the next second. Second after second, I'll never let you down. But I'm not going to give you enough so that you think you don't need me." And He gives me enough so that I'm like an infant, relying on him for all my care.

It is hard to remember that God, in love, denies blessings as well as gives them, but it is true. And it is His love that sends us through the darkness so that we can experience true light.

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant?

Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. ~Isaiah 50:10

The night I couldn't sleep, I turned on my music player and flipped through to Nella Fantasia, which is my favorite soothing go-to music when I need to re-set my thoughts. When the mind is overwhelmed by darkness, the quickest way to feel God's grace again is to calm our thoughts so we can bring ourselves to a place of surrender. Sometimes we are able to do this through reading a timely Scripture passage. Sometimes we find surrender through an email from a friend, or a hug from a sibling, or a word of praise from a parent. Sometimes we even find it by listening to a tenor singing Italian.  Whatever it takes, it is when we can bring ourselves to a posture of expectant waiting that we give God room to show that He still holds us close.

I fell asleep, rather fittingly, to a plea in a foreign language for a just world where pain ends. My soul waited with open hands for the grace I needed.

And then, as the night ended, His grace came.

Dawn broke. Dawn broke.

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

~Psalm 30:5b

Christians in the present day aren't the only people to struggle with a seeming grace shortage. The ultimate feeling of insufficient grace came at the crucifixion of the hope of Israel. Jesus' disciples, just like us, entered darkness and felt like the night would never end. They endured three days of living hell when Jesus died, and the promised Messiah lay dead in the tomb. But their dawn came, and this gives us the promise that our dawn will come too.

The wonder, the relief we will experience, when the greatest nightmare of broken dreams gives way to the dawning reality of a Living God. 

Dawn comes after night. As we bury dead hopes in relationships or life, we always have to endure the three days of darkness that the disciples did. That's part of our cross to bear. But just as they saw their Hope rise again, we will see ours. And I think in some ways it will always be unexpected, because God wants to give all believers the grace of tasting what it was like to see His Son rise again, even though we live centuries after it happened.

When I woke up that morning, I thanked God that he had brought me through the night to see another dawn. Just the new day was enough, for it promised me that He had gotten me that far, and would bring me through the day. Time passed, and my hope increased as I sensed His grace undergirding and supporting me.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

~Isaiah 40:29-31

Dawn always comes. In every ticking second of darkness, we must cling to the hope that dawn will come, that the little pinpoint of light we see in front of us is our great God leading us to the coming day. All of us struggle. All of us go through seasons of walking in darkness, sometimes darkness that is very great indeed. Families sin and turn upon each other. Projects fall through, ones that we've been working on for a long time. Friends get busy and sometimes forget to encourage. And we see darkness. But the promise of coming dawn is eternal, unchangeable. As eternal and unchangeable as the God we worship. His grace can never alter or wear thin, and God, who deals so abundantly with us, will ensure that we have enough. It will be there for us through the deepest darkness, and we are assured that all evil shall be vanquished, all heartache shall be healed, and our Lord shall work deliverance on behalf of His people.

If you are walking in darkness, then wait for the Lord to restore your hope. Dawn will come, for no force--neither our fears, nor our struggles, nor our disappointments--can hold it back. And when it comes, remember to give thanks to God for his abundant grace.

Schuyler M. is an avid bibliophile, a young ladies' ministry leader, and an aspiring novelist. Styling herself as Lady Bibliophile, she runs a book blog, My Lady Bibliophile, where she posts Tuesdays and Fridays with book reviews and Christian evaluation methods of classic literature. In her spare time, she likes to listen to Celtic music, write novels, and day-dream about what her growing manuscript would look like on the silver screen.

Announcement!

Hello Faithful Followers!

We would love to hear your thoughts regarding Facing the Waves blog. We'd like your input on what you'd like to read on the blog, what you might like to see different, a certain topic that you would like us to share our thoughts on, or if you would like to do a guest post. All thoughts are welcomed and will be taken into consideration.

To let us know what you're thinking, you can email us at kaleigh.and.anna@gmail.com or leave a comment below. No pressure if you'd rather not send comments, but we'd love to hear from each of you, as we'd love to keep you as avid readers! ;)

Ideas to cover in the emails may contain, but are not limited to the following examples:

1. What you enjoy seeing in every blog post;
2. Things you'd like to see altered in how we present thoughts;
3. If you would like to see more personal insight;
4. Any Biblical topics that you would like to hear our thoughts on;
5. Things you have seen us do in the past that you would like to see done again;
6. If you would like to do a guest post and when you'd like to do it;
7. Thoughts regarding the design, layout, or format of our blog;
8. Any other thoughts, concerns, or questions that you have.

Again, no pressure; but we would very much love to hear what you guys are thinking. :)

Thanks for your help in advance, and thanks for reading!

Kaleigh and Anna

Friendship: Characteristics

"For where two or three

are gathered together in my name,

there am I in the midst of them."

Matthew 18:20

Friends...
We all have them or have had them at one point in time. They are just one of the many relationships that a person will face throughout their lifetime. Friends are an important part of most people's lives. Friends are a family outside your immediate family, and those whom you choose as friends will have a large impact on your life.

God puts many different requirements on friendships. Some are stated specifically, others are implied. Here are five simple points that I've learned and seen played out in real life friendships.

1. Friends talk freely face to face.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." (Exodus 33:11)
There is a familiarity and a confidence friends must have with each other. False fronts will damage a relationship, so our true thoughts and feelings must be expressed tactfully in order to keep relationships alive.
"Go home to your friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." (Mark 5:19)
Talk to your friends about your spiritual life. Share with them what God is doing in your life and what you are learning. Count your blessings together, and praise the Lord for what He has fulfilled in you. Discuss deep issues--maybe even ones you're hesitant to talk about. Learn to give your trust to another, and learn to treasure the trust that a friend has in you, and use that closeness to allow to benefit the spiritual life of one another.

2. Friends are loyal and do not forsake one another.
"Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not..." (Proverbs 27:10)
 Friendships are not to be taken lightly. Relationships, emotions, and people are at stake. Don't be a fair weather friend, but stick by each other, not only in times of hardship, but also in times of ease. Be loyal to a few close friends, rather than gaining many acquaintances, and don't forsake your faithful friends in the midst of the busyness of life.

3. Friends sacrifice their time for the needs of each other.
"...because he is his friend...he will rise and give him as many as he needeth." (see context of Luke 11: 5-8)
Sometimes we feel like we're too busy to spend time discussing surface matters with friends, yet sometimes that is just what they need. Perhaps they're going through some difficult changes and they need to just "resurface" and laugh again. Sometimes we feel that life is crazy, and we think we don't have a moment to spend listening to a friend's prayer request. Yet, in the passage of Luke, because of that friendship, and because you care for that friend, you will stop your life for a bit and put them first. Listeners can often lead relationships, just by being there for someone and offering advice in a time of need. Don't let life get in the way of giving to your friends when they need your help--whether tangibly or spiritually. 
"Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel." (Proverbs 27:9) 

4. Friends love one another. 
"A friend loveth at all times..." (Proverbs 17:17)
Fair-weather friendships will not last.  God-honoring, Christ-centered relationships must be rooted in the 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love. Only these kinds of friendships will be able to weather the storms of life and pull through to the other side. Only these kinds of relationships will produce edifying results for, not just both people, but for all those around them. 
A friend doesn't just say that he loves another person by speaking it, but he must also show his love in his actions. 
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18) Showing that you care for that friend by spending time with them, exhorting them in the Lord, laughing when they laugh, crying when they cry, praying when they pray, and by living an example of love. 

5. Friends encourage, counsel, and caution each other in order to produce greater Christ-likeness. 
"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." (Proverbs 27:17)
When a friend is discouraged and finding it hard to go on, a true friend will be there to cheer them on; reminding them that their strength is found in Christ. When they are confused and unsure of what steps to take next in a life problem, then friends are there to give Biblical counsel and provide direction. When a friend seems to be succumbing to sin, then friends are there to caution, exhort, and warn him of the consequences by speaking the truth in love. 

I have seen these five points acted out by different friends around me, and I can truly say that I have been blessed with godly friends. I cannot say that I agree with those people who think that friendships aren't important or that they aren't necessary for life. They are important, and though they may not be necessary, they can be a vital part in our lives. Finding the right friends and allowing them to encourage you in the Lord will be even be a part of your spiritual walk.

"It is a mercy to have a faithful friend that loveth you entirely to whom you may open your mind and communicate your affairs. And it is a mercy to have so near a friend to be a helper to your soul and to stir you up in the grace of God." (Richard Baxter)

"Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend." (Charles H. Spurgeon)

"What’s our relationship to each other? We’re brothers and sisters in Christ. How do we view/treat each other? With honor. And what’s the secret to our zeal? Service—side by side for God’s glory. Guided by this attitude, being “just friends” can be just plain awesome." (Joshua Harris)

God bless you all, my friends. ;) 

In Christ, 

Kaleigh