He Can

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtKBkpbOLPE

Yes He Can ~ CAIN

 

As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe-head fell into the water. ‘Oh no, my lord!’ he cried out. ‘It was borrowed!’ ~ 2 Kings 6:5 NIVUK

 

2 Kings 6:1-6 tell the story of a group of prophets in a building project by the Jordan. Not too long after they begin, one man encounters some problems when his axe head falls into the water. 1) The axe-head was iron. Iron wouldn’t have been cheap in those days. 2) It fell into the water. The Jordan’s depth runs anywhere from 6.5’ to over 100’ deep. And something that heavy would have gone straight to the bottom. 3) It was borrowed. And it was expected to be returned, (or replaced). With the cost of iron and its current location, the man feared he’d be able to do neither.

 

The solution seemed impossible. When was the last time you faced something that seemed impossible? Maybe you’re facing a health or financial issue that’s been harder, lasted longer, and cost more than you ever expected. Perhaps a relational struggle has consumed or devastated your life. These aren’t world-gripping problems, but they’ve certainly gripped your world, as it did the man who lost the axe-head. But instead of panicking, we need to be like Elisha who remembered, we serve an unstoppable God who can do the impossible. Elisha asked the man where the iron axe-head fell. “When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float,” (2 Kings 6:6 NIVUK). Hopefully you passed enough science to know it takes a miracle to make iron float.

 

In a world where God can do miracles, we often doubt, because we’ve forgotten God’s Name. Over the generations, God’s expressed His Name multiple ways, but it was to Moses that He shared a huge revelation: “I AM WHO I AM,” meaning, “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE,”  as the God who always lives and is always with His people, (Exodus 3:14).

 

God desires a relationship with us, not just because of what He can do for us, but He wants us to really know Him and for us to be known by Him. Today, if you’re struggling because your circumstances seem impossible to solve or overcome, come to the Father who promises to always be with you, even when you don’t understand His ways or timing. Remember, this is the same God who parted the Red Sea, caused an axe-head to float, gave His Son’s life in exchange for yours, and promises to always walk with you because He can, and because He desires a relationship with you.

©Heather Potts 2022

Believe Only

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVN-E1DLIoo

This is a Move ~ Brandon Lake and Tasha Cobbs

But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. ~ Luke 8:50 KJV

Do you believe in miracles?

Around the end of August, God laid a friend on my heart, so I reached out to her. Two weeks later, after no reply, I reached out again, because she was still heavy on my heart. After two more attempts, I called someone who lived nearby. Though 1500 miles separated us, I knew I needed to reach her. When I finally heard back from her, I discovered why. My friend was battling stage 4 cancer – her 5th bout with cancer – alone.

I felt scared for my friend and knew we needed reinforcements. After praying, I reached out to those who know her…and many who don't. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we prayed for and encouraged my friend. And God did what only God can do: a miracle!

Three months after God first pressed me for my friend, she told me the doctors can't find any cancer anywhere in her body and chemo has been suspended indefinitely!

In Luke 8:41, Jairus, a synagogue ruler whose daughter was dying, fell at Jesus' feet to plead for his daughter's healing. When Jairus and Jesus arrived at the house, many said it's hopeless, as she'd already died. But Jesus pushed aside their doubt and, to Jairus, said, "Fear not. Believe only." Are you in need of a healing touch, a life revived, a relationship made whole, a miracle? Jesus says to you, "Fear not. I AM here. It may not look the way or in the timing you think. But only believe that I will make it whole."

©Heather Potts 2019

New Year Blessings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKaXY4IdZ40

When You Believe ~ Whitney Houston ft. Mariah Carey

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9 ESV

I took some time, yesterday, to review 2018 and realized that as hard as the year was, God's blessings were as numerous, and His promises stronger. I won't take you through our whole year, but I hope this one story touches you.

Sunday, December 30th started out as any other. After the church service, we ran into Elizabeth’s 4K teacher and asked her to keep an eye on Elizabeth. We’ve been concerned that our “new schedule” will take a toll on the girls. Brad’s new job begins at 5am. With having only one car, the girls and I have been getting up at 4:40am to drive him there. For the first few days, the girls went back to sleep for 60-90 minutes before having to get up for school. But the last day, no one went back to sleep. Elizabeth’s teacher promised to let us know.

After getting the girls, we went to get our coats, but Brad stopped to chat with someone. I got the coats and waited as he finished. After a few minutes, Brad and the other man made their way to where I was waiting. Brad looked at the other man and said, “Tell my wife what you just told me.” The man said, “I have a truck and I’ve been praying for God to show me who to give it to. I heard you had a need and wanted to give you my truck.”

Who says that! How did he know?

Brad and I both cried in the church foyer! The man said he and his family are leaving to be missionaries and we could pay him—if we wanted and could afford it—or not. As it turns out, I received a year-end bonus and had been praying about how God wanted us to use it. It certainly wasn’t enough for a new car. But with God, nothing is impossible!

Of all the promises God gave me in 2018, this one stands out: This is God’s year to act! (Luke 4:19 MSG). I pray that your 2019 is filled with blessings more numerous and promises stronger than any challenge you may face.

©Heather Potts 2019

Yet Praise

But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.

~ Psalm 71:14 NKJV

The enemy’s hope in beating us down is to feed into our fears and get us to question God’s faithfulness. Once we begin to question Him, the enemy again comes after us in hopes that we’ll doubt that God will come through this time. And once we begin to doubt, the enemy condemns us for doubting. And he tries to get us into an endless cycle of fear, doubt, and condemnation.

There are days of victory and triumph, but then there are seasons of testing, trial, and refinement. In those seasons, that’s when the enemy peppers us with his seeds of doubt and fear, in hopes we’ll say, “Though God came through before, I don’t see Him moving this time…Can He really get us out of this situation?” Our family has been under heavy fire for a full year and some days it’s all we can do to come before our Father and say, “We need You!” But when we do, His Spirit encourages us and we can say, “I’ll yet praise You.”

Yet is used to emphasize a comparative: Though what’s desired is not what’s seen, I’ll yet, moreover, still do this.

Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:

The faithful love of the LORD never ends!

His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.

I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”

~ Lamentations 3:21-24 NLT

Though it’s been a hard road and one I definitely would not have chosen, I have seen more miracles and an outpouring of God’s faithfulness and blessings this past year than I think I’ve seen in my whole life.

If you’re finding it hard to breathe, press in to Father God and ask Him to encourage your heart. And when the enemy comes knocking tell him, “Though what’s happening hurts, I will praise my God yet more and more because His faithful love never ends!”

©Heather Potts 2016