God's Motives

"He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me." - 2 Samuel 22:20

Questioning someone's motives for their activities can become an overriding response to those to whom we relate. Wrong motives can result in broken relationships, poor business decisions, and falling out of God's will. Sometimes we do not know the motive of another person. It is wrong for us to assume what their motive is until we have confidence that we know their intentions. When we respond or react prematurely, we become judge and jury over them.

God has a motive for every one of His children. His desire is to bring us into a spacious place. He wants us to go beyond our borders of safety and security so that we might experience life at a level that goes beyond ourselves. What do you think of when you think of a "spacious place"? No limitations? A large, grassy field? Open air? These are positive images. Sometimes these spacious places encourage us to step out in faith into areas where we've never ventured. Sometimes we need to be rescued by the Lord. When Peter walked on the water, God was inviting him to a spacious place. He went beyond the borders of his boat and ventured into a whole new world. He didn't have complete success in his venturing out, but it was a process that would lead him to the next victory in his faith walk with Jesus. Sometimes failure is what is needed in order to move us to the next level of faith with God. However, we must be willing to fail and let God rescue us.

The Lord delights in this process. His motive for His children is always love. It is always to bring us to a new level of trust and dependence on Him.

Taken from
TGIF Today God Is First
Saturday, May 30 2009

NHBC Spring Retreat 2009

Before we left for this retreat, Pastor Dan admonished us not to expect the same thing from this retreat as from the others. I must say this retreat had a much different impact on me than our Fall 2008 Retreat in Ft Myers Beach.

This retreat was far deeper spiritually for me than the last one. It wasn't as emotional, as tearful. There was a quiet, peaceful awakening in my spirit. The best way I can describe it is that this weekend what the pastor taught about became rhema word to me. Not that anything he spoke about was new, just as the pastor himself said. It came alive in me in a different way than before.

I came to realize that God wants us to cry out to Him. It's not as if I had never heard or read that in the Bible before. I'd always been taught to pray silently, to myself. One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalm 17:6 "I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray." I've always had a beautiful picture in my mind of God parting the clouds and leaning down to hear me as I pray. How much more complete is that vision if I'm actually praying out loud!!

I was greatly impacted by the session dealing with forgiveness. I made big mistakes in my life before I came to Christ and pray that one day I will be forgiven by those who were hurt by my actions. The word that struck me most strongly in the verses the pastor quoted was 'tender-hearted'. I am praying that through Christ I can become tender-hearted towards those who hurt me.

The fun times we had together were as always, wonderful!! I am blessed to have such a beautiful "Eternal Family". God shows me His love through each and every one of you!! I can't wait until our next retreat to see what God has in store for us......