Timothy Mark Ministries Newsletter February 2012

In this issue:

1.  Unanswered Prayer
2.  Free Downloads Page on Website
3.  Timothy is on Facebook
4.  Ministry Events for February - April
5.  Interested In Hosting a Timothy Mark Ministry Event?
 
Timothy Mark Ministries home page
 

  Unanswered Prayer back to top

Ever have a time in your life when you felt like God wasn’t listening? Perhaps you find yourself in that situation today. You’ve cried out to him asking for direction. You’ve asked him to show you what you should do. You can even see God at work around you in other areas. But for the specific situation you are facing, it feels like the heavens are silent. What do you do?

This morning I read a conversation Moses had with God. It seemed like Moses found himself in that kind of situation. His prayer takes place as he is in the middle of the desert trying to lead a million plus people into the great unknown. It is such a privilege to be able to listen in on his talk with God because it reveals a key issue we sometimes face in our relationship with God as well: sometimes it seems like God does not answer our prayers. Here’s what happened.

Moses said to the LORD, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight. Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And God said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:12-14, ESV)

I love the way that Moses had simple conversations with God. He was raw and honest before the creator of the world. Moses is leading this vast group of people through the desert. The weight of that responsibility must have felt crushing at times. The people were often complaining and he would become disheartened as a result. At times he wanted to quit.

In the midst of this, Moses speaks frankly with God. “God,” he says, “You told me to lead these people out of Egypt. You said you know me by name and that I have found favor in your eyes. If this is true, then please God, show me your ways.” Can you hear the brokenness and frustration in his words?

But when God answers his prayer, it seems as if God was not listening to what he was asking for. Moses asks God to show him his ways. God replies “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” No mention of showing the way. No indication that God was really listening. Or was he?

I think at its heart, God is saying to Moses “I know you are frustrated. I know everything about you. I know how difficult it is to lead these people. And I know you want me to show you the path I have planned for you. But I am not going to do that. Instead, I am going to give you myself and walk with you and give you rest along the way.”

Let me ask you this: which is better, to know the path or to know the God who creates the path? Put that way, it seems pretty obvious. But we are human and tend to want to know what the next step in our lives will be. If only it were that easy. Instead, God intends for us to live our lives one day at a time in relationship with him. He has it all figured out and only reveals the path one day at a time. As we move forward in relationship with him, he reveals more of himself. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems the deepest truths of God can only be revealed on a path that leads through difficulty and trial.

This morning while pondering these truths, I heard a song that moves me deeply. It’s a song by Laura Story called “Blessings”. There is a link at the end of the lyrics for a recording of Laura singing the song. It is a powerful reminder that God can use the difficulties we face to show us more of himself. Here is what she wrote.

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

(Click here to listen to the song.)

Perhaps today you are struggling and wanting to know what God is doing in your life. It may be that the weight of your circumstances feels overwhelming to you. “God,” you cry, “could you just help me out here. I don’t know how much more I can take.” And it may be that you feel he is ignoring your requests. In that moment, it is possible that God is saying to you “I am with you. I have not left you. I will not forsake you. Walk with me. I will go with you one step at a time. You can rest in me.”

Sometimes God doesn’t give us what we ask for. In those instances, he gives us himself.

 Till next month,

 Free Downloads Page on the website

We’ve completely redesigned the downloads section of the website to make it easier to find the free music and messages.  Also, we uploaded a new message titled “Loving God with all your mind.” You can find it all here:

Free Downloads

 Timothy is on Facebook!

You can find him at http://www.facebook.com by searching for his email address: timothy@timothymark.com from the facebook site search box. Or just follow the link below. He is posting updates with news from behind the scenes. This will also be the primary means he will use for sharing prayer requests. So if you are interested in supporting the ministry through prayer, this would be a great option for you. Timothy will look forward to connecting with you there.

Click here to go to the Facebook page directly.

 Ministry Events for February - April  back to top

Come hear Timothy live at one of the following events in February - April and mention you heard about it through the newsletter. For detailed information check out the full schedule here.

February 8 - Lake Placid, Florida

March 3 - 4 - Franklin, New Hampshire

March 23 - 25 - Clarksville, Michigan

April 26 – 29 - Victoria Corner, New Brunswick

 Interested In Hosting a Timothy Mark Ministry Event for your Organization?  back to top