"Elijah came to a cave where he looked for shelter. Then the Lord said to him, 'Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will be passing by.' A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks -- but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake -- but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire -- but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave" (I Kings 19:9,11-13).
Sometimes I get really frustrated and feel like no matter how hard I am listening, God just isn't speaking to ME. I know He is speaking, I just feel like He's speaking to everyone except me. I am so grateful that the truth is that this kind of thinking is all WRONG. God is always speaking to me, just as sure as He is always speaking. I just happen to drown out His words with the noises of this world. I get so caught up in listening to my music, my friends, my family, my boss, my t.v., my radio, my ... my.... You get the point. Now granted, God uses other people, music, etc. all the time to minister to us in each of our lives, however, He is also constantly speaking to us through His Holy Spirit that dwells in those who believe. He sent The Holy Spirit to be our Comforter, our Counselor, the One that tells us whether to go to the left or the right, the One who directs our paths and orders our steps. This is the voice that I sometimes have a hard time hearing because I am constantly drowning it out by not only my problems, but sometimes by doing good things like listening to praise and worship music, or a good sermon.
Tonight as I was praying about some decisions I need to make, I heard God speak to my inner man and say, "In the silence, I am speaking, all you have to do is tune in to a new station... listen to the silence and You will hear Me whisper in your ear." I realized then that I am constantly avoiding the silence. One of the things I dreaded more than life before I found Christ was being surrounded by silence. I found that in those times, if my mind wasn't constantly being distracted by the things in this world, then I would be left alone with my own destructive and ominous thoughts and that would lead me into an endless pit of despair. I guess, now that I have Christ in my life, I am still very weary to get caught in the silence for fear of repeating my past.
It is so good to know that silence no longer equates with destruction in my life and that God is forever working on changing me, rearranging me, and taking me from glory to glory. He loves me too much to leave me the way I was when I found Him. He is constantly showing me the habits and thought patterns in my life that are in need of change. He is constantly pointing me towards Himself and saying "this is the way, walk in it." (Isaiah 30:21) I will do my best to not fear the silence anymore, after all, I don't want to miss a single thing that my God would take the time to whisper in my ear. One of my favorite quotes is from Mother Theresa when she said, "God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer." Praise the Lord!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The choice is yours
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3).
The greatest strength that we as believers have is to be aware of our absolute dependency on God. Without that, we are lost. For until we are completely dependent on Him, we will spend our time striving towards impossible goals that will forever be out of our reach. We were created to need God. It wasn't an accident, or a fluke, God made us that way. Therefore we can continue to try to build our own kingdoms outside of what He wants for our lives, or we can just admit that we need Him and allow Him to move the mountains in our lives.
I have come across many stumbling blocks in my life in the past few weeks. Satan has really tried to take advantage of me in my weak emotional state. But thankfully, I serve an amazing God is who more powerful than anything the darkness has for me. I am filled with His light and His strength in me. Whenever we are stressed out, or physically ill, the enemy will use that time to try and move in for the kill. The same holds true for when God is trying to do really big things in our lives and we are about to break through to a new level in our walk with Him. It is up to us to forge through these tough moments and persevere. That way we can claim the prize that awaits us both in this life and in heaven. We have the choice to fill our lives with either problems or His Presence. The choice is ours. Let's choose Him today!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).
The greatest strength that we as believers have is to be aware of our absolute dependency on God. Without that, we are lost. For until we are completely dependent on Him, we will spend our time striving towards impossible goals that will forever be out of our reach. We were created to need God. It wasn't an accident, or a fluke, God made us that way. Therefore we can continue to try to build our own kingdoms outside of what He wants for our lives, or we can just admit that we need Him and allow Him to move the mountains in our lives.
I have come across many stumbling blocks in my life in the past few weeks. Satan has really tried to take advantage of me in my weak emotional state. But thankfully, I serve an amazing God is who more powerful than anything the darkness has for me. I am filled with His light and His strength in me. Whenever we are stressed out, or physically ill, the enemy will use that time to try and move in for the kill. The same holds true for when God is trying to do really big things in our lives and we are about to break through to a new level in our walk with Him. It is up to us to forge through these tough moments and persevere. That way we can claim the prize that awaits us both in this life and in heaven. We have the choice to fill our lives with either problems or His Presence. The choice is ours. Let's choose Him today!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).
Friday, February 22, 2008
The way I've dreamed for you
How many times have we heard the term "it's like a dream come true"? And most of the time we say this because something we had dreamed about or wanted actually came to pass in our life. Think about how amazingly happy you feel when this happens to you. Think of the indescribable joy you have when you know that your master plan is unfolding in front of your very eyes and when everything is going exactly the way you planned it...
Now, imagine how God feels each and every time we take a step towards fulfilling His plan and His dreams for our lives? Think of the smile He must have on His face every time we further His kingdom and His master plan. Think of what it must be like to hear God say the words, "it's like a dream come true," every time His plans for our lives come to pass. Selah.
God has more love for us than we could ever possibly comprehend and takes such joy in His children when they make decisions that glorify Him. Do you know how precious to the Lord you are? Even when we feel like we have missed the mark and "fallen off the Jesus train" He is always standing there with arms wide open waiting for us to come back to Him. Even when we fill our minds with thoughts of not being good enough, not being strong enough, not being "Christian" enough, that is not how Jesus sees us. He sees us as strong even when we feel weak. We are mighty warriors to Him. Jesus suffered for us, not because He had to, but because He wanted to. God sent His only son so that we wouldn't have to live our lives as slaves to condemnation, or anxiety or fear. God has such enormous dreams for our lives but we have to get past these negative emotions and move into His love in order for those dreams to come true.
So if you're in a situation when you're tempted to take the wrong road, instead of just thinking about the consequences of your decision, I challenge you to think also about the sheer joy you will bring to God by making a decision that will help His dreams for you come true. Picture Him smiling and singing over you. Think of how good you feel when your plans all work out and then give God the chance to share in that same feeling with you. Let God's dreams for you become your own dreams for you. I know from experience how hard it is to resist temptation and how easy it is to give in to it. I'm hoping that maybe I will do the right thing knowing that the right thing brings God joy and helps to fulfill His dreams. My goal is to start living my life according to the way God dreams for me. Next time you are faced with temptation, remember Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Now, imagine how God feels each and every time we take a step towards fulfilling His plan and His dreams for our lives? Think of the smile He must have on His face every time we further His kingdom and His master plan. Think of what it must be like to hear God say the words, "it's like a dream come true," every time His plans for our lives come to pass. Selah.
God has more love for us than we could ever possibly comprehend and takes such joy in His children when they make decisions that glorify Him. Do you know how precious to the Lord you are? Even when we feel like we have missed the mark and "fallen off the Jesus train" He is always standing there with arms wide open waiting for us to come back to Him. Even when we fill our minds with thoughts of not being good enough, not being strong enough, not being "Christian" enough, that is not how Jesus sees us. He sees us as strong even when we feel weak. We are mighty warriors to Him. Jesus suffered for us, not because He had to, but because He wanted to. God sent His only son so that we wouldn't have to live our lives as slaves to condemnation, or anxiety or fear. God has such enormous dreams for our lives but we have to get past these negative emotions and move into His love in order for those dreams to come true.
So if you're in a situation when you're tempted to take the wrong road, instead of just thinking about the consequences of your decision, I challenge you to think also about the sheer joy you will bring to God by making a decision that will help His dreams for you come true. Picture Him smiling and singing over you. Think of how good you feel when your plans all work out and then give God the chance to share in that same feeling with you. Let God's dreams for you become your own dreams for you. I know from experience how hard it is to resist temptation and how easy it is to give in to it. I'm hoping that maybe I will do the right thing knowing that the right thing brings God joy and helps to fulfill His dreams. My goal is to start living my life according to the way God dreams for me. Next time you are faced with temptation, remember Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
We Can't Escape Him
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way (Psalm 2:10-12).
No matter what we do or how we act in our lives, we can't escape the mighty hand of God. He is ever present and always watching. Even when we don't feel like He is, He is right there watching over our every thought and action. This can either inspire us to clean up our acts and serve Him with a fear of the Lord, or it can cause us to try and run the other direction. The truth is, regardless of what you or I believe, we can't out run the mighty hand of God. He has promised to lift up the righteous and to love those who follow his commands, but he has also promised His rod to those who reject His ways. We have to remember to take this in context and know that 1) there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1), and 2)If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). When God talks about His wrath for those who will not listen, He is not talking to the believer who finds himself ensnared in sin and is trying to break free, He is talking about those who reject His son, or those who say they accept His Son but then bear no fruit to back up their confession. He is talking about those who bear no fruit.
As believers, we have a decision to make everyday, and that is to either live for Christ or to die to sin. It is not something that you decide once, by accepting Jesus as your Savior, and then just go on living in the world as though nothing has changed. Our actions show our obedience. If our actions our not lining up with our words then we have a serious problem. I'm talking about a consistant pattern here, not an isolated circumstance where someone keeps falling into the same stronghold over and over and knows it is sin and is trying to overcome it. I am talking about those who confess that they love Jesus but then do nothing to make that known to the world, or when asked about it, deny Him completely. God knows our hearts, and it is very dangerous ground to take your relationship with Jesus lightly. As Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says to me , 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will say to them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!'
As Christians we are commanded to share our love for Jesus with the world, we are told to go out and preach the good news to all. If we deny Jesus to the world, then Jesus promises to deny us to His Father.
Again, there is NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST. This blog is meant to wake us up to the reality of the Gospel, not to condemn us for the mistakes we have made. We need to be pursuing the kingdom of God, not trying to build our own kingdoms in His name. If we build our own kingdoms THEY WILL FAIL! I'll leave you with a song that Jason Upton wrote about Psalm 2:12 which is very near to my heart and I listen to it often as a reminder that God will not compromise His kingdom in any way for my own; to remind me of my fear of the Lord:
Ladies and Gentlemen
People of the darkness
You've been running for a very long time
Hear the call from the city on the hilltop
the wave is coming can you feel the riptide
We can't run from the mighty hand of God
Either kiss His Son or receive His rod
Some say I'm the man of the evening
Others say I'm the lady of the night
God says I'm your creator
Nobody's faster than the speed of light, I'm coming!
We can't run from the mighty hand of God
Either kiss His Son or receive His rod
Forgive us Lord for holding hands with darkness
Forgive us Lord for idolatry
Forgive us Lord for playing games in Your presence
We yearn for Your intimacy
My prayer is that each and everyone of us, no matter where we are in our walk with God, would seek a deeper, more personal relationship with our Creator. That we will embrace the love He has for us by sharing it with others. I break off the spirit of rebellion, the spirit of condemnation, the spirit of depression, the feeling of not being good enough, the spirit of pride, the spirit of rejection, in the Name of Jesus. We are free to live in Christ, free of all bondage to sin, in the Name of Jesus. I break off the spirit of fear and hopelessness that tries to loom over our lives, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. And I speak the love of God over each every one of our lives, may He bless us and keep each and everyone of us in His righteous right hand. I speak blessings over our lives and I thank You, Lord for your unfailing love. With all thankfulness, I give You honor and praise. Amen!
No matter what we do or how we act in our lives, we can't escape the mighty hand of God. He is ever present and always watching. Even when we don't feel like He is, He is right there watching over our every thought and action. This can either inspire us to clean up our acts and serve Him with a fear of the Lord, or it can cause us to try and run the other direction. The truth is, regardless of what you or I believe, we can't out run the mighty hand of God. He has promised to lift up the righteous and to love those who follow his commands, but he has also promised His rod to those who reject His ways. We have to remember to take this in context and know that 1) there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1), and 2)If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). When God talks about His wrath for those who will not listen, He is not talking to the believer who finds himself ensnared in sin and is trying to break free, He is talking about those who reject His son, or those who say they accept His Son but then bear no fruit to back up their confession. He is talking about those who bear no fruit.
As believers, we have a decision to make everyday, and that is to either live for Christ or to die to sin. It is not something that you decide once, by accepting Jesus as your Savior, and then just go on living in the world as though nothing has changed. Our actions show our obedience. If our actions our not lining up with our words then we have a serious problem. I'm talking about a consistant pattern here, not an isolated circumstance where someone keeps falling into the same stronghold over and over and knows it is sin and is trying to overcome it. I am talking about those who confess that they love Jesus but then do nothing to make that known to the world, or when asked about it, deny Him completely. God knows our hearts, and it is very dangerous ground to take your relationship with Jesus lightly. As Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says to me , 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will say to them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!'
As Christians we are commanded to share our love for Jesus with the world, we are told to go out and preach the good news to all. If we deny Jesus to the world, then Jesus promises to deny us to His Father.
Again, there is NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST. This blog is meant to wake us up to the reality of the Gospel, not to condemn us for the mistakes we have made. We need to be pursuing the kingdom of God, not trying to build our own kingdoms in His name. If we build our own kingdoms THEY WILL FAIL! I'll leave you with a song that Jason Upton wrote about Psalm 2:12 which is very near to my heart and I listen to it often as a reminder that God will not compromise His kingdom in any way for my own; to remind me of my fear of the Lord:
Ladies and Gentlemen
People of the darkness
You've been running for a very long time
Hear the call from the city on the hilltop
the wave is coming can you feel the riptide
We can't run from the mighty hand of God
Either kiss His Son or receive His rod
Some say I'm the man of the evening
Others say I'm the lady of the night
God says I'm your creator
Nobody's faster than the speed of light, I'm coming!
We can't run from the mighty hand of God
Either kiss His Son or receive His rod
Forgive us Lord for holding hands with darkness
Forgive us Lord for idolatry
Forgive us Lord for playing games in Your presence
We yearn for Your intimacy
My prayer is that each and everyone of us, no matter where we are in our walk with God, would seek a deeper, more personal relationship with our Creator. That we will embrace the love He has for us by sharing it with others. I break off the spirit of rebellion, the spirit of condemnation, the spirit of depression, the feeling of not being good enough, the spirit of pride, the spirit of rejection, in the Name of Jesus. We are free to live in Christ, free of all bondage to sin, in the Name of Jesus. I break off the spirit of fear and hopelessness that tries to loom over our lives, in the Mighty Name of Jesus. And I speak the love of God over each every one of our lives, may He bless us and keep each and everyone of us in His righteous right hand. I speak blessings over our lives and I thank You, Lord for your unfailing love. With all thankfulness, I give You honor and praise. Amen!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Praise God for amazing friends!
I can't get over how gracious God truly is. The fact that He is not only concerned about the major events in our lives, but He also pays close attention to the daily details as well. Take our friends for example. He makes sure that all of us have a support system around us to help carry us through the hard times. He also gives some friends that are there to make us laugh or smile. I will say that I have been so incredibly blessed with the friends in my life. They have taught me how to have fun, how to relax, and how to just be crazy for Jesus (I'm not so sure about Nick on this one!) They build me up, encourage and inspire me to be the person God has created me to be.
God also lets us know when there are people in our lives that we have to let go of, at least for a time. Friends that are not encouraging us or building us up. I have found this to be an extremely difficult process that has broken my heart many times over. However, as difficult as it is, it is also sometimes very necessary. There are some friends we have that as much as we love them, there is just too much hurt in the relationship for it to survive in its current state. I am at a place in my life where I am finding that I have to let go of some of my friendships because they are not based on God or the good things that He wants in my life. It is these kinds of relationships that we have to just let go and let God. If He wants that person in our lives, He will restore the relationship.
I thank God that we are not alone in this process. He is ALWAYS with us, guiding us step by step. He is there to hold us by our right hand and to see that even if we stumble, WE WILL NOT FALL. For God always leads the righteous. Not only is He with us through this process but He also places people in our lives to help us through it. I thank God everyday for my entourage. Those friends who see the best in me and encourage me to let my light shine on others. Those friends who love me unconditionally, even through all my mistakes and weaknesses. Those friends who appreciate me for who I am not necessarily what I do. To all my friends, (you know who you are), thank you and I love you!
I pray that we surround ourselves with Godly friendships and that we are praying for our friends daily. If there is an unhealthy relationship in your life, give it to God. He can do all things, including restoring it to the way it was, or He may just replace it with something even better. He promises to be with us through our pain and to both deliver and redeem us. That reminds me of a verse from one of my favorite songs: "I know that my Redeemer lives, and I will stand on what He did, my Savior lives!"
God has a mighty plan for each and every one of us. Although we sometimes experience having to let go of the ones we love, He has a mighty plan to fill our lives with amazing glory and grace and to restore us to a life that is overflowing with goodness. "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) Praise be to God!
God also lets us know when there are people in our lives that we have to let go of, at least for a time. Friends that are not encouraging us or building us up. I have found this to be an extremely difficult process that has broken my heart many times over. However, as difficult as it is, it is also sometimes very necessary. There are some friends we have that as much as we love them, there is just too much hurt in the relationship for it to survive in its current state. I am at a place in my life where I am finding that I have to let go of some of my friendships because they are not based on God or the good things that He wants in my life. It is these kinds of relationships that we have to just let go and let God. If He wants that person in our lives, He will restore the relationship.
I thank God that we are not alone in this process. He is ALWAYS with us, guiding us step by step. He is there to hold us by our right hand and to see that even if we stumble, WE WILL NOT FALL. For God always leads the righteous. Not only is He with us through this process but He also places people in our lives to help us through it. I thank God everyday for my entourage. Those friends who see the best in me and encourage me to let my light shine on others. Those friends who love me unconditionally, even through all my mistakes and weaknesses. Those friends who appreciate me for who I am not necessarily what I do. To all my friends, (you know who you are), thank you and I love you!
I pray that we surround ourselves with Godly friendships and that we are praying for our friends daily. If there is an unhealthy relationship in your life, give it to God. He can do all things, including restoring it to the way it was, or He may just replace it with something even better. He promises to be with us through our pain and to both deliver and redeem us. That reminds me of a verse from one of my favorite songs: "I know that my Redeemer lives, and I will stand on what He did, my Savior lives!"
God has a mighty plan for each and every one of us. Although we sometimes experience having to let go of the ones we love, He has a mighty plan to fill our lives with amazing glory and grace and to restore us to a life that is overflowing with goodness. "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) Praise be to God!
Friday, February 15, 2008
I stand amazed
I stand amazed by ALL You do, Lord! Even in my darkest hour, You are there. When I feel like all hope is lost, You are there. When I fall into a pit and can't find my way out, You are there. You know my every thought, my every feeling, You see my every tear. You are my light in the darkness, my compass when I am lost. You guide me through still waters and hold me up by Your righteous hand. You rejoice over me in song. Just when I feel that I cannot possibly love You any more than I already do, You find a way to expand my heart even more. Thank You Lord for Your wonderful love. I stand amazed by You!
I recently stumbled upon this Jason Upton song called, "Learning to love." It has given me a new perspective on how I am living my life. No matter how much hurt I have suffered, it is still my job to learn to love as Jesus loves. This song brought great peace to my life, so I would like to share it with you. I pray that we will all learn to love as Jesus did and as he continues to do.
Learning to Love (By Jason Upton):
I am learning to be a father
But I really don't know how
To be willing to care for others
More than I love myself
It aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
It aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
And I am learning to love my neighbor
And to live by the Golden Rule
But it's so hard when I've been lied to
You feel like a fool, a forgiving fool
Cause it aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
It aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
An I am learning to be faithful
With the little bit I have
To do like Jesus and turn the tables
Give it all to get nothing back
Cause it aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
It aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
To see the video go to: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NQRClW6_CTg
I recently stumbled upon this Jason Upton song called, "Learning to love." It has given me a new perspective on how I am living my life. No matter how much hurt I have suffered, it is still my job to learn to love as Jesus loves. This song brought great peace to my life, so I would like to share it with you. I pray that we will all learn to love as Jesus did and as he continues to do.
Learning to Love (By Jason Upton):
I am learning to be a father
But I really don't know how
To be willing to care for others
More than I love myself
It aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
It aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
And I am learning to love my neighbor
And to live by the Golden Rule
But it's so hard when I've been lied to
You feel like a fool, a forgiving fool
Cause it aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
It aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
An I am learning to be faithful
With the little bit I have
To do like Jesus and turn the tables
Give it all to get nothing back
Cause it aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
It aint easy, it aint easy
It aint easy, learning to love like You
To see the video go to: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NQRClW6_CTg
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Trust in Me
I received a new devotional tonight (Thank you Janice!) and was taken back by how the reading for today was right on target with what I had been thinking about. Today's reading was all about trusting God. This sounds like such an easy task to accomplish and the bible is full of scripture advising us to put all of our trust in Him. And as many times as I have read some of my favorite scriptures on trusting in the Lord, (Psalm 37:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 1 Corinthians 10:13, John 14:1, Nahum 1:7), the simplicity of today's devotional just made a light bulb go off in my head. It's funny how God will use people and things to get our attention and to bring us revelation. The following passage did just that for me, it is taken from Sarah Young's devotional titled, "Jesus Calling":
"Do not give in to fear, or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My presence."
I have always tried my best to trust God for the things that are currently happening in my life, but for some reason I had never thought about trusting Him enough that I do not need to anticipate future needs. I realize that by doing this I am in fact worrying about my future and where there is worry, there is a lack of trust. I am challenging myself to consciously be aware of this and to try to give God not just my current and past situations, but also my future ones as well. They are not for me to worry about. For if I trust my God then I know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
I pray that we all learn to not only trust in Him but to also trust Him. No matter what life brings us, or how dark our current circumstance may be, He is a magnificent God who is faithful to His Word. If His Word says we can trust Him then we can take it to the bank. It's a sure thing! I pray that all of us learn to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
None of us knows what tomorrow will bring, however, we do know that God promises to instruct us and teach us in the way we should go, He promises to counsel us and watch over us (Psalm 32:8) We all need to listen to the words Jesus spoke in John 14:1, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." Praise the Lord!!!
"Do not give in to fear, or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My presence."
I have always tried my best to trust God for the things that are currently happening in my life, but for some reason I had never thought about trusting Him enough that I do not need to anticipate future needs. I realize that by doing this I am in fact worrying about my future and where there is worry, there is a lack of trust. I am challenging myself to consciously be aware of this and to try to give God not just my current and past situations, but also my future ones as well. They are not for me to worry about. For if I trust my God then I know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
I pray that we all learn to not only trust in Him but to also trust Him. No matter what life brings us, or how dark our current circumstance may be, He is a magnificent God who is faithful to His Word. If His Word says we can trust Him then we can take it to the bank. It's a sure thing! I pray that all of us learn to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
None of us knows what tomorrow will bring, however, we do know that God promises to instruct us and teach us in the way we should go, He promises to counsel us and watch over us (Psalm 32:8) We all need to listen to the words Jesus spoke in John 14:1, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." Praise the Lord!!!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sometimes You gotta rest!
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
There comes a time when you must stop holding everyone else above the water. You must take time to re-fuel yourself. Otherwise, you are sure to sink in the sea. God wants us to rest in Him and take time for our bodies and minds to rest. Our job as Christians is to pray for others. So pray is what I shall do. But, at least for now, I must stop at prayer. There is no way for me to hold others up if I cannot even stand up myself. So with that, I shall go rest. I encourage all who feel the need to always be strong for others to make sure you take the time to strengthen yourself. Otherwise, at some point you will run out of steam.
I used to think that this was a selfish thing to do, but then I realized that even Jesus took time (quite often, actually) to go off by himself away from His disciples to be strengthened by God. If He hadn't, He would not have had the strength to help others the way he did. Even when God finished created the world, He rested. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Gen 2:2-3)
Jesus even made sure that His disciples got plenty of rest after doing the work He had sent them to do; The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. (Mark 6:30-32)
In this verse, the word "rest" is translated from the Greek word "anapauo" which means "to be exempt." Jesus was telling them that at least for a time they could be exempt from the responsibilities of being a disciple. He was telling them to just stop and take some time for themselves.
So, although I definitely feel a burden to help others in their time of need, I recognize that I, myself have a time of need also. A time when I must depend on others for strength and a time when I must slow down on how much of myself I give to others in their time of need, and instead focus on my own. These are the times when I just gotta rest!!! I'll leave you with the words Jesus spoke to His disciples in Matthew 11:
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30)
Good night and God bless!
There comes a time when you must stop holding everyone else above the water. You must take time to re-fuel yourself. Otherwise, you are sure to sink in the sea. God wants us to rest in Him and take time for our bodies and minds to rest. Our job as Christians is to pray for others. So pray is what I shall do. But, at least for now, I must stop at prayer. There is no way for me to hold others up if I cannot even stand up myself. So with that, I shall go rest. I encourage all who feel the need to always be strong for others to make sure you take the time to strengthen yourself. Otherwise, at some point you will run out of steam.
I used to think that this was a selfish thing to do, but then I realized that even Jesus took time (quite often, actually) to go off by himself away from His disciples to be strengthened by God. If He hadn't, He would not have had the strength to help others the way he did. Even when God finished created the world, He rested. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Gen 2:2-3)
Jesus even made sure that His disciples got plenty of rest after doing the work He had sent them to do; The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. (Mark 6:30-32)
In this verse, the word "rest" is translated from the Greek word "anapauo" which means "to be exempt." Jesus was telling them that at least for a time they could be exempt from the responsibilities of being a disciple. He was telling them to just stop and take some time for themselves.
So, although I definitely feel a burden to help others in their time of need, I recognize that I, myself have a time of need also. A time when I must depend on others for strength and a time when I must slow down on how much of myself I give to others in their time of need, and instead focus on my own. These are the times when I just gotta rest!!! I'll leave you with the words Jesus spoke to His disciples in Matthew 11:
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30)
Good night and God bless!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Now is the time
It is so easy to get caught up in making plans in our lives that sometimes we forget to to actually administer the plans we have conjured up in our minds. I often times find myself making checklists in my head of all the things I want to do and say throughout my day, week, month, etc... Even more frequently I find myself contemplating in my mind what I should say or do in certain situations I find myself in. Although we are encouraged to consult the Word in everything we do, how many times do we find ourselves actually DOING those things the Spirit tells us?
I myself tend to have a bit of a casual attitude when it comes to acting the way I am supposed to. This is not because in my mind I do not want to do what is right, but more so that thought and action are sometimes two very opposite concepts in my life. I'm not just referring to struggling with sin as Paul describes in Romans 7. I am talking about having a lot of good ideas but failing to turn those ideas into action; Of knowing the qualities God wants us to possess and show to the world, but keeping them to ourselves and never showing others. God rejoices over our obedience to Him. Obedience is ACTION. God has so many wonderful plans for our lives but in order for the plans to come to pass, we must act on the instructions He has given each of us. It is not just thinking about doing good things, it's about actually DOING them.
I believe this is best described in the Message translation of 2 Corinthians 6:
Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us,
I heard your call in the nick of time;
The day you needed me, I was there to help.
Well, now is the time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we are doing. our work as God's servants gets validated -or not- in the details. people are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly... in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing His power; when we're doing our best, setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.
Now is the time to act on what we believe. In fact now is the time to act even if we don't feel like we believe. If God says we should be doing something, then that's what we should do. If His Word tells us we should be living and acting a certain way, then that's how we should be living or acting. No excuses! Now is the time to represent Christ the way God admonishes us to do. Now is the time for us to be salt unto the world and to turn up the Jesus juice! Praise be to God!
I myself tend to have a bit of a casual attitude when it comes to acting the way I am supposed to. This is not because in my mind I do not want to do what is right, but more so that thought and action are sometimes two very opposite concepts in my life. I'm not just referring to struggling with sin as Paul describes in Romans 7. I am talking about having a lot of good ideas but failing to turn those ideas into action; Of knowing the qualities God wants us to possess and show to the world, but keeping them to ourselves and never showing others. God rejoices over our obedience to Him. Obedience is ACTION. God has so many wonderful plans for our lives but in order for the plans to come to pass, we must act on the instructions He has given each of us. It is not just thinking about doing good things, it's about actually DOING them.
I believe this is best described in the Message translation of 2 Corinthians 6:
Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us,
I heard your call in the nick of time;
The day you needed me, I was there to help.
Well, now is the time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we are doing. our work as God's servants gets validated -or not- in the details. people are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly... in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing His power; when we're doing our best, setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.
Now is the time to act on what we believe. In fact now is the time to act even if we don't feel like we believe. If God says we should be doing something, then that's what we should do. If His Word tells us we should be living and acting a certain way, then that's how we should be living or acting. No excuses! Now is the time to represent Christ the way God admonishes us to do. Now is the time for us to be salt unto the world and to turn up the Jesus juice! Praise be to God!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
When we lose the ones we love
My grandmother passed away this morning after a seven year battle with cancer. Although this is difficult for me and my family, I cannot describe how utterly amazing it is to feel the peace that God has given me in my time of grief. Although in my flesh I am sad and experiencing loss, my Spirit man feels nothing but joy and gain. For I know that Nana has gone home to meet our Marvelous Father who has set aside a special place for her next to Christ. For all of you who are struggling with the loss of a loved one, just know that God can bring peace even amidst the darkest despair. Though weeping may last for the night, joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5)
One of my closest friends in Christ, ( I love you Nick!) reminded me of 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 which brings great encouragement to anyone who has lost someone they love:
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
I know that my Grandmother is seated with Christ in heavenly places and that by leaving her body here on earth, she went home with the Lord. We wear our tents, or our earth suits only for a time until we our called home by our Father. This brings great comfort to my heart and hopefully comfort to others who knew her. My grandmother was a very special lady who shined so brightly during her time here on earth. And although the world may seem a little more dim without her, heaven will be sparkling that much more now that she has entered its glorious gates. I know that God is smiling at her, the way He is smiling at all of His children here on earth. I am pleased that Nana will finally get her chance to hear the words "Well done, my good and faithful servant." To God be all the glory!!!!
One of my closest friends in Christ, ( I love you Nick!) reminded me of 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 which brings great encouragement to anyone who has lost someone they love:
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
I know that my Grandmother is seated with Christ in heavenly places and that by leaving her body here on earth, she went home with the Lord. We wear our tents, or our earth suits only for a time until we our called home by our Father. This brings great comfort to my heart and hopefully comfort to others who knew her. My grandmother was a very special lady who shined so brightly during her time here on earth. And although the world may seem a little more dim without her, heaven will be sparkling that much more now that she has entered its glorious gates. I know that God is smiling at her, the way He is smiling at all of His children here on earth. I am pleased that Nana will finally get her chance to hear the words "Well done, my good and faithful servant." To God be all the glory!!!!
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