Who Are You?

Do you ever ask God " Who am I? What is my purpose?"

Moses did. In Exodus 3:11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

 Who am I?

King David asked God the same thing and David was a great king over a wealthy nation. 

2 Samuel 7:18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"

Who am I?

What if Moses had asked his adoptive mother? I think she might have said "Oh Moses, you are the baby I found abandoned in the river. " Was that Moses identity? the abandoned baby? 

Or what if David had asked his father Jesse. His father would have told him he was the youngest son. The son who was a shepherd, not a soldier. 

If David had asked his elder brother Eliab? He told David to go back to the sheep in 1 Samuel 17:28.

David didn't ask King Saul, but Saul told him  “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

David had it right, He asked God. " who am I"?

When is the last time you asked God " Who am I"?

Why is it we ask family and friends for our identities? Shouldn't we be asking God who we are? Do you think maybe the reason so many of us do not have an identity is because we have failed to ask God? 

What if Moses and David had just listened to family? 

Do you think Moses would have led his people out of slavery? Do you think David would have killed Goliath or become a great king? I think not. 

Dear Lord, Who am I? How do I fit into your divine plan? What purpose have you designed for me? 

I Can't Get No... Satisfaction

I know you remember the Old Testament story of Rachel and Leah.

These competitive sisters were married to the same man. Thank Jesus we don't still have this custom today! I don't know about you, but I don't share that well, and neither did Rachel or Leah.

Now Rachel had it all. She was the Beauty Queen of Haren, her home town. Genesis 29:16 says that Rachel was the youngest sister and was lovely in form and beautiful. However, we are only told that Leah, the older sister had weak eyes. I imagine she had frown lines from squinting. Most guys aren't going to be attracted by a myopic frowny faced squinty eyed girl.  In fact, Jacob cried when he first met Rachel then agreed to work for her daddy for 7 years for her hand in marriage, then when he got tricked into marrying her squinty eyed elder sister, he actually agreed to work another 7 years for her. 

So Rachel was the pretty  best loved sister, but was that enough for her? NO! She was so jealous that her sister gave Jacob 4 babies that she whined and demanded of her husband " give me children or else I die" Genesis 30:1 in other words. " I would rather be dead than not have children like my sister". Here she had beauty and her husbands love, but she still wanted what her sister had. 

Now one day, Leahs eldest son Reuben brought his mother home some Mandrake he had found. In those days, mandrake was considered to be a treatment for infertility. Rachel saw the mandrake and coveted it. So she asks Leah for the mandrake. Leah asks her sister Genesis 30:5 " wasn't it enough you took my husband, now you want my sons mandrake?"  Rachel, barters a night in bed with their husband for the mandrake. But God is not mocked, it wasn't in his plan for Lovely Rachel to bear babies yet. But Leah, who didn't have the mandrake had 2 more children with Jacob. go figure!

Goes to show, you might as well trust in God, not in your own manipulation.

Poor Leah, when she bore the 6th son, she thought Jacob would now love her saying Genesis 30:20 "God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor"

I don't know about you, but my heart breaks for poor unloved Leah

Finally after Leah has had 7 children, God decided it was time for Rachel to have a son. and do you know how she reacted? she named him Joseph, which means " He will add" and proclaimed "May the Lord add to me another son!"

Was Leah grateful for her beauty? Was she thankful she was beloved by her husband? Was she appreciative that she finally had a beautiful bouncing baby boy? NO! she wasn't! She immediately asked for more! 

Ya think God knew what He as doing in withholding children from Rachel? I do. She died giving birth to her 2nd son, whom she named Ben-oni or Son of my Sorrow.  What a selfish ungrateful shrew! When she had her first son she screeched "Give me more" now she gets what she wants and she tags her infant with such a dreadful name? Good thing Jacob had the sense to re-name the kid Benjamin or Son of my Right Hand 

Maybe she should have stopped along the way and just been satisfied.  I think it ironic, she had her husbands love til his last breath, yet she was unable to just enjoy it because she always wanted what someone else had. 

Are you like Rachel asking for more instead of enjoying the gifts you have been given? 

Could it be that our problems such as loneliness, depression or conflict in our lives stems from discontent. Are you always thinking " If I only had that, if only................? 

Stop for a moment and think of all the good things you have in your life. A loving spouse, children who honor you, a job that puts food in your mouth, a roof over your head... go ahead.. number them as the song says.  if it means every day you need to write down 10 blessings to remind you not to be whiny and ungrateful.. then do it! 

Don't like your job? at least you have one, many don't. The creak in your knees making you unhappy? at least you have legs to creak. The wrinkles in your face got you singing the blues?  you lived long enough to smile those wrinkles in to place and had enough suns in your life to squint those crows feet into place. 

so quit your whining and sing along with me.... :)

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

• Refrain:
  Count your blessings, name them one by one,
  Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
  Count your blessings, name them one by one,
  *Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Dear Lord, thank you for everything you do for me daily. for the roof over my head and the food in my stomach.

Thank you I have a job and am able to pay my bills. Thank you for loving friends and for my health.

Most of all Dear Jesus, thank you for dying for me

Please help me to remember I really have it good compared to many.

men

Keep your eyes on Jesus

I am a certified diver and enjoy diving but I am also a lousy sailor. I remember attempting a dive many years ago in the Gulf of Mexico off Ft. Meyers. The ocean was choppy that day and I promptly got sea sick. 
When the rest of the group dove, I opted to stay on the boat and fight that queazy feeling.


The captain of the boat took pity on me and advised me to keep my eyes on the mountains in the distance. When I looked at that choppy sea in front of me, I was so sick all I wanted to do was get off the boat. But when I kept my eyes on that distant mountain on the horizon i felt better and more able to cope until the others returned from their dive and i could get on dry stable land.


Remember when Peter walked on the water to Christ? He did just fine as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, but as soon as he started paying attention to the boisterous wind, Peter became afraid and started to sink. 


Philippians 3:13-16 ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.


I think Paul had it right, he forgot what was behind him and strained towards what was ahead of him.
Pauls message is to keep your eyes on Jesus and not what is around us, or what happened in the past. 


Don't focus on your past.. it is just that, the past. Don't focus on the drama going on around you, in the scheme of things, it doesn't matter and too will soon be past. .. keep your eyes on the Jesus and press on 

Are you working in Gods field?

Due to travel for my job, I am often away from home and my home church. 
While searching for a home away from home church, I visited a nearby Baptist church service this morning.


The first thing I noted was the large sanctuary which looked even larger due to the sparse attendance of a handful of  senior citizens. It has been a very long time since I was the youngest person in the church service!


The 2nd thing I noticed was a lack of warmth and friendliness. Perhaps I am spoiled by the warmth of my home church Hillcrest Baptist. In fact, warmth was the first thing I felt when I was a newcomer to Hillcrest. http://www.hillcrestaustin.org
Or perhaps it is a difference between Texas and California. Whatever, I can't say I felt particularly welcome and even felt the need to ask someone if I could enter the sanctuary as the doors were firmly closed 5 minutes before the service was to begin.


It makes me sad to see a centrally located church in such need of members. I could more understand it if the church building was located in a rural area. The one event they had was the senior lunch later in the week. 


What happened to the families? Where are the children, the teens and the young and old singles? 


After the lackluster group singing and the 10 minute message from the pastor, I was happy to leave and head over to the Farmers Market. Not one person welcomed me, thanked me for coming or asked me to return. Never fear, I will be attending elsewhere my next Sunday in California.


Matthew 9:37, 38 Then He ( Jesus) said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field" 


Never before have I felt this message more than I did today. I see a need for workers for Christ in my hometown, but at least I know of several churches who are ministering to the surrounding neighborhoods. I see such a need here in the town I "live" in when I am in California. 


Could this be why God has me here? I know God has a plan. Am I here to help bring the Word of God to Claremont or perhaps just that one person God wants brought into the fold? 


Are you are worker? What are you called to do for Him?


Dear Lord, please send workers into the harvest. Please lead me to where you want me to worship when away from home and open my eyes to the opportunities you put before me daily to work in the harvest. Thank you Lord

Trusting my Pilot

I love to travel. I enjoy seeing new places and experiencing new things. I am currently looking forward to visiting friends in both England and New Zealand next year. I also travel a lot for my job. In fact, I am on the road these days more than I am at home.

I think nothing  of hopping on a plane and placing my faith in the skill of the pilots and ground crew to bring me down safely. I have flown in all kinds of planes, from a huge double decker plane to a tiny 6 seat Island Hopper, and never have I entertained the thought that the Pilot would not land me safe and sound on the ground.

We all give our lives over to total strangers on planes, buses, boats and ferries every day, so why is it so difficult for us to place our faith in our our Heavenly Father, who created us and gave his Son for us,  to pilot our lives?

Paul wrote " I know the One in whom I have put my trust and I am sure that Christ is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to Him." 2 Timothy 1:12

I think we all should strive to be like Paul, and and put our trust in Jesus. don't you?

Dear Lord in Heaven, thank you for for loving me though  I am stubborn and not always very lovable.
Help me to trust you in everything in my life. I place my faith in you as my Pilot.
Amen

Belonging

Good Morning!
 I woke up this morning @ 4:00 am. I am so not a morning person! After tossing and turning for about 45 minutes, I finally decided to get up and go spend sometime with my Heavenly father. I may be tired today, but I feel so refreshed!
So pour a cup of freshly ground coffee and pull up a chair and lets chat a bit before we head out to start our days.. shall we?

I was thinking this morning how everyone yearns to belong. To belong to a family or a team or a group of friends.
Remember the old TV show Cheers? How when Norm came into the bar, everyone yelled NORM! He belonged. They might have been a group of mis-fits, but Norm belonged. I remember we used to call different places our " Cheers" we all wanted to walk in to a place where everyone knew our name.

I believe we have that desire to belong comes from our yearning to be a part of the Family of God. We want and need that fellowship with Him.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)

God will lavish you with His love, if you will only let him. I can't count many times I have felt Lavished with love from any human in my life, but when i think about all God has done for me, I realize, God has truly lavished His love on me. After all, He gave His only son Jesus, to die for my sins that I  would have life everlasting. now that is some kind of great love!

A friend once told me she stopped going to church when the ladies in her Sunday School class tried to explain to her that she should put God first, before even her children.  While I understand my friends feelings,  I get what they were trying to tell her, though they may not have communicated it well. Jesus gave his life for us, shouldn't we put him foremost in our lives? We can best love our children and family members by putting God first in our lives. the rest all works out to His plan.

But I digress............

Finally, brethren, farewell. Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11, RSV)

The Greek word "adelphoi" the word translated in the New Testament to mean " brethren" actually means "siblings" brothers and sisters of a common parent.

I find it sad that so many are seeking what God gives so freely. Love, Salvation, Belonging.
Don't you? God can heal the broken heart, He can fill the empty spaces in our souls, and all we have to do is ask him. I am so glad we are a family and I belong!

Dear Father, thank you for loving me so lavishly. Help me to feel your love in my day to day walk. Please help me to be able to see farther than my own little life so I can feel your awesome presence. Please help others to see your love through me
Thank you,  Amen

Are you focusing on what you are fighting or Who you are fighting for?

I could feel the Holy Spirit today @ Hillcrest Baptist Church Austin, from the first song to the last prayer.

Pastor Tom started teaching on David today, but what got me was this;  little teen David was facing a giant. A giant that an entire army was terrified of!  Yet without fear, and even more, with absolute conviction, David stepped forward and said to Goliath .......1 Samuel 17: 45 " You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord All Mighty" 

wow! David was confident. David knew he had God on his side and you know why? Because David didn't lose sight of Who he was fighting for.  David wasn't fighting for his ego, or for his own petty desires, David knew without a doubt he was fighting with God and for God.

David then went so far as to tell Goliath he was going to kill him. I can see it now, this little teen boy informs a ginat who has been terrorizong an army of seasoned fighters that he, David will kill him? i just bet Goliath was sneering and laughing at this kid who dared to oppose him, but 1 Samuel 17:46b, 47... David says " and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. all those gathered here will know that it is NOT by sword or spear, that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lords"

When is the last time you faced something difficult with this much confidence and faith in God ?

I saw a cartoon my friend Tony Viby, posted on Facebook today. It showed a man who prayed for Gods protection then  was hit by one rock and he began with an angry face asking " Why me God, Why didn't you protect me?"
Then the cartoon showed Jesus standing large in front of the man blocking a rain of rocks and Jesus turns to the man saying " Did I miss one, I am sorry, are you all right? "

How many times have we done the same? We expect nothing bad to ever happen to us as Christians yet we don't reply on Jesus  or thank Him for the love and protection He gives us. we take over and then wonder why things don't go according to our plan.

I have been fretting over my job. I am having to travel more than was agreed to in my interview and am now gone more than I am home.  I fear I will soon be asked to re-locate to S. California and leave my home in Texas. I don't want to. I have been sick with fear and anger.  Today Pastor Tom said many of us have become so focused on what we are fighting that we have lost sight of Who we are fighting for.

Think about that a minute. Have you become so focused on fighting job loss, or financial struggles, or illness or family problems, that you have lost sight of Who you are supposed to be fighting for?

Hebrews 13:5. Jesus promises " I will never leave you nor forsake you" . so if you feel far from God, who is the one who moved?

I know in this struggle I have been going through, I have felt further and further from Him, and it was all me. I was trying to control my life instead of trusting God.  I can't begin to describe the weight that left my shoulders when I gave that worry to God today with tears running down my cheeks and a smile on my face.

And you know what is absolutely awesome about it all? God doesn't expect us to be big and strong. He can use us as we are. David didn't fight Goliath with armor and a sword. He went out armed with a shepherds slingshot and it was enough. God gives us the tools we need if we only trust Him.

Hillsong  - Mighty to Save
Savior
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave


So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender 


I love that song! don't you?

Patience is necessary to Christians

In this world of hurry, we have forgotten patience. In fact, we are proud of not having any. I know when asked in job interviews what my weakness is, i allow that lacking patience is my weakness and spin it into a strength.


But in this day of impatient commitment phobes,  I am telling you that patience as a Christian is necessary.

James 1:4  Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Can you truly study Gods Word if you are in a hurry? How many mornings do you grab a devotional book, or read a blog such as this and say a quick prayer for a friend and having spent maybe 10 minutes with our Lord, run out of the house patting yourself on the back for having done your daily duty to God?

I know in this day of I want it now, we are more rushed than ever before. We think a 2 year commitment to our smart phone plan is a life sentence for goodness sake! But God wants our attention. He wants us to Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;  Psalm 37:7a

When is the last time you spent some quality time with your Lord and Savior?  When was the last time you had a long conversation with Him, and thanked Him for all the blessings in your life?
Romans 12:12 tells us we are to Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

And once we learn that patience,  Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

I think as a culture we have forgotten patience,  and as a result we have lost something important in our lives and in our fellowship with Christ.
Lets all work on slowing down and being still every day so we can hear the Holy Spirit teaching us, so we can commune with our Savior. What do you say?

Dear Lord, please help me to learn to wait on you. Please teach me patience, in times of trouble and times of happiness. Please help me to remember that You are always with me and  if I am patient you will hear my cry and will renew my strength. I do want to be still and hear you. Thank you Holy Spirit for teaching me this lesson today. In Jesus name I pray, Amen

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry

The Potter and the Clay

Isaiah64:8 - Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 29:16 - You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"?

God likens us many times in scripture to clay and talks about how He is molding us. 

As Christians, God wants us to live a life that glorifies Him. God has a job for us to do while we are here on this earth. God is the master of our lives and He has a plan for us. God will constantly mold us and change us so that we can be better used in His service. 

This "vessel making" can be painful sometimes. We don't always understand what God is doing, but we do know why..  He is forming us into the stronger vessel we need to be for Him 

THE CLAY AND THE POTTER
Yes, I wasn’t like this
Then, I was just a cold
Hard lump of clay
But one day a change i tasted

Then, I was just a cold
Hard lump of clay
But one day a change I tasted

Then, I was far noticed
By men of great expenditure
But he picked me up and he said
“I could do something with this”
In me was pressure prevailing
To change my rag of shape
It was too much to bear
I said, “It hurts, stop!!”

Furious I was when he said,
“Not yet”
I was laid to rest for several hours
Thinking it is over
But he said,
On a wheel I was kept
Around and around and around
He spanned me and I said
“Let me off”
Very stubborn he really was
And he replied,
“Not yet”
Suddenly, I noticed
I was a cup
And kept in a hot oven
Too painful, it really was
I shouted,
“Let me be”
As stubborn as a goat
He said,
“Not yet”


I couldn’t bear it any longer
I screamed
“I’m suffocating, I’m in hell”
But at me he stirred and said,
“Not yet”
I felt a sparkle of joy
When he loose on me
It is finished, I thought
But I was bathed with rainbow

Too often to weep again
I’m back to the hell”
And I said,
“I can’t stand it any longer’
As before as he always being
He said,
“Not yet”

At last,
I was placed on the shelf
Held up before the mirror
Waooh!
I’m now a beautiful tea cup
That everyone wants for treasure.

Author:

Prince Adeyemi Johnson, Nigeria

I came across this poem by Prince Adeyemi Johnson and had to chuckle. Isn't that just like us? We would rather be a lump of mud on the ground than to go through the shaping, the pulling and twisting God puts us through while He is forming us into a useful vessel for His service. And just when we think we are through the worst.. it is time for the kiln. We cry and rail and beg to be an old lump of clay again.  

I don't know about you, as much as I cry and beg. I think i will hold out and go through the twisting and pulling shaping and molding and the fire.. so I can be a beautiful " teacup" for our Lords use. 

Have Thine Own Way, Lord
(Adelaide Pollard & George Stebbins)
Have Thine own way, Lord , have Thine own way
Thou are the potter, I am the clay
Mold me & make me after Thy will
While I am waiting, yielded & still
Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way
Search me & try me , Savior today
Whiter than snow Lord, wash me just now
As in Thy presence humbly I bow
Have Thine own way, Lord, Have Thine own way
Wounded & weary , help me I pray
Power , all power, surely is Thine
Touch me & heal me , Savior divine
Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way
Hold o’er my being absolute sway
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me







Dear Lord, Please help me to remember during the tough times to keep my eyes on you. I am merely the clay but You are the Divine Potter and while being molded into a vessel for your service can be difficult at times, I do want to be who and what You want me to be.   I am sorry for the whining about the twisting and pulling my life seems to be lately and I thank you for the care you show me in molding me. Please give me strength to come out the other side of the kiln a vessel useful for your service. 
In Jesus name I pray..amen
 

My Hero

Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

now go back and read that verse again. savor it. When life gets you down, say this verse to yourself. Print it and put it on your fridge. Put it on the visor of your car.  Memorize it.

When life gets you down, remember.. God is for us. When you think about it, the rest just doesn't matter much 

Worries

Matthew 6:34  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Easier said than done isn't it? But so true. there is enough going on today to worry about, why borrow trouble by worrying about things that haven't happened yet and may not happen? 

We know one truth for sure. god will provide. Genesis 22:14. He promises to provide our daily needs. He didn't say He would only give us bread for the day. He said our needs. This could be food, emotional needs, love. Whatever it is, God knows and He will provide it if we allow Him to.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Psalm 27:10

In the 23rd Psalm we are promised:
 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."


Thank you Lord for your promise to care for me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for lending me your strength when I feel I am too weak to continue. Help me to focus on your grace instead of my fear of the unknown tomorrow. Amen

Be Quiet

Psalm 46:10 Be Still and know that I am God.

Does life seem to get so frenetic you can't hear yourself think? You are rushing to work, rushing to get the kids to and from school, football practice, gymnastics, sleep overs, got to get dinner cooked, bills paid, ARRGGHH!

Stop. be still. spend some time getting to know God. God longs to be in a relationship with you. Just like your marriage wouldn't work if you and your spouse never spoke, never discussed the day, you and God need time alone together.

Isiah 18:4 This is what the LORD says to me: "I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest."

Even God takes time to be quiet, we need it even more.

Priorities

Haggai 1:4 Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while my house remains a ruin?

God was asking the Israelites why they had nice houses yet the House of God was not rebuilt.  They had put their priorities backwards. I think we often do the same. The Bible is full of instruction on what we should do with out love, our time and our money, yet we don't obey. We put our own desires first, but when we do this, we cut ourselves off from untold blessings.

God tells us in Haggai 2:8 "The silver is mine and the gold is mine", declares the Lord Allmightly.
so if it is His anyway, why are we so reluctant to give Him back our tithe and offering or when we do, it is out of obligation rather than love?

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

So why don't we give God more of our thoughts, our time and our money? 

Actions speak louder than words

I had a friend on Facebook, we will call her Joan. Maria posts lots of Bible verses and Christian songs as her status. Joan tells everyone she is a Christian and loves "Daddy" her name for God while she visits her few friends and publicly posts on their walls what they should and should not be doing as Christians. Joan brags to anyone who will listen how many friends she loses because of her "Jesus talk".

After months of deleting ribald jokes, curse words and dirty jokes and telling Joan I didn't talk that way, I finally asked her privately via inbox  to please not post such things on my wall. After saying she understood and was just being "onery"  then Joan promptly deleted me from her friends list.I was surprised to say the least. My good Christian friend got upset with me because i didn't want to hear her cursing and dirty jokes?

I can't judge whether Joan is a Christian or how close she is to God, that isn't my place. I tell this true story to demonstrate what Jesus meant when he said " by their fruits you shall know them" Matthew 7:16. If you have to keep telling people you are a Christian so they know you are one instead of showing people you are one by the way you act, you are in direct opposition of what Jesus said.

Put another way James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. If we are doers of the word, we are doing more than merely hearing the word or saying we hear the word.. wouldn't you say? 

I will be praying for Joan, I don't have to have her on my Facebook friends list in order to do that, but I will also be praying that my speech and actions reflect Jesus in everything. 

1 John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

go forth into the world and show by your actions you follow Christ

Trusting in God - update

I was laid off from my job at the end of September, when the company suffered 
from the economic downturn. 
When it came time to pay my bills out of that final paycheck I prayed a quick 
prayer " Dear Lord, I am afraid, but I am going to continue paying my tithe to 
you. I am going to trust you to take care of my finances. Thank you Amen. 
 
Two months later, when paying bills out of un-employement income, I noticed I 
still had the same amount in my checking account that I had on the day I 
deposited my final paycheck. I frantically went back over my checkbook and bank 
account and could find no errors. Frustrated I took a break and went to my Bible 
and to pray. 
 
 My devotions that day was 1 Kings 17:10-16. The story of the widow who gave her 
last bit of oil and flour to feed Gods servant Elijah. The widow was in 
obedience to God and God fed her and her son and Elijah and God provided enough 
oil and flour until the famine was over. 
 
I have to tell you, rarely do I feel God speaks to me so directly, but with 
tears running down my face I praised and thanked God for his mercy and for 
keeping my flour and oil full until my personal famine was over. 
 
 For  seven and a half months, my God kept my flour and oil from running out. I 
have not paid one bill late and I promise, that little unemployment payment, 
while welcome, does not cover my bills, groceries, gas, etc!. Isn't God Great!? 
 
After this lesson in trust, a still small voice kept coming to me.. you need to 
increase your tithe to 15%. "What Lord? no way! you must be joking! I am only 
feeding myself because You are helping me!"... "oh, yeah, there is that trust 
and faith thing and I suppose out of unemployment, 15% really isn't all that 
much, and it is your money after all. Ok Lord.. whatever you say, whatever you 
want me to do I will do". 
 
Then what happens? My pastor gets up in church and announces we need to make 
some improvements to the church and not only that, it is A Beautiful Thing! 
 
But smug in my giving, I was confident this doesn't mean me. Maybe I would throw 
some loose change that direction or once I was employed I might contribute, but 
remember? I am unemployed! but no.. God doesn't always let us get away with that 
kind of thinking does He? That still small voice kept speaking in my heart.. you 
can give and this is what I want you to give every month to make the church 
building A Beautiful Thing.. Trust in me. It is My money I allow you to have, 
and you spend that much in extras every month anyway. " ok Lord, whatever you 
say <sigh>" 
 
Then at the Beautiful Thing banquet, while the Pastor was speaking, a rather 
large dollar figure ( large to me) popped into my head. Inwardly I chuckled, " 
Yeah Lord, if you will help me get a job, I could give that kind of money to the 
campaign. God immediately smacked me on back of the head and asked me " are you 
really trying to make deals with me? where do you think your money comes from? 
Haven't I been faithful to you? 
 
" oops " uh No Lord, I was just joking.." but that figure wouldn't go away. I 
couldn't sleep. I kept waking up finding I was talking to God in my sleep. I 
begged, I pleaded. i asked Lord, Please seriously, you don't mean for me to give 
so much do you? I may need that money, after all, I can't seem to find a job 
and... maybe it is me and you don't really mean for me to give so much" ( you 
would think I would learn by now wouldn't you? )" Lord, how about I go to sleep 
and if I remember all this in the morning, I will write the check." 
 
Bright and way earlier than I wanted to be up after little sleep, before my feet 
hit the carpet, that same dollar figure popped into my head.. so I bowed my head 
and said " ok Lord, I give in. I know you want me to give that amount to the 
Church. 
When i paid my bills that afternoon, for the first time I had to dip into my 
savings account. I was flabbergasted! "What! God! you let me down! you have kept 
me financially safe for 7.5 months and now you are forgetting me after you ask 
for so much money?!"  and i have to say I am ashamed. God in no way let me down. 
I had two interviews for the following week.. this week. 
 
The recruiter called me the same day I interviewed and told me " You really 
wowed them Sheila, both the owner and the supervisor emailed me to tell me you 
were hands down the one they want to hire." I haven't been told when to report 
to work, as they are doing the background checks but I suspect I will be back in 
the ranks of the employed by Monday. 
 
This isn't the job with the fancy title that i had before or that I envisioned 
for myself, but I think/hope i have learned my lesson about trusting in Him and 
having faith He has a plan for me and it is way better than anything I could do 
on my own, all I have to do is trust and obey. 
 
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who 
love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 
 
I thank God for Pastor Tom and for Hillcrest Baptist, you are right, she is 
a Beautiful Thing 
 
 

Need Strength do do it all?

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
We all feel like we just can't do any more. Like if one more person asks for one more thing, you will explode. don't we? I am pretty sure it isn't just me.
Thank goodness Jesus promises to help us make it through. He may ask a lot but He gives us the strength to do it all.


Dear Lord, I am taking you up on your promise today. please give me the strength to do all i still need to do today. I am grateful I do not need to struggle through on my own. Help me to rely on you.
Thank you, In Jesus Name I pray this

Love

Coming from the home-life I did, i didn't learn what love really is. As an adult, it took me years to believe that another human being truly loved me and didn't just want to use me or just felt sorry for me.

I knew Jesus loved me enough to die for me, but I really thought he was the only one. this caused a life time of failed relationships. Quite frankly, i became what i feared, someone who wasn't suspicious, acerbic and not often loveable.

One day while reading my Bible and talking with Jesus, I realized that  I needed to learn to love others first. I began to pray that God would teach me to love as Jesus loved us. Every day I prayed for a Revolution of Love and Kindness in me that revolved around Jesus.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? with the Holy spirit in my heart, and Jesus showing me how to love others, I could see my reactions to people and situations changing. and I realized i was greatly loved by others in my life. by my long time freind Lyn who shared her family , Mother, grandmother, children and husband with me as though I was truly her sister. to her mother Barbara who has for years introduced me as her chosen child. To Tanner and Trevor who hug me and tell me they love me when i visit. and especially 12 yr old Tanner who posts on my facebook. " I love you shortstack" . ( Tanner is at least 3 inches taller than I am and he loves that :) )

Once I started looking for the love in my life and began loving other people instead of looking for the slights, I found that I was loved all along. I have been blessed with so many freinds. To Trey who calls me every month just to check on me and Deborah and Nicki who enjoy my company .. the list goes on and on.

The Bible teaches us we are to love in actions and truth, not just by word.
1 John 3:16 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
when i was looking for people to dislike me, i wasn't loving in action or in truth, but i sure was good at throwing that L word around

1 Corinthians 13:7, 8a It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  ⁸ Love never fails.
 Are you protecting, and persevering with your love?  is your love hopeful for the other person unfailing?

Psalm 40:10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
and true love shares, it shares the love and the good news of God. are you sharing?

Dear Lord, thank you so much for showing me your great love and for the love you have given me in my life. Please help there to be a revolution of Love and Kindness in me revolving around Jesus.
The more i love others, the more love I will have in my own life. In Jesus name I pray

Magic Gumball Machine

The teen came home from school, passed by his father on his way to the refrigerator. " Hi son, how was school?" the son doesn't bother to acknowledge his father as he gets his favorite cola out of the fridge and reaches for a package of cookies out of the cupboard. Slamming into his room, the boy sees a note from his dad on the pillow, he tosses it into a drawer to read later. In the drawer is a stack of unread love notes from his father. This behavior goes on for days, weeks, months. The son acts as though he is ashamed to be a child of his loving father. He spends no time with him, never speaks to him, all the while his father waits patiently for his son to notice him or the roof over his head, the clothes on his back, the education, the food everything the father has provided out of love for the boy.

One day the boy comes into the living room. "Hey Dad, by the way, I want to borrow the car this weekend.  Just gas it up for me and put the keys on the kitchen table".

If this were you and your son treated you this way, what would you do? Would you just hand over the car keys? After all, this is your child and he asked for them. He is a good kid, goes to school, doesn't hurt other people, all he does is ignore his dad, shouldn't he get anything and everything he asks for? why or why not?

This is how many of us treat our Heavenly Father. We don't talk to Him unless we want something, we don't read His love letter to us, we just can't be bothered to spend time with Him, but we sure do expect Him to answer our requests how we want them when we want them don't we?

Sometimes we act as though we think God is a Magic Gumball Machine. We expect if we put a penny  in the machine, a miraculous answer to our prayer should come back in return. Gods Word tells us there are requirements for successful prayer.

We are to come to God with a humble heart
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land

We are to Believe  He will answer
 Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

We are to Obey Him
1 John 3:22
And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him.

We ask what is in His will

1 John 5:14
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Think about these verses the next time you go to God to ask for something. Would you answer if you were God? Are you in obedience with a humble heart? If He isn't answering, maybe the answer is no or maybe it is not His will.

Our Father in heaven,
Holy is your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen.

Jesus Love Me This I know

 Are you feeling alone, or do you feel no one cares? Have you spent time with your friend Jesus lately?

John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Your friend Jesus wants to spend time with you. He delights in you. Have you talked with him today? Or read His love letter to you, the Bible?

Romans 8:38,39  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


The only thing that can make us feel alone, or separated from God, is us. If your child or best friend never called you, never talked to you or never wanted to spend time with you, you would feel a rift in the relationship wouldn't you? What greater love than this? Jesus died for us. How about spending time with Him every day, He loves you so.


Dear Jesus, I am so sorry I don't spend more time with you. I miss you when I allow my life to get too busy and don't take the time to be with you. Thank you for loving me anyway. Thank you for being my friend

Working for the Lord

Colossians 3:23,24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

We have all had a job we didn't really like haven't we? Even a job we really love isn't always fun. It is so easy to complain and whine about your boss, your job, the commute, the hours, etc. but if we wake up every morning and think of our job as working for our Lord, we would go to work with a glad heart wouldn't we?

Do you think we would do a better job if we thought how we were working for Jesus?
I think if we start each day with prayer and Gods Word, it might be easier to remember, but even if you wait to read your bible til the end of the day.. ;ets remember we are going out to do Gods work today and every day.

Dear Lord, please help me to remember I am working for you today and that I am doing it for your glory, not for men. Help my life to reflect you in the workplace even when the job is difficult or not enjoyable and give me the wisdom i will need to do it well.. Thank you for the job you have given me. In Jesus name I pray... Amen

Trusting Jesus

John 4:43-53 we read that a Royal Official had heard of Jesus and came to Him to ask Jesus to come with him to heal his dying son. Jesus replied⁴⁸ “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
The man asked again  " Sir, come down before my child dies" I sense a hint of desperation in that fathers plea, don't you? he really wanted Jesus to come with him now and touch his son.  ⁵⁰ “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”  Jesus was asking the man to trust in Him. Jesus didn't need to physically go and look at or touch the son. Jesus just wanted the man to believe.

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹ While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. ⁵² When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
⁵³ Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

How many times do we ask for a sign, and yet when we get one we still do not believe? We keep asking and we keep searching, but we don't always just trust do we?

What  is it that is keeping you from trusting Jesus? Sin? Trusting in yourself? If we just let go and let God.. He will bless you in ways unimaginable. Jesus keeps His promises.

When I start to fret and stress, I imagine that I am putting that concern or worry in a box and I shut the lid and lock it.  Then I mentally hand it over to Jesus to handle for me with a prayer of forgiveness for taking the box from Him. Sometimes I give that box to him several times a day.. and He always accepts it back and handles the problem way better than I ever could when I allow Him to.

Dear Lord, please help me as I face each days trials, to put my trust in you. Help me to take my hand off the tiller and let you pilot the ship that is my life. I claim your promise to supply all my need and I know that your grace is sufficient for me. thank you Lord for answered prayer and for all you do for me that i do not even notice. Forgive me for not trusting in you as I should. In Jesus name.. Amen

Last night we learned that Osama bin Laden was killed. With the help of our allies in Pakistan, an American soldier was able to shoot Osama in the head. There is such joy and jubilation in America

Proverbs 24:17, 18
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away.

While I am a proud American and proud of our military, I am sad that this man, this son, father, husband and brother will now never have the chance to turn to Jesus.

Did Osama deserve to die? without a doubt. But can we have some compassion for his lost soul? for his family?  
Matthew 5:44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!   
 If we had been praying for Osama bin Laden, might he had come to Salvation? Or might we perhaps be just a little less jubilent over his dying without Jesus ? I wonder what would have happened if every man, woman and child in the USA had been praying for Osama bin Laden. would it have made a difference? I think it would have, but now we will never know.


Dear God, please help us to know the right response when our enemy falls. Help us not to rejoice but remind us to pray for our enemies.  In Jesus name. amen

See you in chruch

How was church today? you did attend didn't you?

Some people say they don't like "Organized Religion" hmm.. you prefer disorganized religion? God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33  Organized religion is not really the pint. It is about discovering God. Worshiping Him and being in obedience to Him. What would disorganized religion be like anyway? "Hey anything goes? If it feels good do it". I don't think God would approve, do you?

or how about the old stand by " I can watch church on TV. ok, I do that when i have the Flu. There are some really great church services on TV. I especially enjoy John Hagee Ministries. If you are attending tv ( or internet) church how are you in fellowship with other Christians though? 1John 1:7a Keeping ourselves in love and harmony with other believers keeps us humble before God.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries" Hebrews 10:23-27

Pretty powerful and straightforward hm? To be in obedience to God, we are not to forsake or avoid meeting together.

" I don't have to be in a building, I can worship God in Nature" . True.. if you know of a church that is meeting in the woods, in a home, in a empty storefront, there is absolutely nothing at all wrong with attending services with that church.. it isn't the building, it is the worshiping together. Is this what you are doing? meeting other Christians for worship? That is fabulous.


Church is a great place to meet other Christians, to find a place of service to God and to worship and learn more about our saviour.

"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven" Matt. 18:19

See you in Church :)

Fill the Empty Spaces

So many people are trying in vain to fill an emptiness in their soul. They attempt to fill it with drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping, work, noise, everything possible and it just doesn't work. I believe our souls really cry out for God. We are made to want and need God in our lives, and why not, when God loves us with an everlasting love?

Jeremiah 3:13 The Lord appeared to us in the past saying " I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Isn't that all we really want? Everlasting Love? 1John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Satan wants you to believe you are worthless. That you mean nothing. But the real truth of the matter is, God loves you with an everlasting love. He made you, He chose you and He loves you forever.

Instead of all those meaningless, empty things, turn to the One who will fulfill you. as Paul said:
Phillipians 4: 12,13 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living well fed or in want. i can do all things through Him who gives me strength

Turn to Jesus for contentment. Claim Gods love. Open your heart to Him

Dear Lord, Help me to trust in you in all things. Lord, help me to never doubt your love, after all, you sent your Son to die for my sins. Please fill the empty spaces in my heart with you. In Jesus name I pray, amen

God Sings!

Zephaniah 3:17
 The LORD your God is with you,
   He is Mighty to Save
He will take great delight in you;
   in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
   but will rejoice over you with singing

Did you know God sings? yes He does and He sings over you and me!.. as you see in Zephaniah 3:17, God takes great delight in us and rejoices over us with singing because He rejoices over us.

I never thought about God singing before and especially not because of me.. did you? I imagined he was happy when I obeyed Him, but now we know He is so happy He sings out of love for us! The very thought puts a big silly smile on my own face!

I don't know about you, but I know I want to do all I can to make my God sing out of rejoicing over me..
How about you?

Dear Lord, Help me today to do the things that will cause you to take great delight in me and make you rejoice and sing. Thank you for everything you do for me.. In Jesus name.. Amen 

When Bad things Happen to God's Children

I was laid off from my job a few months ago, because the company I worked for, felt they couldn't afford to continue to pay me. When it came time to pay my bills out of that final paycheck I prayed a quick prayer " Dear Lord, I am afraid, but I am going to continue paying my tithe to you. I am going to trust you to take care of my finances. Thank you Amen.

Two months later, when paying bills out of un-employement income, I noticed I still had the same amount in my checking account that I had on the day I deposited my final paycheck. I frantically went back over my checkbook and bank account and could find no errors. Frustrated I took a break and went to my Bible and to pray. My devotions that day was 1 Kings 17:10-16. Do you remember the story of the widow who gave her last bit of oil and flour to feed Gods servant Elijah? The widow was in obedience to God and God fed her and her son and Elijah and God provided enough oil and flour until the famine was over.

I have to tell you, rarely do I hear God speak to me so directly, but with tears running down my face I praised and thanked God for his mercy and for keeping my flour and oil full until my personal famine is over. I have now been unemployed for  seven months, but my God is still keeping my flour and oil from running out. I have not paid one bill late and I promise, that little unemployment payment, while welcome, does not cover my bills, groceries, gas, etc!. Isn't God Great!?

I don't know what God has in his plan for me, but He is taking care of me until He places me where he wants me to be, all I have to do is trust and obey
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Dear Lord, please help us to remember that you have a plan for us, and that you promise that all things work for our good if we only love you. Please help us to place our trust in you in times of hardship.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen