God reminds me

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 15:58

Last week, my Pastor asked if anyone wanted to quote their life verse or a verse that the Lord has given them this year that has helped them.  Immediately, the verse above came to my mind.

The Lord has brought this verse to my mind several times throughout this year in different ways.

He has used it to remind me to be thankful for the faithful, unmovable, steadfast Christians that I know.  I know Christians who have gone through some things, hard things, and they have stuck it out.  They could have easily thrown in the towel, questioned God or just given up.  But they didn't.  They remained faithful.  They called on God.  They leaned upon Him.  They sought Him.  They followed after Him through the valleys and through the trials.  I'm thankful to be surrounded by these kind of Christians.  I can learn from them.

He has also used this verse to repeatedly encourage me this year.

I can question myself, question my life and what I am doing.  I wonder if I am living my life in such a way that I can make an impact of somebody, anybody for Him.  I question and doubt that from time to time and when I do, the Lord brings this verse to my mind.  I am not just saying that figuratively either.  I mean it. 

One day a few weeks ago I was having a rough day at work.  I needed some fresh air so I went out to my car on my lunch break.  I sat out there and just prayed for a few minutes.  Just before getting out, for some reason, I decided to flip on my radio for a minute.  As soon as I flipped it on, that verse came on as the "verse of the week."

Not a coincidence.

I appreciate that about God.

He knows my needs better than I do.  He knew I needed that verse.  He knew when I needed it. 

I'm thankful that God has reminded me this year that although I can feel like I am letting others down or not taking a leap of faith or just doing the same old thing, God knows I am doing my best to do what He wants me to be doing and that my labor is not in vain as long as I am doing it to please Him.

 

The Perfect Gift

Those stockings that were hung by the chimney with such care, are down now, folded and tucked away.  The presents are all unwrapped and now mingled in with our other possessions.  The lights are getting unplugged, wrapped up and ready to be stored away.  The tree is being undressed and will be taken out to the curb. 

We can spend hours looking online or roaming up and down the aisles of the stores and malls, searching for that perfect gift.  But we have already been given the perfect gift.

 

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."  2 Corinthians 9:15

God the Father gave us his Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ gave himself. 

How can I put into words what Jesus Christ and this gift mean to me? 

I'm a writer so ofcourse, I'm going to try but Paul summed it up pretty well by calling it unspeakable.

He's amazing.  He's given me everything. 

He's given me...

LIFE - "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  John 10:10

HOPE - "For thou art my hope, O Lord God; thou art my trust from my youth."  Psalm 71:5

SALVATION - "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among me, whereby we must be saved."  Acts 4:12

REDEMPTION - "In whom we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."  Ephesians 1:7

FORGIVENESS - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:9

FRIENDSHIP - "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."  Proverb 18:24

LOVE - "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  1 John 4:10

Those are just a few of the things God has given me as part of his unspeakable gift.  Honestly, I believe this subject is like the words of the hymn The Love of God:

Could we with ink, the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry,

Nor could the scrolll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky!

 

Even though Christmas is the time we celebrate this unspeakable gift coming to Earth, I'm so thankful this gift is unlike any other gift.  It is never out of style or out of stock.  It is always right for me and it is the gift I can share. 

 

Thank you, Jesus for laying your glory by and coming to earth so I wouldn't have to die.

Burdens

I work in customer service and it can be really good but some days may also be really hard.  The normal day includes a balanced mixture of both.  But the other day, it was just a rough morning and I was struggling to keep a good attitude.  The essence of my job is 2 fold: I am to help people but also people call me with their problems.

I don't always feel like handling other people's problems though.  I've got my own problems to handle.  It is not always enjoyable to be loaded down with one problem after another but that's part of the job.

I was having one of those mornings this week.  The type of morning where each call was a complex issue and the person calling just wanted someone to fix it and fix it now.  They don't care about my problems, they just want to me to fix their problem.  My patience was wearing thin and I began to feel frustration bubble up inside.  I tried taking deep breaths but I could tell, it was continuing to build. 

Then the Lord brought these verses to mind...

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."  1 Peter 5:7

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

I was dumbfounded. 

It's hard for me to comprehend the fact that God wants our burdens and our cares.  I am so unlike Christ in that aspect.  It's hard to want to take somebody's burden or problem.  But Christ, He flat out asks us, pleads for us to give our burdens to Him and trust Him with them.

Oh how relieving it is to have someone that I can go to with all my burdens, all my worries and thoughts and desires and cares!  He wants them all.  He wants the good and the bad.  He want the simple and the complex. 

I am so thankful to have a God that loves me enough to take my burdens and carry them so I don't have to.

Truly Thankful

Well, here we are.  Thanksgiving Day.  So much for my blog-a-day challenge this month.  But I do have plenty to be thankful for and today as we gather together with friends and family and enjoy the food that has been planned, prepped and prepared, my mind is filled with what to truly be thankful for this year.

I've spent the last few weeks reading over so many verses in the Bible about thanks, thanksgiving and being thankful.  The Bible has more than enough to say about being thankful, it's all over that Book, from beginning to end.  God knows man and knows that we have to constantly be reminded to be thankful.

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy." 

2 Timothy 3:1-2

Thankfulness breeds certain characteristics in a person, so does unthankfulness.  I want the results of a thankful person, a thankful Christian.

I could write a whole long list of all the "things" I am thankful for today.  For my salvation, my family, my great church, my great Pastor and his family, all the wonderful friends God has blessed me with, my health, my job and so on.  But instead of continuing that list, I am going to focus today's post on the source of all those things I am blessed with.

First and foremost, I am thankful for my God.

My God is alive!  He has overcome death and Hell and He is victorious!  He is the One, True God.  He is the One who existed before all else existed.  By Him were all things created and created for His pleasure.

Millions of people have faith and millions and billions of people believe but unfortunately, many put their faith and belief in a man who is in the grave or many put their faith in a church or religion.  But my God and Savior, Jesus Christ, He is real!  He is alive and here are just a few of His attributes that I am most thankful for...

 - I am thankful for God's love.

"But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8

There are days when I struggle to understand why God would love me.  I mean, "what is man, that thou art mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:4).  Why would a just and holy God who is in need of nothing, why would He love me?  I don't always understand it but boy, am I thankful for it! 

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He first loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  1 John 4:10

He doesn't love me because of what I do for Him or because I love Him.  He loved me first.  He loved me while I was yet a filthy sinner who rejected Him.  He loved me when I rejected His love.  But His love, man, it was there from the beginning and it doesn't have an end.  It doesn't have an end!  I'll never run out of His love for me!  It has no limits!  There is no love that is greater than his love!

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  John 15:13

- I am thankful for God's forgiveness.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:9

His cleansing is unlike anything else.  I know my sins, I know my thoughts, my actions, my motives and my intentions and I understand how unholy they are but yet, for some reason, he not only forgives but cleanses me.  He forgives and cleanses of not just some but all!  ALL!  

- I am thankful that God listens.

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" 1 John 5:14

There are so many people who plan their day around a "call to prayer" that occurs five times a day.  But they pray to a god that is dead, who is lying in a grave and who cannot do anything about their prayers or even hear them.  But me, I can pray to a God who is alive!  A God who can do something about my prayers and who actually hears me!  

I am so thankful that I can go to Him and just talk.  I can pour my heart out before Him and even though I cannot see Him (yet!)  I know He is there and more than that, I know He hears me.  I know because His word tells me.  

I listen to people talk all day.  I have learned that many times, people just want someone who will listen, someone who will take an interest in them and what they have to say.  I know I want that, I desire that and that is why I am so inexpressibly thankful that I can take my cares, my dreams, my desires, my pains and heartaches, my decisions, anything...I can take it all to Him and He'll listen.  Wow.  That amazes me.

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

- I am thankful for God's presence.

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."  Joshua 1:9

A couple of weeks ago in Sunday school, I taught on the fiery furnace (honestly, one of my favorites).  I love that story because I love to picture the scene.  The King orders the furnace to be turned up and they bind of the 3 men and throw them in.  Then they see 4 men standing in the flames and the "fourth is as the Son of Man".  Wooo!  Gives me goosebumps to think on that!

I know that no matter if I am going through a trial or if I am on the mountaintop of triumph, God is there.  Always.  

Well, those are just a few of the many attributes of God that I am thankful for.  I will post more in the next couple of days but today, I think that is enough for me to focus on and to ponder and to thank God for.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

"Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.  Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually."  

1 Chronicles 16: 8-11

Thankfulness Challenge: Day 3

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." 

Joshua 1:9

I'm thankful for a God who is there.  

For the past few weeks in my Sunday school class, we've been learning about the life of Daniel.  My favorite story is the fiery furnace, when God Himself stood in the midst of the fire and flames with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. 

Tomorrow, we will finish up the story of Daniel and the lion's den.  I'm just amazed at the fascinating things God has done.  I'm thankful that the same God who stood in the fire and flames and protected Daniel from the lions is the same God that I get to put my trust in.  He's the same God that stands in the flames of my trials with me.  He protects me and keeps me safe and I am nowhere near facing the same kind of trials and conflicts or persecution that Daniel and his friends faced. 

I'm thankful for a God who is there.  He's there when I need Him.  He's there even when I don't think I need Him.  He's there to cheer me, there to comfort me.  He's there to guide and direct me.  He's there, providing for me and protecting me.  I don't have to ask Him to be there, He's just always there.  He's that "friend that sticketh closer than a brother."  

Amazing.

Thanksgiving Challenge: Day 2

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built in him and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

Colossians 2:6-7

I just got home so I know I am cutting it close with this post but tonight I am thankful for Friday night Bible study.  

When I was in high school, I attended a home Bible study with some friends of mine and I loved it!  I like having plans every Friday.  I like having another opportunity to study God's Word and be around God's people.  

A couple of years ago, we decided to start a home Bible study at my brother's house.  As soon as I heard about it, I knew I wanted to be involved.  

We are now into our 3rd year (I think) and it's going strong!  It's great to look back and see how it's grown and changed and developed.  We studied the foundational doctrines of Christianity, the Tabernacle and other religions.  This fall, my brother started teaching the book of Colossians and once again, I am getting so much out of it!

I thought of the verses above, which we went over tonight, particularly the "as ye have been taught" part of verse 7.

That's the main reason why anybody shows up every Friday.  We all want to be taught something.  Something that will help us.  Something from the Bible, not man's opinion or thought but truth. 

I'm thankful for my brother being willing to study and then teach us and be a guide to us as we study the Bible.  I have been able to observe and learn from him for years now but it has just been within the past year or so that I really started to notice something...he is a teacher.  God has developed that within him and that excites me.  It excites me to see God's work in and through him and to see it in action and to see the fruit of that.  He's doing what God wants to him to do and that's the best thing any Christian can do.

I'm thankful for his wife, who prepares and opens her house each week to our group and makes it a warm, inviting, comfortable and fun environment.

I'm thankful for what I get out of Bible study.  Not only do I get a vast amount of stuff from God's Word that helps deepen my love for the Book and for God and helps and instructs me, but I get so much more.  I get Christian fellowship each week.  I get an opportunity to pray with and for these people.  I get the opportunity to "sharpen" and be "sharpened".  

It's a great way to end my week and start my weekend.  I'm very thankful tonight for our Bible study and everyone who comes.  It's a highlight of my week.

Monthly Challenge: Be thankful!

Well, the first thing I did this morning when I got to work was flip the month on my calendar.  November.  It's finally here!

I love November.  I love the weather, crisp and cool.  I love the smell of November, mulled cider candles burning (or brewing cider on the stove!).  I love the sound of November, the crunch of leaves under my feet.  I love the sight of November, usually the first real snowfall comes this month.  I love the taste of November, thanksgiving meal!

Which brings me to my point: thanksgiving.  The blessed day we have set aside to think upon all the things we are most thankful for and all the wonderful food we consume that day.  I don't know about you but I can't fit all my gratitude into just one day.  I like to try to be thankful everyday, especially during the month of November.  For the past few years, I have kept a list of what I am thankful for and add something new each day of the month.

This year, I'm gonna share that list with you!

I want to focus not just on the things God has blessed me with, which is a lot, but I also want to take some time this month to focus on some of the characteristics of God that I am most thankful for.  Please join me and I encourage you to make your own list!  You'll see just how much God gives to us and it'll help you take time each day to be thankful for something.

So today is November 1st.  I think I'm going to start this month off with being thankful for my salvation.  Last month I had the privilege to share my salvation testimony.  What a blessing!  It had been a long time since I had shared my full testimony with someone.  It was great.

It made me think back though to how I was before I got saved.  I was such a different person.  Different, desires, different attitude, different language, different perspective, different goals.

"Therefore, if any many be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  2 Corinthians 5:17

I am so thankful for the new things He has given me.  He gave me a new life, a new mind, a new home in eternity, new desires, new things to say.  I'm also thankful that the old things are passed away and gone!  Woo hoo!  Man, I love that!  He didn't have to do that, but He did.  Because He's God and He can do that stuff.

So I'm thankful for my salvation.  I'm thankful that I accepted His free gift for me and that He took my place and paid my debt of sin so that I wouldn't have to.  Amazing!

I'm looking forward to this month!  There's so much to be thankful for...I'm just getting started!

Happy November!

My debt

I was struggling last week.  I have a tendency to go through streaks of contentment.  Last week, I had an emotional weak moment, or day actually.

It wasn't pretty.

I've been asking God to give me some of that "peace that passes all understanding" because frankly, I am tired of this fleeting contentment that seems to come and go from time to time.

So yesterday I was praying and talking with God about this whole contentment/peace thing and He gave me a thought: God doesn't owe me anything.

I know that it is not ground-breaking or profound but I needed the reminder and the Lord really struck a cord in me with it.  It was one of those thoughts that God plants in your mind and then continues to stir it around until it can settle and sink in.

It's a true statement though.  God doesn't owe me anything.  However, I think Christians (trust me, myself included) can often convince ourselves that He does in fact owe us something.  We can convince ourselves that since we have trusted Him and are now saved, we are entitled to His blessings.  We can begin to think that the more we do for Him, the more we deserve from Him.  We can begin to believe that He owes us a spouse, a child, health, wealth, happiness, a nice home, a nice car, comfort or even peace.

HA!

He showed me how absolutely ridiculous that is!  

He doesn't owe us anything!

He gave us everything 2,000 years ago when He freely laid his life down for me and shed His blood for me and paid my debt of sin.  He overcame death and Hell for me.  What more could I expect or even ask from Him?! 

God continued to stir that thought last night.  My pastor was preaching about why Christ's return will be glorious and the fact that when we get to Heaven, we will have perfect, immortal bodies, made like Him.  The point he was trying to get across was that God gives us his very best, which is so true.  In response to that, we ought to give Him our very best.

That fit right in with the thought that God doesn't owe me anything but rather, in reality, I owe Him.

I owe God everything. 

I owe him my time, not the very end of my day after everything else has been done but I owe Him the very first part of my day.  I can't be selfish with my time.  If He wants me to give it to others, then I have to obey that.  It's not my time anyways, every moment, every day, every week and year have been given to me by God and He can bring it to an end whenever He wants.

I owe him my thoughts.  Last week in Bible study, we read Proverbs 16:3, "Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established."  That verse really struck me.  Every action begins in the mind.  We contemplate what we are going to do.  I best not be day dreaming or filling my mind with thoughts of this world or of temporal things.  I need to focus and think on things of God. 

I owe him my service.  I shouldn't have a bad attitude about any opportunity I have to service God or to serve His people. 

I owe him my heart.  The whole thing.  I need to keep my heart pure and protected and I want Him to have it.  There are plenty of things in the world vying for it and for my affections, my attention, my thoughts but I need to set my affections on things above because "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Luke 12:34)

I owe him my life.  In my last post I talked about the one purpose we have in life is to please God, since that is the whole reason why we were even created, for his pleasure (Revelation 4:11).  He gave his life for me, the least I could do is attempt to return the favor.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man ay down his life for his friends."  John 15:13

I owe him my all.  It may not be much, but I owe him everything I've got.  Any gifts, any talents, any time I have has been given to me by Him and it is only reasonable for me to offer that back to Him.  I owe it to Him.

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God?"  Micah 6:8 

God doesn't owe me anything.  I owe Him everything.

One purpose

"Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."  Revelation 4:11

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."  - Philippians 2:13

"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."  Acts 5:29

The entire reason I was created was to bring Him pleasure.  To please Him.  The top priority is not to make money, not to do good, it's not even to be happy.  The top priority is to please Him.

It has to remain my top priority.  Every year, every month, every week, every day, every hour, every moment, I need to be focused on doing what He wants me to do.  I need to be focused on doing what He created me to do.  I need to focus on pleasing Him and Him alone.

I struggle with that.  Not that I don't strive to please Him, because I do.  I pray every day to see the opportunities He brings me to please Him.  But I struggle with keeping the focus on pleasing Him first and foremost.

I am a people-pleaser.  I enjoy making people happy.  (honestly, who doesn't?) But it's not right and its not a good thing when I aim to please people before I aim to please my Savior.

God has been teaching me that lately.  He's been making verses pop out at me, like the 3 verses above.  He's been showing me situations in my life recently when I made it a greater priority to please people before pleasing Him.

It's shameful to look back on my actions in the past few months and see myself doing that.  Shameful but needful.

For the past month or so, verses about "serving God rather than serving men" have been leaping off the page.  God is trying to drill into my think head and my stony heart that I need to not be so focused and consumed with what others think - the only thing that matters is what He thinks.

He knows how much I struggle with that.  I had some big decisions to make recently and I feel as though I asked anyone and everyone for their opinion.  I just wanted someone to tell me what to do.  I don't make decisions very well.  I flip-flop.  I can't commit.  I think "road A" is the right decision and an hour later, after rolling it around and around my mind, "road B" seems to be the clear choice.

Ugh.

I hate that about myself.  It drives me nuts.

But the first person I took it to was the Lord and I made the decision I felt He wanted me to make.  Even though I know some may disagree with it.  Even though some may think it was the easy choice (which by the way, it wasn't) or the safe choice, it's what I believe God wanted and I hope He is pleased.

What I want - doesn't matter.  What other people think is right for me - doesn't matter.  He created me.  He loves me.  He gave his life for me.  He has a plan and a will for my life and that is what I desire more than anything.  My greatest desire is to do what He created me to do.

"Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."  Revelation 4:11

A defining moment

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." - Joshua 1:9

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  - Hebrews 13:5

Do you ever have an experience that makes you look at some of these verses totally differently?  I had one of those experiences this summer.

Last week, I was catching up with a friend and talking about the past year or so and the different events that have happened.  I was telling them about something that happened really unexpectedly and was kind of a painful ordeal.

It happened late in the summer and without going into all the details, it was one of those defining moments.  One of those moments that you'll remember every painful detail of for a long, long time.  One of those moments that you know will change and alter the course of your life and your relationships.  One of those moments that you don't choose, but it chooses you.

The moment happened.  It involved tears and confusion, sadness and heartache.  I didn't know how to handle it.  I was overwhelmed with emotion and so unsure of what just happened and trying to comprehend that it actually did just happen.

I needed comfort.

I came home and did what I always do when I need comfort.   I went to bed.  Just crawled right in, covered up and cried.

But that doesn't help, not for very long at least.

I needed a hug.

I needed someone to hold me and make me feel protected, make me feel loved, make me feel cared for.  I needed someone to console me.

But I didn't have anyone to get that from.  Yes I could have called a friend but I would have felt like I was a bother or interrupting.  Besides, they would probably ask what was going on and I didn't even understand it enough to explain.  It was an awkward situation and I didn't need someone to talk to, I needed someone to comfort me.

So I turned to the Lord. 

He already knew the situation.  He knew the pain in my heart.  I asked Him to comfort me.

He did.

I don't know if I can fully explain or describe it, but He comforted me with His supernatural comfort.  I literally felt as though He was right here with me, holding me and comforting me.  He made me feel protected, loved and cared for.  It was unlike any kind of comfort I have ever experienced before.  It was indescribable.  It was wonderful.  It was miraculous.  It was tender.

I read those verses in Joshua and Hebrews now and man, they have a whole new meaning.  I have experienced them.  I have experienced the fact that when you literally have no one around, I always have God.  ALWAYS!

Oh the comfort that that brings!  It makes me tear up just thinking about it.  He doesn't have to do that.  He didn't have to be there for me that night.  He didn't have to allow me to feel His comfort and His presence, but He did anyways.

I also realized that night that I am very thankful for this time of being single.  I don't know how long it will last or if it will ever even end.  But I realized that night that if I were in a relationship, I would have sought out comfort from them (boyfriend/husband).  It's the natural thing to do.  But since I don't have that, I have God.

And that is all I need.

It doesn't surprise me at all that Hebrews 13:5 talks about contentment and not being covetous.  To me, that verse speaks to the fact that God is here - always here - and He is enough.  We ought to be content with Him and Him alone.

I sure am.  He continues to amaze me and reveal Himself unto me and all it does is cause me to desire more and more of Him!  Lately, I feel like I just can't get enough of Him.  (and I am loving it!) 

I'm thankful tonight for those defining moments...for those moments that choose us because it's through those moments, that God can really work and we can really grow closer to Him!

What it's all about...

A couple of weeks ago a group of us from church went out street preaching.  We just gathered together, sang a song, spread out over the intersection with scripture signs and the guys preached.

I was holding a sign with the following verse on it:

"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" 2 Corinthians 4:5a

That verse has stuck in my mind and in my heart for the past few weeks.   God's been reminding me that it's not all about me.  It's not about what I want, it's not about what I do or don't have, it's not about what I am comfortable with. 

It's about Him.  It's about what He wants, what He desires for me, where He wants me, doing what He wants me to do.  He created me, placed me where He has placed me.  I need to look around and see what He wants me to do rather than poke around and see what I want. 

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."  1 Corinthians 10:31

Boy, have I ever needed that reminder. I have allowed myself to take my focus off Him and instead followed whatever it is that I want. 

Wrong. Wrong.  Wrong.

God doesn't want me to be unhappy but I know that I will be most happy when I am following Him and His guiding and directing of my life, not following my own selfish desires and wants.

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:4-5

I'm sorry for not being committed to you like I ought to, Lord.  Thank you for reminding me that I was created for Your pleasure.  I was put here to serve You.  Thank you for the opportunity to get back on track.

"He must increase, but I must decrease."  John 3:30

Help me, Lord, to be decreased.

A broken heart

God broke my heart the other night.

It needed it.

I didn't realize it needed it, but God knew. 

I was at a special prayer meeting at church on Friday night.  We had 3 different rooms, different things to pray for in each room and 45 minutes in each room.  I really enjoy these nights.  They are good for me.  It reminds me of how much I fall short in my prayer life and it's also a good opportunity to pray with church family.

But something unexpected happened on Friday night.  I was in the room where we pray for leaders and also give thanks.  In this room we broke off individually and prayed - just one on one with God.  When I came to the part of things to give thanks for the first thing on the list was salvation.  As I began to pray and thank God for saving me, I really began to consider and reflect on what it really entailed.

I became overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed with gratitude.

He was mocked. scorned. rejected. spit upon. beaten.    for me.

I am so completely and utterly unworthy and undeserving of Him and of the gift of salvation. 

I sin and neglect Him and His Word and His teaching and His guiding and directing in my life so often.  He brings opportunities to me and I ignore them or refuse them.

And yet, He still went to the cross - not only went to the cross but actually carried it - for me.

My mind was blown.  That is incomprehensible love.

I thanked Him for loving me.

He doesn't have to.  I'm not easy to love.  I disappoint.  I can hurt and can cause pain.  I do and say the wrong thing far too often.

Yet, He loves me.  He loves me more than I can understand.  He loves me unlike anyone else can love me.  He has loved me from before I was ever created and He will love me forever.

I thanked Him for my health.  He healed me.  He healed my leg. 

I had given up hope.  I knew God could heal it but I had given up faith that He would heal it.  I had convinced myself that it was something I had to live with and I did, for 3 years.  I figured it would eventually get bad enough where it would just have to be amputated and I had been preparing myself for that result.

But God had other plans.  I know I didn't deserve His healing but He gave it to me despite my unbelief.  Words cannot not begin to express my gratitude for that.  When you come to a point of convincing yourself you may lose your leg and instead God heals it within  weeks - trust me, it takes awhile for it to set in.  I'm still trying to believe it - seems too good to be true sometimes.

But that's God and that's why He is more than worthy of our thanks.

I also thanked God for being my friend.

Honestly, I struggle with loneliness sometimes.  But Friday night, He reminded me that He is always there and He brought to mind all the different times when He has always come through for me.  He is always there to listen.  He always cares.  He's always interested.  He doesn't interrupt.  He lets me go on and on and on about the silly things but He listens.  He cares.  He's always there.  He's my Friend.

I was broken down and weeping by this point.  I couldn't control it.  He had broken my hard and unthankful heart. 

But He was right there to pick up the pieces and to hold it in it's fragility.  He broke it so that I might be able to offer it to Him to fix and to fill with the right things.

I know He was there.  The Bible tells us in Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

He was in that church.  He was in that nursery room.  He was knelt down next to me and had His hand upon me.  I know He was because I felt Him.  I felt His presence. 

I needed that.  I hadn't realized it, but it had been too long since I had felt closeness of that caliber with Him.  He didn't have to allow me to feel His presence, but I am thankful for it.  I'm thankful He was that close because I could no longer vocalize my prayer.  I was too overwhelmed and had to finish praying simply from my heart.

I'm so thankful for that time I got to spend with Him.  I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.  But one thing I am most thankful for is that I can have that with Him at anytime.  The God of the universe, who spoke life and earth and created the stars also, Him, I get to talk to Him, whenever I want. 

I'm glad God saw the state of my heart, when I didn't.  I'm glad He broke it and emptied it of all the pride and selfishness.  I'm glad He has since refilled it with His love and desires to please and serve Him. 

He hears

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."  Psalm 40:1

I work in a call center and talk to people all day, everyday.  One of my biggest pet peeves is being interrupted.  I don't understand why a person would call in, ask a question, and then 3 words into the response, they interrupt.

That's one reason why I love verse above so much.  I love the fact that when I talk to God, He hears me.  I can always go to Him.  He cares.  He listens.  He wants to hear what I have to say...my worries, my concerns, my struggles, my desires.

Today, it was just a good reminder that when I sometimes feel like I don't have anyone to talk to, I've always got Him, :)

Is He enough?

"I need no other argument, I need no other plea, it is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me."

The lines above are from the hymn, My Faith Has Found a Resting Place.  We sang it at church last week.  While we were singing, I was struck with this thought: Is He enough?

Do we ever really believe we have enough?

"If I could just get married, and have someone, then I'd be happy."

"If only we could have a child, then we'd be a happy, little family."

"Boy, if we could just get a house and have a yard for the kids to play in..."

Contentment can be a tough thing to achieve, especially in our generation.  The generation of newer and better.  I began to think about it though, do I allow God to be enough for me?

Honestly, I don't think I do.  I struggle with it.  It can be so easy to look around and see some of the things that others have and then allow yourself to focus on the things that you might not have.

I want to be content.  I am most happy when I am content.  He is happy when I am content.  Why is it so hard sometimes, then for me to be content and allow Him to be enough.

I can't rely on others to give me the fulfillment I seek.  It's not fair to them because no matter what they do or how hard they might try, no person can fulfill like God can.

So tonight, I am seeking contentment.  I was asking God to show me something from His word that would remind me that He is enough for me.  He gave me a few but here's one I'll share with you:

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."  Psalm 37:4-5

If I get discouraged or discontent, I have to delight myself in God.  I can't be reliant upon others to do it for me.  He is worthy of delight.  I need to remain committed to Him and to trust Him.  He knows the desires of my heart, He knows what I long for, He knows the goals I have, the aspirations I have.  He knows the things I want but that don't even admit to myself.  He knows them.  He can satisfy them.  He can supply them.  I don't want them unless He supplies them.

I have to remember to trust Him to supply them...when He wants to supply them.

Lord, help me to always remember, You are more than enough for me.

Always there

"In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.  Trust in him at all times: ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah."

- Psalm 62:7-8

Life is hard.  It consists of moments of sheer bliss and complete happiness but it also contains times of heartache, struggle and pain.  But no matter where we are in the process or experience of life, God is always there. 

He is our strength.  When we are weak, we have to go to Him for strength.  When we cannot find it within ourselves to go on, we must draw from Him.  He will supply.

He is our refuge.  When we need shelter, He is there.  We can run to Him and rely upon Him to protect us. 

We can always trust Him.  There seems to be so many false or deceiving things in the world today.  It's hard, at times, to know who or what you can trust.  But oh how comforting it can be to know that you always have Him.  He is always there.  He is always wanting to hear from you.  You can always trust Him.  He will never deceive you.  We can fully confide in Him. 

We can pour our heart out to Him.  Have you ever had those moments when you are so overwhelmed you can't even begin to put your feelings to words?  Well, with Him, you don't have to.  He knows.  He knows our heart, He knows our feelings, He knows our fears, He knows our sorrows.  We can freely pour them out to Him and He gladly takes them. 

He is always that shoulder to cry on, always there to wrap His arms around you and draw you in tight to Him.  He is always there, no matter what our need is, He can fulfill it. 

Praise

"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."  Psalm 34:1

I love Pandora.  For those of you who may be unfamiliar, Pandora is an internet based radio (also an iPhone app) that allows you to create your own radio stations.  You can personalize your music playlist.  I think it's wonderful and I could listen to it 24/7.  It has basically become my own personal, portable karaoke machine.

When I am getting ready in the morning, I like to have it on.  Most the the stations I have on my play list are hymns.  This past week it seems like I just cannot get enough hymns.  I have struggled with music here and there since I've been saved.  My flesh and my old nature really love a good musical beat but that cannot even begin to compare how my soul is stirred by the notes and lyrics of a spiritual hymn.

My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought, My sin, not in part, but the whole - is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!  - It is Well with My Soul

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, In my place, condemned He stood: Sealed my pardon with His blood; Guilty, vile and helpless, we; spotless Lamb of God was He; "Full atonement!" can it be?  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour! - Hallelujah, What a Saviour!

 He saw me plunged in deep distress, and flew to my relief; for me He bore the shameful cross, and carried all my grief, and carried all my grief.  To Him I owe my life and breath, and all the joys I have, He makes me triumph over death, and saves me from the grave, and saves me from the grave. - Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned

Those are just a few playing through my mind right now, but there are so much more!  How can those words not stir a person who has been completely redeemed from their sin and given a new, victorious life in Christ?

I want to be like David and have praise for God in my mouth continually.  

"While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being."  Psalm 146:2

An abundant life?

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  John 10:10

That verse was quoted over a year and a half ago, during a devotional.  I remember thinking to myself, "an abundant life, huh?  Well, this isn't exactly what I call 'living the abundant life'."

Let me preface this post with a little background, a little history...

Six years ago, I was bit by a brown recluse spider, as far as I know, anyways.  I wasn't specifically diagnosed with it but it caused great pain, swelling and infection in my right leg.  It took about 3 months, but my leg did heal up.  However, 2 years later, I got another infection in my right leg, in the same spot where the bite was.  I was hospitalized but it cleared quickly.  A year later, another infection came.  This was in 2009 and this time they kept me in the hospital for a week and decided to do a surgery on my leg because they found "pockets of something" during on ultrasound.

They carved the pockets out and wanted my leg to heal from the inside out.  Which it did - to a degree.

Following my surgery, they ran all kinds of tests on me and had me see all kinds of specialists to find out why my leg was still swollen and why this was recurring.  All the tests turned out fine and no one really gave any answers.  So I was frustrated.  I stopped making appointments with doctors.  I was tired of feeling like a science experiment and paying for all kinds of things and not getting any answers.

That was 3 years ago.

My leg was still healing from the surgery but it wasn't healing very well or quickly.  But I ignored it.  I would bandage it up and go on.  I wasn't going to sit around with my leg elevated all the time.  I had stuff to do.  I had to go to work and live my life.

For the past 3 years, I've had an open, draining wound on my leg.  I know it should not have taken 3 years for this to heal and clear up.  I knew I've let too much time pass.  I knew it wasn't normal.  I knew I should have gone to the doctor but I was afraid.  I was afraid they would be condescending.  I was afraid they would blame me, I was afraid they wouldn't be able to help me.

I never showed my leg to anyone.  I was ashamed of it.  I was ashamed of the fact that it hadn't healed.  I was ashamed that I had to go home every couple of hours to change my bandages because they would be soaked from the drainage.  I was ashamed that I had to have towels around my house because it would just drain and drain and I was too cheap to spend more money on bandages.  I was ashamed because my shoe would get wet from the drainage and squeak and squish.  I thought everyone could hear it and thought of me as a freak.

I had convinced myself that this was just it.  This was part of my life now, so I best not complain about, I best not talk about it, I might as well just live with it as best I can.

That mindset changed last month.

A friend of mine was over and when she was leaving, she noticed I had 2 identical pairs of shoes.  She asked why I had 2, to which I replied, because I wear one during the day but after work it's usually damp so I come home, change my bandages and change shoes.

This started a conversation I didn't expect, a conversation I had been avoiding, a conversation I needed but was scared to have.  My family had been telling me for years to go to a doctor for my leg but I don't think I was ready until that night.  My friend convinced me that it's not normal, that I deserve more.

She asked me if I ever pray about my leg, if I ever ask God to heal it.

Nope.

I didn't like thinking about my leg.  When it hurt and was painful, I tried all I could to think of other things.  Why would I willingly think about it and talk about it with God?

This isn't exactly something I am glad to admit, considering I know there are plenty of people who did pray for my leg.  I felt like such a hypocrite.  What kind of faith did I really have?  Why didn't I trust God enough?  I would organize prayer meetings for other people and talk about how much God has taught me about prayer through other people's lives and here I was, never talking to Him about my leg.  We both know it was there.  We both know what condition it was in and yet, I never talked to Him about it.

At the prodding of this friend, I made an appointment with a doctor.  He took one look at my leg and referred me to a specialist, actually, the surgeon who operated on me 3 years ago.  He set up an appointment for me the next day and told me I could not miss it.

So I went, hesitantly and unsure of what to expect, but I went.

I'm glad I went because I found help.  I found a doctor who cares, who didn't judge, who didn't blame, who wants to help me and wants to be a partner in helping me get better and take care of this issue.  I'm thankful for God providing me with a good doctor, they are not always the easiest to find.

I am now getting treatment for the wound and the underlying condition that I actually have in both of my legs.

For the first time in years, ( I can't believe I wasted so many YEARS) I finally have hope of normal health.

After the first week of treatment, I was amazed.  I no longer had to rush home to change my bandages or my socks.  I could go to church and by the end of the service, my foot was still dry and although I am not a big fan of all the wrapping I have on my leg, I have seen the results thus far and am incredibly grateful.

I am only a few weeks into this treatment, which may take a few months, but already I have seen my life free up.  I have seen where I allowed it to control me, control my thoughts and control my life.  I am still ashamed of that but I have to put that behind me because for the first time in years, I am on the road to experiencing that "abundant life" promised in John 10:10. 

Out of focus

 

Today is June 5th.  

The picture above is my photo of the day - a sign.

Last month, I started participating in the "Photo a day" challenge with some friends and so that's where this photo comes into play.  I didn't have to look too far for today's photo subject as this is my front yard.  The only sign I actually like in the yard is the little white one in the back with the Bible verse on it.

I edited this photo with Instagram and posted it.  This afternoon, I noticed a friend of mine happened to catch the play of focus I did with this photo.  It's subtle so I wasn't sure it'd be noticeable, but I blurred the picture except for the white sign with the verse on it.  

When I read her comment, the word "focus" just seemed to linger on my mind for the next few hours.  I came home tonight, glanced over at these signs and thought of that word, focus.  That's when it hit me - my life has been out of focus lately.

It's been over a month since my last post on here and even with that, it was only one post in the entire month!  I've been slacking and out of focus.  

I've also been struggling alot lately.  Just seem to be struggling with life.  Struggling with contentment.  Struggling with trying to make decisions.  Struggling with thoughts, fears, pride, insecurities and doubts.

Struggling. 

God reminded me tonight that those struggles I've been trying to handle on my own are caused by allowing myself to be and remain out of focus.  

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."  Matthew 22:37

For the past month or so, I have not had my heart or soul focused on God and I surely know my mind has not been fixed on him.  This feels like a very pivotal time in my life, too, a time in which I need to be solely focused on Him.  

So that's my assignment from God this week.  To try everyday to remain focused on Him.  Let everything else in the world and in my life be blurred a bit, that's okay, He's controlling it all anyways.  He wants to be the only thing I focus on.  

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"  Micah 6:8

It's just you and me this week, God, You are my focus.

Lest I forget...

I'm not sure about you but I have a tendency to forget things sometimes.

I have forgotten some very important things recently.  But God spent the last few days reminding me.

It first happened when we were singing a song at church.  "Lead me to Calvary"  Sang it plenty of times in the past but it was one of those moments where the words seem as though they are speaking to you for the first time.

"Lest I forget Gethsemane, Lest I forget thine agony; Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary."

It was as though God was tapping me on the shoulder, saying, "Hey Amy.  Pay attention.  Lest you forget."

That night, I couldn't shake it.  I had been struggling with discouragement and loneliness and was content wallowing in my self-pity.  

But God didn't want that.  He knew I needed to snap out of it.

I pushed the thought to the back of my mind and went about the rest of my night.  The next day, however, God tapped me on the shoulder with another reminder.  This reminder was that He has put people in my life that care about me and want to be a part of my life and want me to share it with them.  I have a tendency to not let people past a certain point but He reminded me that there are some I can let in.

Okay Lord, I'll start paying attention now.

Well, for good measure, He gave me another reminder Friday night.  

I stopped by my parents' house after Bible study and we were talking about some issues that have come up recently.  They tried talking to me about it about a week earlier but I wasn't ready.  I told them I hate making decisions and going through things by myself.  My parents reminded me that I'm not alone and that  I don't have to make decisions and go through life alone.  God tapped on my shoulder again.

"Amy, why are you so quick to forget these things?  Why do you allow yourself to be convinced that you have to do everything on your own?  Why do you convince yourself that asking for help will make you seem weak?"

"I don't know why I do those things, Lord."

"Well, lest you forget, I'm here.  I'm here to remind you of the family and friends I have given you.  Use them.  Don't shut them out.  Allow them to help you.  Draw support from Me and from them."

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."  Isaiah 41:10

I forgot that when I think no one cares - God cares.

I forgot that He loves me, when I think I am unlovable.

I forgot that when I feel worthless, He sees me as worthy of His love, His time, His Son.

I forgot that when I feel all alone in this world, He's there.

I forgot that when I feel deserted, He promised to never leave me.

I forgot that He gave me this life and that He wants me to live it abundantly.

I forgot the price that He paid so that I might live.

Lest I forget again, Lord, lead me to Calvary, where I will be reminded of the price You paid for me and the love that You have for me.

Promises

We had an amazing little spring shower last night.  I luckily had a fantastic, front row seat to the show in the sky.  Amazing clouds, a little thunder rumble and ofcourse, as always, a rainbow.

As I thought about that bright and beautiful rainbow I saw last night, it reminded me of promises.

We all make promises.  

Some are big promises, like the vows we make to our spouses on our wedding day.  Some are small promises like a returning a phone call.  

But we all have broken a promise or two.  I know I have.  But when I look at that rainbow, it reminds me that out of all the promises that God has given us (the Bible's full of 'em), God never, ever breaks His promise.

In a world of unknowns and instability, I'm thankful that I can count on God and His promises.

Just God

There are times in our lives when we have nothing to trust in, nothing to depend upon except for God and God only.

As humans, we tend to naturally be uncomfortable when we reach these times in our lives. Times when we are not in control. Times when we are at a loss of words. Times when we are mentally, physically, emotionally and sometimes spiritually exhausted and weak.

I personally have not been to that extreme (thankfully) but I have some dear friends who have been there on multiple occasions. This weekend was one of them.

I know I have mentioned Charlie before but just to bring you up to speed, he just turned 3 a month ago and less than 2 weeks ago he went through his 4th major heart surgery. As you can imagine, a 3 year old boy who has gone through 4 major heart surgeries in his life, there have been plenty of opportunities and moments that God has worked and moved in his life. I have been fortunate enough to witness some of these miracles God has done through Charlie and through his parents.

Friday night Charlie had a rough night. I was just getting ready to go to bed when I got a text from his mom. I'll spare all the details but if you'd like more information on Charlie and follow his progress, please feel free to visit his Caring Bridge website : http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charliesmith

His blood pressure had dropped along with some other issues and his doctors couldn't figure out why. It had already been a rough day and his mother just wanted to see her boy get some rest and some relief from his constant pain. It was late at night but we can't always control when prayer is needed. So as soon as I got her text, I forwarded it - along with an apology for the late hour. But many people texted back and within 10 minutes, I knew there was a group lifting up Charlie before God's Throne of Grace.

A few minutes later, Charlie's aunt called me to give me an update and few more details. I wish I could have found good, comforting words to give to her but all I could think to do was pray.

So that's what I did.

I thought of that night as I read though the story of Gideon. In Judges 7, God is preparing Gideon and his army for a battle. I noticed verse 2, "And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me saying, Mine own hand hath saved me."

That statement led to Gideon's army being reduced down from 32,000 to just 10,000. But verse 4, God tells Gideon it's still too much. "And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be that of whom I say unto thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go."

Guess how many ended up going with Gideon to fight in the battle.

300.

From 32,000 to 300.

Wow.

I know the old saying goes 'there is safety in numbers' but the Bible says "safety is of the Lord."

God didn't want Israel to take credit for what He was going to do. I think He still does that. He will strip us of everything sometimes and leave us with Him as our only option. He likes it that way and honestly, that's the way it should be. It isn't always easy and it isn't always comfortable to be there but....but there is a reason He does that. He puts us in those predicaments and situations where we have nothing and no one but Him and it is at those moments where He can get the greatest glory.

I have seen God do amazing, unthinkable things for Charlie and through Charlie. The moments that stick out the most for me are those very moments when the only option, the only comfort, the only focus is prayer to Him.

Another nugget I got from this little example of Gideon was from verse 4 where God said He will try them by the water. Before Charlie was born God had already been preparing his parents to be the kind of people, the kind of believers, the kind of Christians, the kind of parents that Charlie would need. God knew that and that
is why He gave Charlie the parents and family that He did. They have definitely been tried in ways that many Christians will never even imagine being challenged and through it all, they have grown closer together, drawn closer to God and continually have given Him the glory - through the good and the bad.

If you think of it, please pray for Charlie and visit his site. He is such a little champ and he is one of God's special little workers. If you pray for him, I can guarantee you that you will witness a miracle of God.

It's not always easy to be in the type of situations like Gideon and these 300 men were in, going up against the Midiantites and their vast army and it's not easy for Charlie and his parents being in their situation, trying to handle each challenge as it arises and the constant worry of the unknown but what a comfort it is to know that God is there. God was there with Gideon and they won the battle because of God. God is there in that hospital room with Charlie right now, feeling the pain Charlie feels, comforting Charlie's family as they stay by his side, trusting that Charlie will win his battle, too because of God.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed: for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

Day 31 - Open thy mouth

"Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." Proverb 31:9

Proverbs 31 is famously known as the "virtuous woman proverb" but a different verse/thought struck me today while reading the chapter.

Verse 9 stuck out to me today, in particular, the phrase 'open thy mouth'.

I need to open my mouth for Him more. It's one thing to sit behind the keyboard and update good Facebook statuses or tweets but when given the opportunity, face to face, to open my mouth and witness to someone or share with them what God has been doing in my life, I often remain silent.

I need to open my mouth and share the gospel. I need to open my mouth and share the great thins He has done for me. I need to open my mouth and give Him the praises He is due.

Open thy mouth.

Day 30

"Every word of God is pure; he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." Proverb 30:5

Yesterday we talked about how every idle word we speak, we will have to give an account of, so today, verse 5 jumped out as me as soon as I read it.

I've had this thought rolling around my mind for the past day or so. Ever since I read Proverbs 28:26 "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."

I've been thinking of that verse, how I can't even trust myself, I can't trust my own heart because it's deceitful but then I read verse 5 today and am so thankful that I can trust God and His Word! There are many unreliable things in life but God, He is reliable.

You can't put a price on that!

Day 29 - Say what?

"Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him." Proverb 29:20

Today's reminder from Proverbs is to watch what we say.

"A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards." Proverb 29:11

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
Matthew 12: 36-37

I heard once that the average person says around 7,000 words per day. That's a lot of words. According to Matthew 12, we will be accountable to God for each and every one.

Wow. That's sobering.

Day 28

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverb 28:26

You can't base everything off of your feelings. Feelings change. Your heart can change. It's not wise to trust in your heart.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

I know we have discussed the heart earlier this month, but I found this verse interesting today when I read it. I'm thankful for verses like this. They remind me that on days when I don't feel close to God, when I don't feel like a Christian, when I don't feel like I am living an abundant life, I can turn to His Word. It is consistent. He is consistent.

I appreciate that. I need that. I need Him to be consistent because I can be all over the board some days and He is there...my steady Rock.

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverb 28:26

I can't always trust and depend on my heart, but I can ALWAYS trust and depend on God!

Day 27

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Proverb 27:1

Proverbs 27.

I love this Proverb. There are so many great verses.

"Let another man praise thee and not thine own mouth: a stranger and not thine own lips." verse 2

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." verse 6

"Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel." verse 9

"He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him." verse 14
"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." verse 17

"As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man." verse 19

"Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied." verse 20

But the verse that always gets me is verse one: "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

Each morning when we wake, God has provided us with a blank canvas. We can spend our day however we chose. We can serve Him as much or as little as we want. We can read His Word as much or as little as we want. We can spend as much time with Him in prayer as we want. We can tell everyone we see in a day about what He has done for us, and what He has done for them. We can give Him our all.

Or....

We can get up and go about our own business. We can make our own decisions. We can keep quiet about what He has done for us and keep it "just between me and God" because "it's personal. We can hoard our time and waste our time and we can ignore His calling.

We can choose each day whom we want to serve: self or God?

"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15b

There is no guarantee of tomorrow. That person you saw at the gas station, you know, the one that God told you to give a tract to but you didn't feel like it, you didn't want to seem awkward or interrupt them...you may never get a chance to see them or hand them a tract ever again. God made your paths cross for a reason. He gave you an opportunity to serve Him. You may never get that opportunity again.

This verse is pounded down deep in me. I think of it almost everyday. Which is a good thing, because I need the daily reminder that it is a new day, full of opportunity...I just need to be willing to follow Him and not set my own path.

Day 26

"He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears."
Proverb 26:17

Social networking is the playground for gossipers. But that is still no excuse for Christians to be meddling in things that don't pertain to them. God doesn't like gossiping and this verse is a great reminder that if you meddle in the business of others, you are asking for it.

Day 25

"Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer."

This is a great attitude to have. The attitude and desire to have God take away our faults and sins (dross) and improve us that we may be a cleaner vessel for Him to use.

It isn't always easy to go through those stages of having the dross cleared away from our lives but it is necessary.

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:16

Day 24 - God's perspective

"The thought of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men." Proverb 24:9

There seems to be so many things that we are expected to be tolerant of nowadays. It doesn't take much to be labeled as intolerant. All you have to do is stand on a street corner with a Bible verse sign or simply speak up against homosexuality or fornication and say that it is Biblical (and the right thing to do) to wait until marriage before being sexually active. Those are just a few examples.

But our society is constantly trying to blur the lines of what is right and what is wrong.

"Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." Isaiah 5:20

One way that we can combat this in our own lives is to try to get God's perspective on things. We can do this by studying God's Word (such as reading a Proverb a day). This helps us understand God and according to Him, even the thought of foolishness is sin.

I remember the first time I read this verse. I was floored! The very thought, not even the action but simply the thought of foolishness is sin! Oh if I could really truly see my sin the way God sees it. If I could hate sin the way that God hates it - my oh my how my life would be different.

"Lord, help me to see the sin in my life. Help me to be uncomfortable with it. Help me to hate it the way You hate it. Help me to be more like You."

Day 23

"Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. " Proverb 23:29-30

I used to get invited out for drinks after work. Nothing big, just a few coworkers going to a local restaurant, not a bar, to have a few drinks and unwind a bit. I always declined the invite. They would still try to get me to come by changing the location or advising that not everyone was going to drink, others were only going to have water. They'd say it's not about what beverage you had, they just wanted to get together.

I understand that. But I still declined.

I know many people think that it is okay to be Christian and okay to drink. If you read the Bible, you will see God's strong disdain for alcohol. Yes, I have heard the argument, "well, Jesus drank wine." It's always the line that gets brought up on this topic but when you actually study the type of beverage it was when Jesus turned the water into wine, it was new wine, as in non-fermented, as in not alcoholic.

God called us Christians to "be ye separate" and to "come out from among them". I realize it is not the norm to be in my 20s and not drinking. I'm not saying that it isn't tempting at times but it's not worth it to me. I know I would disappoint God and I've learned from Proverbs 23 what happens to those that "tarry long at the wine" and I want nothing to do with it.

Proverbs 20:1 tells us, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." We've spent all month looking at proverbs and trying to obtain more wisdom, what sense would it make to wash that wisdom away with a few drinks.

I don't drink. Proverbs 23 is on my list of reasons why.

Who hath woe? Who hath contentions?

Life is stressful and hectic enough. I do not need another vice that opens the door to more woe, more contentions, more affliction.

Day 22 - The financial proverb

"The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverb 22:7

I've always thought of this chapter as the financial proverb. There are so many verses about money and debts and agreements.

"Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?" Proverb 22:26-27

As I read through this chapter and thought about the verses today, I can't help but think back to the time in my life when finances were a heavy burden and struggle for me. They still are somewhat, here and there but I specifically remember seeing God work and provide for me and thought I'd share it with you.

At the time, I was living in an apartment with my sister and I had been using my credit card for almost everything. I had managed to rack up a few thousand dollars in debt and now they were coming to collect and I didn't have anything. It was to the point where I was eating one meal a day, if I could afford it, a sandwich from Subway - back then the "sub of the day" was $2.50. I remember combing through my vehicle to find enough change to make $2.50. But I was scared and ashamed and didn't want to tell anyone just how bad it was.

But God knew.

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a Thursday. Pay day. I got my check that morning and knew my account was overdrawn so on my lunch break, I went to the bank and deposited my check. I came back to the office and tried to balance my funds. That's when it hit me.

My account was overdrawn more than what my entire paycheck was.

My mind began to race.

"Well, looks like I'll be fasting for the next 2 weeks."
"How am I going to afford gas to get to work?"

"Lord, what am I going to do?!?"

I was discouraged. I was ashamed. I was worried. I was scared. I was mad at myself. I was at a loss.

So I prayed. I finally let go of the reigns and gave my checkbook and bank accounts over to God. Just like when I got saved, I gave my mess to God and asked Him to fix it. I knew I had made a mess of everything He had given me and I knew He was the only One who could fix it.

I could hardly focus the rest of the day.

I drove home that day feeling defeated and pleading out to God.

I walked from my car to the door with heaviness. I unlocked the door and walked into the apartment and as I turned to close the door behind me, I realized I had stepped on something. I looked down and saw that it was an envelope with my name on it. There was no stamp, no address. It had apparently just been slipped under the door.

As I stood there, my sister came out of the bathroom after finishing a shower. I asked her if she had seen it or dropped it. She said she had just gotten home and took a shower and didn't see it before. So I opened up the envelope and inside was a cashier's check, in my name, for $100.00. In the corner of the check, by MEMO is simply said: God bless.

I was stunned.

That check felt like a million bucks to me that day! I began to weep. I was overwhelmed.

God had answered my prayer. I believe He answered it before I had even prayed it. I have an idea of who possibly slid that check under my door that night but I have never asked them about it. I figure they were being obedient to God and for that I am thankful. I'm thankful that God took care of me and allowed me to go through that time because I remember that experience when I read about how the borrower is servant to the lender.

It is so very true.

God has taught me a lot about finances and I am happy to say that I have lived the last 4-5 years without a credit card and I have no plan on obtaining one in the near future. I no longer live outside of my means. God has even brought funds across my path that have enabled me to give more to a ministry, missionary or fellow Christian when He lays it upon my heart to do so.

It is not always easy to go through those "trials' or lessons from God but I am thankful for them. That experience was very crisp and clear in my life and mind and now when finances begin to become a struggle, I think back to that day. I know I can trust in Him. I know He will protect me. I know He will provide for me because He did it then.

This lesson and experience taught more about more than just finances, it brought me to another level of faith in Him.

He is the only One I ever want to be indebted to.