A few weeks ago I had the privilege of giving a friend a ride home from our church's monthly women's prayer meeting. Before she got out of the car, we were able to spend a few moments talking and she was sharing with me all the little ways God worked in answering a very big request/decision of theirs.
I remember pulling away from that street thinking how great it is to be able to share those stories and testimonies with one another. Our God is great and mighty and faithful - not just to some but to all. I had been praying for this family and their decisions even though during the prayer time, I wasn't sure of all the answers they were looking for, I was prayerfully trusting that God would answer them and when He did, it was that much sweeter to celebrate with this family as they praised God.
That night, as I drove the few remaining blocks home, Proverbs 27:17 came to my mind, "Iron sharpeneth iron: so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
Such true words.
I was sharpened that night. I was sharpened by her testimony of trusting God and relying on Him to work out the situation and having the patience to allow Him to do it in His time. It's exciting to hear when He comes through.
I was also sharpened just the other day by a friend. I was talking to her on the phone and before we hung up she asked if there was anything she could pray for me about. Honestly, I was caught off guard but in a good way. I spend hours on the phone each day and even when they are personal calls, I do not get asked that question very often but I appreciated her interest and her initiative to ask. I responded and posed her the same question and this opened up a conversation about her desire to be a witness for the Lord to her co-workers. Now, not only had I been encouraged by her asking about my prayer requests but now (unknown to her) she was encouraging me to evaluate my desire to be a witness to my own co-workers. As she described the different people she was burdened for, I couldn't help but feel a bit convicted as I myself had numbed out the desire and the burden I once had for those I am around.
I hung up that day, sharpened.
The Christian life is exciting. It is not dull, dreary and boring but rather exciting, thrilling, challenging and fulfilling. Sharing our requests with one another can draw us closer and it also affords us the opportunity to share our triumphs with each other as well.
A good example of that is yet another friend of mine who had been trying to qualify for the state track tournament. Track meet after track meet, she would pray and had a strong desire and her mind made up to do it for His glory. She had her moments of struggle...moments of disappointment but she always let me know when her next meet was so I could pray for her.
Then.....Saturday came. I was out of town but I got a text message on my phone: "I QUALIFIED!"
As soon as I saw those words appear on my screen, I felt a grin spread across my face. I am sure it reached from ear to ear. For weeks, track meet after track meet, I had prayed for her and watched her work hard to accomplish her goal and that day her goal was met!! I was overjoyed for her but also I was so very happy that I was able to partake in her victory in a small way.
Christian, don't hesitate to sometimes share your requests, struggles or trials with other believers. We are to bear each others burdens and at the same time, we can celebrate together in each other triumphs! We can sharpen each other. Just as iron needs iron to be sharpened, so does a believer get sharpened by another believer.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Love demonstrated
"So when they had dined, Jesus saith unto Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, 'Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.' He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith unto him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, 'Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.' He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, 'Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.' Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
- John 21:15-17
Three times.
Three times Peter was asked by Christ if he loved Him and each time Peter answered, Yea Lord, thou knowest I love thee. But yet, Christ still asked three times.
Now, I agree with Peter. Jesus Christ did know that Peter loved Him and yet, he asked him three times and each time after Peter responded with a Yes, Christ asked Peter to do something. He asked Peter to feed His sheep. He asked Peter to not go back to fishing, not go back to the life he had and knew before Christ, but Jesus was asking him to accept and fulfill the task He designed for Peter.
He was asking Peter to not just proclaim his love for God but to demonstrate it.
Is it not the same for us?
Jesus Christ knows our heart. He knows our desires and where our true devotions lie. He knows and yet, that doesn't mean that we are to not strive to demonstrate our love for Him.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17,"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." Once a person comes to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, they are changed. Everything changes. Once you know Christ, you ought not to just go back to your life. You can't - you're changed! The Holy Spirit is now dwelling inside of you and that allows God to change your mind, your heart, your desires....change you.
Jesus Christ demonstrated His abundant love for us (for you and for me) when He shed His blood as payment for our sin. He started in the garden by sweating drops of His precious, life-atoning blood and it continued, through brutal beatings at the hands of those whom He loved. His love was shown as each thorn of that crown was driven deep into His brow. His love was demonstrated and marked in each footprint that lead up that hill as He bore OUR cross. He love was demonstrated as his arms were stretched out and laid across the rough wood. His demonstrated love was pierced as the nails were pounded through His hands and through His feet. He didn't deserve any of this and yet that was the way He demonstrated His love for you. He hung there, on a nail...because He loves you.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Who are Jesus' friends that He "laid his life down" for?
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." John 15:14
Jesus Christ gave the greatest demonstration of love that is comprehensible to man.
If you have accepted this love and you, like Peter, love Him...what will you do to demonstrate your love for Him?
- John 21:15-17
Three times.
Three times Peter was asked by Christ if he loved Him and each time Peter answered, Yea Lord, thou knowest I love thee. But yet, Christ still asked three times.
Now, I agree with Peter. Jesus Christ did know that Peter loved Him and yet, he asked him three times and each time after Peter responded with a Yes, Christ asked Peter to do something. He asked Peter to feed His sheep. He asked Peter to not go back to fishing, not go back to the life he had and knew before Christ, but Jesus was asking him to accept and fulfill the task He designed for Peter.
He was asking Peter to not just proclaim his love for God but to demonstrate it.
Is it not the same for us?
Jesus Christ knows our heart. He knows our desires and where our true devotions lie. He knows and yet, that doesn't mean that we are to not strive to demonstrate our love for Him.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17,"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." Once a person comes to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, they are changed. Everything changes. Once you know Christ, you ought not to just go back to your life. You can't - you're changed! The Holy Spirit is now dwelling inside of you and that allows God to change your mind, your heart, your desires....change you.
Jesus Christ demonstrated His abundant love for us (for you and for me) when He shed His blood as payment for our sin. He started in the garden by sweating drops of His precious, life-atoning blood and it continued, through brutal beatings at the hands of those whom He loved. His love was shown as each thorn of that crown was driven deep into His brow. His love was demonstrated and marked in each footprint that lead up that hill as He bore OUR cross. He love was demonstrated as his arms were stretched out and laid across the rough wood. His demonstrated love was pierced as the nails were pounded through His hands and through His feet. He didn't deserve any of this and yet that was the way He demonstrated His love for you. He hung there, on a nail...because He loves you.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Who are Jesus' friends that He "laid his life down" for?
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." John 15:14
Jesus Christ gave the greatest demonstration of love that is comprehensible to man.
If you have accepted this love and you, like Peter, love Him...what will you do to demonstrate your love for Him?
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Doubt
A Few weeks ago I was listening to a podcast that was broadcasting a story about a man who had grown up in an evangelical Christian home and went to a Christian college for religious studies. He states that from the first lesson in his scholarly class, his faith began to crumble and it eventually was gone altogether. From that point on, he felt the need to go back to his family and prove to them that their faith was wrong. He goes on to discuss a conversation he had with his brother-in-law regarding the passage describing how God made the sun and the moon stand still.
"And the sun stood still and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel." Joshua 10:13-14
Joshua and Israel were in a war and Joshua cried out for the Lord to help and so He did, by stopping the sun and the moon.
So this man on the podcast continues on to discuss with his brother-in-law this passage. He poses the question of how this could scientifically be possible...gravity would have to stop...the planet would have to stop and so on. This man goes on persistently asking his brother-in-law if he really believes that God would do such a thing. He states he debated his point for over 7 hours. And then it happens. The brother-in-law states it is a weird thing and he wished it wasn't in there but then he retaliates with this statement: if I doubt that, where do I stop?
As soon as I heard that statement, it was lodged in my mind.
"If I doubt that, where do I stop?" If I doubt that God, who spoke the sun and the moon into existence, could stop or pause them for just one day, then what else would I doubt? Would I doubt that Jesus died on the cross as a payment for my sins? Would I doubt that He is "the way, the truth and the life?" Would I doubt God's love for me? Would I doubt His very Word?
Where would the doubt stop and who says where it stops?
Well, let me address this topic this way: doubt does exist. In order to fight against our doubt, we need to increase and strengthen our faith. To do that, we must dive deep into the Word of God. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17
Allow me to use Peter as an example of doubt. Matthew 14:31 shows us Jesus calling Peter out on his doubt. "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
Let's set the stage here a bit and describe the happenings of the day that led up to that statement.
This statement came as Peter and Christ were walking on water. That's right - Peter was WALKING ON WATER towards Jesus Christ and yet, when the winds blew boisterous, he doubted. If Peter can doubt while walking on top of water, then boy, how much more susceptible are we to doubt.
But hours before this midnight stroll, Peter saw Christ do some miraculous things. That evening for dinner, Peter watched as Christ took 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes and fed over 5,000 hungry, traveling people, and they even had left-overs!!
So after dinner, Peter and the others went aboard and set sail. The Bible then tells us that at the 4th watch, which I believe would be around 3 a.m., Jesus began approaching the boat, which was in the midst of the sea. The men on the boat feared it was a spirit but once they realized who it was, Peter requested Christ to bid him come. So Christ did and the next thing you know, Peter is out there...walking on water!! Then. All of a sudden. The wind begins to pick up. Peter became afraid. He began to sink. He cried, "Lord, save me."
"And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Matthew 14:31
"And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased." Matthew 14:32
Peter got distracted by the winds and it caused him to doubt. Even though Christ was standing right there in front of him, physically, right there, he still doubted, feared and cried out.
Christian, we too will be distracted and something (a trial, a struggle) will cause us to take our eyes off Christ. It will cause us to doubt, to question, to fear. But hopefully, we will cry out to God in those moments because He is there. He is always there. He caught Peter, He will catch you, too.
Personally, when I fear and doubt and struggle with really, fully trusting God, I think back to my "moments on the water". Moments when I got paid and still had no money - God provided - provided in a way that was impossible to man but only possible with God. When I got bit by a spider and couldn't walk - God was there and healed me up when doctors wrote me off. When I prayed for a friend's child and God was there, listening and answering the prayer. He is always there. The more you trust Him with, the more He proves Himself to you. When you reach that moment of doubt, think back to a time in your life when God worked. He worked it all out then, He will work it all out now and He will always work it out.
Doubt does exist. The line of doubt, well, that is drawn by you. You have the choice of how much trust you give to God.
I believe God made the sun and moon stand still that day. I believe that there was no day before that day and there has been no day like it since. I choose to believe God can do that. I choose to serve the Lord God that did that!
"And the sun stood still and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel." Joshua 10:13-14
Joshua and Israel were in a war and Joshua cried out for the Lord to help and so He did, by stopping the sun and the moon.
So this man on the podcast continues on to discuss with his brother-in-law this passage. He poses the question of how this could scientifically be possible...gravity would have to stop...the planet would have to stop and so on. This man goes on persistently asking his brother-in-law if he really believes that God would do such a thing. He states he debated his point for over 7 hours. And then it happens. The brother-in-law states it is a weird thing and he wished it wasn't in there but then he retaliates with this statement: if I doubt that, where do I stop?
As soon as I heard that statement, it was lodged in my mind.
"If I doubt that, where do I stop?" If I doubt that God, who spoke the sun and the moon into existence, could stop or pause them for just one day, then what else would I doubt? Would I doubt that Jesus died on the cross as a payment for my sins? Would I doubt that He is "the way, the truth and the life?" Would I doubt God's love for me? Would I doubt His very Word?
Where would the doubt stop and who says where it stops?
Well, let me address this topic this way: doubt does exist. In order to fight against our doubt, we need to increase and strengthen our faith. To do that, we must dive deep into the Word of God. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17
Allow me to use Peter as an example of doubt. Matthew 14:31 shows us Jesus calling Peter out on his doubt. "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
Let's set the stage here a bit and describe the happenings of the day that led up to that statement.
This statement came as Peter and Christ were walking on water. That's right - Peter was WALKING ON WATER towards Jesus Christ and yet, when the winds blew boisterous, he doubted. If Peter can doubt while walking on top of water, then boy, how much more susceptible are we to doubt.
But hours before this midnight stroll, Peter saw Christ do some miraculous things. That evening for dinner, Peter watched as Christ took 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes and fed over 5,000 hungry, traveling people, and they even had left-overs!!
So after dinner, Peter and the others went aboard and set sail. The Bible then tells us that at the 4th watch, which I believe would be around 3 a.m., Jesus began approaching the boat, which was in the midst of the sea. The men on the boat feared it was a spirit but once they realized who it was, Peter requested Christ to bid him come. So Christ did and the next thing you know, Peter is out there...walking on water!! Then. All of a sudden. The wind begins to pick up. Peter became afraid. He began to sink. He cried, "Lord, save me."
"And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Matthew 14:31
"And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased." Matthew 14:32
Peter got distracted by the winds and it caused him to doubt. Even though Christ was standing right there in front of him, physically, right there, he still doubted, feared and cried out.
Christian, we too will be distracted and something (a trial, a struggle) will cause us to take our eyes off Christ. It will cause us to doubt, to question, to fear. But hopefully, we will cry out to God in those moments because He is there. He is always there. He caught Peter, He will catch you, too.
Personally, when I fear and doubt and struggle with really, fully trusting God, I think back to my "moments on the water". Moments when I got paid and still had no money - God provided - provided in a way that was impossible to man but only possible with God. When I got bit by a spider and couldn't walk - God was there and healed me up when doctors wrote me off. When I prayed for a friend's child and God was there, listening and answering the prayer. He is always there. The more you trust Him with, the more He proves Himself to you. When you reach that moment of doubt, think back to a time in your life when God worked. He worked it all out then, He will work it all out now and He will always work it out.
Doubt does exist. The line of doubt, well, that is drawn by you. You have the choice of how much trust you give to God.
I believe God made the sun and moon stand still that day. I believe that there was no day before that day and there has been no day like it since. I choose to believe God can do that. I choose to serve the Lord God that did that!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
How do I remove this smile from my face?
I know it has been awhile since my last post but I will make up for it - trust me! God has been working in great and mighty ways and He has given me many blogs ideas so stay tuned.
As for right now, I have to take this opportunity to just simply praise Him. The Bible says, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." Psalm 150:6
Well, I have breath therefore I will praise the Lord!
Boy, I am not even sure where to begin. My family and I just got back from a trip to Georgia for my sister's wedding so we can start there. My sister decided a long time ago that she was not going to settle for anything less than God's best in regards to a spouse and this weekend, I had a front row seat to see how He can bless those who are willing to wait and trust Him.
Zach and Amanda are a wonderful couple. They compliment each other well and most importantly, they both not only love the Lord but have fully surrendered to Him. This was abundantly clear throughout their wedding. The programs listed each of their own personal testimony of how they got saved and it also gave God the glory of how He worked to bring them together. The Lord Jesus Christ was the center focus of the ceremony and I am confident He will remain the center focus of their marriage. They both had a strong desire to have the plan of salvation presented so that those in attendance could leave knowing that they can know for sure where they will go when they die. The preacher presented the gospel clearly and simply and three souls trusted Christ as their Savior that day!
I already had a smile stuck on my face but when you hear of 3 people coming to that wedding lost and stuck in sin but knowing that they left as released and redeemed children of God - wooooo - makes a girl want to shout a bit! His hand was in everything and He is worthy to be praised!
With any wedding comes a blending of 2 different families. Our families hadn't met until that week but I have to praise the Lord here again folks because He was in it all. Both families are saved and that is the best common ground to have with anyone but the Lord blessed above what I think any of us could have asked and these 2 families blended together so well that it easily feels as one. He brought sweet fellowship among those from the north and those from the south. Rather than having introduction awkwardness, He overwhelmed us with the feeling of being reacquainted with old friends. A smooth transition such as that can only be crafted by His hand and for that, I praise Him!
I praise Him for all the safety of those who traveled. Some came from North Dakota, Minnesota and North Carolina and God's hand of protection was around them all. He got us there safe and brought us back safe.
While I was decorating a table for the reception, I got a very important phone call from a friend of mine. I had been anticipating this call for months. My friend had been without work for more than 7 months and things were coming down to the wire. If she wasn't able to get a job within a week or two, she was going to have to make some very important decisions and changes. We had spent months praying for God to provide and I have been privileged enough to see God push her to trust Him. He was pruning her like one of his plants and now that she was pruned and dependent upon Him, He began to water her life with blessings. Number 1 - He provided her with a job! I'll tell you what, being a part of a prayer request like that, it fills you up will more faith and trust in Him as well. To see Him come through (just as He always does) and answer the request in His time, for that, I will praise Him!
He is so good. Psalms 113 is a great psalm on praising God but one verse has always stuck in my mind, "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised." That verse is very true because if you lend me your ear, I could talk all day about how good God is and what wonderful things He has done but I will wind it down here and leave with just one more praise.
I have to praise God for allowing me to be a Sunday school teacher. Although I feel incredibly inadequate for the responsibility, He is able to work through me and reach those kids. He has allowed me to have a unique relationship with the kids in my class and for that, I wouldn't give anything for. When I came home, I was greeted with a giant hug from one of the girls in my class and then tonight, I was lucky enough to be invited to their piano recital. Those little kids, if they knew how much they mean to me... Well, I'll just praise God for them and for the opportunity He has given me to be their teacher.
He is so good. His goodness can be found all around us, no matter if it is in the warm sunny afternoon or the rainbow found after a spring storm, He is always there, always watching for us. He is good and worthy to be praised. Let everything that hath breath, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord!
As for right now, I have to take this opportunity to just simply praise Him. The Bible says, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." Psalm 150:6
Well, I have breath therefore I will praise the Lord!
Boy, I am not even sure where to begin. My family and I just got back from a trip to Georgia for my sister's wedding so we can start there. My sister decided a long time ago that she was not going to settle for anything less than God's best in regards to a spouse and this weekend, I had a front row seat to see how He can bless those who are willing to wait and trust Him.
Zach and Amanda are a wonderful couple. They compliment each other well and most importantly, they both not only love the Lord but have fully surrendered to Him. This was abundantly clear throughout their wedding. The programs listed each of their own personal testimony of how they got saved and it also gave God the glory of how He worked to bring them together. The Lord Jesus Christ was the center focus of the ceremony and I am confident He will remain the center focus of their marriage. They both had a strong desire to have the plan of salvation presented so that those in attendance could leave knowing that they can know for sure where they will go when they die. The preacher presented the gospel clearly and simply and three souls trusted Christ as their Savior that day!
I already had a smile stuck on my face but when you hear of 3 people coming to that wedding lost and stuck in sin but knowing that they left as released and redeemed children of God - wooooo - makes a girl want to shout a bit! His hand was in everything and He is worthy to be praised!
With any wedding comes a blending of 2 different families. Our families hadn't met until that week but I have to praise the Lord here again folks because He was in it all. Both families are saved and that is the best common ground to have with anyone but the Lord blessed above what I think any of us could have asked and these 2 families blended together so well that it easily feels as one. He brought sweet fellowship among those from the north and those from the south. Rather than having introduction awkwardness, He overwhelmed us with the feeling of being reacquainted with old friends. A smooth transition such as that can only be crafted by His hand and for that, I praise Him!
I praise Him for all the safety of those who traveled. Some came from North Dakota, Minnesota and North Carolina and God's hand of protection was around them all. He got us there safe and brought us back safe.
While I was decorating a table for the reception, I got a very important phone call from a friend of mine. I had been anticipating this call for months. My friend had been without work for more than 7 months and things were coming down to the wire. If she wasn't able to get a job within a week or two, she was going to have to make some very important decisions and changes. We had spent months praying for God to provide and I have been privileged enough to see God push her to trust Him. He was pruning her like one of his plants and now that she was pruned and dependent upon Him, He began to water her life with blessings. Number 1 - He provided her with a job! I'll tell you what, being a part of a prayer request like that, it fills you up will more faith and trust in Him as well. To see Him come through (just as He always does) and answer the request in His time, for that, I will praise Him!
He is so good. Psalms 113 is a great psalm on praising God but one verse has always stuck in my mind, "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised." That verse is very true because if you lend me your ear, I could talk all day about how good God is and what wonderful things He has done but I will wind it down here and leave with just one more praise.
I have to praise God for allowing me to be a Sunday school teacher. Although I feel incredibly inadequate for the responsibility, He is able to work through me and reach those kids. He has allowed me to have a unique relationship with the kids in my class and for that, I wouldn't give anything for. When I came home, I was greeted with a giant hug from one of the girls in my class and then tonight, I was lucky enough to be invited to their piano recital. Those little kids, if they knew how much they mean to me... Well, I'll just praise God for them and for the opportunity He has given me to be their teacher.
He is so good. His goodness can be found all around us, no matter if it is in the warm sunny afternoon or the rainbow found after a spring storm, He is always there, always watching for us. He is good and worthy to be praised. Let everything that hath breath, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Struggles
What a week.
It started out just like any other week and had the same potential as others to be great but this week decided to veer off the road where everything is bumpy and there are blocks and pitfalls all over.
I struggled this week. In fact, if I were to be completely honest, I've been struggling for a couple of weeks now. My struggle has been mostly contained within myself (that was at least the case until Wednesday afternoon but I may get to that later). This struggle has been an internal struggle between striving to do the things I know I ought to do and almost more importantly, NOT doing things I know I ought not to do.
I have been allowing myself to listen to more music that I know I ought not to be listening to and I have been neglecting things that I know I ought to be doing more of such as reading my Bible and working on my Bible study topics. I have been feeding my physical man more than my spiritual man and that has thrown me off balance.
When I did read my Bible this week, I happened to come across Galations 5 which describes the fruits of the flesh (physical man) and the fruits of the spirit. Ooohhhh. I believe I found myself fitting more into the fruits of the flesh category more than the spirit the past few weeks, which is not a good thing. I've had hatred, wrath, strife and envyings just to name a few. In no way am I proud to have to admit this but it's true and then I continued to read onto the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, gentleness, meekness and the big daddy of them all that I was lacking this week (drum roll, please..........) temperance.
Pretty hard to consider yourself temperant when are so mad you want to punch a hole in the wall.
I thought I blew it. I was not being a good example at all and was greatly discouraged.
But just like the hymnist wrote, "Just when I need Him, Jesus is near, Just when I falter, Just when I fear; Ready to help me, ready to cheer, Just when I need Him most." God was right there with me, just when I needed Him.
I sought comfort and direction from His word and just as always, He came through. He gave me a verse for this week - this week filled of stress and frustration, disappointment and discouragement, God gave me Joshua 1:9 "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 withsoever thou goest."
He is with me, wherever I go and He is there, just when I need Him most.
It started out just like any other week and had the same potential as others to be great but this week decided to veer off the road where everything is bumpy and there are blocks and pitfalls all over.
I struggled this week. In fact, if I were to be completely honest, I've been struggling for a couple of weeks now. My struggle has been mostly contained within myself (that was at least the case until Wednesday afternoon but I may get to that later). This struggle has been an internal struggle between striving to do the things I know I ought to do and almost more importantly, NOT doing things I know I ought not to do.
I have been allowing myself to listen to more music that I know I ought not to be listening to and I have been neglecting things that I know I ought to be doing more of such as reading my Bible and working on my Bible study topics. I have been feeding my physical man more than my spiritual man and that has thrown me off balance.
When I did read my Bible this week, I happened to come across Galations 5 which describes the fruits of the flesh (physical man) and the fruits of the spirit. Ooohhhh. I believe I found myself fitting more into the fruits of the flesh category more than the spirit the past few weeks, which is not a good thing. I've had hatred, wrath, strife and envyings just to name a few. In no way am I proud to have to admit this but it's true and then I continued to read onto the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, gentleness, meekness and the big daddy of them all that I was lacking this week (drum roll, please..........) temperance.
Pretty hard to consider yourself temperant when are so mad you want to punch a hole in the wall.
I thought I blew it. I was not being a good example at all and was greatly discouraged.
But just like the hymnist wrote, "Just when I need Him, Jesus is near, Just when I falter, Just when I fear; Ready to help me, ready to cheer, Just when I need Him most." God was right there with me, just when I needed Him.
I sought comfort and direction from His word and just as always, He came through. He gave me a verse for this week - this week filled of stress and frustration, disappointment and discouragement, God gave me Joshua 1:9 "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 withsoever thou goest."
He is with me, wherever I go and He is there, just when I need Him most.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Are you thankful?
I may not have the nicest things that money can buy but I am abundantly blessed. I have been overwhelmed this week with the realization of how much God has blessed me and my life. Sure, there are areas of my life where I can find discontentment and frustration but in light of the lives of others...yeah, I am abundantly blessed.
This week I heard an honest description of missionary life. Many people would describe this missionary family to be in paradise and think they have a carefree life, living with an ocean view and watching sunset behind the tall palm trees while the sound of lapping waves is heard in the distance.
Now, I am sure it is beautiful in this location but it is not without it's hardships. Bugs (everywhere!) diseases, heat, language barriers, discouragement, isolation, difficulty with finding/purchasing good, fresh food is more often then not the reality that a missionary and his family will face when they move from the States to a foreign field. Yet, God cares for them and blesses them in ways that I am sure we cannot comprehend.
I am thankful for the ability to get in my car, drive on a paved road to a store full of fresh food. We may think nothing of it but it is a luxury.
As I thanked God for His abundant blessings upon me and my life, I was reminded of when Jesus healed the 10 lepers and out of the 10 that were healed, how only 1 came back to give Him thanks.
It's found in Luke 17:11-19 "And it came to pass as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back and with a loud voice glorified God. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, 'Were not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger'. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."
So it leaves the question: which are you? Are you one of the nine who receives God's blessings but don't bother to stop, take some time and give Him the glory and thanks He deserves?
Or are you like this one man? The man who recognized what God had done for him.
Take a moment to notice this man's reaction. When he saw he was healed, he SHOUTED! He wasn't quiet or shy about giving God the glory, oh no! He shouted it! The Bible says, "with a loud voice, glorified God." We ought not to be meek and quiet about giving thanks to God, no way, man! Let's shout it from the roof tops, from the street corners, from your desk at work. This man wasn't concerned at all about what others may have thought about him shouting God's praises. Instead, he let it fly because he knew his end as a leper. He had lived it. He had shouted "unclean" when walking through a crowd, he had seen the looks of disgust from the fellow citizens, he knew what it felt like to be shunned and sent off for separation. But he also knew that now that he was healed, he was clean, he didn't have to be separated anymore. He knew he had been given new life and he knew he had been given that new life from Jesus Christ.
The other nine were healed and cleansed as well but this man who took the time to turn around and give thanks and glory to God, he received an extra portion of blessing.
I know everyone is busy nowadays but I hope to never be too busy or too preoccupied to neglect the opportunity to give God thanks and glory!
What are you thankful for today? Have you thanked God for those things yet?
Don't be quiet about it! Shout it out! Share it! It will be an encouragement to others!
This week I heard an honest description of missionary life. Many people would describe this missionary family to be in paradise and think they have a carefree life, living with an ocean view and watching sunset behind the tall palm trees while the sound of lapping waves is heard in the distance.
Now, I am sure it is beautiful in this location but it is not without it's hardships. Bugs (everywhere!) diseases, heat, language barriers, discouragement, isolation, difficulty with finding/purchasing good, fresh food is more often then not the reality that a missionary and his family will face when they move from the States to a foreign field. Yet, God cares for them and blesses them in ways that I am sure we cannot comprehend.
I am thankful for the ability to get in my car, drive on a paved road to a store full of fresh food. We may think nothing of it but it is a luxury.
As I thanked God for His abundant blessings upon me and my life, I was reminded of when Jesus healed the 10 lepers and out of the 10 that were healed, how only 1 came back to give Him thanks.
It's found in Luke 17:11-19 "And it came to pass as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back and with a loud voice glorified God. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, 'Were not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger'. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."
So it leaves the question: which are you? Are you one of the nine who receives God's blessings but don't bother to stop, take some time and give Him the glory and thanks He deserves?
Or are you like this one man? The man who recognized what God had done for him.
Take a moment to notice this man's reaction. When he saw he was healed, he SHOUTED! He wasn't quiet or shy about giving God the glory, oh no! He shouted it! The Bible says, "with a loud voice, glorified God." We ought not to be meek and quiet about giving thanks to God, no way, man! Let's shout it from the roof tops, from the street corners, from your desk at work. This man wasn't concerned at all about what others may have thought about him shouting God's praises. Instead, he let it fly because he knew his end as a leper. He had lived it. He had shouted "unclean" when walking through a crowd, he had seen the looks of disgust from the fellow citizens, he knew what it felt like to be shunned and sent off for separation. But he also knew that now that he was healed, he was clean, he didn't have to be separated anymore. He knew he had been given new life and he knew he had been given that new life from Jesus Christ.
The other nine were healed and cleansed as well but this man who took the time to turn around and give thanks and glory to God, he received an extra portion of blessing.
I know everyone is busy nowadays but I hope to never be too busy or too preoccupied to neglect the opportunity to give God thanks and glory!
What are you thankful for today? Have you thanked God for those things yet?
Don't be quiet about it! Shout it out! Share it! It will be an encouragement to others!
Monday, April 4, 2011
I didn't want to, I didn't have to, but I did it anyways...
I was drained.
I was up early that morning, attempting to form a new exercise habit, went to work all day, stopped over to a friend's house and then went to Bible study. The hands of the clock were winding around and around while my eyelids became heavier and heavier.
I finally got home. I took care of a few dishes and the day's mail and then off to bed.
Finally. Comfy, cozy, relaxed. I could stretch out and get ready for some rest.
Ha. Not quite.
I tossed and I turned. Hour after hour.
I got up and read but that didn't help to much. I just wanted sleep.
Then I finally began to drift off into a sleep that had definite restful potential. The only problem was that it was 6:30 am and my alarm was scheduled to go off in 90 minutes.
So I soaked up as much sleep as the 90 minutes allowed and then I was faced with the decision: Do I get up, get dressed and go sing at the nursing home or do I roll over and go back to sleep?
Hmmmmmm.....
The pro/con list was forming in my mind when all of the sudden it was interrupted by the voice of my brother and his wife who stated the night before, "we need your voice".
Well, I got up, not because they needed my voice because I am exceptionally good (because anyone who has heard me knows that's not true) and not because I specifically wanted to go but it's what I do.
The first Saturday of every month a group from my church goes out and sings 4 songs to a room of nursing home residents, my brother gives a little message and then we shake their hand and greet them with a smile. ANYONE can be a part of this ministry. It requires no talent whatsoever (although there are some in the group with very high rankings on the talent scale, for which those of us with low rankings are exceptionally happy to have with us) but all you need is a voice, a hand, a smile and a willingness to be there.
So I got up and got dressed and made it there just in time. I walked through the door and the first person to greet me was Logan, an adorable boy from my Sunday school class. As we walked to the first room, Logan (who was in an exceptionally good mood that morning) said "C'mon Miss Amy! C'mon Miss Amy!" as he took off down the long hallway.
I chuckled and didn't think much about it at the time but as the day drew on and I was now at home later in the afternoon, going over my lesson for the next day I thought of Logan and the rest of the kids in my class.
Logan is only 4 years old but he is a bright kid and as much I don't want him to grow up I am excited to see what God has planned for him. Maybe he'll be a pastor or a faithful deacon in a local church (like his dad) or maybe God will call him to go to a foreign field. I pray these be opportunities for Logan and I pray that as he grows up, that he will have a desire to serve God, whether it be from a pulpit or singing in a nursing home.
As a Sunday school teacher, I have a part in encouraging him to know God and to trust Him. I encourage the kids in my class to memorize their Bible verses each week and just like realizing how ridiculous it is for me to encourage them to memorize verses when I myself wasn't, it is just a ridiculous for me to encourage them and tell them how great it is serve God if I am not fully doing it myself.
That afternoon I realized my real reason for going to the nursing home. I didn't want to (I wanted to sleep). I didn't have to (no one was going to punish me if I didn't go). But I went anyways and part of the reason I did was to be an example.
The Bible says we need examples and we need to be examples.
In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul is instructing Timothy to be an example, no matter how old or young you are, we are to be an example, "let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
If we do not step up and be an example to the next generation, who will? The music/movie/tv stars that get married one day, divorced the next and have children out of wedlock, are we going to leave it to them?
While I anticipate these kids growing up, I also fear for them and the world they will be left in charge of if the Lord tarries. They need good examples. Good examples in word and conversation (not potty-mouths that have every other word bleeped), good examples in charity (seeing a need and fulfilling it), in spirit and faith and purity (does main-stream America even know that the word "purity" exists?)
Now I am not saying I am anywhere near being a good example in any of these areas but I can strive to be.
I'm glad I didn't stay in bed and sleep on Saturday. I would have missed out on some blessings.
I was up early that morning, attempting to form a new exercise habit, went to work all day, stopped over to a friend's house and then went to Bible study. The hands of the clock were winding around and around while my eyelids became heavier and heavier.
I finally got home. I took care of a few dishes and the day's mail and then off to bed.
Finally. Comfy, cozy, relaxed. I could stretch out and get ready for some rest.
Ha. Not quite.
I tossed and I turned. Hour after hour.
I got up and read but that didn't help to much. I just wanted sleep.
Then I finally began to drift off into a sleep that had definite restful potential. The only problem was that it was 6:30 am and my alarm was scheduled to go off in 90 minutes.
So I soaked up as much sleep as the 90 minutes allowed and then I was faced with the decision: Do I get up, get dressed and go sing at the nursing home or do I roll over and go back to sleep?
Hmmmmmm.....
The pro/con list was forming in my mind when all of the sudden it was interrupted by the voice of my brother and his wife who stated the night before, "we need your voice".
Well, I got up, not because they needed my voice because I am exceptionally good (because anyone who has heard me knows that's not true) and not because I specifically wanted to go but it's what I do.
The first Saturday of every month a group from my church goes out and sings 4 songs to a room of nursing home residents, my brother gives a little message and then we shake their hand and greet them with a smile. ANYONE can be a part of this ministry. It requires no talent whatsoever (although there are some in the group with very high rankings on the talent scale, for which those of us with low rankings are exceptionally happy to have with us) but all you need is a voice, a hand, a smile and a willingness to be there.
So I got up and got dressed and made it there just in time. I walked through the door and the first person to greet me was Logan, an adorable boy from my Sunday school class. As we walked to the first room, Logan (who was in an exceptionally good mood that morning) said "C'mon Miss Amy! C'mon Miss Amy!" as he took off down the long hallway.
I chuckled and didn't think much about it at the time but as the day drew on and I was now at home later in the afternoon, going over my lesson for the next day I thought of Logan and the rest of the kids in my class.
Logan is only 4 years old but he is a bright kid and as much I don't want him to grow up I am excited to see what God has planned for him. Maybe he'll be a pastor or a faithful deacon in a local church (like his dad) or maybe God will call him to go to a foreign field. I pray these be opportunities for Logan and I pray that as he grows up, that he will have a desire to serve God, whether it be from a pulpit or singing in a nursing home.
As a Sunday school teacher, I have a part in encouraging him to know God and to trust Him. I encourage the kids in my class to memorize their Bible verses each week and just like realizing how ridiculous it is for me to encourage them to memorize verses when I myself wasn't, it is just a ridiculous for me to encourage them and tell them how great it is serve God if I am not fully doing it myself.
That afternoon I realized my real reason for going to the nursing home. I didn't want to (I wanted to sleep). I didn't have to (no one was going to punish me if I didn't go). But I went anyways and part of the reason I did was to be an example.
The Bible says we need examples and we need to be examples.
In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul is instructing Timothy to be an example, no matter how old or young you are, we are to be an example, "let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
If we do not step up and be an example to the next generation, who will? The music/movie/tv stars that get married one day, divorced the next and have children out of wedlock, are we going to leave it to them?
While I anticipate these kids growing up, I also fear for them and the world they will be left in charge of if the Lord tarries. They need good examples. Good examples in word and conversation (not potty-mouths that have every other word bleeped), good examples in charity (seeing a need and fulfilling it), in spirit and faith and purity (does main-stream America even know that the word "purity" exists?)
Now I am not saying I am anywhere near being a good example in any of these areas but I can strive to be.
I'm glad I didn't stay in bed and sleep on Saturday. I would have missed out on some blessings.
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