To Have or to Have Not…

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.” Don’t we wish we were like Paul?

Paul was content because he could see life, from God’s point of view. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have done. Paul had his priorities straight, and he was grateful for everything God had given him.

Paul had detached himself from the non-essential so that he could concentrate on the eternal. Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power. Look to Jesus.

Philippians 4:12-13

Hearing or Listening? We need a wake up call…

To hear, requires no effort. To listen, requires concentration, it is something you do which can lead to learning and therefore; changed lives.

Are you hearing or listening to God?

Before you answer too fast, both have merit. Hearing sounds the alarm that something is happening. For example, you are hearing all types of sounds going on around you, now.  And chances are, since I just said that, you have begun to listen to those sounds in an attempt to understand what they are. Hearing requires no action on your part…rather listening requires weeding through distractions, paying close attention, seeking to either learn from what you have heard or dismiss it as unimportant. This is why it’s important to listen to what God says.

Everything God shares to us is important. And when we ignore God’s word, we eventually stop listening to it. It becomes like the “white noises” we hear from the humming clothes dryer, the sounds of traffic outside, the blank buzzing sound that you hear when you try to hear nothing. Eventually, you lose the ability to hear God.

Purpose in your hearts today, not to just hear God but to actively listen to God. Once you practice listening to God, pretty soon you will start to communicate with Him. You will seek to understand more, to do more, to make listening a part of your daily walk with God. You will start to listen for God’s voice to speak to you throughout the day, not just at bedtime. You will find yourself being more present–you’ll comprehend, grasp, and repeat, what you’ve heard from God to others.

Try it, you’ve already tried listening to what you hear around you…now listen to the Word of God.

Father, let us hear your call to our hearts today, and listen to You. Open our ears that we will focus on your message. Teach us how to become active listeners of Your Word which will make us doers of it too. For if we really listen to You, we will obey. When we obey, we act. Help us to listen to one another also. Perhaps we can repair relationships by becoming listeners and not just hearers. Lord, awaken Your Word in our lives. For some of us You have become a “white noise”–something we hear but ignore.  Sound a trumpet! A loud clap today! Break the monotonous buzzing that we have learned to ignore. It’s no wonder You will come with a trumpet sounding. Help us listen to You Lord.

A Story of Love…

We often celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving and sharing expressions of love to someone or those we love. As with many rituals, overtime, we often miss the meaning of our acts and find ourselves performing what should be sentiments of love, out of obligation. Today I tell you of a love story that will live for eternity and how we can take part in celebrating it every day, not just on Valentine’s Day.

My love story begins with God creating something good and perfect. He created the earth and everything we needed to survive on the earth. He created us in his likeness and image. God loved His creation. And when our hearts turned from the love of our life, he provided a way to bring us back to Him–He gave us Jesus. And when we rejected His gift of love. He stopped giving us physical gifts that we could destroy and He gave us the Holy Spirit–to those who believe. Let God’s love live through you by His Holy Spirit. Here are few ways to live out your love story through Jesus Christ.

How does God expect us to share expressions of love, everyday? (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

Patience – be willing to accept/tolerate delay while we wait for one another without getting upset. Whether it’s waiting for one to get ready to go out on a date, or while waiting for a cashier-in-training  to ring your purchase correctly. Or maybe you are struggling through a tough time in your life as a result of illness or mishap; be patient. The key is your attitude while you wait…no huffing and puffing, no rolling of eyes, no deep breaths or temper tantrums–try putting a smile on your face as you ask God to help you endure. Love.

Kind – as we know from patience, our attitude is key in waiting. Let your attitude be caring. Let your desire be to offer help. Holding the door open for someone–even if they don’t acknowledge you. Sharing chores although they are not assigned to you. Love.

Not Jealous – afraid of loosing something you already have or that it will be taken away from you by someone else?  Learn to trust each other and be content with what you have. No one can take away true love. If it’s for you, it will remain. Love.

No need to Brag – or be arrogant about what you have, or how important you think you are. Love never tells about the good you do for others…it is silent. Love.

Lacks perfection – we are living to be perfected…we are not perfect; only God is perfect. Learn not to become so irritated by a lack of perfection in others or yourself. Do your best to help yourself and support others–ask God to do the rest. Love

Not provoked – when you feel a strong urge to protest or when you start thinking, “that was the straw that broke the camels back,” or when something “pulls your trigger,” seek God in prayer for what you should do, first. Love

Stop keeping track – love doesn’t keep track of everything someone does to us…it prefers to let it go. If you find yourself saying, “that’s the third time this has happened,” then you are keeping score. Love seeks to forgive and forget…think about how often God keeps forgiving you and you will be more forgiving of others. Love.

Rejoices in righteousness –
Be glad when you receive the truth. Embrace your moment of deliverance. Living right is liberating. When you try to make your life complete by doing wrong to satisfy your needs or desires, you rejoice in evil not love. Love

Stays – during good times and bad. During health and illness. Doing times of rejoicing and times of suffering; love endures. Love doesn’t desert you and will not walk out on you. Love says, “Let’s lock arms and go through this together. God will deliver us both.” Love.

Share love everyday, not just on Valentines Day!

💕💖❤️💛💜💓

Wake Us!

Convince us of the error of our ways Lord.  Show us by the truth of Your Word–show us where we have been deceived.  Don’t hide The Way from us.  Don’t leave us to the consequences of sin. We are Your children!  You love us!  You want what’s best for us!  Your way will not bring harm or destruction to us!  Shake us up—to the realization of who we are!  Prove it to us.  We belong to You! We need to think and act like Your children.  Wake us!

Jeremiah 6: 1-15

Jeremiah 29:11

Galatians 3:26

Light my path…Psalm 119:105

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  In life, we walk through a dark forest of evil. The Bible is our light to show us the way ahead so we will not stumble as we walk.  It reveals the entangling roots of false values and philosophies.  Study the Bible so you will be able to see your way clear enough to stay on the right path.

 

Psalm 1:3

“Just as a tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we also are to soak up God’s Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. To achieve anything worthwhile, we must have God’s Word in our hearts.”

Thy Word…

I have hide in my heart Lord; that I might not sin against You.  Psalm 119:11

Dear Jesus, I hold near to me—in me; Your Word.  I meditate upon it day and night.  I cling to Your Word.  In Your Word, I put all my trust.  It is Your Word that guides me; that keeps my feet moving in the right direction.  I have hidden Your Word in my innermost core that my mind will not be persuaded to turn from You.  Correct me ever so lovingly as I learn of You.  My only desire is to please You. Oh Lord, I offer all of me–my hands that I will do Your work, my feet that I will obey and follow You, my eyes that I will see You in all things, my ears to hear Your voice, and my mouth to forever praise You!

Amen

Jesus in Control

Is God in control of Heaven?  “Of course He is!”  Is God in control of the earth?  Is your reply the same?  The answer again is, “Of course He is!”

Then why do we may act each day as though our financial, family, or medical problems are beyond His reach. If God could create the universe, then no part of life is out of His control.

Do not exclude Gods’ wisdom and the Bible’s guidance in your complex problems of life. No expert, professor, doctor, lawyer, or financial advisor knows more about your ultimate security and well-being than Jesus does. Go first to God for advice. Talk to Him in prayer and listen to Him in His Word. He can sustain you in times of stress. From that perspective, you can evaluate all the other wisdom and help made available to you.

How mistaken we would be ever to think that God could not forgive us. No sin is too big for the Ruler of the universe to handle. He can and will forgive us when we come to Him through His Son, Jesus.

Hebrews 1:1-2

Psalm 103:3

1 John 1:9

Envy…

Envy is the emotion relating to wanting what someone else has, their possessions or qualities. Jealousy is when you are worried someone’s trying to take what you have…a message for another day. Envy causes you to think ill of others, to wish bad things to happen to them. Envy causes you to wish someone will fail instead of succeed.

What causes this ugly emotion, envy? Wanting what someone else has? Envy is being consumed with SELF. “What about my needs? I want a new car! I wish I were tall and thin.” It is all about me and not being content with what God has so graciously given me. Envy says to God, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

So how do we cure envy? Start by praying. Ask God to forgive you for being ungrateful and to help you appreciate the blessings you have. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be content with what you have. Thank God for the many gifts he has already given you.

I think we all know what it feels like when someone does not like what you gave them as a gift—makes you feel bad and possibly regret that you gave them a gift in the first place. God has given us many gifts that we should be thankful for and instead we are too busy complaining about what we do not have.

Dear Lord, thanks for showing us the ugliness of envy. Thanks for exposing the areas in our lives where envy has been, much too long. Help us be content with what you have given us. We are sorry that we did not consider Your gifts a blessing. Forgive us for, not appreciating the home that you’ve given us Lord. It may not be big but it ours and it is clean and safe. Lord, help us to celebrate a friend’s new baby with her. (This is often a hard thing to do when you’ve been unsuccessful at having a baby.) Help us to be patient and prepare for our mate.

Take a moment and thank God for what you have! Also, say goodbye to envy!

Separation Anxiety

Today I learned a lesson about trusting God. When my son was a toddler—I would pry him from my leg, kiss him goodbye, and promise to pick him up in a few hours from daycare. I was never concerned about leaving my son at daycare—he was in a place that was safe, loving and filled with childhood discoveries! As I would drive off, the last glance at the daycare window revealed two small hands pressed against the window and a face that was obviously very upset that I left. It was so hard to continue driving off…and there were times when I would stop the car, run back into daycare, pick up my son, and back home we went. Of course, he was never going to learn to trust that I still existed as mom; even when I wasn’t present with him. The daycare teachers would console him by telling him, “Mom and dad, ALWAYS come back.” They offered him many hugs and a lot of lap-time too.

Today, I felt like my son must have felt. My day started fast and furious, getting the boys off to school, saying goodbye to my husband, and then heading out for appointments. After my appointments, I returned home to a quiet, empty house. “Okay Lord, where were we?” I waited for a “feeling” that God was present, but I didn’t feel Him. I called out for Him to show up…but nothing. I didn’t feel God. I spent most the afternoon crying because I thought I had done something wrong because God didn’t seem near. I prayed and sought sins to confess. I promised Him that if I did something wrong that I wouldn’t do it again! Oh no! I started getting anxious that God wasn’t there. Obviously upset, I knelt and cried, “Lord, I know You haven’t left me because You said You would never leave or forsake me.” I reminded Him of His Word, which said, that He is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. But why couldn’t I feel Him? I sat down and started to read my Bible…I searched for scriptures that reminded me that God would never leave me. I reminded God of how much my life depended on Him. Then I read Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Then, I felt God saying to me, that He’s been with me all day long! He helped me to know that He’s not just a feeling; rather He’s sure and confident. He let me know that I could and must continue to pray, study, and worship Him…even when I don’t feel Him. And, yes, I’m smiling now because my Father was with me today even though I didn’t feel His presence!

We must continue to obey what God has taught us in His Word, in spite of not feeling Him at times. Just as my son had to trust that I would always come back for him. I had to learn to trust that God is present even when I don’t feel Him.   A lesson on trusting that God is always with us, no matter what it feels like or what we’re going through.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Psalm 34:18

Psalm 42:1-4

Hebrews 11:1