We are going to encounter trials. We are going to have rough times. We are going to be face to face with tough decisions. I am not really going through a tough time right now, but I can assure you that I have had my fair share. I am actually loving life, feeling blessed by God and His presence in my life. I am being stretched and spoken to and am falling deeper daily in love with my Savior. There is something though, that I have noticed in my personal life and feel the need write about...
Read 1 Chronicles 14:8-11: "8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. 9 Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; 10 so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”
The LORD answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”
11 So David and his men went up..."
I read this passage many times and honestly noticed nothing spectacular, then all of the sudden the words nearly jumped off the pages! I saw a plan, a pattern that is absolutely necessary for my very own life! Let me first explain where I am coming from....when faced with decisions of any kind I haven't had a plan of action. I NEED a plan of action! I started thinking about different ways I have dealt with this in the past and this is some of what I came up with:
*We can leave God out of the picture and do whatever we want to do.
*We can consult our friends and get guidance from others about what we should do.
*We can pray to God about our problem, then still do what we think is best.
I have to say, I have done everyone of these things! But David, precious David, has set before my very eyes the only way to face a tough decision or any adversity in my life! Look at what he did:
1. Verse 8, "David heard about it and went out to meet them". Trusting in God completely, he boldly walked straight into the face of danger. He didn't shy away from an uncomfortable circumstance, he headed toward it, knowing that his God was big enough for any challenge he might face.
2. Verse 10: "So David inquired of God". While moving forward in obedience, David went straight to the Lord. He did not stop to talk to his brothers or friends, He kept moving in the same direction, only consulting the One that could truly help him.
3. Verse 10: "The Lord answered him". I am not sure of the time that passed between David consulting God and him getting an answer, the important thing to note is that there is no information of David moving forward before he received and answer from the Lord. I am afraid that I am guilty far too often of not waiting patiently for an answer and moving forward on my own! One thing that we can absolutely be certain of is that God will answer us when we call. It may not be the words we want to hear, when we want to hear them, but God is not in the business of ignoring His beloved.
4. Verse 11: "So David and his men went up". He was obedient! He did exactly what the Lord asked of him. He did not turn away from the things that scared him. He did not do only what he might get praise and recognition from. He did not do what he was told by someone else or even what he may have thought was a better plan. He simply followed the instructions of his Lord.
My husband and I are at a crossroads in our lives. We could be faced with a very big decision ahead of us. I am so very thankful for David and the example that he set for me so many years ago. How precious is it that God cares so much about me and the challenges that I face in my life, that He would show me this scripture? It is his desire that I follow just as David did; walk bodly ahead, seek the Father, wait on the answer, and then obey. Wow! That is powerful!
He cares for you the same way. He wants the same of you. There are many things that you may be afraid of and many decisions that need to made in your life today. Would you join me in following David's example?? I can guarantee the power of the Holy Spirit coming alive in your life if you do! Let's do this dear friends...
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Who are you serving?
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10
Who are you trying to please? I have to really keep myself in check. I like to please people. I like to make them happy. I like for them to tell me "Good job!". I like for them to like the things that I do. Please tell me that I am not alone in this feeling...
I have to admit though, lately, I care more about winning God's approval.
It is not an overnight accomplishment. I didn't just wake up one day and decide that I didn't care what people thought anymore. The truth is, the more that I fall in love with Jesus, the more what others think about me doesn't matter as much. It is my desire to please Him. It is my longing to bring the Lord Jesus glory and honor in all that I do. There may be temporary satisfaction in making humans happy, but you will not be happy for long. I will absolutely do something you do not like or to hurt your feelings. I have decided that the majority of my energy really needs to be spent on pleasing my Savior. It has eternal rewards.
According to Paul, If I am striving to please you, I am not considered a servant of Christ. That is an incredibly disturbing thought to me. For I am a servant. I am one who makes mistakes and has to be reminded daily that I am nothing without Jesus, but I desire to serve Him. I choose to serve Him because He served me well on the cross when He died for my sins. I will serve Him. I will not apologize for not trying to please others anymore. You will know that I love you, because when I am serving Him, his fruits will show through me.
Who are you serving?
Who are you trying to please? I have to really keep myself in check. I like to please people. I like to make them happy. I like for them to tell me "Good job!". I like for them to like the things that I do. Please tell me that I am not alone in this feeling...
I have to admit though, lately, I care more about winning God's approval.
It is not an overnight accomplishment. I didn't just wake up one day and decide that I didn't care what people thought anymore. The truth is, the more that I fall in love with Jesus, the more what others think about me doesn't matter as much. It is my desire to please Him. It is my longing to bring the Lord Jesus glory and honor in all that I do. There may be temporary satisfaction in making humans happy, but you will not be happy for long. I will absolutely do something you do not like or to hurt your feelings. I have decided that the majority of my energy really needs to be spent on pleasing my Savior. It has eternal rewards.
According to Paul, If I am striving to please you, I am not considered a servant of Christ. That is an incredibly disturbing thought to me. For I am a servant. I am one who makes mistakes and has to be reminded daily that I am nothing without Jesus, but I desire to serve Him. I choose to serve Him because He served me well on the cross when He died for my sins. I will serve Him. I will not apologize for not trying to please others anymore. You will know that I love you, because when I am serving Him, his fruits will show through me.
Who are you serving?
Friday, January 28, 2011
Beautiful Things
On a day like today, I find myself saying "beautiful" quite often. What beautiful weather! The sky is beautiful! I wish everyday was as beautiful as this one has been! I have been outside with my kids all afternoon enjoying everything about this beautiful day. Then I began to think of other things that are beautiful and my focus changed from the weather to my Jesus.
"One thing I ask of the Lord, and this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4
There is nothing on earth as beautiful as Christ. I cannot imagine what it will be like when I one day sit at his throne and worship Him. But, until it is my time to be with Him in Heaven, I choose to gaze upon his beauty here on earth. When I was outside I looked up at amazing trees, checked on my rose bushes trying to bloom, watched ducks swimming in the lake, laughed at a funny road runner playing and enjoyed my children laughing. I cannot help but thank the Father for the beauty that is in each of those things and praise Him for the works of His hands.
I am reminded of the words to a song that say: "You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of the dust. You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of us!"
Let's not wait until we ge to heaven to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. Let's find something everyday that reflects who He is and let's worship Him now. Allow Jesus to make something beautiful out of you! Seek Him today and I promise you will not be dissapointed in His beauty...I wasn't!
"One thing I ask of the Lord, and this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4
There is nothing on earth as beautiful as Christ. I cannot imagine what it will be like when I one day sit at his throne and worship Him. But, until it is my time to be with Him in Heaven, I choose to gaze upon his beauty here on earth. When I was outside I looked up at amazing trees, checked on my rose bushes trying to bloom, watched ducks swimming in the lake, laughed at a funny road runner playing and enjoyed my children laughing. I cannot help but thank the Father for the beauty that is in each of those things and praise Him for the works of His hands.
I am reminded of the words to a song that say: "You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of the dust. You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of us!"
Let's not wait until we ge to heaven to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. Let's find something everyday that reflects who He is and let's worship Him now. Allow Jesus to make something beautiful out of you! Seek Him today and I promise you will not be dissapointed in His beauty...I wasn't!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The fire of the Lord fell...
I have been spending a lot of time studying in 1 Kings 18-19 lately. This morning, after spending time with the Lord and then receiving an email from a friend on the same scripture, I was very convicted of something.
Looking at the passage in 1 Kings 18:36-39: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." Then the fire of the Lord fell...When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord-He is God! The Lord-He is God!""
Elijah prayed knowing and believing that God would provide him with a miracle. He was boldly standing before hundreds of baal worshippers and proclaiming that his God, my God, is the only God. Am I as bold as Elijah? Do I stand tall and brave and proclaim daily in all that I do that my God is the real God? Do you? I want my life to be a refection of Him and I desire others to know that my need for Him is great.
Lord Jesus, answer me. Use me, so that the people around me will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning our hearts back to you. Make your fire fall on my life and burn brightly as I choose daily to live for you. When I encounter people and they look at my life, may they be able to say, "The Lord-he is God!" and may their lives be changed.
Would you make Elijah's prayer yours today?
Looking at the passage in 1 Kings 18:36-39: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." Then the fire of the Lord fell...When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord-He is God! The Lord-He is God!""
Elijah prayed knowing and believing that God would provide him with a miracle. He was boldly standing before hundreds of baal worshippers and proclaiming that his God, my God, is the only God. Am I as bold as Elijah? Do I stand tall and brave and proclaim daily in all that I do that my God is the real God? Do you? I want my life to be a refection of Him and I desire others to know that my need for Him is great.
Lord Jesus, answer me. Use me, so that the people around me will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning our hearts back to you. Make your fire fall on my life and burn brightly as I choose daily to live for you. When I encounter people and they look at my life, may they be able to say, "The Lord-he is God!" and may their lives be changed.
Would you make Elijah's prayer yours today?
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Stepping Out...
Well, here we go! I'm stepping out in faith and starting something new! God has told me for a very long time to write. I have been given some opportunities in the past year to write curriculum for retreats and camps and the Lord has seen me through each of them. If I am going to be obedient to His call on my life and teach His Word through speaking events and writing, I am understanding that I am going to have to be uncomfortable. Following Christ is not comfortable. I am desiring more and more to live in the state of uncomfortable. I want to used. I want to be pushed. I want to be obedient. If you are interested in being uncomfortable, please follow my blog. As I journey with Christ and He changes me each day, I will do my best to challenge you. Let's step out together....
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