Because I know that God loves me...

 

While working outside in the yard today, I watched our dog, Stewie.  He would run around, randomly going about his business as dogs do and then from time to time he would start barking loudly…not at anything in particular. He cracks me up!  After a while he would go lie down in the shade and rest.  Then later, he would get up and start the process all over again.  I have a special whistle that I have always used for him and he knows that whistle.  When I whistled for him, he came running, full tilt! 

This made me think about myself and God.  As I run about in my daily life, do I have my ears tuned to hear God when he calls to me?  I hope I do…that’s my goal.  If I do, am I obedient in answering his call…or do I continue on with my own agenda? Yikes!!

Because I know that God loves me…his love for me (for us all) is immeasurable…I want to please him.  I want to make myself available to his calling to me at all times.  That’s my goal in life…to be all that God created me to be, through obedience to him.

Let’s make it our goal to keep tuned into the God of the Universe at all times…He’s always nearby…always pursuing us.  It’s us who breaks that communication…let’s be persistent in listening and chasing after him.

Are we always in such a hurry that...

 I just ordered my usual here at Starbucks…my favorite place to hang out, find new friends and write.  The barista was friendly as usual and carrying on a conversation with me…as he does with many others. Unlike some days, it’s a very laid back atmosphere here today.  The gentleman in line behind me, however, didn’t seem to care much for the pace of things today.  He did everything except literally shove me out of the way while I was waiting for my receipt and order.  I sensed this and did what I could to move out of his way…even though my flesh wanted to hang out a little longer…just because!  :)

This really made me think.  In our hurry up and wait world…are we missing out on “nuggets of life” in our rush to get wherever it is we’re going?  I think back to Jesus in the Bible.  When he was on his way to different places, throngs of people would always cry out to him to be healed.  You know what’s so cool about Jesus?  He stopped and had interaction with people…even when he was on his way from point A to point B!  He healed them and then went on with his journey.  We can really learn a lot from this. 

Are we always in such a hurry that we don’t stop and take the time to visit with someone who maybe just needs someone to talk to them?  Maybe the person on the side of the road with a flat tire needs help.  Or...maybe the lady at Wal-Mart with 5 screaming kids who’s trying to get the groceries and the kids in the car in 90 degree weather needs help.  These are the “nuggets of life” I referred to earlier. 

We need interaction with other people and in instances like these, we can be a huge blessing to someone else.  But, what’s really great about this is that when we bless someone in this way, we are blessed as well.  It’s a wonderful feeling to stop what we’re doing, help someone, and then move along with the task at hand.  I have found that I’m usually not late getting where I’m going, but even if I am, it was worth those miniscule seconds, in the whole scheme of things, to stop and do what was needed. 

Take some time to stop and be a blessing to someone.  I believe you’ll find that you’ll be blessed as well. 

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God...

For quite some time now, I have wanted to write about the full or whole armor of God as written about in Ephesians 6:10-18.  As I began to write about it, one thing kept coming back to my memory. 

Before I discuss the one thing that keeps coming back to me, let’s discuss the Bible.  It is God’s Holy Word.  It’s given to us as a guide for our lives and it is totally and completely relevant for now…whether that now is in this moment or 20 years from now.  If we as Christians say that we believe that the Bible is God’s word and true, why then, do so many pick and choose what they believe from it?  I have heard people say that the events in Acts were only for that time.  People have said that the lives recorded in the Old Testament really didn’t live that long…it’s just embellishment for the “story.”  I’ve heard people say that there’s no need to cast out demons…that God doesn’t work that way any longer.  All of these statements are lies of the enemy that folks have chosen to believe.

Now the one thing I mentioned earlier happened a few years ago.  I was volunteering in a ministry and after being involved long enough to see how it operated, I began to have a few questions.  One of which was, “Why aren’t we teaching these kids about the full armor of God?”  We were in a ministry that helped people in the trials of their lives…but we weren’t giving them all of God’s ways to combat these trials of life and/or the enemy.  So, I approached a leader and asked if we could do a skit and explain the full armor of God to these kids.  To my surprise…I was “chuckled” at for whatever reason...I won’t speculate.  Needless to say, nothing was ever done about this…or any other questions that I had either.    

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God…  1 Corinthians 3:19 

When we take things into our own hands and “think” that we have the wisdom to figure out what God is doing and how he’s going to do it….oh what dangerous ground we have stepped onto.

Believe what the Bible says, trust God to show you how to live your life.  The Bible is our manual to living life…period!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own* understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6   

*emphasis mine  

Being transparent with people is...

Being transparent with people is the best way to have relationships.  If we’re honest with others about our own challenges in life, it can be a definite encouragement to others.  But being transparent can be a challenge in itself.  I have found that many folks don’t want to be transparent.  So many folks don’t want others to see their flaws…but we all have flaws…there’s no getting around it!  No need to pretend that you don’t...and no need to pretend that you have it all figured out, either!

 

When we overcome a flaw, being transparent with others allows us to share how the Lord has helped us to overcome and it encourages others that may be dealing with the same issue.  It also gives us a chance to share the things that we’ve overcome…giving us confidence.    

 

The trouble is judgment that can come from others when you’re being transparent.  From my own experience I have found that there are always those who want to tell me how to fix my issue, rather than listen to what I am saying…and usually they’re the folks who don’t like to be transparent.  I have learned to just blow it off or let it roll off like water off a duck’s back.  Now…that’s easily said here, but honestly, it has taken some time for me to get to that place…and depending on the subject, I still struggle with it from time to time. 

 

Remember that we’re all going through this thing called life.  We all have only 24 hours in a day and we all breathe the same air.  No one is more special than anyone else.  We all have challenges to overcome…some more than others...so don’t judge.  Be transparent with yourself and others.  You’ll find that the more transparent you become, usually the more transparent others around you will become as well.

 

Keep Jesus on the throne of your heart and remember that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about you.  It only matters what God thinks about you…and He loves you more than any word can express.     

When we choose to do the right thing...

The other day I was looking for a place to check out at WalMart and oblivious to me, a lady nearby was trying very hard to get in front of me…when I realized it, I just backed up and let her in line in front of me.  I wasn’t in a hurry…I guess she was!   J But what happened next is what I SO love about God!!  Only moments after she took her place in line in front of me, another cashier came over and said, “Ma’am, I can help you here on register 7?”  All I could think was, “Thank You, Lord…You are so good to me!” (Of course the number 7 thrilled me seeing how 7 biblically means “perfection, completeness and spiritual.” Nothing is a coincidence!)

When we choose to do the right thing, whether in public or in private, because we want to please our Heavenly Father, He never fails to reward us…not always this quickly, but He does reward us.  I want to please Him no matter where I am and no matter what I’m doing because I know my God loves me.  I don’t do it to get a reward, but rather because I want to be obedient to Him.  I want to make choices that are pleasing to my Heavenly Father…then the rewards come!

In this situation, I didn’t have to let the lady in front of me.  I was clearly in the line when I realized that she had been racing me to the line.  Allowing her in front of me made her feel better and probably got her out of the store and onto her next task more quickly.  

At one time or another we all experience moments like this.  I challenge you to let that person in front of you the next time this happens to you.  In one way or another, I know you’ll be as blessed as I was!

When We Put Our Trust In...

Jesus is the One (thing) we can ask for more and more of without being considered greedy…and receive to overflowing.

In our society, we don’t have to look very far to be enticed into thinking that we need more of whatever it is that we see at that very moment.  TV commercials, billboards, internet, radio…we’re surrounded by the idea that we’re not complete or fulfilled unless we have what’s being pushed at that moment. 

Now, don’t get me wrong…although I’m not much of a shopper, I’m not saying that those things aren’t helpful or things that aren’t needed.  It’s when our lives are out of balance and the need for material things around us is the goal in life.  A healthy balance or happy medium is what is needed.  I’ll say it again…Jesus is the One (thing) we can ask for more and more of without being considered greedy…and receive to overflowing.

When we put our trust in money, material things or situations, we may find that our world is whirling out of control.  We need a Center…something…or rather some One to keep us centered and balanced.  That One is Jesus…the Center of all things.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.  John 1:1-5

We were created for God. We were created to need Him.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10   If we don’t put the Savior of all mankind as our center, our lives will not be on the course that we were created to be on.  I find it necessary to continually ask God to take things out of me that are not needed and to fill me with Himself.  This brings me peace…true peace…no matter what my circumstances are.  My personal prayer is; I want more of you Jesus…more of You and less of me.  Fill me with Yourself that I might have rivers of living water flowing out of me to all I see and come in contact with.  I pray Your light will shine through me like a beacon of Light to a world of darkness and when anyone else sees Your Light, let them know that it’s You in me and not anything of myself.

Remember to always look to Jesus, not just in the moments when we feel lacking or insecure…look to the One who is and always was intended to be our Center.  He knows everything that we will ever need.  He is always there for us.  He will never fail us.    
     

...Look With A Different Perspective...

Today I accidentally knocked off the back of one of my earrings at the gym.  I must have spent 10 minutes or more crawling around on the floor looking for it and couldn’t find it.  First thing, I prayed that the Lord would open my eyes to see it.  I didn’t have my reading glasses to help me.  I pulled out my phone and used it as a flash light and still I couldn’t find it.  Finally, I just made the decision that I would go on with the task at hand and put fresh eyes on it a few minutes later.  So I stood up and all the sudden…BAM… my eyes were drawn directly to the back of my earring.  It had been right in front of me the entire time…I just didn’t see it.  Of course I wasn’t surprised!  Trust me, this isn’t the first time I’ve trusted the Lord to show me where I’ve lost something…He’s always faithful to help me find whatever I’ve lost. But what I found interesting is that I had to change my perspective or the angle to find what I was looking for.  It was there the entire time but I wasn’t in the right place to be able to see it. 

I think that’s how it is a lot of times when we’re looking for different things in life.  We can be looking high and low…searching very intently and still cannot find what it is we’re looking for.  Just like me looking for the earring back…I had asked God to help me, but my perspective or my angle was all wrong.  I wasn’t lined up properly.  God had full intentions of showing me where it was…and He waited patiently until I was finished doing it my way to show me exactly where it was.  Actually…His way was much easier than the way I was crawling around on the floor! 

If you find yourself in a situation where you seem to be getting nowhere, which we all do from time to time, look with a different perspective or at a different angle.  If you’ve asked God to help you, you can be sure He is there waiting patiently with you.  Sometimes I believe He’s just waiting for us to get lined up perfectly…waiting for us to get to the end of ourselves…so that He can do what needs to be done in our lives.  Also, there’s nothing too small to ask God for help with…even looking for the back of an earring is not too small for God!  He truly cares about every aspect of our lives.  J      

His Grace Is Sufficient!

I have to tell you, I had been a Christian for quite some time before I fully understood what God’s grace was.  We sing and talk about it all the time, but until the Lord removes the veil, it’s difficult to understand just “what” it is.

I remember being a part of leadership in a group that was headed out to a function.  Man, I Did. Not. Want. to be a part of it!  But I knew that it was something that the Lord wanted me to do.  I remember that day.  I dragged my feet all day long putting off preparation for it.  I even thought…maybe I can get out of it at the last moment.  You know, maybe, just maybe I had been wrong in thinking that the Lord wanted me there.  Well, I prayed early in the day, ‘Lord, if you want me to be a part of this, I pray that You will give me the grace to get through it.’  So, as the time drew near and I made my move to prepare for the evening…suddenly my outlook began to change.  Long story short, I found myself in the middle of the evening, not only having a great time, but being one of the "instigators of funness!”  It was then that I realized how amazing God’s grace is. 

His grace “fills in,” so to speak, for us when there is nothing that we can do to make situations better for ourselves.  The Holy Spirit fills the “gap” from where we are to where we need to be.  It’s totally and completely supernatural…something that we are completely incapable of doing for ourselves…just like Salvation! 

You see, when Jesus gave up His life on the cross, took our sin, shame, sickness, disease, etc, He bridged the gap between God and all mankind.  He is grace.  Bridging that gap is something that no man can or ever will be able to do.  Jesus did it…once and for all!  He then sent the Person of the Spirit of God to be our Helper after His resurrection. The Holy Spirit supernaturally “helps us”…or “fills in the gap” when  we are incapable of doing something on our own.  A! MAZ! ING!!

Remember to call on the Lord always when help is needed.  He is always here for us and will never fail us.  His grace IS sufficient!!