...am I being obedient...

I’ve been calling our dog, Stewie, lately and he simply refuses to come to me until I am forced to get firm with him.  Only after I do get firm with him does he decide to obey and come to me.  I find this very frustrating.  I never had this much resistance from my son when he was growing up and it’s strange to have a dog that is so strong willed!

As this was taking place, I began to wonder; am I being obedient to all that the Lord is calling me to do?  Hmmm…when He calls my name, do I continue on with “the important stuff” that I’m doing or do I drop what I’m doing and do what the Lord is calling me to do?  This is something that I continually want to work on as a follower of Christ Jesus.  I don’t ever want to miss out on something that the Lord has for me…whether it is something fun or whether it’s something tedious and challenging.  I know and believe that no matter what the Lord calls me to do, it is something that is needed for me, first…secondly, possibly help for others, and thirdly…if He calls me to do something, I know that He will equip me to do the task at hand.    

I want my ears to be open to hear what the Lord is speaking to me.  I want eyes to see what the Lord wants me to see.  I want to have a heart that is receptive to what God is doing.  I want to be willing to do whatever it is he is calling me to do.  I actually focus on this as my lifestyle. 

So, when I see Stewie acting in this manner, it serves as a reminder for me to be attentive to what the Lord is doing in my life.  I encourage you to do the same.  Be attentive to what God is doing in your life.  Dare to believe that you can and will be all that God created you to be.  And, by being attentive and willing to obey, we can become and be just that.  Trust and believe in God and hope for the best.  He will never lead you astray!  Trust me, the road will not always be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.  He is faithful and worthy of everything that we have to offer to Him…am so much more!         

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.

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!