"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
I was reading an article this morning that instantly spoke volumes to me, and really caused me to pause and think about my behavior. It says right here in Ephesians that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine... so why is it that we limit ourselves? The article I read was speaking directly about how we respond to our children. As my daughter's Christmas list grows longer and longer, who am I to tell her that it may just not happen this year? Instead, we should be talking to God about it- because He can certainly fill in the blanks with merely a thought.
I guess where I'm coming from is the idea that wanting things is selfish. I really struggle with that sometimes. You know, I have daydreams about walking into a place, filled with the glory of God and people just instantly start being healed of every disease and infirmity imaginable. While there is the big part of me and my faith that is getting to the place where I think that is totally possible, there is also the big part of me that says that is ridiculous- who am I to do those kinds of things. It's selfish and arrogant to be thinking that way.
And I think about a new home. One of these days we are going to move- we've extended our lease once while we consider our options. We've packed boxes and prepped most of the yard for moving out of here, and yet... Yet I can't help but think that maybe it's incorrect for me to be thinking that God is just going to drop the perfect place in our lap. Just last night I was thinking to myself, wondering if it's really okay for me to be asking God for the perfect place- I want the big house AND the big yard, and so far, it's been either one or the other. Or it's too far from where we want to be. Or the asking price is not where it needs to be. And then I think that maybe it just doesn't really matter- what if we're supposed to be thinking in the other direction and thinking that an apartment would be enough, as long as it was where God wants us to be.
Faith in conflict, that's what this is. I have faith that God is preparing the perfect place for us to move to, and He will reveal everything at just the perfect time. It's those earthly thoughts that get me every single time. If I think in terms of the world, we certainly don't belong in a big house with a big yard. Every time we start to even get a tiny bit close to our goal of owning a home, trouble comes crashing in and we start over back at the beginning of the process. By the worlds standards, we don't deserve a house, probably ever. But we are not of this world now, are we?
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ," Philippians 3:20
I am a citizen of heaven! I am a child of heaven and a precious daughter of God. And God can do anything. He can do immeasurably more than even I can imagine- and I can imagine pretty big. So when these thoughts creep into my mind-these thoughts of inadequacy, of not deserving, and of having the wrong attitude, I just need to go back to the very beginning and go back to God. Instead of talking myself out of the incredible blessings that are just waiting to be showered on me, I need to talk to God and see what HE has to say about the matter.
When all is said and done- when the time comes, and our prayers are answered, and our dreams are realized, you know what's going to happen? We are going to be able to give all the glory to God. Someone won't be able to look at us and say "good for you, you've worked hard to get where you are", because we'll have not done it. Instead, someone will look at us, see where we are and how we've been blessed, and the only answer will be God. We will be a walking, living, breathing testimony to the glory and goodness of God, and we can't wait to share that.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Proof Positive
"Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35
This verse today is totally correct- and my family is the proof of that today.
Andy is not working, and has been laid off since the end of September. He's been doing odd jobs here and there and collecting small unemployment benefits, and yet, it almost feels like he has been working. Oh, the money isn't coming in like we'd like to pay all the bills or to do our Christmas shopping, but you know what? We are not hungry, not even a little! And not only are we not hungry- but we have an abundance of food in our house. My pantry is full- and my freezer has such a wonderful assortment of fruits, veggies and meat in it. Shoot- we have lamb and duck in our freezer! Those are luxuries and abundance, yet they are there. I went shopping for Thanksgiving, and once Thanksgiving was done, I looked in my pantry and saw so much in there yet- after putting out such a feast of abundance, that there would still be abundance remaining just shows me how much God loves me and my family.
"The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 1:14
I mentioned earlier this week how God blessed us with clothes for the kids. What I didn't mention was how abundant that blessing was! My daughter went from having a handful of clothes that sort of fit to a true closet full. And I mean full! My son also has a closet full and several pairs of pants that actually fit instead of dangling up over his ankles! It's such a testament to the goodness and love of God that He placed these people in our lives to bless us with such an awesome abundance. Last year at the end of the winter season I bought winter coats for this year, only when we pulled them out the other day, they ended up being too big- like a lot too big, so they will be set aside for next year. Guess what we found in the clothes? Yep- winter coats for both, along with complimenting hats and gloves for each as well. Truly, all we need for my kids for winter are boots and snowpants, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they just showed up one day- whether they appear on the front porch, or I find a great deal while out shopping that I just can't pass up. That's the goodness of God!
He loves us so much that he isn't just giving us the things we need- He's giving us a taste of His abundance. Honestly though, it's also more than just the abundance of the stuff we need- it's also an abundance of His Spirit. Right now, Andy could be home, he could be sitting at home with nothing to do, and he could be fretting about the weeks ahead. Christmas is coming, and honestly, we're getting to the point where we're going to have to have a talk with the kids and how the gifts just aren't going to be there this year like we wanted. Andy could be home fretting about that- getting more worried the more he dwelled on it, but you know what? He's not. He's busy working with Abigail's dance school, using the time he has off to help them put on the best Nutcracker they've ever done. And he's having a blast doing it. His mind is occupied on something, and if I know him, the joy of the Lord is with him, and it's bubbling over to the people he's working with. God is placing an abundance of joy in him that is bubbling over and into the HIGH SCHOOL that he is working at. Oh, if there is someplace that needs joy!
We're also experiencing that here at home. I don't know why, but this morning, I woke up and I thought, it feels like Christmas! Zander woke me with a huge snuggle and a kiss and a good morning mommy, and I've just been in a mood ever since. God is pouring out His Joy abundantly on our family, and it just is so nice. Nice maybe isn't the right word, but it is just so, so welcome. When we could be feeling the exact opposite, we have this joy, and the knowledge that it is from the Lord, and that He loves us this much.
An abundance of God's Goodness. I pray that the measure that He has poured out on my household this morning will pour out doubly on you who is reading this today. God loves you- you're his favorite, you know. And He wants you to have the same abundant joy.
This verse today is totally correct- and my family is the proof of that today.
Andy is not working, and has been laid off since the end of September. He's been doing odd jobs here and there and collecting small unemployment benefits, and yet, it almost feels like he has been working. Oh, the money isn't coming in like we'd like to pay all the bills or to do our Christmas shopping, but you know what? We are not hungry, not even a little! And not only are we not hungry- but we have an abundance of food in our house. My pantry is full- and my freezer has such a wonderful assortment of fruits, veggies and meat in it. Shoot- we have lamb and duck in our freezer! Those are luxuries and abundance, yet they are there. I went shopping for Thanksgiving, and once Thanksgiving was done, I looked in my pantry and saw so much in there yet- after putting out such a feast of abundance, that there would still be abundance remaining just shows me how much God loves me and my family.
"The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 1:14
I mentioned earlier this week how God blessed us with clothes for the kids. What I didn't mention was how abundant that blessing was! My daughter went from having a handful of clothes that sort of fit to a true closet full. And I mean full! My son also has a closet full and several pairs of pants that actually fit instead of dangling up over his ankles! It's such a testament to the goodness and love of God that He placed these people in our lives to bless us with such an awesome abundance. Last year at the end of the winter season I bought winter coats for this year, only when we pulled them out the other day, they ended up being too big- like a lot too big, so they will be set aside for next year. Guess what we found in the clothes? Yep- winter coats for both, along with complimenting hats and gloves for each as well. Truly, all we need for my kids for winter are boots and snowpants, and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they just showed up one day- whether they appear on the front porch, or I find a great deal while out shopping that I just can't pass up. That's the goodness of God!
He loves us so much that he isn't just giving us the things we need- He's giving us a taste of His abundance. Honestly though, it's also more than just the abundance of the stuff we need- it's also an abundance of His Spirit. Right now, Andy could be home, he could be sitting at home with nothing to do, and he could be fretting about the weeks ahead. Christmas is coming, and honestly, we're getting to the point where we're going to have to have a talk with the kids and how the gifts just aren't going to be there this year like we wanted. Andy could be home fretting about that- getting more worried the more he dwelled on it, but you know what? He's not. He's busy working with Abigail's dance school, using the time he has off to help them put on the best Nutcracker they've ever done. And he's having a blast doing it. His mind is occupied on something, and if I know him, the joy of the Lord is with him, and it's bubbling over to the people he's working with. God is placing an abundance of joy in him that is bubbling over and into the HIGH SCHOOL that he is working at. Oh, if there is someplace that needs joy!
We're also experiencing that here at home. I don't know why, but this morning, I woke up and I thought, it feels like Christmas! Zander woke me with a huge snuggle and a kiss and a good morning mommy, and I've just been in a mood ever since. God is pouring out His Joy abundantly on our family, and it just is so nice. Nice maybe isn't the right word, but it is just so, so welcome. When we could be feeling the exact opposite, we have this joy, and the knowledge that it is from the Lord, and that He loves us this much.
An abundance of God's Goodness. I pray that the measure that He has poured out on my household this morning will pour out doubly on you who is reading this today. God loves you- you're his favorite, you know. And He wants you to have the same abundant joy.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Warfare Wednesday
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20
This week as I continue to pray for President Obama, my thought are turning to the world around us. Specifically, this morning I am thinking about Afghanistan. Last night the president addressed the nation and spoke on this very thing. I'm not going to re-hash anything he said, and if you missed the speech, you can watch it online. The thing is, and what is in my heart is that we really need to pray for this campaign. There has been some success in Afghanistan, but the war effort there is going to increase- and praise God for that! I weep for the people of Afghanistan, that life there is so uncertain and full of terror each and every day. I am so thankful that our president has presented a plan to increase our efforts there, because if we don't fight for the freedom of the Afghan people, who will? And the Pakistani people who are living just next door... they are facing the very same and very real threats from the Taliban- who will fight for them?
I am so thankful to live in a free country, and each and every person everywhere deserves the very same thing. A persons a person-no matter where they live, and God loves each and every one. I pray that God will allow freedom to win- that these precious people living in Afghanistan and Pakistan will know freedom- that they will know what it's like to walk down the street to the store, and not fear for their lives each and every time. More than anything, I pray that they would know the love of the Father who loves them so.
This week as I continue to pray for President Obama, my thought are turning to the world around us. Specifically, this morning I am thinking about Afghanistan. Last night the president addressed the nation and spoke on this very thing. I'm not going to re-hash anything he said, and if you missed the speech, you can watch it online. The thing is, and what is in my heart is that we really need to pray for this campaign. There has been some success in Afghanistan, but the war effort there is going to increase- and praise God for that! I weep for the people of Afghanistan, that life there is so uncertain and full of terror each and every day. I am so thankful that our president has presented a plan to increase our efforts there, because if we don't fight for the freedom of the Afghan people, who will? And the Pakistani people who are living just next door... they are facing the very same and very real threats from the Taliban- who will fight for them?
I am so thankful to live in a free country, and each and every person everywhere deserves the very same thing. A persons a person-no matter where they live, and God loves each and every one. I pray that God will allow freedom to win- that these precious people living in Afghanistan and Pakistan will know freedom- that they will know what it's like to walk down the street to the store, and not fear for their lives each and every time. More than anything, I pray that they would know the love of the Father who loves them so.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Overtaken
"and the ransomed of the LORD will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35:10
Happy December! This is the month of joy and gladness, as we spend the next several weeks celebrating the birth of the King! It's a time to be joyful, and sometimes I've found that I really need to concentrate to feel joyful. If I let the world dictate what my mind dwells on, I'm quickly overcome by sadness and despair, but if I keep my mind focused on the joy of the Lord- joy is a constant state of being.
This verse today... it came to mind as I was thinking about joy and yesterday. We had a great day yesterday, we got back into school after a week off, and it definitely felt good to get back into learning mode- I think we all were ready for it. In between things, I spent time finishing up washing the Thanksgiving dishes, and doing laundry. Oh, so much laundry! It was pure joy to do the laundry and then spend part of the afternoon with the kids going through their closets. We were able to pull out all those things that don't really fit anymore, and fill them up with an abundance of clothing that does fit. God is so awesome to provide what we need when we need it- and then to provide it in such abundance is truly a miracle. I'm still smiling this morning about it, as I still have a few things of the kids to go through.
Oh yeah, back to the verse. As I was reading it, I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to have everlasting joy. What would it be like to always be full of joy? What would it be like to rejoice in everything? And then the next part gave me such encouragement- gladness and joy will overtake them. All I could think, as I read this verse was that I want to be overtaken. I want to be overtaken and I want to experience heavenly gladness and joy. Oh, do I want that all the time! I think I get glimpses of that, I get those times where I could probably be hit by a truck and I would find the good in it. But there are still those times that it is a struggle- those times where, I know I'm not as bad off as Job, but golly, it sure seems like things couldn't get any lower.
When I have those moments, when I have those times where I just feel like the world is pressing in and trying to rob me of my joy, then I know I'm not doing something right. In the most recent case, I wasn't spending any time in the Word. I can always tell when I am not diving in to my Bible- my outlook changes a touch. When I am not getting a regular diet of God's Word, the worldly diet tries to tell me that it knows better- that it's the better diet for me. Thank God for His Word, and also for the Holy Spirit that keeps me on track- that directs me to verses like this today that shows me such encouragement. It's the Holy Spirit that makes my Bible light up like a beacon when I have those few extra minutes, and I'm debating what to do. The Bible is my path to Zion, and as long as I stay on the path, the sorrow and the sighing will flee away.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 35:10
Happy December! This is the month of joy and gladness, as we spend the next several weeks celebrating the birth of the King! It's a time to be joyful, and sometimes I've found that I really need to concentrate to feel joyful. If I let the world dictate what my mind dwells on, I'm quickly overcome by sadness and despair, but if I keep my mind focused on the joy of the Lord- joy is a constant state of being.
This verse today... it came to mind as I was thinking about joy and yesterday. We had a great day yesterday, we got back into school after a week off, and it definitely felt good to get back into learning mode- I think we all were ready for it. In between things, I spent time finishing up washing the Thanksgiving dishes, and doing laundry. Oh, so much laundry! It was pure joy to do the laundry and then spend part of the afternoon with the kids going through their closets. We were able to pull out all those things that don't really fit anymore, and fill them up with an abundance of clothing that does fit. God is so awesome to provide what we need when we need it- and then to provide it in such abundance is truly a miracle. I'm still smiling this morning about it, as I still have a few things of the kids to go through.
Oh yeah, back to the verse. As I was reading it, I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to have everlasting joy. What would it be like to always be full of joy? What would it be like to rejoice in everything? And then the next part gave me such encouragement- gladness and joy will overtake them. All I could think, as I read this verse was that I want to be overtaken. I want to be overtaken and I want to experience heavenly gladness and joy. Oh, do I want that all the time! I think I get glimpses of that, I get those times where I could probably be hit by a truck and I would find the good in it. But there are still those times that it is a struggle- those times where, I know I'm not as bad off as Job, but golly, it sure seems like things couldn't get any lower.
When I have those moments, when I have those times where I just feel like the world is pressing in and trying to rob me of my joy, then I know I'm not doing something right. In the most recent case, I wasn't spending any time in the Word. I can always tell when I am not diving in to my Bible- my outlook changes a touch. When I am not getting a regular diet of God's Word, the worldly diet tries to tell me that it knows better- that it's the better diet for me. Thank God for His Word, and also for the Holy Spirit that keeps me on track- that directs me to verses like this today that shows me such encouragement. It's the Holy Spirit that makes my Bible light up like a beacon when I have those few extra minutes, and I'm debating what to do. The Bible is my path to Zion, and as long as I stay on the path, the sorrow and the sighing will flee away.
Monday, November 30, 2009
It Is Well With My Soul
"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." 3 John 2
We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving, I'm sad to see it over already, except that Thanksgiving being over means that we begin the brief march towards Christmas. Where we spend Thanksgiving being thankful, Christmas is all about joy and celebration, and I daresay, Christmas already started for our family. Yesterday we were given some bags of clothing for the kids and all but a very small handful of pieces are going to fit them well. Today the kids and I have plans to go through their closets after school, and we're all so excited to be able to remove those things that don't really fit, but that we kept because they couldn't be replaced. It really was like Christmas with each piece of clothing that we pulled out and inspected and held up to enjoy. And now my kids are going to be warm and cozy and dressed in clothes that fit. God is so great.
Somehow thinking about that this morning made me think about this verse from 3 John today. When I read this verse, it seems to me that it's implying something. See? It says at the end "even as your soul is getting along well" and when I think of that, it seems to me that my health could be sub-par, and circumstances could be less than desirable, but that my soul is well and good. Since my soul is well and good, it seems to me that the rest of me has some catching up to do. This gives me such hope for the future, and here's why:
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:9
God is not a God of part-way. He isn't just going to work on part of me and let the rest of me fall apart. If my soul is well, it is God's intentions that the rest of me is going to catch up. My physical being and my spiritual being are going to catch up with my soul, which is already well, and then I will be complete in Him. It says right here in Philippians that the work which God has been doing will be completed. I know I've read this verse many times before and been encouraged by it before, but I don't think I ever paired it up with a separate verse which tells me that my soul is already well.
You know how you get together with people and you ask how each other is doing? Sometimes people use that opportunity to unload and tell you all the wrong, sometimes they just say fine or okay or good. But what if we took that opportunity and said something like "hey, my soul is doing fabulous" or "My soul is doing so well! Thanks for asking". Just thinking about that, just thinking about that fact that while the rest of me may be a huge work in progress, that my soul is doing well and is great gives me such a boost. It makes me smile, and it gives me something truly positive to focus on. And we all know that focusing on the positive is such a huge key to living as Christ did. So I plan to do that today. I plan to focus, and every time I feel something negative trying to squeeze in, or something less than desirable tries to steal my joy away, I am going to think to myself that "It is well with my soul" and see where that takes me.
We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving, I'm sad to see it over already, except that Thanksgiving being over means that we begin the brief march towards Christmas. Where we spend Thanksgiving being thankful, Christmas is all about joy and celebration, and I daresay, Christmas already started for our family. Yesterday we were given some bags of clothing for the kids and all but a very small handful of pieces are going to fit them well. Today the kids and I have plans to go through their closets after school, and we're all so excited to be able to remove those things that don't really fit, but that we kept because they couldn't be replaced. It really was like Christmas with each piece of clothing that we pulled out and inspected and held up to enjoy. And now my kids are going to be warm and cozy and dressed in clothes that fit. God is so great.
Somehow thinking about that this morning made me think about this verse from 3 John today. When I read this verse, it seems to me that it's implying something. See? It says at the end "even as your soul is getting along well" and when I think of that, it seems to me that my health could be sub-par, and circumstances could be less than desirable, but that my soul is well and good. Since my soul is well and good, it seems to me that the rest of me has some catching up to do. This gives me such hope for the future, and here's why:
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:9
God is not a God of part-way. He isn't just going to work on part of me and let the rest of me fall apart. If my soul is well, it is God's intentions that the rest of me is going to catch up. My physical being and my spiritual being are going to catch up with my soul, which is already well, and then I will be complete in Him. It says right here in Philippians that the work which God has been doing will be completed. I know I've read this verse many times before and been encouraged by it before, but I don't think I ever paired it up with a separate verse which tells me that my soul is already well.
You know how you get together with people and you ask how each other is doing? Sometimes people use that opportunity to unload and tell you all the wrong, sometimes they just say fine or okay or good. But what if we took that opportunity and said something like "hey, my soul is doing fabulous" or "My soul is doing so well! Thanks for asking". Just thinking about that, just thinking about that fact that while the rest of me may be a huge work in progress, that my soul is doing well and is great gives me such a boost. It makes me smile, and it gives me something truly positive to focus on. And we all know that focusing on the positive is such a huge key to living as Christ did. So I plan to do that today. I plan to focus, and every time I feel something negative trying to squeeze in, or something less than desirable tries to steal my joy away, I am going to think to myself that "It is well with my soul" and see where that takes me.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Heart & Soul readers. God loves you- and I love you. I am so thankful that you think to make Heart & Soul a part of your day. Be blessed, and I'll be back on Monday.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Heart & Soul readers. God loves you- and I love you. I am so thankful that you think to make Heart & Soul a part of your day. Be blessed, and I'll be back on Monday.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Warfare Wednesday: Thanksgiving Edition
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34
I have a child waiting just off my shoulder here, simply dying for the opportunity to use the computer this morning. Lol, I guess I needed some inspiration to get up and get some work done today! But I'm going to try and be quick and brief this morning, because I think it's rather obvious that this week, as we're praying for President Obama and his family, that we should also be thankful for our president, and also thankful for this free country which we are blessed to call home.
We have spent so much time in the last month or so learning about how this country began. While there are some things that are not to be proud of- treatment of the Native Americans for one-but the freedoms that people were trying to escape from in Europe are something we just seem to take for granted these days. Or we aren't taking them for granted- we're not enjoying our freedoms, and we're looking to the examples of other countries instead of looking inwards and looking up. God knows how to make America beautiful again- from the inside out.
We're learned about the pilgrims, fleeing the King and the fact that getting together for a Bible study in their homes was enough to throw them in prison or into the stocks for several days. We've learned about the blessings the Native Americans actually were to those pilgrims, teaching them how to survive in such a wild land. And I think that's one of the things that is forgotten as time goes on. I also think there is still healing to be done between the Native American people and the rest of the country. This morning, as I pray for this country and the Thanksgiving celebrations going on all over the place, I am praying for real peace. I am praying for a great healing among the Native American peoples. My heart breaks for them, as I have learned more about a lot of the horrors the original inhabitants of this nation underwent. But while we can all look back with regret and wish that things had gone differently, we can't go back. We can't go back 300 years and undo all the travesties. But we can move forward. We can move forward in forgiveness and understanding, and we can work together for the good of all.
So this morning I am praying that the First Family will have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving together. I am praying prayers of Thanksgiving for being born in and living in the most wonderful country on the planet, and I am praying that God will have His way with our country. I am also praying for peace for the Native American groups. May they know that God loves them, that He created them as the perfect people they are, and that they do have a purpose here.
"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" 1 Chronicles 16:31
his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34
I have a child waiting just off my shoulder here, simply dying for the opportunity to use the computer this morning. Lol, I guess I needed some inspiration to get up and get some work done today! But I'm going to try and be quick and brief this morning, because I think it's rather obvious that this week, as we're praying for President Obama and his family, that we should also be thankful for our president, and also thankful for this free country which we are blessed to call home.
We have spent so much time in the last month or so learning about how this country began. While there are some things that are not to be proud of- treatment of the Native Americans for one-but the freedoms that people were trying to escape from in Europe are something we just seem to take for granted these days. Or we aren't taking them for granted- we're not enjoying our freedoms, and we're looking to the examples of other countries instead of looking inwards and looking up. God knows how to make America beautiful again- from the inside out.
We're learned about the pilgrims, fleeing the King and the fact that getting together for a Bible study in their homes was enough to throw them in prison or into the stocks for several days. We've learned about the blessings the Native Americans actually were to those pilgrims, teaching them how to survive in such a wild land. And I think that's one of the things that is forgotten as time goes on. I also think there is still healing to be done between the Native American people and the rest of the country. This morning, as I pray for this country and the Thanksgiving celebrations going on all over the place, I am praying for real peace. I am praying for a great healing among the Native American peoples. My heart breaks for them, as I have learned more about a lot of the horrors the original inhabitants of this nation underwent. But while we can all look back with regret and wish that things had gone differently, we can't go back. We can't go back 300 years and undo all the travesties. But we can move forward. We can move forward in forgiveness and understanding, and we can work together for the good of all.
So this morning I am praying that the First Family will have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving together. I am praying prayers of Thanksgiving for being born in and living in the most wonderful country on the planet, and I am praying that God will have His way with our country. I am also praying for peace for the Native American groups. May they know that God loves them, that He created them as the perfect people they are, and that they do have a purpose here.
"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" 1 Chronicles 16:31
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Overflowing
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7
Do we ever overflow with thankfulness? Let's think about this for a minute, because I wonder if we really do. Overflowing... that's a lot of thankfulness! Overflow is 'to fill a space to capacity and spread beyond its limits', like filling a bathtub with water and letting it spill over into the bathroom. What would it take to really fill you up with that much thanks?
It seems to me that this verse is saying that this excessive thankfulness is part of living in Christ. I'm just thinking out loud here, but how often do you run into a fellow Christian and get a sense of thankfulness to the extreme? It seems to me that should be a regular character trait according to this verse. That we should walk up to our brother in Christ, ask him how he's doing, and he just starts exploding with thankfulness, telling us how thankful he is, because he can't simply hold it in. Instead, the conversation usually quickly goes sour. We're so quick to share what is wrong- we're so quick to be negative.
The thing is, this overflowing thankfulness is so much like joy- it's contagious. Think about it. It's Thanksgiving week, and our whole country is celebrating with friends and family. And as the gatherings ensue, conversation will undoubtedly steer towards things that are wrong. Jobs, money, family issues, etc. What if we all purposed, instead, to focus on that which we are thankful for? If you started off your Thanksgiving gathering by refusing to discuss the negative, and only talk about the positive, the people you are spending time with would catch that. Guaranteed. And even better, perhaps there will be someone at your gathering who needs to meet Jesus. Your attitude- your thankfulness will go such a long way in showing that someone that loving God is a wonderful thing, and not a burden that weighs you down.
Overflowing thankfulness. I think that is so appropriate! As we're celebrating Thanksgiving this week, we've been talking about celebrating with abundance- abundance is 'of ample quantity' or overflowing provision. It seems to me that overflowing provision and overflowing thankfulness can go hand-in-hand.
Do we ever overflow with thankfulness? Let's think about this for a minute, because I wonder if we really do. Overflowing... that's a lot of thankfulness! Overflow is 'to fill a space to capacity and spread beyond its limits', like filling a bathtub with water and letting it spill over into the bathroom. What would it take to really fill you up with that much thanks?
It seems to me that this verse is saying that this excessive thankfulness is part of living in Christ. I'm just thinking out loud here, but how often do you run into a fellow Christian and get a sense of thankfulness to the extreme? It seems to me that should be a regular character trait according to this verse. That we should walk up to our brother in Christ, ask him how he's doing, and he just starts exploding with thankfulness, telling us how thankful he is, because he can't simply hold it in. Instead, the conversation usually quickly goes sour. We're so quick to share what is wrong- we're so quick to be negative.
The thing is, this overflowing thankfulness is so much like joy- it's contagious. Think about it. It's Thanksgiving week, and our whole country is celebrating with friends and family. And as the gatherings ensue, conversation will undoubtedly steer towards things that are wrong. Jobs, money, family issues, etc. What if we all purposed, instead, to focus on that which we are thankful for? If you started off your Thanksgiving gathering by refusing to discuss the negative, and only talk about the positive, the people you are spending time with would catch that. Guaranteed. And even better, perhaps there will be someone at your gathering who needs to meet Jesus. Your attitude- your thankfulness will go such a long way in showing that someone that loving God is a wonderful thing, and not a burden that weighs you down.
Overflowing thankfulness. I think that is so appropriate! As we're celebrating Thanksgiving this week, we've been talking about celebrating with abundance- abundance is 'of ample quantity' or overflowing provision. It seems to me that overflowing provision and overflowing thankfulness can go hand-in-hand.
Monday, November 23, 2009
With Strength and Thanksgiving
"She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms." Proverbs 31:17 (NKJV)
I need to start getting a notebook or something and writing down all these blog topics that come to me randomly. I swear in the last weekend I had about 12 different scriptures jump out at me with subjects for blog posts. And now that it's Monday morning and I'm back in the saddle, do you think I can remember any of them?
But I do remember this one. This verse is from the ever-famous and popular Proverbs 31 and the wife of noble character. I did a study on this a while back, and while I learned a lot from the study, I'm finding that I am still often gleaning something new from the passage. I read this verse the other day and it really spoke to me and agreed with me. "She girds herself with strength" tells me plain and simply in black and white that we are to take good care of these earthly bodies.
While the medical community may not always agree on the way certain aspects of bodily health take place, we can agree that we should at least, do what we can to take care of our bodies. As a wife and mother, and as someone who is always interested in learning more about health and nutrition, I often wish the Bible told us more about how to be healthy. As the chief food producer and preparer I set the bar for the rest of my family. Where my health goes, so to does theirs usually. This means that I need to set a good example myself. Sweets and treats are kept in moderation- enjoyed every once in a while, not all the time, and certainly not in place of something more healthy. When we sit down to a meal together, I don't load my plate up with as much as possible, I eat sensibly, and I load up on the vegetables- I'm always encouraging my children to eat more vegetables. But this verse is saying more than just watching what we eat.
Girding myself with strength also suggests a mental strength as well. My attitude about food and eating is also important. I don't look at a piece of dessert and tell myself and my family that when I eat it, I'm going to get fat. Instead, I am going to enjoy that dessert and maybe I'll even thank God for it. Instead of looking at food as the enemy, as something that could wreck my body, I need to look at it as fuel- as amazing and wonderful fuel which God created, and then gave man the ability to manipulate into wonderful creations!
When I gird myself with strength I am also doing other things to take care of my body. Cleanliness and hygiene are important, as is exercise and taking the right vitamins. By keeping my body healthy I am better able to resist any germs or diseases the devil may try to throw at me.
I'm still thinking about the eating part. I'm thinking about girding my strength with food, and strengthening my arms with exercise and hard work, but mostly, as we're entering the holiday season, I'm thinking about the eating. You talk to anyone- and I mean anyone, they are concerned about watching what they eat this time of year. There are groans and moans about the big Thanksgiving dinner, and too much food. And I just can't help but think that God has provided all this food. In fact, I just got a phone call that totally blessed my socks off. We're being blessed with a complete turkey dinner... now, I've already done most of my Thanksgiving grocery shopping, and God knows this. Yet He has seen fit to bless us with abundance. He isn't blessing us with this abundance so that I can look at all this food and regret the added calories or snugness to my waistline. He is blessing us because He can, because He wants us to know that we are loved and that He provides always.
So when we sit down to a celebration that involves food, we need to celebrate! We need to praise God and be thankful in all things. You know, I can't help but think of food celebrations in the Bible. Or offerings- like the offerings at the temples that were meant to be eaten by the priests. Can you imagine one of the priests in those days saying "Sorry, I can't eat this leg of lamb. I'm watching my saturated fat intake." Or I think of the widow who used her last oil and flour to make a small cake for Elijah. Could you imagine if Elijah turned that down and said something like "I'm sorry, I'm watching my carbs this month." In the Bible, feasts and celebrations often lasted a full seven days! A full seven days of celebratory eating and praising God. Surely, we Americans can manage to celebrate for a day or two without feeling guilty and diet conscious.
So Happy Thanksgiving week! Instead of being regretful and hesitant about celebrating, let's just celebrate! Let's give thanks to God for all that He has done, and more importantly, for all that He will do. He is our God and King and His love endures forever!
And strengthens her arms." Proverbs 31:17 (NKJV)
I need to start getting a notebook or something and writing down all these blog topics that come to me randomly. I swear in the last weekend I had about 12 different scriptures jump out at me with subjects for blog posts. And now that it's Monday morning and I'm back in the saddle, do you think I can remember any of them?
But I do remember this one. This verse is from the ever-famous and popular Proverbs 31 and the wife of noble character. I did a study on this a while back, and while I learned a lot from the study, I'm finding that I am still often gleaning something new from the passage. I read this verse the other day and it really spoke to me and agreed with me. "She girds herself with strength" tells me plain and simply in black and white that we are to take good care of these earthly bodies.
While the medical community may not always agree on the way certain aspects of bodily health take place, we can agree that we should at least, do what we can to take care of our bodies. As a wife and mother, and as someone who is always interested in learning more about health and nutrition, I often wish the Bible told us more about how to be healthy. As the chief food producer and preparer I set the bar for the rest of my family. Where my health goes, so to does theirs usually. This means that I need to set a good example myself. Sweets and treats are kept in moderation- enjoyed every once in a while, not all the time, and certainly not in place of something more healthy. When we sit down to a meal together, I don't load my plate up with as much as possible, I eat sensibly, and I load up on the vegetables- I'm always encouraging my children to eat more vegetables. But this verse is saying more than just watching what we eat.
Girding myself with strength also suggests a mental strength as well. My attitude about food and eating is also important. I don't look at a piece of dessert and tell myself and my family that when I eat it, I'm going to get fat. Instead, I am going to enjoy that dessert and maybe I'll even thank God for it. Instead of looking at food as the enemy, as something that could wreck my body, I need to look at it as fuel- as amazing and wonderful fuel which God created, and then gave man the ability to manipulate into wonderful creations!
When I gird myself with strength I am also doing other things to take care of my body. Cleanliness and hygiene are important, as is exercise and taking the right vitamins. By keeping my body healthy I am better able to resist any germs or diseases the devil may try to throw at me.
I'm still thinking about the eating part. I'm thinking about girding my strength with food, and strengthening my arms with exercise and hard work, but mostly, as we're entering the holiday season, I'm thinking about the eating. You talk to anyone- and I mean anyone, they are concerned about watching what they eat this time of year. There are groans and moans about the big Thanksgiving dinner, and too much food. And I just can't help but think that God has provided all this food. In fact, I just got a phone call that totally blessed my socks off. We're being blessed with a complete turkey dinner... now, I've already done most of my Thanksgiving grocery shopping, and God knows this. Yet He has seen fit to bless us with abundance. He isn't blessing us with this abundance so that I can look at all this food and regret the added calories or snugness to my waistline. He is blessing us because He can, because He wants us to know that we are loved and that He provides always.
So when we sit down to a celebration that involves food, we need to celebrate! We need to praise God and be thankful in all things. You know, I can't help but think of food celebrations in the Bible. Or offerings- like the offerings at the temples that were meant to be eaten by the priests. Can you imagine one of the priests in those days saying "Sorry, I can't eat this leg of lamb. I'm watching my saturated fat intake." Or I think of the widow who used her last oil and flour to make a small cake for Elijah. Could you imagine if Elijah turned that down and said something like "I'm sorry, I'm watching my carbs this month." In the Bible, feasts and celebrations often lasted a full seven days! A full seven days of celebratory eating and praising God. Surely, we Americans can manage to celebrate for a day or two without feeling guilty and diet conscious.
So Happy Thanksgiving week! Instead of being regretful and hesitant about celebrating, let's just celebrate! Let's give thanks to God for all that He has done, and more importantly, for all that He will do. He is our God and King and His love endures forever!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Those Who Fear Him
"The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them." Psalm 25:14
This verse came to me yesterday afternoon in a most unusual way. If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you may remember back in July I had an experience where God showed me what I should read in the Bible through the word "see". Well, yesterday's experience was along the same kind of lines. I was cooking dinner and enjoying a mug of chai. I was also back and forth at the computer to look up a few things, and of course the kids were around- they were upstairs watching TV, so I was back and forth a bit. At one point, I was looking something up online, and thinking about some "God thoughts" I was having, and I remembered my mug of chai. So I walked back to the kitchen to get the mug, and there, sitting on the rim of my mug was a sticker.
It was a very small sticker that read 2514- it actually is the sticker from Abigail's bike lock. She hasn't used that bike lock since the last day of third grade. The sticker... well, I have no idea where it's been hiding, but when we bought the lock, I took the sticker off and wrote the combination on our calendar so that we'd know what it is. Anyway, I picked the sticker off my mug, looked at it, and instantly knew that I needed to read Psalms 25:14. I read it a few times, and honestly, all I could think was "wow, this is big." I walked away from reading the verse, and pretty much have just been reciting it to myself ever since then. And last night, on the way home from dance class, I was thinking about this mysterious sticker and making myself laugh by thinking about the angel digging around in who-knows-where to find this specific sticker and stick it to my mug.
I just find it so incredibly fun and exciting when God speaks. Whether it's through a dream, a person, or some strange physical experience, God is always talking. In October we'd had our big church conference, and we stayed away from home for a few days. When we got back home, there on my porch was a lone blossom on my clematis plant. The plant that had already met it's fate with killing frost for the year. I saw that blossom and saw that even when it seems like there is nothing there to enjoy or salvage, there is always beauty. A few weeks ago, driving home from a Sunday night church service, the kids and I had to stop for deer twice. Andy followed behind us a few minutes later and had to stop for deer four times- and sometimes in places you don't expect deer- in cities and neighborhoods. Do you know what a deer is? It's provision. And it's not just provision- it's provision fit for royalty. For the Native Americans a deer was something they would gift to royalty. I saw that night that God would provide greatly for us, and that sometimes that provision would come in the unexpected.
But this verse yesterday is really something.
"The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them"
As I thought about this verse last night, I wondered if I really fear God? I mean, lately, I've been so enraptured with His Goodness and His Mercy and His Provision, I've been getting to know the God who loves all His children. That God, the loving God, is the Daddy God, the one who wraps His arms around us and tells us everything will be all right. That got me thinking about my own earthly daddy, and then I got it. I think I do fear God. When I was young and growing up, the one thing I feared more than anything was getting Daddy mad at me- or making him disappointed in me. I always wanted Daddy's approval. Punishment always was painful because it cut right to the heart. The punishment may not have even been a physical one, but it hurt all the same, and I would feel ashamed of my mistakes. That fear of my Daddy I think helped keep me on a straighter and narrower path while I grew and learned from my mistakes.
But what about my Godly Daddy? Do I fear His punishment and His retribution? Oh yes. I really do think about that sometimes. I think about the day I stand before Him, and I so fear that He will look at me and shake his head and say "not good enough." I almost get tears just thinking about that-thinking about disappointing the One who calls me beloved. I also think about how He is the giver and taker of life, and at any moment, He could decide to call me home. Or could decide to call someone precious to me home. And He could do that, because He's God and He has the final say in everything. And I fear God because even though I have been drawing closer to Him, there is still that part of me that is afraid of more. The part of me that is afraid to totally let go, because what if He doesn't like what He finds there? What if He tells me things I don't really want to hear. I am so afraid of that sometimes, even though I know there is nothing to fear really.
So now that I've reconciled that yes, indeed, I do fear God. What about this verse.
"The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them"
All I have to do is ask. All I have to do is wait on Him and spend time in His presence, and He will confide in me His plans for me. His plans for my family. He makes His covenant known to those who fear him. The Lord confides in them! He confides! He tells His secrets and shares the intimate details of what is to come, and what will be.
And yet there is that part of me that fears God so much that I don't know if I want to know.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
And there it is. Plans to prosper and not harm me. Plans for hope and a future.
I still don't really know why I was led to this verse. I have to spend more time with it. Maybe look it up in other translations, and meditate on it to see what God is really trying to tell me. But I do know this. God wanted to talk to me, and so I will listen. I do want to know, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for us. I am so, so thankful that God does speak to me, and I am thankful for whatever it is He has to tell me. Who am I that He would notice me and speak to me?
"what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?" Psalm 8:4
he makes his covenant known to them." Psalm 25:14
This verse came to me yesterday afternoon in a most unusual way. If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you may remember back in July I had an experience where God showed me what I should read in the Bible through the word "see". Well, yesterday's experience was along the same kind of lines. I was cooking dinner and enjoying a mug of chai. I was also back and forth at the computer to look up a few things, and of course the kids were around- they were upstairs watching TV, so I was back and forth a bit. At one point, I was looking something up online, and thinking about some "God thoughts" I was having, and I remembered my mug of chai. So I walked back to the kitchen to get the mug, and there, sitting on the rim of my mug was a sticker.
It was a very small sticker that read 2514- it actually is the sticker from Abigail's bike lock. She hasn't used that bike lock since the last day of third grade. The sticker... well, I have no idea where it's been hiding, but when we bought the lock, I took the sticker off and wrote the combination on our calendar so that we'd know what it is. Anyway, I picked the sticker off my mug, looked at it, and instantly knew that I needed to read Psalms 25:14. I read it a few times, and honestly, all I could think was "wow, this is big." I walked away from reading the verse, and pretty much have just been reciting it to myself ever since then. And last night, on the way home from dance class, I was thinking about this mysterious sticker and making myself laugh by thinking about the angel digging around in who-knows-where to find this specific sticker and stick it to my mug.
I just find it so incredibly fun and exciting when God speaks. Whether it's through a dream, a person, or some strange physical experience, God is always talking. In October we'd had our big church conference, and we stayed away from home for a few days. When we got back home, there on my porch was a lone blossom on my clematis plant. The plant that had already met it's fate with killing frost for the year. I saw that blossom and saw that even when it seems like there is nothing there to enjoy or salvage, there is always beauty. A few weeks ago, driving home from a Sunday night church service, the kids and I had to stop for deer twice. Andy followed behind us a few minutes later and had to stop for deer four times- and sometimes in places you don't expect deer- in cities and neighborhoods. Do you know what a deer is? It's provision. And it's not just provision- it's provision fit for royalty. For the Native Americans a deer was something they would gift to royalty. I saw that night that God would provide greatly for us, and that sometimes that provision would come in the unexpected.
But this verse yesterday is really something.
"The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them"
As I thought about this verse last night, I wondered if I really fear God? I mean, lately, I've been so enraptured with His Goodness and His Mercy and His Provision, I've been getting to know the God who loves all His children. That God, the loving God, is the Daddy God, the one who wraps His arms around us and tells us everything will be all right. That got me thinking about my own earthly daddy, and then I got it. I think I do fear God. When I was young and growing up, the one thing I feared more than anything was getting Daddy mad at me- or making him disappointed in me. I always wanted Daddy's approval. Punishment always was painful because it cut right to the heart. The punishment may not have even been a physical one, but it hurt all the same, and I would feel ashamed of my mistakes. That fear of my Daddy I think helped keep me on a straighter and narrower path while I grew and learned from my mistakes.
But what about my Godly Daddy? Do I fear His punishment and His retribution? Oh yes. I really do think about that sometimes. I think about the day I stand before Him, and I so fear that He will look at me and shake his head and say "not good enough." I almost get tears just thinking about that-thinking about disappointing the One who calls me beloved. I also think about how He is the giver and taker of life, and at any moment, He could decide to call me home. Or could decide to call someone precious to me home. And He could do that, because He's God and He has the final say in everything. And I fear God because even though I have been drawing closer to Him, there is still that part of me that is afraid of more. The part of me that is afraid to totally let go, because what if He doesn't like what He finds there? What if He tells me things I don't really want to hear. I am so afraid of that sometimes, even though I know there is nothing to fear really.
So now that I've reconciled that yes, indeed, I do fear God. What about this verse.
"The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them"
All I have to do is ask. All I have to do is wait on Him and spend time in His presence, and He will confide in me His plans for me. His plans for my family. He makes His covenant known to those who fear him. The Lord confides in them! He confides! He tells His secrets and shares the intimate details of what is to come, and what will be.
And yet there is that part of me that fears God so much that I don't know if I want to know.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
And there it is. Plans to prosper and not harm me. Plans for hope and a future.
I still don't really know why I was led to this verse. I have to spend more time with it. Maybe look it up in other translations, and meditate on it to see what God is really trying to tell me. But I do know this. God wanted to talk to me, and so I will listen. I do want to know, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for us. I am so, so thankful that God does speak to me, and I am thankful for whatever it is He has to tell me. Who am I that He would notice me and speak to me?
"what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?" Psalm 8:4
He Will Do It
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. " 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Sometimes I wonder if we struggle with things simply because we don't ask God to take it away. When I read verses like this in the Bible, which say that God is faithful and will do what is being asked, it tells me very simply that if I pray, God hears and answers. God is faithful to His children and wants to answer their prayers...
Yet sometimes we struggle with something. I think of all those years that we struggled with finances, we were such spenders. Andy would bring home a paycheck that we needed to pay bills, only we decided not to pay bills and instead take the kids out for dinner, and stop for a new toy or something. Then, of course, our bills got behind and it was a horrible cycle that we replayed over and over. Oh, we would pray about the situation, but it was more prayers of this nature "Dear God, we need money." Instead, perhaps we should have been praying "Dear God, please help us with our horrible spending habits. Help us manage our money in a Godly way." See the difference? While we knew we were doing wrong, it didn't occur to us to pray about the bad behavior, just what we thought would fix the problems short term.
Thank God we did see the error of those prayers and gave our checkbook to God. We're still not perfect, but we certainly aren't spendy anymore. Not even a little! I honestly cannot think of the last time we were frivolous with God's provision. We asked, and God delivered. He took that desire right out of us, and we're changed people because of it. In fact, I wonder sometimes if I'm almost getting a little crazy about it. I've been eyeing up the clothes that are starting to look a little snug on Zander and I've been wondering if I could take a sewing machine to fabric and combine two sets of ill fitting pajamas to make one nicely-fitting set. Really? Who does that? Lol.
God is faithful!
So what am I not asking God for this time around? I've been guilty of not asking for motivation and energy to be honest. I feel like I've been sleeping a little later every day, and then when I wake up I just feel sluggish. Starting school with the kids is, well, lets just say that we're taking next week off and it's very well-timed for me. As I look around my house and see all the things I could be doing during the day, it baffles me why I justify laziness. We finish up school for the day and I take a break by sitting at the computer for a while or pulling out a book. Instead of tackling the mountain of dishes or cleaning the bathroom. Yet in the back of mind, I confess that I know that if I ask God for motivation and energy, that He will give it to me. But I don't ask.
I imagine it's the same for someone with addictive behavior. Regardless what the problem is, there is some part of them that enjoys the behavior. Just think about what talking to God could do... just think about asking God to take the bad behavior away, instead of just taking away the temptation.
This is definitely something to think about this morning. Why do we avoid asking God for what we truly need? I think it's because we know that He will answer us faithfully.
Sometimes I wonder if we struggle with things simply because we don't ask God to take it away. When I read verses like this in the Bible, which say that God is faithful and will do what is being asked, it tells me very simply that if I pray, God hears and answers. God is faithful to His children and wants to answer their prayers...
Yet sometimes we struggle with something. I think of all those years that we struggled with finances, we were such spenders. Andy would bring home a paycheck that we needed to pay bills, only we decided not to pay bills and instead take the kids out for dinner, and stop for a new toy or something. Then, of course, our bills got behind and it was a horrible cycle that we replayed over and over. Oh, we would pray about the situation, but it was more prayers of this nature "Dear God, we need money." Instead, perhaps we should have been praying "Dear God, please help us with our horrible spending habits. Help us manage our money in a Godly way." See the difference? While we knew we were doing wrong, it didn't occur to us to pray about the bad behavior, just what we thought would fix the problems short term.
Thank God we did see the error of those prayers and gave our checkbook to God. We're still not perfect, but we certainly aren't spendy anymore. Not even a little! I honestly cannot think of the last time we were frivolous with God's provision. We asked, and God delivered. He took that desire right out of us, and we're changed people because of it. In fact, I wonder sometimes if I'm almost getting a little crazy about it. I've been eyeing up the clothes that are starting to look a little snug on Zander and I've been wondering if I could take a sewing machine to fabric and combine two sets of ill fitting pajamas to make one nicely-fitting set. Really? Who does that? Lol.
God is faithful!
So what am I not asking God for this time around? I've been guilty of not asking for motivation and energy to be honest. I feel like I've been sleeping a little later every day, and then when I wake up I just feel sluggish. Starting school with the kids is, well, lets just say that we're taking next week off and it's very well-timed for me. As I look around my house and see all the things I could be doing during the day, it baffles me why I justify laziness. We finish up school for the day and I take a break by sitting at the computer for a while or pulling out a book. Instead of tackling the mountain of dishes or cleaning the bathroom. Yet in the back of mind, I confess that I know that if I ask God for motivation and energy, that He will give it to me. But I don't ask.
I imagine it's the same for someone with addictive behavior. Regardless what the problem is, there is some part of them that enjoys the behavior. Just think about what talking to God could do... just think about asking God to take the bad behavior away, instead of just taking away the temptation.
This is definitely something to think about this morning. Why do we avoid asking God for what we truly need? I think it's because we know that He will answer us faithfully.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Warfare Wednesday
"The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none." Deuteronomy 28:12
I was reading a quote by Abraham Lincoln this morning. I thought I'd share it here, because it speaks volumes about our country.
As we're getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, we've been spending a lot of our history time every day talking about how the United States began. Let me say this, if the only US History you remember is about making paper pilgrims and pumpkins, you need to get yourself a good history book and read it. US History is fascinating, and I think it's so important to see where we've been as a nation. As I read this quote from President Lincoln, it just made me sad because I believe what he said. I believe that God raised up our country to be a refuge and an asylum for persecuted people from all over the globe. And I think that where we are as a country today- so fraught with political problems- needs some perspective and prayer.
So this morning, while I do continue my prayers for President Obama, I also think that my prayers need to address the divisiveness that is tearing our country apart. Why is it that when we experience tragedy, the whole country can come together for only the tiniest measurement of time? Then the blame game starts, and people start tearing each other apart for reasons that are probably unknown- even to them.
When the pilgrims came over on the Mayflower, they didn't all agree. There were people from very different walks of life, yet before even one of them left the boat to touch the dry land of America, they made a pact to work together for the good of ALL. They agreed that no matter what, they would work together to create a new community- despite their differences in opinion. They came to some compromises, signed their names to paper, and then it was done. Oh, how far we have fallen! We have elected officials who we elect to represent us in the arena of government, and these elected officials spend their time fighting and arguing. And instead of working together for the greater good, they work for themselves or special interest groups.
I don't believe our country is lost. But I do believe it needs serious prayer from everyone who can pray. The United States has long been an example to the world, and lately, I suspect the world is wondering. The United States needs to return to God first, and as we go, the rest of the world will follow. The world will see and know that the answers to everything lie with God, and God alone. Change isn't going to happen if we just sit back and ignore what is going on, the change that we all seek lies just out of our grasp, and if we will take hold of what God is holding out to us and carry the torch and pray for our country, we CAN and WILL make a difference.
And the Lord will bless our country. He will bless her people and the world will be blessed because of the prayers of the faithful.
I was reading a quote by Abraham Lincoln this morning. I thought I'd share it here, because it speaks volumes about our country.
"I do not rely on the patriotism of our people … the bravery and devotion of the boys in blue … (or) the loyalty and skill of our generals … But the God of our fathers, Who raised up this country to be the refuge and asylum of the oppressed and downtrodden of all nations, will not let it perish now. I may not live to see it … I do not expect to see it, but God will bring us through safe."
As we're getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, we've been spending a lot of our history time every day talking about how the United States began. Let me say this, if the only US History you remember is about making paper pilgrims and pumpkins, you need to get yourself a good history book and read it. US History is fascinating, and I think it's so important to see where we've been as a nation. As I read this quote from President Lincoln, it just made me sad because I believe what he said. I believe that God raised up our country to be a refuge and an asylum for persecuted people from all over the globe. And I think that where we are as a country today- so fraught with political problems- needs some perspective and prayer.
So this morning, while I do continue my prayers for President Obama, I also think that my prayers need to address the divisiveness that is tearing our country apart. Why is it that when we experience tragedy, the whole country can come together for only the tiniest measurement of time? Then the blame game starts, and people start tearing each other apart for reasons that are probably unknown- even to them.
When the pilgrims came over on the Mayflower, they didn't all agree. There were people from very different walks of life, yet before even one of them left the boat to touch the dry land of America, they made a pact to work together for the good of ALL. They agreed that no matter what, they would work together to create a new community- despite their differences in opinion. They came to some compromises, signed their names to paper, and then it was done. Oh, how far we have fallen! We have elected officials who we elect to represent us in the arena of government, and these elected officials spend their time fighting and arguing. And instead of working together for the greater good, they work for themselves or special interest groups.
I don't believe our country is lost. But I do believe it needs serious prayer from everyone who can pray. The United States has long been an example to the world, and lately, I suspect the world is wondering. The United States needs to return to God first, and as we go, the rest of the world will follow. The world will see and know that the answers to everything lie with God, and God alone. Change isn't going to happen if we just sit back and ignore what is going on, the change that we all seek lies just out of our grasp, and if we will take hold of what God is holding out to us and carry the torch and pray for our country, we CAN and WILL make a difference.
And the Lord will bless our country. He will bless her people and the world will be blessed because of the prayers of the faithful.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Baking With Prayer
"She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands." Proverbs 31:13
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18
"We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers." 1 Thessalonians 1:2
I've been in the mood to bake lately. This is a great thing, because for some time there, I wasn't in the mood to cook anything- let alone go through the sometimes tedious process of baking. Part of the baking bug is that a few times over the last few months I've had occasions to give a small gift to someone, and with Andy not working, gift giving is not a priority. But I can bake.
It started with a loaf of bread. I decided to bake up a loaf of artisan bread for someone special to us, and as I was working and kneading the dough with my hands, it struck me that I should pray for them while I kneaded. So I did. This particular loaf of bread takes about 12 minutes to knead, so that was quite a bit of praying! So I baked and I prayed, and of course the bread was truly appreciated.
Then a few weeks later, someone else was having a birthday. As I thought about this person, and wondered what we could do for them to honor them on their birthday, it occurred to me to ask them what their favorite cookie was. So I did, and then promptly went home and baked up a few batches of cookies for them. The thing is, I wasn't just baking cookies. The whole time I was mixing the dough and scooping dough onto cookie sheets, and then removing cookies from cookie sheets, I was aware that I was baking these cookies for a precious child of God. I was baking up these cookies for someone who God has placed on my heart to pray for, and so I did that. I did that a lot, because I made double batches of cookies. So when I handed these packages of cookies off, I wasn't just handing off sweets or something to eat. I was actually handing off prayers.
Sometimes as I go into my prayer time, I forget all those people who I would like to pray for. It's like they'll be on my mind quite a bit, but then the time comes where I'm actually praying, and those thoughts are nowhere to be found. I've discovered the idea that if I bake something for someone, they are in my thoughts the whole time I'm baking for them. Consider the time I spend shopping for ingredients, and then assembling ingredients, baking the cookies, wrapping them up and delivering them- that's a whole lot of prayer going into some baked goods!
Now, does my praying make my baked goods magical in any way? Nah, they're just cookies and bread. But. The whole process, that whole time, I've spent thanking God for them and praying His blessings over their lives. And most likely, they have no idea that I've specifically been praying. But God knows.
So this past weekend, when I was thinking about someone, wishing there was some way I could bless them, it should have been no surprise to me when I very clearly heard a voice say "bake them some cookies". So I will bake some cookies. And while I bake, I will pray.
Maybe you're not a baker. But maybe there's another talent that God gave you that you can do. Think about that, pray about that. Ask God to show you how you can pray for others in a way that will bless them. We are in a time where the body of Christ needs all the prayers they can get. Praying for one another is pleasing to God, and do you really know anyone who wouldn't appreciate some extra prayers? My prayers happen to be seasoned with sugar and spice. Maybe your prayers are seasoned with watercolors or scrapbook paper. Or maybe your prayers are seasoned by the scent of freshly mowed grass or shovels full of snow. Ask God to show you what you can do to remember those you love in prayer- I think you'll be excited with what He will show you.
and works with eager hands." Proverbs 31:13
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18
"We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers." 1 Thessalonians 1:2
I've been in the mood to bake lately. This is a great thing, because for some time there, I wasn't in the mood to cook anything- let alone go through the sometimes tedious process of baking. Part of the baking bug is that a few times over the last few months I've had occasions to give a small gift to someone, and with Andy not working, gift giving is not a priority. But I can bake.
It started with a loaf of bread. I decided to bake up a loaf of artisan bread for someone special to us, and as I was working and kneading the dough with my hands, it struck me that I should pray for them while I kneaded. So I did. This particular loaf of bread takes about 12 minutes to knead, so that was quite a bit of praying! So I baked and I prayed, and of course the bread was truly appreciated.
Then a few weeks later, someone else was having a birthday. As I thought about this person, and wondered what we could do for them to honor them on their birthday, it occurred to me to ask them what their favorite cookie was. So I did, and then promptly went home and baked up a few batches of cookies for them. The thing is, I wasn't just baking cookies. The whole time I was mixing the dough and scooping dough onto cookie sheets, and then removing cookies from cookie sheets, I was aware that I was baking these cookies for a precious child of God. I was baking up these cookies for someone who God has placed on my heart to pray for, and so I did that. I did that a lot, because I made double batches of cookies. So when I handed these packages of cookies off, I wasn't just handing off sweets or something to eat. I was actually handing off prayers.
Sometimes as I go into my prayer time, I forget all those people who I would like to pray for. It's like they'll be on my mind quite a bit, but then the time comes where I'm actually praying, and those thoughts are nowhere to be found. I've discovered the idea that if I bake something for someone, they are in my thoughts the whole time I'm baking for them. Consider the time I spend shopping for ingredients, and then assembling ingredients, baking the cookies, wrapping them up and delivering them- that's a whole lot of prayer going into some baked goods!
Now, does my praying make my baked goods magical in any way? Nah, they're just cookies and bread. But. The whole process, that whole time, I've spent thanking God for them and praying His blessings over their lives. And most likely, they have no idea that I've specifically been praying. But God knows.
So this past weekend, when I was thinking about someone, wishing there was some way I could bless them, it should have been no surprise to me when I very clearly heard a voice say "bake them some cookies". So I will bake some cookies. And while I bake, I will pray.
Maybe you're not a baker. But maybe there's another talent that God gave you that you can do. Think about that, pray about that. Ask God to show you how you can pray for others in a way that will bless them. We are in a time where the body of Christ needs all the prayers they can get. Praying for one another is pleasing to God, and do you really know anyone who wouldn't appreciate some extra prayers? My prayers happen to be seasoned with sugar and spice. Maybe your prayers are seasoned with watercolors or scrapbook paper. Or maybe your prayers are seasoned by the scent of freshly mowed grass or shovels full of snow. Ask God to show you what you can do to remember those you love in prayer- I think you'll be excited with what He will show you.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Get The Most Out Of Bible Reading
"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." Psalm 119:18
How many times do we say to ourselves that we need to read our Bibles more. I think we hear that all the time- from both ourselves and others. Even someone who does read their Bible a lot is known to be said that they need to read their Bible more. The beautiful and unique thing about reading the Bible is that it is alive. The words within are from God Himself, and at any given time, He can make the words leap right off the page and into your heart. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. It's those little things- you've read a passage a hundred times before, but you're only now seeing that one part.
I've found that when I am going to sit down with my Bible, that beginning with this verse helps me so much. It's a key to unlocking the mysteries of the Bible. When I close my eyes and whisper a prayer before I open my Bible, I include the verse above "open my eyes..." and I am never disappointed. There is always something within to capture my attention and speak to my soul.
Sometimes, the things that jump off the page are important to my personal walk with God. Sometimes, the verses that catch my eye are meant for others, and they often get shared here on the blog. And sometimes, I think God causes a verse or two to pop out at me because they make me smile. It still makes me smile to think of some of these that He's shown me over the years. I still think about Eve talking to the serpent like she did it all the time. If a snake started talking to me, I don't think I'd be so casual about it. And speaking of snakes- when Moses threw down his staff for the very first time, and it turned into a snake, he ran from it. Like a little girl, he ran from the staff-turned-to-snake.
"The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground."
Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it." Exodus 4:3
Actually, there is meaning behind him running from the snake, and one of these days I'll talk about it, because it's pretty cool. But this is a perfect example of things in the Bible that you just never notice until your eyes are opened up to the wonders that it beholds.
So many times, we sit down with our Bible like it's a task. We grab it and flip it open, thinking that we better read our Bible because we want to check off today's reading on a checklist. We have another square to check off "done" or we simply feel like we HAVE to read the Bible. We're told in Sunday School class to read it, so we pull up to it like we're about to hoe potatoes.
I have to tell you, I don't read my Bible every single day. For a long while there I was reading my Bible every day with lunch. It was a great time to read my Bible, because the kids usually watch something with lunch, so I could sit at the dining room table alone with my Bible and read while I ate. After a while though, it became a routine. It almost became mindless. I would fix myself lunch, grab a glass of water, and then grab the Bible. I would sit down with it and open it up and start reading. I sat down with no expectations of revelation, no prayer for seeing what is truly written. I just read, because it was lunch time, and this was my Bible reading time. The last time I read with lunch I turned to 2 Chronicles and read about 8 chapters before it occurred to me that I was reading for the sake of reading. I felt like I'd been caught red-handed, really.
To get the most out of reading my Bible, it must be done purposefully. I need to spend my days watching for those quiet moments where I can just grab my Bible and spend a few minutes seeing what God is telling me. Now, for some people, they do need to schedule a time, or it never gets done. I understand that, and God understands that. But for me, I needed to get out of the rut of a routine and just learn to watch for those little moments. A great time for me to read the Bible is actually when baking cookies. You can read a lot of Bible in between batches of cookie baking. (And I have a post tomorrow all about cookie baking- I think you'll enjoy it!)
But the number one key to getting the most out of reading my Bible is to talk to God first. To pray Psalm 119:18 before I crack my Bible open. If I can do that, if I can open up my mind to whatever God wants to show me, then every single time I open my Bible, I will come away with something wonderful. Try it. No matter how much scripture you're intending to read- try asking God to reveal His Word to you before you read. Then start reading. Sometimes, you'll only get to read one verse, sometimes, you'll have to read a whole book before something jumps out at you. It works every single time- God answers the prayers of His children, and He loves to it when we desire to know more of Him through His Word.
How many times do we say to ourselves that we need to read our Bibles more. I think we hear that all the time- from both ourselves and others. Even someone who does read their Bible a lot is known to be said that they need to read their Bible more. The beautiful and unique thing about reading the Bible is that it is alive. The words within are from God Himself, and at any given time, He can make the words leap right off the page and into your heart. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. It's those little things- you've read a passage a hundred times before, but you're only now seeing that one part.
I've found that when I am going to sit down with my Bible, that beginning with this verse helps me so much. It's a key to unlocking the mysteries of the Bible. When I close my eyes and whisper a prayer before I open my Bible, I include the verse above "open my eyes..." and I am never disappointed. There is always something within to capture my attention and speak to my soul.
Sometimes, the things that jump off the page are important to my personal walk with God. Sometimes, the verses that catch my eye are meant for others, and they often get shared here on the blog. And sometimes, I think God causes a verse or two to pop out at me because they make me smile. It still makes me smile to think of some of these that He's shown me over the years. I still think about Eve talking to the serpent like she did it all the time. If a snake started talking to me, I don't think I'd be so casual about it. And speaking of snakes- when Moses threw down his staff for the very first time, and it turned into a snake, he ran from it. Like a little girl, he ran from the staff-turned-to-snake.
"The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground."
Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it." Exodus 4:3
Actually, there is meaning behind him running from the snake, and one of these days I'll talk about it, because it's pretty cool. But this is a perfect example of things in the Bible that you just never notice until your eyes are opened up to the wonders that it beholds.
So many times, we sit down with our Bible like it's a task. We grab it and flip it open, thinking that we better read our Bible because we want to check off today's reading on a checklist. We have another square to check off "done" or we simply feel like we HAVE to read the Bible. We're told in Sunday School class to read it, so we pull up to it like we're about to hoe potatoes.
I have to tell you, I don't read my Bible every single day. For a long while there I was reading my Bible every day with lunch. It was a great time to read my Bible, because the kids usually watch something with lunch, so I could sit at the dining room table alone with my Bible and read while I ate. After a while though, it became a routine. It almost became mindless. I would fix myself lunch, grab a glass of water, and then grab the Bible. I would sit down with it and open it up and start reading. I sat down with no expectations of revelation, no prayer for seeing what is truly written. I just read, because it was lunch time, and this was my Bible reading time. The last time I read with lunch I turned to 2 Chronicles and read about 8 chapters before it occurred to me that I was reading for the sake of reading. I felt like I'd been caught red-handed, really.
To get the most out of reading my Bible, it must be done purposefully. I need to spend my days watching for those quiet moments where I can just grab my Bible and spend a few minutes seeing what God is telling me. Now, for some people, they do need to schedule a time, or it never gets done. I understand that, and God understands that. But for me, I needed to get out of the rut of a routine and just learn to watch for those little moments. A great time for me to read the Bible is actually when baking cookies. You can read a lot of Bible in between batches of cookie baking. (And I have a post tomorrow all about cookie baking- I think you'll enjoy it!)
But the number one key to getting the most out of reading my Bible is to talk to God first. To pray Psalm 119:18 before I crack my Bible open. If I can do that, if I can open up my mind to whatever God wants to show me, then every single time I open my Bible, I will come away with something wonderful. Try it. No matter how much scripture you're intending to read- try asking God to reveal His Word to you before you read. Then start reading. Sometimes, you'll only get to read one verse, sometimes, you'll have to read a whole book before something jumps out at you. It works every single time- God answers the prayers of His children, and He loves to it when we desire to know more of Him through His Word.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Grumble, Grumble
"The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day." Exodus 16:3-4
I never, ever tire of reading Exodus. Every single time I amazed and in awe of Yahweh. Every single time I am also amazed at the Israelites, and how quickly they forgot God's provision for them. Here they are, in the verse above, just after the Red Sea had parted, allowing them to cross on dry ground.
God parted the Red Sea, the Israelites crossed to their freedom on dry ground, between two walls of water. Then, when they were all safely on the other side, the Egyptians came after them, and then the water collapsed, swallowing the entire army. The Israelites were free at last, and here they are grumbling about food. They are wishing they were back in Egypt, because they are worried they are going to die from a lack of food. Really?
I can't help but read this and just want to slap them silly! Did they really think that God would have done all that He did, only to let them perish from starvation? Did they really think that God had brought the ten plagues upon Egypt, and then parted the Red Sea, only to let them perish from lack of food. Oh my! And you know this continues! In response to this grumbling, God provides manna, the bread from heaven, and it doesn't take too long before the Israelites start complaining again about a lack of water, and then later on they complain about the very manna that God has provided for them.
We can learn so much from reading about the Israelite people. One being that when God brings us through a trial, through a struggle, there is purpose for it. God is not going to bring us out of the depths of despair and then just leave us to our own devices. He is with us always and knows what we need before we need it- he will provide it. The Israelites show us how not to behave. I have to think that if I had gone through a trial tantamount to the Red Sea, that I would not so easily forget it. I have to think that I would remember for days and days and years and years, and I would be telling stories to my children's children about how God saved us from our enemies. I think it's important to remember that. I think it's so important to look back every once in a while and just thank God for what He has done for us in the past. When we do that, it gives us hope and encouragement for the future and what is to come.
Because we serve a God of love and hope and He is not going to bring us through trials only to abandon us later. He loves each and every one of us so much, that He will wait until every single one of us have made it to dry ground before releasing the torrent on our enemies. Not a single Israelite or herding animal was left behind to be swallowed up by the Red Sea. Every single scrap of clothing remained dry, and every cart was wheeled onto land before the waters were released. God wants each and every one of us to know His love and His provision.
Speaking of that provision. The Israelites were concerned about food, so God provided food from heaven, called manna. He also gave specific instructions for gathering this manna, as a test to the people. I can't help but read this and think of this and compare the manna of that time to money. Let's think on this trail for a minute. God provides for all our needs, and He also provides instructions for those in His Word. When the Israelites did not follow the instructions for the manna, let's see what happened.
"The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.
When the people did not follow the instructions of the manna, they went without. The people who kept some overnight had their manna taken away from them, really. It rotted and was filled with maggots and was inedible. Those people, the people who kept the manna overnight did not believe fully in God's provision. They had to have not believed that God would provide for them, so they kept a little back, just in case God didn't follow through on His promised provision for them. Just in case the God who freed them from Egypt and parted the Red Sea for them did not follow through on His promise to provide food for them.
Whoa.
Are we those people? Are we those Israelites who wanted to believe God, but weren't sure if we should believe God, so we do what we humanly can? Do we keep a little something back for ourselves- just in case God doesn't follow through on His promises? Wait- what promises?
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
God will meet all our needs. ALL! Every single one of our needs will be met. So when we see someone in need, or hear of someone in need, we need to listen to the Holy Spirit in us that's telling us to give. I may have the last $20 in my pocket that I'm going to see in a while, but by golly, I need to trust that God will provide for me each and every day and give that $20 where it is desperately needed! We need to follow God's instructions and take care of the widow, the orphan, and the leper.
And then there are the other Israelites. The ones we will call foolish, because they didn't listen when instructed to gather extra on the sixth day. They didn't work when the Lord told them to work, and as a result, they went hungry on the seventh day. Sometimes, God's provision may not come in a way we want it to. Sometimes we're still sitting by the mailbox waiting for that magic check to show up, but God wants us to work for His provision. He sends us an odd job or a period of employment to provide for our needs instead. We need to listen to those instructions! When God sends a way to earn money in our direction, we need to take it- or we too, will go hungry on that seventh day!
There are so many nuggets that we can glean from the Israelites and their time of wandering. The manna is just one of many examples, no doubt. I think for me, this shows me this morning that we really need to pay attention to what God is saying. He says right here, "how long will you refuse to keep my commands and instructions", and I don't want to be one that He is saying that about. What does God say about money? How does He tell us to use it- it seems to me that we would all be well-served to spend some time in our Word, searching that out.
God will provide for us each and every day- but first we need to listen and follow His instructions for us.
I never, ever tire of reading Exodus. Every single time I amazed and in awe of Yahweh. Every single time I am also amazed at the Israelites, and how quickly they forgot God's provision for them. Here they are, in the verse above, just after the Red Sea had parted, allowing them to cross on dry ground.
God parted the Red Sea, the Israelites crossed to their freedom on dry ground, between two walls of water. Then, when they were all safely on the other side, the Egyptians came after them, and then the water collapsed, swallowing the entire army. The Israelites were free at last, and here they are grumbling about food. They are wishing they were back in Egypt, because they are worried they are going to die from a lack of food. Really?
I can't help but read this and just want to slap them silly! Did they really think that God would have done all that He did, only to let them perish from starvation? Did they really think that God had brought the ten plagues upon Egypt, and then parted the Red Sea, only to let them perish from lack of food. Oh my! And you know this continues! In response to this grumbling, God provides manna, the bread from heaven, and it doesn't take too long before the Israelites start complaining again about a lack of water, and then later on they complain about the very manna that God has provided for them.
We can learn so much from reading about the Israelite people. One being that when God brings us through a trial, through a struggle, there is purpose for it. God is not going to bring us out of the depths of despair and then just leave us to our own devices. He is with us always and knows what we need before we need it- he will provide it. The Israelites show us how not to behave. I have to think that if I had gone through a trial tantamount to the Red Sea, that I would not so easily forget it. I have to think that I would remember for days and days and years and years, and I would be telling stories to my children's children about how God saved us from our enemies. I think it's important to remember that. I think it's so important to look back every once in a while and just thank God for what He has done for us in the past. When we do that, it gives us hope and encouragement for the future and what is to come.
Because we serve a God of love and hope and He is not going to bring us through trials only to abandon us later. He loves each and every one of us so much, that He will wait until every single one of us have made it to dry ground before releasing the torrent on our enemies. Not a single Israelite or herding animal was left behind to be swallowed up by the Red Sea. Every single scrap of clothing remained dry, and every cart was wheeled onto land before the waters were released. God wants each and every one of us to know His love and His provision.
Speaking of that provision. The Israelites were concerned about food, so God provided food from heaven, called manna. He also gave specific instructions for gathering this manna, as a test to the people. I can't help but read this and think of this and compare the manna of that time to money. Let's think on this trail for a minute. God provides for all our needs, and He also provides instructions for those in His Word. When the Israelites did not follow the instructions for the manna, let's see what happened.
"The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.
19 Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."
20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23 He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.' "
24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any."
27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?" Exodus 19:17-28When the people did not follow the instructions of the manna, they went without. The people who kept some overnight had their manna taken away from them, really. It rotted and was filled with maggots and was inedible. Those people, the people who kept the manna overnight did not believe fully in God's provision. They had to have not believed that God would provide for them, so they kept a little back, just in case God didn't follow through on His promised provision for them. Just in case the God who freed them from Egypt and parted the Red Sea for them did not follow through on His promise to provide food for them.
Whoa.
Are we those people? Are we those Israelites who wanted to believe God, but weren't sure if we should believe God, so we do what we humanly can? Do we keep a little something back for ourselves- just in case God doesn't follow through on His promises? Wait- what promises?
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
God will meet all our needs. ALL! Every single one of our needs will be met. So when we see someone in need, or hear of someone in need, we need to listen to the Holy Spirit in us that's telling us to give. I may have the last $20 in my pocket that I'm going to see in a while, but by golly, I need to trust that God will provide for me each and every day and give that $20 where it is desperately needed! We need to follow God's instructions and take care of the widow, the orphan, and the leper.
And then there are the other Israelites. The ones we will call foolish, because they didn't listen when instructed to gather extra on the sixth day. They didn't work when the Lord told them to work, and as a result, they went hungry on the seventh day. Sometimes, God's provision may not come in a way we want it to. Sometimes we're still sitting by the mailbox waiting for that magic check to show up, but God wants us to work for His provision. He sends us an odd job or a period of employment to provide for our needs instead. We need to listen to those instructions! When God sends a way to earn money in our direction, we need to take it- or we too, will go hungry on that seventh day!
There are so many nuggets that we can glean from the Israelites and their time of wandering. The manna is just one of many examples, no doubt. I think for me, this shows me this morning that we really need to pay attention to what God is saying. He says right here, "how long will you refuse to keep my commands and instructions", and I don't want to be one that He is saying that about. What does God say about money? How does He tell us to use it- it seems to me that we would all be well-served to spend some time in our Word, searching that out.
God will provide for us each and every day- but first we need to listen and follow His instructions for us.
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