"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12;10
All these things listed here, the hardships and weaknesses, are usually things we fear, things we hate to see come along in our lives. But we need to remember, it's these things that make us stronger, and I need to remember this. I need to remember this because, at least in my mind, we are in between rough patches. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that I need to remember the bad, I need to remember that it wasn't all that long ago that we were struggling big time. That we were feeling like doormats, and like there was no place to go. I need to remember the bad times, because we need to remember where we've come from. It's those struggles, those times of change that make us stronger, and if we don't learn from those hard times, eventually we'll just find ourselves repeating them over and over.
Something that's interesting to think about with this verse is that last line, "for when I am weak, then I am strong". What are you weak at? What am I weak at? What don't I do so well? Well, I don't speak out, for one. I tend to stay quiet and keep to myself, and to me, in my mind anyways, that's a weakness at times. It's a weakness because I'd like to be a little bolder for Christ. I'd like to have the courage to stop someone from talking and suggest we pray about that instead of continuing to speculate. I have been challenged at this a few times as of late, and of course, I'm still failing every single time. But one of these times...one of these days I am going to overcome that fear and step out in boldness and pray for someone and I will have conquered that fear. I will be instantly stronger because I have overcome, and the time after that, it will be easier. I'm really struggling with this one, but I'm thanking God constantly for that, because I know that it's helping me to grow. Each time I feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit to pray for someone, it gets easier for me to understand what I'm hearing, so I'm learning. It's only a matter of time before the Spirit fills me to the brim with boldness and I am able to act as He wishes.
My weakness is making me so much stronger- and I even see it as it is happening. Now imagine what God is doing with those weaknesses I don't see.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Falling...
"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matthew 26:39
In church we sing a song called "Hungry" which has a line that goes like this: "I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me, Jesus, you're all this heart is living for."
In both the song, as well as scripture, we see examples of falling before the Lord. Jesus, at his most desperate hour, fell on his face, he fell prone before His Father and asked for intervention. We don't see it so much in America, but in other cultures, bowing, prostrating, and kneeling are all signs of respect- they are actions given to an elder, superior, or a member of royalty. Why shouldn't we do the same for our God? When we go before him with our petitions- with our requests and our needs, why wouldn't we show Him respect and fall before Him? Well, I'll tell you why, because we are proud people. Most often, we have a hard time letting go of ourselves and giving our all to God.
I will tell you, in my most intimate times with God, there is always a piece of me that doesn't want to let go. I will have my eyes closed, and I'll be spending time in prayer and reflection, and every once in a while, I'll just open my eyes and peek around, really and truthfully, checking to make sure that I'm not falling asleep. I just feel a sense of peace and tranquility when I'm having my quiet time, yet, because it's at the end of the day, and I am tired from being busy, I worry about falling asleep on God. But really, that's rationalization for not completely letting go. Even the most intense experience I ever had...I was peeking my eyes open and making sure I was still me and where I wanted to be.
I guess there's that part of me that wants to be in control yet. I can talk all I want about quiet time with God and doing what He wants from me, but am I really? Am I really if I can't fall before him? I often think to myself that I need to keep that one piece of my mind focused on home, because I have babes sleeping upstairs, and what if they should wake and need their mom. Yet... if I truly was focusing on God and spending time in His presence, wouldn't they just continue to sleep through the night? There's just that little piece of me that is having a hard time letting go. I really think that I've come so far...but I'm still not where I need to be. I wonder if that is the essence of the Christian walk. There's always another level to get to, another step of intimacy to be reached, and if we ever feel content and complacent, that should be the red flag that we've stalled. We should never be satisfied with where we are in our walk, we should always want more.
And that's where I am. I should want more. I know what that more is. But it's another step, another leap of faith, and am I really there already?
Jesus was a man while He was on this earth, and even He fell before the Lord. He knew he was the Son of God, and knew His father well, and even Jesus fell down and humbled himself, and worshipped the Lord from the lowest position he could get to. Jesus is always an example that we can turn to and learn from. I just need the courage to take that step. To truly fall before the Lord and give Him my all.
In church we sing a song called "Hungry" which has a line that goes like this: "I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me, Jesus, you're all this heart is living for."
In both the song, as well as scripture, we see examples of falling before the Lord. Jesus, at his most desperate hour, fell on his face, he fell prone before His Father and asked for intervention. We don't see it so much in America, but in other cultures, bowing, prostrating, and kneeling are all signs of respect- they are actions given to an elder, superior, or a member of royalty. Why shouldn't we do the same for our God? When we go before him with our petitions- with our requests and our needs, why wouldn't we show Him respect and fall before Him? Well, I'll tell you why, because we are proud people. Most often, we have a hard time letting go of ourselves and giving our all to God.
I will tell you, in my most intimate times with God, there is always a piece of me that doesn't want to let go. I will have my eyes closed, and I'll be spending time in prayer and reflection, and every once in a while, I'll just open my eyes and peek around, really and truthfully, checking to make sure that I'm not falling asleep. I just feel a sense of peace and tranquility when I'm having my quiet time, yet, because it's at the end of the day, and I am tired from being busy, I worry about falling asleep on God. But really, that's rationalization for not completely letting go. Even the most intense experience I ever had...I was peeking my eyes open and making sure I was still me and where I wanted to be.
I guess there's that part of me that wants to be in control yet. I can talk all I want about quiet time with God and doing what He wants from me, but am I really? Am I really if I can't fall before him? I often think to myself that I need to keep that one piece of my mind focused on home, because I have babes sleeping upstairs, and what if they should wake and need their mom. Yet... if I truly was focusing on God and spending time in His presence, wouldn't they just continue to sleep through the night? There's just that little piece of me that is having a hard time letting go. I really think that I've come so far...but I'm still not where I need to be. I wonder if that is the essence of the Christian walk. There's always another level to get to, another step of intimacy to be reached, and if we ever feel content and complacent, that should be the red flag that we've stalled. We should never be satisfied with where we are in our walk, we should always want more.
And that's where I am. I should want more. I know what that more is. But it's another step, another leap of faith, and am I really there already?
Jesus was a man while He was on this earth, and even He fell before the Lord. He knew he was the Son of God, and knew His father well, and even Jesus fell down and humbled himself, and worshipped the Lord from the lowest position he could get to. Jesus is always an example that we can turn to and learn from. I just need the courage to take that step. To truly fall before the Lord and give Him my all.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Perfection
"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him." Psalm 18:30
God is perfect AND flawless. Just think about that simple statement for a second. Absolute perfection... that's hard to come by. I can't even bake a cake that's perfect and flawless. An expensive shirt that I buy at the store almost always has a thread dangling or a loose seam. Even the spinach I pick from the garden has a spot on it, or has been nibbled on by critters or bugs. I am certainly not perfect- physically I'm full of flaws and marks and split ends, and on the inside, there is always something to be worked on. Always.
Yet God is complete perfection in every way, and His Word is always flawless- it's true and truthful. One of the best things about reading the Bible is that there is always something in it for us. We can always turn to the scriptures for guidance and to see what God has to say about a particular subject, we can find words of wisdom and words of encouragement, and sometimes words of rebuke and conviction. That's what is so wonderful about the Bible- is that it is timeless. It applied to nations of people hundreds of years ago, and it applies to us still today. Talk about a book you wish you had helped write! (Well, maybe not really.)
You know what I love about God's perfection? Is that he likes to share it with us. We truly had a perfect weekend. We spent it with family, and not once did we feel like we didn't want to be where we were. Family was wonderful the entire time, our children were wonderful- and it was such a joy to watch them have such a great time. Saturday morning I got up really early to go fishing, and it was the most perfect morning. It wasn't hot- it wasn't cold, there was a perfect breeze off the river and the sun was shining. Sitting in the boat we would watch birds fly by and fish leap out of the water, and while the fish weren't biting, it was still wonderful and peaceful. It was one of those moments that a mother doesn't get very often- peace and quiet and the knowledge that my kids were safe and sound in the care of someone else for a few hours. I couldn't have asked for better.
And I wonder, during those times of bliss, those times like today where I just feel like everything is great, that God is love and that everything is just perfect and wonderful, if that is what the second half of this verse today is talking about. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. A shield is a barrier, a means of protection. So when the enemy is firing from this way and that, his hits are missing, they are bouncing off the protection of the Lord and all is well. Life really is wonderful right now, and I know it's because God is our refuge and our strength. And when the time comes where trouble comes along, we will be ready to tackle it.
God is perfect AND flawless. Just think about that simple statement for a second. Absolute perfection... that's hard to come by. I can't even bake a cake that's perfect and flawless. An expensive shirt that I buy at the store almost always has a thread dangling or a loose seam. Even the spinach I pick from the garden has a spot on it, or has been nibbled on by critters or bugs. I am certainly not perfect- physically I'm full of flaws and marks and split ends, and on the inside, there is always something to be worked on. Always.
Yet God is complete perfection in every way, and His Word is always flawless- it's true and truthful. One of the best things about reading the Bible is that there is always something in it for us. We can always turn to the scriptures for guidance and to see what God has to say about a particular subject, we can find words of wisdom and words of encouragement, and sometimes words of rebuke and conviction. That's what is so wonderful about the Bible- is that it is timeless. It applied to nations of people hundreds of years ago, and it applies to us still today. Talk about a book you wish you had helped write! (Well, maybe not really.)
You know what I love about God's perfection? Is that he likes to share it with us. We truly had a perfect weekend. We spent it with family, and not once did we feel like we didn't want to be where we were. Family was wonderful the entire time, our children were wonderful- and it was such a joy to watch them have such a great time. Saturday morning I got up really early to go fishing, and it was the most perfect morning. It wasn't hot- it wasn't cold, there was a perfect breeze off the river and the sun was shining. Sitting in the boat we would watch birds fly by and fish leap out of the water, and while the fish weren't biting, it was still wonderful and peaceful. It was one of those moments that a mother doesn't get very often- peace and quiet and the knowledge that my kids were safe and sound in the care of someone else for a few hours. I couldn't have asked for better.
And I wonder, during those times of bliss, those times like today where I just feel like everything is great, that God is love and that everything is just perfect and wonderful, if that is what the second half of this verse today is talking about. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him. A shield is a barrier, a means of protection. So when the enemy is firing from this way and that, his hits are missing, they are bouncing off the protection of the Lord and all is well. Life really is wonderful right now, and I know it's because God is our refuge and our strength. And when the time comes where trouble comes along, we will be ready to tackle it.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Happy Independance Day!
"I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts." Psalm 119:45
We truly are blessed to live in this land of freedom. Quite often I find myself reading a book that is set in another country or another time, and I am just amazed at how fortunate I am to live in the country I live in. When I read about women who live in muslim nations, and how they spend their lives wrapped in cloth, my heart breaks for them. For women in India who live in a state called "purdah", where once they marry their muslim husbands, they spend the rest of their lives in hiding. No one sees them except family- they have their own part of the house that they dwell in, and in the rare chance that they may come out to travel or go to the market or something, they where so many layers of clothing- called a burqa- to keep anyone from catching a glimpse of their face.
Yet I was born here, in a country that was founded on God. It was founded by people who were seeking freedom from religious persecution elsewhere. And we still are permitted to worship God in any way we choose, several hundred years later. So while we celebrate this weekend, I think we need to be mindful and remember how blessed we truly are. I am fortunate enough this weekend to be able to celebrate with family, and that in itself is a blessing, as we weren't sure we were going to be able to do that this year. We live in a wonderful place, in a wonderful time, and God is truly wonderful. I'm going to take that thought with me into this weekend.
And here's why. If I wake up each morning and worry that I'm going to have a bad day, the bad day is sure to follow. If something bad does happen, it doesn't take long before that carries over into the rest of the day, and before I know it, I've had a bad day through and through. Instead, I choose to wake each morning and count my blessings. I choose to be thankful for another day. Yesterday I was oh-so thankful for the beautiful thunderstorms that turned the lawn a vibrant green again, and gave my gardens a much needed drink. This morning I choose to be thankful for the sunshine- it will be wonderful to send the children out to play while I ready the house for a few days away and do some packing. By filling my mind with joy each and every morning, I am prepared to try and keep the bad out. So that when I do have something bad happen, it happens, I process it, and then I move on. So I choose to go into this weekend with the joy of the Lord in my heart and in my head.
Happy Independance Day everyone! Be blessed- and I'll be back on Monday. :-)
We truly are blessed to live in this land of freedom. Quite often I find myself reading a book that is set in another country or another time, and I am just amazed at how fortunate I am to live in the country I live in. When I read about women who live in muslim nations, and how they spend their lives wrapped in cloth, my heart breaks for them. For women in India who live in a state called "purdah", where once they marry their muslim husbands, they spend the rest of their lives in hiding. No one sees them except family- they have their own part of the house that they dwell in, and in the rare chance that they may come out to travel or go to the market or something, they where so many layers of clothing- called a burqa- to keep anyone from catching a glimpse of their face.
Yet I was born here, in a country that was founded on God. It was founded by people who were seeking freedom from religious persecution elsewhere. And we still are permitted to worship God in any way we choose, several hundred years later. So while we celebrate this weekend, I think we need to be mindful and remember how blessed we truly are. I am fortunate enough this weekend to be able to celebrate with family, and that in itself is a blessing, as we weren't sure we were going to be able to do that this year. We live in a wonderful place, in a wonderful time, and God is truly wonderful. I'm going to take that thought with me into this weekend.
And here's why. If I wake up each morning and worry that I'm going to have a bad day, the bad day is sure to follow. If something bad does happen, it doesn't take long before that carries over into the rest of the day, and before I know it, I've had a bad day through and through. Instead, I choose to wake each morning and count my blessings. I choose to be thankful for another day. Yesterday I was oh-so thankful for the beautiful thunderstorms that turned the lawn a vibrant green again, and gave my gardens a much needed drink. This morning I choose to be thankful for the sunshine- it will be wonderful to send the children out to play while I ready the house for a few days away and do some packing. By filling my mind with joy each and every morning, I am prepared to try and keep the bad out. So that when I do have something bad happen, it happens, I process it, and then I move on. So I choose to go into this weekend with the joy of the Lord in my heart and in my head.
Happy Independance Day everyone! Be blessed- and I'll be back on Monday. :-)
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Without Even Questioning...
"Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."
5 So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook." 1 Kings 17:2-6
It's passages like this in the Bible that really inspire me. They cause me to examine my own faith and question where it stands. Here we see God telling Elijah to basically go live in the wilderness. Go live beside a river, where you can drink from, and I will have birds bring you food. Really? I think I would be asking God a few questions before marching off to do such a thing. I would want to know, how often will the ravens bring me food? What am I to do here in the wilderness? What is the purpose of this? Questions, questions, questions. Yet Elijah simply follows the instructions of the Lord. "He did what the Lord told him." Could I even come close to that kind of faith? I don't know about that...
This also brings up another interesting thought. In today's day and age so many people are so cautious. I've heard so many people say that we need to really double check where our instructions are coming from. We need to double check and triple check to make sure that the idea we are following is from God and not from the Devil. And while I can applaud that desire to make sure it is truly the will of God being followed, there is also something to be said for Elijah's position. Elijah knew God. He knew the voice of God and he knew what God was telling him. He didn't pause to reflect and make sure it was God's voice and not the enemies. He knew with absolute certainty that his instructions came from His God. That's a relationship worth striving for! To know with 100% certainty that you are following God's instructions, to hear that Voice and be confident that you are going where He wants you to go- regardless of how strange it may seem at the time.
Elijah was certainly a man after God's own heart, and while he may be a lofty benchmark to strive for, I still think it's worth it. To even have a fraction of the faith and confidence that he had would be amazing. I just love how each and every day I can dig into God's Word and find something completely new and awe-inspiring. What a wonderful book!
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Relishing What God Has Provided
"She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks." Proverbs 31:16-17
Yesterday I took the kids to the strawberry patch to pick berries for jam-making. It was a wonderful experience, the patch was bursting with fruit, and there were so many people there- all with smiles on their faces as they delighted in the harvest of deliciousness. As I sat in that field picking strawberries, watching my children delight with each and every berry they picked, I just had to say a few words of thanks to God for such treasure. That something as simple and wonderful as a strawberry can bring joy to so many is wonderful. And then as we arrived back home and we set to work transforming these fresh juicy berries into something that would last well into next year, I thought about how wonderful it was that we had technology like freezers, to hide away fresh produce for other days.
I had so much fun making jam yesterday. When I woke yesterday morning, I wasn't even sure I wanted to go strawberry picking! And then late afternoon as I gazed at the sealed jars of freshly made jam, there was such a sense of satisfaction, and a realization that I'd actually enjoyed the work I did. It doesn't happen to often that I actually enjoy doing my household work. It needs to be done, so I do it, but so many times I'll just look around and sigh and wish wholeheartedly that the mess would simply disappear. I am hopeful that this means I'm experiencing an attitude shift of sorts, I've been praying for help on that, that I wouldn't look at my household tasks as chores or work I don't want to do. Rather, I want the attitude that it is a joy to serve my family and those who are in our home.
Monday, June 30, 2008
He Calls Her Blessed
"Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31: 28-31
I couldn't sleep last night, and I almost got up in the middle of the night to come down here and do some blogging. I just had so many things on my mind (not to mention a large cup of chai loaded with caffeine), and I really need to learn when I should stay in bed and when I should get up and do something. These verses just kept rolling across my brain last night- almost like a marquee- simply scrolling, reminding me... I think they were reminding me how lucky and how blessed I truly am. I think I was learning a lesson.
Earlier in the evening while our friends were here, and we were enjoying their company, I overheard a conversation my husband was having about me. :-) It was sweet, as he was busy talking about me and how he really admired my...relationship with God maybe? And it was sweet, but I can't say that I enjoyed hearing him say that. It was almost, (but not quite) embarrassing to me. I don't know, I guess that was just my personality kind of taking over, because I am not fond of attention- and I'm especially not fond of praise, I just always think that someone else deserves the praise for things that I do or accomplish. But then as I lay in bed last night these verses came to mind in Proverbs 31. Probably one of the single best studies I've done personally was the Proverbs 31 study, and as these verses kept rolling through my head, I had that feeling. That feeling of "oh...that's what this verse is saying" and I just had this feeling like I need to learn to accept the praise that is so freely given.
"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, he praises her: many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." That's exactly what Proverbs 31 says- it says her husband will call her blessed and will praise her. And then I thought of other women, other wives... we were talking last night about parents who abuse their children, and men who beat their wives, and how we just don't' understand the mind that thinks that way. How someone can not love a child, how they can look at the mother of their children and not be filled with adoration. I was also thinking about how recognition comes to us women from other sources. Sometimes a friend will compliment us on something, sometimes we'll do something notable and we'll be in the newspaper. Frequently within church bodies there are awards and recognition for service, but if there was one person who I should be most honored to receive a compliment from, it was the one person that I was being embarrassed about. In a marriage, in our Christian walk that we take together, who better to sing praises to me than my husband. If there is one person who should be holding me up, one person who should compliment me and hold me to a higher standard- it should be my husband. The one person who knows me better than anyone else should be the same one from whom I accept praise and compliments.
I mean, look at the praise this man is giving to his virtuous wife! "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." That is high praise indeed, and I need to take my lessons from scripture here. Sometimes it is mentioned that we need to be careful about how we praise someone or give compliments, but right here in the Bible these verses are telling me two things. First, to the husband of a virtuous wife, these verses tell me that he is a blessed man to have this woman for his wife and he needs to recognize that. He needs to build his wife up with praise and honor, because if he doesn't, who will. It's part of his role in life as a husband to praise his wife where praise is due. And secondly, to the virtuous wife, these verses are telling me to accept the praise. They are telling me that I am a blessed woman indeed to hear these words of praise coming from my husband. It tells me that I have earned his praise, indeed, and that as a virtuous wife, I need to be gracious and accept the praise that comes from his mouth.
I will say that while I tend to write this blog with a focus for women, it also has me wondering more about Proverbs 31. When I did the study for the second time and blogged about it, it was from a woman's perspective. I wonder what it would be like from a man's perspective. I wonder if I shouldn't look at the chapter again from the eyes of the husband, and see what The Wife Of Noble Character tells us about the husband. Maybe I'll look into that another day- keep half an eye out for that. In the meantime, I will remember the words of King Lemuel's mother. I will do my best to remember to accept the praise from my husband. It should be an encouragement to me, it should tell me that I'm on the right track, and I will let it do just that. I will let it encourage me to keep moving forward, and I will do my best to try and live up the praise that is so freely given.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Patience
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
What a great God! Can you imagine having his patience? Yikes! As he watches from Heaven and sees us make mistake after mistake, error after error, yet He still loves us- and He still wants us to spend eternity with Him! When I think of how patient God is with us...well, it makes me determined to try a little harder to be more patient. Sometimes I really get filled with this sense of urgency- I'll be working on something or formulating an idea, and then I feel that the idea has to come to complete fruition right away. I get frustrated and annoyed that other people don't immediately jump on board and get as excited as I do. It's patience that I need to help me from becoming discouraged and disappointed.
What I am finding to be challenging when it comes to patience is the idea of waiting for an idea to be brought out. Recently while sitting in church during the sermon I had a really strong idea come to mind. It puzzled me at first...but then later on when I mentioned it to Andy, he had the same exact thought at the same time. So my first thought was, oh my gosh, we have to tell someone about this, we have to get this ball rolling. But we didn't tell anyone else about it, and the more we think on it, the more I feel that we need to have patience and preparation before revealing what God has shown us. It's timing and patience. And since God has an infinite amount of patience, we need to draw on His patience, and rely on His timing.
Patience is one of those things that people always say not to pray for- because then you get plenty of practice at it. I think I can be okay with that. Because as I practice more patience on the spiritual side of life, it seems to me that patience on the practical side of life will automatically fall into place. And I don't know anyone who couldn't use a little more patience. :-)
What a great God! Can you imagine having his patience? Yikes! As he watches from Heaven and sees us make mistake after mistake, error after error, yet He still loves us- and He still wants us to spend eternity with Him! When I think of how patient God is with us...well, it makes me determined to try a little harder to be more patient. Sometimes I really get filled with this sense of urgency- I'll be working on something or formulating an idea, and then I feel that the idea has to come to complete fruition right away. I get frustrated and annoyed that other people don't immediately jump on board and get as excited as I do. It's patience that I need to help me from becoming discouraged and disappointed.
What I am finding to be challenging when it comes to patience is the idea of waiting for an idea to be brought out. Recently while sitting in church during the sermon I had a really strong idea come to mind. It puzzled me at first...but then later on when I mentioned it to Andy, he had the same exact thought at the same time. So my first thought was, oh my gosh, we have to tell someone about this, we have to get this ball rolling. But we didn't tell anyone else about it, and the more we think on it, the more I feel that we need to have patience and preparation before revealing what God has shown us. It's timing and patience. And since God has an infinite amount of patience, we need to draw on His patience, and rely on His timing.
Patience is one of those things that people always say not to pray for- because then you get plenty of practice at it. I think I can be okay with that. Because as I practice more patience on the spiritual side of life, it seems to me that patience on the practical side of life will automatically fall into place. And I don't know anyone who couldn't use a little more patience. :-)
Friday, June 27, 2008
More on Money Matters
"In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,
but a foolish man devours all he has." Proverbs 21:20
This verse this morning reminds me of how much God has blessed us. Once upon a time, we would have devoured all we had. Once upon a time, every paycheck came in, and out it went, usually on stuff we didn't really need. We never set anything aside, and we never were prepared in case of an emergency. Thankfully God's been working on us with that. We now have a tiny little nest egg set aside for an emergency. It may not be much to some people, but it is a great victory to us, and a testament to how God has been working in our lives that it's there for us to see. Are we the house of the wise? I certainly wouldn't go that far... we still do some foolish things. But we are definitely wiser than we were a few years ago, and for that I am humbled by the blessings that God has still given us.
And rather than talk on again about money and give some practical tips, I'm going to do something I rarely do, and that is direct anyone reading this to another site. One of the websites I read often has a fantastic post up about money, and I think it would be well worth your minute to hop over there and read it. So head on over to the Proverbs 31 Ministries site and read some great practical tips for getting ahead with your money. They say a lot of the things I would have mentioned, only much more eloquently- and they are great tips!
Today is Friday, Andy came home a day early this week, so it's going to be a wonderful day! God is great!
but a foolish man devours all he has." Proverbs 21:20
This verse this morning reminds me of how much God has blessed us. Once upon a time, we would have devoured all we had. Once upon a time, every paycheck came in, and out it went, usually on stuff we didn't really need. We never set anything aside, and we never were prepared in case of an emergency. Thankfully God's been working on us with that. We now have a tiny little nest egg set aside for an emergency. It may not be much to some people, but it is a great victory to us, and a testament to how God has been working in our lives that it's there for us to see. Are we the house of the wise? I certainly wouldn't go that far... we still do some foolish things. But we are definitely wiser than we were a few years ago, and for that I am humbled by the blessings that God has still given us.
And rather than talk on again about money and give some practical tips, I'm going to do something I rarely do, and that is direct anyone reading this to another site. One of the websites I read often has a fantastic post up about money, and I think it would be well worth your minute to hop over there and read it. So head on over to the Proverbs 31 Ministries site and read some great practical tips for getting ahead with your money. They say a lot of the things I would have mentioned, only much more eloquently- and they are great tips!
Today is Friday, Andy came home a day early this week, so it's going to be a wonderful day! God is great!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
On Earth As It Is In Heaven
"your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10
I keep thinking about this verse. And I keep thinking about the fact that it is part of The Lord's Prayer, and people probably say this all the time without really thinking about what they are saying. "On earth as it is in Heaven." Well, how is it in Heaven? While we don't know a lot of what Heaven is like, we know some things. There is no sickness in Heaven. There is no sorrow, no sadness, no grieving. There is no evil, no wrong-doing, and there is no suffering. Heaven is peace and joy and love, and an eternity spent in the presence of our Awesome God.
So when we pray, when we recite "On earth as it is in Heaven." What are we actually saying? We're asking that there be no sickness, no sorrow, no sadness, no discouragement. We're asking God to make things here on earth like they are in Heaven! And even better, is that Jesus himself told us to go ahead and say that- he told us how to pray and told us to ask that it be "on earth as it is in Heaven."
What an encouragement! Really, when something or someone in life has you down, take a moment and pray, "on earth as it is in Heaven" and just see how saying those words can make you feel better almost instantly. We can find comfort and encouragement in one of the most often quoted passages of the Bible- and that to me is a great thing!
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10
I keep thinking about this verse. And I keep thinking about the fact that it is part of The Lord's Prayer, and people probably say this all the time without really thinking about what they are saying. "On earth as it is in Heaven." Well, how is it in Heaven? While we don't know a lot of what Heaven is like, we know some things. There is no sickness in Heaven. There is no sorrow, no sadness, no grieving. There is no evil, no wrong-doing, and there is no suffering. Heaven is peace and joy and love, and an eternity spent in the presence of our Awesome God.
So when we pray, when we recite "On earth as it is in Heaven." What are we actually saying? We're asking that there be no sickness, no sorrow, no sadness, no discouragement. We're asking God to make things here on earth like they are in Heaven! And even better, is that Jesus himself told us to go ahead and say that- he told us how to pray and told us to ask that it be "on earth as it is in Heaven."
What an encouragement! Really, when something or someone in life has you down, take a moment and pray, "on earth as it is in Heaven" and just see how saying those words can make you feel better almost instantly. We can find comfort and encouragement in one of the most often quoted passages of the Bible- and that to me is a great thing!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
So Long, Farewell...
To sin, I mean.
"Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD." Jeremiah 23:24
I fell asleep last night thinking about this. Why do we sin at all? Think about it. As Christians, why on earth do we justify a sin and follow through with it? I mean, I know that the devil constantly puts temptations in front of us to try and get us to sin, but why do we let him win? It seems to me that in the face of temptation, this verse alone would make someone think twice. Think about a child. A child has been told absolutely not, they may not have a cupcake until after dinner. Yet the cupcakes are on the counter in the open (temptation). If the child is going to "sin" they are going to wait until no one is in the room and try and sneak a cupcake-likely heading off to a hiding place to enjoy it. Now if there are parents in the room watching the cupcakes at all times- is that child likely to try and sneak a cupcake? Not likely. Now unlike this pretend cupcake scenario, the fact is that God is always watching. He knows absolutely everything- he knows my every thought, and every hair on my head is numbered. (That's a lot of hair to number!)
We can say that "we're human" and sin happens sometimes...but I'm starting to wonder if it doesn't. If there is an option to not sin. And why not? Part of what this journey through life is, is the growing process to become more Christ-like, more holy so that we can be admitted to heaven. And sinning does not equal more holiness. When we become save we repent our sins.
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 3:2
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15
"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" Luke 5:32
The dictionary defines repent as "to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life", so repenting is more than just confessing our sins- it's changing them. Repentance is changing our mind and the way we think so that we don't sin.
Now the truth is that if we did sin, if we did make a mistake, we can take comfort in the fact that we have a Heavenly Father who will forgive us even then, we know that. But for me... I think that's simply not good enough. It's not enough to wake up in the morning and be thankful that I have a God who forgives me when I do wrong. Instead, I want to change my mindset. I want to wake up in the morning and say "God, let me become more like you today- keep me from sin and from trouble." By focusing on "the adult in the room" instead of the temptation, I can change the way I think. After a while, the temptation will fade away and not be so prominent, and over time, those cupcakes won't even be an issue. I think it's time. I think it's time to end the sinful nature and strive to become more like Christ.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matthew 6:21
Now if you've read this far and read to the end today, I also just wanted to mention today that this post is the 500th post here at Heart and Soul! Who knew! There have certainly been days where I have thought about hitting the delete button and freeing up my mornings, but, oh, the journey I would have missed! I'm still interested in adding a few more people to the site here. Have you thought about sharing from your heart? Not every day, not even once a week, but I've had thoughts about how wonderful it would be to have a group of people that just share from the heart things they've been learning from God- whether that be daily devotionals, or something more personal. We can set it up too to be completely anonymous if that is an interest for you, but if you've had the thought, maybe it's time to give it a try. No conditions, no commitments, and no requirements other than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Let me know, I'd love to have you on board. erika@tummytreasure.com
"Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD." Jeremiah 23:24
I fell asleep last night thinking about this. Why do we sin at all? Think about it. As Christians, why on earth do we justify a sin and follow through with it? I mean, I know that the devil constantly puts temptations in front of us to try and get us to sin, but why do we let him win? It seems to me that in the face of temptation, this verse alone would make someone think twice. Think about a child. A child has been told absolutely not, they may not have a cupcake until after dinner. Yet the cupcakes are on the counter in the open (temptation). If the child is going to "sin" they are going to wait until no one is in the room and try and sneak a cupcake-likely heading off to a hiding place to enjoy it. Now if there are parents in the room watching the cupcakes at all times- is that child likely to try and sneak a cupcake? Not likely. Now unlike this pretend cupcake scenario, the fact is that God is always watching. He knows absolutely everything- he knows my every thought, and every hair on my head is numbered. (That's a lot of hair to number!)
We can say that "we're human" and sin happens sometimes...but I'm starting to wonder if it doesn't. If there is an option to not sin. And why not? Part of what this journey through life is, is the growing process to become more Christ-like, more holy so that we can be admitted to heaven. And sinning does not equal more holiness. When we become save we repent our sins.
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 3:2
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15
"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" Luke 5:32
The dictionary defines repent as "to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life", so repenting is more than just confessing our sins- it's changing them. Repentance is changing our mind and the way we think so that we don't sin.
Now the truth is that if we did sin, if we did make a mistake, we can take comfort in the fact that we have a Heavenly Father who will forgive us even then, we know that. But for me... I think that's simply not good enough. It's not enough to wake up in the morning and be thankful that I have a God who forgives me when I do wrong. Instead, I want to change my mindset. I want to wake up in the morning and say "God, let me become more like you today- keep me from sin and from trouble." By focusing on "the adult in the room" instead of the temptation, I can change the way I think. After a while, the temptation will fade away and not be so prominent, and over time, those cupcakes won't even be an issue. I think it's time. I think it's time to end the sinful nature and strive to become more like Christ.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matthew 6:21
Now if you've read this far and read to the end today, I also just wanted to mention today that this post is the 500th post here at Heart and Soul! Who knew! There have certainly been days where I have thought about hitting the delete button and freeing up my mornings, but, oh, the journey I would have missed! I'm still interested in adding a few more people to the site here. Have you thought about sharing from your heart? Not every day, not even once a week, but I've had thoughts about how wonderful it would be to have a group of people that just share from the heart things they've been learning from God- whether that be daily devotionals, or something more personal. We can set it up too to be completely anonymous if that is an interest for you, but if you've had the thought, maybe it's time to give it a try. No conditions, no commitments, and no requirements other than a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Let me know, I'd love to have you on board. erika@tummytreasure.com
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
That's Called Growing...
"But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3
As I read this verse today, I thought, man, that's called growing! He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one- each trial we go through is a means of strengthening- of growing. Each time we come out the other end victorious, we've grown and added some spiritual muscle. And God most certainly does protect us. He will never allow the devil to test us more than we can handle. God knows us, and knows what we can take and what will cause us to break. Job is an excellent example of this. God knew Job, he knew his servant's heart, and knew that everything could be taken away from the man, and he would still love God.
"Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
Job completely lost everything. He lost his children, his wife, his riches, his home, his land, his livestock, his friends, absolutely everything. Yet he still loved God. He lost absolutely everything, he had nothing, but he obeyed his God and in the end, God restored to him everything. God gave him back everything- and then some. God did not allow Job to be tested beyond what he could handle.
"The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. 15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.
As I read this verse today, I thought, man, that's called growing! He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one- each trial we go through is a means of strengthening- of growing. Each time we come out the other end victorious, we've grown and added some spiritual muscle. And God most certainly does protect us. He will never allow the devil to test us more than we can handle. God knows us, and knows what we can take and what will cause us to break. Job is an excellent example of this. God knew Job, he knew his servant's heart, and knew that everything could be taken away from the man, and he would still love God.
"Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Job 1:8-12Job completely lost everything. He lost his children, his wife, his riches, his home, his land, his livestock, his friends, absolutely everything. Yet he still loved God. He lost absolutely everything, he had nothing, but he obeyed his God and in the end, God restored to him everything. God gave him back everything- and then some. God did not allow Job to be tested beyond what he could handle.
"The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. 15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.
16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 And so he died, old and full of years." Job 42:12-17
God will protect us and will strengthen us so that we can defeat the enemy. After all, that is one of our purposes here on earth. To love our God with all heart and soul, and to defeat the enemy. Because we know the end...and in the end, the enemy loses, and God wins. I want to be on the winning team, so the strength training is necessary- often unpleasant, but still necessary. Just as real strength training for sports brings pain and discomfort- often injury. Yet, it takes dedication and sacrifice. And if we can be willing to go through all that for a game...for a conflict in sport. How much more should we be willing to dedicate and sacrifice for our God?
Monday, June 23, 2008
Knowing His Word
"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Joshua 1:8
Something every Christian will tell you is that they wish they read their Bible more. I know every time I pick mine up I find something new in it- even if it's a passage that I've read a hundred times, there is always something new that comes to mind. Yet it never changes. The Bible may have different translations, but the meanings are all still there. I love reading my Bible, and I know I don't do it enough. Andy used to always talk about how envious he is of people who can recite dozens of verses, or open up the Bible to passages as they come to mind. I used to tease him that he, too, could have this power if he would read his Bible to begin with. Lol. And wouldn't you know, more and more often lately he'll mention a verse to me, or open up his Bible and look up something that came to his mind. The more you read your Bible, the more it sticks with you. I can quite long lines from many of the books I've read over time- especially the ones I've read several times over. I could probably recite most of the Little House series if I really put my mind to it. Yet I don't know my Bible like that, I want to know it more, and know it better.
Because God's Word is where we find confirmation. When we come upon something new or different at a church or in a book or on TV, we can see if it's truly from God by looking in our Bible. The Bible is timeless, and any work that truly comes from God will have backing in the Bible. When we experience something new, a new work, and we're wondering if it really is from God, we can look in our Bible and see what God has to say about it.
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" Galatians 1:8
Right there in Galatians, it tells us that we will not receive something "completely new" from God. Entire new religions have been founded on "dreams" or "visions" that may have truly been dreams or visions, but had that person looked in their Bible, they would have realized the trickery of the enemy. Our God is awesome, and will never leave us floundering or wondering- instead he gave us the gift of His Word, so that we might know Him more, and know what comes from Him and what doesn't. And the key to all of that is time in the Bible.
By spending more time in the Bible we can be more prepared, when someone comes up to us and questions us on why we do this or that, we can show them right where it is in the Bible. When someone we know is having a difficult time we can direct them to verses of encouragement- when we're having a rough time we can know which verses speak to us and lift us up. When someone who doesn't know God comes up to us we can show them all the love that God has for them within the pages of His Book. God's Word is priceless, and no harm ever came to anyone who spent more time in it. It's totally worth every second- and even if all you have is five minutes of time, turn to the Psalms and see what gem is hiding there for you today. Turn to the Proverbs and read a nugget of wisdom. Turn to the Gospels and read John 3:16 with fresh eyes:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
For God So Loved. Now that's a great way to start a Monday morning.
Something every Christian will tell you is that they wish they read their Bible more. I know every time I pick mine up I find something new in it- even if it's a passage that I've read a hundred times, there is always something new that comes to mind. Yet it never changes. The Bible may have different translations, but the meanings are all still there. I love reading my Bible, and I know I don't do it enough. Andy used to always talk about how envious he is of people who can recite dozens of verses, or open up the Bible to passages as they come to mind. I used to tease him that he, too, could have this power if he would read his Bible to begin with. Lol. And wouldn't you know, more and more often lately he'll mention a verse to me, or open up his Bible and look up something that came to his mind. The more you read your Bible, the more it sticks with you. I can quite long lines from many of the books I've read over time- especially the ones I've read several times over. I could probably recite most of the Little House series if I really put my mind to it. Yet I don't know my Bible like that, I want to know it more, and know it better.
Because God's Word is where we find confirmation. When we come upon something new or different at a church or in a book or on TV, we can see if it's truly from God by looking in our Bible. The Bible is timeless, and any work that truly comes from God will have backing in the Bible. When we experience something new, a new work, and we're wondering if it really is from God, we can look in our Bible and see what God has to say about it.
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" Galatians 1:8
Right there in Galatians, it tells us that we will not receive something "completely new" from God. Entire new religions have been founded on "dreams" or "visions" that may have truly been dreams or visions, but had that person looked in their Bible, they would have realized the trickery of the enemy. Our God is awesome, and will never leave us floundering or wondering- instead he gave us the gift of His Word, so that we might know Him more, and know what comes from Him and what doesn't. And the key to all of that is time in the Bible.
By spending more time in the Bible we can be more prepared, when someone comes up to us and questions us on why we do this or that, we can show them right where it is in the Bible. When someone we know is having a difficult time we can direct them to verses of encouragement- when we're having a rough time we can know which verses speak to us and lift us up. When someone who doesn't know God comes up to us we can show them all the love that God has for them within the pages of His Book. God's Word is priceless, and no harm ever came to anyone who spent more time in it. It's totally worth every second- and even if all you have is five minutes of time, turn to the Psalms and see what gem is hiding there for you today. Turn to the Proverbs and read a nugget of wisdom. Turn to the Gospels and read John 3:16 with fresh eyes:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
For God So Loved. Now that's a great way to start a Monday morning.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
With All Your Heart
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
How do we approach God? How do we pray for something? This verse in Jeremiah tells us exactly how we should be approaching God and asking Him for something in prayer. With All Our Heart. A normal prayer would go something like this: "Dear God, thank you for Person X here, we really appreciate them and all that they do. If it be your will, would you please heal Person X of their sickness. Thank You Lord, and thank you for this, this and this."
Hmm. We said "if" and "would you please"- that sound a little half-hearted to me. And it is half-hearted. If we were seeking God with our full heart we would know that it is His desire that no one be sick.
"Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." Luke 8:48
"Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." Luke 8:50
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:15-17
Using all of our heart- which is full of all of our faith, our faith in which we know that God will take care of our dear friend and heal them, our prayer might go more like this:
"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful Person X which you have brought into our lives. Thank you for blessing them with the gifts of A, B, and C, we truly appreciate them, and we truly appreciate Your blessing upon their life. In the Name of Jesus, may person X be healed of sickness. May the Lord bless them further and cleanse their body of all disease. We thank you Jesus for doing a work in Person X's life, and we thank you for Your sacrifice, which heals everything, because By Your Stripes we are healed..."
See the confidence there? How often do we pray for something- like help with a situation or our finances, but we really only sort of pray about it. Why don't we start digging deep? Let's start getting down on our knees in prayer, humbling ourselves before His mighty feet and really and truly seek His help. He can make even the most serious of problems simply disappear. We will seek Him and we will find Him....When we seek Him with all our heart.
How do we approach God? How do we pray for something? This verse in Jeremiah tells us exactly how we should be approaching God and asking Him for something in prayer. With All Our Heart. A normal prayer would go something like this: "Dear God, thank you for Person X here, we really appreciate them and all that they do. If it be your will, would you please heal Person X of their sickness. Thank You Lord, and thank you for this, this and this."
Hmm. We said "if" and "would you please"- that sound a little half-hearted to me. And it is half-hearted. If we were seeking God with our full heart we would know that it is His desire that no one be sick.
"Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." Luke 8:48
"Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." Luke 8:50
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:15-17
Using all of our heart- which is full of all of our faith, our faith in which we know that God will take care of our dear friend and heal them, our prayer might go more like this:
"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful Person X which you have brought into our lives. Thank you for blessing them with the gifts of A, B, and C, we truly appreciate them, and we truly appreciate Your blessing upon their life. In the Name of Jesus, may person X be healed of sickness. May the Lord bless them further and cleanse their body of all disease. We thank you Jesus for doing a work in Person X's life, and we thank you for Your sacrifice, which heals everything, because By Your Stripes we are healed..."
See the confidence there? How often do we pray for something- like help with a situation or our finances, but we really only sort of pray about it. Why don't we start digging deep? Let's start getting down on our knees in prayer, humbling ourselves before His mighty feet and really and truly seek His help. He can make even the most serious of problems simply disappear. We will seek Him and we will find Him....When we seek Him with all our heart.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Avoiding The Dream-Crusher
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." Matthew 7:6
Have you ever shared a dream or a great idea with someone? You have this grand idea for something, and all they do is laugh at you? Or worse, they pick apart why what you just said won't work. They debate your ideas- and often times, those "suggestions" often come unprovoked. You were excited- you had a plan and an idea, and one mention of it to one person, and now your idea isn't looking so great to you. Even worse is when you are certain this is an idea that God has given you- a direction for your life. Yet the whole idea has literally been crushed before your eyes. It's so easy to get caught up with the naysayers and maybe discard those ideas . So how do we stop from becoming discouraged with our ideas and dreams?
We stop giving our pearls to pigs. And we seek out the people who maybe are going to appreciate our pearls.
Take heart in knowing that your dreams, your visions, and your ideas are from God- it's just that sometimes, other men, other people of God don't see the vision that you see. And that's okay- but we must not be discouraged by these naysayers. This just means that God's plan will be even better when it comes to fruition. This just means that the right people to help you see that dream become a reality are not in your scope of influence yet. We need to wait on God and watch for that other dreamer. We need to keep our eyes open for those other people who also are treasuring their pearls.
God has plans for us all. Sometimes they are plans for now- and sometimes, he gives us a vision that won't come to fruition for many years. We can hold to this. We can hold to the fact that they are visions and ideas from God, we just need to learn to be careful who we share these dreams and visions with. After a while, I think you recognize the person or persons who aren't going to share your enthusiasm. So you hold those pearls to yourself- recognize they are valuable, and only when someone inquires about your pearls do you let them out a bit at a time to share.
And also, lets be careful to not be the pigs in someone else's life. When someone else shares a dream or vision with us, lets remember this verse and not be quick to pick apart another person's vision. We maybe don't agree with it, and it very likely isn't a dream that's meant for us to share in, but we can appreciate that person sharing this vision with us. We can pray with that person about their dream and we can support them. I think this is especially important when talking with young people and youth. They are so full of dreams and hopes and visions for the future. We who have gone before them may know a better reality- but woe to the person who crushes that tender young spirit! Let them keep their dreams and hopes for the future. let them keep their zest and zeal for life and what may lay ahead for them. We can encourage them and we can pray with them and pray for them- and give them an example of how a Christian should act to their fellow Christians- as an encouragement. Our role in life is not to walk around and shoot holes in other people's ideas. Our role, our job as Christians is to lift each other up, to encourage one another, and most importantly, to pray for one another when we need it.
Let's not be pigs.
Have you ever shared a dream or a great idea with someone? You have this grand idea for something, and all they do is laugh at you? Or worse, they pick apart why what you just said won't work. They debate your ideas- and often times, those "suggestions" often come unprovoked. You were excited- you had a plan and an idea, and one mention of it to one person, and now your idea isn't looking so great to you. Even worse is when you are certain this is an idea that God has given you- a direction for your life. Yet the whole idea has literally been crushed before your eyes. It's so easy to get caught up with the naysayers and maybe discard those ideas . So how do we stop from becoming discouraged with our ideas and dreams?
We stop giving our pearls to pigs. And we seek out the people who maybe are going to appreciate our pearls.
Take heart in knowing that your dreams, your visions, and your ideas are from God- it's just that sometimes, other men, other people of God don't see the vision that you see. And that's okay- but we must not be discouraged by these naysayers. This just means that God's plan will be even better when it comes to fruition. This just means that the right people to help you see that dream become a reality are not in your scope of influence yet. We need to wait on God and watch for that other dreamer. We need to keep our eyes open for those other people who also are treasuring their pearls.
God has plans for us all. Sometimes they are plans for now- and sometimes, he gives us a vision that won't come to fruition for many years. We can hold to this. We can hold to the fact that they are visions and ideas from God, we just need to learn to be careful who we share these dreams and visions with. After a while, I think you recognize the person or persons who aren't going to share your enthusiasm. So you hold those pearls to yourself- recognize they are valuable, and only when someone inquires about your pearls do you let them out a bit at a time to share.
And also, lets be careful to not be the pigs in someone else's life. When someone else shares a dream or vision with us, lets remember this verse and not be quick to pick apart another person's vision. We maybe don't agree with it, and it very likely isn't a dream that's meant for us to share in, but we can appreciate that person sharing this vision with us. We can pray with that person about their dream and we can support them. I think this is especially important when talking with young people and youth. They are so full of dreams and hopes and visions for the future. We who have gone before them may know a better reality- but woe to the person who crushes that tender young spirit! Let them keep their dreams and hopes for the future. let them keep their zest and zeal for life and what may lay ahead for them. We can encourage them and we can pray with them and pray for them- and give them an example of how a Christian should act to their fellow Christians- as an encouragement. Our role in life is not to walk around and shoot holes in other people's ideas. Our role, our job as Christians is to lift each other up, to encourage one another, and most importantly, to pray for one another when we need it.
Let's not be pigs.
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