Welcome to 2014

Welcome to 2014

God has been working in me the past month or so – longer actually, but it has been coming to a head in the past month. I’m looking forward to 2014 – a first for me, since I’ve never really ‘looked forward’ to a new year. I don’t know what this year will bring. I have friends getting married and I am truly happy for them, but sad I don’t have that event to look forward to for myself. I have a ‘Someday’ board on Pinterest with all of the things I would like to be a part of my eventual married life. So, someday…  My boy still has his moments, but is getting easier to handle. He’s growing up L I have a new business and love it and know that 2014 will see huge growth and get me to where I want to be!

So, the song I was listening to this morning was “The Hurt & The Healer” by Mercy Me. I’ve heard it a million times before and will hear it a million more times before it isn’t played on the radio anymore. It will still show up on my Pandora and iTunes mix at that point. Today, the lyrics said something to me, something more than they have said in the million times before.

Why?
The question that is never far away
The healing doesn't come from being explained
Jesus please don't let this go in vain
You're all I have
All that remains

So here I am
What's left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

Why? How many times have we posed this question to God? I imagine Him as the ever-patient Father with His children, constantly asking why (and how to I react to my boy asking ‘why’ constantly? Not with the same patience as our Heavenly Father!!) . Why did you let me do that stupid thing? (and for real, are you mad at God because He didn’t put an obvious roadblock in front of you or can you be honest with yourself and take ownership of the decision you made on your own?)  After you have gone through your suffering and are on the road to healing, do you see the glory of God in what you have been through? I have. I’ve seen healing in my own life, especially after taking ownership of the decisions I’ve made that got me into trouble – more emotion trouble with myself, for not trusting my instincts. How has God met your suffering with glory?

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I fall into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

I AM ALIVE!!! What part has died? That old sin self is now dead and when I accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord, and even though my sin nature is still evident, I am covered by the blood. I can give my heart to my Savior and He will heal me and give me life.

Breathe
Sometimes I feel it's all that I can do
Pain so deep that I can hardly move
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You
Lord take hold and pull me through

Do you feel this way at all? Like it takes every effort just to do the natural function of breathing? I haven’t felt this way in several years and for that I am thankful. I do have those moments that still play vividly in my mind – decisions I made that were not very good and now I wonder how my life would be different if I had not walked those deepest valleys. I am thankful for the relationship with my Jesus that got me through those times.

It's the moment when humanity
Is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good
And all our scars are understood
When mercy takes its rightful place
And all these questions fade away
When out of the weakness we must bow
And hear You say "It's over now"

This day… this is what I long for. An ending to the suffering and cruelty of this world, and an end to fear. To hear the trumpets, see Jesus coming to bring all Believers home and to see our new world and the lives we will live for eternity. I so look forward to that day. I think anyone who is a Believer in Jesus Christ is blessed today, right where you are, because you BELIEVE, right now. You are not the deluded who think there is no God, but those who do not know will believe on that final day.

Today, make a commitment to yourself to show Jesus to the world. Maybe you aren’t the type to ‘go and spread the word’ in the traditional sense – I personally get all twisted up when I share Christ face to face. I do much better through words and I believe God gave me this gift and this venue in order to reach so many all over the world. Take an evangelism course and learn how to do what needs to be done. Smile at someone – you never know who just needs to see a friendly face. Offer to pray with someone who is suffering. Take a meal to a shut-in and spend time with them. Just DO something, in the name of Jesus Christ. Do something, and show the world His love.

 

 

My heart hurts....

There is someone I used to know... that I still sorta know... but she does not come in contact with anyone who knew her 18 months ago because she is different today than she was then.

She has changed, and the change came because of a guy. She put her religious beliefs in a box, locked it and threw away the key. She has accepted this guys' religious beliefs, which go completely against the ones she used to have.

She has also apparently changed her views on lifestyles that are Biblically wrong, and now embraces that as well.

My heart hurts for the friend I used to know.

I see her better than I have ever seen her before though, now that I can look from a distance. I find it sad that someone can turn on their beliefs and God so easily in an attempt to control their own lives.

I've done it.. not the turning on God part, but the controlling my life part. It usually doesn't work out so well.

I struggle with it. I struggle with many things. One of which is the desperate need of my child, and his desire for a father. I told him good men don't grow on trees and that God will bring us the right man at the right time. He just hasn't done so yet, and that is okay too. We can wait patiently and in the meantime, God has placed men in our lives for various reasons. Some are 'grandfather' types to my boy, and he needs that. Some are uncle types, since his uncles live several states away. Some have adopted him into their families and given him cousins locally. One is a big brother, who is currently serving his country in a far off place. My boy misses that man-boy.

I think we all wish we could see God's grand design, so that we know the things we do are not in vain. That our prayers are not igored, or that God really just doesn't care. There is an entire Book called the Bible telling us how much He truly cares for us.

We just have to let Him in.

Psalm 73:26 (NASB)

²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the  strength of my heart and my portion forever.

 

 

 

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming quickly... just a little over two months away. I truly love this time of year… football, fall, yummy food, cooler weather, snuggly scarves, and of course, the holidays.

My ankle was hurting to the point where I couldn’t walk well this morning, so we stayed home from church. I was reading in Luke with my boy, and we started in chapter 1.

Reading about how the baby, who would become John the Baptist, Elizabeth was pregnant with jumped for joy when hearing Mary call out to her brought tears to my eyes. Even the unborn child recognized the mother of Jesus Christ and knew the significance of His birth.

Jesus was born perfect, as the Son of God, to a virgin. He lived a perfect life, and died a terrible death so that we, humans – sinners – could live eternally with Him in Heaven.

Christmas is celebrated in December, but no one truly knows the time of year Jesus was born. There are a few hints, but nothing significant in the Bible. And technically, many of our current Christmas traditions come from pagan solstice festivals. However, Christians after Constantine changed and Christianized pagan traditions to become their own version of the holiday.

Today though, Christmas is all about commercialism. Stores begin carrying Christmas items in August. There are “Christmas in July” sales, Black Friday sales, spend more, spend more, spend more.

Frankly, it is exhausting.

We have our own traditions in our home. I put up our tree in early November so we can enjoy it more. I play Christmas music like there is no tomorrow. We have Snow, the mischievous elf who appears on Thanksgiving night and hangs out until Christmas Eve when Santa takes him back to the North Pole. My son still believes in Santa, which I love, because it makes Christmas a little more magical. I cook Christmas Dinner and invite other single friends over so they have somewhere to go. I volunteer at NORAD Tracks Santa and talk to kids all over the world. We always pick Angels off of the Angel Tree at church – a boy the age of my son and a teenage girl for me – to purchase gifts for. We participate in Operation Christmas Child.

My boy is finally old enough to truly learn about giving to others less fortunate. I found a great idea last year that we will do this year. Random Acts of Kindness to do every day during December. I love it. I’m excited about it and will probably do something to add my boy’s teachers in as well.

My point in the rambling is this – Christmas is fun for kids, and it should be magical as well. They need that little bit of mystery in their lives to make them curious and excited about living. They also need to know Jesus – who He was, who He is now and who He will be eternally. Kids (and some adults) need to understand the reason for Christmas is not the ‘Dudley’ version of how many gifts do I get. It is about giving to others, some in true need, and some just because.

Don't forget the real reason we celebrate Christmas - it is the Birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Dating is Free Entertainment

There have been a few random things happening lately that make me laugh...and also make me feel like I was, for certain, born in the wrong century. The past few months have been odd. I had reconnected with a couple of guys I knew at different points in my life; both were completely wrong for me for different reasons. The first is a handsome Irish fella who wears a kilt- and being of Scottish heritage myself, I believe a real man can handle wearing a kilt! (Isn't there a single Christian man IN Scotland reading this???) The second is someone from a bit further in my past. He turned out to be quite the drama queen.. And more than a little strange.   

Things happen, people come in and out of your life for a season. Some seasons are shorter than others. Each one is supposed to be there, to teach us something or show us something about ourselves or about others. The men that come in and out of my life show me what I am, or am not, looking for in a husband. They have also shown me some things about myself that I must work on while I am in a relationship with a man.

The drama queen… oh where do I begin? It started with a text to ask me out to dinner. Then it changed to cooking dinner at his house (for a first date, without knowing him well at all – BIG NO NO!!!).  I did meet him for coffee and after talking about my Christian singles group and involvement in church, the cursing began. I mean that literally. I had not heard a curse word from him up until the point I mentioned my faith, and it was almost as if a switch was instantaneously flipped. Further conversations made me quickly realize this particular guy has some problems. One of the first things I should have taken note of was the comment, “when are you going to take me out?” Yes… he said that to me. I mean, he just sees me having dinner with my child… Thankfully this was not one of those long, drawn out things.

I was criticized by another person because I expected (the horror!!) an actual phone call to ask me out rather than a text. Apparently my standards are too high and it is too much to ask men today to call. My theory is that if a guy is my age or close, he didn’t grow up with a phone in his hand. SO, he should call me. And yes, I do have standards… get used to it. I know a lot of people who don’t have standards today and they are miserable because they keep choosing people who will use them or be abusive in some way.

I think we've lost something in this technologically connected world we live in. People would rather sit in front of a computer or text on their phones than actually have a personal conversation face to face.  There are some people I do not enjoy talking to, and would rather keep the communication electronic. And then there are others that I actually prefer a conversation with over the electronic communication.

Something to remember - the outer package doesn’t always mean the inside is as pretty as the outside. I’ve told many people that someone can look like the Channing Tatum’s or Scarlet Johansson’s of the world and have a horrible personality. Those people become physically unattractive pretty quickly while also failing to understand how they could have been at fault. After all, these types are physically attractive and that means they can do whatever they want and their victims just have to ‘deal with it.’

All of this just makes me wonder if my Prince Charming/Mr. Darcy is truly out there somewhere, waiting for me with his high standards in this crazy world.

 

 

 

Hope in the Darkness

So many times we hear different stories about people who come through very bleak points in their life with a new outlook and hope for a different future.

Through this current partial government shutdown, which is affecting many, many people I know (to include myself), I have words of hope. We WILL get through this. We will be stronger as individuals because we will know how to get by with less in a world of more…More…MORE.

1 Chronicles 29:14-16 (NASB)

¹⁴ “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. ¹⁵ For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. ¹⁶ O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours.

Everything we have or will ever have comes from the Lord, and the Lord provides for His children through everything. We are sojourners, just temporary residents here on earth.

Psalm 31:23-24 (NASB)

²³ O love the Lord, all you His godly ones!
The Lord preserves the faithful
And fully recompenses the proud doer.
²⁴ Be strong and let your heart take courage,
All you who hope in the Lord.

Our hope comes from the Lord… stay strong through the trials you face and never take your eyes off of Jesus.

Revelation 1:1-3 (NASB)

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, ² who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. ³ Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

The “time is near” for Jesus to return. Nope, I don’t know the date or the time. I do know God has promised us the return of His Son to take us to our eternal Home. Things are going to get worse before they get better. Some things are going to get far worse than the most awful horror movie we’ve heard of. There is still good to find in the most awful of times. Look for it. Share it. BE the good for someone else.

And wait patiently.

 

 

Seven times Seventy

Matthew 18:21-22 (NASB)

²¹ Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” ²² Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Over the past week or two the subject of ‘forgiveness’ has been put before me by more than one person, and in different settings. I have been holding onto anger over wrongs committed against me by someone and have refused forgiveness.

I WANT to hold on to the anger because it makes me feel justified – but I cannot. I am not justified in anger, even though the things done were wrong on many levels. Thankfully, I have a Heavenly Father who will seek payment for those sins, just as He will seek payment for mine.

At our Bible study last Friday night, a friend of mine was teaching on forgiveness. During some discussion, one person mentioned that when we do not forgive someone, it affects us more than it does them. Most of the time, the unforgiven person does not know or care if they have something held against them. I believe this to be 100% accurate – holding anger in at someone turns that anger into bitterness. Bitterness makes a person unbearable to be around. Bitterness can even affect your health if held on to for an extended period of time.

Seeing through the pain of lies and associated behaviors can cloud the vision of what is right and wrong for us. God tends to put people in our paths who can redirect us when we are unable or unwilling to see the truth for what it is.

I choose to forgive. Some others may not understand my decision and that is okay. That is why it is mine to make. Forgiveness does not mean an invitation back into my life – it only means I forgive your past actions. That is also a choice I have to make, as the person I need to forgive has not made true attempts to change any behaviors leading to this. God does not require us to be gullible when forgiving another. Learning from our mistakes is essential to growth in our Christian lives.

I have my own forgiveness to ask for, from God. For becoming this person these last couple of months, and ignoring what I know to be true. This video and song are amazing. The simplicity of what is being shown and how, in the end, we are made whole by forgiveness, is beautiful.

 

Time...and a New Rule

I've read many articles about those who come out of divorce or long-term relationships. Most of these articles give the advice to wait before jumping into another relationship, because of the need to grieve the previous one. For marriages, the advice was to wait two years before dating, especially if married a long time.

For a long time, I have seen how this would be valid. Then, for some reason, I got it into my mind that everyone is different and can come out of a horrible marriage ready for a fresh start…immediately. It simply isn't true. EVERYONE needs time to grieve, mourn, and recover, finding themselves again before bringing another person into theirs and (possibly) their children's lives. I see it over and over – people come out of a relationship and before the ink is dry on the divorce papers (or that break-up conversation is still ringing loudly) they are already involved with someone else.

I was just listening to Wally on the morning show and he was taking calls from people who are having a hard time loving someone (Can I get a witness???). He told one lady his pastor said "hurt people hurt people." Do you see it? People who are hurting will hurt someone else. This is precisely the reason those articles say to wait two years after coming out of a marriage to start another relationship. If you are still hurting from that broken relationship, you are not going to be able to have a healthy relationship.

I met someone recently who had just gone through a divorce. She said she cannot date right now because she hates all men, and they remind her of the pain she went through with her ex-husband. I think it is absolutely okay to feel that way, and like the fact that she acknowledges how she feels rather than shoving it down and piling stuff on top to hide it and not deal with it. I believe, with time, that anger will fade and she will move on and find someone. But it will take TIME.

I believe people who jump from marriage into another relationship, or from relationship to relationship, are afraid to be alone, are insecure, or need that replacement relationship (even if they will ultimately ruin it). The fear of actually having to be alone with themselves is so overwhelming. Maybe these relationship jumpers are afraid of who they are deep inside?

I go to movies by myself and can be by myself without hearing from anyone, because generally, I like who I am and am not afraid to be alone. I’m not perfect and I make mistakes. I learn from them, even if I do have to repeat the lesson sometimes. The caveat for me is that I am not willing to settle. The man who comes into my life must understand I am independent and not someone (or thing) to be controlled. I am a package deal, and come with a child. He MUST be a God-fearing man, complete with an understanding of how a Christian marriage works according to Ephesians. If he is the right man, the Ephesians example of marriage will not be an issue and God will bless the union.

I wish more people would not settle with the relationships in their lives. Men and women both… for some reason known only to them, they accept the man or woman in their life along with the horrible treatment.

The new rule? I won’t date anyone who has been divorced for less than a year, minimum. Two years is ideal, but it does depend on the person and the current relationship with his ex.

 

 

The point is, take your time when entering a new relationship. Don't rush to give yourself away. Someone who pushes for that level of commitment too early is only interested in self-satisfaction, and will not truly care about you as a person.

 

***DISCLAIMER: Maybe you are asking yourself, “What qualifies her to say these things?” Well, I do not have a counseling or psychology degree, and like I’ve said before, ALL of the things are my opinions which you, dear reader, are welcome to disregard should you feel the need. I base my opinions on life experience, things I read and the experts I do talk to. I am not an expert, but I am smart and I know people. You don’t need a degree for that.

 

In the Name of...

Have you ever met someone (or a whole lot of someone's) who claim to be Christian then turn that claim into something for their selfish gain or abuse the responsibility they have with claiming the Name of Christ?

I know we've all seen the televangelists and heard of many teachers and pastors who do this, but have you ever experienced it personally?

I did, a few months ago. I had met someone who claimed to be a Christian, and by all initial outward appearances, he fit what he was saying. The reality though, was far different. The lies – not just to me, but to others as well, the arrogance, attitude issues, treatment of me and the thing – Major. Control. Issues.

 He would get bent out of shape because I didn't do exactly as he said, but when I would try to call him on something, he would protest, "we aren't dating, you have no right to say that." Um, what? He also had (has) some serious issues of the heart. I mean, honestly, we all have issues of some kind, but not everyone is an extreme control freak making unreasonable demands with even more unreasonable expectations of everyone but himself. There are many other aspects of this person that cause me to take a step back and be extremely thankful that God was protecting me throughout the entire ordeal.

Sometimes you just gotta find out the hard way. Typically, that is how it works for me. I don’t do anything the easy way, it seems, but I believe I have FINALLY learned the lesson God has been trying to teach me. Again. And Again. And Again. It hurts for a little while, and then you deal with the anger. I've been angrier at myself than anything or anyone else. How did I not see THAT coming (again)? How could I have been so blind and allowed that person in my life? I should have known something was up when he demanded I give up something that is of vital importance to me – something that has been a part of my life for nearly 20 years?

James 3:15-17 (NASB)

¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

I am NOT saying this guy is demonic… far from it. I AM saying there are other issues – maturity, faith (not for me to question how real), self-esteem, and other personal crisis’s that affect how a person treats those they claim to care for. I do hope he gets the help he needs, and maybe will listen to his friends who care for him. It is painful to see one person wreck their own life, but when they unwittingly drag others along with them, the damage can last for generations.

Philippians 2:2-4 (NASB)

² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

One phrase stands out to me, "do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit" and helps me to see and understand how I do not want to be. We all do things out of selfish intent from time to time, but in most cases, do not mean to intentionally harm another with our actions. There are no words to express how humbling it is to have gone through the same thing more than once, not realizing or not opening your eyes, to see the truth. Growth is painful, but it is necessary if we are to do the things God wants us to do.

Do not blind yourself to the things God is trying to teach you. When you read the Word, read with your heart open, not just your eyes. KNOW Him.. truly.

 

Side note: This guy could use your prayers, and so can the ones who have no choice but to be around him. I sincerely hope God shows him the right way, and he listens. Breaking these habits won’t be easy, and may take a long time, but I know, through Christ, it can be done.

Salt, Light and Sin

Isaiah 3:9-11 (NASB)

⁹ The expression of their faces bears witness against them,
And they display their sin like Sodom;
They do not even conceal it.
Woe to them!
For they have brought evil on themselves.
¹⁰ Say to the righteous that it will go well with them,
For they will eat the fruit of their actions.
¹¹ Woe to the wicked! It will go badly with him,
For what he deserves will be done to him.

I have been reading in the Prophets over the past month or so, and my single’s group has started a Bible study, and we are starting by studying Revelation. I love the Book of Revelation. I know it has the literal end of the world written in it and we cannot fully understand what it means until we stand before Jesus Christ, but to me, it means I’m going Home. My true, eternal Home. And honestly, I look forward to it.

The verses above strike a chord in me, especially when I look around at the state of the nation and of the world. Sin is abundant. It is thrown in the faces of everyone, and people are PROUD to be living in sin. Homosexuality, abortion activists, divorce, adultery, sloth, greed and so on. These are things we see – daily – and eventually God will answer this arrogance with His vengance.

Ever since the states have passed laws allowing homosexual marriage to be legal, business owners who do not want to cater to this lifestyle are thrown into the news and the media seems to delight in their demise, saying they cannot have their own opinions, and if those opinions are different from the media’s or whoever, then they are bigots, close-minded, anti-whatever or any other labels they can think of. It is especially disheartening to see the word “Christian” said with a sneer, as if a Christian is not allowed to think freely.

In the United States, we are able to think for ourselves, for the moment. There will come a time when we will not be allowed to speak freely against the establishment, but, I digress. That is a discussion for another blog post.

The thing about this state (not literal) we live in is this: Christians MUST take a stand for the things that are right and holy. I cannot comprehend the Christian who claims the name of Christ, but supports a political candidate who is for abortion and homosexual marriage. Both are against God’s Word, so how can a Christian professing Christ support these people? It baffles me. I’m sure there is some logical thought somewhere on this topic, but I have yet to find it.

My other thought is that the further into sin a nation slips, the more God removes His Hand from that nation. I see it constantly in the U.S. - we are no longer a truly prosperous nation.

There is a passage in Psalm that talks about God giving us the desires of our hearts. We have been talking in Bible study about this, but in the way that recognizes the sinful life. If you DESIRE sin, God will give you the desires of your heart… and will ultimately harden your heart to the point where you no longer desire a relationship with Him. Essentially, you are cut off.

I know people like this… I want to believe there is still hope for them, but even after many conversations about Christ, they still refuse Him. I do not know their hearts – only God does. I sincerely hope one day to see them in Heaven, but wonder… it is not for me to decide though. Each individual must find their way to Christ on their own.

What it all boils down to is this: I cannot have enough faith for me and my child. My child must find Christ on his own. I pray for him daily, as well as others, but can only do so much. Each of us is responsible for our faith, but we are also responsible to tell others and live the way Christ tells us in the Bible.

All we can do is be Salt and Light… as Jesus called us to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just As I Am

I get daily emails from Bible Gateway.  I have subscribed to a couple of different devotions and today's 'Standing Strong in the Storm' really hit me. This particular email tells of persecuted Christians and the things they go through for their faith.

I wonder if I would be as strong, as faithful, if it came to that. I like to think that I would.

This one today... A converted Muslim in Egypt led a church of converts, which is illegal. He was caught and thrown into prison, tortured and thrown into a 5x5 box for a month. It was in this box that he was faced with the reality of who he truly was - a horrible person. All of the things he had done wrong kept flashing in front of him.

In this box, he realized that Jesus loved him JUST THE WAY HE WAS.

There are two lessons to learn from this.

1) When we are alone and isolated, the devil will do everything possible to bring us to ruin. He will show is how absolutely terrible we truly are and try to convince us that no one, not even Jesus, could love is because we are so awful. This is just a straight up lie.

2) Jesus LOVES us as we are... Right now. There is no need to "fix" something before coming to Christ. Allow Him to help fix the problem. In spite of all of the things we have done in our lives, Jesus still loves us, right now, for always.

He died for us, so we can live through Him.

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.

Psalm 42:1

 

God's Voice

Psalm 23 (NASB)

23 The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

This morning, in my devotion time, I read Psalm 23. Now, this is a passage I memorized long ago, and it always brings comfort when I read it again, or a portion of it crosses my mind.

This evening, I found this picture on FaceBook and immediately Psalm 23 came to mind! Oh…My…Goodness! I have never seen truer words – except in the Bible, of course. But wow… how much like Psalm 23 are these words of how God’s voice affects our lives?

 

I find the contrast between God’s voice and the deceiver’s voice enlightening. Why? Because I have been through times where I thought I was hearing God’s voice, and in retrospect, those words I heard were obviously the deceiver’s words. Trying to get me to go places (emotionally, mentally, sometimes physically) I was not supposed to go. Those paths were off-limits, as far as God was concerned, yet I allowed the deceiver to influence me for a bit, until I got my feet back under me.

I always find it interesting how God speaks to us. Repetition is one way – if you hear the same message or words more than once, you can most likely say God is trying to tell you something, especially if those words come from God fearing men and women.

Sometimes He speaks through music as well. The Bible, of course. In prayer, but we have to make sure it is not the deceiver we are hearing. Test the words you are given against the Word and the list in the picture.

The deceiver loves to distract us, and make us lose heart and hope… I never thought about the fact that his words make us rush (jump to conclusions???) or push us into something we may not necessarily want to do.

When God doesn’t give us exactly what we think we want – it is because He has a better plan in mind for us and we just have to wait on Him.

How do you hear God's voice?

 

Doing What I'm Told

Friday night I taught at my single’s group monthly meeting at my church. Initially, I was going to teach on fear and worry… but God had some other plans. See, I wanted to teach on fear and worry because of some things I was going through… see where I am going with this?

God has a bigger plan.

I was still trying to do that control thing, where it was all about me, and what I thought I needed to talk about… God yanked the reins and said to hold up, there is something else I want you to talk about.

**I also laugh when I think about the discussion I had over the fear and worry topic, because my friend said “maybe God doesn’t WANT you to know what you should teach on…give up control.”

It’s pretty cool, how He works. The feeling of peace and joy that I have had for the last week, and excitement for the BIG things God has in store for me…

On Saturday, I went to a baseball game followed by a Mercy Me concert, and the lead singer, Bart Millard, gave a message very similar to what God gave me the previous night. So similar, in fact, that two of the people who were at both events came up to me and commented on it.

God apparently wanted that message out there to reach someone. Perhaps more than one someone. Probably me.

Psalm 16 (NASB)

1 Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
² I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You.”
³ As for the saints who are in the earth,

They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
⁴ The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;
I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

⁵ The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
⁶ The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

⁷ I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
⁸ I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
¹⁰ For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
¹¹ You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

VS 1-4, 7-8

SEEK GOD’S WILL – FIRST

·        Do not make choices or decisions and THEN ask God to bless them – that choice or decision may not be what God has planned or intended for you

·        Think about this: Is God in your driver’s seat, or have you placed Him in one of those Driver’s Ed cars where you still have the controls on the passenger side?  

·        ASK YOURSELF: 

 

o   What are some areas of your life that you have made a choice or decisions and then asked God to bless it? How did that turn out? What did you learn from it?

 

VS 5-6

FIND JOY IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD – FIRST

 

·        When we place God first in our lives, the mere act of living gets a little easier.

·        This does not happen because God suddenly takes all of the trials and sufferings of being human away from us – quite the opposite actually. But now we have the Grace of Jesus guiding us, helping us to make decisions, and we do not have to walk alone.

·        Do you try to find joy in something other than God? (Stuff, people, things, money?)

·        ASK YOURSELF:

 

o   Does your relationship with God bring you joy? How so? Or does it bring you sadness, i.e. like you do not measure up to God’s standard? 

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NASB)

¹⁷ Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
¹⁸ Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

 

The verse from Habakkuk says that even if things are not going our way, we should rejoice in the Lord, for He has saved us. God feeds the birds of the fields and knows the number of hairs on our heads… how can you think He would not care for you when you are going through tough times?

 

 

VS 9-11

 

HAVING THE SECURITY OF A BEING A BELIEVER VS A NON-BELIEVER

 

·        As Believers, we no longer have to be concerned for our eternity, it has already been decided.

·        Our joy comes from something other than the circumstances around us. Yes, there are times we allow the events or circumstances in our lives to run our emotions amuck, but once we remember that God has ultimate control over all things, our true source of joy reveals itself in our lives.

·        The object is to remember the true source of joy when we are going through tough times…

·       ASK YOURSELF:

 

o   How does understanding your eternal security impact your life on a daily basis?

 

 

 

These ASK YOURSELF sections are the questions I had the tables discuss on Friday night. I was listening to some of the discussion, and much was on relationships, which is normal for a singles group. One of the guys said he is a ‘bad picker’ (of women). I would say the same thing of myself, for the last couple of guys I have been involved with have not been… good – for one reason or another.

 

So, no matter what this passage or questions say to you, be listening for God to speak into your life. Allow Him to guide you and lead you to the life He has created for you.