"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." I Cor 10:31
What a thought -everything I do, do it all for the glory of God. As I begin to think about this, I realize that God has made it possible. If I give money, time, love away freely, this brings glory to God. I can do this because my Father Who is in heaven supplies all my needs. I can thank God for all things because He "works all things together for good." A grateful heart brings glory to God as others recognize the "peace that passeth understanding" which can only come from God. I can rest, I don't have to strive, because it is "God who works in us (thats me too!) both to will and to do of His good pleasure."
So this leads to my next thought: how different would my life look if I considered frequently if I was, at that moment, bringing glory to God. Would I be as short with my husband? How would I respond to telemarketers' phone calls? Would I spend my time the same way? How would I treat the rude cashier? What about the homeless man that approaches my car in the parking lot? What would I allow in my home?
As I think of these areas, I realize I have no excuse for not bringing glory to God. He has made it entirely possible. When I surrender, accept the exchange of His life for mine, I also enjoy abundant life. Nothing brings greater joy than getting to be there when the Holy Spirit moves- and if I allow Him to work thru me, I get a front row seat! It makes me sad that I would waste any time doing otherwise. I thank God today that He brought to my mind the importance of taking time to consider if I am indeed glorifying Him in all things.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17
So many things contend for our time, but have we considered the payoff? Can you imagine taking a job without considering what it pays? How can we compare, think intelligently about, if we do not look at what is being produced by the time we spend doing certain activities? How important is faith to you? How important to you is that you hear God? Is it important enough that you will pick up your Bible and listen for what the Holy Spirit longs to say to you? Do you believe what God says? How can you know what He says if you don't read His Word?
I have been greatly encouraged the last few months by a friend who has wholeheartedly come back to the Lord. Her zeal to know all that God has for her in order to grow to serve Him the best she can is clearly seen as she attends all the services she can to hear the Word of God. Her questions to me about His Word challenge me to discover with her what it is He is saying to us. I see her faith expressed as she puts every situation at the foot of Jesus - the One Who cares for her. She has come to know Him by what she is learning about Him in His Word.
"And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and they accept it, and bear fruit, thirty, sixty and a hundredfold." Mark4:20
"...they hear the word and they accept it..." First comes the hearing and then the acceptance. "I have hidden your Word in my heart, that I may not sin against You." Psalm 119:11 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119;105 I want to be able to see all that God has for me and for His church. I need all the light that I can get in my life to see how and where to walk. Those things that take me away from time with Jesus produce nothing of eternal value - their cost to me is high with very lttle if any return. I want to bear much fruit - how else can I truly express love to my Savior who has done everything for me? Thank God that He will produce fruit thru everyone who will "hear the Word and accept it.."
So many things contend for our time, but have we considered the payoff? Can you imagine taking a job without considering what it pays? How can we compare, think intelligently about, if we do not look at what is being produced by the time we spend doing certain activities? How important is faith to you? How important to you is that you hear God? Is it important enough that you will pick up your Bible and listen for what the Holy Spirit longs to say to you? Do you believe what God says? How can you know what He says if you don't read His Word?
I have been greatly encouraged the last few months by a friend who has wholeheartedly come back to the Lord. Her zeal to know all that God has for her in order to grow to serve Him the best she can is clearly seen as she attends all the services she can to hear the Word of God. Her questions to me about His Word challenge me to discover with her what it is He is saying to us. I see her faith expressed as she puts every situation at the foot of Jesus - the One Who cares for her. She has come to know Him by what she is learning about Him in His Word.
"And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and they accept it, and bear fruit, thirty, sixty and a hundredfold." Mark4:20
"...they hear the word and they accept it..." First comes the hearing and then the acceptance. "I have hidden your Word in my heart, that I may not sin against You." Psalm 119:11 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119;105 I want to be able to see all that God has for me and for His church. I need all the light that I can get in my life to see how and where to walk. Those things that take me away from time with Jesus produce nothing of eternal value - their cost to me is high with very lttle if any return. I want to bear much fruit - how else can I truly express love to my Savior who has done everything for me? Thank God that He will produce fruit thru everyone who will "hear the Word and accept it.."
Thursday, October 15, 2009
God is good all the time
I need to be reminded daily about the Truth of God. Satan wants me to believe a lie so he bombards me any way he can to try and get me to believe in "the seen" rather than the "unseen." I'm reminded of a little church I went to where a common greeting was, "God is good." When someone said that to you, the reply was, "all the time." God is good all the time! When the sun rises in the morning, giving light, God is good. When the storms come, shaking my world, God is good. I am thankful for and need the people in my life who speak the truth about God to me all the time. "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."
(By the way, if you're one of those people who speak truth to me, thank you! If you know me and want to speak truth to me, please know I welcome it!)
(By the way, if you're one of those people who speak truth to me, thank you! If you know me and want to speak truth to me, please know I welcome it!)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Secondhand Knowledge
Gen 2:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desireable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
God told Adam about this tree that he "shall not eat for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Eve knew they were not to eat of the tree, but did she have secondhand knowledge? Nowhere in the scriptures are we told God told Eve. We know that God spoke directly to Adam. We could surmise that it was Adam who told Eve. There is no record given that Eve ever spoke to God about His command even after Adam told her. Perhaps Adam told her and that was the end of the subject.
What a priviledge to have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to teach us. We do not have to rely on secondhand knowledge. We can open the Bible and read for ourselves. We have the Holy Spirit to teach us and reveal to us exactly what it is God wants us to know from His Word.
God provides teachers in His Body to help build up the body, however we can talk to God directly about anything shown to us in scriptures. We have direct access to the Father. His Word becomes food to us that gives us life. His Word is given to us as a sword that we can use in battle against that snake!
Eve did not use God's Word. Instead she looked at the tree. She considered the words of that snake. As she gazed at the tree, she decided that it was "good for food." She had to look long enough to decide that it was "pleasant" to look at. Did she reason that something that looks so good must be desireable. She must have considered the word of the snake to decide that not only was it desireable, but it was "desireable to make one wise." In all this looking and considering, did she forget what God had said about the tree? Were her feelings that came from her thoughts of being wise overwhelming her? As she ruminated on what had become options to her, had she forgotten the truth that God spoke that the tree would bring death? Was she trusting God, believing Him, or had she forgotten His Words altogether? Did her relationship with God enter her mind (was there room with all that other thinking going on)? Did she stop to think that God Who created the entire universe, had also created her? That He had "fashioned" her from the rib of Adam and knew her and therefore her needs intimately. In all her considering, did she consider how special she must be to the One Who created her? Would He withold any good thing from her?
No, she looked and looked at that tree. She listened to a snake. She made a decision based on feelings and lies. And she also "gave to her husband with her and he ate."
I John 2:16 For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.
James 1:14,15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
God told Adam about this tree that he "shall not eat for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Eve knew they were not to eat of the tree, but did she have secondhand knowledge? Nowhere in the scriptures are we told God told Eve. We know that God spoke directly to Adam. We could surmise that it was Adam who told Eve. There is no record given that Eve ever spoke to God about His command even after Adam told her. Perhaps Adam told her and that was the end of the subject.
What a priviledge to have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to teach us. We do not have to rely on secondhand knowledge. We can open the Bible and read for ourselves. We have the Holy Spirit to teach us and reveal to us exactly what it is God wants us to know from His Word.
God provides teachers in His Body to help build up the body, however we can talk to God directly about anything shown to us in scriptures. We have direct access to the Father. His Word becomes food to us that gives us life. His Word is given to us as a sword that we can use in battle against that snake!
Eve did not use God's Word. Instead she looked at the tree. She considered the words of that snake. As she gazed at the tree, she decided that it was "good for food." She had to look long enough to decide that it was "pleasant" to look at. Did she reason that something that looks so good must be desireable. She must have considered the word of the snake to decide that not only was it desireable, but it was "desireable to make one wise." In all this looking and considering, did she forget what God had said about the tree? Were her feelings that came from her thoughts of being wise overwhelming her? As she ruminated on what had become options to her, had she forgotten the truth that God spoke that the tree would bring death? Was she trusting God, believing Him, or had she forgotten His Words altogether? Did her relationship with God enter her mind (was there room with all that other thinking going on)? Did she stop to think that God Who created the entire universe, had also created her? That He had "fashioned" her from the rib of Adam and knew her and therefore her needs intimately. In all her considering, did she consider how special she must be to the One Who created her? Would He withold any good thing from her?
No, she looked and looked at that tree. She listened to a snake. She made a decision based on feelings and lies. And she also "gave to her husband with her and he ate."
I John 2:16 For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.
James 1:14,15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Humbled by the Truth
Self effort really gets me nowhere except eventually, hopefully, to the end of myself. I can do nothing alone but thru Christ I can do all things. Yet, still I struggle wanting so badly to fix things yet knowing thru experience that I not only don't accomplish what I hope to but often create more of a mess. So it is back to my knees I go.
I am starting to see that my dreams have me at the center where my hope has Christ at the center. I can trust God, I can't trust myself; I have let myself down too many times. God has never let me down. There were times I was deceived to think perhaps He had, but by the end of the chapter I learned I was very wrong.
To believe the lie that I can somehow satisfy my own needs often leads to another lie - that I can somehow control someone else. Its like that tiny snowball that starts at the top of the hill and by the time it has rolled to the bottom, it has become huge. Big enough to roll right over me and bury me underneath. It is easy enough to stop the snowball - by accepting my responsibility to control myself (the only one I can), and trust God with my needs. Its funny how that works. Once I become willing to relinquish my needs to Him, I end up thanking Him as I realize He has always met my needs once I get out of the way. I know I can trust Him. He knows, better than I do, what I need at the time. He truly is my Father who created me and knows me so intimately that He knit me together in my mother's womb. No wonder all I need to do is thank Him.
I am starting to see that my dreams have me at the center where my hope has Christ at the center. I can trust God, I can't trust myself; I have let myself down too many times. God has never let me down. There were times I was deceived to think perhaps He had, but by the end of the chapter I learned I was very wrong.
To believe the lie that I can somehow satisfy my own needs often leads to another lie - that I can somehow control someone else. Its like that tiny snowball that starts at the top of the hill and by the time it has rolled to the bottom, it has become huge. Big enough to roll right over me and bury me underneath. It is easy enough to stop the snowball - by accepting my responsibility to control myself (the only one I can), and trust God with my needs. Its funny how that works. Once I become willing to relinquish my needs to Him, I end up thanking Him as I realize He has always met my needs once I get out of the way. I know I can trust Him. He knows, better than I do, what I need at the time. He truly is my Father who created me and knows me so intimately that He knit me together in my mother's womb. No wonder all I need to do is thank Him.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Don't Back Down
When God plants something inside of your heart, do you stand firm? Do you resolve to go after everything He has for you, and for you to do for Him, no matter what? Do you grab hold of Him and refuse to let go? Because most likely, everything that can will come against you to get you to do just that - to let go, give up, discourage you from believing and get you to return to your life of mediocracy.
The past week I have talked with several people about things God has planted in their hearts. One man wants to share Jesus with other guys as they work on cars (isn't it funny how men feel most comfortable in the garage or eating together) as well as bless single moms with car repairs. A woman is excited about the wonderful things God has recently done in her life and wants to glorify God with others who also are excited about Him and want to learn all they can about Him. A small group of teens are stepping out to lead others in praising Jesus thru music. A man and his wife are starting a church where people can come to party with Jesus. A woman sees her house being used as a place where people discover the freedom of knowing Jesus as their Deliverer and are set free as they learn who they are in Christ. Wow! And to all of these things I say yes and amen!
Obviously there is a defeated foe who is not happy about any of these things and would like nothing better than to shut them down before they even get started. He whispers lies and discouragement, speaking of inadequacies, financial hardships, and persecutions. How great it is that he is defeated already and we don't have to listen to him. Each of these people can stand firm resting in the knowledge that what they want is what God wants, and when He is for us, who can stand against us. We don't have to be concerned about our inadequacies, as He is more than adequate within us. He is our Provider - He is the One responsible for giving what is needed to do what is needed. And He never left any doubt that there would be persecutions - that is why He told us to stand firm!
So don't back down - the Body of Christ needs you too badly to drop out now!
The past week I have talked with several people about things God has planted in their hearts. One man wants to share Jesus with other guys as they work on cars (isn't it funny how men feel most comfortable in the garage or eating together) as well as bless single moms with car repairs. A woman is excited about the wonderful things God has recently done in her life and wants to glorify God with others who also are excited about Him and want to learn all they can about Him. A small group of teens are stepping out to lead others in praising Jesus thru music. A man and his wife are starting a church where people can come to party with Jesus. A woman sees her house being used as a place where people discover the freedom of knowing Jesus as their Deliverer and are set free as they learn who they are in Christ. Wow! And to all of these things I say yes and amen!
Obviously there is a defeated foe who is not happy about any of these things and would like nothing better than to shut them down before they even get started. He whispers lies and discouragement, speaking of inadequacies, financial hardships, and persecutions. How great it is that he is defeated already and we don't have to listen to him. Each of these people can stand firm resting in the knowledge that what they want is what God wants, and when He is for us, who can stand against us. We don't have to be concerned about our inadequacies, as He is more than adequate within us. He is our Provider - He is the One responsible for giving what is needed to do what is needed. And He never left any doubt that there would be persecutions - that is why He told us to stand firm!
So don't back down - the Body of Christ needs you too badly to drop out now!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
What is it we believe again?
Did you really want to see
who we would be on the other side?
If Joe could be broken
Does that mean Christ might lead you to brokeness also?
What is it He might require of you?
You long for the joy
but does there have to be tears?
Can we remove suffering from the message of Christianity?
Have we tried?
Does a broken life cry too loudly of the pain?
Are we rejecting the rain?
So the ground grows hard
Dry and cracked
Yet the God of miracles has Issac plant there
and riches abound
A hundred fold.
Again and again the farmer walks over the row
determined that the plow will bite into the ground
A farmer' heart cries -"Give me a year."
If there are no figs then, cut it down
What a long time a year can seem
When one believes in dreams rather than hopes for
what is not seen
I can produce nothing
But God never fails
I will not believe the cross was easy
Dying never is
Yet the Truth remains
It is finished.
The Price was paid
Abundant Life is yours
A seed never grows unless it dies.
Broken the shoot springs forth
The rains come.
Jesus reigns.
Jeremiah 32:17 Ah great God, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You.
who we would be on the other side?
If Joe could be broken
Does that mean Christ might lead you to brokeness also?
What is it He might require of you?
You long for the joy
but does there have to be tears?
Can we remove suffering from the message of Christianity?
Have we tried?
Does a broken life cry too loudly of the pain?
Are we rejecting the rain?
So the ground grows hard
Dry and cracked
Yet the God of miracles has Issac plant there
and riches abound
A hundred fold.
Again and again the farmer walks over the row
determined that the plow will bite into the ground
A farmer' heart cries -"Give me a year."
If there are no figs then, cut it down
What a long time a year can seem
When one believes in dreams rather than hopes for
what is not seen
I can produce nothing
But God never fails
I will not believe the cross was easy
Dying never is
Yet the Truth remains
It is finished.
The Price was paid
Abundant Life is yours
A seed never grows unless it dies.
Broken the shoot springs forth
The rains come.
Jesus reigns.
Jeremiah 32:17 Ah great God, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You.
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