Little Lesson Number Three

Favor.  Do you know God wants us to have it?  Do  you know He wants us to have His favor upon our lives?  I know I've heard it before, but I don't really think I believed it.  I mean, I know myself, I know the wretchedness of my heart, I know my bad behavior and attitude.  Why would God ever want to bestow His favor on such a one as me?  

But it's not about me.  It never was.  Salvation, and the death of Jesus on the Cross was never about me.  It was His love and favor poured out on the undeserving.  And boy can I be undeserving.  So if our Father poured out the favor of His salvation, how much more so will He spill it into our lives.  

Three times last week, three different sources God's favor was brought up, and the fact that He desires to bestow it in our lives.  Do you think He was trying to say something?  So many times we think we have to earn His favor, earn His grace, His mercy, His love.  This makes it all "us-centered" when in reality everything about us and our lives should be "Jesus-centered."  He gives us favor because we are His children and He loves us .  

This doesn't mean everything is always going to go our way.  Life doesn't work like that.  But we can ask for His favor and be grateful knowing that if we are meant to have something, if that something that we desire is good for us, He will give it.  He will give us things that we could never achieve on our own simply because His favor rests over us.  And remember, His favor may not look like what we think it should!

We need to believe this.  We need to receive this.  It's not to be rejected because we don't feel deserving enough.  Throughout the Bible we see the Lord extending favor to His people, His undeserving, imperfect, just like us, people.  And that is awesome!

Lord, thank You for Your favor.  Thank You that You do not wait for us to earn blessings and favor, but You readily and lovingly supply.  From the small to the big, all are from Your hand.  Teach us to pray for favor, to accept Your favor and to look for Your blessings so that we may acknowledge and be grateful.  

Pray for God's favor to rest upon Your day then believe He will.  

Little Lesson Number Two

Wisdom.  We all need it.  We all want it.  It makes life easier when we follow the path of wisdom.  It makes life better when we abide where wisdom dwells.  The Lord gave us a whole book devoted to wisdom, a book filled with little gems to guide and nourish our days.  It's called Proverbs.  So I'm inclined to believe the Lord wants us to seek and have wisdom.  Wisdom calls to us, "Come and listen to my counsel.  I'll share my heart with you and make you wise."  Proverbs 1:23

My husband and I have a lot of big decisions coming up in the next year.  We are nearing retirement and we are looking to relocate.  I'm apprehensive, nervous and unsure of the future and of making decisions.  Will we make the right move, at the right time, to the right place.  And of course I feel this responsibility is mostly on my shoulders.  It terrifies me.  Which direction do we go?  I feel there are certain plans in our hearts.  Are they from the Lord?  

But as always, the Lord was right there with the right words to settle my heart.  Two times in as many days last week He brought James 1:5 to my attention via two different sources.  James 1:5  If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you.  He will not rebuke you for asking. God's wisdom is there for the asking.  As His child we are invited to seek His wisdom.  Jesus tells us in Luke 11:9-10  And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks, finds.  And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.   And in verse 13 He tells us, "So if you sinful people know ow to give good gifts to your children how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him."  

The Holy Spirit will guide us into all wisdom.  He will not lead us astray.  As we seek Him and His purpose we will be led in the right direction for our lives.  We need not fear the future.  We are told in Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you."  says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

The Lord is so ready to lead us.  We need not be afraid.  One thing I remember Joyce Meyer talking about is stepping out in faith.  If we make a mistake or end up in the wrong place, the Lord will find us!  And anything that happens, even our mistakes the Lord weaves into our life tapestry as part of His beautiful plan.  If I step out with what's in my heart and it's not the direction to go, I trust the Lord will bring correction and sure direction.  

Lord, thank You that You gladly give us wisdom  Thank You for the good plans You have for our lives.  Thank You that You are active and involved and even when we are unsure, we can be a peace, knowing You hold our life in Your hands.  Lead us.  We need wisdom.  I ask now in faith, unwavering and fully trusting You to give and to guide.  Thank You.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Follow James 1:5  

Little Lesson Number One

Little lessons.  Little God visits with big impacts.  If I keep my eyes, ears and heart open I can see them all around.  Our Father giving little insights, glimpses into His heart, instructions for growth, bits of encouragement....His touches us, interacts with us, giving us His attention and keeping our relationship vital and alive.   

Over the last few days there were quite a few.  I think one of the benefits to spending more time with the Lord is we become more sensitive to His Presence in our day.  I love it!!!  I'm going to go with the last one first because it's caressing my heart right now when I really need the Lord's comfort.  It's twofold in application, admonishment and encouragement all wrapped up in one beautiful present from my  Savior.  

Last night was an extremely trying night at work.  We are short handed, short spaced, short equipment...on and on and on.  And on top of that my body is still healing from knee surgery, and just getting used to being back at work.  And it seemed everything was going wrong.  The equipment wasn't working right, the mail that came in was difficult to work with, things were falling all over....UGH!!!  It was quite east to start down that "Don't You love me?  Don't You care?  Don't You want to help me? road.  Some times I got a bit farther than I would have liked down that road.  But the Lord reminded me of a verse He gave me a couple of days  earlier (and then repeated the same verse when I was on lunch last night.  Godincidence!!)  Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  And it kept pulling me back to faith.  

Add to that verse the second He gave me at lunch last night. Romans 15:13  I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is in believing that I have joy and peace, not in having perfect circumstances, not in everything going right or the way I want it to go.  Our Father is so good.  I am learning more and more He is quite the encourager even when He is admonishing me to step up my faith walk!  

Now to the comfort part of that last verse.  I have a kitten.  He was a foster kitten, but I have formally adopted him.  His name is Jasper and he is just the sweetest little boy.  Loves laps and cuddles, purrs like a motor boat.  Jasper is very sick and will not be getting better.  And even though he has only been with us about a month, he has taken up a very large place in our hearts.  God used the same verse, Romans 15:13 to comfort me and remind me that He is my hope, and He has Jasper in His hands as well.  We have the hope of heaven, as does Jasper.  Losing someone we love, be it animal or person...we have that hope.  Life doesn't cease to exist just because we no longer live on the earth.  

And yes, I firmly believe there are animals in heaven.  First off, God created them in the beginning with us.  He thought there were good then.  Why would that change in heaven?  Secondly, Jesus comes back to do battle with Satan's armies on a horse.  Where did He get the horse if there weren't animals in heaven?  Thirdly, and this one is subject to belief, there have been cases of people who died and visited heaven before being revived and they saw animals there.  

God is so good..  He is our greatest teacher and our biggest comforter.  His Word and Spirit lead us higher and soothe our hearts.  I am so glad to be His child.  

Our Savior, our sustainer, You walk with us throughout our days reaching into our moments to make Your Presence and will known.  Keep us alert!  We are forever grateful to be Your children.  The blessing in that is beyond comprehension, so undeserved, but oh so wonderful and amazing.  Thank You a million times!!  

Spending Time

I read a devotional today that set a challenge before me.  And it could mean a radical shift in my schedule,  The devotional challenged me to spend as much time in the Word and with God as I do in my personal pursuits.  This means that if I spend time reading fiction each day (which I do, I love light reading for relaxation), I should spend as much time in prayer or study.  If I spend an hour reading a book, surely I can spend an hour reading the Bible?  If my evenings are spent in front of the tv, shouldn't I be able to shift some of that time to the Lord?  

Two Scriptures come to mind to cement this in my heart:  Mark 8:36  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  And, Galatians 6:7-8  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.  

This is not to say we can't spend days doing fun things.  It's not that we can't pursue our hobbies, God put many things in our heart and we are told in 1 Timothy 6:17   Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. We take trips, we go sightseeing, spend time with friends and family.  Just like we love to see our children enjoy the gifts we give and the pleasures of life, I believe our heavenly Father smiles down when we find joy in the things He gives and has created.  But imagine if we spent as much time with Him as we do reading a book or watching television or playing games on our phones.  Hmmmm.  What a concept, right!?!

Our minds and bodies need to relax.  That's the way we are made.  But maybe that relaxing should include sitting in the Presence of the Lord!  Maybe it's not always an intense study period, but just a time of quiet at His feet.  Or reading a biography of an old time saint.  Or time spent praying over our family and friends.  Or just reading through the Psalms.  Whatever it is, let's increase our time with Jesus!  

Lord, change our hearts to seek You more.  It's funny we were just had this verse in our Sunday sermon Luke 11:9-10  And so I tell you, keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks, finds.  And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.  The more we seek after You Lord, the more we will find You and the more our lives will radically be transformed.  Lord, give us hearts to make this a priority.  I for one am so easily distracted, so easily swayed towards the easy route.  I get spiritually lazy.  Help us to all seek You before we seek pleasure.  Be our hearts desire, be our greatest pleasure and our greatest treasure.  Lord, turn our eyes and hearts towards You more and more each day.  In Jesus sweet Name.  Amen

Start changing your time.  

Question Time

 What if we just believed?  In the small and in the huge, what if we just believed?  What if we just walked in faith?  What if we just let faith answer the doubts?  What if we just said no to the fear and did it, whatever it is afraid?  What if we said no to disbelief and disobedience and just walked where the Spirit lead?  

Would we find peace?  Would we find victory?  Would we find Jesus?  YES!!  Lord increase our faith, give us courage, give us strong hearts, give us unwavering belief and fortitude.  

We walk by faith not by sight.  

Prayer Time

I'm feeling lost today.  For some reason I feel like I've drifted from the Lord and I don't know why.  I'm doing the normal.  Spending my time with the Lord in the mornings, talking to Him throughout the day, but something feels off.  I'm spiritually tired and I don't know why.  

I think our spiritual lives, like anything else, sometimes get stale and need new life breathed into them.  Maybe the same old, same old just gets old.  Every day I set aside time for some type of study/prayer.  Some days it's a lengthy period, other days it's a short time, but there is always something.  But it's the same thing.  Bible reading, a little prayer, maybe a devotional.  And then two days a week this blog.  But I feel adrift and stagnant.  

What do we do when this happens?  Well first I know I need to go to my Father.  I need to repent of any known sin.  Look to increase my obedience in areas He's shown me I need to change or grow and then see if there is something He wants to change up about our time together.  And I think it's time to add a new component to that time.  

If we look around us at any given moment we see more variety than we could ever imagine.  That leads me to believe that the Lord likes variety and I believe He also likes change.  So why wouldn't that translate to our spiritual lives.  

Perhaps a change in position.  Maybe instead of sitting in a chair for prayer, get down on our knees, bow before our heavenly Father.  He is worthy!  How about adding some worship music at the start or end (or both!) of our time with Him.  Sing songs of love and praise to our Lord to awaken our heart to His Presence.  Start by reading a worship Psalm out loud.  There a probably a million different ways to light up our "God time."  If it's nice, sit outside in the fresh air and sunshine.   I know I need something new.

Let's check our hearts too.  Are we just going through the motions?  I feel this happens to me a lot.  I do my duty.  Prayer and study become something to check off on my to do list.  I say right now, that I repent of this and ask the Lord to cleanse my heart of this attitude.  Sometimes, we just get lazy!  

I do hate feeling disconnected from the Lord.  But I have to say that just typing this all out, bringing it out into the open has helped open my heart up and I am ready for a new chapter in my walk with the Lord.  What a wonderful God we serve....He desires us to see Him and sense Him with freshness every day.  

Lord, You are awesome.  I love the way You dig out the problem and bring it to the light so we can work on it together.  I am forever grateful that You don't leave us drifting away, but draw us back to Yourself, with ties of love and tenderness.  I am so blessed to be called Your child.  Thank You.  Lord, show us fresh new ways to commune with You.  Set our hearts ablaze with passion for You, for Your kingdom, for time in Your Presence, and for the purpose You have for our lives.  Lord, thank You for this entry.  It's helped me open to Your touch.  Lord lead us!  In Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

Seek God in new ways this week.  

God of the Unexpected

I heard one of those heart stirring songs the other day.  Not sure what station I was listening to, I know I had never heard this song before, but the words spoke to me in such a deep, sweet way that I knew I had to share it here. 

So often we look for God where we expect Him to be.  We seek Him at church.  We look for Him in our little prayer time box.  Those are great places to find our Lord.  He is there and He is waiting for us to commune with Him.  But sometimes He shows up in the most unexpected ways.  He surprises us and makes us smile with His Presence when we weren't even looking.  And I think those God visits are the most fun.  I think of Moses and the burning bush.  I'm pretty sure Moses didn't go looking for a strange encounter with the God of His fathers that day, but he sure got a life changing, freedom bringing, earth shaking ,history making meeting with the Great I AM. 

This song reminded me to keep an eye open for the Lord's Presence.  And I always need that reminder.  I seem to get caught up in the earthly and lose sight of the eternal all to often.  It's easy to do, when everything here demands our attention.  Everything here is physical as we are, tactile, see-able and touchable.  It takes practice and some work on our part to tune our physical senses (and by that I mean our minds and hearts. Even though they are not "physical" in essence, they are tied to the earthly concerns that we live in daily) to the supernatural, to the eternal, to the realm of the Lord Jesus.  He is everywhere and always involved in our day. 

Lord, open our hearts to day to see You.  In those we meet, circumstances, a sunrise, bird song, the way our bodies work.   All orchestrated by You bless us, help us walk in Your purpose and grow, guide and lead us, make us smile and let us know we are loved.  Help us Lord, not only to see Your Presence in our lives, but to be Your Presence in the lives of others.  Let us be the one You use to visit the people we encounter.  Let us bring the blessing of Your smile to the hurting.  Lord, I pray that You would make us more aware of Your leading, more aware of the supernatural and the eternal.  Lord, I know I need this so much.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

Find what makes You more aware of God's Presence in your day and do it!