Crazy

I published the week's blog and went on to a study I'm doing "Praying the Names of God for 52 Weeks."  The question in this weeks lesson asked us to look to John 15:9-11 for reference to our answer.  

John 15:9-11  9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.  11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

Wow!  Just wow.  LOL

Abide--New Song!

Just as an aside, when I say "new song," I generally mean new to me.  LOL

I heard this great song at church recently and since it's something I've been desiring, and trying to figure out what that looks like in my life, I thought it was such a wonderful song to hear.  And it really spoke to my heart.  This abiding depends on Jesus, He is the author and finisher of my faith, He gives me the desire to abide and draw closer to Him, so He is the one who will teach me and lead me in abiding.  I'm so grateful for this because I seem so faulty, so stop and go in my attempts to abide in Him.  I get distracted, forgetful....I allow myself tto be carried away into life's dilemmas and problems instead of just keeping my heart set on Him.  

Lord, let us abide in You.  Teach us!  You put in each one of us the desire and the need to be connected to You the vine.  Help us to  make that an every day, every moment reality.  In Your precious Name and in Your mighty strength, Amen. 

 

John 15:4-5 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

At a recent Bible study where we are studying 1 Peter we were asked to define the word sanctification.  Besides the normal definitions of set apart, holy, consecrated, the Lord revealed something more to me.  We see sanctification comes upon us when we enter into a living relationship with Jesus, as well as an ongoing process throughtout our journery, and also our final state of being for eternity...the Lord impressed upon me that the way to sanctification during this life is to abide in Jesus.  In Him, we are holy, set apart and living for Him.  In Jesus we are sanctified.  

 

Be Careful!

 I've been reading through Matthew lately and I was in chapter 26 when I came to verses 6-13  

It says, "6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.  8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”  10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

The Lord stopped me there for a couple of moments, long enough to hear Him say, "Be careful not to criticize other servants."  

Wow, I never really thought of these verses in this context before, but that is exactly what was going on.  And I thought to myself, do I do this?  To I judge anothers focus, time spent or method of serving the Lord?  I am sure I have been guilty of this on occasion.  UGH. 

This woman wasn't told to feed the poor.  She wasn't told to minister to the sick.  She was led my the Holy Spirit to anoint Jesus for His burial.  What other people are called to do for the Lord is His choice and not ours.  

But what an important message God brought to me in these few verses.  I kind of think it goes along with last weeks message on never thinking of our service as insignicant.  We should never look at other's service as less than or wrong in anyway.  That's not our place.  Each of us has a special service to offer our Lord and we need to celebrate and appreciate every work done for Him.

Lord, keep me from ever thinking some one else should be doing something else then You've given them to do.  Help me to encourage, appreciate and acknowledge that each one does and be thankful that they are helping in whatever way You direct.  Let's build each other up!  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.  

No Comparison

I was reading Matthew 25:31-40  about a week ago when God brought a beautiful message to my heart.  Not all of us will be a Billy Graham, a George Mueller or any of the other "great" preachers and teachers and big movers in the kingdom of God.  Most of us will have what seems like a very small sphere of influence (in the natural world anyway).  Maybe you're a Christian in a worldly workplace.  A Mom or Dad raising kids, or a retiree living out your faith by serving meals at a homeless shelter, or a person who is a prayer warrior or someone who shares the Gospel in the check out line.  Maybe you care for animals with others who are not walking with the Lord.   All of these, and more are used by God to reach exactly who He wants reached and served in nHis plan for humankind. 

Matthw 25:31-40 31 “But when the Son ofMan comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.  34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’   37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’   40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

While I wass reading these verses it came to me in the form of correction and encouragement (That's a God thing!) that we should never negate the people we serve by seeing the size of our service as insignificant.  Hmmmm.  That's an interesting and new way to look at things.

Once a month my church serves meals at a homeless shelter.  Sometimes I feel as if this is such a small and inconsequential service.  I don't know if it's making a difference.  It seems so little to do.  But the Lord came with the above mentioned correction.  In viewing my service as small, I was making the people I served small as well.  And that was the furthest thing from my heart to do.  These people were precious to God and to me.  

I saw my service as unworthy of God's notice and smile.  Funny, I didn't see the other people who help that way, only myself.  LOL   And in doing so I diminished the people I served, and in looking at it as I type this, those who served with me.  Or I should say that God was serving through me, because it's always Him doing the work.  

Wow!  That really blew my mind.  According the the above passage, every time we serve even one person, we are serving Jesus.  And truly, is there anything better than that!!

Lord, thank You for this beautiful reminder that our service, whether small or large by the world's standards is lovely in Your sight.  We may not be called to a world wide ministry, but we are called to be Your hands and feet right where we are.  Nothing we do for the kingdom, when done faithfully and humbly for You, is insignificant or meaningless.  Give us hearts of service, love and humility.  Help us to walk in good works as stated in Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them, bringing glory and honor to Your Name as Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.  Let us remember every time we serve, even the "least" we are serving You.  And thank You for the privilege and honor of doing so.  In Jesus' most precious Name.  Amen 

The Struggle is Real, But Our Father is Bigger

Lately I've been really struggling with my emotions and attitudes.  I'v been short-tempered, grumpy and not really the nicest person to be around.  I don't know why, but it just feels like everything inside is on edge.  It feels horrible.  I feel bad to start with, then my words match my attitude, and then I feel guilty and like the worst Christian on the planet.  UGH!!!

Yesterday I read the Scriptures about abiding in Christ.  John 15:4-5 . 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  So I thought to myself, this is just what I needed.  I need to be abiding in Christ more.  That'll make the difference!  

Fast forward to this morning.  My husband once again, left his clothes in a place I don't want them.  LOL  And once again my emotions got the better of me and I started complaining.  I forgot all about the "abiding" I was supposed to be doing.  UGH!!!! Failed again.  I'm so frustrated with myself.  

But God.....

He knows all about this.  He knows all about the emotional rolllercoaster ride that's been plaguing me lately.  And thankfully He as made provision for my forgiveness in Jesus.  But wait, there's more!!  We are told in Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Well, He certainly knew the exact words I needed to hear and pray this morning and He used my "31 Days of Prayer" devotional by Ruth Myers to show me and lead me.  I am always in awe of His timing and tender care.  

"I pray about my need for encouragement...for release from inner stress...for greater love and wisdom in relating to others, especially my family...for knowing how to handle my insecurities, my anxieties, my anger...for open doors in the future."  

Perfect.  Exact.  These few words spoke exactly what was in my heart but didn't know how to say.  The Holy Spirit came alongside me through the words of this little book and went straight to the heart of what I needed to pray about.  I'm so grateful for His continually intervention and all encompassing knowledge.  

We all need a prayer partner who knows us completely and can intercede for us continually.  God has provided that in His Holy Spirit.  

Lord, thank You for the way You meet each and every need we have, especially the spiritual needs that we cannot even name or understand.  Help me to listen for Your leading and voice.  I pray that You truly calm the storm of my emotions and change the way I think, talk and act.  Give me and all of us Your peace in each situation, fill us with Your love for those around us and let us remember it is always, always You that we live for and serve.  It's in the Name of our awesome Savior I pray.  Amen.