Let God be God

One night my kids were antagonizing each other. Lol, yeap, they're normal! 

Anyway, my daughter kept coming to me with, "Mom, he's doing it again. Please make him stop!" The only problem is, each time she came and told me something as I would begin to say something, she would cut me off and attempt to correct her little brother herself. 

After several times, I stopped my daughter and said, "If you want me to correct him, let me be the Mom." After a bewildered stare I told her, "it doesn't do any good to come to me if you were going to keep trying to handle it on your own."

Bam! As I though about this a lil while ago, The Lord brought this scene to my memory again. Kinda like a condensed mental replay of last night. He gently whispered to me, "When you take things into your own hands, you are saying "I can do better than you" only to repeat and repeat. When you're ready to let Me step in, simply let go and trust Me."

Ok, how often are we all guilty of this SAME thing!?! Eventually my daughter let me be the Mom without her added two-cents and there was peace once again. If you've been acting like this, and taking things into your own hands, will you let God be God and the Loving Father He is by taking a step back and granting Him full control? 

He's able where we are not and sees not just one side but the whole situation. Will you let go and let God? 

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Incredible Love

An amazing love story...

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3

"And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies." Hosea 2:19

"Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee." Song of Solomon 1:4

Isn't that beautiful!?

"We love him, because he first loved us."

1 John 4:19

Changes

Life is full of changes...

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Genesis 8:22

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1

Through all life's seasons, the Creator of it all remains the same! He is faithful and true in all He says and does. If you're going through a heap of change are you clinging to the One who never does?

Backsliding & Beyond Deliverance

Have you ever known anyone beyond the Lord's deliverance? Scary thought!

"O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee." (7) 

Here the prophet is pleading with the LORD for the backslidden state of the people. *Notice*, he included himself in this plea using "us", "we" and "our". He knew they were in desperate need of deliverance! He asked that the Lord do it for no other reason than for His own name's sake. Oh but here's the Lord's response... He was fed up! 

"Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good." Jeremiah 14:7,10-11

The Lord didn't even want to hear it. His people had stomped on His heart so long in backsliding rebellion that He told Jeremiah, "Pray not for this people..." 

That's serious stuff! Wow! Woe to those whom the Lord has turned over to their own ways and granted a reprobate mind! Indeed, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31 Has the Lord ever stopped you from praying for good for anyone?

Watered in the Word

Photo credit: picture captured from my garden

One day while standing outside with my husband and a friend, my husband noticed a plant in dire need of water. So, I went and grabbed the hose. 

Common sense right, Lol! Plants need water to not only grow but to survive. As I'm watering our plants in need, the Lord spoke immensely to my heart. 

He reminded me of those around us (born again believers). People notice when we are dry and parched too. Though they likely can't put a finger on why we are changing, they take note. Others around us are watching! 

If we aren't being watered daily, our hearts can become hardened which makes a prime breeding ground for weeds (i.e. bitterness, anger, resentment, etc.) to set in. Sounds crazy, but it's true. The Word is the Living waters we need daily! 

If we don't allow the Word to saturate us from the inside out, there's no way we can live what we believe is true about God, much less share those wonderful testimonies that belong to the Lord! Even if we tried sharing, who would believe a crabby, complaining & contentious Christian?

If we've allowed ourselves to become dry and dusty, it only takes a few moments to get back on track. Turn back to those living waters and allow the ground of your heart to heed His call!

"Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 2 Corinthians 4:1-2

Question is, are we willing to look at the state of our hearts conditions? Are we watered daily, regularly consuming the Word resulting in a reflection of Christ? Or, have we grown dry, dusty, crabby and contentious? 

Sky Watchers

Photo taken from my backyard. 

Calling all sky watchers!!! One of my favorite pass times is watching the sky. Although I enjoy watching the clouds form and pass, there's much more beauty beyond that. 

"The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory." Psalm 97:6

Think of His righteousness, none other can be as holy as He, nor every act, thought and so on be as perfect and pure. Look past the clouds to the heavens; see the constellations and know He knows each by name... See the vast array of stars, planets, black holes plus much more that we haven't even begun to learn of! 

This is all His handiwork by His Divine design. Can you see His glory?

Corrupt Character in the Church

Photo credit: wiirocku.tumblr.com

"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

1 Corinthians 5:11-13

To the average person and even to some believers this can sound like a harsh un-christ-like directive. Truth is, yes we are to minister to these, Jesus ate with the like after all. Yet there's a difference between having encounters and embracing such in close friendship. We are warned that the company we keep can be contagiously dangerous for our character and morals or manners which impacts our walk with Christ immensely!

Notice within the first sentence he says, "if any man be a brother"? This is someone within the church. Discernment is key. Don't dismiss it by a so-called commonality. 

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." 1 Corinthians 15:33

Are we heeding these warnings? Carefully listening to the Holy Spirit's leading?

A phone call and confession

Photo credit: mylot.com

A humbled conviction & lowly confession ... 

This evening my kids & I went to the laundry mat. Though tired, it was necessary. 

After we started some laundry I received a phone call from someone trying to set up an appointment. I've had several calls from this company. So, I tried filling in this lady as nicely as I could to save us both time without yet another "sales pitch". 

The more I spoke with her, mutual agitation grew. After a couple more attempts trying to help her understand the situation she decided to block out my voice and talk over me. I actually took a derogatory tone and let the woman go. 

As I continued with the laundry The Lord spoke to my heart. He said, "You don't know the life she lives, or what she's going through." I felt terrible for the way I responded to her! 

I noticed an onlooker there too. He gave me this look like, "wouldn't wanna mess with you." This only added to what The Lord continued speaking to me.  He said, "There is always someone watching. Him too, you don't know the life he lives." 

I stewed on these things our remaining time there. My kids were very helpful and pleasant. I was able to show them love unconditional, even in the short testing moments but 2 strangers were impacted by my reaction to a simple phone call. 

Before we left I humbly walked up to the man still there. I apologized to him for my tone on the phone. He smiled and said, "oh no, no no, it's ok." I replied, No, it's not ok. I shouldn't have spoken that way and you shouldn't have had to hear it, whether you were listening or not. He was surprised and seemed a little shocked that I would even approach him. 

Though I blew it with the woman on the phone, I hope The Lord used His gentle convicting of my heart to speak to the man present. 

Truth is, we don't know what others are going through or how they live. I don't know the purpose God had for the man who accepted my apologies, but let God's Will be done. In a sense it damaged my testimony unto Him, yet in another He reminded me of a great lesson. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

Please pray for us and PLEASE Carefully consider your realm of influence, it's far greater than just those you know.

Break up that fallow ground

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." Hosea 10:12

Fallow ground is hardened, unplowed and unseeded ground; it is undeveloped yet potentially useful. Can hardened ground accept seed or absorb water; much-less produce any fruit? 

Consider this in relation to our hearts. It is the Lord who must prepare us, tilling up what is hard and not useful. Are we willing to allow His blade to dig deep down, breaking up the unused parts that we may absorb His goodness, His Word and become saturated with His Living waters? 

In Jeremiah, the Lord is careful to instruct, "For thus saith the LORD... Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns." Jeremiah 4:3 

What's the difference, if the ground be tilled anyway? In the parable of the seed and the sower Jesus details the "thorns choke out the seed". It is their deep roots that spoil! 

It is time to seek the Lord, the days are dark and His return is upon us. Will we allow the breaking so that we may absorb, be nurtured, grow and reap in righteousness and mercy?

Oranges and the Armor of God

photo credit: faithgateway.com

Talking about the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-19) with the kiddos in Jr. church, some years ago; we did an experiment with oranges and water. 

I placed a whole unpeeled orange in a bowl of water. This orange represents us, in Christ, fully armed in Him and protected. This one when placed in the water, floated! Though it could be pushed down, it always rose back to the surface. 

Next, I peeled another orange. With each chunk of peeling that came off, represented a different piece of armor; not used. For example, from the top I took a chunk and said, "uh-oh, this one doesn't have a helmet of salvation. The battle always begins in our minds! This one was just told a lie and they BELIEVED it." And so it went with each piece. 

Then I placed the fully peeled & "unprotected" orange in the bowl of water, next to the unpeeled one. Guess what? The peeled orange sank! It didn't have the covering of Christ to grant every need to stand! 

With all that said, are you covered in Christ, fully clothed in the protective armor of God? Have you joined the Lord's army? Are you able to stand the "wiles" or tricks of the enemy?

Placed on a pedestal

photo credit: depositphotos.com

Have you ever placed someone on a pedestal? Sure, we all have. We may admire those who've accomplished much, carry much social stature, those who prosper, the knowledgeable and wise, those whom seem to have it all together and/or may seem more generous & kind. 

Maybe even placed yourself above others? Let us be cautious in our thoughts & actions. Keeping ourselves and our view of others in check & balance! 

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3

"For there is no respect of persons with God." Romans 2:11 

The Creator views us all the same! Shouldn't we try to be more like Him and less like the world?

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:45

I know your voice

My daughter & I were painting bedrooms one day. I gave her a small brush and showed her how to paint the trim above the baseboards.

She said, "Oh this is what my brother was learning the other day." (A friend of ours was teaching him) I laughingly said, yep and since you heard and saw him doing it, you should already know how." 

She paused a moment and said, "Well, I didn't really understand it until you told me because I know your voice." All I could do was giggle! 

The Lord did use her cute little phrase to speak to my heart as He reminded me of Jesus important words ...

"And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." John 10:4-5

Not only do we, in Christ, have the Great Shepherd who leads us but we know His voice as well as His Spirit who abides within teaches us! 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

I love spending time with my daughter and I love how the Lord uses simple things as great reminders! I hope this has encouraged you as it has me! Stay blessed!