Today's readings about Shiphrah & Puah whose story comes from Exodus 1: 15-22 and Sapphira & Ananias whose story comes from Acts 5:1-11.
Today I began by reading about Shiphrah and Puah who were the midwives of the Egypt during the times of Moses. They were ordered to kill all Israelites' baby boys but they refused because of their obedience to God. Because of their obedience to the direction of God, Moses was saved and later led the Israelites out of slavery.
Lessons From Their Lives:
- Our ultimate authority for making decisions should be God's word, not leaders and popular opinion.
- We need to take a bold stand for what is right even at the cost of personal sacrifice.
I also read a story of a husband and wife team who were at the other end of the obedience spectrum. Their names were Ananias and Sapphira. They were members of the Jerusalem church in its earliest days. The Holy Spirit's presence was powerful among the believers. It was a time of miracles and wonder. The believers lived in a community where everyone shared all they had and would even sale property or possessions in order to provide for those less fortunate. Having the Holy Spirit's presence among them didn't make the believers immune to Satan's temptations. This is where Sapphira and Ananias's story gets more serious. They had sold some land and made some money off the deal. They gave the money to the church, at least some of it but they told everyone that they had given the full amount to the church which was a lie. They actually had kept the majority of it for themselves. They suffered for their disobedience, greed and covetness. It was their choice to sell the land and what amount to give but lying to God and trying to appear more generous than they actually were were the sins for which they were punished. We find out how they were punished in Acts 5:9-10a:
Peter said, "How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too." Instantly she fell to the floor and died.
This may seem harsh but we must remember that God still hates sin as much as he ever did. God's judgement of Sapphira and Ananias produced fear among the believers and helped them realize how seriously God regards sin in the church.
Lessons From Their Lives:
-We should have a healthy fear of God and his holiness.
-We can't afford to treat sin lightly.
So the ultimate question today is ...
Who are you going to take as your model today? Shiphrah and Puah or Sapphira and Ananias?
The choice is yours but the results are God's.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Peninnah & Elkanah
Today our story comes from I Samuel Chapter 1-2.
This morning my heart was filled with all sorts of emotions due to the "stress" I have been under these last few days. I prayed for a clear message to hlep me through this, a light at the end of the tunnel. God led me to the story of Peninnah and Elkanah.
It is the story of an unknowingly insensitive husband, Elkanah, not of just one wife but two, Peninnah and Hannah. Twice the chance for him to either cause trouble or get into it himself. We don't know much about the kind of man he was but we do know he was oblivious to the turmoil around him. Peninnah had given Elkanah many children yet she was jealous of Hannah because it says Hannah owned Elkanah's heart despite the fact that she had yet to bear him any children. This is where God steps in.
Althoug the events leading up to the birth of Samuel primarily involved Hannah, both Elkanah and Peninnah played significant roles. Peninnah's competitiveness and derision drove Hannah to prayer, Elkanah's simple love allowed Hannah to entrust their first child, Samuel, into God's care. Elkanah didn't realize how a little attention toward Peninnah could have cooled the simmering emotions in his home. Nor did he understand that his love for Hannah didn't make up for the emptiness of her womb.
The glimpse God gives us of that tense household provides a helpful backdrop for God's purposes, which human shortcomings cannot thwart. He worked within the strain and stress of those relationships to bring Samuel-one of the most significant figures in the Old Testament-into the world. When our relational systems seem too gnarled to be unraveled or salvaged, we need to remember that God displays his creativity not only by making things from scratch but also by bringing order and beauty out of messes.
Lessons From Their Lives:
-Ignorance is not a good excuse for insensitivity.
-Jealousy is not a good excuse for bad behavior.
-God works in the middle of family messes.
So remember, you may be in the middle of a mess but God is there as well. God can turn garbage into a masterpiece if you let him.
Have a BLESSED day and remember God loves you and so do I! :)
This morning my heart was filled with all sorts of emotions due to the "stress" I have been under these last few days. I prayed for a clear message to hlep me through this, a light at the end of the tunnel. God led me to the story of Peninnah and Elkanah.
It is the story of an unknowingly insensitive husband, Elkanah, not of just one wife but two, Peninnah and Hannah. Twice the chance for him to either cause trouble or get into it himself. We don't know much about the kind of man he was but we do know he was oblivious to the turmoil around him. Peninnah had given Elkanah many children yet she was jealous of Hannah because it says Hannah owned Elkanah's heart despite the fact that she had yet to bear him any children. This is where God steps in.
Althoug the events leading up to the birth of Samuel primarily involved Hannah, both Elkanah and Peninnah played significant roles. Peninnah's competitiveness and derision drove Hannah to prayer, Elkanah's simple love allowed Hannah to entrust their first child, Samuel, into God's care. Elkanah didn't realize how a little attention toward Peninnah could have cooled the simmering emotions in his home. Nor did he understand that his love for Hannah didn't make up for the emptiness of her womb.
The glimpse God gives us of that tense household provides a helpful backdrop for God's purposes, which human shortcomings cannot thwart. He worked within the strain and stress of those relationships to bring Samuel-one of the most significant figures in the Old Testament-into the world. When our relational systems seem too gnarled to be unraveled or salvaged, we need to remember that God displays his creativity not only by making things from scratch but also by bringing order and beauty out of messes.
Lessons From Their Lives:
-Ignorance is not a good excuse for insensitivity.
-Jealousy is not a good excuse for bad behavior.
-God works in the middle of family messes.
So remember, you may be in the middle of a mess but God is there as well. God can turn garbage into a masterpiece if you let him.
Have a BLESSED day and remember God loves you and so do I! :)
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Monica & Tabitha
Today I read of two wonderful women, Monica & Tabitha. One a mother and the other a giver to the poor. Here are their stories.
Monica (CA 331-387)-The Ultimate Mom:
She was raised in a Christian family but married a pagan man named Patricus who had a violent temper. That must have been a rough start to the marriage. But he later came to the faith of Christ. They had three children, Augustine being Monica's favorite. Augustine fell into a life of sin as a young man, which would sadly be considered the norm today. Monica prayed earnestly for his conversion. He then went away to Italy to pursue his studies (AD 383), college by today's means. Monica, unlike most parents today, followed Augustine to Rome. They then both moved to Milan, where Augustine came to the faith under the ministry of Ambrose and chose the celibate life of a priest. Believing her mission accomplished, Monica set out for home but died while she was waiting to set sail.
Later, Augustine recorded in his Confessions stories of his mother's devotion to God and to him. In the end, Monica's commitment to her son and to Christ helped to lead Augustine into the ministry and to become one of the greatest theologians in the history of Christianity.
-For more on praying effectively, read Matthew 6:5-18; 7:7-11; 21:21-22.
Tabitha (Greek name: Dorcas):
Her story is in Acts 9:36-41
Tabitha was a woman from Joppa. She was a crafter, making coats and other garments for the needy and helping the poor. When she died, the apostle Peter was in Lydda. In response to news of his healing ministry there, two men were sent to bring Peter to Joppa. When he arrived, they were already having Tabitha's funeral. The room was filled with mourners, very likely many of the people she had helped. When Peter brought her back to life, the news of the miracle spread throughout the town.
It was because of Tabitha's acts of kindness that the people around her discovered God's love for them. And after she was raised to life, they also discovered the truth that God has power even over death.
God uses great preachers like Peter and Paul, but he also uses those who have gifts of kindness, like Tabitha's. Rather than wish we had other "more important" gifts, we need to make good use of the gifts God has given to us. An act of undeserved kindness is the only "preaching" many people will ever hear.
Remember today that God loves you and so do I. Have a BLESSED day! :)
Monica (CA 331-387)-The Ultimate Mom:
She was raised in a Christian family but married a pagan man named Patricus who had a violent temper. That must have been a rough start to the marriage. But he later came to the faith of Christ. They had three children, Augustine being Monica's favorite. Augustine fell into a life of sin as a young man, which would sadly be considered the norm today. Monica prayed earnestly for his conversion. He then went away to Italy to pursue his studies (AD 383), college by today's means. Monica, unlike most parents today, followed Augustine to Rome. They then both moved to Milan, where Augustine came to the faith under the ministry of Ambrose and chose the celibate life of a priest. Believing her mission accomplished, Monica set out for home but died while she was waiting to set sail.
Later, Augustine recorded in his Confessions stories of his mother's devotion to God and to him. In the end, Monica's commitment to her son and to Christ helped to lead Augustine into the ministry and to become one of the greatest theologians in the history of Christianity.
-For more on praying effectively, read Matthew 6:5-18; 7:7-11; 21:21-22.
Tabitha (Greek name: Dorcas):
Her story is in Acts 9:36-41
Tabitha was a woman from Joppa. She was a crafter, making coats and other garments for the needy and helping the poor. When she died, the apostle Peter was in Lydda. In response to news of his healing ministry there, two men were sent to bring Peter to Joppa. When he arrived, they were already having Tabitha's funeral. The room was filled with mourners, very likely many of the people she had helped. When Peter brought her back to life, the news of the miracle spread throughout the town.
It was because of Tabitha's acts of kindness that the people around her discovered God's love for them. And after she was raised to life, they also discovered the truth that God has power even over death.
God uses great preachers like Peter and Paul, but he also uses those who have gifts of kindness, like Tabitha's. Rather than wish we had other "more important" gifts, we need to make good use of the gifts God has given to us. An act of undeserved kindness is the only "preaching" many people will ever hear.
Remember today that God loves you and so do I. Have a BLESSED day! :)
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Clare & Rhoda
Today I discovered or should say rediscovered Clare and Rhoda. One from a convent and the other from the Bible. Here are their stories.
Clare (ca 1193-1253):
She was 60 years old when she died which was quite old for that era. She was born into wealth but felt led to the Lord. Her journey began when at 16, she ran away from home to join the ministry of Francis who started the order of the Franciscan friars. Later her sister, Agnes and a few others came to join her. Francis placed them at Saint Damian in a convent he started for them. He made Clare abbess. Though she would have preferred a traveling ministry to the poor and sick, she took on this role of abbess with all she had and did so for the rest of her life.
Despite coming from a world of privilege, Clare gave up everything to follow Jesus in a life of poverty and service. As a result, through the ministry of her order, she became a blessing to those less fortunate. Most of us, too, have been born into a world of wealth and privilege in one way or another. The call of Christ is no less real today than in the days of Clare and Francis.
Rhoda whose story is from Acts 12:12-16:
The next "lady" we meet is Rhoda. She was a servant girl at the time. She was a servant in the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, who would someday become the author of the Gospel of Mark. Their home was described as having an outer gate, which depicts them as a wealthy family, who used their home as a gathering place for believers. A home church you would say. So Rhoda was constantly surrounded by believers and apparently was one herself. She had a great opportunity to be a part of a wonderful miracle. Let me paint the picture for you.
The believers in the home that night had just finished praying Peter's safety, when there was a knock at the door. A wave of fear must have swept through the house. The apostle James had recently been killed for his faith, and Peter was in prison facing possible execution. So the other believers likely wondered if they would be next. *A little sidebar: You can read about Peter's escape from prison in Acts 12: 6-19.* Rhoda, a young servant girl, was sent to answer the door.
When Rhoda saw Peter at the door, she got so excited that she ran to tell the others, leaving him locked outside. She had a hard time convincing everyone that God had answered their prayers. For Luke to include this story in his account of the early church, it must have been a favorite among the early Christians. Rhoda was not an important person by any one's reckoning. But for the rest of her life, she had a special story to tell how God answered the church's prayer for Peter's safety. God still answers prayer, and we can tell others about it.
Challenge for the Day:
What is your special "Rhoda"-style story? Go, run and tell someone today about how God has answered your prayers. And remember we serve an active and living Lord, not one who just idly sits by and watches.
Clare (ca 1193-1253):
She was 60 years old when she died which was quite old for that era. She was born into wealth but felt led to the Lord. Her journey began when at 16, she ran away from home to join the ministry of Francis who started the order of the Franciscan friars. Later her sister, Agnes and a few others came to join her. Francis placed them at Saint Damian in a convent he started for them. He made Clare abbess. Though she would have preferred a traveling ministry to the poor and sick, she took on this role of abbess with all she had and did so for the rest of her life.
Despite coming from a world of privilege, Clare gave up everything to follow Jesus in a life of poverty and service. As a result, through the ministry of her order, she became a blessing to those less fortunate. Most of us, too, have been born into a world of wealth and privilege in one way or another. The call of Christ is no less real today than in the days of Clare and Francis.
Rhoda whose story is from Acts 12:12-16:
The next "lady" we meet is Rhoda. She was a servant girl at the time. She was a servant in the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, who would someday become the author of the Gospel of Mark. Their home was described as having an outer gate, which depicts them as a wealthy family, who used their home as a gathering place for believers. A home church you would say. So Rhoda was constantly surrounded by believers and apparently was one herself. She had a great opportunity to be a part of a wonderful miracle. Let me paint the picture for you.
The believers in the home that night had just finished praying Peter's safety, when there was a knock at the door. A wave of fear must have swept through the house. The apostle James had recently been killed for his faith, and Peter was in prison facing possible execution. So the other believers likely wondered if they would be next. *A little sidebar: You can read about Peter's escape from prison in Acts 12: 6-19.* Rhoda, a young servant girl, was sent to answer the door.
When Rhoda saw Peter at the door, she got so excited that she ran to tell the others, leaving him locked outside. She had a hard time convincing everyone that God had answered their prayers. For Luke to include this story in his account of the early church, it must have been a favorite among the early Christians. Rhoda was not an important person by any one's reckoning. But for the rest of her life, she had a special story to tell how God answered the church's prayer for Peter's safety. God still answers prayer, and we can tell others about it.
Challenge for the Day:
What is your special "Rhoda"-style story? Go, run and tell someone today about how God has answered your prayers. And remember we serve an active and living Lord, not one who just idly sits by and watches.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Perpetua & Phoebe
Today I read about Perpetua and Phoebe. Both were leaders in their own right and used their riches for the furthering of the Lord's kingdom. Here are their stories.
Perpetua (Martyed in A.D. 203):
Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well befor many witnesses. --I Timothy 6:12
Most of us don't fear our lives when we declare our faith in Christ. But the freedom of religion we enjoy today in western nations is not the historical norm. In the early years of Christianity, many believers gave their lives rather than publicly deny their faith. In A.D. 202, the Roman emperor Septimus Severus outlawed conversions to Christianity. This brought suffering to new converts throughout the empire. In the North African city of Carthage, a young noblewoman named Perpetua and several other converts were imprisoned for their faith and condemned to execution in the arena at Carthage.
Perpetua, the mother of a baby boy, was arrested along with four other converts. Another young woman, Felicitas (perhaps a slave), gave birth prematurely while in prison. They were joined in prison by their teacher, Saturus, who baptized them. All of them died together in the ampitheater. A document known as the Passion of Perpetua recounts the converts' prison experiences, especially the visions of Perpetua and Saturus. The fact that this document was written about the time of the events it records endorses its value as a historical record.
For centuries these martyrs inspired believers in the North African church. Their commitment to Christ should remind us all of its value. When our faith cost us little, it is easy to take it lightly. It is easy for us to forget the price God paid when he sent his Son to suffer a painful death as a sacrifice for our sins. It is easy to forget the value of an eternity of peace with our Creator. It is also easy for us to forget that many still suffer daily for their faith in Christ. We should thank God for our salvation and the freedom we have to celebrate it.
For more on facing difficult trials, read Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 3:8-11; I Timothy 6:11-16; 2 Timothy 3:10-17
For more about fellow Christians suffering for their faith today, check out www.opendoorusa.org to learn more on how you can help.
Phoebe:
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. -Romans 16:1
Phoebe was known as a "deacon," or servant and helper. Apparently she was a wealthy person and helped support Paul in his ministry. The word deacon describes the work of service she did in the church, but it was also probably an official title of leadership. Phoebe was highly regarded in the church and probably delivered this letter from Corinth to Rome. She lived in Cenchrea, the eastern port for the city of Corinth.
Phoebe's identity as a deacon shows that women played important roles in the early church. The role of deacon was to help the needy in the congregation, a position that required the trustworthy handling of funds. It was her job to help define the needs and then provide the necessary help. Certainly these servant leaders embodied the example of Christ, who taught his disciples that the greatest among them were those who served the most.
As we serve one another, we become more like Jesus. As a wealthy person, Phoebe would likely have been brought up to have an attitude of entitlement. But in Christ, she had discovered the true joy of serving others. And it was with her title of "servant" that Paul commended her to the church in Rome. In the community of the church, this was high praise.
-When we submit our resources to God, we can be an important part of what he is doing in the church.
Hope all have a BLESSED day and know that God loves you and so do I :)
Perpetua (Martyed in A.D. 203):
Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well befor many witnesses. --I Timothy 6:12
Most of us don't fear our lives when we declare our faith in Christ. But the freedom of religion we enjoy today in western nations is not the historical norm. In the early years of Christianity, many believers gave their lives rather than publicly deny their faith. In A.D. 202, the Roman emperor Septimus Severus outlawed conversions to Christianity. This brought suffering to new converts throughout the empire. In the North African city of Carthage, a young noblewoman named Perpetua and several other converts were imprisoned for their faith and condemned to execution in the arena at Carthage.
Perpetua, the mother of a baby boy, was arrested along with four other converts. Another young woman, Felicitas (perhaps a slave), gave birth prematurely while in prison. They were joined in prison by their teacher, Saturus, who baptized them. All of them died together in the ampitheater. A document known as the Passion of Perpetua recounts the converts' prison experiences, especially the visions of Perpetua and Saturus. The fact that this document was written about the time of the events it records endorses its value as a historical record.
For centuries these martyrs inspired believers in the North African church. Their commitment to Christ should remind us all of its value. When our faith cost us little, it is easy to take it lightly. It is easy for us to forget the price God paid when he sent his Son to suffer a painful death as a sacrifice for our sins. It is easy to forget the value of an eternity of peace with our Creator. It is also easy for us to forget that many still suffer daily for their faith in Christ. We should thank God for our salvation and the freedom we have to celebrate it.
For more on facing difficult trials, read Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 3:8-11; I Timothy 6:11-16; 2 Timothy 3:10-17
For more about fellow Christians suffering for their faith today, check out www.opendoorusa.org to learn more on how you can help.
Phoebe:
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. -Romans 16:1
Phoebe was known as a "deacon," or servant and helper. Apparently she was a wealthy person and helped support Paul in his ministry. The word deacon describes the work of service she did in the church, but it was also probably an official title of leadership. Phoebe was highly regarded in the church and probably delivered this letter from Corinth to Rome. She lived in Cenchrea, the eastern port for the city of Corinth.
Phoebe's identity as a deacon shows that women played important roles in the early church. The role of deacon was to help the needy in the congregation, a position that required the trustworthy handling of funds. It was her job to help define the needs and then provide the necessary help. Certainly these servant leaders embodied the example of Christ, who taught his disciples that the greatest among them were those who served the most.
As we serve one another, we become more like Jesus. As a wealthy person, Phoebe would likely have been brought up to have an attitude of entitlement. But in Christ, she had discovered the true joy of serving others. And it was with her title of "servant" that Paul commended her to the church in Rome. In the community of the church, this was high praise.
-When we submit our resources to God, we can be an important part of what he is doing in the church.
Hope all have a BLESSED day and know that God loves you and so do I :)
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Women of the Bible-Part 1
I have felt led lately to read about some of the prominent women of the Bible. I will take a few a day and discuss them. So away we go.
Today, I begin by reading about Euodia and Syntche. They were two active members of the church at Philippi. Many had been led to the Lord by their example. Paul wrote to them directly because word of their disagreement had reached him all the way in Rome. We don't know what the argument was about. I don't suppose it really matters. What does matter was reconciliation before this tiff tore the church at Philippi apart.
Such conflict can do exactly that not only in a church but also in a family. Take it from someone who knows. Don't let the arguments of the past darken your future as a church or family. Work it out so that healing can begin. Trust me, if you take the first step, healing will happen and God will step in and continue the process even when you think you can't.
Read what Paul wrote to Euodia and Syntche in Philippians 4:2-3.
Now let's talk about another woman, Lydia. She is at the other end of the spectrum. She was also from Philippi and who also had an amazing impact on the people there and had contact with the apostle Paul and Silas. Lydia was a business woman dealing in fine purple cloth and dye so she was probably rich. It doesn't speak of a husband but she had a household to care for. I imagine her as a true working mom of this time. She was an active partipant in a prayer group of Gentile women who met outside Philippi on each Sabbath to pray to the God of the Jews.
That is where Paul and Silas find her. She is remembered as Paul's first European convert. How awesome is that! Luke goes on to describe the first steps of her life as a disciple. She was baptized. Then she went home and brought the rest of her household to Paul. They also believed and were baptized. We learn alot about Lydia in these two sentences. Not only did she believe and come to Jesus but she immediately went home and shared the good news with her family, then proceed to bring them to Paul to be baptized so they could become part of the Family of God as well. This tells us that Lydia had been sharing everything she learned about God each Sabbath with the people in her home. I imagine somewhere down deep inside she knew that being surrounded by those who didn't believe or had not heard the Good News would be detrimental to her faith. So why not share, right? Are there people in your "household" today that need you to share the Good News of Jesus? Take Lydia as your example and share the Gospel. Be a Lydia today!
You can read about Lydia's conversion in Acts 16:11-40.
Have a BLESSED day!!!:) Remember God loves you and so do I!
Today, I begin by reading about Euodia and Syntche. They were two active members of the church at Philippi. Many had been led to the Lord by their example. Paul wrote to them directly because word of their disagreement had reached him all the way in Rome. We don't know what the argument was about. I don't suppose it really matters. What does matter was reconciliation before this tiff tore the church at Philippi apart.
Such conflict can do exactly that not only in a church but also in a family. Take it from someone who knows. Don't let the arguments of the past darken your future as a church or family. Work it out so that healing can begin. Trust me, if you take the first step, healing will happen and God will step in and continue the process even when you think you can't.
Read what Paul wrote to Euodia and Syntche in Philippians 4:2-3.
Now let's talk about another woman, Lydia. She is at the other end of the spectrum. She was also from Philippi and who also had an amazing impact on the people there and had contact with the apostle Paul and Silas. Lydia was a business woman dealing in fine purple cloth and dye so she was probably rich. It doesn't speak of a husband but she had a household to care for. I imagine her as a true working mom of this time. She was an active partipant in a prayer group of Gentile women who met outside Philippi on each Sabbath to pray to the God of the Jews.
That is where Paul and Silas find her. She is remembered as Paul's first European convert. How awesome is that! Luke goes on to describe the first steps of her life as a disciple. She was baptized. Then she went home and brought the rest of her household to Paul. They also believed and were baptized. We learn alot about Lydia in these two sentences. Not only did she believe and come to Jesus but she immediately went home and shared the good news with her family, then proceed to bring them to Paul to be baptized so they could become part of the Family of God as well. This tells us that Lydia had been sharing everything she learned about God each Sabbath with the people in her home. I imagine somewhere down deep inside she knew that being surrounded by those who didn't believe or had not heard the Good News would be detrimental to her faith. So why not share, right? Are there people in your "household" today that need you to share the Good News of Jesus? Take Lydia as your example and share the Gospel. Be a Lydia today!
You can read about Lydia's conversion in Acts 16:11-40.
Have a BLESSED day!!!:) Remember God loves you and so do I!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Being A Back Seat Driver?
Haven't written in almost a week. I am not proud of that at all. My last five days have been horrible ranging from computer problems, two sick children, getting sick myself and stress from setting up my business, whih I think is because I haven't been writing, reading my Bible or praying. We've been under SEVERE attack from Satan's forces. Even today, I am sitting down to write at three in the afternoon. I kept putting things ahead of my time with God. Then I sit here and ask forgiveness and for blessings when I can't even give him the beginning of my day let alone a few minutes of prayer during the day. No wonder my days have been difficult.
I have been voluntarily walking alone. Not that God has abandoned me, rather I have abandoned Him. To be honest, if I was God, I would be so utterly angry at me. But you know, I can still feel His love in my heart despite how I yelled at Him and complained all week. We are blessed so far beyond what we deserve. I want to say "I want to change and be better, be the person He wants me to be, made me to be." But it would be just another longing I would fail at, another promise I can't keep.
You know what, this time I want God to change me. I want Him to take the wheel of my life and drive. I just want to sit back and enjoy the ride instead of being a back seat driver. I want to be the little child strapped in the car seat of His love and just enjoy the scenery. Today, this control freak lets go and gives God the wheel.
He only wants what is best for us, so much better than what we want or can even imagine for ourselves.
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 31:3
Long ago the Lord said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."
Proverbs 16:1-3
We can make our own plans but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Psalm 68: 19-20
Praise the Lord, God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Our God is a God who saves! The Soverign Lord rescues us from death.
I have been voluntarily walking alone. Not that God has abandoned me, rather I have abandoned Him. To be honest, if I was God, I would be so utterly angry at me. But you know, I can still feel His love in my heart despite how I yelled at Him and complained all week. We are blessed so far beyond what we deserve. I want to say "I want to change and be better, be the person He wants me to be, made me to be." But it would be just another longing I would fail at, another promise I can't keep.
You know what, this time I want God to change me. I want Him to take the wheel of my life and drive. I just want to sit back and enjoy the ride instead of being a back seat driver. I want to be the little child strapped in the car seat of His love and just enjoy the scenery. Today, this control freak lets go and gives God the wheel.
He only wants what is best for us, so much better than what we want or can even imagine for ourselves.
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 31:3
Long ago the Lord said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."
Proverbs 16:1-3
We can make our own plans but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Psalm 68: 19-20
Praise the Lord, God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Our God is a God who saves! The Soverign Lord rescues us from death.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Being A Doubting Thomas Today?
I have been struggling with something, something I am sure others are struggling with as well. Let me explain.
I am a stay at home mom with two boys, age 2 and 3.5 so needless to say I don't have a lot of free time on my hands. But God has blessed me with a gift that I have been able to share with family members, the gift of crochet. Now you may be saying that crochet isn't really a gift but I would have to say that isn't so. Just imagine being sick. What is the first thing you reach for, a blanket but not just any blanket, your favorite blanket. Or imagine it is a rainy day and you want to curl up on the couch and read your favorite book. Well what is missing? Your favorite blanket. People find comfort in the simplest of things. Such comfort can remind a sick person of being home with Grandma and her chicken noodle soup or curling up to watch a good western with Papaw as was my case as a little girl. So comfort can come in such simple things.
Thus my desire to share my craft with the world. I began by getting the necessary licenses and business name and such. Finding a place on the internet to sell my wares wasn't quite as easy and I am still working on it but I have one faithful customer who has given me enough work to keep me busy for the next year. Praise God. I am still working on reaching others in order to grow my business. This is where today's story of Doubting Thomas comes in. I spent much of last night working on making my business facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/#!/FleurDeLisCrochet ,
more business like and just overall more presentable. But when I checked it this morning, no comments, nothing. My heart sank. I felt like all that work was for nothing. I was feeling like a Douting Thomas. Let me pause here and share Thomas' story with you.
John 20: 24-29
But Thomas (who was called the Twin, Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails and put my finger in his side, I will not believe.
Now I have to interject here. That is such blatant disbelief. You might say "Well I wouldn't say that." But how many times have we been right there, staring a blessing in the face and asked for proof?
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
Look at Thomas' response. "My Lord and my God!" Notice the exclamation point at the end. He answered in surprise, further showing his doubt. Jesus corrected Thomas with his response. Jesus is just asking us to simply trust Him, that we believe when He says He will do something, it will be done.
I challenge you as well as myself today to look at your life and see the situations that you are viewing as a Douting Thomas. Ask God to change your heart and help you see the blessings from the past where God has proven that He will take care of you and help you remember that He can do it again. For God is a faithful God. As it says in Isaiah 30:18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.
May we always remember that we have a Great Friend at our side through everything and may you have a blessed day today. With all the love in Christ.
I am a stay at home mom with two boys, age 2 and 3.5 so needless to say I don't have a lot of free time on my hands. But God has blessed me with a gift that I have been able to share with family members, the gift of crochet. Now you may be saying that crochet isn't really a gift but I would have to say that isn't so. Just imagine being sick. What is the first thing you reach for, a blanket but not just any blanket, your favorite blanket. Or imagine it is a rainy day and you want to curl up on the couch and read your favorite book. Well what is missing? Your favorite blanket. People find comfort in the simplest of things. Such comfort can remind a sick person of being home with Grandma and her chicken noodle soup or curling up to watch a good western with Papaw as was my case as a little girl. So comfort can come in such simple things.
Thus my desire to share my craft with the world. I began by getting the necessary licenses and business name and such. Finding a place on the internet to sell my wares wasn't quite as easy and I am still working on it but I have one faithful customer who has given me enough work to keep me busy for the next year. Praise God. I am still working on reaching others in order to grow my business. This is where today's story of Doubting Thomas comes in. I spent much of last night working on making my business facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/#!/FleurDeLisCrochet ,
more business like and just overall more presentable. But when I checked it this morning, no comments, nothing. My heart sank. I felt like all that work was for nothing. I was feeling like a Douting Thomas. Let me pause here and share Thomas' story with you.
John 20: 24-29
But Thomas (who was called the Twin, Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails and put my finger in his side, I will not believe.
Now I have to interject here. That is such blatant disbelief. You might say "Well I wouldn't say that." But how many times have we been right there, staring a blessing in the face and asked for proof?
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
Look at Thomas' response. "My Lord and my God!" Notice the exclamation point at the end. He answered in surprise, further showing his doubt. Jesus corrected Thomas with his response. Jesus is just asking us to simply trust Him, that we believe when He says He will do something, it will be done.
I challenge you as well as myself today to look at your life and see the situations that you are viewing as a Douting Thomas. Ask God to change your heart and help you see the blessings from the past where God has proven that He will take care of you and help you remember that He can do it again. For God is a faithful God. As it says in Isaiah 30:18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.
May we always remember that we have a Great Friend at our side through everything and may you have a blessed day today. With all the love in Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)