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Trusting God Through Patience and Waiting

11 Nov

Hello! I am so blessed for each one of you who read this word God has put upon my heart. Thank you and please feel free to send any prayer requests to me at lindaweaver047@gmail.com.

I have been trying to get back to writing and sharing what God puts on my heart with you. I love to teach God’s Word and have missed doing that for a while, so this is now how I follow my heart.

Our God is so good!! There just aren’t enough ways to express His goodness. I have fallen so deeply in love with Him that I always feel His nearness – always! And – His availability! YES! He is always, always, always available to you and to me. When you really grasp that, you will sense His nearness, His availability, His presence. What a phenomenon!

PATIENCE AND WAITING – TWO WORDS WE DISLIKE THE MOST

He is our comfort in all things. He can be trusted to the point of peace in all situations. That is difficult to accept and/or understand, but a real fact and a promise from His Word, the Bible. This trust is not something you can just decide to do. It comes with prayer and sometimes hard situations. It is always available to us. Usually, we have to fight doubt and unbelief – even to the point of trying to jump ahead with our own solutions – then an “oops – I should have waited on God.” The good news though is that we can’t mess things up enough that He can’t help us.

This trust does not happen over night. It can come with enduring very hard circumstances. It usually isn’t something we decide to do. It takes all the mental capacity we can work up, a drawing from our spiritual strength, putting our trust in Him, keeping His Scriptures/His Word, relevant – and the thing we dislike t he most the “P” word – PATIENCE! – and the “W” word – WAIT~! Patience in waiting! He won’t fail us. He can see all that we cannot see. It takes time to work all things together – Selah! He wants us to trust Him – trust Him enough to be still and to give Him the time needed to bring about the prayers we have pleaded for.

We like to make things happen – we believe we are able to make things work. We are taught from an early age how to do things for ourselves one way or another and don’t usually want to wait on anyone or anything. When we discover what God says about waiting – we don’t like that so much. We eventually learn that He has a plan for our lives and wants, above all things – that thing called OBEDIENCE! Oh wow!

HE KNEW US BEFORE WE WERE BORN!

Psalms 139 – Oh Lord, you have searched me and know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word if on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where do I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there, if I make my bed in the depths you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts God! How vast is the sum of them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I wake I am still with you. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! …..Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

This is true – my favorite Scripture is this one – Psalms 139 – It us much more powerful if you read it for yourself. It gives us peace, strength, hope and assurance that He knew us before we were born – yet even when we were in our Mother’s womb! He had a purpose and a plan for our entire lives– Selah – pause and calmly think of that!

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Finding Rest: Trusting God in Times of Struggle

26 Jul

Let Him Help!

Are there times you feel like you just can’t hold on any longer? Times when you just aren’t sure you can cope with one more thing? Times when you are just tired of everything? Times you just want to cry – just because? Those are the times God is moving in you to draw you closer! Yes! Believe it!

The enemy wants you to give up! Don’t satisfy him. Put your faith to work. Yield to your Creator. Trust Him in the midst of it. Don’t give in to your flesh, as much as you want to.

Today’s world is running so fast and furious that in our trying to keep up we just push ourselves to the brink of exhaustion. Much of it at the expectations we, ourselves, us, expect more than is reasonable of ourselves.

Recently, I was in to see my oncologist. As I shared with her my situation – my fatigue, my frustration, how I felt, she asked me why I could not allow myself to rest more. To that I replied – “Because I work for the cleanest woman in town! Her reply was “I thought you worked for yourself.” To which I replied “Yes! I do, that’s the problem!”

We, for some reason, can’t seem to give ourselves permission to slow down, to rest even a little. The world is moving at such a fast pace that we feel guilty if we take time to enjoy any free time. Why? Why can’t we just be? Do you even know how? Let me rephrase that – do you know how without the guilt? Why is that? Selah.

Take a few moments (or more) to meditate on this. Who is pushing you? Is it you? Is it your circumstances? Is it another person? Is it just habit? What causes you to feel that you aren’t doing enough, or you are less than who you should be, if you slow down and don’t meet the demands you – yes, you – put on yourself?

Even God rested! As did Jesus. I admit, it isn’t easy. We don’t know how, in some cases. We feel guilty, in some cases. We don’t want to, in some cases. Selah.
Let’s look at what Scripture says about it!
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

“In God alone my soul finds rest, for deliverance comes from God alone who is my rock, my salvation, my fortress: I will never be shaken.”

Sometimes it’s a matter of the enemy – satan- trying to torment us – he wants to rob us of our peace, cause confusion, steal our time, lead us into ungodly things, etc.

when you find yourself in this situation, pause for a moment and invite Jesus in to settle your Spirit. Let Him in. Trust Him and most importantly, take your thoughts captive, as Scripture tells us. Don’t let your thoughts go off the rails! Scriptures tells us to take them captive! (Captive means “taken prisoner”)

The Holy Spirit is our Helper – let Him help you!








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“Come To Me All Who Are Heavy Laden”

21 Jul

Wow! I believe this is everybody! Life is hard. It just is. I’m not sure any of us are completely satisfied with life as it is. If you are – then I am jealous! I love the Lord, Jesus more than I can put into words. I do my best to be the person His Word directs me to be. Am I always successful? Of course not! However; I am aware of my shortcomings (of which there are many), and continually seeks God’s help where I fall short. I remind Him that I am the person He created me to be! Warts and all, as “they” say. I am so grateful that He loves me the way I am and is forgiving – always forgiving.

Psalms 139:

Psalms 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.

2.You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.

5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!

20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?

22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

What a Promise!

This Scripture teaches us about how much God loves us and is part of our lives. Can you even imagine that He knew us even before we actually came to be? He knit us together in our Mother’s womb. Selah – pause and calmly think of that! We were planted in our Mother’s womb by our Daddy and then God knitted us together! He saw our unformed body and all our days were ordained for us and written in His book before even a one of them came to be. A M A Z I N G!

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Who’s in Charge?

7 Apr

I don’t like change!

I don’t even know where to start with this subject! How about this ~ I am in the midst of changes like I’ve never experienced. “Things” are moving so fast that it just makes me tired! First of all, I recently turned 76 years old. Ouch!! Change has never bothered me much before, even when it was a change (or two or a thousand) I didn’t like. I’ve always adapted and made the best of what was necessary at the time. I think I’m going to blame it on COVID – seems fair to me. When COVID is mentioned I think we all shudder a little bit, and probably have stories to tell about the unwanted changes we faced at the time. At that time though, we didn’t have much choice about a lot of things.

As for me, at that time, I lost my “at home” business because I did alterations/tailoring and it just so happened that I was in the middle of my busiest time of the year – prom seasons AND wedding season. I immediately lost all that business and the dresses were picked up right away – unaltered and, of course, unpaid.

At about the same time I was diagnosed with heart issues and breast cancer! I got through it all and after a radial mastectomy, chemo, and radiation, spent the following months recovering and not working. God knew about it before I was ever born – He wasn’t a bit surprised!

  • Psalms: 139:16 : Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed, and in Your Book they were all written, the days formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.

Are you willing to do it God’s way?

Sometimes we just do what we want to do without asking God about it first! (Ask me how I know!) In my defense, I didn’t know better. Really. Unfortunately, it took years of wrong decisions, heartache, giant negative results from decisions I made, and wanting it NOW!

Sound familiar? As I now have more life behind me, and less in front of me, I’m hoping to help others to avoid the mistakes I’ve made. It’s not easy, by the way. However; if you ask for God’s help, and follow His lead, you will be more at peace and more in love with our Heavenly Father than you can imagine!

We live in a world where almost everything is instant and we like it that way, although it kind of keeps us from asking and waiting on God way too much! It’s not that we even consider being disobedient or even imagine that God might have a better plan or a reason for us to seek Him on the matter. It’s just part of our humanness, and, after all, He did create us.

I can truthfully say that I was raised in church, didn’t miss too many services, and tried very hard to “do the right thing.” Now though, I can clearly see after living almost my entire allotted years, having “done it my way” was not all it’s cut out to be!

I’ve had a really hard life, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that. I blamed God for a lot of what happened, even though now I realize it wasn’t Him. It was me – what a surprise! Looking back (always easier), I can tell you now that my growth in Him and my current peace in life all worked together for my good. With each trauma, failure, mistake, wrong decision, and after asking God each time why He allowed such pain and rejection, He would always love me into seeing the truth. He taught me how to come to Him first, and how to wait for Him (that’s still the hardest part). As I sought Him in prayer, He began to put a hunger in my heart and a desire to know more about Him and His ways. Through it all, as I continued to walk through my life, I was growing in Him but still doing my own thing (innocently, most of the time). My heart was still in learning mode (and I’ve learned it always is and always will be – maybe even after I reach heaven!

I will continue this subject with the next post. I encourage you to seek Him and ask Him whatever it is that you want to know, and then YIELD as He guides you. Don’t get in a hurry. God is ALWAYS on time and even if you have an appointed deadline that you think you cannot miss – trust HIM, not the deadline. God many times waits until the midnight hour to give you what you need. He will continually test your faith in Him. He wants you to know He is greater than any/all deadlines, and His way is always the best way for you!

GOD IS NOT REASONABLE OR LOGICAL

12 Nov

Wow! What a year! – I’ve been thinking a lot lately about this past year AND several other instances in my life that were “out of control” – my control that is. We are a people that like to have control. We would prefer our own way, most of the time – well ok, all the time. Somehow that never works out.

This past moth has been one of the most ‘out of control’ times I’ve had in a long time. (I’ll spare you the details, and if you knew me well – you would really appreciate that!) – Quoting Charles Stanley (in a round about way) – “After waiting on God for what seems like forever – he finally sends the GREEN LIGHT – GO!” The Pastor Stanley says, “When you get that GREEN LIGHT you’d better hold on!!” That’s been my life up to this day.

I journal so, just to let you know, I’m running out of journal pages AND journals! I try to see God in everything. Some would call me a fanatic. I finally decided that is ok. I guess I am. I am fanatic about God and His personal relationship with me. (Notice I didn’t say MY relationship with Him.)

I think much of the time we don’t really get that God actually wants a relationship with us personally, because He’s got bigger things to attend to. Well, that is just not true, my friends. My heart’s desire is that everyone, I mean everyone, would experience His part of the relationship. He isn’t just a “Suggestion Box” or a “Santa Claus” – He is the God of the Universe! He created it, He formed you, personally, in your Mother’s womb – and He knows every little bitty thing about you from when you were first conceived.

Psalms 137 (NIV)

  1. 1 You have searched me, Lord,
        and you know me.
    2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
        you perceive my thoughts from afar.
    3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
        you are familiar with all my ways.
    4 Before a word is on my tongue
        you, Lord, know it completely.
    5 You hem me in behind and before,
        and you lay your hand upon me.
    6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
        too lofty for me to attain.
  2. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
  3. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
        all the days ordained for me were written in your book
        before one of them came to be.

This particular Chapter and all it’s verses, give me great peace, most of the time. I do struggle some (for a few minutes usually), until I remember that He already knew I would be at that very place at that very time. He already had an answer – a solution BEFORE I knew I even had a problem.

I believe one of the biggest things we struggle with is REASONING. Here is the meaning of REASONING –

  1. the action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way.

Friends – GOD DOES NOT DO THINGS IN A LOGICAL, SENSIBLE WAY!! (We think we do.) When we are faced with something – almost anything – our minds start REASONING – and, we begin to process the logical, sensible answers and begin our plotting, scheming, and planning. Trust me, it’s a waste of energy!

Sometimes, we dutifully “ask God about it” and then move right into making our own plans to fix the problem or plan which action to take first. No? You don’t do that? Hummm. You are special then! I don’t like to WAIT ON GOD! Who does? I know I’m supposed to, but I’m not sure if I’m supposed to like it. (I’ll ask God and get back to you on that one.)

SO – HOW DO WE PROCEED?

This is how we proceed –

  • SIT STILL
  • STAND STILL
  • BE STILL

Don’t like that? Me either. God does a lot of things I don’t like! He doesn’t ask us to like it – He just wants us to Trust and Obey – a lot easier to say than to do. HOWEVER, it works, and you can either submit to it or go around the mountain one more time! God isn’t being harsh, He’s trying to free you from so much that you don’t even know you need to be free of. (Ask me how I know.)

Next time, I will discuss “What If…”

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HE’S COMING IN THE CLOUDS

27 Jul

Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him. . . So it is to be. Amen”

The Future

cloudsrainbow-abigail-keenan

The future?! – Today it’s difficult to consider the future because we are so focused on the craziness of today. We are being boxed in in ways we are unaccustomed to, and we’ve lost some of the freedoms we have taken for granted.
I don’t know about you but, my attention has been drawn to the soon coming of Jesus more than ever. It’s an event that is kind of scary to think about because we don’t fully understand it. Actually, it’s a subject most of us have heard about as long as we can remember. We’ve seen so many wild and incorrect (false) “prophecies” that we have kind of pushed the coming of Christ aside, usually thinking we’ve got plenty of time.I certainly don’t claim to know when Jesus is coming – nor does anyone – if they claim they do they are false prophets. God’s Word tells us no man knows. BUT –

Signs Of The Last Days

Scripture does teach us how to recognize the signs of the end of the world as we know it – the rapture and the tribulation. I have asked God to help me to share what I can to cause people to be more aware of the soon coming of Christ. I don’t want to be guilty of having any of my loved ones ask why I didn’t tell them.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

2 Peter 3:3-4 “Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

clouds dark dramatic heaven

Photo by Adam Kontor on Pexels.com

Matthew 24:42-44 “Therefore, STAY AWAKE, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. . .”

The best way, of course, to secure your future, is by asking the Lord Jesus to come into your heart and to forgive you of your sins. It’s really that simple. He never intended it to be difficult for you and me. That’s why He, Himself, did all the suffering and gave His life on the cross, so it would be easier for us.
I can’t explain it, but I can tell you there is nothing greater on this earth than having the creator of Heaven and Earth as a friend, closer than a brother, closer than a friend, closer than a husband. No one, no thing, no circumstance can bring you the peace, the satisfaction, the completeness that He can.
I’m a very long way from being good, or right, or “spiritually correct” – I’m just an ordinary, person, having made (and still do) mistakes, bad decisions, bad attitudes, etc, etc. However; I can witness that God loves me in spite of myself and my wrongs. His Word promises that He has forgiven my sins, past, present and future! It’s not about me (or you) – it’s about Him.

clouds

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

Ask Him into your heart today. It doesn’t have to be a long drawn ou prayer. Just acknowledge that you have sinned, you are a sinner (I am, too), and ask Him to come into your heart. HE WILL!  AT THAT VERY MOMENT! Then, ask Him to help you where you need help. You might not even know what help you need, but He knows you better than you know yourself and He will begin to walk with you daily and help you.

Jesus is coming soon, He gave us Scriptures of things to watch for, and we are seeing them take place.

Don’t Be Left Behind

Don’t be left behind. Say this prayer and mean it with all your heart:

“Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. I ask you now to come into my heart and to forgive all my sins. Help me to learn more about you and to live my life for you. Even though I don’t know how, I trust you to teach me. Thank you, Jesus. Amen”
That’s it. You now are now “born again” – now, it’s just one day at a time. He will help you. He will speak to your heart and it might take a little while, but you will come to know Him more and more.

Questions?

Submit any questions you might have – I will do my best to answer them.

crop field under rainbow and cloudy skies at dayime

Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com

 

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Go Ye Into ALL the World

25 Feb

Mark 16:15 – After Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to his disciples He said to them, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  

Matthew 25:36-40 – Jesus said, “I was naked AND YOU CLOTHED ME. I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” After He said that the righteous wanted to know WHEN did we do that? And King Jesus answered them this way – “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

A little over three years ago I was introduced to Brenda and Harry McDaniel, as “someone I needed to connect with because she has a sewing ministry!” (I own a local alterations/sewing business.) That opened a door to a purpose God had planned for me, and for them.

Their ministry – “And U Clothed Me” is a non-profit organization created by God through Brenda and Harry to clothe the children in Uganda. They went a few times with other ministries — and then —God called them (and began to prepare them) to go and live there for six months and set up a sewing center to teach the women (and men) how to sew so that when they returned to the United States, the people could earn a living by making and selling clothes themselves! What a challenge! Brenda and Harry answered the call and began to follow through in obedience to God. They left EVERYTHING behind – EVERYTHING! AndUClothedMe2

Brenda and Harry departed Houston on the first of January, 2020, and took over 2,000 dresses, shorts, and T-shirts – All made by supporters of the ministry. They did their part – let’s now do ours!AndUClothedMe1

AND U CLOTHED ME  – SEWING CENTER

After their arrival, they began seeking to follow through in renting a sewing center and making arrangements for someone to run it when they return home. Grace Church has supported them by purchasing 10 sewing machines (pedal type) to get them off the ground. (Thank you, Mike Acosta, for your help in making this happen)

Brenda and Harry have rented an apartment and will be in Uganda for four more months. If you like to be a partner in what God is doing, you can:

Sewing Center Logo

Make a deductible donation in one of the following ways:

 

Excerpts From Brenda and Harry

  • I have been requested to give an update on Sewing Center progress. (We are still waiting on red tape items to be cleared) – hoping to have everything cleared in a month.)
  • Funds that have been promised for the sewing machines – that process has started. Once the money arrives, we will purchase 10 machines. (We have an instructor lined up that will continue classes while we are in the USA.)
  • We are anticipating funds to get started on the painting, cabinetry and additional supplies.
  • This is a huge undertaking and we cherish your prayers and support BUT GOD -Nothing is too hard for Him!

 

Following is list of current and reoccurring needs – if you want to support this ministry. 

Matthew 10:41 “If you receive a prophet (one who proclaims the Word and Truth of God) YOU will be given the SAME REWARD as a prophet!”  NLT This means – even though we are not with Brenda and Harry physically, in doing our part to support them, we will receive the same reward from God as they do! That is a wonderful promise from God! Please prayerfully consider helping in one of these ways – Brenda and Harry are doing their part – let us do ours! (This is a non-profit organization)

Monthly Expenses:

  • Rent $100
  • Teacher salary $165
  • Electricity

Start-up Supplies for Sewing Center  – 12 Sewing Machines – ALREADY DONATED

  • Sewing Machine for teacher $91
  • Paint $82
  • Cabinetry $435 – materials & labor,
  • White board, markers, eraser –
  • 11 Stools
  • Lighting (Researching now)
  • 3 Large Scissors
  • 11 Seam Rippers
  • Machine Oil
  • 12 Tape Measures
  • Thread $10

Ongoing Need For Supplies

Fabric $30 per 6 yds
Small Scissors $12/Pr – Per Student/Per Semester
Large Scissors $5 (Periodically)
Seam ripper $10 (Per Semester)
Tape measure $12 ( Per Semester)

 

 

Let Go And Step Forward

1 Jan

photo-1436228625646-f30c3e8447b0

Are You In A Rut?

Charles Stanley says, “A rut is an open-ended grave!” God’s people who became slaves in Egypt prayed many years to be free. God eventually sent Moses to set them free. After a long battle with the Pharoah and all the plagues they were finally free after hundreds of years of slavery. It didn’t take long for them to begin to complain and blame Moses for leading them out of Egypt. They even said they would have been better off to stay in Egypt! Making bricks out of jay and mud! Being beaten regularly! In chains much of the time! It’s hard to imagine that however; we do the very same thing. Our situations are not quite so drastic but, just the same, we are in bondage. We desire things to be different but aren’t willing to let go, and step forward.

Change Is Not A Bad Word

Comfort. The word itself brings a sort of peaceful state – briefly. To some of us the word “change” is far removed from the word “comfort.”  We get really comfortable in our ruts (our open-ended graves). We lie to ourselves that we are safe there. The truth is we are in circumstances that we are familiar with, afraid to step out into the unknown. Imagine how many things in life that have possibly passed us by because we were “too comfortable” to step beyond the boundaries we set for ourselves!

Let me assure you, God won’t always force you out of your comfort zone. What He will do is invite you to trust Him enough to know you better than you know yourself, and to lead you into a far greater place – always better – always forward – always progressing.

It Takes Faith

The Scriptures tell us that faith is the substance of things hoped for. . .the evidence of things unseen. . . Hebrews 11:1

The problem is that sometimes our faith is not in God. It’s in ourselves, or our friends/loved ones, or our job, etc. We wait until we think we have a sure knowledge of what to do and where we are going.  The Bible, the Word of God, tells us to walk by faith, not by sight. . . So, that means we are to walk each day not by what we see, but as God leads us (by faith).

How do we do that? We talk to God in prayer. We read the Bible. We acknowledge that He knows what’s around the corner – we don’t. It’s about relationship. Our relationship with God, our Father.

Maybe it sounds complicated but it isn’t. It’s a matter of not being moved by your emotions, your reasoning, what your friends and family say, but by prayer.

God sees and knows our hearts (Psalm 139), He knows whether we really want to do his bidding or if we have no intention of waiting on Him. As we step out, God begins to direct us. We have choices in front of us. If we truly want to do His will, we will STOP, when we sense that tiny red flag jumping up inside of us. To ignore it means we’ve decided to do it our way. BUT, if we really want to do it God’s way, and in doing so make a wrong decision, He will give us a way out.

He sees our hearts, so He knows what our motives are, ie, He knows if we are making a decision because we really don’t know what’s best, or if we are just determined to do it how we want to. We can’t fool Him. He is merciful and wants to teach us how to hear Him.

Hearing God

Scripture tells us that we hear God! Yes! You do!

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

I didn’t say it, Jesus did. It takes time with Him in prayer, Bible reading, etc. As we begin to grow in Him, it’s like meeting a new friend. You don’t always recognize their voice at first, but as you get to know them, you recognize their voice right away. If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ, you are His friend and you will come to know His voice. The more you listen, the more familiar it becomes. You will begin to decipher the differences between your inner voices and His.

HIS is the one to follow.

 

It’s All About Motive – What Is Yours?

10 Dec

It’s Been a Long Time

I haven’t written in a while, and God has been dealing with me about that!  I’ve been caught up in so much “stuff” that I have neglected to make the time for my regular posts. For that I have asked God to forgive me.cloudsrainbow-abigail-keenan

We each have gifts from Him and we have them so that we might minister to one another. He intends for us to help one another. When we don’t yield to His call, someone needing that help might not receive what God intended. I get so much inspiration from Him that causes my heart yearn for more of His presence; and, one of the ways I grow closer to Him is to obey His commands.

All that being said – I’ve had several issues lately that have confronted me, requiring that I make choices – difficult choices. It’s just easier to procrastinate – like Scarlet O’Hara from Gone With The Wind, when she said something like “Fiddle Dee Dee – I’ll think about that tomorrow!” Well, too many of my tomorrows have passed. I can just see God with His arms folded across His chest and tapping His foot, waiting for me to do what He has directed me to do (well, you know what I mean).

So! It’s time for confrontation – don’t you just hate confrontation? I’ve noticed that as I grow older – (which is one thing, regrettably, I can’t put off until tomorrow), I can’t multi-task like I  used to. Actually, it’s hard for me to single-task sometimes!!

One of My Favorites

Motive is one of my favorite subjects, mainly because I struggle with it a lot. God made us who we are, giving us the gifts He determined would fit with our personalities and our testimonies. The following Scriptures always bring me peace. What a comfort to know how much God loves me. Whenever I feel alone, or sad, or upset, or any other emotion – any uncontrollable event, I read His Word on it as follows:

  • “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I stand; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”  Psalm 139: 1-6 NIV

Meditate on these verses. This promise from God is declaring to us that he knows every single thing we do and say, and why we do it and say it. When the Scripture declares that he hems us in it means He is watching every single thing that happens to us and He is guarding over us.

  • I am a tailor, a seamstress. I have hemmed thousands of dresses and pants, so let me tell you exactly what it means to be hemmed in. There is a bottom to dresses and pants (Duh!). If they are not hemmed they can unravel. A hem means that the bottom edge is sewn with a clean edging and then folded up inside the garment and sewn in place. The hem can be a tiny 1/8″ to several inches deep. That section inside the the folded hem is a tunnel locked in place. It gives the garment a clean, finished look and makes the garment the correct length. Nothing is easily getting inside that hem. This was actually a method used in days of old for women to hide things of value. 

So what is MOTIVE?

I’ve taken all the “personality” and “gifts” tests over the years which help me understand some of the ways God uses me (some of the motives for doing what I do.) More importantly, I’ve learned through just living life day to day – making some good choices and some not so good. According to all the “surveys” I have the gift of prophecy (declaring God’s truth), faith (believing God’s Word), and Encouragement (helping others to see just what God’s promises are for them , to give them hope when they need it most).

  • Motive – defined by Webster is – “a reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not obvious.”

I learned most about my incorrect motives by mistakes I’ve made in my life. Had I been more faithful in studying God’s Word I could have possible avoided many of those mistakes. Mind you, I didn’t know I was making the mistakes – until thing went wrong.

  • Getting to the main point, our motives are not always obvious to us. Scripture tells us “Our hearts are more deceitful than ALL things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” KJV

Just meditate on that for a bit. Don’t read it negatively, read it as a warning from God.  Read it so that you will know HE is the answer. HE alone can show you the way.

  • “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” NIV

I have a saying – “Is it a good thing or a God thing?” A good thing (which may seem good to you, but isn’t from God) is not the same as a God thing. For one thing, it’s hard to get out of “so called ‘good things’ if they aren’t God things! AND, if it’s not a God thing, it’s going to take us the long way around to the fullness God has for us. It’s probably also going to take us into some real hardship. (Ask me  how I know.)

Born Into Sin

We were born into sin. It is only the blood of Jesus Christ that makes us clean. So! How can we expect to make proper decisions unless we first consult God, our Father? He sees our hearts. We’re not hiding anything from Him. He’s not looking the other way. He’s also not waiting for us to make a mistake so He can punish us. He loves us more than we love our own children. Selah, pause, and calmly think about that. He wants us to avoid pitfalls. He wants to spare us the pain. It’s our choices, many times, that bring the pain.

As Christians, we can sometimes be harder on ourselves than even God is. He spoke to my heart one time and clearly said, “If you will let me set your goals you can reach them.” I was always failing at the goals I had set for myself.

It’s okay to check your heart (your motives). If I am not sure of a thing I pray. I ask God to show me what my motives are. I judge myself. I test my motives against Scripture and what I know to be right. If I’m not sure, I wait. Yep. Wait – one of the things we hate doing the most. Most of the time, as I pray, God will speak to my heart and lead me to the answers I am seeking. It’s God we must please, not ourselves or others.

What Are Your God Given Gifts? Your Motives?

If you haven’t studied about the gifts in the Bible, it will answer many questions for you. There are different kinds of gifts. There are “motivational” gifts (the reason we do what we do – the thing that motivates us) – ministry gifts, and other gifts to learn about.

What’s The Purpose?

That’s what this article is about – purpose. There is much too much for me to continue in this post. It’s already way long. So let’s consider this “continued” . . .

Our Reasonings Or God’s Secrets?

20 Jun

photo-1436228625646-f30c3e8447b0There are differences in imaginations, reasonings and the secret things of God. Do you know the difference?

Dan 2:22-23   22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you. . .NIV

When adversity and/or great tribulation comes our way – suddenly and unexpected at times – our first reactions will speak loudly of what we believe about God and how much we trust Him.

2 Cor 10:3-5   For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  NKJV

At times, circumstances arise for which we have no control and no knowledge of how to handle them or cope with them.  Our imaginations begin to run wild. We begin to let the events play over and over in our minds. We lose our composure and our emotions are completely unstable. Our peace goes out the window. Confusion sets in and we find it difficult to focus on any one thing. We find ourselves in the midst of a dreadful storm. The waves are high all around us, the water is rough and our boat is being tossed uncontrollably.  We have to do something, but what? This is where our reasoning comes in.

I found myself in similar circumstances recently.  I am a child of God. I serve Him and walk with Him daily.  I know His Word teaches me to keep my mind stayed on Him and He will keep me in perfect peace.

Isa 26:33 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. NKJV

Keeping our minds stayed on God during trying times is a deliberate action on our part. It is not always an automatic response on our part.  Walking with God doesn’t come naturally to us, as does walking in the flesh. It always comes down to choice. It is never easy, as we determine what easy means. The difficulty lies in giving all of it to God. Easy to say, hard to do. The struggle within us is almost unbearable at times.  While God is telling us to be still and trust Him,  the turmoil within us is screaming for us to do something quickly!

Our faith and trust in God is tested in these life events.  As we walk with God, on a daily basis, constantly acknowledging Him and seeking Him, we being to be more aware of His presence. At times, we feel that He isn’t nearby, that He is far away and we are alone in our situation. The way we “feel” doesn’t determine the truth. Jesus IS the truth and He is THE WAY. What that means is HE is the one we focus on during these trying times. Only He can guide us to the answers we seek. As we begin to develop our relationship with Him and turn to Him in all things, from the smallest action to the most important, the faster we can  overcome our own reasonings and imaginations.

Ps 119:105-107  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. 106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. 107 I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word. NIVP

119:108-109  108 Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws. 109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law.  NIV

Picture a lamp at your feet in the darkness. It lights up only a small portion of what is ahead of you. We can’t see what is ahead or around the corner. We can only see where the next step is. That is how to follow God daily; especially in the midst of trials and tribulations. We should grab our lamp and let God lead. Otherwise, we will stumble and fall in the darkness. Of course, we can get back up and stumble some more. Or, we can pick up God’s lamp (His Word, His guidance) and avoid the pitfalls.

God has the answers. He IS the solution. His timing is perfect. He knows the way we take.  He knows the pitfalls. Why not take His hand and “The Lamp” and let Him show us the way?

Merriam Webster’s Definition of “Reason” (ing)  

  1. a (1) :  the power of comprehending, inferring, or thinking especially in orderly rational ways :  intelligence (2) :  proper exercise of the mind (3) :  sanityb :  the sum of the intellectual powers

  2. 3archaic :  treatment that affords satisfaction

This is what faith is:

Heb 11:1  11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  NIV

As God’s children, we don’t live and walk by what we see. The circumstances can change. We can change our minds or make wrong decisions. God is the ONE who IS the Way.

When trials come (and they will)  God wants us to run to Him FIRST, not last. He alone knows what we should do. We can’t expect Him to bless our decisions if He is not in them.  He wants our love and our friendship.  Do we want it as much as He does? Or would we rather stumble around in the dark hoping we miss the pitfalls? He leaves the choice to us.

 

 

 

 

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