For over thirty years I have worn glasses. For all intents and purpose, I am blind in one eye. The optometrist told me that if anything were to happen to that eye then I would be declared legally blind. Because of this I have worn glasses not only to help me see but to protect my right eye from dust and sharp objects.
Read Mark 10:46-52. This is the story of the blind beggar whom Jesus heals. There are several valuable lessons we can take from this blind man. First, he recognized his position. All his life he had been unable to see. Up until Jesus arrived on the scene his only means of sight was thru the eyes of others. But when he saw Jesus passing by he immediately cried out for the Lord to have mercy on him. He recognized his position and realized that he no longer wanted to live in that condition. You see before we accept Jesus into our lives we are blind. We are blind to the wrong in out lives. We are unable to see the purpose of the pain in our lives. We see our fight as against our brother and our sister instead of against Satan. And just like the beggar we must ask God for mercy. He didn't try to rattle off all the good deeds he had done or try to tell the Lord how much he deserved to see. He knew his position and secondly he recognized his need for corrective vision. I can only imagine waking up every morning and opening my eyes only to see darkness, the outline of images. Feeling every ounce of pain because of my lack of sight, my sense of touch is amplified. But this is only until I put on my glasses. It's only before I pray to the Lord and tell him, 'Teacher, I want to see.'
You see it was no accident that he referred to Jesus as Teacher at this time. He realized that after a lifetime of not being able to see he would have to be taught the correct way. In the past when he asked a question about what was ahead of him, he didn't know if the person answering was telling him the truth or a lie. He had no choice but to trust what was told to him. He didn't know anything different. When he fell and cut himself and experienced pain, he couldn't look at the scar to see if the wound had healed. He could only focus on the scar. When people walked by him and made fun of him because of the way he looked, his only defense was to build up hate. He had never been able to see the good from the bad that happened in his life. But now by looking at things through the eyes of Jesus he would be able to see divine reasoning for everything. He would be able to love those that had ridiculed him for his condition. And when the sharp objects of hate, distrust, trouble, jealousy, lust and anger tried to enter his life he would be able to combat them with the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). He would be able to see God in everything. And so can you. Before you make a decision based on how you see things, take a second look thru the eyes of Jesus. Ask him to help you see the purpose in your pain. And just like the blind man, have faith that he will.
Dear Lord,
Lately I admit that things have been so rough that I am having difficulty seeing the purpose in all the pain. I start out with a little bit of faith and hope but when things seem to come one after another, it's more difficult for me to see things thru your eyes. Today I am putting on my divine glasses. Help me to see the good in people around me. Also help me to see the good in myself so that I can work to achieve the purpose you have for my life. In the most wonderful name of Jesus. Amen
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Who's Standing Guard?
Have you heard the saying 'you are what you eat' and 'if you put nothing but garbage in, then you will get nothing but garbage out'. Who in your life have you become a permanent dumping ground for? Have you become so consumed with negative thoughts that you walk around with a bad attitude all day, every day?
The Bible tells us in Phillipians 4:8-9, "And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter, Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you". I would suggest that you read the all of Phillipians Chapter 4. Right before Paul talks to us about our thoughts he tells us not to worry about anything but in everything with prayer and petition present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I don't know about you but most of my negative thought come from worrying. I worry about whether or not I am going to pass my test. I worry about whether or not I'm going to have enough finances to pay my bills for the month. I worry about my family. And not only do I sometimes let those thoughts consume me but I also allow the worries of others to consume me as well. Then on top of that I have the thoughts that don't have anything to do with the worries of life but just with the people and things that frustrate me. And once I start to think one negative thing it amazes me how much it grows.
What I must learn to do is guard my heart against those thoughts of negativity. I have to learn how to bring those thoughts under submission to the Lord. I must pray daily, and sometimes several times a day to ask God to take over my mind and fill my heart with things above. I must change my diet from that of junk to that of the Word of God. I have to stop answering the phone for those people who I know never have anything good to say about anything or anybody. I must think about the things that are excellent and praiseworthy. Did you know that if you make it a point to thing about the things God has done for you even before you start to tell him about your problems that most of the time you will forget about your problems? Stop allowing negativity to consume your heart and your mind.
This week I challenge you, don't allow those normal thoughts of negativity to creep into your mind. Begin each day with prayer and submit your thoughts to God. Even in your darkest hour you can always find a reason to praise the Lord. He's been just that good.
Dear Lord,
It's just so natural for me to worry but I don't want to do it anymore. I don't like how I behave when I let those thoughts consume me. It doesn't make me a very nice person. (Take a moment and tell God those things that you are worried about.) Today, I submit all of those thoughts to you, my worries, my feelings of frustration. I ask you to stand guard at the gate of my heart and my mind. Thank you Lord for your insulation power. In the most Wonderful Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
The Bible tells us in Phillipians 4:8-9, "And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter, Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you". I would suggest that you read the all of Phillipians Chapter 4. Right before Paul talks to us about our thoughts he tells us not to worry about anything but in everything with prayer and petition present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. I don't know about you but most of my negative thought come from worrying. I worry about whether or not I am going to pass my test. I worry about whether or not I'm going to have enough finances to pay my bills for the month. I worry about my family. And not only do I sometimes let those thoughts consume me but I also allow the worries of others to consume me as well. Then on top of that I have the thoughts that don't have anything to do with the worries of life but just with the people and things that frustrate me. And once I start to think one negative thing it amazes me how much it grows.
What I must learn to do is guard my heart against those thoughts of negativity. I have to learn how to bring those thoughts under submission to the Lord. I must pray daily, and sometimes several times a day to ask God to take over my mind and fill my heart with things above. I must change my diet from that of junk to that of the Word of God. I have to stop answering the phone for those people who I know never have anything good to say about anything or anybody. I must think about the things that are excellent and praiseworthy. Did you know that if you make it a point to thing about the things God has done for you even before you start to tell him about your problems that most of the time you will forget about your problems? Stop allowing negativity to consume your heart and your mind.
This week I challenge you, don't allow those normal thoughts of negativity to creep into your mind. Begin each day with prayer and submit your thoughts to God. Even in your darkest hour you can always find a reason to praise the Lord. He's been just that good.
Dear Lord,
It's just so natural for me to worry but I don't want to do it anymore. I don't like how I behave when I let those thoughts consume me. It doesn't make me a very nice person. (Take a moment and tell God those things that you are worried about.) Today, I submit all of those thoughts to you, my worries, my feelings of frustration. I ask you to stand guard at the gate of my heart and my mind. Thank you Lord for your insulation power. In the most Wonderful Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Friday, May 7, 2010
I Trust You Lord
Do you trust God? I mean really trust God. When times are tough and you can't see your way out do you pray about it and leave it in God's hands? Or do you take it upon yourself to try and fix the situation. If I am being completely honest I would have to say that I often times pick it back up and try to handle it myself.
By the time I was five years old I had learned Proverbs 3:5-6. My parents were really big on scripture memorization, so right along with our school work we had to learn scriptures. (Thank you mom and dad for that.) This verse was an easy one to learn but I have to say that I didn't learn the true concept of trusting in the Lord until I was in my 30's. I said I trusted him but most of the time that was just words. If there was something that I ultimately believed I could do myself then I said I trust you Lord. Like when I had a bill due that I knew I wouldn't be able to pay this month but I knew that I could call the utility company and get an extension until the next month when my bonus check was coming. But what about the things I didn't have control over - like when I lost my job and wasn't geting any hits on my resume for months and the bills started piling up. Sure I could call and get the extension but I didn't have that bonus check coming in. As a matter of fact, I didn't even have a paycheck coming in. Or when I went to the doctor and the initial results were okay but then two days later I received a call from the doctor with not so favorable news. I didn't have any control over that. What was I supposed to do? I didn't realize that true trust in the Lord came when I realized nothing was in my control. I had to get to the point that no matter what, and in everything, I came to rely completely on the Lord.
Let's take a closer look at Proverbs 3:5-6. These two verses are full of verbs - action words. That means you need to do something. First you need to trust. Trust is defined as assured reliance on the character, ability or strength of someone. Let's take a logical look at this. It means that you have looked at the gains and losses, calculated the expected utility based on hard performance data, and concluded that the person in question will behave in a predictable manner. In laymen terms, it means you looked at your life with and without the Lord, you thought about what he has already done for you and you decided that he is faithful to do what he has promised. Then we are told to 'lean not unto thy own understanding'. I'll say it again - sometimes we are our own worse enemies. Sometimes we don't see things clearly. We have a one-sided view. When someone has done me wrong, I just want to get them back. Not realizing that I am only making matters worse. When you lean on something, you place all your weight on that object. My mom just had knee surgery and has to use crutches. It was funny because she had to be taught to use the crutches. Why? Because she was used to relying on the use of both her legs. We are no different. We have come to rely on our own ability, even in times of crisis. Instead of putting our trust in God, we continue to worry. We are in pain, yet we think we can make it on our own, when all we have to do is lean. Then we are told to acknowledge him in all our ways. This means in everything we do. We give God credit and 'carte blanche' permission to act on our behalf. Now I don't know about you but if there is anyone I feel comfortable giving this kind of access to every facet of my life - it's the Lord.
So after trusting, leaning and acknowledging, God then tells us what he will do for us. He will direct our paths. That's good new ya'll. Because I don't know about you, but as I travel along this journey called life and I think about how many times God has directed me around some roadblocks, over some mountains and thru some valleys, I am so grateful. He didn't leave me to my own devices. He told me when to stop, when to yield and when to move forward. And each and every time I came out victorious. Now when I say I trust you Lord, I mean it. I believe Jesus can work it out, if you let him. You see that problem that I had, I could not seem to solve I tried and I tried, I just kept getting deeper involved. Then I turned it over to Jesus. And I stopped worrying about it. I gave it over to the Lord and he worked it out!
Dear Lord,
I admit that I struggle with trusting you with every aspect of my life. I still want to have control. Today I am turning everything over to you. I'm not gonna worry about it anymore. I believe you will work it out for me. Thank you for your guidance. In Jesus' Name Amen.
By the time I was five years old I had learned Proverbs 3:5-6. My parents were really big on scripture memorization, so right along with our school work we had to learn scriptures. (Thank you mom and dad for that.) This verse was an easy one to learn but I have to say that I didn't learn the true concept of trusting in the Lord until I was in my 30's. I said I trusted him but most of the time that was just words. If there was something that I ultimately believed I could do myself then I said I trust you Lord. Like when I had a bill due that I knew I wouldn't be able to pay this month but I knew that I could call the utility company and get an extension until the next month when my bonus check was coming. But what about the things I didn't have control over - like when I lost my job and wasn't geting any hits on my resume for months and the bills started piling up. Sure I could call and get the extension but I didn't have that bonus check coming in. As a matter of fact, I didn't even have a paycheck coming in. Or when I went to the doctor and the initial results were okay but then two days later I received a call from the doctor with not so favorable news. I didn't have any control over that. What was I supposed to do? I didn't realize that true trust in the Lord came when I realized nothing was in my control. I had to get to the point that no matter what, and in everything, I came to rely completely on the Lord.
Let's take a closer look at Proverbs 3:5-6. These two verses are full of verbs - action words. That means you need to do something. First you need to trust. Trust is defined as assured reliance on the character, ability or strength of someone. Let's take a logical look at this. It means that you have looked at the gains and losses, calculated the expected utility based on hard performance data, and concluded that the person in question will behave in a predictable manner. In laymen terms, it means you looked at your life with and without the Lord, you thought about what he has already done for you and you decided that he is faithful to do what he has promised. Then we are told to 'lean not unto thy own understanding'. I'll say it again - sometimes we are our own worse enemies. Sometimes we don't see things clearly. We have a one-sided view. When someone has done me wrong, I just want to get them back. Not realizing that I am only making matters worse. When you lean on something, you place all your weight on that object. My mom just had knee surgery and has to use crutches. It was funny because she had to be taught to use the crutches. Why? Because she was used to relying on the use of both her legs. We are no different. We have come to rely on our own ability, even in times of crisis. Instead of putting our trust in God, we continue to worry. We are in pain, yet we think we can make it on our own, when all we have to do is lean. Then we are told to acknowledge him in all our ways. This means in everything we do. We give God credit and 'carte blanche' permission to act on our behalf. Now I don't know about you but if there is anyone I feel comfortable giving this kind of access to every facet of my life - it's the Lord.
So after trusting, leaning and acknowledging, God then tells us what he will do for us. He will direct our paths. That's good new ya'll. Because I don't know about you, but as I travel along this journey called life and I think about how many times God has directed me around some roadblocks, over some mountains and thru some valleys, I am so grateful. He didn't leave me to my own devices. He told me when to stop, when to yield and when to move forward. And each and every time I came out victorious. Now when I say I trust you Lord, I mean it. I believe Jesus can work it out, if you let him. You see that problem that I had, I could not seem to solve I tried and I tried, I just kept getting deeper involved. Then I turned it over to Jesus. And I stopped worrying about it. I gave it over to the Lord and he worked it out!
Dear Lord,
I admit that I struggle with trusting you with every aspect of my life. I still want to have control. Today I am turning everything over to you. I'm not gonna worry about it anymore. I believe you will work it out for me. Thank you for your guidance. In Jesus' Name Amen.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So!
A question was posed on Facebook as to why must people post a Bible verse every two seconds or is it really necessary to be praising the Lord like that at a stop light. My response was simple...you don't know my story.
Read Psalms 107. Take a moment to truly reflect on the words and how they apply to your life. I'll give you just a tidbit. 'Give thanks to the Lord , for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.....some wandered in the desert, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. "Lord, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. (v1-2,4-6)
The mere words of this Psalms bring a shout to my lips. You see, these words are the story of my life. I know that I am what I am because of the grace of God. He saved me from the very jaws of death. God wants you to share what he has done for you. And he will provide just the right opportunity for you to do so. Whether at work, at school, at the grocery store, at church or even in your own home. God wants to be a constant thought in your mind and when he is then you can't help but talk about him. You begin to acknowledge him and thank him for the little things. That 'A' you made on your final exam. The close parking space at Walmart. Your quick reflexes that caused you to avoid that car accident. That time you know you didn't do the right thing, yet when you called to the Lord he came and rescued you. He didn't say, 'I told you so'.
Whatever God has done in your life, you need to share it. Whatever platform God gives you is prime time to tell of God's goodness. Use every available opportunity you have to be a blessing to someone in need. And don't worry about the naysayers and those who may become irritated by your profession of faith...if you can just help one somebody as you travel along, if you can cheer somebody with a word or a song, if you can show somebody that he's traveling wrong, then your living shall not be in vain.
Dear Lord,
I just want to say thank you. (Take the time to tell the Lord specifically what you thank him for.) Sometimes I have been a little hesitant to share my testimony. Help me to be more aware of the platform you have given me to be a witness for you so that others may come to know the wonderful God I serve. In Jesus' Name Amen.
Read Psalms 107. Take a moment to truly reflect on the words and how they apply to your life. I'll give you just a tidbit. 'Give thanks to the Lord , for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.....some wandered in the desert, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. "Lord, help!" they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. (v1-2,4-6)
The mere words of this Psalms bring a shout to my lips. You see, these words are the story of my life. I know that I am what I am because of the grace of God. He saved me from the very jaws of death. God wants you to share what he has done for you. And he will provide just the right opportunity for you to do so. Whether at work, at school, at the grocery store, at church or even in your own home. God wants to be a constant thought in your mind and when he is then you can't help but talk about him. You begin to acknowledge him and thank him for the little things. That 'A' you made on your final exam. The close parking space at Walmart. Your quick reflexes that caused you to avoid that car accident. That time you know you didn't do the right thing, yet when you called to the Lord he came and rescued you. He didn't say, 'I told you so'.
Whatever God has done in your life, you need to share it. Whatever platform God gives you is prime time to tell of God's goodness. Use every available opportunity you have to be a blessing to someone in need. And don't worry about the naysayers and those who may become irritated by your profession of faith...if you can just help one somebody as you travel along, if you can cheer somebody with a word or a song, if you can show somebody that he's traveling wrong, then your living shall not be in vain.
Dear Lord,
I just want to say thank you. (Take the time to tell the Lord specifically what you thank him for.) Sometimes I have been a little hesitant to share my testimony. Help me to be more aware of the platform you have given me to be a witness for you so that others may come to know the wonderful God I serve. In Jesus' Name Amen.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
What Kind of Friend Are You?
I have often heard the expression, 'Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than any brother'. So I decided to look deeper into the Word and see what it had to say about friendship. You see, in my life I have had friends come and friends go. Some I considered to be a great loss and was deeply hurt by it and others I didn't feel anything because in my reflection I realized that they had not been true friends in the first place.
As I looked in the Bible, I came across the story of David and Jonathan. What a great story about true friendship. When you have time ready I Samuel Chapter 18 - 20. Even though Jonathan was the son of David's enemy, King Saul, he remained faithful to his friend. Theres was a bond that was not easily broken. And when their friendship was tested it only became stronger. You see their friendship was built on their commitment to God. I have found that is difficult to treat someone bad when you think about all God has done for you, in spite of you. There friendship was also built on honesty. They were able to share everything. When Jonathan learned of his father's plot to kill David he didn't keep that information from him. He even spoke to his father on David's behalf. Now how easy would it have been for him to move to the side of his father, his own flesh and blood. Yet he valued the friendship that he and David shared. It was about more than what they could do for one another. It was about a love that was shared between the two of them. A love that didn't want to see any harm come to either one of them. Proverbs 18:24 says that in order to have a friend, you must first show yourself friendly. Often times we have more of a 'what's in it for me mentality'. Don't get me wrong there are times that your friendships may require you to give more, depending on the situation. Just remember that friendships are not one-sided. There is mutual bond that joins you together. There is a desire to want what's best for the other person. Outside forces can't stop you from having a relationship with that person. There may be times you have to ask for forgiveness. There may be times when you have to forgive. But before you start to cut off a friend, ask yourself the question - 'What Kind of Friend Are You?' John 15:13 says, ' the greatest love is show when people lay down their lives for their friends'.
My challenge for you today is to take a close look at the friendships in your life. Are they a value-add? Before you answer this, first ask yourself what type of friend have you been. A true friend listens, encourages, gives and even sacrifices. This is not an exercise for you to start cutting people out of your life, for I believe the Bible is about self-improvement, but about another chance for you to be the type of friend God wants us to be. Make a conscious effort to reach out to someone, and if necessary asks for forgiveness, renew your commitment to that person before the Lord, as David and Jonathan did.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for the sacrifice you made for me. I confess that I have not always been a good friend. (If led by the Spirit, be specific and name the person who you have not been a good friend to.) I value my friendships and I want them to continue to grow. I realize that I need your help to put myself aside and put someone else's needs before my own. Help me to be a better friend. In Jesus' Name Amen.
As I looked in the Bible, I came across the story of David and Jonathan. What a great story about true friendship. When you have time ready I Samuel Chapter 18 - 20. Even though Jonathan was the son of David's enemy, King Saul, he remained faithful to his friend. Theres was a bond that was not easily broken. And when their friendship was tested it only became stronger. You see their friendship was built on their commitment to God. I have found that is difficult to treat someone bad when you think about all God has done for you, in spite of you. There friendship was also built on honesty. They were able to share everything. When Jonathan learned of his father's plot to kill David he didn't keep that information from him. He even spoke to his father on David's behalf. Now how easy would it have been for him to move to the side of his father, his own flesh and blood. Yet he valued the friendship that he and David shared. It was about more than what they could do for one another. It was about a love that was shared between the two of them. A love that didn't want to see any harm come to either one of them. Proverbs 18:24 says that in order to have a friend, you must first show yourself friendly. Often times we have more of a 'what's in it for me mentality'. Don't get me wrong there are times that your friendships may require you to give more, depending on the situation. Just remember that friendships are not one-sided. There is mutual bond that joins you together. There is a desire to want what's best for the other person. Outside forces can't stop you from having a relationship with that person. There may be times you have to ask for forgiveness. There may be times when you have to forgive. But before you start to cut off a friend, ask yourself the question - 'What Kind of Friend Are You?' John 15:13 says, ' the greatest love is show when people lay down their lives for their friends'.
My challenge for you today is to take a close look at the friendships in your life. Are they a value-add? Before you answer this, first ask yourself what type of friend have you been. A true friend listens, encourages, gives and even sacrifices. This is not an exercise for you to start cutting people out of your life, for I believe the Bible is about self-improvement, but about another chance for you to be the type of friend God wants us to be. Make a conscious effort to reach out to someone, and if necessary asks for forgiveness, renew your commitment to that person before the Lord, as David and Jonathan did.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for the sacrifice you made for me. I confess that I have not always been a good friend. (If led by the Spirit, be specific and name the person who you have not been a good friend to.) I value my friendships and I want them to continue to grow. I realize that I need your help to put myself aside and put someone else's needs before my own. Help me to be a better friend. In Jesus' Name Amen.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Ordinary to Extraordinary
James Cleveland sang a song my parents used to play on our record player titled, 'Ordinary People'. The words of the song go like this: 'Ordinary people, ordinary people. God uses plain, old ordinary people. He uses people that will give their all. No matter how small your all may seem to you. Little becomes much, when you place it in the Master's hand'. What a powerful message!
It made me think of certain individuals in the Bible who went on to do great things for the Lord. Look at David, a mere shepherd boy, Jesse's son. One day, with the power of the Lord, was able to defeat Goliath ( a giant who stood about nine feet tall). Take a look at Moses, we all know he had a stuttering problem, but he was able to stand boldly before God's chosen people to lead them out of Egypt. Then there's Joshua, who out of obedience to the Lord, simply blew horns and marched and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. I could go on and on. But the question that I want to pose you today is what was the one similarity in all of these stories - they had the Lord on their side. Out of obedience to him they were able to defeat their opposition. They were able to move past obstacles standing in there way. Read Psalms 124.
There wasn't anything special about any of these individuals. Just like there isn't anything special about me and you. But when we turn our lives over to the touch of the Master and make an active decision to serve him, he is able to turn our ordinary into extraordinary. We are able to accomplish things that we couldn't have done by ourselves. Doors are opened that were once closed. We are able to help those that are in need of a little encouragement. Our enemies are left speechless, in awe of the power of the God we serve.
But we must remember that submission is key! God gave us free will and the only way he is able to work in our lives is that we must turn them over to him. None of these stories would have been possible if they hadn't listened to the voice of the Lord. Notice that there were often times others around them were telling them that they were crazy and that there was no way they could accomplish their mission. For some of them they had to fight against the voice in their own head, telling them they were nobody. Even so, they held on to the promises of God. They were obedient to his voice and because of this we all know the outcome. Ordinary became extraordinary!
My challenge to you today is take some time and just listen. Listen to what it is God is calling you to do. What opposition are you facing? Whether it's your own fears or those around you, submit it all to the Lord. When you are ready, let God know you up for the task. And then stand confidently knowing the Lord is on your side.
Dear Lord,
Today I admit my fear. I hear you speaking to me and yet I still hear all the noise around me. As of right now, I am turning it all over to you. I want to accomplish what it is you have planned for me to do. I know that I can with you on my side. I realize the skills and talents I possess are mediocre at best without you but I also know that with you, they become magnificent. Help me to walk in my purpose to achieve what it is you have set out for me to do. In Jesus' Wonderful Name. Amen.
It made me think of certain individuals in the Bible who went on to do great things for the Lord. Look at David, a mere shepherd boy, Jesse's son. One day, with the power of the Lord, was able to defeat Goliath ( a giant who stood about nine feet tall). Take a look at Moses, we all know he had a stuttering problem, but he was able to stand boldly before God's chosen people to lead them out of Egypt. Then there's Joshua, who out of obedience to the Lord, simply blew horns and marched and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. I could go on and on. But the question that I want to pose you today is what was the one similarity in all of these stories - they had the Lord on their side. Out of obedience to him they were able to defeat their opposition. They were able to move past obstacles standing in there way. Read Psalms 124.
There wasn't anything special about any of these individuals. Just like there isn't anything special about me and you. But when we turn our lives over to the touch of the Master and make an active decision to serve him, he is able to turn our ordinary into extraordinary. We are able to accomplish things that we couldn't have done by ourselves. Doors are opened that were once closed. We are able to help those that are in need of a little encouragement. Our enemies are left speechless, in awe of the power of the God we serve.
But we must remember that submission is key! God gave us free will and the only way he is able to work in our lives is that we must turn them over to him. None of these stories would have been possible if they hadn't listened to the voice of the Lord. Notice that there were often times others around them were telling them that they were crazy and that there was no way they could accomplish their mission. For some of them they had to fight against the voice in their own head, telling them they were nobody. Even so, they held on to the promises of God. They were obedient to his voice and because of this we all know the outcome. Ordinary became extraordinary!
My challenge to you today is take some time and just listen. Listen to what it is God is calling you to do. What opposition are you facing? Whether it's your own fears or those around you, submit it all to the Lord. When you are ready, let God know you up for the task. And then stand confidently knowing the Lord is on your side.
Dear Lord,
Today I admit my fear. I hear you speaking to me and yet I still hear all the noise around me. As of right now, I am turning it all over to you. I want to accomplish what it is you have planned for me to do. I know that I can with you on my side. I realize the skills and talents I possess are mediocre at best without you but I also know that with you, they become magnificent. Help me to walk in my purpose to achieve what it is you have set out for me to do. In Jesus' Wonderful Name. Amen.
Monday, May 3, 2010
And Thy Neighbor As Thyself
I have a good friend who always tells me how good I am, how much I encourage her and how much she loves me. Sometimes when she tells me I look at her like, 'you're kidding right'. I'm nobody. There is nothing special about me. And then I would take the focus off me and put it back on her. Now there is nothing wrong with this on the surface. But there was a problem at the root of it all. I was having a problem with loving myself. I didn't see in me what God saw in me. I thought I was just being selfless, not trying to be too proud. I knew I had a long way to go, so no need to thank me. The one thing that she saw in me that I didn't see in myself was the outpouring of God's love.
It made me think about my life. Why didn't I love myself? Part of the reason was because I had come to rely on what others thought of me. You see while this one particular friend had kind words to say to me, there were several others who did not. I had learned to believe more of the bad than the good. There must be something wrong with me because Mary Jane doesn't like me. Bobby doesn't love me anymore. The one thing I didn't stop to do, while I was allowing all this to build up on the inside of me, was ask God how he saw me.
What does God see when he looks at his children? He sees the same thing that I see when I look at my children - someone he loves unconditionally. He see someone who has faults that he looks beyond to the true need. He sees someone who desires to be better. He sees someone that he loved so much that he sacrificed his only son so that I might have the right to the tree of life. And in the words of Marvin Sapp, 'He saw the best in me'.
The Bible tells us, 'Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. but anyone who does not love does not know God - for God is love. (I John 4:7-8) Read I John 4:7-21. As a child of God you have God living inside you and God is love. It took me a long time to learn that you must have God in order to love. And in order to give God's type of love to others, you must first learn to love yourself. Have you ever heard the expression - you can't truly love somebody else until you love yourself. This is very true. When you are really able to accept and appreciate the love God has for you, that selfless kind of love, then you will be able to give that same love to others around you. It reminds me of verse I learned in Bible school, 'Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, soul and mind, and thy neighbor as thyself'. You see if I was only seeing my faults and flaws, instead of a work in progress, then that is all I would be able to see in others. I might be able to say that I loved him/her but would I be able to forgive. Would I be able to sacrifice for the betterment of the relationship? These are all questions I encourage you to think about. Take a naked look at yourself (this doesn't mean take off your clothes). It simply means take off the masks and uncover the scars you work so hard to cover-up and take a good look in the mirror and see yourself as God sees you. And after you do this then make a conscious choice to give that same type of love to someone else.
Dear Lord,
I confess that I am broken, scarred, bruised up and tired. Tired of making the same mistakes. Tired of not forgiving myself for those mistakes even though I've confessed them to you and I know that you have already forgiven me. Please help me to see myself thru your eyes. I want to love myself. And Lord help me to show true love, love that only comes from you to ___________. I realize that without a clear understanding and acceptance of your love I could not love ________________ anyway. Thank you Lord for loving me. In Jesus' Name Amen.
It made me think about my life. Why didn't I love myself? Part of the reason was because I had come to rely on what others thought of me. You see while this one particular friend had kind words to say to me, there were several others who did not. I had learned to believe more of the bad than the good. There must be something wrong with me because Mary Jane doesn't like me. Bobby doesn't love me anymore. The one thing I didn't stop to do, while I was allowing all this to build up on the inside of me, was ask God how he saw me.
What does God see when he looks at his children? He sees the same thing that I see when I look at my children - someone he loves unconditionally. He see someone who has faults that he looks beyond to the true need. He sees someone who desires to be better. He sees someone that he loved so much that he sacrificed his only son so that I might have the right to the tree of life. And in the words of Marvin Sapp, 'He saw the best in me'.
The Bible tells us, 'Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. but anyone who does not love does not know God - for God is love. (I John 4:7-8) Read I John 4:7-21. As a child of God you have God living inside you and God is love. It took me a long time to learn that you must have God in order to love. And in order to give God's type of love to others, you must first learn to love yourself. Have you ever heard the expression - you can't truly love somebody else until you love yourself. This is very true. When you are really able to accept and appreciate the love God has for you, that selfless kind of love, then you will be able to give that same love to others around you. It reminds me of verse I learned in Bible school, 'Love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, soul and mind, and thy neighbor as thyself'. You see if I was only seeing my faults and flaws, instead of a work in progress, then that is all I would be able to see in others. I might be able to say that I loved him/her but would I be able to forgive. Would I be able to sacrifice for the betterment of the relationship? These are all questions I encourage you to think about. Take a naked look at yourself (this doesn't mean take off your clothes). It simply means take off the masks and uncover the scars you work so hard to cover-up and take a good look in the mirror and see yourself as God sees you. And after you do this then make a conscious choice to give that same type of love to someone else.
Dear Lord,
I confess that I am broken, scarred, bruised up and tired. Tired of making the same mistakes. Tired of not forgiving myself for those mistakes even though I've confessed them to you and I know that you have already forgiven me. Please help me to see myself thru your eyes. I want to love myself. And Lord help me to show true love, love that only comes from you to ___________. I realize that without a clear understanding and acceptance of your love I could not love ________________ anyway. Thank you Lord for loving me. In Jesus' Name Amen.
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