Category: life lesson

Perspective

“While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (1 Cor. 4:18)

Sometimes I look at life with eyes of disbelief. How is it certain things in my life go the way they do? Or why do some people act the way they act? Heck, why do I act and think like I do? My precious Pearl girl here, she is always looking at things from a different perspective, she makes it seem so simple. I try to look at things from a different perspective because I/we naturally believe everyone sees things from my/our perspective, that is SO NOT true. I/ We tend to get caught up in the temporal things in life, when really, I/we should be more focused on what’s lasting, what is real, things we don’t have to question or at the least shouldn’t question. I am trying to make it my goal to be more like this scripture above. While looking at something or someone I actually consider certain factors such as what God might be up to. We don’t have a clue what God is doing, so to think one way and one way only doesn’t even make sense. There is always a BIGGER picture. My husband just gave me an illustration of Jonah. Jonah thought God should just wipe out the people of Nineveh, but that was not God’s perspective. So, you can see where perspective in this case would be getting a new perspective or end up in the belly of a whale for three days. Not only that, but Jonah’s perspective didn’t allow for the well-being of others. He could have caused a dire jeopardy for himself as well as others had he disobeyed God. Read the whole story in the book of Jonah. How about the story of Jesus and the devil where the devil says to Jesus, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” That was after 40 days in the dessert, no food, no water. (Luke 4:3-4) See the difference in how the devil perceived hunger vs how Jesus perceived hunger? The enemy as well as ourselves will get us focused on temporal things, even false things. We Christians must continually discipline ourselves to focus on eternal realities, instead of the temporal realities of this earth. We all could use a new view on things, a sense of awareness and understanding to the things and people around us. Maybe we should go deeper in our intuition, that place where the Holy Spirit dwells, where real discernment lives. That is just my perception of things.

Tired

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:28-30)

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him.” (Ps. 62:1) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Ps. 46:1) “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jer. 31:25)

Feelings of exhaustion this morning. I’ve been having crazy dreams at night, leaving me feeling like I didn’t even sleep when I get up. My physical body is overly worn from doing things that are better left for a woman half my age. Yet I find encouragement in knowing when it seems I have nothing left to give physically or mentally, that God never tires and He gives me strength when I need it. These verses are a reminder of that. As hard as it is to write this morning, I am reminded of the word I am holding myself accountable to this year is, “Intentional.” I have come to know the importance of submission and obedience to my Father, God. I know He is the Author of my faith and His Holy Spirit dwells inside of me, He gives me words to speak when I do not know what to say. This morning is one of those mornings. Of course I give Him glory for every writing, because I know without Him, I could never write anything in the first place. My service in writing this Blog is more of a service to the Lord, showing my diligence, not being lazy or doing it half-heartedly. I guess that’s the point of my writing today, stay diligent, don’t be lazy in doing what God has called you too. Give Him your best, He surely is giving you, His best.

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:11)

Don’t Look Back

Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold I do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. (Is. 43:18-19)

Looking back is often associated with turning back to sin, as in the photo above; Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:26) There was a time when I would look back at my early years in life and say, “those were the good ‘ole days.” A lot of those memories were full of carnal behaviors and my sinful nature. I may have been a bit like Lot’s wife; reluctant to leave. Oh, how I thank you Father for mercy & grace. I can see now, those really weren’t the good ‘ole days. My flesh was being fed, but my spirit man wasn’t. God had way better days in store for me. In (Isaiah 43:18) the Lord commanded the people not to remember the past, it would be of no significance, He was establishing something new. Just as we should no longer look back at our regrets, it can be dangerous in keeping us from our ability to follow Christ. Condemnation is not of God, conviction is. If God is convicting you about something from your past it is likely you simply need to fall to your knees and repent, so that you can receive freedom from that. Don’t keep going back and revisiting that past sin, habit or hurt. Allow God to forgive you, heal you and move on. (Be sure to forgive yourself to.) Paul expresses the need to let go of the past failures and move forward toward the goals in Christ (Philippians 3:13-14) (paraphrased) not to dwell on the past because God is doing a new work in us. If we spend too much time looking back, we can become discouraged and find ourselves right back in that sin or carnal thinking, etc. (2 Cor. 5:17) says, [Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”] We as believers are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. Don’t go back digging up dirt, that old man is buried. I know at times I speak of things in my past that are not pretty. They are not pleasant for me to have to remember, but when I do it is only to give glory to God, because He saved me from those things, He set my feet upon the Rock and turned my life around. GLORY to Him! This is Productive Remembering: While negative dwelling is discouraged, the Bible advocates for looking back to remember God’s faithfulness and deeds, which encourages current trust (Psalm 136). Leave the past with God and walk forward in faith. Don’t Look Back!

Come A Little Closer

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8)

When I have difficulty seeing something, I will often use my magnifying glass to get a closer look. Today I am getting a closer look at God and relationship with Him. In this scripture we have a biblical promise highlighting a reciprocal relationship: as believers move toward God through prayer, repentance, and obedience, He moves toward them. It is a two-way relationship. Have you ever tried being in a relationship with just yourself? What do you have to offer yourself? What can you receive from yourself? At any point in this one way relationship is there anything tangible? What are you building by yourself? When we align our lives with God, we can be assured of His presence, strength, and grace, which helps build character and faith. When we humble ourself before the Lord, He promises to lift us up. How good are you at lifting yourself up? I know I cannot bring about joy to myself, I cannot do anything in my own strength, it requires an act of God, literally, for things to come out right in my life. If you want to get closer to God it is going to require cultivating a deeper, more intentional relationship through daily spiritual disciplines. Some things you can put into practice are; studying scripture, persistent prayer and worship. Surrender is a Big one, give control of your life back to God, especially during the difficult times. Learn to understand the nature of God and the life of Jesus, His teachings and the miracles He did. Approach God with reverence, respect the Divine Holiness, recognizing Him as both a loving parent and a sovereign authority. God is always close, constant and unchanging, how close are you in relationship with yourself? I know at times I have even lied to myself. God is not man, therefore He cannot lie. How surefooted are you? do you ever change? Can you really count on yourself? Can you remove all fear from yourself? God can and will. Why do we pretend to have it all together and think we can do this life on our own? Truth is, we will never succeed at it without God’s help. According to the Bible, God created humans in His image to have intimate fellowship with Him. This relational purpose means humanity was designed to walk with God and with others, rather than to exist in isolation. So, draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you.

Living On A Prayer, Just Not Mine

The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16b)

This is me when I was a baby. I don’t know who was the first to begin praying for me, whether before I was born, after or even now I don’t know everyone that prays for me. What I do know is there has always been someone praying for me. I also know my life would have turned out very differently had they not been. There is real purpose in prayer, if that were not true why would God tell us to pray for each other? Here are a few reasons why we pray for others: Protection, strength when they are weak, to know God’s will and to grow in wisdom, for boldness to share the Gospel. I just received a message today from a friend, asking me to pray just that for her. She wanted me to pray for opportunities as well as boldness & clarity as she entered the streets to spread the Gospel, we call it “Street-ministry.” The Word says in, (Colossians 4:3-4) “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” That scripture makes it clear to me, I had a responsibility to pray the prayer of agreement in that area for her. We should also pray for missionaries and church leaders, our government official’s, our President, all who have been given charge over us. The Bible calls this kind of prayer intercession -a responsibility, a command, and an act of love. I can say now, I was loved from the beginning of time, my time that is. First, God loved me enough that He thought it was necessary for me to be born. Side note to self, “I have purpose.” Then He gave charge or the responsibility of those who loved me to intercede on my behalf. My life was not a fairy tale by no means. I was not a planned pregnancy and to hear my mother tell me how I was conceived was very sad. I would have liked to believe my life began as a love story, but not so. I have heard both sides of the story from both my parents and neither side is one anyone would want. There were attacks on my life right from the start, beginning with a tumor that they were having trouble diagnosing, praise be to God for discernment on the doctors part that determined what it was and surgery was a win for me. I lived through some really tough times as a child of an extremely young mother and a stepfather that was rather hateful towards me most of my childhood, which I will not go into details, but I will say, I ended up in foster care for a period of time. My biofather was sexually abusive to me so that caused a whole other set of issues for me then, as well as later in life. By 15, I was trying to end my life. Obviously someone was praying, someone or someones had been praying all along. So, you see even though people are praying for you, doesn’t mean you won’t go through things in life. What it does mean, God is hearing those petitioning Him on your behalf and He is making a way for you to get through it. This is important, I believe, in my sharing of my childhood; when I was 12 I received Jesus into my heart, obviously I did not know Him then like I do now, but He was with me everyday from that day forward. I have heard, 12 is the age of accountability, so it looks like my first right choice in life had been made. Meanwhile this I do know, my step-grandfather was the first person to my knowing that was praying for me, that is considered an act of love; and a responsibility, being he was a Minister of a Church, which by the way I was spending the week with him and my grandmother for Vacation Bible School when I gave my life to Jesus. Quick summary of the next 20 years; after attempted suicide, I got hooked on drugs and alcohol. I’d be here all day if I went into all the places in life that took me, but I will share more of that at a later time. “People are praying!” Fast forward, I’m now 32 and about to rededicate my life to the Lord. See He never left me, not one minute in those 20 years, He was closer than a brother, I just wasn’t aware of that, though I’m about to be. Next, I’m Thirty-three, I’m down on my knees surrendering ALL not knowing how I made it this far, when I am reminded by an aunt, all the days before this, that my family had been praying for me. Today I am 63 years old and I pray for everyone. I have come to know the importance of prayer in a persons life first hand. Prayer is a powerful tool and like I said before, an act of love. If you love someone pray for them, If someone you love hurt you, pray for them, there is power in that prayer. You will open the door for restoration, deliverance, reconciliation, so many other things through fervent/heartfelt prayer. Food for thought: Imitate Christ, who is continually interceding for us who believe, and carry each other’s burdens through prayer.

Focus

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)

I have often spent hours and at times days looking for God. “Where are You, Lord?” “I can’t see you anywhere” “Have you left me? Do you not care what I’m going through?” That is some of the questions I would find myself saying, all the while knowing He is there, He hears me, He loves me, He cares what I am going through. But I really wasn’t focused on finding Him, I was in panic mode. At times I would be looking at my problems like that needle in the haystack, they were so BIG that was all I could see. Instead of looking at God, who is even BIGGER than that. That scripture in Jeremiah speaks that to me; when I search for Him with all my heart, I’ll find Him. Not when I’m so focused on my problem or situation I’m going through, NO, when I am whole-heartedly seeking after Him, FOCUSED on finding Him! God is always waiting on us to cry out to Him, but with our whole heart, trusting Him, not just hoping He will hear us or show up. I can’t tell you how many times over my life span, I’ve worried about finances. Before I was a believer well of course I was my own god, so I’d just try to figure it all out and if it worked great; if not I’d try something else, but when I became a believer in Christ, that made the real change. Not saying I didn’t get off kilter at times, but I now knew who was my source and who to go searching for over my finances. Can I just say, EVERY time I have searched with my whole heart, God has shown up. I’m not saying every time my finances where in dire straight did He bail me out immediately, but He did give me direction as to what to do and what not to do anymore, if I didn’t want to go through that again. Ya know, He’s a Daddy, just tak’n care of His girl, daddy’s have to do a little correcting at times. So, God is not a needle in the haystack, if He were He’d be like the one in the picture above. God is accessible, he desires to be found, and a rewarder of those who diligently seek His presence, strength and righteousness. Here are just a few other scriptures you can refer too; (Deut. 4:29): “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Hebrews 11:6): …he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”. and one more I’ll share, (Matt. 7:7-8): :Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will opened to you.” So remember, it is your “whole heart” He is after and if you will search for Him with that, you will find Him.

Standing On the Rock

And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.” (Exodus 33:21)

Isn’t is amazing that Moses would experience the Lord who is the Rock, while standing on the rock. Moses was known by God and found grace in His sight (Ex. 33:12-13). It’s almost like reading a love story. First Moses sees and talks to God as one would to a friend. From a distance, the people saw the pillar and recognized the presence of God, but only Moses could come near the pillar, God’s Prescence. “My Presence” means literally in Hebrew, “MY Face.” God’s promise of His Presence with His people was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, which is where we get “On the Rock, I stand” (1 Cor. 10:4). Christ is the Rock on which I stand. He provides me with stability during the rough times in my life when I don’t think I can stand anymore (Matt. 7:24-26) He is my refuge, shelter and source of strength when I am feeling weak and scared. (Ps. 18:2) In times of temptation He has made a way for me to escape, that I may be able to bear it (1 Cor. 10:13) Here is a promise for you; He will give every believer the grace and power to endure. If you are feeling stress, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, lack of direction, instability, weak or unloved; He’s your Rock. Stand in Him, His Word, His truths, His love. His Love never fails (1 Cor.13:8 ) “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psalm 40:2) That’s not just scripture; that’s what He did for me! He is not a respecter of persons, if He did it for me, He’ll do it for you.

What’s Around the Corner?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6)

So many times in my life I’ve wondered this question. I sense the Lord directing me somewhere, but not sure where I’m headed. What will this place look like, who will be there? Am I even sure this is a place I should be going. What is around that corner? Yet, I am always encouraged by His Word, “Trust.” He is going to guide me. I don’t have to understand and I certainly don’t need to try to rely on my understanding of things, because I can really think some crazy kinda ways at times, just say’n. Because I know Him so well it’s like going to a chair to sit down at the table and I don’t even think about it, I just pull the chair out and sit down. I never ever thought for one minute that that chair was not going to hold or support me once I sat in it. That’s the kind of trust I have in my Father God. I am relying on His character; who He is, His faithfulness and guidance. Sometimes I can get off course a bit, well maybe a lot, but when that happens if I will seek Him; He says, “I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity.” (Jer. 29:14) See, we don’t even have to worry if we have made a wrong turn along the way, He is always with us, watching and making a way for us to get to our final destination. (Joshua 1:9) says, “Do not be afraid or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” I just want to encourage you today, if you sense God calling you somewhere and fear is keeping you from making that corner, my word for you would be, TRUST!

Meditate-Reflect-Ruminate

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

To meditate means much more than contemplation. The idea is we should reflect upon God’s Word in a thoughtful way; Allowing those truths to become personal and applying them to our lives. I love what is says in (Psalms 1:2-3) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the river of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. I talk to God all day long, I ask Him things regarding my day, but sometimes in the asking it requires me to stop for a moment and go to the Word, find what it is I’m looking for and then meditate/ruminate on that for a bit. It’s an ongoing relationship with the Word, it shapes my thoughts and my actions; causing me to less likely make as many mistakes in my life, that is, if I’m obedient to the Word. This is a good practice to get in to, it is God speaking to us through His Word. “Day” represents conscious study and application of the Word to daily decisions. “Night” represents letting the Word dwell in the mind as the last thought, allowing it to take root in the subconscious. The goal of “Success”: to bring about prosperity, not just material gain, but the ability to be unshaken (“your leaf unshaken does not wither”) like in the scripture regarding the tree planted by the river. If we will get in the habit of getting in the Word and meditating on it, the Word tells us we will become “firmly planted” meaning we will be spiritually nourished and ready for whatever life throws our way. We have a truth to stand on, we become unmovable regardless of the circumstances. Make this the desire of your heart, to know God, know His Word; implant His Word in your heart and meditate on it day and night. Be intentional, it’s divine wisdom!

Mooo…ve

And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap. (Joshua 3:13)

While God is the ultimate initiator, He works through our obedience and movement. So, like in this verse in Joshua chapter 3 we see the priests had been given instruction as to how, when and where to go in moving the ark of the covenant of the Lord. The priests had to STEP into the Joran River before God parted the water, showing that God moves when we act on faith. Faith and obedience go hand in hand here. Even when the path is unclear or fearful, obedience in moving is viewed as an act of faith that aligns with God’s will and allows miracles to happen. Back in the late ’90s we had an evangelist visit our home church in Texas. His title for his message this particular night was, “I’ve never seen a buzzard eating a moving cow.” You know what? me either. His message had to do with the part we play in our miracles, blessings, etc. and that part is called “moving.” It requires putting our focus on our creator, His will, and when He calls for a move it’s not an option, because God is already at the destination, it’s called obedience. Next time you find yourself waiting on God to move, you might ask God if He is waiting on you to move?