Looking to Man instead of GOD

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 5:8-10

Today I was reminded of how truly fallible I am. Most of my life I jumped from relationship to relationship. I had envisioned a perfect partner for me and thought that if I found a man who had most of the qualities I could change the rest of him to be my idea of perfect for me. Every time I tried to do this I failed.

I had finally realized after many years that I could be happy to live my life without a man. I was content raising my children, going to work, and planning a life for after my children were raised. I had GOD in my life but I wasn't serving him.

Then an amazing man walked into my life. He was exactly what I was looking for; handsome, hard working, affectionate, stable, and he loved me as much as I loved him. We married and I thought everything was perfect. The problem was he didn't have Christ in his heart. Whenever a storm would come he would falter. In fact it wasn't just that he didn't have Christ in his heart, he hated GOD "If there was a GOD, I'd punch him in his face for taking my parents away."

This hatred slowly began to poison our relationship. I began to feel hatred toward the things he hated. I let his hatred seep into me.

GOD gives us wake up calls. I became sick and my mother came to aid me. She saw the emotional sickness and began visiting a church nearby my home. Her love spread to me and I realized that I was looking to my husband for support when I should have been looking to GOD.

Being married to a partner who does not share the same faith as you is very hard.  GOD wants your spouse to come to HIM in HIS time, not ours.  We can not just stand by and wait for our loved one to change.  We need to continue worshiping and praising GOD.  GOD is jealous and wants to know we put HIM above all others.  Our unsaved loved ones may be a test of GOD on us.  Will we pass the test, or will we falter and show our human fallibility, rather than allowing GOD to take control over our actions and emotions?  We must keep our eyes on GOD and allow GOD to take the reigns concerning others in our lives.

 

 

 

Holding onto the Garbage

Daily Readings: Mark 7:1-23

This morning my computer was getting low on memory and I noticed my Recycle bin had something in it.  Even before it had opened I remembered that it was an audio file my fson (foster) and his friend had recorded.  The file had been there for several weeks.  Every time I noticed it I would think "I will listen to it later before I permanently delete it."  So I stopped what I was doing today and listened to it.  As my fson knew the file was indeed just plain garbage.  A file that was taking up space in my computer. 

How much other garbage do I hold onto that I don't need?  The Pharisees were obsessed with rituals given to their Father's centuries before.  ⁹“You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!" Those traditions had become meaningless.  Yes, it is good to wash your hands before eating.  We know today that there are germs, parasites, and all sorts of other invisible to our eye creatures that can make us sick.  The Pharisees didn't know about these things.  They only knew it was a religious "ritual" that they performed because it was a law given in the days of Moses.  They were holding on to many things, not because it was a way to worship GOD, but because they couldn't let go. 

The television show "Hoarders" is the extreme example of how people can't or won't let go of the trash in their lives.  Those people aren't bad.  They aren't garbage.  They are holding on to things simply because they can't let go. 

Jesus said “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. ²¹ For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³ All these evils come from INSIDE and defile a person.”

What is coming out of me that defiles me?  The saying "garbage in, garbage out" comes to mind.  If I see a violent act it isn't going to make me violent.  It can allow ideas to form in my mind about violence.  The only way to get rid of the garbage in our minds is to pray and ask GOD to remove the garbage.  Ask HIM to permanently remove the things that should be in our recycle bins.  If those things aren't in the recycle bin we need to focus on putting them there.  Only GOD the super computer of all creation can recycle the garbage.  It is up to us to ask HIM to clean us out before we fill up and there isn't space for the good things.

Don't shut up, give up!

Daily Reading Acts 18:1-17

It catches my attention how lucky Paul was to be going from place to place.  Missionaries all over the world do the same thing.  They go from their native home to witness to others.  Here Paul had left Athens and came to Corinth.  Silas and Timothy had just come from Macedonia.  Their eyes were fixed on preaching and testifying to people everywhere. 

How can this fit into my life?  The Lord speaks "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.  For I am with you, and no one is going to attack or harm you, because I have many people in this city."  Acts 18:9 and 10. 

How wonderful to hear GOD's voice so perfectly clear!  How many times in the bible do those first four words appear?  70 TIMES! http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=Do+not+be+afraid&searchtype=phrase&version1=31&language1=en&spanbegin=1&spanend=73

GOD certainly doesn't want us to be afraid.  Even though our mouths may slip and we say something wrong HE doesn't want us to keep silent.  Instead we need to put our mouths in HIS hands.  When negative words come out of our mouths, when negative thoughts enter our minds we need to stop and pray for HIM to take our words from us and give us HIS own words.  GOD is with us everyday and in every situation.  He promises us that we aren't going to be harmed but we need to be in HIS arms.  We need to put HIM in charge of our lives. 

When we are feeling lonely and isolated we don't have far to look because GOD has "many people in this city."  Maybe you are in China or India where Christianity isn't welcome.  GOD has many people there.  Maybe you are in New York, LA, Chicago, or even Collinsville, Illinois.  GOD has many people there as well. 

Those people are there to fellowship with you.  They are there to encourage you and for you to encourage also.  Don't be afraid to witness where you are.  Let GOD take over your mouth wherever you are.  You don't have to go anywhere to be a witness for GOD.  Just give up your mouth to HIM.

Father GOD, please take my words away from me.  Put in their place the words YOU have to share with my little world.

"Trust and Obey for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." (song)

Persecution is painful to those watching

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 33:1-11

As Christians we watch people around us suffer quite differently than non-believers. As a non-believer when can join in with the person suffering. We can relate to how unfair life is. We can sympathize with them but take comfort that we are glad it isn't happening to us.


Christians on the other hand understand that GOD has a plan for us. We have been down the road of rebellion and seen first hand GOD's loving hands guiding us back to his fold. We see the man who hates his job and nothing ever seems to be going right and we think back to the time where we were waken from our eternal slumber. We realized that GOD was getting our attention so that we would focus on him. After we turned to him our lives became better. Not perfect or easy but better as in knowing that GOD was going to handle the tough times and carry us through until we were strong enough to deal with them on our own.

As Christians we watch GOD allowing the non-believer to be persecuted. We see GOD waiting in the wings for the person to wake up and realize that they need GOD in their life. GOD works on so many people each and every day. As Christians we must be available to be used by GOD is his master plan for all people.

Jeremiah 33:8 I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

Need More? Visit Numbers 14:17-20

Strength not always in numbers

Daily Reading: Judges 7:1-25

In the world today we constantly see commercials and advertisements for MORE. Many children's toys are designed to collect more. Fast food restraunts offer non-food items that convince you that more is better. Collect all four, collect them all, each sold seperately. Our government also demands more. More taxes, more budget for war, more, more, more.

Yet when do we say enough? We use the excuse GOD wants us to have more. He promises to bless us and we believe that this means more. Yet it is not material objects that GOD wants us to have more of. His desire is for us to have more faith in him. When we cease to recognize His power, He shows us that less is what He desires for us.

Gideon must have trusted GOD beyond belief when GOD started telling Gideon LESS. Less men, less materials, less of everything except trust in GOD. Focus on becoming MORE for GOD, LESS for worldly things. When we see that purse, those collectibles, even that new budget with more spending; we need to ask "GOD is this more what we need or just what we want?"

Judges 7:2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her.

Need More? Visit Deuteronomy 7:17-26

The Darkest Hour

Daily Reading: Romans 13:8-14


After a long exhausting day all I want is to crawl into bed and sleep. My head hits the pillow and sleep soon overcomes. Yet just moments later I am awakened with a start. The house is silent and everything seems to be in order. Yet my body and mind seem to be wide awake with anticipation of some foreboding doom. I check the house and pray that GOD protects family, friends, and myself from the harm I am feeling.


I pray to the LORD to aid me in this time of temporary anguish of the unknown. I then turn to his word for guidance and he delivers me. I read the passage he has chosen for me. Have I done anything immoral to earn his chastisement? Have I sinned against neighbor, family, or friend rather than loving them as myself? I turn to him once more and ask him to forgive my transgressions, not only the ones that I am aware of but also those that I may have committed without realizing it. With my prayer said I am over taken with exhaustion once again. I am ready to fall into that much needed sleep once again, this time I am at peace for GOD has delivered me.

GOD is protecting, sending his angels to guard us from the unseen dangers that surround us. GOD is there holding back the darkness. GOD will not allow His children to be harmed. Although GOD is almighty He cares for each of His sheep and will protect them from the wolves that come in the night. GOD is the rock, the fortress, and the guard. When we turn to GOD, He answers our prayers and swiftly sweeps us into His loving arms.

Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (NIV)


Need more? Visit Psalms 63 and 64