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.

 

 

 

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)

Which person are you?

Daily Reading: Matthew 25:31-46


I was recently in a restaurant just off an major interstate. Just after ordering a woman and two small girls came in. They explained that a 4 year old from Missouri had been kidnapped by a stranger and they asked if they could hang the missing persons sign up at the restraunt since it was so close to the interstate. Maybe someone getting off the interstate there would have saw the missing child. The woman explained that she didn't know the child but since she was travelling up the interstate she had volunteered to stop at every major exit along the way and post the flyers. The person at the counter said yes & that they would hang up the flyer. After the lady left I kept waiting for the employees to hang up the sign so I could see what the girl looked like and see if I had recognized her as I had been coming from the opposite direction. The sign was never hung up and instead of asking about it I said a prayer and went on my way. Fortunately the child was found later unharmed and the man that had kidnapped her (a complete stranger) committed suicide in front of police.


Which person are you today? Are you the woman helping a complete stranger by doing what she can. Are you the employee who says "yes" but goes no further. Are you the lost girl who hopes someone will find her and take her home? Are you me wanting to help but decide that prayer is sufficient? Are you the man who has sinned and has condemned himself to death? Or are you the police officers that went the extra mile to find the little girl and save her?


Father GOD, please help me to go all out for you and your lost sheep. Give me strength to stand for you and help others to find their way to you. In JESUS name I pray, AMEN.


Matthew 25:40 "The KING will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'


Need More? Visit Matthew 25:14-30

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