Lists

This is the time of year when people are asking or being asked, "what do you want?" We have lists of what to get others and possibly a list of what we want or at least what we have to do. Most people ask for things they want and might possibly think they need; clothes, electronics, food (My best gift each year is a meat and cheese tray), and the list goes on. We have our lists, but are we asking for the best things for us or are we even asking the right person? Christ is able to give us more than we could ever ask for or imagine, we just have to take the time to ask and receive. Spend some time these next few days asking Christ to work His power in you so that you will receive more than you could ever ask for.

Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Journey of Faith

Oh to have the faith Abraham had! To be willing to leave all you know to go on a journey where the destination is unknown. Today if someone packed up their home, left their job and went on a journey of unknown destination, people would talk and say they were crazy! However I believe God asks us often to take a journey of faith, it may not be leaving our home, it may be leaving a job, starting a new ministry, or developing a friendship with a stranger. We are often asked to take a joinery of faith! Ask God to help you have the faith of Abraham and be willing to journey into the unknown, praising God and trusting in Him.

Hebrews 11:8 NIV

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Excuses

What have been our excuses for not doing what God desires of us? Too busy, don't know the Bible well enough, don't know what to say, or just not comfortable doing it? We aren't the first to have these excuses and we won't be the last, but we do have the power to stop giving excuses and just say Yes Lord! God has set us apart for Him, to do His work. We are never too young or too old, we are never too busy, and we all know how to talk because we are created by God for a purpose, to glorify Him! Jeremiah didn't think he had it in him to do what God was asking of him, but God reminded him that he did. Each one of us has the power of Christ in us to do the work God has planned for us. Remember this the next time you feel a nudging from God to do some hard task!

Jeremiah 1:4-7 NIV

4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.

My Right

We had a discussion about "my rights" yesterday at work, how it is "my right" to protect my stuff, to drive without a seatbelt and so on. We are a "my rights" people and it made me think about Christ's rights. He gave up all of His rights for His Father and us. He didn't demand His rights as He was ridiculed, beaten, and then crucified. Through it all, He was pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive and full of mercy. When we are full of the wisdom that comes from heaven, we will no longer use the mantra, " it is my right", we will be peace-loving, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Ask God to fill you with the wisdom from heaven and be the peacemakers He desires us to be. Surrender your rights!

James 3:17-18 NIV

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Rules and Rote

It is easy to see how the Pharisees were all about the rules and not about true worship of God, only allowing it to be done in certain ways and only allowing certain people to do it.  It is not so easy to see that we might be the same why. We want things done our way! We think you must dress up to go to church, Christ wore a tunic and sandals. We demand that certain order be followed in worship or certain things recited each Sunday, Christ taught and spoke whenever and wherever and the early church gathered in homes sharing meals and learning about Christ. We think only certain people can share the good news and only in a certain way, Christ didn't care who or how just as long as they did it! If we put so many rules, requirements and rote on our worship, then it stops being worship. True worship comes from the heart and not everyone's heart acts the same. We should all be free to let the Holy Spirit move in us as He desires and we should not hold others to our way of movement. Today, think about your worship. Do you expect others to conform to you, do you desire rules and rote, or do you worship for the heart, letting the Holy Spirit move you, raising those hands in praise and allowing others to do the same!

Luke 9:49-50 NIV

49 “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” 50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Your Anchor

What grounds you, brings peace to you, keeps you calm? For some it is quiet time on a beach, for others it is the arms of a loved one. However, we can't always get to a beach and our loved ones are not always with us. There is one thing that will always be around, God's Word! When life is overwhelming, confusing, or just stinks, I recite these verses. They are my anchor, my hope, my peace. I have theses and many more verses highlighted in my Bible. God's truth and promises grounds us! We may not always be able to remember verses so it is important to highlight them in your bible so that one day your grandchildren or great-grandchildren can read them to you when you no longer can! What verse or verses ground you? Highlight them and memorize them so you will always have them with you!

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Humility

What does clothe yourselves in humility mean? I read this prayer this am and here is part of it that states what humility towards one another means:  

"That others may be loved more than I,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I unnoticed,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it."

The world does not think like this, but as Christians we are commanded to do so.  Are you clothed in humility? I am sadly lacking and will be praying these words often! Join me in this prayer for all of us. 

1 Peter 5:5 NIV

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Wise Friends

God designed us to be a part of a family or group and not to be isolated or alone. Friends are an important part of our life and help make us who we are. Our choice of friends can either help us or harm us. God sends people our way to be wise counsel for us and we for others, it is our choice to pursue those friendships. I thank God for the dear friends He has put in my life who have guided me and continue to guide me in faithful ways. I pray that I may be the same for others. Thank God for your wise friends and thank your friends for choosing you!

Proverbs 13:20 NIV

20 Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

God's Word Convicting Us

God's Word is so good about calling us out when we are not being true to God. This verse tells us we are to renounce, get rid of, secret and shameful ways. Who had a thought about someone yesterday that you don't want made public? Who has secretly plotted out how someone would get what you think they deserve, revenge thinking? God tells us we are to renounce, refuse to think about, those thoughts. We aren't to use crafty or deceitful ways to get back at others and if we can't say out loud what we are thinking, we shouldn't be thinking it. Today ask God to help us renounce the thoughts and words that are harmful to others and work on speaking only truth, the truth of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:2 NIV

2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

Hard At Work

Sometimes I think we work too hard at being Christians and not hard enough at letting Christ work through us.  Are we more concerned about others seeing us as good Christians rather than others seeing Christ and not us? Are we obedient because God's will is alive in us or is it because we think He will love us more? By ourselves we could never be Christian enough or obedient enough, but through Christ's death we have been cleansed! By surrendering our will to God, He can work wonders through us, He removes the pressure to perform and gives us a desire to just serve Him.  Take some time today and think about what you are working hard at, trying to cleanse yourself  or surrendering your will to God.

Isaiah 1:18 NIV

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.