Monday, April 29, 2013

Weather....hmph!


The weather has been so unpredictable these past few weeks.  The temperature has been up, and then down,… and then we’re up again.  Weather can be such a fickle thing.  You never know what to expect from one day to the next.  Reminds me of a group of guys who found themselves in an unexpected bout with the weather. 

In Matthew 14 it says:  (After feeding the five thousand), “He (Jesus) made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.”  I bet when the winds began to come and the waves began to beat upon the boat, the disciples must have felt a little abandoned.  Even wanting to blame Jesus. “He made us go before Him in the boat to the other side.  Now, we’re going to perish!” 

Then, Jesus comes to them in the storm.  He tells them: “Take heart!  I am here!  Don’t be afraid!”  After Peter and the disciples are reminded that their faith is too small, the wind ceases.

Sometimes, I think that we need to be reminded that our faith is too small and we need to listen to him say, “Take heart!  I am here!  Don’t be afraid!”    

The world is just as unpredictable as the weather.  But Jesus is certainly always there! 

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Doing Battle is a Lonely Experience


Lessons Learned: David vs. Goliath Part 2



Doing battle is a lonely experience

All David was there for was to take some things to his brothers and make sure they were ok. However, as Goliath taunted the armies of the living God, the men fled from Goliath and were greatly afraid. Even King Saul, who out of anyone should have been willing to stand up and fight, did not want to fight. He even makes an offer to anyone who will fight Goliath. A pretty HUGE offer. Yet no one takes the offer. Finally, David says I will go. He knows if he is going to go, he will have to physically go alone. (Although God was with him).

It’s no different in our lives as Christians. As we go into battle as Christians, seeking to become Christ-like, witnessing, taking a stand, etc. , sometimes we have to go alone. As we go into battle, people will discourage us in words and action, people will doubt us, and people will attack us. Sadly, the discouragement, doubt and attacks may come from other Christians. So what do the discouragement, doubt and attacks amount to? Satan uses these to throw us off our game. When we are thrown off our game, we lose our focus of what is important, and what God has asked us to do. May the following prayer help keep our eyes fixed on God.

"Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of the parting. I come trembling, but I do come.
Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet glorious. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there."
                                    --- From The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer:

Monday, April 8, 2013

SURPRISE!!


New tires…yuck! I’m thankful we have a reliable vehicle for transportation, and grateful we could purchase the needed tires…..but tires are EXPENSIVE! And, they’re not pretty….I will not hurry home to get comfortable and sit enjoying my newly acquired tires. I can’t cook with them, invite visitors to come over and play cards around them, nor do they match the items in my house. But we NEED them! A ride through town has recently become like a turbulent ride on an airplane – without the pretzels!

Next, I found that in order to get these new acquisitions, I needed to be way across town early in the morning, and be shuttled back to work by an unknown person. (To say I am not a morning person is like saying a raindrop can fill an ocean.) But, that’s what needed to be done, and so we scheduled the appointment, I put on my best happy face, and headed across town.

Before I got out of the car, I made sure that my radio was left on the Christian station I listen to, and at an ‘acceptable’ level, hoping that God could use it to touch the person or persons who had to drive our car during the service appointment. I filled out the necessary paperwork, and requested the shuttle ride back across town. As I climbed in the shuttle vehicle, the first thing I noticed was that the radio was on the very same Christian station as I had just left on in our car! I mentioned it to the driver, which led to a most enjoyable conversation about God, our churches, and the paths of our lives.  It seemed like the trip across town lasted only a very short time, and I was actually a bit sorry to see it end. 

I was immediately struck by God’s little surprise. What I thought was going to be a rather negative start to the day turned out instead to be pleasant and refreshing! God often shows up that way, so why don’t I look for it more often and actually expect it? Just a small investigation led me to MANY articles about people being surprised by God, and further affirmation of how much He delights in His people, wants the very best for them, and wants to spend time with them. The pages of scripture are filled with such surprises. THANKFULLY, God tells us that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. His plans are far above ours. The most amazing surprise of all is that the never-changing, omnipotent God loves us with an eternal love. I want to see more surprises from Him…and I vow to be looking and expecting them more!

Getting new tires didn’t transform me into a morning person, and the price still pinches, but now I appreciate my tires a little more, and smile to think God gave me FOUR reminders of Him that I’ll see and use daily! The service car for our vehicle turned out to give ME a little tune-up, too! J