What's Important To You?

Think about that, and really be honest with yourself and ask what is important to you. Is it to be wealthy ? Is it to be famous? Or are you half way committed to family and half way to a worldly goal? Perhaps you aren’t really committed to anything and prefer to “ go with the flow”.  

Whatever you are committing yourself to now will determine your future life.  So if you aren’t committed to anything or are committed to things that do not share the same values you are likely to end up frustrated or floating in mediocrity.  If you focus more on the worldly ways of wealth and fame, you risk being bitter and disappointed in what your life has become. 

I speak from experience here, early in life I made poor choices, some that have come back to bite me.  My choices were self centered and lacking wisdom concerning my future.  I was living day to day, going with the flow of the world and partying my way through life. I made little effort towards getting an education until in my 30’s when it became apparent I needed more knowledge to get on with my worldly goals.  My family truly suffered, both my relationship with my parents and little did I know the relationship with my children, I just couldn’t see past today.

So everything will be destroyed. And what kind of people should you be? You should lead holy and godly lives. 2 Peter 3:11 NIRV

In the last several years I have developed a wonderful relationship with God, and with His help I have made a complete turn around in my  life. The lines between the families, step & biological, became amazingly blurred.   Holidays and birthdays have become times with “friends”; no resentment of each other, just our crazy functional-dysfunctional  family. People were amazed that we could all get along.  Though we would explain that it hadn’t aways been that way, I am sure everyone agrees we are grateful that we let God take control and make things right between us.  

There are some relationships that still need work, however long it takes, I will give that to God to work on; I know it is not my job to repair everything, but is God’s job.

However you don’t have to wait; stop, think about what is important to you today, before it is too late and you have repair broken relationships or end up living a frustrated meaningless life. Let God direct your way, you may not understand where he is leading you, but you don’t have to, He sees the whole picture of your life- you don’t.

What's in your pockets?

How many times have you read something and not really get it until a moment in your life when you really needed it. Does that make sense?  

I read a scripture from Proverbs that I have read many times, Proverbs 3:3.  We have all heard Pastors and speakers tell us to "get the word deep in your heart" or "write them on the tablet of your heart".  I guess I always knew what that meant, but never really thought too much about it until I needed it.  In the Encarta world Dictionary one meaning of Write is  "to ordain or prophesy what will happen in the future". 

In the verse Proverbs 3:3 NKJV we are told to let not mercy & truth forsake you bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 

 In the NLT the verses reads; Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder; Write them deep within your heart. 

Mercy & Truth.  Loyalty & Kindness.  We can prophesy that they will happen in the future.  We can ordain that they will happen in the future. 

For me keeping it in "my heart" is like keeping something in your pocket.  It is there when you need it.  So by keeping Kindness, let's say, in my pocket, I can ordain or command myself to show kindness;  at a time I really need it.  Like when the guy cuts me off in traffic...

I can prophesy Mercy, it's in my pocket, I have it when I need it; I will reveal (show) God’s mercy & compassion to others; I am predicting it, because I am prepared. 

Life is full of the unexpected, many times you are going to have to check what is in your pockets.  Will they be full of lint or the good stuff.......

An Ispiring Vet.

Marine Corporal Aaron Mankin after 65 surgeries

 Aaron Mankin was severely burned in Iraq when the vehicle he was riding in hit a roadside bomb, killing 4 of his buddies.  In 2007 he was the first patient accepted to  Operation Mend at UCLA. 65 surgeries 8.5 years later he is traveling speaking to and encouraging other veterans.  
Watching his interview this morning on the Today Show, I was struck by his attitude and words.  
"So much in life you can’t control,  your power is in that you can choose to dictate how you respond. I made a choice; a choice that no one will dictate who I am."

So many of us let our Identity be dictated by what the world says about us. What we wear, where we work, what you drive, where you live, who’s your Spouse and who are your parents or children. When in fact as Aaron said, “Beauty is who you are not how you look.”  Or what you have or who your family is, I would add.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17)  This means you get a new identity.

Like Aaron stated, there is so much in life we cannot control. Make the same choice as Aaron did, the choice that no one will dictate who you are.  We need to use our power to live more like Christ lived, and let God dictate who we are and how we respond.

Where are you God?

Hey everyone!
Sorry it has been so long since I have written.  I am trying to make this blog work into my schedule, so I will be changing to a weekly format.  I am  also researching new topics and going over some old writings (pre-blog) to share with you.  So please hang in there with me for a little longer.

It's been a little tough writing lately. God's inspiration wasn't coming and I admit to being a little frustrated.  I caught myself praying, "Where are you God, remember you wanted me to do this, and promised to help?"  As my 5 year old granddaughter Addie says "And then I just said Seriously?"
My feeling of abandonment and I are in good company, great men in the Bible felt the same way. Isaiah says-

While I wait for God as long as he remains in hiding,    while I wait and hope for him.I stand my ground and hope,...  

Isaiah 8:17 MSG

And David in Psalms -

God, God . . . my God!    Why did you dump me    miles from nowhere?Doubled up with pain, I call to God    all the day long. No answer. Nothing.I keep at it all night, tossing and turningPsalms 22:1-2 MSG

But of course God had not abandoned them, he has not abandoned me- and He won't abandon you either.
We are seeking a relationship with God. Relationships take work, we have to do our part; and I think God is asking us "Will you remain faithful  and worship me even when you cannot feel my presence?"
Faith & worship, that's what He is asking for, our faith and love.

Politics- Love it or Hate it

What I am going to write about today is surely going to rub some people the wrong way. So if you are easily offended please try to maintain an open mind.

I don’t normally write about politics in this type of forum nor do I usually engage in conversations centered on sensitive political views. However, I get frustrated when I hear people constantly complaining about the President, one party or the other, our government in general and the latest “Obamacare” which is not even the name of the plan.  When I have voiced my opinion I have been told I am naive, that I haven’t read the policy or candidates promises, I don’t know the repercussions of the policy (or the election’s outcome) and in general been made to feel a little dumb. However I am a little bit of a control freak so I do read the issues and do my best to make informed decisions.

I have been stuffing my emotions for a sometime on this subject, and while I am not going to come unglued about this I do want to make this point, no matter what – 

I still believe we live in the greatest county in the world.

Are there things I would like to see changed? Yes!  I hate it that Christian values are being pushed out to accommodate those that say they are offended by it.  I hate that every bill that is presented to congress for a vote has so much garbage attached to it that congress doesn’t know what they are voting on with out reading a 200 page document; then has to decide to vote against a good issue to stop a bad issue that is attached to the bill. I hate it that Candidates make promises that cannot be kept without the votes of congress. I hate that congress seems to take party loyalty more serious that the issues. I dislike the Electoral College way of voting. But I still believe~

 We live in the greatest country in the world.

“Obey the rulers who have authority over you. Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their places of power. 2 People who oppose the authorities are opposing what God has done, and they will be punished. 3 Rulers are a threat to evil people, not to good people. There is no need to be afraid of the authorities. Just do right, and they will praise you for it. 4 After all, they are God’s servants, and it is their duty to help you. Romans 13:1-4

I try not to complain about our government, I don’t know the solution to fix the problems But without  exception we should be adding more God & prayer and less ego & pride.  The Bible is clear about what we are supposed to do in Romans 13.  That doesn’t mean follow blindly.  The Bible also says put God first and if those that rule go against God- we don’t follow. Look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. See, God will help you, if you stay loyal to him.

The three men replied, “Your Majesty, we don’t need to defend ourselves. 17 The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we still won’t worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 13:16-18

Our leaders are not perfect; they are human. Our system is not perfect, and as our country grows and more ethnicities come in to live here, there will be more opportunities for adjustments so get ready.

Time it buck up buttercup and enjoy the ride, consider it a great opportunity to teach about what God can do for us all if we can just agree to put Him first.

Fear: Fight or Flight?

Fear is the emotion or reaction of a perceived threat. How do you react when in fear? Fight or flight? Are you lashing and bashing or running and deserting?

Reactive Fighting

Mary & Martha were afraid for their brother Lazarus, he was very sick so they sent word to Jesus to come right now. Can you just imagine the urgency of their message? They knew Jesus well and knew he was capable of saving their brother. But two days and Jesus didn’t come, Lazarus died.  Then Jesus shows up. Now can you imagine Mary & Martha coming “unglued “ on Jesus?  They see him coming toward the house, “There that little bugger is” says Martha. She drops the pots and pans she was cooking with (you know she is the event planner) and runs out the door, Mary hot on her heels. They both say:

“If you had been here, our brother would not have died.”

John 11:21, 32

Ok so maybe that is all in my head, the girls were more respectful to him than that according to the Bible, but I may have had a moment…out of fear.

What causes your fear? 

Are you afraid of what others think? Are you judging yourself? You are if you assume you know what others think of you.

A miss diagnosis of who you are can be your biggest hindrance in doing what God wants you to do.  Pastor TJ Hankey reminded us this weekend that God saw Gideon as a warrior, not a man hiding in a pit.

 Gideon replied, “But how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest one in Manasseh, and everyone else in my family is more important than I am.”

Judges 6:15

Gideon, I believe had judged himself to the point he had no self-esteem, I mean he was hiding from the world in a pit! So unsure that he, Gideon, could possibly hear from God, he asked for a sign to be sure!  Gideon’s misdiagnosis prevented him from seeing who he could be and what he was capable of doing; holding him hostage in that pit.

So what are we to do?  Fear will always be there, the only way around it is to overcome it.

Emotions-

Don’t let fear direct your emotions- Bow up to yourself and boss those emotions around!

Get Moving-

God has a plan for all our lives, when you hear God’s voice or feel His urging, get moving.

Pray-

God will give you strength, and everything else you need in just the right timing and portions to do His work. You can bank on it.

Stop Searching and Start Listening!

At times I feel like I am still searching for who “I am” and what “I” want to do with my life; and I think I am too old for this, I should already have this down. 

But God does put new desires in our hearts though out our lives. Discerning which is from God and which are your own desires becomes the key.

I have so many different prayers that if God gave me them all at one time I would be overwhelmed! I’d be on gift overload. Looking back I wanted to be singer chick, I wanted to be a Christian Teen Club owner, Christian Concert Event Planner. I wanted to help the homeless, get the prostitutes saved, raise awareness to the human trafficking rings, see where I am going with this?

 My thoughts and My ways are above and beyond you,
        just as heaven is far from your reach here on earth.Isaiah 55:9 Voice

I thank God that His thoughts are greater than mine!  What God has for you is greater than you can even imagine. Oh I may have been able to accomplish some of those things on my list, but here is the constraint –I didn’t wait, I wanted it too quick. When that didn’t happen I gave up or was distracted by what was next on my list.

When I stopped focusing on “my “ desires I could hear God’s desires for me.  Desires I could not imagine because I felt I didn’t have the skills.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Ephesians 3:20 MSG

“I” don’t have the skills, but God can provide them. He will open doors and provide a path for my journey.

Remember God made you, He knows you inside out. He has a plan for you if you will just- Stop searching and start listening!