Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Conversation about Creation! Matthew 6:26

Good morning everyone,
A few mornings ago I was headed to work when I noticed a bunch of birds sitting completely still on an electrical wire and I had these thoughts.  What are they thinking right now?  Are they concerned about where their next meal is coming from or do they worry about being cold tonight?  Immediately I thought of the Scripture in Matthew 6:26 and it says, 'Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?'  They don't worry about the things that they can't control.  How about you?  Do you sit around and worry yourself about the things that you can't control?  Do you consult Him regularly about helping you focus on the more important issues of the day?  He wants you to be aware of the things that He created just for you to notice and praise Him for doing it!  The next time you go outside, make sure and notice something that He created and ask Him to fill you with a sense of 'awe!'  Those little birds are plentiful and forgotten for the most part but I felt as though He said, 'they were important enough to create for your enjoyment so you better start paying more attention.'  Ask God to remind you, if you've forgotten, to be keenly aware of the detail that He has produced so you will be totally amazed!  And then remember the last of that verse because it really identifies how much He cares about you!
Your brother in Christ,
p      

Friday, November 16, 2012

Doing the things we don't want to do! Psalm 119:18

Good morning everyone,
None of us like to do things that are troublesome!  For the most part, I think most of us would prefer to do things that are desirable.  In other words, with the results having a positive outcome.  But if we really think about that scenario, it didn't exist with Jesus Christ.  He was always willing to do what no one else was willing to do.  If we would just stop and understand the magnitude of the place we are in, He will create the phrase, 'For a time such as this' in every situation we face.  If we really trusted Him every waking moment, we would not throw our arms up in disarray!  We would embrace each opportunity as a 'golden opportunity' to trust Him and for His perfect will to be completed!  We want to say, O Lord, if You would but take this bitter cup from me....His perfect will is secured in the things that we see as troubles and inconveniences!  He is your 'Azar' which means helper!  How much are we willing to understand?  If you are like me, I'm simply asking Him to let me know on a 'as needs basis!'  Anything else will be too much information or it will keep me distracted because my desire is to do the things that I don't want to do with a cause for Him that passes all understanding!  Psalm 119:18 says, 'Open mine eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.'  May He open up our mines so that we hear His voice and our hearts so that He can steal them away from the distractions of this world.  He will never leave you, nor will He forsake you!  
Your brother in Christ,
p
http://foodforthesoul-paul.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Simply amazing if God is your measure! Romans 12:3; Proverbs 11:2; Ephesians 4:13

Good morning everyone,
I really don't know where to begin because I'm not even sure where I've come from or where I'm headed.  I do know that God is with me and has been with me all along the way over these past few months.  As I talked with Deborah this morning, it became clear to me that God is simply amazing in any facet of life if you allow Him to be your measure!  Romans 12:3 says, 'For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.'  We have a tendency to measure our days on how much we have to deal with and from that, the results seem to effect our ebb and flow.  With God in control, every ebb and flow can brightly shine His character if we allow Him to use us as the vessel He created us to be!  Deborah reminded me that if God needs to keep you in a place that keeps you drawn to Him, then that is His will and that is good!  Proverbs 11:2 says, 'When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.'  Whatever He needs to do to me to keep me in the place that directs my attention to Him, that is where I want to be!!  Ephesians 4:13 says, 'until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.'  Brothers and sisters, I love each of you and let me encourage you to know that you have the same 'Blessed Assurance' available to you that has been given to me!  I'll leave you with the beautiful words of that song:
         Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. 
         Oh what a foretaste of glory divine.
         Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
         Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

         This is my story, this is my song.
         Praising my Savior, all the day long.
        
Your brother in Christ,
p