I am often confused about what to do. Maybe it has something to do with all of the choices we have in this time and day. I am still hoping and waiting for God to show me what it is He wants me to do. People are faced with so much stuff in today's world; marriage, to stay married, work place and how they should act there, and how they act at home. I could go on and on about what confuses people but I believe it comes from the Great deceiver Satan. He wants us to have options. Options to make the wrong choice.
I know several men that are faced with a choice in there marriage, whether they should stay in a marriage that they think is dead or move on to the next one. I have some questions. When did marriage become a question? When did staying with the one woman you fell in love with , the one that you asked for her hand in marriage, become a question to ask is she the one that you want to stay with? Unfortunately, this is a question I have asked myself and I believe some of you have too.
Some of you know my story about the last couple of years. I made the mistake of asking that question, do I want to be married? Do I want this stress of always wanting to do the right thing? It wasn't that my marriage was bad but there was confusion. I forgot that there shouldn't be a question to this. I have made a covenant with her. A promise that I would never leave. I also made this same covenant with God. That is what marriage is.
This should not have ever been a question in my life or anyone else's life. There are few things that we know in life but I believe this is one that so many get confused on. Have you ever heard people say "Well if it doesn't work we can always get a divorce"? I would have to say they are confused about the whole thing before they even get started.
I am not saying everyone knows what to do or say. Under all circumstances the Lord knows I am confused about what I think I should do for a job, but I guess that is why He talks about trusting Him, coming to Him, giving Him all things, and to be still and know that He is God. In other words put all your confusion to rest and let Him have all your fears.
We all need to get what is and has always been the same... Gods word. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Matthew 9:36 from the message Bible - When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no Sheperd.
We need to find our sheperd and pray that He will lead us out of confusion.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Praise
I have recently been faced with what I thought was a defeat but actually it was in some way a blessing. I applied for a job that I was certain I was going to get but after not hearing from the company I called. What a surprise I got when they told me I was not the fit they were looking for. For a day I was confused. I was angry, hurt, ashamed, embaressed and lacking self worth.
During this time I did what I think so many of us do when we have been faced with this kind of disappointment. I screamed out. I yelled for understanding. I needed some sort of closure to why I didn't get the job that I thought would have been a perfect for me.
I got it. On my Birthday I talked to many of my friends and the sent me e-mails like that job was not for you, God as something else for you, or be still, He will show you what He is doing.
White I was sitting with my family at a table for my birthday dinner I was shown through my family what is important and what matters. There was no sickness, there was no hurting, and there were only happy faces. Faces of joy watching my kids do and say the silly things they do.
I neglected my studies for a day. Being surrounded by friends and knowing that God has already given to me what I need at this time, I realized again He is worthty of praises. All the time, even when we don't get what we think we want. Truth be told, some of us have no idea what is right for us only He has our destiny planned. We can choose to give Him praises or go through life always wondering why, why me, why now, and when do I get mine. Maybe we should ask how and what can I do for you.
2 Samuel 22 :50 "Therefore I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the Gentiles and sing praises to you".
Psalms 59:17 "To you O my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my defense, my God of Mercy".
Psalms 27:14 "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait on the lord".
Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives power to the weak, to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint.
These are some great words of encouragement to me and hope that if you are faced with something in your life you will look at these verses and praise Him then wait for Him.
During this time I did what I think so many of us do when we have been faced with this kind of disappointment. I screamed out. I yelled for understanding. I needed some sort of closure to why I didn't get the job that I thought would have been a perfect for me.
I got it. On my Birthday I talked to many of my friends and the sent me e-mails like that job was not for you, God as something else for you, or be still, He will show you what He is doing.
White I was sitting with my family at a table for my birthday dinner I was shown through my family what is important and what matters. There was no sickness, there was no hurting, and there were only happy faces. Faces of joy watching my kids do and say the silly things they do.
I neglected my studies for a day. Being surrounded by friends and knowing that God has already given to me what I need at this time, I realized again He is worthty of praises. All the time, even when we don't get what we think we want. Truth be told, some of us have no idea what is right for us only He has our destiny planned. We can choose to give Him praises or go through life always wondering why, why me, why now, and when do I get mine. Maybe we should ask how and what can I do for you.
2 Samuel 22 :50 "Therefore I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the Gentiles and sing praises to you".
Psalms 59:17 "To you O my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my defense, my God of Mercy".
Psalms 27:14 "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait on the lord".
Isaiah 40:29-31 "He gives power to the weak, to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint.
These are some great words of encouragement to me and hope that if you are faced with something in your life you will look at these verses and praise Him then wait for Him.
Stuff
We have all faced STUFF in our lives. Some have gotten so dirty, that it covered our faces. It's hard to to see the real person behind the stuff. I understand just as much as anyone about being covered in so much stuff that it hides your identity and your heart. No one can get to know you because of the stuff. It seems to me for so long I held on to the things in my life that after a while, I convinced myself that I didn't deserve a beautiful wife, two awesome kids and a life that a lot of people would be love to have.
But God is good. God loves us when we turn to Him and ask Him to cleanse us from the sins or stuff in our lives. Have you ever thought about the song that you are probably listen to right now? Washed by the water. There are so many songs that talk about being washed. Washed as white as snow, wash my sins away and being washed by the blood. Why is this? I think it's because so many will ask God to help them to forgive, to help us, to be with us, but do not ever let go of the stuff in our lives.
We all need to remember that we are washed by the water even though it might be painful. Even when the storms come you are washed by the water. Even when the rain pores. If we truly believe and ask God to come live inside of us, we all have been washed by His water and made clean and new. So let the dirty stuff you have done in your life go. God has.
But God is good. God loves us when we turn to Him and ask Him to cleanse us from the sins or stuff in our lives. Have you ever thought about the song that you are probably listen to right now? Washed by the water. There are so many songs that talk about being washed. Washed as white as snow, wash my sins away and being washed by the blood. Why is this? I think it's because so many will ask God to help them to forgive, to help us, to be with us, but do not ever let go of the stuff in our lives.
We all need to remember that we are washed by the water even though it might be painful. Even when the storms come you are washed by the water. Even when the rain pores. If we truly believe and ask God to come live inside of us, we all have been washed by His water and made clean and new. So let the dirty stuff you have done in your life go. God has.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Presence of Something Greater
I have been trying to think of something to post. This is truly what I love to do but I have been struggling with coming up with something to say. I would start to write something and then I would read it and either it didn't make sense or it just didn't feel right. Today I have been worshiping God with music and every now and then I will stop and pray. It didn't take long for me to find myself in His presence.
As I sit here and look at blogs and e-mails I am starting to feel God tell me something. I went to my wife's blog and started to feel the tears coming up inside of me. I felt the presence of my comforter. Then I had a friend call and I started to tell him how I am feeling that the Presence is all over me, he received an important phone call and had to go.
I am reminded that Satan does not want us to feel God's presence in our lives and will do anything he can to distract us from that chance to feel the Spirit. I know that it is hard for so many of us to stay in His presence but I feel that it is always on us. It's as if we choose to let it come upon us and accept it. He says he will never leave us, and that all we need to do is call on him and he will make himself known to us.
I believe there are so many people that are missing out. I do not think I am better but I do think God has given me something special, something He wants to give everyone. The problem I think is that they're afraid of change, afraid to give up their ways of living, or people try and put Him in a box. There is not a box big enough to put Him in.
I think we all need to think about who is really in the box. Some people like the comfort of thinking they have everything under control and that they are comfortable with where they are. If that was true, if people really believe that they have it under control then why is the name of God yelled out when someone close to them dies, or when you lose the job you say you have created, or when the perfect family you say you have is falling apart, or how about the sickness that comes upon you or someone close to you, do you have control? Is that when you want to find yourself in His presence? Is that the time when you find yourself longing for something more? I can say for me it is a lot easier to already have the relationship with the Father when things are good than when the storms come. You know that His presence is already there for you. You won't need to call out to Him, He is already there and you are covered in His presence.
2 Corintians 3:4 "Such is the confidence which we have through Christ in the PRESENCES of GOD".
As I sit here and look at blogs and e-mails I am starting to feel God tell me something. I went to my wife's blog and started to feel the tears coming up inside of me. I felt the presence of my comforter. Then I had a friend call and I started to tell him how I am feeling that the Presence is all over me, he received an important phone call and had to go.
I am reminded that Satan does not want us to feel God's presence in our lives and will do anything he can to distract us from that chance to feel the Spirit. I know that it is hard for so many of us to stay in His presence but I feel that it is always on us. It's as if we choose to let it come upon us and accept it. He says he will never leave us, and that all we need to do is call on him and he will make himself known to us.
I believe there are so many people that are missing out. I do not think I am better but I do think God has given me something special, something He wants to give everyone. The problem I think is that they're afraid of change, afraid to give up their ways of living, or people try and put Him in a box. There is not a box big enough to put Him in.
I think we all need to think about who is really in the box. Some people like the comfort of thinking they have everything under control and that they are comfortable with where they are. If that was true, if people really believe that they have it under control then why is the name of God yelled out when someone close to them dies, or when you lose the job you say you have created, or when the perfect family you say you have is falling apart, or how about the sickness that comes upon you or someone close to you, do you have control? Is that when you want to find yourself in His presence? Is that the time when you find yourself longing for something more? I can say for me it is a lot easier to already have the relationship with the Father when things are good than when the storms come. You know that His presence is already there for you. You won't need to call out to Him, He is already there and you are covered in His presence.
2 Corintians 3:4 "Such is the confidence which we have through Christ in the PRESENCES of GOD".
Where is the Love of God
Have you seen the love of God? Have you ever experienced something in your life that can only be described as the love of God? Have you ever received an act of kindness and wonder why the person did that?
I believe that God's love is not only seen in what He does for us but can also be displayed through people. I have seen these acts in my life and I am sure if you think about it you have too.
When was the last time you showed someone an act of kindness? I'm not talking about acts of kindness where you say... well I guess that person needs some help and I guess I can help them. I am talking about a deliberate act, one that took you by surprise, one that you never saw coming. One that as soon as you heard that someone needs something, you said this is what I can do without any hesitation.
Recently I heard a story about a man at my church that was at Walmart shopping when he was walking through the store and saw a family standing in the toy section trying to figure out how much money they had to buy Christmas presents. He could tell they didn't have much. Without any hesitation he walked over to them and gave them money without any reservation. I love to here those stories about how God puts us in a particular place at the right time to demonstrate His love to one another.
John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another". 15 "By this, all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another".
Look at the opportunities you have to love someone. Love and then you will be showing them God's love.
I believe that God's love is not only seen in what He does for us but can also be displayed through people. I have seen these acts in my life and I am sure if you think about it you have too.
When was the last time you showed someone an act of kindness? I'm not talking about acts of kindness where you say... well I guess that person needs some help and I guess I can help them. I am talking about a deliberate act, one that took you by surprise, one that you never saw coming. One that as soon as you heard that someone needs something, you said this is what I can do without any hesitation.
Recently I heard a story about a man at my church that was at Walmart shopping when he was walking through the store and saw a family standing in the toy section trying to figure out how much money they had to buy Christmas presents. He could tell they didn't have much. Without any hesitation he walked over to them and gave them money without any reservation. I love to here those stories about how God puts us in a particular place at the right time to demonstrate His love to one another.
John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another". 15 "By this, all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another".
Look at the opportunities you have to love someone. Love and then you will be showing them God's love.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Silence
I recently thought that being silent was something I did when I just didn't have anything to say. That may be true but there is another silence. Then there is a silence like when you are laying in your bed at night with no lights, no TV, nothing but darkness. I have recently felt this myself laying in my bed, no noise dead silence. It scared me. As I laid there it made feel like I needed to jump up and do something, but what? Maybe turn the TV on, read a book, or something!
The longer I laid there I tried to fight it by going back in time. The next thing I know I was thinking of things that would make a Sailor blush. What happened? Why did I find myself there thinking like I never turned from that life? As I laid there I found myself fighting and wrestling with good and evil, knowing what I was thinking was from the past, things that I never want to be apart of again. The longer I tried to fight it the further I went back.
Numbers 14:9 from the NIV says "Do not rebal against the Lord and do not be afraid of the people of the land because He will swallow them up. Their protection is gone but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
In Psalm 4:4 NIV "In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds search your hearts and be silent."
Why do we ignore these feelings? Why do we try to fight what we know we can't win on our own? It donned on me after I woke up that I had actually been asleep the whole time and that God was telling me that I have not been coming to Him like I should and that I need to turn to Him and seek Him through His word and let Him take care of things that keep me turning and tossing at night.
The longer I laid there I tried to fight it by going back in time. The next thing I know I was thinking of things that would make a Sailor blush. What happened? Why did I find myself there thinking like I never turned from that life? As I laid there I found myself fighting and wrestling with good and evil, knowing what I was thinking was from the past, things that I never want to be apart of again. The longer I tried to fight it the further I went back.
Numbers 14:9 from the NIV says "Do not rebal against the Lord and do not be afraid of the people of the land because He will swallow them up. Their protection is gone but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
In Psalm 4:4 NIV "In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds search your hearts and be silent."
Why do we ignore these feelings? Why do we try to fight what we know we can't win on our own? It donned on me after I woke up that I had actually been asleep the whole time and that God was telling me that I have not been coming to Him like I should and that I need to turn to Him and seek Him through His word and let Him take care of things that keep me turning and tossing at night.
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