Lovely Morning Truth

My devotion time looks different every morning/evening - whenever the time is good to step away and be still with my heavenly Father. My devotions look different because when talking to a loved friend, the time together is usually fresh and different every time...it is no different when talking to God, my beloved friend and Father.

It's quiet...  I settle in to just hear His voice... My devotion time consist of me, my Bible and my journal this particular morning. I'm reading in the New Testament currently. John 8 and 9 were the chapters that spoke lovely truths about who God is and who I am as His loved daughter. I love when a section of scripture, one I've read many times, suddenly speaks so clearly, intimately and personally.

Here are His words for me (and I'm sure for you if you call Him your Father).
John 8:10-12 You do not condemn me Lord. You give me freedom to sin no more. Because I follow You, I do not have to walk in darkness - You are the light that leads me to LIFE.

John 8:14 Words You say about me (who You say I am, the life You want me to lead, how You have shaped me by the experiences of this life) are valid and true ALL THE TIME. I too "know where I came from and where I am going." People look at me and judge with human standards - You Lord look at my heart (1 Samuel 16:7). You are shaping and training my heart Lord for Your glory. Your judgment alone Lord is "correct in every respect" because You have the witness of the Father as well.

John 8: 28b & 29 Father, You are with me always, therefore, the words I speak and the things I do an always please You when I allow You to constantly teach and lead me.

John 8: 31 I am truly Your disciple if I remain faithful to Your teachings. You teach me the truth and truth releases me from the bondage of sin.

John 8:34-38 As a child of God - no longer a slave to sin - my heart is full of the truth and released to give the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - there is no law against this fruit and therefore I can live out of the abundance of these gifts forever. You Lord tell me eternal truths because I am in Your family forever.

John 9: 2 & 3 Everything that has happened to me is so the power of God can be seen in me.

This Christmas I celebrate and keep close the gifts of Life and Truth of God through the power and salvation of Jesus Christ. I adore Him because He first loved me, called me and speaks to me. I serve Him and the ones He calls me to because He first served me by dying on the cross and rising and defeating the sin and death that had me in chains. May God's words heal, restore and redeem you. May the gift of His life give you New Life and Mercy each morning/evening - whenever You can step away and sit with Him alone. God Bless.

Details and Differences - Part 2

1 Corinthians 14:26

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

In our house, one little girl is “Picasso with a Pencil” (to quote the movie “The Odd Life of Timothy Green”), the next little girl always has a new made-up song to share and the other little girl can clean a room like it’s her J-O-B. Each girl is different, each one working (sometimes even together!) with the talents given them and revealing the heart, creativity and character of the One who created them.

We are all different because we represent a BIG God whose character can NOT be summed up in one person (maybe that’s why He himself is present in three persons – the Trinity). He makes us to work together so His fullness of grace and truth can be seen to all who dare to watch us. Do not be fooled, people will watch you once you claim to be a follower of Jesus; if for no other reason than to be there when you inevitably fall and call you a hypocrite…but I’m digressing with talk of the Trinity and supposed vs. true hypocrisy.

1 Corinthians 12:3-5 tells us that we have different gifts but the same spirit is the source of them all. As I said in the last post, I have found myself jealous of the gifts (material, physical or  spiritual) of others and wondering what my “gifts” are or how they can possibly be of any “real” help to anyone. I discovered once through a spiritual gift inventory and related book study (The 3 Colors of Ministry by Christian A. Schwarz) that I have the gift of wisdom. Here was my gut reaction with God later, ”that’s crap God, you can’t “see” or “do” wisdom.” I felt that if you could not video record the gift being done then it was not a legit talent! However, I decided that I would follow God and discover what this “gift” was all about. I began studying God's idea, use and description of wisdom. While I have NOT discovered what it is all about, I have discovered some ways it is beneficial to me, my family, the church body and beyond. As a side note: wisdom is defined by this study as: helping others apply existing knowledge to specific situations. I also scored high on the counseling gift…I was about to graduate with a counseling degree…and I was whining for having the gift of “helping others apply existing knowledge to specific situations.” God continues to astound me with His patience and love toward me.

Christ and His glory are the reality of our gifts and their use. He has given you and I a purpose and made us very specifically and wonderfully to fulfill His good and reveal His heart to the world. We as Christians, have the power and privilege to encourage and support our brothers and sisters in whatever minute detail and difference they bring to a task – some will encourage and teach, some will create magnificent works of art, others will sing wonderful songs, while some will organize and make the work space ready for use…all will glorify God.

So next time you (and I) are at church, working on a project or ministry team: Let’s not be bogged down with jealousy, pride or frustration when our brothers and sisters (regardless of the denomination) truly express God with their gifts…let’s, with a thankful heart, find out how we can serve and work alongside with how God has created us; knowing that when we all work together, people are fed, clothed, served, helped, encouraged, cleaned, healed and loved everywhere by God.

Ephesians 2:10 

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Mark 9:38-41 

John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn't in our group." "Don't stop him!" Jesus said, "No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.

Details and Differences – Part 1

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (NLT) After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's servant through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God's workers. And you are God's field. You are God's building.

I was cleaning up after lunch one day this week and wondering if my house was “clean” enough…if my counter was “nice” enough…enough for what? For whom? I don’t know…it’s just where my thoughts were going…you know the place of comparison and jealousy.  However, this time, instead of following the bunny trail to a place of discontent, this thought rushed in…are my children fed? Are they fulfilled in ways that God wants, does my home meet our needs? Yes, to all these answers and then some – we are blessed beyond what we deserve and need. We have warmth and food and comfort in all seasons.

This thinking then had me thinking of how we compare not just our material gifts but also our spiritual and physical gifts and talents. We look at what others can do and think, "I wish I could do that." Or we look at what others "aren't" doing and think, "why can't they be more like me and do things how I do them?" When, the thought could be, "I am so glad they can do that or think that way because then I am free to serve in the ways God has made me." 2 Corinthians 10: 15-18 (NLT) "Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended. Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else's territory. As the Scriptures say, "if you want to boast, boast only about the Lord." When people commend themselves, it doesn't count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them."

We differ to represent the whole character and spectrum of God…all working for one cause. Are you serving God? Then “the how” will differ in how we clean, live, work and play…so that all people, in all areas and situations will be served by God.

God is giving me much more to say but I want these entries to stay somewhat short to respect your time as well…part 2 will be coming next week – let me know your thoughts thus far

Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

“But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone.” (Jonah 2:9)

I’ve recently read that “when your mind is occupied with thanking [God], you have no time for worrying or complaining.” (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) How much of a sacrifice is it to praise instead of worry?  It doesn’t seem like it should be a sacrifice…but I know it is. Sometimes the pain is just too much. I don’t have the words to speak or think; and if I do have words, “thank you” is not the first ones to come to mind. My worries and trials are the things in my life (present or past) that I want to be different but aren’t and maybe will never change. There are times when I don’t want to praise; I don’t want to be thankful. I just wallow in my worries, thinking I can “fix” things for myself. I constantly pick up “that” worry instead of lay it down and thank my Heavenly Father for how “that” worry or situation is refining me to become more of “the” woman He has always intended for me to be. It reminds me of how I let my children make a bad choice (after I have already told them my desire for their good, and what I think is the better choice to make) – I let them fall, so they can learn how to get back up, make the better choice and learn to walk a better path in the future having learned what is good for them. I know they will be safer, they will be stronger, they will be wiser by going a tough path for a season and learning how to follow the signs for a better path.

God does not desire sacrifices of things…He want us (Hosea 6:6). He calls us to something more than giving our stuff – He calls us to give ourselves, our hearts, our dreams, our worries. It’s why He made us…to love us, to care for us and our needs (1 Peter 5:7), to free us from the bondage of sin (ours and others sin against us), to lead us along paths of righteousness, to simply be with us forever. God does not want us to walk the path alone; He wants us to walk with Him. Yet, here I am, this side of Heaven…getting lost in the mire of “the” worries instead of looking up, seeing my powerful and loving Heavenly Father’s face and thanking Him for making me new, different and working all things for my good; even if “the” worry doesn’t or can’t change. (Revelation 21:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:28). So, no matter what the day (or this life) has brought me, I can offer a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and rejoice because this is “the” day the LORD has made for me (Psalm 118:24).

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” (Hebrews 12:28 NIV)

How can I pray for you in this day the LORD has made for you?

Rush Hour

Proverbs 19:2 - It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.

Don’t rush the journey that brings wholeness, complete knowledge of a situation and leads to the path of God’s perfect will vs. His permitted will.

I’m working through some tough issues of my past and EVERYTHING within me (well, almost everything – I’ll explain that later) wants to push fast-forward and get past the uncomfortable, painful part and onto the fresh, new, bright place waiting on the other side of this dark valley. I don’t want to be like a broken bone that is used too soon and not cared for properly. Sure the bone could be usable but not as strong and whole as intended. A bone that is not allowed to heal right will not regain its strength and would have to be re-broken so the healing can be complete.

Rushing is never in God’s plan and perfection. God had the Israelites travel the long way to the promised land so they could learn to trust, obey and KNOW He was/is faithful in His provision, His timing…His Love. He provided redemption and shelter from enemies, food in the middle of the empty, barren desert, refreshing water out of hard rocks…boldness, strength, true worship and obedience out of hard hearts as the people walked with Him along the grueling journey to the lush, promised land (Exodus 14, 16, 17, Proverbs 21:3, Hosea 6:6, Hebrews 10:4-10). Jesus Himself, never rushed to a place (even if it would mean saving a friend from death (John 11:1-44)), He made time for people so the full knowledge of God would be shared and understood by all who truly desired. This is why nearly EVERYTHING within me wants to run as fast as I can past this pain. When I listen, it is God IN me who keeps me calm in the confusion and darkness, He is my light for the path ahead and He reassures me of my victory through the valley and into the promised land. (John 16:33, Psalm 119:105).

Embracing

Things of this world should not be held too tightly, they keep you from embracing God.

With all the news about Hurricane Sandy, the remembrances of all the other major storms to devastate our country and others and EVERYTHING lost to these storms....lives, homes, cars...stuff.  I have been thinking of the importance of who and what I "hold" dear. Everything in this world will be taken at some point. The Bible describes us and the things here like this "People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades." (1 Peter 1:24) And although God made us to love one another; He made us to love Him first. "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.(Matthew 6:33)

This blog is called 'Everyday Wisdom' because I believe that there is something to be learned everyday about God, ourselves and each other. Since this is my first post, I wanted to share something about who God is making me to be. He continues to make me a woman who seeks His face above all else. You will get to know me more and I pray that we can discuss many issues openly and lovingly. I do indeed want to share faith (not just mine but I want to get to know yours as well), offer prayer (this is the only way I know to make a difference in my life and the life of those I love) and give hope ("Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him." Psalm 62:5).

Guidelines:

Ideas can be different but never worded harshly or without love and kindness - a desire for open dialogue and never to shut out.

Share ways I (and anyone who follows this blog) can pray for you and your needs - this experience will be awesome to see how God moves and fulfills His people.