Saturday, January 23, 2010

Waiting and Hoping

“. . . but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles: they will run and not

grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV





Do we like to wait? I speak for myself here, I had to LEARN to wait. As children we had to wait for our birthdays and summer vacation and Christmas. When we were sick, we had to wait for the medicine to work.

As adults we had to learn to be patient with our families, especially our small children. We had to wait for the snow to melt and then the rains to stop so the good weather could come.

In our Christian lives we have to wait for the Holy Spirit to enter our lives before we can know that we are to do something for God’s Kingdom. Sometimes we get tired and discouraged. But, God knows that about us. We can wait for these answers in hope, knowing that God will do what is best for His children.

I love this passage in Isaiah. It tells me all those who hope in God, through the Holy Spirit, will be refreshed. We will receive strength to accomplish those tasks that are ahead of us. When we rely on Him, we will do what we have to do exceptionally well. And we will not wear ourselves out. But first, we have to walk alongside the Lord.

I have found this is a lesson we learn as we mature in the Spirit. Once we learn it, I feel we realize how precious God is.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Servant hood

“The man who loves his life will lose it,

while the man who hates his life in this world

will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me

: and where I am my servant will be. John 11:2526 NIV



When we think of Jesus coming to earth, we sometimes overlook the idea of His being a servant. He illustrates this facet of who He is by washing the disciples feet.

In our present society we have workers in the government who we call civil servants. Our elected officials are thought to be public servants. Our municipal workers also fall into a class of city servants. When we eat in a restaurant, we receive the attention of servers.

When believers work for the Lord, be it as church custodian, church secretary, on missions projects, in children ministries, or work on funeral dinners, we do work for Him. In reality, when we pursue our secular occupations we also work for Him.

The apostle Paul referred to himself as a servant of Christ Jesus in his letters to the Romans. When he wrote to the Philippians, He included Timothy as one who was serving Christ Jesus. When he penned the letter to Titus, Paul called himself one who served God.

As believers and citizens of the 21st. Century, how can we better serve the Lord by serving our neighbors?

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Worthy Of Our Calling

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you

to live a life worthy of the calling you have.

received. Be completely humble, and gentle; be

patient , bearing with on another in love.

Eph 4:12(NIV)



When God calls us, He forgives us of our sins. His desire is that we grow to be more like Him.. He wants us to read and study His word, to pray and ask for guidance and direction.

As we fit these exercises into our daily practices, we may notice a change come into our lives. We notice certain issues no longer upset us. We approach problems differentlywe are no longer worrisome. Circumstances that would make us angry, no longer affect us as we have learned to wait for the outcome. We are able to love people who were hard to love in the past. All of these changes are results of God being with us an guiding us through each day of our lives.

Any time we are able to exhibit humility, display gentleness, show patience, and demonstrate love to those around us, we fulfill Paul’s urging to live a life worthy of being called Christian. When we are able to demonstrate these evidences of God’s influence in our lives, we please Him.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...