Friday, October 15, 2010

Our Agendas

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this

or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will,

we will live and do this or that.’” James 4:13-14a, 15



I recently heard a lady say she had designated her day off from work as a day devoted to the nonprofit ministry she directs. She told us she hadn’t been able to do what she had intended for the ministry. God brought several positive things to light as the year has progressed. It seems He was leading them and providing for the ministry’s needs even though they weren’t able to complete certain plans made earlier in the year.

The next day, I found the scripture above in my e-mail, sent to me as a meditation. God certainly speaks to us as we walk with Him.

God communicates with me like that. I walked out to our car this afternoon. As I opened the driver side door, I noticed a ‘for rent’ sign in the yard straight across the street. I remembered the house has two bedrooms. I don’t know who I was thinking about but the daughter and son-in-law of one of my best friends came to mind. I called my friend who said she’d tell her kids about it. I wouldn’t have seen it except Hubby wanted some ice cream and had me go get it.

He places us in situations so we can learn things. He guides us as we go through our days. We have to let Him be the one who instructs us in our daily lives.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

We Are Nothing; He is All.





“Who being in very nature God,

Did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:67



Some people want to be known for a certain thing. They desire to be remembered for being outstanding in their field of endeavor. It is their goal to do things in order for people to know their names.

Paul writes about Jesus and how he gave up who He was  the Son of God to become one of us, to serve God and to benefit us.

He tells us Jesus became nothing. He came as a baby-born to a young girl, cared for by a carpenter. God chose this set of circumstances for His Son instead of sending Him into this world as the King He is.

We don’t fully understand God’s reasons for having Jesus come into our world in this way. Jesus set aside His claim to glory and power in order to be with us, to teach us of the Father and the Kingdom.

As children of God, we sometimes get in the way of what He does in our lives and the lives of others. We want to place our mark on all things. When we do this we communicate the wrong idea. The ministries promoting God belong to Him; we should be open to His leading in our working for Him and in our personal lives.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Look to God



“As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,

as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us mercy.”

Psalm 123:2 (NIV)



We have ups and downs in our lives due to our being human. Some friends of mine call these times parts of life.

When we are face to face with tough times, what do we do? We ‘run’ to God. We speak of His presence more often. We listen more attentively.

What happens when things straighten out and all is going well? We forget God. By our actions we tell Him, “I can take over now.” We forget He is still in control. Shame on us.

For this reason our Christian forebears chose to institute times of prayer and Bible reading, sometimes twice a day. We need to stay in touch with God, especially when things go smoothly.

When we undergo good things we should praise God, thanking Him for the experience. At the end of my prayer list I keep a list of praises. Each day I try to find at least one thing that I can thank God for. Some days I have several; other times, all I can give praise for is the sunshine coming through my window.

Praising God keeps me from being downhearted. In order to praise Him we have to look to Him. Also, we have to look for Him and His acting in our lives and the lives of those around us.

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 ...