10/16/2013
“Yesterday is history”… “Put your best foot forward”… “Leave the past behind”… “Today is the day”…
Well, tomorrow, that is…
“I’ll start tomorrow…” How many times have we said this for different situations in our lives? It’s not necessarily intentional because, of course, we ALWAYS have the very best intentions, right? But intentions don’t change anything. Action is where change begins! Why then is it so hard for us to exact change in our lives? What is it that makes it so hard to take that first simple step in the right direction?
It could be something as simple as a bad habit that we would like to break or maybe a positive change we would like to bring about in our lives. One of the most common examples of this is that common phrase that we use to excuse bad eating choices before beginning to eat healthy again…”Oh, I’m going to start TOMORROW.” Maybe you can relate to this, I definitely can! Why is it that we always want to start “tomorrow”? Why not NOW?
Apparently we want one more night with the frogs. In Exodus 8:8-10 there is a very interesting story about Moses and Pharaoh and the plague of frogs:
8 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile.”
10 “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh said.
Tomorrow?! I know that if I was faced with a plague of frogs, and was asked when I would like for someone to pray that they would leave, my answer would be NOW! However, this story shows our own mindset as we face moving forward in our lives. Just give me one more night with my bad habit, one more night with my addiction, one more night with my sin, etc., etc. We don’t have to wait another minute; there is no need to wait until tomorrow. Change begins now. Take that step in the right direction now. We can leave behind the junk in our lives, whatever it may be, and not have to spend one more night with the frogs.
Don't wait until tomorrow. Don't even wait another minute. This is the moment...today. The time is now. Take hold of God's promises for you and His very best for your life and move forward NOW!
Monday, October 28, 2013
A Higher Perspective
October 21, 2012
A couple of months ago I had gone on a trip and was riding with a friend so I was able to sightsee. On the way back, we took a different way than what I was used to and ended up taking an overpass that crossed the road I normally take to my grandmother’s house. I looked out the window and saw the familiar road, as well as many things in the distance that I cannot usually see when I’m on the road, either because of distance or because my focus is only on the road directly ahead.
Immediately the Lord began to speak to my heart about what I was seeing – not just the road and surroundings, but the deeper spiritual meaning He wanted me to learn and apply to my own life. You see, riding on the overpass gave me a new perspective, a higher perspective. It allowed me to not only see the road I was used to, but so much that I would not usually be able to take in.
In life, we are traveling down a road. We all have different roads and different paths, different journeys to get us to our destination; and they fork and wind and turn in directions we didn’t expect, or very often, just don’t understand. While on these roads of life we are looking ahead, moving forward, focused on the path directly in front of us, concentrating on one step at a time. However, if we were lifted up above that path we would find that the higher we go the more we would be able to see.
God showed me that day that just as it says in his word, “His ways are higher than our ways,” His perspective is perfect and so much higher than our own. While we can only see part of the picture and a portion of the road ahead, God sees the whole picture – beginning to end, every twist and turn, including each obstacle and pitfall that may lie on the path. None of it takes Him by surprise, and none of it is beyond His power or ability to walk us through. This morning we heard such a wonderful message at church about how throughout our life we are going through a process. Everything that we face and everything that we walk through is meant to refine us, meant to draw us closer to God, meant to make us better and stronger Christians, and to teach us how to love and have compassion on other people. Everything that we face on this road of life is all part of the process. The process is not always easy, and more often than not can be incredibly uncomfortable and painful. But we have to endure to the end, stay on the path, see the process through to its completion.
The thing that we have to remember is that everything that we are able to see is only a part of the bigger picture – a moment in eternity – but God sees everything in its entirety. We have to learn to trust in that higher perspective.
A couple of months ago I had gone on a trip and was riding with a friend so I was able to sightsee. On the way back, we took a different way than what I was used to and ended up taking an overpass that crossed the road I normally take to my grandmother’s house. I looked out the window and saw the familiar road, as well as many things in the distance that I cannot usually see when I’m on the road, either because of distance or because my focus is only on the road directly ahead.
Immediately the Lord began to speak to my heart about what I was seeing – not just the road and surroundings, but the deeper spiritual meaning He wanted me to learn and apply to my own life. You see, riding on the overpass gave me a new perspective, a higher perspective. It allowed me to not only see the road I was used to, but so much that I would not usually be able to take in.
In life, we are traveling down a road. We all have different roads and different paths, different journeys to get us to our destination; and they fork and wind and turn in directions we didn’t expect, or very often, just don’t understand. While on these roads of life we are looking ahead, moving forward, focused on the path directly in front of us, concentrating on one step at a time. However, if we were lifted up above that path we would find that the higher we go the more we would be able to see.
God showed me that day that just as it says in his word, “His ways are higher than our ways,” His perspective is perfect and so much higher than our own. While we can only see part of the picture and a portion of the road ahead, God sees the whole picture – beginning to end, every twist and turn, including each obstacle and pitfall that may lie on the path. None of it takes Him by surprise, and none of it is beyond His power or ability to walk us through. This morning we heard such a wonderful message at church about how throughout our life we are going through a process. Everything that we face and everything that we walk through is meant to refine us, meant to draw us closer to God, meant to make us better and stronger Christians, and to teach us how to love and have compassion on other people. Everything that we face on this road of life is all part of the process. The process is not always easy, and more often than not can be incredibly uncomfortable and painful. But we have to endure to the end, stay on the path, see the process through to its completion.
The thing that we have to remember is that everything that we are able to see is only a part of the bigger picture – a moment in eternity – but God sees everything in its entirety. We have to learn to trust in that higher perspective.
A Path Less Trodden
04-14-2013
Have you ever felt led by the Lord to do or say something, or go somewhere...felt the urge of His Spirit to move...heard His voice say "Go"...but when you stepped out in faith and obedience things didn't go exactly the way you thought they would?
Several days ago, as I was going about my daily business (or busyness...), God spoke to my heart about this. He showed me that just because He has called us to do something does NOT mean it will be easy. We are tested through trials to build our perseverance and we are refined by the fire, yet we often think that if we're on the path that God has appointed for us it will be easy...that there won't be potholes, rough roads and obstacles ahead.
The fact is that there is purpose in the things we face on the road we are on, and when God calls us to do something for Him - to step out in faith and obey, HE will make the way and HE will enable us to walk the path He has set us on. He will give us the strength to walk through every situation and circumstance we may face, and He will never leave us to walk alone. God does not always call us to walk the path of least resistance where we would find it easy to trust in ourselves and our own strength and wisdom (Jesus certainly did not walk an easy path). Instead, He has us walk a path less traveled - a rougher road; one that requires us to lean on His strength and to trust His voice when we may not be able to see what's ahead or which way to go. He didn't call us to have all the answers; He called us to trust Him and walk the road WITH Him.
And then sometimes, in order to take us to the next level - to the high places with Him, we have to climb the steep heights which may seem impossible to us. Psalm 18:33 says, "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to stand on the heights." In our own strength we cannot walk in the high places that He wants to take us to. We have to take the hard path to get to that next level, but HE equips us to do it. We have nothing good in us through our own strength or accomplishments, but EVERY good and perfect gift comes from Him!
Walking out God's plans for our lives is not always easy, but with God it IS possible and we will be stronger in doing it. When we walk with Him on the path He has chosen for us He will teach us His wisdom along the way, give us His strength and peace, and take us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. It's time we choose to follow where the Lord leads, regardless of difficulty and in spite of feeling like we can't do it. Nothing is impossible with God and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. He will never leave us alone, but will walk every step with us on the path less trodden.
Have you ever felt led by the Lord to do or say something, or go somewhere...felt the urge of His Spirit to move...heard His voice say "Go"...but when you stepped out in faith and obedience things didn't go exactly the way you thought they would?
Several days ago, as I was going about my daily business (or busyness...), God spoke to my heart about this. He showed me that just because He has called us to do something does NOT mean it will be easy. We are tested through trials to build our perseverance and we are refined by the fire, yet we often think that if we're on the path that God has appointed for us it will be easy...that there won't be potholes, rough roads and obstacles ahead.
The fact is that there is purpose in the things we face on the road we are on, and when God calls us to do something for Him - to step out in faith and obey, HE will make the way and HE will enable us to walk the path He has set us on. He will give us the strength to walk through every situation and circumstance we may face, and He will never leave us to walk alone. God does not always call us to walk the path of least resistance where we would find it easy to trust in ourselves and our own strength and wisdom (Jesus certainly did not walk an easy path). Instead, He has us walk a path less traveled - a rougher road; one that requires us to lean on His strength and to trust His voice when we may not be able to see what's ahead or which way to go. He didn't call us to have all the answers; He called us to trust Him and walk the road WITH Him.
And then sometimes, in order to take us to the next level - to the high places with Him, we have to climb the steep heights which may seem impossible to us. Psalm 18:33 says, "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to stand on the heights." In our own strength we cannot walk in the high places that He wants to take us to. We have to take the hard path to get to that next level, but HE equips us to do it. We have nothing good in us through our own strength or accomplishments, but EVERY good and perfect gift comes from Him!
Walking out God's plans for our lives is not always easy, but with God it IS possible and we will be stronger in doing it. When we walk with Him on the path He has chosen for us He will teach us His wisdom along the way, give us His strength and peace, and take us into a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. It's time we choose to follow where the Lord leads, regardless of difficulty and in spite of feeling like we can't do it. Nothing is impossible with God and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. He will never leave us alone, but will walk every step with us on the path less trodden.
Trading Our Birthright
December 1, 2009
It never ceases to amaze me how the enemy will sneak in with deception, and how we as God's children seem to make it so easy for him. We look at our adoption certificate, take a quick half-glance at the scars on Jesus' hands, and then we turn away - set our gaze elsewhere - as the enemy spews whispered lies in our ears. He tempts us with his wares, saying "look here...look at this...see what you could have if only you will reach out and take it..." He tempts us to sell our birthright for a measly bowl of soup. First, he reminds us how hungry we are...then he puts a rich, hearty, savory-smelling bowl of piping hot soup right under our nose. He says, "Your hunger will be satisfied if only you'll take a few bites. It will be delicious on your tongue, it will feel warm going down, and your desire will be satisfied." Only when it is too late do we finally realize our mistake. Only when the bitter taste fills our mouth, when the icy cold of guilt runs down our spine, and our stomach is filled with the gritty ash of regret do we grasp the enormity of what we have traded. Then the weight of our loss becomes overwhelming.
Is there forgiveness? Yes, and there can even be restoration. We have to put all of our trust in Jesus because the enemy will pound us with our failure. He tempts us, lures us into a pit, then holds us down. He will tell us over and over again how we failed God, how we trampled on His grace and the precious blood of Jesus. He will tell us how unworthy we are and how we can't really be forgiven. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants to steal our peace, our joy, and all of the good gifts God has placed in us. He wants to destroy the plans God has for our lives, our ministries, our families; he wants to strip us down and make us feel like we have lost everything and all hope is gone. But most of all he wants to kill us. He wants our complete and total destruction as a slap in the face of God. We are God's children, and in hurting us he strikes at the very heart of our Father.
There is no temptation, no sin, that is worth trading our birthright for. God's plans for us are always good, and amazing beyond our imagination. Why would we ever want to trade them for one moment of delicious soup that will turn sour on our stomach?
It never ceases to amaze me how the enemy will sneak in with deception, and how we as God's children seem to make it so easy for him. We look at our adoption certificate, take a quick half-glance at the scars on Jesus' hands, and then we turn away - set our gaze elsewhere - as the enemy spews whispered lies in our ears. He tempts us with his wares, saying "look here...look at this...see what you could have if only you will reach out and take it..." He tempts us to sell our birthright for a measly bowl of soup. First, he reminds us how hungry we are...then he puts a rich, hearty, savory-smelling bowl of piping hot soup right under our nose. He says, "Your hunger will be satisfied if only you'll take a few bites. It will be delicious on your tongue, it will feel warm going down, and your desire will be satisfied." Only when it is too late do we finally realize our mistake. Only when the bitter taste fills our mouth, when the icy cold of guilt runs down our spine, and our stomach is filled with the gritty ash of regret do we grasp the enormity of what we have traded. Then the weight of our loss becomes overwhelming.
Is there forgiveness? Yes, and there can even be restoration. We have to put all of our trust in Jesus because the enemy will pound us with our failure. He tempts us, lures us into a pit, then holds us down. He will tell us over and over again how we failed God, how we trampled on His grace and the precious blood of Jesus. He will tell us how unworthy we are and how we can't really be forgiven. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants to steal our peace, our joy, and all of the good gifts God has placed in us. He wants to destroy the plans God has for our lives, our ministries, our families; he wants to strip us down and make us feel like we have lost everything and all hope is gone. But most of all he wants to kill us. He wants our complete and total destruction as a slap in the face of God. We are God's children, and in hurting us he strikes at the very heart of our Father.
There is no temptation, no sin, that is worth trading our birthright for. God's plans for us are always good, and amazing beyond our imagination. Why would we ever want to trade them for one moment of delicious soup that will turn sour on our stomach?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)