Who Do You Need To Be Walking Alongside?

Yesterday, I went to give my sweet friend a Sunday hug. I do it every Sunday morning we are both there. It was different this time! Her son had passed away and she needed me, more than I needed the assurance of her loving touch. She shared something I will never forget. During the final hours of her child’s life, she sat with him, alone. Certainly not willing to give back the gift she had been given 51 years before, but definitely willing to love and support him as she had done throughout the years of his life. She knew she did not want to be alone and she also knew she wasn’t because God, whom she had known and served all of her life, was with her. During the waiting hours, God sent another of her sons and his wife to walk alongside. God knew her need and provided exactly what He knew was necessary to give her the strength she needed for that moment in time and in the days ahead.

Don’t you love this about God? He knows every single thing we need and He provides it when we need it. David talks about this in the 23rd Psalm.

He gives us everything we need because all of it is His. More than He gives but He wants to give. He sees the need before we know there is one.

Oh yes, God will and does provide however, He wants us to be listening for His voice in ways we can walk alongside others. Sometimes, when I’m thinking of something else He puts a name in my mind. The first time I send up a prayer. If it happens again I give them a call or text and let them know I prayed and ask if they need anything. He gives many opportunities. We need only listen to His still, small (sometimes shouting) voice.

Abba, Father, how thankful I am that You are always walking alongside us. Help me to know when I need to be doing the same for one of my sisters or brothers. Open my heart and cause me to hear Your voice. Give me the strength and courage to follow through. Let Jesus be seen in me!

What We Think Is Not Always Trustworthy

A friend sent a message a few days ago and asked if I could give her some verses to help with her thoughts about herself. I gave this a couple of days of reflection and sent these words back to her:

One of the verses I often go to when my mind gives me all kinds of negative thoughts about who I am and what I am and what I’ve done is Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. To me, that says put all of my trust in God. My own understanding is my thoughts of things that have happened or things that might happen. That is not what God wants. He wants me to consider His Word so that I will know what is really happening.

Sometimes I have to think through Philippians 4:8 over and over and over until my thoughts are focused once again on my God and not on the things running helter-skelter through my mind.

Abba, Father, help me (us) focus completely and totally on Your Word whenever our thoughts are troubling us. Remind us to put You in control of the things that are out of our control.

Think

What are you thinking about?

These are some of my favorite words of the Bible. Actually, Philippians 4:4-8 give me support for almost everything. I say it that way because there are other verses that apply, too.

Living in this time is tough. It’s easy to let our minds wander to the madness of this world. The evil one wants us to do that. He wants us to think about anything that takes our minds off God and the good things of life. We can not allow him to do that.

Recognizing our disobedience is the first step. Any of our actions or attitudes that cause us to think we know better than He does separates us from Him. Sin, unforgiveness, disobedience, lack of faith, pride, ignoring His Word, other gods… Each of these takes our thoughts captive and away from what He wants.

Overcoming our negative, hurtful, judgmental, thoughts is a necessary part of becoming the people He wants us to be. We can do that by refocusing our thoughts on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, praiseworthy, and good.

Abba, Father, guide and guard our thoughts. Open our hearts, minds, and souls to You and Your Word. Keeps us constantly aware of Your Presence.

When In Doubt… DON’T

Many years ago a former pastor gave me a piece of advice that I’ve kept in my mind and heart.  When in doubt…DON’T!  This four-word sentence has had a huge impact on my decision making.  When I’m even the least bit uncomfortable with a choice I ponder it carefully.  I question, will it have a positive or negative impact?  Will it support or tear down?  It’s amazing what an influence these four words have had on my life.

Here are a few more don’ts:

  • DON’T judge people for the choices they make when you DON’T know the options they had to choose from.
  • Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind DON’T matter and those who matter DON’T mind. ~ Dr. Seuss
  • DON’T give up! Great things take time.
  • DON’T talk about me until you have talked to me!
  • DON’T do it!

How about these from the Word:

  • DON’T worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6
  • DON’T panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10 (MSG)
  • Tell everyone who is discouraged, be strong and DON’T be afraid! God is coming to your rescue. Isaiah 35:4 (CEB)
  •  Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we DON’Tgive up. Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
  •  That is why we DON’T give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

Do you have a favorite quote or Bible verse about the word DON’T?  I’d love to add them to my collection.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

 

 

Life Interupted

Jonah and the Whale in the Jami' al-tawarikh (c. 1400), Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jonah and the Whale in the Jami’ al-tawarikh (c. 1400), Metropolitan Museum of Art

Have you noticed that when life is going smoothly something happens to interrupt?  It can be something small like the phone ringing when you’re trying to finish a project.  It can be something much larger like a life-threatening disease or accident, severe weather (blizzard, tornado, earthquake), birth, death, loss of a job…  When you start getting a case of the ‘why me’ syndrome give some thought to these lives that were interrupted by God Himself.

Moses             2 forty year visits to the desert

Noah               Stop, drop and build a boat on dry land

Abraham         Leave everything and travel to an unknown location

Sarah              Baby at 90

Joseph            Dropped into a pit and sold as a slave

Mary                Suddenly pregnant

Dramatic and sudden interruptions happen all the time.  Case in point…Jonah.  He was living a great life but God wanted more for him.  So God told him to go to Ninevah.  Jonah wasn’t having any of that.  That city was known as the ‘Sin City’ of that era.  So, Jonah decided to run to another place.  Really!?  Did he really think he could hide from God?  Yes, he did.  While on that journey, in the opposite direction, the ship he was on was hit with a threatening storm.  Those on board determined it was Jonah who was causing the problem, so they threw him overboard.  We know the rest of the story…

Let’s look at this from a different angle.   This is a story of many miracles.  The first two are in verse one.

Jonah 11

First – God spoke!

Second – God allowed a person to hear His voice!

When He allows one of His creation to hear His voice it’s a huge privilege.  We often hear His voice and don’t recognize it.  The difference with us and Jonah is he knew exactly Who was speaking and choose not to obey.

Then, how do we know we’re hearing God?  How do we know He’s interrupting us?  Have you ever been listening to a speaker and the words seem just for you?  Have you been reading the Word and it’s speaking to your heart?  Henry Blackaby says we hear God through His Word, prayer, other Christians, worship, and life circumstances.  God talks to us often through the Holy Spirit living in us and He expects us to listen.

When we hear God what are we to do?  Easy answer, yet hard to follow through.  We’re to drop everything and listen.  He is saying I have a plan and I want you to be part of it.

The interrupted life is not always the big events I mentioned earlier.  It can be a crying child, a husband or wife’s attention, a new friendship, an unexpected phone call, a knock on the door….  God wants us open to His voice!  Anytime!  Anywhere!

He is calling.  Are you listening?

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie