God Knows Me

 

  I’ve had five children: three daughters and two sons.  Although they share the same parents, they are all unique.  I’m closer to some than others, but even those I am closest to, have parts of them I know little or nothing about.  It’s kind of interesting as I consider they were all raised the same (they might refute that, depending on birth order, but at least similarly), yet each has their own interpretation of events that happened, or things they even remember.

I’d like to say I know my children well; and perhaps to a great degree I did when they were children; although they certainly left me perplexed more than once!  But as they became adults, each has their own way of thinking and interpreting life, belief system, likes and dislikes, dreams and desires, plans and specific ways of carrying out their plans.  There are days it seems I don’t know them at all.

What’s even more remarkable than this, is how God knows each of his children through and through.  There is nothing hidden from him.  He knows our thoughts, --even our secret ones, motives, successes and failures, deepest desires and perspectives  of what we believe is truth!  This idea absolutely blows my mind.  God knows me better than I know myself--as well as, every other person who calls him Lord and Savior!  

And beyond this, even while knowing all the “stuff” about me, I might not want to believe, God still loves me!  His mercy and goodness looks beyond what I can’t even see!  It is through faith I am able to come to Him and ask for mercy, because I know I’m not all “good!”  I’m human, and susceptible to great failure!

      I can't help but think about Abraham.  God used this man who had great faith,  faults and weaknesses, just like every other human.  But, like you and me, he was given gifts and talents and used them for God's glory.  His faith took him to a foreign land to be the father of many nations with descendants that would outnumber the stars.  He was tested, even to the point of being asked to sacrifice his only heir, Isaac.  Still Abraham had faith---faith that God would provide and God did!

The question becomes, ‘What will I do with this knowledge?’  I can come to Him daily to be fed the Bread of Life, trusting the ‘feeding’ God will give me.  It takes faith to believe, but God provides the faith when we trust his ability to do so, just the way Abraham believed.  

I encourage you to reach out, with both hands, to a God who loves you, regardless of gender, race, creed, social background, mistakes made, or any other possible hindrance.  God will welcome you, because he knows you much better than you know yourself, and loves you.  Grab on and get loved!

Success And Our Destiny

 

  When we work in an area that encompasses our talents, and fuels our passion we are more likely to enjoy what we are doing, and do whatever we are doing, that much better!  Some call this ‘our calling,’ or even according to Stephen Covey who wrote the “8th Habit”, ‘our soul’s code.’

It’s hard sometimes to know what our talent is and certainly what our calling is.  We struggle as we look in the mirror and see a person who feels inadequate, uneducated, (even when we have a degree), unprepared, and even to some degree-- a failure.

But what is failure?  Is it not having failed, but rather not having tried?  How can we grow if we don’t try, even if it leaves us feeling less than a ‘winner?’  I know.  I’ve been there.  I suspect we all have.  We have things we want to try, to accomplish, places to go, dreams not yet fulfilled and we wonder if any of those things we want to happen, will!

But when we don’t put forth a true effort, who is really responsible for not having acquired success?  God granted each of us gifts from birth!  Some discover those gifts early on.  Others, like myself, take what seems a lifetime to find.  

I wasn’t a young writer.  I have only a vague memory in fifth grade when writing a story for an assignment, excited me.  In truth, I lack any other glimpses of writing during my entire school experience—aside from once in 9th grade, wishing I could write like the girl who sat behind me.  I’m not sure the desire came from really wanting to write, so much as the desire to get a better grade! 

I was wife and the mother of five little ones before I started writing!  Life was challenging while raising my children, being a good wife and all the other struggles of life!  Still I was compelled to write.

And sometimes even now I wonder if I qualify!  Yet, there’s a deep sense within my soul that reminds me God has given me the gift of putting words on paper that will make a difference in the lives of those who read them.  It may not be scores of people, but just one who needs to see what message He has for them.  I am simply the instrument He is using.

Do I still get discouraged?  Absolutely!  I have written much over the years and it always feels good when I see a completed project; and sometimes that is the extent of what I see, in regard to being productive and helpful!  That isn’t a bad thing and most of the time, seeing the work completed is enough.  But there are days when Satan attacks and destroys my ‘working energy’ so I begin to ponder my worth and the value of what I’ve written.

Should I quit?  Nope.  Sometimes it requires taking a ‘rest’ but quitting is not an option.  I read somewhere that God’s callings are irrevocable.  They just are.  Our talents or gifts we’ve been blessed with are to be used for His glory, not our own and therein is what I forget sometimes, as Satan feeds me seeds of doubt.  

I may not be destined to become a well-known author, but I am destined to write.  It’s my ‘duty’ to be unrelenting in striving to be the best I can be, despite the doubts which threaten to overwhelm me every now and then.

How about you?  What is your calling?  What blessings are your destined to share with others?

Photo Credit: free pictures of birth-gifts 

Chicken Inspiration

 

  Some days it’s hard to be inspired.  The day seems to close in on me even when the sun is shining and I’m left with this overwhelming feeling of sadness.  I can’t explain it since it seems to come on for no good reason!  It’s very frustrating as I search for something to motivate and energize me.

I reach for a book and can’t read.  Pulling out my computer I ‘play’ a little on Pinterest, trying to find an antidote for the glumness stealing my happy nature.  I find food, comfort food, that leaves me feeling guilty since it probably wasn’t a bit good for me, and then it dawns on me to take a walk.  Just get outside and drink in the beauty of God’s Creation.

   We were given chickens not long ago and I can’t describe the joy those funny little feathered creatures have brought this family!  Our youngest granddaughter, almost two-years-old, who lives next door, claims they are hers and knows which one is which, by name.  The other grandchildren also enjoy their antics, as do we adults.

My husband takes his breaks from working outside, whether it be building something, cleaning the garage, or cutting grass, by settling in a chair in full view of the, what I call ‘the chicken play pen’— a nice, rather large fenced in area just inside the woods, with his cup of coffee and just watches them peck the ground to find bugs and other such chicken delicacies.  

I discovered I too like to sit and watch the feathered flock.  They are such simple little critters, but they have personality, as well.  There are five, but there is one who seems to be the ‘boss’ of the bunch.  She will fuss with one in her way, chase it out of a spot she wants and just overall is a bit bossy!  We chuckle as we watch her manipulate the other four.

Aren’t we humans just like that?  We like to have things our way, in a timely manner and feel like we are in total control.  But as I sit and reflect on the very nature of chickens, I am reminded that God put us in control of the animals of the earth—not necessarily each other!

I’m reminded we are to work and pray together as a family, in order that we can grow into the Believers we are meant to be!  What a gift!  

As I reflect on the relationship I have with my brothers and sisters in Christ, I wonder if I ever seem bossy—wanting my own way and in my time frame?!  I don’t think so, and I certainly hope not, but I doubt my chicken has ever thought she was either!  Perhaps it’s a good time for reflection and even correction!

Perhaps there are those within our Christian network who do seem to be like this.  How do we respond?  Do we bite back or run and cower like the other chickens in the coop?  Or do we take it to the Lord in prayer and ask for guidance from a Father who knows all, asking Him to show us how to handle the situation with kindness?  I wonder.  What do most humans do in this situation?  You ever been there?  What did you do?

My point to all this is, sometimes it takes a step out of our normal routine to allow our minds to travel and lose track of time and receive the simple pleasure of nature—God’s Creation—and yes, even chickens, to give us inspiration—— and maybe even a little direction!  

See With God's Eyes

 

My husband was talking with a man a week ago who caught me completely off guard.  He was average height, mid-forties or early fifties, with hair well past his shoulders, snaggle toothed, but relatively clean.  As I eyed him, I found myself not revolted, but very leary, certain the language from his mouth would likely be offensive.   As I joined my husband and listened to the conversation between the two of them, I discovered the man was a believer in Christ.  Shame on me!  I had put him in a box based on what my eyes saw.

In another instance we were in the midst of a large group of people and I noticed the attire of many of the women, young up to middle age; small and petite to larger and even obese wearing what looked like black tights in place of jeans or shorts.  I again admit to shuddering and thinking, “really?”

Why do we put people in boxes?  I suspect when people see me, especially in conversation with someone else, they must just shake their head and wonder what in the world is wrong with me since my hands rarely stop moving.  I don’t use “sign language” in the regular sense, but talking with my hands is just how I seem to be able to communicate.  In fact, my husband has grabbed my hands in the middle of a sentence and I declare, I forget what it was I was saying!

My point is we all have little nuances, which makes us different.  I imagine when Christ walked the earth; people probably found Him a bit odd.  He challenged people to look at life differently, to accept what was new and in some instances went against what they’d believed all their lives.  He wanted acceptance based on what He told them and taught, not what he looked like.  

God looks for faithfulness in our lives, not flawlessness.  He doesn’t love us based on how we wear our hair, what color shirt we are wearing, what size our shoe is or if we have all our teeth or not!  He loves us because that is God.  He loved us so much He sent his Son as the ultimate sacrifice.  And Jesus loved us enough to leave His throne in heaven and give His life in agreement with the Father.  

I believe God challenges us to look beyond what we see with our mortal eyes.  It takes more than our human-ness to do this, however.  The only way we can look past what we see is to ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and our hearts to God’s wisdom.  Otherwise we will see only as the world sees, and the world is blinded by sin and can’t see at all.

God also expects us to see past whatever situation we are in and look for guidance from Him to be able to deal with, work through, or wait on His answer regarding how to handle what is before us.   When we use “God’s eyes” to see, we will more likely understand the lesson we are to learn from whatever trial we are facing or further mature into the person we are supposed to become in Christ.

As we grow in Christ, seeing our world, God’s creation, including other people, through Heaven’s eyes, we will grow in faith and as we grow we will discover that faith functions by love, not in a box.  Our hearts will be able to see past the flaws we see in others and see with the love of God.

https://www.shutterstock.com/search/people-inside-boxes

I Am Made New

 

        I have, in several places throughout my home, a print out of “My Identity In Christ”  strategically placed and visible so I can readily see it.  There are nearly two dozen different scriptures which specifically outlines who I am.  The first, and perhaps my favorite is, “I am the daughter of a King.”  There is something profoundly comforting, yet exhilarating and inspiring in those words; imagine, a KING!    

As a human, I fail, sometimes miserably!  Knowing that God created a “new creature” in me, when I accepted His salvation is also reassuring.  When I think about this idea, however, it’s almost overwhelming to put in perspective, when I reflect on the very first verse in the God’s Word.  God created heaven and earth.  With a masterful hand, and imagination beyond anything anyone could possibly conceive, God was able to create this universe, create day and night, set the boundaries for the oceans and land masses, create the stars, sun and moon, the animals and even man.

Of all His creations, he chose to have a relationship with man---with me!  He has wanted, since time began, the unique bond and connection with the human race; to walk and talk, teach and listen, laugh and uplift, comfort and hold, and more than anything else, love.  What an extraordinary gift, that many people miss.

In our world of a “self-consuming nature,” God is put up on the shelf for only those moments when we feel like we “really need” Him.   Not only does this mindset rule a large section of the population world-wide, but our world has chosen to ignore him completely and push him out of nearly everything that’s decent!  Apathy rules, and worse, rejection of God entirely has become the “norm” rather than the unusual.  Our culture has become more and more perverted to the point of being unrecognizable in a “Christian” format!

What has happened to the acceptance of a God who made the universe?  If we can’t believe He did this, then how can we believe we can be made a new creation?  We can’t!  The Bible is the infallible Word of God.  We don’t have the option of believing part of it and rejecting those parts we don’t like!

Sitting on the fence about right and wrong, good and evil, worldly or godly, isn’t what God, the Creator wants.  He wants our hearts to believe in him totally and completely--- and we can do this when we are made new!  As a new creation, we have the strength, through Him, to bear up under the assault on our new found faith.  We have the ability to walk through the trials of life because of His sustaining guidance, power and love.

Knowing who I am, through the power of God, gives me the assurance I am capable of those things in life which seem impossible.  Not only are those “impossible things” possible, it’s possible with a confidence which can only be obtained through the power of the Great Creator.  What an amazing gift!  We are blessed!

Photo Credit: free pictures of the universe

Hearing The Voice Of God

 

          I was talking with a friend about changes they’d like to make in their life. Changes often affect more than just the person who is making the decision.  Depending on the situation, it can affect an entire family and sometimes even several!  It can be a hard decision when it involves more than one person.  

After the conversation, I was left with prayerful thoughts about options and listening to God’s voice.  It is He who created us to be productive, yet wants us to remain aligned with His will.  We are told in His word “the sheep know the Shepherd’s voice.”  It’s important to separate emotion and self-will, to be quiet and still, to enable us to hear God’s voice through all the other thoughts pounding and clamoring for space in our head and hearts.

Most of us want to be productive in whatever we are doing.  That’s been the mind set since time began.  In times long past, the pioneers and farmers produced the items they used.  They fashioned farm tools, spinning wheels, leather goods, hunted and grew food, built furniture and created supplies from the lumber retrieved from the forest. As need increased iron and lead was produced, along with nails, and cast iron cook ware!  Then came automation and mass production, which really changed the complexion of society.

Creating each of these items before the industrial revolution took a fair amount of training and experience.  People relied on each other for the goods they could not produce.  They realized if they hadn’t relied on each other, they may have perished.  The same concept can be said about our spiritual life.  When we don’t rely on God we are, in reality, helpless and can perish!  

When we don’t stay in The Word and prayer, we find ourselves filled with doubts and fears about what we can and cannot do.  We shrink from “what might be” and “what if?”  But God doesn’t want us to be like that.  We were created to hear his voice from the depths of our beings.  He wants to guide us to new heights.  Our new adventures can’t happen or at least be successful, if we don’t put our trust in him.

God has given us gifts to share, with which to be productive.  Each person’s skill is unique to him, given his personality and how he chooses to use it.  This is true when we minister or when we are in the midst of a giant change of direction.  Often we look at the practical side of things and say, “that just can’t be done!”  But if God is molding us and transforming us to make such a change, we must rely on God to work out the details, even if in our finite minds, it doesn’t seem possible!

When we see with the “eyes of God” into these situations, we can see God working on us and “growing us” into the persons we are meant to be.  We are made stronger when we recognize we must move forward, but stay aligned with him; and that we are not in control.  It is God.  He can make us fruitful and productive in ways we couldn’t have imagined.  

Photo Credit:  https://www.loc.gov/resource/det.4a07766/ 

Embrace The Challenge

 

       When I was young, I dreamed of being in the Miss America Pageant.  I embraced the challenges it offered and thought it would be wonderful to have everyone cheering for me.  A dream was all it ever was, however.  We were poor and never would have gotten the necessary sponsorship money and all that is needed for participation.  But the glory of it all…..and the prizes!  That kept me excited from year to year, as we watched it on TV, even knowing I would never personally participate.

As I reflected on my childhood dream, I noted the requirements-- (and they were likely different from state to state).  There were five areas of competition, including a private interview (worth 25% of your score), talent (35% of your total score), evening wear (20%) and then on-stage questions (5%).  Another area considered in your score is lifestyle and fitness- including the swimsuit area (15% of your total score).  There are forms to fill out, questions to answer and even an essay defining your passion, which is used as your “contestant platform,” as well as, other specific criteria.

It's interesting to note the parallel of competing in a 'beauty contest' to that of being a Believer; and more important, the big difference!  Just as I wanted people to cheer for me, God wants us to cheer for him!  He wants us to give all we’ve got, just as those young girls prepare to compete against each other – only we do it for Him and not for ourselves---the adrenaline, fame, notoriety or even the prizes-- which is the most important difference!

To be a Believer, there are no fees for the challenges that face us; or need for asking for sponsorship; special talent requirements; no prerequisite for funds to be able to pay for the evening gowns, make up, or training for our “talent”; and no requirement for particular physical fitness, or beauty. And we don't compete against our peers.  But we do need to prepare for the daily fight with the powers of the air--Satan and his minions.  We need to be in training, as we study the Bible and pray for the ability to follow God’s guidance so we win against Satan, our biggest adversary!  

And the prize….!?  It’s far greater than a scholarship and the material things that come from winning a beauty pageant. And the crown awarded for winning is nothing compared to our reward in eternity with Him.  It’s seeing God face to face when he welcomes us into heaven.

When the next beauty pageant comes around--and they are less and less these days, I would still love to sit and enjoy the gala proceeding.  It’s exciting and exhilarating.  But I must remember with my whole heart, that competing for a temporary crown in a beauty pageant pales next to fighting for Christ’s glory.  This should be the greatest desire of our lives, for which any of us can compete.  Let's embrace the challenge. 

Photo credit: https://depositphotos.com/357629920/stock-photo-crown-contest-america-style-crystals.html 

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