Lord Help Me…

There are times in life when even the strongest of us need encouragement, strength, and rejuvenation.  I’m not talking about taking a vacation, a walk on the beach or sitting silently in a corner reading a book, but I mean some serious HELP LORD.  When the trivialness of life seems to bog you down and calm thoughts are fleeting; when you’re tired of being a rock for everyone else and you are searching for someone to be a rock for you; when you want to cry, but the tears won’t fall.  I know it’s those times when God is waiting for us to come to Him, to seek Him to call on Him.  That Rock is Jesus!

As I contemplate a major decision in my own life, I was contacted by someone else who needed a word and those same verses became strength for me.  Please take comfort in the Word of God:

Proverbs 3:5-6…Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

 

John 14:27…Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Psalm 55:22…Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

1 Peter 5:7…Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Psalm 120:1…I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.

Accountability Partner

Do you have an accountability partner?  Someone to keep you encouraged and motivated; someone to tell you when you're wrong and help guide you to what is right; someone you trust to have your best interest at heart; someone who isn't there to stroke your ego or coddle your self pity, but to tell you the truth....

I remember when I was on my "first' weight loss journey and my health coach was my accountability partner.  While losing the weight was a benefit to me, there was something unnerving about having to do that weekly call and telling her that I'd made a mistake.  However, when I did fess up, she didn't condemn me, but she gave me guidance on how to do better.  I wrote a blog once before about how we sometimes push people away when they give advice, but not everyone is out to harm you.  Of course you must pay enough attention to the signs to know who genuinely cares.

We are not on an island alone, so we all need help from time to time.  We all need someone who thinks differently and sees the situation differently to help us reassess our own reasoning.

"If two men agree on everything, you may be sure that one of them is doing the thinking."

- Lyndon B. Johnson

 

“If we both agree on everything, one of us is not necessary.”

- Unknown

Thouht For The Day

"Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all."
- Anonymous

Psalms 39:1...I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue:

Flip The Coin

This morning I read an article, emailed to me by a friend, and the content was related to a pastor whose death was widely discussed because of his "presumed" struggle. And almost a year and a half later - it's still being discussed.

It really got me to thinking this morning. I've read some of the comments that people made about this man and yes - he may have had a bad struggle BUT how many of the men and women of "God" do we sit under and listen to that have struggles?   Sin is sin!!!  I bet if people knew what their pastors were struggling with and if it was made public knowledge they wouldn't be as inclined to be so condemning.  

We as people tend hold imperfect people to perfect standards. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9..."For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me". God knew we'd have struggles so He gave us grace. When that grace runs out - we have to answer to The Lord. Yeah - he had a problem, but how many people did he lead to Christ?! 

Flip the coin from tales to heads and pray for people rather than judge and condemn.

Why Miss it Now?

So again I'm awaken at 4 a.m. for the second day in a row.  Wide awake!  As you may recall, the last time this happened, God was trying to get a message through to me and since this seems to be the best time for Him to have my undivided attention - He takes full advantage of it.  As I rolled over to turn on the lamp and gather my Bible and note pad, I stopped and whispered a quick prayer - "Lord make my understanding keen so that I get the message that you are bringing to me."

The first thing that came to my mind was "calamity."  Now what an odd thing to think on this early, but nonetheless, I obey.  Calamity - a GREAT misfortune or disaster.  So I looked up as many scriptures as I could find that referenced this word and it took me all the way back to Deuteronomy and from there I began to do a cross reference to many other scriptures.  Here is my revelation from all that I just read....

God had performed miracle after miracle for the Children of Israel, act after act, provision after provision - as He has in my life and yours as well; but yet and still they displayed their lack of faith in Him.  As a result they suffered many unnecessary things.  However, the most profound portion of this for me was in Deuteronomy 32:48-52, where God permitted Moses to SEE the promised land, but not ENTER and PARTAKE!  WOW!!!!  After leading these people all this time and pleading with them and praying for them and fighting with them - HE MISSED THE PROMISED LAND.  See back in Numbers chapter 20, Moses displayed, what a writer depicted, {his unbelief and disobedience} towards God.

So the question posed to me that I pose to you is - WHY MISS IT NOW?  Why miss the blessing that you've been pleading for, praying for and fighting for due to unbelief and disobedience?  I now understand why the word calamity was on my mind - it would be a GREAT misfortune  for me to miss out on my promised land.

Deuteronomy 30:19...I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
 

I Samuel 15:22...And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 

My Smile is Moving Down…

I shared with a friend today that it’s one thing for a smile to be on your face and another thing for the smile to be in your heart.  It’s one thing to hear a word; it’s another thing to receive it.

It’s funny how things will come and there are simple, yet profound messages buried within them.  For the last two weeks, I’ve been stuck on this song by Jennifer Hudson called, “I Am Changing.”  In addition to that, I read a quote by Brad Kloha that said, “You have to make time for the things that you want. If you're not willing to sacrifice and make the time, you don't really want it." 

God is the reason for the smile being in our hearts, so if that’s what we want, we have to be willing to sacrifice our time and get in His presence.  For there is His presence is everything that we need.  It’s there in that alone time that His word will become alive and invigorate us; motivate us; give us passion for life to allow God’s will to become our greatest desires.

My smile is moving down and it feels oh so good….