Grace

So here's the thing.

Today was not the best of days.  Too much work.  Allergy season.  Miserable sneezing.

Yet, in the midst of it all, God sends the gift of His Spirit and shows me something I've wondered about for years in scripture.

What a blessing!  We carry within us God's grace.

Wonderful grace.

Get Real!

One thing God loves is when we are REAL with Him.

God loves it when we sit with Him and talk...about anything.

That means if you're hurt you can talk about it.

If you're angry, talk about it!

If you're really happy...talk about it.

What's most important is that you get real and TALK.

Welcome to Today

People love invitations because it means they've been chosen.

You are invited to talk to God today.  God is inviting you to spend time, quality time if possible, or even seconds if that's all the time you have.

You are invited because God chooses YOU!

Always Good

People frequently ask me why bad things happen.

Dunno.

What I have witnessed that while bad things do happen, God always brings good from the bad.

If you've experienced something bad, take time to talk to God about the good that came from the bad.

You may have to watch and listen, but you will get an answer...

Love

Can you think of a time that you felt someone loved you?  Maybe you were a child, or maybe it was today…

I had a moment yesterday that touched my heart deeply.  My oldest granddaughter (Jr. High now) sent me a text message and told me she wasn’t feeling well and she had a fever. 

I genuinely felt bad for her, but at the same time her text warmed my heart. Suddenly I was gramma and I knew she cared enough to reach out to me.

When is the last time you reached out to someone, for support or to support?  Loving the person right in front of you is what we are called to do.  Love is the most important thing we can give someone, and it’s also the most lasting gift we can give. 

Who did you love today?

Overthink

My "theme" for this summer seems to be "overthinking".  I didn't count, but I would think (no pun intended) that I've been told 25 times lately that I am "overthinking" things.

Hummm...

That's probably true but I'm not sure I know how to stop that.

I do know that I think about God a lot.  I'm pretty sure He likes it that I think about Him.  Feeling has to be involved as well, but thinking about God's blessing, miracles, grace are all very good.

Come to think of it, I think I'll talk to God...

Monday

Some days don't turn out quite like expected.

Take today.  It seemed to start out okay, but about an hour into my work day it seemed like someone pushed the fast motion button and kicked things into high gear.

The rest of the day stayed in high gear.

While it wasn't quite what I expected, I realized (as I walked out of work after 12 hours) that throughout the day there were blessings...little miracles along the way.  One of those was talking to God and listening for His response.

When Jesus told the disciples he was sending a helper who would be our constant guide and companion, the disciples didn't have any idea what a blessing that would be!  What a great plan God had for communicating with us!!!  

ASK

Have you ever had questions for God?

I have them all the time. 

People used to tell me they have questions they are going to ask God when they get to see Him face to face.  That’s okay, but there are a lot of questions we can ask now and we don’t have to wait on.

I had a miscarriage when I was 28 years old.  It was as hard for me as any woman and I didn’t understand.  God gave me Isaiah 55:8-11 says:

I don't think the way you think.
   The way you work isn't the way I work."
         God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth,
   so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
   and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
   and don't go back until they've watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
   producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
   not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
   they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

It took time but eventually I understood that God had a better plan.  My youngest son was born 3 years later, and he has been a great treasure to me…he IS a warm-hearted man.  He was the child I was supposed to raise.  Losing the baby before him did something to my heart and made me want HIM more. 

We CAN ask questions.  Sometimes we get quick answers and at other times, it takes a while before we can see the answer. 

The point is: ASK and you will receive.

Rain or Shine

The weather was beautiful where I live today, and I thought about creation and how God “thought up” everything.  I am always fascinated by how creation came into existence (through God’s RUACH or breathe). 

God breathed and creation came into existence.

I do not believe that God created and we are left to fend for ourselves.  I believe God is active IN creation and is ever present WITH us.  That means, rain or shine, God is present. 

That also means we can breathe IN God.  As you take time to talk to God, be aware you are breathing in the presence of God. 

End of our Rope

We all feel like we are at the end of our rope sometimes…

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”

The truth is that being at the end of your rope isn’t a bad place to be because at that point we realize we aren’t capable of doing things on our own. 

Telling God, “I can’t do this without YOU is wonderful affirmation that we seek Him.  God loves it when we turn to Him, for ANY reason and at any time.”

Turn to God today.

Tell Him – I NEED YOU.

Christian

What does it mean to be a "Christian" who talks to God?

Various cultures assign meaning to what it means to be a Christian who talks to God.

There are people who think it means you don't make mistakes and you expect to be around people who don't make mistakes.  Actually that couldn't be more inaccurate.

It means you have decided to follow Christ and you talk to the one who IS perfect.

Christians aren't perfect...just forgiven.

It's all about grace.  Talking to Jesus is talking to the one who gives grace.  Again and Again.  

Faithful

God is faithful.

Consider the people of Israel.  They continually turned away from God but God was always there when they  turned back.  He forgave them and continued to love them.

God sent the prophets and they persecuted and ignored them.

God sent His Son.

They beat him and killed him.

Jesus defeated death and came back to life.

God was faithful.

Nothing has changed on that front.

God is still faithful.

To me.

To you.

The End of Your Rope

Matthew 5:3 in The Message says:

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope.  With less of you there is more of God and his rule.


I didn't used to think being at my wits end when my kids were little was such a blessing, but looking back I agree that it was a blessing.  Not only was I surrounded by my children (something I love), I knew my need for God was very real and very close.  I looked for God.

Knowing I needed God and receiving what God had for me was the blessing.


Are you at the end of your rope?  Look for God.  Receive God's rule (done by turning to God).

You WILL be blessed!

Confusion

some daze are very confusing...

take today for example.

Really, God?

Is this the life you want for me?

I was yelled at more than 10 times.

Treated like crap.

...only as good as how much I can give someone what they want.



Psalm 139 says God is with us wherever we go.

Getting yelled at

as good as giving someone what they want

God understands all of those things.

helps us sort through confusion.

gives peace.

love.

grace.

to everyone.

even those who yell.

Carry ur Friend

One way we "carry each other's burdens" is through prayer.  If you have a friend who is struggling, praying for him/her is a great gift you can give.

Second, you need to get up and "go" to your friend.  Physically, you need to help him/her carry their burden. Sometimes that means physically working alongside them.  At other times that means helping financially as you are able.  If your friend is starving, praying for him/her before you eat a large meal is ridiculous.

The point is, as you pray, GO and stand with your friend.


That's exactly what Jesus did.  

To be Heard

Do you remember a time when you were "heard"?  Or a time when you were NOT "heard"?

We all like to know we've been heard and that someone is listening.

That's why it's vitally important for us to spend time with God (sometimes just sitting) so that we develop a greater understanding of His character and love.  Only then will we know God cares and hears us.

It's also important that we take time to listen to God because as we listen we develop an understanding of how God relates to us and moves in our lives.

Today, spend time listening and getting to know God.  Give God time.

God IS the Point

Fasting is an ancient practice that is clearly discussed in the Old and New Testament and is a practice that is blessed by God and reaps rewards too numerous to convey in a few paragraphs.  I will say that as I have fasted through the years I have always been surprised by the “gift” of God.  As I practice fasting I have learned that the “best” practice is to seek God and only God.  Seeking the reward is like missing the point.  The point IS God. 

Having said that, however, I might add that there ARE rewards…surprises along the way.

One reward I’ve experienced is experiencing extreme clarity. 

Have you fasted lately?  Let me know if you have questions and I’ll be glad to address those in the next post.