SHOW ME THE MONEY!

When I started thinking of the things that speak to me or did this week, I couldn't help but use that phrase.

Most of you will know that that was a phrase used in a Tom Cruise - Cuba Gooding movie.  The whole emphasis was, to perform those words in order to get pumped up and focused on "the issue at hand!" 

This week I was impressed with reading about how God does see all the good and bad things that happen to us in our daily lives.  David was always in God's face about feeling abandoned, or picked on, and forgotten.  He would whine and Nash his teeth, but in the end, turn it over to the high God, and Praise Him anyway.   Isaiah 61: 7 says Instead of your (former) shame you shall have a twofold recompense;  instead of dishonor and reproach (your people) shall rejoice in their portion.  Therefore in their land they shall possess double (what they had forfeited);  everlasting joy shall be theirs.

That is even better then "Show Me the Money!"  It is God promising that no matter what is in front of us, God is always behind us.  He has got all the offenses, all the lies to us, all the hurts, all the everything covered.  He is SHOWING us that He is, of course, the judge and He will take care of it, no matter what it is.  And, once again, our job then.  Focus on giving Him glory and honor in whether you eat or drink, whatever it is, the total glory goes to Him.

I have listened to a lot of hurt people over these last 32 years as a counselor.  The hardest thing they handle is . . ."Look at what this person did to me - they changed my life forever -  I will never get that back!"    I do believe that we do, He does.  God has it covered.  You just keep serving Him.  it is no longer your problem.

OUR SURRENDER TO GOD. . .

ALWAYS PRECEDES HIS MOST SIGNIFICANT WORK IN OUR LIFE!


Let's take Abraham for example.  Gen. 22:  All of it, but in particular 1/3.   Everyone has heard some version of this story at some point in their life.  I was always struck by the immediate obedience of this patriarch.   God command him to take his son up into the hills to be offered as a living sacrifice, a burnt offering.   No back talk, no questioning, no doubting took place.  You know I don't have children, so I can't speak to that moment in time.  However, many of you can.  Would you have immediately taken your servants and your only son and gone to the place as marked?  He surrendered any thinking or doubts.  He must have believed and trusted that God would do something at the last minute to save his sweet and only son. After all, Isaac was a special gift from God.  God wouldn't do that to him or Isaac.  Right?  

This week, after many weeks, I decided it was time to do the same.  I took two pieces of paper.  8 1/2 by 11.  One was on Business stationery.  One was a plain piece representing my personal life.  In the center I put letters G O D.   All around the edges I put ME.  I surrendered my blank pages to God and said, okay, you have my attention.  Here is my life.  Psalm 25: 1  Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life!  You write on them and I will do whatever you write.  Trust me, it isn't that simple.  Its been nine months in the making.  Ooops!  No pun intended.  I have been praying since Jan. 1st.  Some of you might remember MY ONE WORD this year was Surrender.  It has taken a whole lot of events, physical pain, emotional disappointments, family disappointments, pride upsets;  but here we are.
Here I am!

Each one of us has their own way of relating to God and wondering what in the world is going on here?  I get up each morning now and say, okay sure I have things written on the calender but it is your page to change and rewrite what you want.  How can I bless someone today and bring glory to you.  How can I respond to surprises, good news, bad news and bring glory to you, Lord?

I do want His significant work and His perfect peace in any war, crisis, drama, or trauma.  I claim it, how about you?

Get in and swing to Surrender!

PRACTICING THE PRESENCE!

SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE AND NOT THINGS OF THE WORLD!

Col. 3: 2

Easier said then done.  What is the first thing you think of each morning.  Do you set your mind to the negative or the positive.   Only symbol I can think of is the one heard once that concrete is impressionable and flexible before it SETS UP!  Don't let your mind set on the trauma, dramas and crisis's of life.  Or get to it before it sets.  What are you tempted to think about!  Be prepared to NOT do that, know that you do that -  STOP!  Do not allow outside forces to get you going while the concrete is drying on your negative feelings.  God's Word is clear here.  Set your mind on things above.

Each one of us has some sort of thing going on whether it is family, physical things, emotional ones, worries, etc.  Nip it in the bud!  Its the first day of fall and God's sky and landscape is going to have colors we can't even duplicate.  Look up!, Stay Up, Don't set up unless its on the heavenly things!

SO WHAT'S THE SNARE?

Footholds versus Strongholds?  Are they the same?  Why or why not?

All these years, and I had never thought about that question?  How does our enemy Satan send distractions, influences, footholds, strongholds our way?  How can we know the difference?

I will be teaching a class  this fall at County Line on The Full Armor of God!  And, out of the blue today I see something - a fine line I had not seen before.  You could say,  "which comes first the chicken or the egg?"

Joyce Meyer pointed out this morning in one of her devotionals that Satan likes introducing footholds to us in order to turn them into strongholds.  They were one and the same to me before that.

Eph. 4: 27 . . .and do not give the devil a foothold!   Bingo.  Sure.  In Corinthians we learn about how to take CAPTIVE every thought so it does not turn into a sin.  Psalms 25: 15.  Mine eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He releases my foot from the snare.  Light bulb moment! 

Okay, okay, so you already knew that.  Good for you.  I understand all about taking captive every thought.  We don't always do that very well.  An attitude about someone can enter in.  A new perspective can float by and you grab it.  Did you check it out.  Did you ask God about that attitude, idea, or temptation?  There is the snag.  Cause if you didn't, it turns into a Foothold.  Satan celebrates and whamo bammo it is a stronghold a waiting.  The first time a person turns into the porno site just to see what it is all about.  Thought/looksee + Foothold = Stronghold!

Good Stuff.  Make a commitment to EVALUATE every thought.  It is God's Word and commandment, II Corinthians 10: 5.    The mind is a very unloyal part of our mind and body, folks.
Tame it - Test it - Repent - Move on.  Think - Test it - Keep it - Foothold.  Think it - Test it - (I John 4: 1) Throw it out if its bad and Move On.   No Footholds - No Strongholds.    Takes too much time you say.  Tough!  I guarantee peace of mind 99% of the time if you just take this serious.  God is awesome - Its a gorgeous day today - Live to the fullest - Live in Peace of mind no matter what is going on around you.  Test it!

A New Day, A New Dawn!

Yep, John wouldn't get in the picture.  I wanted to remember what a stunning day it was.  AT that time it was our 43rd anniversary and we had a great dinner at the I.G.  The weather was superb.  WE did have to say goodbye to Jack Randinelli earlier, and I didn't have to go to a custody hearing because they settled.  My arm wasn't asleep and I had no pain.  Best day of the summer for me, so forgive me for wanting to put my own picture up there.

Today, is a new day, a new dawn.  Fingers are asleep, and I have no energy today, so I am taking a break.  They say working at the computer aggravates stuff in the neck.  Going to take up a book and read.

I will return.

NEW MORNING, EVERY MORNING!

LAMENTATIONS 3: 22, 23 AND 24

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are NEW every morning; great is His faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

In thinking about what to say on my blog today, I really felt compelled to say "Thank You Lord!"
For 43 years I have lived here, walked on a 3 mile radius of woods, prayed lots of prayers for people, had aha moments,  and listened to your creation.  Not only must we view your incredible creation, we should listen.  You speak to us through color, and sounds.  Not everyone can see or hear, and for that I would be most sad.  I say thank you I can hear and see your beautiful masterpieces through the leaves, and clouds, sound of the lake, frogs, herons, kids laughing at Lakewood next door on the playground.   It is very true, if you want to know there is a God, step out of your front door on any morning and thank Him for that gift.  If you had a gift box outside, what would be in it?  His faithfulness to you. . .what would that look like?  His portion for you today. . .what would that look like?  His unconditional positive regard for you. . .what would that look like?   If we are to wait for Him, how well do we wait?  Just step outside, walk outside, go get the mail.  Say Thank you Lord you are my portion, I can do all things through you who strengthens me.  What can I do for you today?  Share Him, Show Him in your actions and words, and then Praise Him for all He is!

DO YOU WANT GOD TO EDIT YOUR LIFE. . .

Or Do the Writing Himself?

Hebrews 12: 1 and 2

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Most likely we most generally let Him edit our life.  He gets to delete the messes, and suggest some new things.  He does work all things together for good. . .(Romans 8: 28) we have read that haven't we?

I don't know about you, but since I started writing, I have had to ask for lots of editing skills from friends and experts.  Believe me, I want so much to write it, and then send it.  In my life I have run ahead of the Lord many times on situations and then have to run to Him to clean it up.  "Please, please, please, Lord Jesus fix this for me!"   Like the title of my rewrite - "Fix Your Future So It Does Not Reflect Your past!"  Easier said then done, but God does love a cheerful giver.  It doesn't have to be about how much money you give, it could very well be, how much are you willing to cheerfully take on discipline and change?  

Our thought for today is - What can I do differently today to let God write on page?

Personally, I am having to take a breath and do that.  There are situations, physically and emotionally that are trying to weigh on my mind and make me want to edit them.  Or I could run kicking and screaming into the sunset!  Okay, God is my Author and Finisher.  Embrace that and like the oxen in the lead, let Jesus lead.