IT IS NOT FINISHED!

It is not finished... We may question why God allows bad things to happen to people who clearly love and seek Him -- in fact it's a very common topic and question for many. But, after a refresher on the life of Joseph in my Scripture time today, I felt God show me that it seems bad (and it often is bad in that moment), because the story isn't finished yet! The thing is, we can only see the here and now, and so these things that happen just don't make sense to us. It's often at these points that we begin to question the goodness of God. But, God knows the ending, that we do not see. This is where we MUST trust Him! the "wrong" done to Joseph was, in the end, actually God providentially setting things up to ultimately provide for the very people God used to seemingly wrong Joseph. It's crazy really -- and don't miss in Genesis 45, how Joseph responds to his family--the brothers who betrayed him. Incredible! I'm sure that Joseph often scratched his head asking God, "Why?" and "God, what are you doing?", not being able to see or understand the loss and pain inflicted upon him at the hands of his brothers. Joseph could not fully understand God's plan, yet he remained true to God, honoring and trusting Him, despite the seemingly lack of evidence of God's love. All the while, God prepared him to receive and bless his family when the time of famine came. A beautiful picture of grace, mercy and forgiveness unfolds -- healing and peace. Take a moment to read this story and be reminded that just because things in our lives don't make sense to us, doesn't mean God has forgotten us.

Wise Shepards

I was reflecting on a devotion I read today and had this urge to dig a little deeper about the shepards in the story of Jesus's birth. I'm not sure if this is universal, or just my way of thinking about it, but I found that when I think about the story of Jesus's birth and the manger scene, I find Joseph, Mary, Jesus and three wise men. But what about the shepards? The shepards were actually the first to visit Baby Jesus! Risking the well being of their flocks, they left as the angels instructed them too and went to see the baby Jesus. My thoughts left from this angle to perhaps a more insightful moment that I'd like to share for you to ponder. That being that I find it interesting that God directed the paths of shepards, considered lowly in the eyes of others and then directed three wise men, considered "wise" (obviously) and of high position. Is it possible that within this God was demonstrating something to us that isn't always so visible to us? I can't help but think that God used the two extremes, Shepards and Wise Men, to demonstrate how he uses and loves people of all standing in life to work out His will. Not only does he use and love the meek and mild, but the wise and wealthy. And, not only does He use and love them all, but He also demonstrates, through this event, that it is when we blend together for a common good, no matter what our standing in life, that that is when we can be most effective for the purposes of God. It takes us all to make a whole. As it says in 1 CORINTHIANS ------- it takes all members to make things work .....

Distance Vision

God spoke to my heart this morning as I was praying for a very dear friend of mine. It seemed worthy of sharing with my blog people! :-) Today, God wants you to know that He loves you, His dear child, so very much -- so immensely you can not begin to fathom it. Sit for a moment and just let His presence envelope you. Be still. He also wants you to know that He has such a beautiful life for you, your future is in His hands. He is not limited by anything -- it is you that limit Him by focusing on only that which you can see with your human eyes. You must remember that God is infinite and commands the angels around us to move according to His time and purpose -- and that is always perfect. Do not grow anxious and make decisions to quickly get out of our momentary afflictions, for when we do, we may miss the hand of God. God is not in a hurry and He knows when and what is the very best for us. Most likely He is waiting for us to let go of something or someone so that He can prepare us for what is His good and perfect plan. We can only see what is in front of us--unless and until God decides to give us a glimpse of what He wants to do. With this distance vision problem, we so easily get tangled up in fear of the unknown, fear of loneliness, fear of failure, loss of hope and a myriad of other emotions and cling on to things that we ought not cling too. Today, don't be afraid of the unknown, but trust that God has you! He created you! He will never leave you nor foresake you. While waiting in the in between of letting go and embracing God's plan may feel a little uncomfortable, it is there that we are being prepared for all that He intended us to have and to be. And, that my friend, is a beautiful place to be living.

Stolen moments...

After a bout of dabbling in the ways of the world, God has gently drawn me back to the truths of who I am and getting my mind focused again on those things that are in line with his path for me. It's funny really how He lets us earnestly seek Him before He quickens our Spirit some times. But, when He does, it's sudden and there is no mistaken God has spoken. This morning was one of those moments for me. God has been busy prying my fingers off of all my great plans, which honestly aren't working out so well anyway. Truthfully, the fact that they don't seem to be working out so great is why I've stopped over the last few days and earnestly sought God. Just God, not really anything specific, but just more of Him--for I know that when I lay down my specific list of needs and just earnestly seek His presence, it is then that I often hear what I need to hear. So was true this morning. It was unexpected and unmistakable -- I am going into ministry. How, where, when, I don't have those answers, but the fact that God planted that seed at that moment is undeniable. But here's the part that drew me to write about this -- as quickly as God whispered that direction on my heart and I began to recognize it as God's voice, a flood of other thoughts and what if's began to fill my mind and question the validity of what I just experienced. I was instantly bombarded with reminders of other areas I was interested in studying, things I wanted to pursue, great ideas I have had over the years! Now, I'm no newbie at this game and was quick to realize that I needed to ignore those thoughts because they were nothing more than Satan's attempt to steal the word, the truth, the life giving direction that God had just gently painted across my heart. As soon as I recognized this and turned away from the thoughts that would cast doubt on what I knew to be God's sweet whisper on my heart, such a peach came over me. Relishing in the moment of having just heard from God, and seeing how scripture just played out in my interaction with God, I went to the Bible and opened up to Zechariah 3:1 -- it says "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him." This was an exact reflection of what I had just experienced. Obviously there was no Joshua involved in the process, but God was there and the enemy was right beside ready to steal the seed that had just been planted on my heart. This realization then led me to the next scripture in Matthew 13. The whole chapter has significant meaning to all this, but specifically verse 19 and 23. Let me explain -- the idea here is that our hearts are in different conditions at different points in our lives. If we are not prepared to receive God's word in our hearts, then it is easily stolen by the enemy, or choked out by the cares of this world. Having been around the block in this area a few more times than I care to admit, the soil of my heart was ready for this word from God. And, while the enemy was still there ready to scoop up the seed just planted, he couldn't because my spirit had already tucked it down deep, where the enemy could not touch it. "But he who received seed on the good ground..." This then is and should be our constant prayer -- that God would continue to soften our hearts and stir up the soil, remove the thorns, pry our hands of the things of this world that we may fully embrace and hold tight to the things He wants to show us, the places He wants to take us, the things He wants to do through us. When God speaks those simple thoughts into our hearts, there is no doubt that the enemy will come in, immediately, to start working us over. Like he did to Eve in the garden, poking at her thoughts and getting her to question the validity of God's instructions. My thought is that we need to be people who seek after God, just God alone--not what we need Him to do for us (although there is a place and time to petition Him for help!), but He already knows our needs and is waiting for us to just want more of Him. Be prepared, for the battle rages all around us, every day. God Speed ...

Sulking in Salt

Are you struggling with letting go of something or someone today? You know you need too, but you don't want too! Your mind plays over and over again your desire, your hurt, possible reasons or options for why it didn't work out or why a person is not playing the role you wanted them to play--the wounds are deep, the unknown variables larger than you can grasp. The door seems shut and locked, no matter how many ways you try and break the lock. Consider that God has posted His angels in front of the door, with flaming swords, to protect you, rather than to punish you. Consider that God is using the hurtful, disappointing actions of another, not for your hurt, but for your protection. He loves you that much! Even in our disobedience, God will reach out and protect us -- He doesn't want us to remain in a place that He does not deem the absolute best for us. Consider the story of Lot. Lot and Abraham parted ways--Abraham gave Lot the first options at what land to choose. Lot looked about and chose the land that appeared to be the best..full of pretty shiny things, things that satisfied the lust of the flesh, and went on his merry way. What Lot didn't realize is that he was choosing a land that God had plans to utterly destroy! Sodom and Gomorah were on God's hit list. When the appointed time came, He could have just left Lot and his family there to go down with the ship, but He didn't. He sent His angel to Lot to instruct him to get his family and get out. Lot didn't want to go! He feared and fought the instructions, but the Angel insisted. Lot gathered his family and negotiated with the angel to go to a city which God would protect from the impending destruction. Go! and Don't Look Back! It seemed like they were going to make it out in time, Lot was heeding the warnings of the angel, but then, his wife looked back--the scriptures say she turned into a pillar of salt. Hard to imagine, but I think you can see that this pillar of salt represents what we so often allow in our lives. We keep going back to what God is calling us out of. We think it's just what we need, but God keeps saying "No! I need to protect you from this. I can see what you can not see! Trust me and go!" Thanks be to God, that at just the right time, often right in the midst of our disobedience, He sends His angels and pulls us from the impending destruction. If that's not Love, then I don't know what is! How can you not let go when you realize that what you are being asked to let go of is so that God can rescue you and bring you all the beautiful things and people He has waiting for you?

Dear Daughters...

My thoughts drifted today on how God holds us in the palm of His hands. It's nothing I haven't heard before, but for some reason, today, I paused and really reflected on it. We all long to be known, to have that deep connection with others. We want others to seek us out and desire to TRULY know us--we want to feel valued and important to others. We want to be more than just a "liked" selfie on FB. Getting those "likes" makes us feel special, for a moment, but then what? It's so important to build good healthy relationships with other like minded people. I'm not just talking about people who will "like" your posts, but people who really want to get to know you--people who are willing to invest in who you are, speak the truth in love, set aside time to spend with you. Make a point of finding out what makes you tick -- It's often through these types of relationships that we end up discovering ourselves, what makes us tick! With all that being said, if you're feeling lonely, unnoticed, like no one out there really truly cares about your well-being, take a moment and think about how God knows you. No matter how perfect a friend you may have in your life, there is still a special spot that only God can fill in you. He really truly knows the very depth of who you are. When you are wounded, He feels your wounds...when you are lonely, He wants to spend time with you... when you are happy, He is doing the happy dance with you. But we forget about that, because we can't see Him, He doesn't pick up the phone and send a text or call -- He's not "liking" our posts --but He is there waiting to fill that very special spot He formed in you, just for Him. One other thought about the importance of good, healthy relationships... you will find that there are what I have deemed as responders and reachers. Responders are those people in our life who will respond to our reaching out to them, most often these days in a text, but rarely initiate a desire to communicate with you. The reachers are those that take the time to reach out to you, seek out your companionship or just to see how you are. Put your energy into those "reachers" in your life, for they are they ones that will speak truth and love to you.

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