Saturday, April 30, 2011

Me First!!!

The world teaches us to scratch, claw and climb our way to the top. Step on anyone who gets in the way!
God’s ways are so different. He calls us to be the servant of all. We are to think more highly of others! Die to ourselves!
Abram and Lot needed to go their separate ways. Sometimes it’s like that with those we love.
Abram was God’s chosen…He was the heir of the promise. He was the one who stepped out in obedience when God first told him to go to this new land. Lot was just tagging along! Abram had every right to give Lot the leftovers. But instead, as a reflection of God’s character, he allowed Lot to have the first choice.
No strings attached!
Lot took a look around and then selfishly chose the well-watered, fertile plains of the Jordan Valley. It was like the garden of the LORD!
Abram trusted so well that God would provide for him and for his family that he was able to sacrificially give up the "best."
Only then did God say to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction. I am going to give all this land to you and your offspring as a permanent possession. And I am going to give you so many descendants that, like dust, they cannot be counted! Take a walk in every direction and explore the new possessions I am giving you.”
WOW!!!!!! The very Promise Land was given to Abram right after this sacrificial act of kindness! Abram didn’t have to look out for number one or stab someone in the back to get what he thought he deserved. What if Lot had chosen the Promise Land? Abram trusted God!!!!
I want to be like Abram! I don’t want to be stingy! I want to give the best that I have to others. I want to choose the smaller piece. I want to serve.
Are you clinging to something that you think you deserve? Something that gives you significance or that you think will bring happiness?
Let it go!
You may turn around and find that you are standing in your Promise Land!!!
If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for Me, you will find true life. Matthew 16:25
My destiny does not rest in man’s hands!! Thank You, Jesus!! You command my destiny! 

Friday, April 22, 2011

Pharmaceutical Romance????

While watching one of those pharmaceutical “romance” commercials (I felt extremely awkward even though I was the only one in the room :p), the Lord gave me a revelation!
As the couple in the commercial started feeling amorous, everything began turning into water around them.  They were in a kitchen and all of a sudden the refrigerator had a waterfall rushing over the top of it and the floor became a gentle river rippling under their feet.
Water…it seems so insignificant. But we have to have it to survive!  Not only does it give and sustain life, but playing in it is fun and it’s romantic!  Vacations are usually planned around bodies of water!  It is nearly impossible to get kids or newlyweds out of it.
Jesus is the River of Life!! Not only does He forgive our sins and give us new life, but He romances us and brings great joy in the process!
“Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!  Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from His heart!’” John 7:37&38
What a romantic God to create the crashing waves in the ocean for us to enjoy and who paints a new and unique sunset every single evening just for His beloved. He is so gracious that He even shares those priceless expressions of love with people who despise Him. He is tenderly wooing them to Himself.
What’s more romantic than a God who hand-crafted a perfect woman for Adam in Genesis and closes in Revelation with the Wedding Feast of the Lamb! Bookends of romance with a lot of romance in between!
The mighty, awesome, creator of the universe holds me in the palm of His hand and sings love songs over me. He keeps every one of my tears in a bottle and hears every one of my sighs. My Mighty Lover dances with me and writes every prayer I have ever prayed in a scroll. Whenever my thoughts turn toward Him, He is already thinking about me (of all people!!) more thoughts than I could ever count! 
Such a loving, compassionate, tender-hearted God and He chooses me for His bride!!!!! And YOU!!  
I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as LORD. Hosea 2:19&20

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Sometimes Running Hurts

My run a few days ago was harder than any I have had in awhile. I waited until 7:00 at night to finally go, I ate dinner right before, I was sore from head to toe from previous work-outs and to top it off…I was having issues…I had to change my route a bit and head home midway for a pit stop :p  (My girls said I should be discreet and I think that was pretty darn discreet!)


Once I got back out on the road again, a bicycler whipped past me and a girl nonchalantly trotted by. My first impulse was to speed up and race her, but I knew I couldn’t keep up that pace for another mile and a half.  Humiliated, I just kept running at my slow pace. She got a pretty good distance ahead of me, then she started walking! Sure enough, I eventually passed her and by the time I finished I couldn’t even see her anymore. I finished my run so strong and it ended up feeling so invigorating!


This run so reminded me of our walk with the Lord. Sometimes we do everything wrong and our “run” with God hurts. We pay the consequences for wrong decisions…I got the worst cramp!!  I wanted to stop and walk. But if we push through and we don’t give up the cramps will eventually leave and we will get our second wind.


Also, we can’t get caught up in everyone else’s “run” and try to keep their pace. We need to stay true to the things God is calling us to do and walk in obedience even if at times that seems to be a slower, different pace than everyone else around us. 


Amazingly, a sweet friend named Lindsey Crouch yelled out at me while I was struggling and made my heart happy and encouraged my run! I knew she was a fellow runner and she knew exactly how I was feeling and had been there herself.  We need to make sure in our Christian walk that we are encouraging those around us with the struggles and the victories that God has brought us through.


Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:23&24

1.           Don’t give up!

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:14

2.           Don't compare the work God has called you to do with the work God is calling others to do!

So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20:16

3.           Encourage one another!

 

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17