What Are You Wearing Today?

Do you put as much thought into your "spiritual" wardrobe as you do your physical one? Before leaving the house, do you make sure you are fully clothed? Paul reminds the believers in Colosse, as well as us today, that others are watching us at all times. Sometimes all they will ever see of our Christianity is what we are "wearing".

Colossians 3:12,14 - "As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." (NRSV)

Men are amazed at all the "torture" women go through to be attractive: hair manipulation on the head, face, legs, and body; exercise to keep the body at just the right weight or size; light garments to support that which nature refuses to do; and regular trips to the dermatologist, manicurist, pedicurist, and dentist.

In addition, we tend to analyze our food until eating ceases to be a pleasure and our bodies become a fuel refinery, adding the ingredients which our scientific knowledge says we need.

Ironically, after all this work to make the outer body beautiful, we then cover it with beautiful and expensive clothes, properly sized and colour coordinated. All this effort is put forth in an attempt to make us look better on the outside.

Whenever I begged for more clothes, cosmetics, and the things teenagers think they have to have, my mother always told me, "Beauty comes from within. Put on the garments of kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, and then bind them together with love, which matches all the colours in your garments. Then praise the Lord for all the good things He has given you, and let His Word dwell in you. This will put a glow on your face that cosmetics will never produce."

As a teenager, this did not satisfy my desires to be outwardly beautiful, but as the years have passed, I've learned to see the wisdom of her words.

As a growing Christian, which garments do we need to put on our shopping list first to be a well dressed Christian?

Prayer: Father, help us to see the inner beauty of a person, rather than their grooming and clothing. Help us to wear the spiritual adornment which shows that we are clothed in the garments of Jesus Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen.

Thanks, Ivie Bozeman from Thomasville, Georgia

Photo by: Photostock

Can You Really Do Everything?

I think one of the most misunderstood and often over-used verses has to be Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything through him (Christ) who gives me strength." This verse has often been used to affirm people's lofty, and often selfish, goals. It has been used flippantly and arrogantly by some; which leads me to wonder if they really know who first spoke those words and the context from which they came.

Philippians is a joy-filled letter from Paul, encouraging and rejoicing over the believers in Philippi. He wants them to know that his joy is not found in his circumstances, as he is in prison awaiting trial for preaching the Gospel, but in his relationship with Christ. He reminds them that their happiness is only contingent on the "happenings" around them, but true joy comes from God.

We can learn from Paul's attitude. Even if we cannot rejoice in our circumstances, we can always rejoice in the Lord who controls our circumstances! We must fix our attention on Him. He may not change our situation, but He will change us and that is even better!

In Philippians 4, Paul explains how he has learned to be content in any and every situation. He has experienced great wealth and great poverty. He has been well fed and hungry. He has known human strength and weakness. I would venture to say that not many of us are in a similar situation as Paul, yet we struggle with being content in what we have and where we are. But regardless of his surrounding and situations, he has confidence that he can do all things through the strength he's receiving from Christ.

So back to my original question - can we really do everything? The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do His will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it. He does not grant us superhuman ability to accomplish anything we can imagine without regard to His interests. Let's look at what we can do:

1) I can do everything God calls me to do. We have strength in Christ to do what God has planned for us to do for Him. Once we get past the idea that it's all about us and what we want, we can draw on this strength, power and wisdom, to complete His unique purpose for us . And in the end, God is glorified, not ourselves.

2) I can do everything God commands me to do. We need strength in order to live the Christian life - successfully. We are commanded to love, obey, trust, follow, rejoice, live pure lives, resist temptation, etc. Is this really possible to do in our own strength? Can we pick and choose commands that we will attempt on our own and others that we ask for help with? When we live a victorious life - through Christ's strength - God is glorified, not ourselves.

3) I can do everything God convicts me to do. I don't know about you, but this one requires alot of super-natural power sometimes. There are times when I'm convicted to forgive, confront, repent, surrender, practice patience and perseverance and I just don't want to. This is when I must draw on Christ's power to be able to do everything God convicts me to do. And when I do, I know God is pleased and glorified - not myself.

What is God calling, commanding and/or convicting you to do today? Know that you can do everything He wants you to do - through Christ's strength and power - not your own.

BLOG COMMENT: What has your "everything" looked like? Have you been trying to do it all in your own strength and perhaps for your own glory?

How Do You Give Thanks?

As Paul addressed the new believers in the Ephesus churches, he did so from a Roman prison cell as he awaited his trial before Caesar. He wanted to be an encouragement to the new Christians as he knew he would probably never see them again. Throughout the book of Ephesians, we see repeatedly, various forms of thanksgiving - so let's look at them today!

1) Praise - Paul begins his letter with reminding the believers of the many blessings that God has lavishly given them because of His glorious grace (1: 3-8). Are you praising God this week for the blessings He's given you - regardless of their size or significance?

2) Prayer - In 1:16, Paul says - "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." Paul had nothing but the people in his lives. All his worldly possessions had been taken away as he now spends his time in prison, praying for those he is thankful for. Have you thanked God for the people in your life and then prayed for them?

3) Proper Response - Our salvation comes from our faith in Christ, not from anything we have done ourselves and it is a gift from God (2: 8-9). When someone gives you a gift, do you say, "That's very nice - how much do I owe you?" No, the proper response is, "Thank you!" Yet how often do we feel obligated to try to work our way to God. Because our salvation and even our faith are gifts, we should respond with gratitude, praise and joy. Have you done so today?

4) Power - "..always giving thanks to God the Father for everything ....." (5:20). Thank God, not for your problems, but for the strength and power He is building in you through the difficult experiences of your life. Are you thanking God for His power and knowing you can be sure that His perfect love will see you through whatever situation arises?

Do you need a few more things to be thankful for? Paul provides a great reminder to us ALL of the blessings we have received from God because He is thankful for us! Take time to thank Him today with praise, prayer, power and with a proper response. (Taken from the NIV Life Application Study Bible, pg.1983.)

* We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. - Eph. 1:3
* We are holy and blameless. - Eph. 1: 4
* We are adopted as God's children. - Eph. 1: 5, 6
* Our sins are taken away and we are forgiven. - Eph. 1: 7
* We will be brought under Christ's authority. - Eph. 1: 10,11
* We are identified as belonging to God by the Holy Spirit. - Eph. 1:13
* We have been raised up to sit with Christ in glory. - Eph. 2:6
* We are God's work of art; His masterpiece. - Eph. 2:10
* We have been brought near to God. - Eph. 2:13
* We share in the promise of blessings through Christ. - Eph. 3:6
* We can come with freedom and confidence into God's presence. - Eph. 3:12
* We are members of Christ's body, the church. - Eph. 5: 29, 30

BLOG COMMENT: How does it make you feel when you think about how thankful God is for YOU?

Are You Approachable?

Can you name the Fruit of the Spirit? How many of them do you exemplify in your life? In your day? In the next hour? Let me help you - "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT).

In the book of Galatians, Paul is trying to get the new believers to see that by exhibiting the characteristics of the Spirit's fruit, people will see God living in them. These fine attributes are only possible with the Spirit's help! Do people see them in you? Do they find you approachable because of them?

Let's look at what an approachable person exhibits: (from The Word for You Today Devotional)

1) Personal warmth - they truly like people. In an old Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown says, "I love mankind, it's just people I can't stand!" Hello! It's not enough to love people in theory, you have to generate personal warmth toward those you meet each day.

2) Their moods are consistent. Have you ever worked or lived with someone whose moods are constantly up and down? You never know how they'll be and how they'll respond. In contrast, approachable people are even-keeled and predictable. They're basically the same way every time you see them. Their emotions are peaceful and show self-control.

3) Sensitivity toward people's feelings. Although approachable people are emotionally steady, that doesn't mean they expect others to be that way. They recognize that good people have bad days; consequently they tune their moods to the feelings of others and quickly adjust how they relate to them with kindness and gentleness.

4) Understanding of human weakness and exposure to their own. Novelist Ed Howes said, "Express a mean opinion of yourself occasionally, it will show your friends that you know how to tell the truth!" Approachable people are honest about their abilities and shortcomings. They embrace the proverb which says, "Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused." And because they can admit their own faults, they don't have a problem allowing other people to have faults as well and they do it with patience.

5) The ability to forgive and ask for forgiveness. Author David Augsburger wrote, "Since nothing we attempt is ever without error and nothing we achieve, without some measure of the finitude and fallibility we call humaness, we are saved by forgiveness." Approachable people are able to forgive and be forgiven. Their faithfulness in the power of forgiveness shows itself in their goodness and joy!

How will people see you today? As an approachable person exhibiting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Or a person altogether void of the Spirit's fruit?

As Paul reminded the people of Galatia, as well as us today, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another." (Gal. 5:24-26)

BLOG COMMENT: Are there people in your life who you consider "approachable"? Share with us what characteristics they show and how that has helped you grow your own "fruit."

Called to Comfort

Where do you turn to find comfort amidst your trouble and trials? Do you consider all pain and hurt a waste? Do you often find yourself wondering what good could possibly come out of your pain? When it comes to talking about suffering, there's no one better qualified than the apostle Paul.

In case you're not familiar with his "qualifications", 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 tells us that he had "worked more harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely and been exposed to death again and again." He was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked three times and spent a night and day out in the open sea. And all for what?

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 gives us insight into the reason we suffer and what good it can do:

1) We receive comfort - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles...(v.3-4a) Many people think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away. But if that were always so, people would turn to God only out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for Him.

God does not shelter people from trials and suffering, not even gifted apostles who are doing His will. We must understand that being comforted can also mean receiving strength, encouragement and hope to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer, the more comfort God gives us!

2) We return comfort - ... so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (v.4b). God's comfort is not given; it is loaned, and we are responsible to pass it along to others. The pain you experience now will help you encourage others in their trials.

God never wastes a hurt! He allows you to experience certain things so that you are equipped to understand and explain the comfort He gives you during the darkest days. If you fail to share God's comfort with others, your experience in the furnace will be wasted; and it is a tragic thing to waste your sufferings!

3) We gain character - If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same
sufferings we suffer. (v.6). Not only does suffering draw us closer to God, through His comfort, it also helps us grow in our faith.

God uses suffering to improve His people and shape them into better Christians. In fact, suffering should be thought of as the necessary pain that accompanies spiritual growth and character development! We may not see it at the time we are going through it, but our trials and consequent suffering can have a positive outcome.

Where are you today? Are you in the middle of a storm and desperately looking for comfort from your pain? Reach out and receive God's comfort. He may not remove the problem the way you think is best. Sometimes God calms the storm; sometimes He lets the storm to rage and calms His child!

Have you recently received God's comfort? Then it's time to return it. There is no shortage of hurting people who need a touch from heaven - and you just may be the one God uses to help. Remember, don't waste an experience and don't miss an opportunity to share the source of your comfort with others!

BLOG COMMENT: Can you share how, through a time of suffering and the comfort you received from God and others, turned out to be a great character building experience for you?

Know that your comments here are a great encouragement to other women!

God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters!
- John Henry Jowett

Love is....

Love is more than a feeling. It's more than just a warm fuzzy that makes us happy for the moment. Love is more than that - but how much more?

Paul was addressing the young group of believers in his letter to the Corinthians. They lived in the corrupt and immoral city of Corinth and their new found faith was being tested. Paul wrote this letter to not only correct and encourage them, but to teach them how to act as Christians.

Right in the middle of Paul's words on spiritual gifts and orderly worship is his hymn to love which he hopes will heal the division and disputes going on between these new believers. They (as well as us today) needed to be reminded why love is so important to the Christian life.

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." ~ I Corinthians 13:4-7

Paul wanted the Corinthians to see that love puts maturity into character. They were impatient with each other, suing one another, tolerating sin in the church and creating problems because they did not have love. He wraps up his message in verse 14, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

In morally corrupt Corinth, love had become a mixed-up term with little meaning. Today, people are still confused about love. Love is the greatest of all human qualities and is an attribute of God himself.

Love involves unselfish service to others. Faith is the foundation and content of God's message. Hope is the attitude and focus and Love is the action. Love is more than a feeling. It requires thought and action. It requires putting others' needs in front of our own. But when all else fails, we know that love, God's love, lasts/endures forever!

When faith and hope are in line, we are free to love completely because we understand how God loves. Does your faith fully express itself in loving others?

Wanted: Living Sacrifices

Do we really know what it means to sacrifice? We are a people of many wants and what we want, we want now and without pain or discomfort. We demand people cater to our every need and set expectations so high - for others and ourselves - that there's no way they can be met. We find ourselves living life according to the world's standards - in thought, feeling and action and change is something we avoid at all costs.

Paul writes the letter of Romans to the church in Rome. He has never met these new believers, so he sets out to introduce himself and make his case for salvation, faith and righteous living. Part of his instruction for righteous, God-pleasing living comes in Romans 12:1b-2 - " ...offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God...Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Each time we offer our bodies as "living sacrifices" to God, our stubborn nature will rebel. There is a struggle of wills and control. Like the living sacrifices God required in the Old Testament, He wants us to come to Him alive, able to be used by Him; not dead, lifeless and a captive of the world.

But, like everything else, we have an option - be conformed or be transformed. Are you willing to let the world squeeze you into its mold; following along like sheep being led to the slaughter? It's so easy to fall into the pattern of the world - we are bombarded daily with its influence. But God gives us a way out....

Transformation. This kind of change happens from the inside out. It begins with a re-programming of our mind - which we know controls all our thoughts, feelings and actions. God knows we struggle with worldly living, that's why He encourages us to daily renewal. This means bringing our lives to Him as a sacrifice, laying it all on the altar and asking Him for a new mind - a new way of thinking, feeling and acting - each and every day!

What's our reward? We will know what God's, not the world's, good, pleasing and perfect will is. We can do what we need to do to be transformed knowing it's what God wants for us; it's His best for us. God's desire for us is not found in the world, so stop searching for it there! All the world can give us is pain, sorrow, misery, stress, disappointment, separation from God, etc. Again, it's your choice - conform or be transformed?

BLOG COMMENT: What do you need to sacrifice today? Is it an attitude? A fear or worry? A situation you're trying to control? A person who's pressuring you to conform?

Title or Testimony?

Are you all about the title? How important is it to you that people know what you do? What kind of testimony are you leaving? What are you doing today to assure that people will remember you when you're gone?

The book of Acts introduces many "big names" in the church growth, evangelism and missionary world. Men and women like Stephen, Philip, Lydia, Silas, John Mark, Timothy and Paul. One person not given alot of attention is Barnabas.

Barnabas was given the title of a "good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith..." (Acts 11:24). But unlike Paul, he never did the kinds of things that made him stand out. He's mentioned only three times in the book of Acts. 1) Selling his land to help finance God's work. 2) Vouching for Paul's character and 3) Giving John Mark a second chance. Barnabas didn't earn many titles, but he earned a great number of testimonies - "...and a great number of people were brought to the Lord" (Acts 11:24b).

What about your life? You know you're going to die one day and when you do are people going to stand around reciting all the titles you earned, or talking about what a blessing you were? Will you leave an obituary about how "important" you were, or about people grieving the loss of the best friend they ever had?

Titles are good, but if it comes down to a choice between a title and a testimony - go for the testimony! Pharaoh had the title, Moses had the testimony. Nebuchadnezzar had the title, Daniel had the testimony. Pilate had the title, but Jesus had the testimony. It's easy to think write-ups in Who's Who are the most important thing, but like Barnabas, it's the loving acts you do that will be remembered.

As the old hymn says, "only one life, 'twill soon be past...only what's done for Christ will last!

BLOG COMMENT: What's the most important thing you want to be remembered for?

The Ultimate Team

Are you on a winning team? Are you encouraged knowing someone is cheering for you as you play this game called "life"? Or are you convinced you're a one-woman team who can conquer every challenge that crosses your path? You don't have time to slow down and ask for help and you don't depend on others for assistance.

As we look at John and His relationship with Jesus, we know he was eager to serve and demonstrate his love to Him. He enjoyed knowing Jesus was on his team! They had a special bond that some of the other disciples did not experience with Jesus..but none the less..they were all fighting the same cause. Their mission was to spread God's love and message to the entire world (John 3:16).

Today, I want to share a devotional from the book, Heaven Calling. It's God's message to us - His teammates - as He gives us a pep-talk amidst our busyness.

"Your life is filled with activity, your calendar filled with things to do. Still, your heart's desire is to be my faithful and obedient servant - and that brings me joy.

My child, this fruit you are looking for, the goals you are pursuing - don't forget that they are fulfilled through my sustaining power. As a branch can only produce fruit when connected to the vine (John 15:5), so you can only make a spiritual impact in this world through me. We are in this together and we make a winning team!

So today, take some time to simply rest in me. Draw the strength you need from me. In prayer, in reading, perhaps in taking a time-out from the bustle, turn your heart toward me. I'll provide everything you'll need for the rest of the "game."

Do you feel you're on a losing team today? Does your game of life seem to be spinning out of control due to your busyness, over-booked schedule and others' demands? In John 10:10b, Jesus told us that He came to give us an abundant, full and overflowing life - not a stressful and empty life.

I've written a new workbook based on this verse - Building a Better Life, Not Just a Busier One! As you go through the exercises, you'll learn three steps you can take to start living the abundant life God sent His Son to give us ~ starting today! Visit the Coaching page on my website to learn more and to order your copy. It's time to join a winning team!

Can You Hear Me Now?

There's a difference between listening and hearing? Which do you do the most? We listen to music, ballgames and the news. We listen to teachers, preachers and experts. We listen to each other. But are we really hearing what's being said? Are we taking in and processing what we're listening to? Or does it "go in one ear and out the other"?

In Luke, Jesus was constantly speaking to and teaching the people around Him. Crowds would gather to hear what He had to say. He never wasted His words with small talk. Every moment in Jesus' presence was an opportunity for peoples' lives to be changed - if they actually heard what He was saying and applied His truths. We know many people did and they were never the same because of what they heard. While others perhaps just listened and left the same way as when they arrived.

In Luke 8:18, Jesus tells the people, "Therefore, consider carefully how you listen." The art of listening is a Christ-like skill we all must develop. I'm wondering if we might need a hearing aid to help us improve what and how we hear.

A - Active listening. How attentive are you when someone is speaking? Are you engaged in what they are saying? If you were asked to repeat what they just said, could you? We tend to have selective hearing at times and only hear what we want to hear. Jesus listened, heard and responded. How about you?

I - Intentional listening. We intend on hearing what a person has to say. We make a conscious effort to look them in the eyes and give them our undivided attention. They know we are listening and that they are being heard. It may not always be what we want to hear or what we agree with, but we are showing respect for the person by intentionally listening to them. Jesus was an intentional listener and we need to consider how we listen as well.

D - Direct listening. "Are you talking to me, God?" God speaks today and many times we're too busy and distracted to hear His voice. God speaks directly and we must listen directly. In order to hear what He's saying, we have to always be asking - "What does this mean for me?" "How can I apply what I'm hearing to my own life?" Unfortunately, some people listen to a message and think it would be great if so and so were here - they really need to hear this. Yet how many times are we the one God is trying to get the message across to? How many times does God speak and has to ask, "Can you hear Me now?" Don't tune out God - be a direct listener.

So today, consider carefully how you listen. Engage yourself and be an active listener. Be intentional in your listening so people will know they are being heard - regardless if you agree with them or not. Focus your attention on listening to and hearing directly from God.

BLOG CHALLENGE: How well did you listen to your pastor's message this week? Share with us a main point you heard and how you will apply it to your life!

I'm Just a _______________

Do you consider yourself "just" a wife? Just a mother? Just a single woman? Have people referred to you as "just" a co-worker? Just a good friend? Just someone they know? In Mark 6:3, Jesus was described as "... just the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon."

The Jewish people were not willing to accept Jesus as the true Messiah. Messiahs didn't come from small towns or do the kind of humble work that Jesus did. So they dismissed both Him and His Message. But Jesus wasn't discouraged or deterred by their insults and neither should you be.

You are more than "just a __________." Don't believe the lies of the enemy when he whispers in your ear, "You'll never be able to do that, you're just too young, too old, too busy, too boring, too damaged, too afraid, too weak, too insecure, etc. Don't let the fact that you're just a woman, housewife, mother, young adult, new believer, etc. keep you from continuing to fulfill the plans and purposes God has for you. Think what would have happend if Jesus had stopped pursuing His ministry because He was "just a carpenter."

Every time you find yourself thinking, "I'm just a ____________" - stop! Instead, dwell on who you ARE....a precious daughter of the King, a unique workmanship of God (Eph. 2:10), a forgiven, redeemed and bound for heaven child of God, a woman of strength and a God-given dream and so much more!

BLOG COMMENT: Share some other descriptions of who YOU ARE!

It's Not What We Expected!

What is our response when things don't happen or people don't act the way we expect? How do we feel when "what we had in mind", does not turn out the way we envisioned? How do we accept the actions of others who do the total opposite of what we were certain they would do?

The Jewish people in Matthew's day were waiting for their Messiah. They were expecting a warrior king to ride into town and rescue them from Roman oppression and establish a new kingdom - a kingdom as mighty and majestic as their ancestor, King David. They were aware of what the Old Testament prophets' described their savior would be and do and that was what they were longing for.

But unfortunately, they overlooked the prophecies in Isaiah 53 which explained that this king would also be a suffering servant. One who would be rejected and eventually killed. No wonder so many people didn't recognize Jesus as their King. He was not what they had expected. Many Jews were not ready to accept that their king was born in a lowly manger to poor commoners. Others were not willing to believe that Jesus was who He said He was especially when He talked about building His Kingdom in heaven, not on earth. It was not what they had expected!

What the Jews expected was not what they got and they were disappointed and discouraged. What they had dreamed their Messiah would be like, never came true. Many rejected Jesus for who He was, as millions still do today.

How do you respond when things don't happen and people don't act the way you expected? We are really no different than the Jews of Jesus' time. You may be looking for your own savior to come and rescue you from an oppressive situation and when that doesn't work out the way you thought, you are disappointed. You may have dreamed that your relationships and the people in them would act a certain way and when they don't, you are hurt. You may have expected life to turn out differently for you and seeing that it hasn't, you are blaming others and perhaps, even God.

Some things we can expect is that our ways and thoughts are not God's ways and thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8). We cannot control other people's feelings and behaviors - only our own. We must expect and accept that life will have its share of dissapointments. But most importantly, we must trust that God's plans are always for our good (Romans 8:28) and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11).

For those who did embrace Jesus as the true Messiah , they saw their lives changed. They were witness to many miracles and messages that would forever impact them and future generations. They set aside their unmet expectations and opened their hearts and minds to all Jesus had to offer them. Are you willing to let go of "what you have in mind" and follow the true King?

BLOG COMMENT: Are you holding on to an expectation that continues to go unmet? Is the continual disappointment and pain worth it?

Do You Read Or Heed God's Word?

Is there a difference between reading the Bible and studying the Bible? Do you consider yourself one who reads the Bible for facts and information or in order to gain wisdom and understanding of God's Word and how you can apply it to your life? As we prepare for our journey through the New Testament, one book at a time, I thought it would be good to recognize what the purpose of studying the Bible really is.

The first step in preparing to study the Bible should always be prayer. Asking the Holy Spirit to guide and guard your heart and mind is essential. Remember, the Enemy will try to distract and disrupt your study time with God every chance he gets.

Based on Psalm 25:4-5, we see three components of what we are to study the Bible for: "Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truths and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long."

1) David is asking God to "show me your ways." In order to be shown something, we have to look at it. We have to be willing to see what God's ways are and want to follow them. If we're not studying His Word, we will never know what to look for. Whose ways have you been following? Yours, God's or the Enemy's? Do you know how to tell the difference between the three?

2) David also asks God to "teach me your paths." In order to be taught, we must be willing to learn what God's Word means. This requires some work and effort. This is the part of Bible study that people want to skip over because learning takes too much time. They would rather read or listen to what someone else tells them it means, then to find out for themselves. Are you teachable? Do you desire to learn God's paths or are you content with living your life following your own or better yet, someone elses path?

3) David continues to ask God to "guide me in your truth." In order to be guided, we must be willing to listen to instruction and follow what it says. Are you dependent on a GPS to guide you to your desired destination? Do you listen intently to and faithfully follow the instructions on where to turn, which direction to go and when to re-route your course, if necessary? Then you are willing to be guided. Are you just as willing to listen to God's truth and instructions from His Word and be guided in the direction He wants you to go? Or do you prefer to map out your own course and be your own guide?

4) Finally, David acknowledges God for who He is, "you are God my Savior" and confirms that "my hope is in you all day long." In other words, David is willing to lean on God for all his needs. He's willing to surrender control of his life. Knowing that his hope is in God and His Word, David can continue to grow in wisdom and understanding. In taking this action of surrender, he will be better able to understand God's ways, follow His paths and be guided by His truth.

Where are you today? Are you just interested in learning the facts about the Bible or are you wanting to know, understand and apply what it says to your life personally? Our Know the Bible New Testament study is set to begin next week. Now's as good a time as ever to get into God's Word and allow Him to show you, teach you and guide you! To sign up for our "class" and receive your weekly lessons via email - visit http://www.pathfinderministries.org/NT.html

Have You Lost Your Peace of Mind?

Are there days when you feel like everything is falling apart around you? You find that your life is full of chaos and frustration; worry and anixiety...the total opposite of "peace of mind." Are you desparately trying to change people and situations in your life - but failing terribly? Are you using all your resources and energy to make things happen when it's obviously not the right time? We can lose our peace of mind when we keep trying to do something about something we can't do anything about!

Isaiah 26:3 gives us the formula for keeping our peace of mind. "You (G0d) will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast (focused) because he trusts in you (God)." When we stay focused on God, recognizing His power and watching His plan unfold, what do we have to worry about? What do we need to try to control when we know the Creator of the Universe has everything under His control?

Are you a worrier? Do you feel guilty when you don't have something or someone to worry about? Have you ever experienced peace of mind? The Apostle Paul had plenty of reasons to worry when he wrote the book of Philippians from a Roman prison cell. But instead, he shares several effective steps we can take to find peace of mind in Philippians 4: 4-9:

1) Rejoice - Gratitude is important to our peace of mind because it leads to a change in our attitude. We can't grumble, complain and worry about a person or situation when we're rejoicing!

2) Be anxious for nothing - A mind full of worry and anxiety is the opposite of a mind focused and steadfast on God and His promisies; which leads to a mind filled with peace.

3) Pray about everything - Have you ever thought prayer just wasn't enough? Even after praying, you still felt the need to worry and fret? You still tried to figure out how to change the problem yourself. God wants us to bring all our concerns to Him and leave them with Him.

4) Give thanks for all things - Worry has the tendency to invite all its friends into your life - stress, disappointment, anger, frustration, doubt, etc. When we switch our focus on being thankful for the things He has done for us - big and small - we send worry and its friends packing.

When we put these steps into action in our life, Paul tells us in verse 7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus." These first 4 steps help guard our heart. When we are rejoicing, not worrying, giving everything to God in prayer, with thankful hearts - God's peace washes over us.

5) Think about these things - Verse 8 tells us what we must do in order to guard our mind - the place where all worry and anxiety begins. We must think and focus on things that are true, pure, right, holy, friendly, proper, worthwhile and worthy of praise. I don't see worry in that list!

Peace of mind is something God desires for us. Worrying about and trying to control people and situations in our life distract us from where our real focus should be - on God and His goodness!

Strength in The Storms

With the recent scare from Hurricane Irene and the damage it inflicted – including deaths of people in various eastern states – it’s easy to become anxious and frightened in today’s world. Natural disasters are increasing in the earth, as Jesus warned His disciples they would in Mark 13:8. When we see “storms” like these, though, we need to simply keep our eyes on Jesus and rejoice because our redemption is coming near!

Just as there are physical storms and disasters, we as Christians also experience spiritual storms: marriage and parenting struggles, financial crises, career and ministry challenges, medical problems with us or loved ones, depression and anxiety, tragedies, and more. As Christians we are not immune to problems; in fact, when we become believers in Christ, we become even greater targets for our enemy, Satan. His job is to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) He relentlessly attacks believers to cause them to become distracted, discouraged, or to get them off-course in their faith in Christ.

After awhile, you feel weary. Your strength is depleted. How do you overcome these intense spiritual battles?

Here are 3 practical tips to give you strength through the battle:

1) Stay prayed up! The Church at large doesn’t seem to realize that her strength truly comes from Jesus Christ. Jesus told us that apart from Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:4-5) That includes fighting our enemy. Soldiers in an army must obey their commanding officer’s command. As soldiers of Christ, we need to hear and obey our commanding officer, Jesus. As we humbly come to God in prayer, acknowledging that Satan is too strong for us and that we need God’s intervention in our lives, He will help us and do battle on our behalf. The battle belongs to the Lord! (2 Chronicles 20:15) Take time each day to spend time with God and to be refilled and recharged with strength with His Holy Presence.

2) Study His Word daily. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, the powerful weapon Jesus used was the Word of God. It is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12) Satan can not defeat God’s word! With it you will overcome any attacks of his, whether it is financial devastation, attacks against your marriage, parenting problems, depression or discouragement, fears or worries, challenges in your business, or whatever fiery darts he may try to throw at you today. The only way you will be able to wield this sword effectively is by knowing what the Bible says – through disciplined, daily reading and study.

3) Worship and praise God. This is an area that I believe many Christians don’t realize is one of their greatest weapons of spiritual warfare. We see throughout the Bible how worship and praise of God defeats the enemy, such as when Jehoshaphat and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem bowed down before God in worship, the Levite priests began to praise Him, and the enemies of God’s people were destroyed in the battle. (2 Chronicles 20:15) King David wrote many psalms on the power of worship and praise, such as in Psalm 95 (shouting out praise to God for protection). If you are struggling in an area of your life, such as depression, anger, or fear, put on some worship and praise music and begin to praise God – and see the enemy defeated through the power of worship and praise! God is worthy of all our praise!

Above all things, it is faith that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6) and faith that will conquer Satan. In my new ebook, The Hands Of A Woman: Everyday Women In Everyday Battles (http://womensbattles.com/), eight women share their stories of their most intense spiritual battles, and how faith in Christ helped them to overcome these battles in victory.

In my new fall coaching group/book study, we will be covering each of the 10 chapters of this ebook for 5 weeks, and your payment includes a free copy of the ebook, handouts, worksheets, a Q & A time after each class, and mp3 recordings of each session. You will learn to get past your pain and become a strong, victorious, fulfilled woman who is fulfilling her unique purpose and great destiny in Christ.

To learn more, just click here: http://www.bethjones.net/articles/groupcoaching/.

I am also having a free preview call to answer any questions about this class on September 7 at 12 noon CDT. http://www.bethjones.net/preview-call-10-tips-for-how-to-have-a-fulfilled-life/

Beth Jones is a Christian speaker, author, wife and homeschooling mom. Beth loves encouraging women to fulfill their great purpose through daily intimacy with Jesus and pursuing their passion. You can find out more about Beth at http://www.bethjones.net/.

Waiting is Not Wasting Time...

Remember......God produces the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) in us by allowing us to encounter situations and people with characteristics that are exactly the opposite of the Fruit of the Spirit! So far we've looked at the love, joy, peace and today, patience. Patience is a virtue that carries alot of wait! Patience is the ability to let your light shine after your fuse has been blown! If God puts you on hold, don't hang up!

We all know what we need to do and be in order to show others patience....1) We should look at people and situations from God's perspective. He sees us as human, which means no one is perfect!

2) We need to develop a good sense of humor. Sometimes the only thing we can do is laugh. Humor is a great stress-disolver! "A cheerful heart is good medicine." (Proverbs 17:22)

3) We need to deepen our love for others. Ephesians 4:2 says it best..."Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

These three tips have dealt with people and situations that test our patience, but today I want us to look at how we handle our impatience with God.....

Let's be honest..many times we question why we have to wait for God to answer a prayer, perform a miracle or point us in the right direction. We wonder what good can come from waiting. What is the point of waiting when there is so much to do for God, but so little time. One answer could be that, while we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow! As we have been learning with the fruit of the Spirit, they are God's desire for us to have in our life and they are a representation of Christ's character.

Does this character develop overnight? Not usually. God's plan is to mold and shape us little by little until we are fully prepared for His assignment - and that may take time, lots of time for some of us! One of life's frustrations is that God's timetable is rarely the same as our own. The Bible is full of examples of how God used a long process to develop character. Abraham and Sarah. Noah. Moses. David. Joseph. The Bible is a book about waiting!

So what do you and I do during our waiting time? I can tell you what not to do ~ nothing! Waiting is not a time to waste. In the book of Psalms, David tells us several things we are to be doing (and I believe he knew something about waiting and character development!) In 27:14, he tells us to "Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." 37:7, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret..." 37:34a, "Wait for the Lord and keep his ways..." 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God..." and 130:5, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his Word do I put my hope."

Waiting is not something we enjoy doing; but we can make the most of our time by learning about God by being still, developing our character by obedience, building our confidence while staying strong and strengthening our dependence on Him by not fretting. As women, we often fall into the trap of thinking if we're not doing something, we must be wasting time. I hope these verses confirm the importance and desire God has for you to wait for Him. He can't speak to you or get your attention when your life is too busy, too loud, too distracted and too rushed.

What is God having you wait for today? Don't look at it as a denial to your requests. God's delays are never His denials. They are just another method He uses to continue to mold and shape us into women He can use for His purposes! Remember, if God puts you on hold, don't hang up!!

*Post from August 30, 2010
Material from a series on God's Power to Change Your Life by Rick Warren

Remind Us Again....

The final book of the Old Testament, Malachi, is significant in that his message of judgment on Israel for their continuing sin is the last word from God for 400 years before another prophet, (John the Baptist) arrives with a message from God. Have the people finally learned their lessons? Are they now ready to live God-fearing and honorable lives? Do they trust and believe all they have been told about God’s goodness, mercy and forgiveness? We’d love to see the Old Testament end with everyone living “happily ever after”, but in reality, they are human and they struggle with these things, as do we at times.

The theme of Malachi is a reminder to the people of his day as well as to us today: God loves perfectly and completely. His love is a love of action; not just words, but a love of giving, guiding and guarding. He is altogether faithful; true to His promises. Yet the people (then and now) needed to be reminded of this love. They ask God – “How have you loved us?” (Malachi 1:2) Can you even believe they had to ask this question? Had they lost all their long term memory of what God had done (action) for them throughout the generations? And how, out of love, He had disciplined them for their sin, only to restore them as a nation, just as He had promised? Do you ever ask – “You say you love me; show me how God? “ One verse that should answer that question, loud and clear, is Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Enough said!

The Israelites had lost their enthusiasm for worship and had become apathetic toward God because the prophecies they had been told were not being fulfilled in the time and manner they expected. In Malachi 1:6b, they needed to be reminded: “How have we despised/shown contempt for your name?” God pointed out that their sacrifices were defiled and polluted. They were not giving God their best, but instead they were using their injured, crippled and diseased animals as their offering to God. What about us? If we give God only our leftover time, money and energy, we repeat the same sin as these worshippers who didn’t bring anything valuable to God. What we give to Him reflects our true attitude toward Him.

Malachi 2:17 tells us that the Lord had become weary with their words. Yet, the people seem clueless by asking, “How have we wearied Him?” God had grown tired of their complacency, their false worship and their questions which were filled with doubt. We know God welcomes our questions, but sometimes we sound like a small child who asks the same tiring questions over and over again – even after being given an answer! We may change up the question a little to see if we’ll get a different answer, but in the end, it’s still a matter of doubt. It’s a lack of faith that what God said, He will do. I would hope you’d want your voice to be a sweet sound in God’s ear instead of a resounding gong or clanging cymbal (I Cor. 13:1) that He grows weary of.

“Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty….But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’” (Malachi 3:7). By now, I would have had enough of these people’s foolishness! Had they not been hearing a thing the prophets had been telling them? Had they not recognized the sin in their life? Were they in complete denial? But, God’s patience is endless! Throughout history, His people had disobeyed His laws, but He had always, and continues to be, willing to accept us back. Here, however, the people had the nerve to imply that they never had disobeyed! In their eyes, why did they need to return if they hadn’t strayed away? They did not recognize their sin as a separation from God. Many people today have turned their backs on forgiveness and restoration because they have refused to admit their sin. Don’t follow their example!

Finally, in Malachi 3:13, God is not pleased with the harsh things they have said against Him. The peoples’ memory’s need to be jolted again because they ask, “What have we said against you?” God reminded them that they were only concerned about what good it did for them to serve God. Not only was God weary of their words, He was tired of their lame actions. They were always looking for what it was going to benefit them by serving God. This kind of arrogant attitude asks, “What’s in this for me?” The focus is selfish. The real question should be, “What good does if do for God?” We should want to serve Him just because He is God!

There are times we need to ask ourselves:” “How have I disrespected your name God?” “How have I wearied you with my words of doubt?” “How do I return to you?” “What have I said against you God?” God will always give a response, just as He did with the Israelites, but it’s our responsibility to listen and act! What do you need to be reminded of today?

Another great reminder of how God loves – through action – is from John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Claim God’s love for YOU and the world!

BLOG COMMENT: Share other verses that remind you of and confirm God’s love!!

Need a Helping Hand?

Are you already tired and it's only Monday? Are you trying to do everything in your own strength? Like the people in Zechariah's day, God gives the assignment - for them it was rebuilding the temple - and He also offers a helping hand. It's our job to reach out and grab it! Will you let go of all you're trying to hold on to (aka - control) and take ahold of the hand that has control over the entire universe - including what you're going through?

I want to share an encouraging word from the devotional, Heaven Calling, with you today:

"Sometimes in this difficult world, you just need a good, strong, helping hand to keep you going. And that is what I am holding out to you.

In your weariness, be comforted: I am the Lord All-Powerful; I don't expect you to stay the course on your own strength. I assured Zerubbabel of this when I charged him with rebuilding my temple in Jerusalem. So I say it to you about the work you have today: Do not depend on your own power or strength.

Instead, depend on my Spirit within you. I will give you the resources you need to keep going, the peace that you are in my will, and the hope and vision to complete the work. My spirit is in you, my child. That is all you need."

I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don't depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit. - Zechariah 4:6

BLOG COMMENT: What do you need to hand over to God today?

Who's Number One?

Do your words match up with your actions? Do you say you value one thing and then do another? God had a message for Haggai to bring to His people. They had returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile and were done with idol worship and wicked living. They valued their relationship with God once again!

Unfortunately, their actions were not matching up with their words. They said they loved God, but His temple remained unfinished. The Israelites had been excited and committed to rebuilding the temple, but after awhile became discouraged and quit. Now they were only interested in doing what they wanted to do to make their own lives more comfortable and prosperous. God instructs them in Haggai 1:5 to “Give careful thoughts to your ways.”

God’s people were, and still do today, suffer from confused and out of perspective priorities. We say we value one thing, but our priorities say another. Our values and priorities are reflected in how we use our resources – time, money, strength and talent. We say God is number one, but then we relegate Him to a lesser number on our “to-do” lists. We say others and our relationships are important to us, but we make no time for them. We say we value our health, but continue to make poor choices. We say we value our own well-being, but do nothing to strengthen our own spiritual, emotional and physical lives.

Here are three steps we can take to help clear up some of this confusion about our misplaced priorities:

1) Evaluate: We all have things in our day that must be done. I call these our “everyday essentials”. But what about all the extra stuff we try to cram into our lives? Sometimes we need to step back and evaluate what we are doing and why we are doing it? Is there something you’ve committed to that’s causing tension in your family/relationships? Are you devoting too much time and money doing something you don’t really enjoy, but were pressured into doing? Are there things you’d like to be involved in, but don’t have any extra time in your schedule?

Ask yourself: “Is my schedule full of temporary or eternal valued activities?” Do the hours I spend watching television, playing video/computer/online games, shopping, talking on the phone/texting, etc. have any kind of lasting, positive impact on others? (There are some women who spend so much time doing these things, they don’t have time to meet the needs of their family and unfortunately, that is creating a lasting impact, just not a positive one!)

On the other hand, eternal valued activities don’t have to be major things. It’s simply making sure you’re investing time in and making a lasting, positive impact on the lives of others. It could be by just giving someone your undivided attention (which requires all phones to be turned off!). Showing someone you care by doing something as small as sending a card of encouragement – remember what those are? They are made of paper and involve a hand-written message!

* Try incorporating an eternal valued activity in your day and see how you feel!

2) Eliminate: If you see from your evaluation that a majority of your daily activities are fleeting, time-consuming and time-wasting things, you need to seriously consider eliminating some of them. Eliminating things we enjoy from our schedule is painful; that’s why we try so hard to make it all work. We feel if we let something go, we may be seen as weak and that super-woman persona will be tarnished. Doesn’t the world tell us it’s respectable to be stressed-out and exhausted at the end of our day? It shows we’re being productive and accomplishing so much……but at whose expense?

It’s okay to eliminate things/activities/commitments and yes, even people from your daily schedule. And when you do, you’ll be surprised at how much more time and energy you have for investing in eternal valued activities – making a positive impact on other people’s lives!

* What one or two useless activities can you eliminate starting today? It may be hard to make the separation at first, but it will be so worth it.

3) Educate: We must educate ourselves on the things that distract us from what’s really important. These are usually different for everyone – that’s why it’s so vital that we learn to recognize them. Some people get distracted mentally with their thoughts, fears and doubts. Others are distracted physically, many times by other people pulling them away from what they value as important. Then some are distracted spiritually. They are allowing the enemy to “steal, kill and destroy…” (John 10:10a) all that is good in their life by filling it with temporary valued things. Busyness, out of control activities, an overbooked schedule and confused priorities are his main distractions.

* Take time today to acknowledge your biggest distractions. Don’t give the enemy another victory.

Can you imagine what your life would look like if you had time to pursue the unique purpose God designed you for? When you could spend the time He’s given you serving Him and others and not your schedule? And when you could easily recognize the needs of others and have the energy to meet them?

Joe Stowell reminds us that “Without a strong sense of calling and purpose, life is nothing more than routine busyness.”

BLOG COMMENT: Share with us what distracts you the most from filling your life with what’s most important?

Can You Hear the Music?

The little Old Testament book of Zephaniah probably doesn't get much attention from preachers and Bible teachers. It reiterates God's warning of Judah's destruction because of their sin, giving detailed descriptions of what and how He will destroy. But as in all the books we've studied on this topic, there is always a promise that God will regather and restore His people again one day...and that will be a day of worldwide rejoicing!

A few years ago, I found a verse from this obscure book that has become one of my favorites. It gives such a visual picture of God's rejoicing. It allows us to see another aspect of His amazing character - one that loves us unconditionally, despite all the times we've disappointed Him. If you've been following our Know the Bible study, you know we've been making a list of what we're learning about who God is. If you've ever wondered about the God of the Old Testament, take a look at our list!

I found an article on my verse, Zephaniah 3:17, that explains the greatness of God's ability to save us, take delight in us, quiet us and rejoice over us and I want to share it with you. Here it is:

"..... I’d like now to look at the universal desire for the assurance of being enjoyed, not just to be loved, but also to feel enjoyed and know we are delighted in. Many of us know what it is like to be in relationship with people who we know are supposed to love us, or even say that they love us, yet we never receive the assurance that they enjoy us; we are never fully confident that they actually like us being with them. While we “know” that we are “loved,” we can have torment in our hearts as we wonder whether they actually like us or are just bearing with us. The reality is that we often have difficulty fully believing people who say they love us but don’t smile at us and enjoy not just what we do, but who we are.

The same is true with God. We have heard all our lives that He loves us. However, if we don’t know that He actually likes us, if we never see Him smiling at and rejoicing in us, either our faith to believe that He actually loves us or the quality of love that we perceive at the heart level will be very low.

Fortunately for us, we don’t have to live that way, because the God of the Bible satisfies the longing of our heart, not just to be enjoyed, but also to know and experience that we are. Over and over the Word of God speaks of the abundant gladness in the heart of God and how he deeply enjoys us. One of my favorite verses on the subject is Zephaniah 3:17, “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

First this verse tells us that God is with us, we are never alone, His unchanging presence is always with us. He is also mighty to save us: He is not some “nice guy” pushover floating on a cloud in heaven; He is a warrior, a fierce, victorious, mighty, conquering, heroic savior fighting on our behalf, fighting for our hearts.

It is this God who takes great delight in us. He is not like many people who will give you a (fake) smile when you see one minute and not care about you the next, because He is always with you, constant, reliable, unceasing in His presence and gladness towards You. He is also not like weak people who half-smile at you because they are so afraid of you not liking or rejecting them, emotionally needing your affirmation. No, our God is mighty, strong, and self-assured and from that place of confidence He freely rejoices over you out of the abundance and steadfastness of His heart. The intensity of His delight in you is so great that it overflows in song.

As the trials or even the mundane of life threaten to make you lose heart, remember the unchanging, ever-present, mighty warrior God likes you so much that right now in heaven He is bursting into song. This week take some time to shut out all the other voices that vie for your attention and listen for the voice of God singing over you in love. " (From Deeply Enjoyed by Richard Liantonio)

BLOG COMMENT: How does it make you feel to know that God enjoys and rejoices over you? What visual do you get from this verse?

Excuse Me God, I Have a Question....

Do you shy away from asking God questions? Do you feel your faith and trust in Him should keep you from questioning what He does or doesn't do? Habakkuk was a little-known prophet with difficult questions and He wasn't afraid to ask them.

Looking at the dying world around him and observing that wickedness seemed to be winning, he boldly and confidently approached God by asking, "Why?" "Why do you allow so much evil in the world?" "Why does it seem to go unpunished?" "Why do I sense you're not hearing me." Have you ever wanted to ask questions like these, but have not dared?

God responds to Habakkuk with an answer he did not expect..."Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told" (Hab. 1:5). Instead of reprimanding Habakkuk, God gave him a glimpse into what would eventually happen to the wicked.

Habakkuk had a problem I think many of us do as well....He did not understand God's ways. And the great thing about God, is that He understands! We're reminded of this in Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

God still wants us to come to Him with our concerns and questions and then listen for His response. I wanted to share a great devotion with you today from one of my favorite books, Heaven Calling. God tells us - "Ask me your questions, beloved one. The small questions that rustle in your mind. The big ones that keep you awake at night. The deep ones with hurt and pain attached that cause you to doubt me. I promise to hear every concern.

My servant Habakkuk didn't understand my ways, so he asked his questions and then waited for my answers. And I gave them. He still didn't completely understand, but he knew he could trust me. He understand that all of eternity is in my hands. One day, you will understand completely. One day I will make myself fully known. Until then, ask away. I will answer as much as you can understand."

Did you read that last statement? - "I will answer as much as you can understand." Maybe there are some things we will never get answers to because, like Habakkuk, we wouldn't believe it even if we were told!

BLOG COMMENT: Do you have a burning question you want to ask God? What's holding you back?

Are We the Next Nineveh?

Nineveh's time has come! Though they had once avoided God's judgment by taking Jonah's message to heart and repenting, now, more than a one hundred years later, the wicked city will experience the full consequences of its sins.

Nineveh is marked by murder, cruelty, idolatry and social injustice. Nineveh is the capital city of the Assyrian Empire, now the most powerful nation in the world and seemingly the most invincible. But as we see in the book of Nahum, no one can stand against God, as this proud and powerful nation will be utterly destroyed because of their wickedness and rebellion against God.

I can't help but see the similarities between this ancient power of Nineveh and our own present day nation, the United States of America. Are we really any different from the wicked pagans of Nahum's day? We don't have to look far to see the truth....

1) Murder - I literally don't have to look far to see the effects of murder. Flint, Michigan (30 miles from where I live) has been named the murder capital of the United States. "Last year in Flint, population 102,000, there were 66 documented murders. The murder rate here is worse than those in Newark and St. Louis and New Orleans. It’s even worse than Baghdad’s" (Business Insider, April 16, 2011).

2) Cruelty - We can be a cruel group of people. All you have to do is watch a few minutes of one of the many "reality" shows to see that people are mean and have no problem with it. They will do whatever, to whomever, to get what they want. Better yet, you don't have to watch television to witness cruelty, spend some time with kids on a playground, teenagers in a school hallway or adults involved in a bitter divorce, etc.

3) Idolatry - We are a nation in love with our idols: our singing idols, dancing idols, acting idols, magical fiction idols, food idols, car idols, house idols, teen idols, people we will never meet but have to follow their every move idols......I think you get the idea. By definition, anything that takes our time and focus off of God and receives it instead, is an idol. Don't you think the Enemy celebrates as he watches our nation become consumed with our idol worship.

4) Social Injustice - The United States is a generous nation when it comes to supporting human rights, especially outside our boundaries. We are always the first to come to the aid of a hurting country...but what about those being treated unjustly in our own back yard?

I have recently become more aware of the horrendous injustice of human trafficking..."the illegal trade in human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labour, or a modern-day form of slavery (Wikipedia.com). This is not just happening in far away, foreign countries, this is a rapidly growing, money making industry in our own country!

Not long ago, I read an eye-opening book, The Slave Across the Street by Theresa Flores, which tells of a young girl who becomes enslaved into the dangerous world of sex trafficking - all while living at home with unsuspecting parents in an upper-class suburb of Detroit - 30 minutes from where I live! To learn more of Theresa Flores' story and her life today, visit her website www.traffickfree.com.

Nahum's book focuses on God's characteristics - patience, power, holiness and justice. As with the city of Nineveh, God shows these characteristics still today. In Nahum 1:3, we're told, The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. We can have hope that the God who judged evil in Nahum's day is the same God who judges evil today. We can believe that God will show His perfect timing, power, holiness and goodness and the wicked will not be overlooked.

So what can we do while we wait for God's judgment? First remember, The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7). Pray for our nation and its leaders ~ whether we agree with the way things are done in Washington, DC, it is our responsibility. Third, get involved! You may not be able to fix and change the entire problem, but you can help to change one life at a time.

BLOG COMMENT: Do you see other similarities between us and the people of Nineveh? What suggestions do you have to start making a difference in other people's lives?

What Am I To Do?

The age old question, asked by every believer, "What do you want me to do God?" The people in Micah's audience were asking the same thing. They had been warned of coming judgment and wanted to know how to win God's favor.

In Micah 6:6-7, the people suggest ways that they may please God - sacrifices, offerings, good works, etc, but in verse 8, Micah gives three things God is looking for. Three simple things? Not necessarily. God had made His wishes clear to the people of Israel and they are just as pertinent to us today!

He has showed you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? Three things......

1) To act justly. The people in Micah's day were guilty of abusing the poor and comitting grave injustice toward the needy and God wanted it to stop. The word, just, defined as: conforming to a standard of correctness; righteous, describes God's character. And isn't that what we're suppose to be striving for? This should not have been new news to these people or to us either. Back in Ezekiel 18:27, God reminds the people then, But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life Would you consider yourself a just person; one who conforms to a standard of correctness - God's character of righteousness?

2) To love mercy. Mercy is defined as: compassionate, forgiving. Look, more characteristics of God! A little more challenging characteristics for us perhaps. Remember, I didn't say these were 3 easy steps! In a world of tough people, tough times, tough breaks and tough situations, we must do the right thing and show love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. Micah 7:18-19 are great verses that describe these characteristics in God - Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? (Israel) You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl (not toss or throw!) all our inquities into the depths of the sea.

3) To walk humbly with your God. Notice God didn't leave it at "walk humbly"? In a world of pride and self-sufficiency, we must learn to walk with God..not in front of Him or behind Him, but with Him. Humbly walking with God means doing so without arrogance or self-righteousness. Psalm 25:9, tells us what God will do - He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. Do we want to know what is just and right? Humbly walk with God. Do you want to learn His way of love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness? Humbly walk with God.

These three steps, not necessarily easy steps, are what God requires of us. They are not some great mystery only made known to the super-spiritual. They are not impossible requests from God. He is not waiting to see how often we will fail - He is wanting to see how often we will attempt. Progress, not perfection is God's motto!! Only when we start living according to God's way, not our own way, will we begin to affect our home, our society and our world!

Freedom of Choice

Today we celebrate our nation's freedom - something we don't take for granted as we remember those who have sacrificed their lives for it. But there's another kind of freedom that's available to us as well. One that doesn't require a physical sacrifice, but a personal one; our freedom of choice.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he decided to run away from God instead of obeying His command to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and warn them of their coming destruction. Jonah had grown up hating the people of Nineveh and in his mind, they deserved to be destroyed and he chose to have no part in their salvation.....first mistake.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he offered himself as a sacrifice to calm a raging storm. Jonah had settled in on the ship headed 2000 miles opposite of the city of Nineveh when God "caught up with him!" This chose demonstrated how hatred for the people of Nineveh had warped his perspective. He was willing to die so the sailors could live but he was unwilling to obey God and take His message of life to the Ninevites....second mistake.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he reconsidered his actions after spending 3 days and nights in the belly of a great fish. In Jonah 2, we see his prayer is one of thanksgiving; thankful for not having drowned, not a prayer of repentance. Jonah acknowledged the vow he made when he became a prophet of God and was now choosing to fulfill it - even if it meant doing something he didn't want to do.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when given a second chance, he responded to God with obedience, and went to Nineveh. His short, 8-word message, "40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown" spoke directly to the heart of the people. They confessed, turned from their wickedness and in God's love and mercy, He spared the city of 600,000!

Jonah must have been thrilled! Afterall, he's just been a part of the largest revival in Bible history. You'd think he'd be celebrating God's goodness and thanking God for choosing him to be the one to deliver His message. In chapter 4, we see this isn't the case. Jonah is extremely angry and greatly displeased with God....third mistake.

The question to ask here is WHO needed the most transformation? Was it the hateful Ninevites or the hate-filled Jonah? Proverbs 27:19 says "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Jonah's response to what God had chosen to do relected what was in his heart. And based on his actions, it was a heart full of self-centeredness, selfishness, self-pity and a lack of self-control.

God used His freedom of choice and responded to Jonah's moaning with a call for an attitude adjustment. God needed Jonah to see that his perspective and priorites were way off-base. He needed Jonah to realize, although he had the freedom of choice, God was in ultimate control. This is where the book of Jonah ends. God chooses not to tell us if Jonah ever gets the message and has a change of heart. But you have a choice - don't let your story end like this!

Are you using your freedom of choice to run away from God? Are there nasty attitudes in your life that you're choosing to ignore? Are there negative emotions that are controlling your actions? Today on Twitter, Rick Warren asked - The truth sets u free, BUT it makes you miserable until you face it. What are u pretending isnt a problem in your life?

I want to invite you to join us this month as we look at gaining FREEDOM from your hurts, habits and hangups. If you haven't signed up for my weekly e-newsletter, (delivered to your email every Weds.) use your freedom of choice and do so today! You'll receive a special thank-you bonus from me as well :) Simply go to http://www.pathfinderministries.org/purpose.html

Don't Mess With My Kids!

God is a very protective parent and when someone messes with His kids, in this case the Israelites, He doesn't ignore it. In the shortest book of the Old Testament (21 verses), Obadiah warns the nation of Edom of its upcoming destruction because of the way they have treated Israel.

As descendants of Esau, the Edomites are blood relatives of Israel, and of all people should have been the ones to rush to the aid of Israel's problems. Instead they participated in the attacks, looted their land and captured fugitives for the enemy! They will soon learn that an enemy of Israel is an enemy of God. Because of Edom's indifference, defiance of God, their cowardice and pride toward their blood brothers in Israel, Obadiah gives them God's message of upcoming disaster!

I found an article from Bible.org that I'd like to share with you. It looks at some personal application we can make from this short, but powerful book of Obadiah.

1) Pride deceives and leads to more sin. How true! When we think we're "getting away" with sin, we are deceived and challenged to do more dangerous things.

2) Sin follows a downward path. Our sins progress starting with complacency, then promotion, then finally participation. You've heard of the slippery slope?

3) God will keep His word. God is faithful! Obadiah said Edom's judgment would be complete and in fact it was! The entire nation of Edom, and its people, were destroyed forever.

4) God will punish sin. God sees who is mistreating His children and will judge them accordingly. It shows us that God is in control and will punish sin in His own way and in His perfect timing. This is important for us to know and believe when we face tough times.

5) God will protect His own. God is good and love us. He will care and protect us from our enemies.

These last two ideas that God is in control and that God is good are extremely important to living the Christian life. There principles are often repeated throughout the entire Bible. Unfortunately for us, we want to be in control! We want God's blessing, but we want to call the shots as well. We sometimes struggle with believing God can and will take care of us, so we take matters into our own hands and we find ourselves living points 1 & 2 - deceived by pride and following sin down a destructive path!

God is good all the time - all the time, God is good! So when we face difficulties, it doesn't mean God is not there or that He doesn't love us. The difficulties are for our own character and spiritual development. We can get through the tough times if we believe in God's goodness and faithfulness.

Prophecy, as in Obadiah, is not just gee whiz information for our heads so we can know what God did and will do in the going to preserve His people!

* Bible.org/ Hampton Keathley IV

BLOG COMMENT: Have you ever tried to take control out of God's hands and into your own? What were the results?