When I was 15 years old I had my first job. My aunt and I loved to go shopping but one time while we were out on our venture to shop she said to me, “Don't spend all you have to get all you want from one pay check." I did not question her, I decided that each pay check I would put up $10 for a rainy day.
As I developed into a young woman that same principle stuck in my head. While, I was in college I experienced my first time without employment. What a change for me but not a drastic change because I had savings.
Saving money is a crucial principal for managing money. “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has,” Proverbs 21:20.
This text points out that an intelligent household has options but the thoughtless person has no choice because he/she has demolished all the he/she has. This person has irrationally gulped down or disposed everything and options are far from them.
If we are wise we will not spend all our money. Saving for the unknown emergencies as well as potential likely needs is the sensible choice.
My husband and I decided to save to by a van prior to having our fourth child. We have an older version van that is paid for and one day a lady was getting my child out of the van and she said, “I was thinking of the new vans with the doors on each side. Oh, I am so sorry.” I happily said to her, “I am not sorry at all, don’t worry this one is paid for,” and we laughed. I was seriously happy that we have a paid for car and we do not have to make monthly bills to pay it off.
Saving money is not harmful; it does not stop you from living but allows you to live with a sense of security. Not having funds saved for the emergencies allows you to live haunted by not knowing how to make it day by day. As previously mention when I was cut from the my job it did not hit me so hard because I had a savings account with enough for three months of my rent covered.
How are your finances today? Have you been making short term decisions with your finances? Buying the car of your dreams and thoughtlessly don’t consider the possibility of a rainy day. Are you able to get repairs taken care of in your home? Do you have insurance to tend to broken appliances or automobiles? Perhaps today you have income flowing like a river. Maybe you have had a halt in your finances and you feel like you are wandering in the wilderness.
Consider the caution that is established in Proverbs. Pray to God to forgive you for past financial mistakes and seek His wisdom about money. Ask God to discipline you to put aside a portion of your money as He may prosper, so no collections are made when He returns( 1 Corinthians 16:2). Seek the Lord to help you manage what He has given you so you can do what He has for you to do without financial restraints. Pray to God to help you trust Him to trust yourself to manage your money. Four things are small on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: The ants are not a strong people, but they prepare their food in the summer;” Proverbs 30:24-25.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Get Serious
My 7 year old son gets excited when he gets money. Before it is placed in his hands, this little guy has a plan for how he is going to spend it. My 9 year old daughter, on the other hand, has a plan to budget to save, spend and make more money. I am always amazed at the outcome because even when she spends she is looking for a deal while my son is looking for exactly what he wants, disregarding the price.
As a result she always has money and he is always trying to do more things around the house to make money but not to make or save money yet to spend it. My husband refers to this as “Saving to Spend.”
While seeking wisdom about finances I am reminded of the text, “Prepare your work outside and make it fit for thyself in the field; afterwards, then, build your house,” Proverbs 24:27.
In this text it cautions the leaders of the house to do three things to manage the household affairs. First it tells us to “prepare your work.” To prepare is to establish. We are advised to get settled and accomplished in our occupation first.
As leaders in the house we must desire necessaries before conveniences. If our budget says we can afford a ranch for our dwelling place we have to be content, rather than lust or go in debt for the three story house.
This is interesting because we see this exampled when God created Adam. Before he was given Eve and the children, he had a job and became established in his business affairs, Gen 2:18-25.
The second caution in this text is it says “make it fit for thyself in the field.” To make is to prepare, get it ready so that it can grow, develop in the field. In other words, prepare your finances so that they work for you and you are not working for it.
Building first, what we cannot afford is not wise. However, if we “first apply thyself to thy work” it will be wise. Many have gone in bankrupt and lost families by starting financial escapades they cannot finish. Families have been erupted by ditching out money that does not bring anything in.
This next caution is vital because it is one that many too often commit to executing out of sequence. It states, “afterwards, then, build your house.” The key word in this step is afterwards, this implies, the next step after you are set up, not before, but after you are established, then build your house.
To build your house is to establish a home containing a family. Solomon was successful in building the house of God because all was ready. His father initiated the development and Solomon was able to then build,(1 Kings 6:7).
My son is not ready to build a house. As I pray for his wife to be great at planning, I also pray for him to be wise in being content and not hasty to spend. God willing he will be attentive as he develops to a man. Many of the leaders within our world fall in managing the household because we lack knowing what the Word says about sustaining the management of the house.
Maybe you are managing fine and you feel you don’t need a budget. Perhaps you think well the money is flowing, so I don’t have to save. However, we never know when the tables will turn. As wise children of God we must want our necessities before our conveniences, and not go in debt.
Consider not rushing out to buy your self or children the $100 dress or suit at Macy’s for Easter, yet mull over shopping for less. Don’t leap to the stores to buy hasty because it is a special event. Pray to God to forgive you for spending thoughtlessly. Seek the Lord for wisdom before you go shopping and ask Him to help you get established to build. Let us strive to keep our manners, our lifestyle free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what we have, (Hebrews 13:5).
As a result she always has money and he is always trying to do more things around the house to make money but not to make or save money yet to spend it. My husband refers to this as “Saving to Spend.”
While seeking wisdom about finances I am reminded of the text, “Prepare your work outside and make it fit for thyself in the field; afterwards, then, build your house,” Proverbs 24:27.
In this text it cautions the leaders of the house to do three things to manage the household affairs. First it tells us to “prepare your work.” To prepare is to establish. We are advised to get settled and accomplished in our occupation first.
As leaders in the house we must desire necessaries before conveniences. If our budget says we can afford a ranch for our dwelling place we have to be content, rather than lust or go in debt for the three story house.
This is interesting because we see this exampled when God created Adam. Before he was given Eve and the children, he had a job and became established in his business affairs, Gen 2:18-25.
The second caution in this text is it says “make it fit for thyself in the field.” To make is to prepare, get it ready so that it can grow, develop in the field. In other words, prepare your finances so that they work for you and you are not working for it.
Building first, what we cannot afford is not wise. However, if we “first apply thyself to thy work” it will be wise. Many have gone in bankrupt and lost families by starting financial escapades they cannot finish. Families have been erupted by ditching out money that does not bring anything in.
This next caution is vital because it is one that many too often commit to executing out of sequence. It states, “afterwards, then, build your house.” The key word in this step is afterwards, this implies, the next step after you are set up, not before, but after you are established, then build your house.
To build your house is to establish a home containing a family. Solomon was successful in building the house of God because all was ready. His father initiated the development and Solomon was able to then build,(1 Kings 6:7).
My son is not ready to build a house. As I pray for his wife to be great at planning, I also pray for him to be wise in being content and not hasty to spend. God willing he will be attentive as he develops to a man. Many of the leaders within our world fall in managing the household because we lack knowing what the Word says about sustaining the management of the house.
Maybe you are managing fine and you feel you don’t need a budget. Perhaps you think well the money is flowing, so I don’t have to save. However, we never know when the tables will turn. As wise children of God we must want our necessities before our conveniences, and not go in debt.
Consider not rushing out to buy your self or children the $100 dress or suit at Macy’s for Easter, yet mull over shopping for less. Don’t leap to the stores to buy hasty because it is a special event. Pray to God to forgive you for spending thoughtlessly. Seek the Lord for wisdom before you go shopping and ask Him to help you get established to build. Let us strive to keep our manners, our lifestyle free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what we have, (Hebrews 13:5).
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Are You Serious?
The other day while talking to my husband he made this brilliant statement, “People tell you to tithe from the day you are a child but they don’t take the time to tell you how to manage your money.” Interestingly, we sought God and found that the Bible does tell you how to manage your finances.
The first step to managing your money is found in Proverbs, “The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty only to want,” Proverbs 12:5.
This text is saying the plans of the discipline minded person towards finances will have plenty but the one who recklessly goes about his business will want, will lack and be in poverty.
The principle being displayed here is not one that has just been implemented it is one we have heard since a child but most people do not take seriously. It points out the basic principle of having a budget for your finances.
A budget is plan for money. It paints a picture of how your finances will look. The budget says, “This is how much we have, if we use it wisely staying within our means (meaning if we live our life according to what we have) then we will have plenty. However, if we are reckless, impulse buyers, thoughtless about our finances, give it all away; we are going to always be in need of clothes for the kids, lacking food, deficient in our finances, wanting, but constantly in shortage because we thoughtlessly spend all that is given.
God is not calling His children to poverty. He is not calling us to be idle about our finances. The Bible says, “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich,” Proverbs 10:4.
“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute,” Proverbs 12:24.
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat,” Proverbs 13:4.
“Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger,” Proverbs 19:15.
My friends, our finances matter to God. He blesses those that He can entrust to be diligent with finances so they can bless others. Why should our Father give to a fool with finances? Should you pray to God to give you money so you can go out to buy the house you lost last year because of mismanaging? Should you pray to God to give you money so you can give it away over and over to others and neglect to give to Him? Should you pray to God to give you money to buy another car like the one they just repossessed? Should you pray to God to bless your finances to get your business right and you will not even be diligent with the little you have?
God is serious about our finances are you? Consider allowing God to direct your steps. Pray to God to help you manage the money He has blessed you with today. Call upon the Lord to guide you with what you do have to be disciplined as He desires. Beseech the Lord to send someone to show you how to budget. Ask the Lord to forgive you for being reckless with what He blessed you with in the past. Forgive you for being an impulse buyer, thoughtless, stingy and not disciplined. Declare today I am not going to mismanage what the Lord gives me anymore. You are a child of God. He is observing you today, right now. Seek the Father to be diligent, for He rewards His faithful child over the little with the rewards of plenty.
The first step to managing your money is found in Proverbs, “The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty only to want,” Proverbs 12:5.
This text is saying the plans of the discipline minded person towards finances will have plenty but the one who recklessly goes about his business will want, will lack and be in poverty.
The principle being displayed here is not one that has just been implemented it is one we have heard since a child but most people do not take seriously. It points out the basic principle of having a budget for your finances.
A budget is plan for money. It paints a picture of how your finances will look. The budget says, “This is how much we have, if we use it wisely staying within our means (meaning if we live our life according to what we have) then we will have plenty. However, if we are reckless, impulse buyers, thoughtless about our finances, give it all away; we are going to always be in need of clothes for the kids, lacking food, deficient in our finances, wanting, but constantly in shortage because we thoughtlessly spend all that is given.
God is not calling His children to poverty. He is not calling us to be idle about our finances. The Bible says, “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich,” Proverbs 10:4.
“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute,” Proverbs 12:24.
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat,” Proverbs 13:4.
“Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger,” Proverbs 19:15.
My friends, our finances matter to God. He blesses those that He can entrust to be diligent with finances so they can bless others. Why should our Father give to a fool with finances? Should you pray to God to give you money so you can go out to buy the house you lost last year because of mismanaging? Should you pray to God to give you money so you can give it away over and over to others and neglect to give to Him? Should you pray to God to give you money to buy another car like the one they just repossessed? Should you pray to God to bless your finances to get your business right and you will not even be diligent with the little you have?
God is serious about our finances are you? Consider allowing God to direct your steps. Pray to God to help you manage the money He has blessed you with today. Call upon the Lord to guide you with what you do have to be disciplined as He desires. Beseech the Lord to send someone to show you how to budget. Ask the Lord to forgive you for being reckless with what He blessed you with in the past. Forgive you for being an impulse buyer, thoughtless, stingy and not disciplined. Declare today I am not going to mismanage what the Lord gives me anymore. You are a child of God. He is observing you today, right now. Seek the Father to be diligent, for He rewards His faithful child over the little with the rewards of plenty.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Processing the Leader
When I was a young girl my mother would tell me, "I am a leader." I would not know what she was talking about so I would continue playing as if she said nothing. When she met my husband she told me, “Both of you are leaders...hum this is going to be interesting,” as she sighed saying, “give it at least four years before you all get engaged.”
I still did not know what this woman was talking about. After all the love was poured in our relationship the initial years, we found that we did wait four years as she suggested. Afterwards we had a daughter. Today as I look at the development of my daughter, I say, “she is a leader,” and I laugh sounding just like my mom.
Being a leader is an anointing that God places on an individual. I believe each person has something they lead. The most crucial part is identifying when to apply your leadership abilities because every situation does not call for your leadership; sometimes it calls for your pursuit after another.
David was a young man when the prophet Samuel came to the house of Jesse seeking the one that God had anointed as king, next in line to King Saul. Samuel was instructed by God to anoint David. “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that Day forward,” (1 Samuel 16:18).
In this text oil is used to anoint David as king. David did not become king until he was 30 years old. The time in between he went through a preparation process and much pressure was incurred to molding him to be the king God called him to be.
Oil has a preparation process as well. Before an olive becomes oil it goes through several phases. First, it has a Cleaning Phase, during this process all stems, leaves, twigs and other debris is removed to get rid of all the dirt and pesticides. Next, the Grinding Process takes place. The olives are crushed to paste tearing the flesh cells to facilitate the release of the oil. This procedure is a 20-45 minute process that requires much pressure. Stone mills, metal tooth grinders or hammer mills are used to crush the olives. Following the grinding, the Mixing Phase takes place. This is called malaxing the paste. The paste that is formed from the grinding procedure is mixed creating small droplets of oil that forms big drops of oil. Finally, they separate the oil and vegetable water and solids, to seclude the oil from the rest of the olive components.
As I look at my daughter, I am reminded of David. I know she too will have many phases to follow as God processes her.
Do you know a leader today that is going through? Perhaps you are the leader. What phase are you in pertaining to the leadership procedure?
Maybe you are being cleaned and have to let go of past relationships, let go of past thoughtless ways of thinking against the Lord. Possibly you are going through the grinding process and feel a tremendous amount of pressure as if a double hammer is pounding you. Probably you are going through the mixing phase and you are being allowed to facilitate bits and pieces of your leadership role. Or could it be that you are being separated from others, as you are being formed as a distinguished leader.
We all have a certain place that we lead in life. Consider going through the process of being molded to the person God is calling you to be. Pray to God to remind you of the strength that He has already endowed within you. Call upon the Father to bring you through as you stand in confidence in the Lord. Thank the Lord for His wisdom and might, for the Lord is upon you.
I still did not know what this woman was talking about. After all the love was poured in our relationship the initial years, we found that we did wait four years as she suggested. Afterwards we had a daughter. Today as I look at the development of my daughter, I say, “she is a leader,” and I laugh sounding just like my mom.
Being a leader is an anointing that God places on an individual. I believe each person has something they lead. The most crucial part is identifying when to apply your leadership abilities because every situation does not call for your leadership; sometimes it calls for your pursuit after another.
David was a young man when the prophet Samuel came to the house of Jesse seeking the one that God had anointed as king, next in line to King Saul. Samuel was instructed by God to anoint David. “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that Day forward,” (1 Samuel 16:18).
In this text oil is used to anoint David as king. David did not become king until he was 30 years old. The time in between he went through a preparation process and much pressure was incurred to molding him to be the king God called him to be.
Oil has a preparation process as well. Before an olive becomes oil it goes through several phases. First, it has a Cleaning Phase, during this process all stems, leaves, twigs and other debris is removed to get rid of all the dirt and pesticides. Next, the Grinding Process takes place. The olives are crushed to paste tearing the flesh cells to facilitate the release of the oil. This procedure is a 20-45 minute process that requires much pressure. Stone mills, metal tooth grinders or hammer mills are used to crush the olives. Following the grinding, the Mixing Phase takes place. This is called malaxing the paste. The paste that is formed from the grinding procedure is mixed creating small droplets of oil that forms big drops of oil. Finally, they separate the oil and vegetable water and solids, to seclude the oil from the rest of the olive components.
As I look at my daughter, I am reminded of David. I know she too will have many phases to follow as God processes her.
Do you know a leader today that is going through? Perhaps you are the leader. What phase are you in pertaining to the leadership procedure?
Maybe you are being cleaned and have to let go of past relationships, let go of past thoughtless ways of thinking against the Lord. Possibly you are going through the grinding process and feel a tremendous amount of pressure as if a double hammer is pounding you. Probably you are going through the mixing phase and you are being allowed to facilitate bits and pieces of your leadership role. Or could it be that you are being separated from others, as you are being formed as a distinguished leader.
We all have a certain place that we lead in life. Consider going through the process of being molded to the person God is calling you to be. Pray to God to remind you of the strength that He has already endowed within you. Call upon the Father to bring you through as you stand in confidence in the Lord. Thank the Lord for His wisdom and might, for the Lord is upon you.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Forgetting Former Things
As spring has pushed forward I feel like a flower in a garden pushing its way through a handful of surrounded weeds. I find myself asking for strength to focus on God and not the ongoing things of the past. I hassle with time because moment by moment something continues to pop up distracting me to move about.
Yet I look to the Lord and He reminds me of what He told the Israelites to, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert,” Isaiah 43:18-19.
In this text it says don’t stay focus on things of the past. God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians in an astonishing way. However, the Lord God was telling them, “you ain’t seen nothing yet.” You think your former deliverance was glorious but when I send the Messiah all other things of the past will not be worthy of your remembrance and consideration.
It continues saying, “I will do a new thing, “a work that has never been seen before. As we look further it says “making a way in the wilderness.” The wilderness is a desert, a dry land that is uninhabited, and abandoned. In the desert only a few things sprout, the ground is cracked from having no moist.
If we have our eyes fixed on the aches and pain of yesterday we won’t see how God is making a way out of what society calls recession. We will be in depression in a slump, if we keep our eyes off of the Lord.
The text continues stating in the “rivers in the desert," not only will God go to the abandoned place but He is going to the desolate, underground streams, a place of waste.
God today has something for us that He is working new but He is saying to His children, “don’t live in the past because the past is just that, it is the past.” God is a forward moving God. As He moves forward we have to go with the flow and move right along with the Lord.
How are you living today, is it in the past? Are you consumed with ancient memories? As long as we keep our mind frame of what happened long – ago, it is going to be hard to see where He has for you to go.
If we stay in the past too long we will miss what God is doing in the present and in the future.
Consider letting go of the past and moving with the thrust of the Lord. Ask God to forgive you for holding on to the things of yesterday. Beseech the Lord to help you study His Word so you can be renewed in your mind. Pray to God to create in you a new Spirit that thrives after His heart. Call upon our heavenly Father to help you evaluate yourself so you can discern what He has to say as you move forward.
Yet I look to the Lord and He reminds me of what He told the Israelites to, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert,” Isaiah 43:18-19.
In this text it says don’t stay focus on things of the past. God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians in an astonishing way. However, the Lord God was telling them, “you ain’t seen nothing yet.” You think your former deliverance was glorious but when I send the Messiah all other things of the past will not be worthy of your remembrance and consideration.
It continues saying, “I will do a new thing, “a work that has never been seen before. As we look further it says “making a way in the wilderness.” The wilderness is a desert, a dry land that is uninhabited, and abandoned. In the desert only a few things sprout, the ground is cracked from having no moist.
If we have our eyes fixed on the aches and pain of yesterday we won’t see how God is making a way out of what society calls recession. We will be in depression in a slump, if we keep our eyes off of the Lord.
The text continues stating in the “rivers in the desert," not only will God go to the abandoned place but He is going to the desolate, underground streams, a place of waste.
God today has something for us that He is working new but He is saying to His children, “don’t live in the past because the past is just that, it is the past.” God is a forward moving God. As He moves forward we have to go with the flow and move right along with the Lord.
How are you living today, is it in the past? Are you consumed with ancient memories? As long as we keep our mind frame of what happened long – ago, it is going to be hard to see where He has for you to go.
If we stay in the past too long we will miss what God is doing in the present and in the future.
Consider letting go of the past and moving with the thrust of the Lord. Ask God to forgive you for holding on to the things of yesterday. Beseech the Lord to help you study His Word so you can be renewed in your mind. Pray to God to create in you a new Spirit that thrives after His heart. Call upon our heavenly Father to help you evaluate yourself so you can discern what He has to say as you move forward.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
In Distress
There was this noble man that took his staff in prayer daily. As he prayed for them he began to look at them as more than people that worked under his supervision. He looked at them as his family. Years passed and this noble man began to blossom. His staff was being asked to make adjustments with the company yet they became radical. They formed many allegations in effort to get their boss fired.
Their boss whom had spent years in prayer for them, who had spoke out about keeping his staff whenever cut backs were brought up; their boss who looked at them as family, was being attacked by those He prayed for. Now this man’s feelings was low and he would rather remove himself than be attacked in such malice way by those he grew to have such compassion for.
This situation captured my attention to Jesus being in distress. Sometimes in life we feel betrayed, abandoned and full of distress. Jesus prayed in the garden in distress.
“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me. He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will,”” Matthew 26:36-38.
Jesus knew what was before Him, the betrayal of Judas, being torched by the people, denial of Peter and He felt sorrow knowing He would have to leave the disciples. His heart was heavy and it seemed as if no one that surrounded Him could understand the distress that He felt. He went to pray and asked the disciples to look out but they kept falling asleep.
He was so hurt that He called out to God saying, let this cup pass Me. In this text Jesus was implying to just stop this all and get it over with; however, when Jesus said “nevertheless” to God He was saying I will be obedient unto your will not my will.
Sometimes in life we get in so distressed and our will says put the brakes on, but God has a plan for all we are going through. The Lord desires for us to desire His will over our fleshly will. God desires for you to be obedient so that He may prepare us for the destiny He has on your life.
What situation are you in today? Do you feel like you can’t take it anymore and you want God to just pass this cup form you? Have you taken time to evaluate the entire situation so that you may keep your eyes fixed on the Lord?
Maybe you are being pulled on the job. Perhaps you feel overwhelmed with life itself.
Consider not growing faint and allow the Lord to heal you where you are weak. Pray to God to help you keep focused on Him in the midst of the distractions. Call upon God to bring you through with peace that surpasses all understanding. For in your hour of prayer of distress He hears your cry and has His hand out for you.
Their boss whom had spent years in prayer for them, who had spoke out about keeping his staff whenever cut backs were brought up; their boss who looked at them as family, was being attacked by those He prayed for. Now this man’s feelings was low and he would rather remove himself than be attacked in such malice way by those he grew to have such compassion for.
This situation captured my attention to Jesus being in distress. Sometimes in life we feel betrayed, abandoned and full of distress. Jesus prayed in the garden in distress.
“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me. He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will,”” Matthew 26:36-38.
Jesus knew what was before Him, the betrayal of Judas, being torched by the people, denial of Peter and He felt sorrow knowing He would have to leave the disciples. His heart was heavy and it seemed as if no one that surrounded Him could understand the distress that He felt. He went to pray and asked the disciples to look out but they kept falling asleep.
He was so hurt that He called out to God saying, let this cup pass Me. In this text Jesus was implying to just stop this all and get it over with; however, when Jesus said “nevertheless” to God He was saying I will be obedient unto your will not my will.
Sometimes in life we get in so distressed and our will says put the brakes on, but God has a plan for all we are going through. The Lord desires for us to desire His will over our fleshly will. God desires for you to be obedient so that He may prepare us for the destiny He has on your life.
What situation are you in today? Do you feel like you can’t take it anymore and you want God to just pass this cup form you? Have you taken time to evaluate the entire situation so that you may keep your eyes fixed on the Lord?
Maybe you are being pulled on the job. Perhaps you feel overwhelmed with life itself.
Consider not growing faint and allow the Lord to heal you where you are weak. Pray to God to help you keep focused on Him in the midst of the distractions. Call upon God to bring you through with peace that surpasses all understanding. For in your hour of prayer of distress He hears your cry and has His hand out for you.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
A Gift
Yesterday, I sought my prayer partners and requested that they join me in prayer of direction to get my book in the book stores. I was reminded by my husband to go in the Bible to see what the Lord has to say about my request. I was reminded to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not to your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths, (Prv 3:5-6). I continued to speak this over and over throughout the day.
As I was before God in prayer this morning about what to write, He lead my heart to the book of Proverbs, " A man's gift makes room for him; and brings him before great men, " Proverbs 18:6.
In this text "gift" refers to what has been implanted in you by our heavenly Father. Gifts include your talents and abilities, your personal significance, who you are. The phrase "makes room" is preparation of a distinct place for you. It is the appropriate moment or time where God places you, and you blossom, without failure. Finally it says, " brings him before great men." This implies you are being escorted or ushered before destinies you never imagined.
This takes my mind to being presented as a bride to be escorted to the groom. A present is a gift. In the time that God formed us He included a gift in each of us. This gift is the part that makes room for the destiny of our very purpose that God created.
You are a gift! Maybe life has tugged you from left to right. Perhaps you have felt like you have been in a ship wreck. However, God keeps His promises.
Consider allowing God to mold you through the preparation process. Give the Lord free will to bring you through makng you a resource to glorify His name. Thank God for the gift He has bestowed upon you and don't grow faint. Ask the Lord to direct you and guide you to His destiny. For God has not forgotten you!
As I was before God in prayer this morning about what to write, He lead my heart to the book of Proverbs, " A man's gift makes room for him; and brings him before great men, " Proverbs 18:6.
In this text "gift" refers to what has been implanted in you by our heavenly Father. Gifts include your talents and abilities, your personal significance, who you are. The phrase "makes room" is preparation of a distinct place for you. It is the appropriate moment or time where God places you, and you blossom, without failure. Finally it says, " brings him before great men." This implies you are being escorted or ushered before destinies you never imagined.
This takes my mind to being presented as a bride to be escorted to the groom. A present is a gift. In the time that God formed us He included a gift in each of us. This gift is the part that makes room for the destiny of our very purpose that God created.
You are a gift! Maybe life has tugged you from left to right. Perhaps you have felt like you have been in a ship wreck. However, God keeps His promises.
Consider allowing God to mold you through the preparation process. Give the Lord free will to bring you through makng you a resource to glorify His name. Thank God for the gift He has bestowed upon you and don't grow faint. Ask the Lord to direct you and guide you to His destiny. For God has not forgotten you!
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