Friday, October 31, 2008

Still Small Voice

The other day a lady said, “Well how does my friend hear from God but I don’t. Why is God talking to her but not me?”

She revealed, her anger lead her to inquire to God to hear Him as her friend heard Him. It wasn’t long after her prayer that she began hearing a still voice from the Lord.

I recall when Elijah heard a still small voice. After Jezebel told Ahab about Elijah slaying the (false) prophets a messenger went out to him.

“Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time,(1 Kings 19:2).

Elijah was in fear and ran for his life. He journeyed in the wilderness and wished to die. He felt like he was fed up and couldn’t take it anymore. “And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat,” (1Kings19:5).

A second time the angel came and told him to get up and eat. He had much work to do and his time for rest was over. It was time for Elijah to have strength and sleeping was not going to prepare him for his journey.

God instructed him to stand upon the mount. As he stood at the mount the Lord passed Him, a strong wind charged the mountains, rocks broke, “but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice,” (1Kings19:11, 12).

This story of Elijah is vital. It shows us that there is a time for rest and a time to get up. He was fed and the place God told him to meet him was not a place of silence. There was much commotion going on but in the midst of all the noise, all the uproar there was a still voice. That still voice was the voice of the Lords’.

God sent an angel twice to get Elijah up. Have you been cautioned to get up? What turmoil is going on in your life today?

Maybe you can’t hear from God today, because of your earthquake. Perhaps you are in the fire now and you are not listening. The lady got angry when she could not hear from God, she then inquired of the Lord to perceive sound from Him. Elijah was in fear and called on the Lord to hear his voice. How are your emotions rattling to get you to tune your listening skills?

The same God that spoke to Elijah is speaking today. Pray to God that you listen to Him. Ask God to help you drown out the chaos so you may pay attention to His still small voice. Beseech to the Lord that your emotional tension and physical weariness doesn’t bring on depression but tenacity to hear Gods’ still small voice.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Ask

Sometimes I am at a complete loss about which testimony to share in my writings. I pray to God and wait for His directions because my desire is to write about what is satisfactory to Him.

Interestingly, each time I find myself waiting He is always on time. While waiting, I’ll read my Bible and get an idea that germinates in my head. Once that thought takes root to the scripture I am reading, it evolves from there.

My process of knowing what to write is the same procedure Jesus taught the disciples to pray. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you,” (Matthew 7:7).

When I get puzzled, I pray to God asking Him for direction as of what to do next. I seek the Word by reading my Bible. Once I get to the scripture God wants me to inflate a thought burst in my mind, and then it is clear as of what to do next.

Are you wondering, “What do I do from here?” Maybe you have been struggling because you lack asking, as a result you don’t receive because you never sought to find. Possibly a change for counsel is in place for your concern.

Are you seeking the Father? Did you consider praying to just hear what God has to say about your situation? Time after time do you find yourself repeating and never moving in the forward position? Have you been riding around in reverse?

Perhaps you should take hold of the steering wheel change gears and ask of God. Pray right now about your situation. Ask God to help you not delay another minute. Call upon the Lord to give you direction and a sense to control the distractions so you may hear His voice. “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened," (Matthew 7:8).

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Face Your Fear

The other day my daughter saw a spider in her room. She ran crying a spider, a spider is in my room. Typically, her younger brother goes to kill the spiders she sees but this time I told him to leave her alone and let her kill the spider herself. She stood there in tears saying, “I’m afraid of the spider.” I told her she had to face her fear.

She pleaded, “Mommy I can’t, and what if it bites me.” My reply was, “What if you kill it.” With her tears and shoe in one hand she went after the spider but when it was over she was cheering of her victory.

As I thought of her issue, I considered David going out before the Philistines. “When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them,” (1 Chron14:8).

David had a full army looking for him and he went out to them. The size of their army did not concern him, David had confidence. To me this speaks highly of David’s character. He is saying here I am, you don’t have to look for me, here I am.

My daughter’s concern was a spider. David’s dilemma was the Philistines both issues had to be dealt with. Maybe you are in a tight spot in your life today. Perhaps you have to choose to go up against your problem.

Have you been scared to move forward because of its capabilities? Are you looking at yourself to get you through? Or are you seeking God for victory?

Don’t tremble in tears of fears of your issue. Consider asking God to intervene in your situation. Pray to God that you have confidence to take a stand in your situation. Make a request for God to be with you through your storm. For if you seek you shall find.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Let God

This past summer I felt lead to put a family reunion together. I was pregnant in another state and I was supposed to figure out how to join a group of people that were in bliss with one another. Many were feuding over things another did to them 20 years ago.

Yet, I stayed focus on the task and as a result they joined together. It was a beautiful sight.

Thinking of it now, I am reminded of Noah. God spoke to Noah telling him, “make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out,” (Gen6:14).When he was told to build the ark his condition was: previously, he did not know how to build an ark, there had not been any rain prior, he was to store food for his family and the animals. Additionally, the ark was to be big enough to join all different kinds of animals which under any other circumstance would have been out to eat each other or attack the humans. For this act God made a covenant with Noah (Gen6:18).

Noah like me had a condition and bizarre situation when God set us out to complete a task. For my family it was impossible to join people who had held grudges with each other for so many years. With my pregnancy it was eccentric for me to consider traveling across the state, late in my pregnancy, uncomfortable for 14-16 hours in a car with three children, to join with non-cooperative people.

This task for me was unimaginable. I can only believe for Noah his task was unimaginable. To others he looked like a fool doing something that appeared to be impossible.

As I was planning this task, people told me to forget about it, no one will come, I was told to stop because no one else was helping me, I can just hear the distasteful comments Noah heard when God told him to prepare for the rain. When Noah went out pursuing his task he was full with God’s spirit.

As I sought out to prepare this reunion I was filled with the Holy Spirit. I had to be prayed up every step of the way. Each time a decision was made I sought the Lord. If I came to a time of the unknown I left it in His hands. Before Jesus was betrayed He prayed, “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me,” (John17:22-23).

My task was for my family to become one with the Creator. My family had lost touch of Jesus. Many in the world have lost sight that Jesus was sent here so that they may have eternal life.

Has God given you a task this day? Have you been told do a task yet you can’t get beyond your condition? We all have the task of winning souls.

Maybe you keep thinking you can’t do it. Possibly, you are being used so others ma be able to identify that it was the Lord all along. Perhaps you have people telling you it can’t be done, but God. As along as there is but God there is a way.

The story of Noah is beautiful because like my family, all those that were supposed to come joined together. My relatives like the animals were not fussing, instead a father joined with his children who’d after so many years been stricken to see each other. Siblings reunited after the death of the mother. A mother who secluded her self, after her oldest and youngest sons died united with her relatives. A grandmother saw her grandchildren, children’s playing together. Family joined in worship to be reminded of the savior.

Consider yielding yourself to the Father. Leap out on faith because of your situation. Pray to God for strength to simply yield yourself so you can be used by Him. Ask God to lead you today. Call upon to Lord to switch your focus of your condition to nothing but God. For all things are possible through Christ, (Phil 4:13.)

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Stop Aborting Me

The other day my pastor was speaking about abortions. He said, "Church folk commit spiritual abortions on other church folk daily.” Perhaps you are saying, "Oh no,"but I can relate. Possibly you will also.

His comment jogged my memory, to when I was teaching at one church in a certain area and I was placed in another area. No one explained why. As a result I discontinued teaching at that church.

I was offended it was as if the church folk at that church went inside me and snatched what I knew God called me to do.

Each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or cause to fall in our brother’s way,”(Rom 14:12-13).

When I was moved with no explanation nothing was resolved. My stumbling block was so high I couldn’t figure this area of my life. For a while, I felt less of a person. I start feeling I should stop serving at that particular church. In time, I was teaching at another church. I never could understand what occurred at the church I stopped teaching at. My calling to teach was killed with no explanation. I viewed myself not worthy to do the work of the Lord. Had we talked the situation out I believe things would have been resolved. Instead, I felt judged by church folk.

Is that not how the abortion works? The baby begins to grow and before the baby can truly form into a baby the aborting kills the child, with no explanation. Perhaps the mother walks around in despair not understanding that area in her life, feeling less of a woman, less worthy to one day be a mother, feeling judged.

She might even start a relationship with another to get her back on path to being a complete person. No one knows what the person who had the abortion thinks or feels. No one knows what the child would have been when aborting occurs, but God.

What is your view of abortion? Have you only considered abortion as of killing a child? A child is a gift from God, just as the talents He gives you upon birth. Is abortion not, snatching the life out of someone, destroying what God created that could have been?

People are always going to talk about you, judge you and reject you; however, did they not reject Jesus. Maybe you feel spiritually aborted of your gift. Perhaps you have left one church because someone offended you, a friend or family member. Or you did the aborting.

Consider not questing serving God because of how someone has treated you. Our God can restore you and stop the aborting. God can deliver you from bloodguiltiness (Ps 51 : 14).Ask God to shake the dust from your feet. Rely on God to hinder the aborting of your servitude, of your worshiping, of your gift. Pray to the lord that you keep serving Him in spite of what others might say or do? Call upon the Lord to give you a heart of forgiving. Don’t let the rocks out shout you.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Don't Get Caught Up

When I was younger this couple I knew was on the urge of a divorce. The woman was upset because she felt her life was lacking because of her husband. She was very disrespectful to her husband and we knew it was a matter of time before her husband would respond to her actions. Her actions were as if she was superior to him. The one thing she did that got to him the most was making financial decisions without him.

Once he was preparing to pay the bills and when he checked their account $1000 was missing. The husband was furious. He approached his wife and she free from care responded, “Oh, I bought myself some boats, they were on sale.” “On sale,” the man said disturbingly, “on sale for whom, not us! That money was for rent.”

In due time, this couple separated because of her desire to spend grew to an extreme. Splurging money can break up a home and cause despair.

There is a parable that tells of a man whose heart treasure was of material things. "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them,” (Luke 15:12).

After getting his share this son set off to a far away country. He lived doing things his way and spent all his money. Once he spent everything, there was a famine. It is interesting that when he used up all his money, then something detrimental occurred; but isn’t it always that way. As the famine was going on the man “began to be in need,” (Luke 15:14.)

He went to work in a pig sty. He was so hungry that, “He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything,” (Luke 15:16).

Then he realized he should return home. He set out to go back home and ask his dad, if he would hire him as a servant. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son,” (Luke 15:21). However, the father embraced him and celebrated the retuning of his son.

The young boy and father, like the married couple, remained together. It was after separation that the woman was able to see she had sinned against the Lord. Sometimes a person can get so caught up in blaming others for their situation that they lack seeing they are being disrespectful. This woman like the young man placed wealth superior to God. They looked for wealth to give them joy and fix their problems.

What do you look at to help you through the bad times? When a famine comes do you look to what you used to have financially or do you know that you have a friend in God? Are you asking man to do what only God can do? Have you been selfish only thinking of yourself?

Having money is a wonderful thing yet not being in control is what causes division. Ask God to help you focus back to Him. Pray to the Lord to restore what your actions have catered to destroying. Call upon the Lord to forgive you for being disrespectful, to not only the Lord but your loved ones. Ask the Lord to help you be respectful, so others may know you are His child. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and caused themselves a lot of pain,” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Don't Settle

When I was growing up, I witnessed a relative of mine experience loosing their job. When they lost their job it appeared as if they lost all hope. This person settled for their life as a roller coaster. It was as if they said, “Well things have gotten bad and they will never get any better. So I am just going to sit here and wait until I die.” Till this day this person is just waiting to die. They have secluded them self from all that is inspiring and just sit in pity, day after day.

As my life progressed and I got older, I too encountered a bad situation. I lost my job; felt rejected and believed I had no reason to try to pursue writing any more. I had a pity party for too many years.

Then one day, I start feeling like I was loosing my mind. I was angry, I longed to be happy but I was still residing in pity land. From my past experience, I realized I had two choices, I could sit at home and be as my relative that is just waiting to die or I can get up and try. I had nothing to loose.

The world is compiled with many people who settle. A person who has lost their house in a storm has settled and decided to not work any more because they lost their home. A person whose business plan went sour decided to not put a new plan in place has settled and as a result is unhappy. A person who didn’t marry their high school sweetheart has settled and unhappy unmarried. Many people are allowing drastic situations to cause them to settle.

There were four men who had leprosy and said, "Why stay here until we die? If we say, 'We'll go into the city'-the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let's go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die," (2 Kings 7:3-4).

These men concluded that they should take a risk because no matter what they did they faced the possibility of dying. They suggested since we are going to die, let’s go out trying.

Have you had a something drastic happen to you? Do you feel no matter what you do you are cursed? Are you settling or are you moving forward? It is when you move forward God will lead you.

Everyday people are challenged by how they can move forward with the attack of being pulled back. Perhaps you are refusing to move because you have become settled. Maybe it appears as if things will never get better so you are just waiting for the hour to clock out. Consider not laying around in a vegetate mode, throw down your crutches, change gears and shift.

Don’t settle as the rest, allow God to ignite you. Pray to God that you move so He may guide you. Ask the Lord to give you clear understanding that it is okay to move forward. For, “the one who finds his life will lose it and the one who loses his life because of me will find it," (Mat 10:39).