Friday, October 1, 2010

" Who We Obey, We End Up Serving"

Jeremiah 44:1-2a "This word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in northern Egypt--in Migdol, Tahpanhes and Memphis--and in Southern Egypt as well. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says..."

Isn't it incredible that the LORD would speak a word to a particular people in a specific place. It makes me think of Riverside-Southern California...What will You say to us today? Will Your Words LORD be one of anger and judgement or joy and blessing? It's our choice.

The desire of God is to bless, but He doesn’t bless disobedience (Deut. 30:2-9). In Jer 42 the LORD said: "Stay here in this land. If you do, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you. For I am sorry for all the punishment I have had to bring upon you....I am with you, I will save you and rescue you.....I hear the LORD saying: I have all this for you....come and receive.....and all He asked of them was obedience.

What do you do....when God want's you to do something...but you don't want to do it? What do you do when you know what’s right, but that’s just not the path you want to travel? What do you do when you and God just don’t want the same things for your life?

The words of Eleanor Roosevelt ring true: One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.

Deuteronomy 11:26 "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse..."

As Christians it is essential that our choices reflect our obedience to God. Why is it Essential? Because Who We Obey We End Up Serving.

Romans 6:16 "Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval."

Father, You know all things and see all things. Help me to please you in all that I think, say and do. Forgive me for those times I do not obey You. Let Your mercy preserve my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Standing in Him,
Sharon

Thursday, September 30, 2010

"MERCY MERCY ME"

James 3:18 "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

James is making the point that what we sow in our relationships is what we will reap. And in every relationbship we have, we are either sowing seeds of disorder, seeds of anger, seeds of mistrust, seeds of conflict....OR seeds of peace, love, kindness, gentleness, which will result in a harvest of righteousness.

But how do we plant seeds of peace in our relationships? What does it really mean to show true wisdom at home? In the office? At work? At school? Or in our neighborhood? James answers that question in verses 3:17-18.

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness."

I can't share on all these points, so I'll share on one that helps me in my times of difficulty with others ...when I fail...fail to love, fail to sow seeds of peace..... MERCY is what gets me back on tract ...because my flesh is usually telling me...they don't deserve kindness...etc..etc...look what they have done to you.

During these difficult times...I want to say to the LORD...But they don't deserve it because - and usually I can't even finish my prayer... as soon as I start to say that....my heart is cut with the question...and you deserve WHAT??????? oops...The LORD doesn't let me get away with anything...(Thank you Father!)...famous quote: The man/woman who refuses to show mercy destroys the bridge over which he himself must cross.”

Showing mercy is giving people what they need, not what they deserve.

It causes me to stop looking at myself...and look at the person in front of me and say Thank you LORD for Your mercy on me...forgive me for forgetting.....help me to give out that mercy on others. LORD, I need Your wisdom...I need Your impartiality (I'm tempted to give more mercy to myself that to the others)...what can I do or say they will help turn this situation around so You are glorified and my "friend" is helped.

Standing in Him,
Sharon

Sunday, September 26, 2010

"Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Jeremiah 40:4b .... If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come; but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. .....the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please."

I was at work, on my lunch break, when I first read through this chapter. During the day, two things kept coming back to me. The first part of verse 1 ~ "The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD" and the last part of verse 4 ~ "the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please." How dangerous it would be to take these verses and put them together.

"Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you...Jeremiah 40:4b

Jeremiah has choices laid before him.....What would we choose if this offer was placed before us? How tempting it might be to just say "yes"....especially since Jeremiah had just been released from prison. You say you want to take me away from this place, and take care of me...take me to live in comfort and luxury...."yes" take me away and take me NOW. Or maybe not...I think I'll go over there...no, maybe over there.

I love that this chapter starts with telling us that Jeremiah had received a Word from the LORD. It's interesting that we aren't given the "Word from the LORD" until chapter 42...Hum, I wonder why that is? I'm reminded that prayer that comes before the choices (temptations) of life prepare us to be able to resist going the wrong direction. Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Jeremiah knows where to go for answers to the choices in life, he goes to the LORD in prayer...seeking His guidance. Proverbs 4:26 "Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure." Jeremiah had a choice placed before him: to stay and dwell with the poor in the holy land or go and live with the princes in an unholy one. Jeremiah didn't do what his flesh might have wanted to do, his desire was to know God's plan and walk in it. He can say with the Psalmist: "Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path." Psalm 44:18.

God bless your day,
Sharon

"Supernatural Vision"

James 2 "My dear brothers and sisters how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others?"

When our son was about 2 years old...Rick and I were sitting on the couch watching him play when my Rick turns to me and said, "Do you think we should tell Joshua he's adopted?" I started cracking up and said, "Well, I think he's gonna figure it out!" And I looked at Rick and realized, he wasn't kidding. You see...our Joshua is Black and Cuban...Rick and I are white.

Our Joshua is 23 years old now and I still love to tell that story...because it's such a picture of Christ....my Rick had "supernatuural vision"....he had eyes like Jesus...who see's no color... "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart".

1. SUPERFICIAL VISION "man looketh on the outward appearance"

2. SUPERNATURAL VISION "the LORD looketh on the heart"

Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. I can't help but consider how Jesus looked on me...how offensive I was dead in my sins...living just like the rest of the wold, full of sin, obeying Satan....and that didn't stop Him....He reached out to me...actually pursued me...showed me He loved me......offering reconcilliation, forgiveness of sins, eternal life.... What grace...What mercy...how humbling....

Standing in Him,
Sharon