The Busy Lives We Lead

Last time I wrote I marked my notes and I was reading Judges, all about Gideon.  I was reminded that our intentions may be good but the way we go about our “battle” can be totally wrong and displeasing to the Lord.  Often we make bad decisions when we lack faith or when we do not go to the Lord before making that final decision. 

With that, I have to share a bit about what I’ve been up to.  First, I will remind each of you that God is still answering our prayers daily.  At one point around my birthday (in November), I was just talking to the Lord and thanked Him for all the different jobs I’ve had in my life.  Truly, I have been blessed with each job.  I happen to mention to Him that I would have loved to work at a library again or longer but I am still happy with the blessings the Lord has given me!

In the middle of December, I was on vacation seeing family in Indiana when I get a message from a gal I play pitch with.  It read, “Would you fill in as interim librarian until we get someone trained in Oakdale. We could work around the hours you already work.”  Long story short, I met with the board once I returned home and was hired a few days before Christmas.  The first month, there was lots of snow and sometimes I couldn’t make it to work. 

I took the job knowing that it was more about what the Lord had in mind than being a director of the library.  The first thing the board asked me was to move the children’s section to the adult section and the adult section to the children’s section.  We are talking about 7,500 books and two of the board members came in to help me for the first leg of this journey. 

We had our grand opening in early March with very few people coming in.  It has been slow concerning patrons but I know that God is in this job.  He called me to this tiny village and even tinier library to pray for the people, to minister to them and to be there to show someone cares.

One of my first patrons to come in was a homeless man who needed to get warm and to charge his phone.  I worked as he talked.  He was respectful and certainly had a lot of problems.  His family came in and took him to Norfolk.  I continue to pray for him.  He has problems with drugs and is back in jail, last I heard.  He needs Jesus…please pray!

For the last six weeks or so, I’ve had a man come in daily to have coffee, and get warm.  The house he stays in has no water, electricity or heat.  I also let him use the microwave so he makes food to take with him when we close each day. He loves reading and reads the whole time I am open. He needs Jesus…please pray!

I had a gal come in and ask me to tell her about the Bible.  I was able to find out that she was afraid of going to hell.  We talked, I presented Scripture to her, gave her a hug and look forward to having more talks with her.  She needs to grow in Jesus…please pray!

Another gal came in this week, she also needs Jesus.  It’s just a matter of time before I am able to talk with her.  Please pray!

With those prayer requests, I realized quite early into taking this job, that God has me there for a purpose.  To glorify Him! 

So, about the time I use the excuse that I am 75 years young, who would hire me?  God does…God hires those who are willing to glorify Him and obedient to His calling. 

We have to remember that we must look beyond instant gratification to what God is asking us to do.  It’s not always convenient.  It’s not always fun.  But, in serving Him, it is always satisfying!

Like so many in the Old Testament, we are a nation who is more interested in what we can get, we have become lazy and expect those around us to cater to our wants.  We are out for a good time because we think we deserve it but is it what God wants from us? 

Some are needed as prayer warriors, some for finances, some for your insight into unusual situations.  Some to send notes of encouragement, some to call and see how you may help.  The list goes on and on.  Please know, you are needed!  Seek the Lord.

Just as 1 Samuel 17:47 reminds us, “for the battle is the Lords”…  It is through faith that David defeated Goliath.  Or that Gideon defeated the enemy with only 300 men.  I am pleading with you to draw on the Lord in faith and pray.  Stay humble, obey, stay in the Word and pray!

I am calling on each of you to help me with the task of softening the hearts of people who are struggling, who have been hurt beyond belief and who need Jesus.  Please pray!

With the Lord’s help, the victory is won with each of the people I’ve mentioned.  But there are more, Lord give me strength!  Please pray!

We Are Here For a Purpose

It started Valentines Day, which was Ash Wednesday.  Not only did I start reading “Red Letter Challenge” by Zach Zehnder but everyone at church started this challenge.  It has been a assignment that I’ve enjoyed very much and I think it goes right along with my second book, “Faithful Promises of God”. 

Zach introduces five principles: being, forgiving, serving, giving and going.  In “Faithful Promises” I constantly remind the reader that as we read through the Bible, we are called to obedience.  In being, Zach challenges us to 1) walk with Jesus and doing the things He asks and 2) words without actions are never acceptable to Jesus.  Do you see how closely these two books reflect the same challenge? 

This year as I read through the Bible, I am using Bible Pathway devotional and since I am a couple days ahead (which is what God needed for me to read at just the right time), I have 1 Peter 5:6 highlighted, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”  Then I have underlined and starred “All who are used of God will experience a time of preparation when it may seem that one’s efforts result in disappointments.  Accept with gratitude everything that God allows through friends or enemies—through failures or humiliations—as a means to see yourself as nothing and to see your need of full dependence upon Him.  Then will come the time of fulfillment when your faith will be rewarded.”  Next to this paragraph I wrote, “I am nothing without Him, He has allowed everything into my life for a purpose…His purpose!  Everything!

That is pretty powerful to me as I have made many wrong choices in my life, even as a Christ follower.  Yes, I’ve repented of those choices but that doesn’t stop me or others from bringing up those choices and reminding me that I am such a failure.  In fact, I had a person who said she was my friend chastise me when I was down on myself with “What’s wrong with you?  You keep making bad choices!” 

Yes, I have but at that moment, I needed someone to come alongside me and show me empathy, show me the love of Jesus rather than condemnation.  I do quite well with that all by myself!

Fortunately, I did not turn away from the Lord or the church just because I’ve had hurtful people judge me.  No, I looked to the Lord even moreso, His Word was my only comfort. 

But what has struck me through the years is the direction the Lord has allowed me to serve.  Ministering to women and children who have experienced abuse, using my compassionate heart to work with children who feel worthless, showing them that Christ gives us the worth that we need. And to love. You see, it’s those wrong choices that I made that God is using for me to minister to the hurting, the abused, the lost, the hungry and the people who are searching for one person to care about them. 

And how do we learn to meet other’s needs?  Through the reading of the word, but not only reading the Bible but listening to God.  He will call you to certain phrases and Scripture that truly will speak to you…like God is directly talking to you!  The best thing you can do when that happens is to obey.  Don’t worry about doing it perfect…just do what God is calling you to do. 

When we doubt that we can do it, look to the Lord and He will give you the strength to be faithful in this calling.  We are all weak at times but when we are weak, His strength comes through.  We know we cannot take credit for what we’ve done, we know that it’s the Lord who carries us. 

Charles Stanley gives us insight concerning Gideon’s call from the Lord.  “Gideon challenged the Lord in his calling; not once but twice.  Gideon’s actions indicated that he really did not believe that God would do what He said He would do.  Still, there was a great desire within his heart to trust the Lord, and this is what God saw in his life.”  Stanley goes on, “The Lord calls us to a different path and walk.  It is a walk of faith, and not one of fear, doubt and worry.” 

Easter is this coming Sunday, attend church if you haven’t been there in a while.  Start going if you’ve never gone before.  Find a version of the Bible that you can understand and start reading it.  Your faith will only get stronger as you obey His Word. 

Psalm 46:1-2 is our comfort, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;”

Have a most blessed Easter!   

Gaining Strength through Faith

From the obstacles that Joseph experienced to the rebellious people that Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb had to deal with, we can learn along the way how important it is for us to grab onto our Lord in faith and trust that He has our back. 

Many forsake faith and live in fear, which only paralyzes the bravest soul into a shaking mess.  As we keep our eyes on Him who is there for us, when we read Scripture each day and trust that He will keep His promises to us is when we gain strength.  Strength to take that first step towards the goal which He has called us to.  That step, when we are shaking in our boots, that we know in our own strength we are not able to take. 

When we think about it later, we realize that God has had us in training for such a time as this.  To realize that God sees what we cannot.  To realize that through our obedience in His Word, His promptings in life, those who He sends our way is all part of the plan. 

What plan?  The plan to care for those around us in the middle of chaos and cruel treatment.  The plan to step out and buy that house that you never thought you could afford.  The plan to move forward in the middle of an unplanned pregnancy.  The plan to know that He is God and He will care for you, just as He has promised; even though it’s not the way you saw it in your mind’s eye. 

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.  For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness” (1 Cor 3:19)

Charles Stanley puts it this way, “When God begins to move in power on our behalf, sometimes our situation can actually grow worse before it gets better.  Yet we can learn through adversity and grow spiritually if we will commit ourselves to Him and trust Him in all of our circumstances.” (Life Principles Bible, p 87)

I don’t know about you, but I seem to learn much better, He certainly has my attention, in the midst of hardship and sorrow.  And yet, you will hear me exclaim, “Where is God?” and I feel so sorry for myself! 

When we are in the middle of such circumstances, we seem to focus on the situation at hand and forget about the promises that we just read in our daily devotions.  We seem to forget that disappointments and heartache are inevitable and become discouraged.  But know we are not alone.

Let’s take a look at Elijah and his response to some hard times.  “God had sent the prophet to rescue Israel from its moral and spiritual decline.  Elijah confronted and defeated the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 28:17-40), but the wicket Queen Jezebel immediately threatened to kill him for executing her false prophets.

Instead of holding fast to God’s faithfulness, Elijah panicked, ran and hid (1 Kings 19:3).”  “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he mighty die, and said, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.  He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and He said to him, “Arise, eat.”  Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water.  So, he ate and drank and lay down again.” (1 Kings 19:4-6)

Not only had Elijah quickly taken his eyes off the promises of God but also what God had done for him.  Sometimes we just need to rest (yes, a good nap can help) and a little nourishment can go a long way. 

And think about those Israelites who miraculously left Egypt only by the hand of God who were quickly crying that they wanted to return to Egypt, to return to slavery, because they were going through some difficulty on the road and would rather go back into bondage rather than trust God for the promise of going to the land of milk and honey. 

When we get weak kneed, when we become frightened, when we want to go back into a sinful situation rather than fight through our present circumstances, we need to fall on our knees in prayer before God.  So often we fool ourselves thinking the easy way, the way it used to be, would be better and we long for that sinful life again.  But it isn’t better, it’s sin and that never is better! 

Not only does reading the Bible daily help you focus on His love, His strength, His plan for you but it helps to have friends who will encourage you to draw ever closer to Jesus and to remind you of His promises and the blessings that await you in being obedient to our Lord. 

Obedience is essential in all walks of our life and we find His truth and direction in reading our Bibles daily.  Reading and obeying are the keys to moving forward in the midst of difficult times. 

I don’t know who needs to be encouraged by these words but I know someone does.  I also want to encourage each of you reading this to pray…pray for someone you know who is discouraged and needs the love of the Lord.  Pray for the widow(er) going through this Easter season for the first time without her (his) dearly loved husband (wife).  Thank you for your prayers!