We were right in the middle of a huge remodeling project that Landy and I were doing in our house, when I fell and fractured my right wrist. I was casted from the tips of my fingers, to above my elbow with strict orders from the Orthopedic Specialist not to use the arm at all. For the next 8 weeks the Lord had me learn the true meaning of pride and humility. When you are forced to ask for help for the simplest of tasks, you learn humility. I was in alien territory…after all I was the person who took care of sick people…but now it was me who needed help. I learned that pride can rear its ugly head in all different forms… that not accepting help from someone is prideful, in that you are robbing them of a Blessing. I learned that accepting help from others will not somehow diminish your worth in their eyes. Finally, I learned that Landy can cook much better than I ever thought!
Tag: God
I John 3:18 ” Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
Some of the most endearing memories I have related to this scripture were during the many years I managed Alzheimer Units. Everyday I would see frail, elderly spouses come in to visit their loved ones…even if that person no longer recognized them. You could see by their sincere actions and unconditional love that they were putting God’s Word into practice in simple, heartfelt ways. Faithfully, day after day, they would be there showing their love in small ways, even if it wasn’t reciprocated. Truly, this was God’s love in action.
Jeremiah 33:3 ” Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Call upon the name of the Lord and you can be assured that He will answer. God will bring light and explanation to things hidden. Are you searching for an answer in your life today? Ask God and He will reveal to you that thing which you would otherwise not know. The Lord will give you understanding and discernment into areas where you are at an utter loss for what to do. But for Him to do His part- you must do yours first…Call on Him.
I Kings 17:14 ” For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’ “
Elijah had prophesied a drought which the region was now in the grips of when he came upon this widow gathering sticks. He not only audaciously asked for a drink of water but he asked for bread. The widow replied that all she had left was a handful of flour and a little oil to make a meal for her and her son…that we may eat it and die. So what Elijah asked her to do next was completely beyond comprehension for the poor woman. “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make bread for me.” This is where the widow had to look way beyond her circumstances and believe Elijah that there would not only be bread enough for her and her son today, but for many days to come. Has the Lord been asking you to do something that is frankly beyond what you can imagine? Do you have the courage like this widow to believe, but not only to believe, but to actually do it?
Hosea 10:12 ” Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you.”
Before you can plant, you must till the fallow soil. The ground may be hardened and full of weeds and rocks, but if the soil is well turned, the seed will grow and the rains will be able to soak in. As it is with our hearts…now is the Season to seek Him and to plow up the fallow areas of our hearts. Allow the showers of righteousness to soften your heart so that the fruit of the Spirit may flourish there.
Hebrews 10:24 ” And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
We all can use encouragement from others as we contend in this battle called life. God has put a unique group of people within your sphere of influence in order that you may inspire them towards unconditional love and doing the right thing. No one else can touch these people’s lives in a positive way like you. You can be that Barnabas -Son of Encouragement- to many around you today by simply speaking reassurance and hope.
Isaiah 44:22 “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
Just as Boaz was the Kinsman Redeemer for Ruth, Jesus has redeemed us by giving His life as a ransom for many. He only asks that we turn from where we are going, back to Him, and in doing so He will completely blot out our willful disobedience and rebelliousness. They will be gone like a vapor and we will be fully restored to Him.
John 5: 8-9 ” Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured, he picked up his mat and walked.”
If you read through the Gospels, Jesus did a lot of healing on the Sabbath which in turn upset the Pharisees, the Jewish Leaders of the Law. On one hand, they could not deny the healed person standing in front of them, but they also believed Jesus was guilty of not “keeping the Sabbath” by healing the person in the first place. I rather think that Jesus enjoyed healing people on the Sabbath to show the Pharisees that He alone was “Lord of the Sabbath” and thus totally unencumbered by their strict rules and regulations.
I Corinthians 2: 4-5 ” My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on man’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”
God doesn’t need our eloquent speeches or superior thinking wisdom when talking to someone about Jesus. He simply needs us to allow the Holy Spirit to direct the conversation. This chat can be simple and heartfelt without pretentiousness or force. Because,if you think about it, it’s not about you at all…it’s about them trusting in the saving power of Jesus.
II Coronicles 20:15 “…this is what the Lord says to you:’Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’ “
We look at the insurmountable struggle in front of us with a sense of dread and hopelessness, knowing we’re not up to the battle. But the Lord is not asking us to do the fighting at all. He wants us to simply watch while He contends on our behalf. So, take your eyes off the battle, and put them on Him.
Safetypinlove 