God's Voice

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A Candid Picture

A Candid Picture

Psalm 119:129-133, "Every word you give me is a miracle word— how could I help but obey? Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning. Mouth open and panting, I wanted your commands more than anything. Turn my way, look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you. Steady my steps with your Word of promise..."(the Message Version)


God has blessed me with something to do! I am calling members of the congregation and setting up appointments to have their pictures taken for the directory. Then I am taking the pictures, editing them, and updating the Servant Keeper software on the church commuter with the new pictures.
Some people are a little nervous when the lights on the lightstand are shining on them. I love talking to people on the phone, so God has given me just the right task. When it comes to the pictures that I edit, there are no red eyes, no glares on the glasses, and I can even photoshop the smiling face on one picture to another picture of the same family. In the end the picture is pretty good.

Jesus gave me a very candid, real picture of what a life lived for God looks like. Mathew 10:39 says, “ Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

He called himself “The Truth”, and as He calls His disciples He is careful to inform them of the cost in following. His candid description of discipleship caused some to turn back, but those who followed knew what to expect.

Jesus gave His followers then, as He gives me now, the power to do what He wants done. Here I was just writing about how hard relationships are for me and how unsafe I feel when I am surrounded by people – then God provides me with a task that is not frightening at all. I am getting to know people in the congregation when they are at their most vulnerable (or at least they feel that way). Because I have felt so insecure myself, it is easy for me to reassure them and tell them how wonderful they look (as I take their pictures).

God is truly awesome! Even though I am tired tonight, I had to write about how God is knitting together my life and picking up the dropped stitches to make me a whole person; able to work for Him.

I John 4:16: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
Holy Father, help me to fix my eyes on Jesus so that daily struggles do not blind me from seeing eternal goals. Lord cause me to remember I am never alone while I walk with You. In Christ, my Redeemer's name, Amen

Direction, Not Perfection

" Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is new creature; old things are passed awy; behold all things are become new!" 2 Cor. 5:17

Sometimes it seems to me that people are running around pretending to be something else or someone else. Sometimes this can be done in fun almost like playing "dress up". However, spending huge amounts of money and time pretending to be someone else or a perfect version of oneself leads to chaos and disaster.

In Genesis 20 there is an example of Abraham, the “Father of the Faithful” messing up big time. He lied and told others that his wife was his sister. One of the great heroes of faith had huge moments of spiritual failure. Paul wrote of Abraham's godliness and obedience in Hebrews 11 but in Genesis 20 he is caught in sin.

The good news that I get from this story tonight is: Perfection is not a prerequisite for God working in my life. Perfection comes at the end, when I finally will be given a new body. Being perfect is not even in the equation when it comes to how God views me tonight. What a relief that is!God will not abandon me when I fall. He will hear my prayers as He heard Abraham’s prayers. This is good news!

“He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins.” Psalm 103:10-12 (The Message Version)

Gracious Father, I know that I have failed You so often in my walk as a Christian. I tried so hard to make my family love me but nothing I did was enough. Lord, I turned to food because I thought I could control that one thing. I was so mistaken. Lord help me to remember that it is the direction of my life and not the perfection of my life that is important in Your eyes. Oh, God thank you for not giving up on me. It is through Christ, my Redeemer’s name, I pray tonight for Your blessings and guidance, Amen.

Consistent Joy

Consistent Joy

Sundays should be the easiest day to eat healthy but that is not the case for me. Getting dressed and ready for church services is very exhausting for me. By the time I get there, all my physical and emotional strength is depleted.
The church family where I worship is all about relationships; personal relationships with our Lord and close relationships with each other. This is why I chose this congregation of believers. They consistently express their joy openly and offer themselves as servants.

When I lost my house and had to move to a senior center 40 miles away, I visited congregations in the area each Sunday. I narrowed my choices to three locations and I could not decide. So I prayed to the Lord (like Gideon) and asked Him to show me which group I should commit to. Instead of spreading out fleece on the ground and waiting for the dawn, I called each congregation with the day of my move and waited for a call back. One group called me up and said they would help. It was the blackest, rainiest day of the year but over 30 people showed up to help me move in. They helped and laughed together and I was overwhelmed by their joyful service.

Even with all this love, I have a hard time with relationships. I keep waiting for the other shoe to fall or for something bad to happen. Emotions and relationships were volatile and scary throughout my life.I know that perfect love casts out fear, which means, that I am not a very loving person.

How do I change? Steadfast and lasting love and joy comes from having a relationship with a steadfast, reliable, loving God.
"He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it!"
                                                              1 Thessalonians 5:24
Humans change all the time and their love and joy might not be constant but God is eternally consistent and loving. In Him I can be certain that my struggles to love people openly and fearlessly are just temporary. He is changing me every day and I will grow to become more like Christ.

Some things are still so hard for me to hear and accept:
God delights in His people (yes, me too)
and there is nothing that concerns us (yes, me too)
that is unimportant to Him. (Yes -Even staying getting healthy and trying to conquer emotional eating!)

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin". Heb. 4:15

 The more I read about His loving involvement in my life - in the life of all He has created - the more that relationships or involvement with others produce joy. I could not have made it all day today –a day in which I was surrounded by people –if God had not been there with me. Staying on plan today, instead of leaving the potluck and then going to the store to “reward” myself for not eating potluck sweets, this was not easy! I believe that I eat healthy because I am blogging and studying His word every day.

Oh Lord, thank you for your ever present love, steadfast mercy, and the joy of salvation from dark chains of fear and temptation. God, Almighty, You are so great and gracious. You have guided me to a group of believers that never cease to sing your praises. Thank you Lord for treating me like a beloved child; instead of a desolate wanderer who gets sidetracked so easily – especially by emotional eating. Help me show others this joy that I have because of you. In Jesus name, Amen.

"All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face! He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter." Psalm 30:5

Eyes Glued on God

"Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him...". Deuteronomy 10:20

"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." Ecclesiastes 11:5

Have you ever heard the question “Are you in the center of God’s will?” Well, I am a highly emotional person trying to find God’s will through studying the Word and prayer. Trying to find what the center of God’s will for me is, well, all the evaluating, and analyzing of that topic would be too much for my brain to handle!

Below is a link to a film clip on Blue Fish TV. (You do not have to purchase any of the clips on Blue Fish and they are free to email or share with others.) This video clip by Louie Giglio helped me focus on what truly matters: Honoring God and keeping my eyes glued on Him.


What I learned from this video clip:
>If you want to end up in heaven, keep your eyes on God.

>“God will guide us with His eye upon us.” (can’t find the verse)

>If my eyes are locked onto God’s eyes, and His are locked onto me – I will make the journey to the goal and will hardly notice the pains and trials that are along the way.

>When trying to make life’s decisions, sometimes I need to be less analytical and just move forward; with my eyes on God, having faith that He will get me to the right place and guide me in the best direction.

>Within the parameters of obeying the word of God and following the will of God - if I keep my eyes on God: all the decisions and stresses of my everyday life should fall away and I don’t have to sit and worry if I am making the right choice. After all, how can you make the wrong choice if, with your whole heart, all you want to do is honor God?

Dear Lord, thank you God for your mercies and blessings. Many people are suffering and wondering what they should do. Help them to know that Your eye is on them and You will not let go of them. Lord, thank you for the rain! The drought here in Texas has been so bad that many have questioned their faith in You and, as their livelihood has been stripped away, they are wondering what their next step in life should be. Lord help us all keep our eyes on You through the sorrows and the joys of life. You alone are holy! Your gift of a Savior who gives living water is all I need, all the world realy needs. Through His name I pray this prayer, Amen

Maranatha

Maranatha

“If only my words were written in a book— better yet, chiseled in stone!Still, I KNOW that God lives—the One who gives me back my life— and eventually He'll take His stand on earth.And I'll see Him—even though I get skinned alive!— see God myself, with my very own eyes. Oh, how I long for that day!”
Job 19:23-27 (The Message Version)
In the early church (70 – 320 A.D.) a certain word may have turned into a form of greeting between Christians. This word was used by Paul in I Cor. 16:22 and by John in Rev. 22:20.

It means “Oh Lord, Come” or “Lord Come Quickly”. The early Christians lived a difficult life and, like Paul, they prayed for Jesus to return but they also worked hard with every minute they had left to spread the wonderful news of God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.

Heavenly Father, help me hold on with all my strength to Your promise of eternal life. Help me know that I will be surrounded by such joy and light - for eternity - that it will make my life and pain here seem like a wisp of dark smoke - gone and remembered no more. God bless those who suffer and comfort them with love and hope. Lord, give me strength and time to spread the Good News. In the Good Shepherd's name I pray, Amen.

I Once Was Lost (Amazing Grace) from worshiphousemedia on GodTube.