Don't Discount God

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Luke 1:18 (NLT)

The angel came and told Zechariah that God has heard his prayers and his wife was going to have a son. Zechariah’s first response was basically to say “Look, we are old. How do I know what you said will happen will actually happen?”

Later in Luke 1, an angel appeared to Mary. He told her that she would become pregnant even though she was not married. Mary, like Zechariah, was also confused. Her question though was a little different. Mary pointed out that she was a virgin and asked how she could be pregnant.

So why was Zechariah left unable to speak until his son was born and Mary was encouraged?

The questions of both were a little different. Zechariah questioned God and what he said would come to pass. Mary’s question was more sorting through in her mind what was necessary to become pregnant knowing she had not participated in that.

God doesn’t mind our questions. He says that we should come to him, reason with him and he will share with us. What I think he minded with Zechariah is that Zechariah doubted what he could do. Zechariah was questioning God’s ability to make Elizabeth get pregnant even in her old age. He was allowing humanness to trump God’s ability. I guess, in a way it was a lack of faith.

I wish I could sit here and say that I follow more in Mary’s footsteps than Zechariah’s but I am not sure I think that is true. God promises a lot of things in his Word and still I doubt. I want to be more like Mary and respond with “I am your servant. May everything you said come true” and trust in those promises.

Zechariah was unable to speak for a time as a reminder of who God was. And Praise The Lord! God didn’t give up on Zechariah and he won’t give up on us either!

I Believe!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)

What would you think of a conversation with God that went like this?

God: I have a plan.
Us: What is it?
God: Plans for you! Plans for good and not disaster.
Us: I can’t see it.
God: Seriously, I have a plan for you. Just work with me.
Us: I can’t. I don’t know what you are doing and that is scary.
God: Well, let’s talk. When you pray, I listen. Keep searching for me and you’ll begin to see….
Us: Look, I know your plans are more wonderful than I can imagine and I know that you are in control of everything but I am not you. I can’t do what you think I can so if you don’t mind, I’ll just stay right where I am.
God: But I am promising this to you.
Us: I know. But I still can’t.

Do you ever have this kind of a conversation with God?
What do you need to do to believe him?

Involved With Each Other

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)

Last night my husband and I met with some friends for dinner. I’ve known this couple for many, many years. As we reminisced a little about some of the people we’d known in the past, they recounted a story about something that happened in our church quite a few years ago.

Their family was going through a really difficult time. Things were heading in a downward trend. His wife called a friend from the church and said that she was ready to give up. Not too long from when they hung up the phone, a group from the church was standing on their door step. They were there to sort through it with them, lend support and encourage them.

That act of brotherly love changed the course for their family.

We talked about why we don’t do this more often. The Bible is clear (in today’s verse and others) that we are to help each other. Of course, that doesn’t mean going around interjecting your opinion and trying to force people to do what you think; but truly encouraging and supporting each other through difficult times.

These acts of love are to start with prayer - lots of prayer. Through prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit we can move forward and support. It is not our job to convince someone to do something, it is the Holy Spirit’s job. Our job is to be Jesus with skin on and to encourage each other with Godly wisdom and support.

Maybe, just maybe, if we took this more seriously and loved each other selflessly, our world would have less families in crisis and more stories of healing. What do you think?

A Minute In It - Where Is Everybody?

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Read the passage below and answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” Luke 17:11-17 (NLT)

Why did the the 10 lepers cry out to Jesus?
What did they want from him?
What did they have to do before Jesus healed them?
How many returned to thank him and praise him?
Why didn’t they all come back to thank him?
When you ask Jesus for something, do you follow his instructions?
What do you really want from Jesus?
When was the last time you thanked him for hearing and answering your prayers?

Giving Thanks No Matter What

I have this friend and I love her to pieces. When I am complaining about my life, sometimes she looks at me and says “Elaine, those are first world problems.” And she’s right. Some of the things I whine about are definitely not problems.

But, there are problems that are not first world. There are days when the news is overwhelming and you can’t see how you are going to get through.

Whether you are dealing with pesky problems or life altering news, giving thanks is important. Maybe we aren’t going to give thanks for the horrible news we just received but we can give thanks for things around it. We can give thanks for people that help us on the journey. We can give thanks for God’s voice in the middle of the mess. We can give thanks that nothing we are walking through ever surprised God. He is in it with us.

In America today, we are celebrating Thanksgiving. Maybe we shouldn’t just give thanks for our bounty but also for the trials that draw us closer to our Creator.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 107:1 (NLT)

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

What Does Your Heart Worship?

But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left. If anything should happen to him on your journey, you would send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave. Genesis 42:38 (NLT)

Many years before, Jacob lost his son Joseph. He believed he was dead. His heart never healed and he grieved his entire life for the loss. I have not lost a child but I know this is a very real scenario.

Jacob did something else though. He put Benjamin on the throne of his heart. Benjamin was Joseph’s brother. Jacob protected him at all costs and refused to let him out of his sight. It literally took an act of God to get Jacob to relinquish this control.

What about you? What sits on the throne of your heart in place of God? To what would you say “absolutely not” if you were asked to give it up? You see, it doesn’t matter how it got there or what it is, there is room for only One on the thrones of our hearts. God does not share the throne.

As we take a look around us this Thanksgiving and contemplate all that we are thankful for, take note. Is there something on your list that needs to be put in its proper place so God can reign where he belongs? Is there something you are holding so tightly that it would take an act of God to pry it from your hands? If there is, let go of your grip.

God wants to be your number One. He wants you to depend on and trust him. He wants to be in relationship with you. That is always his first and last goal. Stop saying “I can’t” and help him make it so.

Surprised By The Inside

The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)

I was talking to a friend of mine and he shared this story.  We’ll call him Tom.

Tom said he was on a trip taking care of some business. He was in another country and was down to the very last day of the trip with a list of things that had yet to be done. If he didn’t get everything done, it would be months before he could get back and the entire project he was trying to complete would be stalled.

Tom walked into an office to finish his tasks. He already had trepidation because this office was notorious for their slow moving work ethic.

He stepped up to the desk of the woman who called him over. He explained what he needed and she said “You can’t do that. You need these documents and if you don’t have them, you won’t be able to do what you want.” Tom patiently explained that this was his last day in the city and he needed to get this done trying to gently persuade her to help. She picked up the phone, called someone and explained Tom’s situation to him and he said he’d be right down.

Tom stepped back and waited. He said when he heard the gentleman walk into the room he turned to look at him and thought “Oh no. This is the guy who is going to help me? I am in trouble.” The man standing there was disheveled. His hair was rumpled and he looked like he hadn’t slept in a bed in a while. His clothes were wrinkled and askew. And, he smelled like alcohol. Tom was sure he was at an impasse and would not be able to finish his work.

Tom approached the man and explained what he needed. They started talking and immediately found some mutual connections and a bond formed. The man turned and said follow me. They went to his office. He asked some questions and picked up the phone and started dialing. He called many places (all of the numbers he had memorized) and tracked down the necessary documents sometimes reverting to notes in old log books. At the end of the flurry of activity, everything Tom needed was done except one thing. He mentioned to the man that they were waiting on one more document to be sent but he was told it would take a long time. 

The man reached under his desk and said “This package of documents just arrived this morning.” He leafed through, found the document that was needed and with that, Tom’s task list was complete. 

As he walked out of the office praising God for the help, he thought of what the Bible says about not judging someone based on their outward appearance. Here he was ready to write off this man but as it turns out, the man was the perfect person to help him. He knew everything and everyone even though on the outside he looked like he didn’t know anything. 

You can’t never always sometimes tell who God is using to help you. Don’t look on the outside, look on the inside. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Shields Up!

But you, God, shield me on all sides;
You ground my feet, you lift my head high;
With all my might I shout up to God,
His answers thunder from the holy mountain. Psalm 3:3-4 (MSG)

It’s Monday. Sometimes getting started on a Monday is something I want to avoid. You know, you have to revisit the things that you gladly left behind on Friday. It was such a pleasure to just forget them and think about something else for a change.

I love today’s text because it reminds us of a couple of things.

1. No matter what you are facing, God is surrounding you with himself. He is shielding you and caring for you.

2. He keeps our feet grounded where we need to be (instead of running away from what we don’t want to face.)

3. He lifts our head to stand tall and in that motion, lifts our eyes to stay focused on him.

4. When I feel overwhelmed and slipping, I can shout as loud as I want! I can cry out for help and…

5. He answers me!

We forget that God is with us. That he is our Shield and our Sustainer. We forget that we are loved.

Remembering this today…..Everyone! Shields Up! Let’s go face the day!