Friday, January 27, 2012

If Not Me, Then Who? A Message From My Heart

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14 (NIV)

There are so many needs in our world today, needs in our country, in our communities. Poverty is rampant, major illness of some sort seems to be touching every family, political unrest hovers in nearly every country. Looking at the vast amount of need can be overwhelming. It is also easy to look at one’s own life and see the need.

How can I help with poverty when I can’t even pay all my bills right now?

How can I help take care of others when my health is an issue right now?

How can I give more time out of my day when my day is so very busy and I don’t get everything done now?

How can I step in and do anything when what I do may just equate to a small drop in a big ocean?

Yet, God is calling us, calling me to do something about those in need, about the biggest need of all- hearing about Him. For that need is what the true need of the world is today. How do you answer “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" (Isaiah 6:8a)? For if not you (me), then who?

Today, with faith, believing in Him, I am responding “And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8b). One step, one action at a time so that all may here the greatest message of all: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”(John 3:16).

If not me, then who; if not you, then who? If not for the one who told me, who told you..............

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Sustains

“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.” Psalm 3:5 NIV

Today is Thesaurus day. I appreciate the thesaurus tool that is built into my “word” program and use it with some frequency. Employing the thesaurus helps with eliminating the overuse of ubiquitous or repetitive words. Many times over, it has assisted with increasing my knowledge and understanding of different words. However, something to keep in mind when availing oneself of the thesaurus is that no two words “mean exactly the same thing and are not directly interchangeable” (Dictionary.com). One such example is the word “sustain”. I knew that sustain connoted maintain, nourished, but did not understand that it also means suffer.

How do you answer the question, “what sustains you”? What is your understanding of that word? Is the question asking what maintains you, what nourishes you? Or is it asking about how you suffer? The question is best answered through understanding the context within it is being asked. Suffer, though, means to endure. Thus, asking what sustains you can be equivalent to asking how you are enduring.

Living in a privileged world, I enjoy and utilize the many different translations of the Bible. The different translations provide just a slightly different perspective of the word and often clarify something that is hazy. And yet, each translation still offers the same meaning for the verses. Incredible isn’t it?!

So, I ask, what sustains you? For me, the answer is simple. “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.” (Psalm 3:5 NIV). Sustains, supports (GWT), watches over (NLT), preserves, protects, upholds, feeds, aids, assists, bears… and the list of verbs can go on and on. God’s sustain is a peace that transcends understanding, resting on faith through belief.

Praying that today you will fully know the peace that sustains through everything can be yours.

Digging deeper: Psalm 4:8; Proverbs 3:24; Psalm 55:22

Friday, January 13, 2012

Faith Filled Friday

"Blessed are all who take refuge in Him" Psalm 2:12b

When you feel like you are being pulled under, take hold of Him!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Reflecting on 2011


“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

New Year’s seems to be a time for reflection and resolution. Beth Moore challenged her readers to spend time with the Lord reflecting on 2011 and then characterize it in three words. What an incredible challenge. I am a firm believer in that history has much to teach us if we but take the time to look and ponder on the events that occurred. One of the most important lessons that I have been able to take away from participating in such events is that while the season may not have been wonderful, God has always been good and faithful, extending grace beyond measure.

The three words I would use to characterize 2011 are blessed, challenging, and ordinary-extraordinary:

• Blessed: the birth of Faith Evelynn, being able to spend time with all the grandchildren in April and June along with their parents Sarah and Keith, seeing the love and happiness in that family; spending time with David and enjoying his gift of music; spending time (even though it was short) with my three brothers; spending time with my mother and mother-in-law; making it through two challenging parts of the doctorate program; a safe trip down and back to Dallas for residency; connecting with friends on Facebook; new books to read; connectivity to friends and family far and near through the internet; time with Chris; and our needs were always met. The list could go on and on, because the blessings were abundant;

• Challenging: a year of more month than money; work; schooling; family health issues; loneliness; questioning of the journey and all the cost involved; not living right near everyone; unmet expectations;

• Ordinary-extraordinary: life is what 2011 has been, filled with blessings and challenges, with ups and downs, with disappointments and wonderful surprises. And through it all God has been, is and will be (Hebrews 13:8). You see, while my life is ordinary, I have an extraordinary God who calls me His own and that makes even the usual, the mundane, the average, so much more.

How would you describe 2011? Was it extraordinary? You can make 2012 such a year by becoming a child of God. No, all your problems will not go away; yes, there may still be hard times, but you can experience a peace that underscores it all. Just confess to Him that you want such a year, that you want to be His (I John 1:9) and you too can know that ordinary is so much more. Praying this for you.