Tuesday, January 18, 2011

God As Author

If you are a blogger, then writing is not a new concept for you. Have you ever thought of God as an author?

writing Pictures, Images and PhotosGod is the author of all words. He not only wrote the Bible, through man's hands, but He is writing a story using each one of us. Our very lives are stories being written by the God of the Universe.

If your life is in a good place right now, this concept will seem natural to you. But what happens when things go wrong in your life? Is God still the one writing your storyline? Absolutely!

Even when we fall into sin ourselves, God is there to use that "line" or event in His ultimate plan for our life. That's why He wrote:

Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

There are times, especially when others betray us, that we think we are all alone, and that our lives are a mistake. Be encouraged that every word of your life has been planned out by God. Even if you don't feel His presence, He is always there. So no matter what life has dealt you, press on toward finishing the race. Just as Paul wrote:

"Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14 (NRSV)

Friday, January 7, 2011

A Heart Like The Grinch

I know the true meaning of Christmas. It's about Christ's birth. We give gifts because God gave Jesus to us. But sometimes I still get caught up in the hustle and bustle and gift giving from a worldly perspective. At least, that's what happened to me this year. Thankfully, God saw my need and provided a heart-wrenching story to change me.

It all started the week before Christmas. My children and I were going Christmas shopping for a few friends, and I had planned to take them to the pet store to pick out a few fun things for our pets.
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We decided to stop by Wendy's for lunch and noticed a middle-aged woman begging in the parking lot - with her TWO SONS! The worst part - it was rainy and 40 degrees. Brrrrrr! We all made judgmental comments about her ability to parent etc.. Not one of my proudest moments.

Next, we ordered our food and I let my kids choose the seat. They walked to the back of the restaurant and sat in front of the window with a clear view of the beggar. To my dismay, the boys came into Wendy's and ordered some food. We all watched them as they proceeded to walk to the back room and sit near us. Another woman went over and gave them a $5 bill. She spoke with them briefly. We watched as one boy scurried out to give the money to his mom. The boys were 10 and 11, my own son is 10 and I know how much he loves his mommy. My heart began to break.

My kids began asking me if we could please give them some money. I looked in my wallet and announced that we only had $6 in cash left. I told my kids how sad I was not to have more cash on me. Then the Lord reminded me of the two $50 bills I had in my secret section of my purse. My intention was to buy gifts for our pets with some of that money. OUCH!

PhotobucketIn God's eyes, people are the most important commodity and pets don't really need a Christmas gift. I quietly reached into my pocket and pulled out the two bills. I placed them on the table and asked my kids what we should do? Their eyes were wide with thought and they discussed it amongst themselves. One thought a singe $50 would do, while the others decided we should give them all of the money. After all, we are in need of nothing.

I let my kids give the boys the money. The boys were blown away and ran to give it to their mom. As we got up to leave, one of the boys ran up to us and said, "I can't believe you gave us that much money, thank you so very much!" My kids proceeded to tell him about the Lord and how much we loved them.

My heart broke for those boys, and that mom. As we drove off, there were no more judgements coming out of our mouths. Instead we decided to pray for them.

Even though we blessed them with money on that day, they forever changed our hearts. What they did for us far outweighed what we did for them.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Me, Set Goals?

Another year has f-l-o-w-n by!  I said goodbye to 2010 and now I've welcomed in 2011.  I've heard lots of talk about setting goals for the new year, but why?  When I woke up on 2011 I didn't feel any different and my life circumstances hadn't changed, so why set new goals?

God showed me in Genesis that the years and seasons are important to Him:

Gen 1:14 "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years."

Next He showed me the importance of having goals for my life:

Hab 2:2-3 "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables (refers to tablets), that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." (KJV parenthesis mine)

So even though I don't have my goals set (or written down yet) for 2011, I am planning a weekend in January to get alone with God and work on my goals for this year. Then I need to put them in a prominent place in my home so I will see them daily - and run with them.

Have you set your goals for 2011?