"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? (Is. 43:19).
Have you ever had something happen in your life that just stopped you in your tracks, like the death of someone? I and a whole lot of friends recently had that happen to us, when a godly man who was president and co-founder of a fairly new ministry suddenly died. We were left with a big hole, not only in that ministry,but other ministries and our lives, as well.
When things like this happen, we are left standing in one place feeling at a lost as what to do next. You know you want to keep the ministry going, but you are not sure what the next steps should be at this point.
I believe that is when we should stand still and know that God is God (Ps. 46:10). I don't know about you, but I have learned that life may not be fair, but God is good. Don't ever forget that. If you will trust in him, he will lead you out of whatever valley of doubt and confusion, you may be in at this time, and lead you in a new direction.
As you do so, if you listen real close you will hear the Lord say," Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth."
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Need for strength in the race of life
He giveth power to the faint; and them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Is. 40:29-31).
There are two ways that we can look at these verses, physically and spiritually.When you look at it the physical way, we could read it to mean this...
He gives strength to the fatigued and exhausted; and them that has no strength, he increases it. Even the young shall tire from weariness, and young men shall totter from weakness in their legs. But they
that look patiently to the Lord shall gain back their strength; They shall recover and be restored; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not grow tired from weariness.
This is a great truth that I have held onto and have used to minister to others that are ill for years. As we grow older, our bodies hurts and tires more easily. When that happens, stand on these truths, my friend.
When you look at these verses in a spiritual way, you see a deep rich promise that goes like this...
He who gives fruits to those who has worked themselves to exhaustion; He will increase your strength. Even the young grow spiritually weary, and the young men stumble. But they that bind themselves together with God shall grow up; then they shall rise up and sour above worldly things; they shall run the race for God and not be weary; they shall walk the walk of faith without weariness of soul.
Wow! Isn't that a wonderful promise! Just think of it! When you bind yourself to God, and do his will, he will strengthen you, so that you can run this race called life, in victory, producing spiritual fruit for his glory!
Let us pray:
Lord,
Help us to ever look to you for both our physicsal and spiritual strength.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Note: Meaning of words found in Strongs' Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
There are two ways that we can look at these verses, physically and spiritually.When you look at it the physical way, we could read it to mean this...
He gives strength to the fatigued and exhausted; and them that has no strength, he increases it. Even the young shall tire from weariness, and young men shall totter from weakness in their legs. But they
that look patiently to the Lord shall gain back their strength; They shall recover and be restored; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not grow tired from weariness.
This is a great truth that I have held onto and have used to minister to others that are ill for years. As we grow older, our bodies hurts and tires more easily. When that happens, stand on these truths, my friend.
When you look at these verses in a spiritual way, you see a deep rich promise that goes like this...
He who gives fruits to those who has worked themselves to exhaustion; He will increase your strength. Even the young grow spiritually weary, and the young men stumble. But they that bind themselves together with God shall grow up; then they shall rise up and sour above worldly things; they shall run the race for God and not be weary; they shall walk the walk of faith without weariness of soul.
Wow! Isn't that a wonderful promise! Just think of it! When you bind yourself to God, and do his will, he will strengthen you, so that you can run this race called life, in victory, producing spiritual fruit for his glory!
Let us pray:
Lord,
Help us to ever look to you for both our physicsal and spiritual strength.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Note: Meaning of words found in Strongs' Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Offering up our imperfect talents to God
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, and to another he gave two talents, and to another he gave one talent, each according to his ability.Then he went on his journey.
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also the one with two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master," he said,'you entrusted me with five talents. See, have gained five more.'
His master replied,'well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with few things; I will put you in charge with many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!
Then the man with two talents also came. 'master,' he said,'you entrusted me with two talents' see , I have gained two more.'
His master replied,'Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in chanrge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!
Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said,'I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I
was afraid and went out and hid it in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
His master replied,'You wicked lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I had not sown and gathered where I had not scattered seed? Well, you should had put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when i returned I would have received it back with interest.
'Take the talent from him and give it to one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whosoever does not have even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'( Mat. 25:14-29 NIV).
I have struggled to write what God called me to write, and failed. One of the groups of people I am called to write for, is those who are mentally and physically challenged. I think that I have problems with it, because I feel as though my writing isn't perfect, so why put it out there. Then this week, I sat and listened to a man in a wheel chair, who struggled to speak, preach a very powerful mini sermon. That is when my excuses fell fat on its face and it hit me. We do not have to be perfect to be used in His kingdom. God will use whomever is willing to be used by him. If we will humble ourselves and do as he asks of us, he will take our imperfect effort and use it to His glory. A friend of mine is always saying," God doesn't call the equipped, but equips the called."
My friend, have you been ask of God to preform a task that seems too big for you to do? Don't hide your "talent", because you feel as though it is unworthy for God. Use it and let God use it and perfect it.
Lord, We ask that you will forgive us for hiding from our duties. We ask that you will perfect our imperfect efforts and use them to to your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also the one with two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master," he said,'you entrusted me with five talents. See, have gained five more.'
His master replied,'well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with few things; I will put you in charge with many things. Come and share your Master's happiness!
Then the man with two talents also came. 'master,' he said,'you entrusted me with two talents' see , I have gained two more.'
His master replied,'Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in chanrge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!
Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said,'I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I
was afraid and went out and hid it in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
His master replied,'You wicked lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I had not sown and gathered where I had not scattered seed? Well, you should had put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when i returned I would have received it back with interest.
'Take the talent from him and give it to one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whosoever does not have even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'( Mat. 25:14-29 NIV).
I have struggled to write what God called me to write, and failed. One of the groups of people I am called to write for, is those who are mentally and physically challenged. I think that I have problems with it, because I feel as though my writing isn't perfect, so why put it out there. Then this week, I sat and listened to a man in a wheel chair, who struggled to speak, preach a very powerful mini sermon. That is when my excuses fell fat on its face and it hit me. We do not have to be perfect to be used in His kingdom. God will use whomever is willing to be used by him. If we will humble ourselves and do as he asks of us, he will take our imperfect effort and use it to His glory. A friend of mine is always saying," God doesn't call the equipped, but equips the called."
My friend, have you been ask of God to preform a task that seems too big for you to do? Don't hide your "talent", because you feel as though it is unworthy for God. Use it and let God use it and perfect it.
Lord, We ask that you will forgive us for hiding from our duties. We ask that you will perfect our imperfect efforts and use them to to your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Onward Christian warriors
This week the traveling Vietnam Wall traveled to our town. We watched it pass us being escorted by about 350 Vets and others on motorcycles. Someone has stood guard of it around the clock. This morning, we went to a church service they had there. In it a Vet spoke of how those on the wall were willing to die their lives for their country, and how Jesus die for us. It got me to thinking. We are suppose to be warriors for God. As warriors of God, as we willing to die for the kingdom of God?
Paul said that he died daily (I Cor. 15:31). I believe that this type of dying, is dying to our will and sinful nature. I use to call it killing my will. I would do that when ever my sinful pride was hurt and I wanted to to hurt back. I also have been known to lay my dreams aside when God told me he had other plans for me. That means that I had to let my dream die. As warriors of God, are we to die to ourselves daily?
John 15:12-13, tells us that we should love one another as Christ has loved us, and he loved us enough to lay down his life for us. Are we willing to lay down our lives for one another. This can be anything from laying aside something we wanted to do, so we could help a brother or sister in Christ with something they needed that day? We may say, "shore, I would." But are we willing to lay aside an hour of our day to pray for someone who really needs it? Also, are we willing to die physically for the sake of someone else?
How about Jesus? Are we willing to give Jesus, an hour or two to him each month, week, or day reading his love letter, we call the Holy Bible? Or do we spend time talking or listening to him in prayer? Above that, are you willing to die physically for God's kingdom?
If we are truly warriors of God, we should be. May we all examine ourselves and line our lives to our commander's will and command.It is easier when we remember that" we are looking for a city not made by hands"(Heb. 11:10).
Onward Christian Warriors!
Paul said that he died daily (I Cor. 15:31). I believe that this type of dying, is dying to our will and sinful nature. I use to call it killing my will. I would do that when ever my sinful pride was hurt and I wanted to to hurt back. I also have been known to lay my dreams aside when God told me he had other plans for me. That means that I had to let my dream die. As warriors of God, are we to die to ourselves daily?
John 15:12-13, tells us that we should love one another as Christ has loved us, and he loved us enough to lay down his life for us. Are we willing to lay down our lives for one another. This can be anything from laying aside something we wanted to do, so we could help a brother or sister in Christ with something they needed that day? We may say, "shore, I would." But are we willing to lay aside an hour of our day to pray for someone who really needs it? Also, are we willing to die physically for the sake of someone else?
How about Jesus? Are we willing to give Jesus, an hour or two to him each month, week, or day reading his love letter, we call the Holy Bible? Or do we spend time talking or listening to him in prayer? Above that, are you willing to die physically for God's kingdom?
If we are truly warriors of God, we should be. May we all examine ourselves and line our lives to our commander's will and command.It is easier when we remember that" we are looking for a city not made by hands"(Heb. 11:10).
Onward Christian Warriors!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Priorities
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mat. 6:33).
I have a sister who is a professional organizer ask the other day if anyone could name some thing that could not be organized. I said, "My mind". Then I started to tell her about all the duties I have and things that I needed to get done. Which is way too much for one person can reasonably do and has become overwhelming.
The problem is that I am a hyper minded person with ministries, writing, walking and exercising to do for my health, a home that I am trying to keep clean while I am organizing it, gardens to put in, Christmas gifts to make... You get the picture.To make matters worse, they are all of equal and high importance to me. This puts even more stress on me. I was at my wits end. So I asked her for help.
She surprised me with her clarity on what was most important which was my health. So that I should put walking and exercising first, and then organize my week and day in such a way as to get every thing done.The bottom line was that I needed to figure out my priorities and do the most important things first. Once I do that, figuring out how to organize my week and day will fall into place. Sounds easy, huh?
Are a lot of things in your life screaming for your attention? Do you grow weary in figuring out how to balance it all. Jesus addresses this in the sixth chapter of Matthew . He tells us that we should seek the things that are important to His kingdom first, then everything else, like the need for food and clothes will be taken care of.
Let us pray: Dear Lord, please give us clarity of mind and heart as to what is most important as we strive to live a balanced life between the spiritual and physical worlds. In Jesus' name. Amen.
I have a sister who is a professional organizer ask the other day if anyone could name some thing that could not be organized. I said, "My mind". Then I started to tell her about all the duties I have and things that I needed to get done. Which is way too much for one person can reasonably do and has become overwhelming.
The problem is that I am a hyper minded person with ministries, writing, walking and exercising to do for my health, a home that I am trying to keep clean while I am organizing it, gardens to put in, Christmas gifts to make... You get the picture.To make matters worse, they are all of equal and high importance to me. This puts even more stress on me. I was at my wits end. So I asked her for help.
She surprised me with her clarity on what was most important which was my health. So that I should put walking and exercising first, and then organize my week and day in such a way as to get every thing done.The bottom line was that I needed to figure out my priorities and do the most important things first. Once I do that, figuring out how to organize my week and day will fall into place. Sounds easy, huh?
Are a lot of things in your life screaming for your attention? Do you grow weary in figuring out how to balance it all. Jesus addresses this in the sixth chapter of Matthew . He tells us that we should seek the things that are important to His kingdom first, then everything else, like the need for food and clothes will be taken care of.
Let us pray: Dear Lord, please give us clarity of mind and heart as to what is most important as we strive to live a balanced life between the spiritual and physical worlds. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Spiritual rooms of our lives
Imagine:
Your life is a garden filled with "rooms". Each room is a different part of your life and each room has a gate to enter it.
In the beginning, you choose if you want to enter that room, like the room of marriage. But once you open the gate, you have to tend to the the room or it will die.Some of the rooms are connected, like the room of marriage is often connected to the room of children.
Then there are rooms that are there because we choose to add them, like ministry. These rooms can start out being casual rooms we dabble in from time to time. What would you grow in your rooms of ministry? Be careful, for sometimes the gardens in the rooms can take on a life of it's own and grow in ways you can never imagine!
For me, the room of ministry has turned into a cluster of butterfly gardens that seemed to be totally disconnected, but as time went by, they became very connected to each other. They are the rooms called,"The Vannie Project". There are five rooms at this time, but as time goes on,it appears to be growing next to many other rooms of my life. It may even be taking over some of the other rooms. Oh, for wisdom on how to tend all of the rooms of the garden well.
Know the feeling? I think that the trick is to go to the Master Gardener and glean from his wide wisdom on tending our gardens well.
Your life is a garden filled with "rooms". Each room is a different part of your life and each room has a gate to enter it.
In the beginning, you choose if you want to enter that room, like the room of marriage. But once you open the gate, you have to tend to the the room or it will die.Some of the rooms are connected, like the room of marriage is often connected to the room of children.
Then there are rooms that are there because we choose to add them, like ministry. These rooms can start out being casual rooms we dabble in from time to time. What would you grow in your rooms of ministry? Be careful, for sometimes the gardens in the rooms can take on a life of it's own and grow in ways you can never imagine!
For me, the room of ministry has turned into a cluster of butterfly gardens that seemed to be totally disconnected, but as time went by, they became very connected to each other. They are the rooms called,"The Vannie Project". There are five rooms at this time, but as time goes on,it appears to be growing next to many other rooms of my life. It may even be taking over some of the other rooms. Oh, for wisdom on how to tend all of the rooms of the garden well.
Know the feeling? I think that the trick is to go to the Master Gardener and glean from his wide wisdom on tending our gardens well.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Spring cleaning our spiritual lives
"Let all things be done decently and in order".( I Cor. 14:40)
Lately, my spring cleaning has gone from the outdoors into my little cottage. I have been cleaning out cupboards figuring out what I still use and what I don't. I feel good about what I've done so far. But there is one room that makes me cringe just to think about. It's my office/sewing room, which has turned into the room I stuffed boxes of books that needs to be gone through, clothes that needs to be mended or sewn together, and piles of papers that needs filing. It is so full I can't get to my desk to write the books I'm suppose to be writing right now.
Our lives can become like my room. Too full of stuff to find time for God. In the 1990's I recall hearing a song being sung on a Christian radio station that said,"I miss my time with you..." It was sung from God's point of view, and he was saying, "I miss my time with you". Is our lives so busy, that God has to say that to us? If so, we need to reoranize our lives to make room for Him. Instead of hoping to find time with God, we need to schegle time with him every day. That may mean that we will have to clear something out of our life, so we get to God. Just like, I have to clear out stuff in my office/sewing room this week, so I can get to my computer to write.
May we all find ways to bring our lives order so we will will have time for God.
Dear, Lord, give us the wisdom to know what stuff is between us and you. And the boldness to move it out of the way, so you won't have to say, "I miss my time with you." In Jesus' name. Amen.
Lately, my spring cleaning has gone from the outdoors into my little cottage. I have been cleaning out cupboards figuring out what I still use and what I don't. I feel good about what I've done so far. But there is one room that makes me cringe just to think about. It's my office/sewing room, which has turned into the room I stuffed boxes of books that needs to be gone through, clothes that needs to be mended or sewn together, and piles of papers that needs filing. It is so full I can't get to my desk to write the books I'm suppose to be writing right now.
Our lives can become like my room. Too full of stuff to find time for God. In the 1990's I recall hearing a song being sung on a Christian radio station that said,"I miss my time with you..." It was sung from God's point of view, and he was saying, "I miss my time with you". Is our lives so busy, that God has to say that to us? If so, we need to reoranize our lives to make room for Him. Instead of hoping to find time with God, we need to schegle time with him every day. That may mean that we will have to clear something out of our life, so we get to God. Just like, I have to clear out stuff in my office/sewing room this week, so I can get to my computer to write.
May we all find ways to bring our lives order so we will will have time for God.
Dear, Lord, give us the wisdom to know what stuff is between us and you. And the boldness to move it out of the way, so you won't have to say, "I miss my time with you." In Jesus' name. Amen.
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