Ephesians 3:20 - Imagine

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,    Ephesians 3:20

December 12, 2017

That is the date of my last entry. Honestly, it is not as long ago as I thought it was. My full time job began to really take it's toll and I abandoned my morning Bible Study. Life has taken another turn and I am back. Praise God!!

Even while I was not blogging, the Lord has been using this blog. Here are the stats for last month.

I have always wanted to be a missionary outside of the United States, and this blog has had reach far beyond what I could have ever imagined.

Thank you God!

2 Samuel 16:11 - God's tool

David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.

David is fleeing his city from his son and his men. A man along the way throws rocks at David and his men and yells curses at him. His men want to kill the man, but David has a deep insight into the ways of the Lord God. He understands that the Lord's ways are not our ways. David generally does not do things unless he feels directed by the Lord. He understands that within God's plans and purposes, one day he may be King, the next a pauper. He is merely God's tool. He will not fight for his position unless it is God's will.

Lord, thank you for guiding us and having a plan for us. Please help us to be sensitive to your will and understand what you are guiding us to do. Amen.

Ruth 4:15a - New Life 4

He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.

Even as we get older, God has a plan for us. We may feel like it is the time of life to slow down and take it easy due to setbacks like the death of a spouse or health issues, but God can give us renewal even at this time of our lives. There are things we are uniquely suited for. God will use us if we let him,

There may be somethings we can not do, or things we may have to learn, A woman called an airline customer-service desk asking if she could take her old dog on board.  “Sure,” the representative said, “as long as you provide your own kennel.” They further explained that the kennel needed to be large enough for the dog to stand up, sit down, turn around, and roll over.  The customer was flummoxed: “I’ll never be able to teach him all of that by tomorrow!”

Lord, thank you for renewing and sustaining us even in our old age. Please help us to allow you to use us in all phases of our life. Amen.

Psalm 92:14 - Useful

They will still bear fruit in old age,
     they will stay fresh and green,

In this psalm, the righteous are being compared to a tree. As long as we let him, God will make us a useful, vibrant part of his kingdom.

Lord, thank you for allowing us to grow in your house. Please help us to become and remain useful and vibrant. Amen.

Romans 6:13 - Who is playing the instrument?

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

We get to choose if we will be an instrument of wickedness or an instrument of righteousness. Who is playing the instrument? Satan or God? Evil or good? Wickedness or righteousness? As a Christian, I have offered myself to God, my whole self. I have to be careful not to allow any part of myself to become an instrument of wickedness. It is so easy to do. Things may seem like harmless fun or we may just be going along with what others are doing, but if we are not careful Satan will come in an play us like a fiddle.

Lord, thank you for bringing me from death to life. Please help me to offer every part of myself only to you as an instrument of righteousness. Amen.

Genesis 41:16 - I can't, but God can

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Pharaoh asked Joseph if he could interpret his dream. This was the perfect answer. Joseph was humble enough to know that he was not the source of the interpretation. Do you think that maybe he tried to interpret some dreams and realized he couldn't do it on his own? We make that mistake all the time. We try to do things and get through difficult times without God. Once we realize and accept I can't but God can, God will use us to do great things and will bring us through any difficult times we face.

Lord, thank you for being there for us and for having the ability to do so much more than we can even imagine. Please help us to turn to you first and to let others know the source of our strength and abilities. Amen.

Hebrews 10:24 - Spurred on!

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds

Today I attended a ladies day at Webb Chapel Church of Christ. The theme was "Team Sisterhood." The speaker was Amy Bacon. Amy challenged us to find and use our gifts, work together in love by knowing each other, and to not fear new ideas. I especially liked the idea of spurring each other on in the verse above. This is not gentle encouragement. When you jab a horse in the flanks with metal points it is not gently encouraged! Today I was spurred on to "find a hole and minister to the ones that are missed". Where is there an open position? What group is being missed? How can I help? 

Lord, please help me to find my gifts, know and love my sisters, and be willing to try something new. Use me to reach those we are not reaching. Amen.

Joshua 24:13

So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.

I came across this verse a few months ago when I was studying a survey of the Old Testament. God uses even the wicked for his purpose. God had these groups of people prepare these cities and lands for his people.

Lord, if you will use even the wicked to your purpose then I know you can use me to your purpose. Lord, please don't let me get in your way. Please Lord, use me to the glory of your kingdom. Amen.

Joshua 2:1a

So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

Okay, so why in the world would they go into the house of a prostitute? Maybe that was a house where anyone would be welcome. Her family also live there so maybe it's not exactly a brothel. Maybe she had done things like this before, where she would hide people and help them escape the city, maybe even help them enter the city after the gates have been locked. You have to just see God here. God prepared this woman. He used her life and her skills for His purposes and then in the end she was not only saved she is named the lineage of Christ.

Lord,  I know you can use anyone or anything for your glory. Rahab was open to being used by you. Lord,  please make me open to being used by you. I want to do your will and bring you glory. Amen.