Little Treasures

I just sat down at my desk to do my Bible study and I noticed a nut on my desk. It was the exact nut that I pointed out to my son the other day when we were outside. He collects things from God's creation (like nuts, flowers, bugs) whenever he sees them. He has an eye for picking out God's created treasures when we are on a walk or in a parking lot or on a hike in the woods. And it's not uncommon for him to put a prized treasure on his dad's nightstand ... or my desk. Just a little reminder of his love for us. He loves to give sweet tokens of love - like a nut.

Our Heavenly Father loves to bless us with good gifts as well to remind us of His love for us - as if the sacrifice of the life of Jesus wasn't enough! Listen to the words of Jesus found in Luke 11:9-13.

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

Consider the things for which you did not ask, yet received - like your daily bread. Do we even realize all that God is doing for us - even at this very moment? I love that passage in Luke 12 where Jesus is telling His disciples not to worry about life - food, clothes, etc. He reminds the disciples of how God cares for them and will provide for them as He provides for simple things like ravens and lilies. He continues in verse 29 ...

"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock [how beautiful that He calls His disciples "little flock"], for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

Wow - did you hear those words? It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom! I don't know what you've been going through, but I know these are great words of encouragement for any believer. Give thanks for the daily needs that the Lord has provided. Think about how your body is functioning - you are alive, your heart is beating and pumping blood to every part of your body! Think about how you have a roof over your head, food on your table, clothes on your back - give thanks, my friend. These things, which seem simple, are great provisions from the hand of our Heavenly Father. They are good gifts. And as you give thanks for these, I'm sure you will find a limitless list of good gifts that the Father has provided just for you. Praise the Lord for His lovingkindness.

Grace and peace to you.

A Lesson from Lost Legos

This morning as I was eating my breakfast and about to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, my son came to me with a look of distress on his face. "Mommy, my lego piece is stuck in the cupboard door." His news sounded a bit absurd to me, but I took a look anyhow. Sure enough, the lego piece had fallen through a hole that was once the home of a knob. My son showed me which lego piece it was - it was the top of the light saber for his Star Wars legos - a prized piece. Great - just how I wanted to spend my morning ... looking for a lego piece. But I knew how important it was for him, so I asked him to get me the screwdriver. After he returned with the tool, I encouraged him to pray about it, which he did. Then I asked him if he believed if God could answer his prayer, and he replied with a determined "yes."

It's funny how God has a way of bringing circumstances into your life that illustrate what He has been teaching you. I have been wrestling with the whole faith and prayer issue lately. It was recently brought to my attention at Bible study. There is a passage in Matthew 21 where Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer and faith.

In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once.

When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith" (Matthew 21:18-22).

I've always struggled with this passage because I don't always get whatever I ask for in prayer. And I don't think it's because of a lack of faith. I know my heart, and I know and believe with all of my heart that God can do anything He wants to. He is omnipotent - all powerful, and there is nothing that He cannot do. Consider creation - all that He made out of nothing. With the simplicity of His spoken word all was created - the world, sky, light, land, sea, vegetation, living creatures, even man. So if God wanted to answer our prayers, He certainly could. But I think the heart of the matter is our hearts and our prayers.

I am firmly opposed to the "name it and claim it" belief where you name what you want and claim that you will receive it. I believe that is presumptuous, and a dangerous place to be with God. Who are we to know what God has planned? Prior to His ascension, Jesus told the inquiring disciples that it was not for them to know what the Father had planned for the restoration of Israel - something they had their hearts set upon. Their job, as Jesus reminded them, was to focus on the here and now, proclaiming the Gospel wherever they were (Acts 1:6-8). Furthermore, even Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, knowing the cross was before Him, prayed that He would not have to endure the wrath of God. But He didn't stop there. He concluded, trusting His Father and saying, "... not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).

What kinds of things are you praying about - are they selfish requests - things that make you comfortable in this world? Or are your prayers saturated with a desire to be like Christ and have others seek after Him likewise?

So finding a lego piece isn't really a godly pursuit, but for a 6-year old boy who spends hours with his legos, there was, in my opinion, something to learn about God. After twisting and turning the screwdriver, I finally got the panel off. I looked through the door and laughed to myself. I foolishly thought the light saber fell down into the panel, but the hole went straight through the door. So there sat the lego piece next to one of the pots in the cupboard. I smiled at my son, and asked him to look in the cupboard. He was thrilled! We thanked God for rescuing the lego, and I replaced the door of the cupboard. And you know, my friend, I don't care how foolish I looked - yes, I should have checked if the hole went all the way through to begin with. I should have checked the cupboard before attacking the door with the screwdriver. But, I believe with all of my heart, that God used my foolishness to bring glory to Himself. This was a small lesson with gigantic implications if my son and I would embrace God's teaching. And I think we both have. PRAISE THE LORD!

Grace and peace to you!

Living with Life

The book of Romans is just packed with truth - sometimes it's hard to get your mind around what you've read. This morning I was led to Romans 8. As believers, the following is list of what is ours in Christ, according to Romans 8:1-11 ...

• We are not condemned (8:1).
• We are free from the law of sin and death (8:2).
• Our sin in the flesh is condemned by Christ (8:3).
• Christ in us has fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law for us (8:4).
• We walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh (8:4).
• As we live according to the Spirit and set our minds on the things of the Spirit, we have life and peace (8:5 & 6).
• If the Spirit of God dwells in us, we are not in the flesh but in the Spirit (8:9). We then do not set our minds on the things of the flesh (8:5), which is death (8:6). We are not hostile to God because we submit ourselves to God's law (8:7). And because of Christ, we can please God (8:8). We belong to Him (8:9).
• Because Christ is in us, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness (8:10).
• The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us (8:11)!!! Therefore, the Spirit, who lives in us, gives life to our mortal bodies (8:11).

PRAISE THE LORD! Recite these truths to yourself out loud. And live life with all the zeal and zest you can because of who you are in Christ. Oh the riches that are ours in Christ - how quickly we forget! Give thanks today that you belong to Him.

Grace and peace to you.

Rest in the LORD

This weekend, my husband and I celebrated our 10-year anniversary. Throughout the years, we haven't made much effort to get away, especially when children entered the picture. After spending an entire weekend away from our home and children, we realized that this was what our marriage, our relationship needed. The routine of daily life takes a tremendous toll on a relationship, especially if you don't have the time or energy to feed that relationship regularly. We needed uninterrupted time to be together. The LORD used this getaway as fuel for our marriage to remain strong and vibrant.

As believers, the LORD cares about us being refreshed and renewed to continue on in the journey of life. He wants us to remain strong and vibrant followers of Christ, and we can only do that by coming to Him. Unfortunately, I think He is often misinterpreted. He has at times been referred to as the "cosmic killjoy" or likened to a strict judge who enforces unattainable rules. Yet when I read Psalm 23, I am reminded, as I am at other times in Scripture, that God cares about me, and He wants me to rest in His care, and there find renewal and strength for life. Listen to these precious words of David:

The LORD is my shepherd;

I have everything I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

He leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

Bringing honor to His name.

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death,

I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.

Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely goodness and unfailing love

Will pursue me all the days of my life,

And I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

I love the language of this Psalm ...

• He lets me rest in green meadows.
• He leads me beside peaceful streams.
• He guides me along right paths.
• He comforts and protects me.
• He prepares a feast for me.
• He welcomes me as a guest.
• He anoints my head with oil.
• My cup overflows with blessings.
• Goodness and unfailing love pursue me always.
• I will live in His house forever.

God is not a cosmic killjoy and He is not a wicked, ruthless judge. Rather, He is a loving and caring Heavenly Father, and we truly can find all we need in Him. Aren't you grateful? Give thanks for the benefits and blessings of knowing and walking with Him.

Grace and peace to you.

Words of Life

Today I was reminded of the Proverb that says:

The tongue can bring death or life;

those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

(18:21)

Too often we freely offer death to others using our words, but how refreshing and encouraging when it is the exact opposite. Someone, whose opinion and thoughts I highly value, told me today that my kids are really good kids (well behaved, well mannered, etc.). As I struggle daily in my parenting role, nothing could have encouraged me more. It was as if I were a dry and thirsty plant, and someone poured water upon me - I was immediately encouraged and refreshed ... and thankful to the LORD for His help with parenting. Further, these words were a stark reminder that my children are, as Scripture says, a blessing from the LORD (Psalm 127:3).

Let's not hold back these words that can bring life to others. Offer them freely. Encourage the saints as we all travel on this road of life together.

Grace and peace to you.