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Faith, Hope, Believe and He will

Hebrews 11:1-2, 6(NASB)
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
I grew up in church.  I have faithful parents who have spent a lot of time on their knees praying for me. Now I am a parent.  My children have grown up in church and I have worn out the knees of many good pants on my children.

I am a firm believer there is always hope.  I also know faith and hope work hand in hand. In order to have hope we must have faith and if you have faith you are hoping for something. To add to those words we use the word believe. To have faith and hope I must first believe in something.

Hebrews is asking us to believe, have faith and hope in the God and that He wants to reward us.  That is the part that always tripped me up.  I have no problem believing God could do whatever I needed.  I always struggled with would He.  This verse promises me He will!  He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

So,the next time you find the doubts sneaking up on you when you pray, remember He wants to give you what you need. Hebrews says so and God never lies!

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Action Verbs for Anxiety

Psalms 27:14 (NASB)

Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Have you ever been fidgety? You know when you are worried about something and you mumble (or scream) those famous words, “Well, I can’t just sit here and do nothing!” When that phrase reaches your mind and you know there is nothing you can do, take heart. You can take action. You should take action. You should:

Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Wait-Be-Let-Take-Wait
These are action verbs. These are the actions you need to do when you are feeling anxious. This is what you have control over. This is doing your part.

I know it isn’t easy and I wish I could say, I am perfect and this works for me every time so you can do it too! But, I’m not an infomercial and this isn’t easy. Although if you do it, God promises it will work every time. You may not like the length of time it takes. Heck you may not even like the answer you get. However,God will reward you with what you need an He always sends His best for you.

So the next time you can’t stand it any longer. Please remember to take action.

Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

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Discipline in a Long- Distance Race

Hebrews 12:1-3 (MSG)

1 Do you see what this means– all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running– and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.
2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed– that exhilarating finish in and with God– he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.
3 When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Wow! I now have two half marathons under my belt. I guess, I should explain something. On December 26, 2011 I weighed 256 lbs. I was getting ready to turn 39 yrs old and I found an old bucket list. I wanted to run a marathon before I turned 40 years old. So, I started walking for 30 minutes and gradually learned to run for 30 minutes straight. My daughter found a marathon scheduled for October 7, 2012. We signed up! It is now August 11, 2012, I weigh 223 lbs and have ran a lot!

In the past few weeks I have ran two half marathons. OK, to be honest I have walked most of it, especially the last one. I injured my hip and my doctor will no let me run right now, so I walked 13.1 miles. It took me 3 hours and 45 minutes, but I did it. My daughter and I have this saying, “We run to complete, not compete.” So, when I read these verses they really stuck out to me.

Many people have gone on before me. They made it, I can too. This goes with my running and my life. There are so many times I just get frustrated and I want to quit. I don’t. I keep moving. I think of all my heroes. I think of how far I have come. In life, I think of all the things Jesus went through. All the stuff he had to put up with. He made it through. He never gave up. He asked God to put a stop to it, but he would continue on if it was God’s will. I can do that too. Why can I do it? Because Jesus has been there done that. More importantly, he is still going through it with me! If I suck it up and listen up, he will even tell me which steps to take. If I follow those steps, it may not be easy, but it will be easier!

I pass along a lot of advice I have learned on my exercise journey. I have found a lot of things that work and a lot more that don’t. Any time I can help someone else avoid a pitfall, I do. Jesus is here for us also. He doesn’t want us to fall. It isn’t enough for us to run the race we have to finish. Which brings me to another favorite saying, “Finishing dead last is better than not finishing at all, which always trumps never beginning!”

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God’s Argument Against Us!

Isaiah 1:2 (MSG)
Heaven and earth, you’re the jury.
Listen to GOD’s case:
“I had children and raised them well,
and they turned on me.”

I read chapter 1 of Isaiah today. I started reading it just like it is laid out, a message of judgment on Israel. Quickly my brain switched gears and America started filling the verses. It got worse. God got personal and I started filing those verses.

Now this wasn’t an ouch in a bad way. OK, maybe a little at first. I mean it did hurt. However, God came across pleading to me not chastising me.  I read it like a lawyer pleading His defense trying to convince the jury of His point. But I also read it as a plea to turn around! Come back to me. I am here waiting for you. You have it in you. You know what is right.  You haven’t traveled so far away that I can’t get you, but you must turn around.

Can’t you hear the Perry Mason or Law and Order theme in your head when you read these verses:

Isaiah 1:4-5 (MSG)
Shame! Misguided GOD- dropouts,
staggering under their guilt- baggage,
Gang of miscreants,
band of vandals–
My people have walked out on me, their GOD,
turned their backs on The Holy of Israel,
walked off and never looked back.
5 “Why bother even trying to do anything with you
when you just keep to your bullheaded ways?
You keep beating your heads against brick walls.
Everything within you protests against you.

Then it changes to that scene of a Father lecturing you. That disappointed look in His eyes. No raised voice, just pure disappointment.

Isaiah 1:12-15 (MSG)
When you come before me,
who ever gave you the idea of acting like this,
Running here and there, doing this and that–
all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?
13 “Quit your worship charades.
I can’t stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings–
meetings, meetings, meetings– I can’t stand one more!
14 Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You’ve worn me out!
I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
15 When you put on your next prayer- performance,
I’ll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I’ll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.

Then His love comes out. He can’t help Himself. He still loves you. He gives you sound advice.

Isaiah 1:16-20 (MSG)
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don’t have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
17 Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down- and- out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.
18 “Come. Sit down. Let’s argue this out.”
This is GOD’s Message:
“If your sins are blood- red,
they’ll be snow- white.
If they’re red like crimson,
they’ll be like wool.
19 If you’ll willingly obey,
you’ll feast like kings.
20 But if you’re willful and stubborn,
you’ll die like dogs.”
That’s right. GOD says so.

Verses 21-31 really screamed America to me…
Isaiah 1:21-31
Those Who Walk Out on God
21 Oh! Can you believe it? The chaste city
has become a whore!
She was once all justice,
everyone living as good neighbors,
And now they’re all
at one another’s throats.
22 Your coins are all counterfeits.
Your wine is watered down.
23 Your leaders are turncoats
who keep company with crooks.
They sell themselves to the highest bidder
and grab anything not nailed down.
They never stand up for the homeless,
never stick up for the defenseless.
24 This Decree, therefore, of the Master, GOD- of- the- Angel- Armies,
the Strong One of Israel:
“This is it! I’ll get my oppressors off my back.
I’ll get back at my enemies.
25 I’ll give you the back of my hand,
purge the junk from your life, clean you up.
26 I’ll set honest judges and wise counselors among you
just like it was back in the beginning.
Then you’ll be renamed
City- That- Treats- People- Right, the True- Blue City.”
27 GOD’s right ways will put Zion right again.
GOD’s right actions will restore her penitents.
28 But it’s curtains for rebels and GOD- traitors,
a dead end for those who walk out on GOD.
29 “Your dalliances in those oak grove shrines
will leave you looking mighty foolish,
All that fooling around in god and goddess gardens
that you thought was the latest thing.
30 You’ll end up like an oak tree
with all its leaves falling off,
Like an unwatered garden,
withered and brown.
31 ‘The Big Man’ will turn out to be dead bark and twigs,
and his ‘work,’ the spark that starts the fire
That exposes man and work both
as nothing but cinders and smoke.”

Verse 31 makes me chuckle. When I read it, I see the scene in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy firsts sees the man behind the curtain. How many little men are standing behind curtains blowing a bunch of smoke? Preaching and teaching, yet not living the truth. How often am I that man?

Lord, I don’t want these verses to be me. I don’t want to be the man behind a curtain saying and doing a bunch of things and yet not living the truth. I want to willingly obey, and feast like kings. Not be willful and stubborn, only to die like dogs (Is 1:19-20).” Thank you for not turning a deaf ear on me. Thank you for loving me enough to provide a detour from my wicked ways. I will go home and wash up and clean my your act. Help me to sweep my life clean of evildoings so You don’t have to look at them any longer. Help me say no to wrong and learn to do good. I want to work for justice. Help the down- and- out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless (Is 1:16-17). Lord, right now I also pray for my nation and its leaders. We have become a country of turn-coats. We have forgotten You and our humble beginnings. Lord, there are a few survivors. I am one. I will stand up for my country. We are not as desolate or doomed as Sodom and Gomorrah. (Is 1:9). Lord please give us the back of Your hand, purge the junk form our lives, clean us up. Do as you promise and set honest judges and wise counselors among us just like it was back in the beginning so we can be renamed County-That-Treats-People-Right, the True-Blue Country. Put us right again. Restore us. Restore me (Is 1:25-26). Amen

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Is God out of business?

~Ps 77:9-10 (MSG)

9 Has God forgotten his manners? Has he angrily stalked off and left us?
10 “Just my luck,” I said. “The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him.”

Have you ever felt this way before? Have you ever felt so low down that you just know God can’t even reach you. You are so sure He has washed his hands and walked off. Put up the sign, “Gone Fishing.” God has left the building! Yeah me too! I’ve been there, done that and bought the t-shirt.

I have felt the pure loneliness and complete darkness of a totally drained spirit. The total quietness. All you can hear is your screams for help. Maybe it was a loss of a loved one, another fight with a spouse or a child or maybe a stab in the back from a close friend or a bad choice that left you in this desert. You may not even know what brought you here. Heck, you don’t even remember getting on the bus.

Never fear, it doesn’t matter what brought you. I know the man who will pay for your ticket back. As a matter of fact, it is already bought and paid for, you just have to get on. OK, OK, I know easier said than done when you feel totally alone. But the Psalms doesn’t end at this verse. God gives you the way out:

11 Once again I’ll go over what GOD has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders;
12 I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts.
~Ps 77:11-12 (MSG)

There is an old song that says count your blessings, name them one by one. That is exactly what you need to start doing right now. Go ahead, I’ll wait.

It is really hard to stay in a funk, when you remember better days. You all of a sudden find yourself smiling, then giggling. You take a deep breath when you remember where you were and realize where you are standing now. You see how far you have come. You notice all of the things God has done for you so far. You remember He isn’t done with you yet, so he will get you through this one too.

Before you know it you are claiming ~Psalms 77:13-14 (MSG)
13 O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God!
14 You’re the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do–

Lord,
I know I can trust in you. Help me to never forget your works and keep your commands (Ps 78:7). I know your way is holy and no god is greater than you (Ps 77:13). Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name (Ps 63:3-4). 6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and give heed to the voice of my supplications! In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, for You will answer me. There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works like Yours. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and they shall glorify Your name. For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever (Ps 86:6-12).

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Punishment, Discipline or Consequence

Psalms 103:10 (MSG) He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.

punishment

  • a penalty inflicted for an offense, fault, etc.; severe handling or treatment.

discipline

  • to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.

consequence

  • an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.

(http://dictionary.reference.com)

What is the difference between a punishment, discipline and consequence? They can all hurt. We probably deserve them. Unless of course we are experiencing a punishment or consequence that was brought on by someone else. Not that that ever happens huh? Well there is a difference between them.

Punishments are dealt out by someone. They are almost a revenge of sorts. You did this so now I get to do this to you. Now stop furling up your brow at me. I know what you are thinking. I punish my kids when they do something wrong. Shouldn’t we punish the murderer for his crime. I didn’t mean revenge like an evil thing. I meant it like a make things even. Kind of like a pay back. Your son or daughter break the neighbors window with a ball, he or she must pay for the window. We try to even things up. If your son or daughter learns from this punishment, you have actually disciplined them.

Wow, that just brought me to another word, discipline. Punishment is meant to bring things even for the moment. Discipline is meant to learn or gain something from it. OK, the only thing
swirling in my head right now are diet and exercise. To many these are punishments…hahaha. Are they really though? Do we gain something from them? Good health, muscles, flexibility and energy. Yep we gain therefore you can no longer say they are a punishment. It is discipline!

Consequences are natural outcomes. They just happen based on what has already taken place. Kind of like a chain reaction. People often refer to it as action/reaction. You put your hand on a hot stove you get burnt. Can you or anyone else control just the outcome? No, you can only control the outcome by controlling what you did in the first place. If that is the case then what you are experiencing is not punishment, or discipline. It is a consequence.

There is someone who controls punishments, disciplines and consequences. As a matter of fact He keeps us from them a lot of the time when we don’t deserve it. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve (consequences), nor pay us back in full for our wrongs (punishments). As a matter of fact He loved us so much He sent His one and only Son to die for our punishments and consequences (John 3:16). We don’t have to go to Hell now. He knows we aren’t perfect and He doesn’t expect us to be. He gives us unconditional grace and love when we slip up.

Does this mean there is no discipline involved? Will we never see consequences and punishment in our lives? Absolutely not! God is and does discipline. He leads us down the path of righteousness (Ps. 23:3). That takes discipline. It takes trying and trying again until we get it right. What we don’t experience is the punishment of God not loving us anymore and turning away from us. We don’t experience the consequence of “you sinned; your going to Hell right now.” We are no longer separated from God because of our sin.

We are loved. We are dusted off our boo-boos kissed and sent on our way again. We are given advice and told how to avoid getting into the same situation. We are not just walked through it, but loved throughout it. Are there punishments that come with it, maybe. Will you face consequences for your actions, probably. But you will not get what you truly deserve. You will not be separated from God. He is still there waiting for you to put your hands out and cry help me father, so He can run to you and pick you up, cuddle you and love you. He can tell you everything is going to be alright little one. We will get through this together.

Father forgive me for my faults. Discipline me by guiding me through the paths of righteousness. I am going to walk through the valley of death, but help me not to be afraid by walking by my side. Guide me so that I can feel secure. Chase after me with love every day of my life, so I can come home to you. (Ps. 23:3-6). Thank you for not treating me as my sins deserve, nor paying me back in full for my wrongs (Ps. 103:10). Thank you for sending Jesus to die for me. To take away my sins, so that I can live with you forever (John 3:16).

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Seeds of Joy

Psalms 97:11-12 (MSG)
11 Light- seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people, Joy- seeds are planted in good heart- soil.
12 So, God’s people, shout praise to GOD, Give thanks to our Holy God!

Joy-seeds…hmmm…not so sure mine had sprouted this morning. I get up at 4:30 am every morning to take my son to work. Every morning it is the same thing. He gets up at 4:00 we have to be out the door by 4:45. Needless to say, I am still in my PJs when we leave. I always feel like I am rushing him out the door.

Instead of taking those precious quiet moments in the morning with my son, I find myself chastising him for some over looked item. I become impatient and sometimes a downright meanie. That is no way to start his day and certainly not a way I want to start mine.

This morning was right on schedule for our usual routine. I was ready to clobber him by the time we got out the door. When we got to his drop off did I offer words of encouragement? Did I say have a blessed day, God be with you? Did I pray with him? Nope, Nope and Nope. I am ashamed to say I didn’t even mutter I love you. Instead I rushed him out the door before having an argument over something he left at home that he swore I didn’t hand him.

ARGH! Now I know 4:30 in the morning doesn’t exactly scream bright eyed and bushy tailed. I am generally a morning person, but not until closer to 7:00 and 8:00 is even better. However, today’s verse does not say Light seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people at 8:00 in the morning. Joy seeds are planted at 8:30 and both die off as the day goes by.

Nor, does it say God plants, cultivates, waters and harvests light and joy. No, we have a part in this holy farm. We have to shout praise to God and give thanks to our Holy God! In other words we have to water, cultivate and harvest. Joy is always there ready for us to take on. If we do the foot work, God is faithful to bear the fruit in us. Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self- control; against such things there is no law.

So, tomorrow is another day right. 4:30 am will come again. That is true, but you know what, 2:30 this afternoon will come first. I think 2:30 will bring with it an apology to my son when I pick him up today. It will bring a how was your day? It will bear burdens and share rejoicing. As a matter of fact the first thing out of my mouth today will be, “I’m sorry for this morning. I love you and will do better by you tomorrow.” Hopefully, I will help God plant a few of those Joy-seeds!

Lord today I want to belong to you. I want to be crucified by the flesh with its passions and desires. Help me to not only live by the Spirit but also walk by the Spirit. (Gal 5:24-25) I know that whatever a man sows, so shall he reap. (Gal 6:7) Today, I want to sow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Help me to not lose heart in doing good. Give me the opportunity to do good to all people. (Gal 6:9-10) Let me walk by your rules and may peace and mercy be upon me. (Gal 6:16)