STOP WORRYING & START LIVING

I heard a story recently about a little boy who was afraid of gorillas
In his fear, the little boy convinced himself that a gorilla lived underneath his bed… and that the gorilla would eat him when he slept! So night after night, the little boy slept with his blankets over his head, believing that if the gorilla couldn’t see him, he wouldn’t eat him.

And even though that little boy would get very hot and sweaty while under his covers, he continued to sleep that way night after night. He just knew that keeping those covers over his head would keep the gorilla from eating him while he was sleeping!

Of course this little boy grew up and got over his fear of gorillas. But when you think about it, don’t you and I act exactly like this little boy when we decide to worry {Yep we make that decision to worry- OUCH!! } Because the fact is, we usually worry about things that really aren’t there!

In the book of Proverbs, Solomon likens worry and anxiety to a weight… a weight that “weighs a man down” (12:25). And I would like you to take some time to think about what “gorillas” in your life are weighing you down.

I know there’s plenty in life that we could worry about. But you know what? As believers, Scripture doesn’t give us the option to worry. Nowhere in the Bible does it give us permission to fret.

In fact, Jesus asks us in Luke 12:25-26, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

BLOG OF REFLECTION

When the parking lot during the winter is usually pretty slippery for me due to snow, ice or a combination During reflcetion I began to think of Paul's admonition in 1 Corinthians 10:12: Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall? (KJV).

A little overconfidence is a dangerous thing when walking on ice. Another reason we slip is because we get distracted. A friend says, Hi, we take our eyes off the pavement, begin to wave back and, well, you get the picture. Worse yet, the pain from our fall seems greater when someone else has witnessed our unceremoniously landing.

Literally, not watching how we walk can result in a physical fall. Figuratively, the same is true. If we do not keep our eyes right - we can slip spiritually. Carelessness and a momentary distraction, either one or both together, can result in a fall. What I am saying is that it really is imperative that we keep our focus on God and not man.

The writer of Psalm 73, reminds us of that truth in words of testimony. My feet had almost slipped . . . . For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Life does not give us a smooth track for walking. Our struggles can be compounded as our eyes wander and we get distracted by the apparent ease and prosperity of the ungodly. Let's not forget that we can also get off focus by the circumstances and the storms that are going on in our own lives...and I could go on and on, but you, yourself already knows how this can occur.

We can keep from slipping by focusing our attention on Jesus and how He wants us to live. That's right when you are facing things, when you are experiencing a host of emotions look in Bible, He has a Word for us. Remember - We look not for the ease of this world but the reward of the world to come.

Godliness with contentment is great gain, according to Paul (1 Tim. 6:6). He also said: I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (Phil. 4:11). Ask God to help you be contented, not envious.

OUR CHOICES

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
— Romans 6:16

I can't remeber who it was, but he was asked to comment on the rash of violence on high school campuses as well as other problems in our culture. I do remember what was said because it stood out. He said, "One thing that is being missed by many people is the devil is at work."

That is so true. The devil IS at work. When you get down to it, it is the only logical and plausible explanation for the madness that humanity is capable of. Just as surely as there is a God in heaven who loves you, there is a devil from hell who hates you. Jesus summed it up succinctly when He said, speaking of Satan, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). There is our choice in life, really: God or the devil.

A lot of people say they don't choose either. But in reality, by not choosing God, they choose the devil by default. There are no other choices. One of Satan's most brilliant strategies is to convince people he does not exist, when all the while, he is manipulating their lives. Humanity is basically bad. And it is the devil who works through the fallen nature of human beings, getting them to do the evil things that he does.

God gives us a choice in life. We are not forced to choose Him. Nor are we forced to choose the devil. But God has given us something called free will. We can choose sin, which leads to death. Or we can choose obedience to God, which leads to righteousness.

Just a point to remember: this applies in every aspect of your life. Not just the ones that we choose

HOW DOES GOD GET OUR ATTENTION

A whistle can get our attention quickly. We use it to control unruly behavior, signal the start or finish of an event, or interrupt the action in a game. Regardless of who blows it, a whistle tells us to stop and learn why it was blown.

What does God use to get our attention? Sometimes He uses the tool of a restless spirit, which might appear as some vague dissatisfaction with life. Other times, God uses another person’s words to help us recognize that He is speaking to us. Sometimes He uses the method of unusual blessing (Rom. 2:4). In each case, we are to stop and ask, “Lord, are You trying to say something to me?”

God sometimes allows our prayers to remain unanswered in order to prompt us to sharpen our focus on Him. Or, He may say “no” to our request in order to gain our attention. He occasionally uses disappointments, difficulties, and failures for the same reason. If we are wise, we will quickly seek Him out. In tragedies, financial reversals, and physical affliction, God wants to see if we will turn to Him and ask, “God, are you speaking to me?” When your attention was gotten did you seek Him or did you rely on what you could do on your own (ouch)?

{Now pay attion to this:} What does it take for the Lord to get our attention? Will a restless spirit cause us to seek godly counsel? Do we listen when God sends someone to point out His way? When blessings come, do we turn to God and ask how He would like us to use them? Do we seek God when our prayers go unanswered? How long does it take us to get past our emotions over disappointments, difficulties, and failures to listen to what our heavenly Father has to say? In times of great financial crisis, tragedy, and sickness, do our eyes and minds lift heavenward to seek God’s love and wisdom? God deserves our undivided attention . . . but we get preoccupied. He waits to speak with us . . . but we keep looking at our circumstances. [oooh weee]

Allow the events of your life—both the pleasant and the painful—to prompt you to turn to God and ask, “Lord, are You asking for my attention?”

Don’t allow yourself to miss what the Lord wants to tell you. Begin now to train yourself to give Him your full attention. Allow what happens in your day to draw you to Him. He is waiting for you.

TEACH ME LORD

Timothy, my beloved son, remember that . . . All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16,17)Grace be with you,Paul

Teaching. It informs me. It sorts out my thoughts. It helps me to determine and clarify what I believe. I went to college to learn about a certain field—art. And I remember it being so interesting and fascinating to me. I was excited about what I was going to learn, who the teacher was going to be, how many hours I would chalk up on my transcript, and how it would all mesh with my dreams and goals.This same excitement should really be a part of Bible study. The Teacher is interesting, well-qualified, fascinating. The hours transfer quite nicely, and my pursuit of the field definitely enhances my dreams and goals.

Reproof. This means rebuke. This means to be critical. This is how I recognize sin in my life.God’s reproof is always a constructive, critical evaluation. "He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise" (Proverbs 15:31); "He who hates reproof is stupid" (12:1); "Whom the Lord loves He reproves" (3:12). I certainly don’t want to be classified as "stupid," as a hardhead who refuses constructive correction. I am confident of His love for me, and I also recognize Him as the source of wisdom. So I listen. I ponder. I accept reproof. How thankful I am that there is Someone who has the courage to point to my poor performance and tell me that I’m blowing it! That’s reproof. Just think, for example, how tragic it would be to go through your entire stay on planet Earth offending, hurting, alienating people through your poor behavior . . . and have no one to point it out to you. Oh my, yes! Reproof is very definitely profitable.

Correction. This tells me how to change. Change must be necessary, or the reproof would not have come in the first place. If I need to change, to correct the way I have been doing something, then the proper or right way to do it must be provided for me. With hope. With kindness. With tact. And with encouragement, which is the fertilizer for correction.

Training in righteousness. Training is the "how to" of applying the reproof and correction. Training means involvement. Apprenticeship. The actual "doing," learning by experience. I need "hands-on" experience. I need to know firsthand the "right" way (God’s way) to face life, to face my circumstances. I need to know how to "respond" instead of "react." I need to know how to practice discernment instead of acquiescing to depression. I want to learn how to walk under "Christ-control" instead of self-control. This is the goal, the attainable dream. And He shows me how to do this as I spend time with Him, study His teachings, His life, His message . . . as I live with Him, sensing His peace, His training—and all toward teaching me how to live and behave as the righteous new person He has created and rebirthed me to be.

Lord, when I sit down to read the Scriptures, I’m taking care to meet a very important need in my day, in my life. I’m taking care to attend class, to concentrate on your will for my life and my steps are ordered by You.

Lord, teach me.

BEING A SALTY INFLUENCE

READ Galatians 5:22-23

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls His followers to be the "salt of the earth." What qualities does salt possess that we can exhibit in our spiritual lives?

First, salt adds flavor. Salt doesn't bring change to itself; it seasons that which needs improved taste. In the same way, we are to focus on those who don't know Jesus as Savior. Christlike character opens the way for others to hear our message.

Second, salt is a preservative. Salt keeps meat from going bad. In the case of people, our lives are to demonstrate an alternative to the world's ways and point others to Jesus. Our influence can help them leave the destructive path they're on and follow Him.

Third, salt makes an impact. Changes caused by salt may be invisible, but they are still evident. A timely word or act of kindness can speak volumes to someone searching for God. At other times, it's what we avoid doing or saying that catches another's attention. We can be an effective witness to people around us wherever we are: restaurants, grocery lines, doctors' offices, etc.

Finally, salt causes thirst. By facing difficulties with calmness, endurance, and hope, we display a godly testimony. When people going through hardship and pain see the way we deal with our troubles, they will thirst to know how we do it. Telling them about our dependence on God and His sufficiency will show them how to satisfy their needs.

Functioning as salt provides the opportunity to have a godly impact on someone else.

Food For Thought: Do the people around you sense something special in your life and thirst to know what it is?

God's Timing

"And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush…saying…I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt" (Acts 7:30, 32, 34).

That was a long wait in preparation for a great mission. When God delays, He is not inactive. He is getting ready His instruments, He is ripening our powers; and at the appointed moment we shall arise equal to our task. Even Jesus of Nazareth was thirty years in privacy, growing in wisdom before He began His work. --Dr. Jowett

God is never in a hurry but spends years with those He expects to greatly use. He never thinks the days of preparation too long or too dull.

The hardest ingredient in suffering is often time. A short, sharp pang is easily borne, but when a sorrow drags its weary way through long, monotonous years, and day after day returns with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart loses its strength, and without the grace of God, is sure to sink into the very sullenness of despair. Joseph's was a long trial, and God often has to burn His lessons into the depths of our being by the fires of protracted pain. "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver," but He knows how long, and like a true goldsmith He stops the fires the moment He sees His image in the glowing metal. We may not see now the outcome of the beautiful plan which God is hiding in the shadow of His hand; it yet may be long concealed; but faith may be sure that He is sitting on the throne, calmly waiting the hour when, with adoring rapture, we shall say, "All things have worked together for good." Like Joseph, let us be more careful to learn all the lessons in the school of sorrow than we are anxious for the hour of deliverance. There is a "need-be" for every lesson, and when we are ready, our deliverance will surely come, and we shall find that we could not have stood in our place of higher service without the very things that were taught us in the ordeal. God is educating us for the future, for higher service and nobler blessings; and if we have the qualities that fit us for a throne, nothing can keep us from it when God's time has come. Don't steal tomorrow out of God's hands. Give God time to speak to you and reveal His will. He is never too late; learn to wait.

"He never comes too late; He knoweth what is best; Vex not thyself in vain; until He cometh--REST."

Do not run impetuously before the Lord; learn to wait His time: the minute-hand as well as the hour-hand must point the exact moment for action.

I chose the picute above because it is what I feel is happening to me during this time. I want to take this time to thank Brother Darryl J. I lack words at this time but I know that you know my sincerity. I thank those who have prayed for me those who have shared the prayer with me, and those whom have said one with out my awareness.

I pray blessings to you all, and I appreciate it more than you will ever know. God bless all who read this blog - as we are all on a spiritual journey.

**Devotional taken from Streams in the Desert