I was thinking of a scene from the movie Field of Dreams recently. You know the one, "If you build it, he will come", "Ease his pain" etc. in a haunty, whispery voice.....
In the scene, the brother-in-law is not able to see the "baseball men" in the field that Ray built. He thinks the family is looking at an empty field. Until a tragedy and one of the players crosses the boundry and helps the little girl. Then, the brother-in-law says, "When did these ball players get here?" Just in case you don't remember, I included it below.
Revelation 7: 13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" 14 I answered, "Sir, you know." (NIV)
I was blessed to be brought up in church. Still didn't understand the whole relationship with God aspect until I was much older. However, I was thinking that there are people in the world that probably have similar thoughts about Christians. "What are they looking at anyway?" "God, Jesus, who?" They might be a neighbor or someone in your family or someone God brings across your path. Maybe they notice something different about you, the way you handle stressful situations or that you go to church.
It is our assignment to help them be able to "see" and be brought into God's light where they can meet God and realize He's been here for them all along....waiting for them to recognize he's here waiting to be noticed.
Revelation 21 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (NIV)
Romans 14:10-12 (NIV)
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' "12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Forget the baseball field and the field of dreams. Help somebody find that foundation you have. "If you build it, HE will come." AND when we go Home, we'll hear "well done, good and faithful servant". OR in Field of Dreams quote, "Hey Rookie! You were good."
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Just enough for today
Exodus 16 (NIV) 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.
17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.
19 Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."
20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
Yesterday, I read a thought about manna and I thought about writing this. Then, flipping through channels on 54 TCT the minister was talking about the Israelites and manna too which just confirmed it further. So before more of today gets away from me.....my thought on manna.
The Israelites had left Egypt. They had seen the wonders of God as He parted the Red Sea for them to walk through on dry land....and come crashing down on their pursuers. God would show up in a cloud by day and a fire by night to show them when to pick up and move and when to stay. They could SEE God in action. But then they got hungry and their fears started taking over and they whined to Moses. They actually mentioned that they had it better in Egypt! They were slaves there so their comments show their fear and frustration.
In response, God provided manna EVERY DAY for 40 years! They were to take just enough for that day. No extra. Some people didn't trust that God would provide so they took more than enough. When they did that, the manna was ruined for the next day. It did not pay for them to take more. They had to believe that what God said was true. He would bring it today AND He would bring it tomorrow.
Fast forward to today. We don't get manna. However, we get food, unexpected blessings that show up just when needed and God's promise that it will be there again tomorrow. Fear will try and get in the way and circumstances might try to block our view of God's faithfulness. Fight past the fear and believe that God will provide just enough for today, whatever it is that you need. AND He will provide just enough the next day, and the next day, etc.! :)
17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed.
19 Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."
20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
Yesterday, I read a thought about manna and I thought about writing this. Then, flipping through channels on 54 TCT the minister was talking about the Israelites and manna too which just confirmed it further. So before more of today gets away from me.....my thought on manna.
The Israelites had left Egypt. They had seen the wonders of God as He parted the Red Sea for them to walk through on dry land....and come crashing down on their pursuers. God would show up in a cloud by day and a fire by night to show them when to pick up and move and when to stay. They could SEE God in action. But then they got hungry and their fears started taking over and they whined to Moses. They actually mentioned that they had it better in Egypt! They were slaves there so their comments show their fear and frustration.
In response, God provided manna EVERY DAY for 40 years! They were to take just enough for that day. No extra. Some people didn't trust that God would provide so they took more than enough. When they did that, the manna was ruined for the next day. It did not pay for them to take more. They had to believe that what God said was true. He would bring it today AND He would bring it tomorrow.
Fast forward to today. We don't get manna. However, we get food, unexpected blessings that show up just when needed and God's promise that it will be there again tomorrow. Fear will try and get in the way and circumstances might try to block our view of God's faithfulness. Fight past the fear and believe that God will provide just enough for today, whatever it is that you need. AND He will provide just enough the next day, and the next day, etc.! :)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Giving Thanks!
Psalm 95:1-2 (NIV)
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
How timely! Not only because of Thanksgiving, which is a mere week away. I'm thankful, my mom is home! After a month in the hospital and a rehabilitation facility, she is home after her heart attack. I am thankful for the drs, nurses and the care she received. I am thankful for brothers and a sister that helped us get through this time of life. I appreciate the foundation of faith my parents gave me (even though I grumbled about going to church 2 x on Sunday GASP!....and occasionally missing the beginning of the Wonderful World of Disney...oh, I am so showing my age!) I am grateful that our mom is here for another Thanksgiving.
I just told a friend tonight we are all living on borrowed time. It is just that some of us get reminders that our time on this round sphere called Earth will end at some point in time.
Further on in Psalm 95, we are reminded that we are God's people, under his care. We are also reminded not to harden our hearts. We are living in difficult times. I struggle to remember to move closer TO God during those times. He has not moved, He waits for us to make a decision to let Him handle the good, the bad and the ugly in our lives.
Sometimes we don't get our way or the answer we want when we want it. That doesn't mean that God does not listen or is uncaring. Thank goodness we don't get everything we pray for! We don't always see the whole picture.
Psalm 95:6-8 (NIV)
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts......
Praying that you will find God during this season of life and Thanksgiving and moving into Christmas. We do not walk alone.....even when it feels like it.
1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
How timely! Not only because of Thanksgiving, which is a mere week away. I'm thankful, my mom is home! After a month in the hospital and a rehabilitation facility, she is home after her heart attack. I am thankful for the drs, nurses and the care she received. I am thankful for brothers and a sister that helped us get through this time of life. I appreciate the foundation of faith my parents gave me (even though I grumbled about going to church 2 x on Sunday GASP!....and occasionally missing the beginning of the Wonderful World of Disney...oh, I am so showing my age!) I am grateful that our mom is here for another Thanksgiving.
I just told a friend tonight we are all living on borrowed time. It is just that some of us get reminders that our time on this round sphere called Earth will end at some point in time.
Further on in Psalm 95, we are reminded that we are God's people, under his care. We are also reminded not to harden our hearts. We are living in difficult times. I struggle to remember to move closer TO God during those times. He has not moved, He waits for us to make a decision to let Him handle the good, the bad and the ugly in our lives.
Sometimes we don't get our way or the answer we want when we want it. That doesn't mean that God does not listen or is uncaring. Thank goodness we don't get everything we pray for! We don't always see the whole picture.
Psalm 95:6-8 (NIV)
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts......
Praying that you will find God during this season of life and Thanksgiving and moving into Christmas. We do not walk alone.....even when it feels like it.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Missed opportunity?
2 Corinthians 5:11-13 (NLT)
We Are God’s Ambassadors
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.
Recently, I was in a dollar store. Through talking to the clerk, she mentioned her husband had died 3 weeks ago while waiting for a liver transplant. I have a friend that received a transplant. I know how hard that wait is. I expressed my sympathy, we finished the transaction and our conversation and I walked out. As I got in the car, I got the feeling/almost a small voice saying I should go back in and give her a hug. ???? That would not be something I would normally do to a stranger.....OK, maybe every once in awhile as the Spirit leads. Unfortunately, I argued myself out of it and didn't do it. I've thought about it for the past few days. The more I think about it, I know it wasn't me talking to myself. I didn't listen. What if God wanted to use me to let her know she's not alone? Missed opportunity!
Tonight, I started reading a book I "happened" to pick up at the library over a week ago. It's called God Speaks To Me....Stories of Triumph Over Tragedy from Women Who Listened to God. The first main point "Sacred Lesson" of the first story? "Your Intution Is Really God Sending You a Private Message"
And I thought I was good at deciphering the small voice as not my own. As the above story shows, sometimes inconvenience and discomfort get in the way. Sometimes I have heard words repeated in my head that did not stop until I said them, then it seemed more obvious it was God. Sometimes, apparently, we get one chance.
I wrote this over the summer. Ties right in.....even when/if we don't listen, it doesn't mean God stops trying to get our attention!
Still Small Voice
We know that God does not often shout
so why do we try so hard to drown His voice out?
We turn up the music, and the TV, invite over friends,
rarely content to be by ourselves.
But if we never make time for quiet, how can we expect to hear?
The still small voice of God telling us He’s here.
He tells us that He knows us:
the us we hide from the world
the us we WANT to be.
The way that He made us
to sit and talk with Him.
If we don’t take time and turn off the noise,
The still small voice remains….still.
KL
If you are given the opportunity to carry out a mission, take God up on it. Who knows where it might lead and who it might bless!
We Are God’s Ambassadors
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.
Recently, I was in a dollar store. Through talking to the clerk, she mentioned her husband had died 3 weeks ago while waiting for a liver transplant. I have a friend that received a transplant. I know how hard that wait is. I expressed my sympathy, we finished the transaction and our conversation and I walked out. As I got in the car, I got the feeling/almost a small voice saying I should go back in and give her a hug. ???? That would not be something I would normally do to a stranger.....OK, maybe every once in awhile as the Spirit leads. Unfortunately, I argued myself out of it and didn't do it. I've thought about it for the past few days. The more I think about it, I know it wasn't me talking to myself. I didn't listen. What if God wanted to use me to let her know she's not alone? Missed opportunity!
Tonight, I started reading a book I "happened" to pick up at the library over a week ago. It's called God Speaks To Me....Stories of Triumph Over Tragedy from Women Who Listened to God. The first main point "Sacred Lesson" of the first story? "Your Intution Is Really God Sending You a Private Message"
And I thought I was good at deciphering the small voice as not my own. As the above story shows, sometimes inconvenience and discomfort get in the way. Sometimes I have heard words repeated in my head that did not stop until I said them, then it seemed more obvious it was God. Sometimes, apparently, we get one chance.
I wrote this over the summer. Ties right in.....even when/if we don't listen, it doesn't mean God stops trying to get our attention!
Still Small Voice
We know that God does not often shout
so why do we try so hard to drown His voice out?
We turn up the music, and the TV, invite over friends,
rarely content to be by ourselves.
But if we never make time for quiet, how can we expect to hear?
The still small voice of God telling us He’s here.
He tells us that He knows us:
the us we hide from the world
the us we WANT to be.
The way that He made us
to sit and talk with Him.
If we don’t take time and turn off the noise,
The still small voice remains….still.
KL
If you are given the opportunity to carry out a mission, take God up on it. Who knows where it might lead and who it might bless!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Good reminder.....
Psalm 55:22 (NLT) Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
I am always amazed and I don't know why anymore because it has happened frequently. When God wants you to know something, he finds a way and a time to let you know. For me? Sometimes still working on the listening part. Many times recently I have run across a verse that BAM fits the moment. The above is a great one for right now.
We have had a laundry list of "stuff" happen recently. I'll spare you the details as I'm sure you could let me know yours too. Suffice it to say, I got the thought today that if I wrote fiction, I'd try a modern day story of Job - female style.....still might.....someday!
This is why this verse came at just the right time. If there's a + and - column of burdens/stuff, we're covered. As long as we keep God on the + side, the sting of the - column feels easier. He will take care of us and our stuff going on in life. We need to keep relying on him and less on ourselves.
MORE (good) God (if you leave out the other "o") reminders:
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Sometimes God even uses license plates. The one I was behind the other day? I RISE
Keep lookin' up and around and EXPECT God to meet you where you're at.
I am always amazed and I don't know why anymore because it has happened frequently. When God wants you to know something, he finds a way and a time to let you know. For me? Sometimes still working on the listening part. Many times recently I have run across a verse that BAM fits the moment. The above is a great one for right now.
We have had a laundry list of "stuff" happen recently. I'll spare you the details as I'm sure you could let me know yours too. Suffice it to say, I got the thought today that if I wrote fiction, I'd try a modern day story of Job - female style.....still might.....someday!
This is why this verse came at just the right time. If there's a + and - column of burdens/stuff, we're covered. As long as we keep God on the + side, the sting of the - column feels easier. He will take care of us and our stuff going on in life. We need to keep relying on him and less on ourselves.
MORE (good) God (if you leave out the other "o") reminders:
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Sometimes God even uses license plates. The one I was behind the other day? I RISE
Keep lookin' up and around and EXPECT God to meet you where you're at.
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