HOW'S YOUR APPETITE?

Have you ever watched a mama cat begin to wean her kittens? At first, she will just get up and move away. As the process continues, that mama cat will do a low growl, use her paw to bat away or even nip at the little ones who simply want to nurse and be filled. The mama cat knows the exact timing to urge her kittens from depending solely on her to feeding themselves. Horses do this same thing. Cows do it too. In fact, all of God’s creatures eventually become self-feeders. They learn to feed themselves. They must or they will die.

Somewhere during that first and second year of life, human babies desire to feed themselves. First, it is with their fingers  and then with the toddler sized spoon. They miss their mouth, food ends up in their hair, up their nose, on the floor (ceiling, wall, etc). Learning to feed themselves, is time consuming, messy process. It might be easier and less messy if parents just kept spoon feeding that child their nourishment. Then as adults, they could go to their own home and make the mess that come with learning to feed themselves. Pretty silly, right? So, somewhere along the way, self-feeding becomes easy, automatic and can be neatly, and quickly accomplished.

Are you a self-feeder? Oh, most of us are very capable of indulging ourselves with food. Sometimes too much too often. But how about with God’s word? Has church sliced, diced and pureed God’s word into a smoothie that is full of nourishment, but easy to take in and then scamper through the day? Has Pastor cut up and spoonfed the meat of the bible, with all its amazing lessons and messages, that you are now intimidated to try to feed yourself?

Now don’t get me wrong. I love church. Our pastors are amazing servants of God and speak his word in truth and purity in the way I can savor and truly appreciate.  I thoroughly enjoy being in fellowship with other believers. In fact, I need to be with other believers and hear the Pastor’s message. But just being fed whatever scripture lesson our church calendar says or digesting the universal message pastor thinks the congregation needs, simply may not be enough to nourish my soul.

Like that toddler learning to eat, when we attempt  to read, understand and digest bible verses or stories, at first it can feel like a time consumingly slow, messy process where sometimes we can get egg all over our faces.

In Romans 15:4 it says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

Scripture was written to teach us. Attending church and hearing Pastor’s message certainly can teach us. But we are also encouraged to get into God’s word for ourselves.to form that personal relationship with God and learn from the people contained within those pages. They’re not just stories. They are experiences God put in there to encourage and give us hope.  When we open the pages of the bible, we can dig into God’s word and let the sweetness of his words be honey on our lips, so we can experience God on a more personal level.

But becoming a self feeder and forming a personal relationship with God may feel intimidating. We think that we won’t understand, or that it will be too challenging, too hard, or too strange or too time consuming. In Isaiah  chapter 55:14, God says that his word will never return empty. Through our daily reading of the bible, the time when we fill our soul with God’s message, he gives us insight on how we can face our individual daily challenges with his peace and assurance that, no matter the circumstance, he is with us. Yep. It might be messy and make us uncomfortable, but God has a message just for you in those pages, one to give you hope and encouragement. We just need to dig in.

The bible is full of  stories to take in, savor, mull around, sniff out the meaning, and digest the message God has for YOU! Don’t be intimidated, nervous or apprehensive. Become a self-feeder. Get messy. Ask questions and keep asking. Dig in like you would dig into a hot fudge sundae with whip cream and cherries on top and taste the blessings, promises, and reassurance straight from the hand of God.  (rs)

For your consideration today:
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3

Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. Deuteronomy 32:2

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

***Lysa TerKeurst has a youtube that was originally used to promote the release of her newest book at the time -2009. In it she relates her experience of cutting up a pineapple and the sweet fruit inside to digging into God’s word. The illustrated picture message will be one that stick with you and may help if you are ready to dig into God’s word for yourself. You can find it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnfRzgGpaPI

Don't Stop Talking

Face it, ladies, we like to talk. We talk about, well… everything… and to the utmost detail.   Agreed?  

Have you ever got the feeling while talking to someone that perhaps they stopped listening before you were finished speaking? 

God says, “talk to me.” Matthew 11:28 Not only will He never stop listening, but He is always interested!  He won’t get bored and tune you out, He is attentive.  Psalm 34:15.

Talking to God is so awesome.  The God who keeps the seasons in order, who paints beautiful sunsets, who turns on the stars at night and rises the sun each morning, who watches over our daily activities and protects the tiniest living thing is our Father.  This all powerful God is ready, willing and able to listen anytime, any place.  We call it prayer, but it is simply talking to our “Abba” dear Father. 

Would you be with a friend or husband or child and not talk with them? God is always with you.  He longs to be included in your day. 

The Old Testament priests had the Holy of Holies inner sanctuary, the publican crouched in the corner of the altar.  Where is your special place with Jesus? A certain chair? A garden bench?  At the kitchen table before the house wakes up?

Of course it is good to have that special time and place where you have intentional, focused prayer, but remember God is always with you. He’s riding in the car with you, beside you as you do your daily chores, sitting with you at the bedside of a loved one.  He will never leave you or forsake you.  Deut. 31:6  

The power of prayer is your greatest weapon against the trials of this world.  Be a prayer warrior.  Pray without stopping.  Nothing is too insignificant to talk with God about.  He is with you waiting to listen. Then be sure to give Him time to “talk”.  Listen to what He has to say by reading His word.  Conversation is a two way street.

Give It and Leave It

Do you ever feel like your strength is dried up?  We fight against time, weight loss/gain, disappointments, unkind people, our own weaknesses and we could go on.  Don’t you just get weary of it all? 

Jesus spoke to His disciples and promised. “In this world you will have trouble.”  John 16:33 Trouble, yes, we expect some, but sometimes if feels like life is a continuous battle?  What does your battlefield look like?  What are your weapons…anger, impatience, harsh words?   It’s how you approach this battle that counts.  Do you stand tall in the face of trials with all of Your might or do you fall on your knees and gather your Strength?

 Jesus not only offers us to cast our cares on Him Psalm 55:22 but He impresses cast all your cares on Me 1 Peter 5:7.  How do we transfer this weight?  Pray and pray continuously.

 Prayer is the most powerful weapon in your arsenal!  We are quick to share our thoughts with friends or sometimes anyone who will listen.  Why is it we are not as quick to tell our Brother, the one who can and longs to actually help?  To pray is to talk with our God,  the One who has all things under His control and knows all things.  With His voice, not even a shout, he can calm the raging storm.  Certainly your “storm” is on His radar.

Oh, dear weary traveler, fall down and leave your heavy load at Jesus’ feet.  He asks for it.  “Come to me you weary, I will give you rest” Matthew11:28.  No matter how heavy your heart, the shoulders that carried the weight of the sins of the whole world surely won’t buckle under the pressure of your problems. 

Drop those worries and cares as if you are standing at the side of a cavern.  Feel the weight slide off your shoulders as those rocks fall deeper,  farther into the abyss and let God’s peace fill your soul.  Too often we “give” our cares to God like a yo-yo.   Give them, take them back.  Give them, take them back.

Kneel at Jesus’ feet and lay your burden down, not to be picked up again then dance away rejoicing.  Yes, Jesus promises trouble John 16:33 but read on, He continues… “ But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 59:16 NIV

(This is a part of a series on prayer.  More to come)

(JH)

Popcorn Prayers and Wrestling Matches

Prayer is the simple act of worship where we, as believers in Jesus Christ,  can speak boldly and confidently to God from our heart. When we pray through the lens of a believer,  God hears our prayers (John 16:23). But an unbeliever's prayer will fall on deaf ears (Hebrews 11:6). As believers, we can thank and ask God for anyone, anything, anytime, anywhere using our own heartfelt words.

Often, our prayer life can find us doing popcorn prayers. Random prayers that simply pop in our heads and are quickly whispered to God. Prayers of thanksgiving, healing, safety, of praise. Nothing wrong with those quick sporadic prayers. God knows our heart, and what we need at that moment and he will listen.

Other times, our prayer life can seem like a wrestling match. So many thing vie for our attention that our minds wrestle with staying on the task of speaking to God. Interruptions, time demands, deadlines, grocery lists, washer or dryer buzzing, kids fighting all distract us. Our prayers may travel down many unrelated tangents until we give into our demands and stop praying. Satan is perfectly happy keeping us distracted from conversing with God.

Then, too, we can simply be too busy and we forget to pause and take time to listen for God’s reply.  

God’s reply? YES! God communicates back to us through his Holy Word, the Bible.

When we devote even short amounts of time on a daily basis to be reading his word, he can give us the instruction and comfort we may need to handle the circumstances he sees heading our way. When we read bible stories and the way God’s people of the past reacted and handled situations in their life, we become better prepared to face life with the peace only he can provide. He loves us and he wants to prepare us, interrupt us and sometimes rearrange us to protect us from our natural, sometimes sinful, responses to our circumstances. When we spend time in our bibles, our hearts are better prepared to deal with our daily lives.

A favorite bible story is about Jesus on a 40 day fast, alone in the desert, when he is visited by the devil in the beginning verses of Matthew chapter 4. Satan tempts Jesus three times. In each case, Jesus used God’s word to fight off the temptations he was facing. Jesus knew God’s word well enough that he was prepared to use it.

As we dig into God’s word, he too will prepare us to face our days. We can pray God’s word back to him and be strengthened.

How powerful would it be to:

• Pray for your husband and ask that God would keep his mind sharp and focused. That his thoughts would not be conformed to this world, but would be transformed and renewed by the power of God. (Romans 12:2)

• Pray for your children and ask that no unwholesome talk would proceed from them, but only what is good for building others up. Pray that your children would always speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15, 29), that they’d be quick to flee from temptation, to turn away from evil, and to faithfully pursue wisdom, righteousness, peace, love, and truth. (2 Timothy 2:22; Psalm 34:14; Proverbs 4:5-7)

• Pray for a hurting friend and ask that they may humble themselves under God’s mighty hand, so that he may lift them up in due time.  May they cast all anxiety on him.  Help them to be alert and of sober mind.  May they resist the roaring enemy lion and stand firm in the faith.  Remind and encourage him that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings (I Peter 5:6-9).

• Pray for a boss or coworker to give victory over seeking the praise of people. Help them to be ready to give to the Lord’s work without expecting any recognition from others. (Matthew 6:2)

• Pray for your pastor and ask the Lord to help him to proclaim the kingdom of God and teach about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance (Acts 28:31).

• Pray for yourself or bible study friends Psalm 86:11 that the Lord would teach us his ways so we may rely on his faithfulness and that he would give us an undivided heart, and that we may fear his name and that as we draw closer to him, he will draw nearer to us. (James 4:8)

We underestimate the power made available to us when we don’t spend enough time with God. Instead of filling your prayer time with only your words, take time to focus on what our powerful God is communicating back through his word.

You can spend time praying and meditating on passages that touch you, journal your thoughts and prayers and jot down how God answers them. And don’t worry if at first all you hear is silence. Keep sitting at his feet. He is faithful and will draw our hearts out of the chaos of our lives into the sweetness of his presence. Pray Jeremiah 29: 12-14.

Prayer is powerful. Join us at 5pm this Sunday, January 31st in the church basement to watch the family friendly movie, War Room. See how Ms Clara changes the lives of a family through her prayer life. Pastor will be available for questions and pizza will be served. (rs)

How do you spend your soul?

What does YOUR soul long for, that deep down thing you long to do? 

Do you carve out time in your day for this longing and guard that time or do other people’s requests dictate your schedule?  There’s a distinct difference between being proactive or reactive when it comes to how you approach your schedule.  When other people’s requests dictate the decisions we make, we can quickly become exhausted from living reactive instead of proactive lives.

An overwhelmed soul leaves you longing and living with an unfulfilled emptiness.

“The decisions we make dictate the schedules we keep.  The schedules we keep determine the lives we live.  The lives we live determine how we spend our souls.” Lysa Terkeurst.

This is more than selfishly making “ME time.”  What we are talking about here is making intentional decisions to honor God with the time we have .  

In Philippians 2:3-7 Paul talks about the unity of the church through humility. Giving voice to the passion God has placed in you.  Why?   “… to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul”  Deuteronomy 10:12.  Having the right attitude and unselfishly letting your passion out and come to fruition so that you may serve others.  This is mission work, right?  To not only preach, but live the Gospel.  A little farther down Paul says then you will shine like stars in the universe (Philippians 2:14-16).

God places many people in our lives so that we may serve them.  It is not enough to be given the opportunities, we must take the time to see them and act.  It’s about being the woman who makes intentional decisions to find her way to serve others and shine.

You know, you are not alone in this.  God doesn’t give you the direction and then leave you out there hanging.  Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”  He gives instruction so we can know His direction.

How we spend our souls matter.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:20-22  (Read these passages for yourself, God has more to say to you here.)

Things won’t change by simply trying harder, the approach of how you make decisions must change.  So, what is your longing?  What patterns must you change to create new, more proactive habits to live a more intentional life for God?

Don’t get so locked in to your overwhelmed schedule  that you haphazardly spend your soul.  Never was a woman so fulfilled as when she chooses to underwhelm her schedule so she can let God overwhelm her soul.

What will God accomplish and allow you to experience through you obedience to Him?   (JH)

A Wind-up Toy Life

At the end of every year, you cannot turn on the radio or the television without hearing the media bombard the audience with thoughts about new goals and goal setting.  Our friends and family ask us what new resolution, or behaviors, will we make or change for the start of the new year. It is a condition of our world that we long for change. I ache to be better, to do better, to live differently, determined to take away the struggle of overeating or not exercising enough, of spending too much money on things or time on the computer and not enough in God’s word.  I long for change of some of my behaviors.

Even if I desire change, I often find myself like the wind-up toy monkey I had as a child. In the morning, I wake up and wind the little key on my back and proceed to act and do exactly the same things I did yesterday. Oh, the day to day tasks change, but basically I move from here to there, clanging my cymbals, and getting the errands done; hopping from one task to another but never really moving forward. On occasion I get wound too tight and I cannot think correctly and sometimes I just slowly wind down and accomplish nothing. Somehow, every day is the same and the changes I desire never happen and disappointment in myself is felt deep inside my heart.

I struggle with this and I’m guessing you do too.

This struggle shows up in different behaviors, habits, actions or emotions for each of us. Some behaviors are healthy and enrich our lives. Think about the healthy behaviors you have in your life in relationships, finances, spiritual life or physical life and how you are enriched through those behaviors.

But some behaviors are unhealthy and we can all lay claim to an unhealthy behavior that impoverishes our life. It impoverishes us spiritually, financially, physically or in relationships.  It might be anger, an addiction, or laziness, possibly selfishness or something else entirely. We want to change, but you can’t. We have good intentions to change, yet we often fail to even start the change or it continues to persist.

Understand that you are not alone. The apostle Paul knew the tension to know what is right but to not live it.  Listen to what he said in Romans 7:15 and feel his despair, how he is like a wind-up toy too:

I do not understand what I do.

For what I want to do

I do not do,

but what I hate

I do.

I see myself in this passage. On one hand is me knowing and desiring the very things I should do but instead day to day routines, circumstances and habits keep me stuck doing the very things I resolved to not do.

There is hope for us though, and we will be exploring more on the topic in future posts to this web site. But I don’t want to leave you wallowing there. So one more thought.

The bible tells us in Lamentations 3:22,

Because of the Lord’s great love

we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Ahhhh…...don’t you feel better now? That passage brings a big smile to my face like a gulp of fresh spring air. Because God loves us so much, we need not despair and be consumed. The Lord’s great love is new every morning!

So, as we wind ourselves up and proceed through the day living our healthy behaviors and habits but also as we cave into our unhealthy behaviors and habits, rest in the promise that as children of God, we get a do over every morning because He loves us. And that is a promise from our God and our treasure!

If you would like to automatically receive more encouragement and growth for your spiritual life, you may subscribe to www. mygodmytreasure.com web site. Feel free to encourage and invite your friends to subscribe also.  

Then join us on Monday, January 18th at 7pm at Higher Grounds Coffee Shop in Beaver Dam as other ladies expand and grow in this area plus explore and discuss the topic of “Overwhelmed Schedule - Underwhelmed Soul”.        (rs)

Epiphany

January 6 - Epiphany - the coming of the Wise Men to see Baby Jesus

A story told so often we know it by heart, or do we?

Jesus was the promised Messiah which the Jews were watching and waiting for.  Generation after generation the promise was passed on with anticipation.  The wise men, however, were not Jewish. They came from the East, gentiles.  They saw God's special star in the sky and they were moved to follow it to see the Savior.  They knew this Savior was for all people.

This wasn't exactly a walk down the block or even across town. Great care had to be taken in setting off with a caravan of any size. Camels and wise men like to eat, you know and nights get cold. Many supplies had to be gathered and packed for the journey of unknown length.  How many wise men we are not told.  We are told, though, in addition to necessities they took care to pack gifts and priceless ones at that.

Without question or delay, they set out, guided by a star to find the newborn King and present him with costly gifts.  They were not held back by doubts and they didn't bring cheap trinkets for show.  Worship, full of awe and wonder and praise.

This is the story of heart we know and treasure and hold as an example as we worship our King daily. His "star" still guides us.  Confidently follow.  What best will you give him?                     (jh)