Glory Days

Have you heard the term 'resting on your laurels?'  It means:  to be satisfied with your achievements and not to make an effort to do anything else.

Have you met people like that?  I have.  They are easy to identify.  They are the ones who boast about all the things they 'used' to do, but don't seem to be doing anything right now.

They are so busy looking in the past that they don't see the work ahead of them.

Philippians 3:13-14 says, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

I don't want to be satisfied in the here and now, from works that I achieved in my past.

I want to be actively serving my Lord...

    But that's just me!

"You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one."  Unknown

Unfinished Projects

We all have them.

For men, they may be a workbench in the corner of the garage.

For women, they may be a closet, or a trunk in the basement.

Regardless of what they may be, or where they are located, they all possess one or several things:

    Unfinished projects.

You know what I'm talking about.  The workbench may hold bits and pieces of a project that was started from a hobby or a honey-do- list.

The closet or trunk may be full of bits and pieces of material from a project that was to adorn your wall, pillow, or even yourself.

Maybe you started painting a picture, and stopped half-way through...

You grew weary, tired, or bored.  Maybe the expense was too much pay to complete your project.

Whatever the reason, your once started projects, now lay dormant, forgotten, abandoned.

I read just today that I am a project.  But I will never be put in a closet, placed on a shelf, forgotten, left to myself or abandoned.  I have a purpose to fulfill, and God will make sure to equip me to do it.  From the moment I trusted Christ as my Saviour, He began to work on me and in me.  Not just a work, but A GOOD WORK.  And He promises to finish it!  He will work on me and in me until the day of Jesus Christ.  Whether I meet Him in the air, or join Him through death, My Lord is working in me.

Philippians 1:6 says, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

He's still working on me.  I will never be discarded or set aside for later.  I am His work, and He will complete me!

When you look at me, you may find me lacking.  Just remember:

𝅘𝅥𝅮He's still working on me!  To make me what I ought to be!𝅘𝅥

And when I look at you,  I will remember He is still working on you too!

    But that's just me!

"God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way."  Leighton Ford

You Do It

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;  Colossians 3:23

When I was a little girl, my Mom used to tell me, "When you see something that needs to be done, don't wait for me to tell you to do it, just do it."

As my boys grew up, I told them the same thing, "If you see the garbage can is full, don't wait for me to tell you to take it out, just take it out."

I remembered those words this past week, every time I went to church.

The first week, I noticed the need, but thought nothing of it.

The second week I thought, "Isn't So-and-So responsible to take care of this?  I wonder why this hasn't been done?"

The third week I thought, "This looks terrible!  Why hasn't anyone done anything about this?"

    Hey, I'm just being honest.

But just as soon as that thought entered my mind, the Lord said, "YOU DO IT."

Now, the Lord doesn't speak audibly anymore, but let me tell you, I heard Him loud and clear!

So what did I do?

I stepped up and took care of the need.

Next time, I won't wait so long.

    But that's just me.

𝅘𝅥𝅮 A helper I will be, a helper I will be, there's work to do, there's work to do, a helper I will be.𝅘𝅥𝅮

Superstitions

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  Acts 17:22

Today is Friday the 13th.  YIKES!  I wonder how many people woke up this morning with the mindset that it was going to be a day filled with trouble and bad luck?  It made me think of many of the superstitions that I heard of as a child.  Here are a few examples:

    Never open an umbrella indoors-

    Never walk under a ladder-

    Turn around if a black cat crosses your path-

    If you spill salt, throw salt over your left shoulder-

    Break a mirror, expect 7 years of bad luck-

    Step on a crack, break your Mother's back-

European folklore, ancient Romans and pagan cultures such as the Celts, brought many of these superstitions to light.

Knocking on wood originated from the Celts because they believed that Spirits lived in trees!

And did you know that 85% of buildings that have Otis Elevators, purposely omitted the 13th floor?

Webster defines Superstitions as- A belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural.

(Another word for Superstition is idolatry.)

To be superstitious means to be swayed by superstition.

Christian-we are NOT to live this way!

2 Timothy 1:7 says, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

So what is the opposite of Superstition?  Reality, Truth, Fact.

"Lead me in Thy Truth, and teach me:  for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."  Psalm 25:5

Edmund Burke once said, "Superstition is the religion of the feeble minds."

I don't know about you, but I'm too busy to try to keep up with all the superstitious precautions as I go about my day, and I want nothing between my Lord and my Saviour.  I want my mind focused on One Truth:  The Truth:  Jesus!

    But that's just me!

"The three most powerful and most apparent means used by Rome to retain her power over the minds of her votaries are ignorance, superstition and persecution."  Charles Spurgeon

End Of The World

..And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen  Matthew 28:20

I read this verse today, and I think it's kind of neat how the Lord will speak to my heart in a way that is so very far off from what a verse actually means in it's context.  I mean, this verse is part of the Great Commission.  It's telling us to go out and observe all that the Lord has commanded us and that He would be with us even to the end of the world.

But the words, 'end of the world' kept replaying in my mind.

The end of the world.

I've been there.  Have you?

In a situation where I thought this was the end of the world.  There was no getting back up and there was no way out.

I thought I was all alone...

But God is THERE.

At the end of the world with me.

At the end of my circumstance, with me.

Always.

Such comfort! 

Isaiah 46:4 says, "And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you:  I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you."

From the beginning to the end, from my birth to my old age, God, Who is I AM, made me, will bear me, will carry me and will deliver me.

WOW!  What a promise!

There may be times in my life where it feels like the end of the world.  But I am not alone.

God is there!

    But that's just me!

"The more clearly we see the Sovereignty of God and depend on His providential care, the less perplexed we will be by life's calamities."  Unknown

What If I Give All?

"In all my years of service to my Lord, I have discovered a truth that has never failed and has never been compromised.  That truth is that it is beyond the realm of possibilities that one has the ability to out give God.  Even if I give the whole of my worth to Him, He will find a way to give back to me much more than I gave."  Charles Spurgeon

One of my favorite accounts in the Bible is found in John 6:9  It says:  "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: what are they among so many?"

The answer:  In the hands of Jesus...more than enough.

The disciple, Andrew, should have known this, after all, verse 2 tells us that the multitude had followed Jesus because they had already witnessed the miracles Jesus could do!  They wanted to see more miracles!  And a miracle they did see!  All because a little boy gave all that he had to Jesus.

A lunch possibly packed and prepared by his Mother that very morning, to last him throughout his day.  But when he saw Jesus, this lad wanted to share; and not with just some but ALL.

It made me ask myself, "When was the last time I gave ALL I had to Jesus?"  

When did I literally give to the extent that I went without?  Put another person's need before my own?

When I give to a Love Offering, do I sacrifice on my part for someone else?

Do I give just enough to help with a need, and still be able to drive through Starbucks for my coffee?

Or, do I meet the need and  go without my Starbucks coffee?

What about my time?  Do I alter my plans in order to help someone else with a task they need to do?

Erwin Lutzer once said, "Those who give much without sacrifice are reckoned as having given little."

When God leads you to give, give.  Let Him handle the rest.

"After giving something to God, you are no longer accountable for it.  Your blessing is based on your giving, not on what others do with the gift"  Ed Cole

Lord, help me to be willing to give all.

    But that's just me!

What if I Give All?

He heard the preacher say, "A single dime could feed,

a hungry boy or girl with nothing to eat"

so he pulled a dollar from the pocket of his jeans,

he asked his mama, "How many will this feed?"

she just smiled when she told him ten,

he reached back in again...

"What if I give all I have, what will that gift do?"

"My child a gift like that could change the world,

could feed a multitude!"

He didn't close his eyes or turn away,

I can see him standing tall,

He saw the need and I can hear him say,

"What if I give all?"

Three birthday dollars, could of bought a special toy,

But he reminds me of another little boy,

Who gave to Jesus the gift of fish and bread,

I wonder if he said,

"What if I give all I have, what will that gift do?"

"My child a gift like that could change the world,

It could feed a multitude!"

He didn't close his eyes or turn away, 

I can see him standing tall,

He saw the need and I can hear him say,

"What if I give all?"

Long ago, a Father and His Son,

saw their children lost in sin,

Can you see the tears in Father's eyes,

As Jesus says to Him,

"What if I give all I have, what will that gift do?"

"My Son that gift will change the world,

it will free the multitude!"

We cannot close our eyes and turn away,

when we hear His spirit call,

We see the need, now let Him hear us say,

"What if I give all?"

By Ray Boltz and Mark Pay

Moments for the Heart Vol. 1&2 1994

BMG Rights management

Stuck at Repentance

Acts 20:21b ...repentance toward God, and faith toward our LORD Jesus Christ.

I have known people who hear the gospel message, get saved, and have no doubt whatsoever that they have been born again.

I have known people who hear the gospel message, get saved, and yet they continue to doubt that they have been born again.

And I have known people who hear the gospel message week after week, and yet never make the decision to be saved and they leave church defeated and confused.

Why?

Because they are stuck at repentance.

How do I know that?

Because I was there.

I made many professions of faith before realizing that salvation is not MY work.   My Salvation did not depend on the 'words' I spoke when I prayed.  My Salvation did not depend on how many tears I cried, or didn't cry.   Jesus did all the work for me.  Jesus paid my sin debt on the cross.  He suffered and bled and died.  He was buried and He rose again and ascended up to heaven and placed His own blood on the mercy seat to atone for my sin.

And for yours.

Jesus Himself said, "It is finished."

Repentance means 'to feel remorse' and 'to turn from.'  Don't change that into a definition you cannot understand.

Repentance is NOT: a measured emotion-

                                  it's not how many tears you have cried-

                                  it's not in the words you quote from a prayer-

Repentance IS: a conscience decision based on the condition of your heart.  You turn from your way to God's way.

Joshua made it quite simple.  Joshua 24:14-15 simply says, 'Choose you this day.'

It's time to choose, so make the decision.

Are you doubting your salvation because you are asking yourself:

    "I wasn't sorry enough."

    "I didn't say the 'sinners prayer'"

Then it's time to remove "I" from your thoughts and trust what Jesus did for you.

Don't be so focused on the 'repenting' that you remain stuck there.

It's time to turn towards Jesus Christ and rest in HIS work alone.

Salvation is not about me.

    It's about Christ.

It's not about emotions, tears, or words.

    It's about Christ's saving grace.

I was stuck at repentance until I realized I was not supposed to remain there.

I turned to Christ-

Now there are no more doubts....

    But that's just me!

Ask

My husband has a big heart towards little children.  I call it the 'Grandpa-Syndrome.'  Our grandchildren live far away, so he has to spoil the children at church, and it doesn't take long for the little ones to learn just who will do the spoiling!  It happened just last night during an After-Service-Fellowship.  My husband was talking with a friend, when a no-more-than-two little girl walked up to him, lifted up her arms and said, 'Donut!'  Now, who could resist such a request?  Not my husband!  As the child's mother looked on, my husband lifted the child into his arms and they both went to get the yummy treat.

I couldn't help but think of Matthew 7:7-11.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

This little girl knew who to ask for a donut.

I know Who to ask when I need something too, my Heavenly Father.  He is just waiting for me to draw near, lift up my arms and make my request.  He will lift me up into His arms and He will meet my need.  He has never let me down.  Do I always get what I ask for?  No.  Sometimes I ask for the wrong things, and because God loves me so much, He will have to tell me no. But when I ask according to His Will, He answers in ways much more than I could have ever expected!

God knows my requests even before I ask, but I ask Him anyway.  Why?  Because He is my Father, He loves me, and He wants to give me good gifts.  It allows my Faith to grow!

    But that's just me!

"True prayer is asking God what HE wants."  William Barclay

Reading Hearts

1 Samuel 16:7b says.. For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

"God sees hearts as we see faces."  George Herbert

For the past two weeks I have been wearing a heart monitor.  It is recording every single heart beat, every skipped beat, every palpitation,  and rapid heart beat.  Tomorrow I will remove this small monitor, place it in a box and mail it off to be read by a health professional.

I wish the person reading this collected data could read, 'Jesus lives in this heart.'

Only Jesus sees our hearts, the motives behind each action we do, each word we speak, but our actions and words will reveal to others what is or Who is living in our hearts.  

Harry Ironside once said, "The testimony of the lips indicates the state of the heart.

When people read my heart do they see that Jesus lives here, or does my humanity cloak my Saviour's presence?  Is Jesus so evident in my words and actions, that people can overlook my outward appearance to see Him, or are my words and actions making it difficult to see my heart?

God, help others to look beyond my outward appearance to see You in my heart, and God, help me to look beyond appearances and read other's hearts!

    But that's just me!

"And if my actions speak loud and my words seem to be all too human,

it's just that often I choose not to move with the flow of His hand,

But when you look me in the heart, You'll see that I'm changing,

When you look me in the heart, His holiness shows,

'Cause underneath this mortal frame, the Lord is reigning,

You will see Him when you look me in the heart."

    Excerpt from 'Look Me In The Heart' by Wayne Watson 1985 Giants in the Land