Random Pondering

DH got up around 4 this morning to search for the elusive big buck. Eventually, he woke me as well. As I was trying to get that last hour of sleep I decided that I would talk to God. He is always up at that insane hour. I prayed for myself. Nothing wrong with that. I just know that any and all of my problems have to be turned over to Him. I feel like I literally have to make that statement during my prayer time for it to be fact even though I know He knows my thoughts. It is just how He made me. But I just say to my God, "You know what I need...I don't. Would you mind fixing me?" Of course I know that it isn't that easy. We wouldn't be so lucky. We do have to take the time to listen for His direction to fix us.

The speaker at Tablescapes was wonderful. Her "Light" definitely shined through. As she was speaking I thought to myself, "I wish I was like her. I wish that I could radiate my love for Jesus like she does." But I don't. I let my earthly desires take over and become my focus. It is so weird. Even though I know what I need to do and actually desire to do it; I "forget". It doesn't feel like I would be the real me. So maybe I'm not supposed to be that way. Maybe that is my desire and not His. He may want to use me in a different way. He may like the fact that I want to be that way and that pleases Him for now. When it is time, He will let me know. While this world would be a better place if we were all like the speaker, that is my opinion and not necessarily God's plan. Oh, the faith of a mustard seed.

EXCUSES AND COMPLICATIONS (subtitled SLOW DOWN)

How many times has your alarm gone off on a Sunday morning and you hit snooze and began thinking of reasons to stay in bed and skip church?
{I think} my throat is a little sore. I stayed up too late last night. I’ve been going non-stop for a week; I need a break. I can read my bible at home and get as much as I would get at church. (And yes, those excuses came way too easy to me while writing this.)

Now, how many times have you gone ahead and gotten up and felt fine…not tired at all? Probably most of them if you didn’t let the excuses win.

Think about how tired Paul must have been as he travelled. Think about how tired he was while in prison. Nothing stopped him from telling others about Jesus. He knew that God would sustain him with what he needed to continue.

We are a society that is caught up in the captivity of activity. We feel we must be busy or we are failing. Perhaps the reason that we are craving “busy-ness” is really because God is causing us to feel a craving for Him; we just will not stop long enough to listen.

Redirect your focus to seek God first and He will direct your paths (Matt 6:33).

Rethink your motivation. Are you trying to please people or God? (Gal 1:10)

Rest in God’s will (Heb 4:10) “Anyone who enters God’s rest also rest from his own work.”

And “Whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God!” (1 Cor. 10:31)

I have the above for lines written on an index card on my cubicle wall at work. I see them every day.

Additionally I have the following verse right above my computer monitor. We really need to pray for our nation!

“If my people who are called by my name will humbles themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

Don’t let excuses and complications keep you from you going to church and hearing God’s word for you that day.
Beth

Do you have a mentor?

From Tiffany:

I have found one in Mrs. Therolene Beachem. I got to know her through the Apples of Gold ladies' Bible study class. Then about a year ago during a Wednesday night prayer service, I heard her pray... REALLY pray. I knew at that moment that she was the one who God wanted me to learn from. I began to find ways to be around her more often. Now we are great friends, and she takes every opportunity to teach me about being a Godly wife, mother, and servant. She is truly a blessing to me.

Who are you learning from? If you can't name anyone in particular, I strongly encourage you to begin looking around you. Who strives to be obedient to God? Who is faithful and submissive to their husband? Who is a sincere and mature Christian? Who is God leading you toward? A Godly mentor can bless your life!

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home; to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.—Titus 2:3-5, NIV

Tiff