Words Of Encouragement For Your Day ( Friday 12/28/2012)

They’re Missing It Because They Are Looking At The Wrong Things

John 1:10-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁰ He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. ¹¹ He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. ¹² But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. ¹³ They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

            Most of us have heard the phrase “cannot see the forest for the trees.”  This statement or phrase is truer than most of us would care to admit.  My husband and I have known each other since High School, I liked him (but other things or people happened).  Back then I was just Lisa James from the hill that would not let him get in the last word; although there was time that we shared that identified a part of me that was different then I allowed many to see, it also told him I liked him but he overlooked that for what was more aggressive and what he perceived as “shimmer,” what he knew of me was over looked and I tease him often that he missed one of the greatest revelations he could have had then, loving me for a life time.  It wasn’t until 30 years later when he was reading the devotionals that he recognized what had been present back in High school which was the God in me.  Admittedly not at the level it is presently and I was definitely not able to articulate or write God and His omnipotence in the fashion I presently do,  but I loved God even then and the sensitive heart that he reference often now was there then as well.

            All too often God will send us into the lives of people and they will miss the revelation of who we are, because they are so busy looking for their needs, help, friendship, and advice or love to come in a different way; a different package.  Much as when God sent Jesus to us, we were looking for Him in any way than the way He came.  I am sure the people of His day were not looking for the Savior to be the son of a carpenter or to be born in a manger; nor did they anticipate Him to hang in the midst of dysfunction or irreparable people.  I would expect that people around Jesus were probably looking for anything but who He was and how He came.  They too as my husband so many years ago were looking for the “shimmer,” their brand of success or what they have categorized as credible by what they have or what someone can do for them. It is here they end up missing the heart of the matter, the depth of individual and the expressed purpose in which they have been sent to into their lives. Galatians 6:8 reminds us, “For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  When we see and evaluate through the eyes of our flesh we will reap what the flesh produces, but when we allow the spirit to influence how we decide, how we think and even who we allow to get close to us, we will reap things that are eternal, spiritual and things that produce life even in the natural.

            Is there someone that you have missed or is their someone’s life that you have been sent into that has missed you because you don’t walk with swag, or have a lot of money, or work a job they respect and consider successful. Make sure you evaluate by the spirit and not by your flesh. If you have been the one overlooked, or dismissed pray for them and keep being about your Father’s business.  Many of us have missed God because He did not show up the way we thought He should?  All too often the pictures we painted have been

brush strokes of our flesh and we have not allowed the Spirit of God within us to guide the artistry of our lives and the landscape of the portraits God desires.  Take a moment to look with the eyes of spiritual discernment and not the eyes of our biasness, prejudices, baggage or our fleshly desires.  Don’t miss your blessings or your deliverance.  Don’t have your Savior, your blessing, your God send right in front of your face and allow your flesh, or mind to get in the way of missing what God has for you!  If you are the one being overlooked, don’t take it personally, they aren’t missing you, but the God in you…In either case look to Jesus and live!

Words Of Encouragement For Your Day (Wednesday 12/26/2012)

How Much Did Your Gift Cost

Ephesians 5:1-2 Amplified Bible (AMP)

5 Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. ² And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

            Yesterday was Christmas, and many of us woke up with one focus in mind, to get to open the gifts that we purchased for others so we could see their reaction or open the gifts that were purchased for us. Some of us woke up realizing that relatives were coming over or we were obligated to attend a function at someone’s house and thought about just getting through the day.  Others woke up with grief over all that they could not do or afford.  I woke up early unable to rest not for any of these reasons, but because I realized yesterday was the day that we celebrated my Savior’s, Lord and King’s birthday.  I also realized in those moments of prayer and meditation that my Savior had given me a very expensive gift that He had given me all of Him, but in those moments I questioned how expensive the gift that I was giving to Him was.  I understood that I was not perfect, but had I given all to Him as He had given to me?  The answer I discovered was obvious, no; there were times when I had neglected to give God all of me, or to apply myself to studying His word or obtaining a closer walk with Him, or submitting to His will, prayer and meditation even when it was uncomfortable, or not convenient.

            I watched over the last weeks as people spent all they had buying things for people who did not care about them, or deserve what they had expended upon them, and yet they expended more attitude, selfishness, bitterness, anger, impatience and intolerance, while they prepared to “bless people or give to people.  I watched as people skipped out on church to go to the mall or spend time at Christmas plays, pageants and parties.  We spent money on clothing, food, toys and so many other things and we put so much time into those things, but God was left alone for the Holidays, with no gift.  Some say we should give monetary gifts to God; this is appropriate as we are lead to do so, but as I discovered in my prayer time yesterday, is God wants the most expensive gift we can bring Him, which is us.  He wants all of us.  He wants all that we would apply in so many other things to be applied to Him.  He really does want us to seek Him first, to apply our time, talents and resources to the up building of His kingdom first before we seek out a job, a relationship, influence, money, things, people or anything else.  He wants us to lay down our lives for Him as Jesus has laid down His for us. He wants us to let Him occupy our lives, not just in a season or a moment but for all times, just as He came to do for us.

            How expensive is the gift that we are giving to God?  How much of us really belongs to Him? You see all too often we think if we are talking the game we are bringing our “A” game, but in realism, it is just talk.  God wants us to bring Him our best gift, which is us.  He doesn’t want the talk, the show, the wad of cash thrown in a venue so that all can see us doing it.  He wants our hearts, soul, mind, body and spirit submitted to Him, being used by Him and humbled to His will not some of the time but all of the time.  He doesn’t want us so consumed with our lives that we forget about the life that He created us to live for Him.  Don’t give Him what is left, give God what is right; what is best, what is most not what is least.  Give Him your ALL, the most expensive you, the one that no man can afford and that lacks the ability to put an earthly price tag on it!

Words Of Encouragement For Your Day ( Friday 12/14/2012)

You Move, I Move

James 2:20 Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁰ Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?

Matthew 11:28 Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁷ So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, ¹⁸ And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

            My husband and I were having a conversation the other day about our behavior as people and how many times we want people to invest in us, without us having to do anything.  Many times we find that people would rather sit back on their laurels and let you do it all.  My husband has a saying that he frequently uses and I have adopted it as well; the saying is “I can’t want it more than you do.”  There have been times we have both done everything for people and they have done nothing and they have become crippled and ineffective. As my husband pointed out this can be a very dangerous and irresponsible thing to do, because it causes people to become dependent, ineffective, and paralyzed.  He went on to say not even God will allow us to do nothing, while He does everything.  We have to do something even when it just an application of faith or a reflection of His character.

            This conversation sparked me to begin to look at the word of God and begin to look through its pages and see how many times God asks of us to do before He does.  Well, surprisingly enough God began asking us to do immediately, He asked Adam in the garden not to eat of the fruit if the tree; God also asked Adam to name the animals and to tend or oversee the garden.  But that was only the beginning, He asked Abram to have trust enough and to walk in obedience to leave his family and his home land, as He unfolded His plan in His life.  He asked Samson’s mother not to cut His hair in order for him to be consecrated and have strength, and the list goes on and on.  You see God’s movement always requires something of us.  The woman with the issue of blood would have never gotten healed had she not come to Jesus, defying law, and touching Him.  The widow woman would not have received provision if she had not first fed the prophet of God.  It is not to say God needs us, but it is an act of our obedience, sacrifice, trust and faith that moves God.  We cannot just talk a game; we have to actually have to do something.  Dr. Samuel Chand recently spoke at our church and he encouraged us that we have to do what we can do and God will do what we cannot do.

            God does not just want us to lean on Him out of fear, but He wants us to have confidence in Him and in what He has given us.  He wants us to know that we are not as crippled and weak as we think, if we can do one thing towards change, He knows that we are serious, not just giving lip service; it’s about getting in position to receive what standing still will not get us.  Our movement is imperative to God’s movement, you see although we understand God is the same yesterday, today and forever more, He is in motion.  One of my theology Professors Dr. Sanders was the first person I heard say this many years ago that” God is in our past, in our future and in our future all at the same time, and He is waiting for us to catch up with the fullness of time.”  God doesn’t want us standing still, or laying still curled up in the fetal position waiting.  He wants us up moving, and doing something towards what He has called us to do.  If we are unsure of what that is, keep seeking Him, and cultivate your passions.  The chance that your passions have something to do with the call on your life is great.  Move towards God and He will move towards you!

Words Of Encouragement For Your Day ( Wednesday 12/12/2012 revisted from January 2009)

Get Up And Get It Over With...

Exodus 33:13-15 (Amplified Bible)

13Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people. 14And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. 15And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here!

     Tonight I was not feeling very well.  The weather had changed and become bitterly cold this week and I was working a position at work that placed me in front of an open door for the past two days.  My throat had become sore and my ear had started to ache, so by the time I got home this evening I felt pretty horrible.  My symptoms had worsened.  I ate and talked with my children and my mom.  I had communicated with a person or two, as I lay across my bed I felt myself falling asleep.  My daughter who was in the room with said "mom, you have to write the devotional, you should get up and get it over with."  I opened one eye and said I think I really need to just rest for a moment because I am not hearing anything right now.  My symptoms had become the thing that was overwhelming.  As I laid there I dozed off for a while.  When I woke up I could hear my daughter’s words ringing in my ears. "getting it over with."  For me to have moved in that moment I would have moved in my suffering and wrote in my flesh.

     Many times we will move out in order to just get things done and we move without God.  For many of us we feel guilty to take a minute to rest or to sit down and get quiet.  We either feel as if we will miss something or that someone will think less of us, if we are not trying to keep pace with the world.  Sometimes it is God's will for us not to move in that moment.  Sometimes it is God's will for us to rest, sit with Him and be restored in order for us to move in a time when we are better equipped and better prepared to master the task that awaits us.  In many instance it is God's timing that requires us to wait and move when His spirit leads us to go.  Instead we go on ahead, leaving Him behind in a fruitless exercise in futility.  If we had only decided to rest for a moment and get what we needed from God and what we needed to move forward.  We often forget everything that we are capable of is not what is the best course of action for us and those we will encounter, and God's anointing may be lacking, if we move in that moment.

    As we move into another phase of our day or our lives, make sure that you understand where you need to be.  Even more importantly make sure you know where God is before you move.  It is not always a good thing just to go and get it over with; you might need a moment to rest and get it right!  Don't run out on empty, make sure God is going with you and you have what it takes to successfully complete the task at hand.