He Is Working

O Lord, how long shall I cry

for help, and You will not hear?

Habakkuk 1:2 ESV

How many times have we cried this same thing that Habakkuk cried? Oh Lord, help me! Why aren't You doing anything? We don't understand why our prayer hasn't been answered or our needs met.

We've been praying for something for weeks, months, or even years on end, yet we don't see the request answered by God. We are suffering with an unmet need, yet God still hasn't helped. We see the chaos, evil, and injustices in the world and wonder where God is.

Habakkuk saw injustice and idolatry everywhere he looked. He went to God lamenting, asking why God was allowing this to happen and why He hadn't done anything yet. God responds to Habakkuk telling him that He sees everything and knows all. And assures Habakkuk that He is doing a work. 

Look among the nations, and see;

wonder and be astounded.

For I am doing a work in your days

that you would not believe if told.

Habakkuk 1:5 ESV

God was working. Habakkuk just couldn't see it, he didn't know. God was at work, doing a mighty work. God is at work in our situations too. He is doing a mighty work, we just don't always see it or understand it.

God is working even when we can't see it. He has a plan even when we don't know what it is. Habakkuk had to learn to trust and obey, we too have to learn to trust God and obey Him.

Time For Drastic Measures

Really?

Seriously?

Are you kidding me?


A few months I was asked to join an online book club to read a book called "7" by Jen Hatmaker.  I was excited to read this book.  I had heard nothing but good about it.  In "7" Jen talks about getting rid of excess.  While I did not take as drastic measures as Jen does in the book, I did evaluate my life and belongings and get rid of some things.


We came to the chapter that talks about media.  Okay.  No problem.  I don't watch tv, well not very often.  I do like older shows like I Love Lucy, The Waltons, shows like that.  So occasionally I will watch older shows.  But I really don't watch tv hardly ever.  I would be perfectly happy, ecstatic really, to get rid of both of our tvs.  But God was stirring me about something else I did spend time with, a lot of time with.  My computer.


While I don't watch tv, I do get on my computer a lot.  We jokingly called my laptop "Big Red."  I was spending too much time playing games.  I only play two games, Words With Friends and some silly little bubble pop game, but I enjoy them and spend a lot of time playing them.  I check Facebook and Twitter.  Honestly, the updates don't come up as often as I was checking them.  And then there is Pinterest.  If you are on Pinterest, you know that there is no such thing as quickly checking Pinterest.  So during this time reading "7" I decided it was time to change things.  Shut the computer down more often and spend more time with God and my family.  I was more careful about how much time I spent on it.


For awhile.

Then I went right back to the old ways.  More scrolling through what people were doing and new decorating/craft/recipe ideas.  We come home, I flip on the computer.  After dinner, I flip on the computer.  I rushed through many tasks, just so I could sit back down with my computer.


I hadn't listened to God and He decided to take drastic measures.


I went to get my computer one morning this week and a bottle of water had somehow been knocked over in the night and leaked out.  The tiny stream of water made its way to my computer.  In a panic I hit the circle button that should bring "Big Red" to life.  Nothing.


It was the tiniest of trickles of water.  It was not over the top, did not get inside from all we can tell.  How is it that the computer will not come on!?


God nudges me.


I told you to not let this little device rule everything.  I told you to spend more time offline.  I told you to spend more time with Me.


Okay, God.  I get it.  Really I do.


God desires time with us.  Just because I had my quiet time in the morning doesn't mean He is done with me for the day.  He desires that connection with us throughout the day as well.  We need to spend time, strong quality time, with our families.  I closely monitor how much time my kids spend on their computer and kindle with a timer so why is okay for me to be on mine for endless hours a day?  It's not.


God was trying to teach me and I didn't listen.  Now I am reduced to an older, slower desktop computer that kills my back as I sit here. My Big Red is gone, but what upset me more is all my precious files that are now gone.  But I have learned my lesson.  There are times to unplug and be with God and family.  Times to take walks in the neighborhood, have heart to hearts with my children, play games, listen to my daughter practice piano, watch my sons play ball or just sit and enjoy being in the presence of God.


Is God trying to get your attention about something?  Are you paying attention?  Listen closely and obey fully.  Just like we do with our kids, don't make God take drastic measures with you.

Sweet Blessings~

Linking With:Faith Filled Friday 

Open Hands vs Closed Fists

Today as I was reading in Acts, the story of Ananias and Sapphira stuck out to me. The believers felt that what they had was not their own so they shared. They sold property and possessions and brought the money to the apostles to be used for people in need.  This was not a 'requirement.'  The property was theirs and the money was theirs.  They were doing an incredible thing by giving, but they were not required to do this.

Ananias and Sapphira became greedy.  They sold their property but only took a part of the money to the apostles.  Peter asked if this was everything they had.  Ananias said yes.

"Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received from the land?  Didn't it belong to you before it sold?  And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal?  What made you think of doing such a thing?  You have not lied to men but to God.'"  Acts 5:3-4

Peter was telling him it was his property and money, all he had to do was be honest about it.  It was the essentially the lie that hurt him and ended his life, but that lie started by greed.  In comes Sapphira, also full of greed, and she lied as well.  Ending her life.

Ananias and Sapphira gave with closed fists.  They held onto what they had and choose not to give all they had.

Luke 21 tells us of the rich and the widow.  The rich gave their large gifts.  They could give a lot because they had a lot.  But here you have the widow who only gave two small copper coins.  Her gift was so small, especially compared to the rich men.  But in truth, she gave more because she gave all she had.  She gave with open hands and gave everything.

Are you giving all you have?

You only give God twenty minutes a day because that is all you have.  But what about that time you sit and play video games or watch tv for hours on end?  You tithe, but only giving God eight percent of your income because you really 'need' that extra few dollars.  You give Him control of your life, but not the part that is addicted to p*rn.  You give God your attitude but not when it comes to that cranky old neighbor.

Are you giving to God with a closed fist or with open hands?  When you give with a closed fist, how can God fill it with blessings?  Friends, open your hands and give sacrificially to God and see how the blessings freely flow.

Sweet Blessings~
  



Linking with:
Thought Provoking Thursday
Grafe Cafe
Proverbs 31 Thursday

Giving Up On A Blessing

We desire to obey God.  We desire to follow hard after Him.  But let's be honest.  Sometimes we think God is just asking too much of us.  

In Exodus, this is how the Israelites felt.  They may have been slaves back in Egypt, but they had food.  Now they are out in the dessert and have nothing but manna.  

"They said to Moses, 'Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?  Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”  Exodus 14:11-12

They wanted to give up.  They wanted to turn around and go back to Egypt.  We can see what they were going to miss out on and God knew what He had planned for them.  But all they saw were the difficulties. 

How many times have we wanted to turn around and run from what God was calling us to?  Like the Israelites, we cannot see what plans and blessings God may have up ahead, but it's there! 

Candace Cameron Bure says in her book Reshaping It All, "If you give up and return to Egypt at the first sign of trouble, you're missing out on the blessings God has to offer."

When God calls us to do something, whether it is starting a new church, going on a missions trip, buying the meal for the person behind you in line or witnessing to a neighbor, don't run back to Egypt.  Run straight ahead to what God has called you to.  He has a plan and a blessing!  Embrace His calling!

Sweet Blessings~

Obey

This morning I was reading Our Daily Bread and it really spoke to me.  It says this:

  Every parent knows the difference between rules designed primarily for the benefit of the parent and those designed for the benefit of the child. God’s rules fall into the latter category. As Creator of the human race, God knows how human society will work best.

As parents we set rules. Our rules sometimes benefit our children such as bedtime.  We know that our kids need a certain amount of sleep to function properly and to be healthy.  And other rules, while they still benefit the kids, are more of a benefit to us.  For example, no baseball in the house.  We do not want our things to be broken so we do not allow the kids to play baseball in the house. 

God's rules are only to benefit us.  He created us and He knows how we will function and work best.  He knows what will harm us and what will help us.  God didn't say "do not covet your neighbor's belongings" so that He doesn't have to listen to us gripe and complain.  He set that rule for our benefit. 

I may be alone here, but I have told my children, "If you love mommy, you will choose to obey my rules."  If we love God, shouldn't we choose to obey His rules?

"This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome." 1 John 5:3

God sets rules for us for a reason.  We may not always understand, but that's okay, we don't need to.  All we need to do is make the choice to obey His rules.  His rules all work perfectly together to make our lives better and more fulfilling.  He knows that when we truly obey Him and walk in His ways, we will be happier and live a better life. 

Will you obey?

Sweet Blessings~

Where He Goes...

The other day I mentioned that we went to visit my grandparents church this past Sunday.  Today I wanted to share something else the preacher mentioned in his message. 

The preacher has a dog, a lab I believe he said, named Kaydee.  Well, sweet Kaydee would follow her master around everywhere.  He said every move he made, she followed.  This made me think of my own dog, Buddy.  Buddy likes to stay at my feet at all times.  When I sit at my computer desk, he is under the desk laying on my feet.  When I am at the kitchen or dining table he is right next to my feet.  When I sit on the couch, he either whines to come up and sit right next to me or sits at my feet.  He is always there.  Buddy and Kaydee follow their masters.  When we go to the left, they go left.  When we go to the right, we go right. 

This is how we should be with God.  When He moves, we move.  I want to go where God leads.  I want to follow where ever He goes.  There may be times that following Him may make me uncomfortable, even fearful, but I want to obey.  I can put my trust in Him knowing that He will never do anything to harm me.  He will never leave my side.  

There is a song that I love, one of my many many favorites, that says:

 If He goes to the left then we'll go to the left

And if He goes to the right then we'll go to the right

We're going to jump jump jump jump in the river

Jump jump jump jump, everybody

If He goes to the left then we'll go to the left

And if He goes to the right then we'll go to the right

We're going to dance dance, dance dance in the river

Dance dance, dance dance, everybody

If He goes to the left then we'll go to the left

And if He goes to the left then we'll go to the right

We're going to shout shout shout shout in the river

Shout shout shout shout in the river, everybody

When God moves, let's move with Him.  Let's learn to say yes to what ever He asks of us and where ever He leads us. 

Sweet Blessings~

But God!

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV



“But Mom!” Those two words, always drawn out in a long whine, can grate on a mother’s nerves. But we’ve all heard them. Already today I have heard, “but mom, I want soda not water,” “but mom, I don’t want to go outside and play I want to watch tv,” “but mom, why can’t I watch a PG13 movie,” “but mom I did that yesterday, it’s her turn today.” I could go on and on. We know the reasons we have for telling our kids to do or not to do something. We know that a PG13 movie will have things that are not appropriate for them. We know that while playing outside in the ninety degree weather they need water not soda. They may not realize it but as a parent we always have their best interest at heart.


“But God!” How many times have we said that? Maybe when God asks us to give our last twenty dollars to bless someone else. Or when God asks us to teach a Sunday School class of wild teenagers. Or how about when God tells us to witness to a cranky neighbor. How many times has God told us to do something and our response has been, “but God!” God always has our best interests at heart. He created us and He has plans for us. Plans to prosper us, not to harm us, as in Jeremiah 29:11. God sees a future that we can not. He has plans for us that we may not fully realize yet. I don’t know about everyone else but I want to be a woman that says yes to God in everything He asks of me. So let’s stop whining to God and start saying yes!

Beautiful Flower

I love flowers and plants of any kind. They brighten up a room or yard. They add a touch of nature to a home. They remind me of our Creator. I just love flowers. However, I do not have a green thumb. In fact, I have killed every single flower or plant I have ever touched. Years ago my mother-in-law gave me an ivy plant. She said there was absolutely no way I could kill it. It would live forever no matter what I did to it. Well in less than a month it was dead, and we could not revive it. I try so hard but always kill them. I water them too much or too little. Forget to put them in the sunlight or leave them in the hot sun too long. One time in early Fall I took a plant outside for some afternoon sun. Well, I didn’t think of it again until almost Christmas when I noticed it was sitting out there with snow piled high on top.

This summer my husband decided to surprise me with two beautiful and very large hanging flower pots. But knowing how well I take care of plants I knew in less than a week they would be dead. When my husband told me the price he paid for them I thought I was going to die! That much for flowers that you know I will kill! Seriously? Because of their cost I purposed in my mind to take really good care of them and follow the nursery’s instructions very carefully. Water twice a day, once in the morning before the sun is up and once in the evening when the sun goes down. Needs 6-8 hours of sun. Fertilize once a week. I thought, okay I can do this. Just have to remember the instructions.

Well, I am proud to say, I have had the flowers for three months and they are still alive and beautiful! Why are they still alive and beautiful when I killed all of the others? Because I watered them every single day, I left them in the sun and I fertilized them once a week.

While admiring my still living flowers I felt God nudge my heart and He said, “That is all it takes. Spend time with Me every single day. Look for the Son all day. Go to church and spend time worshipping with other believers every week.” If I don’t water my flowers every day, they will shrivel up and die. If I don’t spend time with God every day, my spirit will shrivel up and die. If you are feeling dry, lost and lonely, stop and think. Have you spent time with God today? Are you spending every day with God? Have you looked for the Son today? God wants to spend time with us. He desires to show Himself to us. Make spending daily time with God a priority and see how you blossom.