How many of you have gone on a journey? We take many things with us when we start to embark. When you began yours, what did you take with you?
Photo by Matthew Henry
Sometimes, there are things that we plan to take on our journey, and other times that are things that happen to us that are totally unplanned. Today’s podcast will feature a reading from my first book. I would classify it as an autobiography/ faith journey. There were several things that happened to me on my journey. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t have planned for a lot of the things that happened to happen. However, it is through this journey that God has made me stronger, and allowed me to see that he is my only security, and that it is through his grace that I am where I am today.
When it comes to fear, there is no respect of persons. It gets a toehold, and pulls you in when you least expect it. With a combination of marinading ourselves in God’s love, prayer, and praise, fear will take a backseat. However, Satan isn’t going to want to let us go without a fight. He is always on the move. Therefore, we have to constantly stay armored up. For when fear is conquered in one area, he is sure to attack us in the next.
Photo by Matthew Henry
Fear
Fear.
Sneaks upon from nowhere.
Fear.
Latches on you if you dare.
Fear.
Masquerading as your friend.
Fear.
Only torments in the end.
But,
Just Remember to look above.
At,
Our Dear Father’s Perfect love.
Why?
In his love, there is no fear.
Yes,
Abba, Father, He is Near.
1 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
There are times in life when we don’t know which way to go. During these times, if we seek the Lord, then our mission, our purpose, and his will becomes clearer. Of course, it also means that we have to still do our part. Our part involves intentionality, setting goals, and aligning our will with his. We also need wisdom discerning in whom we should confide God’s great revelation.
What are some of the cliche terms that you have said when you tried consoling someone who was grieving?
Did you say these terms to avoid feeling the other person’s pain, or in a rush for the other person to feel better?
What are alternative words that can be said to someone who is suffering?
Do you have pain competitions with others when they are grieving in order to make them have a reality check, or yourself feel better because you feel that you have it worse than them?
What changes can you make to insure that people feel loved during their time of grief?
This poem was written as a reflection of some of the different ways in which God speaks to us. We like to put God in a box. We often forget that God has an infinite way of relating to us, and allowing us to hear his voice. When Elijah was in the process of running away from Jezebel, God revealed Himself to him. Elijah had put God in the box of coming to him in a “great and mighty way”. Instead, he whispered to him in the still, small voice. God knows what we need, and when we need it. He is a God who meets us right where we’re at.
Picture by Sarah Pflug
He Speaks
He Speaks! He Speaks!
But where will it be?
In a message, in a song, or the birds in a tree?
Will it be in the coolness of the wind blowing at night?
Will it be in the calmness of the crickets singing in flight?
Will it be in the morning when the rabbits talk to squirrels?
Or the munks tunneling through grass, and the robins dancing a twirl?
Will it be in the waves that are splashing at the beach?
Or the smiles of the saints as they’re waving “Hi” to me?
Will it be in the sun that is setting in the sky?
Or the swans overhead that are reaching by and by?
When he speaks, will I hear him, same voice as before?
About a year ago, I was looking out of the
kitchen window, and I thought that what I was witnessing was a bird
fight. Instead of it being a fight, it was more like bullying.
Bullying among two birds. One robin decided that he wanted the other
robin to leave the grass. (Granted there was more than enough room for both of
them.) The second robin (victim) tried to stay there.
However, the first robin (bully), continued
to peck him. The second robin went over to the bird bath to relax
there. And what do you know? Mr. Bully came over there and pecked
him until he left that area. Eventually the second robin flew into the
happy face tree (someone literally drew a happy face on the tree itself) and
stayed there for a while. This made the bully very happy.
Reflection
on Enough
In the spring, I saw several birds in the
backyard after it rained. No one had the bullying and victim title.
They were all scavenging for food after it rained. They knew that there
was more than enough to go around.
God revealed something to me in that very
moment. Sometimes we are like the two birds from a year ago. We
feel that we are not satisfied until we are the only star. We feel that
there will not be enough of God’s grace, goodness, and mercy to go
around. We think we have to fight in order to get the blessings, or there
won’t be enough.
Other times, we are like the birds from the
spring, realizing that there is more than enough, God is the one who owns it
all, and is running it all.
The earth is the Lord‘s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalms
24:1, KJV)
Even with whatever talent it is that he has
blessed us with, he has to tell the door to open and to close. Some of us
will be blessed with a lot, and some of us will be blessed with little. However, when we realize that there is more
than enough for everybody, then we can look to God, rather than other people to
receive the blessing.
“O my people, listen as I speak. Here are my
charges against you, O Israel: I am God, your
God! I have no
complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt
offerings you constantly offer.
But I do not need
the bulls from your barns or the goats from
your pens. For all the
animals of the forest are mine, and I own the
cattle on a thousand hills.
I know every bird
on the mountains, and all the
animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry,
I would not tell you, for all the world
is mine and everything in it.
Do I
eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the
blood of goats? Make thankfulness
your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows
you made to the Most High. Then call on me
when you are in trouble, and I will rescue
you, and you will give
me glory.” (Psalms 50:7-15, NLT)
Dear God,
We thank you for the gifts that you have blessed us
with. We pray that you will help us to realize that we don’t have to
worry about being threatened by anyone else, because you have blessed all of us
with different gifts/talents that are unique to us. Please help us not to
compete, but to work together for your glory.
Scripture
ReadingJames
5:13-18We Are All Qualified
Being a prayer warrior is one job that doesn’t require a special set of qualifications. We don’t have to worry about God looking at our application, and going, “No, I am sorry, but your resume doesn’t meet the qualifications for our idea candidate. I will keep your resume on file for a year just in case something else comes along.” We are all broken. And because of this brokenness, we are in the perfect position for God to use us. The bible gives us one example after the other of how God used a bunch of mixed up, messed up Christians to do his work. What does the scripture say about the combination of prayer and broken people?
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” (James 5:17-18, KJV)
These verses hone us in on knowing what the requirements are to getting our prayers answered: 1) willing hearts, 2) consistency, and 3) fervency (intense passion). Let us all be mindful of this as we prepare our resume for review.
Dear God, We thank you for giving us examples in your Word of how you used broken people like us to pray and do your will. Please help us to be consistent and committed when it comes to getting our prayers answered. You tell us in your word that if we delight ourselves in you, that you will give us the desires of our heart.
