It Might be a Sausage!

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a good laugh, assuming, assumptions, calling, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, devotional, devotions, encouragement, expectations, family devotions, fixing our eyes, focus, gifts, God, God's plan, jealousies, Jesus, laughs with a lesson, perspective, perspective on spiritual gifts, spiritual gifts, trust

      For those of you who know my family well, you will not be surprised by the fact that as I was searching through my freezer last week I came across a bag of, well, let’s say, “unique, unlabeled weirdness”. My youngest son and I could not imagine what these items were, so we finally settled on the notion that they must be sausages. After all, they were gray, oblong, individually wrapped with care, no label anywhere, so (we decided) it must be my husband’s doing. If my husband cared enough to save it, that means it had to be meat. So, we deduced that these weird items must be sausages. I somehow recalled that my sweet man had come home with some kind of leftovers after a men’s meeting one night, so my son and I determined…this must be it. These sausages looked gross to us, but I knew my husband would be extremely excited. After all, how many times do you open a freezer and have sausages that you had forgotten were even there?

A few hours passed and my husband came home for lunch. I, of course, asked him about these sausages. He examined them and became quite excited (as perdicted). He couldn’t remember any sausages, but wow! He was not going to let that stop him from the enjoyment. He proceeded to take one to his office to microwave for a snack later. Let me tell you there was a bounce in his step as he went on his way!

I received a text just a few, short minutes later (his office is quite close) that read, “NOT sausages (frowny face) frozen bananas.” Yes, you read correctly, the offending “sausages” that had not been labeled were actually my cherished, frozen bananas. At one time I had big plans for these bananas, but alas… I forgot about them and now they just looked like a bunch of sausage.

My husband was sorely disappointed, but I was left laughing my head off and then, well, I was convicted. It made me think about how many times I have mislabeled things in my life. I have often looked at a gift from God and labeled it as a “sausage” when in reality it was a beautiful banana. I have often taken the talents that God has instilled in me and refused to look at them as He desires. I view them as worthless and meant for someone else when in reality it is my heart’s desire with a different look than I expected. I have often looked at my gifts as an offense when God sees the beautiful plan He has designed for just that ability.

I was also convicted because I have often caught myself looking at other people’s “bananas” with longing, but labeling my own gift as a sausage. I see their talents as beautiful, yellow, perfectly ripe bananas, but look at my own as a grayish, unappealing, unrecognizable concoction. I need to be reminded that I Corinthians 12:4 – 6 says, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.” These verses tell me that no matter the gifts, we all have the same Lord. That’s what matters, our God. He is the One that sees us through, not our gifts.

Remembering this makes me unconcerned about someone else’s gift and not ashamed of my own because I know God is my God just as He is their God. My face is continually looking to Him and when His hand moves, or His voice speaks. I am enthralled because He is my all in all. I don’t see bananas, or sausages because my eyes are filled with Him. The psalmist says in Psalm 27:8, “When Thou didst say, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to Thee, ‘Thy face, O LORD, I shall seek.’” That needs to be us. That needs to be our focus…God alone; not whether or not our gifts look the same as someone else’s.

I was convicted in another way when I began to think about how often I have labeled experiences that God has given me as “sausages”. In reality, these experiences were in God’s plan to nourish me and to make me become a healthier person, spiritually speaking. Sometimes, I have taken God’s beautiful banana and frozen it with my bitterness so that it turned into something gray, gross and distorted. Instead of remembering that “His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts” as Isaiah 55:8 says, I deemed His ways as hurtful, unhealthy and not for my good. In reality though, He was molding me and shaping me into His beautiful likeness.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “…lay aside every encumbrance [think sausage] and the sin which so easily entangles us [think comparisons] and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” This verse tells us clearly to lay everything down, get on with our Christian race and fix our eyes on Jesus. He’s at the finish line and He’s with us every step of the way.

When are eyes are fixed on Jesus, whether He chooses our gifts to be sausages, or bananas we are thankful because we know He can be trusted. If He chooses our talents to be meaty, or a little fruity, it’s okay because we are not fixated on the gift, we are fixated on Him.

Let’s encourage each other today to re-examine the labels that we have place on things in our lives. Let’s re-examine the labels we have place on ourselves, our talents and our experiences. What you have deemed a “sausage” might be a banana after all. It might be the very thing that God has bestowed on you to reach this generation. So, fix your eyes on Jesus, unthaw your gift and finish your race.

My Story       Seeking Hearts Ministries

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Committing Adultery

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adultery, adultery against God, assuming, assumptions, basics, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, devotions, encouragement, faith, family, family devotions, lusts, temptation

The other day I was reading in the book of Proverbs and came across a lot of warnings against the adulteress. I almost skipped over it thinking that it had no relevance to me, but I am so glad I didn’t. As I was reading, I remembered that God often called Israel an adulteress when she turned to other gods. He warns Israel (and us) that when we turn from worship of Him to anything else, we are in fact, committing adultery against Him. The Church is the Bride of Christ and when we act like we are not, we are adulterers and adulteresses.

We must ask ourselves why it is so easy to stray from being true to our Lord. Why is it so easy to commit adultery against Him? Proverbs 5:3 says, “For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and smoother than oil is her speech;” We must realize that anything that pulls us away from God seems like a really great thing. We view the payoff as worth it. Our perceptions tell us that the opportunity, decision, or temptation drips with honey. It awakens our desires. It might even look godly on the outside, but at the core it is destructive because it is not God’s best for us.

For example, we have been offered a leadership position at the church, or in our community. It looks like a great opportunity. It would be beneficial to have this position in place. The church, or community, would really benefit. You can see all the good that it would accomplish. You assume it is God’s will because you are excited about it. You accept the position and move forward only to realize that things looked good on the outside (it dripped with honey), but in the end it was bitter because it was not God’s best for you. Proverbs 5:4 says of adultery, “But in the end she is bitter as wormwood…” You thought you were getting delicious honey, but it was wormwood in disguise and you realize you are worshipping a position and people’s opinions more than your God. It’s so easy to fall into a trap like this.

Proverbs 5:8 says, “Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your vigor to others, and your years to the cruel one;” This verse reminds us that we do not need to go near anything, or anyone, that could cause us to stray. Even if we are aware, we can be easily swayed if we are running too close to the enticement. Galatians 6:1 tells us that when we are helping others to get out of an enticement, we also need to aware. It says that we could be drawn away as well if we are not careful. Why? Because we are getting close to the door of the adulteress. We can smell the honey and be easily swayed. But for the grace of God go us, people, but for the grace of God …

So, I’m keeping it short and sweet this week to allow God to penetrate your heart with any areas that you may be committing adultery in. He is a precious Savior willing to take us back time and time again, (read the book of Hosea), let’s allow Him to make us His pure, spotless bride once again.

Seeking Hearts Ministries

Black Friday

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assuming, Black Friday, changing, God's point of view, Good Friday, His eyes to see, perspective

Black Friday has pretty much come and gone and I am reminded once again that I often need a change of perspective. Not the typical introspection of “Do I really need to buy all this stuff?”, but the introspection of how I view certain things. For instance, when I think of black, I think of darkness. I think of bad things, unpleasantness and gloom. To a business person though, being ‘in the black’ is a very positive thing. That’s what “Black Friday” is all about. Businesses finally start making a profit for the year. Retailers start to breathe as numbers fly in and goals are met. Their perspective of black is not my perspective of black.

Good Friday is yet another reminder that my perspective needs to be re-evaluated at times. Typically, I do not associate death of any kind (much less the death of our Savior) as a good thing, but as Christians we know that without the death of Christ, there could not have been His resurrection. Thus, we celebrate the cross and deem it as “good”. Someone who has not received Christ would think us grotesque to rejoice in a death, but to us it is a good thing. Once again, it’s all about perspective.

This season, I pray that God guides my eyes to see from His perspective. I pray that I focus until I see things from His point of view and that He grips my heart in such a way that when He says something is “good”, I say, “Amen” and leave it at that.

Let’s pray that this season we see things from God’s perspective!

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Up To Me

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assuming, blessings, inheritance, Joshua, our part, Promised Land, responsibility, up to me

                                          

While reading some verses with my youngest this morning, we came across Deuteronomy 31:7. It says, “And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.”

HCSB puts it this way, “Moses then summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land the LORD swore unto their fathers. You will enable them to take possession of it.”

In both translations we see that Moses told Joshua that in order for the Israelites to take possession of the inheritance that God had provided for them, he must enable them, “cause them” to receive it. He was also told that he couldn’t just point the way. He had to go with them.

Can you imagine receiving that information? You know these people. You love them. They are your family, but you KNOW these people. You know their worries. You know their tendencies. You know that inheriting the land is impossible without God and now you know that without your co-operation, the dream that God has for them is not happening. Whoa! That kind of pressure must be some kind of scary. That kind of burden is what drives a man to his knees and that is exactly what we see Joshua doing over and over again. That’s why I think God chose Him. Joshua knew inheriting the land was impossible without God. He knew leading these people without killing them was impossible as well. (Sorry if that’s a little too blunt.)

As my son and I read through this verse, I was hit with these questions:

-What land am I leading people to inherit? Is it a land with milk and honey, or a trash heap?

-What group of individuals will not receive their inheritance if I give up on them?

-Who am I being asked to stand for in the gap?

These were staggering questions for me. I had never allowed myself to think that I was impossible to replace. I don’t mean that in an egotistical way. I mean it in a way that made me realize my responsibility to God’s plan. I mean it in the way that God told Moses the children of Israel’s inheritance would only come through Joshua. He would be the one to enable them to receive the blessing. If Joshua had said, “no”, how much longer would the Israelites have wandered? How many more would have died not receiving the Promise? God had created Joshua for that task. He was to enable them to take possession of the land and he had to commit to being with them every step of the way. He couldn’t just point. He had to be in the trenches, getting messy, doing life with the people God had called him to and strengthening the arms of those who had grown weary.

Words cannot describe how convicting this is for me. In all honesty, there are some days when I want to totally walk away from a group of people that God has called me to lead into their Promised Land. I want to turn my back and find a group that actually like me and understand who I am. But you know what? God wants me on my knees knowing that anything good, any step in the right direction is His doing and NOTHING is due to my own ingenuity. He wants me digging ditches, not just pointing my finger to what “those people” should be doing. He wants me to pick up trash and hand out clothes. He doesn’t just want me to congratulate people when they’ve done a good job. He wants me to lead these precious saints to the inheritance that God has for them here on this earth. He wants me to go with them, enabling them to receive their greatest blessings.

Over the next few weeks, as I find myself looking around in judgment condemning those around me for not being where they should be, I am praying to God that He will convict me to look inward. I am going to ask God to show me if I am the reason this group has not received their blessings. Am I the reason that they have not received their inheritance? Am I the reason that they are still wandering in the wilderness and have not crossed over into their Promised Land? As I pray for discernment, I might learn that it is God’s time for these people to receive their Promise and it might just be up to me to get them there.

Lord God, You really blew my mind this morning. I pray that I can hear You clearly. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Keep me on my knees physically and mentally. I love You, Lord, but help me to love You more. In Jesus’ Name I pray.

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Assumptions

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assuming, assumptions, daily trust, God, God has our back, God's ways, manipulation, religion, trust, trusting God with our children

 What is my automatic reaction to trouble in my life? What is my automatic assumption when issues come up? Do I automatically think that something is trouble? Do I assume that the slightest whispering in our church family is going to be a massive fissure? Do I truly believe that God has my back, or do I ASSUME that I must figure things out for myself?

I began asking myself these questions as our Sunday School studied through II Samuel some time ago. In chapter 4 of II Samuel, we find the story of Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was one of Jonathon’s sons. You remember that Jonathon was one of King Saul’s sons and heir to the throne of Israel according to man’s law. God anointed King David instead, but God gave Jonathon and David a deep friendship where no jealousy erupted. Jonathon agreed with God that David should be King. He willingly submitted to God’s choice.

II Samuel 4:4, states, “Now Jonathon, Saul’s son had a son crippled in both feet. He was five years old when the report of Saul and Jonathon came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him and fled. And it happened that in her hurry to flee, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.”

You might be asking the question, “What report? What happened to Saul and Jonathon?” This is where you find the transition in leadership of Israel. King Saul and Jonathon had both died on the battle field and a new king was coming into power. Mephibosheth’s nurse ASSUMED that Mephibosheth would be killed. She ASSUMED that the new king would be as other kings and kill any perceived threat to his throne. She ASSUMED that she would have to protect her charge. Her love for Mephibosheth caused a chain of events that could have been prevented had she stopped, prayed and listened to God’s take on the matter. If she had simply stopped, looked up and listened, God would have told her to be still and allow the new king to find them. In II Samuel 9, King David searched for a son of Jonathon to honor. He took Mephibosheth as his own honored son. She would have saved herself and Mephibosheth years of anxiety and physical impairment if she had just stopped, looked to God and listened for His voice.

Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still and know that He is God. Sometimes, the only way to know whether our trust is in ourselves, or our God is to be still in His presence. We can know then if we are trusting, or assuming. Our trust is going in the right direction if we are good with Him working without our “help”. If we are fretting and stewing and trying to figure things out on our own, well, we confess that as sin and ask Him to help us truly rest in Him. He has our back no matter what circumstances look like around us. Job 23:10 says,“But He knows the way that I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

How many times have I ASSUMED things as Mephibosheth’s nurse did? How many times have I ASSUMED that my choice was God’s choice? How many times have I let a false urgency dictate my reaction and ASSUME a way was God’s way because I saw no other option? How many times have I crippled those around me because I ASSUMED?

I am so convicted by these questions. So many times I hear God’s leading and submit to the role that He has called me to, but in the day-to-day grind, I think it’s up to me to figure things out. I am so wrong. I must be still and hear Him daily, if not hourly, if not every single minute.  Isaiah 55:8-9, tells us, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” How is He to reveal His thoughts to me if I am not still enough to listen? How does He instill the mind of Christ in me, as II Corinthians 10:5 says, if I am in a constant state of assumption?

Have you ever noticed a night sky filled with stars? Have you noticed the peace and encouragement of each twinkle? What about those nights you haven’t noticed? Why are some nights different from others? I know in my own life when I have actually looked up, I notice.  When I stop and am still in the moment, I see. When someone is pulling me in all directions to hurry up, or I’m thinking of what’s next instead of being in the moment, I don’t see the same stars that are there every, single night. So it is with God. His ways are always there for me to see. His thoughts are always open for me to hear, (Isaiah 30:20b-21), but, am I in the moment with Him? Or, am I rushing around ASSUMING He agrees with me?

My heart breaks every time I hear the name Mephibosheth. I am reminded that an assuming nurse caused a lot of heartache. Yes, everything is beautiful for him in the end, but God’s original plan for his life was so much better. God did not just want him sitting at King David’s table, but frolicking in the courtyard as well. As a mom, this really makes me stop and think. I need to allow God to work His perfect plan in my children’s lives as well as my own. I do not need to ASSUME anything where they are concerned. God has their back just like He has mine. I do not need to manipulate circumstances so that they are doing my will for their lives, but God’s alone. Mephibosheth reminds me that God not only wants my children sitting at His banquet daily, but frolicking in the courtyard as well. I need to loosen my grip, stop running around in a panic assuming the worst and simply place them in the arms of the King.

Let’s stop assuming and simply trust.

Seeking Hearts Ministries

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