Learn to release

There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it in, but wait. The blank space may come in order to teach you what sanctification means, or it may come after sanctification to teach you what service means. Never run before God's guidance. If there is the slightest doubt then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt, don't. Oswald Chambers.
Learn to release.
Wow, I see how easily we become misguided! The picture of sheep, shepherd, and flock is one to ponder. In the movie 'City Slickers' Billy Crystal decides to have fresh ground coffee on a cattle drive. When he turns on the  grinder, the cattle stampede. They are startled and they start running, causing much grief to everyone. It is indeed a humorous and unforgettable scene. God has much to teach us through the behavior of animals. Look at politicians on opposite sides of an issue and you will find they both have stampeding followers behind them. If you look at Israel in the Bible, when they are following God and depending on His providence and guidance they are not stampeding or arguing. The minute they start to complain, like about the absence of meat in the desert, God sends quail and severe stomach cramps commence. They may have been tired of just eating manna but they were starting to doubt and complain. Doubting and complaining are the first indications that we are stepping away from God. We all do it and we all cause others to doubt as well. It is human nature, but God calls us to be set apart. Sanctified for His glory, just like He called Israel. Israel had God's chosen one to lead them and teach them. They had Moses and the prophets in the flesh. God has not left us today in the dark. God has in fact raised up many wise men and women to shine light on the our path but we also have the Holy Spirit and God's Word to guide and protect us. Yet at times we are all in the desert complaining about the manna and no meat. Maybe it's the car that keeps breaking down and the nice shiny new one we cannot afford. Or maybe you are tired and drained of energy and people are wanting to depend on you. It could be that others are worried and they want you to be worried with them. If we converse with one another and discuss issues then we will hear others' concerns and worries and what we have to say, or not say, matters. Are we walking so close to God and so intimately with His Word that we seem to have a bulletproof vest on against worry? Do we have the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and the sandals of peaceful readiness? If not, we will indeed fall prey to the stampede of worry and anxiety. The only way to learn to release is to be well equipped with the armor of God.
Reading Oswald this morning I pondered what was consuming my most precious possession on this earth - how I spend my time. You see, I have been consumed with 'should we sell our house and get one that fits more our empty nest needs or just stay put?' House needs upkeep, updates, two people, four bedrooms, wasted space, etc., etc., you know the drill.
Discontent soon becomes the instrument that suffocates the life right out of us.
Talk to friends and neighbors and they are often facing the same dilemmas with no answers. Guess what? After this dilemma the next one is ready to jump in! This is human nature, and a battle of the flesh but God called us to be set apart and to put on the armor of God. It is such a sweet release and He wants us to know it here and now. We have our ideas of comfort, service, and well-being but they are not God's and cannot compare to His wonders that He has prepared for us.
Be still and know...when in doubt, don't.
If we wait and are determined to fill our minds with our Father's truth and will, when He says 'go' we will be prepared for good work. I, as much as everyone else, waste much time, create obstacles and hardships that my Lord never intended. With my worry or impulsive agenda I too have caused much needless worry and hardship and obstacles for others. We all have and we all do with what we think are good intentions. When we feel God distinctly has something for us to do, pray and wait on His timing. This is not putting off, this is trusting God. If we rush His timing we will end up making difficulties that were never His intent.
God can do in an instant what would have taken us years and He will do it without any heartbreak, stress, or disappointment.
'When it is a question of the providential will of God wait for God to move.'
If we desire to live as Christ, and be about our Father's business then we will desire to wait! Then when He says 'go' we will go!
  
     Heavenly Father please calm our anxious hearts and replace it with your peace.  Give us the desire to be still and know You; so we may walk with You well equipped for Your good work.  In Your Son's Jesus name I pray. Amen

Love to all in Christ Jesus C:)

Do you love me?

Do you love me? As believers, most of us would be quick to answer as Peter, "Lord, you know that I love you". Then what? Most, if not all, return to our busyness. The question we continually ask ourselves is: 'is my busyness His?' Everyday we should ask the Lord to show us "where is my heart?" Are we realizing we were put here at this time to be about our Father's business. We were designed uniquely for that specific purpose. We were given talents and gifts to use for His glory alone and like snowflakes no two are exactly alike. We cannot copy what the next person is doing. Our purpose is between our own heart and God's alone. No one else can give us directions to our life being fulfilled to the brim with God's design but God Himself! If we are too busy with our own agenda to walk and talk with Him in all we do, to sit , reflect, and study His word, to fellowship and learn, then we have no one to blame but our own selfish rebellion. Are we blind like unbelievers when we justify our wants to needs? 'A luxury once experienced goes from a want to a need.' We, for the most part, live in luxury. Pretty scary place to be if you ask me. What we do with the abundant blessing we have matters and it's not just material. We have abundant gifts and talents, abundant knowledge and understanding. We should be humbled to the core and be about doing great works for the kingdom of God. Are we so overwhelmed with blessings that we are like an overstimulated child at his own birthday party? Crying and unhappy because it is just too much!? If that is so, there is an incredible remedy. Give, give, give, and chances are you will become so incredibly addicted to how awesome it feels and how it glorifies the Father, you will never want to stop. Make others want what you have by what brings you joy, not by what you have acquired. Joy comes only from a fulfilled relationship with our Lord. We all know we can search this world over substituting everything we can find, and we know it is futile. Everyday we should ask the Lord to show us where our heart is and with humbled thanksgiving make the determined choice to be about our Father's business. If we truly are believers and followers of Christ Jesus , then we, too, are here to do ONLY the will of our Father.

     Heavenly Father, I pray that You will keep our minds clear and our eyes focused. May we feed Your sheep as only You would have us do. In Jesus Your Son's name I pray. Amen.
Love to all in Christ Jesus: c