Do Not Be Anxious

Most of the time my long term desires don’t way me down. But….every now and then they do.

Mother Day, my nephew came running into “Big” church and said, “Happy Mother’s Day, Aunt B!”. I painfully said, “Thank you buddy, but I’m not a Mommy”. He looked down in disappointment, as did my heart. I know he was disappointed he had gotten it wrong. This sweet, simple, loving, little comment began a heavy burden on my heart.

Most of the time I don’t hear God well, but this morning he spoke words I could not deny were from his heart.

From the little church devotion book, (not the official title)

May 18, 2011
Philippians 4:4-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation ….with thanksgiving, present your request to God. –Philippians 4:

Vending machines are convenient when you are in a hurry. If you have cash, they can supply you a quick snack or drink.

But the technology isn’t perfect. Sometimes the machine won’t accept your old, worn dollar. Worse yet, it might not deliver a product after swallowing your money. Some unfortunate customers get so upset that they vandalize the machine while trying to take out their purchase.
(Here is the good part)
Sometimes we have similar attitudes as we pray to God. We try to use God as sme kind of heavely vending machine, and we demand quick fulfillment of our prayer request – or perhaps we should call them “prayer orders”!
When we pray in that way, we grow restless and upset if we don’t get the desired results. Our grumbling against God really does not hurt Him, but we hurt ourselves spiritually when we grumble and complain.
The Lord is near. So we can sincerely rejoice in His Love. That’s how restlessness is removed from our hearts. The Scriptures don’t say that all prayers will be fulfilled. But we are promised the all-embracing peace of God.

“Lord, thank you for being near. That’s why we don’t have to be anxious about anything. We can pour out our hearts before you, trusting in your love and mercy. Amen”

AMEN!

The Right Diet

If you are in the market for a diet, ther are many to choose from: Atkins, South Beach, vegan, mediterranean - the list goes on and on. I believe some diets are helpful if used in conjunction with a healthier lifestyle. But many of them overpromise and underdeliver. The aswere isn't a crash diet. It's permanently adopting healthy eating habits.

When it comes to spiritual nutrition, there is no lack of available diets either. But only one spiritual diet works; only one provides the nutritional ingredient we need for a healthy walk of faith. Jesus is your source of spiritual nutrition, and he will never disappoint you. He is the one who supplies spiritual health, inner srtength, and life everlasting.

John 6:57
"Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me weill live because of me. "

Even after being back, over 6 months, it is still hard to put all of my thoughts together. They are still jumbled up in bits and pieces, except know I have forgotten some of them. In Haiti I prayed I wouldn’t forget, that I would always remember the emotions, the faces, the memories, the tragedy and how it all changed me. I struggle to keep those memories.

“Jesus sais, I have blessed you for my glory. Not so you will have a comfortable life with a big house and a nice car. Not so you can spend lots of money on vacations, education, or clothing. Those aren’t bad things, but I’ve blessed you that the nations will know me and see my glory.”

~Radical by David Platt

Isaiah 41:9-10

I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, "You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do no fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

For our bodies to get stronger, smarter, bigger, faster, thinner … better, it needs to be challenged. As we get older, our bodies also need to be challenged to stay strong as it begins to break down. Our faith is the same way. We need to challenge our faith to become and stay stronger, smarter, bigger and better; otherwise it gets weaker, slower and breaks down.

“Some wonder if it is unfair for God to allow so many to have no knowledge of the gospel. But there is no injustice in God. The injustice lies in Christians who possess the gospel and refuse to give their lives to making it known among those who haven’t heard. That is unfair….it makes little sense for us to sit over here asking “What do you want me to do, God?” The answer is clear. The will of God is for you and me to give our lives urgently and recklessly to making the gospel and the glory of God known among all peoples, particularly those who have never even heard of Jesus.”

~Radical by David Platt

Psalm 145:17-20

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him, he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

2 timothy 1:8-9

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ahamed of me his prisoner, But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Jesus Christ before the beginning of time.

Coke

“A good many Christians are like wheelbarrows – no good unless they are pushed.
Some are like canoes – they need to be paddled.
Some are like kites – if you don’t keep a string on them they will fly away.
Some are like kittens – they are more contented when petted.
Some are like balloons – full of wind and ready to blow up.
Some are like footballs – you never know which way they will bounce.
Some are like trailers – they have to be pulled along.
Some are like neon lights – they keep going off and on.
Some are like flashing lights – their batteries are dead.
And then, thank the Lord, some are like a good watch with open face, pure gold, quietly busy and full of good works.”

When I think of the kind of man Jesus was on earth, my grandfather is what I imagine him to be like. My grandfather worked for Coke for over 43 years. Most of the machines the Coke plants use were made or made better by my grandfather. He was a quiet man, worked continuously, always fixing things for others and would not accept anything in return. But when he spoke people listened to every word with respect.

Isaiah 7:9b
If you do not stand form in your faith, you will not stand at all.

August 11, 2008 he died. He was a father figure to his children and his grandchildren. My heart broke when he died . He would never meet my husband, see me get married, or meet my children. The night before I left for Haiti, my sister sent me a text “I just want you to know Granddaddy would be proud of you”.
So many things in Haiti reminded me of him. Things he would have loved to see. Some of these photos were taken just for him.

John 15:16-17
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.

Hebrews 11:39-40
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

James 5:10-11
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The lord is full of compassion and mercy.

“Soon thereafter he found himself in another remote village with people who had never heard the gospel. They were warm and hospitable, and they invited him to share a drink with them. One man went into his small shop and reappeared moments later with a classic Coke can. Immediately, it hit home with my friend. A soft-drink company in Atlanta has done a better job getting drown sugar water to these people than the church of Jesus Christ has done in getting the gospel to them.” ~Radical by David Platt “Dear Lord, fill my mouth with good stuff and nudge me when I have said enough.”

(The bottom of a Crock)
James 1:16-18
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He shoes to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

Working Man

Proverbs 27:19
As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

Proverbs 28:14
Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

Jeremiah 33:2
“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it – the Lord is his name:

2 Timothy 2:3
Endure hardship with us like a soldier of Christ Jesus

Psalm 13:5-6
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord; because he has delt bountifully with me.

Lamentations 3:39-40
Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins? Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

Proverbs 29:23
A mans pride shall bring him low but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Ephesians 5:25-28

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave his life for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and with out blemish. In the same way husbands sould love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gated with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to his name. for the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

1 Samuel 12:24
But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

Isaiah 41:9
I took you from the ends of the earth; from its farthest corners I called you. I said, “You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.