His Instrument for His Glory - previous post

Gods word tells us we can either be an instrument of His Glory or an instrument to this world.
Romans 6:12-14 NIV
12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Can God really use anyone for his instrument? Can he use me a stay at home Mom from a small town that drives a minivan. Can he use a Mom working full time at home and in the work place. Can he use a single women looking forward to meeting her mate. Yes Yes and Yes he can use what ever we give over to Him.
I smile inside when I see God show up where I didn't expect it. A garage sale, in McDonald's,riding my bike. He likes to remind me He is in control and he is with me always. As I sit here this morning with no children, a hubby golfing and a quiet house I am excited to dig into His word. I love this song and loved the part about being His instrument. When I looked up this word I was excited to find Acts 9:1-16. I hope you take a minute to read it and see that God can and will use anyone. He used a man that was killing His people. He used a man that Hated Christians. He used a man that was lost and dead inside. Reading these verses I find it interesting that he hated Christians and yet when he hear the voice of Jesus he listened.
Acts9:15-16 15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
God had chosen him to be his instrument. God sees what we cant see in ourselves and I love that he used another man to place hands on him. God not only uses Saul but he used a Ananias. They were both able to see and experience Gods glory. I was reading in my Bible and it goes into more detail about Paul saying "Paul's personal encounter with Jesus changed his life. He never lost his fierce intensity, but for then on it was channeled for the gospel."
Jesus has definitely change my life and my families. HE opens my eye to new things daily. When I am upset or hurt about something it doesn't take me long to look at the other side. I know that is him softening my heart. I mess up daily and yet I am changed daily and I hope you are too. Have a great Day

Indecisive

So many times I came to the Lord and expect a answer on a question.
Should we have more children yes no
Am I moving in the right direction yes no
Should I discipline in this way yes no
I am confused should I go to ...... yes no
I feel a stirring in my heart so I want to do the right thing and yet when I ask for direction I almost sense Him moving back. I ask day after day and one day I feel this way and then the next my mind changes. I don't like being indecisive. What am I missing Lord? I know is has to be obvious, I am just not getting it.
Yet again as I am facing a fork in the road I am feeling like a ping pong ball back and forth back and forth. So while reading today I did not have God say yes or no but I feel His Word give clarity.
Luke 10:20-30 (The Message)
18-20Jesus said, "I know. I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning out of the sky. See what I've given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that's the agenda for rejoicing."
When reading this scripture in the Message and NIV this part really stuck out for me. I get so focused on what I want to do for God. I think my original intent is good and then I lose focus. I was reminded that I need to come to Him like a child and just trust. Trust that he will give me clarity, trust that he is who he says he is, and rejoice before I even know what direction I am going. I get so ahead of my self and want to know now, one because I am excited and two because I am impatient.
Again Lord you remind me 1st - Love the Lord with all your heart soul and mind.
If I am so focused on the next thing or next decision then how can I love Him with all my heart soul and mind.
Lord you know my inmost being, you know when I sit and when I rise. You know my heart, my passions and desires. I lay them at your feet. I give them to you. I will not ask again. I will trust and know that you will work all things out for your Glory. I ask that your will be done.

I love you and help me to love you today with all my heart all my soul and all my mind!!
Isaiah 43(Message)
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.

Is it OK to love my life?

I was looking at a friends facebook and noticed on the side it said
I love my life. It made me think what makes us love our lives. With all that is going on in the world, war, disease, killings, drunk drivers, divorce, ... What makes us look and focus on the good and not the negative?
When I thought about what I loves about my life the obvious came to mind hubby, girls, my mom dad and sister ... These people all have a special place in my life and make me better as a wife, Mom and women. As Olivia and I were down stairs looking for pictures to take for sharing day I had an ahha moment. In most of the pictures we are capturing moments that are special to us. A silly face, a vacation, dress up time, a game, time with friends, and you can add to the list. When I think about what I love about my life it's these moments. Moments with the ones that I love. Moments with the people that God has chosen to be a part of my every day life. Little moments like silly faces and pudding all over there faces. Big moments like having a new baby, Christmas morning, Birthdays...
When I looked at the list I noticed that my car, couch, new carpet,.. didn't make the cut. I enjoy having a car that fits my family and gets us from here to there but when I think about the moments my car,couch and or new carpet don't measure up.
What do you love about your life?
What are the Silly Faces in your life?
What has God blessed you with that makes you smile everytime?

Hope

He gives us hope when really there should be none
He makes us whole after our heart has been broken
He shows us love that no one could ever match
He has to be number one in our lives
He changes our lives
He is amazing
He will heal
Seek him and share your hurts your passions and desires
Know that he loves his children
He died so we could live - live now and live forever with Him in Heaven
He is amazing
Sometime I just smile because he calls me daughter
Know that he loves you!!

Be Strong

Joshua 1-9 Message
After the death of Moses the servant of God, God spoke to Joshua, Moses' assistant:
"Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I'm giving to the People of Israel. I'm giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It's all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."
Now I know that I am not about to take over land and the situation that the Israelites were facing was different than what is on my plate. Or is it? God was calling them to step up and do what he had called them to do and to not focus on themselves but focus on Him. He has made them a promise and God always fulfill what he promises His children. Now it was there turn to take action. Moses there leader was dead and now they had to move on without Him. There true rock was with them and still speaking into there lives through Joshua. In the last verse he says he will be with them every step they take. In the NIV it says the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Wel all need God's strength for different situations what are you facing that you need to step up be strong and courageous? I have to admit that on my own power my strength would only last a short while, but when I read these verse's I know that God promises to be with me every step of the way. When we let go and give the situation to Him the situation that seems impossible to us God uses it to grow us closer to Him.
So is the situation the Israelites faced more similar than what we think?

His Will

Yes Lord Yes Lord - Above all your will be done
Ps:40:8 I desire to do your will, O my God your law is within my heart
Ps 143:10 Teach me to do your will for you are my God may your good spirit lead me on level ground.
I feel that this verse explains my heart right now. Teach me. I have a tendency to do my own will and get busy in my own stuff and I get numb to the call that God has for me. The call of wife, mom, sister, friend are so much a part of my life but most important the call of my life is servant and daughter to my heavenly Father. As I type that it sounds good but most of the time the other stuff gets put first. I pray as the song says that we would all take time and pray that God would open our eyes to the work of His hand.

Lord help me to see you and the work you are doing in my life and the lives around me. Thank you in advance for opening my eyes and teaching me to do you will. I love you Lord

What I can put my Trust in

Do we know why we believe what we believe? As Christians we all have our stories and can give testimony of where God has changed our lives. No one can argue that and this is a great way to show God's hand at work. What if some one asked you how do you really know that Jesus is the only way? Are we prepared to answer that question. I am going to look up a talk about Scripture that helps me know that what I believe is truth. In the end it is faith. Faith in what we can not see. We don't see God in person or in spirit but I think we see Him working all the time. So in a way we do see Him.
As I woke up this morning and thought about this question these were the first verses on my heart.
Jesus speaking- Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes form the mouth of God -
Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4
this is also found in Deut 8:3
I like the insight from the message -Matthew 4:4
4Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth."
Steady Streams that is a great word picture. His word needs to run continues in our hearts and mind.
Where do we hear or find the words of God? For me it is His written word. I think that God speaks in many different ways but for me I can clearly hear him best in His word. It's when I am quiet reading and completely focused on Him that I hear his heart, guidance and wisdom.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness
2 Timothy 3:15-17 (The Message)
14-17But don't let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother's milk! There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
I like to read scripture in different translations and sometimes one word can help me understand the text better.
AMEN - There is nothing like the written Word of God why?? Because it is completely from Him.
I have heard that it is His love letter to his children. Providing hope peace and understanding to our questions or situations we are facing.
For me I know that I know that I know Jesus is the real deal and that he is for his children. I know because I have seen him in my life and in many others. Details that he puts together are beyond what I can come up with. At the end of the day if someone is questioning Jesus and if he is the only way it come down to faith. I have to step out in faith and truth that what is in the Bible is the truth. I know that this path seems narrow and probably narrow minded. Some things just are
* the grass is green or at my house brown
* cows mooo
* Michigan is cold in the winter
* apples have seeds in the middle
People dont question why the grass is green. It just is.
Matthew 7:13 tells us this path is narrow -
Enter through the narrow gate. For the wide gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.
Jesus says it is narrow and it's easier and more politically correct and doesn't offend to enter the wide gate.
Message Matthew 7:13-14
13-14"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
As I read this I know that I have done nothing to deserve walking on the narrow path and yet when I called and asked Jesus into my heart he was there to take me from a life of destruction and my own will to His. He knows my heart and what is best for me. I thank and praise God that he loves me enough to let me walk with him on his path and not my own.

Gen 1:1- In the beginning God created - He is who he says he is and he is all about creating something out of nothing