"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Hebrews 10:24-25
I thought, "God moves in mysterious ways"...... He is so incredibly faithful when I ask him to take my ordinary, everyday, mundane, seemingly meaningless tasks and turn them into a lesson that teaches me more about who he is.
On a sidenote did you know that that "saying" was actually a hymn written in 1773 by William Cowper from England entitled God Moves in a Mysterious Way? How cool is that!?
So here's where God took me....
I was cooking a meal for myself. I take great care and time to, not only, prepare it but to present it in a way that is pleasing to the eye. My choices are much better at home because I can only choose from that which I've brought into my house. I don't have endless choices. When I have a menu in my hand? Oh boy! At home there is no desert and at a restaurant I rarely say no to it. At a restaurant money is rarely an issue, at home... it's much less expensive.
This question came to mind:
What is one thing I am NOT willing to give up? Something I'm not willing to compromise?
If I had to trim my budget, cut expenses, tweak my lifestyle, prepare for a life changing event......what would I cut, what would I keep?
What is it I value THAT much? Or IS there something I value THAT much?
There are many ways for me to cut spending.....so, so many. One I say absolutely no to is my "entertainment" spending.
This life can be really hard and quite exhausting. Look at that verse in Hebrews....spur one another on....we, as a Jesus loving people, are actually commanded to love and care for others. People need people. Fellowship IS vital to human life. And in God's Word it is commanded.
God's word has much to say about loving others, tending to there needs and being available.
•Encourage one another
•Build each other up
1Thesselonians 5:11
•Building up
Ephesians 4:29
•Love one another earnestly
•Show hospitality
•Serve one another
1 Peter 4: 8-10
•Look to the interests of others
Philippians 2:4
•Be kind
•Be tenderhearted
•Be forgiving
Ephesians 4:32
•Carry one another's burdens
Galatians 6:2
•Visit widows and orphans in their affliction
James 1:27
There is scripture (like the above) that calls us to love and encourage others and scripture that tells us how God provides exactly that to us. For example:
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
John 3:1
And here's where the eye opening twist came in....
I have the ability to do what his word says because he has already done it for me! He is my perfect example!
I began to see a freedom that I had not seen before. I'm not sure I can actually explain it.....it is not me at all, that thinks up or devises a plan. If you know Christ, if you are IN Christ and Christ in you....look at it this way...we are grafted into the vine, that is Christ. If you are in the vine Christ flows through you!!! It is no longer you but Christ IN you! If you are IN the vine your nourishment comes from the vine.
When Christ went to the cross for me I became a new creation.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I NO LONGER LIVE, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20
This is where the freedom comes in.
Revisiting my question:
What is one thing I refuse to give up?
My answer: Meeting with woman, sharing a meal or cup of coffee. Studying God's Word (and some amazing teaching in church the last couple of weeks) I realize yet another area where I think I'm in control but I'm not.
I think I AM making a plan, checking off my list
NO!!
God is doing HIS WORK THROUGH me! It's not me at all. Anytime I insert myself it's just NOT TRUE. I don't ask someone to go to coffee because it's me...I ask because God CAUSES me to think of the person who might need love and encouragement.
And for the first time I am finally seeing the freedom of walking with Christ. A rest I've never experienced before. A peace I've never experienced before. No pressure to perform. There is no need for striving nor planning. I merely need to be still.
I suspect there will be times in the future that I step out of God's will for my life.....but I don't want to focus on that this morning. I want to sit in this new revelation and be still before him. The weeds can wait, the house can wait and all the other responsibilities can wait. For such a time as this I'm in the perfect place in his perfect timing.
Have a beautiful day.
Hebrews 10:24-25
I thought, "God moves in mysterious ways"...... He is so incredibly faithful when I ask him to take my ordinary, everyday, mundane, seemingly meaningless tasks and turn them into a lesson that teaches me more about who he is.
On a sidenote did you know that that "saying" was actually a hymn written in 1773 by William Cowper from England entitled God Moves in a Mysterious Way? How cool is that!?
So here's where God took me....
I was cooking a meal for myself. I take great care and time to, not only, prepare it but to present it in a way that is pleasing to the eye. My choices are much better at home because I can only choose from that which I've brought into my house. I don't have endless choices. When I have a menu in my hand? Oh boy! At home there is no desert and at a restaurant I rarely say no to it. At a restaurant money is rarely an issue, at home... it's much less expensive.
This question came to mind:
What is one thing I am NOT willing to give up? Something I'm not willing to compromise?
If I had to trim my budget, cut expenses, tweak my lifestyle, prepare for a life changing event......what would I cut, what would I keep?
What is it I value THAT much? Or IS there something I value THAT much?
There are many ways for me to cut spending.....so, so many. One I say absolutely no to is my "entertainment" spending.
This life can be really hard and quite exhausting. Look at that verse in Hebrews....spur one another on....we, as a Jesus loving people, are actually commanded to love and care for others. People need people. Fellowship IS vital to human life. And in God's Word it is commanded.
God's word has much to say about loving others, tending to there needs and being available.
•Encourage one another
•Build each other up
1Thesselonians 5:11
•Building up
Ephesians 4:29
•Love one another earnestly
•Show hospitality
•Serve one another
1 Peter 4: 8-10
•Look to the interests of others
Philippians 2:4
•Be kind
•Be tenderhearted
•Be forgiving
Ephesians 4:32
•Carry one another's burdens
Galatians 6:2
•Visit widows and orphans in their affliction
James 1:27
There is scripture (like the above) that calls us to love and encourage others and scripture that tells us how God provides exactly that to us. For example:
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
John 3:1
And here's where the eye opening twist came in....
I have the ability to do what his word says because he has already done it for me! He is my perfect example!
I began to see a freedom that I had not seen before. I'm not sure I can actually explain it.....it is not me at all, that thinks up or devises a plan. If you know Christ, if you are IN Christ and Christ in you....look at it this way...we are grafted into the vine, that is Christ. If you are in the vine Christ flows through you!!! It is no longer you but Christ IN you! If you are IN the vine your nourishment comes from the vine.
When Christ went to the cross for me I became a new creation.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I NO LONGER LIVE, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20
This is where the freedom comes in.
Revisiting my question:
What is one thing I refuse to give up?
My answer: Meeting with woman, sharing a meal or cup of coffee. Studying God's Word (and some amazing teaching in church the last couple of weeks) I realize yet another area where I think I'm in control but I'm not.
I think I AM making a plan, checking off my list
NO!!
God is doing HIS WORK THROUGH me! It's not me at all. Anytime I insert myself it's just NOT TRUE. I don't ask someone to go to coffee because it's me...I ask because God CAUSES me to think of the person who might need love and encouragement.
And for the first time I am finally seeing the freedom of walking with Christ. A rest I've never experienced before. A peace I've never experienced before. No pressure to perform. There is no need for striving nor planning. I merely need to be still.
I suspect there will be times in the future that I step out of God's will for my life.....but I don't want to focus on that this morning. I want to sit in this new revelation and be still before him. The weeds can wait, the house can wait and all the other responsibilities can wait. For such a time as this I'm in the perfect place in his perfect timing.
Have a beautiful day.
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