Comfort Zones

Comfort Zones, don't we all have them! I think even before we are born, within our mother's womb we begin our human flaw of "comfort zones." We kick our mom's bladder and ribs as we roll around inside waiting for our day or birth. Then as we grow we obtain more and more stipulations on our "comfort zones." Abraham had the market on breaking comfort zones, not knowing where he was going or the task he had before him, he said "Yes Lord.", he had Obedience and Faith. I have found that as I step out of my own comfort zones for the Will of God, I am truly blessed beyond measures from Him. The dance sometimes is, He pushes...I argue and then leap. But the more I say "Yes, Lord" He blesses me and He continues to mold me for His Purpose. The "arguing" part of the dance is a human flaw that I as a growing Christian must continue to work on. ((hugs until next time))

Coincident?

Do you believe in coincidences? I use to. Boy looking back, WAS I A DUMMY!! It was not until I came back to God that I realized, there are NO coincidences. Our lives are made up of God's plan and our choices. As Christians, we have no "free pass" to not be tempted in situations. God allows us to be tempted (sometimes it it because there is something in our hearts that needs to be exposed.) BUT God is never the Tempter! I have a wonderful dear friend who made me a firm believer of the scripture in 2 Chronicles 16:9. "For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect for him, so that he can show his great power in helping them." It is NO COINCIDENT when you bump into someone in need, or see something that needs an act of kindness or the outreach of a human hand. God puts people in and out of our lives for reasons that we are not aware of most of the time. Sometimes we can look back and have an "AAHA!" moment and see His fingerprints over the situation. And sometimes those "AAHA" moments show missed opportunity to do God's work. So how about it, look around...those what seem to be "coincidences" in your life..can you see God's hand in it? Sometimes..they are His gentle nudges and sometimes they may be to discipline us...but whatever they are...they are not coincidences.

Choose Him

God is Good! You may say, "Well, that is easy for you to say, try life in my shoes." Well, the Bible certainly does not guarantee anyone to have a "bliss life" full of just moments on the mountaintops. We all experience the "rock and the hard place moments and the falling from the mountaintops into those valleys of life." It is what we choose to put our sights on during those hard times that make the difference. It is our ACTIONS or REACTIONS to the circumstances laid out before us that makes all the difference. God wants us to CHOOSE HIM to comfort us, CHOOSE HIM to give us the strength to carry us through those times. CHOOSE HIM to guide us on to the right paths. I am still learning to not try to figure out and try to "fix" everything on my own. It usually works out that it is when my choice was not to CHOOSE HIM first...that I usually need a mop to clean up the mess I created. When we CHOOSE HIM to guide us through, He never ceases to amaze us with the outcome HE CHOOSES FOR US! When we CHOOSE HIM it allows HIM to be Glorified and Praised. When we CHOOSE HIM it humbles us by HIS love for each of us. It also allows us to have such a testimony to share with others. It makes for Testimonials that encourage others. I might not always CHOOSE HIM immediately every time...but when I do words cannot describe the feelings and of my own visualization of me as a child running into my Lord's lap and His loving embrace that I receive immediately. His words of comfort, guidance, peace and love that He has to offer if you just only CHOOSE HIM. (( hugs until next time ))

Check the Obvious

I cannot take credit for the following, but it is something I have read in scripture and I remember the way David McCasland w/Our Daily Bread's past posting of the subject just seemed so profound in simple words. "When our body, cars, computers, etc give us trouble we try to look for the obvious in what might be wrong. And when we go to the doctor, auto mechanic and computer techs they begin to "check the obvious." Why don't we make that a routine in our daily life? " "Checking for the obvious" in our daily spiritual life in Col 3:12-17 speaks of "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, and thankfulness." Before criticizing the church or other people, we need to look within our own self and ask the Lord to reveal our own shortcomings. Prior to ripping out the wires of relationships, we should see if patience are connected to our own heart! It is good to look inside our heart-check the obvious first-EVEN when it feels like our own troubles are caused by someone else. I am only human and stumble on my walk with God. I find myself getting frustrated with those who choose to think that it is "their church" "their religion" that will make it to heaven. WE EACH have our own responsibility and accountability to search for wisdom and be all that Col.3:12-17 says to be. Even if it was not followed not by just Christians but society in a whole, what a much more Beautiful Place we would live in today! ((Hugs until next time))

Appearances

I attended a Beth Moore bible once and a topic that hit home with me was from the scripture "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, the man sees the visible, but the Lord sees the heart." 1Samuel 16:7. I have never really been one to look more at appearances; rather I look at people's actions more. I guess you could say I am a "people watcher." Outer appearances can be easily changed, but it is the inner actions of someone that tells the bigger story. Where their heart is. Although sometimes judging someone by their actions can be deceptive because they might be just having a really bad day or just informed of some bad news. I never was interested in guys for their looks, I was more interested in my common interests with that person, but that is getting off the subject. Don't get me wrong, I would not be human if when I met someone who was unkept that the thought of their choice of cleanliness did not cross my mind. But it should never stop us from getting to know the "heart" of that person So, next time you are standing in that long line making that purchase, go ahead and "people watch." You will be surprised to what you thought was a "pretty package" really isn't so pretty at all. May the Lord help you to look past the appearance but to look at the hearts of others. ((Hugs until next time))