Category: Obedience

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Did I Say That?

A new day – a clean slate! What we write on it will impact the people we love and even those that we have a casual association with.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

As a mother and as a kid, I heard and said “Watch what you say!” An admonishment I didn’t always follow and so my mother made sure that there were consequences for those improprieties. We learn to discern what are the right and wrong things to say and when to say them. But as important as the words we speak are the meditations of the heart.

What do we dwell on? The word meditate paints a picture of a cow chewing her cud; in the same way we meditate by going over and over things in our minds. So if we want to say the right things we need to be thinking on right things. That’s what Jesus told his followers.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

Our thoughts and our meditations will direct our lives and can bring us to a successful place or a place of turmoil. Think on what is good today.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9

When we keep our thoughts focused on the Lord we won’t have any trouble with our words.

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Doing Right

Years ago I read a book, Winners Never Cheat, by Jon Hunstman, Sr. It’s a short read but very powerful for people in business. A very successful businessman, Jon Huntsman, always led with integrity, even when it was detrimental to his bottom line.

He is a man of his word and would not allow circumstances to dictate otherwise.

Thank you Father for godly men and the example they set for the rest of us.

One such man was Joseph. Joseph discovered his fiancé was pregnant. She told him that she hadn’t been with anyone, after all, she was engaged to him. According to the laws of their day he could have her stoned to death or put her away in complete humiliation. Her tainted reputation would reflect on him as well. But, He did the RIGHT thing. He listened to God and raised a child that wasn’t his own as if he was.

“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:19-21

Godly men who are willing to do the right thing just because it’s the right thing are of outstanding character. They can impact their families, their cities and even the world. Joseph is overlooked many times in sermons but his godliness is an example to us all. We are so thankful for the Joseph-like men we have in our lives. They are a true gift from God!

“But now God has made another way to make men right with Himself. It is not by the Law. The Law and the early preachers tell about it. 22 Men become right with God by putting their trust in Jesus Christ. God will accept men if they come this way. All men are the same to God. 23 For all men have sinned and have missed the shining-greatness of God. 24 Anyone can be made right with God by the free gift of His loving-favor. It is Jesus Christ Who bought them with His blood and made them free from their sins.” Romans 3:21-24 NLV

We are all called to do the right thing, the Bible calls it righteousness. Being made right with God is what Christmas is all about. God sent His Son to be the way of reconciliation between God and mankind. We have all missed the mark of right living but through our trust in Christ we receive the free gift of God’s love and a relationship with Him.

Thank you Father for the gift of Your love!

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Thirsting For More

Last night after dinner, Dave and I took Kim and Austin to look for wildlife. We drove several miles down the highway searching the meadows.

When we started out there was a light rain falling and the further we traveled down this mountain highway the heavier it got. It seemed we wouldn’t be spotting any animals this night so we turned back to and were going to head to home.

Then there they were. A small herd of cow elk and their calves. Right off the road’s edge, in the meadow. I’m sorry the image is a bit blurry but I only had my phone and when I zoomed in, it distorted the image.

Anyway, back to the elk. We know there are hundreds that live in that wooded area but they stay hidden in the day, coming down to the meadow in the early morning and just about dusk. They eat their fill of the green grasses, covered with the rain’s moisture. They are content.

“As a deer gets thirsty for streams of water, I truly am thirsty for you, my God. 2 In my heart, I am thirsty for you, the living God.” Psalm 42:1-2 CEV

Thirsty for the living God.

What brought these elk out into the meadow, out from the protection of the trees, was their hunger and thirst. They came to this place to feed, to a place to find nourishment.

“Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NLV

God promises that when we have a hunger for Him and His ways we will be filled. Satisfied. Content.

“You should praise the Lord for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us. 9 To everyone who is thirsty, he gives something to drink; to everyone who is hungry, he gives good things to eat.” Psalm 107:8-10 CEV

I am determined to thirst for the more of God and His love. I know I will be filled.

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Which Box?

Do you have a tendency to compartmentalize your life?

Family, work, health, friends, finances, social activities. Everything has to be kept in its own little box, not touching or interfering with the others, like vegetables on a dinner plate, we don’t let them blend.

Many people do that with the Lord. It’s ok for Him to have their Sunday or days when times are tough, but they aren’t ready to allow Him to permeate each area of their everyday lives.

Yesterday’s blog dealt with opening our heart’s door and letting Jesus in. Welcoming Him in a warmer way than we do with family and friends. Today, we need to look at giving Him full access to every area of our lives.

I found an interesting assessment of the Lord in the book of I Kings. Benhadad, a foreign king, had attacked Ahab, king of Samaria. The Israelites had gone to aid in the fight. King Benhadad was defeated, his officers needed to find a reason for his defeat and this is what they told him.

“King Ben-Hadad’s officers said to him, ‘The gods of Israel are mountain gods. We fought in a mountain area, so the Israelites won. If we fight them on level ground, we will win.'” I Kings 20:23 ERV

God won’t be kept in a box. God won’t be limited. This was the Lord’s reply to their attempt to confine his involvement.

“A man of God came to the king of Israel with this message: ‘The Lord said, “The people of Aram said that I, the Lord, am a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys. So I will let you defeat this great army. Then all of you will know that I am the Lord, wherever you are!’” I Kings 20:28 ERV

The same holds true in our lives.

The Lord wants to show that He is the Lord, wherever we are. God wants to be involved in every aspect of what we do. He has the knowledge, the plan and the power to bring us through in victory. He wants to be Lord over every area of our lives.

“Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.” Colossians 3:16-17 CEV

Our lives should be completely filled with the message of Christ, letting Him have every area, holding nothing back. Then whatever we say or do will be done to honor Him.

We have all given the Lord limited access in our lives at one time or another. Isn’t it time to let Him have it all? No more putting Him in a box. Let the Lord bring the victory we need in every area.

“Then all of you will know that I am the Lord, wherever you are!”

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Jonah or Jesus?

An attitude of the heart.

When our kids were younger we told them that we had two rules in our home. Obedience and respect. They could obey without respect and also be respectful and not be obedient. We stood for both.

This morning we are going to look at Jonah and his disobedience, disrespect and ultimate obedience without respect.

God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and speak out against the sin and evil there. Jonah decided to run from God and head in the opposite direction just as quickly as he could. He got on a ship headed for Tarshish to “flee from the presence of the Lord.” Not a good sign.

“ Instead, Jonah ran from the Lord. He went to the seaport of Joppa and found a ship that was going to Spain. So he paid his fare, then got on the ship and sailed away to escape.” Jonah 1:3 CEV

Disobedience.

Most of you know the story – there was a storm at sea, the sailors throw Jonah overboard, he’s swallowed by a great fish, spends three nights in the fish’s belly, Jonah cries out to the Lord and then is spit out on the beach and he walks to Nineveh.

“Once again the Lord told Jonah 2 to go to that great city of Nineveh and preach his message of doom.3 Jonah obeyed the Lord and went to Nineveh.” Jonah 3:1-3 CEV

In the belly of the fish, Jonah recognizes that it’s the Lord who has sent the fish to save him from drowning. He agrees to go and proclaim judgment over the people of Nineveh. At Jonah’s declaration of God’s displeasure with the ungodly living in Nineveh the King declares that all the people are to repent and hopefully they will be spared.

At the end of forty days, the city has repented, and God acknowledges their repentance and spares them. Jonah gets angry and tells God, “I knew you would spare them if I came here” and then he went to the outskirts of the city and pouted. He was very angry with the Lord for sparing them.

“Jonah was really upset and angry. 2  So he prayed: Our Lord, I knew from the very beginning that you wouldn’t destroy Nineveh. That’s why I left my own country and headed for Spain. You are a kind and merciful God, and you are very patient. You always show love, and you don’t like to punish anyone.” Jonah 4:1-2 CEV

Jonah had cried out to the Lord while in the fish’s belly and was saved but he became angry when the city cried out to God and they were spared. He was obedient to do what God called him to do but he didn’t respect God’s actions when it came to others.

Are we like that?

We expect God to forgive us the things we’ve done but we become angry when we don’t see others “getting what they deserve”.

Jesus prayed for those who were responsible for his death. Do we find it hard to forgive those who have hurt our feelings, mistreat us and abuse us?

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.” Luke 23:34 CEV

Let’s live like Jesus today and not like Jonah.

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Following His Lead

In a parade or a race there is only one leader. A train is pulled by an engine, not a freight car. So in our walk with Christ, we need to determine our source of power and strength and let HIM lead. Just like the rich young ruler, we won’t be really following unless we are willing to give all and go for it!

“Jesus replied, “If you want to be perfect, go sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower.” 22 When the young man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.

23 Jesus said to his disciples, “It’s terribly hard for rich people to get into the kingdom of heaven! 24 In fact, it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into God’s kingdom.”

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly surprised and asked, “How can anyone ever be saved?”

26 Jesus looked straight at them and said, “There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything.” Matthew 19:21-26 ERV

Now look at Jesus instruction to his disciples on the pull of riches. Jesus wasn’t saying that you can’t have money or riches and be a dedicated Christian. These were successful businessmen that Jesus was talking too. Peter and Andrew had a fleet of fishing boats; James and John were the CEO and COO of their father’s fishing business and Matthew had been a director at the regional IRS office. Success ran through their veins so they were shocked when Jesus commented that it is hard for rich men to enter the kingdom.

Jesus quickly responded to their question and said that with God all things are possible. If a man is trusting in his riches, his trust is misplaced but when a rich man trusts God – all things are possible.

Peter reminds the Lord – we left everything to follow you. We just walked off the job and came with you. See there it is – the heart attitude. They weren’t seeking their own advancement any longer, they were following Jesus. They weren’t seeking their own success but they were advancing God’s kingdom. The difference between the disciples and the rich young ruler who had just left was an attitude of the heart.

Jesus went on to point out that although they had given up everything they had to follow him, they had gained eternal life and that they also would receive 100x as much as they had given. Didn’t Jesus promise that He came to give us life and life more abundantly?

Following Jesus is never a step down – that’s what the rich young ruler thought – but it is always a promotion in life, this one and the one we will share in eternity.

Again, today I ask you to check your heart. Follow the leader – Follow Jesus!

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Too Big To Handle

Do you have responsibility for a big project? Do you feel dwarfed by the responsibility?

Maybe it’s a massive system at work, possibly you have been given the task of raising a child? Do you have an inventor’s mind and need additional creativity? Are you training young men and women? Do you have the responsibility for growing crops and tending livestock? Maybe you are working on the next medical break through?

If the task before you is great I want you to know that our God is greater!

Let’s look at some big jobs in the Bible: naming all the animals and plants, building an ark and packing it with provisions, leading a million plus on a desert journey, building the tabernacle, building the Temple, conquering an entire civilization, bringing the plan of salvation to the world. Some pretty mind-boggling assignments, right?

“David said, ‘All these plans were written with the Lord guiding me. He helped me understand everything in the plans.’ 20 David also said to his son Solomon, ‘Be strong and brave and finish this work. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will help you until all the work is finished. He will not leave you. You will build the Lord’s Temple. 21 The groups of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on God’s Temple. Every skilled worker is ready to help you with all the work. The officials and all the people will obey every command you give.’”I Chronicles 28:19-21 ERV

God is into details and if you spend time listening, He will give you the direction you need. Come to Him, come with pen in hand so you can write down what He says. Listen, write and obey.

“Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him.” Hebrews 11:6 ERV

Come to Him in faith believing that He has the answers and that He will provide you with the answers you need. You won’t be disappointed!

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Getting God’s Perspective

A few weeks back I was reading the story of Gideon and how God used him, even when Gideon doubted his own worth.

Something in Gideon strikes a cord in me.

Meet Gideon. We find him threshing grain in a wine press, a very impractical endeavor. Part of winnowing the grain requires it to be thrown in the air, letting the chaff be blown away and the grain heads remain. But there is no breeze in a wine press. A counterproductive effort at best. Gideon was living in fear.

The Lord sent an angel to encourage Gideon and look what the angel says:

“The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord be with you, brave soldier.” 13 Then Gideon said, “Pardon me, sir, but if the Lord is with us, why are we having so many troubles?… 14 The Lord turned toward Gideon and said, “Then use your great power and go save the Israelites from the Midianites. I am sending you to save them.” Judges 6:12-14 ERV

The first thing the Lord did was give Gideon His perspective. Gideon saw himself as timid and afraid but God called him brave. Then the Lord commissioned Gideon to save the nation.

Much is said in Judges 6-7 between Gideon and the Lord. God proved to Gideon that He could be trusted and He would empower Gideon for whatever battle he faced.

Gideon started out with an army of 32,000 men and God reduced the size to 300. Gideon sent home everyone who was afraid to fight and also those who weren’t alert enough to watch for danger.

“The Lord said to Gideon, ‘I will use the 300 men who lapped the water like a dog. I will use them to save you, and I will allow you to defeat the Midianites. Let the other men go home.’” Judges 7:7 ERV

Greatly outnumbered and out skilled, Gideon and his small band of soldiers faced overwhelming odds but he had a promise. God had promised him victory.

“Then all three groups of Gideon’s men blew their trumpets and smashed their jars. The men held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands. As they blew their trumpets, they shouted, ‘A sword for the Lord and a sword for Gideon!’

21 Gideon’s men stayed where they were. But inside the camp, the men of Midian began shouting and running away. 22 When Gideon’s 300 men blew their trumpets, the Lord caused the men of Midian to kill each other with their swords.” Judges 7:20-22 ERV

Was Gideon someone special? Not in the natural. Gideon said of himself that he was the youngest son of the most insignificant family in his tribe. But, God saw someone who would trust Him.

“The Lord answered Gideon and said, ‘I will be with you, so you can defeat the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man.’” Judges 6:16 ERV

How do you see yourself? Do you doubt your value and abilities?

I’ve said it before but I will remind you again. The greatest ability that God is looking for is availability. God is still looking for those, like Gideon, who will trust Him in spite of their own shortcomings.

Let God give you His perspective!

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Looking For…

What did you search for and find yesterday? Did you have something particular – maybe an old photograph or a recipe? Were you looking for a tool in the shed or a bolt and nut that dropped on the ground? Did your search take you to the computer and a new website that you were completely unfamiliar with?

You see, I was looking for all those things. Things I needed or knew I had and when I searched long enough I found them.

This morning, while waiting on my coffee, a question came to mind. “Were you looking for Jesus”? With that question in my heart, I immediately thought of some people who did: the shepherds, the wisemen, Zacchaeus, the woman who had been bleeding twelve years, Jairus who had a sick daughter, the military leader with a sick soldier and the women who went to the tomb.

They all went looking for Jesus and they found Him!

Each of these searchers found Who they were looking for and their lives were changed.

“Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. 14 I will let you find me.” This message is from the Lord…” Jeremiah 29:12-14 ERV

I didn’t always look for Jesus in each day. Oh, I had given Him my heart when I was a child and had Jesus as my Savior but I had the impression that in the day-to-day stuff I was on my own.

Now, there’s not a day goes by that I don’t see the power of God working in my little world. Some days the things I see and experience border on the miraculous and other times it’s the simple ways.

The verses above are our promise that if we search for Him, we WILL find Him.

“In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had gone to many doctors, and they had not done anything except cause her a lot of pain. She had paid them all the money she had. But instead of getting better, she only got worse.

27 The woman had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes. 28 She had said to herself, ‘If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.’” Mark 25:28 CEV

This woman searched for Jesus in her desperation, and she was not disappointed when she found Him. We won’t be either.

Looking for Jesus is the first step. Once we find Him, we need to follow Him.

“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. 2 He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water. 3 He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.” Psalm 23:1-3 ERV

I don’t know what you are looking for today, but may I suggest you start with Jesus? He will lead you to all that is good!

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Learning to Trust

When our youngest daughter was in first grade, we adopted a sweet Australian Shepherd named Bear. He had been badly abused. He had trust issues to say the least.

We were given the name of a good trainer and once a week I took him to class. It didn’t take long for him and me to learn to work together. The commands of sit and stay were some of the first we worked on. He needed to know that when I gave those commands he could TRUST that I wasn’t going to leave him or beat him.

Presently I feel like I’m in a sit stay stage of life. I go through these training times periodically.

I have things to do, places to go, people to meet and minister too and God is saying “Sit Still”. I have learned in the past and am learning again that it’s just as important to be obedient to that command as it is to “love thy neighbor” or “pray without ceasing”.

If you know me at all you know I always have a list – things need to be done! I don’t do SIT – STAY very well. Years ago I read a book by Tim Hansel, “When I Relax I Feel Guilty”, that describes me to a tea. Retirement isn’t easy for a “list person”. I had a very dear friend tell me that it’s just as important to wait as it is to march forward. The key is being obedient to what God is saying and when He’s saying it.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” 11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.” Psalm 46:10-11 NLT

The children of Israel had a tangible, visible sign that they followed. The Lord placed a cloud over the Tabernacle and when it moved they moved; and when it stayed they stayed.

“Sometimes the cloud was over the Holy Tent for only a few days. So the people obeyed the LORD’s command—they followed the cloud when it moved… 22 If the cloud stayed over the Holy Tent for two days, a month, or a year, the people stayed at that place. They did not leave until the cloud moved…They camped when the LORD told them to, and they moved when he told them to…” Number 9:21-23 ERV

Obedience! That’s the key. We say “Lord, speak to me and I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.” And then He speaks something so simple as to stay – rest and we sit for 15 minutes and then want to get up and get back to our normal routine. It’s hard to rest!

God’s way of doing things is generally contrary to the natural way. He told Joshua to march around a city and they would capture it – Jesus told us to achieve greatness we must strive to be a servant. Paul said when I am weak then am I strong. See – these things seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but that’s God’s way.

“My soul, relax! The LORD is caring for you.” Psalm 116:7 ERV

I’m learning to rest AGAIN. Yes, Lord I will sit and stay, trusting You!


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