Remember

This song really stood out to me on the radio this morning.  I've heard it hundreds of times before and sang it many times too, but today it stood out differently.  The words began to rearrange themselves in my head.

The correct lyrics are:

Remember your people

Remember your people

Remember your people oh God

I started thinking about our country, the individual people, the chaos and insanity, sin and sadness that comes from a people away from God. A people out of relationship with God.

Then I thought about the irony of these words..... remember your people oh God?

1.  In such a state of mess and chaos, sin and destruction why would He want to remember us? (I'm speaking from a very human perspective here)

2.  This is God, the bible tells us He never for forgets.

Again, the irony of these words is not lost on my drive.

New words begin to form.

Remember your God

Remember your God

Remember your God oh people

Remember

Just something to think about today. Not sure if I'll hear this song the same way again.

Cease Striving

One of my favorite verses if Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.  Today I read this verse in the American Standard Version and it is revealing and teaching me volumes today.

Psalm 46:10 Cease striving and know that I am God

I just looked up "strive."

Strive.  verb.  make great efforts to achieve or obtain something.  struggle or fight vigorously.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry, tremble in fear or drop in to my knees in awe and praise, be thankful, submit in obedience, or completely freak out.

I'm a mess and it goes to my state of heart and state of relationship with God.

Brief background life situation:  We are approaching 4 weeks until the wedding.  I gave the amounts due to Tom and he said that amount wasn't accessible.  He remembered a specific budget figure and this amount exceeded that dollar.  I remembered very specifically trying to get a budget figure but he insisted on "plan the wedding our daughter wants and I'll make it happen."  At the moment he spoke the words the money wasn't going to be available my heart stopped, my stomach wanted to vomit.  He was so calm.  Stating it was important to focus on the joy of the journey, the excitement of the day, blah, blah blah.... 

I wanted to scream, puke, hurt him, run away or just plain not exist anymore.  I was failing this process of mother of the bride, of wedding planning.  I felt everything closing in on me.

I felt lost and didn't know what to do and I didn't know what God had planned or how He would provide.  And honestly, I didn't feel He needed to based on how my relationship with Him had been lately.  I had been operating pretty independently lately.  Not good, I know, but I'm a realist.

I also knew this current situation was more about my relationship with God than about how to pay for this wedding.  I cried out to God that Tuesday evening.  I knew I could get a loan for $2,400 but we were $5,000 short.  I didn't know if the loan was an avenue provided by God or me trying to take over and be self-reliant.  UGH, my blood pressure is off the charts and my head is ready to explode.

I know exactly where to turn and yet I am trying so hard to plug a bucket filled with more holes than I have fingers.  Everything is a mess and there I stand desperately trying to stop the bucket from leaking.

Why am I continuing down this path of insanity?  Because as insane as it might seem, at least I can see it and I can do something.  Placing this leaky bucket of holes into God's hands means I have to stop "doing" what I'm doing.  I'm a girl of action and I don't see how or God might do. 

I didn't say it was rational, I just can provide the why to my insanity.

And then God enters on Wednesday morning on my commute to Indy.  Everywhere I drive that morning gas is $3.39.  Except one station on the left side of the road and it's $3.12.  I'm driving on a 4-lane divided road and I can't get over there in time to turn.  Great opportunity missed.  However I think, if there is one other station that might offer $3.12 it will be this one station just up here on the right, it's always the lowest!  Ugh, $3.39.

And then as I'm thinking about the wedding and every penny counting, an arbitrary station pops up at $3.12 that I'm in the perfect position to pull right into, a pump is open for me, I get my gas and I'm right back out.  Easy, perfect and no stress.  A beautiful gift.

All the stations the rest of the way to Indy were $3.39. 

God can do what He wants, when He wants.

This was not lost on me.  Not at all.  I walked around thinking about it all day. 

On Thursday I had the opportunity sign the loan papers.  I still didn't know if it was from God or me taking over.  I decided I could sign it but I didn't have to cash it.  And so I did.

Afterwards, I had a sense of peace.  I should have been filled with thankfulness and thanksgiving for the opportunity.  But because I got caught up in trying to figure out if I was being disobedient by signing the papers, I got sidetracked.  I should have assumed it was God and prayed for Him to remove it if it wasn't. 

I didn't go to church on Sunday.  I should have met God there, spent time with Him.  I didn't.  Did I do this intentionally or did I follow the path Satan opened?

I didn't want to cash the check so when I got home I put it somewhere.  I thought it was in the glove box or the wedding folders.

It is no where to be found.  What God provides, I am reminded today that God can and will also take away when needed.

God is God.  God can and will do whatever He needs to draw us near to Him.  This world is His and everything falls under His authority..... every single scrap of paper.

I may not fully understand this and I may never will, but what I need to remember is that He loves me, He cares for me completely, He wants a relationship with me more than anything in this world, He misses me and wants me to spend time with Him and He wants me to trust Him and He will do anything to make sure that I always have a new opportunity to choose Him anew.

Father God You are beyond my comprehension.  I stand here broken, lost and thankful for a Savior in Your Son Christ Jesus.   Thank You for teaching me today.  Father I pray You will show me the way and that I will see Your path clearly.  In You I place my trust.  Amen. 

Psalm 46:10-11  Cease striving and know that I am God;
                            I will be exalted among the ^[nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 
                               The Lord of hosts is with us;
                            The God of Jacob is our stronghold. 
                                               Amen.

Bearing Fruit

Last night I sat in with a new group of girls during their prayer time.  They were gracious and wonderful.  I listened with a great and growing love for them as they shared the burdens in their hearts and in their lives.  Through all of the burdens, one young lady spoke that the message we talked of earlier as a large group was sinking in and convicting her.  It was a message of reaching the lost:

Luke 15:3-7 Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 

Luke 15:8-10  "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
 
The young lady in small group knew of someone God had placed in her path and she needed to bring them to Jesus.  She asked us to pray for boldness and courage to lead that person to Christ.

At that moment we paused prayer time and I talked about asking God to create opportunities to share our faith.  To trust in His timing and while we wait for Him to create the opening, spend time with Him and allow Him to prepare us for the moment He wants to use us.

We also talked about the outcome of sharing our faith and creating expectations.  I shared that Jesus works through us to reach people.  We only play a part and we don't know where Jesus is in the process of inviting a person when we join Him. 

I used the example of planting a fruit tree.  In order to grow a piece of fruit there is process.....digging the hole, putting the seed in, covering it back up, watering it, fertilizing, more water, etc.  Eventually, we pray for the the fruit to come, but the person who dug the whole may not still be there to see the fruit.  We just have to do our part, as we are called. 
1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

Needless to say this got me thinking about Jesus and apples.  Oh this special mind of mine!!!

My best friend introduced me to a new apple, a Honey Crisp apple.  AM-A-ZING!!  So exactly how would I go about growing such fruit?  No clue, so I googled it and found....

1.  Timing is critical (winter is best)
2.  Setting also crucial (high area with a slope)
3.  Control adverse elements (weeds & rodents)
4.  Protect groundwork (mulch to preserve moisture and aid in weed & rodent control)
5.  Pruning (removes non-productive parts)
6.  Feeding (nutrients needed to grow)

So how long from seed to Honey Crisp apple? Upwards of 10 years. We better add patience and perseverance to the list.

7.  Patience & Perseverance
8.  Fruit - Variety - lots of apples....Fuji, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Pink  Ladies, Galas, Rome Beauties, Granny Smiths, Jon golds, Honey Crisp, Macintosh, just to name few!


Jesus speaks of Christians bearing fruit.

John 15 5-8  I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears abundant fruit. However, apart from Me you can do nothing.  If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a broken-off branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.
If you live in Me and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
When you produce much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

So what do fruit bearing Christians and growing apples have in common?  You might be surprised to find, it's almost interchangeable!

Timing and setting are critical.  Pray for God to create opportunities and prepare the environment for you to share your faith.  Pray for God to prepare the hearts of those He brings you into contact.  Seek Him daily in prayer and reading so He can prepare you.
Ecclesiastes 3:1   There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven

Controlling adverse elements.  As you share your faith within God's timing and settings you can expect weeds will be sure to come.  Be armed with the Gardener's tools, put on the armor of God daily.
Ephesians 6:13-18 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Protect the groundwork.  As God provides you with an opportunity for you to share your faith be protective of the relationship.  God may or may not call you to share anymore, but you may remain a friend through genuine care and concern, be conscious of the example you set with your words and actions.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!  Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?    Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.   A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Pruning.  God will do the pruning both yours and theirs.  Pruning makes sure that you don't grow too fast and become unstable or weak.  Pruning insures a strong foundation.  Be a good support for one another, offer Godly counsel that will be helpful to one another.
Hebrews 12:10-11  God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Feeding.  Fill yourself Daily with the Word of God, spend time with Him in prayer. Seek Him, let Him set your path each day.
Matthew 6:31-33  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

EXCEPTION:  But unlike growing apples, it doesn't take 10 years to bear fruit.  It could be more, it could be less.  Bearing fruit as a Christian is definitely not as predictable as growing apples!  Once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we are filled with the Holy Spirit.  As we begin to grow in our relationship Christ, He will call us each in His perfect time to bear fruit according to His plan.

Patience & Perseverance.  Only God knows His plan, His timing for our own lives as well as those around us!!  We have to rely on Him, surrender our plans to His.  Trust that His timing will be perfect! 
Hebrews 12:1-3  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Variety.  Oh yes.....we fruit-bearing Christians come in a huge variety.  Each one of us uniquely and wonderfully made by our Heavenly Father.  He has great purpose for you.  You can reach people who would never dream of ever listening to a single word from my mouth, your experiences will take you places I may never travel.  YES, God has great plans to grow each one of us with great purpose!
Psalm 139:13-14  For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.


I believe that there might be an addtional discussion and some Honey Crisp apples in store for these ladies in the near future!!!
We serve an amazing God, Who has opportunities you may never dream possible just waiting for you!