Struggle is real

It sometimes feels like no matter how much I try I can never stop doing some of the bad things I do. Or do the good that I want to do. 

I was talking to a friend the other day and she confessed to me that she lacked discipline in her life. She said that she was having trouble getting motivated to do the things that she knows she should be doing.

I began to think about myself. There are some not so nice behaviors that I participate in sometimes that make me mad because I can't seem to stop doing them. 

And then, too, like my friend, there are some things that I should do more often that I don't do.

Everyday is a constant struggle to battle the sinful human nature inside. 

Even Paul knew this struggle.

He writes this:

“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.”

Romans 7:15, 18-19 NASB

My goodness, if Paul faced this challenge and had such a hard time, is there any hope at all for me? 

Jesus warns:

“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."”

Matthew 26:41 NASB

I don't want to do bad things. I want to do good. Yet I mess up....often.

 Like Paul, I don't understand it. Sometimes, I just wonder why. Why did I do that? Why did I say that? Why do I act this way? When will I do the right thing?

Most often I know immediately that I made the wrong choice. Within seconds, I realize the decision should have been different. Why do I not seem to know before the action? Surely I am not deliberately choosing bad behaviors, am I? What is wrong with me? Would it be, could it be that I am not "watching and praying?"

How can I be more alert and sober in my actions? 

“one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

James 4:17 NASB

Do any of you struggle like this? 

Tomorrow?

This weekend I have been sicker than I have been for over 30 years. I came down with the flu. Every single cell in my body seems to be crying in pain and I am not ashamed to confess, that this pain has actually literally made me cry.

However, I did not share that with anyone outside my family, until my husband requested prayer for me in several prayer groups.

Now with that being said I have noticed a few similarities to my morning scripture that I would like to share with you.

Even though I was extremely sick (no one knew) I was asked specifically by 3 different people to pray to God on their behalf for their loved ones. And I absolutely did that. I welcome the chance to pray for someone else.

In my reading this morning, from Exodus chapter 8, Pharaoh asked Moses to "Plead with The Lord" on his behalf.

“Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.””

Exodus 8:8 ESV

He recognized that Moses had "connections" to the Lord. And he asked for prayer. 

When someone asks you for prayer, they are saying that they recognize that you have "connections" with God and they seek access to Him through you.

So I was praying for others that also had the flu. I could definitely relate and knew how to pray for them specifically because I related to their pain and misery.

Later I received word from one of my friends that prayers indeed helped and her household was beginning to feel better.

So I prayed to God for myself. I asked Him that if it be His will to make me better I would appreciate if He could do it by tomorrow so I can go to work. I can't really afford to miss a day due to being sick.

I was willing to be sick on the weekend, just heal me tomorrow.

Wow.

Now back to my morning reading....

“Moses said to Pharaoh, "Have it your way. When should I pray for you and your officials and your people to remove the frogs from your houses, courtyards, and fields? They’ll stay only in the Nile." Pharaoh said, "Tomorrow!" Moses said, "Just as you say! That way you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God.”

Exodus 8:9-10 CEB

Pharaoh, who is in the midst of a PLAGUE (infestation) of frogs, frogs everywhere, when asked when he wanted them gone, said, "Tomorrow!!!"

Why did he say that? 

Why did I ask to be better by tomorrow instead of asking to be better now? 

Why do we say, "Tomorrow I'll diet," or "Tomorrow I'll start saving money." Or "Tomorrow I'll give up my sin." Or "Tomorrow..." whatever?

Why do we want one more night with the frogs?

God said in verse 1 of chapter 8 of Exodus:

“Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”

You see, God knows His people. He could tell His people apart from the people under Pharaoh's rule. And even still, God knows His people. He wants His people set free from our bondage so that we can serve Him.

Whatever it is that is holding you, keeping you, entangling you, break free in Christ. Claim your victory and start saying, Today!

Because of Christ- Today I can. Today I will.

PS Pray for to be better- today. 🤗

And how can I pray for you?

Revival

You know that feeling of busy excitement that you have when your congregation is hosting a revival or seminar? It takes so much planning and preparing. Everyone works together to set the dates, works up the flyers, plan the speakers stay and meals, invite friends and family, clean the building, etc.

Then the event comes, busyness and excitement grows even more. The speaker visits your home, and lifts and encourages you and your family. Your revival fires are rekindled and you remember the joy of your salvation. Your busyness turns into earnest working for the Lord again. You begin to do more and more to build the Kingdom of God on earth.

It then becomes a mission for us to continue in that excitement. We continue lifting and encouraging each other, loving each other, and becoming more and more the image of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul was the ultimate evangelist. Can you imagine the joy and excitement that his visit could bring to your congregation? His love for God was never hidden. He was always about serving the Lord. As a matter of fact, Paul states, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat."

I believe that this statement has two meanings: 

First, a person needs to not be idle. We need to work to earn our physical food.

And second, spiritually. Jesus is the Bread of Life. If we don't work in God's Kingdom, how can we think we can partake in The Bread of Life? 

The Psalmist, David, says, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalms 51:12 ESV

We need to always remember the excitement and joy that we knew when we first became Christians. We need a revival fire inside us. Then we need to re-ignite the fire in others and fan the flame. Shouldn't everyone know Christ's love? 

“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.

 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 

As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 ESV

Personal?

I am going to write today about what one preacher describes as "a gray area." However, it is a pet peeve that may be deceiving many people right to the doorway of hell.

How many times have you heard a person come forward to make their good confession at the end of the service, and you hear them say, "I accept Him as my personal savior?"

What does this imply? Is this mentioned in the scriptures?

What ever happened to people saying, "I accept Him as my Lord and Savior?"

I am afraid that in our society we are taught early on that we live in a "me" society. Our culture is all about selfie.

It troubles me a bit that people want a personal savior. I am afraid that some may think that by having this special relationship that they will come to think that Jesus "understands" them and their circumstances and will have a compassion on them because of their relationship. In believing this, they are bringing Jesus down to their level of humanity, instead of growing up in grace, being faithfully obedient through trying times, and having a godly sorrow within themselves when they fail.

They use their personal relationship to justify behavior instead of repentance and being obedient to their "Lord" and savior. Really, who wouldn't want a loving friend rather than a Lord?

Now, please don't misunderstand me, I definitely believe that each of us, Christians, must have a relationship with God. We do need to talk to Him (prayer) and listen to Him (meditate) and be committed to Him. That is a relationship. However it is not personal. I am not special (favored) by God because my prayer life is better than someone else's. and just because you can quote the Bible backwards and forwards, you aren't loved better by Him. No, scripture teaches us that God has no favorites. “For God shows no partiality.” Romans 2:11 and Acts 10:34 “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,”

God loves everyone. EVERYONE! Even those that do not love Him back.

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 ESV

When we become children of God we begin to grow in Grace and Knowledge. We grow up into Him by learning to trust more fully and by doing our best to continue on with the work that Christ, then the apostles started. Jesus prayed to God for us, you and me, when He said, 

“The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

John 17:22-23 ESV

Jesus wants us to be unified, but not just with Him. He wants unity with all believers. We are all one in Him. It is never and was never meant to be an individual journey. We are saved into a body, The Body, of Christ. It is one of the very first things God does for a new convert, He adds them to the church, the body. “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Acts 2:41, 47 NASB

If God wanted "a personal relationship" why would He add us into the body (church?)

It's because we need each other. We are meant to be side by side, working together, each doing our part, functioning as a body, with Jesus as Head. “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV

Let's work toward unity. Let's build each other. Let's love each other instead of trying to do it on our own. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

1 John 4:11 ESV

Let's have a relationship with God. Let's have a relationship with Jesus. Let's have a relationship with each other. Let's' have the kind of relationship that Jesus prayed for, that we are all ONE.

Wait

When I was in the fifth grade, I got my first man teacher. His wife was also a fifth grade teacher and they lived on a small farm. It was in the spring of that year that the teacher brought in an incubator and some chicken eggs. 

Every day we watched those eggs and waited patiently.

After about 3 weeks they began to crack. And then small holes appeared. And one by one little peeps began to appear.

But a few of the eggs never cracked. And after a couple more days the eggs disappeared. There was a solemn sadness in many of us. 

We learned a couple of lessons during that time:

*Sometimes it's exciting to wait for something to happen.

*It's amazing to watch a new beginning.

*Occasionally the outcome isn't what you want.

*Sad disappointment can be overcome.

Last Sunday when we came home from church I had a message on the answering machine. It was from the Maryland State Police. I was being asked to come for a job interview....for a job that I had applied for last April. I remember after submitting that application, waiting hopefully to hear from someone. But much time went by and I had forgotten all about that job. 

When I woke up Monday morning I called the number and set up an interview for Thursday.

The interview would take place over an hours drive away. So Thursday I woke up at my normal time. My husband was going along for the ride. I was pretty anxious. I wanted to check the confirmation email one last time to be sure I was bringing everything that I needed. 

As I was scrolling through the hundreds of emails and spam I noticed an email I hadn't paid attention to before. It was an email about another job working for the State of Maryland. Oh no, why hadn't I seen it? It was from a month ago. It, too, was inviting me to an interview. Oh, I was just sick about missing it. But that job would involve a daily drive of about an hour and a half. 

I quickly replied to the email with an apology for missing the interview and a plea to be remembered for the next opportunity.

Ugh! I just can't believe I blew that chance.

I put aside those feelings and off we went to this interview. It was a long drive. Tension built. Bill and I talked a lot about, what if.

The interview went well. I liked the sound of the job. I feel pretty confident that I am qualified. But there is a process, background checks, reference checks, and interviews of other people. So I now will wait, excitedly, anxiously.

But wait... there's more...

Remember the email that I had overlooked? About the other interview? When I got home I CAREFULLY checked my email. I had gotten a response from the woman that had sent the email!!! It was a one sentence inquiry. A question actually, "Would you be interested in this position in Cumberland?"

What?!? I could not believe it. I just couldn't believe it. 

In less than a week, I am getting the opportunity for not one, but two, very good State jobs, neither of which I had applied for recently. It was like out of the blue.

Of course I'm interested in working in Cumberland. That's where I work now. She then asked me to send her my resume and I did.

So I now wait, excitedly, anxiously to hear about one or the other of two jobs. I remember a lesson I learned in the fifth grade:

*Sometimes it's exciting to wait for something to happen.

*It's amazing to watch a new beginning.

*Occasionally the outcome isn't what you want.

*Sad disappointment can be overcome.

It all brings to mind one of Joseph's experience's in the Old Testament. 

Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous older brothers. Once in Egypt he overcame his trials and excelled to the point that he became a trusted, loyal servant of the hierarchy. 

He resisted the seduction of Potiphar's wife and then she lied about him trying to rape her and he was put into prison. He was there a very long time. 

There were two others there with him. They both had dreams that God allowed Joseph to interpret. Within 3 days the cupbearer was released from prison and re-instated to his job as cupbearer to the King. But he forgot to mention Joseph.

Here are the scriptures.

“Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon."

Thus it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh's hand;

Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.”

Genesis 40:14-15, 20-21, 23 NASB

Joseph's life was chock full of ups and downs. And full of waiting, excitedly and anxiously for God to work in his life. Very often I think of Joseph and what his human emotions went through time and time again. 

I can't imagine his family hating him so much that they plot to kill him,  but then sell him knowing they will never see him again and telling his  father that he  were dead. It must have been a very sad realization for young Joseph. But he faced adversity bravely. And he worked hard and grew using the adversity as stepping stones.

And then to be lied about and put into prison. I wonder how he spent those long days. I wonder what he thought about, what his prayers were, his reflections on his life.

And then to correctly interpret those dreams and have his hopes soar that maybe now he will get out of the cell only to come to understand that he was forgotten. 

 Yet we are given the vantage point of seeing how all along God's hand was with Joseph, building and equipping him for each new chapter of his life.

He will do the same for you and I. When we feel abandoned, when we feel forgotten, when we feel slandered, when we are working extremely hard for people that "are not our people." God is there. God is with us. He is building us and equipping us for the tapestry that will be our lives and our legacy. 

You have a purpose. God has a plan. Hold on, Wait for it. Wait excitedly and anxiously, no matter what.

Judge me

People tend to get real defensive when they feel criticized. And usually their first words will be, "Don't judge."

But I must tell you, we are to rebuke each other. Not in any malicious way, or the sin is within us, but with love and gentleness. Our motive should be, when rebuking, is to restore that person to the straight and narrow path.

If I become defensive, and rebellious toward someone's correction of  my behavior, then my heart becomes hard and harder until a God will just allow me to go, unless and until I become repentant and turn back to him.

 

“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. 

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 NASB

“Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?”

1 Corinthians 6:3 NASB

Blind Betty

I remember as a child having a neighbor that we called Blind Betty. Not to be mean but because there were two ladies named Betty and we had to differentiate between them and she was blind.

In later years, during my work at a hospital cafeteria we often described patients by their ailments rather than names because it was easier to remember than their names.

Very often we know people by something that has befallen them.

Is that how you want to be known? How do you want others to know you?

I was having a pity party the other night and feeling especially lonely and craving the voice of someone other than my husband. And I said to him, I don't think anyone likes me. And he in his infinite wisdom and compassion said to me, "Go eat worms."

But it helped. It made me chuckle. I don't want to be bitter or down-hearted. I know I have friends and people that care for me.

How does God know us? What is it that He sees when He looks at us?

Well He sees us as we can be. He sees us complete and whole. 

Our circumstances are obstacles or challenges that sometimes get in the way, but we are meant to overcome them. How we deal with these things will shape us and build us or we can be bitter, give up and forever be described by what conquered us.

When Naomi returned to Bethlehem she no longer was a wife and mother of two sons. No, now she can back poor and destitute with a Moabite daughter in law. 

The women of the town asked, "Is this Naomi?" Naomi means pleasant.

"No." She said. "Don't call me Naomi, call me Mara." Mara means bitter. She felt like God had dealt unfairly with her. Self pity. 

Have you ever felt that God had dealt unfairly with you? That just goes to show that we sometimes forget that God has a bigger plan, on a grand scale, that will result in His blessing.

Embrace your challenges. And be a conqueror!

So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, "Is this Naomi?" She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?" So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. (Ruth 1:19-22 NASB)