Teach Me, Jesus

As an adult, are you still learning?  Where do you get your knowledge from?  The newspaper?  Friends?  Your kids?

The Bible is still relevant today as it was 2000 years ago.  When you have a problem or question, you should refer to the Bible.  Jesus taught.  He didn’t preach down to people.  He didn’t talk about people.  And He didn’t yell and pull out His hair.  Jesus calmly answered anybody who asked Him a question.  His answers were simple.  His answers seemed like they were right in front of the person who was asking.  Why do we want to make things completed?  Do you need confirmation of an answer?  Get your confirmation in the Bible from Jesus.  Or ask Him yourself.  We can ask God anything and He will answer.  But we must be able to accept His answer.  It may not be the answer you want but it will be the answer you need at that time.

Teach me, Lord.  Show me Your Ways.

Beautiful Spring Flowers and Love

Isn’t spring beautiful?  In dreary February, everything seemed so brown and dead.  Now, we have officially started spring.  Where I live that means all the flowers, are blooming, from azaleas to camellias to weeds.  Everything is blooming.  And it is so beautiful.  I believe God did it just for me.  He knows I love azaleas so He makes sure I see some in full bloom.  Azaleas bloom so full that you don’t see the green leaves underneath the flowers.

My point?  God does something for you too.  Maybe you like the wild flowers.  Look along the road when driving home today.  Maybe you like the sunshine.  Notice the sun as you put out the garbage.    Maybe you like anything as long as it’s not freezing cold outside.  You didn’t need that big coat today.  God loves you too. It is all around you.  Look for it.  And remember to thank Him for giving it to you.  God loves you.  He loves you so much He mad a flower bloom just for you!

Sing A Song Of Praise

Do you have the joy of the Lord in your heart?  If not, why not?

When I feel down, I start to reciting the Word of God.  Whatever scriptures I memorized, I recite them, one after the other.  It sounds like I am rattling them off (to myself).  As the joy starts to enter my heart, my heart starts to overflow.

Then I start singing whatever comes into my head.  Today I went to put my garbage out on the street.  As I starting walking down the driveway, the sun shone brightly on me.  And I began to thank God for the beautiful day He made just for me.  So, I started singing to God saying,                     

Thank you Jesus, You are Lord, my God.      I want to 

Thank you Jesus, You are God, my King.  I want to

Thank you Jesus, Thank you Lord, my God. 

You’re my Savior, my God, my Lord, my King.  I want to . . .  

And then I started over.  So the tune kinda of stayed in my head.  It is a lively tune.  The melody sounds familiar.  But I don’t care.  I am praising God and thanking Him.

The words don’t mattter or if you can sing.  God just wants you the thank Him.  So, the next time you feel down, SING !

Thoughts

What do you think about?  When work gets busy and stressful, I take a mini vacation.  I start thinking about a peaceful setting or a place I like that I know will calm me down.

My thoughts should be on God and His Word. I have memorized a few scriptures that I recite when I need a pick-me-up.  Actually, I should be reciting and studying daily.  But life’s busyness takes over I don’t always have time.  So, I have learned scriptures.

I build my faith by reciting His Word.  I build my strength by reciting His Word.  I feel renewed and am able to go on with my day.  I have changed my thoughts from,’how am I going to finish this project,’ to ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’  When I think,’why are you asking me how to do that?’ into, ‘I am an ambassador for Christ.’  When I am shopping and think,’I need that,’ I should be thinking, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need.’

Refocus your thoughts on Him and His Word.  Where are your thoughts leading?

Thanking God

Have you ever had a great weekend?  I did not look forward to this past weekend.  I was nervous.  I was excited.  

I’ve heard that sometimes you just have to work through your fears, and that’s what I did.  I had something to do this weekend.  I wanted to do it but my nerves starting getting the best of me.  That’s when I started praying, ‘God, you have got to get me through this.’  By the end of Saturday, I started feeling confident.  But Sunday morning,my nerves started all over.

What was I scared of?  I have no idea.  Maybe scared of people.  Maybe scared of situations.  But my prayers were answered.  The weekend was a success.  And I have God to thank for that.  I must remember that no matter what happens that God is right there beside me.  He sais He will never leave me.  Thank you Jesus.

Thank you for a great weekend.

Idols

Do you put idols before God?  One of the commandments states that,”thou shall have no gods before me.”

When you get a raise, do you thank God for it?  Or do you think, ‘I did it.’  When you clean your house, do you say ,’I do a great job?’  Or do you thank God for giving you strength to clean the house. Do you look at the sun and moon and worship it?

 Money can be a idol.  Your house can be an idol.  Some people worship the sun and moon.  These things should not take preference over our Father God.  God gives and God takes away. He created everything.  I must give Him the glory for all that I have.  I can do nothing on my own.  He created me and He gets the Glory.

Glory to God!

Reason Why

When Lazarus became sick, word was sent to Jesus to come quickly.  But Jeses did not.  He waited a few days.  Then, He knew the exact time when to leave and go to Lazarus.

When I ask for help, my prayes are not always answered immediately.  I often wonder why.  But in John 11, Jesus explains to me that it was all for a reason.  His delay had a purpose.  He tells me that the death of Lazarus happened so that glory would be brought to the Son of God.  

My ways are not God’s ways.  I want things impatiently, immediately.  God’s ways are not my ways.  God will answer my prayers in His time.  He knows me better than I know myself.  He knows when I will appreciate His answers and His healings.  God loves me.

I don’t always understand the reasoning behind God’s ways, but I trust and have faith in Him.  He loves me more than I could imagine.

Trust in Him.

Sign of the Times

Do you ever feel like there is a sign on your forehead?  I like going to craft fairs.  Some people are naturally very talented and it shows through their creativity.  Others, like me, have to work at it.  But when I see something new that I haven’t seen before and it is presented in a unique way – weather I need it or not – I buy it, just because it’s so cute.  Sometimes I feel like there is a sign on my forehead that reads ’sucker, will buy anything!’

But, God, has already bought me.  He died for my sins.  And He put a sign on my forehead that reads, ‘bought and paid for by Jesus!’ God wants me more than any craft fair item.  He protects me.  He cares for me.  He loves me. And He wants me to know that I belong to Him. 

I need to show people my sign.  How do I react when I see things on sale?  Do I ask God for it?  Or do I buy it and then ask God to help me pay for it?  I need to show people my sign.  Do I cut in front of  the little old lady pushing her basket to the open cashier in the grocery store or do I run there , save her a spot, and help her with her groceries?  I need to show my sign.  Do I let people in when trying to get through traffic or do I say, ‘let them get behind me?’  I need to show my sign.

When you look at other people, what sign do you see?

Worthy

Do you want to praise God but feel like something is holding you back?  Something like guilt?  Do you feel like you are not worthy of His love?  Is your body wasting away?

God knew us before He formed us in our mother’s womb.  He knew we would sin.  He knew we would turn out backs’ on Him.  God loves us so much that He created an out.

When I feel not worthy, it’s because of sin.  Sin brings me down.  God brings me up.  How do I get up?  It says in Psalm 32 of how David confessed his sins and the Lord forgave him.  That’s what I need to do.  Confess my sin.  When I confess my sin,  the doors to heaven are open.  The guilt is released.  The condemnation goes away.  That guilt is replaced with joy, and joy becomes strength.

The psalm goes on to say that the Lord will protect me from trouble, watch over me, and surround me with unfailing love.  Sounds like He really loves me.  But I must trust Him.  Take my eyes off of me and put them on Him.  Through Jesus Christ, we become worthy.  Shout for joy!

Love

Love is just a word to some people.  But when I have a relationship with Jesus Christ, love becomes a whole lot more.  Do I expect love automatically?  For instance, do I say to myself, ‘I am an adult.  I will find love where ever I go.’  I must seek love, the love Jesus Christ can give me.

The love of God is unconditional.  It does not require me to do something to get it.  No matter what I do, God loves me.  Even if I don’t love God, He still loves me.  Do I need to be faithful to God? God gives each one of us a choice.  I choose to love God.  I choose to believe in His Son, Jesus.  I choose, and He still loves me.  It gives me that warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Am I worthy of His love?  This idea goes back to love being unconditional.  God created me just the way I am.  He knew me before He formed me in my mothers’ womb.  He knew what I would look like and how I would act. And He still loves me unconditionally.  His love is all encompassing.  It covers everything I do.  He loves me when I curse out people on the phone.  He loves me when I cut somebody off in traffic.  He loves me when I forget to pray for my neighbor. 

Never forget that God loves you, too.