During my current bible reading goal (90 days) I read through Esther. Well of course you have, you say :)
Got me thinking.
Have you ever thought about your life in regards to what God has planned for you?
I'm sure Esther had no idea she was born to save her people. Literally. To save an entire nation and be the catalyst to destroy another. I have a hard time wrapping my head around the divine plan in Esther's life, let alone my own. What in the world can I possible do for God as I sit here, at my computer, doing ... nothing productive.
Is His plan for me later in my life? Is the "nothing" I do now preparing me for what He wants me to do later? Or, have I missed it, messed it all up, and now I will live in obscure nothingness for the rest of my born days?
Right now, compared to Esther's life, my life is "little". She had the courage to seek the king without being summoned. A sure death sentence if the king didn't acknowledge her. On top of that, to accuse one of the kings closest friends of misappropriating the king's authority. Whew, I feel so very small.
But I'm sure feeling small isn't the intent of the story. I'm sure, since women were not regarded, by men, as real people back in the day, this story was included in the most popular book in all of history to let women know, with God's help, we can have the courage to step out there and do what is needed to be done, what God wants us to do.
Does having courage mean we have to save a nation? Maybe, maybe not. But what is a nation? To you, and me it may just be family. In this case, maybe the "little" I think of my life right now is really as big and courageous as it needs to be, and I need to repent for thinking my life is "little" and really not part of His plan.
Regardless of what you are doing right now, your life is not little. Remember, God chose you on purpose. He is the one who picked you to believe in Him. To let His light shine through you. To be the vessel He needs down here, on the earth, in this evil nation.
Ultimately, in His eyes, His plan for you is grand.
Accept it and embrace the grandness!
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2
Monday, February 13, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
FLinG - February 8, 2012 - Be A Reflection
The last time during the day I take my dogs out to do their business I take a flashlight with me, its dark. Well, of course it is, its bedtime ;)
The last couple days the moon has been very beautiful. Made me think of something. How God is even in the seemingly small stuff. The stuff we think of as small or inconsequential, because we are so used to it there is no longer any wonder or awe attached to it. Which is a shame really.
One of the nights I turned on the porch light. As I was stepping out of the door I noticed the porch light did not even dent the light of the moon that was shining on my patio. The moon was soooo bright!
Immediately I had this thought:
Even the artificial light can not outshine the light of the moon.
How powerful is that?!?!?!
Now my mind is really running. I follow that thought with this:
The moon is a reflection of the sun. Which was created by my Awesome God to keep me physically warm. Which all wraps up in the perfect submission of His Son, who is my Redeemer, who was sent to keep me Spiritually warm. It is all connected by the Creator.
You see, before the banishment, Satan was an angel of light. But his light is artificial.
Let's say that again because it is so very important. Satan's "light" is artificial.
Satan's "light" can not diminish the Light of the World even when the Light of the world is reflected off something else. Keep this in the front of your mind.
Why?
Because you are the reflection of Christ, who is the Light, in this evil world that Satan is running to destruction. If not for you, for your reflection of Christ, there are people who will live in the darkness and never *see* Jesus.
Be a reflection.
The last couple days the moon has been very beautiful. Made me think of something. How God is even in the seemingly small stuff. The stuff we think of as small or inconsequential, because we are so used to it there is no longer any wonder or awe attached to it. Which is a shame really.
One of the nights I turned on the porch light. As I was stepping out of the door I noticed the porch light did not even dent the light of the moon that was shining on my patio. The moon was soooo bright!
Immediately I had this thought:
Even the artificial light can not outshine the light of the moon.
How powerful is that?!?!?!
Now my mind is really running. I follow that thought with this:
The moon is a reflection of the sun. Which was created by my Awesome God to keep me physically warm. Which all wraps up in the perfect submission of His Son, who is my Redeemer, who was sent to keep me Spiritually warm. It is all connected by the Creator.
You see, before the banishment, Satan was an angel of light. But his light is artificial.
Let's say that again because it is so very important. Satan's "light" is artificial.
Satan's "light" can not diminish the Light of the World even when the Light of the world is reflected off something else. Keep this in the front of your mind.
Why?
Because you are the reflection of Christ, who is the Light, in this evil world that Satan is running to destruction. If not for you, for your reflection of Christ, there are people who will live in the darkness and never *see* Jesus.
Be a reflection.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
FLinG - February 5, 2012 - Shame On Me
I have posted here, and have kept a daily post on my FaceBook page, of my current goal to read the bible in 90 days. I must say this is the farthest I have ever gotten in a bible reading plan! I am really excited about it.
But I must confess. I did not read yesterday so I am one day behind. My niece was here and she helped me with several things and I just got tired and then I watched a movie and then another and then it was time for bed, I couldn't keep my eyes open!
So, now that the excuses are done, the point of the post: I physically missed reading. Well maybe not the "reading" per se, but rather the time spent with God.
How do I know I missed it? The Holy Spirit, that wonderful prompter, showed me I had strayed from the path. My sleep last night was not a restful sleep. I had weird dreams and was very distracted in my sleep, as well as when I woke up. I hit the snooze button 4 times which almost kept me from going to church this morning. To top it off, I was unfocused during the service and Sunday school.
This condition makes me sad. I allowed the devil's minions to distract me with two movies, that I had already seen by the way, and making me feel too physically tired to spend time with God. There really is no excuse, especially since I didn't even try to read and spend time with Him.
Shame. On. Me.
I know there may be times when it really isn't feasible for me to spend an hour reading, but times like yesterday can be avoided by practicing obedience. We (me included) really need to keep in the Word so we can slay those nasty minions that are continually shooting flaming arrows at us.
For me, this time is only one day and the Spirit of God pointed out my lack of discipline by making my sleep disturbed and I caught the message. In truth we need to watch out for how easy it is to continue with a lack of discipline. So I didn't sleep well last night, so I take a nap today to "get over it". Then I get distracted and go to bed without reading again today. Pretty soon I won't be feeling distracted in my sleep and it won't matter that I didn't spend time with God before I go to bed each day. Satan wins the battle. I allow the win by disobedience. God is sad. And if I keep it up - I won't even care anymore and I have ended up pushing God to the curb. Shame on me!
Father, forgive my disobedience and thank you Spirit for showing me my error the way You did. Make me, the same way David asked You to make Him, be obedient to You. For You. For others to see You through me. Through Jesus I pray, Amen.
Are you currently in a season of "Shame on me"?
But I must confess. I did not read yesterday so I am one day behind. My niece was here and she helped me with several things and I just got tired and then I watched a movie and then another and then it was time for bed, I couldn't keep my eyes open!
So, now that the excuses are done, the point of the post: I physically missed reading. Well maybe not the "reading" per se, but rather the time spent with God.
How do I know I missed it? The Holy Spirit, that wonderful prompter, showed me I had strayed from the path. My sleep last night was not a restful sleep. I had weird dreams and was very distracted in my sleep, as well as when I woke up. I hit the snooze button 4 times which almost kept me from going to church this morning. To top it off, I was unfocused during the service and Sunday school.
This condition makes me sad. I allowed the devil's minions to distract me with two movies, that I had already seen by the way, and making me feel too physically tired to spend time with God. There really is no excuse, especially since I didn't even try to read and spend time with Him.
Shame. On. Me.
I know there may be times when it really isn't feasible for me to spend an hour reading, but times like yesterday can be avoided by practicing obedience. We (me included) really need to keep in the Word so we can slay those nasty minions that are continually shooting flaming arrows at us.
For me, this time is only one day and the Spirit of God pointed out my lack of discipline by making my sleep disturbed and I caught the message. In truth we need to watch out for how easy it is to continue with a lack of discipline. So I didn't sleep well last night, so I take a nap today to "get over it". Then I get distracted and go to bed without reading again today. Pretty soon I won't be feeling distracted in my sleep and it won't matter that I didn't spend time with God before I go to bed each day. Satan wins the battle. I allow the win by disobedience. God is sad. And if I keep it up - I won't even care anymore and I have ended up pushing God to the curb. Shame on me!
Father, forgive my disobedience and thank you Spirit for showing me my error the way You did. Make me, the same way David asked You to make Him, be obedient to You. For You. For others to see You through me. Through Jesus I pray, Amen.
Are you currently in a season of "Shame on me"?
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