Month: March 2016

I love the story of Daniel. He trusted God when it would have been easier to go with the world.  I’m holding onto his example of trust with peace today. Honestly I am struggling this week. I could use prayer if you have a moment. I am faced with do I go with the world or do I wait on God. I think at some point all of us struggle with the worldly issues.

Do I work more and acquire more stuff or Do I raise my kids in a balanced home trusting in God ?

Do I date this person or marry this person knowing it isn’t the match God intended?

Do I curse God for my illness or walk with a testimony?

Do I judge others knowing I have the same problem or am I transparent and walk with someone through it?

Do I stay in a marriage and complain of the difficulty or do I live out Christ’s example?

Do I talk about my faith?

Life is hard. Daniel made hard choices to the point of being sentenced to death.

God protected  Daniel. When he was thrown into the lions den he wasn’t harmed.  The men that had accused Daniel, their wives, and children were thrown into the lions den and before they reached the bottom of the den they were overpowered and eventually  killed. The accusers family suffered consequences of their actions to death.

We influence others and sometimes people suffer the consequences of our actions.

How many times have I gone with the world and not trusted in God.

Each time there is a consequence for my action. It may not be death, but a testimony is lost, someone doesn’t know God through my actions, a hurtful word is spoken, my soul is hurt…

In hindsight I always learn a valuable lesson, but if:

I just trusted God to begin with, how many soul bruises could  have  been prevented?

I could have protected my loved ones from suffering from my actions.

Please Lord let me rest in you, trusting your will and not my own.

Daniel and the  lions’ den can be found in Daniel chapter 6.

I’m impatient. God’s timing sometimes frustrates me, which is prideful. Like I know better than God on his timing.

I have so many memories in the house I am in. I packed everything hoping to move by February 2016 . I  am now here until maybe January of next year. So I unpacked my house, nested made it my own. I also decided to enjoy my stay and not concentrate so much on a move in the future. I have started living.

I have been dating. Dating as a woman in her forties who really has never dated before is challenging. I hate it. I just want a list of the baggage and a list of the strengths. A simple checklist would be wonderful and time saving. The hurt, expectations, the excitement, and nerves are sometimes too much. What if I give this over to God as well? Instead of hating the process.  I know when I do marry again. I will appreciate my gift of a husband so much more after this season in my life. But for now I don’t have to answer to anyone. I can eat scrambled eggs for dinner. I can help others without the guilt of taking time away from a spouse. I can live now and not focus on the future.

I wonder how many times I have robbed my joy from concentrating on the future. I know when I lived in an apartment I wanted my own home. Now I reminisce on how easy it was to call a landlord. How many times I worried over money and bills, but each time money was tight worry didn’t help and the bills eventually  got paid.

I think when Paul said he could be content in all things, he lived in the moment concentrating not on the future but leaning into God for comfort, joy, direction….

God was Paul’s everything. I need to emulate that. I need to run to God for comfort not searching for the next best thing on earth. I need to know my heavenly Father knows my needs and wants, he knows me. I can have joy knowing that his will not my own is the best for me.

Philippians 4:11-13

^“11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

I came across Genesis 3:1 this week and it made me pause.

Satan asked Eve did God really say? Satan attacked God’s word and cast doubt.

Isn’t doubt the opposite of faith?  I know when I can’t see the whole picture and my faith wavers, doubt sets in.

The  first strike was even more harmful Satan attacked God’s word.

How many times have I heard people talk about the inconsistencies of the bible? The history, the context, or the translation not being taken into account.

Or what about picking and choosing scriptures to fit our needs or wants.

I never acquainted this with Satan’s work. He is the father of lies.

If he can get us to argue over points in the bible and divide. He wins.

If he can get us to doubt. He wins.

If he can get us to pick and choose what scriptures to follow. He wins.

We will never be full of faith living in his lies.

Today I choose to denounce the father of lies, being aware of one of many of his schemes.