SERVING SIX ONE

Proverbs 3:5 tells us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.” This is probably one of the most difficult instructions to follow. Just why is it so hard for us to totally trust God and stop trying to figure out things for ourselves? We always try to handle things on our own and leave God totally out of the mix. If we would just trust in the God who made us, loves us and has the absolute best for us, we would be so much better off.

As human beings, we are always depending on our limited knowledge. But the Bible tells us clearly not to depend or lean own that finite understanding. We need to trust in God’s infinite knowledge and understanding. Don’t try to figure things out and go your own way. Instead, put your trust in the One who knows best. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He loves you unconditionally. He is a 24/7, on time, all the time, God, Who cares about everything you do and everything you are going through.

Sometimes it is so hard to trust God. That is because we limit Him to the way we think. But Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us that God’s thoughts are not like our thoughts nor are His ways like our ways. He does not operate nor think with limitations. All things are possible with Him (Matthew 19:26). Things that may seem, and quite literally may be impossible for us, but there is nothing that God cannot do.

That is why Solomon with all of his wisdom, told us to “Trust in the Lord with all of our heart.” He knew that we would not be able to see our way through difficulties, problems, troubles, trials without the direction of our heavenly Father. He also knew that when we do rely on our own vices, we make things worse and we miss out on so many blessings.

For after Solomon told us to trust the Lord and not lean own what we know, he then told us to be sure and acknowledge God. Proverbs 3:6 says “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” We need to make a conscious effort to tell God that we need Him. Acknowledge that He is the One who can make things right. Then the Bible says that He will direct our paths.

If we will trust God, and not ourselves, and acknowledge Him, then He will give us the guidance we need to help us. He will help us to see clearly and speak directly to us and lead us in the way we need to go. So trust Him. He will never let you down.

There is no better word than God’s Word, and when we praise Him and lift Him up, He lifts us up too!!! The Bible says, “ If God is for us, who can be against us?” When troubles come and there seems no help the Psalmist declares in Psalm 3:3 “But Thou O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory and the lifter of my head.” He is our shield that blocks the fiery darts of the enemy. He is the lifter of our head, the one Who lifts our forlorn faces up to His, looks into our eyes and reassuringly says “everything is going to be OK, because I am with you and I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And in Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and our strength, a VERY present help in trouble.” He is on the job 24/7. He doesn’t leave us when times get tough. When no one else understands, and we can’t even explain how we feel, God is there, always understanding, always ready to hold us, to carry us and to see us through! His peace passes all of our understanding. His loving kindness never ends, and His mercy endures forever!!! What a mighty God we serve!!!

Though we have troubles and the enemy is around us on every side, God does not leave us. He diligently watches over us. His hand is always ready to save those who cry out to Him. There are times when we get discouraged and think that God has left us, but He hasn’t. He never leaves us. All we need to do is call upon the name of the Lord and He will save us.

The Psalmist declared in Psalm 91 that “though a thousand may fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, it will not come near us” and that He will give His angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways; they will bear us up in their hands so we won’t even stump our toe on a rock!

God cares about you! He wants to bless you. He wants to take care of your every need. Just ask Him. Jesus declared that many times we do not have what we need simply because we did not ask. So ask, and believe and then you will receive.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Psalm 3:5
If you will only trust God and not rely on your own knowledge and limited understanding, and then acknowledge Him by talking to Him, spending time with Him, and including Him in your daily affairs, THEN He will then give you the direction that you need and guide you in the way that you need to go.

So trust Him. He will lift you up!

In today’s society, especially with the economy like it is, with doom and gloom headlines in the newpapers, on the internet and on the evening news, anxiety is a very present and common state. We have become major worry warts. We spend so much time worrying that we are virtually worrying away our lives. Worrying about what others think, worrying about what we will wear, worrying about bills, about taxes, about government, about tests, about mistakes we made or might make, worrying about our future or our kid’s future, worrying about our friends, our family, even about who will win the Superbowl, or over how we look, or how popular we are or aren’t. We are literally worrying ourselves sick.

Studies have shown that anxiety and stress can cause many sicknesses including high blood pressure, ulcers, sleep problems, headaches, immune system deficiencies, memory problems, some forms of cancer and even arthritis. Stress and anxiety can also cause mild to severe depression and even lead to alcohol and drug abuse in attempts to try to alleviate the symptoms.

Worry and stress have been plaguing people for years. People are looking for ways to deal with the added pressures of their day. People want peace of mind. They want to be able to not worry, to enjoy life, to be happy.

Back in 1988, a song came out written by Bobby McFerrin entitled “Don’t Worry, Be Happy. The song became the first
a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and it actaully held that position for two whole weeks. Then, in 1989 it won numerous rewards at the Grammys. The song’s message was simple and was repeated over and over throughout the entire song. People sang it. They wore it on T-shirts. Pasted bumper stickers with it on their cars.  Billboards displayed it. The message was so plain and simple, but obviously what people needed to hear–to not worry but be happy.

The Bible gives us the same message. In Luke 12:22, Jesus told His disciples not to worry about everyday life such as if we will have enough food or what clothes we need to wear. He said that life is a whole lot more than food and clothes. Life is about living and when you worry, you are literally wasting away part of it. He went on to say that worry wouldn’t do anything good for you. SO why do it? It will not accomplish anything good.

But how can we deal with anxiety? How can we really overcome it? Philippians 4:6-7 gives the answer.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

If you will REALLY take your problems, your needs, your cares, your concerns to God ask Him for His help and guidance, and  THEN follow up by thanking Him for taking care of you, you will experience His peace. He will flood you with a peace that is indescribable. But for you to genuinely experience it, you must really trust God.

You must believe that God wants to take care of you. He is a loving Father that wants to take care of your every need.
Luke 12:28-31
“And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.”

God loves you. He wants to take your burdens. So pray. Tell Him what you need. Know that He hears. Know that He cares. Trust Him. Thank Him. And then experience His peace!

“What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.”
Luke 6:22-23

Life is not easy, especially when you decide to take a stand for Jesus. As a matter of fact, sometimes it seems even harder when we look around and see all the people that aren’t serving God seemingly so “happy go lucky”.

There have been times in my life when things were so difficult. In my efforts to stand up for God, I was literally made fun of, and “left out” because I chose to follow God rather that a “good time”. Oh it was hard. Many times I was tempted just to give in to shut up the taunting, or to just lower my standards a little just so that I wouldn’t feel so weird or different. Just once go along with the crowd so that I could fit in.

And there were times that I did. Little things like watching a movie with a friend that I knew God wouldn’t want me to see. Or talking about someone, making fun of them because everyone else was. Just little things, right?

Well, according to God, when you feel something is wrong in your heart, and you do it anyway, you are putting your flesh above your spirit. you are putting that thing you desire ahead of doing what God wants you to. And all for the sake of how you look. All for the sake of your reputation to your friends. Basically, you are putting their opinion of you higher than God’s.

Jesus knew all about being mocked. He knew all about being made fun of. His own family made fun of Him. Called him crazy. In His own hometown, the place He grew up, no one accepted Him. They didn’t believe in Him. Oh, He knew way better than you or me what it felt like to be ridiculed for what doing right.  He knew what it felt like to be all alone for not going along with the crowd. He knew what it was like to not fit in. he knew what it was like to have a calling on His life to be different. Think about it. His whole life, He had to make choices, just like you and me. He had to choose not to make fun of people, not to sneak out, not to disobey, not to look at or listen to things that everybody else was just because it was popular. But, He did it. And because of His stand, a stand that He took and died for ….. we should stand for Him.

When you do, He says… Be Happy! that’s right, be happy when others make fun of you and mock you, or put you down, or try to make you feel stupid. He said that you will be blessed! God will take care of you. Please Him, and great will your reward be!

But, reward or no reward, Isn’t He just worth standing up for?

These last couple of weeks have been rather difficult. Tuesday, March 10th was two months since my brother’s death and Wednesday, the 11th was his birthday. I sure miss him. I miss the sound of his voice. I miss the talks we would have. I miss him calling me and saying “grab a piece of paper and a pen; I gotcha some recipes.” I miss him calling and telling me what the weather was going to be. He was my weatherman. I miss his advice on hunting and fishing, taking care of my dogs, keeping the deer out of my garden, and all of his incredible cooking tips. And I especially miss hearing the words he told me at the end of every phone call or visit — “I love you Sis.” And he meant it too. They weren’t just words to him. He loved his family and he made sure he told us every chance he got.

It’s crazy though how we take the little things in life for granted. Things that we don’t realize are priceless treasures until we no longer have them. What I wouldn’t give now to hear my brother’s voice. To feel his big ‘ol arms around me giving me one of his bear hugs. I appreciated them then, but not nearly as much as now.

Wouldn’t life be so much better, so much fuller, so much sweeter if we would really value it? I mean think about it. We get so caught up in our petty little dramas, in keeping up appearances, in running here and there, in trying to appease ourselves, that we fail to realize that our time is slipping away. Our days are numbered. Everyday that we rush past is a day that we can never get back. What we put into it may very well affect our future, but that day is gone.

So value the day. Treasure the moment. Make it great. Appreciate those you love. Really appreciate them. Tell them you do. Don’t hold grudges. Get over them. Don’t waste time. Make the most of it. Life is short. Life is precious. So love it and live it. Or rather, live it with love.