No Worries

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore, don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:33-34, HCSB).

I am thankful for so many things: my family, my friends, my home, my job, and so much more. Most of all I am thankful for my salvation and the joy He brings to life. In the middle of plumbing problems, a desk piled high, and Thanksgiving quickly approaching, it is of great comfort to know that God loves me, cares about me, and takes care of all the worries of this life.

Today, let's look for who we can remind that God is available to each of us. His salvation is only a prayer away.

Happy Thanksgiving week to each of you. What are you thankful for?

"I'm in a hurry...."

"to get things done. I rush and rush until life's no fun..." Do you know that song? Sometimes we hurry & worry through life. Have you ever been there? Proverbs speaks to this dilemma we encounter in our life from time to time (or maybe you encounter it every week). Listen to this: "Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,And he who hurries his footsteps errs." Proverbs 19:2 Did you catch the latter phrase..."he who hurries his footsteps errs." It's so true. I can tell you countless stories about little scrapes & bruises I've earned from rushing about...you too? But can you imagine how many opportunities to share the Gospel we've missed because we're too busy to stop, too busy to listen. This week I experienced victory in this area of life and made a conscious decision to slow down to take the time to visit neighbors and hear where they were in life. And I can tell you that my schedule could wait all day but the stories I heard from a precious neighbor that needed immediate attention...they could not wait! Had I been hurrying I would have missed the opportunity. Don't miss your chance to love your neighbor because you have too much to do. Let your agenda bow down to God's will.

enthusiasm

"That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome." (Romans 1:15)

When our first child, Kristi Marie, was born, I remember that Tim and I had our "list" of people to call to tell the good news of her birth. After we called everyone on our "list" Tim decided that he was tired and hungry after a long labor and delivery; so, he decided to go to the cafeteria to get something to eat. He told the cafeteria workers, the cashiers, the man putting mustard on his hot dog and even the people on the elevator about the good news of Kristi's birth. Then, on the way out of the parking lot later that night a horrible thought crossed his mind that "perhaps the news had not yet filtered down to the parking lot attendant about her birth." He proceeded to tell him about the birth of his new little girl.

The next morning in his quiet time, the Lord spoke to Tim as he read this verse and it was if if the Lord were saying to him, "Tim, you are so eager to tell people about Kristi's birth, BUT do you have that same eagerness to tell about My Son, Jesus Christ, and HIS birth?"

Wow!! That has been a conviction for both Tim and me ever since then. We all must not only be willing, but eager to share the good news of Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross to all who cross our path. Let us encourage each other to be EAGER to share!

"Holy Spirit entrance"

In the front of a school in Louisville, there is a sign that leads into a driveway lined by trees that reads, "Holy Spirit Entrance." My roommate brought to my attention the humor in it! In fact, "Holy Spirit" is actually the name of the school, for Kindergarten through eighth graders. We know that Holy Spirit, in this case, means that the entrance to the school is near that sign. However, in everyday life, it is easy to believe that if we do one thing, then the Holy Spirit will be with us.

The Bible is clear, though, that whatever we do is marked with God's grace and fueled by His power alone. In chapter ten of Mark, Jesus explained a story of a rich man and how difficult it is for people to enter the kingdom of God. Yet, in verse 27, "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.'" Thank God that the all-powerful God wants to save us!

A commonly-read story explains the incomparable, saving power of our God. In Daniel, chapter 3, God-followers Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to worship the idols of polytheist King Nebuchadnezzar. The king decides to throw them in a furnace, leaving them to burn to death. They respond in verse 17, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king." Later in the chapter, we watch as God in fact does save them, and they arise from the fire without harm!

King Nebuchadnezzar is moved by this, and he declares "to the peoples, nations, and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the most High God has performed for me" (Daniel 4:1-2). Indeed, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's rock-hard faith has passed throughout the generations.

I pray that we are able to live for Him and His glory, that we may remember that it is Christ alone who saved us, and that it is His name that we are to spread the good news about all across the world.

Other verses about God's saving grace: Romans 11:23, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Hebrews 7:25

Re-Main & Re-Connect!

Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me." John 15:5 (HCSB)


"...Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for all of us share that one bread....Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s Glory."1 Corinthians 10:17, 31 (HCSB)

Happy Thanksgiving!! There are many reasons why Thanksgiving is such a special part of a Christian's life! Our lives are humbled and full of gratefulness as we count our many blessings and thank God for everything that comes straight from the hand and heart of our Lord and Savior! God teaches us daily how to live with an attitude of gratitude! Thanking God for every good and perfect gift that is from above!

As we look at pictures of "circles of people" gathered around a Thanksgiving Tables "Giving Thanks", let's think about another reason that Thanksgiving is important in the life of a believer...

I would like to share something that God has on my heart this Thanksgiving... there is a unique trap that our post-modern generation is vulnerable to falling into! Christians of today may be vulnerable to falling into the trap of "Disconnection"...a feeling of distance from God and disconnecting from others!

God has called me to continually examine my own life in Christ and carefully follow His Call to share Jesus with others and encourage my sisters to do the same as I pray for and encourage others through the gifts He has given me. I thank God for the ways that the Lord keeps me sensitive to some of the warfare that the enemy is using through our post-modern technology and lifestyle against us in The Body of Christ! Some of these traps are unique to the modern high tech busy world we live in.

I may take the next few weeks after Thanksgiving to specifically dive into some of the specific ways we are disconnection in our lives so for now let's just examine our lives and ask God for His help to stay close with God and others...

As His Evangelistic Concerned for Others Gifted2Go Believer: Re-Main With God!

1. Take Some Silent Time With God & Listen To What He Is Personally Saying To You!
2. Take Some Time To Re-Connect With God And His Still Small Voice!
3. Take Some Time To Thank God For Every Blessing You Have! What are some specific ideas you could share with others on Re-Connecting with God when you may feel distant from Him?

As His Evangelistic Concerned for Others Gifted2Go Believer: Re-Connection With Others!

1. Take Some Time And Ask God To Help You Re-Connection With Others!
2. Take Some Time To Write Down A Re-Connection With Others Simple Plan!
3. Take Some Time To Re-Connect With Those That Are Close To You & At Least 1 New Person That Needs Jesus! What are some specific ideas you could share with others on Re-Connecting with people?

Re-maining & Re-connecting with God and Others will take some honesty, confession, vulnerability, expression, courage, and many more EMOTIONS may come over you for His Glory....for example; in order to re-connect through the telecommunication business that I serve in, there are daily "trouble tickets" that we troubleshoot until re-connection is accomplished.

As we re-main close lose to God and connection is accomplished with others you can look forward to community (fellowship)...just like the picture of a thanksgiving banquet table that is not "fit for a king" but is "Full of The King of Kings" as another "Happy Thanksgiving" is enjoyed by All for His Glory! AMEN!!

Due to a Thanksgiving mini-blogation, this post will be my last post for November 2009....new blogs will still be posted from my blogging buddies as the Lord leads (Happy Thanksgiving Blogging Buddies)...see you again December 2nd...I Thank God for each and everyone of you!You are a blessing and inspiration "ECO:Gifted2Go" praying friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good."! Psalm 107:1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2_IZZNjdas (giving thanks with a grateful heart!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB1yDv9_N1k (draw me close, Lord!)

Thank You

Today, I received a very convicting email from another teacher where I work. I have copied it for you to read below.

These are some thoughts you may want to share with your students regarding the Operation Christmas Child boxes. This afternoon I translated a thank you note from a 7 year-old girl in Burkina Faso who had received a shoebox. Here’s the letter.

“June 5, 2009

I have the great pleasure of hearing from you. My name is Guedraogo Safiatou. I am in an elementary school class in the village of Toba in the department (county) Yaba of the province (state) Mayah. I am the oldest girl of a family of farmers. I have 5 older brothers and 5 younger brothers. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all the wonderful gifts that you gave us here in Toba. I want to send my greetings to all your family and friends in America. I hope that your friendship will continue forever if God wills it so.

Thank you!

Guedraogo Safiatou”

I got to thinking as I returned the letter back to the elementary office. In saying thank you, Guedraogo had spent about $2 between the cost of paper, stamps and the photo. It doesn’t sound like much to us until one realizes average person’s yearly income in Burkina Faso is about $320. She spent a small fortune or about 0.6% of the average Burkinabe’s income. For one of us to say thank you in an equivalent manner as this little girl, it would be $196 (about 0.6 % of $31,800, the average US worker’s income).

It’s kind of humbling. Would I say thank you if it cost me $196? And how often have I forgotten to say thank you?

“Give thanks in all circumstances!” I Thessalonians 5:17

What an appropriate challenge heading into the Thanksgiving season. Take the time today to thank first our Lord Jesus Christ for what He has done. How often do we forget to tell our Creator thank you for our very life? Today, commit to living thankfully unto the Lord. Also, take the time to show someone else your thanks for what they have done. Let us be a people characterized by thankful hearts!

Fragmented Lives

"Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think - according to the power that works in you - to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21, HCSB).

This morning, I feel very fragmented. It is Monday again and I have numerous projects scattered around the office and the house that need to be taken care of. Things like writing projects, emails to respond to, messages to prepare, papers to grade, a shower that still needs a new shower pan, a computer that is with the Geek Squad being fixed, food to prepare for Thanksgiving, and well...the list goes on. Not too much different from the list that you have of things that need to be completed.

I am reminded that no matter how many broken pieces that there are right now, that God will use them all together for His glory. He still has a plan. He is still on the throne. He can make all the broken pieces come together into a beautiful story - much like a stained glass window.

Stained glass windows are dark until the light shines on them and through them. Today, let's commit together to let Jesus shine His light through out dark and broken lives. Let's let Him work our lives together into a beautiful masterpiece. Oh Lord, shine through me today to a broken world - let me share with one who desperately needs to know you.

"For we are His creation - created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10, HCSB).