Fear Talents Chosen

Have you ever had your mind busy with lots of little bits of information?  I must be careful not to let them get confused.  Take the headline of this entry for instance.  If you take it all together, it conveys one message.  But these things have not been given together.  Each one, individually,  is being used to teach me.

Fear - God is placing this word in front of me often.  It is mostly accompanied by the word not.  For instance, today's Proverbs 31 Devotional was "The Truth About Fear" focused around 2 Timothy 1:7.  Just 15 minutes before that I had been praying from The Power of a Praying Parent Book of Prayers by Stormie Omartian for my son's mind.  Can you guess what it was focused around?  Yes, 2 Timothy 1:7.  Then, I followed a link off of a blog and found it before my face again.  All this is just today.  Over the past several weeks, there have been numerous times that God has placed those words before my eyes.  I rest in them.

Talents - This was one of the topics of discussion at last night's service.  Am I honoring God with my talents, gifts or abilities?  Or, am I using them to only get by here on this sod?  My husband and I have been discussing what I could be doing.  I want to use my talents and abilities to support him and the business.  I want to be more involved in the day to day activities of the business so that he doesn't have to shoulder that alone.  But we wonder if I should instead try to find a job outside the home.  Do I even know what talents God has gifted me?  This topic will be bathed in prayer.

Chosen - This was emphasized in the morning service.  Before I ever accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, He chose me.  He made me in His image and for His honor.  He called me to acknowledge Him and know Him.  I was then given a simple choice - believe or not.  How about you?  Have you rejected Him so often that He no longer calls you?  Dear Friend, I hope not.

(Father God, thank you for a sound mind.  Thank you for clarity of thought.  Thank you for choosing me even though I feel unworthy.  Thank you for abilities to write and think.  Father, I ask that you guard my mind.  Help me to recognize and dismiss Satan's lies.  Help me to fill my mind with the truth of your word.  You have not given me confusion and I praise your name for the blessings of this day.  I pray that I honor you with all that I do.  In the power of Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.)

Nothing New

I've heard for years, "There's nothing new under the sun." Of course, desiring myself to be creative, I think, "Sure there is."

Well, I was reading Daniel 6 (v1-10) today and it just made me mad. Those politicians had to invent a way to cause Daniel to break the law. They searched and searched but did not find anyway they could defame him. There was no insider trading rumors, no sexual infidelity, no kickbacks, no skimming the funds, no negative campaigning. The Word says, "They could find none occasion nor fault." Basically, he was an honest, hardworking, excellent, and true citizen.

Does that remind you of anything? God showed me that there is nothing new. Just as politicians then had to invent a way to make true, honest, hardworking individuals into lawbreakers, they are doing it today also.

(Father God, I thank you for the signs of the times. My heart quickens with anticipation and fear. Forgive our nation, Father. We are a sorry bunch to say the least. We have openly ignored your direction and have followed each one after our own selfish desires. Forgive us! Have GREAT mercy on us! In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.)

Giving My Best

Deuteronomy 17:1 "You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination to the LORD your God."

My God doesn't want rotten service. He wants the best. He gives the best, why should He expect anything less in return? As a matter of fact, anything less than the best is an abomination.

Consider that - an abomination. The society around me has watered down words like abomination. Oh, that's bad. No, that's fearful. If something is an abomination to you, you refuse it. You go above and beyond to make sure it never gets in your sight. You take the long way around to keep from being near it. You burn it. You stomp it under foot and grind it to powder. Yes, sloppy service on my part is an abomination to God.

I've not always been good at giving my best. When I'm sick, when I'm tired, when I'm bored - those are times when I have a tendency to give less than the best. Thankfully, God has pointed this out to me and is helping me get better. I'll never be able to give the best under my own strength because I don't have the best to give when it's of myself. My heart is deceitful. It will lie like a sneaky snake. It is only through the shed blood and resurrection of the only begotten Son of God that I can be found worthy.

I am so thankful that my God is gracious and full of compassion. He has inclined His ear unto me. Yes, my God is merciful. He preserves the simple - that's me. He brought me low and He helps me. (Psalm 111:4b, Psalm 116:2a, 5b, 6)

(Father God, thank you for examining my heart and trying my reins. I have been found lacking, LORD and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Please forgive me and help me to correct my service. Be my strong tower, my help and my shield. I trust You. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)