Nothing Wasted

Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

This verse tells us that God uses our hurts, grief, pain, loss, joy, victories, etc. 

John 6:12 "After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, 'Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.'"

We see here that Jesus doesn't waste anything. He didn't waste the loaves or fish he multiplied even though he could have done it again. 

In the feeding of the 5,000 we see that, for the food not to be wasted, the disciples had to gather the pieces. They had to submit to the leading of Jesus. The same is true in our lives. When we face situations where the journey and outcome are pleasurable it is easy to praise God. However, when things don't go our way and the journey or the outcome is not as we want it, it becomes more difficult to praise God and easier to complain. 

Ephesians 5:20 "And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ephesians tells us to give thanks for everything. Not just the good or easy things, but everything.  

Matthew 5:45b "For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike."

Everyone faces good times and bad times. The difference is how we handle the situations. Do we give thanks even though things are hard? Or do we whine and complain?  

Joy Restored

Psalm 51:12 (NIV) "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Do you remember the day you accepted Jesus as your Savior. The deep joy you felt knowing your sins were forgiven?  The longing you felt to go anywhere and do anything with him?  

The day you aligned yourself with Christ you became the enemy of Satan. In that sweet moment you declared yourself free from slavery. Satan will not giving up his salves without a fight. As in the dark days of slavery in the United States, many shave owners would rather see their slave dead then free. John 10:10 (NIV) "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Our enemy will do everything in his power to destroy our lives and keep us from that "full" life Jesus wants us to have. 

He will try to increase our worry. Matthew 6:25 (NIV) "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"  

He will try to increase our fear. Isaiah 41:10 "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

He will try to steal out peace. John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid."

The Psalmist wrote, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."  

Our joy is resorted and we are sustained through all Satan throws at us when, first, we remember our salvation. Nothing can take that away. John 10:28 "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,"

The second, and most difficult step is having a willing spirit. Willing to obey, willing to trust, willing to submit. 

Obedience: an act or instance of obeying; the quality or state of being obedient

When we ask our children to do something, we don't want to hear whining or, "In a minute."  We want instant obedience. I believe that God desires the same from his children. 1 Samuel 15:22 "But Samuel replied, 'What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."

Trust: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. 

We trust our friends, parents, spouses, etc. yet we know they will fail us at times. They will hurt us at times. If, as Webster says, trust is based on the character, ability, strength, and truth of someone, why do we find it so hard to trust our Heavenly Father?  If his character is not proven, I don't know whose is!!!

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding."

Submission: the condition of being submissive, humble, or compliant; an act of submitting to the authority or control of another. 

As we get to know God in a deeper way, we begin to understand that he will never ask something of us that is not for our good. It may be painful but he is always with us. We often ask our children to do things they would rather not do, but even when it may hurt, if they trust our character they will submit because they know we love them and want what is best for them. How much more should we be willing to submit to God?  Job 22:21 “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you." 

Let us ask our loving Father to restore our joy and sustain us as we obey, trust, and submit today!!!

God with Us

Matthew 1:23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 

God with us...  How sweet and comforting those words are for a child of God. To know that he is ALWAYS there. To know that we are NEVER alone. 

Hebrews 13:5b (NIV). "God has said,'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'” 

John 14:16-17 (NIV) "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

Matthew 28:20 "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

We can call on Jesus anytime, day or night, and he will always answer. He is not a far off God who misses our cries for help. He is an in-dwelling Savior who is always watching our lives and making provision for what we need. He knows what we need before we ask. 

Matthew 6:8 "Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!"

How awesome to know that he is so intimately involved in our lives that he knows our needs before we do. He sees what's ahead and plans in advance how to care for us in every situation. NOTHING ever takes God by surprise. 

2 Chronicles 16:9a "The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."

The key here is full commitment. We can not serve the Lord in a half-hearted manner; serving our flesh and Christ. The Word tells us that this type of half-hearted attempt will leave us unstable. 

James 1:8 "Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do."

When we try to serve God and our flesh (this world) we will not have peace. However, when we keep Christ at the center of our focus his peace will be ours. 

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

Let us remember that God is always with us and focus on him today!!!

Thought Life

Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

What we choose to think about/ dwell on will directly affect the course of our lives. 

Psalm 119:97-99 "Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. 

We will be prosperous when our thought life is pure. We know that all sin or behavior of any kind begins with a thought. If our thoughts are dwelling on negative, unhealthy things, our life will be unhealthy spiritually. If our thoughts are on God's Word our spiritual life (the life that counts) will be healthy. 

Joshua 1:8 "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."

Psalm 1:2-3 "But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do."

Webster defines meditation as: the act or process of spending time in quiet thought. 

If we are not careful our thought life can be influenced by the enemy. When this happens and is allowed to go unchecked, sin is always the result. Satan tries to plant thoughts in our mind to replace our thoughts about God and his Word. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

Our thoughts are like wildfire. If they go unchecked they will ravage our life. Romans 7:23 "But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me."

However, when we take authority over our thoughts we will become righteous and holy, more like Christ. 

Ephesians 4:22-24 "throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."

Come and Drink

John 7:37-38 "On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, 'Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare,' ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 

When we come to Christ we have 24/7 access to the River of Life. 

Isaiah 55:1 “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it’s all free! 

Jesus paid the price so our needs could be met. In him we find all we need to live a godly life. 2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires."

We only need to remember that the battle is not ours, it's not by our strength that we win, and we are not fighting flesh and blood. 

2 Chronicles 20:5 "Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s."   

Zechariah 4:6b "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies."

Ephesians 6:12 "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

When we spend time in the presence of our Savior we gain the strength we need to face the battles ahead. Everyday we are buffeted but the cares of life. We are pushed and shoved by this world's belief system and by the morals of others. When we drink of his mercy and love we are refreshed from the daily struggles.  

The key is that we have to "come and drink."  When we choose to spend time in the secret place we will find the refreshing and strength we need. It is there that all our needs are met. 

Philippians 4:19 "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus."

Lord, help us understand the importance of drinking from you daily. Of spending time in the secret place. Holy Spirit please tug on our heart strings to remind us that our Wonderful Savior is waiting for us to "come away" with him today and everyday. 

Let us "come and drink" today!!

Be Transformed

Romans 12:2 "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Being transformed involves a complete change from who we were before Christ to becoming more like Christ daily. A caterpillar builds a chrysalis and spends some time going through such a transformation. It begins to look differently. It begins to feel differently, and eventually it will act differently, it even changes its diet. The old caterpillar is still in there somewhere, but every part of it is changed. When it emerges from its chrysalis it will be a new creature.  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

When the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis it is totally a new creature.  It is exactly the way it will stay for the remainder of its life.  We, however, are daily becoming more like Christ.  This is called sanctification.  Webster defines sanctification as: the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion.  Our transformation will not be complete until we reach heaven; however, we must be daily growing to be more like Jesus.

The way we look will change. We will be walking in joy. We will have a smile where a frown once hung. Romans 12:11 (RSV) “Be aglow with the Spirit.”

We will begin the think differently.  Caterpillars are ground dwellers that are stuck on their stomach their entire life.  Butterflies soar above the trees and glide on the wind.  They have a new perspective on life after emerging from the chrysalis. They see things from a different vantage point.  We too will have a different perspective as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform our minds.  Romans 12:2, says “…but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” We will begin to think like Christ, to see things as he sees them.  1 Corinthians 2:16 says, "for, Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." Philippians 4:8 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." 

We will also act differently.   Ephesians 4:21-24 "Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy." 

When we begin to be transformed even our “diet” changes.  The caterpillar eats a diet made up entirely of vegetation.  Different species eat different leaves, but they all eat leaves.  They devour as much as they can to sustain them during their time of transformation inside the chrysalis.  We too must change our “diet.” The things we put into our minds through what we see, hear, and experience must change.  We may have to let go of ungodly relationships, change our “hangout” spots (i.e. the bar for Starbucks), change what we watch on T.V. and the movies, the music we listen to, etc.  The old adage “You are what you eat” applies here.  If we are constantly having a diet of ungodly language and sexual content on T.V., movies, or music, we will not have renewed minds.  Those things will come out of our hearts.  The Word tells us that, “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” Matthew 12:34b

Transformation is often painful.  Paul Whalley, in his book, Butterfly & Moth, states that, “Inside the chrysalis, the body of the caterpillar is broken down, special cells take over the insect’s development, and gradually the adult is formed.”  I am not sure, but “broken down” sounds like death to the caterpillar so the butterfly can be formed.  The same holds true for our spiritual man.  Romans 8:13 (NIV) “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” 

The caterpillar has an inborn nature to spin a cocoon, or build a chrysalis.  It doesn’t have to think about it.  It just does what comes naturally.  We too have an inborn nature that longs to be like Christ.  We were created in the image of God.  Genesis 1: 26a “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” 

We must abandon ourselves into the loving hands of the creator and allow him to change us into what he intended for us to become.  The caterpillar doesn’t have a choice about becoming a butterfly; it becomes what it was designed to be.  We can choose not to allow God to transform our lives into his grand design; however, the consequences are more painful than the transformation process itself.  

If we want to know God’s will for our lives, we must allow him to mold and shape us as he intends. Romans 12:2 says “Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."  If his will for us is good and pleasing and perfect, the implication is that living outside of that will is the opposite or at least not as good, pleasing, or perfect. 

Let us abandon ourselves into the hands of our loving, kind, patient, Father and allow him to transform us into who he planned for us to be.  

All Scripture is NLT, unless otherwise stated.

God's Plans

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

Jeremiah 1:5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” 

God knew us before we were born and had a design/plan for our lives. He has good plans for everyone of us!  

Sometimes we make choices that take us off the direct path to our destiny.  Sometimes we rebel against what we know/believe God is calling us to do. 

Jonah 1:1-3, 15, 17 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. 

When we fail to follow God's lead and rebel the consequences are usually not good. When we repent, however, God always gives us another chance and helps us set out in the right direction again. 

Jonah 2:1, 10 Jonah 3:3 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. 

I'm not sure about you, but I don't want to be whale vomit. If we only realized how much our Father loves us. Even though the path may be riddled with briars and thorns, we can trust him because he wants what is best for us. He wants us to prosper and be unharmed. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

We must put our trust where it belongs, not in our money, education, reputation, jobs, etc. but in God. When we do and we submit our ways to him, he will get us on and keep us on the right path.