Discover a way to Unlock Faith in your Waiting Season

I am not a sit still and wait kind of person. I seem like I might be, but I am far from it. So what do you do while you wait?

Most of my life I have wanted to be an entrepreneur. I have about 3 maybe 4 business plans in the works. I have plans for youth group and I'm working on plans for the blog.

I'm a workaholic and since I have ADD and anxiety my brain doesn't stop. Since the almighty has

1. made me this way and
2.  given me these dreams he should be keeping up, right?

Well he isn't. Right when I think everything will work out. God says wait. This waiting is hard, as I am positive your wait is. I feel so alone, but I have good company. I have you and most of all I have God.

When stuck you're still in good company.

I have people from the Bible who waited as well. One of those people was Hannah.
Hannah was married and her husband loved her, but God had shut up her womb. Hannah's husband had another wife and she was able to have children. This lady tormented poor Hannah.

I've felt like God has put people in my life for this purposes. To torment me because they have been given what I'm waiting for. Can you relate?
Those who wait are in good company!

Hannah was sad, but her husband loved her the most. He tried to encourage Hannah. While in Jerusalem, Hannah prayed. She poured out her heart to God. So much that Eli thought she was drunk. She wasn't but God used Eli and blessed Hannah.

9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” 15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” - 1 Samuel 1:9-17

God wants your heart, so pour it out to him.

God gave Hannah the son she longed for, in fact he blessed her with more then just one son. The wait had a purpose.

In Luke 11, Jesus taught a parable that reminds us when we ask it will be given to us. This serves to remind us to pray as we wait.

Pray for God's will, not our own. Jesus even prayed as he waited.

If Jesus prayed while he waited. Taught about asking God in confidence for things, and Hannah prayed. Why not follow these examples?

I hope that through your waiting you know that God loves you. He hasn't left you, or forgotten you. There is a purpose for the wait.

Have you been waiting, do you have a special prayer you say? Do you have a prayer buddy who is praying with you? Do you have someone to encourage you?

As a way to encourage you, I want to offer you a prayer printable. Download these, pray them, and be encouraged.

The truth about Genuine Prayer and Greatness

I was recently reminded of this man in the Bible named Nehemiah. Nehemiah felt sorrow for his people and the city he had grown to love. Even though he didn't live in that city anymore God still used him. 

Nehemiah loved God and he loved Jerusalem and his people. Even though the exile was over and the Israelite's were allowed to go home, he stayed in Persia. He was the kings cup bearer.

Nehemiah heard word about the state of Jerusalem and even though he was just a regular man, he
 prayed. Have you ever felt like you were not good enough to pray, because you are not a preacher or teacher. As if they have a connection with God you don't have. Wrong!

Jesus is the connection that leads our prayers straight to the Almighty.

Well Nehemiah didn't doubt, he went straight to God in prayer. He asked for the kings favor.

10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king. Nehemiah 1:10-11

I know there are times when I want God to grant me favor with others. It could be my somebody when I mess up, or it could be someone I am trying to reach for Him. I can use the same method of fasting and praying for that person, and asking God to give me favor in their presence.

That isn't the only prayer that Nehemiah said. This was just his opening prayer that set him on the path to where God wanted him. While Nehemiah was in the presence of the king, God granted him favor. He shot a quick prayer to heaven and then moved forward with his request.

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.” - Nehemiah 2:4-5

God answered Nehemiah's original prayer and so Nehemiah new what to do next. He in faith said a quick prayer and asked the king to go rebuild Jerusalem.

Nehemiah wasn't a prophet, he wasn't a teacher, or preacher. He was a layman, working in the kings palace. In someways he was working for the man, but God still used him. Are you working for the man, but hoping God will use you? Allow God to open your heart to feel the pain he has, and then give you favor to do something about it.


Don't let being plain keep you from the greatness God is offering you!

Nehemiah built the wall that secured Jerusalem. Just image if a layman could do that then what can God can do with you.

Has God put a yearning in your heart to do something? Have you spent time praying about it, and do you see God opening doors for you?

God has opened this door for me, or at least there are days the door feels open, and other days were the door feels closed. I think God opened the door, but after not doing anything about it. The door is starting to close.

I'm trying to trust God, but fear that I can't do this or that I will fail bother me. I know this sounds odd, but the fear of everything going good, but then being taken advantaged of is there also.  In my head, I know God has this, but fear that this is more my doing and not his peaks in. Satan has just been sending lie after lie to me about this door.

This story reminds me that I need to fast and pray. Trusting that God will guide my path. Trusting that he will grant me favor if I am to move forward.  And if not that he will close the door completely.


Have you prayed like Nehemiah? I would love to hear about God opening doors and granting favor on you.

Introducing 15 blow your mind Truths on prayer

They gathered in a circle and prayed. "Our Father who Art in Heaven..." The Lord's prayer is one of the most quoted prayers from Jesus.

Jesus believed in prayer, and we are blessed with multiple prayers he said in our Bible. Last week we learned about when Jesus prayed while he was overwhelmed.

This week I wanted to share another lesson I'm learning from when Jesus prayed. We are going to look at Jesus's longest prayer. We find this prayer in John 17, it was during this prayer Jesus prayed for multiple groups of people. We can learn plenty from this prayer.

Jesus started his prayer by praying for himself.

Jesus prayed for himself.

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. - John 17:1-5

What can we learn from this?


1. It is okay to pray for yourself.
2. God is the only true God. 
3. God gave Jesus the ability to give us eternal life.
4. Jesus brought God glory, by doing the work God gave him.
5. Jesus was with God before the world began. 

Jesus didn't only spend time praying for himself.  He prayed for those God had given him. He prayed for his disciples. God gives each of us people we are to lead and teach. So we can use this as a model to pray for those people as well.

 Jesus prayed for His disciples

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. - John 17:6-19

We can continue to learn from Jesus praying. Let's see what we can learn.

6. We should pray for those God asks us to lead.
7. We should know that God gives us those we are to lead, it isn't us, but who God has given us. God gave Jesus his disciples and God gives us people. Those God as asked us to lead are a gift, a blessing.
8. Just like Jesus brought glory to God, we can bring glory to Jesus and to God by following the lessons Jesus taught.
9. Jesus protects his followers. It is okay to pray for protection.
10. We are not of this world, we should ask God to sanctify us, in truth. We should live our lives as if we believe that truth.

Jesus ended his prayer by praying for all believes and our relationships with others.

Jesus Prayed for all Believers.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” - John 17:20-26

Let's see what else we can learn from Jesus praying.

11.We believe in God and Jesus because of what we learn from more mature Christians. This is a cycle as we become mature we should lead others to Christ.
12. We are to live in Unity with fellow believers. This comes through Christ in us.
13. God's love for Christ is also on us. (We're loved by an all powerful, and amazing God)
14. We have the same Glory Jesus had in him, through the Holy Spirit that lives within us.
15. Jesus gives us knowledge of God's glory and love.

Jesus prayed for himself, for his disciples and then for all believers. We can learn so much from this prayer. We can even model our prayers after this prayer. We can pray for ourselves, those Christ has given us, and all believers after this prayer.

Which part of this prayer do you relate to the most? Do you model your prayers after any prayers you find in scripture?

4 Lessons we can learn from an Overwhelmed Jesus

My grandma has the gift of prayer. When grandma prays I know without any doubt that God is listening. One day I had the hiccups, I get them bad, and sometimes they are painful. I was visiting with grandma. Next thing I know, I hear her whispering under her breath, immediately no more hiccups, no more pain. It was a God moment.

I want to talk to you about another person who had the gift of prayer. This person was the son of God, Jesus. He was a prayer and like when grandma prays God listens. When Jesus prayed, God listened.

Last Friday I posted a blog about 4 attitudes to be Aware of when You Pray. Today I want to talk to you about prayers Jesus said. I want to look at a specific time that Jesus prayed and what we can learn from his prayer.  This was a time when Jesus in all his human flesh became overwhelmed by what was to come.

 First let's read Matthew 26:36-44

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. - Matthew 26:36-44

What can we learn from this story of Jesus praying?

1. When we're overwhelmed we should gather those we trust to pray for us, (it is okay to ask others to pray for you). While they pray for us it is okay to pray for ourselves.

I know that I deal with feeling overwhelmed, as part of my ADD I have a hard time shutting my brain off. Sometimes I lay in bed praying for God to hold me until I fall asleep because I feel like everything is going to crush me.

Do you ever feel this way? Sometimes when this happens I catch myself praying multiple times for the same thing. Which leads me into what I learned next.

2. It is okay to pray for the same thing multiple times, especially if you are praying for guidance and God's will. 

God loves us. The Bible reminds me that he guide our steps. Sometimes I wish he would respond to me via email, texting, or even lightning. Have you been there, too?

I have been struggling in the same trial for years. I have prayed for guidance and for God to reveal his will for me, but he has been quiet. I started to wonder if it was okay to ask God to take this trial away from him, and I learned that it is okay.

3. It is okay to ask God to take the trial away, but sometimes his answer will be no. (Trust in his plan in those cases).

Jesus asked if the cup he was to drink from could be taken away.  It wasn't Jesus' will that was important, it was God's. Just like it isn't my will that is important. It is God's will for my life, it is the faith strengthening through those trials that are important. Grandma dealt with God saying wait to her, it was hard, but she survived.

I know that I will survive as well, because God has called me to follow him in faith.

4. Jesus himself became overwhelmed, so don't beat yourself up when you are overwhelmed.

I know that Jesus lived in human flesh, he dealt with the same pain and fears that we deal with but he lived courageous. God strengthened him, and we can pray that God will give us the same strength as we continue through our lives.

When we become overwhelmed we should prayer. We should trust in the people God has giving us. Most of all we should trust God.

When you're overwhelmed do you find yourself praying like Jesus? Let's try it. Check out this printable for your prayer closet, your War Room.

4 Attitudes to be Aware of when you Pray

Her prayer closet is much larger than most; it isn’t even a closet, or the largest room in her house. It isn’t always private and there are times it seats 50+ people. The times she chooses to visit she is the only one, and pray, she does. She prays for whatever God lays on her heart and in the silent moments, lives are touched. God lead her to the sanctuary of her church, and it is there that her prayers find a voice.

I wanted to figure out exactly what is prayer. So I was studying. I looked up the definition of prayer and found. Prayer is deliberate communication with God. It comes from the Latin word Precari meaning; To beg, pray. 

Deliberate is the word that catches my eye here, I’ve always know that prayer is communication with God. To think that it is deliberate shines a new light on prayer. It is seeking God through communication (which goes multiple ways), on purpose.

Using Jesus’ teachings on prayer from Matthew 6, I want to share with you 4 attitudes to look for when you pray.

1. Prayer should be deliberate but is should not be about the show. (Pride #1)

5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. - Matthew 6:5-6.

2. Shouldn't be about the number of words used. (Don't Showboat; Pride #2)

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. - Matthew 6:7

3. You should be confident, because God already knows your request.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. - Matthew 6:8

4. You should be humble for God is great, because God has so much, and he offers you what is best for you.

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’ - Matthew 6:9-13

When you pray you should look at your attitude, and what you are doing. Don't let your prayers be about the show, and the number of words you use. Let your prayers be from your heart, knowing that God loves you so much and provides for you.

Do you check your attitude at the prayer closet door? Do you spend time in a special prayer closet when you pray? I would love to hear about your "prayer closet".

3 Tips to Surviving when you're Waiting on God

This weekend I watched as my grandma cried out in prayer for God to take away her pain. Watching her in agony, hurt me. Grandma was waiting on God. Watching this all happen; I learned 3 things you should do while waiting.

While my grandma was laying down it finally came time to put on a cream pain reliever. We had already tried different positions in bed to no avail. So after my mom put the pain reliever on her shoulder, I laid down next to grandma.

Grandma relaxed, you might be thinking it was the pain reliever. It may have been but part of me believes it was because she didn't feel alone anymore. She wasn't in her room by herself. She had company.

Don't avoid Community

I've been waiting on God to open multiple doors for me. I'm trying to be patient, but it is hard. Why, because I feel alone. I see others around me who have what I've been praying for and asking God to give me. Yet here I stand, hands open, but still empty.

So the first thing I learned is that we need community. I have a tendency to want to lock myself away in my apartment. The Bible reminds us that it is better to be in community.

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Praise God

Before Grandma finally relaxed and drifted off to sleep. She did something that I know was hard for her. Despite her pain and that God wasn't answering her prayer for the pain to go away. Grandma praised God for his goodness.

As I was replaying the weekend in my head, I started wondering how often I have praised God, while waiting. How often have I actually praised God because he is good and worthy of our praise? The thing is, I know that when I praise God I feel better. Even more so when I put my whole heart into it. I love singing "You are Holy", it just reminds me of how great God is.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. - Psalm 48:1

 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. - Psalm 136:1

Don't give up

You know something else that happened this weekend. We prayed and we prayed, but we didn't give up. We did finally talk grandma into going to the hospital. They gave her pain medicine and checked her out.

I don't believe that was giving up. I believe God wanted grandma to have some relief and that is the way he choose to give it to her. We are still praying that the pain stays away and that the doctors can continue to help her. (She has a torn rotary cuff, please keep her in prayer).

This reminds me of Hebrews 11.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. - Hebrews 11:39-40

The faith chapter is full of people who stuck it out. Even when they never had the opportunity to see God's promise's revealed on earth. We must trust God's timing and never give up.

Can you relate to waiting on God? What do you find helps you through the wait?

Bible Study Breakthrough: Testing the SOAP Method

On Wednesdays of August I have been using the theme of Bible Study. We started by looking at why Bible study is important. If you have been a Christian for any length of time I'm sure you have heard how important Bible study is, so you make it something you have to do. Then when you follow through your excited. When you miss your quiet time, messing up again, you're upset with yourself. So last week I wanted to remind you that you are still loved.

In September I would like to do do a guided Bible Study. If you want to cast your vote for a specific topic, I would love to hear from you.  If you don't want to join us that is okay, but it doesn't change how important Bible Study is. To help you get started I'm going to show you 2 different ways to study. Today I'm going to show you my scripture journal of Genesis 2 using the SOAP method. Next week I'll show you Genesis 2 using Sketch Noting.

Scripture: you write out the scripture that speaks to you

Observation: you record what God has showed you

Application: you accept the challenge and put what you have learned into action.

Prayer: This is a place to you thank God for opening up scripture to you. You can also ask for him to help you put what you learned into action.

Ona

Despite ending with prayer I still feel it is important to open in prayer as well.  Now that you know the basis behind SOAP study, let's see what happens in Genesis 2.

Dear Heavenly Father, Please open my eyes and my heart as I study your word. Please help me to see something new that will push me to be the person you want me to be. In Jesus Name, Amen

Scripture:

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. - Genesis 2:1-3

Observation: God rested from His work, from His creating, from everything He had done. He made that day Holy because He rested.

Application: To rest means to stop working, it doesn't mean to work on different things. I need to stop working for at least 1 day a week.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Please help me to learn to rest. Thank you for your creation. Help me to treat it with the care it deserves. In Jesus Name, Amen



Scripture:

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth[a] and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams[b] came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. - Genesis 2:4-8 

Observation: 1.  There was No rain at this point.  The garden / the earth was watered by the streams or mist coming from the ground.  2. The garden was full of food producing plants and shrubs, but outside the garden there wasn't any.

Application: We need to trust God's design and we should work this earth and take care of what is on it.


Scripture:

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.But for Adam[a] no suitable helper was found. - Genesis 2:18-20

 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[c] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’for she was taken out of man.”That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. - Genesis 2:21-25

Observation: 1.It is not good to be alone. We were made for connections / community. 2. We were made to help each other. 3. When it comes to marriage not all boyfriend / girlfriends are suitable. God will provide someone suitable and when they come we will share ourselves with them.

Application: We need to be willing to build community and connections with others.  We should also be willing to help others. We need to trust that God will provide a suitable mate (helper) in his timing.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Please help me to take care of the earth you have given me. Help me to build community and connections with others.  Help me to trust that you will bring a suitable friends and community to me. Help me to know when they are not suitable. In Jesus Name, Amen


Now that you have seen an example of how to do the SOAP Method, do you think it is something you can do? How can you improve on what I've done? 

Rejecting Rejection: Loving others anyway!

It is Love Others Friday! I took some cookies and brownies to work, I hope you showed your coworkers some love this week. Now lets continue learning to love others!

**********************************

I've been rejected a lot in my life. Some completely on purpose, and sometimes the person doesn't even know they have make me feel rejected. I find it really hard to love through this pain but I know that I should.

Loving through rejection is not something that is easy. I want to refer to my natural man, you know the flesh, sin filled one. My flesh wants to lash out in anger, bringing up the past. Yeah, I've done that. The flesh of me wants to reject those around me who reject me first. The flesh in me wants to sulk in my room crying, because once again I've been rejected, left behind, unloved.

Well my great and powerful God teaches me that I should love others through my rejection!

That sure is hard to swallow!

After feeling like I had been deeply rejected for a few days I decided to study rejection. So I'm going to share with you the how God turned rejection to love.

God had been rejected by the Israelite, it seemed they would worship God, and then turn their backs on him.  It was a cycle found in the Old Testament. We see that despite all of this God still loved them in the book of Hosea. I highly recommend reading Hosea. God showed the way the Israelite's were rejecting him by using the prophet Hosea.

Hosea married a woman of the night. She left him, yet he bought her back, not to be his slave but to be his wife. This is God 100%. The Israelite's left God to worship false idols, yet he bought them back with the blood of Jesus.

Cause:
God was rejected | Hosea was rejected too.

Effect:
God bought the Israelite's back with Jesus' blood | Hosea paid a great price to take his wife back to his own house.

We see the rejection of Jesus in the story of the Man who planted a vineyard.  (Mark 12:1-11)

12 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. ² At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. ³ But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. ⁵ He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.
⁶ “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
⁷ “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ⁸ So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
⁹ “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
¹¹ the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’^[a]?”

 The man came and destroyed the tenants and gave the vineyard to others. (That would be us, the gentiles, those not born as a Jew.

We also see it in Luke 17:25 that Jesus knew that he would be rejected.

But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of his generation

Jesus was rejected yet in Luke 23:34 we read Jesus' response.

Jesus said "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. 

 I don't know if you noticed this but Jesus didn't take his rejection and lash out in anger, rejecting those who rejected him. No he prayed that God would forgive them. So as hard as it is to not sulk in my room, I'm going to pray for those who reject me openly. Those who have no care of concern for how bad they hurt me.

I encourage you to take up the love of Christ and pray for those who reject you. Those who hurt you intentionally, and while you do ask God to help you forgive them. Not for their sake, but so that you can move on with peace that passes all understanding. Don't hide the Love God gave you to share, no continue to share it with others.

Dear Lord, I praise you for your amazing love, grace and forgiveness. Please help me to forgive those who reject me. Please forgive them for the pain they leave in their path, for they don't understand. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Have you ever felt rejected; did you go against your nature? Tell me about it! 

Trust what you see & believing in God's promises!

 I saw Mommy with Santa Claus (by Ona C)

I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the mistletoe last night.  Okay I lie they weren't kissing under mistletoe it was in my living room. My dad resembles Santa. It is the beard he usually wears and his rose colored cheeks. As a child if you would have seen him you would immediately believed you had seen Santa.

As adults our faith isn't quite as strong. Sometimes we doubt what we believe to be true. Maybe you are like me and doubt that promise God gave you to take care of your needs and some of your wants.

Well that reminds me of the a story that started a few posts ago.

After Elisha had taken the army to Samaria they left went home. Well one day Ben-Hadad sent his entire army to lay siege on Samaria, they blocked the road and set up camp.
The price of food was so high that the Samaritans were starving.  Some of the people resorted to eating their neighbors children. A women who gave up her son for food, hung onto the promise that her neighbor would do the same. That wasn't going to happen so she sought the king. Who put a price on Elisha's head.




Elisha told the king that the next day the price of food would be down and there would be plenty. There was a catch, the king would not get to eat any of this plenty.

The story goes on to tell us about how the King heard the opposing army has deserted their tents. Leaving plenty of food and there belongings. Does the king praise God for the food good people need?

No, he says, it is a trick and tells the people to stay clear. Finally he sends troops to see what happened and they say the other army did leave everything. As he releases the people he is trampled to death.

How often are we like the king of Israel? We have no faith that God will provide, then when he finally provides we think it is a trick. I know I am guilty of that. I crave the faith of a child. I want to believe but there are days when it is just plan hard. I pay for God to help my faith.

What do you do when you seem to be lagging in faith? Do you have a specific memory of a time that God took care of your needs, that you fall back on?

A boast in faith?

After my lesson, I was energetic. I couldn't wait to start down the new path God has for me. I've been here before and it didn't end with me following the path. The thought of when did my faith become so weak. Dear Lord, give me faith to follow you.

That prayer sounds good right. I was reading my long list of blogs and I found one that convicted me, because of my lack of faith. This blog post gave me a new view. Instead of looking up, I have started looking around, and I see that God has given me enough faith to do what He has called me to do.

In reality my faith is not at all what stops me from walking that path. It is fear. Fear that has attached itself to me. What is even worse is that I have even caught myself feeding the fear with lies. Isn't that what fear is anyway. The Bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear. The only perfect love comes from God. So when I am not following God down this new path, I'm standing maybe even living in that lie.

The faith chapter, Hebrews 11, tells of people who used their faith to step out of the boat, to take the path God had for them. They were commended for this. Jesus told a parable about the two sons, found in Matthew 21:28-32. 

In this parable the father asked both sons to go work in the fields for him. The first said no, but changed his mind and went. The second said yes, but then changed his mind and never went. I would like to say I'm standing and haven't answered. That would be nice, but I have told God yes, I will go. But I'm standing here still thinking about it.

The problem is the longer I think about the path, the longer I stand here in fear, the bigger the chance I'm going to be the second son. I don't want to be the second son, I want to be commended for my faith. I want to be an example to those who are hearing the same lies. I want them to say, if God can heal her, if he can use her, if he can help her overcome the lies, then he will do the same for me. I want God to use me to free those around me.

Dear Lord, You have given me the faith I need to overcome the lies, and to fight off the fear. Give me another opportunity to step out in faith. Use me to free those around me who have been lied to as well. Give them freedom from seeing me move. In Jesus Name, Amen

The Early Church & today

In the church adult bible study we are working through the book of Acts. This is very interesting because we are learning about the early church. I have found a band or experiment that embodies the ideas of the early church. Remember everything I tell is from an out outside / hearsay position, but everything I have heard about this band just screams early church.

Why, because they aren’t just friends. They have decided to live their faith together. Together they rely on God, write songs, and just live life. One of their songs in particular has really struck me, because of our study through Acts. The song "Build Your Kingdom Here" is almost a prayer. A prayer asking God to inspire and light the church on fire, much like what happened in Acts.

Miracles were happening, people were sharing their faith, and people were following God in droves. This is something that we want. I know I want to see people saved, I want to see revival in me, my church, and this nation I live in. Wow, could you imagine if we came back to God. Loving each other so much that no one had a need. The widows and orphans would be taken care of not forgotten, and we would see lives changed.

Add to that the idea of learning with new ears, and actively searching God while working with our fellow Christians. Sadly, this is not what we see today. We see parents and children being pulled apart and worshiping in different areas of the church. Disagreements in churches over color of the carpet, or music being played. We see children coming to church without their parents and then when they are older not coming at all. God please strengthen us. Revive our land, our churches, and our families. Bring us together for your glory with a vision of what the church should be. We praise you.

Come set Your rule and reign In our hearts again Increase in us we pray Unveil why we're made Come set our hearts ablaze with hope Like wildfire in our very souls Holy Spirit come invade us now We are Your Church We need Your power In us

 

We seek Your kingdom first We hunger and we thirst Refuse to waste our lives For You're our joy and prize To see the captive hearts released The hurt, the sick, the poor at peace We lay down our lives for heaven's cause We are Your church We pray revive This earth

 

Build Your kingdom here Let the darkness fear Show Your mighty hand Heal our streets and land Set Your church on fire Win this nation back Change the atmosphere Build Your kingdom here We pray

 

Unleash Your kingdoms power Reaching the near and far No force of hell can stop Your beauty changing hearts You made us for much more than this Awake the kingdom seed in us Fill us with the strength and love of Christ We are Your church We are the hope On earth - Build Your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective Experiment

 My favorite part is "We seek your kingdom first, we hunger and we thirst, refuse to waste our lives ...
Why is this my favorite part. Because if we seek God he promises he will be found, and if we hunger and thirst he promises we will be filled. I'm not talking about earthly hunger, I am talking spiritual hunger and thirst. So search for God, and his will in our life. Refuse to waste your live, your breath and give God your all.

Dear Lord, please help me and others to seek you. Bring Revival to our spirit, our churches, families, and most of all to our nations. Fill us up. Draw them closer to you. In Jesus Name, Amen