December 23, 2024

Not Worrying Doesn’t Mean Don’t Plan

January 28, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:34

Worrying refers to negative thoughts about something that has not yet happened.  We often use our imaginations to sift through all the possible outcomes.  And we usually attempt to come up with solutions to things that have yet to happen—and may never happen.

I feel to some extent worry can be healthy.  Worry can draw attention to areas in our lives that may need some attention.  For example, if you constantly worry about money, then you should take a look at your finances:  Are you handling your finances in a godly way?  Are you worried about your future?  Have you stopped to consider and talk with God about what He would have you do?

Worrying often comes from us depending on ourselves instead of the Lord. If we are depending on the Lord in every area of our life, then there is no need for us to worry!  Planning, on the other hand IS something we can do.  Here’s an example:  if you know that you make “X” amount of money each week and you have “X” amount of bills to pay each week, then making a budget for the upcoming weeks is not worrying; it’s called planning.

Planning is essential to our well-being.  God said in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you…”  God thought it was a good idea to have a plan for us; so we, too, should have plans in our lives.

Notice I didn’t say “plan our lives”…I said, “plans IN our lives.”

Only God can plan our lives. The Bible says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).

Planning IN our lives can be as simple as setting an alarm to go off in the morning.  Setting time aside to read your Bible or do the dishes.  Planning is opening a savings account (and using it).  In the past week, the weather has been rather cold.  I know my car does not like the cold.  My dad has told me time and time again to make sure that I start my car everyday when it is really cold outside.  This isn’t worrying…it is planning.

You might even say that planning goes hand-in-hand with common sense. Something else I have noticed is that worrying can be a result of LACK of planning.  Oh, you know…you start to worry if you will finish your 9 page paper on time because you waited until the night before to start it.  With a little planning, the worry could have been avoided.  Procrastination is worry’s best friend. (And I know this from experience.)  Don’t be afraid to make plans.  Ask the Lord where He would lead you.  Just…don’t worry!

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Lord, help us to plan in our lives for the days to come and to be able to balance this planning so that it does not turn into worrying.  Let us hold our lives loosely knowing that even the best of plans are subject to change when You grab hold of them.  Let us not be so stubborn as to refuse to waver from the plans we have and to willingly follow where You would lead us. Amen.

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A Single Choice

January 19, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

…And all the people followed, crowding around Him. A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding.  She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better.  In fact, she had gotten worse.  She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind Him through the crowd and touched His robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch His robe, I will be healed.” Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.  Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from Him, so He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched My robe?”  His disciples said to Him, “Look at this crowd pressing around You. How can You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’” But He kept on looking around to see who had done it. Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of Him and told Him what she had done.  And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

Mark 5:24-34 NLT

A single choice can change your life for better or for worse.  Big decisions and small decisions can have catastrophic results.  The choices we make today form our habits for our tomorrows.  The choices we make today influence who will be in our tomorrows.  The choice this woman made (in this passage from Mark chapter 5) changed her life!  For twelve years—everyday—she bled.  She’d tried getting help from doctors, but to no avail.  And she had spent everything she had.

As I read this I wondered if she went to Jesus only because she had ran out of other options.  Was it desperation that pulled her to Him?  Is this not so often the case, though? Regardless of why… she still made the choice and that’s the part that matters.

I, personally, do not like making choices…especially big choices. I procrastinate even though I know this is not a good thing; I still do it.  What would have happened if this woman had waited even longer?  She would have needlessly suffered.  The most important choice we make is to believe in our Heavenly Father’s gift to us and to accept it; but all our other choices matter, too.  Don’t just make one good decision and stop.  Continue to make great decisions using the Word of God to guide you.

Choose. And make sure they are wise choices.

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God Said It. So Be It. Fear Not.

January 13, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with His disciples.  Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat.  But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”  Then He got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.  The disciples were amazed.  “Who is this Man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey Him!”

Matthew 8:23-27

With God all things are easier.  Not like, ‘Oh, that was a piece of cake’ easier. but more like ‘Yeah, that shouldn’t have been possible, but it worked out’ easier.  A specific example of this would be the Battle of Jericho.

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites.
No one was allowed to go out or in. But the LORD said to Joshua,
“I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors.
You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days.
Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn.
On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times,
with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast
on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can.
Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”
Joshua 6:1-5

See what I mean? The Israelites did nothing but march around the walls of Jericho to make them fall. That was simple. Should it have worked? No. Not at all. If I go outside right now and march around my house, I’m certain it will still be standing when I’m done. The reason it worked is because God said so.

God will call us to do some <for lack of a better word> crazy things.  However, it doesn’t matter what we think we are capable of and it doesn’t matter what is supposed to be possible. All that matters, in the end, is Who said it was supposed to happen. When the Creator of the world says, “Let it be so,” believe me, it will be so, regardless of what opposition we face.

Like Gabriel said to Mary,

“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”
Luke 1:30

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, help us to remember Who is in control.  You created the world with nothing, but Your words. You say it, so it is!  Life is that simple for us. Your Word has many promises for us and, yet, we struggle to believe them. In the end, it doesn’t matter what our minds say or what our eyes see or what our hearts feel. If the Word of God says it—it most definitely is possible.  Help us to not fear those things that are unnatural to our limited senses.  And, give us understanding that we may unwaveringly serve you. Amen.

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How Will They Know?

January 4, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see,
so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:16

We’ve all heard it said that actions speak louder than words.  Even children can come to understand this concept.  Un-kept promises speak volumes more than repeated promises to keep promises.  We learn to trust based on what a person does...not on what they say.  Empty words aren’t believable.  So, it’s only fitting that God would know that if we live the way He says others will notice.

Word of mouth is awesome, but I think part of the reason people were able to believe Jesus is because they could see He was genuine.  Jesus truly cared for the people.  He wasn’t out to point fingers and make them feel horrible; He was relatable—even though, He was perfect.  In John 12:47 He says, “… for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.”

…Some people have faith; others have good deeds.
But I say, How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds?
I will show you my faith by my good deeds…
Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless…
You see, his faith and his actions worked together.
His actions made his faith complete…
So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.
James 2:18-24 NLT (excerpts)

Jesus is our Savior.  Because of Him we are made right with God.  However, to be made right with God and to simply go back to living the way we were—unchanged—that’s ludicrous!  It’s the same as some of the children at the preschool where I work.  When a child learns to walk, they walk!  What is the purpose of being able to walk if you are not going to walk?  Many of our kiddos learn to walk…and then you can’t stop them! Sometimes, you wish they would just crawl. (Although, some of them can crawl as fast as a person can run!)  The point is why be given something and then not use it?

The same applies for our relationship with the Lord.  When we come to know Him, we are changed, and people see this.  Don’t try to hide it…you will be different!  People notice you are different!  LET THEM SEE!  Why?  Because that difference—that light—that change is what is going to make them ask the question…’why?’ And then, your actions have already set the foundation for the words that are about to come out of your mouth.  How can they deny your words, when they have seen with their own eyes the fruit of what you are telling them?

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, let us forever shine as a light for You. Help us to remember that we are always being watched…and that our actions and the words we speak need to reflect You. Amen.

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2014 – Be Mindful of Distractions

December 29, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

This year has been for me a year of understanding what lack of focus and distractions can do in your life.  Friends, family, laziness, entertainment, illness, work, emotions, and doubt (to name a few) are all things that can be distractions!  The thing about a distraction—it only has power once it has your focus.

However, I have learned that there are things we can do to help prevent ourselves from being trapped by distractions.  Colossians 3:1-2 gives the best advice in regards to distraction.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,
set your sights on the realities of heaven,
where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Simply put, the best cure for distraction is to stay focused on God.  Sounds simple enough, right?!?  If only….

Another way to make sure we don’t flirt with distraction is to make sure that we are doing the things that we already know we are supposed to be doing.  Here’s an example:

In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war,
David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites.
They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah.
However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
Late one afternoon, after his midday rest,
David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace.
As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.
2 Samuel 11:1-2

This passage is the opening to the familiar story of David and Bathsheba.  One thing that I have always noticed in this record is that David wasn’t even supposed to be home during this time.  David, being the king, should have gone to war (verse 1), but instead he sent Joab and the army…kingless.  And with single choice, one of David’s most infamous sins was committed.

We are humans.  We will sin.  If the possibly existed for us to not sin, then the sacrifice of Jesus would not have been necessary.  And we will get distracted…whether it be by something someone said or did, or by things we intend to be good.  Distraction is something that pulls you away from the path of God and the purpose He has called you to.  Be mindful of all that you choose to endeavor in because some things may just be a distraction.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, in the year to come, help us to remain focused on You, and to not waste valuable energy on things that You would not have us to do.  Let us purposefully engage in each activity and choice we make, with guidance from You showing us what is and what is not worth the limited amount of time we have here on Earth.  Amen.

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Love Is A Choice

December 23, 2014 by

SHadventlovegraphic

So, I have heard it said that love should not be a choice, and, that if you have to “choose” to love someone then that was not love.  I’ve also heard it said that love is not something you have to work at.  I have heard it said, too, that love is something that when the good feelings are gone, the love is gone.  I’ve heard it said that love is supposed to be all rainbows and sunshine.

I disagree with all these statements.  Here are facts that I know about love:

Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice
but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith,
is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I can understand how reading this passage would make one think that love is a feeling. All of those words have some sort of feeling attached to them.

Here’s the deal, though.  Love is—and will always be—an action. Therefore, because love is a verb and requires us to do something—it is a choice.  Love will always be a choice.  You choose to love your coworkers when they annoy you. You choose to love your boyfriend or your spouse, even when you don’t agree. I fear the day our actions are no longer something we choose to do, and are simply things that happen. Until that day, though, you choose. Look at what choosing to love does:

Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ
to be holy and without fault in His eyes.
God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family
by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.
This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.
Ephesians 1:4 and 5

In a perfect world, love would be perfect.  Those we love would not hurt us and bad things would not happen.  In a perfect world, love would be all rainbows and sunshine. Sadly, we don’t live in a perfect world.  Therefore, what God created to be simple and natural and easy, now comes to be through much effort.  We cannot passively love and feel like we are making an impact on those we say we love.  What is passive love?  Are they just words we speak? Say “I love you,” and yet, no evidence is seen of this. We have all heard, that actions speak louder than words.  Love as actions speak louder than love as words.

As John said in 1 John 3:18:

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other;
let us show the truth by our actions.

   *    ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *

Lord, may we come to understand and embrace love as an action. Let us show Your love to the world. Worldly love may be fickle and pass with time, but Your love is an everlasting love. Let us strive to show this type of love to all. We as the Church are Your example of how love functions. Christ is Your ultimate example of love. So, let us shine. Let us penetrate the hearts of the world and our fellow brothers and sisters. Let us love. Let us love.  Amen.

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JOY

December 17, 2014 by

gchSHadventjoygraphic

You know when you have a lack of joy in your life.  I would say right now is such a time for me.  I am desperately in need of some joy.  Joy gives you true motivation to sanely make it through each day.  It’s what makes it easier to get out of bed. It is closely related to hope and peace.  If you are not at peace then it is hard maintain joy and hope.

My pastor says you choose joy. I believe this is true. Which means that the lack of joy I am experiencing right now is my own doing.  However, I’m lacking the motivation to do anything about my current situation.  You could say that I am weary—I’m tired and I just want a break from life.

Romans 15:13 is my prayer.

“Maythe God of hope fill {me} with all joy and peace as {I} trust in Him,
so that {I} may overflow with hope by the power of His Holy Spirit.”

See how closely related joy, peace, and hope are?  Joy, hope and peace are all things that are only possible when we keep our eyes firmly focused on God.  And even though sometimes we may get weary of doing right and good, pushing forward through our feelings is the way to go.  The Bible clearly tells us…

“Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9

My pastor says, do what you do know to do when you don’t know what to do.  And above all honesty helps…honesty and friends.

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Peace: Be Still

December 8, 2014 by

SHpeaceluke1

Be still, and know that I am God!
Psalm 46:10a

Work.  Children.  Family.  Friends.  Hobbies.  Commitments.  Life!

Peace can seem especially evasive during the holiday season.  Peace can also be evasive during the rest of the year.  And not because it just doesn’t want to be with us but because sometimes we can forget that we are supposed to be at peace.

Sometimes, I feel far more accomplished when I’m busy—running around trying to figure out the next thing to do.  Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed by so much stuff. Other times I enjoy doing nothing, but also feel as if I’m not getting anywhere in life.

When I think of being at peace in God’s peace, I think of this verse.  Be still.  This verse is not talking about physical stillness, although, sometimes physical stillness is very necessary.  No, this verse is talking about being still on the inside.  I personally feel this verse could say, “Be at peace (on the inside), and know that I am God…” I say this because, it’s almost impossible to be still when you are not at peace.

So, why do I so often find myself running around trying to figure everything out, totally out of sorts, and frustrated?  Because I forget to rely on the Maker.  God is always there to help us.  He provided us with peace and the ability to abide in that peace. Jesus said,

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

  • Take a step back from the busyness of life.
  • Take a step back from those looming important decisions.
  • Take a step back and just be still.

Rest.
Be at peace.
Then ask the Lord what’s next so that you can tackle all you need to
…but at peace.

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False Hope

December 2, 2014 by

SHhopeadvent

I pray that God, the Source of hope,
will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him.
Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Hope is a good thing. Hope means ‘to trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future‘. I’ve also heard it said that hope is a confident expectation of good.

We know that hope is good because Romans 15:13 tells us so!  And we know that “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17).

Hope is

  • what pulls you out of bed in the morning when you are going through a depression
  • believing that things are going to turn out okay when you do something that seems impossible or crazy, but you are certain that God told you to do it
  • what motivates us to not give up
  • a powerful tool

False hope is a powerful tool, as well. I would say that false hope is hope in something that either is not real, distorted, (but most clearly) not grounded in God Almighty. False hope is putting your trust in human beings and believing that they have the ability to do what only God can do.

Listen to me carefully as I tred into this territory….

It’s okay to have hope for a positive future.  And it’s okay to hope that God can turn a horrible situation into a good situation.  However, when we fail to see the signs or choose to ignore them and still hope for the best, this is false hope. For example,

If God said that your friendship with a person needs to end because there is no repairing it, for you to stay in the relationship and hope for the best,  would not only be in direct disobedience to God but would not have a solid foundation.

What is (and is not) false hope is something that you have to speak to God about.  He will guide you in your situations.  Remember there is no reason to place your hope in something or someone that is not trustworthy. (Regardless of how much you want things to be a certain way.)

*   ♥  ~  ✝  ~  ★    *  

Lord, keep our hearts and our minds clear so that we trust in Your will and Your will alone.  Please help us to see the truth in our lives, and not just what we want to see. Help us to see through the lies and the schemes of Satan.  You are an all-knowing God. Please share Your knowledge with us.  Amen.

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Verbal Sacrifice

November 26, 2014 by

seekingHimthanksgivinggraphic

Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.
Hebrews 13:15 ESV

How often do we refer to the praises coming from our mouths as sacrifices? Praising the Lord’s name and giving Him praise is like a walk in the park—under the right circumstances.

What about when customers at work are being difficult, your co-workers aren’t any better, and your bosses seem to have drawn your number? What about when a friend stands you up? What about when things just won’t go right and everyone seems to be against you?   Or things couldn’t possibly get any worse?  What about those days that are just off?

This reminds me of when I was little and did something wrong.  Even though I was wrong, I didn’t want to say sorry.  I just didn’t want to…even though it was right thing to do.  It literally physically pained me to utter the words.

Those days when you don’t feel like giving praise are the days when praise is a sacrifice.  When we praise God even in our less-than-favorable moments we are saying to Him…and those around us —

  • God is our God
  • we trust Him with our lives
  • we trust in Someone bigger than us
  • we have the Almighty on our side to fight for us

Exodus 14:14 is one of my favorite verses. It says,

The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.

Praising God takes our eyes off our circumstances and places them on Him.  If our eyes are on God—regardless of the situation—how could we not feel like praising Him?

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Thank You, Lord for being a trustworthy God.  Thank You for taking care of me, even when the odds seem against me.  Amen.

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