Hornets Anyone?

Jun11

 

Still in the throes of remodeling, a seemingly endless process as is the remodeling of my life, we are making some headway.  My bathroom, almost totally completed looks beautiful, not like a “model home” beautiful, but stunningly different than before the face lift!  The kitchen, tho’ partially complete, has a stunning backsplash, and the living room floor/hall way is on its way to magnificent!, especially since the carpet that was there had been there for at least 13 or more years & was so degraded it was like …. well it was awfull!!!

There is much yet to be done, but, as in life, we shouldn’t look so hard at what is still to be done, but enjoy what has already been done and give God the Glory for it that He so richly deserves, and continue to work on those other things as He provides Grace, Mercy and Favor to do so.

However, as is often the case, we want to take some of that glory for ourselves as if we had something to do with changing ourselves.  That’s a dangerous place to be in, if that is where you are.  God allows us to play a part, to be involved, to lend our person to the changes being made, but ultimately, it is He and He alone who accomplishes the changes, the remodel that is happening.  After all, how did you become willing to be changed if it weren’t for His coaxing, compelling, loving persuasion?

I heard a song years ago by the singing Cameron’s, a Scottish family who traveled and ministered in churches all over the world.  They sang a song about how God often ”helps” us to go His way.  The words to this catchy tune taken from Exodus 23:28 and the book of Jonah are as follows:

“I [God] will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.”1    

 

 

When the Canaanites hardened their hearts against God,

And grieved Him because of their sin,

God sent along hornets to bring them to terms,

And to help His own people to win.

Now the hornets persuaded them that it was best

To go quickly and not to go slow,

They didn’t compel them to go ‘gainst their will.

But they just made them willing to go.

If a nest of live hornets were brought to this room,

And the creatures allowed to go free,

You would not need urging to make yourself scarce,

You’d want to get out, don’t you see!

They would not lay hold and by force of their strength

Throw you out of the window, oh no!

They would not compel you to go ‘gainst your will,

But they’d just make you willing to go!

When Jonah was sent to the work of the Lord,

The outlook was not very bright,

Why he never had done such a hard thing before,

So he backed out and ran off from the fight.

Now, the Lord sent a big fish to swallow him up,

The story I am sure you all know,

God didn’t compel him to go ‘gainst his will,

But He just made him willing to go.

 

Chorus:

God doesn’t compel us to go, oh, no!

He never compels us to go,

God does not compel us to go ‘gainst our will,

But He just makes us willing to go.

 

I have to say, this is one of my favorite little songs because it reminds me that God doesn’t make me do anything, or change anything in my life.  But, for my own good, and perhaps the good of others that my life may touch, He will on occasion arrange circumstances so that I am willing to listen and then go where He leads.

If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation now, maybe this is what is happening to you.  He wants you to go one way, you don’t want to, so circumstances arise that seemingly force you to go the direction you don’t wish to go.  Perhaps God is just making you willing to go?

Although it really is a lot easier to just go where He leads in the first place…willingly instead of pitching a fit, but sometimes, being human, we scream, holler, fight back and yell thinking that nobody can push us around!! Yeah!!  So there!!!

But in the end, His way is better, higher, more fulfilling, satisfying, and we’ll be left wondering why in the world we waited and fussed for so long to keep from doing things God’s way!

How will you deal with uncomfy circumstances?  Will you willingly obey when God calls or will you find yourself the target of hornets or a big fish?  Well, I guess that’s up to you.  As for me, I think I’ll just try my darnedest to be obedient…

Otherwise, …. hornets anyone?

I Got Nothin’…

May25

It’s been awhile since I’ve had the time to sit at my computer and write.  Too busy heading to work on the bus, working, returning from work on the bus, plopping into my comfy chair 12+ hours later when I finally arrive home, and eventually going to get a bite to eat in the kitchen before returning to said chair for the rest of the evening!

Weekends have been a little less torturous but I have spent some time monitoring the movements of the remodelers when they actually do show up for a few hours work, and purchasing various and sundry items for my newly updated bathrooms and kitchen.

All this to say I’m sorry I haven’t been as prolific in the writing department as I would like to be but sometimes, well, let’s just say… I got nothin’!

Now, that’s not to imply I am totally empty and devoid of things to say, it’s just that I haven’t felt that the Lord has had anything lately to say to you through me.  There is a difference, you know.  Some folks just write just to be writing.  And that’s ok but I usually prefer to write when I sense the Lord wants to say something.  In the beginning, it might start out with me just writing just to write, but somehow it turns into something amazing!  Definitely not because I’m writing it, but because He’s giving me a new twist on what I start out with and He’s amazing!  Many times I’ll go back weeks later and read a post and think, “Wow, that’s really cool…did I write that?”  Obviously, I had some Heavenly help..

Ok, so with two blogs going now, Ivegotconfidence,  Have Confidence In God and IvegotconfidenceTwo, Growing Up In God, my brain is starting to melt.  I’m considering just going with the second blog as I love how it looks, but the first one is my “baby”.  So far, the last three posts on the first blog are the first three on the second, just so I could see how they both looked and to see if there would be any traffic on the second at all.  I would love your opinions and comments, if you would like to participate, and let me know what you all think.

Growing up is having confidence in God - Copy

Obviously, if I get no response, I’ll know that nobody is listening, reading, or even out there even though the stats indicate folks are at least looking at some of the pictures.  So, I’d love your help to decide.  Should I continue with both, or switch to the ITGUIG, or stay with IHCIG..eeny, meeny, miney, moe!

Well, that’s my silly decision making dilemma for the day, but I know many of you have many more very serious decisions to make daily, and you don’t have many, many readers to help you decide what to do.  I’ve been there too, several times, and I know it’s not a fun place to be.  It’s scary, often terrifying, especially if the decisions you must make are life or death, or life changing, such as moving, going through a divorce or separation, adoption, and so on.

There is Someone Who is always there to help you through any decision-making you might have to make, and that Someone is Jesus, God’s precious Son.  If you don’t have a clue Who He is or haven’t met Him yet, I’d love to share Him with you.  A relationship with Jesus will demand all you are and all you have but the benefits are Eternal and abundant.  When you give your all to Him, He gives you His all–you have access to everything He is–Healer, Redeemer, Savior, Provider, Comforter, Peace, Love, Joy, Mercy, the giver of unmerited or undeserved favor and grace.  He is Wisdom, Understanding, and gives us Knowledge beyond our human capabilities.

So, you wonder how He can help you out of your situation?  Yeah, I have wondered that myself on several occasions.  But, because I accepted Jesus into my heart several years ago, confidence in Him has grown so that even if I don’t understand, I can trust that He has my best interest at heart and will do just what will be the most beneficial for me at any given time.  I know He’ll do the same for you too.

But, you gotta ask!  He won’t force you and He usually doesn’t intervene without permission.  The decision is yours…what will you do with Him?

(Check out the page “Where Does Confidence In God Come From?” on Ivegotconfidence, Have Confidence in God for more assistance.)

I’m Covered With Feathers!

May4
Are you covered in His Feathers?

Are you covered in His Feathers?

Many years ago I was told a story about a woman who was walking down a sidewalk in her town, headed for home from her local church after the weekly Bible study she had just attended was over.  Her leisurely walk in the warm summer’s evening was interrupted only by her musings on the subject matter for that evening which had been ”God’s Protection” taken from Psalms 91.  As she walked, she became aware of a presence behind her.  An uncomfortable feeling came with it and she decided to walk a little faster.  The ”presence” walked a little faster too.  She realized before long that there were at least two older teenage boys, possibly more, following her, intent on some sort of mayhem and she then began to pray…out loud!

It happened that she was from a Pentecostal church and, as was her practice, she prayed in the Holy Spirit…in tongues as the Holy Spirit helped her.  Then, remembering the Bible study from just a short while before, she thought about what the pastor had said, “We are covered with His feathers, and under His wings will we find refuge.”  With a loud voice she shouted, “I’m covered with feathers!  I’m covered with feathers!  I’m covered with feathers!  I’m covered with feathers!”  She probably shouted more than four times, but within minutes she turned around and found no one around her, including those teenaged boys.  They apparently had found out she was off limits and took off running!!!

Are you “covered” with His feathers?  Are you off limits to your spiritual enemies because of God’s Protective Hand on your life?  As Christians we have access to God’s protection through His Son, Jesus.  Check out the 91st Psalm and see what is available to you.  If we are obedient to His Word and trust and have confidence in Him, we can experience this same kind of protection.  Let’s get under His feathers and find refuge!

Sacrifice

May2

On a recent trip to California to visit my Mom, I was privileged to attend New Life Community Church, her church home for many years.  Sunday school was a blessing in itself, but the main service included lively music which I love, and a message, the first of four or five on the subject of sacrifice.  It got me to thinking about how we as human beings, at least in America, do not have a very good attitude towards sacrifice, nor do we understand what sacrifice is all about… letting offenses go, not holding grudges, and so forth. Basically, we want what we want and do not wish to be inconvenienced in any way if we can at all avoid it.

Someone sacrificed time, money, water to make these beautiful for others

Someone sacrificed time, money, water to make these beautiful for others

As Christians, we are actually called to a life of sacrifice. We are called to be like Jesus, who sacrificed His life, ultimately, so that we could live life to the fullest, till it overflows–the abundant life.  And, if you read the Bible at all, you will undoubtedly notice how Jesus sacrificed not only finances, but physical luxuries, necessities, his time, emotions, and probably much sleep to spend time with His Father, most importantly, then the people to whom He was sent to minister, and finally to His disciples to whom He would leave the bulk of His wisdom and instruction during His brief time of ministry on this earth.

Granted, we are not God in the flesh nor are we anywhere close to being perfect as He is perfect, but we can have confidence in Him to empower us to live this sacrificial life every day as we work, play, deal with family and life’s issues that come up on a daily basis.

If you are anything like me, sacrificing my life is not a pleasant thought at all!  And, that morning, listening to a sermon about it was not something I was looking forward to. I’m pretty selfish and self-centered in the grand scheme of things as I’ve discovered over the years and being confronted with that truth was pretty unsettling. But, because I love the Lord so much, it is important for me to occasionally remember how important each one of us is to Him and because He’s given me so much, I can learn to share.  I must not live my life as the only diva in the universe!  Others are just as important to my Creator, Savior and Lord!

So, what is sacrifice and what does it mean anyway?  In what ways are we supposed to sacrifice to satisfy the “calling” to live a sacrificial life.  Well, I suppose ultimately it involves putting others first, denying our own lusts and passions, and giving till it hurts.  For some of us, that will be easier than for others.  But, since God knows each of us intimately, He knows just what is a sacrifice and what is not.  For a rich man, giving $5,000 is nothing.  For a poor man, $5 is a tremendous sacrifice.  May I refer you to the story in the Bible of the widow’s mite.  Her sacrifice of a few pennies was honored far more than the thousands of dollars from a rich man.

Perhaps God is calling you to give up a few of these for your health's sake?

Perhaps God is calling you to give up a few of these for your health’s sake?

Sacrifice does not always mean financial either.  For some, giving a smile or a kind word to another person is very difficult and would be considered a great sacrifice because they are experiencing great anger, sadness or depression themselves.  In fact, a lot of the time, sacrifice might just mean spending time with a friend or a stranger when you’d rather be doing something else, a simple act of kindness.  Quite frankly, I wonder if we think that we’re sacrificing only when it’s something really big like giving up a kidney or sending hundreds or thousands of dollars to a missionary overseas, and, consequently, don’t even consider the little sacrifices we can make every day to enhance the lives of others!  We have to be careful of doing those big things, because they can build up our pride and then not be a true sacrifice, but an event to be bragged about.

Ok, so what’s in it for me?  Well, the fact that I would ask that at all shows my heart isn’t in the right place.  But since I did ask, maybe there is something to be shared from the times I have actually experienced sacrificing for others.  It feels really, really good!!!

When we take the opportunities God gives us to lay something down, share with someone in need, put Jesus first instead of our own desires, He makes us stronger and more alive in Him.  We are moving from being a child to growing up in God.  We are growing from selfishness to selflessness, me-oriented to God-oriented, childish to child-like.  In addition, God often will give back to you in ways that you cannot even imagine.  You know all those long hidden secret desires and ideas you have not even uttered in prayer?  Don’t be surprised if those don’t start to get answered, without your even asking.

God loves a cheerful giver.  That doesn’t just apply to financial things like tithes, offerings, alms, etc.  But when you give or sacrifice in faith, even trembling faith, as God directs you to,  His grace, mercy, and favor are extended to you in marvelous ways!  You know, He wrote the Book on sacrifice.  He can help and direct you in starting to live a life of sacrifice.  It’s not easy, especially for those of us who are divas…but in the end, it’s such a much better life and so much more fulfilling, happy, purposeful.

Check it out!

“Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance.  Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].  Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.  Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus:  [Let Him be your example in humility:]“  Philippians 2:3-5  The Amplified Version

A New Beginning

Apr7

Seagulls on the beachHow many of you have ever wanted to start over, begin again, get a fresh new perspective in life? Surely all of us have felt that way at one time or another. Many of us maybe more than once! We feel like we’re on a roller coaster, a merry-go-round, a tread mill that’s stuck and can’t be stopped, or some relationship that keeps us hanging on to the old ways of doing things and seemingly forbids us from moving forward, leaving the pain and suffering, the problems or insurmountable issues behind us.

Well, I’m here to tell you there is hope for a new beginning! But more about that in a little bit.

For me, this blog and another that was started yesterday (
http://ivegotconfidencetwo.blogspot.com/
 ) are new beginnings I guess. I was just plugging along, living my life as best I could from day to day, struggling financially, physically, spiritually, yet knowing there had to be more.

I’ve long thought that I must be created for some good reason, some better purpose other than just barely making it through life, but never could lock on to why. I can remember thinking in high school, and actually verbalizing to a friend in biology in freshman year, “What are we here for?” I figured if anyone would know she probably would because her sister was a nun somewhere overseas. Her answer, which I don’t even remember, didn’t satisfy me in the slightest. So, I continued to wonder.

Some years later, after high school, I was to find out more about new beginnings and gain insight as to the purpose of my being on this big rock we so lovingly call Earth as it whirls around through space and time.

Although I’m sure it probably started long before this, I like to think it all started with a a friend’s church-hosted ice cream social. Innocent enough, I suppose. But during the course of that “social” I met a few people from a different church, also invited by my friend, that literally would become life long friends and closer than flesh and blood siblings. They all changed my life forever!

As a result of that encounter, I would be invited to Bible studies, prayer meetings and so forth. The subject under discussion at my first Bible study “coincidentally” was tailormade for my interests, which at that time included the occult, ouija boards, stranger-than-fiction stories, mediums, supernatural events, and the like.

My interest in them, fortunately, was not too well developed and serious, but rather a curiosity more than anything. The thought of becoming more intimately involved in that sort of thing repulsed me and I think I sensed that pursuing the occult further could lead down a dark hole from which I might not easily be extricated. The memory of a phrase heard in childhood: “curiosity killed the cat” kept me from delving too deeply.

I remember distinctly that we discussed Deuteronomy 18, sharing God’s opinion of the occult, mediums, astrology and the like which fascinated me because I had no clue that God even had an opinion about such things. But, as I was to learn later, He is intimately involved in loving, warning, and protecting His children from everything that could potentially harm their eternal souls.

That evening on the ride home I was given the opportunity of a lifetime! You can personally know the Creator of the Universe–God Himself, through Jesus His Son. “Can I pray with you right now to receive Jesus into your heart?”, my friend’s friend said. “Uh, no, I think I’ll do it by myself” ..I said. She said “Ok.” and I made my escape from the car and into my house. There, I knelt by a chair and said a prayer, the only words of which I can remember were “God help!” New Beginning? It was for me!

Everything from that point on, at least until I began to take God for granted, was fresh and new. The grass was greener, the sky was bluer, He was real and living in me. As the scripture says, “Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether) the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!” 2Corinthians 5:17 The Amplified Version

The key that I’ve found for starting over, beginning again, is going back to the beginning where it all started. He was there in the beginning, you know. You will find Him there, waiting for you to ask Him to help you to start over, begin anew, afresh, maybe for the first time. Maybe for the second or third, fifth, or hundreth time. It doesn’t matter. But, if you are needing a new beginning, like I have been many times since that first time, Jesus is the key! After accepting that, repentance is next, for truly we cannot begin again without realizing we’ve blown it on a myriad of levels, and then make things right with Him. For ultimately, it is God that we have offended by our life choices.

Do you need a new start? If you have never accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, I challenge you to take that step. If you have received Him a long time ago, but got lost in the muck and mire that is our world, go back to the beginning. Ask Him to help you begin again, only this time with Him as the Boss. Let me know how it goes. I’d love to celebrate with you!

A New Beginning is waiting for you!

 

Betrayed!!

Mar24

Have you ever felt betrayed?  Have you ever felt the pain of trusting someone or something and had them turn on you when you least expected it?  Maybe it was a boyfriend or girlfriend, a husband or wife, a friend or relative, boss or coworker, or maybe you have even believed that it was God Himself that let you down when you felt you needed Him the most!

He came to Jerusalem as the perfect Lamb of God

He came to Jerusalem as the perfect Lamb of God

I’m sure we have all experienced betrayal at some point in our lives.  I know I have.  I have expected a situation to go a certain way or a person to act a certain way and then, out of the blue, they had a totally illogical reaction to the circumstances at hand.

A perceived word spoken out of turn, or a misplaced hand gesture, a text gone awry, the tone of one’s voice, all lend themselves to misunderstanding the intentions of the ones doing the speaking, and before long a communication break down occurs, which eventually leads to feelings of betrayal on the part of the ones doing the perceiving.

Perhaps it was an all out assault on your personhood, your integrity as a man or a woman…someone you trusted cheated….or lied.

Even though I’d like to think I’m an honest person, and my son has told me in no uncertain terms that I’m too honest, I know in my heart of hearts there are times when I am not fully honest or truthful with myself or others about certain things in my life.  Being human, I guess that sort of comes with the territory.  (Please do not misunderstand, this is not a cop out, just the truth!)  We lie to make ourselves look good to others, to ourselves, or just to get a leg up over the other guy!

The same actually goes with cheating.  People cheat on exams, homework, in the work place, on taxes, and worst of all, people cheat on each other with other people!  Why?  Believe it or not, cheating is just another form of lying, being false, deceptive, disloyal.  Betrayal.

One of the definitions I found of betray is “to deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance”.  I thought this was an exeptional way of putting it because when we lie and cheat, we are in fact turning over to our spiritual enemy some part of us that God has created for Himself and has entrusted to us to use for our benefit, His Glory, and the help of others around us.

He is Risen!

He is Risen!

So what am I saying here?  Well, sometimes I wonder if we aren’t experiencing a little of God’s pain when we ourselves are betrayed.  Can we betray God?  Yes.  How? How many times have we said no to Jesus, lied about Him, stabbed Him in the back by attributing His works to ourselves or nature, cheated on Him with any number of worldly pleasures that I could name here but won’t for lack of space!!   How many times have we lead others astray by our life style? How many times have we sold Him down the proverbial river so that we can have our way and do what we want to do? How many times have we failed Him?

This time of year, Palm Sunday (where Jesus was joyfully received into Jerusalem as the people’s soon coming king and praised as their deliverer) and Easter (or Resurrection Day as I prefer to call it, where He rose from the dead after being put to death by those same people), brings into perspective how much He did for us and solidifies for me at least, how trust worthy He is.  He went all the way for us!  He told the Truth. He was betrayed, by Judas for 30 pieces of silver and by us for ignoring Him and His Word, but the fantastic news is that He forgave.  He did what He said, and continues to do so, especially for those who choose Him as Lord and Savior, His kids.

Please consider on this Palm Sunday, or any day hereafter that you are allowed to take breath on this earth, choosing to commit to follow Jesus.  He can be trusted and you can have confidence in Him, no matter what!

Change Is Good!

Mar16
No, this is not my remodeled kitchen, but an example of a beautiful one.

No, this is not my remodeled kitchen, but an example of a beautiful one.

Remodeling…what exactly does that mean?  According to the internet version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means to “remake”.  Synonyms are as follows:  alter, make over, modify, recast, redo, refashion, remake, change, revamp, revise, rework, vary and related words are deform, metamorphose, mutate; regenerate, revolutionize, transfigure, transform, transmute; commute, convert, exchange; rejigger, retool.

I looked this up because my home is currently undergoing a remodel and as the general contractor puts a masonry bit into his drill and endeavors to put up the shower door, it seems like the entire house itself is about to FALL DOWN!  Dust, grout, mortar, and tile are frequently all over the place and only one shower, one toilet and the kitchen sink are usable.  But I content myself in the knowledge that at some point it will all get cleaned up and the house will be so much more attractive than it is now.  Everything that is out of place will soon be put back into place where it’s supposed to be, and all will be well with the world again.  The bathrooms and kitchen will have an updated look, the floors will be porcelain tile instead of 30 or 40 some year old linoleum with tears and holes in it, my shower will be bigger, the other bathroom will have a permanent shower also, and there will be new light fixtures, new toilets and sinks, and so much more.  So, how exactly does my home remodel relate to anything?

I’m so glad you asked.  If you have lived any time at all and encountered change in your life, it may seem as it does to me, as if you are undergoing a sort of remodel.   Depending on the scenario, you may feel much like you are being altered, made over, modified, changed, transformed, converted, and retooled.  Thankfully in most cases, it’s a slow process and happens almost without our being aware it’s happening, until one day you realize you are not the same as you once were.  In other situations, the “remodeling” takes place much more quickly, sometimes with a little pain involved, and those are the times when we usually have a tendency to yell out to the Lord…”What the sam hill do You think you are doing to me!!!???!!!”  (Sam Hill is one of my ex-husband’s favorite expressions..not sure where it came from, but it fits in more conversations than you could possibly imagine, without being profane or gross!)

Now, perhaps you have requested a “remodel”, a change, a make over.  Perhaps not.  But in the end, those that the Lord loves and calls His own will get one or more, whether they asked for or wanted it or not.  It’s definitely not a bad thing to have happen to you.  It’s really a very, very good thing in fact.  But it can be a bit disconcerting if you were planning to stay the same, unchanged, throughout your whole life.  Truth be told, life is all about change and becoming a better you anyway!  Or at least in God’s economy it is.  And, I think I’d rather endure a heavenly remodel than a truck load of other things I could imagine.

So, if you find yourself being retooled, rejiggered, reworked, revised and refashioned, take heart!  If you have received Christ as Savior and Lord, expect some changes, some remodeling to begin…and continue for the rest of your life.

“Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away.  Behold, the fresh and new has come!”  2 Corinthians 5:17  The Amplified Version

“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].  Romans 12:2  The Amplified Version

The Creator of the Universe is on the job.  He’s the General Contractor and His remodels are stunningly beautiful and practical.  If you’re up for a remodel, give Him permission to do in your life whatever He wants because the end result will astound you!  Oh, you may still look like you in the end, but your insides, down deep in your heart, will be changed for all eternity.

I’m looking forward with great anticipation to the end result of my bathroom and kitchen remodel.  But honestly, I can hardly wait to see what God does with me too because that remodel lasts on into Heaven.