Get Out of the Hog Pen!

One of my favorite stories from the Bible is the one about the Prodigal Son. He is the young man who asked his father for all of the inheritance that he was to get, and then left home. He went out and wasted his money on riotous living~basically, he partied all of his time and money away. When he got completely broke and without friends or food, he found himself in the hog pen feeding hogs. It was then that he realized how far from grace he had fallen. He gets up and heads back home to his father.

There are times in my life when I feel so close to God. I love him and I can feel his unconditional love for me. My heart is just overjoyed. I begin to think that there is nothing that can separate us. Then, I continue living. Then, I run into a bump in the road. I find myself lured into places I shouldn’t be. I fall down. I discover myself in the hog pen.

I become angry with myself for having made stupid mistakes~for yielding to temptation. Hey, don’t judge. God saw you when you ate that piece of chocolate cake when you were supposed to be on a diet.

It is then that I come to myself. I look around and realize that I am in the hog pen. I have wandered off from my Father’s house. I am no longer at the palace. I am in mud. It is at that moment that I cry out to my Father to forgive me and save me. I confess my sins. I crawl out of the hog pen. I spray myself off, change my clothes, and return to my Father.

My God is just to forgive us. He is willing and able to restore us unto him. So, if you find yourself in the hog pen~if you have fallen down, don’t just stay there and wallow in the mess. Get up. Ask for forgiven and head back to the palace.

As the songwriter said, “A saint is just a sinner who fall down and got up.”

Luke 15: 11-32                                                                                    Joel 2: 25

Did You Forget the Miracles in Egypt?

Don't Go Back to Egypt

It is amazing how soon we forget the goodness of our God. He performs miracles for us daily, but in our selfishness, we don’t appreciate them. All we can see is what we don’t have or what we didn’t get. Like the children of Israel, we begin to long to return to our captivity. We wonder where the figs, the pomegranates, the leeks, and vines are. We beg to go back to the place we are familiar with. We forget the cruelty of our old slave masters.

No, we didn’t have literal masters like the children of Israel. However, we have old masters: drug addicts, alcoholism, foul language, filthy minds, illicit affairs, and other sexual sins. These things gave us quick but temporary relieve. We have forgotten the miracles in Egypt. We forget that God split the Red Sea. We forget that we were actually slaves to our old habits. We forget how we cried out to God to save us. Now, when we hit a few rough bumps in our Christian walk, we want to run back out into the world. We grumble and complain.

Yes, I am guilty of this. There have been times when I looked longingly back on my old life. I remembered all the fun but forgot all the pain and hurt of my past. I forgot how long it took me to get up from the hog pin. As I have matured as a Christian, I realize how foolish this is. When I truly think about it, I realize I don’t want to go back to Egypt. I no longer want to be a slave to past desires.

Instead of complaining because I haven’t received my blessing yet, I need to be patient. I need to remember the miracles that I saw in my Egypt.  My God is able to supply all of my needs.

Numbers 20: 1-5

Philippians 4: 19

Recognizing God's Blessings

 

It is so amazing how we miss our blessings because we are looking for something else. I have a guy friend who is thinking about settling down. He has been dating his current girlfriend for a number of years, and he feels that it is time to make a commitment. But-there is almost always a “but”-there is a problem. He is not sure that she is the one. Yes, he loves her. Yes, he enjoys her company. However, there is this little gnawing feeling on the inside. What is it?

It is the voice of God. This “feeling” he is having is the Lord trying to tell him that she is not the right woman for him. I can see it. And, so can our other friends. He has just convinced himself that his girl must be the one. Besides, she has been with him all these years. Right?

What he has failed to realize is that God has already answered his prayer for a wife. It is not in the woman he seems so determined to place himself with. He recent met a nice, young lady. This lady is pretty, smart, and shares a lot of the same interests as him. He is very attracted to her. She is very attracted to him. The young lady has confessed to him how she feels and indicated that she would like to explore a relationship with him. My friend has admitted to the young lady and to me that he feels drawn to her. She is a Christian and so is he. However, because he has spent years dating the first lady, he feels obligated to stay with her. I love my friend and fear that he will miss his blessing.

I remember one of T.D. Jake’s sermons where he talked about when we ask God for oak trees sometimes he gives us an acorn. He went on to explain that often we are too blind to realize that the oak tree is nesting inside the acorn. So, we miss the blessing. We don’t realize that God has already answered.

How often have we prayed for a job and yet turned down jobs because they were what we felt we deserved? Did we not realize that God sent us a job? However, it was not the job we wanted. How many times have we asked God to bless us with a new car but didn’t like the one he allowed us to have?

I am single. But, don’t fool yourself; I have been in serious relationships. I hear women all the time complain about not being able to find a good man. I haven’t had that problem. I have had good men. The problem was me. I was not good to them. They were “too nice” or “just not my type”. How often did I leave behind men who would have been good to me? Since I have learned to walk closer with God I realize that I missed a lot of my blessings looking for what I thought was the ideal man.

I pray my friend doesn’t miss an opportunity. Yes, his current girlfriend will probably be a decent wife~if he marries her. But, how much better suited is this beautiful young lady? How much happier would he be if he would open his heart and listen to the voice of God!

Let us not despise the day of small beginnings. Let us learn to listen to the small, still voice of God. Let us recognize our true blessings when they come. Let us know when God has answered.

Zechariah 4:10

For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel-- these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth."

 

Jeremiah 5:21
Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:

Ezekiel 12:2
"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.

Mark 4:12
so that, "'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"

Even Flawed

 

I found a blouse the other day. It was plaid and so soft. It was a little too big, but I liked it a lot. I had only worn it once, but I was really looking forward to wearing it again. However, once I washed it, some red spots faded onto it. I did all I could to get the stains out. I washed it several times. I applied stain remover over and over. But, no such luck. The stains faded, but they didn’t come out. I was tempted to throw the blouse away, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Since the stains are in the back, I decide to keep the blouse. I could always wear a jacket over it.

Then, it came to me. God truly loves us. He loves us in spite of our faults. The fact is~we will never get it all right. We will make mistakes. We will fall down. But, luckily for us, God don’t throw us away because we are spotted. He works on us just like I did the blouse. He gives us a second and even a third and fourth chance. Even with all of our flaws, he loves us. He loves us so much that he gave his only begotten son to save us. Thank God for his grace and mercy.

There is a Blessing in the Crumbs

 

In All Things Be Thankful

No one wants to live on crumbs. I know I don’t. However, I will admit there have been times when it felt like that is just what I was surviving on~crumbs. I wasn’t eating the fat of the land. I wasn’t lending. I was borrowing. I wasn’t feeling like the daughter of a king. I was feeling like the beggar Lazarus. I was barely keeping my head above water. And, I was a little upset that I had to settle for crumbs. However, when I learned more about God, I learned more about crumbs.

God was teaching me humility. He was breaking my pride and self-reliance. He was teaching me to lean and depend on him. I learned that God can bless crumbs. He can multiply crumbs just as he multiplied the 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread.

Now, just as the Canaanite woman begged Jesus to give her even the crumbs. I have learned to thank God for the crumbs. Why? Because the crumbs that fall from my master’s table are blessed. And, since I am his child, I will not eat crumbs forever.

 

Matthew 15: 21-28

Shout Now!!!

 

Don't Wait for the Blessing: Shout Now!!!

As Christians, we walk by faith and by sight. We are to trust that God has provided for us everything that we need. I am excited today because I know I am on the verge of a blessing. And, so are you. Amen! I am not going to wait until I see my blessing. I am going to do as the Children of Israel did.  They marched around Jericho, and they shouted praise even before the walls came down. God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations. He gave thanks before Isaac was born. We have to trust that God will do just what he promised. He is not a man that he should lie; nor the son of man that he should repent. He said it and indeed he shall bring it to pass. I am going to shout now.

Numbers 23: 19 (not a man that he should lie)

Joshua 6:15-17

Genesis 17: 1-27

2 Corinthians 5: 7 (walk by faith)

Something of Value

 

The Things We Value We Protect

It is amazing how everyday things can teach you about God. I learned about God from my purse today. While in the ladies room, I was searching for a place to put my purse. I refused to place my purse on any surface that was not clean. It was then that I realized just how much I valued my croc leather Dooney and Burke purse.

I remember the first time I saw a Dooney and Burke purse. My aunt purchased one when she first became an RN. I had to be about 10 years old, and I was fascinated by the pretty green leather. I remember knowing that the purse was very expensive. I wanted one, but I knew my mother would never buy me one. It would be years before I could afford a designer purse.

As I finally found a place to set my purse, it came to me. The things that we value we protect. We are careful with them. If a person values us, then they treat us with care and respect.

 How often have we settled for people who don’t really love us or respect us? How often do we sell our virtue for far less than it is worth? God tells us that “our price is far above rubies”. So, we must stop selling ourselves short. As ladies, we must really learn to place the same value on ourselves as God does.

Luke 12: 24~ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

Revelations About the Blood

 

We have all heard that “there is power in the blood”. As Christians, we know that we can cover ourselves and our families under the blood. We also know that Jesus shed his blood for us on the cross. For we know that there must be the shedding of blood for the remission of sin. What I didn’t realize was that the blood had a voice. Don’t believe me? Well, check this out:

When Cain killed Abel, Abel’s blood cried out to God from the ground:

Genesis 4: 9-11~Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”¹⁰ And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. ¹¹ So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

Hebrews 11:4~By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead

Jesus' blood also spoke:

Hebrew 12: 24~to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel

Lessons from Wal-Mart

The other day I decide to go to Meridian, Mississippi to pick up a few things. I had several stops to make in town. One of those stops was Wal-Mart. Another one was the mall. As I was on my way from the mall, I noticed that my car was driving a bit funny, and I knew I should go home immediately. I had one more stop on my list, and I debated making that stop.

Suddenly, it came to me that there was probably something wrong with one of my tires. So, I made a decision. I would go to my last stop, and I would check my tires while I was there. I made it to my destination. I checked my tires and sure enough, I saw wires sticking out of one of them. I then debated trying to get back home or purchasing a tire in Meridian. I wondered why when I was on the other side of town I would notice my tire. I mean, I had just left Wal-Mart which sells tires. I had just left the mall which is next to Sears. I could have purchased a car from both of these places. I decide to go to the Wal-Mart closest to me. I had never purchased a tire from this site before, but I would have to do just that today.

When I made it to Wal-Mart, I pulled into the Automotive Department and held my breath. I had had some bad experiences with the other Wal-Mart in Meridian. So, I don’t like buy tires there. To my surprise, the people at this site were extremely friendly. I was very satisfied and surprised. But, what does this have to do with God?

As I was getting into my car, I realized how good God is. He had led me to the right Wal-Mart at the right time. He had kept that tire from blowing out while I was driving. God knows, I had been on some lonely and dangerous roads. I could have been killed. He had made sure the car drove fine until I had received my paycheck from work.  Isn’t God awesome?

He gives his angels charge over us to keep us from dashing our feet against a rock-Psalms 91: 11

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them-Psalms 34: 7