-It was Not Just Another Day –

When I think that I don’t do as much as I want for the Lord, He has a way                         of showing me that we all can do something no matter how confined our lives are. For example, He places people in our path almost everywhere we go if we seize the opportunity set before us.

 

Recently I was with my daughter at one of her doctor’s appointments and the waiting room was full. I stepped out into the hallway of the doctors building to wait for her name to be called. I was glad that I had brought my new book with me in case we had a long wait ahead of us. My goodness there was so many sick folks up and down the hall, why it was busier than a hound dog at a flea convention.

I found myself a seat up against the wall out of the way of the high traffic area and reached into my bag and dug out my new book to settle in for a good read. Just as I opened the pages to begin reading the forward, I heard the elevator doors open and a professional looking man stepped into the hallway pulling a large carryall on wheels. As he came near to me he smiled and said “I love David Jeremiah.” My new book was the latest work of Dr. David Jeremiah entitled “God Loves You, He Always Has & He Always Will.” I smiled right back at him and replied “I love Jesus Christ and David Jeremiah is great, too!” The man smiled back at me and wished me a good day as he continued on down the hall.

I settled back into my book with that peaceful feeling Christians get when they have had an encounter with another believer. Ten minutes or so later I glance up and see a uniformed soldier walking towards me and as he came near, I looked up and smiled at him. “Thank you for your service to our country son,” I say to him. He smiles so big at me and says “Thank you ma’am!” He enters a doorway next to my chair. In my mind I ask God to send His angels to guard over this man and his family, along with so many others just like him, who sacrifice their activities of daily living to stand guard over our country. After about twenty minutes the door opens and the soldier has finished his visit and once again smiles down at me. “God bless you son, and watch over you where ever you may be stationed.” He confided that he had been in the army for ten years and was used to it. “Be safe and go with God” I said to him and I know he stood a little taller as he replaced his cap, gave me another big smile and headed for the elevators. Once more I opened my book and my eyes were looking at the words but my heart was back communicating with Father. Ten years is a mighty long while to wear a uniform I thought to myself and asked Father once again for special protection over this dedicated soldier. I knew in my heart that the red, white and blue meant something special to that young man, and I thanked the Lord for allowing our paths to cross that day.

I thought, I am not getting much reading done today Lord, and they still had not called my daughter’s name. I glanced up and a little white headed lady was nearing me while pushing her walker and a care giver walking slowly alongside her. She stopped almost in front of my chair. Her companion asked if she was okay and she indicated that she just had to stop and rest for a minute. She smiled at me and told me that she was slow in getting around these days, and I nodded at her in understanding. I stood and asked her to take my seat and rest a spell and I would tell her about my best friend named “Jesus.” Her face lit up and she grinned at me and said “Oh honey, I know Him!” “That’s wonderful ma’am,” then you know that He loves you and wants you to be careful and get lots and lots of rest?” “Oh yes!” she replied and was ready to journey on towards the elevators. Her caregiver smiled at me as they walked away and thanked me for the words of encouragement. As they rounded the corner that little hand came up and waved back at me. Now that made my heart smile.

So, I thought to myself, within the span of an hour God sent three people to cross my path and allowed me to speak His name to each of them. He made me aware that we are only strangers if we want to be. A smile costs us so little and the rewards are out of this world! I have cancer and that’s a fact. My physical body is dying, another fact. But I still have the Fathers work to do, and that too, is a fact. Thank You Lord for teaching me that it was not just another day. Then I heard the nurse calling……….Ms. Jackson?? Yay, time to meet up with my daughter again!!! It was not just another day, it was a good day.

 

“My Fields are Full”

July7, 2012~Barbra Jackson

 

“My Fields Are Full”

Are there any churches that still have services on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday evening  in your community? So many, many, many do not. “Why not” is my question? The answer came to me in a “still small voice” and said, “It is because My children have other things in their lives that they feel are more important to them than worshipping Me and studying my Word.” It is as simple as that. Anything placed above God in importance is an idol.

Someone said “all the other churches are doing it.” And then, “Due to the increase in the children’s summer and fall activities(football, basketball, soft ball, soccer, dance, cheer-leading, etc.), we just have to skip church in order that we go and support them.” Or “the kids, jobs, etc. keep us so busy that we need to rest up on Sundays, after all, it’s the only day we can all sleep in.” Another good one is, “We all loaded up and went to a ballgame, the lake, concert, camping trip, etc.” Is there any wonder that God’s house is near empty or closed? How sad after ALL the Father has done for us. One of the saddest things to me is driving to a church only to find the doors are locked and the parking lot empty!

It may well be uncomfortable to some (because it usually is when one is under conviction), but the time is NOW to take a personal inventory of what matters most to you and your family. Make sure your pastor and church leaders are at the church doors for the flock that they shepherd. What good is a field full of sheep without a shepherd to manage them, to lead them from the dangers of the world, comfort them when wounded, to guide them to fresh and still water? This cannot be done unless they are on the premises, ready and waiting. Whatever takes them away from the flock, also takes them away from the service they have been called to by the LORD and is considered poor management of the herd. Pray for these people, and pray for them often.  Responsibility and accountability go hand in hand when God places you in leadership positions.

 Jesus says in the great book of Matthew 9:37-38 “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” His fields are full but His house is empty, who will go and work for Him today?

The most important thing in this life is choosing where you want you and your family to spend eternity!

“Disciple to Destiny”

Most of us really do not like anyone telling us what to do. Our natural, fleshly being is greatly responsible for this feeling that we are all guilty of. God has given us the gift of “choice” and allows us the right to make decisions for ourselves. I find that I have often made decisions which were not the will of my God, butis the easy way to do what I want to do. If a person lives for God, they will be disciplined. It is a lifetime process.

 When we receive the blessed gift of salvation and choose live for Christ, we must learn to discipline ourselves in the ways of the Lord. This is a part of being “born again”, and of “all things becoming new”.  Our prayers become bolder in asking for God’s will to be done in our lives. To accomplish this we must be willing to forsake our will for His will. Remember this, our will and God’s will are not always the same! Thus, we must also pray for revelation and understanding.

How to learn Christian self-discipline:

1. Read the Bible, God’s guide book for life, daily.

    2. Talk to the Lord, pray every day. We are not pray repeaticiously.

    3. Attend regularly the worship services at a Bible believing, Bible teaching, Bible preaching church. God definitely pays attention to what is taught behind the pulpits of churches.

    4. Give up things that hinder the above.

    5. Control your time. Work – Worship – Rest. Devote quality time to each of these areas.

    6. Tithe. God gives us everything we have. To honor Him, and help the church spread the Good News, we are commanded to give 10% of our income back to His work. God’s favor rests upon this command.

    7. Seek God with all your heart.

 

Discipline is a practice. It is not something which we obtain immediately at salvation. It is the desire to do God’s will, not the traditions of men. Self-discipline is controling our personal character, behavior, and speech which will result in an orderly and disciplined life. (I Corninthians 9:23-27).

Divine discipline is knowing that when we step out of line, the Lord may take steps in our life to get us back in His will. (Hebrews 12:5) God never uses sickness or disease to teach!

Parents who love their children, will discipline them. Children are best taught by the parents personal actions. Babies are not born into this world with values. They learn them. Teach a child that slothly habits will not be tolerated. Train a child to clean their room, make their bed, and how to respect themselves as well as others. A talkative child is often known as a child who seeks knowledge, but they need to be taught that silence is sometimes golden.Worship services are one of these times. Whispering also disturbs the persons sitting in front of or behindyou in Church. Grownups are guilty of this too! So, if your child is valuable to you -discipline them.

 Reckless speech is a trait that is learned. Christians should not say things without thinking, even in jest. In doing so, we may have jeopardized our Christian testimony.

We can learn to say “No” in the power of the Holy Spirit. We have Oneness with the Holy Spirit to guide us in all things. For example, someone may teach something in church that is contrary to God’s word. It is acceptable to call it to their attention in an orderly manner, discuss it and perhaps give them an opportunity to repent of their wrongful teachings.

One day we will all stand before Christ and give acountability of our actions and deeds on earth. God knows our hearts and no one other than He. Therefore, we are not to judge others. That is not our place. It is my desire to never do or say anything, by word or deed, that would cause another to fall away from the love of Christ Jesus.

His love NEVER fails and He never gives up on me!

 

 

 

 

Renewing the Mind

Renewing the Mind
A Daily Task

When Jesus chose the disciples, He recognized in them a quality that made them fit subjects for three and
a half years of intensive training.

The disciples were not always
quick to learn, but they were teachable. They at least wanted to learn.

When Jesus appeared to His disciples on the evening of the
resurrection, “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45, NASB).

“Be not conformed to this world: But be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God”.
Romans 12:2

They were responsive to His teaching which is essential for progress in our spiritual life.

God wants you to understand His Word, but you have to spend time in it
to accomplish this.

The mind is to be lowly. One cannot be humble unless he is lowly. Humility speaks of a relationship with others and to God. Lowliness is a state of mind.

As we put on the full armor of Christ daily, let us also cleanse and renew our minds. It is a slow process, but the rewards are out of this world!

Holding on to Joy

Nehemiah 8:10 says, “the joy of the Lord is my strength.” God did not create mankind to be unhappy. Yet so many people are seen with long drawn out faces that stop just short of a scowl. Where has the joy of living gone? Who has taken it? How can we get it back?

Note how others tend to shy away from those whose countenance reveals distress. Why? Because it’s contagious! Don’t allow them to steal your joy. The evil one has been allowed to take the precious gift of their joy away and they, in turn, can pull us into the fold if we are not careful.

It is a common misconception among people that Godly Chrisian’s should not have to endure trials. Just the opposite is true. Everyone has a story of one sort or another that leaves us dealing with feelings that we’d rather not face. Trials are like being in a hot skillet and we just want out – but not to jump right back into another skillet or even worse, into the fire.  Satan works on our weaknesses, but it is our choice to be mad, bitter, angry, sad, cranky, distressed, etc. Don’t allow Satan to steal your joy.

How is the joy of the Lord our strength? The most joyous thing in the world is our salvation! We will spend eternity with Him. You can find hope even in the most difficult times in Him. He is our rock, our stronghold. Stay in His Word to know Him and continue to know Him even more while your strength to overcome obstacles in your life grows .

Know that everything that happens has been touched by Him or allowed to pass through His hands. Understand that things that we feel are real, but may not necessarily be true. When your eyes are on Christ, you can’t see what is going on around you. Imagine looking through binoculars and focusing on Him. You miss a lot of life’s rift-raft by doing this.

You and I are the joy set before Him.  Christ knew the end result before leaving heaven, taking human form, and dying to pay our sin debt. Jesus took all our trials and heartaches and rested them at the foot of the cross.  ” I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.” (Psalm 84:2)  This is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it! That is worth a smile, don’t you think?