Charlie Brown that's the meaning of Christmas

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)

These words probably sound familiar. You will most likely gather around the T.V. with your family sometime during this Christmas season and watch A Charlie Brown Christmas. Charlie Brown will get mad and yell out, “What is the meaning of Christmas?” Linus will walk out to middle of the stage, say, “Lights, please,” and a spotlight will appear on him and he will say the lines from above. When he finishes he will say, “That Charlie Brown is the meaning of Christmas.” Many of you will forget the meaning of Christmas. Many of you will grow so busy with church, work and school events that the meaning of Christmas will slowly slip by you and you’ll wonder why you are so worn out. It’s hard I know. I don’t really have any wise, sage advice on how not to get wrapped up in the comings and goings. I’m not going to tell you to “make appointments” with God and try to stop in your busy day and think of the baby that the Angel told the shepherds about. That’s not what God wants. God wants more than that. You need to shift your way of thinking. This shift won’t come overnight; you’ll have to work on it. Start by doing something simple. When you are standing in the line that is miles long don’t stand there and think about how long the line is and how horrible it is to be standing in it and how unbelievably slow the cashier is, instead give glory to God in the highest. When that red light happens, you know that one that often feels like a punishment, don’t sit there and curse the light, turn your radio onto KLove or some other Christian radio station and praise God.

After watching A Charlie Brown Christmas one year, my father said that we should be doing our best to do the end of that verse now. We need to be working on peace on earth and good will toward men. Are you working on living at peace with those around? Are you showing good will toward men? Smile at coworkers. Spend time with those you love. When you see someone struggling help them. The world would be so much better if we all worked on our own little corner and make it better. If you started working on these things it might be easier to not forget the meaning of Christmas.

The meaning of Christmas comes down to this; God loves you so much that He gave up His place in heaven so that you could have one. God thinks you are so important that He gave his child up so you could be with Him. Love like that deserves more than just a pause; it deserves you giving your life back to Him.

Christmas isn’t about what you call it; it’s about what you do for Christ

What's in your cup?

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7 (NIV)

However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. John 16:7 (AMP)

So let me say it again, this truth: It's better for you that I leave. If I don't leave, the Friend won't come. But if I go, I'll send him to you. John 16:7 (MSG)

When it comes down to it the disciple weren't at an advantage. I've heard some people say it would be easier if were a disciple. If I could have just walked with Jesus, it would be easier. But according to those great red letters out of John, it's better for us. If you look at the list given to the spirit out the Amplified Bible, really take those names in Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby. Those are great names all shared with Christ and God. We don't get that person to person relationship Christ, but since he left, we can be filled with him. Those names have great power in them and you get to be in close fellowship with them. My favorite word for what Jesus sent us is out of the Message though. It's friend. That word is special. I don't just call anyone friend, but they way I use the word tells a lot about me. If you have ever been around when I've lost a shoe, you've heard me say, "Where's your friend?" If it comes in a pair and I'm missing one I go look for it's friend. All those words out of the Amplified Bible are great, but a friend is someone you share your life, someone who is a part of you. Being around Jesus didn't make those guys a better Christian. It's the spirit. Jesus left us, so God's spirit could come and empower us. Oh the power of the spirit is great, and it's amazed the world.

And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? Acts 2:6-7(NASB)

And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” Acts 2:12 (NASB)

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; Acts 2:42-44

The spirit came to those that believed and had them speaking in languages they didn't know. This left the outside world amazed, astonished and perplexed. Non-believers can see the works of the spirit and are amazed and confused, mainly because they don't understand. The believers gathered together devoted to the teachings of the apostles, had fellowship, prayer and broke bread. We do that now, it's the next part. They had a sense of awe and many wonders took place. I wonder why we don't have that anymore. Why is that the average isn't in awe? This is just a group of normal people, they aren't special, we don't know names, yet they are in awe, and see wonders. Most of us has put the spirit in a box, thinking he can't do that anymore. Why? I think one reason, if we saw power like that today, we might feel guilty, that we aren't truly living for God. If we keep the spirit in the box that takes away it's power, that restricts, we can continue to live life between Sundays. The bible can stay on the shelf.

So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

This whole spirit thing isn't something new. This comes from the old testament. The spirit is needed and should be used. Tap into the power of God's spirit. Think of yourself as a glass, in order to be filled with the spirit, you must first be empty. If you have a glass full of soda, you can't put any water in it. You have to first empty the glass of soda. You have to empty yourself foe your spirit. It works best if you are completely empty. Think about it. Let's go back to the glass idea. If you have a cup half full of soda and the fill it up the rest of the way with water. Do you want to drink that? I don't. Empty yourself completely and let the Lord fill you with His spirit. The Lord will do amazing things if you let His spirit fill you. All of God's power for you comes through His spirit. You can't have gifts of the spirit will radically change you so you can radically change the world for God. Empty yourself, pour out all the soda and let the water, the spirit of God fill it.

Waiting on an everlasting God

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB)

This is something I have trouble understanding. How do you not grow weary or tired? I grow tired and weary often. I've spent several springs with Amor Ministries in Mexico. The first day is laying a slab of cement in 22x11 form. We mix by our own strength and pour by our own strength. At the end of this day, I'm tired. Somehow in His supernatural power, God doesn't grow tired. I grow weary of people. You know what I'm talking about. There are people our there that just make you want to turn the corner and pretend you didn't seem. For me, these are the people who think life is awful. The people who wouldn't be happy if yo gave them a million dollars tax free. They make me weary. God doesn't grow weary, you tell Him the same concern everyday, you could even do it 2 or 3 times a day, and He won't want to hide from you. He has this amazing power that doesn't allow him to grow tired or weary.

It's that next part that excites me though. He gives strength, if you lack might He gives you power. If someone was supplying power I would want God's. I've seen Him give this amazing power. I've seen teenagers who have been working hard all morning get third and fourth winds, so they can finish the job. I've seen some people who were worn out, I was pretty sure they wouldn't be able to do anymore work, get up and work harder than they had all day. I stand there watching where did that come from? The everlasting God. He has also helped me not grow weary. When I see those people that make me grow weary, I stop and let God know, I don't have what it takes to deal with them and that He is going to have to do it. The funny thing is when I ask, I get the power to do it. Maybe that's not so funny, it says here plain as day that He gives it.

Waiting on the Lord isn't something, I really like to do. He has vet to grant me patience now. But as yo wait on the Lord your strength will raise. He promises that as we wait on Him new strength will raise. We will be able to spread of wings and soar like eagles. This would be something neat, I've loved watching eagles soar and it's always amazed me. We will be able to walk and not grow tired and run and not grow weary. He'll give us enough strength to get the job done. The Message put the end of 31 like this: They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind. I like the picture walk and don't lag behind looks like. As a kindergarten teacher, walking can be a task that isn't easy. Someone will lag behind. I would be thrilled if we could walk and not lag behind. With God, it's possible. God knows we grow tired, but He is willing to supply us. His power and strength is the kind I would want when I grow tired and weary. I also felt His power and it's amazing.

The depth of the search

You have looked deep into my heart, LORD, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. Psalm 139:1-3 (CEV)

If this doesn’t show you how important you are to God, I don’t know what will. He has searched you. He really knows you. He hasn’t done this lightly; He hasn’t searched like security at the airport. He didn’t stick you through an x-ray machine and look. He opened the bag and took things out. He dug into the nooks and carnies. He’s looked over every millimeter of you. Your thoughts are spoken aloud to him. It’s clear to Him what you think. He knows your routines better than you do. He knows you hit the snooze button twice before getting up. If you walked into His Starbucks, your drink would be waiting for you. He knows where all the children in the carpool live and He could do the drive with His eyes closed. He knows you drop the kids off for soccer at 5:30pm on Thursdays. He knows your fears and joys. He knows that you’re worried about your kids. He sees the fears you have about your husband not coming home from a deployment. He knows that you’re really happy when the dog jumps in your bed. He knows what a relief it is to have that newborn sleep for 4 hours the first time. He knows that you feel great when you put on that dress; your husband wants to tear off you. He knows. You matter. He feels what you feel and wants to make it right. He thinks you are the greatest thing out there. That way you hold your newborn, He holds you. When your husband wraps his arms around you and you feel safe and secure; that’s what does to you.

You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5 (NASB)

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. Psalm 139:7-12 (NASB)

He watches over you. He’s got you in a safe place. The greatest thing is you can’t hide from Him. You are so important to Him. He will go and find you. That closet you use to hide in as a child, He saw you there. When you are driving across the country to see your parents; He was watching. At night when all the lights are out and you are laying there awake; He sees you. On that ferry to Alaska; He was there too. When you danced in the rain; He watched. There isn’t anywhere you can hide. On His smart phone, He’s got an app that isn’t a phone tracker, it’s a you tracker. He opens the app, types your name and it tells where you are at, what you are doing, and what you are thinking. The best thing you can do is quit trying to hide and just let Him watch you. He isn’t watching you in the stalker in the bushes kids of way. He’s watching you the same way you watch your child sleep.

And some to stretch chicken

And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [^[a]full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. Ephesians 4:11-13 (AMP)

We were given a role to fulfill. We were given a job to do. Each one of us was given something to do to bring unity toward our faith. We weren’t all given the same job either. God has given us different things. Some of us are good at certain things. I think that at some level or another we are able to do all these things. One of these roles is our main job. It’s the job we’ve been equipped to do. God has given us tools to help us do the job. The jobs are easier to do when you are given the right tools. I’ve been building houses with Amor Ministries. This past year, I was out in the field working the same group as the founder, Scott. Now Scott and I have been given jobs to do. Scott is the some to run the ministry. I am the some to help the ministry. As part of running the ministry, Scott hadn’t been field for years. However, I’ve been in the field, learning the tricks of building a house, being made aware of the tools and the best way to use them. Scott had a worksite to be at and I had two to work on. As the building progressed, there came the time to stretch the chicken wire. Stretching chicken wire can be a hard job without the right tool. It was a day Scott wasn’t looking forward, a day that would build my excitement. Scott started to get frustrated at the job at hand; he stops and asks God to help. Scott is aware that he doesn’t have tools; God hasn’t equipped him for this job. He realizes that he isn’t the some to stretch chicken wire. However, I was at my site using a 12 inch piece of pvc pipp used to do the job. I love the pvc pipe because it makes the job so easy. If I were in Scott’s shoes unaware of the pipe I would hate it too. I am the some to stretch the chicken wire. I was equipped to do the job. Shortly, after he was done praying for God to help him, a field staff showed up and showed him the pipe. Scott became the some to stretch the chicken wire.

We all have job. We are capable of doing any of these, but only as God equips us. You do your job and work to bring unity, but you must be willing to step out of the role you normally and let God equip to do other things. It’s ok to step out of the office and into the field without knowing how to use. Some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers (Eph 4:11) and some to stretch chicken wire.

Storms of disobedience (for Jason)

But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. Jonah 1:3-5 (NLT)

Sometimes we are in a storm caused by our disobedience. The storm rages hard and can be very scary. Jonah found himself in a storm caused by his disobedience. God told Jonah to get on a boat and go one way. He got on a boat and headed in the opposite direction. That’s why I picked the NLT here, other version just say he ran away or rose to flee. This can’t be confused with a wondering or “taking the long,” it clearly states he went the other way from where he should have gone. Jonah found himself in the middle of storm. It was an awful storm that threatened to break the ship apart. However when Jonah found himself in the middle of that storm, he did some things right.

Jonah chooses to run away from God and found himself in a violent storm. It threatened to break the ship apart. The crew felt that had to throw cargo overboard. This isn’t a small storm. Storms of disobedience are the worse kind. They rip at our souls and break our hearts. I faced an awful storm of disobedience. I choose to have an abortion. I quickly found myself in a storm of guilt. I was in a storm that ripped at my soul and broke my heart into a millions of little pieces. It was an awful storm that lasted for years. It ruined relationships. It’s left a very dark spot on my testimony, but I also did the things Jonah did.

He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.) The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” Jonah 1:9-12 (NIV)

In the midst of the storm, Jonah fesses up. Verse 12, Jonah said, “I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” He took responsibility for his disobedience. He didn’t point a finger and say, “I did this because of someone else.” He took the blame; he didn’t even try and hide. He came right out and said it was his fault. I take complete fault in my abortion. I don’t blame my ex-boyfriend. I could and after hearing the whole story, some may say I have the right and he should take some of the blame. I admit fault because I made the choice. When it’s all done and over with, I’m the one to blame and it’s my fault. The next time you’re in a storm of disobedience, admit fault, take the blame. The storm may not end right that second, it didn’t for Jonah and it didn’t for me. The storm can’t end until your take fault.

He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit. “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’” Jonah 2:2-9 (NIV)

Next Jonah prayed. Look at Jonah’s prayer. He talks about being in distress, being in a grave, being hurled into the deep, being banished, engulfed and sinking. Jonah wasn’t just in physical storm. Jonah felt a great storm on the inside, but he said two great things. Verse 7, “I remembered you, LORD” and verse 9, “Salvation comes from the LORD.” He prayed that he was aware of how wrong it was to disobey, but he also prayed how God will take care of him. I spent many nights for over year after my abortion, crying myself to sleep and praying. I prayed about how awful I felt and how I was consumed with guilt, and how wrong that choice was. I also prayed about how great God is. I prayed for His salvation to return to me. Pray through the storm.

This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. Jonah 3:3 (NLT)

This time Jonah started off straight for Nineveh, obeying God's orders to the letter. Nineveh was a big city, very big—it took three days to walk across it. Jonah 3:3 (MSG)

After the storm is over, you need to do what Jonah did. Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh. I like how the message states it, “This time Jonah started off straight.” Jonah learned it was better to obey what God says to do. Jonah suffered through his consequence of disobedience, but he picked himself up and obeyed God. I suffered through an awful storm, it lasted for over year. I looked at my broken piece picked them up and started obeying. I couldn’t go back and listen like Jonah had the option of doing, but I started obeying God when He talked. You may not be able to go back and make it right, but this time you can start off straight and obey God’s orders to the letter. You don’t have to live with the guilt. I don’t think Jonah went around feeling sorry for himself that he went in the opposite of direction. There were probably times, when he would hang his head and remember what he did, but I don’t think he lived in guilt. I think this because I don’t. I don’t live in guilt anymore. I’ve worked hard to get past the guilt, but I got past it. There are times when I hang my head and remember what I did and that it wasn’t the best thing to do. So neither do, you don’t have to live in the guilt. Pick up the pieces and start work past it.

Storm watching (for Jason)

And in the fourth watch [between 3:00--6:00 a.m.] of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, It is a ghost! And they screamed out with fright. But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid! And Peter answered Him, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus. But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me [from death]!” Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matt 14:25-31 (AMP)

We are all like Peter at one point in our lives or another. Sometimes we pull a Peter more often then we like, but we all do it. Peter is in the middle of a storm. One this account, Peter didn’t cause storm. That doesn’t really matter here. When we get down to it storms are all the same, it doesn’t matter who cause them. They are all really big, the waves are high, the wind is strong and the end is uncertain. You could be in storm where you question your value. I’ve been there. I’ve lied in bed awake through most of student teaching wondering what my value was. You could be in storm wondering where God is. I spent many days sitting in a classroom that was just barely big enough for the 19 of us and wonder why God had allowed my second year teaching to go so badly. My main thought during that time was if God was real, He wouldn’t let this happen. You could be in storm cause by someone else. I found out my older sister was pregnant while we were in high school through my friends because it would have no affect on me. I’m still storing through the damage of that hurricane, sometimes I even feel like I’m sitting in the eye of the storm waiting for the rest it. It doesn’t matter what kind of storm you are in. It matters what you do in that storm. Let’s look at what Peter did and see where he went right and try to follow him. Let’s also look at what Peter did wrong and learn from his mistakes. You’ve probably made Peter’s mistakes, isn’t it time to learn from them.

The first thing Peter did was believe. He believed that Jesus was coming out on the water. He also believed the things Jesus was telling him. Do you believe in Jesus and things he tells you? Do you believe in taking courage and not be afraid? Do you believe this is for his glory and you won’t fail?

The next Peter did was have faith. Peter got out of the boat. It’s hard to get out of the boat. It’s hard to have faith. Faith is that little voice that tells you it’ll be okay. It’s the little voice that often doesn’t make sense but we still want to listen. Give Peter some credit here. He is in a boat in the middle of a lake and he climbs out. Everything the world has shown us and what we know about the world says Peter will mostly likely sink like a rock. Most men that go overboard during a storm don’t always make it back on the boat. Peter realizes that we are dealing with special things here. He has seen with his own eyes that Jesus doesn’t operate on the laws and rules of this world. It’s easier to have faith when you have seen the things Peter saw. Hasn’t God been faithful to you? God has done something in your life to give you a reason to have faith. You can have just as much faith as Peter.

Verse 30 is where Peter makes a mistake. It says, “But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened.” Other versions say he saw wind, but we now Peter didn’t see the wind, what he saw was the evidence of the wind or he perceived the wind. He saw the waves and he mostly likely felt the wind too. So this is what Peter did, he changed his focus. He took his eyes off Jesus and the storm overtook him. Peter stopped looking at Jesus and began to sink like a rock. That’s the mistake, changing your focus. As soon as you take your eyes of Jesus, the storm will overwhelm you. Take your eyes of Jesus and you are going to sink.

Now Peter realizes his mistake and this is where he goes back to doing the right thing. You take your eyes off Jesus and you are staring down your storm, you’ll sink. Don’t worry you aren’t helpless, the storm doesn’t have to win, it doesn’t have to overtake you. Do what Peter did. Look at the end of verse 30, “Lord, save me [from death]!” As soon as you realize you are sinking cry out to God. Let God know you are sinking, God will respond. In verse 31, Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him (NIV). It’s not always immediate. You may have to wait until the storm is over. God has His reasons, but if you are calling out to Him, He isn’t going to let the storm overtake you. It does depend on the storm. If you’re in a storm cause by someone else, it might be immediate. However if it’s a storm you’ve caused, you may have to ride it out, but your boat will do make it through the storm.

The next time a storm comes brewing have faith and keep your eyes on Jesus. If you get distracted by the storm and you do take your eyes off Jesus, call out to Him. You can’t avoid storms. You can’t control them but you can control how you respond to a storm.

Too much pressure and the head might explode

Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands. Ephesians 5:22-24 (MSG)

For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. Ephesians 5:23 (NLT)

I think we put too much into this verse. It’s been interpret to mean things it shouldn’t. I think we are packing way more into this verse that what really fits. It’s being used to place pressure and control. I want to unpack and show a different way to use it.

I’ve heard it said this is the verse that states the husband is the spiritual leader. As the head he should be in charge and get the final say. He should take responsibility for all matters, but he can delegate. Why should everything be on him? The reason he has a wife is to help him out. No where does it state that the head does everything and fills all the jobs.

Christ took the lead. He led by example. As the disciples grew Jesus let them do things. In the end, Jesus delegated work to the disciples. I think he did this because for one person to carry all the work, nothing would get done. There’s a reason why many people work at that same place so more can done. One person is ultimately responsible to make sure the work gets done.

Look at how a church works. This pastor is the head. Is really he responsible for everyone in the church spiritual growth? Yes, he is. Does he do all the work by himself? No, we have other people who run different ministries. The pastor does run the show and gets the final say, but he doesn’t do the work. If one person was really meant to do job, we wouldn’t have youth pastors, and children pastors. We wouldn’t ask people to run the women’s ministry or the men’s ministry. One head, one person in charge, many people working together doing the same thing.

Look at our country. Do you really think the President takes on every task and job every hour of every day? What’s the point of cabinet then? It helps him take care of the smaller jobs and smaller tasks. Yes, they have to report to him and tell him how things are working, but he doesn’t fill every role all the time.

Why would we put such pressure on the husband? He isn’t all powerful. He can’t do everything. It doesn’t matter how wonderful he is, he can’t fill all the roles all the time. By stating that he is the spiritual leader, you’re putting a lot of pressure on him. You could be setting him to do things he can’t which will stress him out. I don’t know about you but I prefer my husband when he isn’t stressed out. When you use this verse like that, you could lump all the family responsibilities on him. You could force him to fulfill every role out there. He is in charge of the money and how each family member spends their time. He can make a decision without consulting anyone else in the family. He is the head after all. It’s not like this at all. Many wives make the budget and pay the bills. Families discuss decision that will affect the whole family.

If the woman is more spiritually mature or if she understands how to guide the family in spiritual matters, shouldn’t she do it? What if he isn’t fulfilling the role? Do you just leave the role unfulfilled? Do you leave the family’s spiritual growth to fall the waste side? That’s a horrible thought. No, the wife should step up and do it, just like with any other aspect in the family responsibilities.

Before taking on this role, you should pray for God to guide your husband. Pray that God will fill your husband with the holy spirit and he'll see the need to do this job. I've spent many nights praying for my husband to see that he needs to do this job. My husband is aware of these verse and understands what they are stating, but doesn't think to be the spiritaul leader. One night, I was praying hard to God that he would open his eyes and let him see what he needs to do. God responded with a question, "What if you working on an Amor work site and there was no foreman?" I would do the job, I wouldn't take the job for anyone, but every site needs a foreman. God responded, "Every family needs a spiritual leader."

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. Ephesians 5:22 (NIV)

I’m not telling you take responsibilities from your husband and demand he let you be in charge of everything. You need to submit to him. If you’re the wife that cares of the budget and pays the bills, you probably didn’t just start doing this out of the blue, you most likely talked about it first. Talk about this first too. He may be unaware that this is a job that needs to be done. He may have not been doing it because he doesn’t know how to do it. You may start out as the spiritual leader but as time progresses, he may want the job. Then you need to submit to your husband and let him do it.

Before taking on this role, you should pray for God to guide your husband. Pray that God will fill your husband with the Holy Spirit and he'll see the need to do this job. I've spent many nights praying for my husband to see that he needs to do this job. My husband is aware of these verses and understands what they are stating, but doesn't think to be the spiritual leader. One night, I was praying hard to God that he would open his eyes and let him see what he needs to do. God responded with a question, "What if you working on an Amor work site and there was no foreman?" I would do the job, I wouldn't take the job for anyone, but every site needs a foreman. God responded, "Every family needs a spiritual leader." I keep praying, but in the meantime I'm the spiritual leader. I think it is very dangerous, especially in this world, to leave this role empty.

Yes, you need to submit to your husband the same way you do to Christ. Don't ever take away his leadership. Yes, your husband needs to be head of the house just like Christ is the head of the church. Your husband can delegate jobs to you. He is still ultimately responsible for them, but the job might get done better in your hands. Don’t pile all the pressure on him. It’s not fair to him or you. Your role is to be his helpmate. If he wants to fulfill a role let him, but if he can’t for whatever reason, then you should do it. Spiritual growth is like the bills, if he can’t do the job, you don’t let it go undone.

go and Barnabas

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”) Acts 4:36 (NIV)

When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. Acts 11:22-24 (NLT)

Do you have a Barnabas? Are you someone’s Barnabas? Barnabas’s name means encouragement. It’s so important to encourage one another. Just as much as we need to encourage others, you need someone to encourage you.

When Barnabas arrived he encourage those around to stay true to God. He was good and full of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what made it easy for him to encourage others. Barnabas was the extreme kind of encourager. He stood by Paul. Once Paul and Barnabas meet up, Barnabas spent many years standing beside Paul. It didn’t matter what was going on Barnabas stuck by Paul’s side.

But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:50-52 (NASB)

Some of the Jews convinced the most respected women and leading men of the town that their precious way of life was about to be destroyed. Alarmed, they turned on Paul and Barnabas and forced them to leave. Paul and Barnabas shrugged their shoulders and went on to the next town, Iconium, brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples. Acts 13:50-52 (MSG)

Paul and Barnabas were speaking the word of God. They were telling others about God. The Jews didn’t like this too much, so they stirred up trouble against them. Paul and Barnabas were forced out of the town. What did they do? I like what the Message has to say, “they shrugged their shoulders and went on to the next town.” They took the oh well to bad, we’ve got other place we can go approach and off they went.

At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. Acts 14:1-5 (NIV)

Paul and Barnabas move on. They speak of God. They speak boldly about God. In fact many begin to believe what they are saying about God. Look what happens though. Again, trouble stirs and they are told they would be stoned. This could be a little discouraging but it’s not for Paul. Paul and Barnabas pack their bags and move on. Paul doesn’t have to flee by himself, his friend goes with him. It must have been nice for Paul to have somebody go along with him.

It didn’t matter what was happening to Paul, Barnabas stuck by his side. Everyone needs someone to stick by their side. You don’t have to be the person filled with great Godly wisdom to be a Barnabas. You just have to stay by someone’s side. You won’t have to worry about getting stoned like Barnabas did we don’t really do that anymore. Sometimes though, you might have an awful storm to sit through. Sometimes you might just have to sit there and listen.

If you’ve had someone who’s stuck by you through that storm and was an encouragement, try and return the favor. I’m sure Barnabas got tired and need to Paul to encourage him.

So I challenge you, find someone who needs a Barnabas and don’t forget to thank your Barnabas.

Go find a friend

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and^F)"> submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Titus 2:3-5 (ESV)

Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. Titus 2:3-5 (NLT)

Our relationships with each other are important. The older women have a responsibility to the younger. It doesn’t always mean age. The women who have a more mature relationship in Christ need to be guiding the women who are younger in Christ. The idea of mentoring can be intimidating to both women but it doesn’t have to be. It’s meant to be a tool for building a relationship.

A few years ago, I was paired up with a good friend of mine, Jackie. Jackie and I were already good friends, but through our mentoring she became my wonderful friend, Jackie. Jackie never sat down and said do this or do that. Jackie and I had meals together. Sometimes we went out. Other times I went to her house and cooked for her. Jackie came into my classroom and helped out. She even did music with my students once. Jackie let me into her and showed me what a wonderful woman of God looks like. It doesn’t have to be anything formal. You don’t have sit down with a bible and say this is the way you should live.

It’s not hard. I know you may not feel like you are adequate to do the job. I’ve dropped the ball. I’ve had 2 women placed in my life. Not both of them are younger than me age wise, but they are both younger spiritually. I should have stepped up to the plate and guided them, but I didn’t. I feel bad because of the blessings we have missed out. It’s ok to feel inadequate or like you aren’t ready, just don’t do what I did. Start out casual like Jackie and I did.

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose]. Proverbs 27:17 (AMP)

That is, that we may be mutually strengthened and encouraged and comforted by each other's faith, both yours and mine. Romans 1:12 (AMP)

You also need those relationships with your friends who are on the same level as you. It helps you both grow. It’s important to encourage, strengthen and comfort each other. We need to help each other out. God didn’t design life to be lived out alone. God planned for us to work together. Get with someone who is on your level and spend time encourage them to keep going.

In my first year of teaching, it was rough. Days seemed long and they ran together. I made it through that year because of Angela. She was a first year teacher also, and she was right next door. We supported each other and cared for each. We carried each other through that year. The only reason we signed up for a second year is because we knew the other one was going to. We knew that the other one would be there, so we could handle it. We had the strength to give it another try knowing, we had the support of the other.

Having you been failing? Have you been trying to do this alone? Do you see a connection? Ask someone to help you. Find someone ahead of you and beside and ask them to spend time with you. Are watching someone fail? Why? Sometimes just offering to stand beside them is all the need. You don’t need to have gone through all the same trails just try to be helpful. When they start to worry point them back to God, when they get overwhelmed point them back to God. If God share bits of wisdom with you, share it with them. God’s plan for this world is that we go through life together. When I can’t find a pair of socks or shoes, I go looking for its friend, not its pair. Go look for a friend.

A Pity Party or a Walk

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:19-24

It comes down to this: At times, Life sucks. Sometimes it’s our own fault. You’ve made a bad choice and you sit in the mist of those consequences. Life at times is just rough. Sometimes those around us made a bad choice and those consequences had a ripple effect. It’s part of living in the broken world we live. What’s worse than suffering bad consequences? Dwell on them. Spend too much time thinking about the stuff and you will soon be depressed. You sit there and have a pity party for yourself.

I know life sucks. I’ve spent years dwelling on those awful things. Trust me; I have plenty to dwell on. I spent three years in a relationship I shouldn’t have. I had an abortion while in that relationship. I was treated very unfairly by my first two principals and forced out of my job because I didn’t fit the mold they had in mind. So I have a lot of afflictions. I caused some, others caused it for me. My soul has reason to be downcast. I’m sure you have spots in your life you could dwell on. That would downcast your soul. Your afflictions are probably just as numerous as mine.

So what do you do? Do you let life eat away at you? Do you let life make your soul downcast? Sure, go right ahead. Let life make you bitter. You have the right to make that choice. You’ll have to live with the consequences. It’s a miserable, bitter life. You’re welcome to live life in a pity party. I won’t join you. It’s the kind of life my sister leads. After about 6 years I no longer feel sorry for her. In fact, I’m thrilled my husband’s job moves around and the closest we’ll ever get is 2 hours. I don’t want to be around it. You are more than welcome to live life like that, but you might lose friends. They won’t want to be around you.

What’s the other choice? Go back and read the rest of that verse. Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” God loves you. You can live in that love. His compassion never fails. Life will turn around. His mercies are new every morning. Now they don’t have a sign attached them that say I’m a mercy from God. You have to do your part and look for them. So I can dwell on the past, or I can roll over and look at the unmade half of my bed because my husband is at PT. I can dwell on the bad choices I’ve made, or I can get out of bed and let my pit bull mix dog out her kennel. I can have a pity party for one, or I can be thrilled that God is aware of me and still choices to bless me. I choice to see the mercies and blessing around me.

It’s hard to see them is one thing you are probably thinking. Seeing God’s love, compassion, mercy and faithfulness is something you have to learn to do. Smart small and it’ll grow to big amazing things. Not sure how to do that, ask God. It’s a lesson He’s willing to teach you. In fact, it’s a lesson He wants to teach you. I can tell you it easier when God helps you learn how to do it. Soon you won’t need His help to see how great your life really is.

So make your choice. Do you want a table for one for your pity party because soon, that’s all that will be at your party or would you like to go for a walk with Father, so He can revile His love, compassion, mercy and faithfulness. You might be surprised at who joins on this walk. I was. Remember though you have to live with your choice. The best part if you found you made the wrong one, it’s not too late to change it.

What if

If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this? Esther 4:14 (NLT)

God places you wherever you are for a reason. There is a reason you are where you are at. Sometimes you don't know that reason until the opportunity appears right in front of you. If you sit back and wait for someone else to do it, you miss out on so much.

Esther was placed as the queen for a very good reason. Esther didn't really want to be the queen. King Xerxes became upset with the present queen and she was removed from her position. So King Xerxes had asked for all the single young woman to the palace. Esther was one of these woman. When Esther was brought before the king, he wanted her as queen. God knew what He was doing here. He knew that the only person who could save the Jews from Haman was another Jew.

God moves you around to achieve things. Sometimes it seems that things don't seem to make sense. You may not be out in a royal position to deliver the Jews, but you know you are living where are you living to do something.

Sometimes God asks you to do hard things. God was asking Esther to go in front of the king. To see a king that has a rule that if you aren't invited the king can choose to kill you or spare you. There was no way to know which the king would choose. God may ask you to do may or may not have as much at stake. God may be asking you to sacrifice is time or money or even your life.

The things when that moment comes you have a choice. You can choose to do what God asks you do or you can choose not to do it. Both have consequences. Mordecai had said that if deliverance comes from someone where else than Esther her family would die. Choosing not to listen to God doesn't always result in the death, but sometimes not receiving a blessing is enough. Sometimes you may have to watch that other person, the one who obeyed, receive your blessings. Have you ever watched someone else step up when you should have? Did you watch them receive a blessing because they obeyed? Those blessing were meant for you. I stinks to watch that happen and for most of you only have to watch it once.

Think about where you are and what is presented. Do what God asks of you. Sometimes it's hard, but there will be blessing later.

There's a reason why it hurts

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit He cuts away; and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you. Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. John 15:1-4 (AMP)

It seems that most often when this passages is brought up, they talk about the bearing fruit. There's another aspect in these verses. It's pruning. God prunes us sometimes. But what is pruning? Pruning is something that is done to help make plants healthier, produce fruit and helps that plant grow in a controlled form. When a gardener prunes a plant he doesn't do it all they time. In the very beginning, there is no pruning done, to help the plant grow strong roots. It's done during seasons. Normally in a season when the plant isn't growing. In the beginning the pruning is done to help the plant grow fruit. If a vine has several branches it will have trouble producing good fruit, so it is trimmed down to only a few branches. After that it is pruned to maintain the good fruit.

God does the same thing to us. In the beginning He doesn't do any pruning, so that we can grow strong in His word. He wants you to have our roots firmly planted in Him. As we grow, that's when the pruning starts. First God starts pruning us so that we can be healthier in Him. We start to understand the need for changes in our life. We try and reflect God's character more and more. He then starts to produce so that we can bear fruit. We need to bear the fruit of the spirit. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) After we start to bear these fruits God will prunes to keep our growth and fruit produce under control.

Pruning looks like different things. God will send us through trails and hard times to help us. God will allow the devil to tempt you in order to prune you. Pruning doesn't have a standard way of being done. Each person is different and God prunes according to how He wants to use you. Sometimes it hurts. Pruning can be very painful. One thing to bear in mind is that happen in seasons. You may feel awesome and like there is much growth going on. Your walk with God maybe amazing and you may be doing a lot. Then it changes. Life may get hard. Just remember maybe God is pruning for great and bigger things.

Some pruning is cutting things. There maybe habits that are unhealthy or produce bad fruit. In time, God will prune these away. You may have a person in your life that needs to be pruned. People that have negative effects in life need to be pruned away. I'm not saying avoid people. Sometimes spending time with Negative Nancy begins to rub off on you. Maybe spending time with these people one on one isn't a good idea. Sometimes even responsibilities need to be pruned. It's ok to say no. If you are doing something and it's taking away time from that something that is good in your life, like God, or your family. Do you really need to be doing it? Everybody has some kind of fluff that could be pruned away too.

Don't be scared of getting pruned. If you feel like God is pruning, think about what is being cut away and what fruit it might help you produce. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, they all help you reflect God, they all help you be more Christ like. Reflect on what's happening and try to gain some understanding of what God is doing. You don't enjoy fruit that is bad, bitter, and sour. Do you want to produce rotten, ugly, sour fruit or would you like to produce good, beautiful, sweet fruit? After God puts down the shears, He takes care of the plant giving it all the things a plant needs to grow.

Sure, it hurts, it's painful, but when something is being cut away doesn't it hurt? But in the end you'll be better.

It's all in the plans

He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Psalm 147:4 (ESV)

God spent time creating everything. I'm pretty sure, He had it all planned out before hand. He took the time to count the stars. God knows how many stars are in the sky. Stop and think about that for a second. God can tell you how many stars probably just as quickly as a teacher can tell you how many students are in her class. This is a huge number and God knows it, most likely off the top of his head too. Now look at the rest of that verse: he gives to all of them their names. As He put them in their place he gave them a name. Other version says he calls them by name. Not only did He name, He remembers them and uses them. Just like a teacher who can tell you them name of all her students with very little thought, God can point to star and tell you its name. He took time to name the stars, this is something that seems unimportant. I can't think of a reason why the stars would even name the stars, but it was important to Him and He did it. What else has taken the time to invest in? What else was so important to Him that spent that much time on it? Try you and your life. God cares about the details.

You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle--are they not in Your book? Psalm 56:8 (AMP)

He is the details. He even took the time to write them down. What you are doing and where you are going is so important that He took the time to write them down. Just like the stars, He took the time to count and record the events in your life. Nothing that you do is meaningless. People don't write down things that don't have purpose. You are so important to God that He took the time to count and record your events. It's funny, we don't even take the time to record our wanderings, yet God already has. It's in His book, I would even guess that He reads this book. You are so important to Him that he collects your tears and then writes about them. His tears matter to you. People only take the time to collect things that they think has value. Your tears have value to Him. I'm not sure what that value is, but I can tell you they matter to Him enough that He bottles them. Tears come in all kinds of setting people cry when they are sad, mad and even happy. It doesn't matter what kind they are He has them in bottle. He writes about them too.

The next time you begin to worry about something, remember He already has it written down. He knows what is going to happen. If you start cry remember, He's got bottle and for some reason He is saving those tears, He's adding them to His collection. They are important to Him.

Goat or sheep, which one will you be?

There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Luke 23:33-34 (NKJV)
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:39-43

Do you understand what this passage is trying to tell? It's telling you that you have a choice. You can choose to blaspheme or in the NIV hurl insults at God or you can recognize that he shouldn't be on the cross and ask him to remember to you. It's really that simple.





These two men are a picture for us. You can choose to go right or you can go left. That's how great our God is that he leaves up to to make your choice. For some the choice isn't hard. You can choose the left or the right.

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Matthew 25:32-33 (NIV)

Now it doesn't say which criminal was on the right or the left but because the sheep go on the right let's just say the repenting criminal is on the right and the other one is on the left. So the choice is yours do you want the right or the left. Let's take a look at both sides.

Starting with the left. You can choice to hurl insults at God. You can live life however you want. You can choose to rebel and not follow God. Like all choices in life there consequences. This choice is a bad choice because of the consequences. Like the second criminal said "for we receive the due reward of our deeds" These verse tell of what happens when you choice to go left.
Then they will go away to eternal punishment Matthew 25:46 (NIV)
I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too. Luke 13:5 (NLT)
Did you see that key word in that last verse? Again, this means he has said it before. These aren't the only verse that say that if you choice to go to the left, if you choice to hurl insults at God you will perish. I'm not going to go into detail what hell is like. I'm not the fire and brimstone kinda person. I do think that you need understand your choice. Here are earth we are separate from God, in hell you removed from God. That's a big difference. Separate means not near but you may still access to something that is separated. Think of it like this I'm separate from my parents. There is huge distance between and I don't see them, but I can pick up the phone or send and e-mail and still have access to them. That's what earth is like. God isn't near but we can pray or read the bible and have access to Him. Remove is gone taken away from. When I was a teacher I would remove students from my classroom, I would take them out of my classroom and out them another. This student that was removed no longer had any access to me. That's what hell is, you are taken away from God and you no longer have access to Him. What I'm trying to point out is if the life is hard and rough being separate from God, I don't even what to think about life where there is no God. This what will happen if you choice to go left.

So back to Matthew 25:32-33 and going to the right. If you choice to recognize that Jesus didn't belong on that cross what happens. First you have to believe and then repent. Turn away from a life living for yourself and start living for God. What needs to be done in order to be the right, look at these verses.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29 (NLV)
but the righteous to eternal life. Matthew 25:46 (NIV)
Just do your best to be righteous and follow God and you can go to the right. All it takes to believe and repent. Follow Jesus understand that he loves and try to reflect that love. When you choice to go right you are choosing to spend the rest of you life with God. Nobody can even began to think what that would be like. God is so good us. If you think of all the blessing God has given so far to you, it's nothing compared to heaven.

Think wisely and make choice the left or the right.

Something that is impossible

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)


Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? Psalm 139:7 (MSG)

It just isn't possible to run away from God. There are times in your life that you may want to run away from Him, but you can't. He'll follow you and guide you and help you. He delights in watching over you.

Life may get hard. You get upset or disappointed, or even frustrated with life and God. You can't run from Him. Jonah ran from God. The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV) Jonah didn't like what God told him to do, so Jonah ran away from the Lord. It did him no good. God sent a storm. Jonah was thrown over board, eaten by fish. Only to end up on where God had told him to go.

It's doesn't matter what is going on in your life you can't run from God. I've tried it. I was frustrated with God, nothing seemed to be working out to me. I was very mad at God. So I packed my bags, I got on a plane and flew to Korea. Thinking the whole time I was running away from. I ran away from God so hard and so fast, that I ended up in His arm. Even though I thought I was running away, God was really guiding back to Him. In that time of running, I grew as a person, and in my relationship God by leaps and bounds. It's so amazing that even though I was trying to get away, God wouldn't let me.

That's the great thing about God. Once you have asked Him into life, He doesn't walk away. He doesn't leave you. He will guide you and be with until the end. If you have ran away and it feels like you are lost and He isn't there. It's ok. Start looking for Him, call out to Him. Jonah cried out God and God had the fish vomit. God will take you back. You mean the world to Him. He gave up his place in heaven so that you could have spot. He never took away even when you started. Just remember He'll guide you. He's already forgiven you for running away, just run back.

It'll move a mountain.

Faith is such an awesome thing. If you have it you can do amazing things with it. Faith is something that grows as you use it. Faith is having belief that God will do it. We have great examples of this amazing belief that God will do it.

In Genesis 22, Abraham is tested by God just to see how much faith he has. Abraham was told to sacrifice his son. He got up early the next morning and went to sacrifice his son. Look at verse 5: He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” (NIV) There's a pronoun there that makes a difference. It states Abraham's faith. He said We will come back. Abraham had faith that if he obeyed God would provide a substitute for Isaac. He says it again in verse 8: Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. (NIV) Isaac asked where the lamb was for the sacrifice. Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac but he had faith. Faith that saved a child's life.

David had faith. In 1 Samuel 17, the Israelites are facing the Philistines. David is to young to be among the fighting men. His father sent him to check on his brothers and bring them food. When he gets there, Goliath larger than life is hurling insult. David shows up and wonders why nobody has done anything. He even points out that they are the army of God. David uses his faith and offers to go and fight Goliath. In verse 37, The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear he will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (NIV) David says that God will take care of Goliath. In verse 46, This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. (NIV) David proclaims to Goliath that God will had him over. Goliath was giant but young David had giant faith.

Take a look in the new testament. Over and over again people have a faith that Jesus will heal them and he does because of the faith. There are numerous example. The woman with the bleeding issues thinks if she can just touch him she will be healed. These four guys believe that if they can get their friend to Jesus, he will be healed. They believe so much to the point that when they see the house so full the door is blocked, they go through the roof. All it took was faith.

The funny thing about faith though is that you don't get sitting on the couch eating bonbons and watching TV. You have to get up and do stuff. Abraham wasn't laying in a hammock waiting for his faith to grow. He was packing and moving around. David wasn't in a field with a bunch of sheep. He as facing a giant. You have to be active if you want faith to grow. You have to be doing things. You can't just sit and wait for faith to grow. However there is something you should know about growing faith, it isn't cheap. It'll probably cost you. It almost cost Abraham his son. It almost cost David his life. It something you pay for. I've been paying for it. I can tell you though at times the cost maybe high, having faith that moves mountains is wroth every penny I've paid. The great thing about God and faith is that if you aren't sure at first, try having faith in small things. As you see that having faith in small will make it grow and you can start having faith in bigger things.

You just need to pratice

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

It is so hard to be still and quiet in this day and age. I can't count how many times I have been overstimulated in the past month. The stillness is so important. It's in these moments, God comes closest. In these still moments, it's easy to hear God.

David was still. Nathan rebuked David for what he had done to Bathsheba and Uriah. After that Bathsheba's son fell ill. David was still. He laid on the ground and plead for the child's life. 2 Samuel 12:15-17.

Jesus was still. He went into the garden and prayed He was still while he plead with God to do His will.

In that stillness and quietness is when God is the loudest. It's hard to be sit and be still but God does great things in the still. I work hard at being still and some of the greatest thing have come from them. Sometimes being still is removing yourself from daily life. Going on a retreat is often a time when you can be still.

One moment stillness that sticks out is in Mexico. I was working with a group. I was going to take care of the walls and such and the group leader was going to take care of the roof. They were having issues on the roof and needed me up there. They coaxed me up on to the 7ft side. Then they got me up on the plywood closer to the 8 ft side. I was scared to stand up. I was on my knees with my forehead on the plywood screaming "I don't want to stand up" with 2 adult men telling me how great the view was. For just a moment I stopped screaming. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was still. It appeared to me the whole work site was still. Then I heard it. "Stand up. The view is beautiful. You'll love it. It'll make you smile. Just stand up." I stood up. The amazing thing about where we were working is that is was in a valley but the neighborhood was on a hill. The view was amazing. That was one of the greatest blessing I have ever received on an Amor trip. Thank God for making me a still moment in my life that was magnificent. Has God ever done that for you? Why not? Is it because you haven't' stopped? Please take a moment and be still.

I was paging through my bible the other day and postcard fell out of it. It was from the last Tapestry retreat. Jill Rhodes spoke about God being our refugee. On the card, I wrote what God spoke to me during the weekend. I wrote a piece wisdom I was given but forgot. Sometimes being still mean removing your hands from something. Sometimes being still is letting go and letting God. Do you have something that you need to take your hands off of? I do and I know it's hard but when you let go, and when you are still, you allow the floodgates of blessing to open up. Take a moment and think about that. The floodgates of blessings. Think hard, what do you want more, that thing you are holding on to or open floodgates of blessings?

Take time and be still It is so important to know that He is God. It'll be hard but I promise it will be worth it.

Is it really enough

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

Is His grace really sufficient? Is it really all you need? I can tell you yes. The thing about this lesson is that I think I share with all that I know about His grace being enough and it may not help you at all. I think this is lesson you to learn yourself. You have to personally witness this yourself in order to truly understand it.

But what is grace? Webster dictionary says that grace is unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification and a virtue coming from God. I've often heard it said that grace is getting more than what we deserve. When it comes down to it, we haven't done anything worthy of getting God's attention or having God do anything special for us. Yet He still does it. God loves to make you smile. It's His hobby. That is what grace is. Grace is good taking the weak, small, meaningless things and making the great, wonderful, and amazing.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)

The great thing about grace is that God gives it freely, and almost to point where it seems to overflow. God does this because as His grace works in your life He is gloried. He is seen through the good works you do. Grace really is great thing. It flows from Him so that you can focus on Him.

I've learned that His is grace is sufficient. It wasn't any easy thing to learn. God allowed to go to India to help out in an orphanage. The reason for this is so that He could show that His grace is all that I need. The children living in this orphanage had lost their parents or their parents had abandoned them because they couldn't feed them. These children don't have much. In fact all that they own can fit into a backpack. They have these backpacks because my church gave them to the children. They were happy and content. They didn't seem to be in want. They know that God is all they need. I, however, get sad, depressed and upset. I have both my parents, I have never gone to bed hungry, I have all my needs and wants meet everyday. I couldn't fit all my belongings into two suitcases, it wasn't enough space. I didn't think God was sufficient. Something was wrong and a thought process need changing. If God was enough for these children, why wasn't He enough for me? I was the one who had to look for God to be enough. It took time and it wasn't easy, but now I can proudly say that God is all need. God is sufficient.

Just look for His grace and it will become sufficient

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

It's ok if you don't know that His grace is sufficient. That great thing about God is that if you ask for something that is in His will, He'll give it to. I can assure that knowing God is sufficient is in His will. Just ask. His grace is sufficient.

No need to fear what is to come

And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

Life is so uncertain. We have no idea of knowing what tomorrow will bring. However there is no need to fear. God goes before us. Sometimes though this thought isn't enough. We feel like we should do things. We want to be in control. There are things we do to help us feel safe and hold fast to this promise.

First really look at what the verse really says. He is the One who goes before you. God has set this example of going before us. God sent Joseph before he sent Jacob and his family do into Egypt. He went before Moses and the Israelites as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This verse is Moses talking with Joshua. Another great example of this is with Mary the mother of Jesus. Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her what was to come, but Mary wasn't Gabriel first stop. Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth and Zacharias. One reason this happened is because God knew Mary would go to Elizabeth. He goes ahead.

Remember that He is with you. It says over and over again in the bible that God is with you. He also repeat the phrase I won't leave you. If something is repeated it's important and it has meaning. I think that the great thing about about the phrase I am with you, is that when you look at it in the old testament, it is proceed or followed by three very powerful words declares the Lord. The first two definitions of the word declare in Webster's dictionary is state emphatically and authoritatively and announce publicly or officially. The Lord has feeling when he says this to us and He wants everyone to know it. It is something you can rest on and count on.

There are other things that you can do to help you remember this promise.

Be prepared
By knowing what God's word says, it will help you to be prepared and help you to be ready for what is to come. If you know the promises of God you can lean and rest on them when uncertain times come before.

Keep Godly Friends
Those friends that know God can offer support. They pray for you and stand beside you. Others have been there and done that. Their experiences can help you. Some of those friends even have the gift of God's wisdom and they are to share that wisdom with you.

Faith and Praise.
Keep working on your faith. It is something that needs to be growing. As long as you are starting your day trusting Him and walking with Him, you will have no need to fear anything. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Praise draws you closed to Him. Praise Him for the times he has gone ahead of you. Praise Him for the times He is near. Praise Him for the times He has been faithful.

Focus on God and His greatness. Exalt Him alone and with others. Pray to Him and He will answer. He will take care of your fear and anxieties. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:3-4

The great thing about Deut 31:8 is that it is a promise you can hold on to. It's amazing. It shows His power. He will go before. He is wherever you'll be next year, but He is also right here with you now. He is getting ready the next place in your life, but He is watching over your day to day needs at the same time. He can't leave us. He gave up too much to leave us.