Let's make some plans

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15

Oh, how love to make plans. We really need them set and figured out. Most of us need the details hammered out before we'll even breath. Having a plan is great, but James says here that we don't even know what will happen tomorrow. How true this is. Do we make plans at all then? We shouldn't sit around and make no plans at all. Where is the middle the ground?

First off, I don't think there is anything wrong with making plans. God doesn't want sitting around inactive doing nothing. When making plans we need to keep two things in mind. First seek God's will. Do the things in your plans align with the things God wants for your life? Second don't put all your hope in your plans. Don't make your plans, your new "god."

Just make sure your plans have these two things. James and I have plans to stay married to each other the rest of our lives and have children. These aren't bad plans. There's plenty of proof in the bible that God wants us to stay married and have children. We are also aware that there are things we can't control, and God calls one of us home before the other, we are both willing to follow God's will. I'll even admit in the beginning, I won't be thrilled. I'll need to deal with it, but I will eventually move on with God's will for my life. We've talked about the children thing. We'll try having children ourselves, but if that doesn't work out, we willing to adopt. We plan on seeking God's will through out the whole the process.

There are other areas where it might not say anything in the bible about the plans we want to make. Things like where to live, and what job to do. I feel though that if you are working at your relationship, He will help you figure these things out. Door will open and close. You can also ask Him to help figure what his plans are. I asked God, that if he cared about where we lived, that we need a nice big neon sign. As we made calls, and appointments to see different houses, I watched for signs. We only had one person who set an appointment with actually meet, most people didn't even return our call. I took this as a neon sign. As next school year approaches, I've begged and pleaded with God to let me go back downstairs and be with the little ones, but I also feel a burden on my heart to stay where I am, so what do I? I seek God, and advice from friends. I listen to what if feel is my God showing his will to me. 

Plan making becomes a problem when we put all our eggs in one basket or when we ignore the fact that the door is shut and clearly locked, and we start searching frantically almost to our own ruin. The making of plans and not checking with God, assuming we know what is best for us. These are all times when plan making is a problem.

Remember we are just a mist and we only have tomorrow because God has willed it. It's ok to make plans, just don't write them in ink, don't be upset when God changes, don't build everything on them, and check with God as you make.

Have you learned the secret?

Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.  Philippians 4:11-12 (AMP)

 

I am not saying I need anything. I have learned to be happy with whatever I have. I know how to get along with little and how to live when I have much. I have learned the secret of being happy at all times. If I am full of food and have all I need, I am happy. If I am hungry and need more, I am happy. Philippians 4:11-12 (NLV)

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:11-12 (NIV)

The thing about being content is that it's easiest when you have. When you feel like you are in place where you don't want anything, you can happily talk about how content you are. The hardest thing about being content is that it works best when it's heart knowledge. We all know in our heads that we should be content. We are told  over and over again, but do you know this in your heart. Heart knowledge is the kind of stuff we truly believe and has an influence on our daily life. These are truths we stand on. Heart knowledge are the lessons that are often the hardest to learn. They aren't learned overnight. These lesson aren't like the simple math problems like adding, they are like complex trig lessons and after a whole semester of class you may still have no clue. Paul experienced this on high level. One minute, he's sailing on a ship to be held prisoner in Rome and the next he is shipwrecked on a strange island, before you know it, the inhabitants of the island are throwing a great party. Learning to be content van be hard, but it's valuable. Those that are content seem to  have the most blessings. Being content with what God has given you opens the door to even more blessings. If you are discontent with the things God has given you, why would He give you more? Contentedness is like patience, when you ask for it, God won't give it to you. He'll put in a place and situations that allow you to develop it. This is one of those things I advise that it is something you really want, and are willing to go through the trails to obtain it. Paul put it best when he called it a secret. Not everyone knows it and many never will. You must ask the holder of the great secrets to give it to you. We all need to learn to be happy with what God gave us and understand that whether we are well fed or hungry we have plenty.

Got Talent?

Such is the reliance and confidence that we have through Christ toward and with reference to God. Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God. [It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive.  2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (AMP)


We can say these things because of our faith in God through Christ.  We know we are not able in ourselves to do any of this work. God makes us able to do these things. God is the One Who made us preachers of a New Way of Worship. This New Way of Worship is not of the Law. It is of the Holy Spirit. The Law brings death, but the Holy Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (NLV)

 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant —not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (NIV)


This is something I struggle with. It's not the confidence part. I stand confidently in the Lord everyday. I know He has my today and tomorrow because He took care of yesterday.  It's the competent part, I struggle with. See, as I write these words, I struggle with are the right ones, will they have meaning in your life, are good enough and in the end will they glorify God? I am not competent. I'm not skilled at much. My life testifies to this. I'm pretty sure, I'm the most unskilled, and talentless person out there. Everything, I have done with the skill and talent has come from a great struggle or great gifting from the spirit. According to these verse you are supposed to be unskilled and talentless because your competence comes from the spirit.

This competence that comes from spirit. God pours down his spirit to get you the skills and talents needed to fulfill His will. God's spirit isn't just this thing we think about to make us feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. The spirit is something of power and skill. I've written about how we need to empty ourselves and full ourselves with the spirit. The spirit works best when it's the only thing in you. It's what makes you skilled. There's a saying out there God doesn't call the qualified. God qualifies the called. He does, this is how he works. If he has called you to do something and you have stepped up and accepted the job, it doesn't matter what your skills are. I'm not one who is organized but somehow I do a decent job as the Sparks secretary  keeping those records fairly straight. I did pretty good job of helping to run the Going Beyond simulcast, and I bet I do a fair job again in the fall with Living Proof. What you do is only limited by you. If you maintain that relationship with Christ and are willing to go where He has called you to go, you will go to amazing places and do amazing things. You have the ability to translate the Bible into different languages. You have the ability to enter into the army doing a job you have no skill to do and can do well. You can teach anything to anyone, anywhere.

 We are made competent in a new way. The law is done, it brings death, but the spirit it helps make you competent and is the life. Open yourself up to being a minister of the spirit.

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.