What Am I Doing?

Today on this beautiful Sunday morning I sit and wonder, what am I doing to help spread the knowledge of God?
I have friends who are Christians and friends who don't believe at all.  I have tried to share my faith with one of those unbelieving friends, but I have not tried very hard.  I am not bold.

I am not ashamed of Jesus, not ashamed of God, and do not hesitate to state my unconditional belief. When the subject comes up.  But then what? 

Well, I pray.  I pray that everyone will know God.  I pray that the people of this stupid, off-kilter world will begin to love one another as they begin to know God.  I pray that we all see God in each other.  And in the mirror.  I pray that God will do what I cannot possibly do.  Convict and convince everyone that He is not only real, he is their Father.  I cannot convince anyone.  That's between them and God.

But I will continue to pray.  And I will continue to tell people I'm praying for them.  I will continue to let people know that my husband and I could not have made it this far without a complete surrender to God.  That God has carried us when we could not walk, could not stagger, through the mess we had made of our lives.  That He forgave us and blessed us as if we weren't the sinners we clearly were.  And of course, no one is without sin, so we are sinners still.  and He is faithful still.

Help me Lord to be bold when that is what is needed.  Help me to be subtle when a whisper will work better than a strong wind.  Help me to speak the Truth and trust You to give me the right words to say.  Help me to remember that even though I don't trust myself to say the right thing, I can always trust You.
Thank you Father. 

Be the Book

Once again I'm thinking about my unfinished book about God.  My ongoing work-in-progress.  It's intended as "an introduction to God" for those who don't know Him but are willing to hear about Him.  (Inspired by a friend who said she doesn't really believe, but would be willing to "keep an open mind" if I wrote something.)

Anyway, I've started it three times over the last five or six years.  The title has changed four times.  I write some, then give it a rest, then read it back, scrap a lot of it, and start again.

I do want to finish it (as if a book about God could ever be finished!) but it occurs to me that before I can write the book, I have to be the book.  If I'm rightly related to God, then people should be able to look at me and read what God has written on my heart. 

Lord, help me today to be Your living, walking book.

Written On Our Hearts

Long ago God promised that with his "new covenant", he would write his laws directly on our hearts and minds.  He promised that we wouldn't have to inquire of anyone about Him, because we would have his laws imprinted within us.

I believe He has done it.  I believe everyone knows what's right and wrong because it is written on their hearts.

I believe that we embark on the road to hell when we choose to ignore what is written on our hearts by God himself.  When we choose "the world", when we choose greed, when we choose to win at all costs, we are choosing various forms of death.

So choose Life.  Take a look inside your heart and read what's there.  There is your happiness.
There is Real Life.

Meek is not Weak

I have just read again the words "the meek shall inherit the land" (Psalm 37;11).  And of course, in the sermon on the mount, Jesus said "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.". 

I've read a little about the use of the word "meek" in the Bible, and how its usage is different from our first-glance assumption that meek equals weak.

We choose to be meek.  By giving up our 'right to ourselves' we yield our very selves to the authority of Christ, who always has our best interest at heart, and is well able to act on our behalf in ways far far superior to anything we could think or do for ourselves.

By becoming meek, we indeed inherit all that matters because we allow ourselves to be carried by the Master. 
What could be better?

Lord, help me today to yield to Your strength, Your wisdom, Your plan, and Your never ending love.

Perfect Faith

Sometimes when God's mysteries seem to be clear, and we understand things as we have never understood them before, it's easy to think, "Ah, now my faith is perfect."

But the truth is, faith is only perfect when we're in despair, in the dark, understanding nothing, and still believe that even though we are in the dark, we can put our trust in God and He will not fail us. 

He's Here

God exists,

whether you believe it or not.

God is Love,

whether you choose to receive it

or not.

God will help you

but you have to reach out your hand

to take His.

It’s just how it works.

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for

And certain of what we do not see.”

You can be sure. You can be certain.

Don’t listen to voices

that tell you otherwise.

In fact,

God is the only thing that’s real

because God is the only thing

that never changes,

even if our perception of Him does.

God is the only reality.

Just believe.

Out of the Way

Lord, help me today to empty my self out, and be all that you created me to be. I am not special. I am not more loved, nor more favored by You than anyone else. But the apostle Paul said that we are all given "special gifts" to be used by You for your purposes. Help me Father, to get out of your way today and allow You to use the special gift you have given me for whatever purpose comes before me. And help me to remember that I may not always be aware of the result, lest I take credit. But give me more Faith to know that if I remain in the Light, You are being served.