Geez, Must Be Nice!

I am not saying this because I am in need for I have learned to be content in whatever the circumstances. Philippians  4:11

Have you ever caught yourself uttering the phrase that is my title today? I know I have and I have had people say it to me. Usually it is out of frustration of yearning for something you are not experiencing or something you do not have.  Recently mine has been comparing myself to other writers, some I know, wondering why it is taking me so long to get that book done I am talking about. Basically the root cause of speaking this phrase would be a jealous spirit. Jealously is not a "fruit of the Spirit" so if you find yourself saying this then you know it is not from God. Perhaps you desire someone else's lifestyle or some gift they have such as singing or being creative.

God is a god of contentment, peace, joy and not one of frustration,anger, envy, and bitterness. The scripture for today basically is saying to us, "be happy now and do not be concerned what others have". God has given each person what he or she needs and each of us has a different course of life. We are not all to be carbon copies of the other. That would be dull and boring. It is hard though if you are having a hard time with something to see someone apparently breezing through life. Do not let Satan make you tempted to want what they have. Remember to be happy where you are and to rejoice with those who rejoice as it says in Romans 12:15.

PRAYER: Thank you for where I am in life. Help me not be desirous of another's skills, talents, abilities, or possessions but be thankful or what I have and where I am. In Jesus' name. Amen.

BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE, IN CHRIST!!

A few years back the U.S. Army had a catchy little commercial jingle "Be all that you can be, find your future in the Army". Simply stated, that you can be whoever you want to be and the opportunities abound in the Armed Forces.

You can be all that you can be as well in the body of Christ. All of us has a "gift". Some gifts are more prominent and seen by people but that does not mean the "behind the scenes" gifts are unimportant. In acting, there are the cast members who are up front and sort of the "stars" of the production, but without the crew and technical geniuses behind the scenes, the show could not go on. Take a moment and read 1 Corinthians chapter 12 on gifts of the spirit. Do you know what yours is? Are you using it to His glory to "be all you can be" for The Kingdom of God?

Christ gives you His strength to do all things and not be a quitter. Philippians 4:13(NIV) reminds us 'I can do all things through Christ which gives me strength.' Memorize that verse and when you feel discouraged and like you can not go on know that God is with you to help you and strengthen you to in fact "Be all you can be" and "Do all you can do" through Him.

PRAYER: I am excited to know I have a special gift from you. Help me to not neglect to use it for the kingdom of God and to help build others up. In Jesus' name. Amen.

MAN ON THE MOON

43 years ago today Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. What a thrill it was as television cameras brought this event to us in our living rooms! Indeed mankind, with God's help, had accomplished "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" as was spoken by Mr. Armstrong as his feet touched the moons' surface. Also on this day 14 years ago The Miller family arrived from Mesa, Arizona to our new home state of Alabama. I recall as we entered the area from I-565 the giant Saturn V rocket at the U.S Space and Rocket Center looming larger than life.

Man certainly can accomplish much with the freedoms we have enjoyed in this country. The sky is seemingly the limit. When man does do something good he needs to make sure to remember who gave him the abilities and skills he has. It is not "to me be the power, to me be the glory. Wow aren't I something?" but instead people, when they accomplish great things or not so great things in man's opinion, need to remember there were many people who may have contributed to help them. Don't become puffed up and certainly say "thank you God!"'

Our youngest son was in several plays in high school and I recall each time in the program when they printed the actor's bio, he always said "thanks" to God. This as a mom made me smile. I have seen this in other programs to even include things like on Broadway or the Army Soldier Show touring the country and coming to my area next week. The performers who loved Jesus said so!! They realized their talents and getting to where they were was a gift from God.

So what big accomplishments have you done? Remember to let others praise you and to give God the glory! Proverbs 27:2(NIV) reminds us 'let someone else praise you and not your own mouth. An outsider and not your own lips.' This is not to say you can not share an accomplishment with close friends or family who love and care for you but the key is to pray for humility in all your deeds whether big or small. Truly humble people are a joy to be around.

1 Corinthians 10:31(NIV) says 'so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.' In the Old Testament in the book of Deuteronomy 8:18(NIV) it reminds us 'But remember the Lord your God or it is He who gives the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.'

Truly God is the giver of our freedoms and through freedom mankind is able to prosper, flourish, invent, create and help others. Many fine men and women throughout history have done outstanding things because of the freedoms in this country to "be all they can be" as the former Army motto used to say.

Remember today to ponder just exactly what man has done through the U.S Space Program and all the inventions that have come about over the years to make this country great and to help others nations. Indeed God is good and He reigns on high!

PRAYER: Today Lord help me in all that I lay my hand to. Help me to have creativity and to accomplish the work you want me to do. Forgive me Lord for ever boasting as I know all the praise and glory goes to you. In Jesus' name.Amen.

GRATITUDE AND ATTITUDE

It sure is easy to complain about our "lot" in life but have you ever stopped for a moment, especially for my United States readers, and really think about your blessings? We take so much for granted, which saddens me.

This subject came up as a writing topic as I reflected on our healthcare we "currently" enjoy in America and how grateful with my recent snow ski injury, I was able to quickly be seen by top notch medical doctors and physical therapists with little or no wait. In my case am grateful I have pretty much the same mobility as I know for many that is not always the case. Indeed it made me grateful first for mobility, having legs, being able to be seen by a doctor quickly and so much more.

Philippians 2:14-15(NLT) says 'Do all things without complaining and arguing so that no one can criticize you. Live clean innocent lives as children of God shining as bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.' This would mean do not complain about the things you don't have but thank Him for what you are blessed with.

Nick Vujivic, who I have written about before, has no limbs. None. No arms, no legs. His ministry is "Life Without Limbs". Here is a young man who initially may have been depressed but he overcame an immense disability and turned it into an ability and a ministry reaching out to millions. Check out his website at www.lifewithoutlimbs.org. It is truly inspiring to hear him. Today he is on the last ten minutes of "Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer". Check www.joycemeyer.org for times in your area.

Do a gratitude exercise today. Get paper and start listing all the things you are grateful for. Not all the things you are "entitled" to as we are not entitled to anything. Just start writing down all the blessings in your life from the smallest things such as being able to hear chirping birds sing or being able to eat without a feeding tube. Let your mind rest and be able to think. I hope you come up with pages and pages.

Lamentations 3:22-23(NIV) are two of my favorite verses and they say '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.' When you are praying why not repeat that verse as part of your prayer. Psalm 68:19(NIV) says 'Bless the Lord who daily loads us with benefits.' I say to that "Hallelujah!"

He indeed loads us with blessings that we so often fail to say thank you. Take time today and give God the glory for all the great things he has done.

PRAYER: Today Lord I am overwhelmed by your goodness to me. I often times am humanly undeserving of your mercies and abundance you pour out on me. Material things are nice but your love and kindness to me is worth so much more. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Click the link below and praise the Lord for His goodness to you.

http://youtu.be/heRHeX23r70

REWARDS FROM HEAVEN

Today my older son has a birthday. If I tell you how old he is you will think I am really old and I am not and do not feel old. But it is a milestone. He is a gift from God!  In God's word children are referred to as a reward. Many parents probably feel strapped by their children or feel like this parenthood thing will never end.Some moms wish they could just have their career back.  There are people who try to have biological babies and never can. Each child is a true gift for God. Children should be given a chance to live in a loving home. Too many babies are aborted for convenience or woman's choice or health issues. The time children are home is relatively short compared to the big scheme of things. I would tell people as a stay home I was raising leaders for the future. If you are a stay home mom never belittle yourself or think you do not matter. Never think you are wasting your education because you are not. The best job ever is to bring those little ones up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. There are no guarantees they won't stray from the path you have taught them but you have God's promises that they will return.(See Proverbs 22:6). We are the parental prayer warriors both when they are babies, growing up and when they are adults.

Psalm 127:3 says "Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him." Do you think about that verse? You could say if you are a parent you got the Blue Ribbon like at a county fair. The best reward yet! I know I feel that way. On this day I thank the Lord for giving us our son Matthew which by the way means "Gift of God" and my other son Jonathan's name means "God's Gracious Gift."

James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for the gift of Life. Thank you for children. Give us wisdom in raising them to serve you and love you. If they have strayed from your path lovingly lead them back. Help their hearts be broken Lord by what breaks your heart. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Note: link to a movie which was in pre release but will return to theaters Spring 2012 and is all above pro life and pro family.
http://www.octoberbabymovie.net/

BLESS OTHERS

Several years ago I commented on a co workers'  big beautiful red apple that was in their lunch box as a few of us gathered at Ft Knox to eat lunch. This person says to me, "Here take it!" I said" I can not take that, it is yours." The person replies "if you do not take this you are denying me a blessing." I have never forgotten that.

When you share what God has blessed you with you are truly blessing the other person. Everything we have is from Him anyway. James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." In Luke 6:38 it says "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Do you have food you could share with someone hungry? Does a friend need to borrow a car and you have a spare? Some people are blessed with an 'extra vehicle'. Perhaps you own a camera and a friend does not so you loan yours to them to use for a special event. Do you have lots of coats in your closet and you know someone who needs one? Why not share? Don't be stingy. All this belongs to God. He is the one who has blessed us with the ability to gain wealth. We are only stewards of it here on earth. Maybe you have a extra sofa you are not using in your garage that is in good shape and someone needs one. Consider donating it and 'blessing' them. Once you start loaning things or giving things away it makes you feel good. 

I just love 'Extreme Home Makeover' on TV where a family, in some sort of need, is given a brand new mortgage free home usually donated by a local builder. The recipients are crying and shouting "oh my gosh" after  the crowd shouts "move that bus!" to reveal the finished product. A brand new home  would be a fantastic blessing  for a family!

Sometimes human nature makes it hard to part with our 'stuff' especially if it is of high monetary value. God's nature says to share. Here in the Madison County, Alabama a local Christian radio station, WAY Fm, has something they call 'The Drive Thru Difference' where you pay for the car behind you at the drive thru and hand the clerk a note, unsigned, that says " I just paid for you no strings attached just because",  or something to that effect.  The person who receives this may be having a horrible day and God spoke to you maybe and said "why not pay for that guy behind you?"  How cool is that to be able to bless that way and to get that blessing?

Proverbs 19:17 says " He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done."  The person may not be literally poor but have a need at the time that you are able to meet.  Don't hoard your blessings and don't just give old worn out stuff you would not want. A church youth group out in Arizona  was having a lock in one night and was told to bring canned goods for the local food shelter. Some teens brought things they did not like from home such as succotash, creamed corn, canned tomatoes, and other items. What happened, I was told, is that it was time to eat and as a teaching point whatever the young person had brought to donate, they ate that night. So those with cans of beef stew, good soup, tuna, and other good things were okay but the succotash was not a real treat. The point was learned by the teens that evening I would venture to say.

Are you able to bless someone? What is stopping you? You never know how your kindness will affect someones life.

PRAYER: Lord help me find ways to be a blessing to those people in my life and to strangers as well. Give me a generous and content spirit. In Jesus name, Amen!

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW

Do you have what you need in life to be comfortable? Most of us living in the United States do. We are truly a blessed nation. Even the poorest family here is better off than some in Third World countries. God has blessed us because we have honored and kept him first in this country. God does not call us to just sit around in a big cushy chair though. He wants us to get in the trenches and help others.

James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Psalm 136:7 says "who made the great lights--His love endures forever" God made all things. The sun, the moon, the stars, the rivers and streams, the oceans, the mountains, the trees, the flowers, the chirping birds, water to drink, air to breathe. He is the creator of it all! We have much to give thanks for!

Matthew 7:11 says "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
John 3:27 says "To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven." God is the giver or all things. In God dwells no bad thing. Certain people like to blame God for bad things that happen. God does not cause bad things but he can redeem them.

Some people may be overly blessed with an abundance of riches and as long as they do not worship those and keep God first that is okay. Isaiah 55:2 says "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." Matthew 16:26 says "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Just do not forget God if you start climbing the ladder of success. Deuteronomy 8:18 says "You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day."

Psalm 68:19-20 says "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death." I heard once of a prisoner of war who was saying if you had a doorknob on the other side of the door you had much to give thanks for. Think about that one. A door knob. You can open the door and leave and be free to roam about. A prisoner can not. Some people in other countries do not enjoy the blessings of the freedoms we currently do. Give God thanks each day when you wake up for the freedoms we enjoy in America. Evil forces are trying to take many of them away.

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.  Do not start your day without saying something like "Lord I thank you for another day. I thank you for my health, my family, my friends and the material blessings you have showered upon me."

Lamentations 3:22-23 says "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lord you are good and your mercies do truly endure forever. Thank you Lord!

PRAYER: Father may I never take for granted the gifts you have given to me. Thank you for where you have placed me in life and thank you for just the gift of my family and my friends. Truly relationships are key to being fulfilled. But the best relationship and best gift is you Lord. Help me never to forget to wake up daily and give thanks. Shine your light through me and use me to help spread your love. In Jesus Name, Amen!.

Note: Click on link to listen to a wonderful praise song by Christian artist Matt Redman

http://youtu.be/7Qp11X6LKYY