"I Can't Make It"

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust". 2 Peter 1:4

Do you ever get so physically tired that you just don't think you can make it out of bed?  You just don't think you have the strength or energy to get up?  That was how my morning started-- it was hard to get out of bed.  That's such a simple thing but it often seems major.  But what about situations in life that really are major and make you say, "I just don't think I can make it"?

Perhaps you are dealing with a rebellious or wayward child, and you don't think you are going to make it.  Perhaps grief is surrounding you and you don't think you are going to make it.  Maybe you are dealing with a disease or illness that keeps holding you back and you don't think you are going to make it.  Perhaps you are a caregiver to a spouse, a parent, a child or someone else and you are so exhausted that you don't think you are going to make it.  You might be on a job that is demanding more out of you than you have to give and you don't think you are going to make it.  Or you might be weighed down with financial debt, and you don't think you are going to make it.  Perhaps you are dealing with some situation other than what I have named, and you just don't think you are going to make it through it.  It seems more than you can handle or bear.  If so, I have good news for you.  There is hope.  It is found in the promises of God.

The Lord promised to give us strength in weakness.  Provision in lack.  Joy for mourning.  Praise for heaviness.  Help in trouble.  Guidance in darkness.  Peace in confusion.  His presence in loneliness.  Comfort in sorrow.  A word of wisdom when you don't know what to do.  Grace for everything else.  His promises are for you.  Stand upon them. Hide them in your heart.  Take hold of them.  He has made you a promise that you will make it if you grab hold to Him and HIs promises. 

Have a great day.  When you don't think you can make it, God's promises say you can make it through Him.  

"The Report"

"While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.  But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole".  Luke 8:49,50

Jesus was on His way to Jairus's house because his daughter was very ill and He was going to heal her.  On the way Jairus received word that his daughter had died.  Upon hearing that report Jesus spoke another word to Jairus-- "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole".

At that point Jairus had to make a choice, either believe the report of the messenger or the report of Jesus.  One was devastating, the other gave hope.  One was from a man, the other was from the Son of God.  One was based on sight, the other was based on faith.  Jairus chose to believe Jesus and his daughter was brought back to life. 

Life is full of "reports".  The question is, "Which ones will you believe?".  Had Jesus not spoken to Jairus, he would have believed the report of the man, and he should have because that was the only report he had.  But now he had two to choose from.  If the Lord has truly spoken to you about a situation then you too have a choice to make.  Will you believe the report of the situation or the report of the Lord?  Will you believe what the situation is saying to you or what the Lord is saying to you?  I am not talking about believing in "hope-so" (you hope this is the will of the Lord).  I am not talking about assumption (assuming this is the will of the Lord).  I am not talking about just pulling out a scripture that fits and standing on it (thinking God will back it up).  I am talking about truly hearing from the Lord like Jairus did.  When you do, then you must make a choice as to which one you will believe.

Have a great day.  Who's report will you believe? 

"Fixing The Fixer"

"And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you".  1 Thessalonians 4:11

 When the Lord laid this scripture on my heart to share this morning, I knew it was for me if for no one else.  It is not always easy to do-- be quiet, tend to your own business, do your own work-- especially when you are a "fixer". 

When you see things that are wrong, when you have a "better" way of doing it, when you have gone through it yourself, when you are more versed on what the scriptures say about it, when you have a heart to help, when you want to make it easier for other people, when you can see the situation more clearly, you can't help but want to say something or do something to remedy it-- it is hard not to do it.

This word this morning is two-fold:  First, it is an instruction.  Stop giving your opinion and telling others what to do unless they ask for the help or advice-- keep your mouth off of it.  Tend to, and mind, your own business unless they want you involved-- or the Holy Spirit prompts you to do something-- keep your nose out of it. 

Second, this is a freeing message.  The Lord wants to free you from thinking you always have to "do something".  It is freeing to know that I don't have to right every wrong, correct every mistake, instruct every move, point out every fault and always be pointing to the right direction.  It is freeing to know it is not my place to live someone else's life for them.  I am not responsible for them or their decisions.  I am responsible for me-- to do my own work and take care of my own business.  When I do that, I will be more productive in the things that the Lord has called me to do. 

Am I saying there is never a time to help counsel or be involved? No, but not if it isn't wanted.  And not if I think I can make it or the person different.  That isn't my business, it's God's.  Sometimes we are trying to do something that only God can do and in doing so we take it out of His hands.  It is His place to fix it and not mine.  I can promise you, it is better to leave it in His hands and let Him do what needs to be done--- in my own life and the life of someone else.

Have a great day.  You don't always have to be fixing something or someone.
 

"Your Tomorrow And Today"

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus".  Philippians 4:19

Your tomorrows are not hid from God.  Yesterday He saw your tomorrow which has now become today.  He sees past time and distance.  He sees the future before it becomes the present and then the past. 

Since He sees all-- even what is not yet-- He can make provision for what lies ahead and have it waiting for you when it arrives.  He did that where our salvation is concerned.  He saw into the future that Adam would disobey Him and eat of the tree that He had commanded him not to eat of.  He saw the sin that would come as a result.  He saw our separation from Him because of the sin.  He saw all this before He even laid the foundation of the world.  He saw it before He ever said, "Let there be light".  Because He saw it before it happened, He made a provision for it.  He predetermined to give His One and Only Son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins.

Since He sees all, when He created the world, He waited and created man on the last day.  On the first five days He created everything that mankind would need to be able to live, then He made man. 

The Lord has not changed.  He is still seeing ahead.  He is still making provision for us.  He saw yesterday, last week, last month, last year, even before you were born, what you would need today, and He has already made the provision for it.  So, whatever you need today, whether it is of a spiritual, financial, physical, mental or relational nature, He already has it waiting for you.  So don't be anxious.  Don't be fearful.  Don't be confused.  Don't be discouraged.  He already saw it and has already provided for it.

Have a great day.  God sees all your tomorrows before they become today and has made provision for every one of them.

Scripture reference:
Revelation 13:8
Genesis 1

"Imperfect Person"

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty".  1 Corinthians 1:17

When you are listening to some ministers, do you ever wonder how they can hear the Lord so clearly about certain subjects, be so anointed, have amazing Bible knowledge, speak with great authority and are used mightily by the Lord yet they "miss it" in some areas.  In those areas they seem to lack any understanding or discernment.  How is it that they can be so right in some ways and so wrong in others and the Lord still use them?  It is because the Lord doesn't use "perfect" vessels. He doesn't use "perfect" people to do His work.  He doesn't use "perfect" people to speak through.   

The Bible tells us that the Lord uses "weak and foolish" things.  When we come into a relationship with Him, we don't automatically become perfect.  We start a process.  We start a process of growth and transformation.  It begins at the moment of the new birth and continues on throughout the rest of our lives. 

The Lord sees our hearts.  He sees our desire for Him.  He sees our availability.  Therefore, He begins at that point to use us.  He doesn't wait until we become perfect or even fully mature.  (If He did, He would find no one to do His work.)  He uses us just as we are and in the meantime, He keeps working on us to "perfect what concerns us". 

Being weak and foolish doesn't exempt us from being used by the Lord.  Being imperfect doesn't exempt us.  Being frail and human doesn't exempt us.  The fact that we don't know everything and haven't "arrived" doesn't exempt us.  He uses our willingness and through it shows His exceeding great glory.  It is through our imperfection that the excellency of His power is seen--- not us.

Have a great day.  The Lord doesn't wait for us to become perfect before He uses us in His work.  He still uses us in our imperfect state.  

Scripture reference:
2 Corinthians 4:7
Psalm 138:8