Majority

When all I see is beyond me, whatever I alone bring to the table can only be insufficient, God is my sufficiency. I am fortified by His presence with and in me. It is certain peace and salve to my soul to know that God is in control even in His making of me, a place He chooses to dwell. As the pastor said "God and me are a majority"! Grateful!

Faith for your season

Our pastor in his message today, 'Faith for the Season', mentioned the movie 'The Nativity'. He reminded us the perspective the movie brings from Joseph's point of view - and the strength and cost that was involved in his stand. I too encourage anyone who hasn't seen it to view this movie this Christmas season and to see it again even. It would be especially wonderful to make it part of Christmas Eve activities.

I mention the Nativity in 'Pearlz from Shelz':

The Nativity Story - new Christmas family film night tradition

The Nativity Story

but I bring it up again because the sermon brought home what it takes to stand up in these days and times - the pastor reminded us that the circumstances Joseph accepted took a great leap of faith, faith that could only come from trusting God and humble obedience.

I don't know what your season of circumstances are or whether they are more profoundly absurd than Joseph's, but as the Pastor reminded us today, God still speaks to us, still loves us - His plan more than likely is not the easy way out, but it is the way!

If you get a chance make the Christmas story real in your memory, see 'The Nativity'.

Merry Christmas!

unprofitable servant

you can't just do nothing! It's right there in the Word - the parable of the talents. I was reminded tonight, reading Beth Moore's book on Fruits of the Spirit. The Lord's remark's to the 'dug in' servant were scathing. Called Him and 'unprofitable servant'. The other two had rewards coming; Heavenly rewards. This one did not - in no uncertain terms. Have we been given things from the Lord - those gifts He gives - and done 'nothing' with them. Have we hid them fearing some outcome of our efforts. He has purposed us with 'good works'; are we otherwise occupied? It was food for thought for me and, so like God, a reminder of Sunday's message 'Answering the Call'. Ever get a call from someone you know, and you don't feel like talkin' to them just then - maybe tired, maybe not up to what you suspect the call is about. I'm guilty! What Calls aren't we Answering ... (wishing to just bury the ringing so it can't be heard). If we are unprofitable ... if we don't answer ... we won't be hearing 'Well done though good and faithful servant!

Whole Heartedness

One of the birthday gifts from the husband was The Sacred Romance workbook. Quickly I recognized I needed the book as well to get the totality of what is provided. Clearly once started, I realized the Spirit whispered to my husband as one of the means of getting my attention (the book talks about that effort, right there in the beginning). If you had heard the husband's sermon this past Sunday, this was a splash that began ripples, rings still spreading. It seems one could call this work, the heart whisperer. I'll be journaling this journey as, indeed, it is one I need to take and, I believe, one that needs be shared. Thank you my beloved Boaz. Thank you Lord for your persistent love and grace.

In 2009, Looking Forward ...

Looking forward ... was the title of Sunday's sermon; delivered by Reggie Norman. Scriptures were Exodus 32:1-8; Romans 8:28; and Romans 5. Thoughts I had... Choices - Something new or something proven. One might automatically chose proven; but proven what? reliable, good, fruitful? or faulty, to have pitfalls, uncertain? These are additional questions that must be answered. If the latter, new might be better than proven and the choice to make. but otherwise, new might have nothing to offer, so why chose it over what has held true time after time. God is faithful through all generations, and His mercies are new every morning. Choose God. Points to consider in looking forward:

• where have you been
• where are you right now (where do you fit in all of this?)
• do a 360 (the above, while looking forward), similar to driving a car - you can't just look ahead. One must keep what is behind and on the sides as well as what lies ahead in focus as one moves forward.

There was a reference to 'stopping living' in covering the point of keeping hope alive. It occurred to me that to stop living is synonymous with 'starting to die'. That can be applied in a secular and spiritual sense. When you stop living you start dying. If you don't move forward, you automatically slip back because time does not stand still. Marking time is an exercise of letting time slip away. Don't mistake standing still with preparation. Preparation is progress. I imagine the Hebrews waiting for the cloud to move, doing all that is necessary to be ready to 'head out' when that cloud moved. Spending time with God to hear him speak is also preparation, commensurate with getting that panoramic view necessary in forward travel. Blinders, I believe, were provided to horses, so as not to be blind-sided by what frightened them. The Word was provided to us so we could move without fear and be ready for what we will encounter. Reading the manual allows us to operate life optimally and not do something incorrectly in the process. Therein lies our hope. We don't have to operate in darkness. God is with us. Bring hope to someone else, we were told in the sermon. It was a good word for the New Year and a good follow up to his last sermon.