Monday, November 25, 2013

Seek God In Your Decisions

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

So here we are getting closer to Thanksgiving and God has put on my heart to ask are we seeking Him in our decisions?  Do we pray about things or do we just react based on our own emotions, reasoning, thoughts or plans?  We are just His creation...shouldn't we be seeking what He wants us to do in a given situation?


Psalm 25:9
He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.


 Proverbs 2:6-9
For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.


Psalm 25:12-
Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose.


  John 16:13
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.


Philippians 2:13
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure


James 1:5
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.


Jeremiah 29:11 -
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.


Proverbs 16:9-
The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.



So based on the Bible verses above He is looking to lead us but we must also be humble, trust God, acknowledge Him, seek wisdom, let Him guide us, direct us and He will put us on the path He has for us.  It is so easy to reason something in your head and not seek God.  Often we don't think we need His help unless we get into a real jam.  Then we humble ourselves and cry out to Him with all we have.  Wouldn't it be less painful and more wise to seek Him from the beginning?  James 1:5 says above that God will give wisdom if we ask for it.

Now let's seek God in our decisions, trials and all that we are going through.  We don't want to learn the hard way so let's do it God's way.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

I can't go there but.....

The tragedy in the Philippines has really grabbed my attention.  The people there have lost homes, family members, basics like food, and clean water.  The emotional toll(lack of hope) has to be heart breaking.  Stepping over bodies, struggling to get the help and supplies they need are things that aren't going away.  So what can we do?

1.  Even if we can't go over there we can always pray.  God hears our prayers and He knows their needs. 
2.  We can send money.  There are plenty of organizations at work over there.  We can help.
3.  Help someone else go who has the opportunity.

Keep in mind just because you can't physically go there doesn't mean you can't help.  I can't go over to Africa and dig wells but I can send money to help those who do.  We can expect to be blessed for doing so.  That shouldn't be our motivation but it can help when we doubt we are making an impact.  It will also help us take our focus off ourselves.  We can't live our entire life just worrying about us.  There are plenty of people out there looking for help that you could provide.  Sometimes it's just a conversation with someone who is feeling down.  It might be that you can make a meal for someone who is having physical issues or just out of the hospital.  Maybe you could help take care of the yard of someone who is elderly.  God can move in mighty ways in our lives to bless others if we just make time.

Lets look at some examples from the bible about helping others.

Hebrews 13:16 ESV / 

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Philippians 2:4 ESV / 

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Luke 6:38 ESV / 

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

1 John 3:17 ESV / 

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Matthew 25:35-40 ESV / 

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ...

James 2:14-17 ESV / 

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Galatians 6:2 ESV / 

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

John 15:12 ESV / 

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Matthew 5:16 ESV /

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Proverbs 19:17 ESV / 

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

Proverbs 22:9 ESV / 

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

So now it's not just me saying this but God.  Please take the time today to take your eyes off you and your problems and focus on what you can do to help someone else.