Relationships “Knitted by God”
— Read on timeoutwithjesus.com/2020/05/11/relationships-knitted-by-god/
Tag: Unity
On my knees
Praise the Lord!!! My heart is full of thankfulness and Praises! God is Love. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:1 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.136.1.ESV
I delight in God’s ways for my life. I desire His heart desire that no one would be lost but all people would fully know God’s love for them and receive the gift of salvation through God’s one and only Son Jesus!
I remember the day my husband and I felt stuck in 2004 after my fourth child was born! On our knees we prayed asking God to teach us His ways, so we can teach our children! “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” Psalm 86:11-13 ESV
We did not know how to do this on our own. We knew we loved Jesus and listened to Scripture filled music but knew it wasn’t enough! We wanted to follow God’s ways but we were surrounded with the wrong ways and examples. I’m so thankful with all my heart for God’s Love, Mercy, Grace, and His Faithfulness! As I read Scripture today, Jeremiah 29:13 NIV, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” I remember singing praises everyday listening to scripture in songs and hymns and praying. As I continue to read the Bible, I didn’t realize at the time when I was younger I was meditating on God’s words day and night and even my children did too! I hungered and thirst for more of God daily as His word filled my heart and mind because they were in each song. “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.”
Psalm 63:1-4 ESV
Soon our prayers led us to our church family today! I’m thankful for our sisters and brothers in Christ and how all of us are rooted and established in God’s love grow together, where God Spiritually knitting all of us together all over the world in Unity giving God endless Praise forever! Amen!
I will soon start again writing my journey. So many of my friends have said I need to write. I’ve stopped for awhile but God has placed it on my heart to start. I pray God guide me in the process. God Bless all of you! ❤️
Psalm 86:1-17 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.86.1-17.ESV
Psalm 63:1-11 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.63.1-11.ESV
One of the Song I listened too around 2004. Desert Rose
Song by White Heart
Lost in a windswept land
In the world of shifting sand
A fragile flower stands apart
There in that barren ground
Feel like the only one
Tryin’ to serve You with all your heart
And you wonder, wonder
Can ya last much longer?
This cloud you are under
Will it cover you?
Desert Rose (Desert Rose)
Dontcha worry, don’t be lonely
Heaven knows, Heaven knows
In a dry and weary land a flower grows
His Desert Rose
His Desert Rose
Sometimes holiness can seem like emptiness
When ya feel the whole world’s laughin’ eyes
If it’s a lonely day, know your on the Father’s wave
He will hear you when ya cry
And He will hold you, hold you
Your Father will hold you
He will love you, love you
For the things ya do
Desert Rose (Desert Rose)
Dontcha worry, don’t be lonely
Heaven knows, Heaven knows
In a dry and weary land a flower grows
His Desert Rose
His Desert Rose
His Desert Rose
Dontcha worry, don’t be lonely
Heaven knows, Heaven knows
In a dry and weary land a flower grows
His Desert Rose
His Desert Rose
Don’t be lonely, don’t be lonely
(Desert Rose)
Dontcha worry
(Desert Rose)
Dontcha know He’ll be with you?
(Heaven knows, Heaven knows)
He will hold your fragile heart
O Desert Rose
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Billy Smiley / Mark Gersmehl / Rick Florian
Which Way Do I Go? “Race”
Every person in the world has their own race to run in life! When I was in high school, I had a difficult time with direction and worse I needed glasses too, but didn’t know it yet! One day, I was running this most awesome race in the woods! So many colors and the air was filled with the fragrance of fall! We all lined up to run our race and suddenly a shot signaled us to go! I took off with all my heart and just kept going, I didn’t look back leaving everyone behind! I was excited because Fall is my favorite time of the year and the best part for me, the rain! I loved running in the rain!! I was so far ahead! It was quiet, peaceful and so beautiful! Finally, I realized, I didn’t know which path to take! I had to make a choice, do I just keep going not knowing where I was going or slow down and ask! There was no one around me and it was so quiet! I made the decision to slow down and ask the person behind me! She was surprised and could have lied to me too! I wanted to finish my race but I couldn’t do it alone and I needed help! I could not see the lines marked out for me and was completely depending on the person behind me! She pointed the way as I followed because I couldn’t see with the lines especially with all the rain. We can’t see the path marked for us in our life but we can trust God who is the one who marked it for us! I remain confident in what Jesus told me to do that is clearly marked out to share the good news about Jesus wherever I go! Matthew 28:16-20 NIV, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Through this experience, I learned something about following! We all follow something or someone and to be a good follower means you either will go the right way or the wrong way depending on who you chose to follow! As we live our life, we must pray and pray for each other as we seek God first and His righteousness while we trust God in all parts of our life! We can remain confident Jesus will be with us and never leave us! Romans 12:2 NIV, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” There are two choices, either we will follow the world (conform) or God (transformed by the renewing of your mind) Our foundation is our starting block for our spiritual race and we must surround ourselves with people who will be your guard rails pointing you back to Jesus! We need our abiding relationship with Jesus, to know which way to go and that means we need a relationship with our sisters and brothers in Christ to help us, encourage, support, remind, spur us on, and point out our blind spots! God will surround you with people in your life at the right time, a cloud of witness! Hebrews 12:1 NIV, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” The things that hinder us could be pride by thinking we know best or not willing to listen to the wisdom God places in our life!
The starting block matters in our spiritual race! It’s starts with a relationship with Jesus, God’s one and only Son! God’s perfect gift for all of us! James 1:17-18 NIV, “17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” The world patterns are like the sinking sand, changing wind patterns, and moving shadows which will lead you astray, lost and eventually alone! If we don’t have a solid foundation, we will follow anything that benefits us during that time or phase in life we are going through! It would be like chasing the wind or following shadows! It didn’t make sense to my cross country coach when I asked the second place person where to go, and it won’t make sense to people who don’t know God’s love yet! There is no competition in the body of Christ!
When we chose to be transformed my the renewing of our minds, we chose to follow Jesus example filling ourselves up with His living words! Our race is marked out for us and it’s not a race to be in competition with each other because we are all individuals made in God’s image to do good works planned for us to do in advance! We are all apart of the body of Christ United with our sister and brothers! My coach only saw from the outside and didn’t know what was going on within the individual race we were running! We have to be guarded by truth from God’s living words from the Bible to not assume what we think we see in other peoples life or heard! We are instead supposed to love the way God loves, encourage, and support while we spurs each other on to love and good deeds! Life can get hard but don’t give up and don’t give up on each other including yourself! The battle isn’t against flesh and blood! We glorify God when we Unify together in Jesus by loving the way He loves, and forgive the way He forgives by not holding records of wrong! God’s love is never ending! John 14:27 NIV, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”
Galatians 6:9 NIV
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.
Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,
but encouraging one another—
and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 11:8 NIV,
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
and today and forever.”
Ephesians 6:10-17 NIV,
“10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Philippians 4:4-9 NIV,
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.And the God of peace will be with you.
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”
Acts 10:34-35 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/act.10.34-35.NIV
All we can be for YOU!
The world’s ways can consume us like the suffocating world of smoke from the fires around us! It’s like pressing into the glass of your ice water in hope to get a breath of fresh air while escaping the heat holding your glass. How do we get a breath of fresh air in a world filled with so many different ways to find relief from the smoke? The smoke is like all the pressure around us from all sides telling you to do this, think this, run from that! It blinds you and even distorted what is right in front of you! How do we live in a world full of distractions that keep us on the purpose God has for us to do in the consuming smoke around us? We are called to live a life set apart from the ways of the world. John 15:19 NIV, “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Instead of searching wisdom through the internet, we need to be searching for God’s wisdom in the Bible!
How do we react when pressure in life is like wearing a mask in the heat while the air is filled with smoke? Do we stop and Pray and run to scripture (Bible) to find and match up what going on with what God says we should do or go with what feels right and even search for it in the internet? There so much controversy over who thinks what is right or wrong! The only solid truth that we can stand firm on comes from the Bible! We need to remember and be reminded! “Remember, your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:7-8). God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
We are seed planters everywhere we go either good or bad! How we handle pressure in this world is an opportunity to plant seeds to those who don’t know God’s love yet or water the seeds already there! We have an influence wherever we go and each day we choose who we will we serve. You can only choose one, because you can’t serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other. Matthew 6:24 NIV, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” What kind of seeds do we sow? The seed you plant comes from the master you serve, God or money (world) What you put into your mind comes out of your heart and it effects your choices. Do we sow in The Spirit, by loving God and everyone with love and respect or the flesh, love when you feel like it at the time or because you know your suppose to love. 1 John 4:18 NIV, We love because he first loved us. It is impossible to love without God because it’s His love in us that make it possible to love the way He loves. You cannot give someone a drink of fresh water when your container is empty. Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world,but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Father God, praying that we will be all You called us to be for your Will to be done on earth as it is in heaven for your Glory! Praying for for Unity as all our sisters and brothers in Christ cling to your ways and hold onto truth according to your living word in the Bible! As all, sisters and brothers, everywhere gather in prayer for one another be Unified in you, living for your purpose for our lives in everything we do to further your Kingdom. I meditate on your living words all throughout the day, it refreshens me (a breath of fresh air) way down deep in my soul, as “we are hard pressed from each side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV). I keep my eyes on you, Jesus who is the Author and perfector of my faith who has good planned! I trust everything you said in the Bible, that you want us to have an abundant life in you! All scripture is from your breathe! I will not give up on doing what is good because I trust in your plan and will drop my ways for only your ways! I will not overlook the urgency you put in me and all of us, to share the Good News about Jesus, your one and only Son who came to save all people, once and for all because you love all and want no one to perish but have life in you! I will fix my eyes on you even if things like when I slipped of the counter in the process of moving last year made it difficult to move around. I will lean heavily on you because I desperately need you to guide me day and night! As you fill me with your strength and not my own, I am able to continue and will never give up! Praying with All my heart, that I become lesser (i) as YOU become more in me to further your Kingdom Come forever with you in heaven!“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV)
Psalms 1:1-6 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.1.1-6.NIV
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2co.4.7-12.NIV
“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.”
Romans 6:5-10 NIV
https://romans.bible/romans-6-8
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/heb.12.1-3.NIV
United Together!
God amazes me everyday of all His wonders! His design is perfect and beautiful! Even in the storms you can see how he works everything together. We are surrounded by God’s glory everywhere we go! All we have to do you search for Him! He makes Himself known everywhere and in everything! Romans 1:20 NIV, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” God shows us Spiritual lessons everywhere! When you search for God, you will find Him in all parts of your day! Jeremiah 28:13 NIV, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Today the trees are swaying back and forth blown by wind! It reminded me in scripture how even the trees will sing for joy! (Psalm 96:9-13)
Early this morning, my son said let’s watch the window TV! During our power outage, we watched the trees bend back and forth! During the wind storm, I could see how the tress supported each other as each powerful gust of wind moved from all directions! The strong and healthy trees seem stronger together as each tree grew toward the light! The trees that stood alone, lost a lot of branches and even went down! We are stronger together abiding In Jesus! This reminded me that Jesus Prayed for Unity in the body of Christ for all who will believe! We are stronger together because it’s God’s design! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIV “two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”
We are joined together (United) all over the world called to one hope, one purpose through the power of the one Spirit to share the good news about Jesus. Jesus prayed not only for them but for us and everyone who will believe in the future! He prayed that we all would be one in Him as He is in the father! Jesus prayed for all believers would be United in Him! John 17:20-23 NIV,”My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” When storms come suddenly in the night, we need to remember God has everything under control and all we need to do is be ready and willing to live out our kingdom mindset! 1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. We all need to remain in Jesus and be humble! We need to love each other with a sincere deep love as God spiritually knits us all together in Unity as He knit us together in our mother’s womb! (Psalm 139)
Unity is very important in the body of Christ and it’s so very important as we face each challenge in our day! There is a lot of concern about the President but we have nothing to fear! It’s hard to believe it’s already 2021! Yes, we will be effected this year by the decisions authorities will make, but we will not be consumed by them! God is at work all around us as we use all the gifts and talents that He has given us for his glory and not our own! Becoming less means everything we do is for “His Kingdom” come, His “Will be Done” on earth as it is in heaven! (Matthew 6:10 NIV) We are His hands and feet as we chose to be led by the Holy Spirit! This is a powerful reminder in Daniel 2:20-2:21 NIV “He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded.” However, we all need to be reminded that God has everything under control and has a plan at work that we do not see! We need to stand firm in faith as we live our what God has called us to do! Philippians 1:27 NIV, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” We need to trust God with all of our heart and not depend on our own understanding! God is the one who gives wisdom and understanding! His wisdom and understanding is a solid foundation built on Jesus who is the cornerstone! Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” As God builds us up together, Let us all hold on to Jesus who is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NIV) All things have been made through Him and for Him! (John 1:3 NIV) Jesus is King and He reigns! Let’s pray for each other and for those who don’t know that God loves them! We need to be united together in Jesus!
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 NIV, “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
Psalm 96:9-13 NIV, Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.”
Philippians 1:27 NIV, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,striving together as one for the faith of the gospel”
There is Support “In Unity!”
I love how all through the Bible you can see each story come alive as if it were happening today. I read in Exodus 17:8-13 (NIV), How every time Moses’ hands came down because he got tired, they started to lose the battle! Arron and Hur went to the top of the mountain and noticed Moses was struggling to hold his hands up. They went to support Moses so his hands would remain steady until sunset. They held his hand up! Exodus 17:12-13 ( NIV) “12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.” They were “Unified” working together as one, not overpowering each other. Because they worked together with Moses, they won the battle over the Amalekites with a sword. When our sisters and brothers are struggling in life circumstances, we have an opportunity to use the gifts and talents to help and support them! God never planned for us to handle circumstances in life alone. I noticed they never took the staff from Moses, instead they brought him a stone and put it under him and held up his hands together, Hur on one side and Aaron on the other.
Something new always comes to light every time I read scripture. Two things really stood out to me the most, first they didn’t just watch him struggle hoping everything works out, and second they didn’t just take over the situation by removing the staff from his hands! God is revealing His heart for us as family! We are stronger together then we are alone. We can keep going when life is hard as we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God! He will lift us up! All Through scripture we can see how everything fits perfectly together and how God designed us to be in relationship! Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 (NIV) “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
God will supply you everything you need to accomplish what He has given you to do. Just when you feel like you’re not able to hold on any longer, God will bring in a sister who speaks “life” in your life, or a brother who encourages your husband and sons! Just being present and available speaks more than words can say! Sometime the weight of the world can leave you speechless and God will bring in those people who will pull up a stone to sit on or a tool to fix your truck! Aaron and Hur didn’t just sit and watch Moses struggle to hold up the staff. They didn’t just sit there waiting to see, like it was a movie, hoping it turns out good for them. They got up and took initiative and did what God intended for them to do. We are His hands and feet. 1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV) “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” We are to use our gifts we have received to serve others. Our purpose isn’t to sit and watch! It’s to do good for God and everyone around us! God moves through us and works in us. God’s purpose for every person using the gift and talents he gave us is for loving God and everyone around us. God’s purpose is beautiful and because we are His masterpiece, all of us are apart of it since the very beginning! We are teaching and leading our children. They are learning from you as you live out what you believe. Living out what God says in scripture about what it looks like to deny yourself for someone else.
God has everything worked out for all of us already! I never knew my van would unexpectedly quit for good, but God did. In advance, God had a vehicle worked out! God is so amazing and even when we can’t see everything, He shows himself in big ways through sisters and brothers in Christ! When you find yourself broken down on the side of the road, a brother in Christ comes along and towes you home before the heat of the sun dehydrates you into dust. The way we lift each other up is using your gifts and talents for God! Acts 4:32 (NIV) “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. It reaches our children at a heart level as hands-on experiences teach the most.They are our future generation and are soaking in our examples from our reactions. They hear your every spoken word but most of all they are imitating your unspoken words (body language). Your children know every expression on your face and know your body language better than words. So, unspoken words are more powerful than the words you say because they speak first! My kids showed me that as they ask me, are you ok? Our actions need to speak as much as our words. My sons saw and experienced what we are supposed to do for each other.
God who is The Great I Am, brought Moses a rock to sit on through Arron and Hur. This represents Jesus is the Rock in which we stand a sure foundation. Also, They held up Moses’ hands until sundown. They came to support and help Moses. God sent them to help Moses accomplish God’s plan for them to win the battle. They didn’t take the staff out of his hands. Instead they supported his hands. We need to know that it is not what I can do on my own, but how we work together to point each other to Jesus! They brought Moses the rock! Jesus is the cornerstone! It is about Unity in the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV) “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” God gave all of us unique abilities and skills to point others to Jesus.
I’m so thankful for our sisters and brothers. God is amazing because we can see His mighty hands at work in unexpected ways. Our younger generation is learning from these life experiences and will begin to notice when a need exists. God shows us through scripture how we are not meant to do life alone! The enemy wants to single us out and isolate us from relationships within the body of Christ. We need to be alert and sober minded by keeping our lamps full, and abide in Jesus! God wants his children to be united in Him! Hebrew 10:23-25 (NIV) “23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. We need to keep spurring each other on to keep going in life and not to give up on doing good for each other especially in hard times! When we workout out salvation with fear and trembling! It means we must pick up our cross all day long, deny ourselves what we think is best by dropping what we think is important and lift up our sister and brother in Christ. It will surprise you on what God says is important and what we think is important. We need God to show us by asking for His will and to give us eyes to see and ears to hear. The world is busy and has so many wonderful things to do and experience. But, what God has for you is beyond our human understanding! We need to live with a Kingdom mindset for God’s glory! When changes in your plans come suddenly, we can Glorify God the Most when we unit together to lift each other up.
“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.” 1 Peter 5:5-9 (NIV) 5In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.” a
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.