Monday, April 28, 2014

What Is That You Have In Your Hand?





What Is That You Have In Your Hand

This has been running through my heart and thoughts for some time and I felt to put my thoughts on paper so others might be benefited by it, empowered by it.

Many people in the church today can be discouraged because they are not pastors, song leaders, or maybe teachers, or what ever else they have in their sights. But God has shown me that the most important thing we can do is to find out what we have in our hands, and how we are to be good stewards of those very things.

Early on as a Christian I grumbled because my husband didn’t go to church and that put limits on how much I could participate in many things that others had great freedom in. One day I was listening to a sermon on the radio and the speaker spoke about being put in a box. I don’t know what else he spoke, but at that moment I got a revelation about the box I found myself in. God showed me that if I would use every bit of space that was allotted to me fully, He would kick out the walls. I saw that when you put something in a box there is much unused space in there all around the object, all the way out to the furthest corners. That space could be utilized to the fullest, and nothing had to be wasted. What is that you have in your hand? That is the question. Sure you can’t do exactly what you want, but can you find the hidden treasure that lays right at your side. Stop grumbling over what you don’t have, and get a vision for what you do have. All these things flooded my heart by way of revelation. This was a very liberating thing for me. Since then I have learned to be at peace with my boundaries, but also know God will broaden my horizons in His time if I will just be thankful where I am. Hallelujah!

I have found that within my box I have great opportunities for the Kingdom of God. The number one thing I have, that nothing can limit but me, is prayer, intercession, standing in the gap. I can proclaim and declare God’s word over people, churches, cities, nations, and the earth. I can take God’s word and speak it out of my mouth and see changes effected almost immediately at times. Nothing happens without prayer. I can weep over what God weeps over, and rejoice over what He rejoices. I now know that I have my part in the next great move of God in this earth, and it is not an insignificant part, it is a powerful part. Is that prideful, no, it is just a reality. There are countless little trickles of water, like me, that are making up the great river of God that people can swim in. I am privileged to have my part in it. God has shown me that the most important thing that any believer can do is pray, it isn’t a side note, but a framework that under-girds everything that is built for God’s glory and kingdom. This is filling in corners of my box. 


The next thing that God showed me I could do was encourage people. There are people that have nobody to talk to, or those who think they have been forgotten, or forsaken, and God wants us to let them know that He, and we, care about them. I can just say hi to somebody, pray for them, tell them they are going to make it, or that God has a plan for their lives. Only eternity will reveal how far touching someone else's life can reach. The internet, or even Facebook, gives us opportunities to encourage one another without even leaving our homes. Just recently I contacted a friend I had not talked to in a while, she was going through some real rough places, with just a few moments time of letting her know I cared about her she was better. I won’t mention her name, she knows who she is. She is a person who has poured her life out in acts of love to others, sharing her home, food, faith, time, etc. But she was in need of encouragement, and God wanted to give her that, even though she was a long distance away, even using Facebook. Encouragement is not an insignificant thing, it saves lives. Some people are sinking in despair and a word spoken in a timely  manner can turn that person around and give them hope. This is another thing I can do to fill up those empty spaces in my box. 

Hey a blog to share the things God had been teaching me on a daily basis is another great opportunity to fill up those empty spaces.  Maybe something I share will make a difference in a someone's life, be the answer to one of their questions, who knows!

I still have a number of limitations because of my life, but I have found that I am not useless. God can use me to significantly impact people and things around me in just these two ways, and there are many more ways if I keep my eyes open to the possibilities. I know that as I fully use the space allotted to me I will see more vistas open before me. I am keeping my eye upon the Master. I find life so fulfilling. I find myself telling God I must be the most blessed person on the face of the planet because I am so fulfilled. I walk in peace and rest because I know I am in His will. I am not striving for any position. I am just walking and seeing what each new day brings. The steps of a righteous man or woman are ordered of the Lord.

Do not grumble at your lot in life my friends. Paul learned to be content in all situations, why, because he was walking in His light. He knew that his steps were ordered. He used all that he found in his hand to the fullest.

If you are lonely, remember there are those even more lonely. God sets the solitary in families. You can reach out and find treasure in the most walled up places. You don’t have to be alone, be a friend to someone else. Forget you, and you will find you.There are those just waiting for a hug that says they have value, and that they are going to make it. You have this treasure in an earthen vessel, all the glory goes to God, but you and He, and me, are a team.

What is that you have in your hand? Use it to the fullest. 

















Monday, April 21, 2014

Safely Keep That Which Is Entrusted To You






I would like to share this with my church family. I have been 38 years in the Lord and that sort of qualifies me as an older woman, and I am proud of every grey hair I have earned.

But what I want to share is an admonition that we all be very careful with the pieces of other peoples lives that they entrust us with. Before we share things that others have privileged us to know by sharing their hearts most painful secrets, we need to set our mouths like a safe and never share those things without their permission. We need to be good stewards of that which has been entrusted to us. We need to be trustworthy of the hearts of of others. We need to think if their story was our story, and they were sharing it with someone else without our permission, how we would feel about it. God will hold us accountable for passing on information that in no way is ours to pass on. Let us all be good faithful listeners, and good faithful safe-havens for those who are terrified to share their painful pasts  with anybody. Many of their lives depend on what we do with that trust they have bestowed upon us. Just saying.

I love you all and believe that a great revival is coming to worldwide body of Christ, we need to determine now that we will look different than the world around us. We need to only have motives of love. People will come limping into our fellowship, bleeding, dying, aching, and we will have opportunities to share life with them. If we have been those who have shared things entrusted to us in the past, we need to repent and determine we are going to be a different people from now on. It is a great temptation to speak beyond what we are supposed to but:

James 3:2-8
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

I would suggest studying the entire chapter of James 3.

Loose lips sink ships. We do not want out brothers and sisters in the Lord, or anybody else for that matter, to go down. Let us all weigh carefully what we allow to proceed from our mouths. Love covers a multitude of sins. Jesus remembers our sins no more, He binds up our wounds, let us go and do likewise.

I can remember when the healing balm of Gilead washed over me, and I knew I was healed of my past. It was like nothing the world had to offer. The world scoops us up and uses us, and then casts us off, but Jesus never does. He saves to the uttermost. We are called to be like pastor Cameron shared Sunday, little christs. We need to love like He loves. You know, love is a person. He does not give us love, but He is love in us. In order to show love to others we must stay connected to the source. Love big, love faithful, love to the uttermost, and bring your sheaves with you into your Father's kingdom. Amen?