Are you a pumpkin?

I came across this beautiful analogy of how God can/will work in us-if we allow..... wanted to share:

A woman was asked by a coworker, 'What is it like to be a Christian?' The coworker replied, 'It is like being a pumpkin.' God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.'   Blessings in your pursuit.......TO

WAIT!

There is a song by Van Halen I like, basically because of the music as I do not subscribe very well to the premise of the title.....'I'll Wait'.  We live in an instant gratification society and have been de-programmed to some of humanities basic emotions.  Waiting/patience is not an acceptable quality in many of life's activities, nor is it a commonality.  However, why as Bible believing Christians do we struggle so much with this discipline? We are told in scripture that waiting/endurance develops perseverance and maturity (see James 1:2-5 and 1:12).
Scripture is filled with examples to 'wait on the Lord'-being patient and trusting in God our creator.  The following is a list of some passages, I encourage you to reflect on:  Psalm 27:14, 33:20, 37:7, 40:1; Prov. 20:22; Lam. 3:26; Heb. 10:23; Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Cor. 6:4; James 5:7; and Jude 1;21.
My guess is that in this world we will struggle with this to varying degrees during our lifetime.  The challenge is to seek God first, focus on the Spirit, trusting in Him and wait for His promises and plans to be fulfilled.  Blessings in your pursuit.......TO

Perspective Points Exam

Do we view difficult situations/issues through the lens of God’s Word? If yes, we will not be overwhelmed. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Are we thankful for the trials that humbly force us to our knees….seeking God’s help?   Do not wallow in despair, but turn any grumbling into gratitude/thankfulness.  (1 Peter 4:12-13, James 1:2-5)

Can we find good in the imponderables of this life?  While we usually struggle with this promise, God does work good through the bad.  (Jeremiah 29:11)

Perspective points are defined as a comparative analysis of the difficulties verses the blessings (lessons learned) of life's trials.  These reflections can allow us to find those simplistic, often taken for granted,  blessings from such challenges.  The true test of Christ-like perspective points will provide great value from our difficult experiences.  God can nurture, soothe, comfort, and be our refuge.  The result will be a heart cultivated with thankfulness for a caring and loving Creator.  In Duet. 5:12-15, Moses, as he delivers the Ten Commandments instructed  the Israelites to keep perspective through a day of rest/reflection/remembrance……the Sabbath.  Do we take the time necessary and required to put away the grind of daily life and seek godly perspectives?  If not I challenge you to begin.  While it will not take away the hurt of our trials (nor diminish them), God will give us the strength to endure.  Blessings in your pursuit…….TO

Shadow

Romans 8:6, "The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

One can only see their shadow when turned away from the light. Turning back toward the light, no longer can this shadow be seen-at least by you.  A shadow is created  by blocking the light.....a natural fact.  The same can be said regarding the shadow of doubt. When we focus on ourselves and how inadequate we feel, or what others are thinking about us, we cast a shadow of doubt in our minds and block the light of God's Truth in our hearts. We were created to live in the Light, by focusing on what God thinks about us instead of ourselves/others.  John 8:12- When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life".  Let's encourage one another to always look to the Light-casting aside our shadows of doubt, and be Jesus centered-walking in the light, not obstructing, nor turning our backs from the Light Source--God!   Blessings in your pursuit…….TO

Dreary to Hopeful

It’s easy to look at current issues that the world faces(or personally) and think of doom and gloom…e.g. economy, decaying morality, families dividing, etc.  God looks beyond the NOW and has prepared a future of HOPE.  We must trust that our Almighty God is in control and does have the power to reverse, change, restore, revive and renew.  However, I believe we have a key contribution….obedience.   That will not exempt us from trials, in fact, we may well face more than we think we should.  We can easily get lost in the NOW.  We need to look past these growth opportunities and focus on God’s promises-one of which is a HOPEFUL future after this earthly life.  Look at the following Biblical examples of dreary life circumstances and the future fulfillment of promises:

Job:  heavy personal loss—bountiful blessings

Joseph:  slavery—second in command of Egypt

Ruth:  widowed, lonely, barren—lineage of our King

Lazarus:  grave—new life

David:  adultery/weakness—great kingdom, an example of a genuine repentant heart

Saul:  persecution—preaching Christ

Sarai/Sarah:  pride and doubt—birth of Isaac

Esther:  orphaned—saved a nation

Rahab:  prostitution—sheltering spies

Peter:  denial—preaching Christ to many

Moses:  lacking confidence in personal abilities—leading God’s people

Yes, God uses trials/challenges to mold us if we allow, believe, trust, and seek Him.  He uses ordinary people for extraordinary results.  Blessings in your pursuit…….TO

 

Desert's

Nope, not ‘desserts’, which I for one am prone to partake of frequently, but ‘deserts’.   Spiritual ‘deserts’ are times of life’s trials that occur between God’s promises and the ‘promise lands’.  To receive a promise, one must follow a plan obediently.  Promises/rewards can pertain to losing weight, obtaining a degree, sports achievements, esteemed career positions, even fighting Satan/sin.  When we do not faithfully follow, we face undesirable consequences/lack of reaching the desired ‘promise lands’.  The Israelites provide invaluable examples of losing focus/being disobedient.  Their ‘deserts’:   being enslaved to Egypt for 400 years and wandering literally in the desert for 40 years.  Human inclination is to move quickly through the trials/pains……those ‘deserts’, and lounge abundantly in those desired good times/’promise lands’.  However, the ‘deserts’ teach us priceless lessons........character builders- such as trust, patience, obedience, discipline, a contrite heart, to seek God first.  These times of reflection can provide much growth in our faith and to draw nearer to our God-exactly where he wants us, because that is ultimately what is best for us.  We can more clearly realize our dependence on God and His great love for us.  This can only come from choosing to seek and follow God through the pains-‘deserts’.  Then, in His time, we can joyously embrace those ‘promised lands’/blessings He provides.  Let’s encourage one another to allow the ‘deserts’ to mold and not defeat us.  To lean on God’s love and promises through complete submission.  Romans 4:20-21, Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,  being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.  Blessings in your pursuit…….TO

Avoid through the 'Voids'

Life is great and a blessing.  Even so, there will come those times in our lives when there are voids-times characterized with loneliness, doubts,, fears, pain, tears, sadness….perhaps  even depression.  I have recently experienced the most unexpected void in my life.  A difficult time personally and spiritually, yet a time that has persevered through God’s love into immeasurable growth in my faith walk. It is sometimes tempting, as Satan feeds us lies, to turn from our God and not to seek Him through His Word and other Christians.  I was blessed to have a solid foundation of faith in which to cling.  This included family and friends.   I even moved away during this time, God and the Bible quickly became my source out of necessity.  I thank God He empowered me to look to Him to fill this void  and not seek out worldliness………. and dismiss the promises from our God. He does not guarantee all things will work out  the way we believe to be best-mine did not, and while it hurts, I progress towards a stronger trust and faith that His plan is best and will be good….in His time.  Of course this has and continues to be challenging…..I will never have it figured out.  I have learned this should not be the focus, yet it seems a natural to fall into getting the 'why' answers.  It's fine to question God, though we cannot figure out His wisdom and the trials He allows us to endure.  The question is…..do I trust Him?  If so, he will see me through if my focus is upward.  If I do not believe His way are best, then I need to seek Him-----Avoid the present ‘voids’ and  get to that trusting relationship.  Blessings in your pursuit…….TO