Test the Lord

I recently found myself testing the Lord... Now you might be thinking about the scripture in Deuteronomy 6:16 which says, "Do not test the Lord your God..."  However there is one instance the Lord does tell us to test him and that is in Malachi 3:10, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."  

To make a long story short a couple months ago I found myself wrestling with the Lord over "being still" and not pursuing a job.  Without my income we fall significantly short of budget and I knew financially I could not afford to stay home and not work.  However, I knew I had to be obedient to the Lord.  Then this verse became very relevant to me.  

Matthew 6:24-33 "No one can serve two masters.  For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.  25So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes.  Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing?  26Look at the birds.  They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them.  And you are far more valuable to him than they are.  27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  Of course not.  28And why worry about your clothes?  Look at the lilies and how they grow.  They don't work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  30And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers  that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you?  You have so little faith!  31So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing.  32Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things?  Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, 33and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.  

I was working on the budget today and to my surprise we had more in our account than we should have not to mention we were under budget with an abundance to spare.  I've trusted and obeyed and God provided/blessed above and beyond.

Mexico

Went to Mexico with Master's to train some youth kids in skits and dramas for street ministry.  Then we had a youth service with them, Kourtni (2nd year MC student) spoke from her heart on Jeremiah 29:11.  She did an amazing job communicating, especially having a language barrier. Micah, as always, did a good job translating.   

I was encouraged at the enthusiasm of the youth from Mexico, their quick ability to learn, and their engagement in service.  One student really stuck out to me in particular.  As I watched him the Lord showed me that he had a call on his life and that he would impact a new generation for the Kingdom of God.  Like David served his generation according to the will of God (Acts 13:36), may this young man carry out the vision to fulfill his life purpose for this generation.  

We ate amazing greasy tacos on the street to top off our night.  

God Wants an Invitation

Ever feel like a "nobody", that God has so many millions of people to look out for that in comparison with some of them, your problems seem so petty?  Good news - He can care for all of us at the same time!  If Satan constantly attacks our minds, how else can we fortify ourselves? We fight back - but willpower alone won't work.  Our major weapon is to cry out to the Lord in humility asking Him to strengthen us.   Our heavenly Father wants to intervene and help us, but He waits for an invitation to get involved.  "You do not have, because you do not ask." (James 4:2)  It's as if God watches us struggle and allows us to become frustrated and angry.  We are too independent, and we experience a lot of unnecessary frustration simply because we try to do things without God's help.  But as soon as we sincerely ask for help, the Spirit comes to our rescue.

The Ever-Increasing Demands of Faith/David Wilkerson

Is there ever a point in our walk with God when we become so trusting, so proven faithful through the years of testing, that we can expect a respite from spiritual warfare?  Is there ever a vacation from troubles, a time when we can relax free of trials?  Does a lifetime of meeting faith's demands earn us a furlough from the battle? Is it possible to have nothing left to prove, to reach a point in faith where a test is no longer necessary?

The answer, according to Scripture, is no.  In fact, the opposite is true; the trials of the faithful increasingly become more severe and troublesome.  The Bible bears this out again and again, from the Old Testament to the New.  

This question enters the minds of many godly people about their own faithful lives:  "Lord, you know my heart.  I have trusted you through years of excruciating trials and testings.  You and I both know I will trust you no matter what I face in life.  So what are you after? What is this awful trial about?"  I have two responses to this question, both drawn from what I see in Scripture.

1. The first reason for such continual testing is well known to most Christians.  That is, the life of faith continually demonstrates humankind's need for the Lord in all things.  Simply put, we never reach a point of not needing God.  The idea of a "furlough from trials" presumes a "furlough from need."  And there will never be a time when our needs are met by our circumstances.  The Lord is our source, our all in all.  
2. I am convinced an additional reason beyond our ever-increasing afflictions - our trials that demand greater faith - go far beyond anything having to do with this world.  From what I read in Scripture, God's elect are being prepared for ministries in glory.  And our trials today are meant to bring victories having to do with the Lord's purposes in eternity.  

The battle you're enduring now is not about this world, not about the flesh, not about the devil. Rather, the warfare you're facing is preparation for your eternal service in glory.  You are being prepared for service on the other side.

To view the complete article please visit the following link:  http://www.worldchallenge.org/node/5308

Th Main Course

If you're anything like me, you enjoy eating.  Ever sit down to a multiple course meal?  It can be quite a journey.  Here in the "valley" the first course might consist of a bright bowl of chips and salsa, otherwise known as the appetizer. Perhaps then a salad, preluding to the main course which is coming...  I'm always in this attitude that "main" is out there, on hold, not now. We hurry through the courses of life in anticipation of what's next only to find ourselves unsatisfied with the current course before us.  I on the other hand tend to long for the course just after main - the dessert.  Yes you heard it right, my palate is completely and utterly vulnerable to the taste of something sweet.  That's my struggle, living for the future.  But to the master chef every course is main - in presentation, in taste, in texture.  To God each course, transition or season in our life is just as important as the next .  He does not view seasons as boring and unfortunate preludes to be rushed through quickly so I can move on to some other season that is more productive or exciting. Main is not behind us.  Nor is main way out ahead of us.  To our God, this course, call it transition, further studies, unexpected illness, financial crisis, grief, or a desert - is as full of potential as any course ever has been and any course ever will be.   

Be Still and Know God

"Have you ever felt overlooked?  Have you ever moved or entered a new environment where no one knew who you were, what you could do or what dreams ignited your soul?  Have you ever crossed the threshold into another season of life, where you shifted from recognition to anonymity, from standing as a leader to sitting as a leader again?  Have you resigned or retired from a position and transitioned from being sought out to left out, celebrated to celebrating others?"

A season of stillness has enveloped me these last few months and I presume will continue to do so until the Lord has brought this season in my life to fruition.  I'm one that's quick to make plans for the next phase, the next event, the next chapter in life.  It's the "plan-ahead, control freak" in me that can't stand the unknown, unfinished, unanswered questions that tend to consume "next". But I have found when a moment to be waited is prematurely interrupted, the results are less than hoped for, therefore I must be still and Know God.  Waiting actually grants us the strength to wait a little longer and not rush God's plans for our lives.