Sell me your birthright!

Scripture
Genesis 25:31 And Jacob said, (to Esau) Sell me this day thy birthright.

Observation
Jacob manipulated Esau into having him sell his birthright. In the same way the devil would have me to give up my birthright in Christ.

Prayer
Lord, I don't want to give in to the traps of Satan and how he tries ever so gradually to get me to doubt my position in you. I am a child of the King! My home is in heaven. I want to not suffer from spiritual amnesia and forget these truths!

Looking Back

Scripture Luke 9:62
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Observation
Christianity is compared to plowing a field. Interesting because plowing is such a labor intensive activity. It definitely isn't a cake walk spiritually, emotionally or physically.

Application
Do I look back on my former life and yearn for ungodly things?

Prayer

Seeds of Life

Scripture
Luke 8:5-15

Observation
God's word is like a seed sewn in the life of people with various types of results.

wayside- They hear the word but the devil takes it away out of their hearts. Their heart was never fully on the Lord.

rock- They hear and recieve with joy but with no depth they believe and in temptation fail because there is no root.

thorn- They are choked with the cares and riches of the world and the pleasures of life. The riches and pleasures are a thorn in their flesh and the seed cannot grow.

good- They are honest and good, hear the word and keep it and bring forth fruit.

Application
Do I allow the devil to steal my faith? Do I have any depth to my faith where I can endure? Do I allow the riches of this world to choke out God's faith in me?

Prayer
Lord help me to prepare my life for you. I want your seed to grow in me and be fruitful in my heart and in my life.

Impossibilities Possible

Scripture
Genesis 18:14
Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Observation
Sarah was 90 years old and had (my supposition) passed menopause because the bible stated she was well past the child bearing age, and here the angels of the Lord are telling her that she was going to physically give birth to a child and she and Abraham's desendants would be like the stars in the sky. No wonder why she laughed!

Application
Do I believe that impossibilities are possible with God?

Prayer
Lord help me to have faith as a grain as a mustard seed and to believe that nothing is impossible with you.

Absolute Ruler

Scripture
Luke 6:46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Observation
The word LORD means absolute ruler.

Application
As I read Luke chapter 6 my heart cried out to God because of the many times that I have not been obedient to Him. Why do I call Jesus my Lord if I don't do the things that He tells me to do.

Prayer
Lord my life is plagued by wrecklessness. You convict me of things and then I go my own way not giving a second thought to the workings you have done in my heart. I so need to change this area of my life. I am so thankful that you know how to speak to the heart of your childrem.

James
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Launch Out!

Scripture Luke 5 4-6
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down[b] the nets for a catch."
5Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

Observation
Jesus told the disciple to launch out their nets into the water in preparation of receiving a great catch of fish. The disciples did what they did many other times- put their nets into the water. Many times God wants actions from us. Not just the ordinary everyday actions but extra effort that requires sacrifice. That extra push! Maybe it is physical, emotional or even mental.. So many times we can only see the limited picture of a small catch of fish when God wants to fill our nets to overflowing!
Peter did something that is so human- he made an excuse! When we lack the faith to believe it is so easy to make an excuse.
“I am tired, Lord”
“I don’t have the ability to do what you are asking.”
“I don’t have the financial resources to go where you want me to go.”
But God is telling us to launch out into deep waters. It is easy to stay in the shallow safe waters but there is an adventure of faith and blessing waiting for us when we cast our nets into deeper waters!
Application
Do I look only on my limited surroundings or do I expand my vision to what God can see and do? Do I believe that God can do abundantly above and beyond what I can ask or believe?
Prayer
Lord, I don’t want to limit myself and think in the box. I want to see your vision, your expectations and your plan for my life. Lord increase my faith to believe and act.

When God Hurts-revisited

This is a revisited post of the blog a few days ago entitled "When God Hurts".

My bible reading was this chapter again and I am so grieved in my heart.

It seems I am entering menopause or am premenopausal. I am not laying the blame of sin at the feet of menopause because there is no excuse. Every few cycles there is this other lady that comes to dwell with us. She is a stranger who gets angry, vicious, says terrible things she really does not mean (but means them at that very instant), pitches fits worthy of a two year old, and who has such bitter and murderous thoughts that it is a shame to repeat this here. When the rush of feelings are at full onslaught there is no sane reasoning with ME! After the ordeal it is like the calm after the storm. Things return to normal leaving me to deal with the wreckage I have caused.

Hurt feelings. Storms of rage. Raised voices. I am so ashamed. I wonder how so many other Christian woman have such self control and seem to have it all put together. And then I wonder if that is only a show. Only the Lord knows. But I need to worry about me and not others.

Prayer- God please help me. I am dealing with these terrible sins. Anger, hatred, bitterness, murderous thoughts and more. It seems impossible to deal with these things in my own power and strength but with you all things are possible. God, I have grieved you and it hurts me. I don't want to give you lip service and remain in the same state. Lord, I seem so helpless right now but I ask you to arm me with your wisdom and allow your grace to saturate my heart to desire to change and be renovated from the inside out. I need a heart cleansing today. From your throneroom please send me your help, be it from your word, you speaking to my heart, or from someone who is going through the same thing. In Jesus' name I pray.