Month: February 2016

About 3 years ago I was working a job in Social Services, on this job I was pretty much the jack of all trades, I knew how to do almost everything from receptionist, to time-sheets, to financial reports, to processing bills – Oh and yeah, computer re-bootee and printer fixer; If it was broken or down I was the number one person people called on to come and get it or fix it. During that time we had this pre-historic printer called “The Dinosaur” the department had, had this printer for what seemed like centuries; this printer was so old and out of date until they didn’t even sell the parts to it anymore and it gave everyone the blues because all of the second wing which consisted of 5 or more people used this printer, you could actually print something – wait 30 min to go get it only to find it probably just coming out of the printer, Yes; it was that slow.

The department ended up getting rid of the printer after quite some time and got another printer that was satisfying to everyone’s needs; when I left that job and went elsewhere to work – the first thing I noticed when I got into my new office was that same pre-historic printer that was at my other job, Oh Brother; I thought – thinking “The Dinosaur” had somewhat found me again after all those years. I surely will ask for a new one once I get settled I thought…

But a new printer never came, “The department don’t have the funds” – “We can get someone to fix it” – “It’s really not a bad printer” – “All you have to do is cut it off and on again” – We really don’t have the funds again this year. That was all I heard for the two years I had been in that position, I finally gave up on asking again and just dealt with the cards that were given to me. When I moved up into another office, the printer there was okay and didn’t give me as much trouble as the printer I had left given me, so I made myself content and was pleased that I had something that worked much better. About two weeks ago, a young lady in the office put in an order for a new printer toner, the purchaser that keyed in the order mistakenly purchased a printer instead of the toner (how that came to be, I couldn’t tell ya). When the printer came in, I told the purchaser that the young lady wanted toner, not a printer! – “Well, it’s more trouble to return it, they told me – couldn’t someone in your department use it?…..Well, we do need another printer for the reception area; I thought and if the boss approves; I guess I could take this one and give up the one I have, needless to say the boss did approve and therefore I now have a brand new printer – with all the bells and whistles, just like I wanted 3 years ago.

I said all of that to say, even though I couldn’t get the printer I so desired for my other job – no matter how much it was requested, God didn’t forget me and sent a printer my way; A printer that I wasn’t expecting or even looking to receive; and just when I had forgotten all about it, My God didn’t. This story may be about a printer, but what things have you requested over and over again and/or desired in your life and still have not received it as of yet, It could be something as small as a printer or as big as a major financial need, husband, wife, a child, a home, a new car, to be recovered from an addiction or to overcome a terminal illness or sickness and so much more. Your heart’s desire may not have come when you felt like it should have come but take comfort in knowing that God has not forgotten about you and that your desire is still in his view. A lot of times we get discouraged when things don’t happen on our timeline and begin to question God about his; Trust that God knows just the right moment, time and place when things need to happen in your life; God is God, he knows what he is doing, when you can’t trace his hand trust his heart and his plan.

The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:11(NKJV) – Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. Only when we are truly content, will God surprise you with the biggest gift – Your Hearts Desire, All because he remembers; he really does remember.

 

Declare this today:

Father In the name of Jesus, your word says that you’ll never leave me nor forsake me; Father I know you haven’t forgotten about me nor my need – Today, I take comfort and pleasure in knowing that you will fulfill it at the right time and during the right moment in my life. I trust you and no matter how long it takes, let me remember that you have my best interest at heart. I love you; In Jesus name I pray. Amen

In the bible you will read the story of Joshua, Joshua was Moses’s successor after he passed away – Joshua was now the new God given leader of the Israelite’s in which I don’t know if that was a bad thing or good thing. It was a good thing because Joshua pretty much picked up where Moses left off to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land, a land in which God had promised to give them; being a leader over them I’m sure was bad because if truth be told the children of Israel were complainers, They complained ALL the time, they complained about food, they complained about being in the wilderness, they complained about the sun, they complained about God – you had a quite few faithful ones, that truly believed but for the most part…they complained especially when they felt like God wasn’t answering them quick enough or wasn’t moving fast enough so in the midst of “waiting” they began to get a hunger for the BIG GOLDEN gods that Pharaoh and the Amorites worshiped, they wanted a God they could see and feel – they weren’t satisfied with the true and living God whom they may not could see, but whom fulfilled their every need; something the little gods couldn’t ever do.

Finally Joshua got so fed up with their complaining he began to declare this to them “If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Joshua took a stand and let them know, you can serve anyone you want to serve – The Gods on the other side of the river (In which God had delivered them from – Pharaoh) or the gods of the Amorites – the Amorites were known as tall fierce warriors during their prime, but despite their power in size and war they were destroyed due to their worship of false gods. They failed to realize that there is only one true and living God whom is worthy of our worship, their false gods were no competition to the Almighty GOD! – What are you choosing today, whom are you serving – who has your focus.

In my life I have been just like the children of Israel; I was always caught on the fence because I knew what God had done for me, I seen his power and glory work so many times in my life and I praised him for it, but I also had a taste for sin. There were times where I had one foot in the church and one foot in the world; I loved God – but it wasn’t enough to keep me from sinning and doing the things that made my fleshly man feel good. I would get condemned on Sundays (especially if the preacher was talking about things that I knew I was doing) I would cringe, promise I would do better only to get a month in and go right back into the sin that I was in. But when it comes to serving God we can’t be on the fence we’re either all the way in or all the way out, there are no “Well, the Lord is working on me” but yet you’re continuing to sin until he does work out all your kinks.

Can I tell you something? You’re responsible for your own actions – as I stated before God is a God of FREEWILL, he’s not going to make you do anything – because if he did; then that wouldn’t be love – It would hurt us to know that our husbands, wives, children, friends or anyone that we deem special only loved us because we made them love us, we’d like to know that the love they had for us was out of the goodness of their heart, something that they really meant and want to do as opposed to being made to do it. Well that’s how God is, he leaves it all up to you.

All of us have been on the fence at some point in our lives concerning an issue or problem dealing with life, usually when people are on the fence it’s because they’re having trouble making a decision; while that is okay for life matters – It’s not okay when it comes to God and this is why:

There was an incredibly large group of people assembled. On one side of the group stood a man, Jesus. On the other side of the group stood another man, Satan. Separating them, running through the group was a fence.

The scene set, both Jesus and Satan began calling to the people in the group and, one by one, each having made up his or her mind, each went to either Jesus or Satan.

This kept going, and eventually Jesus had gathered around him a group of
people from the larger crowds, as did Satan. But one man joined neither
group. He climbed the fence that was there and just sat down on it. Then
Jesus and his people left and disappeared. So too did Satan and
his people.

And the man on the fence sat alone.

As this man sat there, Satan came back, and appeared to be looking for
something that he’d lost. The man said, “Have you lost something?” Satan
looked straight at him and replied, “No, there you are. Come with me.”

“But,” said the man, “I sat on the fence. I chose neither you nor Him.
“That’s okay,” said Satan. “I own the fence.”  Author Unknown

I don’t know where you are in your life today and I don’t know what choices you are facing spiritually but I do know this, the bible says” So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth [rejecting you with disgust]. (Revelation 3:16) God doesn’t want you in between; he wants you HOT or COLD, now if you don’t know that decision today – It’s okay, it’s just better to be all the way HOT or all the way COLD – being a Lukewarm Christian playing the role of the saint and the sinner; will not be acceptable in God’s eyes, Take it from someone who’s been there and still struggle daily, we don’t know the day nor the hour when Christ shall appear and we don’t know the day nor the hour when we will be gone forever. The bible says “The day you hear my voice, harden not your heart. (Hebrews 3:15)

When God is speaking to you, that’s him loving on you – He generally wants the best for us but will not intrude on your life if you don’t fully open your heart to let him in. Wherever life may take you and whatever crossroad you may come to in your spiritual life; don’t be caught sitting on the fence because you may feel like you don’t have to choose now, but at the end of this life – A choice will have to be made, WHOM WILL YOU CHOOSE TO SERVE.