How Soon We Forget!

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I was reading Psalm 106 this morning. It tells the story of how God delivered the children of Israel from slavery and led them out of Egypt. He allowed them to escape the pursuing army by parting the Red Sea, enabling them to cross on dry land. What a time of rejoicing that must have been!  They were finally free and headed toward the Promised Land. God had performed many miracles to bring them to this place, and yet, the Psalm goes on to say…

“But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.” Psalm 106:13

When I read this, I just want to shake my head. After all God did for these people, it says they soon forgot what he had done and instead of waiting for his plans for them to unfold, they started making plans of their own. When God didn’t seem to be working fast enough for them or in the way they thought he should, they began trying to figure things out on their own – with a bunch of mumbling and complaining thrown in, I might add.  Isn’t that just crazy?

Uh…isn’t that just what we do?

I’m raising my hand…guilty as charged. I hate to admit that, but it’s true.

Just recently my husband had to have complete knee replacement surgery. The cost to us was going to be over $4000. (and that’s with insurance!)

I don’t know about you, but we don’t have that kind of money laying around. We had no idea where we would get it, but God had it all under control. We received checks that we did not expect, friends started giving us money, co-workers took up an offering, we auctioned off a few things and they brought in more money than we dreamed they would.

By the time his surgery came around, we had it all paid for – and that was God’s miracle to us. But, what happened next?

Our income changed and we were bringing in $400 a month less than we had been.  What did I do? Did I remember the financial miracle God had just performed? Did I relax and wait for his plans to unfold for us?

Nope!  I started wracking my brains for ways to earn extra money, spent scads of time on the computer researching different small business possibilities, and began to let worry and anxiety creep in. Until this morning, that is. Until God led me to this passage of scripture and showed me that I was behaving exactly like the children of Israel did. Those people that I was so quick to judge.

So, now I’m back on track, but wondering…

Does this kind of stuff ever happen to you?

If so, let me encourage (read strongly urge) you to go read Psalm 106. I can pretty much guarantee that once you’ve read it, you won’t want to travel the same road the children of Israel did. Remember how long it took them???

 -------------------------------------------------------Previously published as a guest post on Encourage 365

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Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

It's all Found IN Him

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In church Sunday morning during worship, certain words started skipping across my mind. Words like...

Peace

Joy

Comfort

Provision

Wisdom

Healing

Grace

Mercy

 

...all things we long for, things we pray for, but as I thought about how we ask God for these things, it occurred to me that if we are seeking God with our whole heart, there is no need to pray for these things, for they are all found in Him. When we find Him, we have all these things, so rather than seek them, seek Him. I know this is no big revelation to most of you, but for some reason, it was a light-bulb moment for me. Now I can just focus on knowing God and experiencing His presence, sitting with Him and soaking up all that is in Him. When I do that, I will lack nothing, for every good thing is found in Him. 

 

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J.O.Y. – Jesus On You by Debra Torres

            Aeropostale, American Eagle and Abercrombie … oh my! Today’s brand-named clothing makes a heavy mark on our teen generation doesn’t it?  When my boys turned a certain age, and the hand-me-downs and Wal-Mart sale rack suddenly didn’t cut it, I had no idea what I was in for. I remember the day I found out. I was on a field trip with my son where I was surrounded by young teens his age. I was waiting in line for something and doing a bit of “people watching.” Looking at the kids around me, I was amazed at all brand names I saw plastered on their shirts and hoodies. It was an epidemic!

I’m really no different. In my day, we had our own brand names.  In the 80s folks wore popular clothes like Izod, ESPIRIT and Gitano. And for myself today, even though my choices are more for comfort and warmth, what I put on still matters to me. I guess there’s still a certain image I want to reflect. 

In some strange way, brand names  can seem to “identify” us with who we want to be. And yes, I’m talking to you “John Deere” and “Harley” fans too!

In a sermon I heard last Sunday, the pastor made a reference to the cross and having it as our identity. He talked about the importance of having Jesus “on” us. Pointing out someone in the back of the church, he said that he could see Jesus all over them. It was then that he made the cute acronym that I liked--J.O.Y – Jesus on you. You know, I know what he meant. There have been times in my life when I could sense the presence of God on a person so strongly that I could see it their eyes.

The Bible talks about this in Romans 13:14:  “Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”

I remember once when I visited a physical therapist for the first time, and she came out to the waiting room to greet me.  After introducing herself and talking with me a bit, the physical therapist gently put her hand on my back for a moment to lead me in the direction of her examining room.

Later, when I began to tell her about myself, she beamed. “I knew you were a Christian when I put my hand on your back,” she said, a believer herself. “I just felt it!”

She felt it?! What a compliment – probably my best ever. Because, you know, like most people, I love it when someone makes a positive comment something I’m wearing.  But it wasn’t the brand on my shirt she admired, nor was it the leather tab on my jeans, but it was Christ on me and in me – the hope of glory.

I remember reading about Moses’ journey through the desert with the rebellious Israelites. Whenever Moses would go up to speak with God and learn his commands, it says in Exodus 34 that: “the skin on his face shone because he had been talking with God.”

Wow! Now that’s some serious evidence of God’s presence. In fact, this was so powerful that it freaked out the Israelites a bit, and Moses took to wearing a veil over his face whenever he was done speaking with God!

So, when we’re dressing ourselves each day, we need to remember what’s most important to put on. And, I’m not saying that wearing brand names is a bad thing. In fact, I make my kids laugh when we visit a big mall and I make a bee line for their favorite teen clothing stores. Hey, I gotta keep up don’t I? But, as I’m working on my “cool mom” image, I hope that above all - they see Jesus on me. 

Ephesians 4:22-24 (New Living Translation)

throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

1 Peter 3:3-4 (New Living Translation)

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Psalm 149:4 (English Standard Version)

For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.

Debra Torres writes about life and the Christian walk in a way that’s real and personal. Check out her free devotions over at ChristianBlog Devotionals. It’s a down-home Christian devotional blog that'll water the garden of your soul.

 

©Debra Torres Copywriting and Design. Writer retains full reprint rights.
 

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Is Complaining a Spiritual Gift?

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The other day I teasingly called my Pastor a slacker. It's not true.  He's one of the hardest working men I know,  His response? "It's what I do best," which set me off.

Me: "I know just what you mean, Pastor. I am totally gifted at complaining. It's what I do best and I don't understand why I shouldn't be allowed to use this gift on a regular basis!" It was all in jest, but the thread of truth is that, by nature, I am a complainer. I've gotten so good at it that I often don't realize I'm doing it.

Yesterday my husband and I went to a huge antique store to browse. During the hour or so that we wandered through the booths I heard myself saying, "I'm a little dizzy. My stomach is a bit queasy. These prices are too high. Too bad we don't have enough money to stop and eat after we get out of here. I'm hungry. These stairs hurt my knees."

Now, all these things were true to a minor extent, but none of them were really stressing me. I wasn't really sick enough, sore enough or poor enough to complain. It just came out without effort or thought on my part. It's a habit. A bad habit. I know this and I need to change my thought processes and my words.

God must think so, too, because in reading my morning devotions from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, this is what it said...

You have been on a long, uphill journey, and your energy is almost spent. Though you have faltered at times, you have not let go of My hand. I am pleased with your desire to stay close to Me. There is one thing, howeveer, that displeases Me: your tendency to complain. (ouch) You may talk to Me as much as you like about the difficulty of the path we are following. I understand better than anyone else the stresses and the strains that have afflicted you. You can ventilate safely with Me, because talking with Me tempers your thoughts and helps you see things from My perspective.
 

Complaining to others is another matter altogether. It opens the door to deadly sins such as self-pity and rage. Whenever you are tempted to grumble, come to Me and talk it out. As you open up to Me, I will put My thoughts into your mind and My song in your heart.

(Jeremiah 31:25; Philippians 2:14-15)

 

Ahem...uh, yeah, that hit me right between the eyes.

 

How about you?

Are you a complainer?

Why do you think we complain?

What do we get out of it?

Are you going to make any changes after reading this?

 

Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
 

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

The Seen and The Unseen



Don't ignore the world around you, but subordinate your concept of this world to the unseen reality of a God who sees and knows and is in control of both worlds - the seen and the unseen.

Seek His guidance and wisdom for relating to this world so that you will see with His eyes, hear with His ears, love with His heart and minister with His hands. 

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(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

 

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Wait Quietly in My Presence

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..." Psalm 37:7

 

"Wait quietly in My Presence while My thoughts form silently in the depths of your being."

(taken from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young)

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I read these words this morning and they really struck a chord in my heart. How often do I get quiet enough, still long enough to discern the voice of the Lord? To let his thoughts be formed in the depths of my being? Not often enough, I can tell you! So, I took some time this morning to just sit quietly in His Presence. Did I receive any earth-shattering messages from God? No, but I did experience a deep sense of peace that has stayed with me throughout this day. I will definitely be developing this new habit from now on! How about you? Do you sit quietly with God on a regular basis? If so, we would love to hear about your experience. If not, will you be giving this a try?

 

Blessings,

Jan  

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If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks! (Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

This World is Unraveling

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via photo pin cc

"You inhabit a fallen, disjoined world, where things are constantly unraveling around the edges. Only a vibrant relationship with Me can keep you from coming unraveled too." ~Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

I seldom listen to the evening news anymore. Why? Because when I do, within a few minutes I hear about murders, break-ins, abuse, abductions, bank robberies, disease and which celebrity/politician stole/lied/cheated on his wife.  Talk about a world that is constantly unraveling around the edges!

I know that in this vast world there has to be some good things happening. Someone helped someone, a child was adopted, a disease was cured, the hungry were fed, someone found a job...good things happen, but they are seldom seen in the media. Why?

When I read the sentences above from my Jesus Calling devotional this morning, it just confirmed how critical it is to cultivate (work on, plow, nurture, improve, prepare) a vibrant (energized, enthusiastic, fresh) relationship with Jesus. It's important to note that a vibrant relationship with Jesus doesn't just happen. You must cultivate it - that takes time, dedication and consistancy. It takes faith and trust. It takes getting His word into you and getting into agreement with His word. It takes obedience and submission. But for those willing to put in the time, the benefits of a rich relationship with Jesus are never-ending...joy, peace, love, comfort, guidance, wisdom,hope, fulfillment, satisfaction, contentment....and the perfect antidote to the crazy, mixed-up, unraveling world.

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 

We can't stop the world from unraveling, but we can make sure that we're not coming unraveled with it.

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If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends using the Facebook, Twitter and other share buttons below. Thanks! 

(Copyright© 2012 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)