Thoughts about God

As I struggled with knowing that I was to put all of this together, I wondered how I would start, if it would make any sense, and would anyone else really like to know how God has presented himself to me. I have put it off getting started time and time again. I would wonder just now to begin. What I found is that you begin by beginning. That it doesn’t matter if anyone else reads this or that it makes sense, but that God laid this on my heart to do and the doing is just as important.  I started by thinking of how to organize my journey and thoughts, and was lead to organize this with an elephant. I think elephants are beautiful and all but that is not why I am using one.

When I was a social worker doing therapy with folks affected by death and dying I would find that many families would talk about everything but the issues that was the most important. I would call the issue “The elephant in the living room”. It was my job to start talking about the elephant. I would say: “Why I see you have an elephant in the room and the trunk looks like this.”  And someone would say “No, No it looks like this” and then someone else would say “No, no it looks like this and it is doing this” and so it would begin. People would just start to talk about the issues and start to tell me what they think and feel. The next step would be for me to help them start to tell the other person about the parts of the elephant in the room and then slowly move from them telling me to them telling each other. What was left at the end of the sessions was the family talking to each other and being able to tell each other what they feel and see. 

The other reason I liked using the metaphor of an elephant is when presented with a huge issue in therapy I would ask a simple question to the person who was so overwhelmed. “How do you eat an elephant?” I would ask,  they would look at me with the strangest of looks but being polite they would just  say they did not know , then I would smile and say “One bite at a time!”  With my own advise in hand this is how I begin “One bite at a time!”

Be Still and Know That I am God!

 10 “Be still, and know that I am God;
       I will be exalted among the nations,
       I will be exalted in the earth.”  
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
       the God of Jacob is our fortress.
       Selah        Psalm 46: 10-11 

I stand in front of the microwave oven and mumble hurry up, hurry up as I grow impatient.  A minute seems much to long to wait. Sometimes I feel that my prayers should be the same. Pray to God, wait one minute, ding, answer to pray right there on the plate all warm and ready. Not only ready but what I asked for and the way I asked!  How I have learned that my prayer must be not my way Lord but your way. I have time and time again given him the full plan. I suggest soup to nuts. I know just what I need and when I need it, and please Lord with out pain, growth or mess. What I have learned however, is that God has a better way. I give plan A and B and he gives me G and H. All his plans are much better than mine and all with harmony and purpose. Remembering to be still is so very difficult for me. I want to run, do, see, touch, and make it better. But I do not do that without looking at the whole picture or having understanding of future events or people that will make a difference.

I look back on so many times that I would pray and I wanted it answered in the way I wanted to happen but this would not have been the best for me or others. I am reminded that things in God’s timing don’t always happen quickly. (Acts 9-l2). Paul was converted on the road to Damascus. He entered Damascus and stayed there for an unknown amount of time (Acts 9:19). Then Paul went to Arabia for an unspecified period, and returned to Damascus afterward (Gal.1:17). The whole period from his conversion until his departure from Damascus is given as “3 years”(Gal.1:18) Then he went to Jerusalem and stayed for 15 days (Acts 9:26-29; Gal.1:18). After the 15 days at Jerusalem, Paul was sent away to avoid capture, and sailed from Caesarea to the regions of Syria and Cilicia (Acts 9:30; Gal.1:21). Then after a period ranging from 8 to 14 years, Paul traveled to Antioch with Barnabas and stayed for l year (Acts 11:25; Gal.1:21-2:1) Wow, talk about a long time before things got started with his journey.

 What is God telling me in my prayer life? Really what is he saying about the way I live my whole life! Just when I think I need to move or that God needs to swoop into my life and make it all better he reminds me that I need to be still and know that he is God. That he has it under control, that his ways are not always my ways, and that in the long run it will be better then I could imagine.  

While studying Beth Moore’s bible study on Daniel she makes a very important statement. She states that there are three scenarios about how God can deliver us. In her study she asks us to look at Daniel 3:13-18 and then to consider these three different scenarios when people of God face a fiery trial:

                      q    Scenario A: We can be delivered from the fire. (This is my favorite)

                               o       Dividend?  Our faith is built

                      q    Scenario B: We can be delivered through the fire.                                                        o Dividend? Our faith is refined

                      q    Scenario C: We can be delivered by the fire into his arms.                                o Dividend? Our faith is perfected.  

     Be Still and Know that I am God!

 

                                                     MORE TO COME STILL WORKING ON THIS PaGE

 

Skin as the armor of God The Armor of God

 

Keeping your eye on the goal

Sometimes we need to run without logic – But keeping God in our sights.

 

James our mouth is like a rudder. The words we speak and the things we create with them.

   

 

Those Waters HMMM             He leads me by still waters.    Drinking in the waters of life,  Being the Frog in boiling water

 

 

 

Knowing where the rocks are.

Walking on water

 

 

 

 

Walking in his ways

 

    

 

The Joy of the Lord

 

 

 

Following the leader and being a leader What Jesus taught us about being a leader and when to Follow

 

   

Sometimes you just have to kneel down and pray. The power of prayer 

Fighting over things and butting your head up against one another. The best way to win at tog of war is to let go of the rope. Then the other falls on their face.  

Shouts for the lord and speaking out.   Praising the Lord with all your soul.

 

Seeking advice from your elders and giving advice to others.

 

Water Walking Walking on water.  Keeping your eyes on Christ or you will sink. Matthew 14:22-34

  

 Got to have fun play and joy are so important

Sometimes you just have to have fun

 

Holding on to others for dear life  Seeking others and friends in Christ.

 Listen

 

Got to seek friends of like mind

 

 

Don’t turn your back and walk away from the Lord!

  

Waiting for further instructions

Ecclesiastes 3:1

A Time for Everything

 1 There is a time for everything,
       and a season for every activity under heaven:What Season is it? Is it a time to run, time to wait on the Lord, and time to act? What is God’s will for me? How will I know what, where, and when? It reminds me of the label one size fits all. I wonder who is All and what size does she take anyway? God rarely gives people that direct and specific of information. God allows us to make choices regarding those things. The only decision God does not want us to make is the decision to sin or resist His will. God wants us to make choices that are in agreement with His will. So, how do you know what God’s will is for you? If you are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for your life – God will place His desires on your heart. The key is wanting God’s will, not your own. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). If the Bible does not speak against it, and it can genuinely benefit you spiritually – then the Bible gives you the “permission” to make decisions and to follow your heart.In looking to answer the question about God’s will in my life I looked at many different opinions. I found at Amazing Change.org a wonderful article called: “Knowing God’s Will: In Ten Steps” I would like to share those ten steps as they are valuable to me and I hope to you:Step One: Psalms 32:8-9 God doesn’t want to lead you with a bridle like a horse or a mule that has to be reigned in. 
He wants to lead you intelligently by the Holy Spirit according to the Word.

1. Be in harmony with God’s Word and Law
Psalms 40:81  I delight to do thy will, thy law
is within my heart.
Isaiah 8:20  Would God lead you into breaking His law? No
Psalm 119:105  His Word is to be a Lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.

 

Step Two:

 Be willing to do God’s will
John 6:38  Jesus is your example. He came to
do His Father’s will.
John 7:17  If you are willing God will show you.
James 4:13-15  You shouldn’t be planning
your own life.  You should be trying to do God’s will.
Jeremiah 29:11  God’s will is much more beneficial than your own.
Proverbs 16:25  Your ways lead to sorrow, death,
and destruction.  Step Three: Fervent faithful prayer for guidance
James 1:5-6  Ask in faith, nothing wavering.
James 5:16  Effectual, fervent prayer of the
righteous avails much.
I John 5:14  You can have confidence that if you
ask according to God’s will,
He will hear you.  Step Four:Do what lies nearest you first!
John 16:12  God has many things to tell us,
but we can’t bear them now.  Do what you can do
and what you know to be correct, right now.
Then He will show you what to do next.
Proverbs 3:6  In all your ways acknowledge Him
and He will direct your path.
Luke 16:10  Be faithful in the least first and
God will give you more.
Jeremiah 12:5  If you don’t obey God in the small things how will you obey during the big test?Step Five:Which option will bring the most
Glory to God?

I Corinthians 10:31-32  Do ALL to the glory of God! Give none offence to either Jew or Gentile or to the Church.
I Peter 4:11  That God in ALL things might be glorified!
Revelation 14:7  Part of the last warning messages
to the world contain these instructions
“give glory to Him”. This indicates that most of the world will not
be giving glory to God at the end of time. The decisions you make in your
daily life indicate whose side
you are on.

Romans 14:13  Don’t cause anyone to stumble.
Mark 9:42  Don’t hurt ever, the least
of God’s children. Step Six: Seek Christian Counsel
Be careful who you counsel with. Paul wrote at the end of time there would be many who had a
Form of Godliness (2Timothy 3:5,7,8)
and many false teachers. A good Christian
counselor should point you to a
“Thus saith the Lord”.
Proverbs 11:14  There is safety in a multitude of counselors.
Psalms 1: 1-2  Don’t follow the counsel of the ungodly.
Jeremiah 17:5-10  Cursed is the man that puts his trust in man. Step Seven:  Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit
Isaiah 30:20-21  Though you go through adversity and affliction, God will talk to you. You will hear a voice behind you as you turn to the right or left. 
God will show you, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” That still small voice that makes you feel so uncomfortable is the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

I Kings 19:11-12 God doesn’t speak to you in an earthquake or fire, but in a still small voice  Step Eight:Humbly wait on the Lord
Revelation 14:12 Those that overcome the beast and his mark have an identifying characteristic of patience. They keep God’s commandments (not man’s) and they humbly wait for Jesus.
Psalms 37:4-7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently
for Him.
Isaiah 49:15-16 He cannot forget you, your problems, or struggles! Trust Him! He thinks about you constantly!!!
Psalms 25:9 He guides the meek.Step Nine:Make and implement a decision
Joshua 1:5-6  After you have gone though all
these steps move forward in the Lord. 
Have courage the Lord is with you!
Joshua 14:9-12  You have wholly followed the Lord.  He has kept you alive to do His will.  Now go after it!  Be like Joshua and say “Give me this mountain!” Step Ten:God’s Providence!
2 Corinthians 2:12  Watch for the opened or
closed doors.
Don’t worry about what is on the other side of the door. Move forward with your eyes on Jesus.
Watching for His leading. Make sure that you
are not violating His Word as you move forward.
Isaiah 45:1-3  God will open doors and break in pieces the gates to accomplish His will for your life. You can count on it!
Even the mighty city and nation of Babylon was
no match for our Lord. All throughout the Bible
you can see incident after incident of God’s will
being accomplished.  As you move forward watch Him remove the obstacles and remember that He often
requires you to move first.
 Why?
This tests and shows you the state of your Faith.
It causes you to exercise your faith. Is it important
to have little tests now prior to the big crisis? ABSOLUTELY!!!
Revelation 14:12  The people at the end of time
who overcome the beast are described as having
the faith of Jesus. What kind of faith did Jesus
have in His heavenly father? The Greatest!
Revelation 3:8  I know thy works: behold,
I have set before thee an open door,
and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little
strength, and hast kept my word,
and hast not denied my name.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything You gave me.”  Erma Bombeck