Verse and Message (Week of June 21-27, 2009) June 25, 2009

 

Psalm 46:10a (NIV)
“Be still, and know that I am God.”

Proverbs 4:23b (The Message)
Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

 

Last week I suggested in my message how I think we must take the time to stop and smell the roses. We can be so focused in obtaining a particular goal or reaching a certain destination that we develop tunnel vision and miss out on the numerous blessings around us. This mindset may cause us to miss the beautiful journey God has designed for us to embrace. 

 

It’s important to maintain balance. At times we may go overboard and follow the other extreme. In this day and age, we can get so busy in the rush of life, that we forget the MAIN FOCUS. We allow both desirable and undesirable distractions in addition to time consumers to cause us to lose direction. Ultimately we become stressed out to the point of exhaustion and frustration. Consequently, His purposes for us are hindered or delayed initially due to the countless distractions we encounter.

  

Merriam-Webster Online defines a distraction as something that causes one to turn aside or to direct (as one’s attention) to a different object or in different directions at the same time. To stir up or confuse with conflicting emotions or motives is second meaning.

 

I wanted to share a portion of a message that I read in Be Still and Know That I am God. It’s a book compiled of an assortment of writings by a handful of Christian authors on how to obtain a deeper meditative prayer life.

 

Watchman Nee wrote the following in order to volunteer that we need to be mindful to add “Be Still” time to our daily schedule. Check out his writing……

 

“Wearing Down God’s People.”

Satan has, in fact, a plan against the saints of the Most High, which is to wear them out. What is meant by this phrase, “wear out”? It has in it the idea of reducing this minute, then reducing a little further the next minute. Reduce a little today, reduce a little tomorrow. Thus, the wearing out is almost imperceptible; nevertheless, it is reducing. The wearing down is scarcely an activity of which one is conscious, yet the end result is that there is nothing left. He will take away your prayer life little by little and cause you to trust God less and less and yourself more and more, a little at a time. He will make you feel somewhat cleverer than before. Step by step, you are misled to rely more on your own gift, and step by step, your heart is enticed away from the Lord. Now, were Satan to strike the children of God with great force at one time, they would know exactly how to resist the enemy since they would immediately recognize his work. He uses the method of gradualism to wear down the people of God.

 

I am convinced that the devil’s subtle tactics to throw more and more distractions into our day is an issue that we must all be aware. The best solution for this is that we might consider and take hold of scheduling “be still time” in our daily agenda. How can we give to others or pursue His purposes if we are running on empty never taking a minute to refill our tank? We will become very weary when we lose our focus and allow every distraction to hijack our time and energy. 

 

Friends, if we want to live life on purpose and be fresh each day for His gifts and opportunities, we must give Him our first fruits. When we put Him first and rest in Him, it’s amazing the things we are able to accomplish. He is truly the Source of renewed strength and refreshment!

 

Discern Divine Distractions 

  

Drop Draining Distractions

Be Still So That You Can Be Filled

Fine Tune Your Focus On Your Forever Friend

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of June 14-20, 2009) June 18, 2009

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it!     Many of you are aware that I am a seasoned runner. However, since October of 2006 when I completed the Chicago Marathon, I have been dealing with a nagging injury. I have done everything to remedy my problem. I have prayed and prayed and prayed, and I have had others pray. I have been to five orthopedic surgeons, and I have had three MRI’s in addition to an assortment of other tests including the basic X-Ray at least six times. I have had chiropractic therapy, physical therapy, and I have rested …boy have I rested. In fact, I haven’t run normal in so long, it’s difficult to get motivated to run again.   Monday night I had an extremely pleasant and vivid dream. I was running a marathon….and I was smiling. I didn’t have pain, and I was having a blast. I was talking to people, and I was enjoying the scenery.     There is a significant contrast in the marathon I dreamed about the other night and the marathon experience I endured in Chicago. During the Chicago Marathon I was so focused on getting to the finish line that the entire race was a blur. I was so intent on a personal record, tunnel vision is an understatement. I did finish with a personal record of 3:31:16…but was it worth it? Within a couple of weeks following the race, I developed a chronic calf issue. (Refer to opening paragraph).    I have been asking WHY WHY WHY…WHY can’t I be healed God? And, He has revealed His answer in numerous ways the past 2.5 years. I became addicted to running, and looking back, I realize that running was my God. Truthfully, it wasn’t enjoyable anymore, because I missed the point of the activity…ie…to have fun and stay in shape.  Monday night in my dream…..God revealed something else to me. He wants me to embrace the beauty and benefits of the journey. I have had extreme ”destination-itis.” When something is taken away from us, such as running or another hobby or activity, it might mean that we need to stop and smell the roses, and enjoy other attractions along the road.   I have stopped searching for a solution to my injury. I am content with knowing that God is completely aware of my leg problem. He will heal me…in fact, I may already be healed..I just haven’t had a chance to run lately to test it. I have been enjoying other attractions…finally.   Sometimes we are so focused on a mate, a career, having a child, buying a house, graduating from school, etc…..that we bypass the attractions (good distractions) along the way. Life is a marathon……it’s not a 5K sprint. Life is meant to be taken “one day at a time.” We need to stop striving…and just be. We won’t be able to recognize the blessings that are falling in our lap if we are too intent to conquer what IT is that we think we need.   By the way, when I crossed the finish line in the marathon that I ran in my dream…..my finish time was 3:40 ….the most difficult qualifying time for women to enter into the Boston Marathon. The funny thing…..I never even looked at my watch during my dream marathon…I was having too much fun! I wasn’t preoccupied with the destination..I was delighting in the moment!   When we accept Christ as our Personal Savior, we are automatically qualified for the prize…..and we don’t have to strive to reach the finish line…..we just receive Him…live a life for Him….share His love along the mile markers of life….and rejoice and be glad in His beautiful unfolding plan for us! He doesn’t want our life to be a blur…He wants us to live on purpose, and relish the steps along the way. We will reach our destination, when it’s time. Remember that today matters. The prize awaits, but don’t hurry through life….you just might miss something great!     DON’T DWELL ON THE DESTINATION! BE JOYFUL THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY!    LIFE IS GOOD…SO DON’T MISS IT! SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of June 7-13, 2009) June 11, 2009

   
 

Revelation 22:10 The Angel continued, “Don’t seal the words of the prophecy of this book; don’t put it away on the shelf. Time is just about up. Let evildoers do their worst and the dirty-minded go all out in pollution, but let the righteous maintain a straight course and the holy continue on in holiness.”   One of the things I look forward to when I get to heaven is not having to deal with maintenance. Everything …I mean everything needs consistent maintenance.   Websters defines maintain as follows: To preserve from failure or decline.   Proper maintenance means that we “sustain” something. Everything we do requires maintenance. We maintain our cars. We maintain our yards. We maintain our homes. We maintain our wardrobe. We maintain our health. We maintain our jobs. We maintain our finances. But, I think the most significant maintenance required would be proper maintenance in relationships.   If both people in a relationship do not work together in maintaining that relationship…..at best it becomes work, at worst it disintegrates. I am referring to all relationships whether it is a marriage relationship, a relationship with a parent, sibling, or other blood relative; a courting or dating relationship, a co-worker relationship, as well as a variety of levels of friendships that we have whether they are categorized as reason, season, or lifetime friendships. However, on top of the list of relationships, our relationship to the Lord should take precedence.   When we don’t maintain our vehicles….they break down. When we don’t maintain our yards, the neighborhood association puts a warning letter in your mailbox or your neighbors get upset…or you cannot see the forest for the trees…ha. When we don’t maintain our homes, dust increases and even certain hazards could occur if electrical issues are not maintained. When we don’t maintain our health, we are really rolling the dice. When we don’t maintain our jobs, we risk losing our job. When we don’t maintain our relationships, we take a chance of losing those relationships.   It’s a beautiful thing that whether we maintain our relationship with the Lord or not, He never drops the ball….He always carries out His part of the bargain…which is 100% GRACE…and that indeed was a bargain for us….it allowed us true freedom…..but it cost Him EVERYTHING. That’s why I think it’s crucial that we place His relationship as the #1 priority, and we maintain that relationship with effective two-way communication (prayer ..and that means listening to Him as well). The Bible is the most important guide for maintenance in our lives. The Word tells us how to maintain our relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…and it also provides an abundance of assistance in maintaining our earthly relationships.   We need to focus more on maintenance while we are on this journey. The rewards are great. Then…..when we get to heaven….we can be confident that everything will be perfect ALL THE TIME…no maintenance required! That maintenance was handled at the CROSS!     Maintenance is required or else things get messy! We have a Master of Maintenance Who is ready to clean things up! We ALL need more help in the maintenance department! SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Week of May 31-June 6, 2009) June 3, 2009

 

Daniel 3:25

“Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

2 Corinthians 12:10

Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

There are some people who appear to be so “with it” and have it all together. I have often wondered if those individuals encounter the same challenges and trials that I go through.   A lot of times, those “with it” folks are good actors “on stage.” Truthfully, they might be struggling through each day minute by minute. Someone may put on the “I have it together” mask, because they don’t want anyone to know what is really going on. 

 

However, some people who seem to have it together….actually do.  I am convinced these are the individuals that roll with the punches.  They are confident that God is present in their lives, and they believe and trust in a positive outcome to any given the situation.  They display a faith so strong….that mountains appear to crumble, and they live with their glass half full instead of half empty–recognizing the LIGHT in each circumstance that they encounter.

 

It requires a lot of faith not to get rattled when flaming arrows are aimed in our midst. We need to understand how many of those arrows have bypassed us, because the Lord has caught the arrows before they hit the intended target…ie…US.  No telling how many fires He has extinguished before we could even smell the smoke. 

 

The Lord will allow us to experience difficult seasons….but He never leaves us to fend for ourselves. In addition, He is not surprised at any detail that takes place.  His desire is to bring glory from the tribulations we face whether the fire we are going through is a consequence to sin, or possibly a stage of preparation for a tougher battle ahead. Sometimes He might even allow us an opportunity to experience an undesirable event in order to help someone else in similar rough spot in the future. 

 

An exceptional example that God is 100% faithful is found in Daniel. Take a look at the fourth person Who was dancing in the blazing furnace that Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego had to undergo.  When the Lord permits His children to go through the furnace experiences, “He keeps His eyes on the clock and His hand on the thermostat” (Daily Splashes of Joy – Barbara Johnson). 

 

He will provide the strength necessary to prevail! We are in His grip, therefore, He won’t allow us more than we can handle!  Although we may initially be terrified when unwelcome flames appear in our lives, we can count on seeing a familiar face walking through the fire with us. 

 

Don’t panic when the HEAT IS ON! 

 

Look to the FIRE EXTINGUISHER dancing with you!

His GRACE is SUFFICIENT!

SUSIE MC