#251 - Democrat or Republican?

Deuteronomy 15:10 - You shall give to him freely without begrudging it; because of this the Lord will bless you in all your work and in all you undertake.

Proverbs 19:17 - He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him. 

Proverbs 22:9 - He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. 

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

We are on the eve of a very important day. The day we vote for who will be President #45 of the United States of America.

This morning, I'll just be honest with you, in my quiet time I was heavily rebuked! Put your stones down for a minute and I will be transparent with you. In my heart and in my mind, I have extremely strong convictions where politics is concerned. Granted, I don't take the time to study all of the in's and out's like I would like to. I think it would be so fun and interesting to really get into the details, but at this stage in my life, time does not allow. Nonetheless, I still have strong beliefs as a Christian. In the past, as I would be driving and get behind a certain bumper sticker shouting the opponent of how I vote, inside me it was like this different person would come out, almost like I wouldn't recognize myself. I would feel like I would get road rage, and immediately decide I did not like the person behind the wheel of this other car. I know, I know.... put your stones down, I know that that is not the right attitude to have. On the contrary, I would see someone with the other bumper sticker, the one whom I'm voting, and I would immediately think, or even say out loud to Tyler, "Oh look, there is one of my friends." I would classify them as one of my friends without even knowing them.

This morning, I was heavily rebuked. As I spent time listening to the Holy Spirit, in a rather unexpected rebuke, he said the bitterness and almost hatred I was carrying around was dark and hurting me. He said BOTH candidates needed prayer! And He is right. As it stands and according to my Christian beliefs, I'm pretty sure that neither candidate has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. There is something to pray about!

As I received my rebuke and asked for forgiveness for the bitterness that I had, He gave me direction, He told me when I saw either bumper sticker that I am to PRAY. But what He said next was what got me really excited!!! Check this out!!!

"Amy, pray for the godly to rise up in politics. Your prayers DO MOVE things. The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. Pray for a nation after Me. Pray for the RIGHT people into office that this nation would come back towards Me. Amy, I forgive you, but I need you to turn the rage into compassion. Prayer. A nation after My heart! A leader, spirit filled who can hear my voice, receive a plan and implement it! I CAN get this nation out of debt. I can bring the country out! Imagine the President pulling together a Pastor's Conference and asking the Pastor's, based off the Word of God to put into place programs that would financially help the poor. That a plee would go out to Christians to budget in their finances to give to the poor. To help the widows and orphans and poor. What if the President would speak in churches across this nation pleeing, preaching for the BELIEVER to take the responsibility to help the poor. The widow. The orphan. Start with YOU!"

Whoa. Honestly, I would consider myself a "good Christian." I have a regular Quiet Time. I spend time daily trying to listen to where the Lord would have me and doing what. I do my best to help people. We give our tithes and offerings gladly. I love Jesus! I have a passion for Him and growing and learning. But honestly, even as what I feel I was, a "good Christian," we have been dropping the ball in this area. We do give to our church, and I know they support ministries that give to the poor, but we have never fully taken that responsibility on as our own. As THE BELIEVER, we have never owned that responsibility. BUT, it is rightfully ours! As the BELIEVER, it IS our responsibility to help the poor, the widow and the orphan.

Imagine.... if believers across the nation were to take 5% of their income and give to the poor. Allot that money to the needy... or even $10 per month! Imagine the hundreds of thousands of Christians giving. Do you think that we would need a welfare system long? If believers were giving like that, and millions of dollars were going to programs that would help the poor, just IMAGINE what would happen! The trillions of dollars that this country is in debt with, would dwindle. Imagine a country FREE of debt! Wow! Imagine the burden that would be released if just YOU were out of debt. What a grand scale for our nation to be out of debt.

Whatever your political affiliation, as a believer I'm going to ask you to do three things.

1. Make sure to VOTE tomorrow!
2. Pray for both candidates. Pray for both parties. Pray for the godly to rise up into position. Pray that right as we speak, the godly would be moving into position, they would be raising up wherever they are, that we could see the hand of God move on this country. Pray for the people running our nation to KNOW JESUS. To come to know Him as their Savior if they do not now. That ultimately the great commission, Matthew 28:19-20 would be in effect and people everywhere would be getting saved! "GO! And make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." 
3. Choose to GIVE! We are FINALLY making this a priority in our lives! Today, we are beginning our monthly giving to Oliver Gospel Missions. Feel free to give to this ministry, and/or pray for how and where you are called to give. Though, the responsibility is now known, need I point out the blessings that are coming back to you for abiding by the Word?!? :) Proverbs 19:17 - The LORD will repay you for giving to the poor! That's good stuff! Proverbs 22:9, you will be BLESSED for giving to the poor. Deuteronomy 15:10 - When you give freely not begrudgingly, the Lord will bless you in ALL your work. EVERYTHING you undertake, (ie: the new business, losing weight, your marriage, your relationships, your finances, writing that book) in ALL you undertake YOU WILL BE BLESSED! 

Wow! That is good stuff!! So... friend, believer.... let's get in the flow! Will you join me? 

#248 - The Christian or The Government?

Question: Whatever you are doing, whatever you are pursuing in your life right now, if you could ENSURE the Lord would bless & prosper it, would you want to know how? 

Question: If you could have your business blessed, would you want to know how to ENSURE the blessing of the Lord? 

Question: If you could have your finances blessed, would you want to know how to ENSURE the blessing of the Lord in this area?

Question: What about your relationships, would you want to know how to ENSURE the blessing of the Lord in this area? What about the dreams you have of being a successful writer? A cook? A teacher? A model? A realtor? An entrepreneur? Would you like to know how to ENSURE the blessing of the LORD on whatever it is that you are pursuing? Then today, this devotion, is for you!!  

Let's begin...

Deuteronomy 15:7-10 - If there is among you a poor man, one of your kinsmen in any of the towns of your land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your [minds and] hearts or close your hands to your poor brother; ⁸ But you shall open your hands wide to him and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.....¹⁰ You shall give to him freely without begrudging it; because of this the Lord will bless you in all your work and in all you undertake.

Proverbs 22:9 (NIV) - The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. 

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit]. 

James 1:27 - External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.  

Have you ever heard it said, 'The two things that you should not talk about with people are this: Religion & Politics?' In all actuality, those are the two most important topics. Today's post is not about whether you are democrat or republican, but today's post is about what YOUR RESPONSIBILITY is as a Christian, as the church, as the Body of Christ. Today is about you! Today is about stacking the cards in YOUR FAVOR to accomplish your goals & dreams. Today is about getting the WORD of God & God Himself working on your behalf!

This message is unsung! I've never really heard ministers talk much about it. I've never heard anyone emphasize it's importance. As Tyler & I sat this morning, drinking our coffee & having our respectable quiet times, he continued to interrupt my time with a statement like this, "Ooooh, this is good." Now, what do you say to that? :) "No Tyler, keep it to yourself, I don't want to know what is so good over there!" No, I definitely welcomed him to share, and he did. Then a minute later, "Oooooh, this is good." - "Alright, come on. Bring it," was my response.  So, he proceeded to share verse after verse after verse. And.... oooooh, it was good! I wasn't planning on writing a blog post this morning, but this was all just too good!

Whose responsibility is it anyways? With politics, debates, bumper stickers.... all in full swing shouting for one political candidate or another, where does the Lord fit into all of this? As believers, if we all have the same Bible, the same God, the same Holy Spirit, shouldn't our views be the same? Because my God, is the SAME God as the Baptist or Methodist down the road. Right? We serve the SAME God. So, I return to the question, "Whose responsibility is it anyways?" Is it the responsibility of the government to help the widow? Is it the responsibility of the government to help the poor? Is it the responsibility of the government to help the orphans? No, it is the responsibility of the Believer. It is the responsibility of the church. It is the responsibility of the Body of Christ.

Wait! Don't turn me off! Keep reading.... if you, like me, are thinking, "Oh great... one more responsibility to pile on my plate." And literally, it's like you are beginning to turn the nob to "off." Just wait... THERE IS SOMETHING IN IT FOR YOU!!!

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? So... what IS in it for you? Why should I be excited about yet ANOTHER responsibility? I know, you are a busy mom. Maybe a single mom, going to school, working full time, making dinner, doing laundry, and still trying to spend quality time with your kids... I get it! I get it! WHY should we be excited about this word, that in our busy lives, sometimes seems like a dirty word because we don't want any more of it.... you may have even said this, "If only I could go back to being a kid, being in elementary school when I had NO responsibilities!" I have definitely said that comment before. :)

OK... let's get into the GOOD news! WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?

When you give to the poor, when you give to the needy, when you, the believer, give to the orphans, THIS is what happens:  

THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU in ALL your work and in ALL you undertake.

Hey guys! I'm not making this up! I didn't come up with that statement! It came straight from the Bible.
And....we're not talking about greed here. We're not talking about being "greedy" because you are doing the right thing. It's OK to be excited about GOD HIMSELF blessing ALL of your work & ALL you undertake! It's OK to be excited about that. You SHOULD BE!

Look at the string of events...

• A. You Bless the poor or needy by giving them some money... maybe helping with some monthly bills... a house payment, a car payment... maybe buying some Christmas presents for their children...
• B. You are a teacher, not making a ton of money to pay your own bills.... but wouldn't you know it, THE LORD lays it on the heart of the administrator at your school, they take notice of you & what a great job you are doing and Whaaa-Laaaaa.... you get a raise at your job! You receive INCREASE! 
• C. With your INCREASE, not only do you tithe off of it (give the top 10%)... but you also decide to sow some MORE money into the Kingdom of God... maybe a ministry that is having a great harvest in seeing people saved. 

Do you think GOD is OK with you being EXCITED about your INCREASE? I would say a hearty, ABSOLUTELY! :) 

As a Believer, as a Christian, it is OUR responsibility to help the poor. It is not the governments responsibility to raise taxes, implement more policies to get more of our money to put it towards this or that. It is the Christians responsibility to help the poor. The guy standing on the side of the road with a sign, it's your responsibility to help him. It's my responsibility to help him. Sure, we can't determine... is he just a "con-man." Once that money is out of our hands, we can just commit it to God. God, I did my part. I saw someone in need, and I gave. 

What's good for you? Check this out, Deuteronomy 15:11 says, "For the poor will never cease out of the land." The poor will always be here. What does that mean to you? According to the Word of God, there will NEVER be any shortage of blessings available to you. Do you need to be blessed? Do you want God to help in the current thing you are undertaking? Give. Reach into your wallet, roll down your window, the guy holding the cardboard sign... yah, him... today, choose to give. Or like my dad did... take him into McDonald's, buy his lunch. When you do that, when you GIVE, you put into affect this principle! You put into affect, GOD blessing YOU in all you do! And God's Word works, it does not return void!

What about the church? What about America? It's not the governments responsibility... but so many Christians aren't doing their part. Well then, let it start with you! Let it start with you. Remember & get excited about this....

THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU in ALL your work and in ALL you undertake.

Then, if you have a need in your life, put God in REMEMBRANCE of His Word! "Lord, I gave!" Stand by and watch Him work on your behalf!

#242 - Let the Blessing Work

Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

This morning these words have been ringing in my mind: Be a value adder. Allow the Blessing of the Lord to work for you. 


Here in Proverbs 31:20, we see our Proverbs 31 friend doing both. Not only is she being a value adder, giving to the needy in heart, in spirit, in physical necessity, but she is allowing the Blessing of the Lord to work for her. She is allowing the Blessing that is on her life because of the Lord, to bless others. She is open to bless. She is not so caught up in her own world, life, family, circumstances, "drama" of life, that she misses the opportunity to be observant of what is going on around her. She is aware. She sees a need and fills it. She is being a Value Adder.

No sorrow is added to The Blessing. No toil is added to The Blessing. The Blessing of the Lord, is just that. It is all blessing! It is encompassed with good things, not sorrow. It is encompassed with joy.

Where can you add value today? Is it in prayer? Is it a financial gift to someone? Is it in friendship? Is it in time? Is it in babysitting and giving a friend a 'date night'? Where can you add value? Or... is it merely recognizing the BLESSING of the Lord in your life. The Blessing of the Lord that has been all around you. The Blessing of the Lord. Are you a Christian? Can you see where and how the Blessing has been working for you? Can you see it? If you took the time, could you slow down enough to recognize the Blessing?

#217 - Let God WIN Through YOU!

Good morning! :) All is well here in Columbia, SC. I've been meaning to post a "prego" picture....since I haven't gotten around to it, I'll at least give you an update! :) I am almost 33 weeks pregnant.... that means only 5 more weeks until I am full-term (38 wks)....technically 7 more weeks until my due date of October 3rd. Trinity is definitely growing and ACTIVE! She has been kicking a TON. I have had a great pregnancy. Praise the Lord, I haven't been sick at all (I'm redeemed from sickness). Other than the need for the occasional nap, I have been pretty good. Sleeping at night has been a bit interesting. For those of you who have been pregnant, you know what I mean! It's like trying to roll over with a heavy bowling ball on your stomach! Arghhhhh! I must admit, yesterday was quite a day. I commented to Tyler, "If I could just take off my stomach for an hour... or even just a few minutes, that would be so wonderful! I'll put it back on... but if I could just have a quick break. Breath normal, not be so heavy." 5, 6, 7 weeks seem like a long ways away yet to continue to be pregnant. Do I sound like I'm getting antsy? OK... preach to me, I need it! "Amy, enjoy ever step of this time. Don't wish it away. You will soon be in a different phase, taking care of a newborn. Enjoy this time with Tyler Junior and with your husband. This will be the last time Tyler Junior is an 'only child.' Enjoy it." 


Ok.... Ok... good preaching! :) I need to hear it sometimes! :) Well, we are going to get started into the Word. I actually did follow today's scheduled reading and got into the Psalms schedule, so let's go!

Psalm 41:1-3 - BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is he who considers the weak and the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of evil and trouble.² The Lord will protect him and keep him alive; he shall be called blessed in the land; and You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. ³ The Lord will sustain, refresh, and strengthen him on his bed of languishing; all his bed You [O Lord] will turn, change, and transform in his illness.

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit]. 

Did you ever realize what POWER there was in helping the poor, needy or weak? I remember hearing my mom tell me about my dad giving money to a man on the street. If I remember correctly I believe they were in California visiting my brother. Where there were homeless everywhere, streets lined with different men and women, hands out, asking for money or food. The question came up, "How do you know they aren't going to use the money for drugs? How do you know they aren't a phony and do this for a living? There are so many of them, everywhere, we can't give to all of them." My dad's response was simple, "We cannot control what they do, we can only control our obedience to the Word." At that moment, my dad had felt led to give to that specific man on the street. From there, it was as if he was lending to the Lord. As it says in Proverbs 19:14, "He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him." My dad was walking in obedience & a leading he was prompted to follow. 


As we read Psalm 41, we see how GREAT being a blessing and considering the poor really is. Not only is it the right thing to do, but in doing so, the Lord in-turn will sustain, refresh & strengthen us if we are sick, if we come down with something. The LORD will refresh us! The Lord will change & transform the illness to healing! The Hebrew says that it will be overturned, turn about, be reversed, be overthrown! The illness brought on by the enemy will be OVERTHROWN! Boo-yah! God sees. God sees when we give to the poor. God sees when we are kind to the poor. The Proverbs 31 woman opens her hand to the poor. She reaches out to the needy. Whether in body, mind or spirit, she helps them, she offers her assistance, she gives them food, or friendship, whatever is needed. 


If sickness comes upon our body, we can put God in remembrance of His word as it says in Isaiah 43:26, "Put Me in remembrance [remind Me of your merits]; let us plead and argue together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified (proved right)." We can remind God of our merits, our deeds or actions we have done to honor Him. Isaiah tells us to DO IT! We are not being selfish to REMIND GOD. We are putting Him in remembrance of what His Word says. It shows action on our part. It shows that we know His Word. It shows faith & diligence to put Him in remembrance of His Word. Then we are to STAND. Stand on His Word. Stand on His promises. Stand, without wavering. Stand!

My desire, My will is health & wholeness. Don't give up children. Don't give in to the enemy. What the man of God said was true, 'My children give up too easily. They need to fight.' Yes. Fight the good fight of faith, that includes the fight against the enemy. You have everything you need to win. The will to live & the will to win is key. If my children give in to the enemy, they tie My hands. Don't give in to defeat. STAND! Stand! Be strong & courageous  & STAND! Put on your armor, take up your shield & sword & stand. If you feel weak, STAND! Watch MY strength come upon you to STAND & FIGHT! Your stand shows Me your faith. Your stand coupled with My strength & power & your will to WIN! Let the weak say, 'I AM STRONG.' Their strength comes through Me. I will show Myself strong. I need you to stand so I have someone to win through!

Let God win through you! Stand. Fight. Watch your victory come to pass! If God's Word says it, will you believe it?

#63 - The Finer Things in Life

Good morning! It is good to be back! We spent the weekend in Pigeon Forge, TN and got home late last night. We stayed at the Christmas Inn. It was pretty neat! Very festive! We even saw Santa & sang Christmas songs! Wow! Quite an experience for September! Well.... I feel like I have a full day of catching up, so let's get started...


Today's Scheduled Reading: Proverbs 31:10-31, Proverbs 7, Psalms 7, 37, 67, 97, 127

Proverbs 31:21-22 - She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet. She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].

Psalms 37:4-5 - Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord [roll each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

Well... I'm pretty excited about today's topic. I pray that it makes sense to you and that you are able to grasp what is available for you. That you are able to enjoy the "good things in life" without it being accompanied by guilt. I would say, this is a topic that Satan often tries to use in order to separate the body of Christ. This morning, I pray that we will help unite the body as we dig in to what the Word says on the subject. Abundance. Wealth. And, the Finer things in Life. 


Our Proverbs 31 woman wasn't shopping at GoodWill. Today, she would have been shopping at Saks 5th Avenue or St. John (http://www.sjk.com/en-us/shoponline/couture/). Our Proverbs friend was wearing fine clothes. One website tells it best, "Purple became a symbol of royalty and riches due to the scarcity of its dye.*" You guys, our Proverbs 31 woman DRESSED WELL! She dressed to the 9's! She did not and was not poor! She wore the best there was to wear! HER CLOTHING WAS FINE! 


It seems that sometimes when people get saved, they get this feeling that it means that they then have to change and "be poor" or "look poor" in order to be "holy". They have to do away with the fine things in life because it's not "Christian" or "religious" to have those things. Or... we hear the phrase, "I should do away with my fine things so I can give to the poor. I don't need it. I could use that to help the poor." Do you all realize that the Proverbs 31 woman DID BOTH!!!! She not only dressed well, with class in clothes that were EXPENSIVE... but she ALSO STILL gave to the poor. (Proverbs 31:20) And.... do you know what??? Get ready for this... this is exciting! GOD HAS ENOUGH MONEY SO THAT YOU CAN DO BOTH!!!!!  If you are walking in the revelation that YOUR FATHER really is the Owner of it all, he owns the cattle on 1,000 hills, he is Jehovah Jirah, El Shadai, He is the GOD of ABUNDANCE and with HIM there is NO lack! IF you walk in that revelation, you will KNOW that there is enough, God has enough that, like the Proverbs 31 woman, you can enjoy the fine things in life, while still blessing and helping the poor. 


When you are "delighting" yourself in the Lord, it says in Psalms 37 that He WILL give you the DESIRES of your heart! Even the SECRET PETITIONS, those things that you have had in your head, or deep down in your heart that you would really like to have. Maybe it's a "Tag" watch.... but at $6,000 you can't ever imagine owning something so nice. Maybe you have always wanted a white, fully loaded, with black tinted windows, new BMW. Infiniti QX56, Mercedes.... or a new house with a huge kitchen and top of the line appliances. Whatever your petition is....be it spoken or be it secret, do you realize that NOTHING is a stretch for God! The biggest stretch is probably getting to the point that you know that YOU are worth it! The God can give it to you in the snap of His fingers. That He would give it to you AND meet the needs of the poor at the same time! If you are a parent, just like how you get pleasure out of blessing your kids or grandkids... helping to meet their needs... or better yet, surprising them with something you know they have wanted but wouldn't buy for themselves..... GOD GETS PLEASURE IN BLESSING YOU TOO! God is YOUR FATHER! He wants to give you the desires of your heart!! 


If you live in a country with nothing, you are not more "religious" or "spiritual." The key to it ALL is not letting any of those "things" become an "idol" in your life. That they would not become more important than your God! Like the story of the Rich Man in the Matthew 19:16-27, the Rich man wanted to go to heaven, but went away sad, UNWILLING to give up those things. He HELD his POSSESSIONS in HIGHER ESTEEM then a relationship with God. I believe you can HAVE possession, nice things and in abundance as long as those possessions don't HAVE YOU! I also believe that it is important not to go into debt to "have" those secret petitions. God can do it WITHOUT debt!! 


And just to throw in a quick clarification.... when talking about wealth, a lot of un-knowing people are quick to quote the verse in Matthew 19:23, "...it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." We are not talking about the impossible here. It is not talking about the eye of a SEWING needle. The "eye of a needle" was the entrance to a city. It was the door into the city. In order for a man to get his camel into the city, since the door was not tall enough for the camel to walk in, the camel had to get on his knees and scoot in, ducking his head under the door frame. It was not "impossible", and it was done frequently. Just because someone is rich it does not make them "less religious"... but what it can do, is it can allow them to help more people. Where a lot of people are focusing JUST on themselves and their own family.... "How are we going to pay our bills? How are we going to have enough money to buy Christmas gifts for our family? How am I going to make my car payment? My morgage payment?" While a lot of people are thinking ONLY of themselves and meeting their OWN needs.... those people with money, with wealth are able to get past the "Me Me Me - My Problems, My bills, My Debt", people who have wealth and are born again CHRISTIANS are able to not even have to THINK about how they are going to meet their own needs, those needs are MET (Totally Biblical if you read PHIL. 4:19), but they are able to say, "How can I meet the needs of others? How much money can I give away this month to go towards helping others. Feeding the hungry, supplying Bibles to other countries, supporting missionaries." Yes... while their PAID for Mercedes may sit in their 4 car garage, they are still giving away more money than a lot of people who are worrying about just meeting their own needs. 


So... I may have sounded like I was on a soap box... I probably was. I just want to portray that it is OK to have the finer things in life. The Proverbs 31 woman did and so can you! 

____________________________________

* http://www.ridingthebeast.com/articles/colors/

#48 - Reach Out

Good day to you! :) What a FINE day it is!! :) I am joined today by a fine new friend! :) Whom my husband has referred to as my GNF.... my "Great New Friend". I'm so excited to be joined. Excited & surprised & blessed! So... who is this GNF? Well.... let me tell you a quick story before making the introductions..... :) ..... so... I am on a business conference call last night that my husband was leading. He was getting home probably around 10:30... and to my SUPER exciting surprise....when he walks in, he is carrying a BIG BAG!!! A big, pretty bag with a BIG box in it. :) 

Well.... if you know me well, you know that I am a "gifts" person. I just can't help it, I love gifts! From anything as little as a butterfinger to a diet coke, citrus XS... to big things..... I can't explain it, other than, I'm like a little kid! I just get excited! It's like waking up on Christmas morning... I still get excited! :) Even silly things like new socks or undies. Well... I was SHOCKED at the non-occasion of this gift! :) My husband was beaming. Yesterday he had taken his DOR while the boy and I went to church solo. Well.... he said as he was in his DOR talking to the Holy Spirit that the HS told him to bless me and buy "it" for me. So... I went to open the big, FUN bag & it revealed my GNF... my visitor during this mornings devotion. :) A new diaper bag! :) So... my KATE (Kate Spade) that he got for me has went into temporary retirement. She is going to take it easy for awhile while I sport my fun, new GNF! :)

Isn't she pretty!?! :) I think so!!! :) My husband is a blessing. He just loves to bless me.... even with the unexpected!!! I didn't even "need" a new purse or diaper bag, but he just wanted to bless me. He said in his QT, that the HS was telling him that HE, GOD enjoys blessing us too. Not just with meeting our "needs" but blessing us with our wants. Things that we don't even "know" we want. Our secret petitions and desires. That truly, "God takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servant." And, we are MORE than servants! We are SONS and DAUGHTERS, so imagine how much MORE God takes pleasure in OUR prosperity, His Children! He delights in blessing us!! :) 


So... I am blessed & very grateful! Thankful that my husband listens to the voice of the Holy Spirit. What a blessing. :) He is so awesome!! I LOVE YOU TYLER! Thank you for my new gifty! :) XOXO!


Alrighty then.... let's get rolling with today's Word...

Proverbs 9:3 - She has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town...

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

In Proverbs 3, when you are reading it, you realize that the "she" that it is referring to is Wisdom. WISDOM has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town. And, basically as you continue to read through verse 6, you see WHAT are the maids "crying out" about? Why is it so important for them to go to the highest places of the town to CRY OUT to people? And, WHO are they crying out too? Well.... in verses 4 & 6, you see that WISDOM is crying out to the simple, those easily led astray, the foolish. Wisdom is crying out to them in verse 6 to LIVE!!! To walk in the way of insight and understanding. 


Wisdom, she is standing at the highest place in town. Imagine her, looking down at the town... I envision looking down onto like a maze. She sees all the paths, the dead ends, the danger, the roads that lead to nowhere. Then.... she sees THE PATH. The path that leads to the exit of the maze, blessing, prosperity, health, blessed relationships, passion, love, eternal life - SALVATION, Jesus! She sees the: turn right here, turn left there... keep going straight.... don't take that exit, don't take that turn, it will lead you to nowhere, it will waste your time, you will be walking in toil if you go that way. WISDOM stands from the heights of VISION. SHE SEES. See has a view of the WHOLE PICTURE that you can not see through the trees. She stands up tall and beckons, COME! She cries out the lost, COME THIS WAY AND LIVE! Walk this way in insight & understanding. I will show you the way, you just have to follow me. Follow wisdom. 


What do I find interesting about Wisdom? Something VERY interesting is this... you see if you agree.... Wisdom is CRYING OUT! She is not trying to be elusive & mysterious. She is not trying to hide from you, from us. She is trying to be found! She is wanting to be heard! She is CRYING OUT to lead YOU & to LEAD ME! We just have to tune in. We just have to listen to her Voice, to her Cry, to her LEADING! 


Yes... I know you may have thought this too.... in our cross-referencing and comparison with the Proverbs 31 woman.... my initial instinct when choosing a verse was to choose Proverbs 31:15b, she assigns her maids their tasks. I find it interesting that WISDOM & The Proverbs 31 Woman have maids. WISDOM in chapter 9 has assigned her maids to GO! GO to the highest point and guide. Direct. Lead people. Help them to find LIFE! Wisdom has given her maids an assignment. She has employed them to GO on her behalf and work. So... you may be surprised that I didn't choose Proverbs 31:15 as our "verse" for our Proverbs 31 meditation verse.


Why? Well... as I read through Proverbs 9:6.... I read that she is beckoning to the LOST. Those who are without direction. She is crying out to them. She is trying to bring LIFE. Our Proverbs 31 friend is doing the same thing in verse 20. I looked at the key words in verse 20, poor and needy. What ULTIMATELY makes someone poor or in need? What is the ULTIMATE gift that can be offered? What Proverbs 9:6 talks about as LIFE. SALVATION. Without it we are poor, needy, destitute! We are lost. Without salvation, we are at our greatest point of need because without salvation, we are eternally dead. I believe that our Proverbs 31 friend is not just OPEN to offering this, but she is PRO-ACTIVE in offering this to the poor & needy. She PRO-ACTIVELY REACHES OUT. She is REACHING OUT to the non-believers, to the unsaved, to the lost. She has not remained in her comfort zone or bubble of perfectness. She has not kept to her "bubble of perfect Christian friends", her church friends, her saved friends. All the women in her scrapbook club, or business associates, her small group at church. The women she has coffee with or tea with. She is PRO-ACTIVELY REACHING OUT! She has filled hands, she has something to give, something to offer, a gift. The gift of salvation, the gift of friendship, the gift of a listening ear. She has something to give and so do you!


Empower:
Today, I empower you to reach out to someone. Give! You have something in your hands that can change the ENTIRE life of someone! It can change where they spend eternity, and it can change their life here on earth! I empower you today, go out of your way to REACH OUT to someone. YOU be PRO-ACTIVE today! Be a friend, a listener, minister of the gospel, or RIP someone out of the pit of despair & lead them to the Lord today. Offer the solution. 


Prayer:

Father, we come to you in the name of your son Jesus. We THANK you for giving your son as a gift, as a sacrifice that WE might have life! Today Lord, we pray for 2 specific things..... first Father, let us HEAR & HEED as Wisdom cries out! Let us hear Your Voice & direction. Even as we walk through our day. Walk down the hall, work, eat, allow us to converse with you. We thank you that you promise in your Word that YOUR SHEEP (us), we HEAR YOUR VOICE and the voice of a stranger we will not follow! So we thank you in advance that you PROMISE that we can and do hear your voice. Help us to have a keen ear today, to LISTEN and obey. Secondly Father, we ask you to guide us today to REACH OUT. Help us to reach out to someone in need. Cross our paths with them today. When we come across them, prick our hearts, may we be obedient to your Voice saying, "Reach out!" Father, we LOVE you. We thank you for the opportunity to be called your Child. What a gift! We pray all this in the MIGHTY & POWERFUL name of your son, Jesus, AMEN!

#42 - Poor, Needy or lazy?

Good morning! So... here I sit, the boy is still sleeping. He hasn’t even woke up for his bottle yet! It’s 10:10! The boy and I yesterday had a bit of a rough day. We have overcome some symptoms and are healed in Jesus name! But, needless to say, when your body is fighting something, it seems like you may tend to be more tired than normal. We praise God that we are HEALED in Jesus Name! We stand on God’s Word and it promises that BY JESUS STRIPES WE ARE/WERE HEALED! Since that is the case, we come into agreement with the Word! We call our body 100%! Whole! Healthy! Complete! Working properly how God created it to function! Amen? AMEN! 

While I wait on my boy to get up, I am enjoying Kahve cup of coffee #2. Yum! Don’t forget the sugar free hazelnut until it is the nice shade of blonde! :) For real, one day when I grow up, maybe I’ll appreciate just drinking coffee black, I guess until then I will just enjoy the sweet goodness of my cream with coffee! :) 

Internet is still not working. They can’t come out until Monday... or we have to go to the Time Warner store to get a new “cable box”. We may do that today.... so what that means is when this blog is finished, I’ll have to go to a Wi-Fi spot to submit it! Out of all the networks around where I live... about 15, all of them are blocked for a password. I suppose I could ask my neighbor for theirs. We’ll see. 

Let’s get rolling this morning. 

Proverbs 29:7 - The consistently righteous man knows & cares for the rights of the poor, but the wicked man has no interest in such knowledge. 

Proverbs 31:20 - She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy (whether in body, mind or spirit).

All right. Put down your rocks. Put away your stones. Put down your gavel & take off your robes. I’m going to be transparent here. So, as I was reading Proverbs 29:7...I read it, then I read it again. As I skimmed over the part that says “cares for the rights of the poor”, I literally thought... “Let’s just move on from this! I don’t believe in just giving people a handout. I hate it when people are just lazy and expect everything to be given to them.”  As I just about started to continue to read, I STOPPED IN MY TRACKS. I thought, WAIT! It says this in the WORD. I need to take note of what this is talking about. Regardless of my beliefs and my current “greatest pet peeves”... I need to make sure ALL my beliefs line up with the Word, and IF they don’t line up with the Word, I need to RE-ALIGN my beliefs. 

When I asked about this topic to the Holy Spirit, He said that it definitely would take some study. My first instinct said, “Ok, let’s see what ‘politics’ has to say about the poor. Let’s see what the ‘law’ has to say about it. What’s my responsibility or what ‘should’ I believe?” And then I was quickly corrected again. So, the Holy Spirit continued with me, “NO! Don’t see what politics or the law says about the poor, look first to where you SHOULD look! Look to the Word! What does the WORD say about this subject. The ‘law’ should line up with this. Who you follow in politics should have beliefs that line up with MY Beliefs!” 

My knowledge on the subject is a limited, and I’m sure many of you may know more or may have studied more on the subject. But as I have briefly looked up a few things & in my limited study, here are a few things that I have found. With more study, I’m sure we could find MUCH more on this topic! 

• 2 Thessalonians 3:10 - For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat. 
• James 1:27 (KJV & AMP) - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world. 

In the realm of “government handout”... I believe if people are able to and can work, they need too. I could really get onto a soapbox about this subject, but I won’t, today. But praise the Lord for scripture, it does back up my belief of the importance of working. If you don’t work, you don’t eat. I believe that their is a difference between the POOR, those in NEED and the LAZY. I believe that 2 Thessalonians is talking directly about the lazy. Those people who are able to work, but will not. Those people who just want to “ride off the coat tails of others”. Those people who just do not want to work. Even despite the economic times, there is not a shortage of jobs. I have a friend who works for a staffing agency. He says that the problem lies not with lack of jobs or lack of employment opportunities, but with people being placed in jobs and then do not show up. It’s not that they are not capable, but it is that they do not want to work. They just don’t show. Or a status level gets in the way and people may think, “I am above that job. What would people think?” I know an engineer who lost his job, and just to put food on the table for his family until he could get another job, he delivered pizza’s. 

This is a Word for me today, for sure. The Proverbs 31 woman opens her hands to the poor & needy. Then James talks about VISITING, HELPING & CARING for orphans & widows. To many of us, this may be something where we have gotten “too busy for.” I have two grandmothers who are widows. What a great reminder that we are given a charge to visit them. To help & care for them. 

So.... today.... what can you do to help the needy? An orphan? A widow? Imagine having lost your loved ones... a widow loosing their spouse. An orphan loosing their parents. :( It is sad. What joy a “visit” could bring. What a blessing dropping a check in the mail could bring. Helping in whatever way you can. 

My grandma lives about 800 miles away... but, I just pulled out a card to drop a note in the mail. 

Can you do something small today? A card? A visit? Money? A call? An act of love? 

What can you do? Do something today.