Falling Over Distractions

"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."
-Proverbs 24:16

 

 

I really cannot recall learning how to ride a bike per se; I'll blame that memory lapse on the mileage, and not age. But I do recall falling a lot. I mean I fell a lot. Not too sure if it was due to the size of my bike or being easily distracted. Somehow when your young it doesn't matter the cause of the fall, just the impact of it. Sometimes I could shake it off and keep it moving, other times the bike was put up for another day. Now that I have grown in experience I can now conclude my source of falling was and is distraction. I don't fall off bikes (as much), but I do in my walk with Christ and knowing the source helps me to work on laying aside this weight with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Distraction is a big stumbling block for many of us. I think of Peter who at one point was so focused on Jesus that he stepped off the boat into the water and begin walking towards Him. Steady he was, until he got distracted by the bolstering winds and begin to sink (Matthew 14:22-23). Steady we are until we get distracted by the circumstances surrounding us. Circumstances will forever be changing, it is something we can count on, but it is during these times that we must remind ourselves that Jesus is with us. We don't have to check to see if He is. Unlike our parents that held on to our bikes for a short while before letting go, Jesus will never let go, never. Even when Peter begin to sink, Jesus was right there with His hand extended ready to save. 

We are going to fall in our walk with Christ, this does not surprise our Father one bit. The enemy would like to use our falls to heap guilt on us, but these tactics are distractions to keep us from confessing our sins and finding mercy with God. If we want to continue moving forward with more ease, we must push aside the distractions and make more room for God. He wants to be first in our lives. The more room He occupies, the more lighter our weight becomes, that's because He is carrying it all. Does this mean we won't fall anymore? No. But what it does mean is that our falls will become less and less as we lay aside the weight.

So let's not allow discouargement to set in when we fall. It's just another distraction. Let's just start practicing falling on our knees and looking up to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Father, thank You so much for being right there to pick us up when we fall, and we fall a lot. We thank You for taking the time to "perfect those things concerning us."(Psalms 138:8). We thank You for maturing us in the areas that causes us to fall.  Thank you for how You teach us to focus our eyes on Jesus so that when distraction comes, we can remain steady.  You are the reason for all good and perfect gifts-they all come from You and we are blessed. Forgive us for everytime we have fallen and did not look up to You, but looked to self. Continue to strengthen us against distractions and may Your mercy and goodness continue to follow us all the day of our lives (Psalms 23), In Jesus name, Amen.

(If you have been blessed-leave a comment. I would love to hear your heart.)

Disclaimer:The information contained in these blogs are for reflective purposes only, and may not apply to your situation. The author, publisher, distributor and provider provides no warranty about the content or accuracy of content enclosed. Information provided is subjective, but it contains an objective source.  Keep this in mind when reviewing this blog and when considering using content for other purposes outside of this blog(http://www.easywritingtemplates.com/disclaimers/sample-disclaimer-statementss/). Plagiarism is strongly discourged. Studying the scriptures is highly recommended.

 

 

 

 



Jesus in the Community

"But You ,O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter of my head."

~Psalms 3:3

 



 

I got off work on Friday and drove myself to a retail store to pick up a skirt for Sabbath service the next day. The weather had become increasingly warm and the only skirts that I had available were for fall and winter. So I drove into the parking lot and noticed a small, but focused crowd surrounded around a car that had been driven over the side of a steep curb and was now trapped. The driver, an elderly women sat there looking with disbelief and embarrassment; while the focused crowd, mostly men, studied how they were going to free this car with minimal or no damage.

 

I parked my car, my back facing the crowd, and begin to think of the selflessness of these men. These community of men making themselves available to assist a person in distress. I looked back at them through my side back window thinking, "that's Jesus." Jesus took the time out to assist many in need, many in distress. Here He was now doing it again, through these selfless men. Jesus, the community builder and healer. Jesus, always focused and always deliberate.

 

Those men with clothes undone and sweat blinding their eyes, got the car over the hump-together. They all burst out in shouts of jubilee, giving each other high five's for a job well done. They even went as far as checking underneath the car to be sure nothing was knocked loose or damaged. The women shook each of their hands and I am pretty sure began thanking God in her heart, that He showed up through community.

 

We are the hands and feet of Jesus, so the community of believers are now saying. Together we make a difference. Together we get cars over humps, feed the poor, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, defend the innocent. We are the community and Jesus is in us changing our lives and the lives around us. Jesus is in the Community and we are that community.

 

Father, thank You for Jesus. Jesus who taught us how to make ourselves available so that we could make a difference in our communities. There are many who are in distress, many who are looking for You. You know the needs better than we, so we praise You for leading us and guiding us, and opening up our eyes to these endless opportunities to serve in love. Forgive us for every oppourtunity we ignored, and we confess there has been many times this has happened. Forgive us for judging without knowledge. Father, make us more like Your Son. Place us where Jesus is-in the community. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

  

(If you have been blessed-leave a comment. I would love to hear your heart.)

Disclaimer:The information contained in these blogs are for reflective purposes only, and may not apply to your situation. The author, publisher, distributor and provider provides no warranty about the content or accuracy of content enclosed. Information provided is subjective, but it contains an objective source. Keep this in mind when reviewing this blog and when considering using content for other purposes outside of this blog(http://www.easywritingtemplates.com/disclaimers/sample-disclaimer-statementss/). Plagiarism is strongly discourged. Studying the scriptures is highly recommended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stop Hiding

"And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord."
~Judges 7:2 



 

I like the above verse, in fact I like the entire story of Gideon. I often find myself going back and reading bits and pieces, if not all of the story for insight, encouragement, direction, and solace. A story of an ordinary man, his family, and nation, burdened under the weight of oppression and given no peace. Life is hard and it's even harder when we have our sins and the sins of our "father's" resting on us. The weight can be unbearable, put us into hiding and often time just waiting to die. But God...

God know the history of His people, He was there from the beginning. He knows all about us and not one iota is hidden from His eyes-EL ROI (YAHWEH SEES). In the beginning of the story you find Gideon is threshing wheat behind the wine press to avoid the Midianites from consuming it. It's the way of life for him and the rest of the children of Israel. The Midianites have rearranged their whole lives and have made them miserable. Gideon has chosen to hide to avoid scrutiny and abuse, but God shows up where he is and calls him courageous. What a paradox.

We may be hiding today from something or someone to avoid rejection, disappointment, or failure. But God sees and is calling us out of hiding. He is calling us courageous, because with Him all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). We may believe that God does not care, but He squashed that belief when He sent His only Son to die for you and me. He loves us and He desire liberty for us.

Our lives are indeed improvised without God. No matter how much we try to tailor our lives to counteract this, it only brings more poverty, not just to ourselves but to others. We need God. We need Him in the center of our lives. Not just sometimes, but all of the time. There is not one single act outside of believing in His Son that will draw us closer to Him. God has made a way for peace. God has made a way for us to rise above the fears of our souls. The world may have its way of dealing with pain, but God wants us to cry out to Him like the children of Israel did.  We don't have to hide from anyone or anything for any reason. Let's be what God knows we are in Him-courageous, and let's stop hiding.

Father, we cry out to You today, right now. Save us! We have been impoverished by our sins and often times by the sins of others.  We have allowed these sins to put us into hiding, but we ask in Jesus name, that You will forgive us, as we forgive them. We ask that we will come forward and live according to Your word. We want to be who You say we are, we want to be courageous. We want to live an abundant life, the life that Your Son died for us all to have. We want that life and we ask that You will fulfill that desire today, In Jesus name, Amen.

(If you have been blessed-leave a comment. I would love to hear your heart.)

Disclaimer:The information contained in these blogs are for reflective purposes only, and may not apply to your situation. The author, publisher, distributor and provider provides no warranty about the content or accuracy of content enclosed. Information provided is subjective, but it contains an objective source. Keep this in mind when reviewing this blog and when considering using content for other purposes outside of this blog(http://www.easywritingtemplates.com/disclaimers/sample-disclaimer-statementss/). Plagiarism is strongly discourged. Studying the scriptures is highly recommended.