Blessed

Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.” Psalm 128:1 (NIV) "What kind of foolish do you want to be? It’s a question I’ve started asking myself. When I hear the word “foolish,” I’m drawn to the story of Noah, a man passionate about the pursuit of obedience, despite looking like a fool. In Genesis 6, God speaks to Noah about the greatest flood that would ever occur (6:17). He instructed Noah to build a massive ark (6:14-16) and to bring his family (6:18) and two of every creature (6:19-20) on board. People thought Noah had lost his mind. What kind of a fool would build a giant boat and load it with smelly animals? All while there was not a raindrop in sight. I imagine the mockery he endured from those in his community was painful for Noah. Yes, Noah appeared awfully foolish. Until… those dark clouds rolled in. Until… it rained and rained and rained. Until… water covered the entire earth. Noah as a person inspires me, but his obedience challenges me. A few years ago I listened to an author share a story about a book she had written. Sales took off quickly. A few weeks after the release of the book, another author wrote her an honest email. This woman said she knew she was supposed to write a book with the same message as the best-selling one. God had given her identical verses and points to make. Yet she’d disobeyed Him and put off writing that book; she felt the Lord had given the other author the message instead. The regret from disobedience of not writing that book made her feel foolish. Hearing this story, I thought of all the opportunities of God’s plans I had missed because of disobedience. In my own regrets, I too felt foolish. Truthfully, God does not need us to accomplish anything. He’s God—sovereign, powerful and mighty—with or without us. But, He wants to use us. He’s given gifts, talents and great purpose in Him to each person. The painful reality is, if we don’t obey God, we will miss out. The pursuit of obedience can be hard. Along the way we may lose friends, be mocked or called crazy. But ultimately, we have a choice: obedience that may look foolish to others or regrets that will make us feel foolish later on. What kind of foolish do you want to be? Dear Lord, thank You so much for always giving us another chance to pursue the purpose You have for our lives. May today be a day we begin living out the promises and plans You have for us more than ever. In Jesus’ Name, Amen." -Nicki Koziarz, Proverbs31 Ministries This is such a poignant message to me. With everything that God has shown me.. a lot of times I really do feel like Noah... that everyone (the few people) that I share things with, feels like I'm just a nutcase.., But no matter how much I seek God's face in prayer about these things, I keep getting the same answer... that these things will come to pass, that I just have to believe, and so here I am resting and believing that God will accomplish the work that He started. There are many lyrics that I have written in my journal that some months later I hear on the radio--- a new song--- just coming out from some Christian artist.... I don't want to be the person that misses out on what God desires to do through me. I don't want the songs and words that He desires to be spoken to be spoken through someone else ... I want to speak them... I want to be a voice for this generation!!

Patient Endurance

“This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.” Revelation 13:10b "Patient endurance is not easy, but many times it is necessary. If you change jobs every two years, ten times in a row, you do not have twenty years of work experience. You have two years of work experience in ten different places. So, make sure that you learn what God intends for you to learn where you are, before you move on. This is one of Satan’s ploys. His desire is to keep you reactive to life, accompanied by a shallow faith. Your faith has the opportunity to go deep when you stay somewhere for a while, but your faith remains shallow when you run from resistance. Resistance is a faith builder. When you are pressed against by life (what sometimes seems from all sides), you have the opportunity for growth. This is where patient endurance can serve you well. Patient endurance says that I will stay in this marriage, because it is for better or for worse. I will allow God to change me for the better, and I will trust Him to do the same for my spouse over time. Indeed, patient endurance is able to outwait and sometimes outlive its accusers. Accusers come and go. If they do not get the reaction or desired response from you, they will move on to some other unprotected prey. So, by faith, “out-endure” your enemies. There will always be someone who does not like you. Don’t think you can appease everyone; this is not possible or healthy. Appeasement may grant concessions that come back to haunt you. It is one thing to negotiate with those who represent a spirit of good will but it is a whole other deal to compromise with someone who is totally at odds with your values and principles. Be willing to walk away. It is not worth it to do business with an enraged enemy. Patient endurance is illustrated throughout the Bible. Jesus patiently endured the cross. He patiently endured His critics and, ultimately, He more than restored His reputation when He proved His claims by His resurrected life. David patiently endured the fallout from his adultery and murder. He had pushed himself to the point of totally turning his back on God, but, instead, he turned back to God and became a broken and humbled leader. Joseph, also, patiently endured the ridicule and jealousy of his family members. Their injustice drove his faith in God deeper and broader. His patient endurance during the horrific injustice of his imprisonment led to his godly influence over a kingdom. Hannah patiently endured her inability to bear children. Her faithfulness to God during barrenness was a testimony of encouragement to friends, family and a nation. Her womb was empty, but her faith was pregnant with God possibilities. Therefore, do not be tempted to take the easy way out. The easy way, many times, is not the best way. Yes, there is a time to cut your losses, but only after you have patiently endured and exhausted your options. People are watching how you 'do life.' So, use your influence to help others patiently endure their situations. Faithfulness, when you don’t feel like it, is evidence of a maturing faith. You may be on the verge of experiencing God’s very best. However, do not confuse procrastination with patient endurance. Patient endurance is active and productive. It is not misguided, apathetic or irresponsible waiting. It is daily depending on and seeking God for His best. Therefore, patiently endure for God’s sake and for the sake of others. Heavenly rewards await those who patiently endure. Moreover, your faith will never be the same!" -Boyd Bailey

Caring for the Overlooked

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NIV) "I can count on my fingers the number of times I showered during the last couple of months of Ron’s life. My husband was confined to a hospital bed in our living room, and hooked up to a morphine drip that he’d try to pull out of his arm when he’d wake disoriented. And we had a three-year-old little boy who liked to toss things into the toilet bowl and stir them around. I couldn’t take my eyes off of either one of them. But I needed to bathe and brush my teeth. I had groceries to purchase, mouths to feed, bills to pay and trash to take to the curb. Several times throughout the day, I needed to go to the bathroom. I depended on others to help me “carry” all these things. Once a week, a Hospice volunteer sat with Ron so I could take a shower and a nap. My mother and sister-in-law picked Nick up a couple of times a week so he didn’t witness things with his dad that a toddler shouldn’t see. There were occasional visits from friends and other family members, but most kept away because it was too difficult for them to see their beloved Ron deteriorate so quickly. I understood. Really, I did. But it was hard. I felt alone and helpless. Hungry and tired and dirty. And I was watching the love of my life die a little more each day. I wouldn’t trade those final days with Ron for anything in the world. I would not have wanted (or allowed) anyone else to care for him. Love gave me strength and God carried me when I had no energy left. Yet, while the role of caregiver is one I cherished, it was filled with so many challenges and hardships. Do you know someone who is caring for a chronically or terminally-ill loved one, an elderly parent or a young child? As today’s verse in Galatians tells us, we are called to be compassionate, to love, and to carry each other’s burdens. When we do these things in His Name, we demonstrate His love to others. It is our responsibility as Christians. And it’s our privilege. From a heart that has been there, may I encourage you? Don’t overlook the caregiver. Love on them. Encourage them. And be the hands of Christ, helping carry their burdens, in the midst of their weariness. Dear Lord, please give me Your eyes to see the struggling caregivers around me. Strengthen and equip me to help carry their burdens. Help me to see when help is needed and when I would be more of a burden than a help. Show me tangible ways that I can make a difference, bring encouragement, and share Your love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen." -LeAnn Rice, Proverbs 31 Ministries