I'll Wait For You

Gems this is one of those confession jewels so it may be a bit long and you may have to follow me but I will eventually make my point. I write these kind of jewels for a couple of reasons, one to keep me humble and two for you to hopefully feel better about yourself.
So here goes.... I had one of those weekends when your behavior sneaks up on you, and anyone else that might have been unfortunate enough to be near you, and it's not a pretty sight. Kind of like a pressure cooker, your dealing with stuff and the pressure is getting more and more intense but you think you got it under control and then your realize you don't.
I know many people have way worse stuff in their pressure cooker but this is some of the stuff that was in mine.
My youngest daughter has been sick and coughing for weeks and I'm sick of her being sick, I'm sick of fighting with my ex to get a coy of her insurance card, I'm sick of not having enough money, I'm sick of being hot, I'm sick of the crap my son and grandsons deal with because of selfishness and divorce, I'm sick of being alone, I'm sick of people, I'm sick of my hair being long and short, I'm sick of feeling fat, I'm sick of eating cake, I'm sick of bla bla bla.... You get the picture.
My oldest daughter was visiting for the weekend when the cooker blew. I have (had) a radio (picture above) it's really old and only one speaker works but it's all I have/had. I was trying to unplug it so I could plug in the computer so the girls and I could watch a movie. The cord was wrapped around the chair it was sitting on and I couldn't get it off. It was at this point that I lost my mind and picked up the radio and threw it to the ground. The speakers broke off but it didn't break enough so I picked it up and threw it down again with a bit more force and in the background heard Amanda calmly say to Jessica “I believe that's my radio.”
Trying to keep my composure I went directly upstairs to take a shower. As I replayed the scene in my head visualizing how it must have looked to my innocent bystanders, me wrestling with my half functioning radio and pieces flying in the air I once again heard Amanda's words “I believe that's my radio.” I just busted out laughing, I'm laughing now as I'm writing this.
My current journey has been on honoring God. Having a healthier respect and fear of who He is.
I woke up this morning confessing all my above junk to Him and asking Him to speak to me and give me some guidance on what to do with my current situation. I decided I would leave my phone off and get in the word. I picked up my Bible and realized I'm in the book of Job and my first thought was, great of all books how is this going to make me feel better.
I obviously was leaving out the honor and fear part of my journey.
As I began to read Job defending himself to his friends that he was innocent before God and didn't deserve what was happening to him I was right there with him. (IF you don't know the story of Job, read it) Not that I was comparing myself to Job, my life was not and is not as guilt free as his. Just ask the radio. But I was dissing his friends thinking why weren't they more supportive? Why were they so self righteous trying to throw him under the bus? I was cheering Job on thinking him innocent as well and feeling bad that God told satan he could mess with him.
To be honest I was joining in on the why oh why God aren't you talking to me and telling me what to do about my situation????? I was rolling right along with Job until.... God spoke!
These are a few of the things that God asked Job.
Job 38:1 “who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” (assorted verses)
“Where were you when I laid the earths foundation? Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb? Have you ever given orders to the morning or shown the dawn it's place, have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? What is the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth? Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you? Here we are? Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane? Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom? does the eagle soar at your command and build his nest on high?
Job 40:1&8 The Lord said to Job, “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him.”
“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?

It was at this point I was on my face crying out to God for forgiveness. Who was I to question God? I felt much like that radio in broken pieces before my Lord.
Gems this word is for me and I'm sharing it with you. I needed to understand that I can't let the size of my afflictions keep me from accepting them. We need to submit to whatever God requires with meekness not rebellion. Behind the trials of the Godly which may seem unreasonable at the time lies the wise purpose of God for His plan.
The amazing lesson of the book of Job is if we know God, we don't need to know why He allows us to experience what we do. He is not only in control of the universe He's in control of our lives and He loves us. Even if I don't always understand I should not criticize God for how he deals with me or others.
My place is to honor and respect Him because HE IS GOD!
I love how the book of Job ends. Even though God didn't mince words with Job, He gave it to him straight He still delivered Job once he repented.
Job 42:1-6 Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
The Lord not only forgave Job He gave him back twice as much as he had before.
I applied all this to my life and ended my time with the Lord knowing He forgave me. My next words to Him are “SO, I'll wait for you.” I pray to be content as I wait on the Lord and I will try really hard not to break any more electronic devices :)

Do's and Don'ts

I was wondering recently if we have become a people of don'ts instead of do's. What do I mean? Glad you asked. How do you feel when you hear a list of things you can't do rather than a list of what you can?
When I had my first child I was constantly telling him things like don't eat the dog food, don't eat the paste, don't drink the toilet water.
True story: When Anthony was about 2 years old we lived in an old house in New York. The window sills were low to the ground so he could see out his bedroom Windows. I walked into his room one day as he was watching this unexplored world outside his window and wondered what he was thinking. When I called his name he turned around and to my horror could see half a bug sticking out of his sweet little mouth with it's legs still moving.
I now had to add to my list, don't eat bugs unless your wearing camel hair, they are locust and your initials are JTB.
My daughter on the other hand loved to run around in just her diaper, this kid hated clothes so to her list I had to add don't take your clothes off in the mall...
I'm sure you have your own list.
One of the best pieces of advice I got as a young mother of 2 toddlers was any time you took something away from your child replace it with something else. This was great advice.
I could take the scissor from Anthony's hand and replace it with a wooden spoon and as long as I had a big smile on my face he thought he was getting the better end of the deal.
If we are the kind of parents or employees or friends that have a constant list of don'ts it can be exhausting for those in our lives to have a relationship with us and can often lead to secrecy.
Don't tell mom I did this. Don't let the boss know about that. Gems it is exhausting trying to constantly win the affection of someone. This applies to having a relationship with Jesus too.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying rules are wrong BUT what if in our Christian walk we become too focused on the don'ts?
Don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't lie, don't curse, don't nag. Again all good advice but they make people think they have to get all the don'ts out of the way before they can have a relationship with Jesus.
This of course could not be further from the truth. Once we experience Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit all these things will eventually be taken care of. Trust me He's still working on my don'ts list.
We are a selfish people that want to know what's in it for us so let's use that to our advantage.
What if we focused on do you want to have a relationship with Jesus? You get to and all you have to do is believe.
John 6:29 Jesus answered”The work of God is this to believe in the one he has sent.”
What if gave you a list of Do's you get with being a child of God such as:
1. a delightful inheritance Psalm 16:6
2. Sweet communion with God Psalm 17:15
3. experience unfailing love, be filled with good things Psalm 107: 8-9
4. Never be hungry or thirsty again, be fully satisfied. John 6:35
5.Be free from the love of money, be content with what I have, have a helper that will never leave me! Hebrews 13:5-6

What if we changed the things you don't think about like sex outside of marriage, gossiping, pornography, lust you get the point and change it to a Do think about list:
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
I'm just sayin adults are not much different than toddlers take something away and replace it with something else with a big smile on your face and see what happens.
So Gems, as always, I would encourage you today to see if your a don't talker or a do talker. Let's all try to encourage each other with positive words and let the Holy Spirit DO what He does best, fix the don'ts.

Floaters To Followers

I was praying the other day for people, not any one specific thing just for those who don't know Jesus and how I could be more effective in sharing the gospel. As I was praying the Lord shared something with me. The Holy Spirit showed me that I pray for people to have a relationship with Jesus so they can have a better life, so they can be freed from things that keep them in bondage. My desire is for them to have joy and know that God loves them and they can be healed from their physical and emotional wounds. The Holy Spirit showed me that I was looking at lost people like they were sick and could get healthy but that's not accurate. People who don't have a relationship with Jesus are dead not sick. They just don't know their dead. He gave me a mental picture of me in a row boat and there were dead bodies floating face down all around me.
My current way of thinking was like throwing life jackets to dead bodies. (Tough stuff to read I know and some of you may stop reading my jewels all together and that's a risk I'm willing to take, I'll still love ya)
The Lord showed me that dead bodies first have to have life breathed into them and then they can experience all the Lord has for them. First they have to see they are dead and then be born again.
We were all born the first time into a world filled with sin. Sin comes with a price and someone has to pay before you can be free from it. The one that paid the price for us is Jesus.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Because of this we need to be pulled into the boat and filled with the power of Jesus to give us a new life, to be born again.
Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.
You don't set up an IV or make an appointment for a counselor for a dead person.
Now you may be asking yourself, how can you be born again? You wouldn't be alone in this. When Jesus walked the earth and talked about it the people asked that very question thinking he was a lunatic.
John 3:4 The Message
"How can anyone," said Nicodemus, "be born who has already been born and grown up? You can't re-enter your mother's womb and be born again. What are you saying with this 'born-from-above' talk?"
John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
People then just like today are dead and they don't know it. This put a whole new sense of urgency on me to share the good news. The situation became a lot more urgent. It made me want to resuscitate not just grab a band-aid.
John 5:24-27 (MSG)
"It's urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living. "It's urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived—I mean right now!—when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.
We have that resurrection power thanks to Jesus. God loved us enough to have a way out of our current death grip. It's God's will that we all be saved!
John 6:39-40 (MSG)
"This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time."
It may be kind of drastic Gems but we have to start seeing lost people as dead people and point them to the Savior. Once they are given new life they can reap the benefits of that life with Christ living in them. We can turn the tragedy of the Titanic to the joy of The Love Boat :)
1 Peter 1:3-5 (MSG) What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.
We can help turn sins floaters into Christ followers!

Dumb As A Rock

Have you ever heard that saying? When someone is describing a person they don't think is very bright they will say he or she is dumb as a rock.
Hold that thought.
I want to talk to you about prophesying. Bet you didn't see that coming :) Like it or not Paul tells us in Corinthians to pursue it.
1 Corinthians 14 1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Why do people get so freaked out when you want to talk about this? You don't have to be a spiritual super hero complete with cape and a leotard to do this. You just need a heart that loves, eyes that read the word, ears that listen to the Holy Spirit and a mouth to speak the words God puts on your mind.
Simple right?
We have all been guilty, myself included, in starting a conversation with someone that goes like this “I don't know if this is from God but I feel like I'm supposed to tell you....” Sound familiar?
I remember a day when the Holy Spirit gave me a message for a girl I worked with. The message was, don't let the why nots keep you from doing something your thinking about doing.
Gems I had no idea what that meant but she did. She thanked me for giving her the message as she was in the process of making a decision . Every time she thought about it all she could see were the reasons why it might not work and this gave her the push she needed to move forward.
People are always wanting to hear from God especially when we are in the decision making process. God doesn't always use people but a lot of times He does. Sometimes He uses people to give you confirmation that you did hear from Him directly on a subject.
According to Paul he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
When Jesus was with His disciples the Pharisees got bent out of shape when the disciples started prophesying.
Luke 19:38 saying: “‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
They were pretty much telling Jesus to tell his guys to shut it. Why? Did they feel the disciples weren't qualified to speak God's word to men? Did they feel like the disciples were in some way stealing their thunder? Did they think they were the only ones God spoke to?
Why don't churches allow prophesy today? Clearly it's biblical. Some say they believe in it but where is it being practiced if they do?
I'm not dissing the pharisees or the church I'm just asking some questions to you. What do you think?
People are desperate to hear from the Lord but if we aren't prophesying to them when God gives us a word how is it going to happen? Especially if they are unbelievers (those that don't believe in Christ.) Paul said in Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
Gems Jesus told us all to go and preach. You see one of the amazing things that can happen when you give a word to someone is you share something with them that you couldn't possibly have known. The person knows you couldn't know so it causes them to ask “how did you know that? And then you tell them about the Holy Spirit. It get's their attention, they can't deny the truth and it opens the door to share Jesus with them.
True story: A few years ago the Lord sent me to Tennessee. I can't tell you the whole story because it's too long but it was one of the best times of my life. Before I left the Holy Spirit gave me the name John. I was like OK now what? After a series of events I ended up in this little town near Johnson City. It was very old and there were antique shops on both sides of the road. I stared walking down the road when the Holy Spirit said “go in that store.” Now a lot of these businesses were also the owners homes so you had to be careful. I walked up to the door and there was a sign that read “ring the bell” I suddenly felt like Dorothy and thought a small door would open and a man with a big mustache would ask if I were there to see the wizard.
I knocked on the door having no idea what I would do next. The door opened and a nice looking man let me in. I stepped inside and saw a couple in the living area looking at the antiques. I was about to walk into the living room and the Holy Spirit said “introduce yourself” so I stopped and looked at the man and said “hi I'm Gena” to which he replied “I'm John.” Bingo! The other couple ended up leaving and I went on to tell John the Lord sent me from Florida to Tennessee to share Jesus with him. He was an unbeliever, a Jewish man from Florida and awed by God. He listened and we prayed together. It was an amazing day.
1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Please note we are not to throw rocks, the convicting part is done by the Holy Spirit.
Back to our previous story of the Pharisees, I love how Jesus answered them.
Luke 19:40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Jesus is telling us if His people, us, won't speak up His stones will cry out!
I don't know Gems, maybe rocks aren't so dumb after all.
I don't pretend to have all the answers but I do have lots of questions :) I hope you will ask the Lord who He would have you prophesy to and that you will be obedient in doing so. Don't miss an opportunity to edify and comfort your brothers and sisters.
Rock on!

Live Like A Tortoise

My daughter Amanda recently went on a missions trip to Africa and my job was to take care of Juliet for her. Juliet is a tortoise and as you may or may not know pets are not my thing so a tortoise was just my speed, no pun intended.
Juliet lives in an aquarium that has a small rock pool with a log to climb on or under and of course her food dish. There are other odds and ends placed in her home for her pleasure. Juliet doesn't have to do any tricks or make any deals with me in order for me to tend to her daily needs, she just has to trust that I will. I take care of her because I'm her current owner and it's my responsibility. She never appears to be stressed out or worried I'm not going to do my job. She's never wailing or banging her head against the glass begging me to take care of her. She just goes about her life doing whatever it is that tortoise do. There are days however that Juliet attempts tasks that take her out of her shell :)
For instance, she will climb onto the top of the log and do a nose dive. I don't understand the purpose of this but I'm not a tortoise. The first few times she tried this trick she fell on her back and couldn't roll over. I of course would run over to the tank and give her an at a girl for trying something new then turn her right side up. After a few times of me rescuing her she attempted the dare devil stunt again. I thought to myself is this tortoise stupid or what? But then I found myself cheering for her, come on Juliet you can do this thing. She made her ascent once more, making for her the difficult climb to the top of the log. When at the top she stretched out her neck and did her free fall. She once again hit the bottom and landed on her side then ended on her back. This time I waited before I turned her over. I stayed near by and watched the whole time but I just let her battle it. Her little legs were flaring and her long neck came out and she smashed her face into the glass trying to get some leverage (that was pretty funny.) Finally she did it, she rolled over all by herself. I actually ran over to her and yelled YEA Juliet you did it! I have to admit I was proud of her.
All in all taking care of a tortoise has to be the easiest job I have ever done.
As I was sitting here this morning watching Juliet climb around in her little glass world it got me thinking about my life with God.
In that regard our relationships are very similar. God takes care of my needs every day just like He said He would. Part of the Lord's prayer is Give us this day our daily bread. It doesn't say our monthly or weekly bread but our daily bread. Food for one day at a time, so if you don't have a pantry full of food it's OK because God will take care of each day.
I don't have to do any tricks or make any deals for the Lord to take care of me, He's my owner and that's His job. Like Juliet my job is to trust it will happen.
Just as I can always see Juliet from every angle in her glass world Jesus can see me at all times.
Psalm 139:1-12 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,for darkness is as light to you.
There isn't a time I'm hidden from the presence of the Lord, so if I decide to get out of my shell and attempt new adventures He will be there to rescue me when I fall.
Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
As a matter of Fact Peter tells us the Lord will allow us to go through trials and troubles. 1 Peter 4:12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
When I moved to Tampa Nathanael was a senior in High School and wasn't coming with us. After much discussion we decided he would stay in Lake County and live with his father and Jessica and I would move to Tampa. I didn't understand why we would move without him as I didn't feel it was in Nathanael's best interest. As the months went by I was heart broken about Nathanael not being with me and I missed him terribly. He wasn't doing all that great either. He had a bout with depression which only enhanced my mommy guilt. I was very much like Juliet, a tortoise laying on her back arms wailing and crying out to God “how is this part of the plan?”
I had to trust that God had the best plan and of course He did. The months we were here before Nathanael came we made a lot of good friends and many contacts in the church we joined. When Nathanael graduated and moved to Tampa he was accepted in the Up Rising program at the church and his journey took a turn for the positive that I could have never pulled off on my own. Like Peter said, I was overjoyed when God's glory was revealed!
Even if I couldn't see Him while I was struggling God was right there watching the whole time, maybe even cheering me on.
Just like my new friend Juliet we can live like a tortoise in the aquarium of God knowing He will take care of all our daily needs and rescue us when we need it. So Gems I encourage you live like a tortoise!

Connect The Dots

One of the many things I love about Jesus is when He connects the dots. You know when you see a story come together and you know only God could have done it.
I want to share three of my most current stories.
First Story:
I have shared with you before how our church does a community outreach called 2nd Saturday. I was asked to lead a group of volunteers for The Children’s Home annual picnic. We supplied food and games and helped families who are raising other family member’s children for various reasons to just have a fun relaxing day that didn’t cost them any money. While I was there I noticed a young woman with 2 small children, they looked about 2 and 3 years old and she was very pregnant. I could see by her demeanor she was really stressed out and I wondered how she would cope with another baby.
Later while in the ladies room another guest from the picnic and I started a conversation about her situation and how she was raising her nieces 3 children and how difficult it was. I encouraged her as much as possible and allowed her to vent. Before I left for the day that same woman came back to me and said there was a woman at the picnic who was pregnant and didn’t want her baby. I knew in my heart exactly who it was. I asked her to ask the woman if it would be OK for me to have her name and number and I would have someone contact her that could help. I then prayed she would be willing to give a stranger her information. She did and I took the number to a friend who helps with adoptions.
A few months later that friend sent me an email that a beautiful healthy baby was born and going home with a loving couple who have been praying for a baby.
I had to laugh because once again God does things His own way. I’m sure no one planned that God would connect the dots of these 2 families from a picnic.
2nd Story:
I needed to go to my church and pick up a book a friend left for me at the welcome center. I was taking my grandsons to a vacation Bible school at a friend’s church so I figured I would swing by and pick up the book after I dropped the boys off.
Before leaving I went to grab my phone and realized it didn’t charge “for some reason.” I thought I knew where I was going so I left without it. When I got to the church there was no one there, I obviously missed something in the plan. I had no phone… so I had to drive back home to call my friend and figure out where I went wrong.
I thought about stopping at my church and getting the book but I was afraid I would run into someone and start blabbing and the boys would be really late so I passed by and decided to go by after I dropped them off at the right church.
I tell you all these details because I thought I was making the decision of when I would go get the book but unknown to me the Lord was doing the dot connecting for His perfect timing.
I dropped the boys off, went to the store then to the bank and then to my church to get the book. As I’m walking through the lobby a man sitting on a couch starts talking to me as if we were already in conversation. He’s telling me what he needs and who he spoke to last. It caught me off guard and I actually looked behind me thinking someone else must be in the lobby. I told him I didn’t work there and was just picking up a book and then realized it was an opportunity to help a person. I sat down next to him and asked what he needed. He said he was staying with friends and in his car and needed some gas money to get to a job he was starting in the next hour. I told him I had no cash but would follow him to a gas station and put some gas in his car. I asked if I could pray with him and he made a comment to the effect, that’s what everyone I talk to says, to which I replied was the best thing we could do. As we were walking out of the building we ran into one of the pastors this young man recognized so we stopped to talk to him. As we are talking to him 2 more men walk up that just happen to have a men’s ministry! They totally hooked this guy up with food, gas AND a place to live!
Once again God’s timing connecting the dots.
3rd Story: I may not have all the facts in order but it happened none the less.
A little more intense. Our Pastor was doing a message on Hell. We have services on Saturday night and Sunday. A drama was done using Facebook where a young man dies and goes to hell and reaches his best friends via facebook to warn them about hell and how terrible it is. He tells his friends how he had many chances to hear about Jesus and blew them off. He wants to warn them so they don’t end up there. (Go to gracefamilychurch.org to see the message, it’s worth it)
A man was at the Saturday night service and heard the message. This man’s daughter’s boyfriend, stay with me, had just died from a drug overdose the night before.
The man’s family sent an invitation to the friends of this young man who just passed away inviting them to church the next day. Sunday morning about 30 young people showed up thinking they were there for a memorial service for their friend.
They heard the message and saw the drama that really hit home for them. At the end of the service ALL of these young people went forward for prayer!!!!
They were then brought into a large prayer room to be given time to grieve and comfort one another. Many people from the church were also available to comfort and talk to them. Is God amazing or what!
These are just three of billions of times that God is connecting the dots in our lives.
Gems, don’t get discouraged the next time you’re not doing something on your timing. You never know when you’re being used for one of these dot connecting moments.

Safe In The Lord

I was reading in 1 Chronicles 21 today.1 Chronicles 21:1-3 Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.” And Joab answered, “May the LORD make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should we be a cause of guilt in Israel?”
Basically King David tells Joab to get a count of all the troops and Joab responds with WHAT!!! Why would you want to bring guilt on Israel?
You may be asking yourself as I did, why is this a bad thing? Why would it be wrong for the Commander of an army who is constantly in battle to know how many fighting men he has. In the worlds system it makes perfect sense. But if your a Christian you are not part of the worlds system.
Let's look closer at the scenario.
David and Joab knew God's word that was spoken back in Deuteronomy 1:11 May the Lord, the God our your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised.
God had already promised Israel He would increase their numbers and bless them.
In Joab's eyes it was a slap in God's face to count how many fighting men the army had. It didn't matter if they had 100 fighting men or 100,000,000 fighting men God's word was spoken. David should have felt the same way when satan gave him the idea. Gems the devil can do more harm to us by tempting us to sin against our God than he does by accusing us before our God.
David was having a pride issue here not a promise issue. The Bible never says David didn't believe the promise God spoke in Deuteronomy. David was taking matters into his own hands believing he was the reason for the victories the people of Israel had been winning.
Sometimes it's the leaders who knows the scriptures the best that are the ones who are the worst at the application of those scriptures.
We some how allow pride to seep in and we think we are above temptation.
For example.
A few weeks ago I sent out a prayer by David Jeremiah on the spiritual armor and how to apply it. (If you didn't get it let me know and I will be happy to resend it to you) I printed out the prayer and was diligent in praying it over myself daily. The odd thing is the more I prayed it the more warning dreams I seem to be having that I was in for a spiritual attack. I assumed the attack was from outside my personal camp and pride led me to believe I could handle whatever it was because I know scripture and believe God's promises.
Well Gems it came from within my camp and it about took me out. I was definitely wounded and had to lay low for several days resting in the arms of my sweet Jesus for healing.
The “what” isn't important the how and why are.
When I, like King David in the above scripture took matters into my own hands and started relying on my own strength I opened the door for the enemy. You see I was putting on my spiritual armor but forgetting the power was in the one who made it not my power to put it on.
I was counting on me to handle my upcoming battle and not relying on the promise of God that what ever was coming He could handle it for me. Needless to say when the attack came I was blind sided and laid out. The good news is the promises of God were and are still true. I could land in my Savior's arms and He did tend to my wounds and is still carrying me, armor and all, through this season. You see I fell into pride and started asking God to reveal things to me in the spirit realm that I didn't know about because I thought I could handle it. It wasn't wrong to ask, and it wasn't wrong for God to tell me I just forgot the promise of provision was from God, not me. My prayer should have been Lord show me things in the spirit that I am ready to receive. Protect me from what I'm not ready for and fill me with your power to handle whatever truths are revealed.
I'm not saying what was revealed would not have still hurt, trust me it would have but I wouldn't have been so shocked when it came from within my camp.
Daniel 2:21-22 And He changes the times and the seasons;He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.
We can handle the dark as long as we remember where the light to rescue us comes from. Like any army general you need to know what is in the darkness so you know how to prepare for battle but you must remember it is GOD who will resucue you not your amazing ability to lead or awesome knowledge of warfare.
My dear friend Betty sent me Psalm 4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer How long, O you sons of men,Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly;The LORD will hear when I call to Him. Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD. There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
What powerful words. My safety wasn't in me any more than David's was in the number of men in his army. Jesus is the ultimate King and warrior. He begins and ends the battle. He will protect us no matter how many are in our army. Gems all our safety is in the Lord!