jesus

Whom Shall I Fear?

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In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah got the opportunity to see God in a whole new light.  The fact that Isaiah hung on to the death of something in his life showed he had experienced great loss. There was something valuable to him that was there no longer. But what he gained was bigger and better than he ever thought possible.  God gave Isaiah a glimpse of who He really is. Once you get a glimpse of who God really is, nothing else matters.

Isaiah needed that moment with God to fill his emptiness.

Once God filled it, Isaiah was ready to minister again. “Here I am. Send me.”

Like Isaiah, I have experienced great loss. I have nothing left to give. God has emptied my coffers so that all there is is me. But all the takers in my life are still trying to take. They are frustrated when there is nothing there to take. They want more of what they were used to getting, but there is nothing. He brought me to this season for a reason. God is my only source, and I have learned contentment. (Philippians 4:11-13)

In my 50th year of life, the Lord is teaching me how to fear Him. It is the beginning of wisdom. Once you get a good picture of who you serve, it puts everything in perspective. I don’t think that it is a coincidence that there are lots of thunderstorms and earthquakes in this area. God shakes our foundations to show us we don’t control anything.

The same God who loved us so much He sent his Son, is also the same God who turns up the earth in quakes and sends us running for cover in tornados. I serve a mighty God and trust Him with all areas of my life.  He shut the mouths of lions for Daniel. He kept the fire from the 3 Hebrew boys. Ain’t nothing out there can touch me, less it go through Him first. If He brings me too it, then He will bring me through it.

If Noah had brought other people on the boat, they probably would have jumped off after 20 days because they didn’t trust what God was doing with Noah. He got to experience God as a destroyer of mankind and as a provider for his family. I know that when this season of life is over for me,  I will be like Isaiah wanting to share all that He has done for me.

God is in control. He knows what He is doing. I believe that His children will not be forsaken.

Serving Others

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TAB 2 Tarrant Area Food Bank

My pastor is preaching a series on serving others. His theology is God knows you are serious about putting Him first if you are serving others. He defines serving others by doing things for people who can’t reciprocate. Dr. Tony Evans said that others’ special needs are designed for divine intercession, it allows God to teach us about Himself.

I have had an amazing walk with God this week sitting in hospital rooms. Sometimes I got to sit quietly, while other times the rooms were filled with conversation and laughter. I have the best family. These people will show up and stay when you are in need. I got to see a compassionate God who cares for us in our weakest moments. We are all heading for that moment. Oh but for grace that will meet us there.

Last night I worked at the Tarrant Area Food Bank with a group of good friends. It was a blessing to be with folks who gave their time unselfishly. We had a good time doing something for someone who could not pay us for the work. God revealed what unconditional love looked like through these people.

That is what I love about God’s word. He gives us examples to live by. We know that if we serve others, we are in His will. If we are selfish, we are not in His will.

I know who I am in Christ. I know my strengths and my limitations. This week I got to be His hands and feet to the point of exhaustion. When I scheduled the Food Bank, I had no idea the other events of this week would take place. I am confident that I am in this season of life for this purpose.  My confidence is from Christ and His power at work in me.

Good Friday

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For Lent this year instead of giving up something, I added something.

Every day I told the Lord I loved Him. I mean He already knew, but through this process I learned some things.

Here are some of my take aways:

His love is consistent. He tells me everyday He loves me whether I hear it or not.

He trust us with moments

He protects me from things I don’t know. I don’t need to know everything.

He continually reveals Himself to me.

I am learning not to fight when the day doesn’t go the way I schedule it. I remember one morning He woke me very early to spend my time with Him and do my bible study. I ended up spending the rest of the day at DPS renewing my license. Instead of leaving cranky about how slow DPS was, I was in awe of how God ordered it all.

Even though we think we order our days, plan our paths, control our destiny He showed me that He can shut humanity down with some ice and water. While we were trapped in our houses, I watched birds gather pecans like nothing was happening.

My favorite is the adventure that comes with a life dedicated to Him. Some people think their lives will be boring if they follow Jesus. Over the last month and half I have heard the President speak live, had my film accepted into two great film festivals and had the chance to visit a site from my family history.

Life is not always so full and fun. I think of the incident yesterday in Kenya. New stories said four gunman divided the students between Christian and Muslim. They killed the Christians. In my safe little world of Fort Worth, it is easy to say that I identify with Christ. But I wonder what would I say if there was a gun to my head. Whenever I think I am sure that I would stand up for Jesus, I think of His disciples who chose to run on a day like today. Are you confident of what you would do? If not:

Keep allowing God to work your muscle of faith.

Be confident like the three boys in the furnace.

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3: 17-18.

I am assured that when those babies entered heaven yesterday that Jesus was standing at the right hand of God welcoming them home. They had passed the most important test.

Jesus

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Today I am thankful for Jesus. I love me some Jesus. Unlike fried chicken, sweet potato pie and cranberry sauce, there are no calories associated with Him. But He will change your life. #won’thedoit.

The more I learn about what God did to bring me back into a right relationship with Himself, I can’t do nothing but shout. Some people find my praise offensive, but to whom much is given, much is required. #don’twaittilthebattleisover

He could have let me drown. I would have let you, if you had sinned as much as I did. I would have given up on you. But God fills me with His hope so now I can’t give up on you. He changes lives. Many of you are still my friends because of Him. He loves us more than we can imagine.

He died in my place, paying a debt to sin, I could not. I don’t deserve His grace and mercy, but am blessed because of it. Thank you, Jesus.