The Gift of Work

Genesis 1:31-2:3 (NKJV)  Then God saw everything He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.  And on the seventh day God ended His work which he had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.  Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. 

The first Labor Day holiday took place in New York on September 5, 1882,  in recognition of the contributions of the American workers to the prosperity and well-being of the country.  Since then, the first Monday of September is celebrated to honor American workers. 

God created us to work for his purpose and the well-being of our families and others. He is the role model and set the first example through his creation. All work is important in his eyes, as a volunteer, a laborer, an office worker, a peace keeper, running a business and/or taking care of a home and family.   

By his grace we work where he puts us to fulfill his vision, mission and plan.  He is our employer, the one we all work for and to whom we are accountable.  He provides leadership and guidance through the bible and prayer; he helps us to set goals to accomplish his mission and vision; he gives us feedback on our performance and corrects our path when we get off track and he recognizes us for a job well-done.  

Work gives us purpose, without which we flounder and become self-centered in our focus. Ask someone who has been out of work for a long time. The grind of looking for a job, going on interviews and experiencing rejection takes a heavy toll on one’s self-esteem. Being idle for too long makes us vulnerable to Satan’s attack.  Our only defense is to keep moving and keep our eyes on God. 

Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NKJV) As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor, this is the gift of God. 

God’s work is not always easy, but it is a blessed gift of his grace to be treasured.  

Thanks be to God.   

Happy Labor Day!

There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in - that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible.

Mother Teresa

We Walk By Faith

Hebrews 11:1-3 (NKJV) 11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

I planted a garden on a beautiful Spring day in April, the day of my sister’s funeral. I had not planned to plant a garden that day, just like I had not planned to say goodbye to my sister Patty so soon. Nonetheless, I spent a good part of the day turning and fertilizing the soil in raised planter boxes, then carefully created the rows to plant the seeds, lightly covering and tamping the dirt.  Finally, using a watering can I gently soaked the soil, careful not to disturb the seeds.  

Three weeks later, as I faithfully watered my garden, I received word of the sudden death of my beloved brother Mikey. This season of Spring which always represented to me new life, growth and hope brought me loss, despair and time in slow motion.  

Through my pain, I prayed and kept vigil tending to my garden and watching the tiny seedlings turn into adult plants filled with blossoms. Soon the blossoms became baby produce clinging tightly to the vine and I continued to nurture them, filled with wonder as each plant flourished.   

For the past two-weeks I have been harvesting large quantities of vegetables from my garden; beets, squash, green bell peppers, carrots, tomatoes and raspberries. I am overwhelmed and grateful for this bounty of perfectly shaped and sweet flavorful produce to enjoy and share with others.

Yesterday, I was so pleased with the results of my labor I decided to take pictures. I sent one via text message to a friend of mine, acknowledging the bountiful harvest from God.

She wrote back, “Abundant fruits are given to those who believe even when you don’t see.” The gift of that simple text was enormous, reminding me that we walk by faith, not by sight. 

2 Corinthians 5:6-7 (NKJV) 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 

Faith is believing without seeing. The fruit of faith is the only proof we need. When I planted the garden, I did so with unquestioning faith that it would grow. When my brother and sister passed way, despite my loss of their physical presence on earth, I know by faith that their spirits are soaring to new heights with our Father.   

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was and the spirit will return to God who gave it. 

Most times we don’t understand why things happen in our lives, especially tragic events.  Sometimes life just kicks us in the stomach, but through it all God walks with us, comforting and guiding us to a better place. It may take time, but through our faith we will get there. 

When we take our hands off the controls and turn our lives over to Him, walking in faith, he can do amazing things in our lives. Never lose hope, believe with all your heart and watch as the beauty of God’s grace unfolds before your eyes.   

“Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.  Saint Augustine.

“Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light” Helen Keller

Have a blessed day as you walk in faith with our Father.  

Praise God

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
Praise him, all creatures here below.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host, 
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

These beautiful words of praise were written by Thomas Ken in 1674 and is commonly used in worship.  I remember standing next to my mother in church as a child singing these words, but not really considering what they mean. It was just another part of the service, but as an adult I have come to  appreciate this verse as more than mere words, but sweet refrains of worship and praise for our Father.   

Psalm 9:1 

I will praise you, O’ Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all of your marvelous works.

Psalm 79:13

So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth Your praise to all generations.  

The Psalms written by King David are filled with prayers and songs of praise.  The Psalms are uplifting and inspirational.    

Many times however, when I am communing with God, I find that I am usually asking him for something, sometimes thanking him for something, but rarely praising him. In reality, praising God should always be the first thing on my list and not the last. To praise God is to honor and glorify him through our behaviors as well as with our words.

This started me thinking about what are some ways I can demonstrate my praise for God each day.  Here is what I came up with and will focus on going forward: 

• Acknowledge him to all for His beautiful creations and blessed works in each of us.
• Worship him through song, prayer, study and communion with others.
• Start each day with a grateful heart, giving thanks for the glorious dawn.
• Honor him by living each day according to his commandments.
• Walk through each day with hope, faith and joy.    
• Be happy, humble, forthright and gracious to all.
• Talk, but also do the walk. 

How do you praise God? 

I love this YouTube video of the common doxology of praise.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SHl_BmTqfk

Enjoy!  May God Bless You and give you peace. 

Praise be to God!

I Will, God

To know God’s will, say, “I will” to God.  Author Unknown

It seems that for some people understanding and committing to God’s will comes easily, clearly and early in life. For others, the struggle for understanding is a lifelong pursuit. We become lost in the world and search blindly for a complicated grand plan. But if we stop and quietly pray and listen with our hearts and open our minds without judgment to the possibilities we may learn that the plan is right in front of us. 

Making a commitment to say, “I will” to God and living life as a Christian is where it begins and ends. Paul wrote some very clear guidelines on what “good” looks like when it comes to being Christian.

Romans: 12: 9-18 (NKJV)

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 
17 Repay no one evil for evil.  Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 

Living and behaving as a Christian is the beginning of honoring God and it will lead to doing God’s work and to understanding His will.  Living God’s will is as unique and special as we are as individuals. It requires perseverance, trust and faith in what we don’t know, understand or cannot see.

It requires a belief that God has a specific plan and is ready and excited to direct our path accordingly, if only we ask.

Behaving as a Christian is a great place to start as we take a step one day at a time to find clarity. It starts with three little words:

“I will, God”!    

Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the spirit.

But I came to learn that God never shows us something we aren’t ready to understand. Instead, He lets us see what we need to see, when we need to see it. He’ll wait until our eyes and hearts are open to Him, and then when we’re ready, He will plant our feet on the path that’s best for us…but it’s up to us to do the walking.”  Immaculee Ilibagiza, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust.   

Uncertainties of Life

Ecclesiastes 11: 5-7 

5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mothers womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. 

6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another - or maybe both

7 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning. 

Most of us have well laid plans for each day. We wake at a regular time and go about our responsibilities at work or at home caring for loved ones. We check off our lists as tasks are complete with a feeling of accomplishment and comfort. We are conditioned to routine, discipline and responsibilities and most find comfort in knowing and having set plans. 

We also know that there is a whole spectrum of things that can and will happen during the day that are unexpected and can throw the day, week or even our life direction into a flurry of change and uncertainty. A sudden serious illness, an accident, a divorce, a loss of a loved one or a job are life changing and force us into a position of uncertainty. 

There are some people though who make the choice to make significant life changes and are challenged by the uncertainty.  Accepting a job that requires a move to a different city or even more daring moving to another city without a job. Or if you are like me, quitting a miserable job without having another job lined up.  

I like having security and a plan so before making the change, I prayed about it and felt in my heart without any doubt that it was the right decision. Even though I am confident in my decision, I admit that dealing with the reality of uncertainty at times is frightful as I am filled with second thoughts and worry. But other times the uncertainty feels exciting and adventurous. I ask God each day to direct my path and I am confident that he will put me where he wants me to do his work according to his plans for me.     

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord you God, He is the One who goes with you.  He will not leave you nor forsake you”

Trusting in God’s plan takes courage, hope and believing beyond all doubt that God walks with us continually.  There is not one-second during the day that he leaves us alone.  As with everything in life, it is courage, faith, hope, love and trust in God that will bring us through to a better place and a stronger faith. 

Today I am filled with peace, hope and excitement as I look forward to what God has in store for me.  I give thanks to God for all I have and pray for his blessings for each of you.

Romans15:13 (NKJV)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  

All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired. Martin Luther

The Lord Directs Our Steps

Happy New Year! 

This is a good time to remember that no matter what plans we make for ourselves, it is truly God who determines our path. Sometimes the path he chooses is not the one we have or would have chosen. Where to live, where to work, the lifestyle we choose, our friends, and how we spend our spare time. God gave us the freedom to choose, but when our plans are out of sync with the path that God has chosen, we feel it! We stumble and things don’t go perfectly or as planned. We get frustrated and disappointed and ask “why God?”.  

By living one with God in prayer, with humility and trust we find the answers, if we open our minds and our hearts to his word.  

Proverbs 16:1-9 says it so clearly.  

Proverbs 16:1-9  (NKJV)

The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.

Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established. 

The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. 

Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished. 

In mercy and truth,Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil. 

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 

Better is a little with righteousness,Than vast revenues without justice. 

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

You Are Precious

Ephesians 1:4-6 (NKJV) ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

Just imagine. Before we were born, God knew, loved and chose each and every one of us as his children. We were predestined as children of Jesus Christ and he made us unique and special for his purpose. 

With the current population of the world at 7.2 billion it is difficult to understand how he could possibly know and love each of us, but he does. God has perfect knowledge of each of us.  He wants to interact with each of us as if we are the only person on earth. God is all knowing, omniscient and everywhere, omnipresent.  He knows everything that we think and feel, what we need and desire, and our dreams. He knows every step we take and He walks with us every step of the way. We are each precious to Him.  

Isaiah 43:4 (NKJV)  Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.

We may become influenced by the world and take the wrong path at times, confused and caught up by material pursuits, but God knows the intentions of our hearts.  He made us and knows that we are capable of living the life he had planned for us, if only we accept him and allow him to work through us. We only need to take time to seek him, talk to him, love him and trust in him.  

Psalm 139:1-4 (NKJV) God’s Perfect Knowledge of Man 

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up;You understand my thought afar off.  You comprehend my path and my lying down,And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue,But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

Dear Lord - Sometimes I feel so small and insignificant in this grand world you created. But you tell me I am special and precious to you?  Oh, thank you so much!  Thank you Father for loving me despite all of my weaknesses.  I know that you know all of them, despite my lack of acknowledgment and confession. I am grateful for your mercy and grace and to be your child and for the blessings you provide to me each day. Teach me Father to live the life you have planned for me.  Amen.

My dear readers, I encourage you to watch the touching video in the link listed below.  It is only four minutes long and will be worth your time. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRvr_qqA1Sk

David’s Song of Thanksgiving

1 Chronicles 16:7-36

⁷ On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the Lord:

⁸ Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
⁹ Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
¹⁰ Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
¹¹ Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
¹² Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
¹³ O seed of Israel His servant,
You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

¹⁴ He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
¹⁵ Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
¹⁶ The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
¹⁷ And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
¹⁸ Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,”
¹⁹ When you were few in number,
Indeed very few, and strangers in it.

²⁰ When they went from one nation to another,
And from one kingdom to another people,
²¹ He permitted no man to do them wrong;
Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
²² Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”^[a]

²³ Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
²⁴ Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.

²⁵ For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.
²⁶ For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
²⁷ Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and gladness are in His place.

²⁸ Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
²⁹ Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
³⁰ Tremble before Him, all the earth.
The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved.

³¹ Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
³² Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.
³³ Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord,
For He is coming to judge the earth.^[b]

³⁴ Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.^[c]
35 And say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;
Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise.”

³⁶ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!^[d]

And all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  GOD BLESS YOU!

Your Plan, God’s Plan

Matthew 7:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

I used to think that when we live life in God’s plan that the road would be straight, smooth and without struggle or pain. To the contrary; living life in Gods plan requires strength of mind, body and spirit, patience, resilience and endurance. It takes work to be a Christian but in the end the rewards will be greater than you can ever imagine.  It is not easy to dodge the curveballs and spikes that Satan throws in our path, but through unending faith and God’s grace we will make it through to victory. 

Sometimes the path we choose may feel irresponsible or risky in the natural world, but is absolutely the right move to stay on course with God’s plan. His plan is unique and special for each of us, therefore the road for each of us is designed differently.  Too often we find that we trust and are influenced by people and the material nature of the world and lose focus on what is most important to God. People will always disappoint you, God never will. Don’t ever lose faith in him, because he never loses faith in you. When you find yourself in a deep valley, he will reach out his hand to you to pull you up, dust you off and send you on your way. 

Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.

Don’t be afraid, no matter what comes your way as God is in it with you. Don’t worry, put your trust in the Lord, he knows the future and his plans for you. Don’t lose hope, but live joyfully as you receive the gift of life for each new day and give thanks during your trials. Whatever trials you are facing, you will get through it and when you emerge on the other side you will find yourself closer to God. Find the gift in that trial and its place in molding you and preparing you for something greater. 

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)

⁹ But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man, The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Here is something to make you smile today so we don’t take ourselves so seriously that we miss out on the dance of life.  This New York traffic Cop will make you smile: 

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=WYKYPGNX

The Decisions We Make

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, 
And lean not on your own understanding; 
In all your ways acknowledge Him 
And He shall direct your paths.

I love making decisions. What I don’t like is the period of time analyzing, discussing and agonizing over all of the options before making it. Perhaps this is just a sign of age, as I was more carefree and sometimes reckless in decision making when I was young.  I know now that it was by Gods grace and forgiveness I was always able to bounce back and correct course when I chose the wrong path.

I have learned a lot from my mistakes and perhaps that is why I am more cautious today. Perhaps this is just a normal part of life and growing up spiritually.  

Today, I find myself consulting with God on every major decision and even some of the seemingly small ones. Major decisions that impact relationships, finances and health are the big ones. Now I pray more often about the major decisions before I make them, which helps me to spend less time asking God for help when I make poor choices without consulting Him. 

Think about how many decisions you make in a day and how many of them do you discuss with God.  

Every choice and decision we make has consequences, good and not so good. For the things that are within our control, we always choose our consequences.  In addition to the major stuff every day you decide: 

• To get out of bed or sleep in
• To eat or not eat breakfast, lunch and dinner (healthy or otherwise)
• To go or not to go to work
• To drive, walk or take a bus
• How to dress (clean and according to your work or sloppy without care)
• What kind of mood you will be in - happy, sad, grumpy, mad, angry...
• How you will treat and greet others (with love, joy, happiness or with criticism, distain)
• How productive you will be (how much effort, energy and commitment you give each day)
• To exercise, read a book, plan for the future, or lay around and watch TV till you fall asleep

God gives us free choice, but we must do our part by doing what is right in our hearts, by asking God for guidance and then doing what he says, even if it wasn’t what we had in mind. God always answers prayers for those who ask and are obedient to his word.  

I pray that all your burdens are light and your decisions come easily by His grace.  Have a blessed day!

James 1:5 (NKJV) ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

1 John 5:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV) 

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,  “This is the way, walk in it,” 

Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.”