GodandMe2theMax

When we know what we need, we'll know when we have enough.

When we know what we need, we'll know when we have enough.

I went to visit with a client a few weeks ago, and I had the privilege of sitting in on their staff chapel while I was there. The president's wife was sharing a devotional, and she said these words. "When we know what we need, we'll know when we have enough." When you think about it, those words are pretty profound, really.

This Christmas, like so many other families I know, we've had to come face-to-face with identifying needs and wants. Between extra medical bills this year, lack of income for the ministry, and one of Frank's clients having a large unpaid balance on an invoice, we've been faced with tough choices. Praise God that at the end of the day, all our bills have been paid, without one of them being late. But we can't take the credit for that, this is truly due to God's miraculous intervention on numerous times!

I'm so thankful that my children are not materialistic. They don't have long Christmas wish lists. Last year, Amber asked for one thing - the Indiana Jones trilogy. This year, just one thing again - a lock for her door. And Jacob, well, he just had his birthday party, so he doesn't have much on his list, either. A few months ago, I told my husband, "For Christmas, I would really like a pair of cowboy boots." He quickly replied, "I don't think that's going to happen. You don't really need cowboy boots." I really couldn't argue with him, knowing our financial situation; I knew he was right. But in my mind, I definitely thought "Doesn't every girl who lives in Texas need a good pair of cowboy boots?" :)

Philippians 4:19 says, "My God shall supply ALL your needs, according to His riches in glory..." So this morning as I contemplate those words my client said, what do we really need? Let me draw the circle around myself. What do I really need?

There's an old Gaither song that goes something like this: "Loving God. Loving each other. Making music with my friends..." It kind of answers the question. Sure, besides the obvious, we "need" food to sustain us (some of us less than others!) We "need" warmth and shelter to make it in the cold night. But what do I really need? No, it's not a pair of Cowboy boots. And to be honest, the list is not very long and can be simply put, God, family, and friends. But in reality, He could choose to take away even the family and friends part of the equation...leaving the one true need - HIM.

This last week I was humbled beyond imagine as I was leaving my worship team practice. As I was walking off the platform, my worship pastor stopped me and handed me a small red bag with a greeting and a hug, "We want you and your family to have a Merry Christmas." It was from the rest of the team.

I was floored and speechless, and I must be honest, I'm a much better "giver" than "receiver". "This can't be happening," I thought. "No, I'm the one who usually gives. Why did they do this?" I made a mad dash out of my church and cried all the way home, even before opening the card inside. I knew what was in it, and I knew the love and sacrifice behind it. I got home and opened it with my family and found a wad of cash and a beautiful ornament. I've wrestled with that "receiving" over and over. God knew our needs as a family, and He met them. But the giver in me said, "Isn't there someone else who needs this more than us?"

Either way, God's promise in Philippians was fulfilled once again, in a miraculous way, He met our needs. He doesn't promise to meet our wants...but in reality, He even does that so often!

Matthew 22:37-38 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

This holiday season, with today's cares and tomorrow's concerns, I remember God's wonders and faithfulness of the past. He sustains. Always. I'm figuring out the difference between my wants and my needs so I know when I have enough. But one thing I know, I never can have enough of God. The more I understand Him, the more I realize how much deeper into this relationship I need to go.

 

--Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Who is my god? The object of my affection...

Yesterday I downloaded a new book on my kindle called "Craving God: A 21 Day Devotional" by Lisa TerKeurst.  It was free, and published by Zondervann, so I figured I couldn't go wrong.  The book is about craving God instead of food.  (At least with the given title and my limited reading so far, that's what I can tell.)

As I read the first chapter, I was quickly allerted to the fact that this "devotional" had only a vague reference to Psalm 139 with us being fearfully and wonderfully made.  Sure, the content has been good so far, but when I finished the first chapter, I definitely didn't feel "fed" spiritually.  You know, just because something says "devotional" on it, doesn't mean it's filled with God's Word.  And to grow spiritually, we have to be cautious to not fill our mind with words from good people...we have to focus on God's inspired Word.  Ironic, yes, coming from a blogger.  But true, nonetheless.

Like I said, the content has been good, and I'm going to finish this book.  Struggle with food has always been a life-long battle for me.  Here's some quotes from the book so far...

"I had to get honest enough to admit that I relied on food more than I relied on God, I craved food more than I craed God."

"Is it possible we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God?  Now before you delete this, hear me out.  This question is crucial.  We have to see the purpose of our struggle with food as something more than getting to wear smaller sizes and receiving compliments.  Shallow desires produce shallwo efforts...The process of getting healthy has to be about more than just losing weight and focusing on ourselves.  It's not about adjusting our diets and hoping for good physical results.  It's about recalibrating our souls so that we want to change for the right reasons."

But as I contemplated the words from the book, I turned to God's book, and for whatever reason, he led me to Psalm 23.  The Lord is my shepherd.  I shall not be in want.  Interesting that the Lord led me to that.  If I am craving food, maybe I'm not letting the Lord be my shepherd.  Hmmm...  He leads me...He restores me...He guides me...He's with me...He prepares my table...

So as I contemplated the combination of my new little "devotional" book with God's book, He led me to write this poem this morning.  It's a question we each have to ask ourselves, not once, but every single day.  Who or what is our god?  Who or what is the object of our affection?  I'm renewed today with an even greater desire to keep my God with a big - G on the throne.

Who is my god?  The object of my affection.

Wake up super early, phone by my bed.
No time for breakfast, gotta get the kids fed.
Must have my coffee, can’t live without it.
Then find time to work out so I can stay fit.

Making good progress, now it’s my time for me.
Kids are at school, and I’m finally free.
On the docket today, shopping and fun.
And of course some facebook while I’m on the run.

A glance at my watch says it’s time to stop
Kids will be home soon and the floors still need mopped.
Dinner is served.  Homework is done.
Kids are in bed.  Watch out tv, here I come.

The end of the day, it’s quickly in sight.
I got it all done, with all of my might.
Almost asleep.  Whoops, gotta say a quick prayer.
Then God speaks back in the dark night air.

“Who is your god?  You’ve replaced Me, you see.
The day is over, but what about Me?
You have time for shopping, you have time for fun.
You have time for friends, but time for me, there’s none.

Who is your god, the coffee, your phone?
Is it your food, your chocolate, am I still on the throne?
Am I King of Your life, ruling supreme?
Or have I been replaced with more important things?”

“But God, I just had so much to do.
Tomorrow will be better.  I’ll find time for You.”
But the pattern continues.  Night after night.
“I’ll change, God.  Tomorrow will start off right.”

Truth be told, nothing changes until the heart is clean
With motives and sin on the table to be seen.
The object of my affection each day must be You.
My big G-God, my provider, my only love true.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Amino Acids at Work...

Hebrews 13:16  "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased."

Amino Acids.  They are the building block of proteins.  Admittedly, I was not a disciplined student in school.  I don't remember much of what I was supposedly learned.  Thankfully, I did have some great English teachers, but when it came to science, it was pittsville for me.  But this one thing I do remember:  amino acids are the building block of proteins.

This last week, I witnessed first hand Christian "amino acids."  OK, don't check out on me just yet.  Our bodies need protein, right?  Protein is a fundamental component of all living cells.  It is necessary for an organism to function properly.  Do we all not need Christian protein in our life?  Even more, I'm talking about the amino acids, the building block of proteins -- the very basics. 

Let me explain more.  This summer, my daughter and I are going on a mission trip to Colombia.  This will be my ninth trip to Barranquilla, Colombia, and my 14 year old daughter's fifth trip.  I love Colombia, but the decision to go was not made lightly.  I prayed and prayed, asking God to clearly show me this was HIS will, not just mine.  One big factor in that decision was the fundraising required.  You see, after you go to the same place on a mission trip several times, it's really hard to keep raising money to go again, year after year.  I felt in my heart that God was opening the door for us to go again, but our family didn't even have the $200 per person to officially make the deposit for the trip.

But where God guides, God provides.

I received an email from our church several weeks ago, saying someone anonymously donated the $400 deposit for Amber and I to go.  Step one, whether or not to go, confirmed.  We then sent out our support letters to family and friends.  In years past, we've been able to financially supplement what we couldn't raise, but that isn't the case this year.  We were 100% reliant on God for this one, which is exactly what He wanted to so He could be glorified. 

Donations started coming in, and we were zeroing in on what we needed.  But also zeroing in was the deadline.  Half of our money is due in a few days, and we still needed almost $700.  Like I said, everyone needs protein to survive.  And if I was going to survive in this fundraising quest, I needed some amino acids.  The thing is, God knew that.  He surrounded me with living, breathing "amino acids" found in my life group and friend circle.  One friend outright told me, "You're having a garage sale.  I'll help you get it organized and work it for you."  Did you catch that?  She planned my fundraising garage sale for me!  Building block one.  People started donating items for the sale.  Building block two, three, four, five.  Thursday night came, time to set up for the sale.  Our garage was literally half full of items.  Building block six, seven, eight, nine, ten, and eleven showed up to help me get it organized.  They stayed late in the evening.  Emails and texts came in from more building blocks.  "I can't help, but I'm praying."  By twelve noon on the first day of the sale, God had provided all the remaining funds that Amber and I needed for our mission trip. 

What I witnessed this weekend was truly a miracle, unfolding before my eyes.  You see, I couldn't even work the garage sale on Friday, since I had to work my real job.  Of course, God can accomplish His will any way He wants, but it's especially rewarding when it unfolds using willing, selfless, amino acids.  Yes, amino acids, the building blocks of protein.  Protein that we cannot survive without.

As you can imagine, I've been on a God-high the last few days.  I'm humbled by being the recipient of such massive blessings from others.  I've also been asking God how I can be a blessing to others, in the same way these amino acids in my life have been to me.  One way He showed me is by helping others in their fundraising efforts with the extra money from my sale.  If you asked me even a week ago if I would financially be able to do that, the answer would have been a firm "no."  But that's the cool thing about amino acids.  They build on each other to make protein - necessary for life.

Perhaps it's an odd comparison, this concept of a Christian amino acid, but what happened this weekend couldn't have happened without each one of those people working together to get the job done.  One block at a time.  And I couldn't have been used to bless someone else without those initial building blocks of protein helping me.

Take a look at the verse to memorize for this week.  Hebrews 13:16  "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased."  The author uses a direct address here.  It's an order.  In a Beth's blog paraphrase, he says "Be a selfless amino acid.  That's an order, and don't forget it.  God will be happy with you for being obedient."

How about you?  Are you being an amino acid, building protein into the lives of those around you?  Are you making a conscious choice to build life into someone, block by block?  You don't have to have money to be an amino acid.  No, in fact, all you have to do is be obedient, just like the verse says.  So this week, don't forget to sacrificially do good and share with others.  God will be pleased.  Be a building block in someone's life.  Be an amino acid.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

No distractions. No excuses. No ADD surfer moments.

Hebrews 12:2  "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Distractions.  Losing sight of the goal.  It happens to the best of us.  Sometimes we just get so focused on what we think is really important that we lose sight of what should be our real priorities.  I recently saw this exemplified last week while watching an episode of Untold Stories of the ER.  This particular one featured an ER in Hawaii with two surfer dudes as the prime focus.  Let me just say that these guys were ADD in action.  You see, they had decided to go out spear fishing, and I might add that they actually seemed pretty good at it.  Sure enough, one of the guys spotted a beauty of a catch, and with meticulous aim, he got it.  The problem?  He speared the fish right into his buddy's leg.  They arrived at the ER with one main goal.  I don't know about you, but I can think of a few things that should have been at the top of their priority list when arriving at the ER.  Perhaps questioning if the spear could be removed safely.  Perhaps focusing on not bleeding out when the spear was removed.  Perhaps getting medical attention to avoid infection.  But no.  The main goal of the two guys was to save that fish, still entangled between the leg and the spear, so that they could eat it for dinner.  I think these two surfers lost sight of what was really important, don't you.      

If you've been a member of Groupies4God very long, you might remember that back in September, we learned Hebrews 12:1. It encourages us to persevere in this race called life.  This week, we'll memorize verse two of Hebrews twelve, and it tells us how to persevere -- by fixing our eyes on Jesus!  That's the goal.  Focus on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith!  Our faith began and will be finished in Him.  He started it, and He's perfecting it in us, daily.

The verse  then goes on to say that "for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame."  Do you really think Jesus found joy in going to the cross, and suffering pain and shame for my sins and yours?  I don't think so.  In fact, in Matthew 26, we see Jesus praying that "the cup pass over Him."  I do believe, however, that the joy Hebrews 12:2 is talking about is the good that would come from His death.  Jesus knew that by enduring the cross, He would conquer sin and death so that we could have eternal life.  It was the greater good.  Yes, He gladly went to the cross on our behalf, without distractions.

Honesty time here.  If you know me, you probably also know that I have a bent to be just like those surfer guys.  When I am extremely stressed, my ADD brain kicks in, and it's hard for me to prioritize the fog clouding my brain.  Work, family, and friends distract me from what I know I should be doing.

What about you?  What has God called you to do that you aren't focusing on with all your effort?  Has He clearly told you to go on a mission trip, and yet you're holding on to your fear?  (Matthew 28 says go, that one should be a no-brainer!)  Has He asked you to serve in a particular area at church?  Maybe it's even more simple than that.  Maybe God is telling you to follow Him whole heartedly.  He's been pricking your heart to spend more time with Him, praying and reading your Bible daily.  What is it?  Take some time to write it down.  For me, writing it down in ink is the hardest part.  That's where I become honest with myself.  That's the point of commitment for me, no turning back.   

What distractions are in place that keep you from fixing your eyes on Jesus?  Financial pressures?  Stresses of work?  Busyness of life?  What about your friends?  Yes, even your "bestest" of friends could be distracting you.  All these things can lead us to give the same answer the disciples did to Jesus in Matthew 26, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."  The disciples wanted to pray with Jesus, but they were just so stinking tired!  How many times do we use the excuse, "There just aren't enough hours in the day!"  Think about it.  Search your soul.  Ask our Father in Heaven to show you and reveal truth in your life today.

Back to the surfer dudes in the ER.  The cool thing is that even though they got distracted from the important issue, the doctor was able to bring their focus back.  He was able to help them realize what the real priority should be - removing the spear, not saving the fish.  In the end, they actually got the best of both worlds and came back that night with dinner for the doctor, a special thank you gift. 

I believe God, the Great Physician, is a lot like that doctor.  He helps us gain focus, and He heals us spiritually so that we can accomplish His will.  Are you ready to serve without distraction?  Are you ready to stop using excuses?  Get your pen and paper handy, and get honest with God.  No more distractions.  No more excuses.  And no more ADD surfer moments.

 ---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

Encouraging during the lemons of life...

Proverbs 12:25  "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."

Sometimes God allows things to happen and take place in our life that the world would simply call a "lemon" of a deal.  When these things happen, when the lemons are dealt, we are often left feeling disheartened.  No, not necessarily depressed or even worried, just simply heavy hearted.  

Think about Naomi.  If you're not familiar with the story, take some time to go read the book of Ruth.  From the world's perspective, Naomi was dealt some real lemons.  Her husband had died.  She had two sons, and they both passed away.  Naomi was no longer even living in her homeland or near her relatives for support.  All she had left was her two daughter-in-laws: Orpah and Ruth.  These tragedies left Naomi disheartened to the point that she told Ruth to call her Mara, because "the Almighty has made my life very bitter."  Her anxious heart was heavy.  Can you blame Naomi, really? 

Maybe you're in a similar situation.  You feel like the Lord has thrown some lemons at you lately.  Your heart is heavy.  You're lonely.  You're disheartened.  You need someone to encourage you.

Back to the story, let's look at the impact Ruth's words likely had on Naomi, in relation to the verse to memorize for this week.  Ruth 1:16-17    "But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  Where you will go I will go, and where you will stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried'..." 

Can you imagine how Naomi's spirits were lifted from the loving words Ruth offered?  Naomi was perhaps at an all time low.  She wasn't out there asking for handouts, in fact, she even gave her two daughters-in-law an 'out' to leave her.  Although those lemons were still tough to swallow, I do believe Naomi was better able to swallow them because of the loving support of Ruth.

Let's look at the verse for the week.  "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."  Do you know someone like Naomi?  Someone who is heavy hearted, with a lemon-filled life?  Do you know someone falling away from church, maybe because of life's circumstances? 

The question begs, "What are you going to do about it?"  When is the last time you hand-wrote a note to encourage another person?  Technology like email and facebook are amazing tools, but when is the last time you actually picked up the phone to call someone to lift their spirits over the phone?  I know I've been the recipient of many kind words cheering me up lately.  I also know that the Lord has been teaching me lately to be a more consistent encourager.  It's so easy to get busy and just neglect to send a note...neglect to call.  The truth is that I've found when I take the time to encourage someone else, I'm encouraged.  It's funny how that works like that!

So who do you know that needs encouraged this week, and what are you going to do about it?  Will you be like Ruth and encourage a heavy-heartened friend?  Perhaps this comes a bit more naturally for women than men, but that's no excuse.  Men and women alike, will you join me in making a goal to look outside your circle and encourage a new person each week?  Let's each consider it our responsibility to not only memorize this verse but also to carry it out this week.   Let's all cheer up someone with a kind word and help their lemons turn to lemonade.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

 

 

 

Monday Memory Verse - I Peter 5:10 - Spiritual Wipeout

I Peter 5:10  "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

Have you ever seen the television show Wipeout?  It's where contestants go through a brutal obstacle course, with traps and distractions thrown at them along the way, in hopes that they will stumble, take longer to finish, and possibly even give up.  We've watched it a number of times, and it's not uncommon to see at least one contestant make it all the way to the finals, only to give up because they can't seem to overcome the challenging course.  Now, don't get me wrong, if I were a contestant, I would probably give up in the first round.  It's a brutal way to win money, being punched in the face with obstacles, catapulted through the sky into raging waters, jumping from platform to platform while cement is poured on you.  Yes, those are just a few of the things the contestants have to overcome.  Bottom line, the one with the best time in the final wins $50,000.  It's quite the entertaining show, but as I started to think about the verse to focus on this week, it's also a good parallel to life.

To understand the verse to memorize for this week a little better, I want to back up to verses eight and nine.  Peter says "Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."  Then verse ten,  "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

Sometimes this life we live is just like Wipeout.  Satan is throwing distractions at our life, trying to mess up our secure footing, trying to get our eyes off the prize, even trying to make us give up.  We may get hit with satan's cement, making it feel like we're stuck and can't keep moving forward.  We may get catapulted into the raging waters and feel like we're alone out there.  But the Bible says we need to have self control and be alert and aware that he's out there trying to attack. He would want nothing more than for a Christian to give up on their calling to follow Christ.  He wants nothing more than to wipeout a Christian.

But verse nine says we should resist him and stand firm in our faith.  It also reminds us that there are other Christians going through this same struggles that we're facing.  Of course God is there to help us get through tough times, but He also gives us Christian friends for support and encouragement!

Then the verse to memorize for this week, verse ten.  After we've suffered a little while, God will restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast.  How encouraging is that?  Yes, we may go through some sufferings, satan may even throw some pretty difficult obstacles our way and try to wipe us out, but God promises that He will give us the strength to finish the course.  He puts our feet on a rock and gives us a firm foundation!  (PSalm 40:2)

Are you facing spiritual wipeout today?  Are you wanting to give up?  Remember these verses as you memorize this week.  Be alert and ready to stand against the attacks of satan.  Rely on the Godly friends that God has placed in your life.  And  don't forget that God is going to help you get through the course.  You can't do it by yourself, it's only through His power that you will have the strength you need.  No, I'm determined I will not wipeout for God.  How about you?

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Monday Memory Verse - Proverbs 27:6 - The truth hurts sometimes...

Proverbs 27:6  "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses."

Growing up the baby with three older brothers, let me just say that I am a tad bit competitive.  No big surprise for anyone who knows me, really.   I've always been like that, even if it meant a little bending of the rules to come out on top.  In my circles of friends these days, I'm the subject of many jokes during any type of game or competition.  Everyone knows I like to win, and it was no different back when my husband was a pastor in Ohio.  Except back then, I didn't quite have a rein on my competitiveness.

You see, one weekend, we had a church-wide scavenger hunt.  We broke into teams.  Mine included my brother Bruce and his wife Anita, who had been visiting the church for several weeks.  We got our lists, and my competitiveness kicked in.  I started devising a way to win, and it started by going straight to the church kitchen.  (What?  The rules didn't explicitly say you had to go door-to-door to get the items!)  So being the loop-hole finder that I was, I saw nothing wrong with starting the scavenger hunt on the church premises...after they said the word "go" of course...I wouldn't want to be accused of cheating or anything.  I actually have no memory if my team won or not, but I very clearly recall a conversation that followed a few days later.

The subject came up when I asked Anita when they were finally going to join the church.  Anita, being the diplomat and non confrontational person that she is, had a really strange look on her face.  But, she wouldn't actually give me a straight answer.  It took a while, but I dragged it out of her.  Anita finally told me that she was offended by my aggressiveness and cheating at the scavenger hunt.  (Cheating?  It hadn't ever occurred to me that I was cheating...I was just being resourceful and trying to win!)  She then went on to say that they really weren't sure they were going to join the church, because I was the pastor's wife, and if acted like that...well...  You can probably fill in the blanks.

At that point, I had a choice to make.  I could become indignant and argue that what I had done was not cheating.  Or I could listen to the Holy Spirit who used Anita in my life to confront my competitive spirit.  I listened to the Holy Spirit, and I listened to Anita.  I asked her to forgive me, and I told her that she was right.  I asked the Lord to forgive me, too.  And at that point, I committed to not cheat in games anymore.  And truly, to my knowledge, I haven't.  Mind you, I'm still quite competitive; that hasn't changed.  The difference is that I may want to win, but I don't have to win.

Back to the verse to memorize for this week.  "Wounds from a friend can be trusted..."

To hear Anita call me a cheater, even if it was the truth, hurt.  Perhaps for the first time in my life, I was caught, and it didn't feel so great.  It was a wound, an open one at that.  But by Anita pouring truth into my life that day, I was able to confront sin, and God was able to bring about change. 

Sometimes we have to speak truth into our friends lives, truth that is neither easy or pleasant.  Truth that might just cause a wound.  Sometimes like me, we are the recipient of a friend's painful words.  Words shared because they love us so much they don't want us to continue down the wrong path.  Those times are never easy, whether we are the giver or the recipient of the wound.  But the Bible says that wounds of a friend can be trusted.  Like Anita, your friend may have your best interest at heart.  Sometimes we have to hear painful things about ourselves for our own good. 

The second half of the verse  says "...but an enemy multiplies kisses."  On the flip side, our enemies may say really sweet things to us, but offer no real help.  A kiss is sweet, right?  Even multiple ones.  But a kiss from our enemy?  It would mean nothing; in fact, it would be a complete turn off, knowing it wouldn't be genuine.  We need to have Godly friends in our lives, and if advice is coming from people who are not Godly, well, they could actually be our enemy.

As I learn this verse this week, I'm going to be asking the Lord to keep my defenses down.  Sometimes it's easy to dismiss truth from friends because I simply don't want to hear it.  In fact, usually if it's negative and about me, I want no part of it.  But God often uses friends in my life to bring about the change He wants.  I want to be honest with my friends, and I want my friends to be honest with me.  The truth hurts sometimes, but in the end, it's best.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Pride meets God...Daniel Chapter Four

In Daniel chapter four, we see Neb's mind at work again.  Well, it was quite active when he was asleep at least, because when he was awake, he definitely wasn't thinking on his feet.  You see, he had another dream; one that terrified him.  He wanted to know what it meant, so what did he do?  He commanded all the wise men of Babylon to come before him to interpret the dream.  (At least this time he didn't make them tell HIM the dream...he just wanted to know what it meant.)  What's that about history repeating itself?  Yep, you guessed it, none of the magicians, enchanters, and astrologers could fulfill this task.  However, into the presence of the king walks Daniel...aka Belteshazzar...and things started to change.

Time to stop, think, and apply.  At this point, I just scratch my head at Neb.  Why would he not just call in Daniel from the get-go?  Daniel's God had proven Himself when no other god or magician could, yet that's not where Neb turned.  Instead, he turned to what was comfortable.  He turned to his old stand-by.  How many times am I just like Neb?  I turn to my friends for advice instead of God.  Yet even worse, I turn to the comfort of sin.  Not because I want to outright sin, but because it's easier than doing what is right.  Sure, it's easy to point fingers at Neb and his lack of faith, but I'm just like him sometimes.

Then I noticed one more tidbit of information in verse eight that I don't remember learning before.  Neb had given Daniel the name of Belteshazzar.  OK, yea, I knew that, but what I didn't know was the insult Daniel had to bear with his new name.  Belteshazzar was the name of Neb's god.  So Daniel, who devoted himself to living for the one true God, had to go around bearing the name of a false god.  When Neb named Daniel, maybe he did it as a compliment because he was so impressed with Daniel.  From what I can tell, the Scriptures don't say.  Regardless, it makes me think about times in my life that I've been called names because of my stand for Christ.  I can remember getting picked on as a kid because my family went to church and didn't go out partying.  I can remember times even as an adult in the workplace when people talked behind my back and called me some choice names, all because I didn't compromise.  Unlike me, Daniel was in captivity.  He couldn't walk away from the situation like I could.  Yet, he maintained his testimony.

Back to the dream.  OK, in reality, it was a nightmare, and I think there was a reason Neb was fearful.  Daniel was even afraid to tell Neb the interpretation until Neb set his mind at ease in verse nineteen.  Basically, the dream was a curse.  Verse twenty-five says "You" (Neb) "will be driven away from the people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven.  Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men."  Daniel then made a bold move.  He begged Neb to take his advice, to turn from his sin, and to start doing what was right.

Everyone needs a Daniel in their life.  Someone who will have the nerve to say what's right before God, even if it means it won't be received.  Daniel boldly told Neb, the king mind you, what he needed to do.  Of course, at that point, Neb didn't take the advice.  But a seed was planted for future actions.  Am I being a Daniel in the lives of my friends?  When I see them falling away or living in sin or not seeking the Lord in their life, do I care enough about them to speak up?  Am I planting seeds?  More to apply.

Chapter four ends with the dream being fulfilled and Neb finally learning.  You see, at the root of all his problems was pride.  He was too proud to say his gods were no match for Daniel's God.  He was too proud to say he didn't have control of things.  Twelve months after the dream, Neb's pride was peaking and he looked over his kingdom and said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"  Verse thirty-one says the words were still on his lips when a voice from heaven declared that dream was about to come true.  It was immediately fulfilled. 

King Neb now was driven away from people, ate grass like cattle, his body was drenched with dew, his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle, and his nails like the claw of a bird.  He went from riches to rags, literally.  How often am I just like Neb?  I take glory in MY accomplishments.  Look what I've done...  When the reality is that I am nothing without God and what He has allowed me to do.  Thankfully, my God is a God of second chances, and that's what He gave Neb, too.  Neb was humiliated in every way.  He was living with the animals and had lost his mind and control of the kingdom.  But verse thirty-four says Neb raised his eyes toward heaven, his sanity was restored, and he praised the Most High God.  His honor and glory were also restored, his advisers and nobles sought him out, and he regained the throne.  He humbled himself in the site of the Lord, and the Lord lifted him up.

The chapter ends with Neb's personal testimony.  "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all his ways are just.  And those who walk in pride He is able to humble."

I find so many practical spiritual lessons throughout this chapter.  In my last blog about Daniel, I said, "Will Neb ever learn?"  Well, I think he learned.  I hope I learn, too.  God, let me have the boldness of Daniel to stand for spiritual things, let me always acknowledge You as King, the author of all things, and help me, God, to never take credit for my accomplishments.  I am nothing, I have nothing, apart from You.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Facing the Impossible?

Have you ever faced a situation that looked so grim you dared to use the word impossible?  Impossible.  Can't be done.  No way.  Not a chance.  Never.  As I study Daniel chapter two this morning, that's what Nebuchadnezzar's (Neb for short) magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers said.  Apparently, they had never met the God of Daniel.  They had not yet met my God.

You see, King Neb had a dream.  Perhaps it was a nightmare, because his mind was so troubled he could not sleep.  Instead of telling the dream to the wise men of the city, he wanted them to tell him what the dream was.  In verse five Neb says, "If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I'll have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into rubble."  The wise men answered in verse ten, "There's not a man on earth who can do what the king asks!..."  Impossible, they said.  At that response, Neb became so aggravated he ordered all the wise men in the city to be gathered and killed.

Daniel and his friends were considered among the wise men in the city, and the guards gathered them to be terminated along with the others.  Of course they asked why Neb would order such a harsh judgment, and I don't think it took long after hearing the reason for the verdict that Daniel knew exactly what to do.  He didn't start to worry, which would be the first reaction of most.  He started to pray.  Daniel didn't just pray, verse 17-18 tell me that he started a prayer chain with his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

In man's eyes, the task was impossible.  Predict King Neb's dream and interpret its meaning.  In God's eyes, nothing is ever impossible, and Daniel knew it.  God answered Daniel's prayer, revealing the secret to him in a vision.  What was Daniel's next move?  To thank and praise God.  Verses 20-23 of chapter two record his prayer.  He then went in to King Neb to tell him the dream.  I love how Daniel acknowledges that no man on earth could have ever done this, but God, his God, alone was able.

So what do I learn from Daniel this morning? 

1.  Nothing is impossible with God.  NOTHING.  (I needed that reminder this morning!)
2.  My first reaction should always be to pray, and to engage others to pray with me about the need.
3.  Thank God for answered prayer...not a simple quick "thank you" but take time to just praise Him for who He is and how He works!
4.  Be bold.  Daniel could have easily feared for his life when talking to King Neb.  But he boldly took a stand for God, giving credit where credit was due.
5.  God rewards faithfulness.  Daniel was promoted to be ruler over the province of Babylon and chief of the governors over the wise men of Babylon.  He sat in the gate of the king.

Facing the impossible?  Daniel two reminds me to pray first, and let God figure out the rest of it.  Somehow when you put it into this kind of perspective, that word IMPOSSIBLE just doesn't seem so big...not bigger than my God, anyway.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

Friends on my heart...old and new

My heart has been nagging about some relationships over the last few weeks...praying about what to do, if anything.  Relationships that were once vibrant friendships but are now non-existent...friends in name only.  God brings friends into our lives for seasons sometimes, and I know that.  I don't want to force myself into anyone's life that doesn't have time for me or doesn't seem to want to reciprocate.  I'm in the "wait zone" with knowing what to do, if anything.  Yet, the Bible says a friend loves at all times.  So wait I will on God to restore the friendship if He chooses to.  I know that the day might come when those friends might actually need me...and when they do, I'm determined to be here and available.

This morning I opened my Bible to I Samuel 18.  Actually, I just finished studying Jonah, and I wasn't sure where I was going to turn this morning, but my Bible literally opened to I Samuel 18.  OK God.  I have friends on my heart, and you led me to this passage of how David and Jonathan first became friends.  What do you want me to learn?

The first thing I see right off the bat is that friends allow themselves to be vulnerable.  David and Jonathan met and instantly became bosom friends.  Picture it.  Jonathan was the Prince of Israel, the heir apparent to the throne.  They talked, then had an instant bond.  Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.  That conversation must have been pretty special!  Jonathan then offered David not only his robe and tunic, but he even gave him his sword, bow, and belt.  He gave up his defense!  When Jonathan did this, he left himself vulnerable to attack from the enemies.  I love the personal application in Scripture.  It's always there, we just have to look for it sometimes. 

When I allow myself to be vulnerable with a friend, when I give them my sword and bow, I am exposed.  My friend can use those weapons against me some day.  Or my friend can use those weapons to protect me.  Finding a friend that you can always rely on to do the latter is not always so easy, though.  Sometime friends forget that we've given them our clothing and armour.  Sometimes they turn on us and use it against us.  And thankfully there are times when friends come to our rescue, just when we need them.

A few months ago my church had a Women's Retreat where Jen Hatmaker was the speaker.  She talked during one of the sessions about the Three Components of Godly friendship.  Here's some notes:

1.  Do you know the real me?
--Talk is the very essence of a real relationship
--Do I make my whole, real self available
--Authentic friendships only exist between authentic people
--Real friendships are big enough to survive and live through real life

2.  Will you be there?
--This is where love grows legs
--Real friends are there for us when our world crashes
--Love God.  Love others.  Who do we love, and who loves us?

3.  Will you point me to Christ?
--The truth isn't easy all the time, but will you point me to Christ?
--The friend that loves you the very most wants you to love God the very most
--Friends can point you to God in any context
--Godly friends will point you to Christ FIRST
--Godly friends will ask this question first:  "Have you gone to Jesus about this?"
--Jesus rolled the stone away; friends just unwrap the baggage
--Friends speak truth to another friend who has lost their way
--Truth spoken can be via confession

She closed with these words.  "Our friendship is too important to me to let it self-destruct or fall off the side of the road.  Jesus calls us His friend.  Will my friend say in eternity, "I knew Him better because my friend knew Him."?

I long for deeper Godly friendships in my life.  OK, I do have a lot of friends, 618 on facebook at last count...and I know every one of them, actually!  But that's not what I'm longing for.  I want more David and Jonathan friendships in my life.  Friends I can trust to protect me.  Friends I can trust with my emotions.  Friends who need friends.  But most importantly, I long for friends who will point me to Christ and sharpen me to be more like Him. 

"In 100 years, no one will remember you, and everyone you know will be dead.  All that matters right now is your relationship with Christ."  --Francis Chan

Yes, for many reasons right now, I have friends on my heart, old and new.  I'm praying for deeper, Godly friendships.  I have some clothes to offer like Jonathan, but they might not be your size.  And that's the same with friends.  Not everyone can be the right 'size' for me...not every friendship can be deep like David and Jonathan.  And that's ok.  But, I'm praying that I'll be the kind of friend who points you to the Truth.  Every friend who knows Christ can be that kind of friend.  Oh, and please know that if I had a sword, belt, or bow, it would be yours for the taking.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com