GodandMe2theMax

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

 

I've got this...

Psalm 42:8  "By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me -- a prayer to the God of my life."

OK, I don't know about you, but I've had a really rough and emotional week.  I'm not going to lie.  When you have a sick child with a yet undiagnosed illness, choosing joy in the rough times is easier said than done.  I've tried my best to be consistent in my quiet time, and let me tell you, I love how God works.  He always seems to direct my eyes to just what I need to see in His Word. 

The verse I chose to memorize for this week is one that was especially meaningful to me the last few days.  I've been reading through Psalms and Proverbs this month, and I actually read it a few weeks ago.  When I did, I highlighted it in my Bible, and kept on reading.  You see, that's the cool thing about God.  He reveals Himself to us through His written word, and God has a way of directing us to just what we need to read to hear His voice on just the day we need to hear it.  For some reason last week when I sat down to read, I felt God was directing me to go back and review some of the things I had highlighted in earlier days in the month.

Read Psalm 42.  In it, the psalmist talks about thirsting for God, being down in the dumps, choosing joy and trusting God.  It's the famous passage where the author says, "Why are you so sad?  Put your trust in God!"  But I love how God works.  This time, it wasn't that well known verse that stuck out to me; however, He did use another verse in this chapter to really encourage me. 

Take a look at verse eight.  "By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me -- a prayer to the God of my life."  During the day time, when I'm awake, God tells me, "I love you.  Don't worry, I've got this."  And at night, He holds me tightly, sings me a lullaby and rocks me to sleep.  That's the visual image I have with the second part of this verse.  At night, when all is quiet and my mind easily wanders into the different scenarios and plays the "what if" game, God my Father, my daddy, holds me so tightly that His love erases all other emotions.  His love is with me during the day, and His song is with me at night.  He's got this.  When I'm awake.  When I'm asleep.  My God who never slumbers has this under control, and even though I feel so helpless, it doesn't matter.  All I need to do is trust Him.  This verse gives me such peace!

Then I love the end of the verse.  "A prayer to the God of my life."  I've sat here and tried to find words to express how I feel when I read that phrase.  I usually don't have trouble expressing myself (as you well know) but the only thing I can think of is that I feel comforted - the kind of comfort that comes when a needed hug is received.  No, not a little hug, I'm talking about a big bear hug that squeezes away all fear and pain, leaving only tears of joy.  If I can say those words with honesty, that God is the God of my entire life, then I have to believe when He says, "I've got this" that He does.  For me, that's the kind of hug that I needed this week. 

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

Make up your mind ahead of time...

Psalm 59: 16  "But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love, for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble."

Have you ever planned out what you will do in any given situation?  Maybe it's what you'll tell the officer when you get pulled over for speeding.  Maybe it's what you'll do if you get called on for your opinion in a meeting.  Maybe it's how you will react to that annoying person who drives you crazy the next time you come in contact with them.  But have you ever decided ahead of time how you will react to trials in your life?

I love the story of Daniel.  One of my favorite lines from that book is "Daniel purposed in his heart..."  You see, Daniel had morals.  He knew ahead of time what he would do in any given situation.  He committed ahead of time to do the right thing and have the right heart attitude.  In the verse for this week, David said the same thing.  He didn't have to think about it.  He says that no matter what, He will sing of God's strength and love.  He knew God was the only strong tower to help him during times of trouble, and he purposed in his heart that he would praise God.

Think about the imagery of a fortress.  In olden times, when the enemy was attacking, where did people run?  To the fortress.  They ran for safety and shelter; they closed the gates to guard against harm.  David knew God was the fortress to turn to...not his money, not his riches, not his friends.  God, and God alone.  He hides us in the shadow of His wings.  He comforts us with His love.  He is our shelter in the time of storm. 

About two weeks ago, I was writing a poem for a dear friend who has been going through a terrible fight with cancer.  The poem talks about why God allows us to go through the hard times.  The wounds and scars we develop here on earth are nothing compared to the wounds and scars Jesus has from enduring the cross for our sins, and when we go through those hard times, it increases our faith.  My friend has been a hero of faith through this ordeal, and as I prayed for her while I was writing, I asked the Lord to allow me to have that same faith when going through difficult times.  What would I do, and would my faith actually be as strong in hard times as it is when things are going well? 

So what about you?  Have you purposed in your heart how you will react when tough times come?  Have you decided ahead of time that you will praise God in the morning?  Are you going to be like David and run to the fortress?  Are you going to be like Daniel and purpose in your heart ahead of time to honor God, no matter what?  Are you going to wake up praising God in the morning, like David?  Can these words be yours?

So I will praise You God for any pain I endure. 
I will praise You, Lord, for it's my faith You spur. 
I will praise You God, for the strength that You give.
No matter the scar, Lord, for You I'll live.

As you memorize Psalm 59:16 this week, please join me in trying to internalize it.  Make up your mind ahead of time.

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

Microwave Generation

Isaiah 64:4  "Since ancient times, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him."

OK, maybe I'm aging myself here, but I remember when my parents got their first microwave.  I remember standing and watching this little plate spin in a very loud mechanical box .  I remember trying to figure out how in the world that meat was going to go from "freezing to thawed" in ten minutes by being in that contraption.  Today, most of us can't live without our microwaves. 

Things sure change!  Now we live in the "Microwave Generation."  "Waiting" to my twelve year old son basically takes place any time when he's not entertained.  If we're driving for five minutes down the road, I often hear, "Mom, can I play on your phone?"  If we're waiting for our food to come at a restaurant, I hear the same thing.  If I am waiting at the doctor's office, I'm often entertaining myself, playing Tetris or stalking my friends on facebook.  :)  No, waiting is not fun, nor is it something we naturally choose to do.

The Bible talks a lot about "hoping in the Lord" and "waiting on the Lord."  Throughout the Bible, the words "hope" and "wait" are often used interchageably.  The difference?  Waiting seems to be the measure of our hope.  Hmmm... The more I wait on the Lord, the more I hope in Him.  And as the verse for this week says, as I wait for Him, He will act on my behalf.

"Acts on our behalf"...what does that mean?  Well, the first obvious thing I can think of is that He acted on my behalf when He took the sins of the world on Himself, died on the cross, conquering sin and death, so that I could have life.  All those who hope in Him now have salvation because of His single act of obedience on the cross.

But what else?  I can think of countless times God has acted on my behalf.  When we've had a financial need, He acted on our behalf, moving someone to donate just at the instant that our need was beyond our ability.  Over the last year, there was a time when I was begging God to bring deeper friendships into my life.  I was waiting; I was hoping; I was trusting; and I was earnestly praying.  Sure enough, in true God fashion, He's been faithful in that area, too.  There's been times when I've been up against a deadline, waiting on God to give me just the words to say that He wants me to say.  In that respect, I've heard it said a million times that God is seldom early, but He is never late.  Consistent with the verse, when I've waited on Him and not acted in my own will and power, He acts on my behalf and gives me the words to say and write, just at the opportune time.

You see, this whole idea of waiting is not a fun one for probably anyone, but for me, I have always despised it.  Maybe it's the sin I struggle with.  (OK.  Definitely it's one of the many sins I struggle with!)  But, maybe also it's the Microwave Generation I've grown up in.  You've probably seen me write about it in the past...and my disdain for it.  I've called it the WZ...the wait zone. 

However, in my Bible study this last week, my perspective of the "waiting game" has changed.  Instead of waiting and getting discouraged and impatient by waiting, my reaction should be the exact opposite.  The more I wait, the more my hope and trust and faith in the Lord should grow.  If I'm really "waiting on the Lord" then my perspective should be that of my master, with my focus on Him, not on me.  The more I wait, the more my excitement for God should grow, because like the verse for the week says, God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him!

Matthew Henry wrote these words:  "To wait on God is entirely and unreservedly to refer ourselves to His wise and holy directions and disposals, and cheerfully acquiesce in them, and comply with them. The servant that waits on His master, chooseth not his own way, but follows his master step by step. Thus must we wait on God, as those that have no will of our own but what is wholly resolved into His, and must therefore study to accommodate ourselves to His."

Did you catch that?  If God is the Master, and we are the servant, we should be following Him and be at his full dispoal, step by step... We should be choosing His way, not deciding our will and telling Him what we want.  Our will is not our own.  Since most of us don't have servants these days, I kind of get the visual picture of a waiter in a restaurant.  His job is to serve us, fulfilling our will.  He waits on us, right?  Well, should we not "wait" on God in the same fashion?  Our job is to serve God and fulfill His will.  He doesn't force Himself on us, though; the choice is ours.

For quite a while now, our family has had one consistent prayer request.  We've been begging God and waiting on Him to answer it.  But in retrospect, perhaps I've just been praying and trying to just wait it out.  Perhaps I've not had the biblical attitude that goes with "waiting on God."  As I wait, as I pray, I need to be hoping more in God, not losing hope.  This verse says that never in the past nor ever in the future will you ever find any (little g) god like our (big G) God who acts on our behalf.  Now if that isn't amazing and make you want to wait, what will?  Even in this Microwave Generation that we live in, there is no one like our God!

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

What Not to Wear, Spiritual Lessons in Clothing from Colossians

Colossians 3:12  "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

It's the new year, and that means most of us are trying to figure out what changes need to be made in our lives for 2011.  Colossians 3:12, the verse to memorize for this week, is a perfect resolution for the New Year.  I heard someone say earlier this week that instead of focusing on the physical things you want to change in your life like your weight, you need to ask God what qualities you possess that are not consistent with His character.  Those are the areas that should be your focus of change for the New Year.   

With the advent of the tv show "What Not to Wear" on TLC, my teenager Amber is my personal fashion expert.  She watches every episode and gives me much needed fashion advice.  I usually will not walk out the door without her giving me a thumbs up.  In fact, it's not uncommon for me to change clothes numerous times until I get that nod of approval.  You see, I'm not really good at fashion.  I like it, and I love to shop, but putting it all together is a bit harder for me. 

Do you have any old items of clothing that you are emotionally attached to?  I used to have this pair of overalls.  They were too big for me, and I looked terrible in them, but I didn't care.  I loved them.  They were comfortable and unrestraining.  The last day I wore those favorite overalls was the day I met with a professional at my son's school.  Never in my life had someone talked to me like I was an uneducated and truly stupid person like that professional did.  I was so frustrated with how I had been treated, and as I tried to figure it out, I came to the conclusion that I was judged by my clothing.  Never again would I let that happen, so in the garbage the overalls went.

In Colossians chapter three, Paul talks about spiritual clothing.  Paul had style, in a spiritual sense, and he shares those spiritual "fashion" do's and don'ts with us.  Take some time to read Colossians 3, especially verses 7-17.  In this passage Paul says, don't wear the clothes that you used to wear, the sinful clothes of anger, rage, lying, etc.  He says, put those things away. 

You see, sometimes sin is like my old overalls.  It's comfortable.  It's unrestrained.  And although I know it doesn't look good, I don't care, because to be perfectly honest, it feels really good.  But, the truth is that I need to throw those old sinful 'clothes' in the garbage.  How do I do it?  Prayer.  Soul-searching.  Confession.  Commitment.  And only with God's help.

I think it's pretty awesome that God gives us a choice to get rid of our old clothes, and then He shows us a brand new wardrobe to put on.  This isn't a wardrobe from Goodwill.  It's a high-end spiritual fashion set of clothes.  It's the clothes you would see on the runway of heaven.  Paul says that we should clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love.  Most of these are the fruits of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23.  These clothes we should wear are all character qualities of Christ.  Think about it.  If you were given a jacket or article of clothing from your most revered person, would you not cling to it, smell it, hug it, sleep with it, and even live in it?  Why do we not do the same thing with Christ and the clothing He offers?

Then Paul closes the section with answering "how" we get this new wardrobe.  By letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.  By letting His Word dwell in me.  Doing everything in the name of Jesus.  And giving thanks to God.  I can get this new wardrobe and it doesn't cost me a financial cent!  Being the bargain shopper I am, that's my kind of wardrobe.  But, it does cost me myself, my commitment to Christ, my yielding to His way instead of mine...it costs giving up my wants and wishes for His will.  God's fashion must be my priority, not my own desire to wear sloppy, comfortable overalls.

Perhaps like me, you've read these verses hundreds of times.  Perhaps like me, you're starting the new year with good intentions and new resolutions.  Let's all make a new resolution to have a "What Not to Wear" experiment in fashion - God's way.  Let's start with memorizing the verse this week and internalizing it in our lives.  Whether you're a girl who loves to shop or a guy who hates it, I think you can relate to the wardrobe God wants us to be clothed in.  Shopping anyone?

 

 ---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

What's the plan, Stan? Are you in?

Job 42:2  "I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted."

"So what's the plan, Stan?"  This is a common phrase I use around my house when trying to decipher and understand the family intentions.  We often have a little pow-wow to make sure we're all on the same page for the day.  I am a mile-a-minute person; one who would have company every night if my husband would allow me to do so.  But I also love to have a plan.  I like to be "in the know" and surprises are not my preferences.  "What's the plan, Stan" is not only a good phrase, but a wise one in my house.

So I got to thinking.  OK, God's name isn't Stan, and I don't mean to speak to Him with disrespect, but seriously, how many times do we stop and ask God, "So whats Your plan?"  Yes, if we are seasoned Christians, we know some of His plans.  But is this a daily question we ask?  Do we earnestly seek out His plan by reading Scripture daily and apply it to our life?  Or are we casually going through our days, half heartedly thinking if our actions fit into God's plan?

If you don't know, I am the President of Ministry Travel, a travel agency who specializes in discount international airfare for missionaries, churches, and the non profit world.  It was another crazy week at work last week.  We had staff members on vacation for Christmas, so we were already working with a reduced staff.  On top of that, Europe was ill prepared for a major snowstorm that hit, causing quite a few of my passengers to experience cancelled flights, leaving them stranded here in the states for a mission trip, or stranded in Europe, trying to make it home by Christmas.  I had read Job 42:2 in my quiet time this last week, and I found myself sharing this verse with some of my clients who were very discouraged due to their plans being delayed and even cancelled.  I reminded them that our plans are not always His plans.  I reminded them that no plan of God's can be stopped.  I love how God can use what we read to encourage others.  I kid you not, every time He impresses on my heart a special verse during my quiet time, I end up coming across someone who needs to hear those exact words.  But, if we're not actively searching Scriptures and trying to see how they apply to us, how will we know God's plan?  How can we have words of encouragement to share with someone else? 

"I know you can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted."  In context, this was Job talking to God.  It was recorded at the very end of the trials Job endured.  Job was humbled, and eventually his material possessions were restored, and he received even greater blessings than he had before.  He persisted in trusting God, and he was rewarded for it.

Like Job, we often can't see the plan God has unfolding for us.  But Job was a great example of unwavering faith.  He knew God's ultimate plan was sovereign.  He knew God was in control, even when his friends denied him.  He knew God had a plan, even when his family was stripped away.  That's what faith is all about.  We put our faith in Christ, and we trust Him, knowing He knows what's best.

So with the year coming to a close, with only a few days of 2010 left, I can't help but ask God, what's Your plan?  You see, if no plan of His can be thwarted, then it's a no brainer.  I want my plans to be God's plans.  I don't want to make my own agenda and then ask Him to bless it "after the fact."  I want to be zeroed in on THE plan, because no plan of His can be stopped.  And by the way, if that's the case, which we know it is, I sure want to be part of the plan and not looking on the outside watching His plan unfold.  I mean, not only should we be asking God what His plan is, but we should be asking Him to use us to fulfil it.  True to my mile-a-minute form, I want to be right there in the middle of the action, carrying out God's plan for my life.

Let's finish out 2010 and begin 2011 on the right path -- God's.  So what's the plan, Stan?  Are you in? 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

 

Longing for Presents or Longing for His presence?

Isaiah 30:18  "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you: He rises to show you compassion.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him." (NIV)

"Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore, He waits on high to have compassion on you.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  How blessed are all those that long for Him. (NAS)

Are you longing for Christmas?  Are the kids in your family and those you know longing for that day they can open presents?  How about you?  Have you ever longed for something?  I mean, really wanted something so badly that you could hardly stand it? 

My first baby was supposed to arrive before Mother's Day in 1996, but she was three weeks late, and God had other plans.  This was my miracle baby that I had prayed and prayed for.  She should have been here by Mother's Day, at least that's what I thought.  I longed to have and hold my little baby girl.

I can think most recently to just a few weeks ago.  My husband went to Tanzania for two weeks.  Things were crazy at work for me, and those were perhaps the longest two weeks of my life.  We have two kids in two different schools that start and end at two different times.  Those were two rough weeks for me, and I was counting the minutes for him to land and make it home.  Yes, I longed for his return.

With the Christmas season upon us, what about the characters in the Christmas story?  Think about Mary.  Can you imagine how she longed to hold baby Jesus, this child she carried for nine months, this promised One from God?  As much as I longed to hold my new baby, I can only imagine what Mary felt like!  And what about the shepherds?  I think Luke 2:16 says it all, "They came with haste and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe, lying in the manger."  Yep, I dare say each of them knew what it meant to have a longing in their hearts.

Now that you've conjured up those longing feelings, let's look back to the verse.  The Lord longs to be gracious to you.  Imagine that.  God desperately wants to be gracious...to me!  I read this verse in my quiet time last week and was astounded by it.  I just sat there and read and re-read, pondering every word.  I mean, how amazing is it that God in heaven longs to do good things for me?  And how awesome is it that God blesses us for longing for Him?  It is unfathomable to me, actually!

Now think about one of those times when you've personally longed for something.  Have you ever had just as much energy and emotion directed toward God in that same way?  If not, why?  If so, is it a faint memory, or is it a constant directive in your life?  You know, the best present we can give God this Christmas is our presence.  I don't know about you, but that's what I want to give this Christmas...myself.  It's actually the only thing I can give to my Heavenly Father that matters.  It's the only gift He wants.  He longs for this gift, and I should long to give it, too.  Me.  100% all of me.  What's it going to be this Christmas?  Presents? or Presence?

 

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com

 

Mr. Half Job?...Nope, not with God.

Psalm 139:16  "Your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."

A half job.  You know what that is, right?  In my house, it's my pet-name for jobs that get started and never finished or jobs that just don't get done thoroughly.  You know the kind.  When your kid's job is to do the dishes and you go to inspect the job, only to find the dishes done but the sink not cleaned out.  Or what about when your husband so kindly hangs a picture on the wall for you, but the hammer and tools sit out on the counter for days?  To be completely fair, perhaps I am the queen of half jobs in our house.  I love to start scrapbooking projects, but it takes me days to finish them or clean up after them.  Perhaps the worst one is to buy all the components needed to start a job but never actually do it.  Yes, half jobs are all over the place.  At one point and time, everyone in our house has been called Mr. or Mrs. (or Master or Little Miss) Half Job.

As I was reading and studying earlier this week, I came across Psalm 139:16, the verse to memorize for the week.  It says God saw us before we born - when our body was still unformed.  He knows our every move before we even take it.  I'm also reminded of the verse in Philippians 1:6 where Paul says, "He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." 

Then the thought hit me.  God is not a God of half-jobs.

When God starts to work in your life, when He leads you down a path, He doesn't give up. He doesn't get distracted by other things and forget about the task He started.  No, He starts it in us, and we can be assured He's going to finish it.  God is not going to lead us in one direction and then drop kick us to the other end of the field to fend for ourselves. 

You know, I really needed to be reminded of this fact.  Sure, I knew that He never leaves us or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5.)  Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged when God leads you down a path but doesn't seem to show you the immediate next step.  But as my pastor said on Sunday morning, that's what faith is all about.  If the Holy Spirit has started a work in you, leading you in a certain direction, He doesn't have to show you the big roadmap of how you're going to get to your end destination.  We just have to have the faith that if He started it, He's got each step of the way planned out for us, just like the verse for this week says.

I am so thankful my God is not a God of half jobs.  I'm grateful He hasn't given up on me and moved on to bigger and better projects.  No, He ordained my days and wrote them down before I ever was born.  God, thank you for this reminder, and thank you for your persistence in pursuing me and leading me.

---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

 

 

 

 

 

Determination even in silence...

Exodus 33:13 "If You are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You.  Remember that this nation is Your people."

For the last several months, I've been in a dry spell in my spiritual walk.  I've been consistently having my quiet time; I've been praying; and I've been asking God to let me hear Him.   I've been doing all the "right" things to grow in my walk with the Lord.  I know God is there.  I know He's with me.  I have no doubt in these facts.  But for whatever reason, in this season of my life, God has been, in many ways, silent.

I've said it more times than I can remember, "If you're not growing, you're dying."  And right now, I do not feel as though I'm growing spiritually.  This haunts me, really.  I so desperately want to have a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus each day.  It's been frustrating, to say the least. 

Have you been there?  Can you relate?  Maybe you're there now.  No one ever said that living this Christian walk is an easy one.  Yet, we must be determined to stay the course, no matter what obstacles or difficult situations come our way.  The truth is, satan wants nothing more than to discourage us to the point of giving up.  The truth also is that sometimes God is just silent.  He's not silent necessarily because of sin in our lives, either.  No, sometimes God just chooses to be silent to build our faith.  He chooses to be silent to grow us, even if we don't feel like that's the case. 

In the book of Exodus, Moses demonstrated amazing determination and faith.  Determination and faith that serve as an example to me, especially right now.  Look at the verse for the week.  Moses boldy asks the Lord, "If you are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so that I may know You and continue to find favor with You."  He then later goes on in verse fifteen to ask God to not let Him go anywhere without His presence being there.  Basically, he says, "I'm not moving unless you're moving with me!"  Finally, in verse eighteen, Moses makes a bold petition:  "Show me Your glory."

Are you determined to stay the course, even when God is silent?  Are you determined, like Moses, to not take a step without God?  Sometimes we make decisions and ask God for His blessings "after the fact."  But like Moses, we should be so aware of God's presence that we don't make a move without His leading.  Are you bold enough and do you have the faith to ask God to show you His glory?

If you know me, you know I'm a pretty stubborn girl.  I guess that's a good thing in this case, because I'm determined to not give up.  I know God is choosing to be silent so I can learn more about His character.  I know I'm on the right track, and I know He's not going to be silent forever. 

Will you be like Moses and ask God to show you His ways so that you will find favor with Him?

I love the song "Fire Fall Down."  May we all be as bold as Moses and ask God, "Show me Your glory!"  That's my prayer today.

Fire Fall Down (Hillsong)

Cause I know that you're alive
You came to fix my broken life
And I'll sing to glorify
Your Holy name, Jesus Christ

You bought my life with the blood
That you shed on the cross
When you died for the sins of men
And you let out a cry, crucified
Now alive in me

These hands are yours
Teach them to serve
As you please and I'll reach out
Desperate to see all the greatness of God
May my soul rest assured in you

I'll never be the same
No I'll never be the same
Cause I know that you're alive
You came to fix my broken life
And I'll sing to glorify
Your Holy name, Jesus Christ

You've changed it all
You broke down the wall
When I spoke and confessed
In you I am blessed
Now I walk in the light
In victorious sight of you

Fire fall down
Fire fall down
On us we pray
As we seek
Fire fall down
Your fire fall down
On us we pray

Show me your heart
Show me your way
Show me your glory

---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com