Street lights and answer to prayer

A few days ago I passed by our old neighborhood in the city we live in. It was the first home my husband and I lived in and where my children were born. It reminded me of a long ago prayer that was answered for me in a special way. The city decided that maintaining the street lights was too much of a financial burden so they turned over the responsibility over to the local utility company. The new owners quickly decided that the ornate street lights that had been part of our city for years were to costly to maintain. I followed the process in the paper..the small outcry from the community was met with the company's firm stance that people must face reality that the acceptance of bland street lights similar to those that most modern cities use was inevitable. "Lord, Jesus", I prayed , "please let me keep my street lights...it is part of this city." Little did I know that behind the scene negotiations where going on to replace most of the lights in the city but to recreate the old lights in small parts of the city using bulbs that would still save energy. My prayer had reached heaven and lo and behold my street was one of the few streets that would maintain the old style lights that looked like a lamp post. I looked out many nights afterward and said a prayer of thanks to God for hearing my hearts cry. Some time later we moved and with the installation of new lights over the city perhaps I lost the wonder of what God had done because it didn't seem a big deal to leave my lights behind. Then the other day when I took a look at those old style ornate street lights which still remain on my former street I was reminded that God still answers prayer. My prayer seemed small and not very noteworthy...I'd even forgotten it...yet God used a visible reminder to me that He still hears our hearts cry. Pulling in our driveway...I wish my prayer had been expanded to include the whole city...for now my view is of the new non descript lights....my vision didn't cover the fact that we would someday move across town.

When a look at yourselve changes everything

Looking at ourselves can be very revealing and lately has been a subject in our house. We've been recording the Sunday Sermon on video the last few weeks. Early Monday I awoke to the sound of my husband's Sunday Sermon as he watched what was uploaded. I had noticed Sunday that he had dressed a little differently than usual. I had commented to him as we left for church that he looked nice. He called me to the computer where we watched the video..and as we watched he blurted out. "Last week I looked scruffy...so this week I wanted to look better." I knew what he meant because in our Kingdom Principles series there were a few times where my desperate need of a haircut had almost prevented me from posting those videos. As a result I've insisted in keeping a proper schedule of haircuts. I realize that this is not vain pride...but rather it is natural and good self examination that came as a result of looking at ourselves and making needed changes. James 1:23 says, " For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance." NLT

• Don't throw the mirror away. I wish I could say that our physical appearance is the only thing that we are working on but that is not true. God sheds light on areas that need change. It can be painful and sometimes we want to throw the mirror away. I let my husband know that was how he's looked for a long time when he's preached. His answer was....well watching myself on video shows me my need for change.
• Don't walk away and put your head in the sand. Sometimes we look in the mirror of God's Word and Presence and we are overwhelmed by what we see. It is tempting to slip away from the mirror and pretend what we saw isn't really there..or hope it will fix itself. Examining ourselves demands a plan be formed to address the problems. It can be simple and it can be step by step...but improvement only comes with action.
• Don't despair. God's mirror is to be a help not to bring depression. His desire is for us to live life and live it abundantly and that sometimes requires changes in direction.

Biblical Planning

Plans
Every January many people make plans to do better with their life. The goals are often praiseworthy but commitment to them wane by the end of the month. We are quickly heading toward the end of January and so I thought it might be a nice time to begin to look at those plans. It will be our topic for the next few weeks.

• 
  Is it alright to make plans biblically?

Many question whether or not a person should make plans at all. Verses such as, James 4:13-5:1 " Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit";14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.15 Instead you ought to say," If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. "NKJV cause some to wonder if it is wrong to even make plans. Some people walk away with the impression that James is saying we should not make plans for our life. Is he really saying that? Looking at verse 15 it seems he is really saying, God is the author of life and our plans may be good, but we must not act like they are unchangable by His hand. How sad it is that some have taken this verse and a few others to mean that they should simply float through life with no goals. It is always a good idea to make sure we read the entire context and read the whole counsel of God on a subject. We’ll be looking t a lot of verses about planning and goals in the coming days.

• 
  God’s plans for us
  A famous verse that has been a comfort to me over the years is Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. NKJV"

The entire chapter shows that Israel had strayed from the Lord. God was going to allow them to be taken over by another country….but in the end He would cause them to desire Him again. He was not and would not forsake them….rather He would woo them back to Himself. When they sought Him they would find Him. The NLT uses the word plans instead of thoughts. We form our plans in our thoughts and this Scripture shows that God’s people were on His mind and He had good plans for them even though they were going through some hard things because of their own doings at the moment. Parents of older children may be able tot relate to this verse a little easier than young people. There are times when parents have loved and given to their children only to be rejected or neglected by them. The pain can be overwhelming….but even through that pain most parents still desire their child’s good and restored relationship.
God has plans and he encourages us to make plans.

I found a cute video with a nice message

on God Tube. If you liked Tom and Jerry as a kid take another look. Someone made some great edits.




Here is another video that says I can't Give up now

Should we tell her????

A few months ago my husband and I entered a hospital elevator. The couple that followed behind us were talking in hushed tones. Finally the wife discreetly came up to me and whispered, "Your shirt is on inside out".When I thanked her for saving me future embarrassment her husband told us the situation had been a dilemma to him. He had seen my shirt first and didn't know what to do. He worried I might get angry with him for interfering or get so embarrassed I'd cry. He didn't know what to do so he asked his wife who he hoped would know whether a woman would want to be told about such a matter. Thankfully his wife knew that most women would want the mistake corrected immediately. Truthfully it was a little embarrassing. I'm not a morning person, but my fathers condition and his doctors early bedside rounds made it necessary for us to get up at the crack of dawn and be on our way. I'd already seen my fathers doctor, talked to his nurse and walked the hospital hallways before the revelation of my plight was revealed to me. My dear husband hadn't noticed. Have you ever had a similar dilemma? Either position is difficult. We've all had to ask ourselves "should we tell them" in regard to clothing problem or perhaps an attitude problem. I know we must guard against unproductive criticism, but there are times when we should alert someone or be alerted to situations where an issue may cause problems. In my story I was the one who was in need of discrete revelation. Being told by a stranger about my shirt embarrassed me a little...but the alternative would have increased my embarrassment because we had a full day of appointments. We may not always like "being told" something but we can certainly listen and see if God is speaking through the messenger. Remember....The Holy Spirit can direct you...and let you know "if you should tell" and if you should "accept what is said as valid" We don't have to have "egg on our face" if we will listen to the voice of God in our life..remember sometimes that voice comes through a human tongue.

Our dog Scooter is a hero (M)

Marcy, our overweight little Daschund, loves to burrow under blankets, coats, or anything warm. A few nights ago. I had on a housecoat with oversized sleeves. I got hot and threw the housecoat on the couch where Marcy sleeps. When we went to bed Marcy had burrowed under the housecoat and was happily sleeping. About 2:30 a.m. Scooter, our senior citizen Daschund, knocked down the gate we keep by the bedroom (Scooter usually barks about 5:00a.m and we let them in with us for a little while before we get up) John heard her collar rub against the bed. She was shaking and upset. He called for Marcy and when she didn't come he went to look for her. She had gotten stuck in one of the sleaves and couldn't even bark...her breathing was labored and she was in a panic. Praise God for Scooter's quick thinking and willingness to knock down the barrier to our bedroom to get help for her little Marcy. Needless to say, we will not be leaving anything with sleeves where Marcy can get herself into another bad situation.

Don't miss a revelation of God just because you've heard it before

My sister visited a few weeks ago. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and she got to spend time with our Dad. One morning we were alone and began to talk about more than surface stuff. She began to say some things that had truth and revelation, things that could begin to change things if I listened. The problem that occured was "I knew all about what she was saying," Sometimes when we've walked with the Lord for a while, when we've studied the Word of God we can get to the place where we know the teaching that can help set us free...but in a weird way because we know it so well we miss out on really hearing it.

As I listened to my sister I could confirm everything she was saying...indeed I'd taught it to others, and I'd even lived it out in situations in my life. Yet God was reminding me through her that I needed to get back to basics. You see you can know something, you can even have walked the path previously, but in the now be having trouble implimenting it.

When the Holy Spirit speaks to you through the Word, through your spirit, a message, or through a godly friend don't miss the message through familiarity.

Maybe today you are going through somethings that are painful or troubling. The Holy Spirit desires to speak to you today. He wants us to be open to listen to Him and to what He has to say. Remember this:

1. God leads us in our everyday life. The Word says, "My sheep hear My voice" We can be lead of God. Jesus desires to us to allow His leading in our life. He does not abandon us...We've been given the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.

2. There could be something so simple, something you already know that could be an answer to your current cirucmstance. I almost missed the words that would set me free...because instead of listening I was tempted to simply spout my "expertise" on the subject. What turned it around was the gentle spirit of the Lord speaking in my heart. "Ruth, you need this...truth to become alive again....listen afresh for the things you are facing in the NOW."

3. Expect to be lead by the Spirit. The Word says in Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.KJV and in Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD,Trust also in Him,And He shall bring it to pass.NKJV God still speaks in the 21rst Century to men and women who are willing to trust Him. The Holy Spirit lives within those who have accepted Jesus Christ. We have the joy of knowing that it is His desire to teach us all things and to help us walk the path of our life in a way that will bring about life and life more abundantly.