If I Just Only...

 

There I was sitting in my kitchen meditating not on God’s Word, but on the” if I just only” syndrome.

If I just only pay more attention in school instead of boys.

If I just only saved more money from when I was in my twenties.

If I just only asked God first instead of doing what I wanted to do and then asking him to bless it.

If I just only, four words that can carry so much weight.

How many of us feel this way?  Feeling like regret grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down to talk with us at the table. I found myself having a bad case of this” just only” neighbor.  Yet I noticed this didn’t invite the presence of God but caused my eyes off of Him and more on me.  Selah

The next thing I know this just only neighbor ended up having me snowball from just only to I don’t.  I don’t have enough.  I don’t know how this will be.  I don’t have a house.  I don’t even have a husband.  So guess who decided to join this little get together?  Fear

Now I am feeling anxiety gripping me until it felt like my heart was going to be ripped out of me.  Now I am feeling distress and having a little self-pity party.  Meanwhile more cups of that coffee are just being offered and I am finding myself just drinking into it.

Yet did you notice the key to what happened? 

I got my focus off Abba and made it all about me.  Besides isn’t that what the world says life is about-me, myself, and I?  In me there is no peace.  In me there is no joy. In me there is no strength.  Sometimes self can be a hidden idol that the world has made feel like the norm.

So what does Truth say...?

Isaiah 43:18 (NLT)

But forget all that-it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

Philippians 3:13 (NLT)

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Once I stopped dwelling on me and got my focus back on Abba and confessed His truth, guess what happened?  The” if just only” and fear had to leave.  They didn’t even leave a tip. J This is a battle for me but the difference is I know now who fights my battles.  I had to remember I have the life of God in me.  Think about that, we have the one that made heaven, earth, and the things under the earth dwelling within our hearts today.  So Abba got us.  He can even restore our “if I just only”.

Be Encouraged.

Abigail

 

While reading the book of 1^st Samuel it was lovely to come across another woman of God within this book name Abigail.

The Bible lets us know she was a woman of understanding and had a beautiful countenance.  She was married to King Nabal who didn’t always display the best representation of leadership.  His name alone means fool or senseless.  He showed just how senseless he could be towards David and his men.  Hospitality in those days to travelers was to feed them. Nabal was a rich so it would have not been a hardship for him to meet David’s request to feed him and his men.  Keep in mind that David and his men were protecting Nabal’s people and part of his property was due to David’s vigilance. So it’s understandable when David got so upset, he set out to kill Nabal when he refused his request.

Oh how precious this story takes a beautiful turn.  Abigail was told od David’s intentions.  She didn’t panic. Instead she gathered things like food and wine and set out to meet David in his tracks.  She did this without King Nabal’s knowledge.  Wow, he didn’t even realize his wife was gone.  How much did he take Abigail for granted?

She meets David and intercedes for Nabal.  She blesses him and his men with the things they were requesting.  David heard her and took heed.  Abigail act kept David from making a terrible mistake and spared Nabal’s life.  She looked beyond the present crisis and used her heart and skill to promote peace.

We can learn so much from this Bible story.  The scripture of be ye angry but sin not comes to mind with David.  In addition it is always best to listen, and you don’t have to have a prestigious title to play such a significant role in a situation. 

So here’s the question for today:  Do we use our actions to promote peace even in the middle of chaos?

Sometimes seeing the bigger picture can result in God’s love that can change an issue into His glory!

(Life Application Bible 1^st Samuel chapter 25)

 

Too Familiar

 

I love praying during sunrise.  The air feels so crisp and everything is so quiet.  As I was talking with Abba, I couldn’t help but notice the sunrise colors kept changing.  I found myself getting my phone to capture each moment.  Then it dawns on me, Abba doesn’t like familiarity.

Mark 6:1-6

 Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. ² The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” ³ Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary^[a] and the brother of James, Joseph,^[b] Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

The people in his hometown couldn’t even receive their blessing that may have been instore for them as they were too caught up in the familiarity of Jesus, he’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary. As I looked at the different colors of the sunrise, I can see why God like to change thing up on us from time to time.  Although the familiar can be such comfort, there is a danger of us taking it for granted and possibly missing out on the new Abba wants to share with us.  We can end up taking his grace for granted, his blessings for granted, and even have us in complacency. 

Just like in a personal relationship like date nights for a marriage.  Why do couples do such things?  It is to keep things fresh amongst them so that things don’t become so stagnant.  How much more should we recognize that with our Abba.  So, I encourage us as His children to enjoy the new.  It can be different and with that at times feel nerve wrecking but just imagine what Abba has instore if we take that time out to be in his new adventures.