His Ways Are Not Our Own!

Have you ever been sitting in traffic, in a hurry, and Mr. Slow gets in front of you, to make it even worse? And, it's always one of those situations where you are at just the right place on the road, that there is no way to pass this Sunday driver. You just want to pull your hair out...or better yet, his.

Or, maybe I'm behind someone in line somewhere-awaiting my turn, to check out some products that I want to buy. Well, lo and behold...the cash register decides it wants to go berserk. I'm all too aware that it's just because it's ME standing there...I just know. JUST MY LUCK.

Ever felt that way? Man, I can't tell you how many times I just want to crawl back in the bed and start all over when it's that kind of day. (oh, and that's after I take everyone out in my own mind, that I feel like had those personal vendettas against me!!!

:-)

I certainly don't mean those things literally, just figuratively speaking...you know what I'm saying!

Bad luck? No such thing. Good luck? No such thing. Coincidence? NO SUCH THING. None of that is Scriptural. God has a plan for each of us, individually, each and every day. He has everything mapped out for our own good, and His glory.

I was just thinking of a story in Scripture last night, that is a small story...and one of my favorites...one you just don't hear a lot about.

It is really a miracle performed by God, in order to shed light on the sin of man in his pursuit of trying to "have my way" all the time. You know...when I just think that my way is best for me...AND everyone else involved?

Yeah.

This is the story of Balaam. King Balak wanted Balaam to go a certain way to help him-in "taking out" some people of Israel who had been distressing the children of Moab. King Balak was over the Moabites. Balaam started out with good intention (to wait upon the Lord for answers)...but then let that 'ole flesh get in his way (through much pressure from earthly authority) and he decide to go on and help the King.

See for yourself, the easily read, ESV version (compliments of Crosswalk.com)

the story of Balaam

(see if you see a miracle that you just don't hear of these days that God performs in these verses!):

• Balak Summons Balaam

• Numbers 22:

• 9.
• And God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"

• 10.
• And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

• 11.
• 'Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"

• 12.
• God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed."

• 13.
• So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."

• 14.
• So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."

• 15.
• Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.

• 16.
• And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: 'Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

• 17.
• for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.'"

• 18. But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more.

• 19. So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me."

• 20. And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you."

• 21. So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

• 22. But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.

• 23. And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.

• 24. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.

• 25. And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again.

• 26. Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.

• 27. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

• 28. Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"

• 29. And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you."

• 30. And the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?" And he said, "No."

• 31. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.

• 32. And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.

• 33. The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live."

• 34. Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back."

• 35. And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you." So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

OK, am I the only one that is a little freaked-out about the fact that God caused an animal to SPEAK???? :-0

Talk about wild. I think that I would either have to absolutely pass out right there, or have a heart attack on the spot and die at the opening of that donkey's mouth to speak to me!

Now THAT'S a way to get someone's attention.

I think maybe I'll rethink that whole impatient thing, when I'm in line or in traffic. It is very possible (since there is no such thing at coincidence), that God may very well be protecting me from something, someone, or even MYSELF when I am being forced to WAIT...in ANY situation or circumstance.

I thank God today, for interruptions! For His timing, His purpose, and His ways...which (thankfully), are not my own!

Proverbs 5:21 KJV

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

Proverbs 16:2 KJV

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

Job 34:21 KJV

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

Isaiah 55:9 KJV

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher

Take a Break

This next week, our kids will be out of school for Winter break (again). It seems that they get a break every few weeks or so, and the strain that places on us to figure out somewhere to go, or something to do to keep them from getting bored....GEESH! How did we get to that point?

Entertainment. Entertainment. Entertainment.

This morning, I am wondering why we don't entertain the idea of breaking away to our own private island...a land of paradise that brings a quiet time for the heart, mind, and spirit; one-on-one with THE One that loves us most? I speak of alone time with the most Holy God. Prayer time. Study into His Word-so I can be replenished, refreshed, and renewed.

That will help me to not want to polish-off these pesky rascals around me that want something all the time! :-)

As we look toward Valentines Weekend, I wonder WHO will give homage to the ONLY ONE who has ever loved them unconditionally and sacrificially- to the point of death? I can't say that I know one person who has ever, or would ever really do that for me, other than Jesus Christ.

Jesus IS my Valentine.

Although I'd have to say it is a great way to set aside a day to let the spouse, fiance', or that one you love so much- know that you love them so much...but why don't we make it a point to let them know continually, as we know we are not promised tomorrow? So really to me-Valentines Day, is so silly.

Psa 144:3 & 4

LORD, what [is] man, that thou takest knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

Man is like to vanity: his days [are] as a shadow that passeth away.

God says in His Word in Matthew 21:13a:

It is written, MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED THE HOUSE OF PRAYER

(KJV)

I noted that this part of this Scripture, was capitalized in my KJV (by Thomas Nelson Publishers). The writer must have meant that with great emphasis and/or this particular translation was wanting to emphasize that, to make it stand out. Who knows. Who cares. It stood out to me, which is what God wanted obviously, at this point and time.

God did not say that "My house shall be called the house of singing"...He didn't say, "My house shall be called a house of preaching"...He said PRAYER.

Later on in this Scripture, He said if we have faith and doubt NOT....and in all things whatsoever we ask in prayer, believing, we shall receive. (vs. 21 & 22 of ch. 21)

I by no stretch of the imagination, believe that I can act any way I want to, and expect God to deliver on this promise. I know God's thoughts on that! I DO however, expect (according to Scripture), that if I am following in HIS will and not that of my own...and I pray fervently (without ceasing) [1Thess. 5:17], and I am praying within His will...these Scriptures come to life and are applicable for me!

1Jo 5:13-15

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Today, I am thankful for The God who hears us. I am thankful that He loves me enough to remind me to take that much needed time with Him. That frees me from all the worldly cares that tend to get in the way of happiness sometimes.

God is mighty to save. Mighty to calm. Mighty to hear, and Mighty to move on our behalf.

In the book of James, it is said that we have not because we ask not.

ASK today...for God's will in your life. It can be scary to let go of the control...but He knows us so much better than we know ourselves. He knows what's best.

Let Jesus be your VALENTINE this year. Make HIM a card. Make a joyful noise unto HIM this weekend. He is worthy.

PRAY PRAY PRAY.

His house shall be called a house of PRAYER.

Lord, let me not make it a den of thieves.

Let me be that woman of prayer that you designed me to be.

I love you, Lord.

He is MINE and I am HIS.

No better love in this life than that of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Happy Valentine's Day, God :-)

Really?

Phil. 2:3-8
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation , and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.


Really, Lord?
He says, "YES, Really!"

Sometimes I have a problem with esteeming others above my own self. I don't mean that I think that I am better. I don't know that I ever really feel that I am better. I tend to think I am below most everyone else. Just selfish, that's all. As if that's not bad enough. I mean, I place my desires and what I want to do often times, above the needs that I know that are out there in others.
As I studied today in Matthew, I ended up doing word studies on a set of Scriptures that I took note of that are repeated quite often. That of "the first shall be last, and the last shall be first."
Have you ever really studied His Word enough to realize that there are some Scriptures that are very often repeated throughout the Bible? Obviously, it is all purposeful. Maybe to drive home certain points that God knew were very important that we get. Some of us, need the reminders-worse than others (mainly, me). :-(

Matthew 19:30 (KJV) states:
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Other Scriptures repeat the very same verbiage:

Matt. 20:16
Mark 10:31
Mark 9:35
Luke 13:30

Luke 13:30 says
And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

I noticed that directly across from that Scripture in Luke, on the same page-it said in Chapter 14, verse 11:
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased (humbled); and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.


Same idea, right? Whew.

I think this means that if I push my way to the head of the line in life, then I can expect to be at the tail-end of the line entering into Heaven...and so forth and so on for anything else that may be happening up there. It is all about putting everyone else AHEAD of myself. Just like JESUS did.
Again, I just keep going back to humbleness and the importance thereof. Obviously, God has much to teach me in this area.

Matthew also says in chapter 20, vs. 27 & 28:

And whosoever be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus Christ was the epitome of humbleness. He was making sure he was placing others above Himself.
2 Cor. 5:21 tells us:
For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

That's some sacrifice. He let Himself BECOME sin, when He didn't even know sin in any way, shape, or form...all for our redemption and salvation. What love. Mercy. Grace. I can't begin to comprehend it!
Job 37:5 KJV
God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend .



The Greek form of the word "first" in the Strong's Concordance, means: foremost, (in time, place, order or importance), the best, or chief.

The Greek form of the word "last," means: farthest, final (of place or time), latter end, lowest.

Ooh...I do not want to be the "lowest." I am satisfied with somewhere in between (don't have to be first)...but last?

Ouch.

I have a choice here. We all do. Do we all realize that? I wonder sometimes.

I think I tend to "forget" that I have a choice each and every day.

God, draw me to Yourself. Help me to learn more of You. Help me to be content with where you have placed me...each and every day. It is by YOUR hand of blessing that I am where I am in life at this point. Help me oh God, to place others ahead of myself- help me to make it a HABIT that You develop in me...sooner, rather than later. I thank You Lord, for all that You've done, and all that You're GOING TO DO- for You are worthy to be praised, and the Keeper of Promises.

:-)

I love you, Lord

And I lift my voice

To worship You

Oh my soul, rejoice!

Take joy my King

in what You hear

Let it be a sweet, sweet sound

In Your ear.

(lyrics by Laurie Klein)

Sicky Sickerson

Col. 3:23-24

And whatsoever ys do, do heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve THE LORD CHRIST.

I think of this particular verse quite often. Mostly, when I am about to sing to a crowd of people. Or, if I have to speak to a crowd..really, any kind of thing that I must perform before others.

I remember a time-after having sung many times already, one particular morning. We were at the phase of our church service where we were asked to all shake hands and fellowship with one another. I was scheduled to sing that morning.

This little old man in our choir (very Godly and forthright man, I might add), shook my hand. He said, "wow, your hands sure are cold and clammy!!!" (as he laughed). I said, "yeah- I'm SINGING and my stomach is in knots....does it EVER get any better, Mr. Miller?" He said, "not if you're doing it for the right reasons, JulieAnn!" (as he again laughed). I said, "great, thanks for the encouragement!" :-/

I never forgot those simple words of wisdom that this man, now promoted on to Heaven...told me that day, long ago.

I really studied into what he said to me. (being the over-thinker that I am).

In Colossians 3:23 (above), we are told that no matter what we do...do it heartily- as unto the LORD, and "not" unto man. That means giving everything that we have...our very best up to God. We do this (according to the Scripture) because we know that we shall receive blessing when we do, as servants of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When I sing...it's not for that crowd. It's for MY LORD, and His exaltation.

I am learning all the time that this is "not" about ME...contrary to what my stomach tells me when it's going nusto. Contrary to what satan tends to whisper in my ear- just before going up to sing or speak.

Satan is good at telling me how inadequate I am. He's good at telling me that I'm not good enough...I'm not prepared enough...etc. He is ALWAYS telling me "what do you think you're doing???? You KNOW you're not going to pull this off...everyone will know that you don't have a clue what you're doing!"

Well...I found that there is much freeing in REBUKING him when I recognize his voice. I used to tend to hear it as my own conscience...and beat myself up to a bloody pulp, inside. I used to let that stuff defeat me and CAUSE me to crack under the pressure. NO MORE.

Yes, I still get sick to death at my stomach when I have to sing or speak to a group of folks. Yes, I do get into a cold, clammy sweat. But now...I can at least recognize that it is God desiring to show Himself strong, in my weakness.

2Cr 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In Gal. 1:10, Scripture says:

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men?

For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Oh, I'd much rather please the most Holy God, rather than man-any day of the week. My eternity rests on that! Eternity is kind of important, don't you think?

Each time that I am faced with the "impossible" that has to happen not from my strength, but God's (whether it be singing, speaking, whatever)...I MUST pray. I must ask God to step in and take over. I cannot do it without Him. Realizing that, has made the biggest difference in my life. I now find doors are opening that were once shut. Mountains are being moved that were once in the way. God pours out showers of great blessing as a result of full reliance on Him, and Him alone.

I have realized, that:

"He must INCREASE, but I MUST decrease." (John 3:30)

I came to realize that all my worry and fear of these things in servanthood...if allowed into my heart and mind-is just satan getting victory when I let it be about ME, myself, and I. I can't let him have that! GOD deserves the victory. My very best.

I am encouraged by Gal. 2:20:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet NOT I, but CHRIST liveth IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

So, if I crucify myself, and let God ever so shine through me (since He's in me already), then no worries, eh?

Each time before I go up to sing or speak, you will see me sitting there, praying. I have to ask God, "please take this from me- more of YOU and less of me, Oh God! May You have preeminence in anything that I do or say!"

Oh, and let's not forget the conversation I have to have with satan just beforehand. I let him sternly know, that "yeah, I KNOW I don't have what it takes, but it IS CHRIST "in me" that will perform, and that's just FINE and ALL I NEED!" I have to tell him what Christ told him-which is "get thee behind me satan!" I have found that when I rebuke satan in such a way, and exercise that faith that I claim to have- God uses it to take away the bundle of nerves, and deliver great power that only He can bring forth through the message that He has in me.

It is so funny...even today...I am sick to death at my stomach until that first word comes out of my mouth. Then, it suddenly vanishes away...because God steps in. Just in the nick of time. Isn't that just like Him? In the twelfth hour...right there to my rescue.

So, I will press on...continuing in servanthood until He comes. Obedience is a blessing. I don't want God to rob me of any of the talents that He might have given me, because of fear and worry. That junk is satan's tool. He can use them elsewhere. He has no power here-for God is WITH ME. His promises are TRUE.

Therefore:

I will praise thee with my WHOLE HEART:

Before the gods will I sing praise unto THEE. (Psa. 138:1)

Phl. 3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

God, you are indeed, WORTHY. Let me not lose sight of that at ANY time.

A Kid-Like Heart

Mat 18:1-4

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

A LESSON IN HUMILITY.

Nine times out of ten, I need one of those. Is it just me, or is it just plain HARD to bring yourself to a child-like stage in your heart, mind, and spirit? Oftentimes, I struggle with that one.

I tend to want control of my circumstances or situation...and it's not mine to have. That is not humility.

In my not-to-distant past, I wondered around trying to find my niche. I wanted to know what God's will was, and I was searching, diligently. I was working hard at trying to figure out what that "thing" was that God wanted me to do. That service that I was designed to do. Man, did I toil over it. I prayed and begged GOd like a mad-woman to let me know whatever that "thing" was. I whittled away desperately at that stick of correction that was intended for my own whipping. I didn't even see what I was doing to myself. It seemed that I was running in a circle. There was no end. No light at the end of that tunnel.

God's Word clearly showed me that my issue was ever so tiny in the grand scheme of things...but creating a huge stumbling block in the way of my path OUT of that circle. There was no way He was going to bless me and show me His will, if I could not bring myself to a child-like faith and humbleness. God needs to be able to "Father" his "children," in order to teach them the way!

So, what does it mean, to have a "child-like faith?"

Does this mean that I must be immature in my thinking toward the things of God? God forbid. I think not.

Upon some study, I find this means being simplistic and humble.

hmmm...humble. I find that in the KJV of Scripture, humble appears 25 times. Must mean God means for us to seriously consider the benefits of that in our lives- for Him to make sure it's repeated that often!

I find in looking up the word "humble," it means submissive respect. It means you're marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit. It means you're not arrogant or prideful. Wowzer.

I must humble myself just the way that I did that very day I was saved. Was I a child at the time? Yes. Had I been an adult, would I have been expected to "be as a child?" YES. I am pretty sure that it means to come broken before the Lord. Knowing that you are the child-and HE is the Father. Letting Him do all the instruction, correction, encouraging, comforting, affirming-all the things you expect a Father to do.

I found, that once I humbled myself, and "became as a child" before Him...He started opening up the doors that had been shut for quite a while, and allowing me through. He began to unleash His power that I had tried to obtain all along...all by myself. Funny part is...is that I wasn't in HIS WORD like I should have been...NO WONDER things were not working out! It starts to all make sense when I look back. He had some serious correcting to do in me, to "whip me into shape!" And boy, does it ever HURT sometimes. But SOOOO worth it, and to my benefit! I found that I also, had to repent of some things in my life that had been woven into my heart causing the road blocks, as well. Mend some relationships. Get to peace in my heart, mind, and spirit.

I found it interesting also, that God repeated Himself two MORE times in Scripture concerning this "child-like" need in my life.

Mar 10:15

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Luk 18:17

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

This does not tell me I must be a child physically, in order to be received of Him for eternal salvation. It is part of the way God works. He expects us to be so humbled within ourselves, that we realize our great need of HIM, and are broken-hence producing, a greater faith.

Have you ever noticed what kind of faith a KID will exercise? It's crazy! They will do things that us adults would NEVER try...with no fear most of the time. When there are good parents, the kid will dive in->head-first, they get into things, with complete trust that this parent/s will see them through without letting them fail.

Ever seen one of these little brats snow skiing? GEESH! Not even a whole 2 ft. tall sometimes-they fly right past me with a fierce wind and yelping for joy, all the way down- while I remain in my "pizza stance," scared to death, and sweating bullets to try to get down to the bottom of that bunny trail. Makes ya just want to knock 'em over, doesn't it? ;-)

"Why can't we trust like that, with our own Creator? He knows most, about what's best for us. After all, He designed us each one, individually- Himself!

I'm so glad that God is a patient God. Loving. Kind. Forgiving. True. Trustworthy. Redeeming.