REMOVE THE LAYER

When you plan for a wedding in today’s world there is so much to do.  While looking through bride magazines Lauren found a place that will apply your makeup for your wedding and wedding portraits, so yesterday was make-up day.  We arrived and they started asking the routine questions:  What do you like?  What do you dislike?  Since it was the stores one-year anniversary they were doing makeovers for everyone, so I got to get my makeup done also.  The makeup artist did a wonderful job, my makeup looked very natural.  The only thing was I don’t ever wear much makeup and she had applied A LOT!  She not only had a top layer, but she had the undercoat.  I’m not doubting that it will be fabulous for the day of, but for a normal ole day- no no!  While driving home I grabbed the tissue and started to remove the film that lay on my face. 

You may feel that you have a layer of thick makeup on your life.  A layer that looks wonderful on the surface, but the underneath is screaming to be cleaned.  How do we remove the film that is covering our souls?  How do we have the makeover that enables us to feel fresh and new? 

The Lord is like that of a makeup wipe.  He will remove any impurities that are lingering in the pores of your being.  When we have allowed sin to enter into us, God will wash it away.  God will give you a new, fresh face.  His Spirit will be within you and your heart will follow Him. 

When you feel you have heavy burdens, much like that of heavy makeup you can be at peace.  No matter how many impurities need to be washed away, when you accept God’s promises you will be clean.  Let Him wipe away the messy surface and unveil the undercoat that is clean and new.  The film will be gone forever and God’s glow will shine for all to see. 

Ezekiel 36:25-26New International Version (NIV)

25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

DIG FOR GOOD SEEDS

Dina and I headed out at 7:30 this morning to a workshop that was entitled “Seed Digging.”  I wasn’t exactly sure what it was about, but had an idea.  We arrived and found a seat.  As Shawna Burns began to speak about “Seed Digging” it reminded me of my garden at home.  I plant seeds every year in my butterfly garden.  This year unlike most years I ended up with no flowers.  Why did this happen?

Shawna explained that we are gardens.  In our gardens seeds get planted.  For these seeds to grow they must have the correct amount of water and nutrients.  When they are nourished they take root and begin their journey. 

There were several things that happened to my seeds this year.  One I didn’t baby them like a usually do.  In the past I will pay attention to them and make sure their environment is positive.  This year I just seemed to be too busy.  Second it rained a lot more than it usually does.  The roots basically drowned in the soil.  Lastly I didn’t weed like I should have.  Those flowers that did begin to sprout were taken over with the negative weeds that were choking them out. 

We are like that of a garden.  We are the empty bed that is waiting for the seeds to be planted.  We take on good seeds and bad seeds. Just as good seeds are nourished so are bad seeds.  It is up to us to decipher whether we will allow the bad to grow in our garden.  During life we experience many things.  It is through these situations that we have good and bad seeds planted.  It is up to us whether we allow the good to take root and grow or if we allow the bad to take root and grow. 

The Lord doesn’t want us to be filled with bad seeds.  He doesn’t want us to feel ignored, He doesn’t want our roots to drown, and He doesn’t want us to be choked out by weeds.   He wants His good seeds to take root, be nourished by His love and regularly weeded.   Water the seeds that God has planted within us.   Be filled with the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will protect you and fill you. The Holy Spirit will allow Gods word to take root and germinate with in us.  An example in the bible is David.  David allowed Gods word to be watered and feed and he became a man after Gods own heart. 

In Psalm 19:7 explains that nurturing and watering the seed of God will transform us into the image of Christ.  This is the purpose of Gods seed.  It is then that we will become the Church that God desires for us to be.  We will continue to grow and bring forth by our faithful planting and watering of the seed of His word that He has so graciously given to us.  

Allow God to plant good seeds in your garden.  Nourish and water them with the Holy Spirit and you will have a harvest that is full of beauty. 

Psalm 19:7New International Version

The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 

TUG OF WAR

Think back on your childhood and the games you use to play at recess.  I remember being so nervous and timid.  Of course I was never a captain for a team, I wasn’t athletic at all.  I would stand back and usually be one of the last ones chosen.  Tug of war was my least favorite.  Arm strength??  I laugh to myself.  It was those weaklings; I was one of those that were always blamed for the loss. 

In our lives today we may have outgrown the childhood games of tug of war, but we still have a struggle going on within us.  We make the Lord have to be in a battle with the devil, pulling our insides back and forth.  The devil is a constant voice that is telling us to do certain things, while the Lord is shaking His head hoping that we will not give in.  When we give into the devil we are pulled into the mud that is located between the good side and the opposition.

We feel that we have no strength and we allow the devil to win.  He tugs and pulls on all the ropes to try and drag us into participating in his games.  He is the author of chaos and confusion, unlike the Lord.  When we allow the Lord to gently pull us toward Him we won’t feel a constant tug.  There will not be an inner feeling of despair.  Even if your arms are weak the Lord will be your strength. 

 We don’t’ have to allow the constant tug to be participating within us.  There is no satisfaction or winning apart from the Lord.  Don’t be pulled into the devils pit.  Stand strong with the Lord.  You are not a weakling when you allow the Lord to consume you.  He is the captain of your team cheering you on to a victory with Him. The loss will be on the devils side of the rope not yours. 

Isaiah 40:29New International Version (NIV)

29 

He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.

TELL ME

Have you ever felt that someone was trying to tell you something?  They linger around acting in an unusual way.  You can usually tell by body language when something is going on.  Some can hide these emotions; I on the other hand cannot.  I picked up my mom yesterday and she knew from the minute she stepped out of her friend’s car to get in mine that something wasn’t right.  She could just feel it. 

Lately I have had that feeling that someone is trying to tell me something.  It is in the pit of my stomach.  I keep on doing what I feel I should be doing, but that lingering presence keeps telling me “NO!” 

Many of you probably get this tugging at your soul.  You keep on being involved in certain things, but you don’t have inner peace.  The reason why you continue to be involved is because you don’t want to upset anyone.  So instead of saying “NO” to what the underlying voice is telling you, you continue to say “YES.”

I have learned that when that inner voice is telling you to stop, you better stop.  When we make the Lord our #1 guy, He lives within us through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit tells us when to say “NO” and when to say, “YES.”  Those gut feelings aren’t just coincidence they are there for a reason. 

One of God’s greatest gifts to us is that of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit provides a lifeline to God by which He gives many of His wonderful gifts.  The Holy Spirit gives a Christian spiritual power and understanding and makes it possible for us to become more like God and eventually inherit eternal life.  Jesus said in John that the Holy Spirit would provide us with help and guidance.  This internal witness encourages us to take a certain course of action.  This course will certainly be a path that is better than what we choose. 

When the feelings of uneasiness are within and it grows stronger and more persistent stop and listen.  The Holy Spirit is trying to tell you something.  He is a trustworthy guide who will never lead you astray.  He knows the path ahead much better than we do. 

Galatians 5:16 instructs us to “Walk by the Spirit.”  Live each day controlled and guided by HIm.  Open your ears to hear and be ready to obey Gods word.  Live each day with Him being your tour guide.  

SATISFACTION

Yesterday our bible study focused on satisfaction.  When the word satisfaction is said I can’t help but go back to the 60’s and The Rolling Stones.  The lyrics “I can’t get no satisfaction” keep replaying over and over again in my head.  Today in your life are you satisfied?  Are you filled to the brim and your cup is running over with satisfaction?  Or are you saying “I can’t get no, oh no no no!”

We look for things to satisfy us.  We may purchase things or we may go places.  An addiction may be part of our lives that is present to satisfy a hunger that is within us.  We try to find satisfaction in the job we have, places we live, vehicles we drive and brands we wear.  We connect with certain people to lift us up.  We keep searching to feed the hunger inside of our bodies. 

Being completely satisfied is that of being content.  We should be disquieted enabling our bodies to not be disturbed.  When the Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt He didn’t take them on the easiest route.  He led them through the wilderness.  They were first excited because they were on the journey to freedom.  However as the days got longer and longer they began to grumble.  They weren’t satisfied with anything.  Even though they were leaving a life being bond by the Pharaoh they were disgruntled because they had left the things that they felt satisfied their bodies. 

The Lord doesn’t lead us down the easiest path, but he leads us down the best route for us.  The only way to find satisfaction traveling on this pilgrimage is through the Lord.  Apart from Him is where you fall into Satan’s deceptions, much like Eve.  Everyday we are tempted to find satisfaction apart from God.  We fall into the trap of finding the desirable that looks inviting, however it only brings disappointment, misery and pain. 

Unlike the 60’s rock song we can find satisfaction.  Connect to the Lord today.  Realize that it may not be an easy route, but it is the road that will lead to refreshment, happiness and joy.  Walk in the wilderness of today’s world with the Lord beside you.  The power of the Spirit will feed your soul and satisfy your hunger. 

You can get some satisfaction with Him and Him alone.