CONNECTIONS

“I am the vine you are the branches.”  When we stay spiritually connected to the Lord He will orchestrate all circumstances and situations to play in perfect harmony.  His guiding hand will lead you to those that will play an instrument in your orchestra.  

Rick Warren states this “Christianity is not just a belief system; it’s a belong system.  We are created for connections. When we stay connected we will bear fruit, when we disconnect we will not have any productivity in our lives.” 

The most important connection is our connection with the Lord. We do this through having a prayer connection with Him.  He is listening to everything we bring to him.  The second connection is with other Christians.   He will lead you to those who will help guide you.  He chooses those who will help you reach your highest potential.

  There is a group of us who are attending the She Speaks Conference in July.  There is a special Facebook page that was created to connect all of us.  This connection eases the anxiety those of us first timers are feeling.  The Lord has led us all to each other.  It is unbelievable the feeling I receive when I land on that page.  The Lord is at work through the words written on the page.  The voice of the women is loud.  These new Christian connections are guiding me and nudging me to step out of my box.

God wants you to be a spiritually mature Christian.  Ask Him to lead you to those that will help you reach your full potential.  He knows that it is through connections you will make His music to share with the world. 

HAVE NO FEAR

Last night I had a conference call about a meeting I am going to the end of July.  The call was to give the listener all the in’s and out’s about meeting with the publishers.  You have to have an elevator pitch, a one pager and a proposal.  The call was 2 ½ hours and the more I listened the more butterflies started to pile up within me. 

What do you do about the butterflies?  You realize that they are the beautiful species that have gone through a metamorphosis.  Just like the butterfly I have changed and I am continuing to change.  With this change I must step outside the box and out of my comfort zone into a world of the unknown. 

Have you ever had something ahead of you that put butterflies in your stomach?  You have that anxious feeling?  You think to yourself how am I ever going to get that accomplished? 

When we follow God’s will for our lives we may be led out of where we feel the most comfortable.   When we are lead into the unknown we should have no fear.  “HAVE NO FEAR” or “DO NOT BE AFRAID” is the most repeated phrase in the Bible.  So what does this tell us?  We should not be anxious.  God loves us and has a plan for our future.  It is a plan that He knows best fits our lives.  It may take us out of our comfort zone and make us feel uneasy, but He is with us.  He has a purpose that will make us full.  He will ease the fluttering of the butterflies with His presence. 

Paul gives us advice in Philippians 4:6-7.  When we are filled with anxiety or worries go to God in prayer.  To worry less pray more.  Whenever those butterflies start flying stop and pray.  Your thoughts will turn to the positive thinking of peace.   

Philippians 4:6-7New International Version (NIV)

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

APRON

 Yesterday afternoon I went to a church baby shower.  The preacher’s wife started the event by giving scripture about mothers and sharing words of wisdom.  She told how important it is to go to Jesus and bring Him closer to you during this time.  She also told about a woman named Susanna Wesley.  Susanna was the mother of John and Charles Wesley.  Because of this she was known as the mother of Methodism.

Susanna had 19 children, so needless to say there was little time for her relationship with God.  Even though busy she found the time and made the time.  I learned yesterday that Susanna when she needed her time with God would stop and pull her apron up over her head.  Her children knew this was her time with the Lord. 

Do you spend enough time with the Lord?  Do you interrupt your busy day to go to Him? 

Just as Susanna we can and should stop in the middle of a busy hectic day and be with God.   This time draws us closer to him and strengthens our relationship him.  It is through making a commitment and having consistency that we will be led to our quiet place daily.  Jesus was known to go off to solitary places and pray, so why shouldn’t we?  To make the time and add in your quiet time, eliminate the distractions just for a little while.  This act of being quiet with Him should be a habit that isn’t broken, but continued throughout your lifetime. 

Psalm 46:10New International Version (NIV)

10 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth.”

At the end of our lives we will all stand quietly before Him.  Why not stand quietly before Him now? It is through this quiet time, which we intentional make, that we will connect with our Lord.  It may be difficult to find the time, but that is why we have to make the time.  Start the habit today of spending quiet time with the Lord. 

Put your apron over your head shutting out the world and spending time with the one who matters. 

CALL

 The congregation was seated in the sanctuary waiting for the service to begin.  The first thing on the agenda was the call to worship.  Out of nowhere came the sound of ducks quaking.  Everyone giggled as they saw the Woman’s World Championship Duck Caller standing at the pulpit.  If it was in a different town I’m sure it would have been odd, but seeing that our church is located in the Rice and Duck Capital of the World this duck calling wasn’t out of the ordinary.

Ms. Pat proceeding in telling the congregation that there are many different types and kinds of calls. There are eight different kinds of calls. There is the basic call, the greeting call, the feed call, the hail call, the comeback call, the lonesome hen, the pleading call, and the whistling call.  When calling ducks you would do one of these calls with an instrument known as a duck caller, but today this calling was the call to worship. 

Are you being called?  Are you being called by one of the different types of calls?  Is He calling you to worship for and with Him?

God is calling you through the work of the Holy Spirit.  He is using a variety of ways to draw you into a relationship with Him.  He may use the basic call that you find easy to follow.  He may use a greeting call greeting you into His fellowship.  He may use the feed call feeding you with His words.  He may use the hail call calling you to stop what you are doing and follow His will.  He may use the comeback call if you have been lost in this world and are now ready to return home.  He may be using the lonesome call if you have found yourself feeling lonely and depressed.  He may use a pleading call bringing other Christians to you to give you wisdom on how to answer the call.  Last but not least He may use the whistling call, when all of a sudden out of nowhere you hear a sound that makes you respond to the call.  These calls may be loud or quiet.  It depends on if you have your listening ear open. 

No matter what call you answer, answer the call.  This call is first birthed out of conviction.  Whether it happens quickly or slowly it is a heart changing experience.  Submit yourself to Him.  Your call may be the basic quack call or the lonesome call it doesn’t matter what type of call we receive.  The important thing is that we answer the call.

Answer the call!

AWAKEN

The alarm sounds and we hit the snooze.  Over and over again the noise continues.  Getting out of bed is difficult.  Katie continues to make cupcakes for any and every occasion.  I have no will power when it comes to those sweet little morsels of goodness.  However I am gluten sensitive, so what does all that flour do?  It puts me to sleep.  It makes it difficult to get up and going the next day after I have devoured a cupcake. 

As I tried to get up this morning my mind shifted to the song written and recorder by Natalie Grant, “Awaken.”  She sings to the Lord asking Him to awaken her heart, awaken her soul, and awaken His power to take control, awaken the passion to live for Him!

If we can’t awaken we need a good wake up call from the Lord.  He needs to awaken our souls.  A spiritual awakening is what we all need.  What is a spiritual awakening?  It is when more and more people savor the glory of Jesus.  It is when people realize they can be satisfied in Him not worldly possessions.  This awakening brings enthusiasm as we are all united in the body of Christ.  We gain fullness and clarity of the gospel truths.  A passion arises amongst all people who are absorbed with Him. 

Awaken your soul with and for Christ today.  Allow your feet to hit the floor and begin your journey into the mission field drawing others to Him.

Matthew 28:19-20New International Version (NIV)

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”