BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE DIFFERENT!

1 Samuel 8:4-5 “Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

1 Samuel 8 relates a time in Israel’s history when they had wandered from God’s plan for their life and decided they just didn’t want to be different anymore. Samuel pleaded for the Israelites before God but God’s longsuffering was close to the end and He said, “If that’s what they want then give it to them! But first, tell them the consequence of such a request.” 

1 Samuel 8:10 “And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to sow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive yards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

Maybe it was all the royal pageantry, possibly it was the lure of the “good life” that seemed to surround a king or perhaps they were just tired of having the “People of God” target painted on their backs.

1 Samuel 8:19-20 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

The Children of Israel had forgotten something very important, THEY WERE DIFFERENT FOR A PURPOSE! It began with a covenant, included bloodshed, leading to the fulfillment of God’s plan for their life. God had made a covenant with Abraham and sealed it with circumcision. He promised to make Abraham’s seed a great nation. His plan was that they would follow God as He led them and spoke to them through an anointed servant. God wanted to be their judge, their provider and fight their enemies. The purpose of the Israelites was to trust wholly in God, glorify Him in the eyes of the heathen and be the mouthpiece pointing the way to Jesus Christ. It was all lost because THEY DIDN’T WANT TO BE DIFFERENT!

We are currently in the midst of a hotly contested Presidential Primary. The views range from one extreme to the other.  One of the candidates continues to push the belief that "we are the only civilized nation that does not offer its citizens (you fill in the blank)."  The rallying cry from supporters is "MAKE US LIKE OTHER NATIONS!" The candidates paint a picture of Utopia  until you examine the consequences of its enforcement. It will require heavier taxation on working Americans, allow more government encroachment into our lives, force us into supporting immoral decisions and burden our children and grandchildren with unbelievable debt. But, “NOW WE WILL BE LIKE EVERY OTHER NATION!

Have we forgotten, the United States was not founded to be like every other nation? Our country began with a covenant; The Declaration of Independence and was sealed with the Constitution. Our forefathers shed blood to establish this great nation and our sons and daughters have continued to spill blood to preserve the freedom and rights guaranteed by the Constitution. We were to be a Beacon of Hope to the rest of the world, a nation portraying the idea that a people allowed to live in freedom, dream, work hard and receive rewards earned from their labor would rise to unimaginable heights. We would invent, create and achieve things no other nation had ever accomplished. In doing so we would point the way to freedom and prosperity for oppressed people everywhere. Our ideals are rapidly being consumed because WE DON’T WANT TO BE DIFFERENT!

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.

Our salvation began with the shed blood of Jesus Christ and has been sealed with the Holy Spirit.  WE ARE DIFFERENT FOR A PURPOSE! God does not intend for His Church to BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE! We are to be a light to those in darkness pointing the way to salvation through Jesus Christ. It requires a transforming of our mind from a WORLD VIEW to a GOD VIEW. We have to stand firm against evil and sometimes deny ourselves things that seem so desirable.

Many times it may feel like you have a target painted on your back, but before you cry, I DON’T WANT TO BE DIFFERENT, remember you have been redeemed with a great price. If you want to have the favor of God on your life, enjoy His abundant blessing and fulfill His purpose for you, YOU CAN’T BE LIKE EVERY OTHER PERSON, YOU ARE GOD’S CHILD!

SKINNED KNEES BUT STILL RUNNING

The Winter Olympics were held in Vancouver a few weeks ago. I held my breath as snowboarders performed on the half-pipe. I groaned when Lindsey Vonn wiped out on the Giant Slalom and cheered the United States team as they scored to send the gold medal hockey game into overtime. The grace and beauty of Women’s Figure Skating is always a big draw and this year was no exception. I enjoyed watching the skating competition finals and was captured by the sparkling personality of gold-medalist Kim Yu-Na and the story of bronze-medalist Joannie Rochette, who skated despite losing her mother to cancer, the previous Monday. In my opinion, the most inspirational moment is the Medal Awards Ceremony. The top 3 finishers stand on platforms with the gold medal winner in the middle on the highest pedestal, the silver medalist stands on the right hand of the gold medalist and the bronze medal winner stands to the left. In turn, each winner bows his/her head as the medal is placed around their neck, then the gold medalist stands at attention as the national anthem of his/her country is played in their honor. With tear-filled eyes, the winner sings the words to his/her country’s song and then proudly raises a bouquet of flowers to acknowledge the accolades of the crowd.

We are running a race in Life’s Olympics. It isn’t held just every four years but it is a lifelong pursuit. The motivating factor, as it is to the Olympians, is the promise of a prize. In 1 Corinthians 9:24, Paul reminds us, “Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain.” Not only does Paul tell us there is a prize to claim but he instructs us that the prize cannot be obtained if you don’t enter, run and finish the race. There are many young people who watch the Olympics and dream of winning the gold medal but they will never stand on the platform to receive the prize. The reasons may include a lack of talent but for the most part it is a lack of discipline. We watch the “glory” of the Olympic Games and forget about the years of training, pain, failure, tears and frustration that each Olympian brings to the competition. Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 9:25 & 27, “And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things” and “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.”

Most Christians agree on the prize but have varying opinions when it comes to running the race. For some it is a mental assent and a verbal declaration; I believe in my heart and accept Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. This is a wonderful start but PLEASE DON’T STOP, you haven’t obtained the prize! An Olympic champion is not the person who watches the Olympics and states, “someday I want to win a gold medal!” Others declare that there must be true repentance (sacrificing the old life on the altar) and baptism to wash the old away and become a new creation in Christ. All biblical but PLEASE DON’T STOP, you are just entering the training facility! To win the prize, you have to continue the training as you continue your pursuit. Still others have embraced Peter’s message to the early church. On the Day of Pentecost, when asked, “What must we do to be saved?” Peter declared that Repentance was necessary, each participant must be baptized in the Name of Jesus and go on to receive the Holy Spirit. But PLEASE DON’T STOP, you are at the starting line and the race is about to begin. Remember, Paul says that you have to “run to obtain."

In Life’s Race, unlike the Olympic Games, everyone who finishes the race receives the prize. In my mind I can visualize Heaven’s Award Ceremony. What a day that will be when I stand on the pedestal of Heaven and bow my head as Jesus places, not a gold medal around my neck, but a “Crown of Righteousness” on my head. I’m sure tears of joy will spill over when I hear the angels begin to sing Heaven’s anthem. Then as all of Heaven cheers, I will cast my crown at the feet of my Savior in awe and worship. “I Can Only Imagine!”

I began the race over 43 years ago. It hasn’t been the sprint I imagined but it has turned into a marathon. There have been moments when I thought the grassy expanse might be an easier way then the straight and narrow path. Many times I trip and fall, but with bruised legs and skinned knees, I keep pressing on. Voices from the crowd try to distract me, I grow weary dealing with the “cares of life” and sometimes, it seems I don’t have the strength to take another step, that’s when my training takes over. A still, small voice whispers, “You can make it, I am with you.” I get a “second wind,” the end is in sight and the prize is waiting. Paul sums up life’s race to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

HE'S GOD OF THE MONDAYS TOO!!

I am a Facebook junkie! I love being connected to friends and family, sharing amusing stories and pictures of our kids and grandkids. Most amazing, however, is the insight into each person’s personality and philosophy that I’m given by the multiple updates posted each day. Matthew 12:34 tells us that it is from the abundance of the heart that our mouth speaks. If the Bible had been written in 2010, it might read from the abundance of the heart your Facebook update will read. It has been said on many occasions that according to Facebook Updates, no one has a bad Sunday Service. Everyone is blessed, excited about going to church, is looking for God to do great things in the midst of His people, heard an awesome sermon and was amazed at the presence of God in the service. If you don’t believe me go to your Facebook page and read everyone’s update from Sunday. Now read the updates beginning Monday morning. The excitement has faded or disappeared, the awesome sermon is yesterday’s news, and the fact that you have a job seems more of a curse than a blessing. What happened? Is God only a Sunday God or is He God of the Mondays, too?

In 1 Kings 20, we read the story of Benhadad, King of Syria and Ahab, King of Israel. The King of Syria amassed a large army and sent word to Ahab that he was coming to take his silver, gold, wives and children. Ahab replied, “Oh king I am thine and all that I have.” But that was not enough for Benhadad, his message to Ahab was, “besides your silver, gold, wives and children, I am going to let my soldiers search your house and that of your servants and take anything that pleases them.” This went too far, even for Ahab, so he gathered his army together and went to fight the Syrians. God had promised to deliver the Syrians into the hands of the Israelites and they won a great victory that day. Benhadad was confused. His armies were larger, had better equipment and were led by seasoned commanders; why had they been defeated? I Kings 20:23 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.

Their new strategy was, “Fight them in the valley.” The god they serve can protect them in the hills but get them in the valley and victory is ours. Rule #1 – NEVER CATAGORIZE GOD!!! Rule #2 – NEVER UNDERESTIMATE GOD!!! The Syrians broke both rules and the consequences were swift and terrible. 1 Kings 20:28 "And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD." The Army of Israel believed what the man of God proclaimed and went into battle. 100,000 Syrian footmen were slain in one day, 27,000 soldiers escaped into the city and God caused a wall to fall on them. God IS God of the Hills AND God of the Valley.

God will NOT be limited, therefore, I proclaim today, that God is the God of my Sunday but He is also the God of my Monday. The same God that blessed me on Sunday will walk beside me on Monday. The same power that thrilled me on Sunday is coursing through my veins on Monday. The awesome sermon I heard on Sunday will be bread for my Monday. I will walk in power and victory EVERY DAY. Let us continue proclaiming the greatness of God on Sunday but don’t categorize and limit God the rest of the week. HE’S GOD OF THE MONDAYS TOO!!!

IMPATIENCE WILL ALWAYS BIRTH AN ISHMAEL

Gr’ma, Gr’ma, Gr’ma, GR’MA!!!! Caleb’s impatience was coming through. I had promised him that we would go downstairs and play after I put Baby Nathan down for his morning nap. Caleb has the patience of a 3 year old and although he may understand the word “later,” later occurs to him much sooner than it does to Grandma. He did not want to wait until I had given Nathan his bath and bottle and snuggled him into bed for a couple hour nap. Caleb’s experience tells him that Grandma has never broken a promise and in just a little while he will enjoy all the fun and personal attention that Grandma wants to bestow upon him, but there is one minor detail missing, Grandma is still upstairs. His little mind reasons, Grandma has promised to play with me downstairs maybe I can help make her promise a reality. Caleb has a plan. He will open the basement door, turn on the light, go down the stairs and then he will receive the promise.

PROBLEM!!! Caleb has birthed an Ishmael!! By taking matters into his own hands, he has what he perceives to be the most important ingredient;”being in the basement.” Caleb is downstairs in the play room but the JOY of the promise was spending time, playing with Grandma and she is still upstairs. The predictable response of a 3-year old is a loud cry for Grandma to join him, which I did after Nathan was soundly asleep. Have you ever become focused on the “missing ingredient” of a promise and birthed an Ishmael? You are not unique; faithful Abraham tried to assist God before “natural circumstances” would prevent even God from performing what He had promised.

In Genesis 12:2-3, at the age of 75 years, God promised Abraham that he would make of him a great nation and that in him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. In verse 7, God promises to give all the land to Abraham’s descendants. In Genesis 13:16, the promise expands from a great nation to so many descendants that they could only be numbered if one could number the dust of the earth. A few years pass and Abraham becomes a little anxious. In Genesis 15, he reminds God that he still has no offspring. God replies by showing him the stars and assuring Abraham that his offspring will be in number as the stars. The years continued to roll by until finally Abraham and Sarah, at the age of 85 and 75, decided to help God out with the missing ingredient and Ishmael was birthed.

I have heard it preached that Abraham sinned, but sin is rebellion against the Word of God and it was not out of rebellion that Abraham acted. We read where God bestowed a blessing on Ishmael and God will NEVER bless sin. I believe that Abraham was so full of faith in the promise of God that he convinced himself that God had just opened the door of opportunity to the fulfillment of that promise. The missing ingredient was not a son, as Abraham supposed, but a much more important detail. Abraham had forgotten who “I” was!!! Ten years prior to the birth of Ishmael, God had promised, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you; I will make your name great.” The only input God required from Abraham to fulfill His promise was Abraham’s faithfulness.

Many times, I have impatiently or impulsively attempted to fill in a few details that seemed to be missing in the plan God was working in my life. I convinced myself that the action I was about to take was a door of opportunity that only God could have opened. Every time I have forgotten that while it may be MY life, it is GOD’s plan, an Ishmael has been birthed. My life has been blessed and often God continues with the plan to bring the promise to fruition, but not without negative consequences to my actions. Like Caleb waiting in the basement, I have felt the frustration of having all my plans in place only to realize God didn’t have His plan in place yet. As Abraham and his descendants have lived with the consequence of Ishmael’s birth, I have lived with regret over the results of my impatient actions. Oh, I was still saved, I was still blessed, the promise would still come to pass but I had to carry all the baggage of my Ishmael along the journey toward the promise. When God makes you a promise, learn to wait patiently for Isaac, you will not only have the blessing of God birthed in you but you won’t have an Ishmael to deal with before you achieve victory.

BORN TO SERVE THE LORD

Tim Tebow was born Aug 14, 1987 and is the Heisman-winning quarterback for the Florida Gators. His parents were missionaries to the Philippines when Tim was conceived. His mother suffered a life-threatening infection while pregnant and her unborn baby suffered a severe placental abruption. Doctors recommended that his mother abort the baby to save her life but she refused. Tim was carried to term and both he and his mother survived. This is the subject of a controversial commercial produced by Focus on the Family that will be aired once during the Super bowl pregame and once during the actual game. The protests are from Pro-Choice groups who argue that this commercial is trying to take from women the choice to have an abortion. Once again they have ignored Mrs. Tebow’s CHOICE to give her son life because the only valid choice to this Liberal group is TERMINATION!!!

Famous pro-abortionists such as Richard Dawkins will argue that Tim Tebow is on this earth by chance and a stupid decision by his mother to risk her own life that her son’s life might be preserved. Dawkins argues that Tim’s life occurred because his parents just happened to come together on a specific night at a specific time and that specific sperm was the one that survived to fertilize the egg. While the facts, as Mr. Dawkins state them, may be true, a new life is so much greater than scientific fact. God may have set the scientific order of reproduction in place and left it up to mankind’s emotions and actions to start the process, but our life comes from the breath of God. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” We are all born for a specific purpose and God has a plan for each precious life. We are all “BORN TO SERVE THE LORD.”

Tim Tebow and his family understand the great responsibility each life is given by God. Tim isn’t just a good football player or a popular quarterback; he believes in living his faith. Antonya English, a staff writer for the St. Petersburg Times reports that on his rare time off, Tim works in prison ministries, travels to foreign countries to give his testimony, holds Bible studies and volunteers to help those less fortunate. Tim states, “For me, every day includes four things: God, family, academics, and football, in that order.” Tim Tebow gets it; “HE WAS BORN TO SERVE THE LORD.”

I love the song, “Born to Serve the Lord” by Evangelist Bud Chambers, which has been recorded by several musical groups. It captures the very purpose of life. Here are the lyrics of that God-inspired song:

From the dust of the earth my God created man- His breath made man a living soul; And God so loved the world He gave His only Son, And that is why I love Him so!

My hands were made to help my neighbor; my eyes were made to read God's word. My feet were made to walk in His footsteps; my body is the temple of the Lord.

I was made in His likeness, Created in his image, for I was born to serve the Lord. I will not deny Him; I will always walk beside Him, for I was born to the serve the Lord.

You may not be called to be a missionary, a preacher or a great football player. Maybe God’s plan for your life is ministering to your family. Let God make you the best wife or husband, mother or father the world has ever known. There is nothing more important to God than raising children who love and honor God with their lives and pass that heritage to the next generation. Perhaps you are single and God’s plan for you is to be a Godly employee, a “missionary” in your workplace or a loving friend to someone who feels unloved. If God has called you to sing; sing praises unto Him; write; write something to glorify His Name; pray; pray with fervor for those who don’t know God; if it is to show kindness, you will have plenty of opportunity every day. Whatever plan God has laid down for you from the moment you were formed, embrace it and move into your destiny because “YOU WERE BORN TO SERVE THE LORD!!!”

GOD WANTS YOU TO SUCCEED

God wants you to succeed!!! Many Holy Ghost filled people live their lives in fear that God is just waiting to pull the rug out from under them or slap them upside the head at the slightest provocation. Lip service is given to God’s amazing grace and His infinite mercy but we seem to think those attributes only apply to salvation and do not include our continuing faith journey. Is it because we don’t really know God or don’t believe God?

2 Peter 3:9“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 

If we believe this verse, perhaps we just have a hard time substituting “I” for “any” and “all”.

I am the oldest child in a family of six children. My dad was a hard worker and provided all the necessities of life and as many extras as possible for his family. I enjoyed a wonderful childhood and never felt poor or underprivileged. I always felt loved and had built-in playmates; something was always happening at our house. Many of my friends, however, enjoyed some of the luxuries that I was well aware were not available to “people like us.” My best friend in high school would spend weekends at her cottage in Baraboo, WI and she had a beautiful brick fireplace in her living room. We lived in a 3 bedroom, 1 bath ranch, 4 bedrooms, counting the one dad fixed up in the basement. If I ever attained the status of my friend, I thought I would have made it because “people like us” lived in 1200 sq. ft. ranch homes with 1 bathroom and gravel driveways. Many times, I have needed God to reassure me that, because of His grace, I am “one of those people.” God wants ME to succeed!

The book of Exodus relates the saga of the deliverance of the Children of Israel by the hand of God. The Israelites had come to Egypt during the days of Joseph to escape a great famine. They had lived in the land of Goshen for 430 years and were now enslaved to the Egyptians. Their tasks became more and more burdensome until they began to cry unto the Lord for deliverance. God raised up Moses to lead them to freedom and deal with Pharaoh. It was God’s desire to deliver his people then just as it is today. This verse in Exodus illustrates how far God will go to deliver and protect us even when our hearts aren’t exactly true.

Exodus 13:17  “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.” 

God wanted freedom for His people so badly that he led them in a way that would not tempt them to return to a foreign land and live as slaves. God wanted them to succeed!

You are one of God’s people and He will go to any length necessary for you to be successful in your journey with Him. When He filled you with the Holy Spirit, He endowed you with the necessary power to walk into a life of liberty. If you will follow the path God has laid for you, He will lead you out of the reach of the pull of Egypt and into freedom. You can live a wonderful, fulfilled life today and be assured of eternal life tomorrow. God wants YOU to succeed!

GOD, COULD YOU SPEED UP THE PERFECTING?

Once I learned how to read there was no stopping me. The library was only a couple of blocks from our house and in the summer, my brother and I would walk to it almost every day. I would check out a pile of books in the morning and bring them back that afternoon. This was before computers, so a very irate librarian would sift through unfiled cards to check in the books. She finally made a rule that we could not return books on the same day; I just checked out a bigger stack. When my babies were little, I would read at least one romance novel while they were taking an afternoon nap. My reading list has matured somewhat, but my love for the written word has not diminished.

While not exactly a speed reader, I am a fast reader. I have trained my eyes and brain to pick out all the key words on the page so that I don’t have to read every word. If something suddenly just doesn’t make sense I reread the last paragraph. Consequently, I miss some of the insignificant details but I can always tell you the plot and conclusion of the book. This is usually the way I watch television also. I can watch TV, read a magazine and carry on a conversation with my husband at the same time. I’m not sure if Steve is listening but he has learned to nod at the appropriate times. Again, if I miss a key element, the DVR allows me to replay the scene or I just ask Steve. I may miss a few details but the movie always ends with the good guy winning.

SO LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!

As you can guess, I am not the most patient person in the world and I am usually anxious to move on to the next book, task or project. Sometimes, I fear that this character flaw shows up in my walk with God. Many times God has put a desire or a dream in my heart and immediately, I am off my knees and ready to “get the show on the road.” I may miss a few details but if God gave the dream to me, it will turn out ok because He always wins. And God says, “Yes, I always win, but you, on the other hand, need a little perfecting.”

Genesis 12:2 I will make you a great Nation; I will bless you and make your name great.

Abraham was given a promise if he would follow God to an unknown land. God promised Abraham that he would be a father of a great nation. Now Abraham was a very detail-oriented person and God had forgotten one very important detail or so he thought. Abraham and Sarah were approaching old age and not one child had been born. Being a man of superior intelligence, Abraham reasoned you can’t exactly have a nation if you can’t even have a child. Abraham decided to help God with this very important detail and fathered Ishmael by Sarah’s maidservant.

God had not forgotten His promise or any of the details and although God blessed Ishmael and made a great nation of him, Ishmael’s descendants continue to cause Isaac, the true son of promise, all kind of problems to this very day. How much smoother life would have been for his children if Abraham had only waited until God was ready to fulfill the promise.

Genesis 37:5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers and they hated him even more.

As a young man, Joseph dreamed two dreams. God revealed the meanings of the dream to Joseph but kept the time frame of fulfillment a secret. Joseph, being the favorite son, suffered much teasing and torment from his 10 older brothers. Now he saw his chance to get even. “God has shown me in a dream that one day all of you will have to bow down to me,” Joseph told his brothers. Once his tongue began “flapping” it wouldn’t stop, he included his father and mother in those that would one day bow to his superiority. Yes, God had given him the dream but Joseph needed a little perfecting before he could rise to the place of service to his people. It included being betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, spending some time in prison, forgotten for a time and finally having a “do or die” moment in front of Pharaoh. Joseph had been perfected! 

This is reflected in his words to the butler and baker regarding their dreams; “Do not all interpretations belong to God?” And again when his brothers did in fact bow at his feet; “So now it was not you that sent me here, but God.” It had taken more years than Joseph would have thought necessary, but God had perfected him and brought him to the point where he was able to handle the realization of the dream. Joseph realized the dream was not about him but about the great God that not only held the interpretation of dreams but had guided his every step.

1 Peter 5:10  “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” 

Like Abraham and Joseph, God has made me some promises and given me some dreams. As I look back to the starting point, I see some of the perfecting that God has worked in my life. Sometimes, I have wearied in the waiting and thought I would help God out with a few of the details. With gentleness and great mercy, He takes me by the hand and continues the perfecting process.


Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 

Once again, I am encouraged; God is not slack concerning his promise. He hasn’t forgotten me or neglected any of the details; I just need a little more perfecting.