Money money money money MONEY!

2 Chronicles 25:9 KJV

And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this.

I  would ask the same question Amaziah does here.  But what about the money? No one wants to loose money on a deal. You work hard for your money.  You work to keep it safe.  You work to put it to work for you. Money allows you to do things and makes your surroundings comfortable. But I'm reminded of a proverb that goes something like "money makes itself wings and flies away." Money comes and goes. Sometimes you have it and sometimes you don't,  but you carry your character and your name with you your whole life.  So this verse was a good reminder to do right even if you loose cash in the process.  You'll have chosen something of far greater worth.

Who's Talking?

God's voice agrees with God's Word.

Have you ever heard God speaking to you? These are just quick thoughts about a few of the routes that God uses to speak to people with some personal examples.

God can speak to you every time you open the Bible.  Those words are His words.  The Bible is inspired or "God breathed" and should dwell in us to keep us from sin, clean us up, correct us, instruct us, reprove us, complete us and make us ready for good works.

God can and does speak through preachers of His Word. For some reason God uses the foolishness of preaching to talk to people, and it's a powerful thing.  But make sure you bring your Bible, open it up, follow along and keep that preacher accountable to the Word. If God's Word is twisted, it is not His Word.  The Deceiver is skilled in getting just enough of God's Word in there to make it sound good.

God speaks through nature and reveals His amazing news! The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth His handiwork.  This world is a testament to the Creator leaving no one with the excuse, "I didn't think there was a God."  The reply to that is simply, "Then you weren't thinking."

God speaks through people...and not just Christians. A former pastor's wife of mine said, "all men are my teachers."  People are made in the image of God and though we are far fallen from His glory I think it is this godly template that makes all people worth saving.

God speaks through Christians.  I am especially glad for the commeradery of believers,  specifically the members of my church.  The local New Testament church is supposed to edify or build the believer up in faith.  I lived at home while going to Indiana University and was able to continue serving in my local church. It was the serving that carried me through those years. Working with second graders in Sunday school when some people (my mom included) said I should be sleeping kept me focused physically and spiritually. Sitting in a class full of college and career aged individuals left my mind wandering and inevitably I would fall into a pattern of self-pity (why isn't there anyone who gets me?) The One who "gets me" had a place for me with a bunch of seven-year-olds and He used them to talk to me. 

God speaks through music. Singing in choir was another way God encouraged and talked to me.  Learning new songs every week kept a fresh melody on my heart and in my mind.  There's a reason that we are told to speak to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and to sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. It's good to praise God and bless God because He is worthy, and it's good for us. It can set the heart aright quickly. When I would sing with the choir and congregation,  I felt as if the angels in Heaven were singing along in praise to the One who gives us a reason to sing. It was more special than I can explain. Sometimes I forget to sing. I forget to turn on some God honoring music and unfortunately miss out on the much needed encouragement and admonition.

God speaks through His Spirit, and this is my favorite. When God speaks to me it sounds different than the voice in my head.  That voice is uncertain, kind of "judging", and often sarcastic. But God's voice is calm and clear and kind.  He uses everyday things that I can understand and that I'm currently going through to teach me on my level.  He once used my eavesdropping on a conversation at a restaurant. I was hearing one friend counsel another how to handle a relationship. "Don't read his letters,  don't answer his phone calls, stop thinking about him." Apparently this guy was bad news for this girl but that's when God's Spirit said, "That's how you fall in love with me. Read my Word,  talk to me and think about me." He doesn't do it this way much. But the times He has have been sweet. He uses his other ways more often probably because I'm bad at putting myself in a place where I can hear His still small voice. 

Just remember to take the voice back to the Bible.  If it doesn't agree,  it's not God.

Triple D

1 Samuel 22:2 KJV

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

Tim and I are going through the life of David with Ella and Lucy in children's church with a focus on the heart.  Since David was called a "man after God's own heart"  we're studying with the prayer that our children will be little girls after God's own heart. We're dissecting his life,  the good and the bad,  and the record of his friends and enemies and talking about how their actions showed what was in their hearts.
In this study we came across the verse at the top about the people that came to David... Those in distress, those in debt, and those that were discontented. And it sounded to me a lot like the people that came and still come to Jesus.  These are people who need something and know they need something.  I knew even as a very young child that I was a sinner and knew the regret that sin brings.  Thank God my parents pointed me to Jesus. In time I picked up other unhealthy, ultimately unsatisfying outlets,  attitudes,  and beliefs but could recognize them as such and put them down because the Truth was present with me.
I am the "distressed",  easily given to be overtaken with anxieties and unstable emotions. I am the "indebted".  Though I try to work for what I have, I know that all that I have whether material or mental or relationships or health are only partially under my control. They belong to Someone else.  I am given the responsibility of the maintenance of these things. I am the "discontented". Though others would look at my life and say "she is fortunate, " I am more prone to distemper and ingratitude than thankfulness.
But in Jesus I have found soothing for my distress, payment for my debt, and satisfaction for my discontent. When I walk with Him,  seek Him, talk to Him, and think on His words, I find that He completes me and corrects me in a way I cannot do ,  in a way that even my most fulfilling relationships cannot do. So if you're like me and distressed, in debt and discontented, come to Jesus and stay with Him and see all the things He can do for you.

Expectations

Psalm 31:24  Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Wow,  it's  been a long night time since I've posted.  I'm not surprised. I kind of expected it of myself.  To start a blog and not follow through.  Is that too honest? Probably.  But that's what I hope to learn about... Expectations.  Where mine are and where they should be.  You see I've been disappointed.  Who hasn't? Right.  One of those on-going disappointments where you thought something was some way and it continues to show you time and time again that it's not what you thought it was.  But it's been that way in more than one situation. And I keep coming back to the thought that the lowest common denominator is... me . Me and my unrealistic expectations.  I haven't got very far but I'm working on putting the verse at the top into moment by moment practice. I'm tired of being disappointed. And I know there is only One who will satisfy the reason that the disappointments are happening.