Helping Others

• We often ask God what to do, sometimes sincerely, sometimes out of habit. But how often do we ask Him what not to do?
  
  And why do I say that? Because I believe that knowing what not to do can be more important than knowing what to do, just as can knowing what not to say. 
  
  Do not assume. Seek God's wisdom in everything.

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You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. (Acts 20:34-36 NIV)

You can't keep a good man down!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" (Luk 24:1-7 NIV)

Being Led

• Here is an interesting perspective on being "led by the Spirit":
  
  What if--right now--something happened to your cognitive abilities and you were unable to recognize the faces and voices speaking to you? You could hear them, but could not connect an identity with them.
  
  How would you feel? Could you trust them? What would you do?
  
  Now, what about what you "hear" in your mind and spirit? Are you sometimes unable to recognize those voices? For me, those times are of even greater concern!
  
  What to do? Pray. Spend quality time with God. I find that the better I know Him, the quicker I recognize voices that are not His.

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Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." (Rom 8:12-15 NIV)

Hurry up and wait!

• "I'm not impatient; I just don't like to wait." I used to say that... as a joke, of course. But I have to admit that I really did act that way at times.
  
  I have learned (the hard way) that God's timing really is best. I have learned to trust it. I may not always like it at first, but it always works out for the best. Always.

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Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. For even his own brothers did not believe in him. Therefore Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come." (John 7:3,5-6,8 NIV)

Proverbs 12:11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. (Time To Grind.)

Responsibility is a heavy responsibility

• I believe that, like Jesus, we all have a purpose in God's plan--a reason we are here. However, many things can distract us from it: tasks, demands, ambitions, desires... and the list goes on and on.
  
  He knew His purpose. If you do not know yours, ask God. Then, be patient for the answer. If you do know it, I ask you the same question I asked myself this morning: What are you going to do today that moves you closer to your destiny or helps you fulfill it?
  
  Like Jesus, we too have a choice. We are responsible for what we do.

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At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (Luke 4:42-44 NIV)

Up lift someone else

Luke 9:48 For the one who is least among you all is the greatest.” (I pray we are great today by working to make someone else great.)