Lessons from Nebuchadnezzar

King Nebuchadnezzar is one of those persons of the Bible that I don’t really like to investigate too much. Basically we all know he is that terrible king who tried to make those three Hebrew boys bow down to his god.

However, the more I study Nebuchadnezzar the more I realize there are lessons from this man that we can learn today.

Now I didn’t say that those lessons were necessarily something I want to practice, but how many of you know that lessons can be something we learn that we want to or don’t want to do.

I find this lesson one that I don’t want to do. In Daniel 4:4 it states, “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous.”

Oh, how I was convicted as I read this scripture. How many of you have ever had a similar experience—a scripture just screaming off of the page at you? Well, let me tell you girls, this one did it for me.

How often I sit content and “at home” in my own little world, not concerned about those in need around me. I had to do some real searching of my heart, and I am sorry to say I have not acted on this like I should. How about you?

Ladies, won’t you join me in asking God to help you know where it is He wants to lead you. What place of contentment does He want to take you out of, allowing you the privilege to serve someone or somewhere in need? Let’s seek Him together this week, and I’m confident we will be surprised how God uses us.

It really was the Messiah

Today in Bible study I read in John 20: 10-18 of the account of Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene at the tomb after His resurrection. Of course I have read this many times and even seen this portion of scripture acted out in Easter productions and at the Passion Play.

However, this morning as I read this it takes a new twist. In verse 15 Jesus actually approaches and asked Mary, ‘Women, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking Jesus was the gardener she asks him “What have you done with him? Where have you put him? “

She doesn’t realize that it is actually the Messiah she is talking to….Until He calls her by name.

Ladies, I want to know how many of you are like me and don’t really realize that the Messiah is having dialogue with you. Or maybe even a better question is how many of you realize that HE wants and longs to have dialogue with you. You are His princess a valuable holy vessel.

Would you accept the challenge today with me to try and listen more intently to the voice of a precious tender hearted Savior who is calling your name?

Lord Jesus, we are so grateful that we are valuable in your sight and that you want to speak to us. Please help us to quiet ourselves enough and be acquainted with you enough that as you speak to us we respond as Mary did in verse 16 of this passage. Help us to know you are our teacher and want to lead us in a life that is more than we can imagine. We love you Jesus.

Reflections of a Grandmother’s Life

Recently my grandmother passed away. As I was reflecting on grandma’s life, the Lord took my thoughts to three different women in the Bible.

The first is the story of Mary and Martha found in Luke 10:38-42.

Luke 10:38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (NIV).

We read in this account about Jesus coming to visit Mary and Martha at their home. We see here that they, without reservation, opened their home for Jesus to visit.

I can never remember going to Grandma’s house, either as a young child or as a married woman taking my family, without feeling that she, without reservation, was welcoming me into her home.

Often times when this scripture is read, one might feel as if Jesus is upset with Martha because she was busy with the preparations and not sitting at His feet. The purpose for the Holy writ is for us to use it as guidance and direction for our journey here on earth. What a precious gift the Word of God is to us. So, for that reason I choose to take a different lesson out of this scripture and a lesson I feel Grandma not only heard, but one she lived and has left as a legacy for us.

Let me explain. Martha’s gift of serving, as well as Mary’s love for learning at the Master’s feet, had been given to them by the Lord. The point Christ wanted to make in this scripture is that these gifts must be used in balance. Serve AND spend time with the Master. As these remain in balance one doesn’t lose focus of why she is doing what she is doing. I believe Grandma’s life modeled this life lesson well.

She enjoyed serving her family from her kitchen. I can remember going to her house as a child for Sunday dinner. What a spread she would prepare! Fried chicken, ham, mashed potatoes and noodles, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, green beans, corn, hot rolls topped off with wonderful desserts like chocolate pie, cobbler, and ice cream. No doubt all that food took lots of preparation on Grandma’s part, but she always had a smile on her face as she was setting the table.

Grandma had found the balance. She knew why she did what she did. She had not become distracted with all the preparations. She was serving as unto the Lord. She was using her gift for His glory.

Even in the later years of her life when she was not able to fix the big meals for us to enjoy, she continued to practice opening her home without reservation. When I asked my children what their favorite memory of Granny was, without hesitation, my son said, “Seeing Grandma sit on the couch and smiling at us when we walked into her house.”

In the book of Acts chapter nine verse 36 we read an account of another woman I think of when I reflect on Grandma’s life. This lady is Tabitha. Tabitha was always doing good and helping the poor.

Acts 9:36 “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor” (NIV).

Grandma was always busy doing good for others. One family that comes to mind was Pastor Gary McCaw and his wife. They were Grandma and Grandpa’s pastor for a number of years. Often when we would be visiting on Sundays the McCalls would be there also.

I can remember Grandma would never quite be satisfied until Pastor Gary would take home some canned green beans, fresh canned tomato juice, or freezer corn.

Every garden season Grandma was always busy doing good by making sure she had enough green beans, tomato juice and freezer corn prepared to give to the Pastor and his wife in the fall and winter when these items weren’t so easy to get your hands on.

I don’t know about you, but I am challenged by the Mary-Martha and Tabitha part of my grandmother’s life.

Sometimes, ladies, let’s face it, we lose the joy in serving. Let us receive the challenge of using the gifts God has given us for His glory and honor as Grandma did.

Dear Jesus, please help us to keep the balance of serving and spending time with you. Help us to serve as you would desire for us to. Help us to be sensitive to those times you put people in our path to serve. We love you Jesus.

Interruption or Divine Distraction

Recently I have been doing a study done by Pricilla Shirer entitled “He Speaks to Me.” This is a study of the life of Samuel. This week’s emphasis is on having a sold-out hunger for God.

I was challenged by this study and wanted to share it with you. How often do you, like me go through your day oblivious to the opportunities that God would put in front of you for a divine distraction and we view it as and interruption to getting the things done on our “to do” list for the day.

I think as women sometimes we getting going in million directions trying to take care of all the needs of our family, career, or whatever drives us. I know for myself sometime God could hit me upside the head with a divine distraction and I would see it as such an interruption that I would continue on my path to try and get all the important things done that I ignore the urgent thing God is calling me to do.

Let me give you and example, just yesterday I was out taking a walk. It was such a beautiful day and I had only so much time to walk before I needed to be home to get ready for my next “thing”. I had a goal in mind of how many miles I wanted to walk before I had to be home.

As I was out walking, I saw a friend of mine who used to attend church with me. The last conversation I had with her there were several things in her life that were not stable. She was out working in her yard and I saw her; however, she did not see. It would have been very easy for me to just keep walking and not even stop to find out.

In fact, I am sorry to say that is what I did at first. The further I walked the more I could here the voice of God calling me to go back and talk with her. I argued with the Lord for just a few minutes and told God “you know I don’t have time for this. I only have so much time before I need to get home. You know Lord how many miles I want to walk.” Well, needless to say, God didn’t buy all of my excuses and I am thankful to say I did follow His voice and turned around and went back to talk with her.

In my talking with her, I was able to get an update on what was going on in her world and I did learn better how to pray for her. I believe that was a divine distraction that God gave me yesterday.

I like what Pricilla Shirer said about us ignoring God’s interruptions. When we ignore God’s interruptions ignores His attempt to move us away from our plan for the day to His plan for our day.

Ladies, I would like to say this is a discipline that is easy for me. However, it is not. I am asking God to help me be better to see these divine delays and to follow His direction. I need to remember there are no surprises to God, He is in control and he sees the whole picture. Won’t you join me as grow in this area of our lives?

Springtime Fragrances

Spring is one of my most favorite times of the year. I love to walk. In the winter I am grateful for my treadmill. But when spring arrives, I am very thankful for the opportunity to put on my walking shoes, and just take out and spend time with Jesus.

I enjoy seeing all the flowers and trees bud and bloom. It is so refreshing. This spring as I have been enjoying walks viewing the beauty, I’m reminded of how much this beauty is just like Christ. I am very grateful that He allows us to experience seasons in life when we are blooming and budding—growing by leaps and bounds in our walk with the Lord.

I know God is God even in the winter season when things are lying dormant and just waiting for the right time to bloom. As we go through winter seasons in our lives we have the hope that Christ will lead us in triumph. I am so grateful for the hope we have in Jesus.

As I walk and experience the beauty of Christ in all the springtime fragrances, I am reminded of the scripture in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15. I am also challenged to ask myself what kind of fragrance and aroma that I am leaving for others. I desire for God to be seen in me in such a way that it is not only a pleasing aroma to Him, but also a fragrance that as I leave a room others can see Jesus in me.
How about you Ladies? Will you join me in this challenge? As we enjoy the beauty of our Creator this springtime, let us not get so wrapped up in the beauty around us that we forget all the lives around us that are going to spend eternity somewhere. Let’s be sweet springtime fragrances that show Christ to others.

I want a King NOW!

I am currently taking a class studying 1Samuel. In the past week as I have been doing my homework I was challenged by something I wanted to share with you.

In 1Samuel 8 we see where Israel is asking for a King. As we read this chapter we see that Samuel feels that the people of Israel are rejecting him as their leader. The Lord assures Samuel it is not him that they are rejecting, but unfortunately it is God they are rejecting.

The reason the Israelite are giving for wanting a king is so much like what we today base our reasons for wanting something. Israel is asking for a king because they want to be like other nations. Of course they don’t see that this not God’s best for them at this time, but they even have a well thought out plan as to why now is the time for them to have a king appointed to lead them.

The Israelites explain to Samuel he is getting old and his sons are not walking in his ways so please appoint us a king to lead us such as the other nations. Wow! Here we see that they have a well thought out plan and even they are even able to justify their plan.

As I read this, I was convicted about the number of times I tell God how I want him to put a “king” in my life now. Perhaps, God does want to put a “king” in my life, but now is just not the right time for that “king.”

As we read on we see that God granted this unto the people of Israel their desire and He did appoint them a king. Of course this king was Saul. We can go ahead and read the story of how Saul led these people. But I just wonder how the story would have been written had the Israelites waited for God’s time for the “king.”

I want to grow in following God’s time for my “king” not my time for my “king.” Ladies, won’t you join me in this call.

Dear Jesus, thank you that you have our best interest at heart. Lord, please help us to wait for your time receive the “king” you have for us. Thank you for your understanding and your grace.

Following the Journey

This week as we are experiencing the Holy week, I want to keep with the theme our church is following “The Journey.”

What comes to mind when you think of Journey? For me, I think of preparation for the Journey. Recently our family had the blessed privilege of going on vacation to Florida. This Journey was something special for us. We had shared with our three children shortly after the Christmas Holidays that we would like to take them to Florida the end of March, providing God worked out all the details.

Not too many days later, my first grader came home with a special picture she had drawn during Bible time in class. That day’s lesson that had been on prayer. In her picture she had drawn a pool, some trees, and our camper. She explained to me that this was a picture of our campground in Florida, when Jesus worked out all the details for us to go on this journey.

Needless, to say I was quite challenged by my first grader’s faith. Point being that as we prepared for this journey we spent time praying for God’s direction, provision, and wisdom on what we would do while we were on this journey, and for us to glorify Him.

As time progressed, indeed our precious Heavenly Father did provide and work out the details for us to make this journey. My husband spent much time finding the most effective route, the most cost-effective place to stay, the most beneficial activities we would engage in while we were in Florida.

We spent much time in prayer and preparation for this journey. We wanted to follow the Lord’s leading in this journey he had provided for us.

Well, Ladies, Christ has a much more significant journey for us during this Holy Week. May I challenge you to take time to read the scripture provided in our “Take the Journey” book, Mathew 21:12-13. We see here where Jesus cleanses the temple of money changers. May I ask you the question what are the distraction that keep you from worshipping God? In the area of worship are you being a fan or a follower?

Take some time to reflect this week and ask Christ how you can be more of a follower.