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Don’t Settle –Ruth 1:1-4:12

April 7, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian Singles, Divorce, Giving Our Best to God, Goals, Issues Women Face, Ruth, Success, The Hurting World, The Promises of God, Tough Times, Trials, Trust with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Ruth 1:1 through Ruth 4:12

In yesterday’s reading we saw what can happen when we do what’s “right” in our own eyes and in today’s scripture we see what happens when we do what’s “right” in God’s eyes.

I love the story of Ruth.

It’s a beautiful love story…

It’s  a beautiful picture of God’s provision for us

It’s a wonderful example of the blessings in doing the right thing.

Ruth’s pledge to Naomi is one of the most famous found in any literature, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back.  Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live.  Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.  May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” –Ruth 1:16-17

Ruth is a shining example of what to do when trouble comes in our lives.

We have three choices when we’re faced with a time of crisis, we can either: endure it, escape it, or enlist it. If we only endure our trials, then trials become our master, and we have a tendency to become hard and bitter. If we try to escape our trials, then we will probably miss the purposes God wants to achieve in our lives. But if we learn to enlist our trials, they will become our servants instead of our masters and work for us; and God will work all things together for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28).   Wiersbe, Warren W.: Be Committed. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1993 (An Old Testament Study. Ruth and Esther), S. Ru 1:1

One of the things I find interesting is Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi was the first thing that Boaz “noticed” about her (2:11-12).  Here’s a huge message for Christian singles—do what’s right in God’s eyes and your testimony will be the very thing that attracts a godly mate.  Unfortunately, most singles do the opposite of Ruth… they put their relationship with God on the shelf and go out looking for another person to fill that place that only God can fill. When they find what they think is a suitable fit, they go and try to pick up with God where they left off and wonder why their marriage doesn’t work.  I’m sure Ruth wanted a man in her life and I’m sure she could have found “someone” but God had a plan; her kinsman redeemer.  Thank God she didn’t settle!

Our heavenly Father had a plan for a kinsman redeemer for us too!  Jesus Christ…he paid a high price for us.  Let’s not settle!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller


Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Ruth 4:13 through Ruth 4:22, 1 Chronicles 2:9 through 1 Chronicles 2:55, 1 Chronicles 4:1 through 1 Chronicles 4:23, 1 Samuel 1:1 through 1 Samuel 1:8

God Sent Me Ahead–Genesis 45:7

January 16, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Genesis, Issues Women Face, Parenting, Tough Times, Trials with 4 Comments

Friends today’s post is more of a short story than a blog post, but I felt someone needed to hear this story.  I pray that it helps you to see God’s hand in your challenging times.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 42:1-45:15

“Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.  But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.  God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.  Genesis 45:4-8

Have there ever been times in your life when God had you walk through an experience to help, comfort or “preserve” others in the future?

I know, most of us will never single-handedly save a whole nation. But stop a minute and think about some of the things you’ve been through…have you ever informed, encouraged, cried with, or comforted someone in a similar situation?

You never know the difference you may have made in that person’s life.

At the young age of 20 I was pregnant with my first child. I was so excited about having a baby and being a Mom.  Everything was going great until the seventh month of my pregnancy.  I went for a check up and my baby measured much larger than he was supposed to be at that stage in the pregnancy.  The doctor sent me to the dietitian to get a special diet to slow down my weight gain.  Other than being disappointed about the rigid diet, I didn’t think anything of it.

Then, a few day’s later, I began to show signs of pre-term labor.  Little did I know, as we drove into the emergency room parking lot, I was driving into “my home away from home” for the next month.

This was 37 years ago.  The world of giving birth was very different. The doctors said I was either having twins or I had another condition called hydramnios, which was caused by an excessive amount of amniotic fluid.  They said I needed a “special” procedure called an ultrasound, to determine what was going on in my uterus.  No hospitals in my county had one of these ultrasound machines (so funny, now every doctor has one in their office) so we had to go to Pensacola, an hour away.  Oh and we traveled in an ambulance.  Just imagine an hour-plus ride with an oversized seven-month pregnant woman on a gurney in the back of the old station wagon type ambulance.  I was not a happy camper.

The test showed I did have hydramnios, so the doctors decided I would stay in the hospital until my baby was born, on bed-rest.  As I entered my room I noticed my new roommate and she was really happy, which was weird because I was really unhappy.  Her side of the room looked as if she had been there for a while.  When I got the back-story I understood.  She had been pregnant eleven times.  Each time she reached a certain point she would miscarriage.  So when she got pregnant this time the doctors put her in the hospital, for the whole pregnancy!  She was happy because she had carried this baby longer than any other time.

I thought she was crazy!  As the days turned into weeks and I got more depressed she just kept getting happier.

Little did I know that four weeks later I would understand in a much greater way the desperation this woman felt when she lost the children she wanted so bad.  On Friday night I went to sleep like normal to be awakened in the middle of the night to a river in my bed.  Those four quarts of amniotic fluid were everywhere.  When I realized what was happening, I feared the worst.  For the last two days the doctors hadn’t been able to hear a heart beat.  They had scheduled an amniocentesis for the next day, but we wouldn’t be needing that now.

I was rushed to labor and delivery and hooked up to the fetal monitor–there was no heart beat.  I prayed so hard that it was a mistake and the baby was really okay. It was no mistake.  I was given some type of strong sedative and delivered the baby a few hours later. A little boy, I never saw or held.

Did God allow me to be in the room with someone who had lost eleven babies to prepare me for my worst nightmare?  Was her delivery of a healthy baby girl God’s way of giving me hope?

I say yes.  Just a few months later I became pregnant again and delivered a perfect baby boy nine months later.

From the beginning I knew God had some reason for allowing me to go through so much pain, but what was it?  From that time on I was always drawn to women who had experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth.  I would go out of my way to meet with them, pray with them and try to encourage them.  But my real “Joseph” moment wouldn’t come until my own daughters began their journey to being a mom.

My oldest daughter Allison began working in a daycare at the age of fourteen.  She just loved babies! It wasn’t long after she got married that she began talking about having a baby.  Months turned into years and there was no pregnancy.  The pain of watching friends and family get pregnant so easy and deliver healthy babies was sometimes more than she could bear.  Finally after two years of trying to get pregnant, she went to see a fertility specialist.  She definitely had several things working against her, but after a surgery, tons of shots and fertility drugs she became pregnant.  We were all so excited, but the doctor warned us that her numbers didn’t look that strong.  A few days later Allison lost the baby.  I immediately remembered my loss years ago and did my best to comfort and encourage.  Thanks be to God a year later she was able to deliver a healthy baby boy.

Did God “send me ahead” to experience desperation of wanting baby so I could help, comfort, and preserve Allison’s hope?  Did God allow me to experience the loss of a child so I could understand?

I think so.

A few years later Allison became pregnant with her second child and three months later we found out my youngest daughter Krista was also pregnant.  The girls had so much fun!  Showers, nurseries, baby clothes.  I was overjoyed. There’s nothing like watching your girls become moms.

Allison’s second delivery would turn out to be another time I would be called upon to preserve hope in God’s plans for life.  Days before her due date we were awakened to the worst fear of our lives.  Allison seemed to be hemorrhaging.  Scared to death, we rushed to the hospital, praying all the way for Allison and our baby boy to be safe. Little did we know that God had it all under control. That night we witnessed the Holy Spirit, literally wake Allison’s doctor up and tell her to go to the hospital.  When she walked in with her “bed-head” and saw what was going on she rushed Allison in for an emergency c-section.  God used the blood from the small remains of placenta previa to get us to the hospital.  The cord was wrapped around our baby’s neck several times and he wouldn’t have survived a normal delivery.

Did God “send me ahead” to experience the fear of losing a baby so I could comfort and pray for Allison in her scariest moment?

I think so.

Six weeks later, I would again be called upon to come along side and draw from my painful experiences to walk a road with my daughter Krista that neither of us wanted to go down.

At Krista’s seven month check up she measured much larger than she should have been at that stage of the pregnancy, so the doctor did an ultrasound and noticed a blockage in the baby’s abdomen.  The doctor immediately made an appointment for Krista with a high-risk obstetrician.  Krista left the doctor’s office in a state of shock.  She called me and screamed, “Something’s wrong with my baby!”  We were so scared.

The next two months were some of the hardest days of our lives.  With each appointment came more bad news:  the baby had an intestinal blockage and would have to have surgery the day she was born.  Most babies who have this problem have Cystic Fibrosis (C.F.). Genetic testing revealed that Krista and her husband Larry were both C.F. carriers, the baby has a one in four chance of having C.F, the average life expectancy of a person with C.F. is 35 years old.  It was more than Krista could bear.

Once again I would reach in my past and pull out pain, fear, sadness and anger so that I could relate, speak life in the place of death, and keep our hope in God alive.

Since those days our baby girl Ayla has been a joy in our world for almost six years.  Yes, she had a rough start–seven weeks in the NICU, three major surgeries in her first three months of life.  Yes, she has C.F. but God has performed miracle after miracle and Ayla is a normal, healthy little girl who already has a personal testimony of the faithfulness of God.

You would think that would be enough, but last year Krista also had a miscarriage but this time I wasn’t alone in using my past to understand and encourage; now my daughter Allison also grieved and empathized as only someone who’s been there could.

God prepared me to be there for my daughters, and many others.  God prepared Allison to be there for Krista and many others.  God has prepared Krista to be there for people she hasn’t even met.

I’m happy to report that Krista had a perfectly healthy, C.F. free baby girl a little over a ago.  I can’t describe the rejoicing that has been going on in our family!

As a mom who’s now sitting back and seeing God’s hand over it all, I’m thankful for my preparation.  I can say with Joseph, You (enemy of my soul) intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. (Genesis 50:20)

****************************

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.

When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same

comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4

Thank you God for sending me ahead.

 

©2012, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Genesis 45:16-47:27

Am I a People-Pleaser? –Galatians 1:10

November 13, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Acts, Christian Living, Galatians, Issues Women Face with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Acts 14:21-28; Galatians 1:1-3:23

Sometimes I wish I could be like the Apostle Paul.  He really didn’t care what people thought.  He is the perfect example of the way God uses us within the parameters of our personality.  Our Heavenly Father doesn’t change our temperament when we get saved, He just sands us down a bit and uses our craziness for His Glory.

Paul was bold and blunt.  He was definitely not a people-pleaser.

I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.  I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. 

–Galatians 1:6-10

While I don’t consider myself a people-pleaser, I’m definitely not as bold as Paul. There have been times when I’ve missed it.  After those times I’ve often thought, “If I had been bolder maybe there would have been a different outcome, maybe that person would have come to know Christ?”

I don’t necessarily think Paul was telling us to be “like” him, i.e. bold, loud and in your face.  I think it was more like, “You must care more about what Jesus thinks than what people think.”

This makes me ask, “Do I really believe what I really believe is real?”

If we can ever get a glimpse of the reality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we will be God pleasers; just one more reason to be in God’s Word each day.

The more I know Him, the less of a people pleaser I’ll be.

Oh, that I could ALWAYS hear God’s voice and ALWAYS obey!

Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I’ve been a people-pleaser.  Forgive me for the times I’ve made You small so that I could seem big to others.  Lord, I want to know You more.  I want to please You!  I want to hear You. I want to do what You tell me to do. Speak loudly Lord, Your servant is listening (1 Samuel 3:9).

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Galatians 3:24-6:18; Acts 15:1-21

What Every Mom Wants—Matthew 20: 20-22

October 22, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Family, Issues Women Face, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Parenting, Pride with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Matthew 20:1-6, Mark 10:32-34, Matthew 20:17-19, Luke 18:31-34, Mark 10:35-45, Matthew 20:20-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-19:27

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” –Matthew 20: 20-22

 

In Jewish and Roman circles the indirect intercession of a motherly woman was often more effective than a man’s direct petition for himself (see also 2 Sam 14:2–20; 1 Kings 1:15–21; cf. 2 Sam 20:16–22). Because James and John were in Jesus’ presence when their Mom made this request, she may have asked this question at the request of her sons.  (The IVP Bible Background Commentary)

At first glance this Mom looks like an ambitious, controlling, and prideful woman who wanted her sons to be exalted above everyone else.

I wonder if what this Mom really wanted was…

  • To make her sons happy
  • For her sons to be seen as a god
  • For her sons to have a higher position than the other disciples
  • To be seen as the mother who birthed and raised two sons of greatness

Maybe she just wanted her sons to be close to Jesus.

Isn’t that what every Christian mom wants for her children?

I know it’s definitely what I wanted and still want for my children.  When my kids were toddlers I dreamed of them being leaders in the youth group or singing on the praise team and then growing up to be world changers for Jesus… preachers or missionaries.

I’m sure I prayed and asked Jesus to make my desires happen. I wonder if Jesus thought the same thing about my requests that he did of James and John’s Mom’s request.

Dianne, you don’t know what you are asking!

Just like the mother of James and John, many mothers in today’s world misguidedly seek places of honor and greatness for their children.

Jesus used this occasion to teach James and John’s mom and every mom what true greatness means.

He showed us by His

• Willingness to suffer (Matthew 20:22–23)

• Willingness to serve (Matthew 20:24–28)

Christ’s warning that his apostles would suffer for his sake (Matthew 20:23) was fulfilled. All of them experienced great trials, and all except John suffered violent deaths. [Mark 10:35–45] (Wilmington’s Bible Handbook)

No Mom wants her children to suffer; our desire is to keep our kids from suffering.

Jesus, teach us about real greatness.  Help us to point our children and grandchildren to Your example of greatness.  Holy Spirit, convict us of our own pride and self-interest, as it relates to our desires for our children.  Help us to lead by example in our own desires for greatness.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Mark 14:3-9, Matthew 26:6-13, John 12:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, John 12:12-19, Luke 19:41-44, John 12:20-36

Oops! Did I Really Say That? 2 Lessons from Herod — Mark 6:26

October 9, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Family, Issues Women Face, John, leadership, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Workplace with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Luke 9:7-9; Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 14:1-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15; Mark 6:45-52; Matthew 14:22-33; John 6:16-21; Marl 6:53-66; Matthew 14:34-36

How many times have I opened my mouth and either stated my opinion, offered to help, or made a commitment to someone, and  then when the heat of the moment fades I’m left saying, “Did I really say that?”

But

the

good news

I never lost my head because of one of my “Oops, did I really say that?” moments.

For Herod had sent men to take John and put him into prison. He did this because of his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of his brother Philip.  John the Baptist had said to Herod, “It is wrong for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias became angry with him. She wanted to have John the Baptist killed but she could not.  Herod was afraid of John. He knew he was a good man and right with God, and he kept John from being hurt or killed. He liked to listen to John preach. But when he did, he became troubled.

Then Herodias found a way to have John killed. Herod gave a big supper on his birthday. He asked the leaders of the country and army captains and the leaders of Galilee to come. The daughter of Herodias came in and danced before them. This made Herod and his friends happy. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” Then he made a promise to her, “Whatever you ask for, I will give it to you. I will give you even half of my nation.” She went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask for?” The mother answered, “I want the head of John the Baptist.” At once the girl went to Herod. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate now.”

Herod was very sorry. He had to do it because of his promise and because of those who ate with him. At once he sent one of his soldiers and told him to bring the head of John the Baptist. The soldier went to the prison and cut off John’s head.  He took John’s head in on a plate and gave it to the girl. The girl gave it to her mother. John’s followers heard this. They went and took his body and buried it.  –Mark 6:17-29

Herod was most likely showing off when he said, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”

Human beings do this all the time.  “Look at me!  I’m important!”

And then when we come to our senses and realize what we said or promised we either have to follow through or say, “I was stupid and my ego made me say that.”

The sad thing is, just like Herod, too many times we do things that aren’t pleasing to God because we fear the opinions of others more than the opinion of the God of the Universe.

For me there are two lessons to learn from King Herod:

  1. I need to think before I speak
  2.  It would be better to look stupid to others than to go against my Heavenly Father

Lord, help me to think before I speak.  I want my words and actions to be pleasing to you.  Heavenly Father, forgive me for choosing others over You.  When I ignore Your will and Your Word, it must make you feel as though people are more important than You.  Lord, teach me Your ways.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: John 6:22-71; Mark 7:1-23; Matthew 15:1-20

It’s Thursday, Time to Rest—Matthew 11:28-30

October 4, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Depression, Health, Issues Women Face, Luke, Matthew, Tough Times, Trust with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-17, Matthew 11:1-19, Luke 7:18-35, Matthew 11:20-30, Luke 7:36-50

I don’t know about you but I’m a little tired this morning.  Wouldn’t it be great if we all got an email that said, “Take Thursday off and get some rest?”

We sorta did:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” –Matthew 11:28-30

Actually the kind of rest Jesus is offering in Matthew 11 is better than a day off.

Have you noticed when you can have a few days off that include plenty of rest time you sometimes still feel tired when it’s over?

That’s because most of the tiredness we’re feeling is from the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things (Mark 4:19), not our physical bodies being tired.

Jesus’ audience knew this same type of weariness and they definitely understood the concept of being yoked together.

A yoke was a wooden frame placed on the backs of oxen to make them pull in tandem.

What does it mean to take Jesus’ yoke upon us?

If I’m yoked with Jesus

  • He is right beside me at all times
  • He’s stronger than I am so my burdens are easy for Him
  • He’s higher than I am so he lifts the weight off my shoulders
  • He’s gives me step-by-step instructions to handle each particular burden in a way that is easy to bear

If Jesus promised his followers “rest,” why are Christians as tired and weary as unbelievers?

Just like all the promises in the Bible, we have a part to play.  For us to receive this rest

we have to…

Put on the yoke

Basically, that means allowing Jesus to be the Lord of our lives.  We can believe Jesus came, died, and rose again for our sins and…

not submit to His Lordship.

How do we submit to Christ and allow Him to be our Lord?

–By seeking His will and His plans for each day of our lives.

I owned my own business for twelve years.  There were many benefits of that season, but being totally responsible definitely weighed heavy on me at times.  From owning my own business I moved to working for a corporation.  Yes, I no longer had the ability to go in any direction I chose but I didn’t have to have the responsibility of the success or failure of the corporation solely on my shoulders.  That’s the way I see signing up for Jesus to be the Lord of my life—I allow Him to lead, guide, and direct me and He takes responsibility for the success of my life.  Whew, that really takes the pressure off!

Carrie Underwood’s song “Jesus, Take the Wheel” pretty much sums it up:

YouTube Preview Image

Dear Jesus, I willingly take your yoke and put it on me.  Teach me, guide me, lead me; give me rest from the burdens of this world.  Give me my marching orders for the day.  Thank you in advance for a successful, “restful” day!  Jesus, take the wheel!

In Jesus’ Name. Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Luke 8:1-3, Mark 3:20-230, Matthew 12:22-45, Mark 3:31-35, Matthew 12:46-50, Luke 8:19-21, Mark 4:1-9, Matthew 13:1-9, Luke 8:4-8, Mark 4:10-20

There’s Something You Need More Than Sleep—Mark 1:35

September 29, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Choices, God Speaks today, Health, Issues Women Face, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Prayer, Spiritual Disciplines with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 4:12-17; Luke 3:23a; John 4:46-54; Luke 4:16-30; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37; Mark 1:29-34; Matthew 8:14-17; Luke 4:38-41; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-44; Matthew 4:23-25

Are you a morning person or a night person?

What’s early for you?

For Jesus, it “a great while before day” (KJV) meaning between three to six a.m. (Word Pictures in the New Testament)

Before daybreak, the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. –Mark 1:35

The amazing thing about Jesus rising at such an early time of day is the fact that the previous day was very busy; He preached in the synagogue and had a huge healing service.

I know, Jesus is God, but while He was on this earth He was fully man and experienced the same physical and emotional limitations you and I do today.

Friends, there is nothing as tiring as preaching, teaching, and praying for people.  Literally, your passion, enthusiasm, and anointing from God are flowing out of you to those with whom you are ministering. I love people. I love ministering to others. But I can’t give out what I haven’t taken in!  This holds true in any area–ministry, family, friends, career, or community.

When you are called to give to others there’s something you need more than sleep; it’s emotional and spiritual restoration.  If you aren’t being filled and refreshed spiritually you will have nothing to give and eventually burnout.

Why did Jesus get up so early?

  • To be alone with God
  • To get away from people
  • To pray and receive strength and guidance for the day

Do we have to get up between three and six a.m. each day?  Of course not, but getting up 30 minutes earlier than you normally do to read your Bible and spend some time with the God of the universe  will

  • Set your priorities for the day—  God first!
  • Refresh and restore your emotions so you will be able to give to others
  • Give you the strength and wisdom to face whatever the day holds

Are you running short on time and energy at the end of each day?

What would Jesus do?

  • Get up a little earlier
  • Get alone with God
  • Pray for strength and wisdom for the day

Experts agree that it takes 21 days to form a new habit.

30 minutes a day X 21 days = an emotionally and spiritually stronger YOU!

Will you accept the 21 day challenge?

Heavenly Father, help us to make our time with You a top priority in our life.  Help us to be determined to set aside time to spend with You.  Honor the efforts of each person who accepts this challenge.  Holy Spirit, draw us to You like a magnet.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller


Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Luke 5:1-11, Mark 1:40-45, Matthew 8:1-4, Luke 5:12-16, Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 9:1-8, Luke 5:17-26, Mark 2:13-17, Matthew 9:9-13, Luke 5:27-32, Mark 2:18-22, Matthew 9:14-17, Luke 5:33-39

How Important is Trust to You? 1 Chronicles 5:18-26

September 2, 2012 in 1 Chronicles, 2012 Journey, Family, Issues Women Face, Pride, Trust, Word of God with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:   1 Chronicles 5:18-26; 1 Chronicles 6:3b, 49, 4-15; 1 Chronicles 7:1 through 1 Chronicles 8:28

How important is trust to you?

Did you grow up trusting your parents, siblings, teachers, community leaders, etc.?

Or does it seem that you were born with a trust problem?

Our trust issues with authority figures can affect our ability to trust God.

In 1 Chronicles 5:20, God interrupted His genealogies to comment on military matters and help us to understand the power of trust.

They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer

because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated.

~~~~~~~~~~~

He answered their prayer because they trusted in Him.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Heavenly Father’s heart is touched when His children trust Him…

  • Circumstances change because we trust him
  • People come to know Jesus because we trust Him
  • The sick are healed because we trust Him
  • His will for our lives is made clear because we trust Him
  • Finances improve because we trust Him
  • We serve Him with our whole heart because we trust Him

It’s no wonder the enemy of our soul works so hard to keep us from trusting; he knows he’s powerless when the people of God put their trust in their God.

The word “trusted” in this scripture comes from the Hebrew word baw·takh which means to have confidence, to be confident, to be bold, to be secure, to feel safe.

In today’s self-centered, self-reliant culture, completely trusting (having confidence in and feeling safe and secure) in an invisible God isn’t our default position.

We are taught to trust what we can see, to trust in ourselves

  • Our abilities
  • Our money
  • Our youth
  • Our beauty
  • Our education
  • Our intuition

The 44,760 “capable” warriors (1 Chronicles 5:18) didn’t trust in their abilities or strength, they trusted in their God.  They followed the example of their ancestor David:

Some trust in chariots and some in horses (our abilities and our stuff), but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. –Psalm 20:7 (explanation mine)

How do we develop a trust “in the name of the LORD our God” and not in our “chariots and horses”?

  • Read God’s Word not as some fairy tale but as your ancestors’  (1 Chronicles 5:18) journal of reasons to trust God
  • Cry out to God (1 Chronicles 5:20) when you are scared, doubting, and in need of His Help—expect Him to hear you and come to your rescue
  • Know that your talents, abilities, money, etc. are gifts from God and reasons to trust Him not yourself
  • Keep a journal of answered prayer
  • Watch what you say to yourself about your God—does your self-talk sound like you trust Him?
  • Tell your family and friends about the goodness of God in your life

Learning to trust God is a journey just like knowing Him.  I’m so glad we’re learning together!  What do you do to grow in your trust-walk with the Lord?

Lord, we trust you!

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  1 Chronicles 8:29 through 1 Chronicles 9:1a; Daniel 4:1-37; Ezekiel 40:1-37

Do You Have a Rejection Phobia?—Jeremiah 33:25

August 24, 2012 in 2012 Journey, Biblical Principles, Divorce, Family, Issues Women Face, Jeremiah, Marriage, Rejection, Trust with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Jeremiah 32:1 through 33:26; Ezekiel 26:1-14

Is the fear of rejection something you occasionally battle or does this fear run your life and hold you back like a ship’s anchor?

No one is immune to this fear/phobia.  We can be fearless in some areas, maybe most areas of our life and then have one area that we are petrified at the thought of being rejected, tossed aside or not included.

In Jeremiah 32, Jerusalem was under siege from the Babylonians and Jeremiah was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace.  The Lord sent a message to the Israelites through Jeremiah:

I will hand this city over to the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and he will capture it.  The Babylonians outside the walls will come in and set fire to the city. They will burn down all these houses where the people provoked my anger by burning incense to Baal on the rooftops and by pouring out liquid offerings to other gods.  Israel and Judah have done nothing but wrong since their earliest days. They have infuriated me with all their evil deeds,” says the Lord.  “From the time this city was built until now, it has done nothing but anger me, so I am determined to get rid of it. –Jeremiah 32:28-31

If you were a Jew living in that day, would you have felt rejected?

It’s one thing to be rejected by a stranger, friend, or family member, but to think you’ve been rejected by the God of the universe; that must be a pretty lonely feeling.

The Lord heard the talk on the streets and brought it up to Jeremiah:

“Have you noticed what people are saying?—‘The Lord chose Judah and Israel and then abandoned them!’ They are sneering and saying that Israel is not worthy to be counted as a nation. –Jeremiah 33:24

To the Jews and the people of other heathen nations it probably looked like God was rejecting Israel—everything that could go wrong did.  I’m sure the Jews kept saying, “But we are ‘God’s chosen people’; this shouldn’t be happening to us!”

Have you ever said that?

“Lord, this shouldn’t be happening, I’m Your child.  I’m serving You!”

Have You forgotten about me?

Have You rejected me?

Here’s what the Lord said to the Jews and to us (see Galatians 3:6-9):

I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern night and day, earth and sky.  I will never abandon the descendants of Jacob or David, my servant, or change the plan that David’s descendants will rule the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, I will restore them to their land and have mercy on them. –Jeremiah 33:25-26

Friends, we live in a fallen world.  Imperfect people will reject us, things will seem to work against us, but make no mistake

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your God Will Never Reject You!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

He will restore you to wholeness–Just Trust Him!

The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. –Joel 2:25

Heavenly Father, the fear of rejection is like an epidemic in the Christian world today.  Help us to know that we can count on you to never fail us or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5).  Holy Spirit, help us to walk in confidence knowing that the One, True, Living God will ALWAYS be for us , so who can be against us (Romans 8:31).  Jesus, help us to do the work you’ve called us to do with boldness and confidence for Your Glory and Your Honor.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Ezekiel 26:15 through Ezekiel 28:26; 2 Kings 25:3-7; Jeremiah 52:6-11; Jeremiah 39:2-10

If You’re Going to Burn Your Bridges Don’t Forget to Haul Away the Ashes of Guilt–2 Kings 23:4

August 1, 2012 in 2 Kings, 2012 Journey, Depression, Failure, Guilt, Issues Women Face with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 23:1-20; 2 Chronicles 34:29-33; 2 Kings 23:21-28; 2 Chronicles 35:1-19; Naham 1:1-3:19

 

I’m going to make a new start…

Kick an old habit…

Turn over a new leaf…

Burn my bridges!

 

Have you ever made any of these statements?

Were you successful?

In today’s reading King Josiah did a major house cleaning when he became king.  He ‘burned the bridge’ of idol worship in Israel.  Just to make sure everyone knew he meant business, he carried the ashes away.  There was no going back!  Nothing to remind the people of their past.

Then the king instructed Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second rank and the Temple gatekeepers to remove from the Lord’s Temple all the articles that were used to worship Baal, Asherah, and all the powers of the heavens. The king had all these things burned outside Jerusalem on the terraces of the Kidron Valley, and he carried the ashes away to Bethel.  –2 Kings 23:4

Why did Josiah carry the ashes to Bethel?

Here’s some interesting facts about Bethel:

  • The name Bethel comes from the Hebrew beth, meaning house, and el, meaning God. Bethel means House of God.
  • Bethel is located about 12 miles (19 kilometers) north of Jerusalem, west of Jericho and the Jordan River.
  • In times of trouble the people went to Bethel to ask counsel of God (Judges 20:18, 21:2).

So basically the king took the ashes to the “house of God.”

How many times have you decided to destroy some habit, toxic relationship, or sinful behavior or attitude and the guilt of the past keeps flashing before you?

Maybe you need to take your ashes of guilt to the “house of God.”

Give God Your Guilt!

Just imagine taking a big wheel barrow and walking through the corridors of your mind and scooping up every ash of guilt and then rolling it up the aisle of your church and dumping it on the altar.  Pretty messy huh?

Yep, but our God can handle it!

One of Satan’s greatest tools is guilt.  Stand up to him today.  Take your guilt and give it to Jesus.  Every time a thought of your past wants to creep in, remind yourself and the enemy of your soul that you no longer have that guilt, you took it to Bethel.

Heavenly Father, teach us how to be over-comers! Thank you for handling the mess of our guilt.  Help us to burn our bridges and carry away the ashes!

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

 

© 2012 Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 23:1-20; 2 Chronicles 34:29-33; 2 Kings 23:21-28; 2 Chronicles 35:1-19; Naham 1:1-3:19

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