It's an interesting question being asked how God speaks to me... but, everyone has a different viewpoint. Some people are more conscientious of themselves than others in terms of obedience, and I believe our receptiveness to God's challenges guide what we will "hear" as well as "receive".
If we know the Bible and are conscientious of our actions, our tendencies to know our wrongs are much greater. If I try to "control" my life, I have a sense of anxiety from knowing my control is not part of God's plan. I know, for example, that totaling my car was "likely inevitable" based on my attitude that "I" can play catch up and the lesson isn't merely "Don't go fast, and watch out for curves and slippery spots," but rather, what choices will I make now when I have less? What will I change in my life to keep me from rushing at the last minute? What will I do now with an attitude pleasing to God to handle my circumstances? When we are willing to listen, we handle problems with a positive attitude. We are receptive and do not shut God out. When I shut God out I become cold to others and selfish. When I have a positive attitude and look to the Bible for wisdom and pray, I am open to correction and more selfless in my motivations and actions.
A second lesson I encountered from totaling my car was that maybe God isn't only speaking to me through the accident. Maybe, God was trying to show my parents that had I gone on the mission trip I wanted to go on, I would have had the entire expense paid for plus some with the money they used to buy me a new car. When we are in God's will he will take care of us. Some of God's lessons aren't cheap... but sometimes its the only way he can get our attention. With money.
Over the course of my time here in PA, I feel like I've learned a lot about living as a mature and humble servant to Christ. Sometimes exposure to the real world makes us more aware of how much we really need God. I like to think about it this way... if your actions change depending on who you are with- church, family or friends, how are you being true to yourself? How are you representing Christ as a living example today? What is the root of your shame and has correction or acceptance made your condition "ok?" Those living without shame are either ignoring God's calling to become Christlike, or have humbled themselves before God and know that being humbled by the spirit has taken away their shame. The pursuit of Christ's rather than man's ultimate desire for us will pave the path in life and make our steps light footed. By this I mean easier to handle. Not all that witness the work of God in us will be accepting, but when love for one another rather than selfish pursuits is the focus, life works out as God intends.
So live your life by "what would Jesus do?" When we are too conscientious of our actions, we dwell on the thought of making a mistake. Obsession is also a sin and yields little. When we live for Jesus, we know that trouble will come our way because we believe that Satan will pursue the humble and poor in spirit. We also know that the humble and poor in spirit will appear less afflicted because their "dependency on the world" is lesser. When Jesus becomes our daily bread rather than our actions, desires, and looks, we are less distracted by "the world."
God doesn't speak through literal words, often it is the sermon I am drawn to attend, or the praise and worship that ministers to my spiritual needs. Through being obedient to attend I learn WHY I was brought to this place of worship and what God has in store for me. Maybe I take teaching more literally than others, but I prefer being taught by Jesus, the perfect teacher, than dwelling on my own attempts that fail me and lead me to stumble.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct thy paths.
Apparently, I have written on this exact topic before. This time however, I have been enlightened. Acts 2:17-21 reveals much about this topic often pondered. Some people experiencing near death scenarios will see Jesus, a bright light, etc., but the question here is, does man on Earth today still see angels, have dreams, etc sent from God? If not now, we are told we will before the end of the world by the prophet Joel.
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Acts 2 continues with this encouraging set of verses. I'd like to describe the words that follow as "soft love."
25 David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
When I finally learned that its more than "ok" to not be in control all the time, my life got so much better. Today I smiled on the way home thinking, "I've never been this ok with being where I'm at." I recall telling Chris this weekend about Sheila saying in church that if you think of life as looking forward to a particular moment you can't enjoy the present. A baby's first words, entering kindergarten, etc, life becomes a game of waiting. Who likes to wait? Though even reciting this to myself as I dreamed about my own desires for life, what I anticipated for my soon to be 23rd golden year, I couldn't keep my thoughts of my hopes. At work I started singing a couple words and a coworker who is the jolliest skinniest safety nerd I've ever met caught me. Then he started teasing me when I wasn't singing the next time he came by. What if we had a hope, a dream, a future for the everlasting? What if we knew there was a paradise waiting for us, that wouldn't leave our future even if we kept our eyes on today?
Yes, I'm talking about Heaven. I'm talking about the everlasting treasure I have in my salvation.
My friend once said my blog isn't me, it isn't about me, and I only focus on God. She was right. In order to have the life Jesus wants of me, Christ and myself have to be in the same sentence. Christ delights in myself, and all his children, we should show delight for him through our love!
As I was reading through the Bible today with Chris, and I told him I almost could have cried reading John 21 verses 15-19. How often do we feel reeled in, feel like we are being dragged to do what Christ calls us for?
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
When will be the moment we follow? How many times do we need to be asked? Christ died for you and for me, he rose again, and walked the Earth once again! We make assumptions that what God asks us to do will be too hard. We doubt that having a little faith will actually make life easier, but hear this:
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:27-29
When will you follow? When will our actions not quench us? When will we see how glorious He really is? I can tell you with every breath in my body He is so. Believe!
Blood shed over a mushroom
1 portabella
hot salsa
Gorgonzola cheese
zucchini- sliced
italian seasoning
dried basil
olive oil
Greasea sauce pan with olive oil and place a portabella gill side up and fill with salsa. Allow to cook for 5 or so minutes on medium high. Next, add more oil and fill the remainder of the sauce pan with zucchini and top with seasonings. Add the gorgonzola cheese to the mushroom on top of the salsa. Cover and lower the heat to medium-low. After 7-10 minutes check the zucchini. When the zucchini are ready to flip, flip em. At some point the cheese will start melting a little in the salsa mushroom and I it will be desirable to flip the mushroom cap over after the zucchini has had some time to steam. The cheese will melt into a bath of oil, seasonings, and cheese. When everything looks well cooked eat! The zucchini will be very tender. This tastes nothing like mexican food, the flavors blended well into an Italian delicacy!
Its hard to be thankful when you have everything... or close to everything. In fact, the more I've lost recently, the more I've become less dependent on the things I have. Its peculiar that way, but after facing difficult circumstances in life, we learn to live without. The one I cannot live without however, is Jesus, my daily bread. With gratitude comes serious attitude adjustments, i.e. we learn that we aren't the only one's who's lives are unfair and that everyone is facing challenging circumstances. In fact, when we lean on each other and reflect on God, we are humbled into having happy hearts once again. What we are most dependent on, we would be better off losing.
Philippians 3:8 is my new favorite verse, it says:
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.
I believe that no one can be truly happy without the bread of life even if everything else in life is perfect. We all have temper tantrums, get massive anxiety, and are ready to implode from holding in the stress. Somehow, God has used the entire summer to humble me, to teach me, and hopefully, to encourage others. Its funny to think about how bitter we become towards ourselves and others, and how our strength doesn't have to be entirely our own.
I'd like to reinforce the fact that I am far from perfect. That although I am trying to read through the entire new testament this summer, my boyfriend is more or less gently picking me up with the shovel and sliding me across the bumpy path. WHY IS THAT? Humility has changed my heart. I realize there are some things I can't do easily on my own. One is organizing my time outside of work to be efficient yet stress free. I also like cooking, which takes up some of my time. But by the two of us reading through the Bible together I am less stressed out, and getting more done than I was.
This comes to another conclusion I'd like to make. "If you can, DO." I work with very nice people, but the humblest are the mexicans who push food into your mouth and make you laugh. When have people made you laugh, and what does their heart look like? On the second to worst day of my summer here in Coatesville, I got a lesson about God at work. In summary, the mexican man who could easily have been my father said, Don't sweat the small stuff, and watch out because God's watching. We can't always have our way. We can always learn the hard way, but the easy way is so much better. He told me about his life's struggles, and I was taken back by how happy he was, and yet, his wife was paralyzed in a car accident so can't live with him, and he lost many years to drinking and over working where he ended up not getting his earned pay week after week. I could have chosen the hard path after talking to him, but I decided the easy path was better. I am so glad I did.
I just randomly opened up the Bible, and found a very applicable verse. Job 34:2-23 says so well,
"Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.
For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
Job says " I am innocent, but God denies me justice.
Although I am right, I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless, his arrow inflict an incurable wound."
What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water?
He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with wicked men.
For he says, "It profits a man nothing when he tries to please God."
So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
He repays a man for what he has done;
he brings upon him what his conduct deserves.
It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.
Who appointed him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?
If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath,
all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust.
“If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
Can one who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.
“His eyes are on the ways of mortals;
he sees their every step.
There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
where evildoers can hide. God has no need to examine people further,
that they should come before him for judgment.
Now for some meatballs. Here's my recipe, its what I had.
2 pieces honey wheat bread, torn
1 large chopped portabella
1 egg
3 preformed hamburger patties
1/2 large onion
3 cloves garlic chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mustard powder
water
olive oil
Defrost hamburger patties or ground meat. Put egg, mustard powder, salt, onion, and garlic in bowl. Break up and add the frozen ground meat, bread, and 1/2 a cup to a cup of water (as needed). Mix well with hands. Add portabella. Form into balls.
To cook, add olive oil to cover pan. Put mushroom meatballs or rounded patties in pan. Put on medium high to get cooking. I flipped them a few times, then covered pan with a plate for a good three minutes on each side at a medium low heat. Uncover frying pan to brown the sides. Pat off excess oil if desired. Enjoy with ketchup.
And I conclude...
John 6:26-40
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All whom the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
