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 2/16/98 Good morning.... +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ Seek God first and the things you want will seek you. +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ Good Morning Sweet Brethren!! Hope this beautiful Monday morning finds you ok. This is the day that the Lord hath made! We will rejoice and be glad in it! Amen? <aw come on, say it..tee hee> The following story is from someone very dear to my heart...and the funny thing is...this same thing once happened to me! It has a valuable lesson in in. I pray that the "eyes of your understanding will be enlightened" as you read. Enjoy! "Have I not commanded you?" Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Josh 1:9 You know the scenario. As the final notes of the closing hymn fade, you, the pastors wife, stand and prepare to say goodbye to the congregational members. A million and one things are on your mind as you prepare to leave. Several people come up for prayer or to chat a few moments while you gather your things and think about collecting your children as well. Feet aching from those "bargain" shoes, the last thing you want to do is to have enough time to pass in which your children will become scattered and you will have to run all over the church building to find them. You are on a time schedule now, as one of the couples has asked to meet with you at the local restaurant. Sighing you politely end the conversation with Mrs. "So & So" who is once again reciting her family's history in order to tell you what new job she will be looking for THIS week. Glancing at the back of the church you see your husband look at his watch and give you "the eye" as he shakes the hand of yet another member. Moaning, you mumble something to yourself that you just don't have time for all this stuff. You just want to go home and relax this afternoon. There is laundry to do, dishes to clean, and you promised your mom that you would help her this afternoon as well. Why is there always so many demands on you? After all, you ARE only one person, and it seems everyone wants a piece of you. Where is God anyway? With all this bother and fuss to worry about, you wonder if you will ever be able to spend the time with Him that you ache for. If it isn't one thing, it's another, and the demands just repeat themselves day after day. It was a morning similar to this when my daughter was just learning how to walk. The service had ended and there were many pressing things that I had to attend to before we left, all in a ridiculously short time frame. Racing through the goodbyes, the nursery to pick my daughter up, the office to file papers, tracking down leaders for final instructions, receiving more requests for prayer from members, I some how lost track of my daughter! Don't ask me how, I just did. Panic struck my heart as my eyes searched the exiting crowd. Thoughts filled my mind how as to how limited our time was, and what a bother it was to have to round up the kids so we could leave. Up until that moment I had everything perfectly timed so that I could leave with everything said and done. Now this emergency suddenly rose to the surface pushing everything back for another time (which I didn't have). Quickly I raced through the building stopping everyone I knew and asking if they had seen my daughter. It was so annoying to see them look at me with such dumb expressions and raised eyebrows! Couldn't they see how upset I was getting? Three people later, my heart begin to pound as my search proved fruitless. The panic rose as thoughts more frightening than schedules and time limits pounded my brain. What if my baby girl had toddled out into the street? My voice was getting high pitched and frantic as I asked the next three people if they had seen my daughter. What was WITH them anyway????? Without exception everyone I had asked had given me this stupid grin like I was nuts, shook their heads and went their way. Now wasn't that just like people? So occupied with themselves that they can't even take a moment to help the pastor's wife find her baby. After all, the pastor and her have only given their lives and family to serve them, evidently that just wasn't good enough! Anger rose to intertwine with my frustration, panic and fear. Beads of perspiration were popping out on my head and tears threatened to spill over onto my reddened cheeks. Grabbing the sixth person, I demanded to know if she had seen my daughter. Grinning (like the others) she said, "This is some kind of a joke, right?" "NO!!!" I replied, "I can't find my daughter ANYWHERE!!" Cocking her head and placing her hands on her hips, she replied, "Uh, why don't you look on your hip?" Sure enough, fingers in her mouth and eyes wide, right there on my hip clutching my arm was my baby girl! So pre-occupied with myself, I wasn't even aware of her sweet, patient presence. Aren't we like that with our Lord? So many things to do, people to see, errands to run. Pressure builds as we add another log to the fire of our busy day and before you know it, the "pot" holding our emotions and thought life begins to spill over. We cry out of the Lord, "Where IS He?" agonizing that this work of the ministry is more than we can bear. Pressured with so many cares, and worries, we carelessly fall into sin and judgement, blaming others for our problems, when all along He was right there with us. His sweet presence waiting patiently for us. All of the THINGS we run after, and that run after us are not as important as enjoying His presence. Stop now and take a look. . . . . . "He's been with you all the time!" " Where IS He?" JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. Most people make the mistake of looking too far ahead for things close by. JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ Walk in His Sandals When life is in a turmoil JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§ Me again.. Brethren...I am truly overwhelmed at the response this little online devotional is receiving. You guys are so precious to me! I started out with the mindset that I was going to do something to encourage my online friends, a few months back. My small limited mind...didn't go any further than that....but God sure did! It makes me realize...that there is a task...and I will not take it lightly. I am seeing the fruit of God's Hand..and I want to encourage anyone out there...that doesn't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that He is your Way...He is your Truth...and He is Your Life. The Bible says, that no man cometh unto the Father, but by Him. <John 14:6> There are many ways we try to fill the void, that only He can fill. There are attempts to fill it with drugs, alcohol, sex, TV, work, the computer <ouch>, other people...the list is endless. If there is a "restlessness" in your life...I have a Word for you.. Matt 11:28-30 There are other "yokes" out there...with a heavy price tag attached. I am a confessed "people observer." Wherever I go, I love to watch people...and sometimes as I watch them...I am thinking, "You sure do love her, don't you, Lord? I wonder if she knows You." or..."Lord, he has a burden, doesn't he? I pray that he will seek you...and release it so that he can be free." Honestly, Brethren...when I think of the lost souls that are searching, searching, searching...I think of the scripture...of the woman and the lost piece of silver. Luke 15:8-10 I remember when I found my "piece of silver." I was grabbing the shoulders of everyone near me...saying, "Guess what?? I found Jesus!!!!" You see, the bondages in my life were very strong, and "temporarily satisfying." And, when I found Jesus...I was no longer in bondage...I was free!!! I had lasting peace..and satisfaction. My soul finally found the rest it was looking for! John 8:36 <Sigh of content> Brethren...if you didn't know anything else...know this.. Jesus loves you sooo much...and He hasn't forsaken you. Just reach out to Him. If you don't know Him, I would like to introduce you to Him. Jesus, this is my friend....<your name here> Friend..meet my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. You see, my friend..He died for both of us...and He is knocking on the door of your heart. Please...open up and let Him in. Ask Him to forgive you for the sins in your life..and watch them be cleansed in the Blood that He shed on the cross for you many years ago...because He knew that you needed a Redeemer. Rev 3:20 If you once had a relationship with Him...and lost sight of the way...just remember..that He is as close as the mention of His Name. As my friend Shannon stated earlier..."He's been with you all the time!" God Bless You Brethren...and I love you soo much!! In Christ!!
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