The Perfect Parent

Reminded this morning of a day when  I wept before the Lord about my children.  (I should say ONE of the days..)

He spoke to me so clearly, "Oh Marnie, I know, I have had so many problems concerning my children."

It made me pause.

YOU?  GOD?   

Wow the revelation that God, THE ONLY PERFECT PARENT struggled, wept and cried over His Children.

This morning as I sat and relished the Psalms I came across chapter 78.  

The first part of this Psalm reminds us that we need to be diligent and intentional to pass/teach and model God to our children "that they might set their hope in God and not forget the Works of God, but might keep His Commandments" vs.7

The Psalmist then proceeds to recount the lives of the generation before "the fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation who did not set their hearts aright or prepare their hearts to know God and whose spirits were not steadfast or faithful to God" v8

It recalls all the acts that God did...His favor, His watch care, His provision that was looked at, received and SCORNED over and over again while the people continued to speak against Him!

V29. "He gave them what they craved and lusted for"

V30. "In spite of all this, they sinned STILL MORE, for they did not believe, rely on or adhere to Him for His wondrous works"

I'm veering a little but this is where boundaries come into play.  I've chatted to many who are wrestling with their addicted children and feel locked into being their watcher and provider.

LET THEM GO!   I fully realize that this is a sensitive subject but I write from experience.

God the Perfect One will catch them! 

Don't bind their progress anymore but loose them so that the Holy Spirit will be loosed from heaven to do what only He can do!  Matthew 16:19

We serve a MIGHTY GOD and we are not to carry anyone or anything!  1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 55:22

To Him Who is able to do MORE....
I pray you experience His Peace

Ephesians 3:20

Unwavering!

Musing about Job

Job 1:20
"Then Job arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshipped"

I just need to ask..is this your M.O. When calamity strikes?
Job was upright and blameless, like none other on the earth! He reverently feared God and not only abstained from but shunned all evil.  (These are Gods Words!!)

In one day;
1. ALL the oxen and donkeys (1000 animals) were stolen and all servants less one slain.
2. ALL the 7000 Sheep and servants, less one, were killed by lightening.
3. ALL 3000 camels were stolen and all but one servant slain.
4. ALL 10 children were killed in a tornado and only 1 servant escaped.

THIS ALL IN ONE DAY!!

And Job worships...


Father, may I be like Job when calamity strikes.

I Is But a Sheep

I love little sheep. They  reminds me Who I belong to.  They reminds me of my responsibilities, my job....

Stay in the pasture
Listen to His voice
Go where He leads me
Be satisfied with the pasture I'm in
Be friendly with the other sheep
Don't mind other sheep's business
Be content... not fearful
Don't be greedy
Don't lag behind or go ahead

Sheep are The Lords Business!

Heaped up Anger

Job 36:13

"But the godless and profane, in heart, heap up anger (at the divine discipline); they do not cry to Him when He binds them with cords of affliction"

This verse struck me.
Have you ever experienced "heaped up anger"?  I am most certain I have met many that have.  Their whole countenance shows it.  They don't even need to speak and it's seen.  BUT if they open their mouth it will erase all doubt!

God is wanting His Children to RUN TO HIM with EVERYTHING!
He says "Cast your cares upon ME , for I care for you!"

V16. "God would have allured you out of the mouth of distress into a broad place where there is no situation of perplexity or privation; and that which would be set on your table would be full of fatness"

Your Heavenly Father has compassion.
He wants to make things better.
He perhaps is waiting for you to recognize a trait in your life.  Maybe He is wanting you to turn your gripping and complaining to PRAISE?!

Job became filled with judgement and wrath towards God

V21  "take heed, turn not to iniquity, for this (the iniquity of complaining against God) you have chosen rather than (submission in) affliction."

One thing I have learned about birth; it is ALWAYS better to submit to the pain than to brace against it!  When I have settled my mind and body that I have indeed entered the birthing process I've found that the process, though painful, will go much better if I "work with it."

So Friend, today if you find yourself in pain, I'm sorry.  God is doing a work in you.  It's not random.
For
"He Who began a Good Work in you will be faithful to complete it"!

Lay down your anger and run to Jesus!

Discord in the Family

There are Scriptures that speak of children rising up against their parents; 
Matt 10:21, Luke 12:53, Mark 13:12

Very sad indeed and most often heart breaking.

Malachi 4:6 says "and He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers..."

Many sermons, articles and commentaries have been written on this subject but I'm thinking none of the research helps take away the pain of rejection.

So when and if you find yourself in conversation with someone and they open up about a schism in their family....

Why not simply PRAY with them.  Pray as the Scripture says above. Help them to leave it with Jesus.

Father. 
We come and agree together that according to Your Word You are able to heal the family. You will turn the hearts of children and parents back towards each other.
Is anything too difficult for You? NO!
We stand in Faith Believing that Your Heart cares and longs to see reconciliation as well as ours.  Have Your Way Oh God and bring Peace and Grace to all who are dealing with this heartache.
Thank You Father!

Reservation Required

Tonight we held a meeting at the house and a young man was receiving prayer at the end.  When he was finished I saw a "picture".  

I saw a picture of the feet of Jesus. It looked like He was sitting on His throne.   Right there on the floor by His feet was a cushion that was marked "reserved for.."    I told the young man and reminded him that there is NO GREATER PLACE to be than at the feet of Jesus.  All Peace, All Grace, All Faith, All Instruction can and will be found at this place.

There is a place reserved for YOU.  
Only You.  
No one else can take your spot.  
If you're not there your place is empty.  
He waits for you!

This is not a place for petition and intercession,  It is a place of silence and listening to His Heart and His thoughts about you!

Few have found this spot.  It has to be fought for as our flesh and "life" keep us bound up in schedules and doing.  

Who will fight for More...More time in His Presence.  I hope I see you there!

The Bickersons

This is a word I have not heard in a while :  BICKER
Yet in the past month I have heard it a handful of times.  The sad part is it almost always is used to describe communication in a marriage of "long standing". 

What does the Scripture say about bickering *?  Looking at the synonyms below I guess a lot.  The Israelite's likely took the award but there are many other verses in the New Testament where we are commanded to speak loving and life giving words to each other.

I imagine most people/couples just say "oh we know each other is just kidding"  "We don't mean anything by it"  'What? Bicker? we don't bicker!"

It's a problem.  No I mean IT'S A PROBLEM!

If you are a "bickerer" stop it!   

I know I'm meddling but as Thumper said, 

"If you can't say nothing nice ~ say nothing at all".

Brother and Sister,  If this applies take it to the Lord 

and ask for help.  

I doubt God  thinks it's funny.  

What it is is simply a bad habit that can be broken. 

Remember He is not finished with us 

until our last breath.  

So if the shoe fits wear it.  

See if anyone notices. 

(I'm going to watch myself more closely)
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart 
be acceptable to You Oh God" 
Psalm 19:14

bick·er

1. ˈbikər/

   verb

   1. 1.

      argue about petty and trivial matters.

      
      

      "whenever the phone rings, they bicker over who must answer it"

      
      

      synonyms:

      quarrel, argue, squabble, wrangle, fight, disagree, dispute, spar, have words, be at each other's throats, lock horns;  informalscrap, spat "they never bickered before they were married"