Be a doer, not just a hearer

Matthew 7:24-25

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

I hear a lot of things..."clean your room." "come here." "Don't do that." "That isn't right" ect. But hearing will do me no good if I don't listen and obey. The wise man isn't wise because he hears, he's wise because he listens. We're suppose to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. To stand our house must be built upon the rock! That firm foundation doesn't just come through us sitting in church every week hearing the message, or through us reading our Bible everyday...the firm foundation comes through obedience to what he hear. I'm sometimes guilty to read my bible and keep doing exactly what I was before. That's not wise. If we're not careful the storm that's on its way will hit us out of nowhere and leave us broken and foolish. The sand is nice but it's not strong and it goes whatever way the water directs it. We are suppose to be unmoveable! The decision to do right is made long before the world ever asks you the question...like Daniel--> he purposed in his heart that he wouldn't defile himself long before he ever stood before the king. We can only stand if we're standing on the rock. The storm is coming; will your house stand?

Living Water

John 4:13-14

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

I heard on the radio that someone got ahold of the pope's used water cup..this person took the cup, drunk from it and also let others take a drink as well. I'm amazed at how people are literally worshipping the pope. A wicked man who is on his way to Hell just like all who follow him! Those who drink of his cup will thirst for all eternity while burning in Hell if they don't come to Jesus. But I just wanna take a second and thank God I've been to Jesus and 6 years ago as a lost 16 year old girl He told me about some water that could forever change me...living water from a well that won't run dry. It's been 6 years since I took my first drink and I'm still satisfied! My hope's not in the lost pope, my hope is in Jesus Christ the sinless, precious Savior who WILLINGLY SHED HIS BLOOD for me and you! What has the pope done for anyone?? Not a thing! What has Jesus done for this world?? Everything. He gave His ALL. The Pope is NOT worthy of any praise but Jesus sure is! Don't forget to praise him today! And if you've never had a drink He has enough in the well for you too. Take a sip and be forever changed ❤️

Little David's Sanctification

1 Samuel 16:5,11,12

And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

Jesse and his sons had to be sanctified before Samuel could do the sacrifice and anoint the new king. That shows us they weren't ready, clean or usable. They had to get some things right before God. David wasn't there. He was out there in the field being faithful, caring for the sheep. He was the youngest, probably the smallest, and had a job that left him alone out in the field. God knew David was the one he wanted. He told Samuel the other sons' hearts were not right, but David's was. He didn't have to go get sanctified when He got called by Samuel. He was already sanctified!! That word sanctified means: Made holy, consecrated, set apart for sacred services. Consecrated means: devoted or dedicated to the service and worship of God.  

God didn't have to clean him up before anointing him.  In order for God to use someone they must be usable! I heard a preacher say a few weeks ago, "don't pray for God to use you, pray that you'll be usable." David was usable, ready, willing, humble, faithful in the small, loved the Lord even when no one else was looking. He was real. God won't use the fake, the dirty, those who won't sanctify themselves. Sanctify yourself NOW so when He is looking to use someone you'll be ready. "He doesn't call you to get faithful, he calls you because you already are faithful!" Stay devoted! Stay dedicated! Even if you think no one is watching or if you feel like it doesn't really matter! It so matters. Keep watching the sheep! Keep being faithful in your field! Don't miss the call because of the dirt in your life! You can't be a living sacrifice without first being sanctified. 

Be strong and of good courage and DO it..

1 Chronicles 28:20

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

Philippians 4:9,13

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  

I read that phrase, "Be strong and of a good courage, and do it" one day last week and I'm still thinking about it. The Bible tells us many things we are to DO. We should be DOING, not just sitting on the pew or believing the lie that someone else will DO whatever God has put on your heart to DO. There's been many times He has told me to give a track and I've thought to myself...someone else will do it. But what if no one else has or ever will. What if He is telling me to DO because no one else will! We have to DO our part so he can DO His! I want to DO His will, but I get scared and often I let my fears drive me from doing it; whatever IT might be. I was reading in Philippians and verse 9 helped me! We are to DO what we know to do, and if we do we will have peace in our hearts. Let His strength do the work. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Whatever he asks us to do He will give us the strength to do it! What is he telling you to do? Time is running out. Be a DOer of the word! 

HIS Purpose

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Some things that happen make no sense to me. Why do people have to get cancer? Why do we have to lose loved ones suddenly? Why do people break our hearts? Why does God make us wait? Why doesn't he answer that prayer you've prayed for over 10 years? I don't have the answer. 

But maybe the point is we aren't suppose to have all the answers. Life is hard, crazy, sad, insane, full of ups and downs, and so much more. So many things happen along this journey of life. Sometimes it's amazing things but sometimes it's things that break us. Things that make us question all we are and all we hope to one day be. There is peace in the fact that God has a time and place for all things. Although sometimes we don't really have room for those things in our life. I'll be honest some of those things I don't want him to put in my life! 

The key is believing. Believing he WILL; not that he can, but that he will work ALL things together for my good and your good (if you love him...if you aren't saved and don't love him this is not for you..) 

Life is suppose to be about HIS purpose. He is my creator and he has a purpose just for me. One step of faith at a time He reveals himself and his way to me. He doesn't give us the whole picture, just one pixel at a time. One open door at a time. 

I've needed this reminder that I don't have to have it all together. Sometimes I feel left out and behind. My wonderful mom reminded me this morning that I have a lot going for me and I'm doing just fine in this little thing called my life. God continues to make me wait. He continues to teach me that being still is all he wants me to do right now. But honestly that isn't what I want. I want to go, run, make things happen. But if I make my life about MY purpose my life will never amount to anything. The message at church yesterday morning was about the lad giving his lunch. The pastor compared that to a person's life. Like that little lunch my life isn't much. On my own I can't do much. But when I live according to HIS purpose and not mine my life has a purpose and my life will have God's hands on it. When I love him and live for his purpose everything will work out and it'll be good. Really good! 

Sometimes things happen that you had no part in making happen, things that just fall in place, and then before you know it, it's been ripped away from you leaving you asking "why God?" "Why did you let this happen?". Tonight I'm not gonna ask "Why?". I've done that more than enough times. I'm just gonna say "Ok Lord, I'll trust you anyways." He's trustworthy and he has a purpose and a beautiful plan. I must trust that his timing is perfect and he doesn't make any mistakes.