Abundantly Pardoned

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9 NIV) He knows what's best for us. He has plans for us, just as He says in Jeremiah 29:11. Why do we arrogantly make our own plans and attempt to make things happen just as we want them to happen? God knows all things. We don't. He can make things happen the way they're supposed to happen, and if we try to do things our way, we'll just be throwing a monkey wrench into the machinery to mess things up. We need to do it God's way by allowing Him to do things His way.

In John 20:11-16, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb and finds the body of Jesus gone. She weeps. An angel asks her why she is weeping. She continues to weep. Jesus asks her why she is weeping and "Whom are you seeking?" Mary was seeking Jesus among the dead. Don't we sometimes do that? Don't we push Him aside so often that we forget He lives? If we'd stop pushing Him aside, we wouldn't end up having to seek Him. If we'd stop pushing Him aside we wouldn't find ourselves weeping. If we'd stop pushing Him aside, we wouldn't find ourselves searching among the dead. "He who seeks finds...." (from Matthew 7:8) TRULY---WHOM ARE YOU SEEKING?

"Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them." (Acts 16:6-10 NIV) I have learned to never, ever take anything in my life for granted, no matter how strange it may seem or how common. The Holy Spirit is always at work, and we must stay open to Him at all times if we are to receive His guidance. This world is filled with noise all day and all night. People talk all day at work, talk when they get home and then turn on the t.v. which bombards them with noise. No wonder so many people think the Holy Spirit isn't at work in their lives. When you believe the Holy Spirit is leading you or pointing you a certain way or laying something on your heart---then He probably is! You will recognize the Holy Spirit's workings in your life more than anyone else, so when you believe He is at work in your life, go to God and discuss it with Him. Tell Him what you believe. He will answer your questions.

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him." (Matt. 24:44 NIV) This is why we must always be ready. This is why we must never let our guard down. With Satan prowling about like a lion, waiting to devour us (1 Peter 5:8), watching so that he can try to cause us to sin, we must be ever-watchful. What will you be doing when Christ comes? Where will you be when Christ comes? When He comes, will you be confident and unashamed (1 John 2:28)? Let's be ready!

There's a song that goes, "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see You." What are the ways we see Him? In what ways do we need to see Him more? Are we really seeing Him with our hearts, or are we experiencing emotions generated by worldly influences? 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us that "we live by faith, not by sight." How is our faith as Jesus reveals Himself to us? Are we being faithful, believing that He is revealing Himself to us? "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see You!"

The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is referred to so much by Christians, and for good reason. How many times a day do we Christians pass by an opportunity to reach out to a nonbeliever? How many times a day do we not help someone who needs help while someone who is also needy helps the other needy person? We need to be more like the Good Samaritan, each day evaluating ourselves to see if we have crossed the road to pass somebody by.

Because of my flat feet I have much trouble with shoes causing knee pain or hip pain or back pain. Today it was (and is) my left knee. I'm not sure I'll ever find a pair of shoes that I can put my inserts in and have a day free of pain, but I have my Jesus who soothes my soul. "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

In Luke 9:36-46 the disciples argued about which one of them was the greatest. John then tattled to Jesus about a man who was driving out demons in the name of Jesus. He told Jesus, "We tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." To top that off, a Samaritan village wouldn't welcome Jesus on His way to Jerusalem, so James and John wanted to "call down fire from heaven to destroy them." On our road of discipleship, ego is something that rears it's head sometimes. We have to daily work on our humility and ask God to search our hearts. We must remember that we are cracked and blemished clay pots that Jesus is using to do His work, and that we don't deserve to be doing His work. That reminder should keep us humble.

"This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, "We will not walk in it."'" (Jeremiah 6:16) We won't immediately go to the crossroads to look when the Lord calls us to go there. We resist. We put it off. We think if we walk quickly, we can pass those crossroads. When the Lord God Almighty is pursuing you, is calling you, is grabbing you---go to the crossroads and look. Get out of the boat and onto the water. He is there for the walk on the path, and He is there for the walk on the water. I have chosen to walk on the path where He has told me to go. I have chosen to get out of the boat and onto the water. Where is the path and the water? For now, just down the road. I must obey Him. "'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.' 'Lord, if it's You," Peter replied, 'tell me to come to You on the water.' 'Come,' He said. Then Peter got down out of the baot, walked on the water and came toward Jesus." (Matthew 14:27-29 NIV)

Jesus feeding 5,000 + (5,000 men, and their wives and children were probably with them) in in all 3 gospels. The disciples had witnessed Jesus raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons and rebuking storms. Why didn't they think Jesus could feed more than 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish? Don't they sound a lot like us? We've witnessed the Lord's power all through our lives, yet each time we run into an obstacle, we try to overcome it ourselves instead of letting Jesus do it. Oh, when will we stop our doubting?