After His Heart

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God" (1 Sam. 30:6).

In the face of opposition from his grieving army, with the kidnapping of his wives gnawing on his own heart, David knew where to turn. He didn't tear himself apart about past or present mistakes. His self-worth wasn't dependent upon his followers' opinion of his leadership. Fear of death by stoning failed to paralyze him. Why? David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. He was named a man after God's own heart - not because he was perfect - but because he knew where to turn for direction, for strength, for forgiveness. David was God's man because the LORD was this man's God.

Can you and I be known as men and women after God's own heart?

Only if HE is truly the LORD of our lives ~ the Rock of our defense, the Shepherd we humbly follow, the Father and Savior to Whose arms we run, our Hope, our Joy, our Peace, our Righteousness.

No one and nothing else will do...just give me Jesus. Only then.

A Test of Time and Promises

This morning I walked down my favorite back road and something caught my attention on the ravine across from the neighbor's house. An uprooted forsythia lay over the bank, apparently cast off from some yard cleaning project. As I looked at that bush, with its hacked off roots pathetically sticking out of a dry clod of dirt and its yellow blossoms beginning to wither, I couldn't help but wonder -would it be possible for that hardy little plant to sink its crushed, broken roots into that rocky slope? Would it be able to become a bit of sunshine on the side of that hill? Only time will tell.

Whatever happens to the forsythia, the question I have to ask myself is this: Am I willing to sink my roots - however sensitive or hurt - into the soil wherever God places me (short term or long) and be a little sunshine there?

By His grace, I can say yes.

"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." (2 Cor. 1:20-22 NKJV)

Who My God Is and How This Affects Me

My God knows exactly what He is doing, has done, and will do.

My God does not limit His work to my understanding. My God (though not the author of sin) has power over evil itself ~ the devil must ask Him permission to do anything! (Job 1; Is. 45:7) My God is at the same time fully good and unable to sin. Sin cannot so much as stand in His presence (Ps. 130:3). My God ~ knowing that I can do nothing good on my own ~ commands me to be holy as He is holy (Lev. 20:7). This command has to do with every part of my life ~ how I treat others (believers & unbelievers); how I spend my time; how I use my abilities; how I talk, dress, and act. Obedience? Only by the complete control of the Holy Spirit.

"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" (Eph. 1:5,6).

He calls me to obey this command [be ye holy] not as a means to grace and the gift of eternal life (attained only through Jesus' blood) but as a result of His gracious gift. He made me for the purpose of being a living testimony of His love to all I meet.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).

My God gives me all that I need to obey Him.

"his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness..." (2 Pet. 1:3)

My God is always the same and has the same plan from beginning to end.

He is worthy of my complete trust ~ the acknowledgement of my utter dependence on Him.

My God is the only One worth living for.

To Be Wanted

It's amazing to think about how the deepest longings of the soul are a reflection of the longings of God Himself. Like the desire to be wanted....we all want to be accepted, to be needed, to be wanted. Everyone craves to security of knowing he/she is worth something to someone. The Lord knows we need Him - even if we don't acknowledge this need. But to be wanted, He allowed the Fall. He led His chosen people through the wilderness to a new land, then into captivity, then home again over and over. All the time calling them to follow Him, yet never forcing them to. He loved them faithfully, yet allowed them the choice of whether or not they would love Him.They chose not to, and He desired them still. This loving Father then sent His Son to live and to die for all mankind that He might justly woo us to Himself.
God wants you & me to want to love Him.

Our desire to be wanted is tainted by our sin nature. We are selfish. Yet the King of Love allowed us some small inkling of how a perfect relationship should work. This desiring is not about having one's own needs filled. Remember, God doesn't need anything in us. It is about loving the other person. We all want to be accepted by other people. It feels good to be needed. It gives us something to live for, to look forward to - it gives a sense of purpose. God doesn't need any of those things from us! But He loves us and wants us anyway!

Enough to blow your mind???

Do you want to be wanted? Jesus Christ wants you more than any human ever could. He will never stop wanting you. He will fill your deepest needs.

"Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jer. 29:12-13).

Some Thoughts on God's Love

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

(1 Cor. 13:13 NKJV)

Love. The most powerful force known to human nature. Out of love for His creatures, the Lord Jesus came to earth and lived among us in our fallen state, and was killed by us. He then defeated the grave by rising from the dead! Now He lives in heaven preparing a place for His beloved creatures and interceding daily and our behalf.

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16).

If we did not have this perfect Example, we would have no clue as to what - Who - life is about. We would have no idea how to treat other people. Life would be vain. worthless. grasping at the wind. Why? What's it all for?

It's all about Him.

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deut. 6:5).

We are to love Him with every fiber of our being.

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation" (Ps. 91:14-16).

This is the love-trust relationship that every child of God can have with the Father. Having received His love and His promise never to leave us; and knowing that He is in control of all things, we can confidently set our love on Him. He will never let us down.

Just as the sun is the center of the universe, He needs to be the Center of our lives. He is the Source of our life, our strength, our existence. As such, we ought to make His "centerness" in our life the object of all our effort and passion. This will be the driving force behind all we do. We will be set on Him.

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour" (Eph. 5:1-2) KJV

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth"

(1 Jn. 3:18).

Loving God in our hearts will result in loving others with our words, attitudes, and actions.

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law" (Rom. 13:8).

With God at the center, and our minds, mouths, and hands all occupied with love for Him and service to Him (in the form form of service to others), that leaves no room for you-know-who. [cringe]

Yes, that little person sulking right there - you....me.

Nowhere does the Bible say to love yourself. Why? Because we are born selfish.

We cannot love ourselves and love God - not wholly like He commands. One has to go.

Determining factor:

It's NOT about me.

It's ALL about God.

Not only does the Lord tell us to love others, He says to love them like HE loves US!

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren...My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn. 3:16,18).

"Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all" (Phil 2:17).

His love is a sacrificial love. His love is an unconditional love. His love is a lasting love. HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS.

"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work"

(2 Thess. 2:16-17).

"freely ye have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8b).

Success vs. Excellence by Christopher Parkening

I suggest that you pursue a commitment to personal excellence rather than success, based on your own God-given potential. Success and excellence are often competing ideals. Being successful does not necessarily mean you will be excellent, and being excellent does not necessarily mean you will be successful. Success is attaining or achieving cultural goals, which elevates one's importance in the society in which he lives. Excellence is the pursuit of quality in one's work and effort, whether the culture recognizes it or not...

Success seeks status, power, prestige, wealth, and privilege. Excellence is internal - seeking satisfaction in having done your best. Success is external - how you have done in comparison to others. Excellence is how you have done in relation to your own potential. For me, success is to please men, but excellence is to please God.

Success grants its rewards to a few, but it is the dream of the multitudes. Excellence is available to all, but is accepted only by a few. Success engenders a fantasy and a compulsive groping for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Excellence brings us down to reality with deep gratitude for the promise of joy when we do our best. Excellence cultivates principles, character, and integrity. Success may be cheap, and you can take shortcuts to get there. You will pay the full price for excellence; it is never discounted. Excellence will always cost you everything, but it is the most lasting and rewarding ideal. What drives you - success or excellence?

Waiting....

What does the word “wait” mean to you?

Hard to define it without using the word “wait,” isn't it?

Looking at “wait” in the context of the Bible helped me to understands it's different shades of meaning.

Ps. 37:7 “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.”

Wait in the verse from Hebrew word lit. “to twist or whirl” impl. To dance, to writhe in pain or fear; to wait; bear, (make to) bring forth/calve; dance; drive away; fall grieviously(in pain); grieve, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much sore pained; rest; shake; shapen; be sorrowful; stay; tarry; travail; tremble; trust; wait carefully; be wounded

Human reaction to having to wait:

Ps. 69:3 “I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.”

One thing that comes to my mind on this subject is when a two-year-old asks his mother for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Now, Mom already has her hands full with baby sister and happens to be talking on the phone. She holds the receiver away from her mouth just enough to tell him, “Shhh. Wait.”

If he's obedient, he will be quiet because he expects that she will make him a pb & j as soon as she can. More than likely, all he's worried about is his growling tummy. So he will tug on her shirt and howl – as if she couldn't hear him - “I want a pean't-bu'er 'n jewy!!!!” until she turns her full attention on him. Such is life with two-year-olds.

Then they grow up.

And change.

One thing, however, never changes. No one likes to WAIT for anything!

As adults, we are required to wait for much bigger things than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And they can't be solved by simply hanging on Mom, either.

There MUST be a right way to wait. After all, it's the Lord who has us doing so much of it.

Our expectations - nobody wants to be disappointed...

Who/what are we placing our expectations in?

2 Thess. 3:5 “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”

Patient waiting could be described as full expectation; the kind of anticipation that gives us joy & peace in knowing what we're waiting for will be above and beyond our expectations.

The Lord will NEVER disappoint us!

We MUST be willing to SEARCH long and hard for Him.

Ps. 61:2 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Ps. 63:1,8 “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is...My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”

Ps. 86:4 “Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.”

Ps. 130:5-6 “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”

Wait - for what?

Wisdom

Ps. 25:5 “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”

Strength

Ps. 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Is. 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Hope of Righteousness

Gal. 5:5 “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”

Wait - why?

God will bless me if I do

Is. 30:18 “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.”

God is good to me

Lam. 3:25-26 “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”

God will hear

Mic 7:7 “Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.”

Wait -how?

Patiently

2 Thess. 3:5 “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”

Continually

Ps. 130:5-6 “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”

Hos. 7:7 “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually.”

Waiting on Him alone~

Ps. 39:7 “And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.”

Ps. 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”

“wait” in Ps 62:5 means to quiet self, to be still, stop, die, rest, forbear

Godly waiting is dying to myself, placing everything in God's hands and resting there.

God doesn't intend for us to experience an empty life while we wait. We will feel an emptiness. However, we must realize that He designed us to feel this way for a purpose: He makes us wait because He wants to fill us with Himself.

Wait on Me - because I (God) said so:

I love you

Is. 43:1-5 “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee...Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee...Fear not: for I am with thee”

I have the plan

Jer. 29:11-13 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Ps. 73:23-26 “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”

I want to change you to be like ME

Jas. 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

I will give you all you need to do it

1 Cor. 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

2 Pet. 1:3-4 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

HE is faithful and provides everything we need to do all that He gives us to do.

Ps. 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”