“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.” Isaiah 55:9-11

There’s nothing quite like completing a project or finishing what you started. It’s so gratifying, the feeling you get when it’s done. Imagine for a moment how God felt when He spoke the worlds and hung the stars, separated light from dark, set boundaries for the oceans, made man and woman then saw it was all good and rested. Done!

Now imagine Jesus coming and doing the will of His Father, healing the sick and raising the dead, showing us a true picture of God as love, wrapped it all up when He hung on the cross and declared, “It is finished!” Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:15). Now that’s a completed project!

We think we get this, but we see such a small portion of His elaborate plan. It would take us a million lifetimes to understand the ways of God, yet we continue to press in with great expectation simply for the pleasure of intimacy with Him. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11

Just as God attached assignments to each of His words, we too must give assignments to ours. For good and not evil. To bless and not curse. To encourage not discourage. To build and not tear down. Each and every day, watching our words, standing guard over them, not negate them or allow the enemy to steal it from our heart. We can’t be flippant carriers of the very keys to our future and the future of our families.

Father, as David prayed so long ago, Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. May the fruit of my lips bring You praise! May they accomplish the good assignments I’ve sent them to do. It’s in Jesus’ name and for Your glory and the building of Your Kingdom, Amen.

When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.”

Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I’ll let out the nets.” It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.

Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, coworkers with Simon.

Every action causes a reaction. Once the first domino is tapped, the rest fall as a reaction to the first. Had Simon not allowed Jesus to use his boat to teach from, or obeyed when Jesus said to go out for fish, he wouldn’t have experienced the ginormous blessing that  filled not just his boat, but his co-workers boat as well.

So many are waiting for the ‘signs, wonders and miracles’ but they reside right now within each one of us. When we obey, step out and lay hands on, call demons out, follow the unusual instructions of the Spirit of God inside of us, they will follow our actions and our words. It’s out of our movement that causes a chain reaction to occur.

Somewhere, somehow, someone has been effected by something you have done or said. May our action cause those to be blessed that felt the reaction. May we hear stories of someone brushing up against us and being healed. The glory of God will invade this earth through those who are learning that action speaks louder then words.

The Word is already in us, alive, active, powerful and transforming. We’re merely vessels He chooses to use. Are you ready? Are you willing? Do you want it at any cost? Tune in to His instructions and get ready to be the living, moving church in the earth today.

“Jesus use me and oh Lord don’t refuse me for surely there’s a work that I can do. And even though it’s humble, Lord help my will to crumble. For though the cost be great I’ll work for You.”

Then the Holy Spirit made Jesus feel very happy. Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. I am thankful that you have hidden these things from those who are so wise and so smart. But you have shown them to people who are like little children. Yes, Father, you did this because it’s what you really wanted to do.  My Father has given me all things. No one knows who the Son is—only the Father knows. And only the Son knows who the Father is. The only people who will know about the Father are those the Son chooses to tell.” Luke 10:21-22 ERV

I was reflecting on how some people are just so super smart and educated, but it seems that’s never been Gods selection process. He chooses the foolish to confound the wise, the least to be the greatest, those with little to give much. It just doesn’t make sense in the natural, does it?

I remember wrapping gifts to put under the tree for our own children, envisioning them as they opened them up to discover what was inside. Imagining that joy always made me smile. I think this is what Jesus was experiencing. He knew the joy we would experience as He revealed the Father to us.

I’m coming to You as a child today, ready to discover another aspect of who You are in me. So much to know, so little time.  I could sit with You all day, everyday and still not know all of You. But I hungrily wait, ready to partake, fork in hand, mouth watering. Come Holy Spirit and bring the Wine to complete the table set before me. Nothing satisfies like You do. It’s in Jesus I rejoice in the discovery. Amen

But her sister Martha was busy doing all the work that had to be done. Martha went in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Luke 10:40 ERV

This story of Mary and Martha has always made me smile. I guess since Thanksgiving is days away, I think of all the preparations and craziness of the season and how much work needs to be done, it gives me a little glimpse into the overwhelmed feelings Martha was expressing to Jesus.

“Lord, don’t you care?” Isn’t that our cry when we’re overwhelmed? It could be preparing for the holidays or just balancing our checkbook but I know I’ve cried out this same thing to the Lord. “I NEED HELP!!!!”

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things.  Only one thing is important. Mary has made the right choice, and it will never be taken away from her.”

May I just say this without sounding all religious? Stop being consumed with tradition and rhetoric and be consumed with God. Before the day begins to get hectic, choose Him. Sit in His presence, at His feet and feed on His sweet Bread, the living Word. Give thanks for His provision and supply, for His peace and love. Ask Him to flow through you to those around you, family, friends, enemies……you know what I’m talking about!

Choose the important thing, it won’t ever be taken from you.

“Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.” Luke 6:38 ERV

I love this version because it simplifies an incredibly large attribute of God, His giving nature. Did you know that about your Father? He is such a giver! Think about this for a moment with me and I think you might just get a little bit excited.

1. He Gives Love
2. He Gives Life
3. He Gives Peace
4. He Gives Protection
5. He Gives Provision
6. He Gives Answers

There are so many, many more but suffice it to say that God is a giver. Not in the way we would give, but in the way you’d try to fit the last bit of flour in the bin. Shake it down, bang it on the counter, pour in some more, bang it on the counter again and continue to repeat until it overflows onto the surface or the countertop.

Let me say this; God doesn’t just give love, He is Love. He doesn’t just give life, He is life. He doesn’t just give peace, He is peace. He doesn’t just give protection, He is protection. He doesn’t just give provision, He is provision. He doesn’t just give answers, He is the answer.

When you received Jesus, you received everything you would ever need inside of you. He gave you ALL of the above and more. You’re so full you overflow onto others. If you would seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him. He’s not hiding, He’s in you ready to be exposed to the world through you. It’s been His plan all along.

The world is looking for answers you have inside of you. Open your mouth and give them what they’re looking for. The God in you wants to access your hands, your feet, your mouth and abilities. Surrender and choose to be a giver like your Father.

Ever have a large pile of yarn that got tangled? You can sit for hours trying to untangle the mess and someone else comes in, picks up one piece and pulls and the whole thing straightens out. Maddening isn’t it. Stress and strain can do us in, but another’s perspective can change everything.

You may be staring at a pile of bills that you don’t know how you’re going to pay. Perhaps a doctors report that looks hopeless or a pink slip that says your job ends on Friday. Whatever you’re facing, God wants you to step away into his arms and see it from his eyes. He said, “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!” Hebrews 10:35 NLT

How much time do we waste trying to figure out things we weren’t meant to? He wants us to rest in HIS ability, not our own. I wonder how much further we’d be if we’d learn that simple act of rest. Our old pastor used to say that a sign of a good leader is those who delegate. We don’t even know how to delegate our concerns to God.

It reminds me of carrying groceries in from the car. No two trips for me! I try to carry WAY too much at once and in my effort to succeed, I usually end up hurting myself. How silly is that! God is standing next to us with outstretched arms waiting to carry our load. Lets not insist on carrying it anymore. Turn to him, place it all in his hands and say this, “I will rest in you until you tell me what to do with it, I will not come out of this place of rest.”

Do you feel the weight shift from you to Him? Eph. 3:20 NLT, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Let HIM take care of YOU!

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT

Lets mix things up a bit. Lets not be like everyone else, be different. How do we do that? By getting to know God, His way of doing, being, speaking and seeing. When will this happen? When you, yes you, decide that you just have to have more. When you become dissatisfied with your dull, powerless life and take a big risk & plug into the mega master power source, Jesus.

He came to give not just life, but abundant, power-packed, productive, fruit-filled life. If your life isn’t doing that, check the root you’ve tapped into. Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

I believe that is our biggest issue right there-we try to do it alone and soon wither up and die because we’re not connected to the Vine. It’s He who gives us life to bring that life to others but we can’t do it on our own.

Stay connected to His power by plugging in every day and staying plugged in. Even if your switch isn’t turned on all the time, it will be charged and ready when God brings you into the dark places. Don’t be afraid of the dark, rather shine and dispel the darkness.

While reading in Hebrews CEB this morning, I noticed the title of this portion of scripture said, “Run The Race With Discipline” and continued with these verses 3-6: “Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won’t be discouraged and you won’t give up. In your struggle against sin, you haven’t resisted yet to the point of shedding blood, and you have forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons and daughters: My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline or give up when you are corrected by him, because the Lord disciplines whomever he loves, and he punishes every son or daughter whom he accepts.”

Sometimes, when you’re going through an exceptionally hard trial, it’s good to remember what Jesus went through. The only ones who excepted Him were those who needed what He provided. They were also the first to turn on Him and yell ‘crucify’ when given money by the religious leaders. Fickle people. And such were some of us!

When we don’t get what we want, we just give up, thinking that maybe God doesn’t love us as much as he does someone else. He calls us sons and daughters BECAUSE he loves us and as Paul said, he disciplines the ones he loves.

So when things aren’t so perfect in your life, we need to yell out, “HE LOVES ME! I’M HIS OWN!” He’s only setting us on the right path so that we’ll be where He needs us when He returns to take us home. Home sweet home. Lets keep in mind that where we are today is not our home, we’re merely leasing for a period of time.

Someday, He will call out to us, “Lease is up! Time to move on!” Don’t be so comfortable with your surroundings that you lose sight of whose you are and where you’re going. Lots wife looked back with longing and turned into a salty statue. Lets keep our eyes longing for our prize; Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 MSG

Just go ahead with what you know and what’s been given will be enough! If we’ve truly received Jesus Christ, then we must live Him. This journey isn’t rocket science, it’s simply allowing the Love He is to live through us into others.

I’ve heard so many people say, “I can’t do that! I’m not ready! I’m not comfortable with that.” But the truth is that the moment we received Jesus, we received power to be His witnesses. We are Kingdom citizens sent as ambassadors into this foreign domain to display Gods glory in the earth.

Our foundation on which we stand is solid enough to hold us in this unstable world. We were built for this. Start where you are and let that be enough. Quit trying to be perfect before you move out and be His witnesses in the earth. There are people around you who are starving to see signs, wonders and miracles and Jesus said they will follow you, but if you’re not moving, neither are they.

Father, forgive us for being insecure in who we are. We are Your sons and daughters and there is no where we can go that You won’t accompany us. Right now we choose to go where You say and do what needs to be done for Your glory we give you thanks, Amen.

For who do you know that really knows you, knows your heart? And even if they did, is there anything they would discover in you that you could take credit for? Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need. You already have more access to God than you can handle. Without bringing either Apollos or me into it, you’re sitting on top of the world—at least God’s world—and we’re right there, sitting alongside you! 1 Corinthians 4:7-8

Never allow what others think of you, to keep you from being who God called you to be. Stop trying to be like other people, to imitate the gift that’s in them. Don’t compare yourself with someone else because you have been chosen for a specific task. The success of your assignment hinges on your ability to obey the direct instructions of God. Are you listening?

If you don’t take time to listen, you will never hear. If you never hear, you will continue on the same path you’re on, possibly going in the wrong direction. Find a quiet place, turn off the noise and distractions, worship the Lord and give Him thanks, then with no agenda, no prayer requests, just wait for Him to draw near and speak to your spirit. It will be the most productive time of your entire day.

You are good because God says you are. You’re not good based on your goodness, but on His goodness. You’re not gifted because of what you can do, but because of what He did. It’s not about who you hang around with or even what clothes you wear, it’s all about obedience to the instructions; Go into all the world. That’s your world, your neighborhood, your community, your city, state or zip-code. Be the gift to the world that is in you.

Father, I may be unsure of the direction, but if I’m moving I know You’ll direct me. I may not feel gifted, but You’ve placed enough of Your gift in me that will enable me to be effective. Thank that no one carries what I do and no one can be who You created me to be. It’s in Jesus name and for Your glory, Amen.