What Is Your 'Plan B'?
Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. The Bible says that we are to trust in the Lord. Do you FULLY trust Him? ..... or, do you have a Plan B? .....I trust in the Lord; but, I don't go anywhere without my cell phone. .....I trust in the Lord; but, I make sure I set my alarm system before I go to bed. .....I trust in the Lord; but, I hope the government does not take away my right to have a gun. .....I trust in the Lord; but, I cannot live in an area that does not have a good trauma center within close proximity to my home. We say that we trust in the Lord. However, we do not FULLY trust Him in every area of our lives. We feel the need to help Him take care of us. God does not need your help! Do not insult him with a backup plan. If you are going to trust God, trust Him completely. God loves us, and knows what is best for us. He is our hope. He promised never to leave us or forsake us. When God is your 'Plan A', you do not need a 'Plan B'! Choose Him today!!
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![]() John 9:4 "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." According to Dictionary.com, procrastination is the act or habit of procrastinating. Merriam-Webster defines the word procrastinate as “to be slow or late about doing something that should be done : to delay doing something until a later time because you do not want to do it, because you are lazy, etc.” Many of us are guilty of procrastination. We know that God has called us to do His work; yet, we delay doing it because we think we can do it later. You are not promised another day. What if you do not get another chance to do that which He requires of you? What will you tell Him at The Gate? The above referenced scripture says that the work must be done while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work. There is an expiration for the offer of salvation – it expires when you do! There is a mid-18th century proverbial saying that “procrastination is the thief of time”. This is true. However, at worst, it can be a thief of your soul. Do not delay getting your life in order any longer. God has work for you to do! What are you waiting for???!!! Lady J ![]() Proverbs 31:10 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. You are precious in the eyes of God. Once you know your worth, you will not allow anyone to take advantage of you. You will understand that you set the tone for how people treat you. Understanding your worth will keep you from making people a priority that can only make you an option. It is good to have self-esteem so that you don't end up with an inferiority complex. However, some Christians are guilty of having a superiority complex. They feel that they are better than the lost because they have chosen the more excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31). However, my mother always told me: "Although no one is better than you, you are no better than anyone else." John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He loved THE WORLD - not just you! So, don't get it twisted. You were to die for - but so was everyone else! Pain and Suffering
It is really odd that when you Google the word ‘pain’, the physical pain is what initially appears. According to Wikipedia, it is an unpleasant feeling often caused by intense or damaging stimuli. That is so true. Although that definition refers to physical pain [because it is followed by examples of stubbing a toe, getting cut with a knife, etc.], it is true of mental pain as well. Wikipedia also suggests that, in order to get the meaning of pain other than physical pain, one should search under suffering. Suffering, it says, is an experience of unpleasantness and aversion associated with the perception of harm or threat of harm in an individual. It goes on to explain that suffering can be physical or mental, vary in frequency, intensity and duration. It is also subject to the opinion of the person that is suffering, as well as other people. It is a process that may be considered avoidable or unavoidable, useful or useless, and deserved or undeserved. It actually seems to suggest that physical pain is validated (note that examples were given that would ‘understandably’ cause pain); but, mental pain (and/or suffering) is not. A person that is suffering may go through moments of regret and reflection:
The word ‘pain’ makes one think of sudden intensity that will soon dissipate. Suffering seems more like a process that will continue for an indeterminate amount of time. In fact, suffering was described as an experience rather than a feeling. The pain that I felt during labor was intense, to say the least. I felt like my body was being ripped apart by the contractions. It seemed like an eternity before I was able to get an epidural. I remember that it hurt really badly; but, I cannot remember how the pain felt. People would tell me that you will forget all about the pain after you see your baby. I could not believe them before it actually happened. If anyone asked me to describe what the pain of contractions felt like on the day AFTER I had the baby, I could not tell them. I cannot tell you now….and I have had four kids!! I cannot even describe the pain of an incision after a Caesarean section….and I have had two!! I remember that it hurt, but I don’t remember the pain. The thing about mental suffering, is that you remember BOTH. You remember the pain, and the suffering. It can be decades later, but you will remember how you felt in that moment. Sometimes, you can actually feel the pain all over again:
So, what is the answer? As a Pastor’s wife, I am supposed to tell you:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 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. (Phil 4: 8-9) God loves you!!! He will give you Perfect Peace!! Lady J ![]() Your worth is not determined by man. God has already established our worth in His Word. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 If God says that you are worth Him sending His ONLY Son to die for your sins, what more proof do you need? The next time someone questions your worth, tell that person, “The opinion of an irrelevant person pales in comparison to the opinion of a RELEVANT GOD. I am what God says I am!” YOUR SISTER LADY J The Guidance of God
Read Psalm 25:1-22 In Psalm 25 David points out that we can experience God's guidance if we meet certain spiritual conditions. The first is confidence. We give evidence of our confidence in God through worship. We need to pray so that we might have our hearts right with Him. Waiting is another evidence (vv. 3, 5, 21). Every time I've rushed ahead, I've gotten into trouble. In verses 4 and 5 David talks about his willingness to follow. God won't show us His will unless we're willing to do it. Another evidence of our confidence is the witness of the Word (v. 5). When we have big decisions to make, we must spend time in the Scriptures. Penitence also is a condition for receiving God's guidance. David is sorry for his sins. He wants God to remember His tender mercies, not David's transgressions. When God remembers someone, He goes to work for that person. He never forgets His children. David asks God for mercy (vv. 10,16) because he is concerned about his past sins, and he doesn't want those sins to get him off target. Obedience is another condition. We are all sinners. We don't have to be perfect for God to guide us, just obedient. The word humble means "yielded to God." If we obey what God already has told us, then He will show us the next step. His guidance is not a spotlight; it's a lamp that illumines each step. We also must exhibit reverence. God will guide us in our choices if we fear Him. The word secret (v. 14) means "friendship." Godly fear doesn't mean we are slaves; it means we have loving reverence and respect for a gracious and kind God. Finally, we must show perseverance. It's not always easy to know and do the will of God. Sometimes when we're seeking the Lord, circumstances get worse, and we become lonely. David was lonely and afflicted, but he remembered that God was with him. Because of that, he maintained his integrity and obedience. Do you need God's guidance today? Make verses 1-5 your prayer for His guidance in your life. Place your confidence in Him and yield to Him in spite of circumstances. You will please God and help accomplish His purposes in your life and in the lives of others. |
Johnita Moore, BSNElect Lady of Archives
September 2016
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