Finances, God's Love

Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
~ Exodus 34:14

Then the LORD will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people. ~ Joel 2:18

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy.  I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.  But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.  For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
~ 2 Corinthians 11:2-4

God's Jealous Love for Us

by Alice Fryling

     When God calls himself jealous, he is saying that he is reaching out to us, that he passionately wants to claim us for himself.  We were created to live in the center of his love.  Every act of disobedience takes us away from that center, takes us into dangerous territory where we forget that he loves us, where we think we can and should control our own lives, where we risk using relationships to serve ourselves instead of our Creator.

     As we begin to move toward that place of alienation from God's love, his Spirit jealously hovers over our spirits, making us uncomfortable, trying to turn our hearts back to our Lord.  God is jealous when anything in our lives deters us from resting in his love.  His Spirit is jealous when I begin to think that I cannot get along without more money, a larger house, a better job or a different body.  His Spirit is jealous when I think that I desrve the honor another person is getting, or when I a ambitious to achieve anything but his will.  His Spirit is jealous when my motivation is anything but love.  My money, my house, my body, my career, my achievements all belong to God.

     God's jealousy actually grows out of his love.  Because he loves us, he is jealous of anything that might tempt us away from what is good for us.

Taken from Women's Devotional Bible 2.

     At our church, we are in the midst of a sermon series on stewardship.  This devotional seems to fit perfectly.  It also fits the state of the economy as well.

     I like to be in control.  I am very uncomfortable when I feel that circumstances are out of my control.  I'm feeling a bit that way right now.  There are some circumstances in my life that I am unable to control. 

     Lord, bring your peace to my life.  Help me to remain calm and focus on doing things that I CAN control.  I know that you will provide for the needs of my family in the coming months and years.  Thank you that you have always provided for our needs.  We will lean on you and follow your will.

     Lord, if I fallen away from the center of your love, draw me back to you.

Have a great day!

Creativity

. . . and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts. ~ Exodus 31:3

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancng, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.  Praise the LORD ~ Psalm 150:3-6

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think ofyourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.  Just as each ofus has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach.  If it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. ~ Romans 12:3-8

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, . . . ~ Ephesians 5:19

     What is your form of creative expression?  I have many. 
     I sing every day.  Somtimes I make up new words to songs.  When my daughters were younger, I used to sing songs, like "You Are My Sunshine" and substitute their names in place of "Sunshine". 
     When I was in late elementary or junior high, my mom taught me how to embroider.  My great-grandmother used to embroider pillow cases and I thought they were pretty.  I have completed many embroidered and cross-stitched projects over the years.
     Another creative expression is in cake and cupcake decoration.  I took some cake decorating classes when I was younger.  I have made and decorated nearly every birthday cake for my daughters.  I think I only bought 1 cake for the 16 birthdays they have had between them.  My oldest daughter has been talking about making the birthday cake for my youngest daughter, whose birthday is in January.  I mentioned to her a couple days ago that Cake Decorating is a project that can be completed for 4-H.  She told me that she knew that and was planning to take a Cake Decorating project next year.
     My most recent form of creativity is crochet.  I would not claim to be an expert at all, but I really enjoy the feel of yarn slipping through my fingers and using a crochet hook to create blankets, hats, hair scrunchies and other projects.  I spend lots of time looking at crochet patterns.
     I use crafts and creativity to unwind at the end of the day. 

     "Creativity is a God-given ability to take something ordinary and make it into something special.  It is an openness to doing old things in new ways and a willingness to adapt other people's good ideas to suit our personal needs.  And creativity is an ability we all possess, although many of us keep it hidden in the deep corners of our lives.
     Every single human being is creative.  The creative spirit is part of our heritage as children of the One who created all things.  And nurturing our creativity is part of our responsibilty as stewards of God's good gifts."
     by Emilie Barnes; taken from Women's Devotional Bible 2

     Whatever your method of creativity, I encourage you to use it.  If it's been a while, take your time and just let yourself go.  Have a great day!  Thanks for joining me today.

God's Plan, God's Purpose, Satan

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ~ Genesis 50:20

Satan Schemes, God Redeems 

by Joni Eareckson Tada

     God always exploits Satan's evil intentions and uses them in his own service--just one more example of God's ability to work "out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will" (Ephesians 1:11)

     Satan plans to hinder the work of an effective missionary by arranging for him to trip in the jungle and break a leg; God allows the accident so that the missionary's godly response to pain and discomfort will bring glory to [God].  Satan brews a hurricane to kill thousands in a small village in Bangladesh; God uses the storm to display his awesome power, to show people the awful consequences that sin has brought to the world, to drive some to search for him, . . . and to remind us that he is free to do as he pleases.  We will never figure him out.

     Satan schemed that a seventeen-year-old girl named Joni would break her neck, hoping to ruin her life; God sent the broken neck in answer to her prayer for a closer walk with him.

     As a friend once said "God sends things, but Satan ofen brings them.  Praise God that when Satan causes calamity, we can answer him the with words that Joseph answered his brothers with when they sold him into slavery, 'You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.'"

Taken from Women's Devotional Bible 2

Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy.  Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers.  They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows.  They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.  They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, "Who will see them?"  They plot injustice and say, "We have devised a perfect plan!"  Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.  But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down.  He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.  All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done.  Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him! ~ Psalm 64

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. ~ Romans 5:3-5

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.  For what son is not disciplined by his father?  If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.  Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.  How much more should we submit t the Father of our spirits and live!  Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. ~ Hebrews 12:7-11

     Two days ago, my uncle was in a very serious automobile accident in Texas.  I have seen pictures of the pickup truck he was driving and the school bus he collided with.  We are very blessed that my uncle is still with us.  God must have some amazing things planned for my uncle.

     I just had a conversation with our pastor on Sunday about discipline.  Our pastor is leading a study on the book "The Myth of a Christian Nation:  How the Quest for Political Power is Destroying the Church" by Gregory A. Boyd.  I really don't have much interest in politics, but as I was reading the chapter for Sunday's discussion on the difference between "Power Over" (worldly kingdom) and "Power Under" (Godly kingdom), I kept trying to apply the principles to my parenting. 

     Parenting is tough.  I want to teach my children to make good choices and to become respected young ladies.  When I discipline my children for making poor choices, they say that I am being mean.  Hopefully, when they get a little older, they will see the discipline they endured as my way of guiding them to make choices they can be proud of and that God will approve.

     Whn you experience struggles in your life, remember that God is working through these difficult times to display his power and his love for you.  May God richly bless you today.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Future, God's Faithfulness

"This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine."  ~ Genesis 41:36

How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.  I seek you with with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. ~ Psalm 119:9-11

Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise... ~ Ephesians 5:15

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ~ Hebrews 13:8

     Although I cannot predict the future, I do know that history tends to repeat itself.  We have experienced some times of financial difficulty in the past.  No matter how tight the money got, God always provided just enough for us to make it through.
     The school district that I teach in is having some financial concerns right now.  At the end of last year the Superintendent asked for volunteers to not receive supplemental pay for one year.  I volunteered to not receive my choir director supplemental.  Although this means that I am bringing home less money than I did last year, I know that God will provide ways for us to make up that loss in other ways.
     This summer, we began Miehls Healthy Life Source as a secondary income.  I believe that God prompted me to start the business when I did, so we can have a way to make up for the money I'm not receiving at school.  Though we are just starting, we are optimistic about what the future may bring with our business.
     I am also just beginning the rehearsal process for a musical at school.  In the past, the musicals have been performed in the spring.  The spring sports calendar is so full that every weekend from mid-March through the end of school has an event.  We moved the musical to the fall.  I think this is another way that God is providing for my family because I will receive that pay about 5 months earlier than other years.
     Thanks, God, for providing for our needs.  Thanks for loving us enough to prepare the way for us to continue to be successful and grow in you.
     If you are interested in learning about how you can work from home to provide a second, or primary, income for your family, comment on my post.  I'd love to share more information with you.
     May you have a blessed day.  May you be aware of the ways that God is providing your needs both now, and in the future.