Sorry it's been so long since I've written! I've been super busy with the holidays and family and such. I miss you all SO very much and I can't wait to see you all on January 9th. Anywho...this morning I read a devotion that I want to share with you. It's from Proverbs 31 ministries by a lady named Marybeth Whalen.
Honoring God with Your Life
“It never occurs to them to say, ‘How can we honor our God with our lives, The God who gives rain in both spring and autumn and maintains the rhythm of the seasons.” Jeremiah 5:24 (NIV)
Devotion:
Last night God brought a little boy to my mind. This little boy is nothing special. He has never been on the front page of a newspaper or achieved a world record. No one recognizes his name; he isn’t a celebrity by the world’s standards. And yet, he was on my mind last night, though I’ve never met him personally. I just know about him because I read something his mother wrote years ago.
At about eight years-old, he felt burdened to start a cookie ministry for elderly people, new neighbors, and others in his life. And so, each week this little boy would make a big batch of Snickerdoodle cookies (I still remember what kind because they sounded so good), divide them into packages, pile them in his wagon and deliver them to whoever was on his list for that week. He would visit with the people and sometimes share a verse or prayer with them and be on his way. Some people heard about what he was doing and donated money to pay for the ingredients in his cookies, and he enjoyed having his very own ministry at a young age.
It has been many years since I read that, and I imagine that little boy is a young man now. I don’t have any idea what he is doing, but something tells me that he is still finding creative ways to honor God with his life. As I thought of him last night, I was struck by how flimsy my excuses must sound for not being more purposeful about ministering to others. What keeps me from reaching out to those around me—the hurting, the grieving, the sick, or the hopeless? What makes me shrug my shoulders and walk away? Why does a little boy’s cookie ministry matter? Because he used what he had and he did what he could. And I know I could stand to do the same.
We are supposed to honor God with our lives. And yet, we have a million reasons for not doing so. Money, time, and resource constraints are popular excuses—and yet, this little boy was bound by the same things. I know that even if I just bake a loaf of banana bread and take it to someone that God puts on my heart, then that is honoring God with my life. Sometimes it is in the simplest of acts that we make the biggest impact. Instead of making excuses and leaving ministry to other people, I can set out to do what I can with what I have.
Many years later this young man’s cookie ministry has served to inspire a busy woman to honor God with her life. He has no idea how impacting his example was on me. I hope he has inspired you as well.
Dear Lord, help me to act on the things You lay on my heart and not make excuses or feel silly or inadequate. Help me to see the bigger picture in the little things You call us to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Texas- Dec.16-22
Hey girls! I'm not going to be able to write while I'm in Texas, but please leave comments on here for me to read when I get back! LOVE YOU MISS YOU!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Learn from my Mistakes
Tonight I learned a very valuable lesson. Be careful about your pride because nothing good that comes from you is rooted in your heart, it comes from God.. I realized this tonight because I expressed my concern to my aunt about a guy that my cousin is dating. Not to hurt anyone or to make anyone disappointed in me, but because I thought I knew what was best for someone. I thought I knew what was best for my cousin, but I don't. Only God knows what is best for her. Only God can give her the abundant life that he has in store for her. Only God can give her what is best for her. Not me. I am not God.
Is there a situation in your life where you feel like you know what is best for someone? Be careful and pray dilligently about God's will rather than your own. We are not God....THANK GOD!
Is there a situation in your life where you feel like you know what is best for someone? Be careful and pray dilligently about God's will rather than your own. We are not God....THANK GOD!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Pleasing Others
Something that I really struggle with is the temptation to constantly please others without considering how I can please God. Galations chapter 1 really digs into this. So, read Galations 1 and let me know how you feel about your own temptation to please others.
Friday, November 30, 2007
What are your pearls?
Jenny's Pearl Necklace
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box."Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face."A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her piggy bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores. She went to the neighbor, Mrs. McJames, and asked if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother had told her that if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?""Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you.""Then may I have your pearls?""Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess--the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite.""That's okay, honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?""Daddy, you know I love you.""Then will you give me your pearls?""Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper.""That's okay, Honey. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek."What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. When she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the prized necklace. With the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case. He handed the handsome velvet case to Jenny and told her, "Thank you for giving me your most prized possesion that you even saved for all by yourself. Here Honey, I have this for you also. I wanted to trade you, but I was going to give these to you tonight either way."As Jenny pryed open the blue velvet box, so nice a thing itself she'd never known, the glistening white sheen of the rich genuine pearls struck her teary eyes.
If you were to read this story again I would ask you to put your name in Jenny's place and your life in the place of the pearls with God taking the place of Jenny's dad. Girls, what I want you to get from this is that God will only take something out of your hands to give you something better. He is capable of more than we could ask or imagine (Eph.3:20). Is there something that you know God is calling you to give up? Is there something in your life that is not God's best for you? Pray for God to give you wisdom. Many people in the Bible prayed for wisdom from God and he gave it freely. What is God showing you to do right now? Whatever it is, write it down and realize that what he is showing you is how you can be a "DOer" of the word. I LOVE YOU!
The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box."Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face."A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her piggy bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores. She went to the neighbor, Mrs. McJames, and asked if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother had told her that if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?""Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you.""Then may I have your pearls?""Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess--the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite.""That's okay, honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?""Daddy, you know I love you.""Then will you give me your pearls?""Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper.""That's okay, Honey. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek."What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. When she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the prized necklace. With the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case. He handed the handsome velvet case to Jenny and told her, "Thank you for giving me your most prized possesion that you even saved for all by yourself. Here Honey, I have this for you also. I wanted to trade you, but I was going to give these to you tonight either way."As Jenny pryed open the blue velvet box, so nice a thing itself she'd never known, the glistening white sheen of the rich genuine pearls struck her teary eyes.
If you were to read this story again I would ask you to put your name in Jenny's place and your life in the place of the pearls with God taking the place of Jenny's dad. Girls, what I want you to get from this is that God will only take something out of your hands to give you something better. He is capable of more than we could ask or imagine (Eph.3:20). Is there something that you know God is calling you to give up? Is there something in your life that is not God's best for you? Pray for God to give you wisdom. Many people in the Bible prayed for wisdom from God and he gave it freely. What is God showing you to do right now? Whatever it is, write it down and realize that what he is showing you is how you can be a "DOer" of the word. I LOVE YOU!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
God's Glory
Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."
The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."
Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory.And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."
--Exodus 33:12-20
What is the first thing you notice here about Moses? HE IS TALKING TO GOD. DIRECTLY! AND--what's even COOLER--GOD IS ANSWERING HIM!
So, number 1"If you talk to God, he is going to answer."
The next thing I noticed was that Moses is looking for God's approval. He wants to know that God is pleased with him, not just hear him saying. How many of you have felt like that at some point, you just want someone to give you some credit for the good thing you are doing?! I feel like that a lot of the time so I can identify with Moses here. Next, Moses says something pretty striking, which brings me to my next point. Moses says, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
2. Ask God to be with you always. Acknowledge that he is with you and do what you know he has called you to do. (For extra reading on how we are different from the rest of the world, check out the fruits of the sprit Galations 5:22-25 and 2 Peter 1:3-11)
Have you ever just felt alone? Like no one knew you or cared about what was going on in your life. In this verse the Lord says to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." God knows you by name and he is pleased with you. Please don't lose sight of that. You have a Father in heaven who believes you are a wonderfully made masterpiece!
And the last part I want to share with you today is something I've been learning in my own life. If you ask God to show you his glory, he will. It may not be just as you expect it, but he will show you his goodness on earth.
3. Ask God to show you his glory.
I asked God that last week. I was extremely stressed and I just needed to see Him work in my life. Do you remember all of the amazing things that God has worked out for me in the past week? It blows my mind how God shows up when you ask him. You can always depend on him, if nothing else!
I LOVE YOU GIRLS! Holler @ a comment if you have any questions!
The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."
Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory.And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."
--Exodus 33:12-20
What is the first thing you notice here about Moses? HE IS TALKING TO GOD. DIRECTLY! AND--what's even COOLER--GOD IS ANSWERING HIM!
So, number 1"If you talk to God, he is going to answer."
The next thing I noticed was that Moses is looking for God's approval. He wants to know that God is pleased with him, not just hear him saying. How many of you have felt like that at some point, you just want someone to give you some credit for the good thing you are doing?! I feel like that a lot of the time so I can identify with Moses here. Next, Moses says something pretty striking, which brings me to my next point. Moses says, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"
2. Ask God to be with you always. Acknowledge that he is with you and do what you know he has called you to do. (For extra reading on how we are different from the rest of the world, check out the fruits of the sprit Galations 5:22-25 and 2 Peter 1:3-11)
Have you ever just felt alone? Like no one knew you or cared about what was going on in your life. In this verse the Lord says to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." God knows you by name and he is pleased with you. Please don't lose sight of that. You have a Father in heaven who believes you are a wonderfully made masterpiece!
And the last part I want to share with you today is something I've been learning in my own life. If you ask God to show you his glory, he will. It may not be just as you expect it, but he will show you his goodness on earth.
3. Ask God to show you his glory.
I asked God that last week. I was extremely stressed and I just needed to see Him work in my life. Do you remember all of the amazing things that God has worked out for me in the past week? It blows my mind how God shows up when you ask him. You can always depend on him, if nothing else!
I LOVE YOU GIRLS! Holler @ a comment if you have any questions!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Megan
Hey girls! I hope you all had a FANTASTIC Thanksgiving! I think I ate enough to feed a small country for a year. lol I can't wait to see all of you @ Student Ministry Wednesday night. I miss you all like WHOA. So, if you need a ride, give me a holler. You know my digits! Love you
Megan
Megan
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