I admit it. I would be the first to line up with Abraham as those guilty of buying things from the Do-It-Yourself Depot of Life. Something’s broke? Here, I’ll fix that. Someone’s hurting? I can solve that problem. Someone’s mad? No worry, I’ll talk to them. It seems I have an unflagging spirit to make right that which seems wrong. My friends have to warn me from time to time, “Now don’t try to fix this. I’m just sharing it with you so you can pray.”

It’s too bad Abraham didn’t listen to his friend, the Lord. Though he had been promised a son, Abraham sought a solution apart from God. And Abraham knew he had made a mistake in his haste to please God. You can hear his regret in those words if only: “If only my solution was pleasing to you. If only my way had been the right way. If only my idea was good enough.”

God would not abide by Abraham’s solution. It was to be done his way, as he had promised — Abraham and Sarah would have a son. He ultimately fulfilled that promise, but not without Abraham’s regret seeding the ground of strife between Isaac and Ishmael. Abraham’s do-it-yourself solution has repercussions even in our day. The Middle East might be a safer place had Abraham trusted fully.

What has God promised you? Are you attempting to fulfill that promise with a do-it-yourself life? No matter how tempting a solution appears, always, always stop to ask God. Compare it with his Word, his character, his Spirit. Anything short of complete trust in those instructions will ultimately lead to regrets. “If only” living is no living at all.

Let’s pray…

What does it take for me to remember, Lord, that I don’t have to fix your Word, or “hurry it up” to make everything turn out right? You don’t need a helping hand. So, please bind my heart to believe your promises and obey your commands. I can’t live any other way.

Martha, O.G. and me…This past Sunday, my friend O.G. preached the message in the Sonshine Ministry. O.G., aka David, had been telling me for some time that God has been calling him to preach. So last Sunday, we gave him that opportunity. O.G. did a great job. As David told me when he was done…”I brought the Word”. He did a fine job.

By the way…do you know what the initials “O.G.” stands for in David’s name ? Here it is…the “original gangsta”…you are going to have to figure out the rest of it for yourself.

The message that David brought was from Luke 10 where Jesus is invited in the home of two sisters…Martha who begins working on dinner and Mary who sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to His stories. David went on to talk about how we all tend to be a Martha and worry too much about  tasks rather than being a Mary and sit at the feet of Jesus. A great message…how often are we too busy with our Martha tasks that we miss out on “sitting at the feet of Jesus”? How often are we too busy or there is too much ministry work to do to spend time with our Lord?

Here is how Jesus responded to Martha, when she complained to Him that Mary was not helping her serve…

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV)

Serving is very important, however, we must never let it interfere with our time spent with Jesus. Make time to spend time with Him today.

The Greatest Gift Ever…

Today, I will have the opportunity to share “The Greatest Gift Ever” with the Sonshine Ministry (Special Needs)  members and their caregivers. I will share the passage from Luke…

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7 (NKJV)

Pretty cool… huh? It is a time that we will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There will be gifts, music and much laughter. We will certainly celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

By I will be remiss if I do not share this verse with them…

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

After all…Jesus is the greatest gift that we can give this season. Pray that the person who needs to hear this message will receive Christ. How about you? Who do you plan to share “The Greatest Gift Ever” with this Christmas season?

This Thanksgiving season…we give thanks to our Lord…

1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:
4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever;
5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For His mercy endures forever;
6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
For His mercy endures forever;
7 To Him who made great lights,
For His mercy endures forever–
8 The sun to rule by day,
For His mercy endures forever;
9 The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His mercy endures forever.
10 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,
For His mercy endures forever;
11 And brought out Israel from among them,
For His mercy endures forever;
12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,
For His mercy endures forever;
13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,
For His mercy endures forever;
14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
For His mercy endures forever;
15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
For His mercy endures forever;
16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
For His mercy endures forever;
17 To Him who struck down great kings,
For His mercy endures forever;
18 And slew famous kings,
For His mercy endures forever–
19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
For His mercy endures forever;
20 And Og king of Bashan,
For His mercy endures forever–
21 And gave their land as a heritage,
For His mercy endures forever;
22 A heritage to Israel His servant,
For His mercy endures forever.
23 Who remembered us in our lowly state,
For His mercy endures forever;
24 And rescued us from our enemies,
For His mercy endures forever;
25 Who gives food to all flesh,
For His mercy endures forever.
26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
For His mercy endures forever.

Psalms 136:1-26 (NKJV)