Not Sure

Volume 10 Issue 2

Greeting in His Name,

Life can be like a bowl of alphabetic cereal or soup; sometimes we can put together some words and at other times all we see are a bunch of letters - no words in sight. Even though we have patches of unsureness and sureness, one thing that is always sure and certain is God. He has promised to not leave us nor forsake us. Just gathering my direction with this blog here lately has shown me some times of unsureness but always when I really hunker down and plow in something comes up. So with that being said, today's blog is entitled Not Sure. Hope you find some inspiration, conviction, and queries.

shalom and love,

heidi

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We have all experienced some unsure times in our life. Times when we've had to take a mental, emotional and even physical step back. I thought it would be good to have some examples from the Word of God of patriarchs who had some very ‘not sure’ times in their lives. Times we question whether we are really in the will of God. Times we question whether we are aimlessly wondering around doing stuff, or worst yet, driving recklessly, heading for a not-so spiritual accident. Do you remember when Christ encountered the Samaritan woman? She saw an accident, ‘He ain’t suppose to be talking to me’, but Christ saw an opportunity, ‘I know [you don’t think I’m suppose to be talking to you], but I’m here to assure you’, and that’s exactly what Christ did. He told her about herself, corrected her in love, and gave her a purpose that she wasn’t walking in until that day. This story was kind of two fold because after ministering to her, He then ministered to His disciples. Can you see them, just returning from the grocery store with some goodies for Jesus to eat? As they presented the food to Him, He told His disciples, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. (John 4:32) I can see them looking around, “who fed Him?”, because they were not sure. Jesus cleared up their unsure-ness by explaining, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 4:34) Christ wanted them and the Samaritan woman, and even us, to know that He wants us to walk in an assuredness of who He is and what He came to do. God doesn’t want us to be not sure of our salvation, our call, or our chosen-ness. He wants our footsteps to be sure (Read Psalm 37:23).

Let’s become sure Solomon (I Kings 3:7, 9 CEV)

LORD God, I'm your servant, and you've made me king in my father's place. But I'm very young and know so little about being a leader. Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don't, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours. Solomon was not sure of his leadership capabilities, but he knew for certain to leave the ruler-ship in Gods hand [this great nation of yours]. He wasn’t taking ownership of these people... smart move Solomon! He rightly felt ‘not sure’ because of his age and probably his thoughts of being inexperienced. But I see experience. He had a lifetime of watching his father David. We do what we see, even if it’s wrong, until we see what is right. Solomon gained years of experience in leadership through his father’s leading. He saw his father’s ups and downs, his successes and failures, pressures and pleasures. He got a front row seat. Same in our households. We get a front seat to the forecast of how our lives could be, not will be. As I said earlier, whether wrong or right, we have an idea of how our lives can be through our parents and guardians. Because Solomon was smart enough to go to God about his job requirements, it was a direct reflection of his father. David consulted God about everything… well, almost everything. Solomon stemmed from one of those moments when David didn't consult God. And not consulting or bringing God into all of our life can result in a David and Bathsheba experience, where something had to die for our disobedience. David's household had divisions and fights until he exited this earth. Well, God heard Solomon's prayer of unsure-ness and He answered by giving him the wisdom to lead His people and then some extras. (Read I Kings 3:10– 14) He made Solomon sure.

Make me sure Esther (Esther 4:14 CEV)

If you don't speak up now, we will somehow get help, but you and your family will be killed. It could be that you were made queen for a time like this! Esther was not sure of going before the king. She knew that her people were about to be destroyed but she was hesitant because it could mean her life. Do you feel like that? Do you have family that you know are heading for hell’s fire but there's fear in witnessing to them? That fear could very well not be because of shame of Christ but fear of their rejection or passiveness in listening to you. It's easy to put in your mind that they know Christ so why bother them. But if you don't, just like the Jews in the book of Esther, they could be destroyed. Esther decided to have everyone go on a three day fast; I believe for strength and courage to go before the king, and afterward she said these life-giving words, and if I perish, I perish (KJV). How can they be life-giving words when she was about to sacrifice her life? Remember, something may have to die in order for something to live. We have to die to ourselves in order to reach some people. We may have to take on an ‘I don’t care’ attitude: I don’t care if they hurt or reject me. I DO care if they live. (Read Esther 5:1-3) He made Esther sure.

Are you sure Joseph (Matthew 1:20 CEV)

While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. WHAT! ...was Joseph’s earlier response when he first learned of Mary’s pregnancy. But here I know his response was ‘okay’. God sent an angel to Joseph's ‘not sure’ mind and assured him that what was going on was from God. This may help some brothers out, out there. It’s okay to say YES, she’s the one. Living in a society; and this is not my point, where it’s ‘okay’ to sleep around and have more than one woman, playing the field, doesn’t make it right with God or vice versa. We have to revamp this picture we have given society of what maleness is, of what living together is. There is a double standard in the aspect of males and there is an easiness of accepting unmarried people living together. If we look at it from the player-player male side; and I know there are some ruthless woman out there. If we really reversed the roles? Men would genuinely get to see the struggle of women - pain, hurt, competition. It’s not easy being a woman, not saying it’s any easier to be a man. But look at what Joseph could have done to Mary. He could have put her away, which I guess is my point. Men, don’t be ‘not sure’ of what God is doing in you and please don’t be ‘not sure’ of the woman He has given you. And then from the aspect of just living together, you are missing out on the benefits of lawfully living under the terms God gave from the beginning - WHAT A BLESSING! (Read Matthew 1:24) He made them sure.

I have one more to share, sure Peter (Acts 10:17, 19-20 CEV)

Peter was still wondering what all of this meant, when the men sent by Cornelius came and stood at the gate. They had found their way to Simon's house. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men are here looking for you. Hurry down and go with them. Don't worry, I sent them." Long story short, Peter and Cornelius had a vision of each other. In Peter’s vision he saw animals that he thought were unclean, but God told him they were clean. What God was getting ready to do was to expose Himself to the world. He was about to give everybody the opportunity to be clean, and experience the Life giving power of His Son’s sacrifice. God had to assure, Peter – his rock, that this was the transition He was taking the church to. Thank God for thinking about us gentiles! God was sure from the beginning that His plan of salvation would reach all man-kind, THE WORLD! Are you sure? (Read Acts 10:34-36)

LIFE QUOTE

“Sure I am of this, that you have only to endure to conquer."

-Winston Churchill

Let Us Laugh!

A teacher asked her students to use the word "beans" in a sentence. "My father grows beans," said one girl. "My mother cooks beans," said a boy. A third student spoke up, "We are all human beans."

(http://www.laughfactory.com/jokes/clean-jokes)

Hope to see you at the end of the Month....

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