Times of Plenty

Jeremiah 34: ⁹ Everyone was to free their Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Hebrew in bondage. ¹⁰ So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free. ¹¹ But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.

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“LORD, I will never do that again” were my words of fear. I had come through a trial and did not want to go back through another one like it. I decided I would not sin at all, not even the littlest sin. I mean, if JESUS could spend HIS whole life without committing a single sin, I certainly could for the rest of my life. After dropping off old habits things seemed to be going well for me. “You should stop sinning” were my immature words of judgement as I tried to get others to have what “I” had.

• It is sinful to think I can be sinless.
• It is sinful to think others need to clean up their act.
• It is sinful to think my righteousness keeps GOD’s wrath at bay.

I traded one sin for another, namely blindness. I had declared myself righteous and had not stopped to ask GOD what pleases HIM. When I realized what I had done, I returned to old sins. Now I was confused. BUT GOD straightened me out.

• GOD said to me “While your righteousness is like filthy rags, MY righteousness is pure.”
• GOD said to me “Turn from your sins without turning to yourself.”
• GOD said to me “Live your life a living sacrifice that all may go well with you.”

I soon realized that I was trying to manipulate GOD instead of serving HIM. GOD wants me to deny sinful indulgences “for” HIM, not to protect myself “from” HIM. When the trial is over I have to be on my guard even more. I should be hypersensitive to being susceptible to sins of puffing myself up and a judgmental attitude. And when I sin, I should keep my promises to GOD even though I feel sorry for myself. GOD is there to forgive and it is up to me to have the right attitude that pleases HIM.

• Are you experiencing GOD’s wonderful time of peace in your life?
• Do you feel you earned HIS peace?
• Will you take off your blinders and realize you are a sinner and GOD’s mercy is a gift?
• Will you stop trying to earn GOD’s love and accept HIS wonderful gift of freedom from sin?
• Will you keep your promises with HIM so all will go well with you?

Keep Calling

Psalm 99: ⁶ Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the Lord
    and he answered them.
⁷ He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
    they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

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Sitting on the beach all I could think about was “What time is my spa appointment.” I had never been to a spa but this trip was a perk to the job and someone had to go! After a day of relaxation, a couple invited us out. We danced until the cows came home.

• In times of plenty, I sometimes forget about GOD.
• In times of plenty, I do not feel the need to cry out to GOD.
• In times of plenty, I “think” I have all I need and my shopping bag does not include GOD.

All of my thoughts were on the next position so I could get even bigger perks. As I climbed higher and higher, I did not notice GOD dissipating out of my life. I mean, I had plenty so GOD must have been there, right? Well sort of.

• GOD wants me to remember HIM in the time of need as well as the time of plenty.
• GOD wants me to place my thoughts on HIM and praise HIM evenly, through trouble and plenty.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS face constantly and not be distracted by trouble or wealth.

Vacations are great; BUT GOD wants me to take HIM with me wherever I go. HE doesn’t want me to get away from HIM in times of plenty and cry out to HIM only when I need HIM. HE wants me to be a full fan of HIM, not just a fair weather fan. My praise should be as equal as my requests. My excitement should be as equal as my doubt. GOD wants me and I call to HIM daily!

• Have you forgotten GOD?
• Are you on vacation and feel you can drop GOD off?
• Will you remember GOD during times of plenty?

Being Protected

2 Kings 6: ¹³ “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” ¹⁴ Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

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I actually should be DEAD. After hitting a puddle on the interstate the car spun around and hit absolutely nothing. After stepping on some ice I slid under a bus that was about to move, but didn’t.

Many other scary events of guns pointed at me, walking through unsavory neighborhoods, and visiting other countries with very poor conditions come to mind when recalling brushes with death.

• GOD protects me in times I am not aware of.
• GOD protects me from dangers I could not even fathom.
• GOD protects me during troubled and worrisome times.

May times I have wondered, “GOD where are you?” not considering how many times HE has rescued me in the past. GOD is around me always, it’s just sometimes my eyes are blinded by what the world would want me to see. Pots of gold, fame and Utopian societies blind me to the point where I look at my life and feel inadequate. BUT GOD says different.

• GOD opens my eyes to HIS power each day.
• GOD says “I AM” meaning there is no need to seek anything else.
• GOD says “Come to me and I will give you rest”

Seeking GOD first opens my eyes to the dangers and snares of the world. I can then realize the power of GOD surrounds me.

• Are you feeling powerless?
• Do you feel weak compared to your circumstance?
• Can you ask GOD to open your eyes to see the spiritual army HE has sent to protect you?
• Can you thank GOD for HIS protection today?

Will I forget GOD?

Deuteronomy 6: ¹² But be careful that you don’t forget the Lord. Remember that he brought you out of Egypt. That’s the land where you were slaves.

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Nervous that GOD would use a lightning bolt to strike me down, I refused to work on a Sunday, at least until this particular boss told his team to go in and set up the convention.  This was the first time we tried a convention of this nature so it was all hands on deck. We worked through the weekend and I realized GOD hadn’t struck me down and I got a bonus for my efforts!  You mean I could have been doing this all along?

• The worlds’ rewards seem gratifying but make me forget where I came from.
• The worlds’ rewards seem worth the effort but require me to forget who I belong to.
• The worlds’ rewards seem great but the greatness is only temporary which leaves me in the bondage of slavery to seeking the next victory.

Many times I speak about GOD’s love and HIS grace and mercy but I rarely speak about HIS wrath, authority and jealousy. Yes, GOD is a jealous GOD and refuses to have anything placed above HIM. It seems when I am in times of plenty I tend to forget GOD and the need to communicate with HIM.

• GOD wants me delivered out of anything that takes my eyes off of HIM.
• GOD wants me to remember the great things HE has done for me throughout my life to build up my trust in HIM.
• GOD wants me to believe HE has the best plan for me no matter how strange HIS plan appears to be.

When I am in times of plenty, there is no need for me to cry out to GOD and beg HIM for mercy. When things break, I can just go out and get five more. My thankfulness diminishes into complaints about other people. GOD wants me to remember HIS mercy during plenteous times, keeping praise and worship on my lips.

• Are you in times of plenty?
• Do you find you have less and less time for GOD?
• Is work stressing you out to the point where you have no time for GOD?
• Can you add a little time for GOD on your schedule and increase it each day?