Seeing Important

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7 (NLT)

Everyday there seems to be something. Lately, it feels like there are a ton of “somethings” going on at work. Honestly, it’s like a minion is in the middle of things stirring the pot. And now that I say that out loud, it’s probably true. Satan likes to distract me from what is important. So he does stuff. He’s a pain in the-you-know-what.

Anyway, yesterday started out as a pretty calm day. There were things I needed to do (as in required) for work but I could not get my brain engaged in the tedious tasks at hand. So, I did what every good procrastinator does; I did other things.

At 4, I was scheduled to spend time with someone who needed human interaction. Today is her birthday so we decided to meet up and walk together. At 3, chaos erupted. My stress level climbed and I was trying to get a ton of things done before I left the office.

I managed to eek out a prayer as I arrived late to the walk but God was good. We walked and talked and it was really nice to catch up. I got back home to more chaos and another scheduled meeting at 7 via Zoom. I quickly went into my office and spun out a few emails trying to control the earlier chaos and then downstairs to set up a separate Zoom meeting for my husband before rushing to start mine. In this chaos, I became overwhelmed and went into “get the tasks done” mode. I am very task oriented. It’s my natural bend to put tasks on a priority list while sometimes completely missing the people involved in those tasks.

As I was rushing to finish one task so I could start the meeting at 7, I completely did not acknowledge someone standing in the very same room I was working in. Walked right past him. Didn’t say hi. Didn’t even look up. This morning when I woke up, God brought this to my mind with the overwhelming feeling that I needed to spend time praying.

The evening before had been a whirlwind of activity. I had stuff to do and I needed to get it done on a timetable. I succeeded in that but I failed in the most important thing we are given to do each day; Love one another.

As I knelt there and rested in Jesus, I asked God (again) to help me with this. There should never be anything happening in my life that causes me to “not see” someone standing in the same room with me. And if I have given my tasks and my day to God, I can rest knowing things will get done the way he wants them to be done. I can stay focused on the people….the most important thing.

As I knelt there this morning, I realized that this is an area I need to grow in. When things get hectic, wait….I should say when things get more hectic, I need to stop, drop and pray. I need to trust that God’s hand is all over my day. I need to have confidence in what he will do and let go of what I think I need to do. When I open my eyes again, I will see more clearly what should always be my focus; God’s children.

This is a journey for me but God is faithful. As Philippians 1:6 says God’s got this until the day Jesus comes.

Yes You Can!

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NLT)

"We have to get them off the streets. They are exciting the people and talking about ridiculous things like the resurrection of the dead. Look at the crowds following them. Who do they think they are?"

The religious sect had had enough so they dispatched temple guards to arrest Peter and John and they were thrown in jail.

Annas and Caiaphas held council and they all discussed their predicament. 5,000 men (not including women and children) now believed in Jesus. It was a movement in its own right that they couldn't ignore. These folks obviously didn't understand what they were doing. They were being misled. They didn't know the doctrines or the scriptures. Peter and John had to be stopped. They were a nuisance .

So, they brought them from jail and questioned them. "Who do you think you are? Who said you could preach these things? What authority do you have?" Peter (who was filled with the Holy Spirit) said, "Let me get this straight. You arrested us because we did a good deed for someone? We didn't do this miraculous thing. Jesus did. He is our authority. The one you hung on the cross. He is alive and well. It is in his name and in his power that we do these things."

The members of the council took notice. Peter and John were uneducated, common men. They were fishermen! They lived paycheck to paycheck. They don't have special training. They were nobodies. How were they doing this? But somewhere in the back of their minds they knew. They knew but wouldn't dare let the thought express itself out loud. What was the thought they had buried? These men, these common, uneducated men were like this because they had been with Jesus.

It's the same with us today. We think we can't do things because we don't have the man-decreed qualifications. But God knows when we spend time with Jesus there is no stopping what we can do in his name. Why? Because it is not about us or our qualifications. It's about what God can do with a surrendered heart.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

Wednesday, Mar 15

Happy Hump Day! It's the middle of the week; has it been trying already? Here are a few texts to remind us that God is not finished yet. No matter what is happening, he is still working. His plans will come to be and they are plans for your future and prosperity.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
    for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
Psalm 138:8 (NLT)

And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (GNT)

I know that you can do all things;
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2 (NIV)

The Lord of hosts has sworn:
“As I have planned,
    so shall it be,
and as I have purposed,
    so shall it stand.
Isaiah 14:24 (NLT)