Moody Moose

Scripture

Colossians 3:17, 23, 24b
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.  
Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men.  
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Observation
No matter what we say to others, or the good things we might do for people, be sure to do it as a representative of Jesus Christ and for His glory.  Say 'thank You' to God our Father, through the One who alone made it possible for us to have relationship with Him.  Live your life with all your heart and soul to please God rather than people.  Always remember, it's the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving, whether it's good or bad, through trials and suffering, loss or gain, it's all for Him - it's all about Him.

Application (from today's Life Journal readings) 1 Kings 20:43, 21:4-5 & 2 Chronicles 17:6, 9
I need to watch my attitude and responses to things that irritate me.  How am I responding to the Lord?  Am I 'sullen and vexed' like King Ahab because things aren't going my way? Am I shut up in my room sulking and despondent, laying on my bed, face turned away, and not even going to eat because of the way I feel?  Or am I joyfully full of thanks and praise to the Lord like King Jehoshaphat?  Am I taking pride in the ways of the Lord and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ?  
Hmmm, I have to say I see myself in both these people of the Old Testament.  I have to remember, that I am the Lord's - and it is the Lord I am serving - I am His representative!  A Christ follower!

Prayer
Father, thank You for times of lovingly correcting me when I need it, and please don't let me become a 'moody moose;' smiling one minute and crying the next.  (Sweet Pickles books).  
May I serve You with joy and thankfulness, ready to do Your will for Your pleasure.   Whatever the circumstances of life and death, may my life reflect Jesus Christ living in and through me.    
In His Glorious Name, I pray.  A-men.

Change Me Lord

Scripture
Philippians 2:3-4  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.  Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but for the interests of others.  

Observation
We need to be humble, loving, kind, unselfish, self-sacrificing, with a servant attitude, considering others above ourselves, having the mind of Christ.

Application
Easier said than done.  But it needs to be said so we can have some sort of measurement as to how we should be.  Is it attainable?  Only with the working of God in my heart and the power of the Holy Spirit can I ever hope to be all God wants me to be. 

After reading 1 Kings 12 and then Philippians 2 in my reading today,  I can really see a contrast in the way King Rehoboam decided to treat people and the way King Jesus wants us to behave towards people.  After being counseled by Jeroboam, and seeking advice not only from his elders, but also from his not so wise peers - Rehoboam decided to take the foolish counsel of his peers.  Jeroboam and the elders advised, 'treat the people kindly, serve them, speak good words to them and you will win their hearts! They will serve you forever!' But instead Rehoboam took the counsel of his friends - to be 'harsh, mean, and threatening, worse than his father ever was - discipline with scorpions!'  The result was a kingdom divided.

I need to have the attitude and mind of Christ Jesus.  To love God and love people.  I know God is working in me to will and work for His good pleasure.  I feel it when I am abrasive or grumbling and argumentative, and I feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit showing me how like Rehoboam I still am.  My heart's cry is 'Oh, to be like Jesus! Help me Lord, I am so wretched sometimes and I can't even stand myself.'  

Prayer
O God, You are my God, teach me, correct me, adjust these attitudes that creep in and surface.  Forgive me I pray.  I want to be like Jesus and only You can complete in me what You have started.  I'm in for the long haul Lord.  Whatever it takes - change me.  Thank You Lord.

God's Faithfulness

Scripture
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

Observation
God is faithful, reliable, and trustworthy, and He has called us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ.  He will strengthen and protect us and complete the work He has begun in us.
  
Application
Wait for the Lord!  Don't get ahead of God.  Complete the assignment God has given me.  Don't quit or get side tracked.  Keep pressing on and finish well.  Faithful is He who called me, and He ALSO will bring it to pass.

I think about Solomon's call from God, chosen to be King.  In the story, it looks like it's not going to happen.  His half brother Adonijah, exalts himself, gathers a following, and decides he will be King.   Instead of becoming King, it seems Solomon and his mama are going to be 'toast'!  But God's plan, His timing, and His ways are perfect.  Nathan the prophet speaks to Bathsheba and together, they get King David to realize he has a very important promise to fulfill, to make Solomon King after him.  Don't get side tracked with Abishag, David.  You aren't finished yet!  You have a significant task to accomplish - to establish Solomon as King so that he may build the temple of God.  

Prayer
Father, I'm not done until You say I'm done and take me home.  
I love Your Word Lord, I love the stories, the examples, Your 'timeless truths and changeless love' that I can live by.   I love that You love me, and saved me.  I love that You willingly died for me and have forgiven me for every sin, I love that You are patient with me and love me even when I fall.  I love Your faithfulness, that You strengthen, encourage, and watch over me,  I love that You are with me every day and promise never to leave me nor forsake me.  I love that even now You are preparing a place for me to be with You forever, and I love that nothing can ever ever separate me from You.
Thank You Lord.  You are faithful.  I want to be like You.  Please complete in me what You have begun.  In Jesus Name, A-men.

No Disconnect

What makes you feel disconnected from God?  

I was asked that question recently and knew right away what my answer would be.  Two things came to mind.  If I stop singing, and if I don't regularly pray in Spirit.  Then I feel that disconnect.  Yes, I know there are other things that can make us feel disconnected, but those two were the ones for me that most make me feel like there's a disconnect.

Since giving my heart to Jesus over 43 years ago, I love to sing!  Sing to the Lord, sing to my kids, my grandkids, and sing to myself, or whoever is around, doesn't matter . . . I start to sing.  For me it can be difficult to hold the song in, when you just can't help singing.  

There was a time when the singing stopped for a time.  I hadn't realized it, but my son Johnny brought it to my attention.  We were in UCSF in the cancer ward - Johnny was going through chemotherapy and things were not looking good.  Louie (my dear husband), and our other boys were so far away from us in Carson City.  Separated by the miles with schedules of work and school, there were times we just couldn't all be together during this 'regimen of treatment.'  It made me sad.  I quit singing.  And Johnny reminded me, 'Mom, you aren't singing.'  I smiled a weak smile.  I opened my Bible and thought I need to read a Psalm right now.  This is what I read - and after each verse I thought these things:
Psalm 137:1-6 
By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion.  
O how I weep for my home, my family, my friends. 
Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps. 
I hung up my voice, my music, my song.
 For there our captors demanded of us songs, And our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”  
I felt that Satan was tormenting me - sing now to the Lord - don't you have a song in your heart now?
How can we sing the LORD’S song In a foreign land?  
How can I NOT sing to the Lord?  He's who is sustaining me - keeping me upright and strong in the midst of this battle!
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill.  May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.  
O Lord, forgive me!  I have quit singing - please don't let me forget You, I do exalt You Lord, You are my joy and my song!  
And I began to sing, but even now if the singing stops, I feel disconnected and I remember, I will sing to the Lord.

After Johnny went to be with Jesus, I found great comfort and peace when I prayed in the Spirit.  The Bible tells us to build yourselves up, edify yourself, by praying in the Spirit, yes, pray in your understanding but also pray in the Holy Spirit.  I must use and practice my spiritual language that was given when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands.  

No, I may not understand what I may be saying, but inwardly the Holy Spirit is building my faith in Jesus Christ.  I become stronger in what and Who I believe in.  So, never let a day go by, without praying in the Spirit.  The power of the Holy Spirit makes me a bold witness of the great things God is doing in my life, and gives me gifts to give away so that others will know God is REAL, He is ALIVE, and I want to share that with everyone!  So when I get downcast and feel disconnected - I pray in the Spirit.  

Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

Eph 5:19 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Look Up!

Scripture
Galatians 6:9
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Observation
Have endurance, patience, be steadfast.  Establish and strengthen your heart.  Do not be fainthearted, because in the right moment, the season of harvesting, we will reap the fruit and good rewards of what we have been sowing into the lives of others.  Don't give up or be too tired - keep at it!

Application
Look up!  When I look down and see what I have been planting, all I see is dirt, weeds, and the unfinished work of my labors, and know there is so much more to do.  I feel tired, and the sweat dripping off my brow, the stinging tears in my eyes.  I see the birds eating what I have just sown - there are thorns and fallow ground not yet turned.  On days like this, I feel like giving up - like it will never happen.  
But God says, 'Look Up!'  Look to Him for my strength.  Don't quit!  Keep sowing!  Keep doing good!  The Bible says I will reap if I don't grow weary.  God is my strength when I am weak.  Look up, and see what GREAT things God is doing!  Remember what He has already done!  Look to Jesus and keep pressing on.  When I am only looking down, I'm focused only on what I can see.  But when I look up to God, I begin to worship and sing, and pray to Him, and my perspective changes and I begin see what God sees.  
Prayer
God, show me what You see.  Show me what You will do.  Help me to keep doing what You have called me to do and not lose heart.  I want to finish well.  
In Jesus Name, A-men.

Marching Orders

Scripture 
Deuteronomy 1:6-8 The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain.  Turn and set your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland and in the Negev and by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.  See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.'

Observation
The Lord says, "OK, it's time to move!  You've stayed long enough in this place!  No more aimless wanderings in circles around the mountain, no more hanging back!  It's time to move forward and possess the promise for you and your children, and your children's children.  You have your marching orders!"

Application
Be equipped, be ready, armed for battle, turn and go!  The Lord has placed the promise before me and it is the promise that is for me and my children!  Obey, trust, have courage, have faith, and follow the Lord.  Love Him with all my heart, and take hold of what He has given me today!  Forward March!

Prayer
O Father God, 'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.'  I hear You calling me and saying it's time to move forward.  It's time to possess the promises You have given me.  You lead me and guide me in the direction and path I will go.  (Ex. 33:15)  "If Your Presence does not go with me, do not lead me up from here."  
Change is difficult Lord.  Help me to embrace the 'new' and let go of the 'old'.  I'm ready to move forward and follow You.  In Jesus Name,  A-men.

Serving

Scripture
Acts 6:3-5,8,10 Therefore, brethren seek out from among you 7 men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business, but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.  And the saying pleased the whole multitude.  And they chose Stephen a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.  
v8  And Stephen, full of faith and power did great wonders and signs among the people.
v10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

Observation
The Church is growing and there are now a multitude of Christ followers, and with the increasing number of disciples comes its challenges and the need for more oversight of areas.  Those selected needed to be qualified for the position, good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, and faith . . . and these were the cafe' workers managing the food pantry, serving tables, and caring for the widows.
The apostles then were free to pray and minister God's word and not have to worry about the business part of ministry.

Application
Serving in this capacity does not limit the Holy Spirit power working through those serving - it enhances what God wants to do.  So I will serve wherever needed!  No matter what we do in service for the Lord and His work, God can use us.  Whether it's food distribution, ushering, cleaning the church, singing on the worship team, teaching Sunday School, office work, serving in Youth Group, or even giving a missions report, or being part of a mission outreach, no matter where I serve, God will be glorified when I give Him my all.  The Holy Spirit working through me will bless the multitudes accompanied with signs, wonders, and miracles.

Prayer
Father, serving You, loving You, loving and serving people is all part of worship. Your Holy Spirit will meet the needs of the people as I avail myself to be used by You.  The Holy Spirit who lives in me, is the same Spirit who worked through Stephen who did signs, wonders, and miracles speaking with such wisdom the people were not able to resist the words that flowed from his mouth; who when people looked on him, they saw the face of an angel.  
Shine Jesus Shine through this yielded vessel I pray and bring glory and honor to Your Holy Name, in Jesus Name, A-men.