Lord find me faithful

¹⁹ “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:19-21 (see whole parable in 25:14-30).

This week's blog comes in the form of a prayer request. This weekend, I was reminded again of the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25 and Luke 19. Many of you know that one of the keys to effective leadership is found in verse 21 of Matthew 25, be faithful in a few things and God will put you in charge of more. Throughout my life, I have found that when I am faithful in the few things that God gives me, he blesses and broadens my responsibility. It is amazing that even when doing the smallest tasks, God sees the faithfulness and He blesses it. As I have taken on the job of starting a full-blown ministry of my own, it has been the most blessed and yet the hardest thing I have ever done. People have invested in God's work and more than ever before, I desire to multiply what has been given - physically, financially and spiritually. I desire to once again be found faithful. Please pray that I am.

The same yesterday, today and forever

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8, NASB). 

Last night, I thought about how God is simply a striking difference from me. I can miss chances to help someone, but His wisdom and love are ongoing. This morning, I read the verse above. It reminded me of Jesus' faithfulness and how much we need Him.

God's love is shown through Jesus' actions. Jesus, God's Son, was a blameless substitute for the price of our wrongs. God kept His Word about the Messiah - Jesus fulfilled this prophecy from the past. Jesus' sacrifice makes it possible for us to be freed today from the grip that sin threatens to have on us. In Him, we can have a restored relationship with our Creator, by grace and through faith.

Kelli Martin

How is Christ changeless? Some thoughts that came to mind for me:

• As God, He is faithful and keeps His promises (Psalm 33:4, Isaiah 9:6)
• His sacrifice sets believers free from fear - our confidence is in Him (Hebrews 4:14-16)
• He vouches for us as our substitute (Hebrews 2:17-18)
• As we face hard times and doubts, He's a disciple's anchor - we believe in Him and His lead (Hebrews 6:19)

Let's thank God for His faithfulness. Let's pray we see times to share this changeless Christ with others.

Song: "Approach My Soul the Mercy Seat" by Sojourn Music 

Trustworthy Truths

"The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds." Psalm 145:15-17

Kari Beougher

Whenever I am tempted to be discontent about where the Lord has me, or long for Him to do something new in my life, I am comforted by the truths in this passage.
  
The eyes of all look to You- I love this reminder about what a great God we serve. Truly all of creation is dependent upon Him for life. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

 You give them their food in due time- My favorite part about this verse is "in due time." It doesn't just say that God is Provider-though He is. It also shows His sovereignty and perfect timing. God knows what we need and is faithful to provide it for us...at the proper time.

 You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing- It is in Christ that true satisfaction is found. He is the Giver of all good gifts, and only in Him can true fulfillment be found.

 The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds- God's plan can be fully trusted. He is righteous and kind in all that He does.

What are you longing for today? Are you discouraged? You can trust in the care, providence, and faithfulness of our God. Rest in the knowledge that He is Sovereign over all creation, His timing is perfect, and His ways are kind.

do what your hand finds to do

"The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.  Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you"  (1 Samuel 10:6-7, NIV).


I love working with women who want to be involved in ministry. I love their zeal, their passion, and their desire for changing the world. I could sit for hours to hear them share how the Lord called them to ministry, and listen to what they want to do. When God comes in on a life, He totally changes ones dreams, wants and desires.


I love these verses in 1 Samuel 10:6-7. They are some of the verses that God used to call me into ministry. Space doesn't allow for me to tell you all the ways but I knew that God was changing me, and I had best "go with the flow." I went from having my own interior design firm (with employees) to volunteering at the church office and doing anything I could to help. I worked hard and was paid next to nothing, becasue I knew that God had called me to be humbled, learn, and grow. I did whatever anyone would let me do.


It really hasn't changed much. Oh, obviously God has more than blessed me with a job way beyond what I would have even expected, but I am still willing to do anything my hands find to do in order to proclaim the message of Christ. It has been the greatest blessing of my life to be able to serve Him in even small ways.


What the point you ask? The point is, don't miss the blessing of serving the Lord in the small ways. Do whatever your hand finds to do. You will receive the blessing.

What Faithful Looks Like

“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth" Deuteronomy 28:1, ESV).

I think I'm on a tangent again. I keep running into people who want it all now. You know what I mean. They want something without paying the price for it. I might as well stop talking about what it means to be faithful with small and start writing it down. To be faithful with small means that we are faithful (loyal, obedient, trustworthy) to do the small things. For instance, let's say that someone wants speaking engagements and yet has not been faithful to have her time alone with God every day...that is not being faithful in the small things. I talked to a lady who was frustrated that she didn't have any good witnessing stories to tell and was sounding off about it. Hmm. I asked her how often she'd shared her faith. She said she had really never seen the big moment to do so. Hmm. That's what I'm talking about. If God can't trust us in the little things, why would He trust us in the big things? Why would one turn down a speaking engagement because it wasn't "big" enough and tell them to call her when they had more people? Really? Yes, really. I could go on and on.

I love this verse in Deut 28:1. IF we are FAITHFUL to do what God says to do (and gives us opportunity to do) TODAY, then He will allow us to bring honor to Him in even greater ways. It is incredible about how simple the Scriptures can be. What does faithful look like? It looks like you and me doing what we have committed to do - the big things and the little things. Faithful living is doing what He calls us to do...and doing it will excellence. It is going beyond the call of duty. We are to be loyal and trustworthy in all we say and do.
I didn't say it would always be fun, but it is what we are called to do. And trust me, I have a list of a few things that I need to be faithful in too. None of us are immune.

Lord, make me be faithful. Let me be faithful to bring glory to you...and not to bring glory to me. Make me into a faithful leader who is willing to out serve everyone else. May You get the glory!

God Is 4 You!

"So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing Himself to the worst by sending His own Son, is there anything else He wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us - who raised to life for us! - is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you, Lord. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God's Love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."

Romans 8:31-39 msg

Since God is 4 me nothing will be able to drive a wedge between Christ's love for me...unless I let it!!! Beware Christian leaders that are on the front lines, the enemy knows that you are not a coward for Christ so he will try and use anything he can to cause you to doubt God's love....challenge for today: Sit down and type or write some powerful promises from God's Word until the very Words grab your heart in a fresh way and cause you to PRESS ONWARD towards the GOAL which is IN CHRIST JESUS ALONE!!! And do not forget to TAKE AS MANY OTHERS WITH YOU FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!!!!! AMEN!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNEdOZO-i98 (You Are For Me - Kari Jobe)

God is Faithful and Forever

“Lord, Your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven. Your faithfulness is for all generations; You established the earth, and it stands firm” (Ps. 119:89-90) .

“God is faithful to all people at all times and to all generations. He is faithful forever. People are not faithful. Sometimes people believe that God is not faithful so we strive to show faithfulness in all we say and do. Faithfulness is about being loyal and true and trustworthy and consistent. It means being devoted, dedicated and committed. Being faithful is who God is and we are able to be faithful because He is faithful. Women need to see that leaders can be faithful servants in all walks of life.” [except from Women Leading Women, chapter four, B&H Academic, Martin & Stovall].

Lord, make me faithful today.

One Day At A Time!

"Then He (Jesus) said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? Can any of you add one moment to his life-span by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest? “Consider how the wildflowers grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you—you of little faith? Don’t keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Luke 12:22-34

Have you noticed people around us that are searching for God's Peace, Rest, Security, and Simplicity? There are times in our lives as evangelistic Christian leaders that God reminds us to slow down and remember to take One Day At A Time. In the post-modern over-stimulated high tech days we live in we can become way too busy with; multi-tasking, day-timers, cellphones, computers, ipods, tweets, etc. It concerns me to see people all around me constantly checking their cellphones for text messages (and even trying to text while they are driving~please do not do this!), growing electronic network communities and the trend unfolding of people becoming dis-connected with people. The more people are connected with technological gadgets this could cause us to become dis-connected with people, especially people that need the Lord.


As leaders we have the capacity to organize, accomplish many tasks, and plan for upcoming weeks at a time that we may find ourselves feeling anxiety about the future. Anxiety and worry is an enemy of daily walking and serving the Lord in the TODAY ~ JUST THIS MINUTE MODE....often I ask myself, "why am I already thinking about tomorrow, or the upcoming week or next month and even next year...yikes? God knows our tendencies, He gave us the loving words above from Luke 12 to lead, guide, and direct our DAILY steps as we take one step at a time.

As we take one day at a time, look around and notice those that are anxious. We can "put ourselves in their shoes" and reach out to them with the PEACE of GOD that comes with One Day at A Time Living for Jesus! We never see Jesus worry or stressed out and He is the role model that we have to share with others! The words of a song sung by Point of Grace, that I have written below, encourages us to live This Day for the Lord as we reach out to others that need Him!


This Day (by Point of Grace)

This day is fragile - soon it will end and once it has vanished, it will not come again

So let us love with a love pure and strong, Before this day is gone

This day is fleeting when it slips away

Not all our money can buy back this day

So let us pray that we might be a friend

Before this day is gone

This day is fleeting

When it slips away

Not all our money can buy back this day

So let us pray that we might be a friend

Before this day is spent

This day we're given is golden

Let us show love

This day is ours for one moment

Let us sow love

This day is frail - it will pass by

So before it's too late to recapture the time

Let us share love, let us share God

Before this day is gone

Before this day is gone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C01lLxEo3xM (Be Still ~ Steven Curtis Chapman)

What does the Lord require?

"He has told you men what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: Only to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8, HCSB).

It's Monday again...all day long. I would love to tell you that I woke up excited to pursue the day but I didn't. I pulled the covers over my head and asked God why. Why did I have to get up? Why do I over-commit to so many things? Why do I have to leave again in two days? Why do I not have enough hours to complete things like remodeling, my dissertation, housework, grading, etc? Why do I let people talk me into preparing so many new messages in one month? Anyway...you know the drill.

When I opened my Bible (after my favorite cereal and Starbucks decaf Samatra), this verse in Micah was where it fell open. Oh how He spoke to me today. God only requires that I act justly, love faithfulness, and walk humbly. I must be fair, be faithful, and be humble. That's it. Burden gone (well almost). God never meant for me to do it alone. I'm fairly sure that He didn't want me to take all these things on. I know that He will continue to work with me and through me.

As leaders, many people look to us to fulfill their needs. Many think we are there to be the answer to every problem. While we pray about every one, today be reminded that God is just calling us to be fair, faithful, and humble. May He walk with you today in all you do.

Be Faithful with Small

"Whatever God gives us to do - even if we see it as insignificant – we are to do it and do it with excellence. We are to be faithful with the small things, the small jobs that we are given, and God will reward us by giving us more."

"As a young adult, God called me out of the interior design world and into the ministry of sharing Christ with others. I was still doing interior design, but God gave me new interiors to work with that had eternal significance. I closed my business and began to follow Him by going to seminary and preparing for ministry. I was the over-excited housewife that no one knew what to do with."

"I was involved in reaching out to youth and even though I drove the leaders crazy, many of them were glad to have an extra hand around to get things done. I began to realize that I had to be faithful with small and do anything and everything and just see what I could learn in the process. It was two full years after I finished seminary that I finally got a full time ministry job. I did everything from fill-in secretarial work (I typed 29 words a minute – the average was probably around 50 or 60) and other temporary work, to organizing files, buying supplies, cleaning up offices, running errands, and other really important things. I learned obedience. I learned to follow directions and do it someone else's way. I learned to be a servant and to see the need and fill it. I learned humility and that I was very replaceable at any minute. I'm glad those days are over but I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that I could do it again. It doesn't bother me to make my own copies or set up my own room. It is nice when someone else does it, but I can still do it without getting bent out of shape. I learned what it was like to work for someone else and learned to be respectful of those who work with me. I learned what not to do as much as what to do. All of it made me to be a better leader today that I ever would or could have been otherwise. I thank God for the opportunity to serve in small ways."

Except from Chapter 5 in Women Leading Women, Jaye Martin & Terri Stovall, B&H Academic, 2008. http://www.amazon.com/Women-Leading-Biblical-Model-Church/dp/0805447601/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250997622&sr=1-1

Philippians 3:12-14: “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus”.