All or Surplus

     I don't know if this happens to other people, but while I'm sleeping I know my spirit is busy, sometimes it's praising, sometimes praying, sometimes receiving teaching from the Holy Spirit and sometimes receiving instructions of things to do, also from the Holy Spirit. This morning I was being taught and receiving instructions, I was told that we hear the story from the Bible about the widow putting in her two small coins in Luke 21:1-4, but we tend to think it's not for our day and time. And I have to admit I had not really considered applying it to today's world. And my instructions was to write about what I was taught~   =D
     I think we have to go back to the fact that Jesus didn't teach things for "no reason", and He took time to tell His disciples about the giving that He witnessed. And doesn't it seem that He was pleased by the widow's actions? So now we have two basic ideas...1. Giving is important to Jesus and 2. Giving all that you have pleases Him! 
     Where does that leave us? Do we give our all? Do we give as the verse says "extravagantly"? Do we give until it is all we have? Or do we give out of our surplus? Do we give what we've always given or do we stretch ourselves and set new goals? I've heard reports that the poorest American is still rich compared to the people in many other nations. So in this story we may be seen as the "rich people"! I don't know about you but I don't like that label! I'd rather be the one that Jesus credits with "extravagant" giving!        

" Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!”

Luke 21:1-4

Two Dogs

     Two dogs, one is happy to see you and is bouncing around because you're there...the other dog tries to see what's on your plate and what you're going to give to them. 
     If God is the one coming into the room...are you the dog that's bouncing and happy, or are you the one that's trying to see what He's going to give you? 
     Just wondering~  =)

Fly High

We are designed for so much more!
You have to decide to not settle for less..
Look up! Look out!
See the sky, watch the clouds,

Are they weighed down by the things of this world?
Why are you?

It's a choice you make~
Do you see things and people? or do you look further?
What is your focus?
The temporary struggle? or
The future Glory?

Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning! Psalm 30:5b

Be The Chosen!

   

   ** This blog is such a burden on my heart that I have written and rewritten it to try to get the message in a way that everyone will read and apply!  

    You Probably Remember a time when people were being chosen and you might not have been the first? Maybe it was in gym class when they were choosing teams? Or maybe it was at a dance when they were choosing someone to dance with? Surely we all share the experience of being the one that was not chosen first...and maybe not second?
     This brings us to a thought-line that I'd like to drop into your thinking~ I've often considered the verse  "For many are called, but few are chosen" Matthew 22:14, and I've been bothered by the idea that in God's word there is an area for people to not be chosen! I don't want to not be chosen! And this is a way bigger deal than a game in gym class or a school dance! I have set myself to do what I need to do to be chosen! 

     We are all called/invited but we will not all be chosen! Doesn't that stir discomfort in you? I am not trying to cause fear, but awareness! We can not be complacent in our walk with God, we need to strive!

     If we were going to a dance, we'd be looking our best right?! You know we'd make every effort to be one that was chosen! If we were competing in a sports we'd be working out, practicing, training! Now I'm encouraging you to make every effort to be one of the few that is chosen!(Matthew 22:14)
     I want to point you to Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, that speak about not taking a life of ease, but to keep pushing ourselves to win the race! He says he treats his body hard and makes it his slave! How many of us have pushed ourselves to that point? 

     If you are like me you need to start pushing your body, do you feel more like a slave to it than it is to you? Do you feed it when it wants you to? let it rest when it wants to?...do you pretty much give your body what it wants? But according to Paul's words that kind of behavior could cost us a lot! It could make you lose the race that you so want to win! 

     So, I urge you to start training to win your race! dig into your Bible, read it, study it, spend time in prayer, not the "asking" kind of prayer, but the "praising, thanking" kind! Put a good praise song on and listen to the words, let them become the song of your heart! Do all you can to keep your thoughts focused on the pursuit of winning your "heavenly race"! 
     Beloved, we all want to be chosen, we all want to win...don't be a slave to your own will or your own body but push yourself, you can win! Follow the Holy Spirit, He is a great Trainer who will get you in shape to be the chosen! Holy Spirit, please come work on us and in us, to prepare us!


"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

"For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14

You know that in a race all the runners run but only one gets the prize. So run to win! All those who compete in the games use self-control so they can win a crown. That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed. So I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something--not just the air. I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NCV   (The Amplified version is really good for these verses also!)  

Chosen?

    You Probably Remember a time when people were being chosen and you might not have been the first? Maybe it was in gym class when they were choosing teams? Or maybe it was at a dance when they were choosing someone to dance with? Surely we all share the experience of being the one that was not chosen first...and maybe not second? I can tell you as a girl that wore glasses and was new to a school I was not the first chosen or any of the ones chosen until the very last. 
     As a girl you are often over looked by team captains that are trying to choose the strongest and fastest! And as a girl wearing glasses you are also overlooked when a guy is looking for the "hottest" girl to dance with. But it's okay, don't think it's a sad thing...at the time it was hard and it did feel sad, but that was a long time ago and I've received other character qualities that have balanced out any negative emotions I went through in the physical area and I even bloomed into a time of "hotness"!.  =D  
     But by those experiences some wisdom developed in the understanding of human nature that has helped through life! People are often shallow, they take a great deal of things on face value...totally ignoring the old saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover". 
     This brings us back to a different thought line though~ I've often thought about the verse Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen", and I've been bothered by the idea that in God's word there is even an area for people to not be chosen! I don't want to go through that feeling again! I don't want to not be chosen! And this is a way bigger deal than a gym class game or a school dance! I have set myself to do what I need to do to be chosen! 
     We are all called/invited but we will not all be chosen! Doesn't that stir discomfort in you? I am not trying to cause fear, but awareness! We can not be complacent in our walk with God. We need to strive, if we were going to a dance, we'd be looking our best right?! You know we'd make every effort to be one that was chosen! Now I'm encouraging you to make every effort to be one of the few that is chosen in Matthew 22:14! 
     I want to point you to Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9, that speak about not taking a life of ease, but to keep pushing ourselves to win the race! He says he treats his body hard and makes it his slave! How many of us have pushed ourselves to that point? Right now I need to start pushing my body, it feels more like I'm a slave to it than it is to me! I feed it when it wants me to, I let it rest when it wants to...I pretty much give my body what it wants! But according to Paul's words that kind of behaviour could cost me a lot! It could make me lose the race that I so long want to win! So, I urge you to start training to win your race! dig into your Bible, read it, study it, spend time in prayer, not the asking kind of prayer, but the praising, thanking kind! Put a good praise song on and listen to the words, let them become a song in your heart!  
     Beloved, we all want to be chosen, don't be a slave to your will, but push yourself! Follow the Holy Spirit, He is a great Trainer Who will get you in shape to be chosen!


"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

"For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14

You know that in a race all the runners run but only one gets the prize. So run to win! All those who compete in the games use self-control so they can win a crown. That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed. So I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something--not just the air. I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that I myself will not be disqualified after I have preached to others. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NCV   (The Amplified version is really good for these verses also!)