Matthew 6: 34

"So don't ever worry about tomorrow. 

After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. 

Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

Matthew 6:34

So, I get it...day by day, Lord.
Not even a week after my last post, my father is hospitalized and my mother is staying with my family.
No more "What's Next?", just today, Lord. There's truly enough to digest.
But even in the changes that occur day to day, I have peace that transcends all understanding.

Philippians 2:13

For God is at work within you, 
helping you want to obey him, 
and then helping you do what he wants. (TLB)

This is great news for me, especially since I woke up feeling out of sorts. God gave me this last week...(6/25/14)

What's next??
So, I continue to question God about what is next for me. God has told me that my What Next prayer has been heard and here is His answer...your What Next is in danger of becoming idolatry...instead of What Next for the future, I want u to ask me each day and walk in the obedience of the day. I'm doing way too much for u to handle, so enjoy your daily bread.

I woke up today feeling like it was absolutely impossible to walk obediently day by day without worrying about God's next steps for me in the coming months. I began to have that all-consuming feeling of having to figure everything out, so I can get it right...for His glory (it is for Him, right?).

Well, praise God, His word is alive and active and FULL of power! Philippians 2:13 was the study scripture for the day. I began to feel encouraged knowing He's not expecting me to do this on my own. He's already worked out the desire in me to do/act in righteousness, now He's empowering me. The Holy Spirit led me to the most honest prayer and I confessed my fear that His plan will not be what I really want. I told Him how sick I will be if I have to continue in the place He has me...and how some of my feelings are sprouting from pride.

After praying I spoke to one of my prayer warriors. We'd scheduled the previous day to hook up via phone this morning. Ironically, her wanting to talk was to share a praise report of how she was receiving peace from obedience! I had to write these words she shared on what God was showing her, "When you do things MY way, they fall into place."
I hear u, Lord and thanks for loving me so much!!!

Intake

Lately, I've been meditating on music. "Speak to My Heart" is a plea for the Lord to speak to my heart. As I seek direction, I know I can't go wrong with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. While at the gym today, I began a new song, "Place of Worship" by William McDowell. It's about the freedom that comes with being in the presence of God..."free to worship, free to bow down, free to cry out, free..."
After listening to these songs so many times, they are in my spirit. "Speak to My Heart" causes me to seek God in decisions, and "Place of Worship" ushers me into worship (and it doesn't matter where I am).

This ushering caused me to think back to a very different meditation, a dark one.
There was a popular song about being free to fly away like a bird. The song was beautifully sad and full of heartbreak, like I was. On one particular evening when I was at a low point, I played the song over and over...I meditated on it. As a result, I cried non-stop. Each time I pushed "play", I wanted to be that bird...I wanted to fly away. The more I listened, the more I cried, the more depressed I became. I was hopeless. I wanted nothing more than to go away, far away. Every mistake, disappointment and hurt was magnified and I thought I was no good to anyone. During my despair, I received a phone call. I couldn't ignore the call, so I had to turn off the music and find my voice. Music off...the call was a blessing.

What we take in day after day has an affect on us. The things (music, books, various forms of media) we meditate on, slowly, have their way. It can be the difference between freedom and bondage.
What's been your intake today?

Who has your back?

One day when we were going to the place of prayer, a female servant met us. She was possessed by an evil spirit that told fortunes. She made a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes.

She used to follow Paul and shout, “These men are servants of the Most High God. They’re telling you how you can be saved.” She kept doing this for many days.

Paul became annoyed, turned to the evil spirit, and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” As Paul said this, the evil spirit left her.
Acts 16: 16-18 (GW)

On the surface, she appeared to inform folks of the good news being taught, seemed like she had their backs. Lose sight of verse 16 and she might be seen as part of their ministry. I believe that is the intention, demonic spirits like to attach themselves and cause havoc. If this spirit could associate itself with the good news, confusion would develop.

If this spirit can associate itself with the good news, confusion will develop. Peter advised us to be alert and sober of mind because our enemy is on the prowl to devour us. Nothing is off-limits to our enemy and nothing is too low for a snake.
We must remain prayerful for discernment about spirits that would try to attach to us.
Everyone who seems to have your back doesn't!

Who in their right mind?

Thanks be to the Lord, who daily carries our burdens for us. 
God is our salvation. 
Selah 

Psalm 68: 19 (GW)

So, if I'm tired and heavy-burdened, is it because I choose to be?
Why would anyone, in their right mind, choose to be burdened? Am I in my "right" mind? I guess I'd have to explore Philippians 4:8 and line up my thoughts with those Paul recommends.

Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise:

things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.

Today, I challenge myself and any other person reading these words to think on those things above and see if we feel a little lighter. I won't make excuses about what I HAVE to think about...if it doesn't pass the Philippians 4:8 test, I won't think about it.
Make a check list if you need to.

Right/Deserves praise?
True?
Honorable?
Fair?
Pure?
Acceptable?
Commendable?

Align your thoughts, let the fruitless go, and receive the peace of God that goes beyond ALL understanding. That is burden-free living!

Immediately or Immediately?

Immediately:  without lapse of time; without delay; instantly; at once, 
                       with no object or space intervening


As I read the English Standard Version of Mark 1, I find myself intrigued by the number of times the word "immediately" is used. I counted nine. It's used after the baptism of Jesus, His going into the wilderness, the call of the first disciples, and the acts that follow. The word is causing a distinction in my mind, especially in verses 17-20. For example:  Why did Jesus immediately call James and John, but not Simon and Andrew? Also interesting, Simon and Andrew left their nets immediately while James and John simply left.

And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. 
Mark 1: 17-20

Simon and Andrew...Did they leave their nets immediately or immediately?
If they left their nets without lapse of time or delay and at once, then...we are lacking some serious faith. Okay, I am lacking faith. I have the Bible, the full story, at my fingertips all day (technology has left no excuses). Yet when God calls or gives a directive to move from what I know, my obedience is not always immediate. Sometimes I stall spiritually (prayer, followed by fasting, then prayer and fasting with an option to do a full fast if I'm still not clear), which is also known as being paralyzed by fear.

If they left their nets with no object or space intervening, I don't feel as bad. Most times, I need to remove all things out of my way before I can leave my nets...I need to remove my flesh, my fears, and the world. I need to clearly disern the voice I am hearing.
The good news in all of this pondering is we never read Jesus telling James and John, "Get to the back of the line because when I called you, you failed to leave immediately."
Now that helps a fisher-lady like me!

Not the first...

It's amazing to me when God calls us to take a leap of faith, we feel like we are the first. It feels radical, maybe even dangerous. We wonder about the inconvenience and instability of it all.
I've been doing what I do for over twenty years and the Lord is calling me in a new direction.

Does He have any idea what He's asking for? This is all I've known. Honestly, I question MY ability to do much else. It's what I trained for, what I'VE invested in...it's what He called me to...until now.

"As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him."
Mark 1: 16-20 NIV

God is a God of leaving what is comfortable. Isn't that my problem with the call? It's uncomfortable! He wants me to leave what I know...what I'm known for...what I DO...and be totally dependent on Him. And for what...to fish?
The truth is; I've been fishing all along. He just wants to change the location, bait, and the type of fish.
I'm not the first He's called to fish and neither are you!