Sleep

One of my favorite scriptures is: Psalms 127:2  It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. This scripture coupled with Philippians 4:8,9 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Usually when it's late at night I can put my mind at peace and fall off to sleep rather quickly (tonight is an exception), God wants our trust to be in Him and not in our abilities or inabilities. What I think about is important to my Lord and I want to mediate on His provisions and blessings and not on what I can or can't do. If one is up this late it is likely because of worries (mine is because of my work schedule this week messing up my sleep pattern), and Jesus in Matthew 6:27 asks:  "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? Read this in context for more of what Jesus thinks about our worrying.

I hope this will help you as you consider God's will for your life, God's provision for you and your family, and that you will ask God to provide you with sleep and provide for those things that were troubling you as you sleep.

From the Mouths of Babes

My oldest grandson (Now 4), is always giving me something to smile about. About a year ago, he was out with my wife and me. Upon returning home as I was heading to unlock the door, he hastened ahead of me and very assured of himself announced, "I can do that" and in the next breath announced, "only I don't know how".

Many times over the years I've told God I'm willing to do something, only I don't know how. And just like I enjoy teaching my grandson, God delights in teaching me.

Proverbs 17:22 (MKJV)  A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Knowing God's Will

The awesomeness of God is beyond comprehension, and therefore we have a tendency to relegate God to a mythical part of our lives. However, when God created man He wanted a relationship with His creation. There is nothing special about any of us that the creator of the universe would be drawn to us. Rather we get this audience with Him, because He decided that this was what He wanted when He created us.

God is not hiding from us, He tells us that when we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him. To find God's will specifically or generally in our lives is a matter of deciding that we are not going to relay on the knowledge we have, but acknowledging God in all matters of our life, knowing that God will then direct us.

 Pro 3:5,6 NASB Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
Pro 18:2  A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind.
Jas 1:5  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Whether we are a scientist seeking to understand the creation of the universe; a bicycle designer wanting to design a specific type bike, or a mother wanting to help her young child walk in the right paths of life, our own knowledge is insufficient. God know's the best answer for us in any circumstance and is eager to guide us, that  presuppose's that we are wanting to be lead. If we come to God telling Him what His will is, we are not seeking but rather guiding. I don't think our creator needs our guidance and we won't get His if we're not seeking.  

Eternity

I've often heard people discuss when life begins; usually at conception or at birth. There is a more important question one should ask themselves, that totally makes the other question mute. That is when does my eternity begin?

Man is created a living soul, an as such eternity begins at conception. What is the difference between the idea that life or eternity begins at conception? If one realizes that they are living in eternity, it makes a big difference in one's attitude. It's not a matter of one day when I die I will go into eternity, but rather I am an eternal creature that will one day move to a new location. The idea that "one day" , I will go into eternity has the false impression that one has a choice. There is no choice, you are an eternal being! Let that be settled forever in your mind, and start developing relationships that will always be there.

One day this phrase popped into my thinking, "God is the one with whom I have to do". I used to find myself shying away from scriptures that made me uncomfortable because I felt I could not measure up. Then that phrase popped into my thinking and I realized that I could not protect myself from an face-to-face encounter with God once I leave this planet. The alternative to trying to escape responsibility for my actions was to seek to know God as fully as my abilities allow.

God sets before every man, "life and death, blessing and cursing" and He even tells us to choose life (sometimes we are really dense between the ears). Jesus provided Himself to us, as an advocate to Father God that guarantees us a plea of redeemed and thus not guilty. It is our option to accept or reject the provision that God provided for us. Just remember that you are presently living in eternity, when you depart earth you are only changing addresses.

Bill

Let's See, Now How do I do This Blog Thing

This is a test, and only a test! Do not proceed forward and up on the starboard side, or down and aft on the port side. Just sit there and contemplate this blog!!!!!!!!!