Sunday Scripture

My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words.  Don't lose sight of them.  Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. 

Proverbs 4:20-22

Show Me Who I Am

But Moses protested to God, "Who am I to appear before Pharaoh?  Who am I to lead the people out of Egypt?"

Exodus 3:11

I have a lot on my mind today and I am sorting through many things.  I am seeing God work in amazing ways, though, and I am encouraged in my faith to keep going forward on my journey to know Him intimately.  So many times in my walk I have asked God who I am.......who he wants me to be and today is no different.  I ask Him, who am I to head up a ministry for women,  who am I to write a blog or encourage a friend in her faith, who am I?  Like Moses, I sometimes doubt the strength of God in me, and I forget that all the good I do comes from Him.  I need His reassurance that I am on the right track, or that I have what it takes to accomplish His plan for my life.  There are days I am willing and excited to take on a specific role, and then there are days I am scared to death to move forward.  I can see an unknown future ahead and I get scared of what is to come, I question my worth, my identity and my ability to follow through........today is one of those days.  Chances are, some of you are having a day like mine, and I want to encourage you that you are not alone.  You are not the only person scared of the future God has planned for you.  You are not the only person wondering how this mess you are in can ever come out good.  You are not the only person questioning your identity and doubting your abilities to carry on such a huge mission.......raising young children to know the Lord, caring for an elderly parent, quitting your comfortable job, moving to another state or country.......place your fears here________________.  It is okay to question who you are as long as it takes you deeper into trusting God and finding your identity lies in Him alone.  God is many things, He takes on many roles for all people and He lives within our hearts!  Through Him we have the power to be amazing and do amazing things!  As I question how I will ever deal with what is on my plate, I will always find my way back to Him and know that all I am lies in who He is.

Dear God, you gave me more than I can handle this morning and I need time to sort it all out.  I don't want to doubt the strength you give me and who I am in You, but sometimes Your great power and magnitude scare me.  I want to hand over my fears, once more, and find who I am in you alone.  Show me that I am smart enough, pretty enough, strong enough, patient enough, only enough, and ready for this next journey.  Give me your peace and courage to continue moving forward.  Amen     

Depend On God And Search For Him

The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.

Lamentations 3:25

To depend on someone means to rely on him.  When we depend on God, we need Him, or require Him for support in our daily life or in a specific situation.  To search for God means that we look for Him, seeking carefully and thoroughly until we find His presence in our daily life or circumstance.  God says, in Lamentations, that He will be good to those who depend on Him and search for Him.  Search your heart and answer these questions:  

1.  Do you depend on God and search for him in all areas of your life? 

2.  Do you need Him to plan your day or make a decision?

3.  Do you examine what He says about your situation and the things that concern you? 

4.  Do you carefully search His Word daily and apply it to your life?

Friends, yes, God loves us and wants what is best for our life, but if we aren't interested in Him, then why would we ever expect His goodness to fall on us?  We must be willing to give more than we take from God.  We have to be active in our relationship with Him and be aware of His teachings and call on our life.  It isn't easy finding time to search God, and it can be uneasy and difficult relying on God, but it is the only way He will shower goodness on us.  If you want to experience His goodness in your life then you must let go and depend on God and commit to searching Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.  We must be willing to let go and give Him full authority in our lives!

Dear God, life can sweep in and take over in a blink of an eye.  Help me to stay focused and committed to relying on you and searching for your help in my daily life.  I want to feel your goodness in my life and share it with others.  Guide me today into a deep relationship that gives you full authority in my life.  Teach me to search you first in all I do and to rely on your guidance.....to trust in your plan.  In Jesus' Name....Amen              

A Cord of 3 Strands

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

(‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭9-12‬ NIV)

Sing Along Saturday

July 4th in America brings fireworks, hotdogs, family and friends.  We thank all the people who have served to give us freedom since the birth date of America many years ago.  As we celebrate our great country's freedom, let's not forget the freedom we have in Christ.  We thank our founders and our soldiers who fought for our freedom to do great and amazing things to further the Kingdom of God.  Jesus Christ, our savior, died a horrible death for us to have an amazing free life in Him.  This song give me chills today as I realize the price paid for me, when I was still a sinner.  I lift up all the soldiers who fought for me, who didn't even know me, whether I was a sinner or saint......they served me and gave me freedom.  Praise God!  Thank you!  Amen and Amen!

I Am Free by Newsboys

Teaming with Fish

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. Genesis 1:20-23

I had the joy of meeting my daughters and the grandbabies at the zoo yesterday. It was a delight to watch the kids as they looked at the variety of animals. We talked about their names and how they were alike and different. But it wasn't until we were in the aquarium that God's creativity hit me once again. I am often amazed at the diversity with which God created the world. As we looked in the aquarium we saw dozens of fish. Varied colors. Varied patterns. Varied fins. They all had similarities, yet had their own uniqueness.
But what made me smile was that God created them by simply speaking. He created them from nothing and there they were! And he did it all in a day!
I am reminded of the power of His spoken word in the Bible. I don't know how it is done, but I know that reading the Bible creates new people. It transforms them, maybe not completely in a day, but in one day God can turn a heart around and head it back home. I just love that about him!

Dear ,Lord,
You're so creative and powerful. Thank you for your creation. Thank you for your gift of nature. God as I so often do I pray that you will draw us into the word so that we can learn to see your hand in the world around us.
I love you!

Forgiveness Is Not Acquitting

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent - both are detestable to God.

Proverbs 19:19

So often we think that forgiving someone is forgetting the hurt they caused us.  Society has us to believe that forgiving means we have to forget all that happened and accept the person back into our lives and forgetting or even overlooking the hurt that took place.  Without writing for hours I want to explain just this little part of forgiveness, a part that goes a long way in freeing someone to forgive.  I believe so often that aside from not accepting forgiveness in our own lives and seeing our own sin, the thought of wiping away the hurt that someone caused us, and forgetting it didn't happen, makes our willingness to forgive almost non-existent.  Friends, I want you to know that forgiveness is more for you, realizing your own sin and need for forgiveness should lead to seeing that same need in the sinner's eyes.  You should only forgive because you are forgiven and you are a christian seeking to be Christ-like in all you do.  We should forgive as God forgives and that means no strings attached, but it also means there are still consequences for the sinner that hurt you.  David still lost his son after he repented of his sin, murdering Uriah (2 Samuel 12:14).  There will still be human consequences to sin and it may just be that consequence is not being friends with the person who hurt you, leaving the boyfriend who hit you, divorcing the husband who had an affair.  (Only God can tell you what to do in these situations.  Seek his Word and the help of a professional to know what is best in your specific situation.)  Even if these people are repentant you still don't have to jump into mending your relationship.  Especially if it is toxic and unhealthy for you or others involved.  We will all run into people or friends, in our lives who hurt us and lie to us or put us down and it is our choice whether that friendship continues or if it needs a break.  Forgiving isn't pretending the offense didn't happen.  Like in the verse above......acquitting is freeing someone of the criminal charge and with that you free them from the consequences of their actions.  If you free someone who is guilty they will never learn from their wrong and they will have a much harder time changing and turning away from their sin.  When we overlook someone's sin against us then the person will never be held accountable for his or her actions and will not be given the choice to change.  Only when they are confronted will they need to make a choice.  Letting the guilty off without punishment is as harmful as punishing an innocent person!  God detests both equally.  We must check our motives first!  If we are after revenge then our hearts aren't ready and we must spend time with God offering up our pain and hurt.  Revenge is different than natural consequence.  Revenge is sin and God says to let Him be the final judge and let Him get revenge (Romans 12:19).  But if we truly can say we love the person who hurt us and we want what is best for him, if we care about his salvation, then we must be willing to allow consequences and set new boundaries.  All can be used to redirect the sinner from his sinful choices and help him to get back to God.  

Friends, this isn't an easy topic.  There are so many situations that make forgiving hard but we want to help you understand it and apply it in your life.  There is so much more to know and learn about forgiveness.  If you are interested in the whole study please email us at godfirstfriends@gmail.com and we will be glad to send it to you.