New year, new goals. My goal is to blog once a week and build a momentum. It will be on Sunday evenings once a week. I plan to review my notes from Church service and give what I took away from it. That will help me dig in, review the Word, and go deeper in my walk with God. I need to do this so that I can stay on track. This is because I am human and I get distracted and have shortfalls, like everyone else. Today, we learned that one who shares the Word of God needs a refresh of the Word to share. Blessings of God follow obedience. The more I obey what God wants me to do, the more I will see His blessings come. Satan will come to steal, kill, and destroy, but God is with me and will protect me on my journey.
What type of Church do you attend?
My Church is committed to winning souls, making disciples, meeting needs, and healing hurts. God connects us to the souls in need. We use His power in the midst of the struggle of a person. If it is us and our power, we get in the way of Jesus. That went with our message today. Zaccheus in the tree. The people were around and making it hard for him in his short stature to see Jesus as He passed by. Zaccheus climbed up in the tree to see Jesus as He passed by. The tree was planted by God years before to help Zaccheus at this time and fulfill the work that was to take place in and through him. To me, the tree also points to the cross. Zaccheus took up the cross of what he did and repented in the Jesus way.
What type of tree?
For Zaccheus, the tree was a sycamore tree. In that area, it can grow to be up to 66ft tall. It is also a fig tree in those areas and related to a mulberry bush. We were asked, can you imagine climbing up a tree to see Jesus, then to be told to climb back down because Jesus is inviting himself to your house today? You go to all that effort to see Jesus. Then, you’re told that you have a house guest that day on that day. Something that would be hard to do, from my perspective. Especially with the cleaning and meal prep needing to happen for a guest. However, he was a wealthy man, the chief tax collector, so his servants likely helped. I wonder how that tree relates back to Jesus dying on the cross for all of our sin.
Maybe, it’s the redemption story…
Zaccheus was a sinner of sinners. He was the chief tax collector. The richest crook who took the taxes of the people and took an extra cut for himself. Tax collectors then were working for the Romans but were Jewish people turning their backs on their own people. After Zaccheus met Jesus and had lunch with Him, he repented and turned from his ways. The people looked at Jesus and complained about which sinner He was dining with. They were focused on Zaccheus’ sin and not their own. Zaccheus repaid what he owed four-fold and gave half of what he had to the poor. It says half to the poor before the four-fold returned. So, if he owed you $20, he would pay you $80. That’s a $60 return on your money, which is 3/4 more than he owed.
Back to the message…
Are you holding up your part of the mission? Are you representative of the people and getting in the way of someone seeing Jesus, or are you the tree? Do people see Jesus in you? Are you a good representation of Jesus at all times? Lots to think about. I do my best to hold up my part of the mission. Sometimes, I feel I let things get in the way. I need to look into what unforgiveness I hold, that is one thing in the way. A good portion of the time, I feel people can see Jesus in me. There are times that I am not a good representation of Jesus. See, back to the unforgiveness. If I am pulling something from the past and bringing it forward, I am likely not representing Jesus, which means I am representing the opposite team, Satan.
Why is that?
Let’s say someone hurt me a long time ago. Something simple, like taking my shot during a game. It cost us the game in our tournament. On one end, I don’t know if I would have made it over and in the lines on the other side in the volleyball game. I was ok with them taking the fall of our loss. On the other hand, what if I got it over and we played and made the win? Not my hit making the team win but keeping us in the game and then winning as a team. That happened in 8th grade, and I am years past that time. If every time I see that person, I bring up their fault and what they did, I am doing work for Satan and tearing her down. If I forgive and bless those who persecuted me, I am doing God’s work.
How does it show this in the Bible?
But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:15) But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, (Luke 6:27) Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. (Proverbs 17:9) Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32) Basically, the manner in which you forgive, you will be forgiven. Forgive as Jesus did. He said, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”
What else did we learn in Church?
While the Nintendo wasn’t always a video game console, they started with an idea and moved until they found the sweet spot. The markets were all full in all of the areas they tried: playing card company, taxi service, instant rice, budget hotels line, then physical toys. The toys got them in the area of kids when they created the first game console in 1977. Lots of good companies were born in 1977. The Atari still took over in the states until Donkey Kong. Soon after, Nintendo became the biggest game in the market for 30 years. They were in the top 4 of 10 in gaming systems. Then, in the top 15 of 50 in gaming systems. When the right people do the right thing, they can change the world.
What does this have to do with our mission work?
We have a product that never needs changed. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20) We live in the wealthiest nation in the United States, which puts us at a Spiritual disadvantage. If you look at other countries, we are rich. What are your desires before God? Those can be idols that need removed. I would say for me, it’s food, work, and people. My tendency is towards co-dependency. Not the best trait I have carried. God is breaking me free, currently, from this.
Do you desire Him like you should?
I do not desire Him like I should. There are times it’s easier to desire Him and move towards Him. However, I face daily distractions that cause me to not draw near to Him. I desire relationship and closeness with Him. What my life looks like does not reflect this desire. I live in a cluttered mess of a home. This is my criticism of self. I don’t care about myself at all, when my body is supposed to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. I put myself down, not showing who I am in Christ. Denying His masterpiece in me. I struggle with those closest to me, if any can really be close to me. Truly, I feel like I push them away and struggle in relationship at all. I am certainly a work in progress.
How do I plan to change that?
First off, I think He is needed in the equation to truly fix and change that. I need to ask for His help humbly. Place my plans before Him and follow His lead as we work through it. My counselor has me working on my childhood timeline this year. I will work through and grieve what I need to grieve and move forward. The plan with that is going through the book of Psalms and a study journal. Keeping God in it. I need to work on a little at a time. Finding a binder and looseleaf paper to put my timeline in order. This made me think of the famous Trapper Keeper of my childhood. The item every kid coveted, but not everyone was able to get. The more I get in line with His plan, the more things will drop on my lap and move smoother.
Why do I think this?
When I go and do what God calls me to do, He is gracious enough to bless me in my business. I will go on my retreat and get a call for someone who wants help with something I can refer them to and be paid. The things are hard, but in step with God it becomes His yoke is easy. I have done things that are uncomfortable, then had immediate peace. With one of my kids, I didn’t get overly mad and to the point of yelling. I said something a matter of factly to them in a no-nonsense way, and they listened. The Holy Spirit took over and moved in a way that brought peace and order in our situation that day. People I am to reach, it’s led by the Holy Spirit is leading me to what the other person needs. God’s ways are not our ways.
To sum it all up…
God says, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8) For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation. (Isaiah 51:8) For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. (Isaiah 51:3) The order is God first, then all shall fall into place. He knows all and sees all at once. Seek Him and His plan. We go in circles without Him.
A few more thought-provoking thoughts and questions…
Don’t look down on the sinners Jesus spent time with, because you are a sinner yourself whom He died to save. What are you doing to help those who are lost? Zaccheus lived as Jesus would have in giving more and being generous with what He had. Do I look more like Jesus? Are you helping people see Jesus? Or are you unaware of the lost around you? God placed you in your neighborhood, work, school, and other areas around people who can be reached. Does my life get in the way of His work and His plans? Again, this can be through unforgiveness or other ways we do and don’t represent Jesus. Let’s recommit to our Mission in bringing others to God. He wants that none should perish.
Closing Prayer…
Heavenly Father, please lead those to this blog and to what they need in it. Help them to work on their part of what they need to do, only You know. Gently guide them and convict them as our loving and patient Father. Show us all what is in the way of others seeing You through us. Guide us to the healing that needs to take place with You for Your work we need to do on Earth. Help us all to know that the day we come to be with You is not what day we need to fix ourselves, You need us to be in relationship with You as soon as possible to save as many as possible.
Prayer continued…
Let them see how their story is going to help others through the path they just trudged through for their journey, bringing healing to both parties. Such as those who have had abortions and regret their decisions and helping others to avoid the same decisions, if possible. If not possible, helping them through the motions of the pain that comes from an abortion. Or those who have been molested as a child and have the wounds from rejection of being a victim for many years who have come through and overcome their situations. There are so many different scenarios. Show us Your will and Your way. Show us what to use and what to hide in You. Thank You for all You have done for us and all You’re doing for us going forward and those we reach. In Jesus’ mighty and precious name, Amen.
Positive Affirmations…
You are a child of the Most High King. God made you and He said you are good. God gave His only begotten Son to die on a cross for your sins. You are saved. An amazing and unique individual. Fearfully and wonderfully made. Beloved and chosen. You are royal, Holy, His. He goes before you, behind you, and beside you in all that you do as His child. You are forgiven as far as the East is from the West. You are set apart. There is none like you. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. When it feels like no one cares, God cares. You create peace as a Peacemaker for the Kingdom. Trust God like a child, for He cares for you. God’s Word is truth. Trust it and worship Him daily. To God be the Glory!!!