Occupy....

Occupy.... Webster says it means to hold.  To use. To take possession.

In Genesis 13, God pointed in all directions and told Abraham that everything he saw would be his.

"The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;  for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever."
(Genesis 13:14-15)  How could all that land be Abrams?  There were people living there. On top of that, Lot had gone in one of those directions, with all his belongings, and claimed part of that same land.


Lot had originally tagged along with Abram.  Abram had followed in obedience when God directed him to leave his homeland and go  "...to a place I will show you." (Genesis 12:1)

Lot followed Abram. (...and Lot benefited from following an uncle who followed God.)

Now,  Lot has the best pastures, and Abram has the promise of God. 

And Abram had instructions....  "Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you." (Gen. 12:17)

 


As I studied that passage, I thought about Jesus parable about the ten servants who were given ten pounds.  They were told to "...Occupy till I come."  (Luke 19:13 KJV)

Each of the ten servants were provided with equal resource to 'occupy til I come'.

Abram was given resources. 
Abram was given promises.
And Abram was instructed to walk out and into that promise. 
He was told to occupy what was given to him.

Today, I am given resources. I have the Holy Spirit of God, and His Sword of the Spirit, recorded in scripture.

I am given salvation.  Free for the taking.

I just have to believe it is mine, and walk in it. 

I purpose today to walk in the promised land of my salvation. 

Lips....

Lips….

I hadn’t really noticed that word in scripture before. Recently, I heard a radio speaker quote a passage that got my attention.

"There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing” (Proverbs 20:15)
What in the world are lips of knowledge? Whatever it is…it is very valuable. Obviously.

Well, let’s see…..

• Lips are attached to my mouth.
• Words come out of my mouth.
• Knowledge comes from the task of learning, either by exercise of mind and resources……or experience.
• What I learn from study or observation is stored in my mind….( granted, hard to recall sometimes. )
• What I learn by experience is never forgotten. (….especially the hard painful lessons…!! )
 
　
　
So…why the high value?

　
　
What I speak and communicate out of what I have learned is valuable.
What I speak and communicate out of what I know that I know I know…..is priceless to me. And valuable to others.

Those of us who understand the language of Christianese call it ‘testimony’

And those who listen to testimonies from those who know that they know that they know Jesus Christ….must find an audience. An audience who may or may not recognize the value of ‘lips of knowledge’.
 
Those of us who know that we know that we know Jesus Christ have something very valuable, and we must speak that valuable knowledge of Him, especially to those who do not know that they know Him.
　

             
(….and yes, I know that I know that I know that I know Him. Do you? )

Gimme.....

Gimme…

Yep. It’s a word. I Googled it.

It is a golf term, but unless you are a golfer, you define it as demanding material things. At least I do….

We live in a gimme world. Enough is never enough it seems. Christmas magnifies it.

　

Think about the ‘gimme’ mentality of the young man we call ‘the prodigal son’. Jesus tells the story in Luke 15.

"There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.' "So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. (Luke 15:11-13)


An insult really. Inheritances are to be had AFTER the death of someone, and this young man can’t wait for his father to die. Gimme.
What is even more incredible is that the father did give. It causes me to wonder what I would have done. My mind plays out several scenarios, the first of them being an insulted hissy fit. (…if you know what ‘gimme’ means, you’ll know what a ‘hissy fit’ is….)


This father trusted God to deal with his son. In the face of rebellion and disrespect, he allowed the son to have his way. Really…what good would it have done to have refused? The desire was there in the son’s heart.

And only God can change a heart.

Trust...

Preparing to speak to 2 & 3 year old children, I found myself trying to find a way to communicate the idea of trust.

One of my most treasured Words from God is about trust. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..."(Proverbs 3:5)

We speak of faith and trust.  We sing about trust and obedience.  But even when I am obeying, am I really trusting? 

I must confess that often, my obedience is not bathed in trust.  Sometimes my obedience is out of pure choice, hoping for the best...often after I've exhausted all my own resources.



Again, I thank God for showing me how Jesus deals with my issue.

"... if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!"   And Jesus said to him,

" 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes."  Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." (Mark 9:222-25)

This man had a problem he couldn't fix.  He knew Jesus had done some pretty awesome things, and asked for His help. 

That little word 'if' this father uttered brought him face to face with a crisis of faith.  He was challenged to believe that Jesus can do ANY thing....and trust Jesus.

Trust that He will do the RIGHT thing.

Oh Lord God, help my unbelief.

Want...

Seems it is official.  The Christmas season is in full swing. 

I think of that silly little song, "..all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth..."

Sadly, most Christmas wishes are not that basic. 

I again this year challenge myself to consider my wants. I purpose to continue to be thankful rather than wanting.....

"All I want for Christmas is_________________________________"

What goes in that blank? 

Thankful 23...

I am thankful for babies.

There is nothing sweeter, nothing more precious...Now, don't misunderstand...I do not want one !  Not for more than a few hours at a time !! 

I raised two baby boys.  I watched two baby grand-daughters grow up.  I watched nephews and nieces meet the world, and grow into adults.  I am now watching from afar as a baby great-nephew changes from an infant to a little boy, and will love every minute of seeing his daddy have his perspective go thru a dramatic change....


Babies draw me, I want to look into their eyes, talk to them (...and talk FOR them as if I am the only one who knows what they would say, if only they could...), and I love seeing them respond to me, hopefully with a smile !

It is incredible to me that a baby human is so utterly helpless when born, yet every other life that God created comes into the world mobile.  Within minutes, or seconds, every other living creature is capable of seeking shelter and nourishment, all by itself.....

Puppies, with eyes sealed shut, can manage to snuggle up to their mother and nuzzle for her nourishment.  Colts and calves, within minutes, can stand up, walk, and run. 



As the season of thanksgiving closes, my thoughts turn to babies. 

I am thankful for babies.  Most especially The One Baby Who changed my life, and the world.....

Thank You Father for baby Jesus.
Thank You Jesus, for leaving the throne of heaven and manifesting Yourself into the womb of a young virgin and the flesh of a human baby...

Hallelujah. 

Thankful 22....

I am thankful for a job I love, and plenty of work to do.

I am thankful for so many wonderful client-friends, those who sit in my chair, and those who sit in the other chairs of our salon.



Tonight, as I count those blessings, I must admit I'm thankful for the next few days off !!  Whew.....I am a pooped out blessed woman !!!