Serendipitous?

Cornelius, a centurion…gave generously to those in need…

Acts 10:1, 2

Jake couldn’t remember ever experiencing such a time of favor. Sure, he’d had good things happen before; but this was way beyond the norm!

A couple months ago he’d been called to his supervisor’s office and given an unexpected promotion…which had come with a sizable raise in income and benefits! He’d been told his work had caught the attention of the home office.

Then he’d received a check in the mail from his late aunt’s estate…he’d never even known she had an estate…or that he was in her will!

His daughter had received the coveted ‘Dean’s Scholarship’ at the university she had applied to! Then, to top it off, an investment he’d made more than seven years before had multiplied handsomely; what a windfall!

One of his friends had pronounced him ‘serendipitous’. He’d looked it up the dictionary: [ser-uhn-dip-i-tuhs] adj.: ‘fortuitous; having the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.’ Jake knew otherwise. He didn’t place any hope or confidence in ‘accidental occurrence’ or ‘coincidence’. He was fully aware that it had been God who had brought these blessings into his life. He just didn’t know how God intended to use him and his new-found financial blessing yet.

†

How often have we heard someone say, “I can’t believe my luck!” laying claim to ‘good fortune’ ‘coincidence’ ‘serendipity’ and the myriad other false sources of blessing? And in giving credence to these ‘random acts of chance’, we rob the One Who brought the blessing, and miss the reason we’ve received it in the first place.

God entrusts to us, like He did Cornelius, great gifts. His hope is that we will allow the blessing to flow through us into the lives of those around us. He gives, not asking anything in return, hoping only that we will recognize our purpose for His favor. Frequently, the gift is not financial in nature.

The next time you experience ‘Serendipity’ take a moment to thank God for blessing you. Then you might want to ask Him what He’d like you to do with this gift you find yourself in possession of. Because the truth is, God blesses us so that we might be a blessing to others.

Prayer

“Thank You for giving to me, Father God. May I always look to pass along Your grace and love. Amen.”

Early

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me.

Proverbs 8:17 Amplified

“I don’t think it really matters,” Ariella said. “God just wants you just spend time with Him.”

“I don’t totally disagree, Ari.” David said. “He wants us to spend time with Him. It’s the time doesn’t matter part I disagree with, and I’ll tell you why,” he said, leafing through his Comparative Study Bible.

While he was doing that, Ariella asked, “Why is timing so important,” wondering if David could produce proof for his conviction that the first part of the day was when God most wanted to talk with her.

David found the verse he’d been looking for, “Okay. Here’s part of where I base my reasoning,” he said, and began reading from the eighth chapter of Proverbs, verse seventeen, of the Amplified translation, “‘I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me,’” he finished, placing emphasis on the second part of the verse. “I believe Solomon is clearly saying the first part of our day is the best time to spend with God.”

“Maybe,” Ariella said, not totally convinced. “I still say it’s a personal preference kinda thing.”

“I’m not judging, Ari,” David said. “I’m just answering your question. Remember, you did ask…”

†

In today’s text God clearly says that it’s best to seek Him early, in the first part of our day. And if we’re serious about getting to know and learning how to interact with Him, then seeking Him early, before our thoughts become cluttered with worldly things, is simply the best way to achieve our goal.

However, God will not hold it against us if we chose not to meet with Him until our heads hit the pillow at night; nor will He be angry if we spend little to no time with Him at all. You see, this verse is not about God’s judgment for not seeking Him early and often… No, it’s more of an indicator of what we expect out of the relationship by what we put in.

Prayer

“I want to find the deepest parts of You, Lord. So I commit to giving You the first part of my day. Show me that this really makes a difference. Amen.”   

Reckless Abandon

Then Peter got down out of the boat,

Matthew 14:29

Bryce and Jennifer shared a difference of opinion. Jennifer felt Bryce’s thrill-seeking displayed a form of recklessness. Bryce felt Jennifer needed to learn to experience life once in awhile! “Honey, I don’t fault you for not wanting to skydive or rock climb, but hiking and camping in the back country are pretty docile.” He took her by the shoulders, “I promise to protect you at all times!” Raising his right hand, first three fingers erect, and holding his pinkie down by the thumb, Bryce said, “Scout’s honor!”

“You know how much I hate bugs!” she objected, as an involuntary shiver ran through her body.

Bryce drew her close, “I promise to squash every bug that attacks you!”

“What if I want to come home?” she challenged.

Softly, and with a twinkle in his eyes he answered, “Then home we’ll come.”

Two days later, as the sun settled over the western peaks of the Appalachian Mountains, Jennifer was resting on Bryce’s shoulder, enjoying herself more than she would ever have imagined, “Thanks for not giving up on me,” She confided. “Conquering my fears isn’t something I’m real big on.”

Pulling her closer, Bryce decided his response wasn’t necessary.

†

Conquering our fears isn’t at the top of most of our to-do lists either. Yet, when we look at today’s verse, most of us focus on Peter’s failure. Jesus didn’t. Instead, He simply asked him why he had suddenly doubted.

You see, He understood what it took for Peter to get out of the boat. The law of physics, as far as water-walking is concerned, are known to even the most novice fisherman. Yet with reckless abandon, Peter stepped onto supernatural ground.

Jesus calls with a purpose. He wants to set us free in the knowledge He will squash every bug, cast out every fear, and remove every doubt if we will recklessly abandon our lives to Him. What is it in your life, that when Jesus beckons, you fear to heed His call?

Faith isn’t faith until it’s hanging on to Someone other than itself.

“Prayer”

“I don’t know if I can do this, Lord. Give me the courage to abandon everything to You and take my hand as I take this leap of faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Unanswered

I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.

Jeremiah 11:14

“I’m sorry, Gail, I just can’t help you out right now. I’m in the middle of something that can’t be postponed,” Garret said and hung up the phone.

He’d just refused to listen to a request for assistance knowing full well the Holy Spirit was asking him to help meet this need. True, he was busy, but now he was so overcome with the weight of his decision that he couldn’t focus on the project he was working on. He might as well have answered the call and avoided the pain of knowing he had failed to be used for God’s purpose because of what he perceived to be an inconvenience.

Garrett felt convicted, and distanced from God. He knew he’d placed his personal comfort ahead of God’s request. He asked forgiveness, knowing he was covered under the blood of Christ, but right now he didn't feel so good about himself.

Calling Gail back, Garrett asked, “Has the need you called about been met, Gail?”

“Yes, it has. Bruce was able to drive the man to his doctor’s appointment. But thanks for calling back,” she said sweetly, and hung up. Her gracious attitude made his poor choice even more painful.

†

What Garrett had done wasn't a heinous crime, but he knew he had made the wrong choice. And it had affected his relationship with God immediately.

And so it is when we know we've refused the Lord. Personal comfort can cause us to miss divine appointments. We've all known the heaviness of letting an opportunity slip away because we were just too busy, or the timing wasn't right; we know we missed it by refusing to participate in something orchestrated by God on behalf of someone in need.

Many times throughout our lives we have been on the receiving end of God’s intervention, yet fail to remember those times when our call comes.

Before we miss yet another opportunity, remember that God wants to bless us, and others, through our obedience.

What if, in our distress, our call went unanswered because God refused to listen?

Prayer

“Lord, give me a heart that yields completely to You. Help me put to death the self that hinders our relationship. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

The Ferret Cage

‘your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30:21

The animal appeared out of nowhere, “Carl! What is that?!” Peggy asked alarmed.

Looking out the window he responded, “Well, it’s either an albino mink or someone’s pet ferret.” Heading outside Carl coaxed the animal over.

Peggy was more than a little apprehensive, “What if he bites you?!”

Her fears were quickly put to rest when the little animal scurried straight to Carl and allowed itself to be picked up. “Someone lose you little fella?” he asked.

Having no success in finding the owner they called Sherrie, a friend who had once owned ferrets, asking if she might know of a home for the animal. “I have a friend who runs an animal rescue shelter. I’m sure she’ll take it,” she responded confidently.

The next day Sherrie and her friend, Marla, arrived to pick up the ferret. With tears in her eyes, Marla shared that her daughter, Cara, had argued with her just last week about getting rid of their old ferret cage, “She said I should get rid of the cage, saying, ‘After all, we’re never going to get another ferret!’ I told her that I felt like God had told me to hang onto it. And when I told her that I wanted to be obedient to God, she snipped at me, ‘Well, if you ask me you oughta get rid of it!’ Now I know why God said wait!”

Marla went on to explain that there was a spiritual battle raging within Cara, and she recognized how personal God was making this by using this little animal to speak to Cara at such a pivotal time!

After a tearful goodbye, they climbed into the van and headed home.

†

We have a personal God; One Who wants to guide us through everything we encounter. He wants us to be so closely related to Him that we wouldn't question His motives and that we would trust Him enough to ask for His opinion on each decision we make; especially the ones about ferret cages!

Obedience is ours to offer or withhold. That’s free will. But if we listen, and respond to the Voice Isaiah testifies to, we will find incomparable guidance.

Prayer

“I’m listening, Lord. Please speak.”

Notes

I have loved you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

Sitting down at his computer, Randy immediately saw the note taped to his monitor. Handwritten on a piece of plain white paper was the acronym S.H.M.I.L.Y.
He smiled as he pulled it from the screen, folded the tape over the back, and placed it in his drawer alongside a mounting storehouse of affectionate compositions from his wife.
Randy and Shauna were forever leaving notes for each other. Neither left the house without leaving the other a note. Most notes revealed their whereabouts and when they would return. Many times they were terms of endearment, a reminder of their commitment and love for one another. S.H.M.I.L.Y. was one-such expression.
As Randy began his day’s work, he thought about how to respond to Shauna’s note. Settling on the one thing he knew would bring a smile to her face, he slipped away to the field behind the house and picked a bouquet of wildflowers an hour before she returned home from work. Arranging them in her favorite vase, he pulled this morning’s note from his drawer, and added a two so it read: “S.H.M.I.L.Y. 2,” and placed the vase on the kitchen counter and then returned to work.
They’d both meant every word: See How Much I Love You!

†

Notes are a simple yet wonderful way to communicate with each other. Leaving them to be discovered in strategic locations can be a personal and inspirational way of declaring, “I care.”
Taking time to pen our thoughts or feelings establishes our commitment to the one for which the note is intended.
God devoted a tremendous amount of work and time writing notes to us and has left them in strategic places for us to find.
His note to us in Jeremiah 31 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Scripture is full of His wonder-filled and personal declarations.
In His note to us in John 17:24, at the climax of His earthly mission, Jesus prayed for us to be with Him and to see His glory. Translation: “See How Much I Love You!”

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for Your love that sustains me. Help me love with a love that is selfless. May I bring affirmation to each individual You place in my life today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

*Dedicated to James and Myrtle Dobson

Building Our Faith

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them…

1 Samuel 17:36

Larry had been chasing God since the early 1980s. Because of his hunger, God had begun teaching Larry early and often in regard to spiritual matters. So it had come as no surprise when God began building Larry’s financial faith.

One service, during the offering, the Holy Spirit had impressed on Larry to give all the money in his wallet, which on that night happened to be $50 dollars. He remembered secretly wishing it had been less. But the Holy Spirit had instructed, “Give everything you have. Note the amount and date in your bible. Beside the entry write the word, PROVE.”

Larry, believing God was about to reveal something of great value, intended to find out what that something was. So, in the margin of his Bible he’d written, June 8, 1984, Gave fifty dollars in the offering tonight under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He said to write the word PROVE. Not sure what it all means.

It had been six years since that faith-building lesson. Larry smiled as he reread the entry below that one of June 8^th. One month to the day later, he’d written, July 8, 1984, received $5000.00 cash unexpectedly! God said, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.”

†

God wants to build our faith. He does that one experience at a time, laminating our faith and giving us a foundation on which to stand in the future. Like David, our faith is bolstered with each encounter. Over time we hesitate less when God beckons us.

Faith encounters range from trusting God with our finances to courage in the face of great odds; from standing for Christ when it’s less than popular to believing God for the healing of a terminally-ill cancer patient. Each event enhances our relationship with God through obedience.

David had slain a lion and a bear, God had built his faith to such a degree that a really big Philistine was no big thing.

The faith building is God’s part, ours is being faithful, available, teachable and obedient.

Prayer

“I want to have a faith that will stand in times of trial, Lord. Teach me to trust as You lead me into new areas of understanding. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”