“BUT LET GOD…”

Posted on January 30, 2014 by randscallawayffm

I was struck by the words on facebook of a young, beautiful, loving friend, “My life is so out of control” and I prayed. Immediately. I prayed with tears in my eyes for her to stay out of control and give up all control to the God I know she loves. How many times have we all been there? Overwhelmed.

I’m still hanging out in Romans 12 to begin each day. It is my “one portion” of Scripture I am trying to commit to memory, to understanding with God’s wisdom and insight…so I will be changed by God. Transformed. Made new.
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“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, BUT LET GOD transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (Rom 12:2, NLT) Emphasis mine.

BUT LET GOD…the Master Builder of all Creation, who created you and me…transform us. We cannot do this alone. It’s by His Power living in us that we are made new again…restored.

“Would that I could make everything new—but I can’t. But God can. “He restores my soul,” wrote the shepherd (Psalm 23:3). He doesn’t camouflage the old, he restores the new. The Master Builder will pull out the original plan and restore it. The vigor, the energy, the hope. He will restore the soul.” –Max Lucado 

People who “walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8) are in constant remodel, made new, transformed to prepare for new beginnings, a new invitation to join God in a new work that will perfectly fit our created skill-set! Be encouraged. God is for us! Don’t try to fix it, restore it, slap a new coat of paint on it, rationalize it or hide it yourself BUT LET GOD do the work in us! YES! 

Dear Heavenly Father,
We now turn Your Word in prayer. We are letting go of all control to be out of control disciples of Your Way, Your Truth and Your Life abundant! You are God and we are not. Transform us, makes us new, restore us, rebuild us, even if you have to go back to the original plan. By Your Power and In Jesus Name, Amen

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IF THE GOAL IS TO LOVE OTHERS…

Posted on January 29, 2014 by randscallawayffm

Then we have got to give up the notion that all should be fair in this love. God’s example of love to us is UNconditional love. UN means “no, or not”. It means there are no prerequisites, no course work to take to earn His love. There are no “be this or do that” and then I will love you. God loves everyone who simply believes. We don’t judge love. There are no levels or rankings of love. We just love.

I have been camping out in Romans 12 because of my own desire to make the changes necessary to transform my life to be more like God wants me to be. Romans 12 says, don’t pretend to love. “Really love others”. I wanted to know more.

A quick trip to 1 John 4:7-8 (that we memorized as kids) bears the Truth we need to be reminded of daily, 

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one anther, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God–for God is love.” 

The more we know God, the more we love like God…without conditions. We begin to “really love” without reservations or judgement of who deserves our love or not…we just love. 

“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.” 1 John 4, NLT (More unconditional.)

“God showed how much he loved us by sending His Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is REAL LOVE.” 1 John 4:9, NLT, (emphasis mine)

“We love each other as a result of his loving us first.” I John 4:19

So, dear friends, Romans 12 makes even more sense to me as I read, 
“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it.” (Msg) If God is at the CENTER, then we have greater power to love more deeply!

This kind of love prompts us to “discover the beauty in everyone” (Rom 12, Msg) as we ask God to help us see others through His eyes. This perfect love living in us causes change in our human natures to stop expecting everything to be fair. Life is NOT fair! This perfect love dissolves our insatiable desire to “get even” which is never good for us. (Rom 12, Msg) Only God does the judging. But overall…God is love.

Dear Heavenly Father, We give up our judging and presumptions to grasp how wide and deep Your love really is. You really love us! Perfect that unconditional love in us. We want to love like You love. But we need Your help. May we follow Your example and lean into Your Truth and rely on the power of Your Holy Spirit of love in us. Help us to “be good friends who love deeply.”
In Jesus Name, Amen

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SOUL REST!

Posted on January 28, 2014 by randscallawayffm

Even though the weather was terribly cold with bitter, below zero temperatures, Randy and I ventured out yesterday to get supplies, fill up the van with fuel, make a drop off at the library, pick up a prescription, get a few groceries, and make a bank deposit for dad. Randy can’t work because of the temperatures, I can’t sub teach because of no school. A forced “rest”.

Today is the same. A forced “rest” of a different nature. Because we did all of the above yesterday, today is quiet and reflective. I think of everyone who is in this “forced rest” circumstance. To many of us this forced rest means no pay coming in when you don’t work. Many are struggling. Worry begins to haunt us. Then I come to this scripture today and heave a big sigh. Rest. Jesus Rest. Jesus promises to provide and teach us in the rest. Lean into these words,

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30, NLT

God will provide. Use this time to “fix your eyes on Jesus”, even if you have kids who are running around the house because of no school, you have to shovel the walk one more time, things break down, pipes freeze, and the wind knocks us down every time we open the door…God sees our circumstances and will provide rest. For our souls.

Enter into this soul rest, not kicking and screaming, (like I do), but with a willing heart to receive. 
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Dear Heavenly Father,
We are willingly laying down our bodies as a living sacrifice to you, ready to obey and accept rest for our souls. Speak to our hearts, minds and souls as we seek your pleasing and perfect will for our lives. If today is just rest for the weariness this season is bringing, then so be it. You have our attention. Teach us, Lord. 
In Jesus Name, Amen

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TODAY I’M ENCOURAGED!

Posted on January 27, 2014 by randscallawayffm

Yes, the harsh winter winds are challenging. Yes, the bitter cold stops our routines and keeps us inside. But as I read God’s Word this morning, I am encouraged. Let the Word speak to our hearts as we travel through Colossians today…

“For this is the secret: Christ lives in You, and this is your assurance that you will share in His glory.” (Col 1:27, NLT)

“I depend on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.” Col 1:29

Full confidence is in knowing Christ and understanding “God’s secret plan of Christ himself.” “In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Col 2:3

“God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.” Col 2:13

Excited and encouraged yet??? “And that’s not all”…

“In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ.” !!!

“For we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.” Col 2
(Mm, as a mother feed her unborn fetus with her own body…) Wow!

So….

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth…your REAL LIFE is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is in your real life, is reveled to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.” Col 3
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“Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.” Col 3:11, NLT

Hallelujah, Praise God for His secret plan of Christ in us! We are alive because of Christ in us. 

Yes, Be encouraged! I am!

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

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TODAY I’M JUST THANKFUL

Posted on January 26, 2014 by randscallawayffm

I got up the put another load of clothes into the dryer, put BBQ ribs in the crock pot for lunch later, fed the dog and let her go out briefly to do her business, and finished some others chores. These are the small things I do on the way to getting ready for church. I think about God while I do these mundane things and wonder what He thinks of me. I evaluate yesterday and review what sins I must confess when I sit down to focus on His Word and my Walk.

Then I sit down with my bowl of Cheerios and Mug of “baby coffee” and write to our God the Creator of the Universe. Today I just feel humbled. Too humble to ask for anything. I just want to praise.

Here is what I wrote…

January 26, 2014

Dear Heavenly Father,

Hallowed and holy is Your Name. May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, in all the very details of our lives, as it is in heaven. Yes, give us this day, though challenging with the weather, protection as we go to church and back home again. Prepare our hearts for worship. May all we are inside declare Your Glory on the outside. And may our hearts, minds and souls please You.

We love YOU, Lord and we praise and thank you for all you have done for us and Who You are for us. YOU are our Savior, our Redeemer, our Healer, Our Provider, Our Protection through all the storms of this life, Our comfort when we lose, or are sad and feel alone and left out, Our Guide when we begin new projects or when we are just getting through the day, Our Enthusiasm when we are invited into Your Work, and Our Supreme Example when we want to know what is right. Yes, YOU are all this and more! You are God and we are not.

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Thank You for Who You are! What a wonder you are! There is NO ONE like You, Dear LORD, God of Heaven and Earth.
You know what we need and who needs Your blessings, Your touch, more than we do…so today I will not ask, I will just praise You and be thankful.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Sometimes you’ve just got to STOP and give Him praise. (Reminds me of a song…that is now stuck in my head!) Have a safe day, full of gratitude for the God of all.

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WHERE IS YOUR FORTUNE FOUND?

Posted on January 25, 2014 by randscallawayffm

A picture I found earlier this week prompted praise to God this morning…from His Word…For WHO our God is and what He does.

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“i will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need.” Psalm 138, NLT

“The Lord will work out his plans for my life–for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.” Psalm 138, NLT

“O LORD, you have examined my heart and know every thing about me.” Psalm 139

“You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am.” Psalm 139, NLT

“I look for someone to come and help me…Then I pray to you, O LORD. I say, ‘Your are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.” Psalm 142

“Who can be compared with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high?” Psalm 113, NLT

“To whom, then, can we compare God?” Isaiah 40

“Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed out the mountains and the hills? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who know enough to be his teacher or counselor? Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good or what is best? NO, for all the nations of the world are nothing in comparison with him.” Isaiah 40

“…how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case?” Isaiah 40

“Don’t you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary.” Isaiah 40

“He gives power to those who are tired and worn out, he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. The will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40

Yes, our fortunes are not found in the advice of a cookie, but in the All Mighty God, the Lord of our lives. What encouragement! What love! Praise to God this morning for Who He is and What He has done, still doing, and will do! In Jesus Name, Amen!

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WE ARE PRICELESS!

Posted on January 24, 2014 by randscallawayffm
Encouraging reminders of WHO we are from God’s Message to us:

“God saved you by his special favor when you believed.” SPECIAL FAVOR!

“You can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done so none of us can boast about it.” A GIFT!
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“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” HIS MASTERPIECE! 

We come into this world a blank canvas. He begins His masterful strokes as soon as we believe, to create His work of art. The final, perfecting brush strokes will be done when we meet him face to face!

“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome.” FEARLESSLY!

We are welcome GLADLY into GOD PRESENCE! Picture it! Imagine waking up every morning and boldly, without holding back, fearlessly running to the Father, the Creator, The Artist of us and be welcomed with open arms with a smile on His face!

All these encouraging thoughts courtesy of God’s Word from Ephesians, (NLT) this morning.

Dear Heavenly Father, You bring us encouragement this morning through your word. The evil one shouts “you are not good enough” or “don’t bother God about that” but YOU welcome us, with open arms, ready to listen and give wisdom! Thank you! Continue Your work of art in us until we see you face to face in all Your Glory. In the meantime, may we bring you Glory today, even as unfinished work.
In Jesus Name, Amen

 

 

 

 
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FROM THE INSIDE OUT IS ETERNAL CHANGE!

Posted on January 23, 2014 by randscallawayffm

ROMANS 12 – LIVING IT!

“Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you”. Romans 12, Msg

“A woman battles with depression. What’s the solution suggested by some well-meaning friend? Buy yourself a new outfit! A husband is in an affair that brings him as much guilt as it does adventure. The solution? Hang out with people who don’t make you feel guilty. Change your style. Get a new haircut. Case after case of treating the outside while ignoring the inside.

And the result? The woman gets a new outfit, and the depression disappears…for a day, maybe. The husband finds a bunch of buddies who sanction his adultery. The result…peace, until the crowd’s gone. Then the guilt is back. The exterior polished, the interior corroding. The outside altered, the inside faltering. One thing is clear. Cosmetic changes are only skin deep! — Max Lucado 

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8). And the message of the Beatitude is a clear one. You change your life by changing your heart!

Dear Heavenly Father, I offer my life to You to change from the inside out. Wash me clean. White as new fallen snow. Cleanse my heart of all impurities. Yes, Lord change all of me, whatever it takes until You see Your reflection in my own face…heart, mind and soul.
In Jesus Name and by the Power of Your Holy Spirit, Amen

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MORE PRECIOUS THAN RUBIES?

Posted on January 22, 2014 by randscallawayffm

“A treasure of good sense to the godly”

What could be more precious than beautiful, red rubies? They are pleasing to the eye, distracting us, because of their sparkle and color. What is it that is more precious than this? Wisdom.

Wisdom, skills for living this life well, is what we must seek every day, and in every detail of the journey. Proverbs, those wise sayings from Solomon to his son, tell us to “cry out for wisdom, insight and understand” every day. And we do.

We cry out for wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to make wise choices, good decisions that lead to greater accomplishments. It is doing life well. It is the wisdom to stay focused on what work God has given us the opportunity to join Him as we plan our days. Plan your work, work your plan! As God leads us.

We cry out for insight. Insight is the ability to discern good from better, as well as good from evil. People with insight recognize solutions to problems with more ease and know, instinctively the best course of action. Insight is a “knowing” if you will, of best choices given certain circumstances.

We cry out for understanding. This is seeing situations from more than one perspective. To me, this is asking God to see those around us (and their circumstances) through His eyes with His understanding that is far above our thinking and then act accordingly, with greater understanding.

Guess what!?! “…the LORD grants wisdom!” If we seek “as a precious ruby” or with the tenacious motivation to seek anything else of high value to us, we will receive it! Do we really want it?

“Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. FOR THE LORD GRANTS WISDOM!” (Proverbs 2, NLT, emphasis mine)

Dear Heavenly Father, We are crying out for wisdom, insight, and understanding today as never before, with attentive hearts, open minds and receptive souls. You promised you would give wisdom, “from Your mouth come knowledge and understanding”. 

You promised in Your Word to “grant a treasure of good sense to the godly”. You promised you would be “our shield, protecting us who walk with integrity”. You said You would guard our paths in injustice and protect the faithful. LORD, thank you! 

Continue to help us to know what is right, just and fair and how to find the right course of action every time. May all Your wisdom enter our hearts with knowledge to fill us with joy. (Proverbs 2, NLT as a prayer.) 

Help us. Give us wisdom. In Jesus Name, Amen

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GOD KNOWS YOU, BETTER THAN YOU!

Posted on January 21, 2014 by randscallawayffm
Dear Friends, 
The best encouragement is this today, (someone needs this…I don’t think it is just me.)

“Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! (Ps 32, NLT)
That’s YOU…That’s ME!
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Then another voice comes into our minds to destroy that very thought. Don’t listen to that voice that destroys us. Be tenacious and patient, children of God. If you fall, don’t listen to the accusations and jeers of the evil one. Get back up and walk with God again. How many times? Until you’re free. Remember, anything over our heads, that overwhelms us…is UNDER His feet!

There is only One Voice that sets us free. There is Only ONE Voice that restores us, gives us peace, shows us the Way, the Truth and gives us Life. Only One. JESUS!

Dear Heavenly Father, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely. You hem me in–behind and before; You have laid your hand upon me. I do not need to feel shame or fear in Your intimate knowledge of every detail of my life because Your Word says that Your knowledge of me is wonderful! Thank you, Father. (Ps 139)
In Jesus Name, Amen

 

 

 

 
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