June 11, 2016

Greetings My Friend, I keep seeing how God wants me to live my life as I read the Bible. I see His instructions in both the OT and the NT too. He wants me to be honest, use honest weights and measures, be humble, honor Him with my first fruits and the list goes on. Today while reading my morning study I also see that God knows there are those who refuse to see His awesomeness. We know those that truly don't want to hear the Good News and no matter how hard we try they will refuse to hear. Sometimes I want to go the extra mile to get a person to understand the gift I have been given and today I see that I can try but I do not need to wear myself out trying. I can live as Godly as I can with the Holy Spirit's help. I can have a defense of why I believe when I am asked and after a bit I need to move on. I liken my actions to seed planting. The seed is planted in the soil and we do not see the transformation of that seed until it starts to pop through the earth. We planted the seed and then we watered it and the sun warmed the earth enticing the seed out of the earth. The rain nourished the seed and one day it is coming forth. Today I believe that I am a seed planter of God's Word. I may do it with words, how I treat others or even how I manage my own life in my faith. When I understand that coming to a faith in Jesus is one step here and one step there I find it easier to present what I know, live what I believe. Some will come to a faith and some will not. I have done what I can to spread God's loving kindness. Ultimately God is the one who will be the one who speaks to the unbeliever's soul and bring them fully into His Kingdom. I sense God wants me to do my part and then let Him do the rest. In the meantime I need to live humbly, do not seek to make those who choose not to see, to see. I need to be right with God leave it in His hands. I need to be on guard in my own journey so that I do not become prideful. For me my walk in faith is a day to day learning and growing experience. Some days I am right on target and some days I have wandered off into a field somewhere. When I find myself wandering I need to take hold of my thoughts and train them back into God's Word. I find that as I seek to reach out to others I need to reach back to myself as well. By consistently learning to keep my eyes focused on the cross I stay on target to the mission I am given. God has gifted me with my own special job within His Kingdom so I need to not get involved in so much activity that I loose sight of His desire for me. My daily alone time with God is how I am able to stay focused. I love this quiet time I spend with God. I read His Word and think about the lessons I find in the Word. To me it is the studying I love to do. I get to ask a ton of questions and I am in awe when those questions begin to turn into answers for me. Sometimes I share what I learn and sometimes I realize that what I am learning is for me alone. It is awesome to be a student in my journey of faith. The more I am settling into retirement I once again am enjoying the special quiet time I loved when I worked. It has been a journey to get back to this point and now that it is here again I am thrilled beyond words. Some mornings I wake up early, do my Bible study and then go back to bed.Other mornings I get up, dig into my study and then get my day started. Either way I am grateful to have this special time alone with God. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet