Thursday, February 24, 2011

Wiggle

I just shared with CJC the message that Joyce Meyer spoke at the C3 conference in Grapevine, TX this past weekend. For those of you that couldn't join us, I must share with you as well. Joyce shared from the book of John. She talked about the man who laid by the pool of Bethesda giving every excuse why he could not be healed. For 38 years he suffered with an illness that robbed him of life. He was only steps away from the answer but no one would help him to the water. Joyce said, "Wiggle." If you will do what you can, God will do what you can't. I love that. Don't sit around wishing and hoping. Do SOMETHING! Don't sit around blaming others for your situation. Take RESPONSIBILITY! If this man couldn't walk to the pool, could he wiggle? She told the story about a man who wanted to hear from God. He went before the Lord and fell on his face in prayer. "God speak to me. What do you want from me?" He stayed there for hours. Then suddenly he heard the Lord speak to his heart. "Get up, get dressed and go to work." What in the world does this mean. He went in to his home and his wife said "Did you hear from God?" "Yes, honey," he said. "He said to get up, get dressed and go to work." Well that certainly wasn't what he or his wife were hoping for. They were desperate for change and they needed direction from God. Well, sometimes God is asking us to just be faithful in our natural world. In being faithful and obedient, God brings about the supernatural. We must listen and obey. And for some of us it is a simple request to "Wiggle." Get up and do what you can. And do it to the best of your ability. Do it for the Lord. He will take care of the rest. Our instruction isn't always big. But the Word says that obedience is better than sacrifice.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Groundhog Day

6:01 a.m on February 3rd was quite a day for Phil Conners. Have you ever seen Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell? Bill Murray's character, Phil, was forced to relive February 2nd until he got it right. For many of us, we would give anything for the chance to relive a certain day. But can you imagine being stuck? Death could not even make it stop. Same song, same people, same weather and same events. Ughhhh! It would get so old and tiresome. But then one night he went to sleep and when he woke up it was different. Rita, Andie MacDowell's character, asked if it was a good different or a bad different. Phil responded that anything different was good. We may not get the chance to take back words that we said or actions that we made but tomorrow can be different than today. If I've said it once I've said it a million times, you have a choice. Do you wish to remain the same person or do you desire to grow? When we grow, things change. Change brings something different. A well known definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over expecting a different result. If we aren't willing to accept change we can't expect something different tomorrow. One of the many good things about our God is that He is patient. We give up on ourselves and on others but God never gives up on us. Another great thing about our God is that He doesn't expect us to change on our own. He tells us in His Word that He will provide all we need. He has fruit and gifts that He desires to give. We just have to be obedient and then be ready to receive. So since we can't take back what we have already done, let's seek God's help to never live that day again. Happy Groundhog Day!