Shower of Blessing

"During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia

standing and begging him,

'Come over to Macedonia and help us.'

After Paul had seen the vision,

we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia,

concluding that God had called us

to preach the gospel to them."

Acts 16:9-10

My husband and I have been married for 24 years.  When I was first getting to know him, he would sometimes tell me things he wanted to do, but would phrase it as if he were going to do it.  For instance, we talked on the phone a lot during those first few months.  Being a poor college student, I mentioned to him that my phone bill was more than I could handle with my limited means.  He began talking about how he should pick up part of the tab since he was benefiting so much from our conversations and that he would be getting paid soon so he should be able to help.  I concluded that he would help me pay my bill, breathing a sigh of relief. 

When it came time to pay the bill, I reminded him of his offer to help and he said he wouldn't be able to pitch in any money at that time.  I was ticked off, to say the least and that started our first real argument.  What I didn't realize was that his optimistic, hopeful way of thinking sometimes leads him to unintentionally mislead others.  To make matters worse, I had inferred from his words speaking of a desire to help the he was actually making a commitment to help.  

My husband now practices the art of being careful not to voice wishes or desires as if they are plans for future action and I try not to take his desires and transfer them into certainties.

Much of communication takes place not just through my words but in learning to read what is going on behind the words.  In my relationship with God, the closer I get to Him the more I sense His lead.  Sometimes, His guidance is not a definite command or order, but rather a need or dilemma presented as an option to get involved.  It's up to me to pay attention to His message and reach a conclusion intuitively and then act on it, leaving all doubt behind.  In other words, when God reveals a need or struggle occurring elsewhere, it may not just be information for my knowledge: It may be a call to action.

Prayer

I read a story about a woman who walked in on a burglar who was in the process of stealing her valuables.  He ripped the phone cord out of the wall and ordered her into a closet. She dropped to her knees and asked the intruder if she could pray for him.  "I want you to know that God loves you and I forgive you," she said.

The thief then apologized for what he had done, called his accomplice to come in from the pick-up parked in front of the house.  They returned all the furniture they had taken, going so far as to remove the bullets from his gun and hand the weapon over to her before he walked out the door.  Praying for our enemies can disarm even the most hardened criminal.

James said that, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)  Jesus taught us to pray not only for our enemies, but also for those who persecute us. (Matthew 5:44)    

Presenting unsolvable problems, difficult emotions and impossible situations to our Father opens up His work in the lives of those who are suffering.  Prayer is like a portal that opens to let God's Spirit in, giving Him permission to enter into a situation.

Prayer is not a formula or chant where specific words said in a certain order with the correct attitude will bring about the desired result.  Instead, it is communicating a faith in the God who can do all things that I am placing all my eggs in His basket, allowing Him to give me the solution He desires for my life and the lives around me.  

When I submit myself to God in this way, interceding for others who are facing difficulties, amazing things will happen.  Hearts will open to receive the truth of the Gospel, families will be transformed and lives will be changed.  A humble prayer to a mighty God is a powerful act.

When God brings a person to my mind, I can choose to pray for them, opening up the floodgates of heaven.

Sacrifice

The letter came, asking for an extra donation.  The missionary family we supported shared a specific need their family faced.  As I read of their plight and the money for which they asked, my mind immediately went to the unexpected check we had received in the mail.  The amount they needed and which my husband and I had received were the same.  I knew in my heart we needed to pass that on to our friends.

As I talked to the Lord about this, I told Him how I thought that extra money was going to go toward a dental procedure all four of our daughters were facing that month.  They each would have their impacted wisdom teeth removed, placing a heavy financial burden on our family.  Instead of going with what made sense to me, though, I sent that check to the missionaries.  

God took care of the dental bill, and the family received the blessing of seeing God provide for their needs.  I, in turn, learned a little something about sacrifice.  

Giving is not always about money, however.  Many times, the most powerful gifts are of my time, talents and spiritual gifts.  When God puts someone in my path who needs to talk, I can decide to ignore the call and finish the tasks I planned for the day, or I can take the time to listen.  If I see a need which I know I have the ability to fulfill, it's my decision whether or not I get involved.  For the times that God places a burden for a brother or sister on my heart, I have the choice to use my gifts to build them up or simply continue on with my day.

Being available to be used by God is my spiritual act of worship.  (Romans 12:1)

Choosing to take God's promptings as a call to action means I'll make a sacrifice that will result in blessing.

Preach

Not all of us are preachers.  My pastor is a wonderful preacher and teacher who dispenses the cold, hard truth in love.  I always come away from his sermons feeling a sense of encouragement as well as a deep conviction to change.

While I couldn't ever imagine myself standing behind a pulpit, I am called to preach at times.  There are instances when my path crosses with someone who needs to hear the truth.  Perhaps they've been burned one too many times in a church.  Or it could be that they've never set foot through the doors of a place of worship.  Other times, the person might be living in such a way that they think they could never get right with God.

Whatever the reason, there are times when the gospel must be preached.  When I see a need, it's up to me to open my mouth and let God's Spirit speak.  All He needs is a willing vessel to deliver His message of love, hope and grace.  When I'm available, He'll teach me what to say. (Luke 12:12)

There are many who need the Good News of Jesus Christ but would never set foot into a church.  For those, believers are compelled to share the Gospel. (Matthew 28:19)

God may not come right out and tell me to preach, but I can do so when I perceive an opening.

God doesn't always give direct commands for me to act.  Many times, He provides an opportunity and its up to me to realize the call for action.  Some of the ways I can act are to pray, sacrificially give and preach the truth.  When I take this step of faith, God will provide a shower of blessing.  (Ezekiel 34:26)

As I begin this day, it is my intention to read between the lines and perceive the call God is placing on my life.

How do I ignore opportunities to serve?

When am I afraid to boldly speak the truth of the Gospel in love?

Blow the Trumpet

"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten--

You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,

and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,

who has worked wonders for you;

never again will my people be shamed.

Then you will know that I am in Israel,

that I am the LORD your God,

and that there is no other;

never again will my people be shamed."

Joel 2:25a,26,27

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

"Breakfast of Champions"

"Every kiss begins with Kay"

"It takes a licking and keeps on ticking."

A good advertising slogan contains a call to action; a challenge to test the product at it's producer's word.  A dare to see if what they say is true.  After seeing the claim, I want to improve my health so I vow to eat my daily serving of apples.  I want to prove that I am a champion by eating Wheaties or I give a gift of jewelry so I can receive the inevitable kiss or I buy the watch that can handle all the abuse I can dish out.  I am inspired to do something.

God sent many prophets to deliver to His people a call to action.  It did not, however, come in the form of slick advertising campaigns.  Instead, He simply exhorted His people to, "Blow the trumpet in Zion." (Joel 2:15)  He said to send a summons to all those who call upon His Name that now is the time to back our words up with deeds.   

Now is the time for action.  Now is the time to turn our hearts back to God and become fully absorbed by Him.  Or as Oswald Chambers says, now is the time "to live and move and have our being in God, to look at everything in relation to God, because the abiding consciousness of God pushes itself to the front all the time." 

"Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD?" (Psalm 25:12) The trumpet is sounding.

Restored

God is a just and holy God.  His judgment is merciful and fair; He only gives what is need to bring me back in a right relationship with Him.  The astounding reality of God is that He is both righteous and merciful. . . all at the same time.  So, the same God who hands down punishment will also pick up the pieces after the time of discipline is over.  

Nowhere is this more evident than in the gospel.  God's own righteousness requires that my sin earns death.  Because of my disobedience to God's perfect law, I am under a death sentence. But, since He is also a merciful and loving God, He saved me from His own judgement by sending Jesus to take my punishment.  I am saved by God, from God.  

This gives me hope.  Even when I stray far away and God has to bring out the big guns to get my attention, He promises to repair any damage done by His act of judgement.  

For instance, when the people of God were turning their backs on Him during the time of the prophet Joel, God sent a plague of locusts to destroy the land of Judah.  If that were the extent of the message, it would be pretty dismal indeed.  God, however, is a God of hope.  And He wants to encourage His beloved people with the thought that once the punishment was over, God would re-establish the fruitfulness once enjoyed by His people.

If I am suffering through a time of drought, I can be assured that the life-giving rain will return.  If I am in the middle of reaping the pain of the hurtful seeds I sowed, I can know without a doubt that God will put the broken pieces back together.  If I am going through a lonely time of worry or sickness, I can trust that God will nurse me back to health.

Responding to the call to action and committing my life to God through faith in Jesus Christ means my wounds will be bound, my broken heart will be healed, and my faith, restored.

Reinstated   

Recently, a meat clerk at a grocery store chain jumped from behind the counter to come to the defense of a pregnant woman who was being kicked by her boyfriend.  He was promptly suspended from his position by his employer on the grounds of a zero-tolerance policy for workplace violence.  After customers boycotted the store in protest, however, the company reinstated him to his former position.  This is the kind of worker I think any business owner would be proud to support.  Sometimes, however, our human sense of justice is out of balance.

In contrast, God never acts unjustly.  If a sentence is handed down and carried out, I can be sure I deserved what was coming to me.  God is always concerned, however, with His good name.  Just as I can't help but lower my sense of regard for the particular grocery store chain that took the unfair action in the above example, if God continually acted in an unfair way toward His people then He would become an object of the world's scorn and mockery.   People may begin to wonder what kind of God would treat His people this way.

For this reason, God blesses obedience.  When I fall out of line, I can expect discipline for, "The LORD disciplines those he loves." (Proverbs 3:12)  When I come back to Him, however, I can trust that He will reinstate me to a position of plenty and abundance.  As the Apostle Paul wrote, "my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)  

Responding to the call to action and giving my all to God results in the blessing of an overflowing cup of His goodness.  

Redeemed

Stanley "Tookie" Williams,  founder of the Crips street gang in South Central Los Angeles in1969, was sentenced to death for murdering four people in cold blood.  While on death row, he had a change of heart and began trying to redeem himself by trying to bring an end to gang violence.  However, he continued to refuse to help authorities to investigate crimes committed by his fellow gang members up until his death by lethal injection in 2005.  His attempts to compensate for his crimes by doing some good fell short.  Since God was not a part of his efforts, the impact was minimal and superficial at best.

God is the One who knows how to fully redeem a sinner.  As He said to His people as recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

True release from the burden of my sins only comes by submitting my life to God through faith in Jesus Christ.  The healing that He brings is permanent, deep and meaningful.  Then, I will be called His child and He will call Himself my God.  The relationship is restored and my life has been redeemed from the pit.

No longer will I need to work so hard to try to make up for everything I have done wrong: I have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

No longer will I find it necessary to punish myself for all the ways I fall short; I have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

No longer will I think I need to deny myself good things like the love of another human; I have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

Unlike Williams' efforts, only a commitment to living my life for God will bring about real redemption.  It is then that He will once again call Himself my God and I can rest peacefully in His arms.

The trumpet is blowing in Zion!  It is calling God's people to come back to Him so that He can repair the damage done by His righteous right hand, bless obedience with the reinstatement of the abundance of His goodness, and redeem His people as His precious possession.  Heed the call of the trumpet, O people of God, and act!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will pay attention to what God is telling me to do today.

When do I ignore His calling and simple continue along, status quo?

How do I try to make up for past mistakes without repenting and receiving the forgiveness of God.