"Come, Follow Me." -Jesus

If a man, you maybe only heard of or saw a few times, walked up to you at work and said, "Come, follow me!"...would you drop everything you were doing and follow him?

After reading in Matthew 4, I find myself trying to put myself in the story. Simon, Peter (Andrew), James, & John did just that. (Matthew 4:18-22). It says Simon & Peter were casting their nets, getting ready to make their catch of the day. This was what they did as a living to help support their families. And up walks Jesus, who had just began teaching, and said, "Follow me." I can't help but wonder what their families must have thought. They must have been so dedicated to God and so close to Him that they trusted Him enough to drop their work and follow His Son.  The same could be said of James & John. I wonder what emotions their father went through as he saw his sons rise from helping him with the nets, to follow this man. Who was he? Had they already heard Him teach in the streets? I can just imagine them all sitting there on their boat working together, talking & laughing, going about their normal day....and then boom...there's Jesus and says "Come, follow me!". And just like that they did. Did their father sit there dumbfounded that he was left to work the nets alone? Or maybe he sat there with a grin on his face, completely happy & satisfied that they were following the Master. Just some curious thoughts on my part.

But the question still remains; Would you do the same? Are we close enough to God, that we would recognize His voice when He calls to us? Would we recognize Jesus, in an instant, & drop what we were doing if He asked us to "Follow Him?" In one sense, He has done just that. Spiritually when we except Him as our Savior, we drop the old way of living & begin to follow Him. Living a pure & holy life. But do we listen to His call in the physical form of life? Maybe give up something, go visit someone, join a small group at church, preach, teach, sing, etc. Whatever it may be that Christ calls you to do, are you willing to do it? (No matter the cost?)

Just some thoughts. In Sunday school we have been encouraged to try and put ourselves in the shoes of those we read about when studying the Word. I've already done that in the past, but I find myself doing it more. Wondering just what it must have been like to experience those moments first hand.

I Will Seek You & Learn to Walk...

This song has been coming to mind a lot this month. This morning the only line I could remember was "And step by step You'll lead me. And I will follow You all of my days!"  Earlier this month the line "I will seek you in the morning, and I will learn to walk in Your ways" kept going throug my head. I hadn't heard the second song, (that they go into on this video), but this was the most calming video I could find for this song. ;)

I have been singing it in my head after reading Psalm 119:41-80 this morning. I will have to expand my thoughts on these scriptures later, but I leave you with this: 

Psalms 119:45-48 (NLT) "I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. I will speak to kings about your laws, and I will not be ashamed. How I delight in your commands! How I love them! I honor and love your commands. I meditate on your decrees."

I am so thankful for the Freedom I have in Christ, as I seek Him & learn to walk in His ways! :)

Consumed. Overwhelmed. Pant.

"As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after You. You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship you!"

In Sunday School we are on a study titled "The Door to Liberation". We have homework this week to read Psalm 1:1-3 & Psalm 119. As I began to read 119 this morning, I couldn't help but stop at verse 20 & reflect.

Psalm 42:1-2 was read on Sunday: "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (‭‬ESV)

(Taken from my notes on Sunday...)

"Do we pant after God as the deer pants for water? (Psalm 42:1-2) The term addiction is usually thought of in a negative light, but it can be good if we are addicted to God. "

Psalm 119:20 says:

(NLT) "I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations."
(ESV) "My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times."
(NIV) "My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times."

(KJV) "My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times."

Are our souls overwhelmed or consumed with/for Him? Something to stop & consider.

Focus on This One Thing.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT)

What is your focus on this year? I found this new study called: "One Word that will Change Your Life". And the idea is to search and pray for God to bring you one Word to put your focus on. As I was reading yesterday, I felt like the word "seek" spoke to me. Mostly bc I feel God has already been calling me in that direction to seek more of Him. And so that will be my "one focus" throught this year. It may sound like a new year's resolution, but it's not. It's a life change.

Trust In Him.

Proverbs 3: (KJV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

This is one of my all time favorite scriptures. I memorized it from the KJV,  and while I love reading from the NLT (b/c it is more broken down into every day English), I still like this particular verse from KJV. Either way the truth is the same. The NLT reads :"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." 

It came to mind this morning, after reading a friend's post about needing prayer for some anxiety she is feeling as they go through the process of adoption.

I'm not going through that same process, but I did have a couple of stress/anxiety/fearful days last week. And after asking a friend to pray for me, talking to my Hubby, reading God's Word, & seeing different word pictures on FB; my fears, doubts, and anxiety was put to rest. I had a peace and calm fill my soul, and I am so thankful for that. I'm so thankful that God will reach down, in one form or another, and give us just what we stand in need of. So I encourage you this morning to trust in Him. Cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you. Aren't you glad that He is Sovereign over all? He is in control and He will guide you on your journey if you trust in Him. :) 

Blessings this Wed.!

Being Joyful In All Things.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

New Living Translation (NLT)

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Was working on this yesterday since my day got interrupted and rearranged. I decided I wasn't going to stress about the things that needed done and would have to wait. Instead I would be positive & focus on the good news I had heard on the phone & through FB. I admit, it isn't always easy being joyful in all things, but always worth the effort. :) 

Everything About Me.

Psalm 139:1 "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. (2) You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. (3) You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. (4) You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. (5) You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. (6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! (7) I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (8) If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. (9) IF I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, (10) even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. (11) I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night--(12) but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as the day. Darkness and light are the same to you. (13) You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. (14) Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it. (15) You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. (16) You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (17) How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!" (NLT)

He knows every little thing about us. And why wouldn't He? He's our Creator!  Along with this passage, yesterday, I read in Gen. 3:1-13. It talks about the time when Adam and Even ate from the forbidden tree. God already knew what they had done, but asked them anyway.....

God: Where are you?
Adam: I heard you walking in the garden & so I hid. I was afraid b/c I was naked.
God: Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the forbidden tree who's fruit I commanded you not to eat?
Adam: Eve gave it to me.

God already knew this, but He wanted Adam to answer for himself.

God knows my thoughts even when I am far away. (Psalm 139:2) I have been feeling as if my relationship with Him is further away from Him than I want it to be. I haven't lost my faith or salvation in Him, but I haven't been in His Word as much as I should be. I am glad He still knows me and speaks to me, even when I am far away. I am thankful that He still whispers into my ear and reminds me that He misses His time with me. (Which reminds me of a song my Mom used to sing..."I miss My time with you. Those moments together. I need to be with you each day. And it hurts Me when you say, 'I'm too busy. Busy trying to serve You.' But how can you serve Me when your spirit's empty? There's a longing in my heart...." [I may not have gotten all the words right in there, but I think you get the idea.])

He knows your name. He knows your every being. You can never drift too far that He can't see you or hear you. After all, He created you. He knows everything about you and me.