Monday, June 16, 2014

I can do all things

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
How many times have we heard this quoted, how many times have we quoted this ourselves, to help us through a difficult time or situation?
But have you ever read what comes before?  Have you read this verse in context?

12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.

Paul is talking about knowing how to live with little and with much. 
When I started my 90 day transformation, I didn't know what the transformation would look like, I didn't have any preconceived ideas as to where I wanted to go, what I did know is that I wanted God to do a work in me.  I wanted to be transformed inside and out.  

So I asked God to do a work in me.  Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

I truly put my life into the Potter's Hands.  And He has and is doing a work in me.  Is it what I would have chosen, no.  Is it how I would have done things, No.  But does the clay say to the potter, do this or that?  No, the clay simply lets the potter do his work.  The clay trusts the potter.

So is what ways have I been transformed?

1. I do completely trust the work of the Potter.  I have completely surrendered to God.
2. I am thankful for everything.  I live in an attitude of thanksgiving.  When was the last time you took a shower and said thank you?  Thank you for a place to shower, thank you for hot water, thank you for soap, for shampoo?   What about thanking God for a bed to sleep in?  Clean sheets?  Warm blanket?  Your soft pillow?  I have am constantly saying thank you to God for everything.
3. I have learned not to judge people by their situation.  But to love and pray for everyone.  So many times I have heard people say that people that are homeless, chose living like that.  That they can't give them money because the homeless person would just use the money for alcohol or drugs.  But the Bible says:
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him,[d] saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”  
It is not up to me to figure out what someone will do with what I give them, it is up to me to give.  It is not my money anyway, it all belongs to God, to if God tugs at your heart to give, don't try and analyze, just give.
4. I have also learned that everything I make is because of God.  He has provided me with the opportunities to earn money, and everything belongs to Him, so whether it is a little of a lot, the very first thing I do, is tithe.  This is an act of complete of submission and faith.  But like the widow who gave the two mites," but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”  I give first and then trust God to multiply the rest for my needs.  
5.  And finally I have learned not to judge myself by the life of others.  We are all on our own journey, each with it's own set of blessings and challenges.  We have know idea what someone else is facing right now, so when I see someone, whether at Starbucks or on the streets I pray for those that God places in my site.  I don't need to know what they are going through, and I assure you everyone is going through something, God knows and God just wants us to pray.  So sometimes I will will sit in Starbucks and just pray for each person sitting there.  

Do I know where God will lead me next?  No.  But I trust God, I trust his heart, I trust his plans, I trust that he always has my back, and I know without a doubt that:

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us[b] with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Amen!!!!!