Runaway Bride

Running, (escape of some kind), is usually the most tempting solution to our problems: In fact, it can become a habit!!

The Bible has many illustrations of people that ran from God, the first one I think of is Jonah. However, the New Testament used Hagar (Sarah's handmaiden - Gen. 16:1), as an example of one who always tried to run away or escape her problems. When she was punished by Sarah, her master, she ran away, when she ran out of water in the dessert, she put her son down and left him rather than see him die (which she felt was going to happen). (Gen. 21:15-16).

The Bible says God heard the voice of Ishmael and sent an angel of the Lord to Hagar, (Gen. 21:17). The Lord sent help to her!!

How many times do we try to run from our problems instead of going to God with them? How many times must He come to us first?

The Bible refers to us as the "bride of Christ". As such, we should run to Him with arms wide open, filled with praise and glory, smiling with joy because we know He hears us and wants to take care of us.

How many times to do we run "from" Him instead of "to" Him? When will we learn running only provides temporary relief and most of the time it's an illusion of relief). Whatever problems we have, whatever trials we are facing are still right there where we left them, awaiting solutions. God wants us to face our problems with His help. Deuteronomy 4:29-31,29But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. 30When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; 31(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

God has promised He will never leave us nor forsake us and God CANNOT lie. God is faithful to His plan and promises, EVEN when WE complicate the process.

We should draw close to Him. When we feel separation from God, "He" is not the one who has moved. Have you noticed how patiently God works to make our escape attempts fail? Ever heard the old expression, "you can run but you can't hide"? Do you sometimes feel like you are running in a circle? We are and each time we make that circle we pass by God who sits there patiently waiting for us to grow tired, stop running and come to Him. Matthew 11:28-30, 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. The time to stop and rest is today!! He is waiting patiently, but He can't wait on us forever! The time is drawing near when He will come to collect His bride. Matthew 25: 6-13, 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Are there problems in your life where you are choosing the "Hagar solution"? Choose one of those problems and ask God for help with it today. If you are running from God and the annointing He has placed on you or simply running from the quickening of the Holy Spirit and God trying to draw you close, STOP, turn around and run don't walk back to God. He is waiting, He is ready - lay all your cares on Him for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7-11, 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Don't be a runaway bride!

Hebrews 13:6, 8, 6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. 8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

John 16:23-24, 23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give ityou. 24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Is your joy full? Are you running to God or away?

Father, I come to you today, in the name of Jesus and ask that you give all who read this rest Father, rest from their troubles, and help for healing, finances, spiritual lagging, mental illnesses, marital troubles, parent troubles, children troubles, whatever their need is today that you will reach out to them in their time of need Lord and touch them. That you will establish Your word in their hearts and you will re-establish their annointing Father, that You will give them the desire to run to you, to seek you instead of running from You and their problems. Give them peace Lord, help them see that you are there, you are taking care of them in those moments. I just thank You Lord for what You are doing in all our lives. I pray for knowledge, wisdom and understanding, help us to walk in the center of Your will and when the day comes that You return for Your bride we all be waiting with our lamps trimmed in excitement and expectation for Your arrival. I love you Lord, thank you Jesus. Amen

Don't tell God how big the mountain is -

Tell the mountain how big your God is. Trusting in Jesus means I don't have to try and "fix" everything and everybody! Isn't it funny how sometimes things just "come" to us and it's like a light bulb being turned on? I've really honestly learned to turn my trials and troubles over to God and let Him handle them, although being human I occasionally still try to "fix" things myself. When God wants me to learn something knew He isn't shy about it. Everywhere I turn, everything I look at, everything I pick up to read will illustrate His point and what He is trying to teach me.

You might say today's lesson is "Lean on me". I open facebook and see a status that says, "Let Go and Let God". My message of the day says, "The weight you carry on your shoulders is too heavy for one human being. Give some of that weight where it belongs, - to God and have faith that what happens is for the best, whether you understand it or not." I get a daily email called, "what the Lord is saying today", that also has a lesson about NOT trying to fix everything myself. Now what would you think? Think the Lord is trying to tell me something? I sure do, and I'm listening Lord.

Yesterday I got an answer to something I've waited on for almost two years and finally after all this time the answer was yes, praise God. However, after finally getting a positive answer, the rest of the day I worried!!! I worried what if -- what if they change their mind, what if something happens and they reverse the decision, what if one side still doesn't agree and decides to fight it. Very quietly that small still voice is telling me, "it's okay. Didn't "I" fix this, am I not still in control here? Haven't I been telling you all this time, trust me?" "Lean on me, trust not in your own understanding." Wow what powerful words! Then I remember how wonderful it is to trust in Jesus, what a burden is lifted when I just let go and let Him do His work. He loves me, that is all that matters. He promised me in His word that He would take care of me. He does. It's true when "I've been down to nothing, God has been up to something."
God bless you and yours
Tawana B
pray for the peace of Israel.

When the song in your heart and the song in your head don't match!

I'm sure everyone has heard the expression "keep a song in your heart". I love that because to me its a little like therapy. IF, the song that is in my heart and the song that is going through my head MATCH! The song in my heart is most always "The God on the Mountain", sometimes "Amazing Grace". I love both of those songs along with many many more. My favorite music is Southern Gospel.  I used to listen to Country and some older rock-n-roll (50's, 60's, 70's and 80's), but not anymore. 

Anyway, back to the song in your heart etc.
What I DON'T like is when the song in my head is something stupid! Have you ever had one of those days when you hear a piece of something and it sticks in your head? A commercial, a kids song etc. Then it seems no matter what you do, you can't get rid of that song! Sometimes the song just pops in your head for no apparent reason that you can comprehend. Like today, all day long the Barney song has been going through my head. No reason, nothing I can remember thinking that would lead me to it, it's just there! I didn't have the grandkids today, no cartoons, nothing. It's like my brain just decided that was what I needed to sing. You know the one: I love you, you love me yada yada yada. Well now that I've got it stuck in YOUR head, maybe you can help me figure out a way to get rid of it. I try humming my favorites, even out loud and the second I quit there it is again or worse yet, the words of the Barney song drown out what I'm trying to think of to sing. What I hate even worse is getting a song stuck in my head that I don't know the words too, maybe I only know one line or just a few words, then I can't sing it but I can't stop singing it either so the same words run over and over in my head like a broken record.... grrrrrowl.

It's irritating, but wouldn't it be wonderful if that was the worst thing in the world we had to worry about? I think sometimes it is our brains way of giving us a break. A silly non-sense thing to temporarily take your mind off the really stressful things going on in your life right now. When I put it in that perspective, its not quite so bad except I'd still rather be singing something, almost anything besides Barney! LOL