Day 14: Shoveling Manure.

Today we are reading Proverbs chapter 14 and Psalm chapters 66-70. Pray that God would reveal his plans for you today.

-Read Scripture-

So in preparing for today's study I had a little trouble. I was torn between two different topics to write about and finally gave in and asked God, "What do you want people to know today?" (Why is it that I always wait to go to him until I'm flustered, when I could have at the beginning and avoided the flusteredness?!)  After a few moments of silence, he answered.

THAT WHAT YOU DO WITH WHAT I GIVE YOU, DICTATES WHAT I GIVE YOU IN THE FUTURE.

Huh, stewardship. Well, thanks God but that wasn't either of my options. But of course after re-reading todays scripture through that lens, I noticed the theme. Guess God does know what he's doing and has a plan! :)

Everything we have is from God: finances, provisions, abundance, and hardships. What do we do with what he entrusts to us? Are we wise and generous? Or are we frivolous or stingy? Are we angry with the burdens he places on us, or do we learn, grow, and stretch ourselves?

Psalm 66:10-12 says, "He trained us first, passes us like silver through refining fires, Brought us into hardscrabble country, pushed us to our very limit, Road tested us inside and out, took us to hell and back; Finally he brought us to this well watered place." The Message 

(I can not even put into words how much I love these verses and what they mean to me personally.)

How do you handle your test? What tests are you currently going through? What hell are you in? Are you looking to God for sustaining or shaking your fist? The truth is, God tests us for a reason, he needs to prepare us for the work he has for us. It's never an easy process, but it is necessary. (Just a side note from me to you: The hotter your refining fire, the more important work he is preparing you for. So know that it is not for nothing, and let that fact encourage you. That God has something incredible for you when you are ready!)

My test/refining fire are my two beautiful, amazing autistic children. I've been through some dark and hellish years, but God used (and IS using) my children to mold me into who I am. I can honestly say that I would not be doing what I am doing today without that hardscrabble country.

The trouble with hard work is just that, it's hard. "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." Proverbs 14:23 TNIV God wants to know that we are willing to put in the work. It's just like the talents parable, he wants to know we will make the most of what he gives us! And he wants to know you're not afraid to get your hands dirty...

"Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox." Proverbs 14:4 TNKJ  I will tell you this, and I believe it with all I am, if God knows you are willing to shovel the manure, he'll give you the ox you need. It might sound a little silly, but I truly believe that God will give you everything you could ever need, if he knows you will take care of it and make the most of it.

I don't want you to take this as a "works based" thing. I am strictly referring to stewardship, not salvation, grace, or love. That is all free and unconditional, nothing we can do will change that. I just want us to be willing to work for his kingdom. Be willing to be refined, so you can work at your best. Because today, he wants you to know: THAT WHAT YOU DO WITH WHAT I GIVE YOU, DICTATES WHAT I WILL GIVE YOU IN THE FUTURE.

Abba, allow this to wash over us and encourage us. You have a purpose for all we go through, you have a plan. You have a job for us to do, and it's up to us to use what you entrusted to us to accomplish it. We are so thankful for your blessings, and your refining fire. You turn us into something better, more valuable than we could ever become on our own. Thank you for seeing the potential in us and bringing out the best in us. We love you and desire to honor you today with ALL you give us, all the good and the difficult.

Amen.

Day 8: The Overflow.

Today we are reading Proverbs chapter 8 and Psalm chapters 36-41. Before you begin, ask God to reveal to you something about yourself today. Either something good that maybe you have never recognized before, or something that you need to work on.

-Read Scriptures-

"I'm ready to meet those who love me, bestow true riches upon them, and fill up their lives until their treasuries overflow." Proverbs 8:21 The Voice

If you get nothing else from this study, I want you to understand this promise. That you can live a life full of true riches. That your life can be in a constant overflow.

I know this to be true because I am living it right now. Ever since I have fully given myself over to God, not holding back, submitting to him, and spending time with him everyday, I have lived in a constant state of overwhelm-ment. (I just made that word up, it's that awesome and intense, it deserves it's own word. :)  In every aspect of my life, I feel overwhelmed. (In a very good way of course). The Holy Spirit's presence and power in my life is overwhelming, people's generosity and capacity for goodness overwhelm me, God's words overwhelm me, my children's growth and progress, financially, blessing upon blessing, etc. Even my business, COLORS, is in a constant state of over-flow, (not as much financially, lol, but being able to watch God work has been SO exciting!)

Everywhere I look, everywhere I go, in everything I seem to do, God shows up. And it is always in a way that is so obviously him, all credit goes to him. That is not to say that things are always easy. That doesn't mean that there aren't moments of sadness, frustration, disappointment, or suffering. But it DOES mean that in those moments of darkness, I NEVER feel alone or hopeless. And even in the hard, tedious work, I know that God will take my efforts and make more of them than I ever could. Truly knowing and believing that God is always working in, with, and through me, gives me peace. Even when I feel I can do nothing right, knowing that he is always in control and can turn my mess into a masterpiece, makes me feel brave and confident. To me, that is true riches! 

Which is why I know that this could be your life too. It has NOTHING to do with me or the individual, just their desire to serve and honor God with their lives. He provides my needs, He gives me my heart's desire, He sends the people into my life, He provides the finances, He provides the words and encouragement I need, etc.

Psalm 37:4-6 in TNIV says: "Take delight in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun." 

The "reward" and "treasuries" referred to in both scriptures are not monetary (in my opinion). Money and earthly riches can be taken, stolen, or lost. The overflow that I've experienced can not be taken away.

The tangible presence of God in my life.
My joy.
My confidence.
My peace.

All of these things are available to you. You can live a life full of abundance and overwhelm-ment! God has blessed me beyond measure, and even in the trials and difficult moments, I have found SO much peace and joy knowing that God uses these things to take us where we need to go. That refinement requires fire. And even though the fire can be painful, it's results can be immeasurable and beautiful. When you really thing about it that way, it can be very overwhelming. In a good way. :)

My prayer for you today:

Abba, I pray for every single person doing this study right now, in this very moment. That you fill them so full of your presence that it overflows in tears. That you give them a tangible reminder that you desire to overflow us, with you. That you have a life so FULL ready for us, we can not even comprehend. A life full of blessings and joy. A life full of peace and confidence. A life living every day aware of your presence. A life full of contentment and love. A life full of forgiveness and grace. A life FULL of you. I give mine over to you today, you can do so much more with it than I ever could. I pray the same for my friends.

Give them a glimpse today, let today be the day that they know everything has changed. I pray that every single one of my friends claim these treasures and riches you have for them right now. We are your children, and this is our inheritance. We don't have to wait for it, it's available to us here and now. Thank you for it. Thank you for giving us these things that we don't deserve. Thank you for loving us through all our mistakes and failures. Thank you for loving us through the fire. Thank you for making us into something beautiful. We desire to honor and glorify you in all we say and do today.

Amen.