Taste and See

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” Psalm 34:8-10

Both my husband and I had the blessing of having moms who were in our opinions, the best chefs! Our moms took the time each day to prepare a healthy meal for their families  - all in the name of love!

When we began our family, mealtime was also always an expression of our love for our children.  I remember when they were very young, my husband and I received so much joy to introduce solid foods into their diets. We loved to see the expression on their faces, as they tasted for the first time a banana or an orange or the sweet taste of watermelon! We were filled with joy when we saw their reaction to having their taste buds satisfied and when they desired more.

The Bible says, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!”

As we begin this glorious Christmas season and if you have not “tasted” the LORD, I invite you to allow Him to satisfy your soul! By doing so, it will open up your desire to want more of HIM!

“Taste and see” does not mean, “Check out God’s credentials.” Instead it is a warm invitation: “Try this; I know you’ll like it.” When we take the first step of obedience in following God, we will discover that He is good and kind. When we begin the Christian life, our knowledge of God is partial and incomplete. As we trust Him daily, we experience how good He is.” Commentary

As we taste and see the wonderful foods of Christmas, let's not only see the loving hands that prepared it, but let's see the loving God who provided it!

OH, Taste and See that the LORD is good! Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing!

Disrupt

Are you a disruptor? 

A disruptor is someone who interrupts. We usually think of a disruptor in a negative way but “disruptors” invented some of the greatest inventions we enjoy today.  A disruptive innovation is an innovation that creates a new market by applying a different set of values, which ultimately overtakes an existing market.

For example: E-mail disrupted postal mail because it can send messages over vast geographical distance in mere milliseconds without wasting paper or requiring the spending of money for postage stamps.

Smartphones disrupted personal computers, as they are more portable than traditional PC’s.

In most cases the disruptors were people that were outside of the existing companies. This is because the people who were in the existing companies felt comfortable and did not feel that change was necessary or they perceived that the effort and start up costs were too great.

Disruptors are usually people who see a need or gap that is not being met. A disruptor sees a better way! Disruptors are willing to pay the sacrifice of time and effort to move their ideas forward.

The ultimate disruptor in my opinion was Jesus Christ! God sent His Son into the world to disrupt – to stand in the gap for mankind – to intercede and make the ultimate sacrifice in order to bring salvation to all who accept Him. 

I believe that God wants us to follow his example to be a disruptor in order to partner with Him for the well being of others.

In Ezekiel 22:30 it says, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”

“The wall spoken of here is not made of stones, but of faithful people united in their efforts to resist evil. This wall was in disrepair because there was no one who could lead the people back to God. The feeble attempts to repair the gap-through religious rituals or messages based on opinion rather than God’s will-were worthless as whitewash, only covering the real problems. What the people really needed was total spiritual reconstruction!” Commentary

One effective and powerful way that we can be a disruptor and make a big difference in this world is through prayer! 

“Through intercessory prayer I reach out beyond myself and pray, not for my own needs, but for the needs of those around me. I pray for my family, friends, and neighbors who don’t yet know Jesus Christ. I pray for the needs in the Body of Christ. I bring before God all the various needs of others that have come to my attention.” Chuck Smith

We may never be an inventor that changes markets or industries, but by simply bending our knees and praying for those around us fervently, we can be used by God to disrupt the eternal destiny for those we love one life at a time!

Let’s be a disruptor for Christ! Stand in the gap and make a difference for God and this world!

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much." James 5:16b

When I Rise

“The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger quieter life come flowing in.” C. S. Lewis

Is this true for you as you rise each morning? I know at times it is true for me - all my wishes and hopes for the day rush at me like wild animals. And this is especially true for me during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons when my list for the day is even longer!

Do you know what I have found and I am sure you have found this too - nothing gives our day more completeness, fulfillment and joy than when we talk to our heavenly Father in prayer and listen to Him when we open up His Holy Word.

I admit to you that there are mornings that everything in me wants to grab my purse and run out the door to accomplish a wish or hope I have for the day. But when I shove all those desires back and take the time to listen to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger quieter life come flowing in, I never regret it as I am embraced by the arms of the Almighty!

I believe God’s heart of love says to His children, “Spend time with Me, My love, I desire to give you peace and strength and hope and encouragement and guidance for your day.”

With great anticipation, let’s press towards the goal of letting God quiet our soul and let's sit down, open up the Word of God and enjoy the fellowship with our King!

“I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.” Psalm 11:162

God's HIGH ways!

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

Once when I had the opportunity to fly to Japan, I heard the captain mention that we were going to climb to a height that would take advantage of the Jet Stream. When planes fly in the Jet Stream, it minimizes the use of fuel and maximizes the speed of the aircraft.  Jet Streams are fast flowing narrow air currents found in the atmosphere of some planets including earth.

The pilots in order to take advantage of this Jet Stream highway - usually must climb up to between 29,000 - 39,000 feet above sea level. Although the pilots can get to their destinations at different heights, the airlines have discovered that utilizing the Jet Stream when using it as a tail wind - is the better way!

Do you know that God also has a “HIGH way” – a better way? The LORD says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways and MY thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9). 

As we are journeying on this earth, we don't always understand God's HIGH ways and as a result can become confused, frustrated, perplexed, overwhelmed and impatient. But when we connect with God through His Word and wait on His timing, He will lift us up to His Jet Stream and He will carry us effortlessly with His strength to His destination for us. 

Fortunately for us, God's HIGH ways are not conditioned on the direction of the Jet Stream and we don’t have to climb to 29,000 -39,000 feet to enjoy the blessings of God's HIGHER ways :)! 

As a child of God, we have a loving, All Knowing heavenly Father who is at the helm of our life and He is not only in control of the air currents, the atmosphere, the economy and the nations - but He is in control of EVERY detail of our life! 

"If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the utmost part of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me and Your right hand shall hold me." Psalms 139:10-11.

The Pattern Is His

I was so blessed when the poem below was shared at the Bible study I attend. I now share it with you today in hopes that it blesses you as well! 

“Life is but a Weaving” (The Tapestry Poem)

By: Corrie ten Boom

“My life is but a weaving

Between my God and me.

I cannot choose the colors

He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;

And I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper

And I the underside.

Not ‘til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly

Will God unroll the canvas

And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the weaver’s skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned 

He knows, He loves, He cares;

                                    Nothing this truth can dim.

He gives the very best to those

Who leave the choice to Him.” 

  

“As (our life) unfolds in real time, it’s like viewing the backside of a tapestry. It appears to be nothing more than a jumble of thread – tangled, frayed, occasionally knotted, and seemingly random. Nothing really makes sense. It’s no wonder people lose heart, give up, and abandon their commitments.

But things are not always what they seem.

It is only when you turn a tapestry over that you see the art: the rich colors, the texture, and the patterns that can make a tapestry a thing of astonishing beauty.

No thread of experience – good or bad – is wasted. When it appears to be that way, we just have to remind ourselves that we are simply looking at the backside of a tapestry. And the One weaving it together, knows precisely what He is doing.” Michael Hyatt

"Be still, and know that I am God..."Psalm 46:10