"Change is Possible"

Acts 9:11 "So the Lord said to Ananias, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying."

Ananias knew about this man Saul...

heard all about the terrible things he 

had done to believers 

in Jerusalem.   A

nd the LORD knew that Ananias was going to have some reservations about Saul.  That's why He told him 

 

"Behold, he is praying."   The LORD wants Ananias to understand that Saul has changed...he's different for now he prays to Me."  Don't you love how the LORD points to the fact that Saul is now praying to Him as proof that he is a believer, proof that it is safe to go.  "Behold, he is

praying to me now. (NLT)"  

But Ananias has taken his eyes off the LORD and puts them on the man, Saul, and Ananias 

has

 gone from 

"Yes, LORD" to "But LORD" ~  

"but LORD, ...he is authorized by  

the 

leading priests 

to arrest 

every believer 

in Damascus."   

Whenever we say "but" it means we are in opposition to what has just been said.  And we usually say it right before we give our explanation/excuse for why we can't do something.  "But LORD, I can't go there, I might be arrested!   God isn't only working in Saul's heart...He's working in Ananias 

heart too.

"But the LORD said, "Go and do what I say.  For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel."  Acts 9:15

God is so gracious to Ananias...He didn't have to explain what he was doing...The LORD could have just stopped at "Go and do what I say."   But He doesn't stop there...God shares His plans for Saul, to help Ananias to see more clearly...giving him what he needs to enable him to get up and get going.  Since God did this for Ananias, he will do the same for us as well.   He will always give us what we need ~ to do what He has called us to do.

"So Ananias went and found Saul.  He laid his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the LORD Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may get your sight back and be filled with the Holy Spirit."  Acts 9:17

Doesn't the LORD work in unexpected ways...getting Saul's attention, what a dramatic change.  Who would have thought that Saul would get saved...well, not Ananias...and I'm sure we wouldn't have thought so either.  But at the same time God is working on Saul, he's working on Ananias' heart (a devoted Christian).  

This is a great reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God and none of us have arrived...we all need the changing power of Jesus in our lives, but we need to permit Him to change us...transform us.  Had Saul been unwilling...he would have continued as he was, a non-believer fighting against God.  And Ananias...we would have never heard of him.

But for those who are willing to yield to His will, listen to His Word, and follow His way, He begins to change that believer and accomplish remarkable things in their life.  He also begins to do wonderful things through that life.

Blessings,

Sharon

"Winter of their Discontent"

Acts 6:1  "But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent..."

These Greek-speaking Christians began to complain, but they didn't complain to those in authority, those responsible, they simply complained among themselves.  The Strong's Concordance tells us that the "rumblings of discontent, complaints, murmuring were done in secret."  It was "a secret debate, a secret displeasure not openly avowed."   Why?  Why were their complaints done in secret?  If there is legitimate problem...and we see that there was...why not go before the apostles and have it dealt with.  

I wonder if the believers "winter of their discontentment" began with a root of bitterness...someone begins to think that they aren't appreciated...and a spirit of complaining begins and what is actually an innocent oversight...is turned into intentional neglect.  Regardless of the cause of their murmuring...it's always wrong.   

We too can have our "winters of discontentment", can't we.  When we begin to question the motives of others...we can know that winter is here...don't look around with this happens...the first place we need to look is within our own hearts and bring it to the LORD.  If left unchecked...a work of the spirit can be destroyed.   

How wise the Apostles were...when they heard of the problem they didn't ignore it and say, "nonsense!"  They didn't take it personal, "I dare you even suggest that we are showing favoritism."  They dealt with it:  Acts 6:3  "...select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom."  Every problem that arises in the church gives us the opportunity to do three things. (1) Examine our hearts.  (2) Exercise faith in the Lord. (3) Express Love in the way that we work out the problem. 

All this causes me to wonder about God's providence.  

Genesis 50:20 comes to mind "But as for you, ye 

thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, 

as [it is] this day, to save 

much people 

alive."   

Could it be, that the LORD allowed the widows to 

receive less...so the hearts of His people could be tested and revealed so their sin could be dealt with.  Often, the problem we have in loving others is really a symptom of 

a deeper problem...not knowing who God is and trusting Him...our flesh, sin 

is the real issue.

The problem was handled with wisdom, with discernment, with love and grace.  Acts 6:5  "This idea pleased the whole group."  As a result of the godly leadership...true unity began and the Holy Spirit moved and did a greater work... 

Acts 6:7 "God's message was preached in ever-widening circles.  The number 

of believers 

greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many  of the Jewish priests were converted too."   

Blessings,

Sharon

"Wise Guys"

Proverbs 23:24  "The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,  And he who begets a wise child will delight in him."

I love all my children!  And nothing brings me greater delight to watch them walk with wisdom.  But, sadly, there is something missing when instead of walking in wisdom, they walk in foolishness.  Proverbs 22 tells us that  "

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child"....and until a heart truly repents before God and accepts Jesus...that foolishness will continue on into adulthood.  

Since not all my children are walking in wisdom (with the LORD), my rejoicing or delighting is replaced with mourning for their soul.   But wisdom teaches us not to keep our eyes on the circumstances of life.  Instead, keep our eyes on Jesus.  I'm not saying we close our eyes to the difficulties of life (prodigals, etc.) and pretend the problems don't exist...we don't have to...because God is still on the throne! 

My desire and I know your desire is that ALL of our children know Christ personally and for them to be delivered from the power of sin...and we aren't alone, for this is God's desire too!   He is our hope....Romans 5:5-6  "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  For when we wee still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

What an encouragement to know that God loves our children even more than we do and that His plan of salvation, was provided for by the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, and is available to everyone who seeks Him.  

3 John 1:4  ..."I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."  LORD,   A mother's heart is like the Apostle Paul who, if it were possible, would have given up his own salvation for his brethren (Jews) to be saved.  My life's ambition is to walk uprightly before you and that ALL my children and their children would walk in wisdom, according to Your Word.  I ask, I beseech you LORD that you would reach down from on high and take hold of my prodigal, draw him out of deep waters.  Rescue him from his  powerful enemy (sin), from his foes, who are too strong for him.  Psalm 18:16-17....just like You did for me.  In Jesus name, amen.

Standing in Him,

Sharon

French Garden House

One of my favorite blogs to visit is the French Garden House...I stopped in and was
welcomed by the fall color...

Autumn Inspiration

By LIDY | Published: SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Autumn Inspiration is everywhere! I bought so many apples last week, that what we didn’t eat, turn into delicious treatsor pile into bowls around the house, I made floating candles with. So easy. So gorgeous. The weather is still nice enough to have a meal outside, bundle up in a cozy sweater if you must, and enjoy dinner out in your garden. Make a few of these apple candle holders, and float in an old bucket or ironstone bowl.   Since school has started at the little school across the street from our home, I put little red apples around the ivy filled urns on our front steps too.  They actually stay good for quite a while in cooler weather, unless the birds find them after a few weeks.

I bought that handy little apple cutter below, at our neighborhood Ace Hardware, it’s very sharp, you just insert it into an apple and sort of twist it until it cuts a perfect hollow for a votive candle.

A handy tip: try floating your apples in the water before you cut a hole for the candles. Some of my apples just wanted to float sideways, no matter how nicely I talked to them, which is fine for decoration, but obviously doesn’t work when you want to add a candle to light.  The apple votives look great just lined up on your dining room table too, like the green ones above, if you don’t want to float them.