Where’s My Blessing?

There was a young woman who questioned, “Where is my blessing?” I asked her if she was having trouble with her faith, she replied, “Well, yes a little.” She went on to tell me how she saw some Christians who just seem to keep getting blessed, and some she thought didn’t deserve it. She felt that when times were hard others seem to be able to be blessed from God and get out of their jams, why wasn’t she? She thought her actions toward God were fine, especially compared with a person she knew who didn’t even act like a Christian except on Sundays, yet seem to get all the breaks.

One thing we have to understand is that God does what he wants and when he wants. God judges a person by their inward heart, not outward. We first examine ourselves, truly and honestly. Are we pleasing God, our we spending time working on our relationship to him? That would be the first thing I ask myself.

You also have to ask yourself, if I received the thing I asked for, is it something that God would feel to be a good thing for me? If we ask for a million dollars and don’t get it, then maybe we are not asking for the right thing. God is not a slot machine, throwing all your quarters in and hoping to hit the jackpot. God gives to people in so many ways we may not be recognizing it.

When I ask God to keep my family safe when we are driving a long distance, and we arrive to our destination and home unscathed, I call that a blessing. To someone else, they may not think the blessing is big enough for them to even bother recognizing. Sometimes the blessings people are looking for are the ones that pay big! A new car, a house, or some other material thing. To one person a blessing could be getting to spend time with family, to another it’s getting a settlement. Each Christian needs to wake up and give thanks to all the blessings we do get everyday.

Remember when Jesus was talking to the disciples about his death;

John 21:20-23  Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also leaned back on his breast at the supper, and said, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee?  (21)  Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?  (22)  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. (23)  This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

Peter wanted to know about John and maybe his fate. Jesus did not say he would not die, but basically told Peter if I want John to hang around, what is that to you? Basically telling Peter to mind his own business and consider what the Lord requires of you, not someone else.

God has reasons and purpose behind blessings or chastisements. We should be concerned about our own relationship to God. Most of us have enough work trying to understand what God wants for us in our own lives, we don’t need to worry, or feel jealous if others seems to be getting something we want. God may choose to bless someone financially, and another in areas of a relationship. We all are on different paths spiritually. Some of us are new to Gods word, and some of us have been in a relationship for many years. But recognizing that God gives gifts as he sees fit, and when he chooses.

Exodus 33:19  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of Jehovah before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

One thing I do know personally, is that God has always provided for me in what I need. Not always what I want, but in the end, what I need. I have gone through tragedy and hard times, sometimes for what seemed like forever, but in the end, I was given what I needed. I realized a long time a go, to stop worrying so much and let God take charge and have faith that his love for you is so great that you must believe he will help you. But I also know for me that if something is not going right I have to look within first. A good parent will sometimes allow you to feel the repercussions of your decisions before they step in. If a parent gave you everything you wanted, you would be spoiled. What lessons would you learn?

God, sometimes allows us to stand in the deep waters, not to drown us, but to cleanse us. Sometimes to get our attention, or even to lead us to better things and better circumstances.

Never doubt that God knows you better than you know yourself. God knows what your future holds, and also knows your needs and desires before you ask. When your hurting, God is there, he has and will always be there as long as you want that relationship. It does not matter what happens in or lives, good or bad, it’s how we handle it that matters. When things go wrong do we start losing faith? Then that already says there is a problem with your relationship to him. Instead of taking the opportunity to lean on God in a time of need, we get angry and wonder why he is not taking care of us. I love God and I know he loves me, and he is in control of my life in all areas.

There are probably many reasons that problems occur in our lives;

1. God is trying to get your attention. God may want you to lean on him, strengthen your relationship, stop being disobedient, learn to have more faith. Or he may just be taking something out of your life that will bless you more later, or put you in better circumstances.

2. Sometimes people in the world are uncaring  or un-compassionate,  which is effecting our lives, maybe because we are related to them, or we have allowed them to to be in our lives which cause us grief.

3. Our own bad decisions, which put us in our circumstances, ill health because we don’t take care of ourselves, or financial woes because we are spreading ourselves too thin, or we thought those material things were important.

4. Satan, who pleasures in pulling you and your faith from God. Looking whenever and wherever he can to keep you from believing that God is there, or God cares.

Some people say well what caused this person to get cancer? They didn’t drink, smoke, do drugs, they took good care of themselves.

Our world has so much wrong with it, in examples of our pollution, smog, chemicals, medications that have so many side effects and it always seems like later they are pulling something back off the shelf due to serious effects to our health. Our food supplies being genetically altered, pesticides, all these things have potential for causing illnesses. When we ingest this stuff year after year eventually something is going to happen.

Believe that even through heartache and pain, God is there, caring, showing us mercy and blessings each day. I don’t blame God for the evil in the world. I don’t blame God for not running to my rescue every time I make a bad decision, I just don’t blame him. I thank him, and understand that my faith will always be tested in this world, and I want to please him and not fail in my faith, no matter what. There should never be any circumstance that could ever pull you from God, that is exactly when you should go to him, and be patient for an answer.

Always be thankful, that in our relationship with God we can look at the glass half full, not half empty, understanding that it has always been in Gods control.

Frankenfood: Was this in God’s Plan?

Well, I have pretty much tried not to get political with my blog or spout off any particular causes but I came across something today and decided it was worth writing. I thought I have to speak about this issue. It’s been called ‘Frakenfood, or (GE) Genetically Engineered Food, or Genetically Modified Food, a few other names too.

Maybe some of you have heard about our American food supplies being tampered with. Many have heard about it, but don’t know much about it. They have told us that by genetically altering many of the foods we consume, it grows food faster, prettier, tastier, more cost effective, and  is considered ’safe’ (cough, cough) by the always efficient FDA.

Genetic engineering is like performing heart surgery with a shovel. Scientists do not yet understand living systems completely enough to perform DNA surgery without creating mutations which could be harmful to the environment and our health. They are experimenting with very delicate, yet powerful forces of nature, without full knowledge of the what could happen in the future.

Genetic engineers intend to profit by patenting genetically engineered seeds. This means that, when a farmer plants genetically engineered seeds, all the seeds have identical genetic structure. As a result, if a fungus, a virus, or a pest develops which can attack this particular crop, there could be widespread crop failure.

There are many people who support GE foods, including corporations, politicians and many who are benefiting financially. A particular company called Monsanto seems to be one of the leaders in this ever growing industry. They take a seed say from Canola or Tomato or a  Soy plant to name a few and genetically alter the cell structure. How they do this is by using viruses and or bacterias. They alter the plants to make them more resistant to pests or disease, or for cosmetic value, growth or whatever their intention. What’s wrong with this? For starters, there has been no long term testing to determine if this is harmful to humans, animals, the environment or other plant species. What happens if it cross pollinates with other plants? If they use viruses or bacteria and these cross pollinate with other viruses, what would be the outcome? The fact that they use a virus and/or bacterias and then we consume a wide variety of these plants for many years, that might explain some ailments people are having, or cancers, or allergies. What are the long term effects for our children? What happens if these GE seeds mix with our trees? Or animals who consume some of these plants, could they create new human virus’ we cannot fight off? Swine flu comes to mind….

Then in addition to this, Biotech companies are basically trying to force farmers into using their seeds. These companies have obtained the patent to many seeds. In one case a farmer was growing Canola. Some of these GE seeds blew into his field by wind or whatever cause, and the company sued the farmer, because they have a patent. This farmer lost his life savings to fight this company. The farmer said he has no control over what blows into his crops and the judge ruled against the farmer anyway.  The farmer said that basically it’s like being a farmer who owns cows, and your cows go in and destroys the corn crops of your neighbor. The judge then declares the owner of the corn to put up a fence or whatever means to keep the cows out, and it’s the corn farmers responsibility.

So in reality there is no way to keep this GE altered seed from blowing into normal crops, so the company has a contract that they have a farmer sign. They sell their seed to the farmer, who in turn sign an agreement to use only their GE seed, not to redistribute or sell it, and cannot obtain the seed from the crop he just grew. He also pays an annual fee to use that seed. The farmer is then forced to purchase new seeds each year. So, this company gives new seeds to the farmers, then they can continue to genetically alter them at they see fit before selling each year. You wonder how America could allow a company to almost force a farmer to comply or quit farming.

Some groups have pushed to at least label the foods ‘Genetically Enhanced’ so consumers can decide as if they want to ingest it or not. The company does not want that, they feel it would scare people. With limited exceptions, under current FDA regulations, companies are not even required to notify the FDA they are bringing new genetically engineered products to the market. According to the FDA the GE food is no different than the regular food and needs no labels. Huh? Sounds different to me.

Now many animals are in the works…chickens to produce more eggs, GE cows to produce more milk…. anyone else see anything wrong with this picture? If they can’t alter the livestock, they can alter their feed.

Some claim that genetic engineering will help developing countries. With the  Biotech companies having a patent on their seeds, these poor third world country farmers are left in the companies hands. The poorer farmers from other nations depend on saved seed for survival each year. Biotech companies also patent other seeds, like rice, neem, and quinoa, taking advantage of indigenous knowledge and centuries of selective breeding by small farmers without giving anything in return. The same companies, backed by the U.S. government, proposed to protect their seed patents through the “Terminator Technology”. A Terminator seed grows, but the seeds it produces are sterile. Any nation that buys such seeds will swiftly lose any means of agriculture self-sufficiency. In other words, the companies don’t have to worry about non compliance, so they don’t lose money. So how can the poor farmer win?

The other thing you will be told by these companies is that they will have to use less pesticides. The truth is, some of these crops are made to produce their own pesticides in every cell continually. Some of these crops like the BT Potato, are actually classified as pesticides by the EPA.

It almost sounds like these companies are trying to corner the global food market. Buy only Certified Organic foods and you stand a chance of not being one of the guinea pigs. But as time goes on…. the cross pollination, the animals fed GE grains, and the ever growing Biotech companies making more money, greasing a lot of palms and trying to get other countries in their pockets, I say it’s scary. There is hope with many countries worldwide that do not want GE foods, or at least allow only a small amount of crops. Some European companies like Germany and France have said no thank you to our GE corn. Also some of them have labels on their foods informing the public.

Small List of GE ; canola, soy, tomatoes, potatoes, maize/corn, yeast (used for breads), cotton. If the label contains high fructose corn syrup, you are probably consuming GE foods because of the obvious…corn. There are some that were introduced to the market and taken off, and some new ones in the works. Rice and wheat are two they are trying to add to the list. They are hoping to expand with animals. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to eat a BLT with a frog DNA in my lettuce and a pig DNA in my tomatoes. Doesn’t sound too appetizing.

Do your own research, check around online to see what’s going on with what you consume. Just last week The American Academy of Environmental Medicine released its position paper on Genetically Modified foods stating that “GM foods pose a serious health risk” and calling for a moratorium on GM foods. Click on the link to read the statement.

Too many people playing God again, believing that Gods creation was not sufficient.

The Sin of Pride

There are many scriptures throughout the Bible that talks about pride. New and Old Testaments speak of pride as a sinful act, or thought. In the early churches, pride was considered one of the 7 Deadly Sins. The Bible has no exclusive list , actually listing the 7 Deadly Sins, but those sins can certainly be found in scripture. And one of those sins is ’self-righteous sin.’

First, lets look at the differences of the types of pride. The word ‘Pride’ comes from the word ‘proud.

1. To think highly of oneself in a superior way, proud or disdainful treatment or behavior of others, conceit. An excessive appreciation of ones own worth.

2. To take pride,  in ones skill, or job, proud of an accomplishment or goal. Self esteem that is not exaggerated. Self respect, taking pleasure or satisfaction in a job well done.

Now, even though we can understand that pride #1. is not pleasing to God, the definition of pride #2. could be a healthy thing for us. We can take pride in a job, no matter if we have a job sitting in an office or being a janitor. We can take satisfaction in putting our hard work into what we do. But we must also take care that our satisfaction in a job well done, doesn’t turn into definition #1.

When God says that pride is a sin, perhaps he was considering the dangers of pride in so many different areas of our lives, that we are warned to keep from it.

An example may be a husband and wife; The couple has financial troubles and the wife is wanting to take a part time job to help the family. The husband, because of his pride refuses to let her work no matter what, although knowing it may help the family, but his ‘pride’ is more important to him. Well, common sense tells you that at the sake of feeding your children or losing your home, you would allow your own pride to get in the way? That doesn’t seem to make sense. Even husbands need a helping hand sometimes and the husband and wife should work together for the sake of the family. We know that scriptures point to a man working outside the home and providing for the family, and the wife tends to home and children. They are both working but just in different jobs to maintain the welfare of the family. But if the wife was ill and couldn’t tend to the children, should the husband abstain from helping just because it’s so called ‘woman’s work?’ Not sure that behavior would be pleasing to God. I believe in that circumstance God would expect a married couple to show love and help each other.

Other samples of pride;.

If two people have and argument, no one wants to apologize first….that’s pride.

If you go to church and several people are battling for the microphone to tell their story, …..that’s pride.

If people are putting others down, because they feel they are not as smart, successful, or have material wealth,…that’s pride.

If a church member was asked to help in the church and they felt the job was beneath them, …..that’s pride.

Sometimes pride sounds more like self-centerdness really. As a Christian selfish pride has no place in our lives. Everything we as Christians are taught from the scriptures is to be loving, selfless, putting others needs before our own. Pride that God deems sin, is a sin, it’s not any different than lying, stealing  or adultery, it’s all a sin in God’s eyes.

Mark 7:20-23  And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  (21)  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  (22)  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  (23)  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

In Mark pride is listed up there with murder, stealing, things that God certainly deems as sin. We are also told those who do these things, will not inherit the kingdom. But how many Christians pay attention to their own thoughts or actions of pride? There is nothing beneficial in anyway to another person when someone is displaying self-righteous pride. And it can also be harmful in more ways than one for the person who does it. It’s not often very talked about or recognized as a serious grievance to God and it should be discussed more in churches. Letting go of pride is letting go of your own self and considering someones feelings or needs before yourself.

Proverbs 29:23  A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Take time to listen when the Holy Spirit prompts you to leave pride behind and serve as Jesus served.

1 John 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Losing Faith

Are you struggling with your faith towards God? Are you losing the fire that you once had because you either think he is not listening, he’s abandoned you or not delivering? If you answered yes, then I hope my message today might give you some comfort.

There are times in a Christians life, maybe because of hardships or disappointments that causes us to question God. We may ask God why did he allow this or that to happen. “Why God did you not help me when I needed it, or someone else needed it?” Some may lose faith so much that they allow Satan’s influence on the world to cause them to even doubt if God is really there.

We need to first look at what causes a person to start losing faith in the first place. God is the same as he has always been, so the change starts in us. The faith that we are losing starts because of something unpleasant that happened, or we expected to something to happen and it didn’t. Whatever it was that occurred, we start thinking God must not care. My life is falling apart, where is God?

For the believer, he is right there beside you, he has not left you. The Holy Spirit dwells inside you to comfort you, to help you. God loves you, he knows you may be questioning why he allows some things to take place and not others, but that is when you pick up the Bible and you will find the answers.

First, what exactly is faith? Faith is hope, hope in God that no matter what happens in your life he will always be there. God is so incredible, that we cannot possibly know what God has planned for our lives. God allows some things to happen or not happen to teach us, to better our circumstances down the road, or sometimes to get our attention.

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We have faith that there is a God, there is his son who died for us, there is a heaven, and there is the promise of salvation when we accept it. Understand that faith in God should not be something we solely base on what we believe God should deliver. God is not a slot machine, where we put prayers in and hope to hit the jackpot. We have faith and hope that no matter what we believe he loves us and want’s the best for us. God sometimes may even test your faith, he certainly tested the apostles and their faith.

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

When we pray, we need to pray that it’s God’s will and not our own, that is important. He knows our hearts, watched us grow from birth, and witnesses daily what goes on in our lives. God knows us and our situations better than we know ourselves. So how can we question him? When things arise in our lives that frustrates us, we ask God to help us understand, or get through it. God does things in his own time and in his own ways, and for reasons we may not always understand. Learning to let go and not trying to feel the need to control everything was a big lesson for me personally. Allow God to be first in your life and let him be in control, will allow you to have complete faith in him. Sometimes when we start questioning or doubting we have to ask ourselves, are we looking at the glass half empty or half full? Ask yourself, if God allowed this to happen in my life, what is it God is trying to say? Look to see if there are positive things that could come out of your circumstance. Is God trying to show or tell you something?

There was a time in my life where my husband was laid off from work. We were struggling financially and wondering where the rent was going to come from. I had just finished paying off my car, that I had originally purchased before we were married and quite proud that it was in excellent condition. That month times were so hard we decided it would be best to put the car up for sale. I was upset, but I knew that was the only thing we could do to help our situation, and with two children you do what you have to do. I was in church, studying God’s Word daily and felt a great relationship to God. Yet, I questioned him. Why God why? What is going to happen when the money runs out? I worked so hard to pay off that car. I was worried, wondering how to deal with everything, I was trying to figure out a way to be in control. Yet, I wasn’t in control, everything was going out of control. I wondered where was God? All this loyalty and faith daily I gave to him, so why the hardships?

Then I stopped and thought, wait a minute, God must be trying to keep me humble, or maybe he was testing my faith, maybe he had something better in mind for me. We are told that just because we become a Christian, does not mean we won’t have troubles. I didn’t want to lose faith and fail God’s test if he was testing me. So I changed in my mind and heart, how I felt about the situation. Looking at the glass half full, instead of half empty. With the car sold, I could pay rent, buy food, and maybe pay a few bills. I continued in God’s Word, and thanked him for changing my heart, and how I saw my circumstance. I thanked him, because I knew things could be worse. I gave up the control I never really had and allowed God’s spirit to pour over me and give peace to my heart.

After putting the car for sale, it sold quickly at a price better than expected. It was enough that we even had extra money to set aside. My husband was back working two weeks later. And in that time he was off, he got projects done around the house…yea. And we actually enjoyed our family time together, almost like a small vacation. He had been working so hard, we were all so busy, we hadn’t spent much family time together. A week or so after getting back to work, he met a man who had told him about an auto dealership who gave him a great deal. A few weeks later, my husband brought home a used car, that was better mileage and newer than what I had to begin with. So, allow God to control things, having faith in him that whatever comes we will all be okay, because he won’t leave you. Yes, I had to sell my car, but what came out of it? We all still had a roof over our heads even though my husband was laid off. Bills were paid, there was food in the house, we had extra money for a down payment on another car, we were able to spend quality time together as a family and my faith grew stronger in God. In that circumstance, God blessed me quickly, but that hasn’t always been the case. But since then, I have learned to let go and I have strong faith that God has a plan.

Heb 11:1-34

(1)  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2)  For by it the elders obtained a good report. (3)  By faith we understand that the ages were framed by a word of God, so that the things being seen not to have come into being out of the things that appear. (4)  By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts. And by it he, being dead, yet speaks.

(5)  By faith Enoch was translated so as not to see death, and he was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.(6)  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

(7)  By faith Noah, having been warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (8)  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he was afterward going to receive for an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he went.

(9)  By faith he lived in the land of promise as a stranger, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs of the same promise with him. (10)  For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

(11)  By faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him who had promised to be faithful. (12)  Because of this came into being from one, and that of one having died, even as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

(13)  These all died by way of faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. And they were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (14)  For they who say such things declare plainly that they seek a fatherland. (15)  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

(16)  But now they stretch forth to a better fatherland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (17)  By faith Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. And he who had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son, (18)  of whom it was said that in Isaac your Seed shall be called, (19)  concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from where he even received him, in a figure.

(20)  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. (21)  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff. (22)  By faith, Joseph dying remembered concerning the Exodus of the sons of Israel and gave orders concerning his bones.

(23)  By faith Moses, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child. And they were not afraid of the king’s commandments. (24)  Having become great, Moses by faith refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, (25)  choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, (26)  esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

(27)  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. (28)  Through faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest He who destroyed the first-born should touch them. (29)  By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned.

(30)  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed seven days. (31)  By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. (32)  And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah; also David, and Samuel and the prophets, (33)  who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34)  quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the strangers.