Archive for February 2010

February 17, 2010

Keep Building! -

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." Psalm 127:1

We have several Habitat for Humanity homes here in my city. These are houses built by volunteers to provide a place to call home for those who have never had that. I remember watching one go up every day as I drove to work. It always amazed me what could be accomplished when people worked together. Those volunteers were there every day. In the hot sun, or the stinging wind, or the cold rain. Whatever circumstance was thrown at them that day, they were there.

What do you suppose would have happened if those volunteers just laid down their tools and walked away? What if they said, "This is too hard," or "The sun is too hot," or "The rain is too cold?" The home would never have been built and a family would never have a place to call their own.

What do you suppose would happen if you laid down your tools and walked away from praying and trusting and believing for your family to be made whole again? What do you think would happen if you said, "This is too hard" or "The circumstances are too big?" If you want your home rebuilt on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, you gotta do the work.

"'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'" 2 Chronicles 20:9

"But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me." Psalm 55:16-18

As I watched that house being built, I noted how many volunteers were there working. Each had a specialized job to do - maybe nailing boards, or setting shingles, or working on the landscape. It took all of them working together to build that home. What if each one had said, "Oh, they don't need me. Let someone else do the work?" What if one day nobody showed up to work because they were waiting for others to do it? The work would never have been completed.

What if you decide that God doesn't need you praying for your family? What if you decide that your work or your part isn't that important? What if you decide to let others do the work and nobody shows up? If we don't pray for them, who will? The Lord hears the prayers of each and every one of us. They rise like incense to His ears and they please Him and make Him glad.

"From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth- he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do." Psalm 33:13-15

We are God's workmen here on Earth; building a house in His name, being vigilant for the enemy in the watchtowers, standing guard against the devil's schemes. Our prayers are the wall, our God is our fortress, our trust is our strength. Your prayers are the building materials that the Lord will use to rebuild and restore what the enemy has torn down. If you provide the materials, the Lord will build the house.

"But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty." Haggai 2:4

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7

God Bless,
Kim, standing in Nebraska
http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061
http://rejoiceministries.org

February 5, 2010

Chores!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24

Do you have a list of chores that you are responsible for every week? Maybe it's to set the table, or take out the garbage, or help make supper. Maybe it's to watch your little brother or sister while mom works or to make sure your bed is made and your room is picked up. Maybe it's your job to scoop the snow when God gives us the kind of winter He has this year. :)

Do you grumble and complain about your chores? Do you sometimes think it isn't fair that you have to do all these things; things that dad or mom used to do when they were around? Things that you don't want to do? We all have some sort of work to do and it's this work that makes our lives and the lives of those around us run more smoothly.

What do you think would happen if you didn't do your chores? Maybe the house would start to stink because you didn't want to take the garbage out this week. Maybe you couldn't get to school or to the grocery store (or the video store) if you decided not to scoop the driveway. Maybe your little brother or sister could get lost or even hurt if you decided not to watch them. Whatever chore or work it is that God has asked us to do, we need to do it joyfully.

"The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand." Deuteronomy 28:12a (NKJV)

"May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge." Ruth 2:12 (NASB)

I have a small card on my desk at home that says, "Work as unto the Lord." When I see my driveway with five feet of snow piled on it, I look at that card and say, "As unto the Lord." When the yard needs to be mowed and the flower garden weeded, I remember…as unto the Lord. When I'm standing at the sink washing a pile of dishes, I tell myself…as unto the Lord. These are my chores and the work that God has given me to do in this season of my life and I will do it as unto the Lord.

God gives each of us special work to do. He knows our talents and He has given us our gifts. He wants us to use these gifts for His glory and His kingdom. I know you are shaking your head at me right about now and wondering what cleaning the litter box has to do with God's kingdom. Well, it is your way of helping your family to run more smoothly and for everybody's lives to go a little easier and it pleases the Lord when you give of yourselves to help others.

"But now, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand." Isaiah 64:8 (NASB)

If we look at our "chores" as a way to please the Lord, then we can do them joyfully. Don't want to take out the garbage? Do it because mom or dad needs you to and obedience to your parents pleases the Lord. Don't want to watch your brother or sister? Be a friend to them and guide them because a loving family pleases the Lord. Don't want to fold the laundry or help with the dishes? Do it because helping others pleases the Lord. You may not be smiling when you do it, but God is.

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands." Psalm 90:17

"As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Ephesians 6:6b-7 (NLT)

God Bless,
Kim, standing in Nebraska
http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061
http://rejoiceministries.org


	Archive for February 2010 February 17, 2010 Keep Building! - "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." Psalm 127:1 We have several Habitat for Humanity homes here in my city. These are houses built by volunteers to provide a place to call home for those who have never had that. I remember watching one go up every day as I drove to work. It always amazed me what could be accomplished when people worked together. Those volunteers were there every day. In the hot sun, or the stinging wind, or the cold rain. Whatever circumstance was thrown at them that day, they were there. What do you suppose would have happened if those volunteers just laid down their tools and walked away? What if they said, "This is too hard," or "The sun is too hot," or "The rain is too cold?" The home would never have been built and a family would never have a place to call their own. What do you suppose would happen if you laid down your tools and walked away from praying and trusting and believing for your family to be made whole again? What do you think would happen if you said, "This is too hard" or "The circumstances are too big?" If you want your home rebuilt on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, you gotta do the work. "'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'" 2 Chronicles 20:9 "But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me." Psalm 55:16-18 As I watched that house being built, I noted how many volunteers were there working. Each had a specialized job to do - maybe nailing boards, or setting shingles, or working on the landscape. It took all of them working together to build that home. What if each one had said, "Oh, they don't need me. Let someone else do the work?" What if one day nobody showed up to work because they were waiting for others to do it? The work would never have been completed. What if you decide that God doesn't need you praying for your family? What if you decide that your work or your part isn't that important? What if you decide to let others do the work and nobody shows up? If we don't pray for them, who will? The Lord hears the prayers of each and every one of us. They rise like incense to His ears and they please Him and make Him glad. "From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth- he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do." Psalm 33:13-15 We are God's workmen here on Earth; building a house in His name, being vigilant for the enemy in the watchtowers, standing guard against the devil's schemes. Our prayers are the wall, our God is our fortress, our trust is our strength. Your prayers are the building materials that the Lord will use to rebuild and restore what the enemy has torn down. If you provide the materials, the Lord will build the house. "But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty." Haggai 2:4 "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7 God Bless, *Kim, standing in Nebraska* http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Post Office Box 10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 http://rejoiceministries.org February 5, 2010 Chores! "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24 Do you have a list of chores that you are responsible for every week? Maybe it's to set the table, or take out the garbage, or help make supper. Maybe it's to watch your little brother or sister while mom works or to make sure your bed is made and your room is picked up. Maybe it's your job to scoop the snow when God gives us the kind of winter He has this year. :) Do you grumble and complain about your chores? Do you sometimes think it isn't fair that you have to do all these things; things that dad or mom used to do when they were around? Things that you don't want to do? We all have some sort of work to do and it's this work that makes our lives and the lives of those around us run more smoothly. What do you think would happen if you didn't do your chores? Maybe the house would start to stink because you didn't want to take the garbage out this week. Maybe you couldn't get to school or to the grocery store (or the video store) if you decided not to scoop the driveway. Maybe your little brother or sister could get lost or even hurt if you decided not to watch them. Whatever chore or work it is that God has asked us to do, we need to do it joyfully. "The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand." Deuteronomy 28:12a (NKJV) "May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge." Ruth 2:12 (NASB) I have a small card on my desk at home that says, "Work as unto the Lord." When I see my driveway with five feet of snow piled on it, I look at that card and say, "As unto the Lord." When the yard needs to be mowed and the flower garden weeded, I remember…as unto the Lord. When I'm standing at the sink washing a pile of dishes, I tell myself…as unto the Lord. These are my chores and the work that God has given me to do in this season of my life and I will do it as unto the Lord. God gives each of us special work to do. He knows our talents and He has given us our gifts. He wants us to use these gifts for His glory and His kingdom. I know you are shaking your head at me right about now and wondering what cleaning the litter box has to do with God's kingdom. Well, it is your way of helping your family to run more smoothly and for everybody's lives to go a little easier and it pleases the Lord when you give of yourselves to help others. "But now, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand." Isaiah 64:8 (NASB) If we look at our "chores" as a way to please the Lord, then we can do them joyfully. Don't want to take out the garbage? Do it because mom or dad needs you to and obedience to your parents pleases the Lord. Don't want to watch your brother or sister? Be a friend to them and guide them because a loving family pleases the Lord. Don't want to fold the laundry or help with the dishes? Do it because helping others pleases the Lord. You may not be smiling when you do it, but God is. "May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands." Psalm 90:17 "As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Ephesians 6:6b-7 (NLT) God Bless, *Kim, standing in Nebraska* http://rejoiceministries.org/Kim.html Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Post Office Box 10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 http://rejoiceministries.org
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