Are You a God Pleaser?

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

Galatians 1:10

I am a people pleaser. I always have been and it is something God is working on with me. My God is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14 even says God's Name is "Jealous".

"... for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:"

There are many places in scripture where it talks of God being a jealous God. He wants ALL of us. When it comes to pleasing people, I have found that many times I have to compromise my faith. Now it is not to the extent of "sin", but it is putting what God would want for me aside in order to not offend or hurt someones feelings. Oh, Lord, have I hurt your feelings?

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

Matthew 6:24

Most of the time it is a lowering of a Godly standard that I have been called to follow. There are people who are in our lives, that do not share our own standard of living. This makes them uncomfortable and they will try to get you to lower the standard that God has called you to in order to make themselves feel better. I fall into the trap of allowing them to do that.

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more."

1 Thessalonians 4:1

How do we stop this? We build up our faith in Christ Jesus. We keep it in the forefront of our thinking that this day we will serve God and Him alone.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Hebrews 11:6

Do you need to join me?

How To Rest

It is that time of year again. The time when it feels like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. It feels heavy and drains my entire being of strength, desire, and joy. I prepare for battle. I put on my armour. I pick up my sword. My sword....His Word. It is the weapon of my warfare. I am battle-weary before I even start. Help me, Lord. Show me what to do....this battle is not mine, it is YOURS!!!

He answers.

"Behold, thou art in the hollow of Mine hand. Yea, in the moment that thou liftest thy voice to cry unto Me, and when thou raiseth thy voice to praise and magnify My Name, THEN shall My glory gather thee up. Yea, I will wrap thee in garments of joy, and My presence shall be thy great reward.

Lift thine eyes to mine. Thou shalt know of a surety that I love thee. Lift thy voice to Me in praise: so shall a fountain be opened within thee and thou shall drink of refreshing waters.

Pour out thy heart to Me. From the deepest recesses of thy being, let thy love flow forth unto Me; let thy lips utter My Name.

Behold, thou art in My embrace. REST THERE."

from my devotional, "Come Away My Beloved"

And so I do. What I was certain was to be warfare, is instead rest. Thank You Jesus.

To read how others rest, click on the button to find the community of Walk with Him Wednesday.

I Want To Do A Beautiful Work

You are Mine, saith the Lord. You are not your own. With a very great price I have purchased thee unto myself. I am not dismayed that you do not comprehend, but I say unto thee, that if you will harken to Me, I will reveal more fully to thee so that you may clearly know how vital you are to My purpose. There is work to be done and I need you as a vessel through which to work. Not a vassel, but a vessel. I want to do a beautiful work.

I need an individual to use who is not only available and suitable, but who loves Me in such a way as to enhance My creation. I desire not the kind of loyalty a soldier gives to his country, but a dedicated devotion of the type of love more like that which a mother gives her unborn child.

There will be inconveniences to be born, self-pleasing to be laid aside, sacrifices and pain, but what a blessed reward I have in store! Yes, in store for you, if you are able to let Me use you in the way which I desire to do.

Ye are not unworthy; ye are not unprepared. Ye have no reason to hold back unless it be your love for Me is too small. If this be the only hindrance, draw closer to Me, and I shall pour My love out upon you and thus your own affection for Me be deepened and perfected. Lo, I wait for you. Come to Me.

from "Come Away My Beloved" by Francis J Roberts

Amazing Love

Faith As A Mustard Seed

Thank you Lord, for the measure of faith you give to those who believe.

"And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. "

Matthew 17:20

His People

"Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture."

Psalm 100:3

Near To God

Thank You, God, that you gave us a bridge to You by Your Son and our Saviour, Jesus.

"Now in Jesus Christ, you who were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."

Ephesians 2:13

Psalm 116:8

" For You, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling."

Psalm 116:8

Growing Faith

Thank You Lord for growing my faith.

"Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness."

2 Peter 1:5-6

Perfect Peace

Thank You , Lord, for Your perfect peace.

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3

Plans

Thank You Lord that you have a plan for me.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Crushed

Thank You, Lord that you do not abandon me in my time of need.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18

Drinking God

"A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek;

I want to drink God,

deep draughts of God.

I'm thirsty for God-alive.

I wonder, "Will I ever make it—

arrive and drink in God's presence?"

I'm on a diet of tears—

tears for breakfast, tears for supper.

All day long

people knock at my door,

Pestering,

"Where is this God of yours?"

Psalm 42:1-3

The Message

Run For The Prize

Thank You, Lord, for endurance to run this race set before me.

"Don't you know that in a race all the runners run. but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

1 Corinthians 9:24

New Years

Thank You Lord for new beginnings.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"

2 Corinthians 5:17

A Saviour Is Born

"Thank You, Lord, for Your amazing gift."

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”-

Mary

Thank you, Lord, for the woman who was willing.

"My soul doth magnify the Lord."

Luke 1:46

Glory To His Name

" Glory To God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."

Luke 2:14

We Are His

Thank You, Father, that I am Yours.

"Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture."

Psalm 100:3

Productive

Thank You, Lord, for a productive life.

"Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful."

Titus 3:14