God Desires

by Deanna Chadwick

God desires for us to totally trust in Him and rely on Him to help us do what we need to do. However, He does that by giving us talents and it is our responsibility to develop those talents or abilities in order to serve Him better. I don't think we have to have perfected our skills before we use them, but continuing to work on them if we feel we can do better is a good thing. I also think that everything needs to be wrapped in "doing it for God's glory and not our own". If we are doing something just because no one else is doing it, but are struggling and not feeling at peace about our contributions, then maybe that's not what God wants us to do and we have "stepped in to fix things" rather than waiting for God to show us (or someone else) where He wants us. I mean, it is one thing to step in in a pinch to do something that needs to be done, but it is different to do something on a continual basis and struggle with it.

If I felt God was leading me to do something, then I would expect to do whatever it took to make me feel like I was doing my very best job at what God asked me to do. I believe that everything I do has the potential of being used to praise God and therefore everything I do needs to be done to the best of my ability. Sometimes my ability in one area is greater than my ability in another area. That is ok as long as I am doing my best at whatever I am doing.

For example, I feel that hospitality is a talent I have. Therefore, when I am responsible for a dinner or I am having someone over to my house, then I need to put out my best effort to make it an enjoyable time for those people - make them feel comfortable, important, etc. I ask God to help me choose the right combinations of people to invite, to bless each one of them as they are in our house, that our conversations would be encouraging and uplifting, that we would be able to minister to them in some way.

On the other hand, public speaking is not a talent of mine. However, if I am asked to speak before a group, read something or give a devotion, then I give it my best and totally depend on God to make it all come out right. Time and time again, I have been approached about doing something, and my gut reaction was NO WAY! Then, I felt uneasy about my response, felt like God was saying, "Really? Are you saying I can't do this through you??", so then I have said, "Ok, God, if You really want me to do this, You need to make it very clear to me." He does, and I do it and am in constant prayer the entire time and totally dependent on God to work through me and just allow myself to be the vessel.

In His parable of the talents, God shows us that He wants us to take what He has given us and increase it or at least use it, but not to bury it or hide it. The Bible also instructs us to love God with ALL heart, soul and strength. That's where I get the idea that everything I do needs to be to His honor and glory - to show God I love him. I love the homemade gifts that Abigail makes me now just as much as when she was 5. They are on different skill levels and it shows, but because they came from her heart they are precious to me. I think God is the same way - He loves the offerings/gifts we give to Him regardless of the skill level with which they are presented, if they are coming from the heart and are our very best effort.

Deu 6:5, Matt. 22:37, John 21:17, Deu. 11:13, Jos. 22:5, 1 Sam 12:24, Col. 3:22, Luke 9:62

I hope this might be helpful to you. I came to a point where I had made myself almost insane trying to be everything to everyone and had become someone I didn't like very well. After learning to set my boundaries, learn to say no and realize I didn't have to jump in and do everything, I have learned to really enjoy what I can do and the person I am. I find greater fulfillment in the things I do do - even in the things I don't think are my greatest strength. I feel more at peace about having given my very best effort and knowing that as long I did my best and did it from my heart, that's all that matters to God.

Do I still try to improve? Yes.

Do I get wrapped up in the how and the what instead of focusing on the for Who? Sometimes, but He gently reminds me that if I am stressing about something not being good enough, then maybe I am trying to give more than He is asking of me.

I can honestly say that I am at a point in my walk with God where I have never been before. I feel so close to Him. I think I had to "be still and KNOW that He is God" in order to really tune into Him and His leadership.

God Cares

by Deanna Chadwick

Job 23:8-10 "I cannot find God anywhere-- in front or back of me, to my left or my right. God is always at work, though I never see him. But he knows what I am doing, and when he tests me, I will be pure as gold."

Have you ever felt like you couldn't find God? When something terrible happens, do you ever say, "God! Where are you? Why is this happening?" I have. But what an awesome realization to know that even when we can't see Him, God is always at work.

My favorite verse – my "life verse" is Job 23:10. "But He knows the path I take and when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." I take great comfort in the knowledge that God KNOWS what I am going through and is right there with me even when I can't see Him. If I trust in Him, depend on Him to bring me through the fire, I will come forth as gold.

Fool's gold is shiny and sparkly, but when put into the refiner's fire, it will not prove to be real gold. Separating out the impurities through fire creates more valuable gold. I want to be more valuable to God. I want to be the real thing that pleases God, not the sparkly stuff that attracts the world.

So, if God needs to put me through the fire to make me more valuable to Him, then I will cling tightly to Him, totally trusting Him to bring me through the process and praise Him for caring enough about me to refine me so I can come forth as gold for Him.

Pruning

by Audrey Wauson

We who with unveiled faces
all reflect the Lord’s glory
are being transformed into His likeness
with ever increasing GLORY
which comes from the Lord,
who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

Have you ever heard or read something and thought, “Oh, I wish so and so knew that. It would really be good for them to hear that.” ? Well, I’ve spoken to groups of women where I thought, “Lord, so many women need to know this. Why didn’t they come?” Or maybe like me, you’ve sat in church and heard something from the preacher and nudged your husband, child, or friend…as if to say, “Pay attention to this, he’s talking to you.” OK, so I probably do that more than most people do ;) Anyways, last fall I was listening to a woman speak at a ladies’ retreat and she was talking about all the work she put into a Bible study that she was doing for this class. She began discussing this with God and said, “I’ve been working on this a long time and only one person showed up!” Then God told her, “It was for you!”

My mother was here visiting with me for a couple of days and she went with me to our church’s praise team practice. I had discussed with her before some of the areas that I felt like we as a praise team needed to work on and after it was over I asked her if she saw the things that I was seeing. Basically her answer was, “Yes and you’re the one doing it!” Ouch!

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,
while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes
so that it will be even more fruitful.”
John 15:2

Well, today I feel like I’ve been pruned! However, there is some good news . . . I must have been bearing fruit! And I do truly want to be a fruitful Christian and not some plastic/wood imitation.

Lord Jesus, please purify my heart, create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. I want to be useable. Please help me to listen to You. Thank You for making me glorious! Amen.