Intentional Resolve

The New Year is often associated with “resolutions”.  But our life is truly a resolution.  Our intent, our decisions our declarations that we make each day, each moment of every day is our resolution, our statement to the world and others around us that this IS how we determine how we are going to live. 

See our resolutions, our daily decisions, are making us who we are, they determine the life we end up living, the tomorrow we are shaping, the lives we are influencing, all by the little decisions we choose to make, (or NOT make in some cases). 

So since decisions are what we do all the time anyway the question we need to ask ourselves is this; 

Am I intentional about the decisions I make?  

Am I making the decisions to choose the life I want to live?

We need to make sure that the sign that is written and posted above our lives, the one authored each minute of every day by the choices we make and the decisions we choose, is announcing clearly to the world and our loved ones,  who we genuinely are and what we stand for.  That as we look in the mirror each morning and each evening it is a reminder to US that we are not given to the wind and waves of this ever changing world, but that we are sailing in the direction WE determine, the direction God has for us.

When choice comes a decision has to be made, will you or won’t you, do you go with it or don’t you, whether you can or you can’t….the choice is YOURS.  And when a decision has been made or not made, and the time slips by, because it will if we make a decision  not to choose,  the verdict is in and the conclusion is YOU have just decided how your tomorrow will be. 

The choice is yours and only yours to make, how will you act, respond, do in any situation, are you the victim or the victor, are you the one who is making changes happen or seeing change happen? 

We need to stand up and do business with God.  The word says “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16

WE are to go to the throne so the WE can FIND grace, Gods ability, to help in time of need… decision making.  See if we go to God it will be HIS ability, His Grace that will help us in our time of need to make decisions, stick to resolutions, have a resolve about a particular matter.  We don’t have to do it on our own, we were not designed to do it on our own.  God created us to have a relationship with us!

He is faithful! 

Firstly, When we choose to run to God and not try to do it in our own strength we are accessing His ability in the situation, the choices we make and decisions we face are more than just within ourselves, they are backed up by our Father in Heaven, He is there to comfort you, encourage you, equip you and empower you with His strength, so that you can carry your  sign high and proud and want to share it. 

And secondly when we resolve to go the throne of grace, the throne of Gods ability, it will impact our loved ones, those around us who see our sign.  Even if no one seems to be looking at the sign posted above your head, or actively supporting your efforts to make positive resolutions… they‘re looking, your friends, co-workers, husbands, wives, children, neighbors, in-laws…everyone you come in contact with sees.  The deep impact you have, again not only on you yourself but on the others around you, may not be truly known until you get to Heaven some day but the effects will absolutely change the fabric of your life and those around you. 

The miracle you will feel in your heart when you know it is Gods ability to help make those decisions, stick to those resolutions, in EVERY area of your life; you will look in the mirror and know that you are living INTENTIONALLY, shaping your tomorrow by the little steps of  today. 

I encourage you, Live intentionally, make your resolve, your resolution at the throne of Grace. 

Shape your tomorrow today, with purpose.

The People in our Lives

Those around are placed there from God.  Are you using/ listening to what they are saying? 

God places us in a job, in a family, around certain peopel for a reason, we are to gleen from those around us and always be listening. 

Is what they are saying confirmation to you, or in regards to a situation you are in or going through.  You dont have to shout it from the roof tops if you hear something some one says and it "speaks" to you on the inside.  But be aware.  this is how we get answers.

Its much like a mega puzzle; there are thousands of pieces and they fit somewhere but sometimes we are not sure where until one day after much time has been put in we see the full picture of the puzzle.
that is how our life is.  The Lord graciously and patiently waits for us to pick up the pieces and lay them where they are to go and fills in all the beautiful scenery until one day we "see" the amazing picture.

Don't take for granted the ones God has placed in your life.  It truly is for a much larger more detailed picture than we could ever know.

Benefits of a Plan Laid Out

Friends we have a choice each day facing us of what we are going to do.  We can do our own thing, think up our own "plan", or we can go with One who created this world and everything in it, including Y-O-U, and have loads of benefits while following what He has laid out.

Here are just a few Benefits of following the Lords plans for our daily lives.  

• The LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth
• The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face
• The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand
•  He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you
• The LORD will open to you His good treasure
• The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath

WOW!  Notice how THE LORD is the one blessing, commanding, making things happen on your behalf?  And these are just SOME of the benefits lined out for those who obey the voice of the Lord....who follow His plan.
        
                Who wouldn't want these benefits?  


The way to attain the above is simply to spend time in Gods Word on a daily basis.  He will be faithful to fill you with what it is you need for the day ahead.  
He is faithful, all we must do is go to Him, spend time with Him. 


Please read the whole context of the scripture I took this from.  It comes from Deuteronomy Chapter 28 in the New King Jams Bible.  I have attched a link here:  Deuteronomy 28

Humbled to go Higher

Many of us in church or christian circles, have heard people say or be prompted them selves to say " I am the head and not the tail I am above only and not beneath"
Whether in good times or bad they/we confess this about themselves and their situation.  I too have on occasion done this; but the Lord lead me to go back and read in Deuteronomy where our confession is based, the REAL scripture. As a friend of mine would say  "get your eyes on it"
Deuteronomy 28:13 says:
And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God...

What I had missed before was that it says The Lord will make you, not just confessing, I am the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath- Its not ME saying continually I am the head an not the tail, NO its the Lord- Not you, not me, confessing, Doing, being "religious".  NO it is the Lord who will make you the head, and above only, in all situations!

We do have a  part and that is to obey the leading's of the Lord and do what He asks of us- it may well be confess something so our mind becomes renewed by saying out loud the "right" things,  it may be doing something, or NOT doing something, or it just might be that with our daily step of quite time with Him, in His Word, He infuses us with a knowing and when we act on that Heavenly Wisdom, that is what brings us up.

It is not by our works or good deeds that will elevate us above others or our situations- quite the contrary; We are to humble ourselves before the Lord, and He will lift us up, He will guide, BUT the choice is ours to follow His leading and His promptings.

When we do choose His ways we will descend even Higher- We shall be Above only!

Are YOU Dripping?

What more, you may ask, do we want? Ah, but we want so much more- something books on aesthetics take little notice of.  But the poets and the mythologies know all about it.  We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough.  We want something else which can hardly be put into words- to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become a part of it.  ~ CS Lewis

We who are of Christ ARE it!  When we spend time with the Father, He soaks us in His bounty, lets us feel the beauty that He created us for.   Just as a child is set gently into a warm tub, drawn especially for the purpose of cleansing.  So to for us.
 As we go about the day our bucket spills out, leaving drips, splashes, of His beauty, fullness of  lave, and magnitude of His goodness, everywhere we go.  Drawing others to see what this refreshing substance is,  and cleansing the vessel it is carried in.

I encourage you Dear one to take time with the Father today!

quote from the book
The Weight of Glory and other Addresses - CS Lewis