849 - 2 kinds of peeps we must keep a distance from for a time!

As a people pleaser, one that doesn't enjoy conflict (yes, there are those that not only enjoy it, but look for it), and one that never wants to let anyone down, I find it very difficult to keep distances. There times I know it is best for a friendship to take a break because we just cant seem to go in the right direction, but at least I feel better knowing I play some part in that separation. But what happens when you are just a bystander and see that it is Biblically wrong to NOT keep your distance?

Before I explain any further let me say I know the Lord Jesus to be the God of reconciliation, redemption, and restoration. He is all those things and so much more. So when He has Biblically commanded you to take a break in a relationship or separate for "a piece" it is always with the assurance He is at work and this is only just a moment in time - not forever!

So where in the world or the Bible rather does God command us to keep a distant from others? Is it lepers? It is a thief? Is it adulteress? Is it predators? Is it murders? Nope, none of them. Jesus had a thief, tax collector, in His possey! Jesus also had a murder or at least Judas murdered himself, but Moses murdered and was still used. I have found the Lord wants us to keep our distance for a time from the hot-tempered man and the idle man. See the scripture below.

Proverbs 22:24-25 "Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared."

2 Thes. 3:6-10, 14-15

⁶In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. ⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,⁸nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

¹⁴If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. ¹⁵Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

There really is not much else I can say to this. I think the major thing I have learned from this passage is that God wants us to keep a distance for protection and for all to learn a lesson. With the hot-tempered man one can easily get caught up in the moment and begin to act the same way. If you don't act like that, just being associated when they have an outburst can be detrimental!

And the second verse is a tough love kind of thing. I am not very good at that! I want to bail out and hope that goodness and kindness sets ones back on the road to righteousness! But the Lord is clear - do not associate..............until things are resolved!!!

Lord, thank you for this word!! Help me to not be the idle one! Help me to not be the hot-tempered man! Oh Jesus and when I am one or both - please keep me contained in my closet so that no one else sees me bringing shame to You!! I so don't want to do harm to your great Name! Oh Lord, you know I am so capable!!! Thank you for being the God of restoration, redemption, and reconciliation!! I love you!

848 - Wrong Perspective

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]}we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2

Good morning Jesus, This is almost our first real day of summer. The kids are out of school all day today, but do have to go back to get report cards tomorrow morning. So I am thinking Friday will be our first real day off for the summer break. I am excited for all we are going to do this summer. It will be fast and furious, but exciting too!

Lord, so often I wish my first inclination was Godly and one that considered Your ways or Your perspective. But all too often my first reaction and thoughts are about me and how it can benefit me! Ugh!!

When I first read the verse above I immediately went to thoughts of myself. The Word says, "what we will be has not yet been made known". My brain thought back to that old sticker or even bumper sticker that reads, "be patient, God's not finished with me yet." Then my thoughts went right on to things of this life.

Here I am, 37, and God still has plans for my life, I just don't know what they are.

Here I am, 37, raising a family and doing life, but there is more?

Here I am, 37, seen many come to know the Lord, but there is more.

Here I am, 37, a bit overweight, but a better "bod" is on its way.

Here I am, 37, in ministry, but it could change.

The thoughts of my current life and how the Lord might make that look different, of course we usually dream in the positive, has nothing to do with the way the Lord intended this verse. WHY, you ask...........because I don't have an eternal perspective most of the time! Me, me, me, me, me!!!

This particular scripture is talking about how we will be made like Him when we see Him face to face. It is not so much the now and how the Lord will further enhance this particular life, but the then and when....when we meet Him in the air or face to face. "What we will be that has not been made known" is not what the rest of our life is about, but all the wonderful things of Christ that will be made perfect through Him when we meet Him and become as He intended!! Wow - now that is a perspective, heavenly one!

Jesus, help me to not dwell on the now so much. Help my eyes and mind to think of You first and have that perspective that is looking forward to meeting you face to face. Lord, I get so caught up in the now! I want to live with my eyes toward you! I love you - amen!

847 - Why is Dreaming considered conceited at times?

We are avid Toby Mac fans around here and he has given me a lyric that has set me free. On his newest CD my mom got Tucker for Christmas at Thanksgiving, song number 3 - Booming out the Stereo (I think that is the is name) - he says with a "hand full of dreams and a heart for God"................... Oh Lord Jesus - that is a perfect description of how I feel and actually how I am. Toby (we are on a first name basis) is talking about his career and the music he is actually driven to and performs. He is talking about his ministry and to those or the particular ones that he ministers to - it is not every one's calling, what he does, but that for them and because of God he has a "hand full of dreams and a heart for God".

I think so often I hear even big speakers say in a round about way that they don't dream, God just places before them all the opportunities. Very true and easy to say when you are at the top. You can not dream any further because you are there. The top is not what I am praying about today. But I am thanking you Jesus for the freedom to dream today. Coupled with a heart for our Lord, we can dream to any degree. So many times I have been put down or discouraged is a better word, to not worry (to me they are really saying not to dream) about where God is going to take you. These are the same people that would say just let it happen and don't do anything about letting others know about the gift HE has given you that you want to share with others. For some reason they get all Calvinistic on me when they would never ever be that way with anything else in life.

This weekend or actually yesterday I was given the opportunity to speak at 2 churches. I took my son with me because my beloved Alisha took all 3 of my girls for the night as her present to me and Clay was teaching Sunday School in Carmi. After speaking at the first church I asked Tucker if i was boring. He replied, "Oh no Mom, you aren't boring or quiet." I am not sure what that last part means. Ha! Then I said back to Tucker, "Can you understand at 9 years old why I love Jesus and why I absolutely love speaking the Truth to others?" The little man of oh so few words, "Yeah mom, I get it."

Jesus, ministry is my life and speaking is my breath or like breathing to me!! Oh I just love devouring Your Word and then exposing it to others. Yesterday I could have stayed up there all day - that would not have been too popular in the Methodist Church, but that is how much I love it! My other man of oh so few words, Clay AKA hubby, said, "Leigh you really did a great job. I mean you have come a 1000 miles." Now I am not so sure about that last part either, but I will take it and run with it!

Savior, I dream of doing this kind of ministry for years and years. I dream of speaking to as many people as you possibly would have me to. I dream of not writing books, but writing prayers day in and day out to you. I dream of seeing thousands come to know you personally and then walking successfully in that relationship with you! I dream of passing a ministry on to my kids or grandkids to run with and dream bigger. I dream of being used in any way to bring about good elsewhere. I dream about being known as a Woman after God's heart and one that is known for sound advice and judgement. I dream of making His name renown!!! I want to make His famous ways known to all!! I dream of being righteous before Him and well favored! I dream of doing nothing else but traveling with Clay and speaking of my Jesus in every type of venue! I dream of being one that God can point to and say, "That is my go - to - girl!." I dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dream because I have a heart for God!!!

I heard an interview last night of Rick Warren. The Lord has majorly stretched his boundaries. Wow!!!!!!! And he talked about Ps. 72 when Solomon prayed that God would make him known among all nations and used mightily! Solomon was truly asking to be famous in a round abut way, but he had a heart for God. His reason was noble and righteous. Verse 12- 14 explains his request and reason for wanting such great influence - deliver the needy, help the afflicted that have no one, take pity on the weak, rescue others from oppression and violence, etc. Of course this Psalm should be looked at as the True King coming to reign as well!! Jesus, our Lord. But my point is that I am not sure we are to just sit back and not dream. I am not sure why it seems in ministry that one is not to dream - like dreaming is almost sinful - or at least that dreaming is not being spiritually mature. I wonder if people told Joseph his dreams were wrong or worth nothing. Oh yeah, they tried to kill him!!!

Jesus, guide me. Keep and protect my hand full of dreams and my heart for you!!! Thank you for the freedom I have in You! Oh thank you thank you!!! (I find it not ironic in one bit I just received in the mail 2 or 3 days ago out of the blue from Tracy, The Dream Giver.)