pauseandponderdbible

2 Tim 1:7 (NKJV), ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’

For some reason today I realized that this verse came after the verse about stirring up the gift of God in us. I don’t know how I never made the connection. But then that is hoe the Word is, the revelations are ‘new every morning’.

Paul was talking to Timothy who had been raised by his mother and grand-mother in the Word. To be able to maximize his potential, he needed to stir up the gift in him and overcome fear.

I remember one Sunday at foundation bible school years ago. The Bible study teacher that day asked a question and for somehow I gathered up courage and answered. He was so pleased with the answer that we were on it for a little bit. That moment changed my life. You see I usually didn’t answer questions because I was afraid I might say the wrong thing and embarrass myself and people would laugh at me. I kept whatever I learned from bible study to myself but since that day I learned to boldly share what God laid in my heart and here I am, on Facebook sharing with you. (Hugs?)

Fear, especially fear of the unknown, is a crippling force when it comes to fulfilling our purpose. Do I still fear sometimes? Yes. I actually almost never created this page. I was putting myself out there and wasn’t sure of the reception. I’m glad I did. You all have been a great blessing and encouragement.

Pause and Ponder ~ What do we do now? Throw open the fireplace doors stir up the flames; let your light shine; put your lamp on that table. Speak this verse out loud to yourself as often as you need it until you believe it. As long as you know where God is leading you, don’t let fear stop you, Like Joyce Meyer would say, ‘Do it Afraid’

2 Tim 1:6 (GW), ‘You received a gift from God when I placed my hands on you {to ordain you}. Now I’m reminding you to fan that gift into flames.’

One night early in my stay in the United States, I thought I heard a sound in the fireplace. I was a little scared and wondered what it was. A few nights later I decided to check it out. I opened the fireplace doors and looked in. There at the bottom in a little corner was a little flame! What was the flame doing there? Close to that was a knob. I turned it and whoosh! I jumped back as this big fire started. It was beautiful. I held out my hands as I enjoyed the warmth and thanked God for the gift of fire. Moments later, I turned it down and there was nothing left but the little flame.

Today I remembered that day. Every one of us like that fireplace has potential. You see, PG&E, (the power company) supplies the gas and all but in order to benefit from the fireplace, we actually have to go in there and turn the knob.

God has deposited so much in us but He’s not going to come down and turn the knob or fan the flame. That is our responsibility. Pastors and ministers and prophets etc. can lay hands and legs on us or soak us in anointing oil but if we do not reach out and stir it up, turn that knob and fan the flames, we would just be like the unused fireplace – dark and cold.

Pause and ponder ~ Many times we see others and we admire their talents and wish we could be like them but if we took our eyes off what others carry and focus on discovering and developing what God has put in and called us to do.

How’s the fire in you? What are the ways you can discover and develop your gift? Leave a comment and let’s talk about it

Luke 10:38 (GW) ‘As they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.’

Driving Home and listening to scriptures, this verse jumped out at me. You see we are used to how Jesus Loved Lazarus and raised him from the dead; and how Mary loved him and broke her perfume bottle over His head; and Martha? She was too busy.

Here we see the history of Jesus’ relationship with these siblings. It was actually Martha’s idea to invite Jesus into their home. She saw a need and stepped up to meet it. The Teacher and His disciples needed a place to eat and rest from their travels and like the Shunammite woman who made room for Prophet Elisha, She made room for Jesus.

Then she got busy; they had special guests. They needed to be fed and taken care of. So busy was she trying to take care of the guests that she missed actually spending time with the guests. So busy was she in the kitchen, trying to bake bread for Jesus; that she was missing out of the bread of life.

A lot of us are like Martha. We were the first in our family or even village to become born again Christians. We brought our loved ones to the Lord…, and then we got busy. In our zeal to please God, we forget to ask Him just what He wants us to do. We take off on our own in His service. We’re in church every day; we’re in every department and committee in Church; then we look up one day and realize we bit off more than we could chew. Stressed out and burning out, we look around and see others looking relaxed and not stressed out in their service to God and we begin to complain. ‘How come I’m the only one doing all the work?’ ‘Why can’t they help me?’. We see those we had brought to the Lord having intimate relationships with Him and we wonder how they could make the time when there’s so much work to be done for the kingdom. Some at this point, feel unappreciated. Some end up throwing in the towel and walking away from the faith entirely.
Are you at this stage in your life? My mama Joyce Meyer, talked about complaining to God about her busy schedule; to her surprise, rather than feel sorry for her, God reminded her that she was the one who created her schedule and it was her responsibility to take care of it. What am I saying? Take some time out. Withdraw from all the hustle and bustle. Delegate some of your duties, let go of some of them. Get your Priorities straight; Go, sit at the Master’s feet; develop a closer relationship with Him; Find out from Him what He wants you to be doing; what part does He want you to play in His kingdom. Then face your portion of His field and fulfill your ministry.

Pause and ponder ~ God understands our desire to serve Him and accepts our service (Jesus ate the food busy Martha prepared) But much more than that, He wants an intimate relationship with us. He expects us to manage our time wisely. Let us seek Him today. Ask Him for wisdom to have the right priorities – His priorities.

‘If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn’t find fault with them.’ [James 1:5 (GW)]