Dates are important to us. Some we celebrate, like birthdays and anniversaries. Others we would like to forget, like losing a loved one or moving away. This week is what some people call my spiritual birthday, the date when I became a Christian. Not everyone has a specific day that they can pinpoint as the day that they made the decision to follow the Lord. I do and every year during this week I look back at that day and I am so glad that I was blessed with people willing to give their time and energy to a bunch of kids. They probably don’t remember me but I remember them and especially the time and attention that they showed. On this particular day, Mrs. Tanner was telling the Pilgrim’s Progress story on the felt board (If you aren’t familiar with that story I will leave you to Google). It was a children’s church and we were in an old house our church used for classrooms. She explained to us how we could know if we are going to Heaven. I don’t remember exactly what we said but I do remember her kneeling with me in her khaki skirt on the old carpet and folding chair. I had no idea as an 11-year-old girl that it would be the most important decision of my life. I am sure she knew. As an adult, I realize she had a husband and small kids waiting for her and lunch to cook but she chose my Salvation at that moment and I am forever grateful. So I encourage you whether you are on the giving or the receiving end of this story.  Pouring out into someone else’s life or taking your first step of faith, I encourage you to do it. The results last for eternity.

Well, it’s the same as with anyone else. It’s a conversation. Except of course this person formed you in the womb and knows every dark and evil thought you have ever had. But more importantly, He loves you in a way you can’t comprehend here on earth. He knows the hairs on your head and has kept your tears in a bottle. And he can’t wait to call you his. The biggest misconception is if you believe God exists then you are going to heaven, well we know that’s not true, Satan and 1/3 of the angels will tell you he’s real but they are not going to be in heaven with us. It’s believing in him for not only your salvation and eternal life but in his love and power. Asking him to forgive us and accepting him as the heavenly Father that he is. It’s truly life-changing. Start the conversation, he’s waiting.

Here are some verses to help.

^{John 3:16 NIV} For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

^{Romans 10:13 NIV} for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

^{Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV} For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

^{Romans 10:10 NIV}For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

^{Romans 6:23 NIV} For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

How come when we sin and want to be forgiven we do not accept the forgiveness we have been given?

First of all I need to point out if you are saved and have accepted Jesus’s blood as payment for your sins that is your past, present and future sins. Your sins are forgiven and you will enter Heaven. But even after being saved the Bible says all men sin and to restore your relationship with the Father you have to ask for forgiveness for those sins. Now if you are truly his child the Holy Spirit will convict you when you sin. This bringing confession to the Father and any worldly correction needed, example; asking forgiveness from a person you have wronged, paying a debt you owe, etc. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 KJV
The next step is to ask for the Fathers help to move forward without recommitting the sin. This is where Satan works, he keeps throwing the sin in your face telling you it is too bad for God to forgive. As long as he can keep you from accepting Gods grace and keep you out of fellowship with the Father then you are in fellowship with him. Any wedge the Devil can use he will and lies are his specialty. Our fathers voice doesn’t continue to convict you after you have asked for forgiveness, that would be the father of lies voice. We need to learn the difference. The world teaches us we get what we deserve so the grace offered freely by our Heavenly Father is not easy for our worldly minds to accept. We need to study his word and his promises so we are not easily lead astray. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalms 103:12 KJV

Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV)
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.

Do you know the Lord who created this universe has PLANS for you? Yes you.
I am a planner, and if you know anything about a planner when things don’t go our scheduled way we get uncomfortable, that’s a nice way of saying we freak out. A perfect example of this was my landscaping project. The obvious order would have been foundation patching, lattice work, painting, remove the sod, put down the border, fabric, plants, and mulch. Perfect!!
No, that’s not how it went. The Lord had other plans. First, the weather was too cold, then too rainy, then I got free plants- that couldn’t wait to be put in the ground, and so here I am painting last.
Seems crazy!
But his plan that I was so sure was delayed gave me free plants from my brother, free professional foundation advice from one of my customers, free border bricks from a friend, finding the correct paint and mortar from the old homeowner, free labor from my dad, the nicest weather we will probably have all summer, oh and a discount on the mulch. Most of all the plants were standing tall this morning as if they had been there forever.
That’s how our everyday lives are: we plan and worry about our plans, and I always imagine the Lord laughing at us. No, not in a cruel way, he cares about all the desires of our hearts, but in a loving, “I have so much better for you”, way. He has such bigger plans for us than we can ever imagine. Unfortunately, this society has taught us that everything has to be instant, perfect, with no time to enjoy the journey or learn the lesson. And so we rush ahead of the Lord and miss his plan.
Today I am challenged to commit my plans to the Lord. Let it be “His way or the highway” as they say.

Proverbs 16:9 New International Version (NIV)
In their hearts, humans plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps.

Lately my friends and I were talking about how much God interacts or doesn’t interact in our lives. I was shocked to find out that not every Christian feels the way I do.

I believe that God is in every moment big and small.

Our feelings on this of course comes from our experiences and our personal relationship we have with God.
When I think about why I feel the way I do on this topic I remember times when God provided me with silly wants that in no way were needs. Like a time when I was a divorced single mother during springtime and there was no extra money to waste on perennial flowers. Despite the short term joy they bring, they would just die in 4 short months. After helping clean up at a church event the lady in charge asked if I could use the extra petunias she was just going to throw away, and I knew immediately that it was God. And another time when I couldn’t afford pumpkins for my kids at Halloween and a neighbor brought ones from his garden because he had way too many. Not only material provision but also times when the right song on the radio played at just the right time or when a kind word from someone came out of the blue.

I could keep going, but you get the point. Like the good Father he is, over and over Gods small and gentle interaction in my life proves to me he knows my heart, my longings and my dreams.

BUT the foundation of our beliefs need to come from the Word so here are some verses that I believe have molded my belief in His constant interaction in our lives.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 New International Version (NIV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
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Psalm 56:8 New International Version (NIV)
8 Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll—
are they not in your record?
Psalm 56:8 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?

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Matthew 10:29-30 New International Version (NIV)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:29-30 English Standard Version (ESV)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
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Luke 12:7 New International Version (NIV)
7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:7 English Standard Version (ESV)
7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

It’s so easy to just assume we never will sin, but we all know that isn’t reality. We make choices everyday, large and small that either draw us closer to God or separate us from his presence. Sometimes they are actions, words or just thoughts. Sometimes they are done in a split second with very little thought. But a lot of the time we make the decisions after we have mulled it around in our minds. Here are some steps I am using to help say no to these sinful decisions.

1. Ask is this worth Jesus dying for?

2. What lie is the Devil telling me?

3. How will I feel about this tomorrow?

4. Then I ask God for strength and an out. Remember the temptation isn’t sin, Jesus was tempted. It’s when we claim the thought and lavish in it, it’s when we follow through on the behavior. That’s the sin.

FEAR
FEAR-noun-an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
Life is crazy right now and I am finding myself fighting the feelings of fear. First I have to realize that those feelings do not come from the Lord.

2 Timothy 1:7 King James Version (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

82 Times in the Bible God uses the words “fear not”….maybe I should listen.

Isaiah 41:10 New International Version (NIV) So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Matthew 6:34 New International Version (NIV)
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:26 New International Version (NIV)
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

As with all our thoughts, fear thoughts need to be held captive, examined and tested. Are they truly our thoughts or just whispers from the liar that roams this earth looking to kill us? He makes it seem so rational, so real. He knows what our weaknesses are.

2 Corinthians 10:5 New International Version (NIV)
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We need to surrender our fear to the Lord, cry out our hearts to the one that loves us like no other. The one we can tell our secrets to. This is a form of freedom we have living as a Christian, knowing that the heavenly father holds us in his hand.

Romans 8:28 New International Version (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I think a lot of times we still fear even knowing all these things because we know bad things can and will happen. Our “bad” and Gods plan for our life sometimes are the same and letting go and letting God be in control is hard. This is where we go back to him.

1 Peter 5:7 New International Version (NIV)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Like most things we deal with the answers are in his word, promises he’s given us. We need to claim those promises, write them down, and surround ourselves with the word of God. Throw the fear at his feet and let’s be free.