Category: Vision 2020

You Can’t Miss God’s Appointment (Vision 2020)

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You can’t miss God’s appointment.  1 Samuel 16:1-13

Samuel was sent to anoint a king. God led him to the house of Jesse. Jesse had several sons. I’m sure they varied in height, skill, and gifting, but they were all Jesse’s sons.  One by one, they came before Samuel and each time Samuel said “no, that’s not the one.”  Samuel didn’t make this determination based on what he saw, but based on the leading of the Lord.  At the end of the procession of sons, Samuel had to ask, “Is this all? I know that I’ve come to this house for a purpose, so there has to be more!”

So Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Then Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest. He is tending the sheep.”

Now, here is where I have heard it said that David’s father excluded him from the gathering purposely because he thought, “surely, this one can not be the King.” While others believe that it was just the custom that the youngest not be present at the gathering.  Either way, David was not invited to dinner.

Samuel was so sure that he was at the right house that he said “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”  Whether or not they intended for David to be excluded, nothing would continue until he was present.

So Jesse sent for him and had him brought in. . .Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

This very familiar story spoke clearly in my spirit today, and I hope that it will encourage you too.

There are somethings that you will be excluded from.  It may be intentionally, or inadvertently.  Either way, you will not miss your divine appointments!

The enemy tries to discourage us with rejection and exclusion.  Sometimes it may feel like others are holding you back from walking into the vision God gave you. Dear friends, you’ve gotta keep on pressing.  It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been looked over. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been passed over.   When God says, “you are the one” nothing can stop you.

What David did was key.  He continued to walk in obedience.  Earlier in this chapter, it says when Samuel came into the town the elders trembled, asking if he had come in peace.  Surely, word had spread through the town of the priest coming to offer sacrifice.  David had to know what was going on at the house. His brothers, most likely, spoke of this gathering.  David, however, didn’t demand to be present or barge his way in.  He continued to  faithfully care for the sheep placed under his care.

There was no way David was going to miss this divine appointment!  And you shouldn’t miss yours.  Stay in the will of God and be faithful in all that He has entrusted into your hands.  That God appointed assignment will not evade you.  In His timing, those that ignored you, neglected you, or simply overlooked you, will see God shine through you!

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A Fresh Yes (Vision 2020)

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2CC44279-339D-4975-8D3F-49F7DE182724“But, have you moved yet?” This is something I used to say to my children, as I reiterated my initial directions. Even after the eager “Yes ma’ams” the assigned task would STILL go incomplete. See, I can tell my children to do something and they can say yes, but if they don’t make a move to do it, has their heart really said yes? I had to really think about this. Is that how I treat God and the things of God?

In moments of worship, prayer, and meditation (and sometimes in moments of emotion) I will say, “yes!” But when I look back on many of those moments I see that I’ve done little to nothing in efforts to accomplish what He’s told me to do. In some cases, I’m sitting on my “yes”, and haven’t even moved.

God still wants a “yes” from His children! But our “yes” should be coupled with actionable steps of obedience. When you say yes, go ahead and take that first step. Put feet to your faith!

What is truly keeping you from walking in obedience? Is it the money? Lack of support? Fear of the unknown? Has too much time passed? None of these things can limit our God. When He calls you, He equips you with everything you need to accomplish the task.

It’s time to evaluate. Are you sitting on “stale” yeses? Are you walking in delayed obedience (which is disobedience)? Have you lost momentum? Has fear and doubt paralyzed you? Do you think too much time has passed? Be assured, God has not changed His mind.

Take heart friends! Jonah did not obey God immediately. The Word tells us that Jonah heard God’s call, but chose to walk in disobedience. He totally went the opposite way! (Jonah 1-1:3). After a storm, being thrown overboard, and 3 days in a big fish, Jonah decided to do it God’s way. The third chapter of Jonah starts with a beautiful, redeeming phrase, “The Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time” (Jonah 3:1). Ok, so you haven’t been swallowed up by a big fish, but it can seem like fear, timing, and other ‘hope thieves’ will swallow you up.  You need to break free!

Break free by saying yes! A yes from the heart. Then walk in obedience. Take an actionable step of faith and watch God move. Whether it is inhibitions, fear, or that you just don’t know where to begin, start by giving God a fresh yes, then take the first step.

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Check out the other blog posts in this series:

Write the Vision (2020)

The Limits of Your Best

Do Not Despise Small Beginnings

You Were Made For This

Don’t Throw It Away (Vision 2020)

 

Don’t Throw It Away (Vision 2020)

Published on by Sparrow1 Comment

It’s the second week in February, and it’s time for a vision checkup! We all started the year strong, but where are we now? Are we still going? Has discouragement set in? Have you given up?

What ever point you find yourself at today, I’m writing to encourage you. I’m also writing to encourage myself. It’s with tears that I write, but this Word of God is burning in my heart “do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”   Hebrews 10:35

The writer of Hebrews wrote this passage to Christians who had become discouraged. They were contemplating giving up their belief in Jesus and going back to Old Covenant methods and customs. But God gave this gentle reminder.

Confidence, in this passage, in its truest translation, indicates bold faith in what God has promised. It is strong confidence that what God promised, He will do. Don’t throw that confidence away, because it is what you need to endure.  Verse 36 explains, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”

Whoa! What I NEED is confidence, bold faith in God’s promises. It keeps us going so we can’t throw it away.

When it looks like you have failed, don’t throw it away.
When friends walk away, don’t throw it away.
When growth is slow or stagnant, don’t throw it away.
When doors close, don’t throw it away.

The second part of Hebrews 10:35 gives us reason to hold on. When you hang on to your confidence, you will be richly rewarded. What has God promised? What vision has He given you? Can you see it in the Spirit? Can you grasp hold to it with your faith? The glorious reward from the Father will be more than you think or even imagine. As verse 38 explains, “the just shall live by faith!” Because we believe God, we should live with confident expectation. When we live By faith, we don’t concern ourselves with what it may look like, but at each step of the way, ask yourself “What has God said?”.

Please, dear friends, don’t throw away your confidence! There is a rich reward awaiting you if you just keep going.

Pray with me,

Father, help me have bold faith to hold on to the promises You have given me. Come what may, help me to keep going until I see the evidence of everything You’ve promised. You are faithful and Your Word will never fail, so Father, help me believe.
In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Confess:
I WILL live by faith.
I WILL stand firm on every promise God has given me.
I WILL not be moved by circumstances that come against me.

Read other posts in this series, Vision 2020

Write the Vision (2020)

The Limits of Your Best

Do Not Despise Small Beginnings

You Were Made For This

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You Were Made For This

Published on by Sparrow2 Comments

It’s the last week in January. I hope you are still pushing and moving forward, doing what God assigned you to do. Don’t let 2020 be like every other year; we start great but quickly fizzle out. This year we want to see what we have been praying for. We want to see the fruit of our hearts burning desire. We want the assurance that we are walking in His will for our lives.

Well, can I tell you something? Yes, you! You need to know that you were made for this!

Ephesians 2:10  tells us “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

In Christ we’ve been made new! A work of art, touched by the Master’s finger of love, made into a masterpiece. He took our messed up lives and made something beautiful, so that we can do the good works that God predestined for us.

Before you knew your name, there was a divine assignment designed just for you. Jeremiah 1:5 recounts God’s Words to the prophet Jeremiah. “Before I even formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew all about you. Before you drew your first breath, I had already chosen you to be My prophet to speak My word to the nations” (The Voice).

Likewise, Paul shared his testimony in Galatians 1. He too, tells how he was chosen from his mother’s womb. Paul wasn’t called because of anything special he had done, but by God’s sovereign election, Paul was made to do the work of the Lord.
You too, were made for this!

Whatever your “this” is, is a divine calling by an all-knowing God. You were created for good work! Before any training, before any degree, before you were born, you were made for this! So you cannot fail! You were created for this!

Read the other posts in this series:

Write the Vision (2020,  

The Limits of Your Best,

Do Not Despise Small Beginnings

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Do Not Despise Small Beginnings

Published on by Sparrow3 Comments

Well, we are three weeks into 2020! The New Year’s excitement is waning and many are settling into their “normal.” Some are still grinding away at their goals, but, for some, discouragement and even disappointment is starting to set in. It’s not for lack of effort, or lack of motivation, but lack of results. Three weeks of advertising and promoting and only a few sales. Three weeks of praying, fasting, and dedication to a reading plan and no apparent breakthrough. Three weeks of diet and exercise and only a few pounds lost. Or worse, only three short weeks and already messed up, or, even worse, given up!

Last week we saw, in Zechariah 4, that Zerubbabel received encouragement to continue the work of rebuilding the temple.  (The Limits of Your Best) Discouragement had set in, and the Lord’s messenger reminded him, that it’s not by his power or might, but only by the Spirit of the Lord would the work be completed  (Zechariah 4:6 ).

A second part of this message speaks volumes to us. The Messenger goes on to pose the question, “Who dares despise the day of small things . . . ?” (Zechariah 4:10). Sadly, I’m guilty. I sometimes look at my meager results and wish things would move along a little—no a lot faster. And because it is not, I feel defeated and deflated. This is a hard one for me. I know that starting small is par for the course, but slow growth can be discouraging and frustrating. It is at these times, that I need this reminder not to despise small beginnings. The passage goes on to tell us why. “. . . for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (Zechariah 4:10 NLT). He lovingly looks on to see us start the work He’s assigned to us. Our faithful Father’s eyes watch over the work and sees to it’s completion. Philippians 1:6 admonishes us to be “confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Don’t resent small beginnings! If God has given you the vision, resist discouragement. It may start out small but hold on.  He may give you a glimpse of the end result.  You may feel ready for that end right now, but you have to walk through each season of growth, preparation, and refining.  Starting small allows you to GROW through the process.

If your heart has been stirred with expectancy, don’t let your expectation dwindle. Don’t let small beginnings hinder you.  If God gave it to you, trust Him to bless it, grow it, and cause it to prosper and bear fruit.

Blessing,

EB

**read the other posts in this series Write the Vision (2020)  and The Limits of Your Best.

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