Jumping Jehosaphat

Why do we make believing in God's goodness so difficult? Or maybe it's only me. I have been so frustrated with myself lately. Jesus has been with me throughout my life and my being here blogging is a miracle in itself. I am sure it's true for many of you, too. We all have been through many events in our lives and wonder how we survived it physically or emotionally.

As I stated before I've been reading Chronicles. Last night I was reading II Chronicles 17 - 22. Jehoshaphat walked with Lord and the Lord established his kingdom. God protected Jehoshaphat and he became very powerful. Have you ever been in that place where you delight yourself in the Lord? His greatness takes over you and nothing can penetrate your love for Him. Well I shouldn't say nothing because one thing always breaks that bond, sin.

Let's shorten Jehoshaphat's name to JJ. In chapter 18 JJ hooks up with Ahab, king of Israel to go against Ramoth, big mistake. In the midst of this battle JJ cried out to the Lord and guess what, the Lord saved him. Wow...JJ goes against God and because JJ cried out God saves him. What an awesome God we serve. JJ brought the people back to the Lord. The people of Moab and Ammon rise against Judah. Because JJ sought the Lord, the Lord said "Don't be afraid for the battle is not yours but MINE."

When the soldiers of Judah arrived to the battle all the bodies were dead because God had set up an ambush and the Moabites and Ammonites destroyed each other. There was abundance in valuables and the people of Judah were able to retreat them all and they rejoiced. Do you think that was enough to keep loving God? To stay be His side? God blesses us everyday and it's not enough for us.

Towards the end of his reign, JJ allied once again with a wicked King, Ahaziah and the Lord destroyed his works. Why? Why would Jehoshaphat keep hooking up with the wicked kings when God blessed him abundantly? Does that sound like you? It sure sounds like me.

God pours down His grace every morning on all who believe in Him. What do we do with it? Do run to Him and praise Him? Do we run towards the wicked kings? It takes work to keep our eyes on God. This morning I prayed for God to deliver me from speaking negative through-out my day. I did pretty good till the evening, then Tati, my younger daughter, asked me, "Mom do you remember what you prayed for this morning?" Conviction.

God has always blessed my life even when I took it for granted. This year God has poured His blessings full force on our lives, but because of the storm that is surrounding us we don't see. I should say we don't choose to see it, to see HIM.

My prayer is for us to focus on God's goodness, His grace, His mercy, and His love. I pray that we will able to stay away from the wicked kings and keep our eyes on HIM and His greatness.

He loves you and He is waiting for YOU.

Marisol

I'll keep it short today.

Every time I get ready to open my bible I pray "Lord speak to me". Well, for the last two weeks I open up to II Chronicles and I think "I don't want to read this, I must have opened to the wrong the chapter". This morning I did the same thing and guess what, I opened up to II Chronicles, okay Lord I will read it. Oh my gosh, I started reading and it was all popping up at me. I started to take notes. I only got to chapter 15 but I can't wait till tonight to finish it.

God is so faithful to those to cry out to Him. I didn't read I Chronicles but I will. I really believe God knew I needed to read II Chronicles first. God's people turn away from the Lord and the Lord doesn't hold them back. He lets them go. When they get in trouble, they cry out to HIM and they humble themselves and God is FAITHFUL to save them, over and over again. Solomon in chapter 6 prays for his people for if they turn to sin for God to hear in heaven, and forgive the sins of Your servants.

II Chronicles15:2b The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

II Chronicles 15:7 7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.

How can we not trust our lives to such a wonderful God? He loves us.

Marisol

I can.....

Okay, okay..I know Adam Sandler movies are not ones I should be quoting but here I go anyway. In the movie Big Daddy, Sonny (Adam Sandler) is a lazy law school graduate who ends up watching a young boy, Julian, and then decides to keep him. Towards the end of the movie CPS realizes that Sonny isn't the real father and they come to his home to take the Julian away. Julian shouts as they take him away, "But I can wipe my own butt...I can wipe my own butt!!" In Julian's head he blames himself for CPS coming. He feels as if he would have done all the things right this wouldn't be happening. Don't we all feel that way? If only I had not done that awful thing, said that lie, or had a bad attitude. If only.

Yesterday I was mowing the lawn only the second time I had done it in my whole life. As I was mowing Julian's words came to mind, "But I can mow my own lawn...I can mow my own lawn." I was feeling the anxiety a child feels when they do something wrong and then try to make up for it. I guess I am trying to make up for all the wrong things I have done by mowing the lawn, sounds silly huh?

The beauty of having Jesus as our savior is that we don't have to make up for any wrong doing, all we have to do is repent and move forward. Sounds easy enough, but we make it difficult.
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, Acts 3:19. It's easy and Jesus longs to give us a new chance without anything else but repentance from the heart. We might suffer some consequences from our wrong actions, but God is there to make it all new again. Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." I need some rest, don't you?

Seek HIM, He is waiting for you.

Marisol