The NOW!!!

Isn't it funny how the Word of God reveals your heart?

It CAN and it just DOES.

Reminds me of 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." Profitable meaning it is to my benefit, it can be used. (Glory to God) Sometimes it reveals and confirms those things in which we are doing for the Lord. The atta-girl! And. Often times, there is the revealing of the Yucky Stuff. EEEWWW!!! Yep! Been there, will continue to go there as long as I am on this earth. Hopefully, less and less though. We are suppose to progress. But, this  last Sunday, I had a little bit of both. I had an overwhelming confirmation as well as a you need not to worry about the the stuff you are worrying about. (reproof) My heart just burned. I wanna believe it was similar to what the disciples(who didn't realize it was Jesus at them moment) described when Jesus walked with them on the road to Emmaus(after His resurrection) and explained to them all that happened since Moses and the Prophets and "interpreted Scripture concerning Himself" to them. Then, once they were sitting at the table, He broke the bread and gave it to them and their eyes were opened! (I love that!) and Jesus vanishes. And as it is written in Luke 24:32 "They(the apostles) said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” THAT'S THE WAY I FELT Sunday, sitting in church with the U-G-L-Y (YOU AIN'T GOT NO ALIBI) CRY! I can't explain it any better this example here in Luke. And if you have experienced similar, you know what I am talking about. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, you won't forget it.

In light of the past 11 months or so. My heart and my mind has been through significant H & Ls...oh, highs and lows, sorry ;). Some due to my own stubbornness and disobedient ways and other times having to do with others and their issues. This (plural) has caused me (and my husband) to fall harder on my Savior and tuck myself even tighter under the WORD of GOD. But, yet still I have had this roaming question in my mind... and I (we) grappled with it, and grappled with it, took a break and then grappled some more...it just never leaves my mind. Even as my husband and I continue praying through some decisions right now, the question keeps coming to mind. When we put it to the side, it slips back in our conversation. (For good reasons, I am sure... God doesn't waste anything)--  So as I was sitting at church,  sandwiched between a sweet friend named, Brenda and my dear husband, Joseph, the pastor pulls out this Scripture. (Ok, it was listed in bulletin, so I looked it up and read it and I was like OHHHH!!! BOI!!! like all gangsta n' stuff- in my head though) But, as this Pastor was coming to a close in his message and in the context with Scripture references he read it and he painted a picture that mirrored our current situation and I could not use my eyelids as a dam any longer..tears just burst out...I couldn't wipe them fast enough you hear?! Now, my husband is rubbing my back (eewww, stop :) and Brenda, hits me on my leg and laughs a "Ha!" And I'm like for real, stop it! [That who 3 seconds reminded me of the older women wearing the nurses hat (never understood that) in church with the fans trying to fan the tears away]....I am thinking to myself Lord, what are you doing?  For REALS! What are you showing me? What are you telling? and...I'm praising Him at the same time, saying "I don't know what you are doing."

Nevertheless, I was NOT really bothered by my friend nor my darling husband. Not one bit. The Holy Spirit was revealing His Word to me and His plan to me in that instance. I promise, I am changed forever by this moment.  You see, for some months upon months, now, I have been trying to figure out the
'why' to a lot of things
                          and the "what do I do with this?'
                                                                    and the "what do I do with this now?".
It has been stressFULL! I am convince in more than one way, we REALLY don't NEED to KNOW the WHY.
                  Nope!
                          We don't.
                                        We just need to trust Him.
And in this moment the Lord answered my question by giving me some reproof.. letting me know He does not approve of me worrying and fretting and doubting. He affirmed that I need to do what I know is my responsibility as a follower of Christ: make disciples of those who are willing to stay and hear the message I have about my Savior.
Whether, I am struggling financially, I must SHARE JESUS, whether I am overflowing with funds, SHARE JESUS! Whether I feel I am alone and friendless (not true by the way), SHARE JESUS! Whether I am hurting, SHARE JESUS! Whether on a road less traveled or one congested with traffickers, SHARE JESUS! Whether I feel all things are well with me or not, SHARE JESUS!...
Our situations or circumstances,
                                     DO NOT CHANGE our KINGDOM RESPONSIBILITIES. They do not!
Sort of brings Paul to mind when he wrote to the body of believers in Philippi, "I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Philippians 4:12 MSG

I was also encouraged and a heard a 'you're did well' and 'this is where it's at, in Me, and you didn't leave Me' (even though I know I wasn't/am not perfect). But, that's what I felt and heard my sweet, heavenly Father showering me with, ALL in those few minutes.
                                                                                                    CHECK IT OUT....
I know the Lord has great plans for my family and I, in His Kingdom, a midst His Will. But, my question was finally answered, in how to deal with the NOW!!! Check it out. It's so simple:

"Seek the welfare of the city to which I have caused you to go in exile, and pray to Adonai on its behalf; for your welfare is bound up in its welfare.’"

                                                                                                                  ~~~Jeremiah 29:7 CJB

Quite a bit of us are in places or situations we DON'T WANNA BE IN! So, what are you (and I) gonna do about it while we have TODAY? 
                                                  ....... I do pray as you labor to bring souls in the Kingdom and to make HIS Name Famous in your cities, that you find encouragement and maybe even some needed correction in this verse. WE know what our future holds. But, how do we handle the now? As the ESV says it,"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

He is good to us. (<---- Click on that sentence).Always.