Under Surveillance

I was looking in the App Store for an app for my iPad so I could watch my dog while she is alone in the house and figure out how she finds her way into my purse and the trash. I ran across some apps where you can view surveillance videos from all over the world. There are cameras in offices, warehouses, parking lots and above freeways. I was thinking to myself, there's really less and less places in the world that don't have some kind of video surveillance. The strange thing is, the people watching these videos aren't a security guard in a dingy office somewhere, it's anybody who has this app on their iPad or computer!
"Coincidentally", I opened my Bible this morning to Psalm 139...
"O Lord, you examine me and know. You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives. You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do. Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it. You squeeze me in from behind and in front; you place your hand on me. Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension; it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it. Where can I go to escape your Spirit: Where can I flee to escape Your presence?" (Psalm 139:1-7)
God isn't some bored voyeur sitting in front of his computer or a security guard making sure nobody is trying to steal something...He is a loving God who is very aware of us and desires a close, loving relationship with us!

No Dumb Questions

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:5-8

I am in awe of God's attitude towards us! Even though He is all-knowing, with wisdom way beyond our comprehension, He doesn't despise us when we don't know what to do in a situation and we stop to ask Him for help.

How many times have you gone to someone for help who knows more a lot more than you do and you get a cocky, condescending response with perhaps no help at all? God isn't like that!

The only questions that He has a hard time with are those that are filled with doubt.

No Condemnation

"And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" (John 8:3-5)
With no response from Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees persisted and Jesus stood up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman in the midst. And straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" And she said "No one, Lord". And Jesus said, "NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU; GO YOUR WAY. FROM NOW ON SIN NO MORE." (John 8:7b-11)

The silence of Jesus during this whole ordeal was very intriguing to me. When the accusers can't shut up Jesus is silent. He is the ONLY one who could have rightfully condemned this woman (and myself) but He was silent.

Don't listen to the words of your accusers, listen to the peace and pardon of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of like in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1,2)

He took my SINS....

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
(I PETER 2:24,25)


Nothing but awe and wonder when I see that Jesus bore MY SINS in HIS BODY on the tree!!
Why did he do that?
To set me in a pew and give me a judgmental heart for all the poor sinners in the world?
To make sure that my life would be full of all kinds of busyness and distractions even in the name of ministry?
NO.....IT WAS PURE LOVE...and a committment to bring us out of the bondage of our sin and give us a new life of righteousness.
And a holy desire to bring us back to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. WOW!

PATIENCE!!!

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.9Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.11Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:9-11

So many of the prophets had to endure hardships and were patient in them not just looking for a light at the end of the tunnel but looking for the Lord. What a blessing to find that God is compassionate...He is genuinely moved by our situations and hardships and He is merciful....He is not looking to punish us for our mistakes but shows mercy.

Wisdom from Above...

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." James 3:17,18

How do I handle the affairs of my life? Is it governed by the wisdom that is from above?

"Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." James 3:13

Wisdom is not a philosophy that I can sit down for coffee and discuss with a friend or read about in an old book. Wisdom is only seen in how I live my life -- especially with others. Being easily intreated means that I am involved with others, not showing partiality involves others, hypocrisy is only demonstrated to others.

The Lord is my helper.

Hebrews 13:5,6 "Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

I asked God for help this morning and wondered why He would be willing to help me. It is hard for me to know when it is a good idea to help people and when it is best to let them fend for themselves. I know that God doesn't have that struggle...He knows exactly how to minister the help with LOVE, wisdom and discretion.

I have been so preoccupied with the plans to sell our house and move back east and all that it involves that I have not been able to genuinely and wholeheartedly follow the Lord. There is so much to think about and I am in such a place of limbo. I can't do anything...can't get a job, can't go to school, can't get too involved in anything since our situation is so temporary.

I asked God for help knowing that He knows what kind of help to send!