Rant and Rave

She was ranting and raving! “This can’t happen! My house will not be worth anything. If this goes through I will be staring at walls five feet from my house. I have had flooding in the past. This could cause my house to be flooded even more. What is going on? I have got to call the builder. I must go fight city hall. This just can’t happen.”

I watched her blood pressure go up! She was going to explode! Oh Lord, what can I say to help this woman?  Lord intervene! This fight is too big and too late. What will happen? She has battled a severe illness in the past and she doesn’t need this stress now. Really none of us do!

“I will be praying for you.” She stopped! A look of shock came over her.

“Well…..I, I, I” the words slurred out of her mouth. She knows Jesus we have talked about Him before.

Then the Spirit spoke through me. The words I had just read that morning came flowing out.  I had hesitated that morning thinking as I flipped my bible open to Deuteronomy 28 then asking “God do you want me to read this?” “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you if you obey the Lord your God; you will be blessed in the city and be blessed in the country.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-3 NIV)

“Come here, stop and give me a hug.” I opened my arms to her.

 Tears flowed down both our cheeks. “You are God’s child; he will not let you go. He loves you!  Whatever is going to be the outcome He always promises to be there for you? Getting all worked up about this can’t be good for your health. You know God talk to Him about this. I just read this morning our blessings for obedience.”

Maybe you too have been ranting and raving about something. Sometimes the pressures from life causes you to worry and be fearful of the future. The pressure gets to be too much for you. As a result things come out of our mouth that should not have. Has this been happening to you? You may feel guilty that you hurt someone you care about. 

Let’s stop and pray: Father in heaven I have been so worried about ……..help me to stop. I want to be able to give this to you. Forgive me for ranting and raving. Thank you for blessing me with the ability to give this to you today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Be of good courage and I shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.  Psalm 31:24

Get a Grip

I like this! "Send me some more like this and we can probably do an e-book" the editor stated.

I was so excited. I took the next months to edit and rewrite all 31 devotions.  That moment of truth had come for the manuscript was just an "enter" away on my computer. I said a prayer "Lord may these writings bless and others and may you get all the glory."

On January 2nd this past year I received in my inbox an e-mail from my editor, I breathed deeply and opened it. It stated "Elaine, our board passed on your Devotions proposal." They went on to give a statement of what they were looking for and some suggestions to my future writings.

My son is writes music for songs. He has experienced rejection too. It is not easy. What do you do when you experience rejection? You put your whole guts and passion into a project and you feel like you are not moving forward. 

Stop! Step back! Take a deep breath! Pray! 

God what is going these days?  Am I off track?  Am I doing the wrong thing?
 


"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul" (Psalm 103:1-2b).

Be wise! Continue! Praise the Lord in all circumstances.


God brought you to this point. Have you been praying up to this point? Then why would God steer you wrong? There is the right people out there who will appreciate you and your work. Just wait! Wait till God shows you. Don't believe any other words. Trust God who put you on this path.


Maybe it is time to just praise and worship God and stop requesting what he should do. Just spend time with Him. Relax, God is not done yet!

THE WAY

I did not know the way!  I was driving around and could not understand the directions they gave me. I do not  want to admit it. I am lost. God forbid I have to stop and ask? The directions from my friends were "go down a way, then you  will come to a split in the road, stay to the right, go past two bushes and around the curve and it should be there on your left." These are not the typical directions you would get where I come from. One would only hope that they could have been, more direct. Like giving me street names etc... Frustration and fear mounted as it was beginning to get dark out. I dreaded  having to ask for help.

When life pressures begin to build up. Why do we hate asking for help? Do you push all your emotions down inside of you? Maybe you jump in your bed and cover your head hoping it will all disappear. Have you caught yourself saying "I am not going to deal with this." Then you try to continue on and pretend like nothing ever happened. How is your response working out for you? Are you feeling better or worse?

Thinking back on my driving situation, I am glad that I was not stubborn and refused to ask for help. I was lost and then I found "The Way."


Sometimes the last thing we want to do is ask for help. When in reality it is the first thing we should do.

Jesus said "I am The Way." (John 14:6a NIV)

(Name your life situation right now)____________________. If you are saying "there is no way this is going to get better."

Stop and pray: Jesus You are THE WAY. You can show me the way. I need help with _________________. Help me see it from Your perspective. Guide me with Your wisdom to find help. Teach me Oh Lord through this experience. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Joy Robbers

I went in to get a cup of coffee at a local convenient store. I saw a man get some containers and fill them with soup they made. Then, he took about a quartz size cup and filled it with packaged crackers they offered at counter.  He took way too many for two soups.   

The lady at the counter (very nicely) said “Sir we give out crackers for the soup, but not that many.”  He looked up at her and said “Fine than I don’t want any of this.” 

With that he stormed out of the store. I was stunned!  As I was getting ready to go, in walks that same man.  He said “Fine I will take the soup but keep your crackers. You can just shove those crackers where ever you want.” 

I started to pray for this man.  I asked myself “Why is this man so bitter and angry?”  I asked God “Is there anything I can say to this man?” What came to my mind after I prayed is ask him can I pray for you for anything? So bravely I walked up to the man and asked that. 

He looked at me and said “No I am not a religious man, people have talked to me about that, but I have done everything on my own and I have done just fine.”  He also said “Thank you, you seem like a nice person.  I work hard.” 

I said “I bet you do.”  He said “Well thanks anyway.”  He was defused and walked out calmer. 

When I told my husband he said “You better be careful.”  At the time I did not think about the danger, I was thinking of the man and why he was so up tight.  

The two women behind the counter were standing there speechless. I had been sharing my life story with one of them and promised her that I would return with a copy of my life story that I wrote. She turned to me and said "I never got that book you promised me." 

  

“As a matter of fact I came in to bring it to you today.”  

"Thanks", she replied. 

"I wonder what is behind all that anger, I feel so sorry for that man."  

She said “I was trying to be calm.” 

"You were calm and very nice. It is just that some people have things going on in life and you got the brunt of it."

 

Have you ever been the brunt of someone’s anger?  What do you do when that happens?  If someone road rages at you and gives you the finger, do you get angry back?  If someone cart rages at you in the grocery store do you rage back? I just pray asking God “Do you want me to say something? Or Lord help them to resolve their anger and find Jesus today.  Comfort them Lord with your love.  Help them to find You in their life.” 

Why do I pray?  Because that is exactly what Jesus did for you and me in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He prayed for us. In the book of Matthew it says "Jesus was showing grief and distress of mind and was deeply depressed.  He went to the Father three times and asked 'Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me.; nevertheless, not what I will, but as You will and desire.'" Then he accepts the cup and prays for me and you!!!!  How "Great Thou Art."

People can rob us of our joy if we let them.  Do you think it is a choice?  I do.   

Let's Pray:  God show me today how to not let people take my joy away.  

Peace out.  Elaine