"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:18-19

It seems like I've been stumbling a long here lately thinking I am heading in the right direction only to come to a stop and then start in another direction.  Finally I am stopping and sitting before the Lord and asking for direction.  About time, huh?  I've been eager to help at church. There was direction from the Lord to work in one area. Therefore, thought I was suppose to do something else, but not having much peace doing that.  So, guess what?  I get to humble myself and go disengage myself from the situation.   Have you ever done that?  Get excited about what the Lord is doing and just take the ball and run with it when He really wanted you to take it one step at a time asking Him for direction each step?  Just be still and rest in Him instead of running around trying to meet a need?  We are studying the fruit of faithfulness this week!  Humiliating to say the least.

 Our "Living Beyond Yourself" Bible Study last week was on goodness and kindness.  Beth Moore said, "We have a need to be of benefit to others."  I like to think that is what motivated some of the choices I've made lately.   The kindness of God is His tender loving kindness toward me no matter what I do.  As a nurturing Father, He will always show His love to me.  His goodness toward me will also discipline, train, correct, and rebuke me through the Word of God and when necessary other brothers and sisters in the Lord.  We sometimes will be called upon to correct someone for their good in a spirit of kindness and gentleness.  If you've walked with the Lord very long, you've had occasion to do this and have this done to you.  It isn't pleasant on either end.  Hebrews 12:11 says, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

This week I've been doing the lessons on the fruit of faithfulness.  God's faithfulness is something that is understood by me.  He has been so very faithful and good to me that it is something I never question.  God is faithful, period.  He is faithful to keep His promises to me.  He does not lie nor change His mind. (Numbers 23:19)  It is my faithfulness to Him that comes into question.  If I am filled with the Holy Spirit, the fruit of 'faithfulness' will grow in my life.

Hebrews 11:6 says,  "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."   This is after the verses talking about Enoch.  Gen. 5:24 says, "Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."   This really caught my attention.  There isn't much said about Enoch.  He was the father of Methuselah and lived to be 300.  The King James Version says...."And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."   Wow, God really rewarded Enoch!  Enoch believed He existed because he walked with God.  My heart's desire is to walk with God so closely that I know what He wants me to do in any given situation. 

Okay, I believe God exists!  That part is easy for me because of who He is in my life. Now I must earnestly seek Him on a daily basis. I looked up the word earnest in the Webster's dictionary.  It means: 1) A serious and intent mental state. 2) a. Characterized by or proceeding from an intense and serious state of mind. b. Grave. Important. This is grave.  It should be my number one priority!  I have found that as I get my priorities in line everything else lines up.



I want God to say to me when I do get to Heaven "Well done thou good and faithful servant."  Enoch accomplished what he was called to do on this earth and God took him.  I haven't accomplished what I've been called to do because I'm still here.  I want to know 1) what that is and 2) get it done before I leave this earth.  So, for me personally, I am going to earnestly seek Him, walk with Him, and do what He tells me to do while I am on this earth.  I will make mistakes. Thank you, Lord, for your goodness and mercy to me. He has already forgiven me for them!!  He knows ahead of time the temptations, failures, and successes.  The choices I've made and will make-- good and bad.  He knows it all.  Praying for better decisions in the future, because I'm earnestly seeking the Father's will for my daily walk. He is my number one priority!  

I hope I can also say:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."  2 Timothy 4:7-8

Grace and peace to you and yours.