Mini Bites 37.0

Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.”

Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’..."

Amos 7:12-15

Amos was stirring up some trouble. He had a word for the Israelites from God and the priest, Amaziah was not having it at all.

Because God's word didn't align with what the Israelites wanted to hear. They didn't want to hear what the Lord had planned if Israel refused to repent and turn back towards the Lord. 

They wanted to remain complacent, they wanted to delve deeper into the world's luxuries and riches. They didn't want to turn away from what pleased their eyes, their flesh so they closed their hearts against God.

Amaziah was in charge of keeping the status quo of his people, rather than raising the people up to God's standards and he asked Amos to leave and stop sharing God's word.

But Amos stood his ground. He wasn't going to be bullied by the priest. And you shouldn't either.

Stop settling for the status quo.

I'm not sure what is discouraging you from doing or sharing the word God gave you.

Maybe someone is trying to kick you out because you are disturbing the peace. Maybe you don't fit the mold or the vision that is normal, familiar to those around you. Maybe they don't understand where you're coming from. Maybe you're weird and no matter what you do, you cannot fit in the place to which God called you. Maybe you were better off where God got you from and maybe you're thinking of going back to that place...

Stop where you are. Don't you dare uproot from where God planted you.

People may try to label you, move you and misplace you but you've got to remember what God spoke over you.

Remember when you were minding your own business, tending to your own grass, occupying the lane you were in, then God interrupted and gave you a different agenda, a different lawn and a different street to take care of...

God did not make a mistake.

GOD DID NOT MAKE A MISTAKE.

He called you to the place you are because He has a word, a purpose inside you that needs to be unleashed there. 

DO NOT MOVE.

Because no one can move you.

Like what Amos experienced, God opened a door for you, gave you an opportunity that no man can alter.

People can huff and puff but no one can keep God's word from moving forward. No one can keep you from moving forward with His plan.

So do it, whatever it is that God gave you to do in this moment.

Don't give up because no one is rolling the red carpet to welcome and accept you.

Their reactions, your circumstances do not and will never null His word.

His word cannot be void. His purpose will be fulfilled.

So be faithful where He placed you.

Be faithful with what He entrusted you.

God did not make a mistake in choosing you to be a light.

He knows what He's doing although people might be looking at you, confused.

Remember He gave you the vision, not them.

Be faithful and walk it out.

UNKNOWN

It's 2015!!!

We've made it another year!

But to be honest, I am already nervous... 3 days in and I'm griped by fear. That has got to be a record!

Where's my prize???

This May, I graduate from my Master program. I'm crossing the stage to receive my degree in Creative Writing and...

Well, that's just it. I don't know what's next. And I'm scared.

I've been here 3 years ago (where does the time go?), staring at the unknown, not sure of which way to go.

All I do know, this time around, is that I'm seeking God's face about this issue. I'm not moving to the left or right until He tells me where to go.

But in the meantime, in perfect Regine style, I'm complaining to my friend on the phone.

And in her fashion, she interrupts me and says, "While you wait, don't just sit on your ass and twiddle your thumbs. Find out what your options are so that He can actually lead you somewhere."

Then in His merciful way, God puts a spotlight on Numbers 13 in my head.

In this chapter, the Israelites are approaching the promise land, so God said, "Send men to scout the country of Canaan that I am giving to the People of Israel."

"Go and see what I am going to give you."

God can tell you all about what He wants to do through you but if you don't step out in faith, if you don't walk out in faith, nothing is going to happen.

The Israelites had to go out into the unknown and get a vision of the promise that God gave Abraham many moons ago, who left everything that was familiar and comfortable because God told him to. Abraham didn't know where he was going but he knew that the One who called him was faithful to do it.

Now, centuries later they stood at the peripheral of the unknown that held their promise land.

40 days later, the scouts came back with good news: the land was exactly the way that God described it all along. A land overflowing with milk and honey, with massive grapes and pomegranates and figs...

But... there's always a but conveniently found when God tells you to do something (or is that just me?)

There were giants and lions and bears oh my!!!

Unfortunately, ten of the twelve men who were sent into the land, focused on the obstacles that the unknown held.

But... I'm grateful that God rebuffs our rebuttals; He isn't going to let go of you that easily.

Caleb butts in and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land for we can certainly do it."

Which is kind weird. I'm sure Caleb saw the same things that the other ten saw:

1) powerful, fierce people
2) large, fortified cities
3) and let's not forget about the giants

I'm sure they saw the same things, however, Caleb didn't allow what he saw eclipse God or drown out His promises.

He remembered what God said, "I will give you this land." Caleb was going to trust in God and go get that land.

Regardless of what they found, God said that it was theirs. It didn't matter what it looked like, it was theirs to take.

It doesn't matter how it looks like or how it makes you feel, if God said it, it's already done. Now walk in it.

Like the Israelites, we have a choice to make: will you listen to God's word or the circumstances' report? Whose voice will we listen to?

And I get it, the circumstances are terrifying but God's word reigns, His promises reign! His truth doesn't stop being the truth because it gets hard.

When you feel like you can't do it, then you need to remember that through Christ, you can do anything.

When you feel ugly, then you need to remember that God calls you beautifully and wonderfully made.

When you feel scared, then you need to remember that God said to not be afraid for He is with you and will never leave you nor forsake you.

When you feel weak, then you need to remember that God's grace is sufficient for you because His strength is made perfect in your weakness.

Stop listening to the lies, stop looking at the walls, the giants, the circumstances and remember His truth!

I think God allowed them a sneak peek, so that when the hard times came, they could remember what they were fighting for in order to keep on fighting.

But most importantly, He wanted them to know that they weren't fighting for victory. They were fighting from victory. It was already theirs. Their situation just needed to catch up to God's reality.

I love God. This chapter was what I needed: a reminder that, although it's horribly dark and frightening, the unknown holds the fulfillment of His promises to me and that I need to stop skirting around it and go get it. Otherwise, I will never see it.

And yea, I don't know what the promise looks like just yet but if I start looking, I know God is going to reveal it to me.

So, I need to start walking.

What about you? What do you need to start walking towards?

Come As You Are

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

Luke 4:33-35

This is what I love about God.

He isn't intimidated by your issues, your fears, your insecurities, your handicaps.

He isn't worried by your worries or scared of your messes.

He doesn't doubt when you doubt.

He isn't afraid of getting close to you.

He wants to be close to you.

But people forget this about God and try to convince themselves that they have to clean up, get right before they approach Him. And that is a lie.

You can come to Him as you are.

And then as you draw close to Him, the scars, the stains start to fade away.

Even the bruises and cuts you didn't realize you had go away in His presence.

Stop putting off your time with God for the right time, for the right circumstances, for the right you.

Meet Him in the now.

Meet Him as you are.

Come as you are and He will receive you just as you are.

He loves you. Come and be with Him.