Core Belief Structure: Trust or Distrust

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” Ex. 34:6

My concept of God completely controls my relationship with Him. If I believe that He is good and that He has only my best in mind for me, I trust Him when things are difficult. But if my core belief is that God is “done with me”, I will not pursue Him, and I will move away from Him when life’s challenges engulf me.

God tells us this in Jer. 29:11: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God is telling us, “ Don’t tell Me what you think I think of you, this is what I think of you!”

Sometimes when confusing or difficult circumstances occur in or around us, we mistakenly interpret them differently (even the opposite) from what God actually thinks of us and from what He is actually doing through and around our life with these events.

Likewise, these same kinds of misinterpretations happen in our interpersonal relationships.

The question comes down to this: What is my core belief structure? If it one of trust, I will move towards God (or that other person). But if it is distrust, I will move away from God (or that other person).

Unlike people, however, God is 100% trustworthy 100% of the time, no matter the circumstance or our limited perspectives.

This is a very stressful time of year for many many folks. In our stresses this week, let’s determine to trust Him according to His word, not ours.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Ps. 139: 23-24

Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

Victory and Protection this Thanksgiving 11-21-11

“He holds victory in store for the upright; He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless." Prv. 2:7

We look around us today and there is A LOT of hurt and need. And we hear Believing friends saying that they are not sure if God even exists, because He isn’t hearing their prayers.

Just wondering…

Maybe we’re praying and receiving no answers because deep down, we don’t desire God’s wisdom and love to manifest itself in and through us, but merely His power for our own use?

Maybe we’re crying out to God not in humility, but in demand, expecting God to be someone other than He is and to bless our limited perspective desires, not His divine purposed desires for us?

Truth be told, perhaps we’re desiring a god we can manipulate rather than Someone who is simply not exploitable.

God says: “Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the LORD grants wisdom!

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to Him.” Prv. 2:2-8

God promises: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…Call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.” Jer. 29:11-14

As we seek Him, may God abundantly bless us this Thanksgiving! 
Much love,

Shaun and Betsy

Help! My "Wanter's" Broken 11-14-11

"The LORD is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them." Ps. 145:17-18

Ever find yourself desiring more of a perpetually elusive “intangible” like peace, joy or direction? Deep down, have you ever thought: “Intellectually I know “it” exists, (because I’ve witnessed “it” in so-n-so), but honestly, I’ve never truly experienced “it” for myself…at least not with any longer term consistency.”

Straight talk: These intangibles are a gift; a gift of love that God imparts to those who choose to seek Him wholeheartedly.
 ~Blessings resulting from intimacy with Creator Almighty.

Personal pride, rebellion, and the hurry of life keep us from this Divine intimacy.

Question: Do I really want “it”? Or do I merely want the results of “it”?

Awareness is the first step of change; the second is taking personal responsibility.

In this trek together,

Shaun and Betsy

Stand UP, in Love 11-7-11

“Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand up together.”

Is. 4:13

“Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.” Dan. 12:3

By name, God calls the stars in the heavens to stand up. “To stand up” (‘amad) means to take a stand, hold one’s ground, rise up or stand against, endure, persist, be steadfast.  As Believers, we too are referred to as stars, and we too are called by God to stand up.

In love, STAND UP.

Stand up and buy the homeless man (hand-washing his clothes in the launder mat like Big Mike in the movie Blind Side), a few loads worth of laundry…treating him/her as one would a friend.

Stand up and let God’s peace shine out to all who come in contact with you … amidst the uncertainty of investigative tests at the hospital.

Stand up and according to Truth, call the Senator’s office and in love briefly share why his/her policies are in the wrong.

Stand up and offer a kind word or act (along with kind body language and facial expressions) to that unkind or rebellious person.

Stand up and share the love of Jesus (not religion) with the person at the car wash, at the office, in line, at the gym, in the class, at practice, on the plane, in the parking lot….

Stand up in the privacy of our own home and worship our KING with arms open wide or prostrate on the ground in humble submission.

Stand up in heart and mind (rather than succumbing to a pity party), and chose to embrace God’s sovereignty amidst a difficult personal challenge.

Stand up and choose to intercede for a significant someone who has wronged or hurt us…and be set free in the process.

Stand up and text/call ones spouse, apologizing for our behavior … despite feeling personally wronged. (No perfect people, only a perfect God)

Stand up and bring a warm dish of food or a listening ear to a hurting friend, just to say, “I care”.

Sadly, most USA Christians today chose to believe a brand of Christianity that makes no demands and doesn’t call for wholehearted devotion; a religion, instead of an intimate relationship with the living God. But this is not what God designed us for. Each one of our lives counts, has worth, is significant and can make a difference in our world.

Stand up and make a difference … one life at a time … until the whole world knows.

To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than ALL we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work with in us, to Him be the glory this week and always!    xo ~Shaun and Betsy