You've Been Served

One afternoon while sifting through my son’s homeschooling assignments, I came across several incomplete answers.  I knew he was pre-occupied with finishing quickly so he could have more time on games. However, looking closer, noticed there were difficult problems to solve.  I may have given him work too advanced.  I noticed instead of him asking me how to solve the problem, he drew superhero figures on the page.  I decided to wad it up and toss it. This may not be good teaching tactics however, felt it best.  I didn't want to see him become frustrated trying to complete a task that he wasn't prepared for.  

We would have to start from scratch.  We would need to spend much time together going over the assignment.  I knew it would be impossible for him to complete it without me.

Thinking back, I remember starting out young working in an office environment.  I had barely graduated, and was in my first real administrative job.  I had no clue of how to use a computer, Dictaphone, or a switchboard.  I was terrified!  Barely 17 and trying to impress well-experienced adults was too much for an inexperienced me.  

Forget the butterflies in stomach with nerves, it was more like mammoth moths trying to scratch their way out.   I would show up to work nauseated every morning!  

There was an intimidating individual I worked with.  She didn't talk to you, she shouted.  She had a sour disposition all the time.  I wasn't sure if she just hated her job, or maybe her life.  You couldn't make her smile if you handed her love on a platter wrapped in million dollar bills.

If I heard her breathe in my direction I knew I had to prepare for the dragon blast of fire coming my way.  It seemed I couldn't do anything right.  I knew my days were numbered.  

Sure enough, after three grueling weeks of “Dragon Lady”, I was handed my pink slip.  I grabbed my sorry looking plant singed from Dragon Lady’s blast...off my very first desk, and quietly whimpered my way to the car.  The drive home was long and tearful as I listened to, Alone Again by Gilbert O'Sullivan.  I questioned, “What did I do wrong?”  How was I going to explain to my parents, I failed?  I couldn't fail.  I was an honor student graduating Salutatorian.  I was voted most likely to succeed.  Devastated, I pulled into the drive and sat in the vehicle till I could get it together.  When I told my folks, they didn't beat me over the head with defeat.  Instead encouraged me to find another job.  

I realized many years after the fact, I was no more prepared for that type of work, then flying to the moon.  The skills, knowledge, and understanding of working in that mature environment were not what I had been trained in.   

Yet, down the road I attained, and mastered those skills through various work related jobs.  What seemed impossible became second nature to me through the years.  I had to be trainable.  Some folks are not trainable.  They believe they've learned enough, and refuse change.  I firmly stand on the fact that no matter how old you are, there is always something to learn.  I am a devout life learner.   

When God gives us an assignment, I believe that He has equipped us to handle it.  He has inbred the abilities to complete the job.  Yet, He also knows that we must stay close to him, to watch, listen, and learn to navigate through to completion.  

Many times we go off on our own thinking we can complete a mission by ourselves, and forget that we need God to follow through.  If we don’t allow God to direct our steps, we end up tripping over our egos, and falling flat on our face.   We need God to complete our assignments, much like my son needs me.  There is no one without the other in order to succeed in the assignment.  When we've been served walking papers, we need to follow God’s leading, not our own.

TIPS TO GETTING AN "A" ON YOUR ASSIGNMENT:

1. Your assignment will always require God’s involvement: if you can do it without God then you are not doing his will. (Exodus Chapters 6-40)

2. You must believe it is possible. (See Jeremiah)

3. Heaven knows the value of your assignment and celebrates your obedience every time you say ‘not my will but yours Lord.’

4. You must surrender your assignment to God: get out of the way and not talk yourself out of your assignment. (See Jonah)

5. Your assignment is a process: there are steps that have to be taken to be effective. Do not be discouraged if the process is slow. (See David in books of Samuel, Chronicles, and Psalms)

6. God will be the source and sponsor of your assignment: as long as your assignment is God-centered, He will bless people in advance so they will have the right (words, prayers, experience, network or 

money) to sow into your assignment. (see Joseph Genesis 37-50)

7. Your assignment will interfere with your previous commitment: You might be committed to a person or on the cusp of a big promotion and God will give you an assignment that is contrary to your personal plans. (See Mary mother of Jesus, Matthew-Revelation)

8. To successfully execute God’s assignment you cannot be an island. You also cannot be in toxic environments, the kingdom is all about relationships.  You will need the right people in your life to encourage you to press on when in low places. (See Mary mother of Jesus and Elizabeth, Luke 1:39-56)

10. Move to the right environment to cultivate the assignment: you have to make a mental move to things that are healthy and sometimes physically move if need be. (See Joseph, earthly father of Jesus, Matthew 2)

11. You must act immediately: once you accept the assignment in your spirit, start immediately in God’s direction so Satan doesn't have room to distract or distort what God has put in you. (See Elisha when Elijah put his mantel on him in the field, I Kings 19:19-21)

12. Stay in the right environment until you birth the assignment: there are places, people and thoughts that are assignment killers. Your assignment is your baby and Satan will do all he can to abort it before it can make an impact. (See Peter the apostle, Matthew 16 & 18, Acts 12: 1-11, I & 11 Peter)

13. Any relocation or change you make has to be related to your assignment: keep in mind ‘is this change going to grow my assignment or hurt it?’

14. Many will not recognize your dream: it is a protective measure so you are rejected by the system which will lead you down uncharted paths, and add to your testimony when the world finally catches up with your vision. (See the birth of Jesus, Luke 1:1-20))

15. Only the discerning will recognize your calling: Only people God wants to recognize the great things he hid in you, will see what your assignment is at its infancy, others, even people of God, will not see it until God reveals it to the world. (See the wise men and shepherds who came at Jesus birth, Matthew 2:1-2)

16. Know that not everyone with you is really for you: your assignment has to be protected from seemingly nice people who may poison it, especially in its infancy. (see King Harold at the birth of Jesus, Matthew 2:16)

17. Your star will be seen by others far away: God will send strangers to witness to you about your assignment, those closest to you might not see your assignment because they are too busy seeing ‘You’ but that’s fine, God will send His people to witness and encourage you to do the work. You need to internalize key affirmations to protect your assignment from spiritual warfare when it comes. (1 Corinthians 4:17)

18. You are favored even when you don’t feel like it: Your assignment will take you through low valleys but God is with you in those low places. (II Samuel 9-20, Psalms 23 & 77)

19. Your assignment will come from what is already within you, no matter how insignificant it seems to worldly eyes; it will never be imparted on you from somebody else. The treasures God wants to distribute was already buried within you before birth, nobody on earth can give you a talent to multiply. (See Samuel)

20. Your assignment will always be in a new sphere: Your assignment will be brand new to you, yes your life experiences will help you but the actual mission will not be something you have done before. (See Joshua)

21. You must know your assignment will add value to people: even if one person. Your assignment is not about you.  Anything you gain while working in Gods field is a byproduct of the assignment but the main focus is on people. Divine assignments rarely have anything to do with the worker; he/she is just a conduit of God’s will. (See the book of Isaiah and read on Paul the apostle, Acts 9:20-22, Galatians 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:8,)

22. Your assignment will impact your generation. It may start small but if God is in it, your assignment will still resound to future generations. (See Daniel) 

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WATCHING IN THE WINTER

The other night as I was preparing dinner, my kids came running to me with concerns over a stray cat that landed on our doorstep.  Now mind you, we have adopted, and sheltered many animals over the years.  We now own two dogs, 4 birds, 3 cats, and 3 fish....and possibly a partridge in a pear tree...I've lost count.  

I quickly reminded the children that we could not afford to take in another stray.  It was not only costly, but time-consuming.  My daughter's response was, "But mom, its cold..its shaking".  "Ugh", I responded "Put a warm blanket outside on the porch"  My son says, "Mom...I think its injured".  "Ugh"....I had made up my mind I was not going to cave this time.  The kids would own a farm if they could.  The problem is, I usually end up being the one caring for them. 

The children forget often.  I would have fish floating at the top of our tank by now, if I didn't feed them.  The (teen and tween) are not as responsible when it comes to pets lately, too many distractions, and other interest.  I've joked about letting them go without water or food for a day, to see how they would feel, but that would be child abuse.  I just want them to learn that these pets need taken care of.  They can't just hop on a sink and fill their water bowl.  Or open a can of moist and meaty.  Although, according to YouTube...there are some that can.  Can you imagine a fish trying to turn the lid on a jar of fish flakes?  The point is, that I didn't want to bring in another animal that would not be taken care of properly adding the burden on my husband and I.  We both have enough on our plate already trying to manage what we have.  

Yet, I felt the tugging on my heart to check out this supposed injured feline, especially after my daughter stated she would give up her cell phone just to bring it in.  "It must really be hurt", I thought. "No...no...no" I protested as I walked to the front door.  Opening door cautiously, I came face to face with this poor little creature staring at me like "Puss-n-Boots" from Shrek. The huge teary eyes, crying "take me in".  

I quickly shut the door for a brief moment, telling myself...absolutely NOT!  I opened it again, and crouched down to look at it closer, and noticed despite its thick long hair, had a bony underneath. The poor thing was starving.  It had a series of scratches from a fight.  I was concerned with fleas, lice, mange, parasites, and rabies affecting our other pets, and our children.  After all, we didn't know where this cat had been. And our last medical bill of over $300 was spent on my daughter from contracting "Cat Scratch Fever" from a stray kitten she picked up.   We  spent much on vet bills making sure our animals were all fixed, shots, treated, and prevented for all of the above.  I especially, did not want another cat! The 3 we have now, just eat, poop, and drag dead mice to back porch,  and meowing at Memorex levels before 5 a.m.!  

However, I couldn't leave the pleading pet outside.  I projected feelings of, "What if it were me".  We brought it in, quickly, bathe wiped it, treated for fleas, and prayed for the best.  Nurse Amanda, and Doctor Cody...my two little feens who wormed this cat into the house, treated the scratches, fed it,  and put it to bed.  Though troubled by the addition temporary or not, I felt better knowing we saved the little fur ball from freezing or starving to death. 

When I was reading from the book of Jeremiah this morning, was surprised when I ran across a verse that suddenly grabbed my attention.

Jeremiah 1:11-12 (NCV)

The Lord spoke his word to me, saying: “Jeremiah, what do you see?”  I answered, “I see a stick of almond wood.”  12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, because I am watching to make sure my words come true.”

Now you may ask, what does this verse have to do with saving a stray?

In the Easton's Bible dictionary it states that the almond tree blossoms usually during January or near the end of winter months.  

The Hebrew root meaning:  Almond (a'-mund) means to "watch" or "wait"

In reading the passage, what caught my attention is.... I was reminded that God is always watching, even during the bitter, and cold winter nights.  He watches to make sure His words come true, 

He watches when a bird falls to the ground, (Matthew 10:29-31) He even watches for those He created with four legs (Hebrews 4:13) He knew exactly where to send that injured, fur-ball feline. He knew that there was no way that neither my husband, or I would absolutely turn it away.  

If God can watch over a small creature as such, and direct its path to safety...then why can't we trust Him with our lives? Trust Him in our pain?  Trust Him with our marriage?  Trust Him with our children?  Trust Him with our jobs?  Trust Him in our giving?   or Trust Him with our heart?     

Proverbs 3:5-6(NCV)

Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding.  6 Remember the Lord in all you do,  and he will give you success.

Listen to and watch video link below:

"I Am" DAVID CROWDER

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