Bonnie J Martin

#forsuchatimeasthis

Who do you work for?

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Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23-24

Hitting the ground running on a Monday morning. Already feel behind. Didn’t leave the load light on Friday so expecting it to be a bit heavy this morning. Not how I want to start the week.

But then I remember these verses. My load can be light because of Jesus. He carries by burden. His strength is perfect to carry the load.

As I go about my work, I need to remember this. I need to remember any work I do is for Him.

Just leaving this here so I can remember. Hope it helps you as well.

Anxious for Nothing

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Repost…

I have a history with being anxious. Faced with certain circumstances, I get nervous. My palms get sweaty and my heart races. I force myself to take deep breaths to help calm my nerves. In those deep breaths, I whisper silent prayers. And He hears.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6

In those moments of sweaty palms and racing heart, He is with me. He has never left me in a situation that has completely ruined me. He has taught me lessons, for sure, but has been faithful to walk with me and see me through to the other side of the sweaty palms and racing heart.

He offers me peace. He offers me confidence in His faithfulness. He provides assurance of His presence. He dries the sweat on my palms and slows my racing heart. He allows me to survive.

Have you experienced the unspeakable peace that only comes from Him? If so, offer Him your thanksgiving. And continue to thank Him as you make your requests known to Him.

Be Still and Be Loved

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I have a t-shirt with the phrase, “Be Still and Be Loved” written in bold letters. In my busy going and doing and thinking, I find it hard to be still. When I look at that phrase, I focus on the “Be Still” without giving much thought to the “Be Loved.”

I wore the t-shirt yesterday. I glanced in the mirror late last night and really saw the end of the phrase. Normally, I skip the end of the phrase. It’s like I don’t even see it. I see be still and focus on that so hard I skip over the end.

But there it is. Be Loved.

What does that look like to you?

What do you see?

How do you “Be Loved?”

Allow me to say love isn’t all about feelings. Love is choosing to show compassion and care. Love is choosing to attach yourself to another so together you stand supported. Love is unconditional forgiveness.

All that seems to be from me to you. It is giving love. So, how do you “Be Loved?” What does it look like to receive it?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  John 3:16

To receive love can be hard. It isn’t something I go around thinking about. Oh, let me find some love today. Some have been hurt to the point being loved is scary. Being loved doesn’t seem possible.

Without naming the name, each of us go about our daily lives searching for that deep unwavering acceptance, knowing we are chosen. Being a choice. Being loved. Even in hurt, we still desire to be loved.

God, in His infinite everything, chose to give the perfect display of Love. Accepting that Love is a choice. Being loved is a choice. He is faithful to constantly have a fresh supply available at all times. It is a choice to accept it.

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Different versions use “be still” in place of the NAS using “cease striving.” I like the NAS. Cease striving. Stop your constant attempts at finding what satisfies outside the only true source. Other attempts may fall short outside His provision.

Be still, cease striving, stop looking elsewhere. Be still and be chosen. Be loved. Know Love. Know God. Know and be chosen.

Be Still and Be Loved.

T-shirt design by MaryAnn Shea.

It’s Personal

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Have you looked at the example Jesus gave in Matthew 6 for prayer recently? If you are reading this you know the one. I learned it in King James. But the version I am using today is New American Standard. Look at it in whatever version you prefer.

It is plural. That model prayer is covering more than the one praying. It is a corporate prayer. Short, to the point, covers necessities, perhaps because of the crowds gathered Jesus chose to use plural pronouns.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

Perhaps that is Paul’s reason, as well, in Romans 8, as he addresses the people of that place with the reminder of the intercession of the Holy Spirit.

I know my prayers can be strained. Limited by my short attention span. Inadequate for the One to Whom they are addressed.

Many times they are plural. So I cover in prayer anyone that runs through my mind.

But it’s personal. Prayer can be corporate. It can be held where two or more are gathered. But it is also very personal and intimate.

“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6

No fancy words needed. No repetitious quotes. No shouting needed.

Just an open heart sitting in a quiet space welcoming the Almighty into the moment.

Praying you find yourself chatting with Him today.

Cobbler Is My Enemy

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Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. Philippians 3:19

I baked a yummy berry cobbler. I mixed together some strawberries and blueberries and sugar to try making a sourdough tart. It turned out tasty. I had some of the berry jam leftover so I thought I would use it up on an old cobbler recipe. The morning, after finishing off the cobbler, I felt used up! Too much sugar!

Am I the only one that has this problem? I take what is good and gorge until I feel sick. Please tell me I am not alone.

Paul speaks of observing those who walk according to the pattern he has explained. Having an attitude of maturity in the upward call of God. Following an example set that is honoring to that call for Christ.

As I overindulge in sweet, warm, fruity covered cake, I don’t consider the ramifications. All I know is that in that moment, it sure is good. Give me all the sweets. Let me shove them in my mouth to enjoy the yummy goodness of it all.

Even typing that out makes me feel a little sick.

And it should.

In those moments of overindulgence, I am ignoring the God-given fruit of self-control. I am filling my body with a substance that is not beneficial for me. The slight amount of nutrients remaining in the berries did not balance out all the sugar that leaves me feeling drugged after about thirty minutes of sitting in my stomach.

I go back to these verses:

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 1 Corinthians 10:23

Sugar does not treat my body well. I know this. But yet, I choose to eat it. It provides no nutritional building blocks. It messes up all my building blocks. It leaves me in a stupor, unable to focus, weak and sleepy.

Sounds a lot like living in sin. In the moment, no consideration is given to the ramifications of my behavior and action. In the moment, all that is considered is my selfish desire to do whatever I want that is in front of me that may seem awesome in the moment but what about the moment after. What is left after the selfish desire is acted upon and indulged? That weak stupor of knowing sin invades and takes over and pulls me out of the shelter of the Most High. It separates me from my Savior.

Thankful for the mercy of my Savior. He offers His children the opportunity to turn away and leave sin behind. He offers forgiveness and redemption from sin. He offers an eternal life in existence with Him.

Walk according to the pattern of Christ. Follow Him so closely nothing else has opportunity to sneak in and ruin your walk. Even that bowl full of sweetness.

Names

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This picture isn’t about the reflection of my coffee cup. Not about the glass capturing the reflection. Not about the frame surrounding the glass. Not about the shelf it sits on in my work space.

It sits just above my computer monitors along with pictures of my family. I look up to see my girl and her little family. I look up to see my two boys. I look up to see their daddy and me as young parents. I really need a new picture of us old people!

I look up to see the Names. I read through them. This framed piece of paper printed on the printer sitting on my desk is simple but complex.

Lord, Master. Adonai.

The All-Sufficient One. El Shaddai.

The God Most High. El Elyon.

The God Who Sees. El Roi.

The Creator. Elohim.

The Lord Will Provide. Jehovah-jireh.

The Lord Who Sanctifies You. Jehovah-mekoddishkem.

The Lord My Banner. Jehovah-nissi.

The Lord My Shepherd. Jehovah-raah.

The Lord Who Heals. Jehovah-rapha.

The Lord of Hosts. Jehovah-sabaoth.

The Lord is Peace. Jehovah-shalom.

The Lord is There. Jehovah-shammah.

The Lord Our Righteousness. Jehovah-tsidkenu.

Jealous. Qanna.

LORD. YAHWEH.

May you be reminded of Him today.

Play-Doh

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It’s been a while since I touched Play-Doh.  Much softer than I remember.  Pliable.  Easily transformed into whatever shape it is pressed into.  It is at the mercy of the hands holding it. 

My hands are not those of an artist or craftsman.  I have not practiced the skill of making clay into wonderful shapes and vessels.  Although, I love watching a clump of lifeless clay turned and molded and formed into a beautiful vessel. 

I think of my Creator.  How He molds and shapes and forms me with great detail.  He cares about the details.  He oversees them with precision.  There is nothing more precise than His specifications. 

But now, O LORD , You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.  Isaiah 64:8

I want to stay in my Creator’s hands. I want His impression on me. I want to be in the shape He forms me into. I want to be a functioning vessel for His purpose.

Friday

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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

This is all I have today. Hanging on to it.

Sometimes you have to keep it simple. Sometimes you have to sit still and quiet. Turn off the noise around you. Know the presence of God.

My Mama

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Just remembering my mama today. If she were still here on earth with us, I would make sure she had a coconut cake. I would go sit with her. I would hug her and enjoy her scent. This was her birthday. Thankful for her today. Missing her still.

Press On

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Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Philippians 3:12

Yes, I am still in the book of Philippians. I don’t want to leave it yet. I may have missed something. And I haven’t finished the instructions in the front of the book.

While taking a little professional exam many years ago, I learned that reading carefully is important. One missed word changes the whole context of a passage.

Here, in the book of Philippians, Paul has just listed his credentials. Go ahead and click on Philippians to read all of chapter 3. His point being, he was a rule keeper. He knew the law and kept the law and enforced the law. Before being met while approaching Damascus.

Jesus took hold of him. The light of that meeting was so bright it brought Paul to the ground. It blinded him for three days. He didn’t eat or drink during those three days. I think it is fair to say that when Jesus took hold of Paul, He wanted him to remember the meeting.

Paul remembered. Paul knew why Jesus took hold of him. The gospel message needed another speaker. So Jesus grabbed Paul on the side of the road and made an impression. Forever marked the former persecutor of the gospel message.

When Paul opens chapter 3, he makes no apologies for writing what seems like the same stuff as before. No apology needed, Paul. We get it. They probably got it. We are a hard-headed bunch that needs the message repeated.

I wonder if he, too, needed it to be repeated because of that meeting outside Damascus. It was one of those moments you just don’t want to forget. You really want to keep it on your mind because those are the things from which lives are changed.

He continues to press on. The full goal hasn’t been met. That taking hold is still taking hold. There is still more that needs to be done.

So I sit with Philippians open still. There may be more to press on for. There may be someone reading this that needs to be taken hold of by Jesus. I pray so.