Tag: Son

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Facing the Son

On my walk this morning sunflowers caught my eye. I noticed that some of them were facing the sun and others were not.

Before noticing the sunflowers, I had been talking to God and praying for people I know and love and others I don’t know who do not have a relationship with Jesus. I was feeling so sad thinking about it that I literally started crying.

I must be honest, it’s been a while since I felt so tender and heartbroken over lost souls. I found myself crying out to God and at that moment, a trash truck passed by. As it passed, the smell was awful and made me cringe and turn away. I felt God speak as if to say, “This is what sin smells like to me and I have to turn my head away because it sickens me to see what sin does to people and how it separates me from the ones I love.”

Sin separates and if you think you are without sin, you are wrong. Every single one of us has sinned and fallen short (Romans 3:23). The difference is having repented of your sins. God wants to forgive us, but first we must see the need to be forgiven and ask. We are all slaves to that which we obey. You may choose sin which leads to death or obedience which leads to righteousness (Romans 6:16).

The Bible also tells us the following in Romans 10:9-10, 13
If we confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

You may ask where does God say confessing of sin is a requirement for salvation? It is all throughout the Bible from the very beginning starting in Genesis with Adam and Eve. People have always had a sin problem and it is the very reason Jesus came to earth and suffered death for us. Luke 5 tells us the Pharisees and their scribes were upset that Jesus was eating with sinners and complained to the disciples. Jesus said to them, “The healthy don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners into repentance.” He came to call sinners into repentance.

I did a little search on why some sunflowers face the sun and others do not. It turns out that mature sunflowers do not move with the sun throughout the day, they react more strongly to the morning sunlight and then throughout the day they face east. I believe mature Christians are much like sunflowers as we seek God in the morning and then wait expectantly for Jesus. And if you know anything about Christianity, you know our Lord Jesus will return from the east and so believers and sunflowers alike will wait.

While waiting, let us pray and not forget what it’s like to be a seeker sunflower and pray for all to come into a relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

There is great joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10

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Lack of Wisdom = Room for God

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

It was almost 11 years ago when I attended the first ARD meeting for my son. At that time, these meetings were called IEP (Individual Education Plan) meetings. My son was 8 years old and in the second grade. We knew something wasn’t right in first grade so we held him back thinking it was just a lack of maturity. After repeating first grade and moving into second grade, something was still amiss. After the school performed a battery of tests, we had our the first official ARD meeting. As long as I live, I will never forget that first ARD meeting. In that conference room surrounded by seven other people who were educators, some special education teachers and the principal. I found myself listening to test results that were devastating to any mom who naturally has hopes and dreams for her child. As I listened to all the things Levi would never do, I felt myself dying inside and wanting to collapse. However, I did not. Something took over (I like to call it the Holy Spirit) that allowed me to finish that meeting with grace and dignity.

I went home to my husband and prayer closet. After sharing this news with my husband, I spent three days in my prayer closet praying and crying out to God. The bible tells us in James 4:8 to draw near to God and He will draw near to you. I felt God speak to me during those days with a message of hope. God didn’t speak in an audible way but in a spiritual way. I felt him say, “Levi will be just fine. He will be a leader for my kingdom”. Now to this day, I don’t understand the last part but I am believing God for all of it. You see I have been steadfastly praying for my son ever since those days in the prayer closet. One scripture that I have prayed many times is James 1:5. I insert Levi’s name in the text asking God to give Levi wisdom and I believe God has done that and will continue to do that over the coming years.

Last week I attended the last and final ARD meeting for my son. My son will graduate next May and today we are going on a college visit. It isn’t a big university but it’s so much more than I was told nearly 11 years ago and I am thankful for the opportunity.

I have learned a big lesson to always leave room for God in the midst of my circumstances. This is where He shows up most if we let him.

Where are you leaving room for God in your circumstances today?

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