Coffee With Mo..

I don’t mean for this to be a sermon, but it sure seems it turned out that way.  I really wanted to share with you what I’ve learned because I believe that we all go through different struggles as Christians, if we’re really trying to find answers. I do hope you find some peace in your search to grow closer to God.  In our earthly families, there are often times children may feel that one gets more attention than another, this is also true in God’s family… And while it may be a fact, it doesn’t always mean the love is different, it can mean the training is different. 
There was a time in my life when I struggled with these issues as well. I asked myself why folks I knew who were not Christians were doing so much better than I was. I now realize that what possessions did not necessarily come from God’s blessings but rather from the master schemer of this world. I also wondered why some Christians were doing better than me when I felt they weren’t as spiritual as I was. Well, I came to find that my attitude fell on the side of arrogance & self pity and it’s an attitude that God doesn’t care for; much like the attitude Job had before God spoke.

God meets us where we are, and works within us to refine us. He knows what it takes to mold each of us…how to change our heart and cause us to rely on Him, not the government, not our family, not the people around us. 

Choice plays a big part of our journey, but what I’ve also realized is that many of the people in this world are not bound for heaven. God did not plant them. I used to think everyone came from the hand of God and we were supposed to love everybody. What I’ve learned is, this is not heaven, this world belongs to satan and our only hope is having Christ to turn to and to save us. If you read Matthew 13, you will see in the parable of the Sower, what God says about good seed and bad seed. When asked about pulling up the weeds that had been sown by “another” along with the wheat, Jesus replied, they would grow together until the harvest. Then the weeds will be burned up.

Then in Matthew 15:13
The scripture says, [when Christ was referring to the Pharisees behavior,] He replied, “every plant that my Father in heaven has NOT planted will be uprooted.” This tells me that God did not plant all the seeds that we see around us.
There are many people around us we are learning from, both good and bad and many folks we are teaching with our behavior and we aren’t even aware.  Although it seems that some are selfish, perhaps they have what they have because they’ve been diligent to save money, who perhaps, like myself, grew up poor.  Or, perhaps their wealth was acquired without any effort on their part and yet they choose not to share, that’s between them and God… but I don’t want to be judged for judging their behavior. Which is worse, their behavior or my judging it?

Everyone is not being led by the spirit or following Christ each day. We are to help one another, yes, but we step back and let God direct us in how to help them because you could be enabling someone to continue an addiction or use the funds for things that will not eliminate or improve their situation. You may give them money they don’t yet know how to manage. I saw this first hand, and it made the person’s situation worse. They may continue living in poverty if they don’t know how to manage money given to them. I have seen people I know and love squander money that I would have saved. I’ve had little and I’ve had much, and I found that money does not solve all of your problems… I can more easily relate to what Paul was saying in Philippians 4:8-9. $$ makes us more comfortable but we can become so comfortable & dependent on ourselves and others that we often lose sight of spending time with God and depending on Him.
Think of the story of the prodigal son and the Father’s love for both son’s, the behavior, the jealousy, and the way it played out. We are made in His image; He loves to receive Praise. Our lives are to bring Glory and Honor to God and give Him credit for what we have and who we are. While satan tries constantly to make us angry, unhappy and wants us to blame & curse God for it…satan was given permission by God to test Job. It wasn’t done to punish Job. God knew Job was a good man. He allowed the test, to put satan in his place, and He did. It was Awesome!!
Job refused to curse God, but was confused as to why God allowed him to suffer. Even his friends were confused, and gave bad advice, but in the end, Job was restored and had more than before the test. He loved and feared God more, and God received all the praise. (When God Spoke, it gave me chills) Job Chapters 38-41. That caused me to step back and rethink my attitude. 

Trust God when you have little, with no expectations of ever having more than you do today.  When material things no longer matter so much, blessings are more abundant. There are consequences for our choices, even after we’ve done a 360. 
These are just some “Lessons Learned” after my 40 years in the Wilderness. All because of a bad choice in 1972, although forced upon me, there were consequences for the decision I made.
Keep your face to the sky and continue giving thanks, IN all situations. for the good things that happen each day, not so much FOR the situation, although it is teaching you something. Those who God leads to give $$ to help others and assist the poor will show up when God leads them, but we aren’t to covet what others have or decide who should do what with what they have. Temptation is a powerful testing tool. 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and remember, we’re all on this journey called Life, but we each have different assignments.  😘  

Mo