What’s the first thing you do if you spot a police car laying in wait on the side of the road?

Driving home tonight I encountered just that in one of the oft-used radar spots of this commonly traveled highway. Glancing ahead I watched a string of brake lights blink on and off as people slowed their quick commuting pace and chuckled to myself. Yes, it’s true that by the time you see a police car the radar has probably already recorded your speed, but stepping on the brake seems to be instinct.

While I wasn’t concerned about being caught for speeding, I too found myself briefly stepping off the gas and it made me wonder to myself. Even though I wasn’t afraid of being caught what was the reason I maintained a reasonable speed? Did I do it only because I didn’t want to get a ticket?

For that matter, why do we obey any rules or laws of the land?

As children most of us are taught right from wrong. At home, school, church and in the community we are instructed to follow the rules whether or not we had a part in creating them. We didn’t have to understand why the rules were in place, it was our responsibility to follow them to be good children, students, citizens, etc.

And most of us do obey.

But why? Only because we don’t want to get caught? Simply because we don’t want to reap the punishment that comes from disobedience? Or is there a reward for obeying?

On the rest of my drive my pondering mind took the thought one step further. . .

Why do I obey God?

Do I do what God instructs because I am afraid of His wrath? Do I want to avoid the discipline and cost of disobedience? Or does it go deeper than that? Is there a reward for obeying God?

Digging into the scriptures I found that there are rewards.

To the Israelites headed to the promised land God instructed:

So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. Deuteronomy 5:32-33 NIV

Paul reminds the Romans where obedience will lead them:

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16 NIV

Jesus Himself told the people:

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28 NIV

So there are promises…rewards for obeying God’s word and His will for our lives! That’s great, but should that be our motive?

I realized that the ultimate obedience came from Jesus. He was obedient to His Father out of love. That love was not only for God the Father but for US!! Jesus loved us so much that He submitted to the worst death imaginable…death on a cross for sins He did not commit.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Philippians 2:8 NIV

For me this is what it all boils down to. My obedience to God needs to be out of my love for Him. It shouldn’t be only because I fear the punishment for my disobedience but because I love Him so much I want to do what will please Him.

Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14:23 NIV

That’s the bottom line…L O V E!

What is your “bottom line” when it comes to obedience? Do you do it because you don’t want punishment, because you’re looking for a reward, or for some other reason?

blessings and peace to you as you obey!

Paula

I used to love to run. I loved the feeling of freedom as I ran and the sense that I was doing something good for my body. I hadn’t run in a long time and watching runners go by the house or the office made me long to run again…to be one of them. Also, they say that running is one of the best ways to lose weight. So I decided it was time. I found a walk/run program that trains you to go from walking to running 30 minutes in 30 days and prepared myself to start. I would run on a path near my house made of cork – a good place to start my adventure. 

Last Monday I was up at 5am, strapped on my mp3 player, leashed the dog, and we were off. It went really well and I felt great when I got home.

Tuesday was a strength training day.

Wednesday we were back on course. Again I felt great when we got done. I was so excited! I was on my way to being a RUNNER!!

By Wednesday night I felt a little differently. My joints were aching and even additional stretching didn’t seem to help. Thursday morning it was hard to get out of bed because of the stiffness and pains. A little anti-inflammatory and I was on my way but rethinking my future as a runner. Perhaps running isn’t the best thing for my body. Maybe I should walk instead.

But I want to be a RUNNER!!

Why do I want to be a runner? Is it because I think it’s the best thing for me or do I have some kind of idea that runners are better people than me and are in some kind of elite club that I want to be a part of? Do I need to get “over myself” to do what’s best for me instead of potentially doing my body harm? Is my stubbornness actually hurting me?

Sometimes I find myself getting hung up over things that seem so important at the time. But do these things really matter in the grand scheme of life? And the bigger question – do they matter to God?

For 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. Then you will call on 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.     Jeremiah 29:11-13

It can be very difficult for us to live in a world where performance is valued so highly and we are constantly fed with messages of what we need to do in order to ‘fit in’. We are prodded to own the latest electronic gadget, rub shoulders with the right people and keep up on the newest forms of entertainment. Seeking out God’s purposes for us can be a big challenge. Holding fast to those purposes & promises is an even bigger challenge. Sometimes things don’t happen as quickly as we think they ought to and we aren’t always rewarded in the way we would like. But that doesn’t mean God isn’t there or that He’s not listening to us.

The last verse in the Jeremiah passage above gives us a requirement for finding God and His purposes for us. We must seek Him with ALL our hearts. For me this means letting go of ideas I’m holding onto about how I want a situation to turn out or being worried about what others think about me. Sometimes it means letting go of my heart’s desires when God reveals to me they are not His desires for me. It requires me to not be stubborn and not be selfish, but believe that His will is greater than mine, even when I don’t understand.

What areas of your life are you holding too tightly when perhaps they don’t matter as much as you think they do? I encourage you to release them to God and seek Him with your whole heart. Then accept what He reveals to you and move ahead with Him.

As for my fitness challenge, maybe some day I will run but for this morning Lucy and I are on our way to try race walking. I may be able to eventually achieve the speed of jogging without the high impact and unhappy joints. Sure I might look funny but what does it matter?

Blessings and peace to you all!

Paula

It’s getting to be that beautiful time of the year. The hard work of the spring planting is giving way to beautiful blooms and green gardens. I enjoy watching the buds on the rose bushes and seeing the blossoms on the tomatoes and squash in the garden. It’s time to sit back and enjoy.

Or it would be, except for the weeds.

Yes, just about everything we do and have requires maintenance. From our cars to our bodies and everything in between, we can’t expect anything to run at its full potential without maintenance. Even our smart phones aren’t smart enough to charge themselves!

Gardens and flower beds are no exception. While the blooms burst forth with color, weeds sprout up anywhere they can find a little place to grow. And boy do they grow! Have you ever noticed how weeds seem to grow faster, and their roots seem to grow deeper than any plant that we actually want in our garden?

Last summer I was clearing out an old foundation from a barn or shed that used to be on our property. Over the years this foundation has been used for many things from a goat yard to a peacock pen and most recently a bed of hollyhocks. We had let it go for a few years and decided last year to plant some sunflowers there. As I started pulling weeds I realized it was going to be a bigger job than I originally thought. There was some sort of plant/tree that had embedded itself in that foundation over the years and it did NOT want to give up its home. I pulled and dug and yanked…finally getting the weed out, with its whole root.

I couldn’t believe the size of that root. The plant had been supported by an enormous root system that dug down deep and held the plant safely and securely where it was supposed to be.

As I was weeding yesterday I was reminded of all the weeds I get in my own life. Weeds of deception and self-doubt. Weeds of discontent and jealousy…the list could go on and on. At different times in our lives we have to fight different types of weeds. Some of them pull up easily, especially if we catch them quickly and get rid of them before they spread and deepen. Some don’t come up so easily.

Sometimes we allow weeds to grow and establish roots without even realizing it. Lies we have told ourselves for years about not being good enough or being unsuccessful can, if left to their own bidding root themselves so deeply inside of us that they seem impossible to get rid of. And it’s easy to give in and stop trying. This is satan’s ploy and desire for us to live in doubt and never allow ourselves to reach our full potential. But that’s not God’s plan.

As I weed I often listen to a baseball game, or think about things that are coming, or even pray for others. Weeding can be monotonous and having something to occupy your mind makes it go easier and faster. In our lives we need to be filling our mind with the repetitiveness of God’s word to replace the untruths of those who are  planting doubt and holding us back. Repeating scriptures such as these below can plant God’s truth in your heart and mind:

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13 NIV

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

When weeds start to take over a garden or flower bed it cans seem an impossible task to clear them, and you wonder if there’s going to be anything of value left when the weeds are gone. It CAN  be done with hard work, consistency and never giving up. The beauty of what is left and the value of the fruit that will grow when the weeds are gone is worth the work.

The same can be said for the weeds in our own lives. It can seem impossible but we CAN conquer them and squelch the lies that try to root themselves deeply. It may take some time, but in the end we will see the beautiful results of God shining through our lives in the way He always saw us from the moment He created us.

Where are you rooted and how deep do your roots go? These are important questions that help determine the direction and quality of your life, and your peace along the way. I encourage you to plant God’s Word and His Truth in your life and let those roots grow deep. You will find blessings and peace as you move forward in Him.

If you need help finding these truths, please comment here, or e-mail me at pauladavispeace@gmail.com. I would be honored to pray with you and encourage you on your journey to be all you can be in God.

blessings and peace on your day…

Paula

Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top by Jeanette Levellie and TWO GIVEAWAYS!

About the Book

What do drive-by diaper stores and God have in common? When is blabbing an acceptable habit? Why should you beware of moths and sligs? In her entertaining, uplifting style, award-winning author and humorist Jeanette Levellie weaves 72 amusing stories with affirming Biblical truths. These soul-nourishing examples of God’s favor and grace will help you:

• Laugh when you find cow patties in your field instead of daisies

• Discover the bottomless heart of God

• Grow in your acceptance of yourself and others

Welcome a vacation from stress as you discover the sweetness of Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top.

You can buy the book here.

About The Author

A spunky pastor’s wife of thirty-plus years, Jeanette Levellie authors a bi-weekly humor/inspirational column, God is Bigger, a popular feature in the Paris Beacon News since 2001. She has published stories in Guideposts anthologies, stories in Love is a Verb Devotional with Gary Chapman, articles in Christian and secular magazines, greeting card verses, and poems for calendars.  She is also a prolific  speaker for both Christian and secular groups, and loves to make people laugh while sharing her love for God and life.

Jeanette is the mother of two grown children, three grandchildren, and servant to four cats. She lives in Paris (not the French one), IL. with her husband, Kevin. Her hobbies include dining out, talking baby talk to her cats, avoiding housework, reading, and watching old classic movies.

Visit Jeanette on her blog, On Wings of Mirth and Worth, at www.jeanettelevellie.com.

My Review

Jeanette’s book is filled with stories of how God stepped into her life with grace when she wasn’t always graceful. While the book is full of chuckles it also touched my heart, reminding me over and over  of times when I also have received His grace. Through her sweet stories God nudges us to remember that His grace is bigger than our gaffes and that He expects us to give that same grace to others even when we think they don’t deserve it.

Each reflection is followed by “sprinkles” of application – thoughts to carry with us throughout the day or a question to make us think about how God may be trying to speak to us through our own situations.

One of my favorite reflections is when Jeanette reminds us what God isn’t. He isn’t worried…He isn’t tired…He isn’t offended…and other isn’ts. He is full of patience, grace and love for us even when we aren’t deserving. These reminders are sprinkled throughout Jeanette’s book.

If you are in need of a reminder of God’s grace for you, or are looking for a gift for someone who is struggling to sense God’s grace and love in their lives I encourage you to choose “Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top”!

Jeanette’s Giveaways

For each share of this post link on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog, you will receive one entry.

For each like on Jeanette’s Author Page or my Two Scoops Book Page on Facebook, or follow on my Twitter page or this blog, you will receive one entry. If you already like and/or follow me, mention that and I will count it.

Please send me ONE comment at the end of this post to tell me how many times you shared, liked, or followed, so I can give you the correct amount of entries. I reserve the right to verify all information given me, and disqualify anyone from the drawing who falsifies information. (Do not leave comments here to be entered, you MUST go to Jeanette’s blog post for the giveaway.)

Contest starts today and ends midnight, May 10, 2012. Jeanette will announce the winners in a blog post Sunday, May 13, 2012.

….and a $100 Gift Card Drawing~~~WOWZA!!!

After you have read/reviewed Two Scoops, check out my blog at www.jeanettelevellie.com for a contest to win a $100 gift card by answering ten easy questions about the book! After I receive your entry, your name will go into the hat for a $100 gift card to one of the following places (your choice): Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD, Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A, Wal-Mart, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, or Ruby Tuesday. This giveaway will run until August 10, 2012 so there is PLENTY of time for you to enter!

The author sent me the above book for review purposes. She will allow me to keep the book. I have no other connection to and have received no other compensation from Jeanette Levellie. The entire blog tour can be found here.

Did you like to play hide & seek when you were a kid? It’s fun for little ones when someone covers their eyes in front of us then uncovers with a cry of “peek-a-boo!”. Before long we encourage our playmate with “Again! Again!”. While the game is simple and great fun it also builds a trust within a relationship, showing kids that while their loved one may hide for a minute they are never truly far away.

In backyards all across America kids young and old challenge friends to hide around the yard or in the house while someone counts down the moments until they seek them out and see who was the most successful with their hiding place. These games too have a sense of security in knowing that our friend is going to seek us out, reunite with us and continue the game.

Sadly for most of us the time comes when we begin hiding because we don’t want to be found. Maybe for children it’s something as simple as eating a cookie we weren’t supposed to or breaking a toy that belongs to a sibling. When my little dog knows she’s going to have a bath she tries to hide under a table or behind a living room chair so I won’t make her go through with it.

I make light of it, but hiding can be more serious. When danger or ethics are involved hiding can seem like a solution but ultimately makes things worse. If we hide from a problem that we need help with we rob ourselves of a better life. If we hide something we’ve done wrong instead of admitting it we are often led to more and more lies and deception to continue covering our tracks. When we are eventually found out (and we always are) the consequences become much worse than if we had owned up to it in the first place.

Have you ever tried to hide from God? 

If you have you’re in good company since the first people God created tried to hide from Him. Adam and Eve had it good. No, actually they had it great! God created a garden just for them where everything was perfect. They never had to work. All the good food they could imagine was provided to them, and their environment was indescribable. The best part was that every day they walked and talked with God. Yet Adam and Eve chose to do the one thing God told them not to, and then they were ashamed. And afraid. They tried to hide from God. But they could not. God knew where they were and He knew why they were hiding. And He loved them anyway. Sure He sent them from the Garden of Eden but He didn’t leave them. He disciplined them, but was with them and loved them even though they disobeyed and tried to hide from Him.

There are plenty of examples in the bible of people who tried to hide from God. Many returned to Him, some did not. But there are just as many examples of men and women who sought God out and tried their best to obey Him. And that is what God truly desires from us.

I love those who love me, 
   and those who seek me find me.                                                                                                         Proverbs 8:17

God knows we’re going to fail Him. Since no one is perfect except for Jesus we will all sin at times in our lives. The difference is how we react when we do sin. Do we try to hide from God and act as though it never happened, or do we seek God out, ask His forgiveness and move forward, walking with Him again? I think our humanness may incline us to try to hide, but if we fight that inclination and turn towards God instead of away from Him we will find a great reward. For God promises…

You will seek me and find me                                                                                                           when you seek me with all your heart.                                                                                       Jeremiah 29:13

Are you hiding from God in any area of your life right now? 

Is He asking you to serve Him in a way you aren’t sure you’re ready for?

Maybe He’s asking you to show love to someone you really can’t in your own strength.

If so, please consider coming out of hiding and calling at the top of your voice, “OVER HERE!! I’M OVER HERE!! COME AND FIND ME!”

I am certain He will!

blessings & peace to you…

Paula