The Bunny Saga continues

I really don’t know why I feel this way.  Why am I feeling like I don’t know what I feel.  This isn’t joy.

I can’t for the life of me figure out if I am sinning?  Is this a product of sin?

Psalm 19:12-14 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. ¹³ Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion. ¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

My heart aches but I can’t feel joy because my heart hurts so much.

Psalm 42:5 Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I should trust you, Lord. I will praise you again because you help me, (CEV)

Psalms 51:12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. ¹³ Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you

Just because I can’t feel (get past my emotions) doesn’t mean that joy is not there.

I don’t always feel the Holy Spirit and He promises to never leave me.

John 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. ¹⁷ He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.

The bunny saga is still bothing me.

I’m trying to get over it.

I feel so stupid for making such a big deal.

Isaiah 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.”  This is the Lord’s declaration.

Everything I do just seems so unfruitful.

Is a desire to be sucessful, is that a sin? A desire to accomplish something, is that a sin?

When accomplishments and success is more important than Jesus, that is a sin. Exodus 20:3 Do not have other gods beside me.

Why do you lay in my heart to do something and it is unfruitful?

Proverbs 16:3-4 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. ⁴ The Lord has made everything for his own purposes…

Success by God’s standard not by my own. 

I invite friends to church, to small group.  They don’t respond.  Seeds are being planted

I’m volunteering and not finding any real connections. Seeds are being planted

Galatians 6:7-10 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, ⁸ because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹ Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.

You laid these people and opportunities of voluteering in my heart and nothing. You don’t see everything happening.  He knows everything and sees everything.

 Psalm 57:2 I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Lord, your faithful love endures forever; do not abandon the work of your hands.

Am I really your partner? 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.  2 Corinthians 6:1 Working together with him…

Am I not supposed to take things seriously? Am I not supposed to be vested? Are you asking me not to care whether they respond or not? How do I not take it personally? They are declining the invitation for lack of knowledge-pray for their understanding.

1 Thessalonians 4:8 Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

James 5:16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. 

God does the work of choosing, calling, appointing, and opening the heart. God is the one who initiates every aspect of the work of salvation in our hearts so that we can take no credit for anything in our salvation.  God's will and salvation is singular dependent on nothing other than his uninfluenced free electing choice. Therefore, the holy Spirit works where he wills. The Son gives life to whomever he wishes and unless the father draws them, unbelievers cannot come to Christ- John MacArthur

The bunny had nothing to do with the children.  It was about me.  The lesson was for me.  Jesus is growing me up.  The fruit of this exercise was to produce fruit in me.

1Peter 1:6-8 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials ⁷ so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

James1:2-4 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

You can’t grow up and learn without going through things.  We always want the path of least resistance but how do we grow in that environment? You can watch others and learn from their mistakes.  You can read the word and diligiently follow thes commands to avoid certain pitfalls. You can watch preachers, teachers, and take notes about life and applying his instructions to your life.

Some lessons, you must go through.  Everyone must walk through the valley of the shadow of death. No one is exempt.  The verse before the shadow of the valley  of death says he leads me along the right path for his names sake, even when I go you are with me.  He is leading me along the right paths.  A path that goes through the darkest valley, but I will fear no danger.

I’m sure you are thinking, “ok, why the dramatics?  You did a little lesson, and no one got to hear it, why are you making such a big deal of this?”  I asked myself the same thing.

My answer:  I am relieved God has shared with me these truths from a silly incident instead of a life shattering real deal catastophy in my life.  He is merciful to reveal himself in the little things if we choose to pay attention.  

King David was a sweet little shepherd boy, singing songs to the amazing God we serve, tending to his daddy's sheep and a bear attacked him.  He was along the right path for his names sake and he feared no danger.  Then out of the clear blue, comes a tiger.  He was again on the right path, doing what he was supposed to and bam, he gets attacked by a tiger and overcomes these animals by the strength of the Lord.  Wasn’t God teaching David something?  Doesn’t that seem like a bit of a training exercise for David? 

Because when he hears Goliath taunting the Israelites, Goalith didn’t have a chance.  That shepherd boy knew where his help comes from and he was ready to fight whatever came around.