Stretchhhhhh Yourself!

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

You’ve heard the saying, “If you want something done, give it to a busy person.” Although there is no absolute truth in that statement, it does often play out to be true. Studies have shown that when a person has little going on in their life—little responsibility and little obligation—they accomplish little. They’ve also show that when you give more responsibility to disciplined and responsible people, they learn to take on and manage more; stretching their capacity to do more and do so effectively.

Isaiah 54:2-3 says, “Enlarge your house; build an addition; spread out your home! For you will soon be bursting at the seams…”

God desires to bring increases into our life. But people that can get things done—which is a good thing—often fall into pride over their own ability to get things done. It becomes their identity. God wants our identity, ability and confidence in getting things done to be in Him and His ability working through us. He wants us to stretch and press in our life and He will bless us as we do. But He also wants us to understand that it’s His grace that will help us accomplish things and for His purposes and not so we can be seen as great.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, “This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

You may not know this, but when you set your heart and trust in God, you can do far more than you ever imagined. You can stretch yourself. You will be at the crossroads of, “I don’t know what to do next” with feelings of “I can’t do this,” a thousand times when you stretch yourself. But if your attitude is, “God, I know by your grace and with your help, I can do all things as you strengthen me and give me your wisdom.” then you will be able to do so. You’ll be able to handle and manage more than you ever dreamed possible. God will stretch the borders of who you are and your life and help you to increase. Do little and you will get little accompanied with the growing slothful desire to do less. Look to God and do more trusting in His grace and you will learn just what you can do in His ability! He will help you manage your work, your family, and all your life in His balance—all while He increases you!

And let me close by adding the most important part of this secret revealed by God about stretching yourself. Prayer is the key to it all. It is the number one thing. It’s the chief discipline. It’s not legalistic. It’s that heart-felt time with God through His Word and prayer that will fuel the stretching and increase of your life. It’s where your faith to do so will come from. It’s where your trust in Him will be refreshed. The promises of God will catapult you again and again. Jesus modeled that. He said He did “nothing but what the Father told Him.” He saw that communion with His Father was where the grace and words of direction and faith came from that led His path. So it should be for us. When prayer for increase goes forth and increase comes, more prayer for facilitating that increase is required, or else you are making the statement that you are doing it yourself.

Luke 12:48 (NLT) “…Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.”

In His love,
Pastor Tim

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Ever Felt Misunderstood?

Fresh Manna 2009© by Pastor Tim Burt

Have you ever felt misunderstood? Have you ever felt like you’ve gotten off on the wrong foot with someone and they have the wrong view or perception of who you really are and your intentions? And now the ongoing relationship is affected in a negative way by that wrong perception? And on top of that—and to seemly make things worse—there are contributing circumstances that only reinforce that wrong perception and you can’t seem to undo it?

Welcome to the land of being misunderstood. I don’t know of anyone who has not felt this at one time or another. It’s a hard place. Jesus went through it for most of His ministry. Some loved and embraced Him. Some stood back at arm’s length from Him in doubt, not sure of who He really was and what He was about. And some absolutely misunderstood Him and drew the wrong perception of Him; literally hating Him.

One thing we know for sure. Jesus did not contribute to their wrong perceptions. Those that had them had them because of their own issues. Their issues led to their wrong perceptions and their hatred and continuous attacks against Him. We aren’t always innocent. Sometimes we have contributed to those wrong perceptions and we need to learn and grow to avoid them.

When you have this kind of situation going on, you can’t always fix the problem with someone. Sometimes they are the problem. You can only pray through it and try to keep yourself from being hurt and tainted with bitterness and resentment from the pain that could come from it.

One of my favorite non-Bible quotes is from Steven R. Covey. He says, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” He calls this the principle of mutual understanding. You can’t always protect yourself from other’s wrong perceptions other than from trying to learn what is causing them and do better. When they result from inward issues the other person has, you may never be able to protect yourself except to keep your distance from that kind of person. But, to keep your own heart right Covey’s principle is great. If you will not jump to conclusions about someone or why they are doing or saying what they are, and instead try to have good communication to understand their heart, that alone will usually improve the situation if, in fact, it can be improved.

The Apostle Paul gave us the most important truth from God that would keep our hearts right if we lived by it. In teaching on love he says in 1 Cor. 13:7 love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” “Bears” is a Greek work that means to cover or give protection. “Bears all things,” means that we assume the best to protect the relationship. “Hopes all things,” is related; meaning that loves hopes the best in every situation. “Endures all things,” means that because of love, there is perseverance— diligent effort to protect the relationship.”

If we will live by God’s truth and instruction out of His agape love that indwells us, then though someone else may misunderstand you, at least you can keep your heart right. You may still hurt and feel pain, but Jesus did, too. And yet He forgave those who crucified Him. He is our role model.

I pray for any and all of you that are suffering from being misunderstood today. I pray that truth and love will prevail in that relationship and that you will become a champion of loving as God taught regardless!

Luke 2:33 (Message Bible) “Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother, This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, A figure misunderstood and contradicted— the pain of a sword-thrust through you— But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are.”

In His love,
Pastor Tim

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Having a Turtle Day?

Fresh Manna 2009© by Renee Burt

Some days I feel like a turtle…meaning, I’m feeling sort of shy, not very confident, and unsure of the steps I need to take that day. Now, if I didn’t have to leave my house, it would be just fine to pull my head back into my “shell” and have some turtle time! But my life and my work are all about people, which I really do love. I love interacting with people, and I love to ask questions that help me discover all kinds of interesting things about them. What spells trouble on a “turtle day” is that, in those conversations with these poor unsuspecting people who have NO idea of my turtle feelings, it feels like there’s a synapse between my brain and my mouth…and the words just don’t come as easily. At those times, frankly, sometimes even I wonder, “WHAT is she talking about?”

So what do I do on those “turtle days”… that oftentimes happen on the days when I most need to be able to make intelligible conversation? I’ve learned to realize that I can’t always say everything perfectly, it’s okay to be quieter once in awhile, and I don’t have to feel responsible to make sure every conversation is a “10!” I can just be me, even on a turtle day…and trust God that He’ll help me to live my best that day, despite my temporary turtle persona. Trouble isn’t always about the big things we face in life…it’s whatever we face that tries to steal our joy and cause us to feel out of sorts with our day. So if you’re having one of those troubling “turtle days,” let Him help you come on out of your shell,,, and be comfortable just being your best YOU today!

Psalm 34:17 NLT ~ The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.

More devotions from Renee’s Fresh Manna

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2009 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/