Category: Faith

A friend recently shared a story from the television series, Undercover Boss.  I was intrigued and decided to tune in.  It seems that the head of a corporation (or owner of a business) pretends to be a new employee, and his staff has the job of training him. This boss can then observe the work ethics of each person in his company, but he also learns much about their personal lives and the struggles they have.  At the end of the show Mr. Boss meets with each of them individually and shares what he has observed – whether good or bad. He rewards them with various sums of money, but also tries to help resolve the tough load they carry.  He may give them a year’s worth of rent, buy them a new car or even pay for their college tuition.

One evening while praying, I felt the Lord share that He himself was much like the Undercover Boss to many people.  For some out in the world today have never really known Him personally, but He is still there observing and listening to their daily struggles.  He doesn’t have to be an Undercover Boss, for all they have to do is reach out and accept His hand of help.  He is there to not only observe and listen but to resolve, to heal, to love and to guide.  His heart yearns to help, to reach out and touch those afflicted.  But for us who have known Him, He is no longer the Undercover Boss – He is our Emmanuel – God With Us!

Christmas has once again past.  But it doesn’t have to.  We can still share the good news of a God who wants to interact with His people, for He loves to reach out and grab a new hand. We can keep the Christmas spirit alive!  Just because December 25th has come and gone does not mean the Spirit of what Christmas is about has. Let us share the great news that God is not the Undercover Boss but He is Emmanuel – He is the God who is with each one of us!

Mark 4:33,34  With many similar parables Jesus spoke the Word to them, as much as they could understand.  He did not say anything to them without using a parable.  But when He was alone with His own disciples, He explained everything.

There are some pretty hard sayings in the Bible.  Many ask, “who can understand?”  I know for I have been one of them.  However, the Word of God was not written for intellectuals and Textual Critics, but for us, every day people!

Read (and listen) again to the last verse – But when He was alone with His own disciples, He explained everything.  Getting alone with  God, having that Be Still and Know time with Him is the Key!

We have only to set time aside, relax, breathe Him in deeply and listen to His Word.  I find a quiet corner, a place of solitude and bask in His ever present presence.  He will then begin to explain everything to us.  Have you begun your Be Still Time with Him?  Set that time aside – put it on your agenda.  You will always be glad you did!  Margi

 

I struggled to make it through the day.  I taught classes for  School of Ministry, tried to keep an immaculate home,do the laundry, coach  my daughter’s cheer team,  and ran my son to soccer practice.  I was over committed and the price was constant fatigue, stress and lack of sleep!

My husband held down a full time job, being president of his company and at home he preferred the newspaper and the television to family time.  He was always too tired to talk to anybody or even take an interest in my day.

My daughter was a straight A student, but the pressure was beginning to show in her life.

I then began to blame this hectic weirdness of our existence on our fast pace lives.  As a Christian, I was feeling I should be experiencing more peace.  Yet there was no evidence in many of my Christian friends lives as being any different than my own.

As I was studying for classes in church, I noticed the lives of many Christians throughout the ages.  Among these studies were men like Martin Luther, David Livingstone and Hudson Taylor.  I read that each one of them suffered great hardships beyond belief!  As I began to hear their stories, I realized they had an inner peace that permeated their lives.

Each one of them had one thing in common – They would always communicate with God, even in those days of hardships!  They each had learned to Be Still and Know that God was there!  Drawing near to God in wordless prayer and knowing His peace was the key!  And it still is today!

Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ who You have sent.  John 17:3o 

Being still I have found has made me see God as friend – not just in word, but in practice.  Being a friend to God can make a difference between just having a burnt out lifestyle and fulfillment.  Before I would take in small breaths of God – now, I can breather Him deeply!

In my Being Still time, I have noticed that God does not call me by a number as the world does (social security, etc).  To Him, I am Margi – I am daughter – I am His.  So sit back and begin this lifestyle of  Being Still and Knowing He is your God!