I love you but......you need to do more...

I love you but you need to to buy me more gifts so that I appreciate what you have done

I know you go all out for me but you can do better

You have surprised me so much! Now do more.

There are times we become the ones adding more expectations and standards and burdens on people who have gone all out for us. We forget to stop and appreciate how much they have put in for us.

A parent could be yearning to hear the child say thank you

A friend desires to hear that they are appreciated

A spouse longing to be loved apart from material things

A child longs for the parents to say they are proud

People have gotten weary giving and all they hear or get in return is a demand for more.  Be encouraged and act as unto God.

These scenarios remind me of a message Christ gave to the church of Thyatira in revelations, those that kept themselves from the sin of Idol worship. Christ told them He would not burden them with more tasks but that they should continue doing what they have been doing.

Jesus acknowledged that the people in this church had grown in their faith. He therefore asked them to continue with what they were doing.

Revelation 2:24-25

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

We can learn from Christ how to encourage others:

• Appreciate they have grown from one step to another
• Encourage them to keep at what they are doing
• Stop burdening people but help them carry the loads they have
• Show the same kindness you expect from others

I forgot my wedding date!!

 I can imagine the look on your face if you asked me about a date you thought so crucial in my life, say my wedding date, and I ended up with a blank look and had no idea!

A wedding date is a big day with few or many witnesses. It's a day that is marked in the hearts and minds and unless by some tragic memory lapse, the bride and groom never forget.

I see the same eventful date being set by God when He got the Israelites out of Egypt. The Lord killed all the Egyptian firstborns, both man and animals and, passed over the Israelites. The date was marked as a 'Passover' day with a lot of celebrations. 

The whole idea being that the Israelite generations would remember the mighty act of God's salvation in their lives and celebrate God.

We all have significant events in our lives some being:

• Healing
• Graduation from one stage to another
• Salvation
• Forgiveness
• Reconciliation
• Provision

Let's celebrate these acts of God and share with as many people as possible for 2 reasons:

• Those who hear will believe in our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ
• We who speak will be encouraged to trust in God when other situations challenge us

An opportunity to be personal with God:

• My God who healed me
• My God who saved me from an incident/ accident
• My God who provided

Exodus 13:33 Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast.

God is big on celebrating His deeds in our lives. Start celebrating and marking these dates in unique ways

He still wants you. Not your way, His way

 Life is ever changing demanding more agility from us. Our tendency is to resist! It's uncomfortable and unfamiliar.

If we choose to go in a certain direction, we have to make the necessary changes to suit that direction.

How about our love for God? Do we choose to be His children and abide by the father's desires?

As a father, He is in charge of His house and has a standard He wants in His house. We can't stay in our father's house and insist on living by the rules we experienced in another home. 

Exodus 12:43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover meal: “No foreigner may eat it. 44 Any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him, 45 but a temporary resident or a hired worker may not eat it.

This is God's desire for His family that we abide by His rules as a father- that's honour

What if you are not part of the family and would like to be God's child? "Circumcision" You go to God through Jesus and then abide in God.

Let's stay as our father has commanded us

Let's celebrate!

When God brings significant events in our lives, we save the date and celebrate in our own special ways.

A newborn, birthdays...

A wedding, anniversaries....

School, graduations...

How often do we celebrate answered prayers? 

Do we receive answers and move on to more requests or do we celebrate God over and over for His deeds?

I'm learning a very beautiful way, God's way.

Exodus 12 has some beautiful verses guiding my lessons.

verse 14, Commemorate for generations to come

verse 25, keep celebrating a particular deed

verse 26, 27 Tell family, friends what God did

I realize God requires that we celebrate His deeds in our lives on a regular basis.

It opens a beautiful atmosphere to tell others about Him

and It makes us believe Him as we keep reminding each other what He has done for us

Most of all, celebrations help us keep an attitude of thanksgiving which influences contentment!

Off to start my celebrations!