Not By Bread Alone
Matthew 4:4
"It is written; Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God"
"Worship the Lord your God and serve him only"
******************************
This is where the Lord has taken me this morning. In His Word, perfectly timed, and what I need to focus on most right now.
He is searching my heart. There is so much to unpack in these few words as I beg Jesus to increase and for my flesh to decrease (John 3:30).
James, I used to be so bent on having the boy that was dressed best and being totally put together on the outside all the time. A nice house, and extra in the bank. I could shop anywhere and never look at a price tag. I was in control (a facade) and I called the shots in my home.
Yet, over the last 4 years, I continue to keep having to surrender over and over material things. That are now to me so small. But yet it is still a struggle. And the enemy knows it. I spent money I should not have spent on those kids that I was helping. I heard the Lord tell me, "Keri I am their Provider. Not you". But I bought their Easter clothes anyway. I was overly generous and did this outside the agreement of my husband. In secret. And yesterday I could not pay for a pair of shoes for my own son. The enemy wants me to feel guilty because I have taken a narrow path as opposed to staying in corporate America where my son could have 10 pair of shoes. He put a lady right in front of me at church yesterday that said that the things that these children had on them none of them were acceptable. I am like, "Are you kidding me? I spent $80 on their Easter clothes". And you know what James, she threw it all in the trash. She threw away the new things I bought them. I was humbled. Disciplined. Frustrated. Guilty. And I asked my husband and my God for forgiveness. Is that not so true to what our walk with the Lord by His Word is really like? When we do anything apart from Him, it withers and dies. And while the work I was doing for these kids was "good" by man's measures, I stepped out of what He called me to because my flesh wanted something more for them and I was NOT trusting in Him as their provider. And the product of my flesh ended up in the trash can. That is SO ironic! Yes, I fed the monkey!!!!!
And then this morning the Lord says "Man does not live on bread alone". He is reminding me that His Word is all powerful and above everything. He holds the universe in His Hand. He is Jehovah Jireh. And my safety and security is being in the Center of His Will.
It is truly amazing how hard it is in America to "serve him only". I keep thinking of the lady at church that now is caring for these children. I found myself missing the Keri that could go to Stride Rite anytime instead of Kmart. I had prideful thoughts that "I have a Masters Degree and I can do alot and I can be like her and have my family like that if I wanted"...You see ---- I was praying "God's best for Shenoa and Billy" all the while believing that it was me of course because of what I wanted. And all along he had another family in mind. And I find myself jealous of what they are able to do for Shenoa and Billy. They went out on the lake yesterday in a nice boat, with new clothes, etc. And I realized, that God calls us in such different ways to minister and serve. He has gifted that family for His Purpose and the way He has gifted my family is SO different.
"Serving him only" when we are standing out on the mountain and being tempted never gets easier. And we can not see the bigger picture and the breakthrough that is ALWAYS up ahead. Even the small things become a greater struggle especially when we are not looking.
And then I rest on His Word - that after Jesus was tempted, He resisted, and the enemy fleed and the angels came upon him. "I know the plans I have for you thus says the Lord, to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future". Jer 29:11
What is living "not by bread alone"?
It is the insatiable desire I have to hear my son laugh
Being thankful for a roof over my head and a pillow to rest on
A husband that works hard and loves me and is faithful
God's faithfulness and UNFAILING LOVE
The eternal investments in those that He calls me to steward and He trusts me with
The amazing people like James Trapp that I get to engage with by His Divine Design
The supernatural manifestation of His Hand on my family and in my church
Creation screams out His Name!!!
The opportunity to be safe in the center of His Will
Recognizing opportunity in life is not limited by money or wealth
I praise Him that He has equipped me and my husband and son with the courage to live a Spirit Led Personal and Professional Life
Healing my husband's pornography addiction and that his desire is for me
Healing my son's rebellious spirit just by the powerful name of Jesus
Healing my mom's 17 year gambling addiction one day at a time
Working in the healing of a guy, a daddy, that is clean from meth now going on 12 weeks and is high on Jesus!!!! PRAISE YOU LORD!!!!
To be a graduate of one of the finest Kingdom purposed Universities in the nation - GO TIGERS!!!
Every day He orders my steps and I never have to question if I went the right direction
How joyful it is to genuinely surrender my flesh over and over and over
The Cross Was Enough!!!!! - Jesus is Enough for me!
"It is written; Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God"
"Worship the Lord your God and serve him only"
******************************
He is searching my heart. There is so much to unpack in these few words as I beg Jesus to increase and for my flesh to decrease (John 3:30).
James, I used to be so bent on having the boy that was dressed best and being totally put together on the outside all the time. A nice house, and extra in the bank. I could shop anywhere and never look at a price tag. I was in control (a facade) and I called the shots in my home.
Yet, over the last 4 years, I continue to keep having to surrender over and over material things. That are now to me so small. But yet it is still a struggle. And the enemy knows it. I spent money I should not have spent on those kids that I was helping. I heard the Lord tell me, "Keri I am their Provider. Not you". But I bought their Easter clothes anyway. I was overly generous and did this outside the agreement of my husband. In secret. And yesterday I could not pay for a pair of shoes for my own son. The enemy wants me to feel guilty because I have taken a narrow path as opposed to staying in corporate America where my son could have 10 pair of shoes. He put a lady right in front of me at church yesterday that said that the things that these children had on them none of them were acceptable. I am like, "Are you kidding me? I spent $80 on their Easter clothes". And you know what James, she threw it all in the trash. She threw away the new things I bought them. I was humbled. Disciplined. Frustrated. Guilty. And I asked my husband and my God for forgiveness. Is that not so true to what our walk with the Lord by His Word is really like? When we do anything apart from Him, it withers and dies. And while the work I was doing for these kids was "good" by man's measures, I stepped out of what He called me to because my flesh wanted something more for them and I was NOT trusting in Him as their provider. And the product of my flesh ended up in the trash can. That is SO ironic! Yes, I fed the monkey!!!!!
And then this morning the Lord says "Man does not live on bread alone". He is reminding me that His Word is all powerful and above everything. He holds the universe in His Hand. He is Jehovah Jireh. And my safety and security is being in the Center of His Will.
It is truly amazing how hard it is in America to "serve him only". I keep thinking of the lady at church that now is caring for these children. I found myself missing the Keri that could go to Stride Rite anytime instead of Kmart. I had prideful thoughts that "I have a Masters Degree and I can do alot and I can be like her and have my family like that if I wanted"...You see ---- I was praying "God's best for Shenoa and Billy" all the while believing that it was me of course because of what I wanted. And all along he had another family in mind. And I find myself jealous of what they are able to do for Shenoa and Billy. They went out on the lake yesterday in a nice boat, with new clothes, etc. And I realized, that God calls us in such different ways to minister and serve. He has gifted that family for His Purpose and the way He has gifted my family is SO different.
"Serving him only" when we are standing out on the mountain and being tempted never gets easier. And we can not see the bigger picture and the breakthrough that is ALWAYS up ahead. Even the small things become a greater struggle especially when we are not looking.
And then I rest on His Word - that after Jesus was tempted, He resisted, and the enemy fleed and the angels came upon him. "I know the plans I have for you thus says the Lord, to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future". Jer 29:11
What is living "not by bread alone"?
It is the insatiable desire I have to hear my son laugh
Being thankful for a roof over my head and a pillow to rest on
A husband that works hard and loves me and is faithful
God's faithfulness and UNFAILING LOVE
The eternal investments in those that He calls me to steward and He trusts me with
The amazing people like James Trapp that I get to engage with by His Divine Design
The supernatural manifestation of His Hand on my family and in my church
Creation screams out His Name!!!
The opportunity to be safe in the center of His Will
Recognizing opportunity in life is not limited by money or wealth
I praise Him that He has equipped me and my husband and son with the courage to live a Spirit Led Personal and Professional Life
Healing my husband's pornography addiction and that his desire is for me
Healing my son's rebellious spirit just by the powerful name of Jesus
Healing my mom's 17 year gambling addiction one day at a time
Working in the healing of a guy, a daddy, that is clean from meth now going on 12 weeks and is high on Jesus!!!! PRAISE YOU LORD!!!!
To be a graduate of one of the finest Kingdom purposed Universities in the nation - GO TIGERS!!!
Every day He orders my steps and I never have to question if I went the right direction
How joyful it is to genuinely surrender my flesh over and over and over
The Cross Was Enough!!!!! - Jesus is Enough for me!
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