A LITTLE "CUD"

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

This year of traveling around has afforded me the opportunity to meet some extraordinary people; some amazing social and State officials who are truly remarkable and impacting people and I have met some dear servants of Christ who are willing to risk much to seek and save the lost.

One such person is D.S.

I had a little early lunch yesterday with her, a couple of her mentees and two of my colleagues in her little town of Washington Court House.  Our meeting was to discuss the nuance of working with women impacted by addiction, trauma, trafficking and abuse.  This demographic is intensely broken and deeply complex to work with.  They require a discerning spirit, a deft touch, a compassionate countenance, and a steely resolve.  D.S and her team along with some other wonderful female leaders are assisting me and my team is creating effective plans and strategies for reaching this ever growing and heartbreaking group of women.

I can’t thank GOD enough for them!

During our lunch D.S. was sharing some of her amazing “homespun” wisdom.  As the daughter of a farmer and a long-time small community teacher she had quite a bit of well-worn and well-tested wisdom.  It was as she was sharing some strategic insight that she described something she does for the girls in “her group”; she gives them a little “cud” from time to time.  It was quite funny when she said it because both of her mentees nodded in affirmation.  In fact they giggled a bit.  So I am guessing the “cud” has some inside meaning as well. 

But as you can probably surmise, D.S. was alluding that from time to time her daddy would say that she didn’t have to try and consume large amounts or scripture and teaching all the time, sometimes a little bit of “cud” (something to chew on) or ruminate on throughout the day would serve her just as well.

So she has since taken that good advice from her papa and shares a little “cud” from time to time. 

I thought that a good idea for today! 

So here is a little “cud” from one of my wife Beth’s favorites, Charles Stanley.

Lamentations 3:24-26 (NIV)

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Many Christians struggle to discipline themselves in the area of self-gratification. There are so many things we want right now. And to make matters worse, we usually have the ability to follow through on our desires.

One reason the Lord wants us to wait is to protect us from our own self-destructive ways. Those who can’t say no to their own desires end up enslaved by them. God wants us to be mature believers with the character and self-restraint to wait for His provision in His perfect time. Because the heavenly Father is omniscient, He alone knows what’s best. You can trust that if He asks you to wait, He has something more wonderful in mind than you could ever provide for yourself.

Does anything seem to have power over you? If so, it may be an area that requires the practice of self-restraint. Yield to the Lord and submit your desires to Him. Then begin saying no to temptations as you wait for God to reveal His will for your life.

That right there, especially for those challenged with addictive issues, is some good “cud”.

Chew on it!

I love you all!

Be blessed!

Opportunities for Hope (Champions Charge)