One Third

God did it again. I've asked and believed God for six vehicles without any debt for my family for the past two years. God did the first one when a family gave Brenda a 2013 Ford Edge. She still cries driving it to work in thankfulness to God for His provision. We still rejoice that God did it again. He came through in answer to prayer to meet a need in our lives. 

God did it again today. A couple made us a deal on a 2013 Nissan Armada where we could afford the vehicle without going into debt. He provided again. One third of the six vehicle miracle has been performed. Why would I doubt Him to perform the other two thirds of this miracle. I have sons still in school driving dilapidated vehicles with no ability to afford to get a new one. Two of the other sons are established in their careers, one without a vehicle, and the other with a worn out one. I ask God for His provision so neither son has to go into debt on transportation. I also ask and believe for six vehicles because it gives God more glory. This is my first chance to glorify God once the vehicle was transferred into my possession. I praise Him. I give Him all the glory. He did  it again. 

I had planned to get my vehicle last after God supplied all the others. I had to put my 2004 Yukon in the shop. They told me the engine could not be repaired and I needed a whole new engine along with other issues. That forced me to need a vehicle quicker than I anticipated. God anticipated it and met the need. I am humbled by the power of God. Humbled by His faithfulness. Humbled by His ability to do anything. Truly nothing is impossible with Him. 

God has already provided two vehicles. According to Ps 24:1 the whole earth and everything in it belongs to Him. Including four additional vehicles. He has access to each of them. When it pleases Him and glorifies Him the most, I believe He will transfer those four vehicles into our possession. I am ready and willing to testify of God's faithfulness for each of those like I am doing for the first two. 

I recall one of the first times I told anyone I was praying for six vehicles with no debt. People were skeptical. If I had the money to pay cash for the vehicles, I would not even bother God except to seek direction for which to purchase. I committed to God to not go into debt for vehicles anymore. So we ask and trust. This means a lot of waiting. On days like today, it is exhilarating. It enlarges my platform to brag on God. It allows me to tell what great things He has done for us. What He has done and continues to do for the Edwards He can do for any of you. One third down. Two thirds to go. 

Where Did You Lose It

 Where did you lose it? I'm not referring to some lost item you have not been able to locate for some time. I am referring to your passion and love for God. Where did you lose it? Did you willfully choose to disobey God? Can you go back in your memory to a specific instance where you pulled a Jonah refusing to obey? Many have done this in the past. 

You know when you lose your first love. You find yourself numb from His presence.  Your heart hardens. You may do the same things you did before such as pray, read your Bible, and gather for corporate worship only something is missing. It feels like you are just going through the motions. Doing the routine like rituals instead of pursuing a loving relationship with the Lord. Can you go back in your mind to a sinful choice that started the slow drift away from Him? 

Maybe you got hurt. You may even blame God for the pain. You question why He did not protect you. Some go so far as to blame God for inflicting the pain. You have never been the same. You carry a deep seeded bitter grudge against God or someone else. It has hindered your love for God going on years. 

Many people pack the pews on Sundays who lost their first love. They act like everything is the same on the outside as they go through external motions. It is the inside that becomes callused. Cold. We are living in a Laodicean church age with lukewarm believers justifying their condition. They are not cold. They may not be hot either. They exist somewhere in the middle. Such living makes Jesus want to vomit. It is a hard word, but one that is needed. Lukewarm living makes Jesus sick to His stomach. [Rev 3:15-16] 

If we want to be restored to our first love, we have to discern where we lost it. Some lost it in a never ending cycle of busyness. Some of that busyness might even be for God. We can stay so busy doing things for God that we miss spending time with God. Is that where you lost your first love? 

 [Rev 2:4-5] The Laodiceans were commended for doing many things well. They worked hard and persevered through trials. They endured for the sake of the name of Jesus. For all the good, Jesus had one thing against them. They left their first love. He called them to repent and remember from where they had fallen. Can you recall times in your walk with the Lord when you loved Him more, had more passion to serve Him, and were closer to Him. We are all called to remember those times and to repent going back to what we did when He was our first love. 

He is supposed to be first in importance. First in priority. The supreme love of our lives. Our highest ranking love. He deserves our greatest affection, our most passionate pursuit, and our highest priority. To fail here is to fail at the very heart of our relationship with Him. The masses show up and offer shallow worship, ritualistic prayers, apathetic attitudes toward His word, and petrified hearts to His moving. 

It's time to go back to where we lost it. It is time for repentance. It is time for renewal and restoration of that relationship with our Savior. Pleading with Him to return our desire for Him to be our first love. It is time to adjust our lives accordingly. It is time to come back to our first love putting Jesus in His rightful place.