ANT ACTIVITIES

Proverbs 6:6-9 "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest" 


3 John 1:2- "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much"


I've loved ant farms and hills since I was a child. Identifying with the ant has been a natural example God has used mightily in my life for powerful spiritual lessons. The ant has taught me a lot...it is a little creature but so industrious and here are examples others use to teach us about the ant that I hope you'll take heed of. The ant is: 
1) self-motivated, highly industrialized, doesn't need another to make sure it gets its work done. 

2) collects its food in the proper seasons; it is prudent.

3)  fond of its young, and takes care of them.

4) has foresight for others and shows kindness.

5) works quietly without show and until the work is done. In this, it teaches us perseverance.

6) works in cooperation and organization with others. In union there is indeed strength.

7) keeps its home meticulously clean.

8) knows its job and does it.

9) has initiative, that wonderful virtue of resourcefulness that knows the how and when.

See what a great example the ant can be if you heed its behavior and begin today to incorporate these things as a part of how you live your life? 

As a life/spiritual coach I frequently have to deal with individuals wanting more in their lives. They're unhappy and dissatisfied with where they are and so my job is to help them apply discipline (people hate it:) to move forward. Its hard because few want to be faithful/disciplined right where they are as if getting more will miraculously make them something other. Getting more when you're unable to handle what you all ready have is destructive and God simply will not hurt us like that so stop begging for more dear heart. You have to change right where you are then watch God give you more! 

I preach Luke 16:10 to myself and others everyday because I've learned a powerful lesson in my relationship with God about obedience. He will get your attention in an area that matters to you a lot. He'll put you in a very constricted place- for people who want money you'll be broke all the time, for those who want better relationships you'll be loveless/friendless until you learn dependence on people must be under God's leadership not feelings or even them, if you want to be a leader, you'll be jobless or in a subordinate position until you learn a leader is first/foremost a good follower...whatever it takes to break you, you'll be where you cannot progress until the lesson is absorbed and applied right there in that particular class room. He's an excellent teacher. Faithfully putting you right back at your last place of disobedience until you learn or give up and accept life there which God will turn you over to your own will if you demand it and refuse to reach for His reaching. For example: wanting to be in college when you're just in the fifth grade seems so childish and illogical to us but that's how many of us live. We want God to give us millions when we're unfaithful with the hundred dollars we have. We want a mansion when our apartment is filthy and unkempt, we want a Rolls Royce when we can't keep our Corolla clean and in running order. Beloved, I want you to prosper even as your soul prospers (3 John 1:2). People look at my life, how God uses me, where he's brought me from/to, some even are fascinated with the material things God has given me in spite of my upbringing (people think I'm rich/have been that way all my life but hey...I'm really not...yet. I just have access to things strictly from OBEDIENCE TO GOD). I am no more special to God than you are, but one thing I may do that you may want to accept and apply in your life is that I know I have to obey Him in the hard place. Discipline myself, denying myself and patiently waiting on HIM to move me. If you want His plan, His way that's just how its done because His ways are not our ways and His blessings have no sorrow added to them (Proverbs 10:22) and that's the difference from when He blesses or we bless ourselves which is how most of us do live, claiming its a blessing when that thing we manipulated, connived and finally got for ourselves is really a curse and its fruit reveals itself eventually. Try a different approach. Ponder this blog. Accept it. How about applying to your life the activities/principles/behaviors of the ant, submit/obey right where you are today? I am praying with and for you!

Please feel free to forward CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr is written and distributed by Arete1 International.


(c) Copyright 2010 Cheryl Carr and ARETE1 International.

COURAGE IS A MEDICINE

Duet. 31:6- Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."


Hebrews 3:6
But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.


In my lifetime I can't remember so many people living in such fear, unsettled and unstable just hearing about the downright disturbing occurrences in so many places. Seems our hearts are weak with fear. What we've counted on has failed us or is no longer reliable to make us feel secure. Beloved, we need to hold on and take courage! In my own life I can assure you God has promoted and placed me in places and doing things I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams. Sometimes, the things I need to accomplish scare me silly. I spend a lot of time with God, silent and listening because I know I can't do much in my own strength. Scripture tells us we are capable of a little strength of our own (Rev. 3:8) and we operate in that little strength most of the time when ALL STRENGTH and all the COURAGE we need is available for the taking.


Something about me that spending a little time with me will teach you is that words are important to me and I don't think they're to be taken as lightly as we do-- I'm as guilty of this as they come because I love to communicate (I talk a lot especially thinking out loud and in times when I'm emotional...words will pour out of me and few understand this about me but--sorry, its how I'm wired) and I love to KNOW what a word means in as many translations as I can take in because it deepens my understanding and I want to understand and speak words of life over my self and others. I will study one word deeply--in many languages because all spoken words have a root and frequently I've found in English its watered down or far away from what it meant originally. Its why I study Greek and Hebrew in relation to the scriptures. I'm always amazed at what a word really means as opposed to what I thought it meant.


So, what is courage? Courage is a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear. Fear of something can make you withdraw, keeps you from and keeps you in situations that you should not be in. Lack of courage must be confronted--all throughout scripture this is a command spoken to us directly by God. TAKE COURAGE can be found over and over in the holy scriptures and I submit to you that you must take courage like a medicine!  All medicine is not fun to take, in fact, few medicines taste good or feel good but take it you must to restore health and promote healing. Now please note, the medicine of courage God provides is not like man's synthetic attempts at healing...remember doctors practice medicine, God IS HEALING. KNOWS ALL and CANNOT FAIL. The courage He provides is exact, equal to the need in quantity and in quality. Take the time to get in the Word, read it, and ask how does it apply to the area of fear you are experiencing? Accept it as true and take it in, allow it to encourage you and reduce your fear.  It will do more than help you. It will heal you. I'm praying with you and for you!






Please feel free to forward CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr is written and distributed by Arete1 International.