Yep, so I obviously have this thing for looking up words in the dictionary! It's fun, you should try it ;) A very sweet lady I once knew, MeMaw, would keep a college dictionary handy and often looked up words! I think of her whenever I am wondering about a new word or want to know more about one that is familiar (actually this is only one of the things that triggers a memory of her for me, there are many!) Thinking of her always makes me smile! She was only in my life a short time but her impact on me and my family has been truly profound. She loved people, period. Her love for the Lord was evident in her very presence, by her smile, her attention and her genuine caring. I miss her voice, her smile, her hugs, just her. I am thankful she is in heaven with Jesus, but I miss her a lot! I wish she were here to talk with me right now, I know she would have some really great wisdom for me. Instead I will remember. I am thankful for the memories.
Enough, I am on random overdrive today it seems! So many thoughts are running through my mind. I need to focus and yet it is difficult. Here is the thing that I am probably avoiding so I'll just spit it out. I am probably the only one who needs to hear this over and over again, this annoys me, but it is the fact, I need to hear from God that He accepts me for who I am. I do not have to be like MeMaw, like many others whom I admire in order for God to love me. Silly, I know, but I so struggle with this. I must chose over and over again to believe God, to take Him at His Word. I am acceptable because of Jesus, not because of what I do or say, don't do or don't say! One day, maybe I will get this. I mean, I am progressing, I am moving forward but some days it seems more like the three steps forward two steps back kind of progress. This irritates me. Am I the only one who actually gets on her own nerves??? Insecurity, ugh!
This is my opportunity to flesh out how to take my thoughts captive once again, I guess. All I know is I need the Lord to guide me in this Journey, all the time. I love the process of searching His Word, of seeking Him until I receive that peace that only He can give. Why do I so often run from Him? It's not like I can get away or even that I want to but more often than not I chose my own way first, rather than His. I want to change. I want Him to transform me! My human efforts cannot cause change that lasts. Only His divine power can do that. Here is my heart cry...
Psalm 143:8 (HCSB) Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for You.
Psalm 143:8 (NIV) Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Psalm 143:8 (NASB) Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8 (NLT) Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.
Psalm 143:8 (AMP) Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.
How cool is it to see all these translations together! I know I am easily excited, but somebody has to be. Let's look at this verse. Take it apart and apply it. Again, this is just me, no Bible scholar, so check all that I say with His Word. He is in charge.
The word, let (cause)...when I read that the first thing I notice is the fact that I must humble myself. I must ask, I must be willing to listen in order for Him to work. His Word tells me often that He will be found if I seek Him, that He will work, He will encourage, He wants to be sought after! (Deut. 4:29, 2 Chr. 7:14, Ps. 14:2; 27:8; 105:4; Pro. 8:17, Jer. 29:13, Heb. 11:6).
I don't get to just say, 'Hey, God, let me see You this morning.' That is only the start, there is so much more. After I determine that I want to see God, I then must be willing to listen, to see. Which means I must trust Him, have faith that He is Who He says He is. It is up to Him to open my eyes, my ears to enable me to experience His faithful love, His unfailing love, His lovingkindness. He will even grow my faith and my trust in Him, but it is through His Word, through meeting with Him, not just walking on my way and saying okay God, You show up today, but I am going on about my business. No! To experience Him I must trust Him, lean on Him. Am I really willing to submit, first thing (and over and over again) and humble myself to His ways? Only then will I really experience Him!
I love how the NIV says, 'bring me word of Your unfailing love!' I am only just realizing, really realizing the joy that His TRUTH, His WORD can bring; how many lies or half-truths I have exchanged for the Truth of His Word over the years. I had good intentions; however I had more knowledge than trust in Him, belief. Make sense? I would read, hear a sermon, whatever and think I would know what God meant, but then I would filter it through my emotions, my experiences rather than hold my emotions and my experiences up to the Truth. I would believe a lie.
For example, I have spent years knowing that Romans 8:37-39 is Truth; and yet in my mind and in my actions I lived life as if it wasn't. I have not lived a life that 'is more than victorious through Christ.' Knowing that His Word says that 'nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus my Lord' didn't mean that I really lived it. Oh, I would catch on occasionally. I would get it and enjoy the peace that only His Truth can bring, but then I would guilt myself or allow the accuser to convince me that God really did not mean that about me, I mean after all if He did why would I continue to feel this way, and on and on.
Now, I KNOW THAT I KNOW, that His Truth is all that can dispel the lies. Do I still battle? I think that is obvious; however on this Journey I am learning to battle less (or perhaps battle differently) and trust more. His unfailing love, His faithful love hasn't got anything to do with me! It is all about Him! He will enable me, He will let me, cause me, allow me to experience Him! He does the work! I must learn to trust, to rest, to be! I have been taught my entire life to perform, to act a certain way, to take care of myself, and what others didn't tell me or expect of me, I did for myself! This is a lie! I cannot take care of myself! I cannot. He, though, He can, He will and He does take care of me!!! Of you! Praise God! I am so thankful!
Look at the adjectives describing Him and His love here: faithful, unfailing, lovingkindness! Great words! Such hope and joy found in Him and in knowing Him for Who He really is. We must stop looking at Him through our lenses, our experiences, our emotions and look at Him in His Word and chose to trust Him and take Him at His Word! This is victorious living!
So we say we trust Him, I say I trust Him. What shows that this is true, I mean really true? That I experience His love, that He reveals, shows, teaches, causes me to know the way in which I should walk. It is a process. Do you see it? If I say I trust Him then I will experience Him and I will rest and trust in knowing that He will show me the way to walk. I do not know about You, but so often I feel guilty if I have peace. What? I mean come on be honest with me, if I am not worried about something or trying to figure it out I feel like I must not be seeking God or obeying Him or I am doing something wrong, surely! WHAT!!! That is a lie straight from the pit of hell, but I live this lie more often than not! If I trust God then I will experience His peace, I will. The reason His peace is so fleeting is because of my lack of real trust in Him. It is not His weakness or His lack, but mine!
I think the church and the 'Christian-ease' that we all speak so fluently has caused a lot of confusion and a lot of wasted guilt. We think we need to do more, be more, go more, etc. When the reality is what we need more of is the TRUTH in our lives, more time in the Word, more time praying. Then we will do! He wants us to serve, but with a right heart, not just because something needs to be done! Perhaps, less needs to be done!!! Just saying! After all the Word says, when we seek God, when we let Him reveal His lovingkindness He will then show us how to walk. We, or at least, I make this so much harder than it has to be. I spend so much time on the 'I shoulds' (yes, that is a new word ;), on thinking about what I ought to have done or be doing rather than looking to God and trusting Him with my life, with my words, with my actions, my family, EVERYTHING!
Alright, look at it. The Word in verse 8 says, I need to long for Him, entrust Him with my life, give myself to Him, lift up my soul, my inner self! Do you get it? The action that I need to take isn't doing more, being more it is looking to Him more! We are busy at the wrong things!!! The coolest part is that He doesn't even leave me to do this part in my own strength! He causes the longing, He causes the hunger and the thirst, He enables us to trust in Him, to grow with His strength and His power! (Is. 40:29) He will give us the desire and the ability to seek Him, to thirst for Him. The more we look for Him the more that we want of Him! It's a fact! Matt. 5:6, Ps. 63!
I am not suggesting that You seek God as I do. I know that it would drive a lot of you batty to sit as long as I do; but that is the beauty of God! He made us! He accepts each of us! We are all so different, but He accepts us all! He does. We don't get on His nerves. He doesn't tire of us. He anticipates being with us! I know that I know that to get in His Word; in what ever way He leads you is the only way to experience His peace, His joy, HIM. There is nothing more satisfying than experiencing His faithful, unfailing lovingkindness! The more I see Him the more I trust Him. So when the 'gut-kicks' come, the trials, the pain and do they ever come, then and only then am I able to do more than survive, I can thrive. I can trust and then rest. To me trusting means letting go. Trusting God means experiencing the joy of knowing He is in control. He will handle everything! If there is anything I need to do I can trust Him to show me! Instead of growing in this trust through the years I have thought to be 'more mature', 'more responsible', to grow in my faith, to be a godly wife, a godly mom meant that I needed to do more activities, more service, more teaching, more telling, more, more, more! Wrong! I only need more of Jesus!!! Less of me! More of Him! To be free, to be victorious! I so hope you will join me in this Journey His Way! Your Journey will not look like mine, be thankful ;) but it will look like He wants your journey to look!!! It is an incredible journey! Try Him...He will show you!!!
Thank You, God for Your Word! For You!
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Process & Progress
Progress - a movement toward a goal or to a further higher stage; advancement in general; forward or onward movement; to grow or develop, as in complexity, scope.
Some synonyms of progress: breakthrough, build up, growth, improvement, journey, motion, passage, ongoing, process, stride, step forward, way, unfolding
Process - a systematic series of actions directed to some end; continuous action, or series of changes taking place in a definite manner.
Some synonyms of process: action, advance, development, growth, practice, progress, trial, unfolding, working
These words are on my mind today. I am such a 'processor', I don't even know if that is a word in the context with which I mean it, but it is what I am. Although I am not very systematic about anything - LOL- I do have the continuous action down pat! I think, overthink, study, figure, stew, think, then think some more, believe me it is as exhausting as it sounds. However, with the strength, mercy, grace and love of the Lord, well His faithfulness, His hope, His peace, too ;) I am making progress. I am and I will continue to process with His help! Praise God!
I am sure you have realized by now that this blog is for me, I mean I totally process and talk to myself and the Lord here. Seems strange to me sometimes and yet I am so blessed by the opportunity. Here's the thing, my process, my progress and your process and your progress cannot be measured by anyone's standards other than the Lord's. Not even my own, or your own. Does anybody know what I mean?
He knows my heart! His Word says He knows it better than I do! I am so glad because sometimes I don't think I know myself at all!!!
Well, Psalm 13 seem applicable today...David's heart cry for deliverance... This is the process of my progress everyday lately, it seems. Maybe it will encourage you.
Some synonyms of progress: breakthrough, build up, growth, improvement, journey, motion, passage, ongoing, process, stride, step forward, way, unfolding
Process - a systematic series of actions directed to some end; continuous action, or series of changes taking place in a definite manner.
Some synonyms of process: action, advance, development, growth, practice, progress, trial, unfolding, working
These words are on my mind today. I am such a 'processor', I don't even know if that is a word in the context with which I mean it, but it is what I am. Although I am not very systematic about anything - LOL- I do have the continuous action down pat! I think, overthink, study, figure, stew, think, then think some more, believe me it is as exhausting as it sounds. However, with the strength, mercy, grace and love of the Lord, well His faithfulness, His hope, His peace, too ;) I am making progress. I am and I will continue to process with His help! Praise God!
I am sure you have realized by now that this blog is for me, I mean I totally process and talk to myself and the Lord here. Seems strange to me sometimes and yet I am so blessed by the opportunity. Here's the thing, my process, my progress and your process and your progress cannot be measured by anyone's standards other than the Lord's. Not even my own, or your own. Does anybody know what I mean?
He knows my heart! His Word says He knows it better than I do! I am so glad because sometimes I don't think I know myself at all!!!
Well, Psalm 13 seem applicable today...David's heart cry for deliverance... This is the process of my progress everyday lately, it seems. Maybe it will encourage you.
PSALM 13
1 LORD, how long will You
continually forget me?
How long will You hide
Your face from me?
2 How long will I store up
anxious concerns within me,
agony in my mind every day?
How long will my enemy
dominate me?
3 Consider me and answer,
LORD, my God.
Restore brightness to my eyes;
otherwise, I will sleep in death,
4 my enemy will say,
"I have triumphed over him,"
and my foes will rejoice
because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in
Your faithful love;
my heart will rejoice in
Your deliverance.
6 I will sing to the LORD
because He has treated
me generously.
Father God, Your Word says it best. I know You do not forget me, but when I feel like You do thank You that Your Spirit reminds me that You are still there. That Your Word is Truth! That You accept me God, all the time...whether I am angry, hurt, disappointed, or disappointing, and difficult. When I try to do things in my own strength, or let my emotions have their way, still You love me, You accept me. Yes, You correct me and for that I am grateful as well. Thank You that the TRUTH is I am acceptable because of JESUS and only because of JESUS! I want to live in the freedom of this, the victory and assurance that this means for me! I do ask You to forgive me for railing against You, for fussing, whining, griping and yet I also thank You that You can handle me and all my emotions! Forgive me for once again trying to get through on my own strength, only kind of checking with You, not really submitting or listening; more like a headstrong determination to fuss at the injustice of 'it' all, the 'hurt' etc... WRONG FOCUS. A WASTE OF TIME! This is where I am so frustrated and You are reminding me that You are not displeased, disappointed and You will not turn Your back on me! You are reminding me that I can have Your peace, I can trust in Your faithful love! You are delivering me and even if it is a process with progress that others may not understand...it doesn't matter! You understand. You care. You have and do treat me so generously!!! Forgive me for allowing the 'anxious concerns' and 'agony of my mind' along with the enemy/the accuser to dominate me! I chose to submit to You, to resist the enemy and trust You to make him flee. May I continue to rejoice in Your deliverance! I am experiencing it and I am experiencing Your peace. Forgive me for allowing my flesh and the enemy to steal that from me. I want to sing to You, LORD. To have bright eyes that shine for You regardless of the circumstances around me! You are mighty to save! You are my defender, my deliver! You, Jesus, are my salvation! Thank You for walking with me through the valleys, the pain and planting my feet on the solid ground of Your Word. Change me! May I submit, may I obey!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Friends, all kinds...
My mind is on friendships today - old and new, and some in-between. Deep, intense, fresh, acquainted, in-tune, constant, steady, seasons, opportunities, home, sharing, connecting, fun, silly, laughter, tears, anger, words, silence, gift, joy, hope, peace, time, interest, prayer, concern, compassion, mercy, grace, faithfulness...
Friendship is such a gift, isn't it? A gift to be given, a gift to receive.
Consider your friends. Consider yourself, are you a friend, a true friend? What does that look like to you? I find that for each friend that I have it looks different. The levels of friendship are as varied as the friends themselves. Friends multiply! To be blessed is to have friends. All ages, all kinds.
It is well established that I am random...I love a tangent ;-) So in going through the Word looking at the words like friend, acquaintance, friendly, etc. and cross referencing from there I found these few verse (believe it or not I did limit myself ;)
John 15:9-14 As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commands and remain in His love. I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be completed. This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. you are My friends if you do what I command you.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times.
Galatians 6:2 Carry one anthers burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Gal 5:14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping his one command, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up
the Law and the Prophets.
John 17:9 Jesus said, 'I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those You have
given Me, because they are Yours.
John 13:1 Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.
It is always so hard for me to narrow what I want to say, probably because I do not know what I am going to say until it is said, LOL!
I am thankful for friends! Every single one! I consider a friend to be anyone I can connect with, wide range, I know. But seriously, does there have to be a certain action that someone does that then makes them a friend?
My heart overflows to think of friends, as varied in personality as they are in the type of friendship enjoyed with them. God has been so gracious to show me what true friendship is. For many years this was something I felt was absent in my life; however in learning what it means to be a friend and recognizing one who is a friend, the Lord has shown me that I can be a friend to anyone and they can be a friend to me...we must simply chose to share life together, to connect. I know, I know, I simplify, but really is being a friend as hard as we try to make it.
Now I guess technically we can call each one different names, like acquaintances, companions, sidekick, soul mate, associate, colleague, bosom friend (from Anne of Green Gables, of course!), neighbor, whatever...
Even Jesus had friends that were at different levels of friendship with Him. Look at the friendships He enjoyed with John, Peter, Lazarus, Martha, Mary, etc. There is nothing wrong with that obviously, my point is though, that we can never have enough friends. Call them what you will...the question is, am I engaged in others lives to the point that I have a variety of friends? I'm not just talking about those that you share your deepest, darkest needs with, those that understand you at your core, those that stick no matter what, I am talking about the isolated opportunity to be a friend with whoever the Lord brings into your path. To share a hug, to pray with someone, to laugh with them, cry, take a walk, smile, connect with them regardless of the time frame. Do we have time in our lives to be a friend? To have friends? Now I know we all have different needs for various types of friends, but really, don't we all have the need to be needed? To have friends? To have people in our lives that love us as we are, not what we do? That is what they want from us too!
What kind of friend am I? Am I willing to bear a burden? Give some time? Pray for and with? Am I willing to love others as Jesus does? I want others to be this for me, but am I a friend to them? How?
Doesn't it all go back to what Jesus says in John 15? Knowing the love that God has for me through Jesus is only the beginning, it goes so much farther. I can chose to remain in His love, get into His Word, learn from Him how to be a friend and have a friendship with Him, then it says His joy will be complete in me and my joy will be complete. It doesn't stop there though, it is His command that we love one another as He loves us, that we sacrifice for others. The thing is each of us is different so that sacrifice, that love for others looks different. That's okay! Quit worrying about what others do or don't do, think or don't think, expect or don't expect. Look to Jesus, let Him lead. Trust Him.
God is so teaching me not to judge others. To stop thinking I understand or know someone when really I haven't got a clue! God forgive me for not being a better friend, for being judgmental, too busy or uncaring. Thank You that You are the best friend I could possibly ever have and that in getting closer to You, experiencing intimacy with You means that I have the opportunity to then love others in Your strength and with You power. Lately He has so blessed me with multiple opportunities to share my story and hear the story of others. He has convicted me and shown me that we are not so different, none of us! If we are willing He will give us the opportunity to realize that each person we come in contact with has a story, has pain, has joy, and they have a desire to know that they are not alone, that first of all God is there for them, but also that you will be too! I know...DUH, right?!
Oh God, help me to see people through Your eyes and love them as they are, for who You made them to be! I am so thankful for those who are willing to trust me with their stories, to allow me to pray, who will listen to mine and who will pray for me. To know that others understand or at least want to understand, is a great gift.
What kind of friend am I willing to be? Someone who really listens? Someone who really cares? Someone who prays? Someone who speaks up when necessary? Look at Jesus, He is the best example of what a friend is and can be. Are we willing to be that for others? Are people that important to us? I so want them to be!
Friendship is such a gift, isn't it? A gift to be given, a gift to receive.
Consider your friends. Consider yourself, are you a friend, a true friend? What does that look like to you? I find that for each friend that I have it looks different. The levels of friendship are as varied as the friends themselves. Friends multiply! To be blessed is to have friends. All ages, all kinds.
It is well established that I am random...I love a tangent ;-) So in going through the Word looking at the words like friend, acquaintance, friendly, etc. and cross referencing from there I found these few verse (believe it or not I did limit myself ;)
John 15:9-14 As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commands and remain in His love. I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be completed. This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. you are My friends if you do what I command you.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times.
Galatians 6:2 Carry one anthers burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Gal 5:14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping his one command, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up
the Law and the Prophets.
John 17:9 Jesus said, 'I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those You have
given Me, because they are Yours.
John 13:1 Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.
It is always so hard for me to narrow what I want to say, probably because I do not know what I am going to say until it is said, LOL!
I am thankful for friends! Every single one! I consider a friend to be anyone I can connect with, wide range, I know. But seriously, does there have to be a certain action that someone does that then makes them a friend?
My heart overflows to think of friends, as varied in personality as they are in the type of friendship enjoyed with them. God has been so gracious to show me what true friendship is. For many years this was something I felt was absent in my life; however in learning what it means to be a friend and recognizing one who is a friend, the Lord has shown me that I can be a friend to anyone and they can be a friend to me...we must simply chose to share life together, to connect. I know, I know, I simplify, but really is being a friend as hard as we try to make it.
Now I guess technically we can call each one different names, like acquaintances, companions, sidekick, soul mate, associate, colleague, bosom friend (from Anne of Green Gables, of course!), neighbor, whatever...
Even Jesus had friends that were at different levels of friendship with Him. Look at the friendships He enjoyed with John, Peter, Lazarus, Martha, Mary, etc. There is nothing wrong with that obviously, my point is though, that we can never have enough friends. Call them what you will...the question is, am I engaged in others lives to the point that I have a variety of friends? I'm not just talking about those that you share your deepest, darkest needs with, those that understand you at your core, those that stick no matter what, I am talking about the isolated opportunity to be a friend with whoever the Lord brings into your path. To share a hug, to pray with someone, to laugh with them, cry, take a walk, smile, connect with them regardless of the time frame. Do we have time in our lives to be a friend? To have friends? Now I know we all have different needs for various types of friends, but really, don't we all have the need to be needed? To have friends? To have people in our lives that love us as we are, not what we do? That is what they want from us too!
What kind of friend am I? Am I willing to bear a burden? Give some time? Pray for and with? Am I willing to love others as Jesus does? I want others to be this for me, but am I a friend to them? How?
Doesn't it all go back to what Jesus says in John 15? Knowing the love that God has for me through Jesus is only the beginning, it goes so much farther. I can chose to remain in His love, get into His Word, learn from Him how to be a friend and have a friendship with Him, then it says His joy will be complete in me and my joy will be complete. It doesn't stop there though, it is His command that we love one another as He loves us, that we sacrifice for others. The thing is each of us is different so that sacrifice, that love for others looks different. That's okay! Quit worrying about what others do or don't do, think or don't think, expect or don't expect. Look to Jesus, let Him lead. Trust Him.
God is so teaching me not to judge others. To stop thinking I understand or know someone when really I haven't got a clue! God forgive me for not being a better friend, for being judgmental, too busy or uncaring. Thank You that You are the best friend I could possibly ever have and that in getting closer to You, experiencing intimacy with You means that I have the opportunity to then love others in Your strength and with You power. Lately He has so blessed me with multiple opportunities to share my story and hear the story of others. He has convicted me and shown me that we are not so different, none of us! If we are willing He will give us the opportunity to realize that each person we come in contact with has a story, has pain, has joy, and they have a desire to know that they are not alone, that first of all God is there for them, but also that you will be too! I know...DUH, right?!
Oh God, help me to see people through Your eyes and love them as they are, for who You made them to be! I am so thankful for those who are willing to trust me with their stories, to allow me to pray, who will listen to mine and who will pray for me. To know that others understand or at least want to understand, is a great gift.
What kind of friend am I willing to be? Someone who really listens? Someone who really cares? Someone who prays? Someone who speaks up when necessary? Look at Jesus, He is the best example of what a friend is and can be. Are we willing to be that for others? Are people that important to us? I so want them to be!
Monday, December 2, 2013
ABUNDANT LIFE, seriously!!!
In doing the study guide for "Classic Christianity" by Bob George, some truth has come to light for me, quite literally to life. This book and guide have taken me on a journey into the Word that I would highly recommend to anyone!
Before I jump into the Word look at this quote, "From God's point of view, the problem of man is not just that he is a sinner in need of forgiveness; his greater problem is that he is dead and in need of life" Bob George.
God told Adam in Genesis 2:17, 'but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.' So we know that the serpent then deceived Eve, read Genesis 2-3, convincing her that it she would not die and she would become like God, knowing good and evil, if she ate the fruit. So death actually came in many forms that day, death spiritually, eventual death physically but most importantly the death of the intimate relationship between God and man.
Look at Romans 5:8-11, But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! 9) Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. 10) For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! 11) And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Does this excite you??? Look at this...Believe it...Accept Him!
While still sinners Christ died for us
We are declared righteous by His blood
Saved through Him from wrath
Were enemies then reconciled to God through the death of Jesus
SAVE BY HIS LIFE
Rejoice in God through Jesus Christ through whom we have receive reconciliation!!!
What is the gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:3b-4, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." Why am I going back to this? Well look...
John 10:10b, Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance."
Another statement by Bob George, 'Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and resurrection is the restoration of LIFE!'
So I realize this may be obvious to most but I have realized that I have been on a journey with Christ that is less than abundant most of the time. A journey where I have allowed the enemy to deceive me into thinking that I have to do more, be more, etc. Oh, I had the answers in my head, but in my heart, through my actions, for myself, not so much! I feel hard into the trap of thinking that I had to work, that it was about me, that I am just a sinner and to really accept His forgiveness surely I had to be more repentant, something. I heard a lot about abundant life, and I even had glimpses of it, but mostly my journey has been one of pressure, of thinking things like, I know I can't measure up, I mean the Word tells me that, but because I know the Truth shouldn't I chose to live with joy, to chose to have peace, still it has been all about me! Does anybody get this? I was that person who would not allow myself to truly experience the abundance that Christ has for me because I was sure I needed to do better, act better, talk better, etc... What a lie from the enemy and what a waste of time allowing him to accuse me and defeat me! I was only believing part of the gospel, that praise God, Jesus died for my sins; but He did so much more than that (Rom. 5:11), He also rose from the grave to save me by His life! To give me life! Abundant life, today, now, not just on that glorious day when I finally get to go to heaven!!!
This excites me!!! I finally get it!!! I am reconciled to God because of Jesus, today! I have an intimate relationship with God now, I do not have to wait, I certainly cannot earn it, but I can walk in the truth of it! Such joy I have never known! Such peace! It isn't just for me! You can have it too! We can walk in this life VICTORIOUS! Life around us may never change, still there is sickness, fights, people who misunderstand, judge, we still make mistakes, we won't be perfect until heaven, I mean we know this right? But do we really know this? I always thought I needed to be the exception, I mean I know better than to say hateful things right, I know I am not supposed to hold on to anger, I need to forgive, I must love my neighbor, I even need to love myself...right??? That is the wrong focus!!!
That focus makes life about what I can and cannot do! I cannot do anything! I am unrighteous, I am dead; without Christ! It is His life, His Spirit, His gospel that is bearing fruit and growing (Col. 1:6), not my works. 'There is no one righteous, not even one' (Romans 3:10). 'By grace, not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace' (Romans 11:6). Remember, I am declared righteous by Christ's blood, never my works!
Do you see it, the subtle deception of the enemy? He convinces us that we should know better. He whispers things like, do you really think God can forgive you for that, I mean you did it on purpose didn't you? You have done it before. What about the thought, shouldn't you feel forgiven, I mean if God has really forgiven you, shouldn't you feel forgiven? He is the accuser, he will do what ever it takes to cause us to live life less than abundantly! He cannot take away our salvation but he certainly can try to remove our joy, our peace, diminish our effectiveness for Christ. That is why we must KNOW THE WORD! Know it, believe it and accept it! Exchange all lies for the truth of His Word! His Word is all that will last, all that will stand in the end! (Matt. 24:35)
We can live life abundantly with Christ! We can! How do I know? Because I am!!! Is life still hard? You better believe it! Some things probably will never change in our journeys but WE CAN! I CAN AND I AM! BECAUSE OF CHRIST! TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD! Come along with me for the ride of your life! This Journey His Way is a journey like no other!!!
For years I have tried to read more, to be godly, to pray more, to change who I am, all the while thinking that is what God wanted from me. NOT TRUE! That was pride (often masked as low self-esteem), that was thinking I had some control, that I had something to offer Him even as I knew in my head that I didn't, I still tried! Deceived! He wants me to surrender! To submit! James 4:7-8a, says "Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." But in verse 6 it says, "He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." To allow Him to work, to allow Him to give me life! It isn't life one little breath at a time! He has given me complete life in Him! He never does anything halfway.
Remember Romans 5:8-11... MUCH MORE THEN... He didn't just die for me while I was a sinner (I mean no question that I am a sinner), He declared me righteous by the blood of Jesus and I am SAVED BY HIS LIFE...what?...NOT ONLY THAT (I mean really isn't that enough?) But God, He is just amazing, He is always able to do more than we can ask or imagine, Ephesians 3:20. Not only being saved by His life, I have received reconciliation with God! I am no longer God's enemy! Because of Jesus I have relationship with God! I am no longer dead in my sin so why would I want to continue to live as if I am! That is the deception! The enemy does not want us to know that we have abundant life! He can't do anything about the fact that we have life in Christ, but he can sure try to distract us, get our focus on ourselves, on our lack, on our circumstances, even get us to only believe part of the Word and miss out on the whole truth. He wants our focus to be on anything but on Christ; because it is in looking to Jesus and Him alone can we experience that abundant life, NOW!
I had better stop, but oh it is so hard too!
Please, if you do not know Christ, let Him become Your Savior, Your redeemer, Your life! If you do know Him, join me on this Journey His Way a journey of abundant life in Him! His Grace is amazing! His Faithfulness is great! He wants to have that kind of relationship with each of us! I mean He did give His One and Only Son just to make a relationship possible!
Father God, thank You for opening my eyes to the fact that I have been missing abundant life! Trying to still walk this journey on my own terms. Forgive me for my stiff-necked, stubborn pride. My unwillingness to take You at Your Word, to really believe that what You say is truth, period! Forgive me for attempting to fulfill Your law all the while knowing it isn't possible! Thank You for never leaving me or forsaking me! For never giving up on me! You have shown me much through the years but never before have I known this level of freedom! Your truth has set me free!!! Help me to 'continue in Your Word' and continue to know the 'truth' that will 'set me free' John 8:31-32. Such joy and peace I have truly never known! I am so sorry for not listening! I look back and see where You have attempted to get my attention over and over again, forgive me! Thank You for Your promise of forgiveness, 1 John 1:9, that I do not have to live in regret. My life is all about You! You provide the victory, You provide the righteousness, You provide the forgiveness, the grace, the mercy, the ability to obey, the strength to submit, everything! Your Holy Spirit lives in me and teaches me all things (John 15:26). Help me to remain in You and allow You to produce Your fruit in me because I can do nothing without You, John 15:4-8. Help me to get up from this place and keep my eyes on You. When I begin to stray or get distracted I pray You will get my attention, remind me that I have abundant life in You, not in anyone or anything else, especially myself. I need only look to You. I need only please You, You will take care of everything else. Thank You, God!
Before I jump into the Word look at this quote, "From God's point of view, the problem of man is not just that he is a sinner in need of forgiveness; his greater problem is that he is dead and in need of life" Bob George.
God told Adam in Genesis 2:17, 'but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.' So we know that the serpent then deceived Eve, read Genesis 2-3, convincing her that it she would not die and she would become like God, knowing good and evil, if she ate the fruit. So death actually came in many forms that day, death spiritually, eventual death physically but most importantly the death of the intimate relationship between God and man.
Look at Romans 5:8-11, But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! 9) Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. 10) For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! 11) And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Does this excite you??? Look at this...Believe it...Accept Him!
While still sinners Christ died for us
We are declared righteous by His blood
Saved through Him from wrath
Were enemies then reconciled to God through the death of Jesus
SAVE BY HIS LIFE
Rejoice in God through Jesus Christ through whom we have receive reconciliation!!!
What is the gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:3b-4, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." Why am I going back to this? Well look...
John 10:10b, Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance."
Another statement by Bob George, 'Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and resurrection is the restoration of LIFE!'
So I realize this may be obvious to most but I have realized that I have been on a journey with Christ that is less than abundant most of the time. A journey where I have allowed the enemy to deceive me into thinking that I have to do more, be more, etc. Oh, I had the answers in my head, but in my heart, through my actions, for myself, not so much! I feel hard into the trap of thinking that I had to work, that it was about me, that I am just a sinner and to really accept His forgiveness surely I had to be more repentant, something. I heard a lot about abundant life, and I even had glimpses of it, but mostly my journey has been one of pressure, of thinking things like, I know I can't measure up, I mean the Word tells me that, but because I know the Truth shouldn't I chose to live with joy, to chose to have peace, still it has been all about me! Does anybody get this? I was that person who would not allow myself to truly experience the abundance that Christ has for me because I was sure I needed to do better, act better, talk better, etc... What a lie from the enemy and what a waste of time allowing him to accuse me and defeat me! I was only believing part of the gospel, that praise God, Jesus died for my sins; but He did so much more than that (Rom. 5:11), He also rose from the grave to save me by His life! To give me life! Abundant life, today, now, not just on that glorious day when I finally get to go to heaven!!!
This excites me!!! I finally get it!!! I am reconciled to God because of Jesus, today! I have an intimate relationship with God now, I do not have to wait, I certainly cannot earn it, but I can walk in the truth of it! Such joy I have never known! Such peace! It isn't just for me! You can have it too! We can walk in this life VICTORIOUS! Life around us may never change, still there is sickness, fights, people who misunderstand, judge, we still make mistakes, we won't be perfect until heaven, I mean we know this right? But do we really know this? I always thought I needed to be the exception, I mean I know better than to say hateful things right, I know I am not supposed to hold on to anger, I need to forgive, I must love my neighbor, I even need to love myself...right??? That is the wrong focus!!!
That focus makes life about what I can and cannot do! I cannot do anything! I am unrighteous, I am dead; without Christ! It is His life, His Spirit, His gospel that is bearing fruit and growing (Col. 1:6), not my works. 'There is no one righteous, not even one' (Romans 3:10). 'By grace, not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace' (Romans 11:6). Remember, I am declared righteous by Christ's blood, never my works!
Do you see it, the subtle deception of the enemy? He convinces us that we should know better. He whispers things like, do you really think God can forgive you for that, I mean you did it on purpose didn't you? You have done it before. What about the thought, shouldn't you feel forgiven, I mean if God has really forgiven you, shouldn't you feel forgiven? He is the accuser, he will do what ever it takes to cause us to live life less than abundantly! He cannot take away our salvation but he certainly can try to remove our joy, our peace, diminish our effectiveness for Christ. That is why we must KNOW THE WORD! Know it, believe it and accept it! Exchange all lies for the truth of His Word! His Word is all that will last, all that will stand in the end! (Matt. 24:35)
We can live life abundantly with Christ! We can! How do I know? Because I am!!! Is life still hard? You better believe it! Some things probably will never change in our journeys but WE CAN! I CAN AND I AM! BECAUSE OF CHRIST! TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD! Come along with me for the ride of your life! This Journey His Way is a journey like no other!!!
For years I have tried to read more, to be godly, to pray more, to change who I am, all the while thinking that is what God wanted from me. NOT TRUE! That was pride (often masked as low self-esteem), that was thinking I had some control, that I had something to offer Him even as I knew in my head that I didn't, I still tried! Deceived! He wants me to surrender! To submit! James 4:7-8a, says "Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." But in verse 6 it says, "He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." To allow Him to work, to allow Him to give me life! It isn't life one little breath at a time! He has given me complete life in Him! He never does anything halfway.
Remember Romans 5:8-11... MUCH MORE THEN... He didn't just die for me while I was a sinner (I mean no question that I am a sinner), He declared me righteous by the blood of Jesus and I am SAVED BY HIS LIFE...what?...NOT ONLY THAT (I mean really isn't that enough?) But God, He is just amazing, He is always able to do more than we can ask or imagine, Ephesians 3:20. Not only being saved by His life, I have received reconciliation with God! I am no longer God's enemy! Because of Jesus I have relationship with God! I am no longer dead in my sin so why would I want to continue to live as if I am! That is the deception! The enemy does not want us to know that we have abundant life! He can't do anything about the fact that we have life in Christ, but he can sure try to distract us, get our focus on ourselves, on our lack, on our circumstances, even get us to only believe part of the Word and miss out on the whole truth. He wants our focus to be on anything but on Christ; because it is in looking to Jesus and Him alone can we experience that abundant life, NOW!
I had better stop, but oh it is so hard too!
Please, if you do not know Christ, let Him become Your Savior, Your redeemer, Your life! If you do know Him, join me on this Journey His Way a journey of abundant life in Him! His Grace is amazing! His Faithfulness is great! He wants to have that kind of relationship with each of us! I mean He did give His One and Only Son just to make a relationship possible!
Father God, thank You for opening my eyes to the fact that I have been missing abundant life! Trying to still walk this journey on my own terms. Forgive me for my stiff-necked, stubborn pride. My unwillingness to take You at Your Word, to really believe that what You say is truth, period! Forgive me for attempting to fulfill Your law all the while knowing it isn't possible! Thank You for never leaving me or forsaking me! For never giving up on me! You have shown me much through the years but never before have I known this level of freedom! Your truth has set me free!!! Help me to 'continue in Your Word' and continue to know the 'truth' that will 'set me free' John 8:31-32. Such joy and peace I have truly never known! I am so sorry for not listening! I look back and see where You have attempted to get my attention over and over again, forgive me! Thank You for Your promise of forgiveness, 1 John 1:9, that I do not have to live in regret. My life is all about You! You provide the victory, You provide the righteousness, You provide the forgiveness, the grace, the mercy, the ability to obey, the strength to submit, everything! Your Holy Spirit lives in me and teaches me all things (John 15:26). Help me to remain in You and allow You to produce Your fruit in me because I can do nothing without You, John 15:4-8. Help me to get up from this place and keep my eyes on You. When I begin to stray or get distracted I pray You will get my attention, remind me that I have abundant life in You, not in anyone or anything else, especially myself. I need only look to You. I need only please You, You will take care of everything else. Thank You, God!
Saturday, November 30, 2013
No more
Revelation 21:3-5
Look! God's dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the One seated on the throne said, 'Look! I am making everything new.' Then He said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'
I am in need of encouragement. This life is hard. People judge, they misuse you and misunderstand; however this life is what it is. I am learning more and more, sometimes more slowly than I would like, that this life truly is about Jesus. Sometimes I long for heaven. To be in God's presence always. To know joy fully. To worship without end. I get so tired of this roller coaster of emotion called life.
Well, for that encouragement. Look! Look! Twice the word look is used in this passage, pay attention, take note, focus, be deliberate, concentrate. God will dwell with us and live with us in heaven...wait because of Jesus, He lives with me today, right now! Thank You, Holy Spirit for giving up heaven to live within me. Not much of a trade for You, but how grateful I am to never be alone regardless how I feel. His. God Himself will be with us in heaven. Mind boggling to imagine isn't it! "For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known" 1 Corinthians 13:12.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate (reflect) the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit, 2 Corinthians 3:18.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Encouraged, yet? I am. How amazing He is! His Word is Life. His Word is Alive! Sometimes we just need to look to heaven, to what is in store for us! This brings joy, this brings peace...He does, through His Word. Do you see it, I mean, did you really look with me? He will wipe away every tear from (MY, YOUR) eyes! I hate to cry, it doesn't feel good, it doesn't help, usually it only gives me a headache! Think about this, NO MORE TEARS at all! Death will not exist! Exist! What an awesome word in this context! Exist - no longer! Grief, crying, and pain will no longer exist! SIGN ME UP!!! Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come! (Revelation 22:20)
God is so good to us isn't He? He promises to make all things new in heaven and yet He doesn't make us wait until then. He says if we are in Christ, then we are new, now! I am so thankful. I don't know about you, but I know for me I need Him desperately. His Word is trustworthy and true!!! I am being transformed into His image, because He is at work. There is hope in that for me. He is in charge, not me. Yes, this life hurts, people hurt us and sometimes we have to do things that others do not understand and their lack of understanding hurts as well. Yet He understands! He knows! He is leading and directing. I will hold on to Him! Not to my feelings, not to the words of the accuser, not to the lack of understanding from those around me, but to Him! May I hold on to Your truth, Lord, and stay in Your peace.
Oh, God, truly, I am thankful for Your Word! (Paraphrase of Psalm 139) Thank You, LORD that You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, LORD. You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me, I thank You that I cannot escape from Your Spirit, from Your presence. That You promise Your hand will lead me, Your right hand will hold on to me. I can and will praise You because You created me and I am not hidden from You. Thank You, God for being bigger than I can grasp, more than I can understand. That my days do not catch you by surprise and that You have a plan, a good plan for me. Help me to walk in Your ways, in Your plan and not get sidetracked by the opinions and thoughts of others, to trust that You are leading and that You will give me the strength to obey. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.
Father God, thank You, thank You, thank You. Here in Your Word, in Your truth is rest, is joy, is peace. No where else. Lord Jesus, may I live for You today, in the here and now. Help me as I long for heaven, for completeness of Your presence, the opportunity to have joy at all times, to fully see You and worship You. Have Your way in me. Forgive me for so often getting my eyes off of You and placing them on myself, on my circumstances, on my feelings. May I truly recognize that You understand me, You know me and You love me anyway. Help me to trust You more, forgive me for the lack of trust I so often show by trying to figure things out or by trying to explain things that are unexplainable. May I learn to really rest in the fact that You know all things. Rest from this ridiculous need to figure out what to do or say and trust You to do as You say. To lead me, to hold me with Your right hand. To live with in me. To know that You are at work, You are pleased with me, that it is okay to have peace when those around me think I should do something differently. That I do not have to believe the lies of the accuser, the guilt that he tries to smother me with and the perceptions of others. You are the only One that I need be concerned with. Your opinion, Your direction, Your lead, have Your will and way in me. Make me more like You.
Look! God's dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.
Then the One seated on the throne said, 'Look! I am making everything new.' Then He said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'
I am in need of encouragement. This life is hard. People judge, they misuse you and misunderstand; however this life is what it is. I am learning more and more, sometimes more slowly than I would like, that this life truly is about Jesus. Sometimes I long for heaven. To be in God's presence always. To know joy fully. To worship without end. I get so tired of this roller coaster of emotion called life.
Well, for that encouragement. Look! Look! Twice the word look is used in this passage, pay attention, take note, focus, be deliberate, concentrate. God will dwell with us and live with us in heaven...wait because of Jesus, He lives with me today, right now! Thank You, Holy Spirit for giving up heaven to live within me. Not much of a trade for You, but how grateful I am to never be alone regardless how I feel. His. God Himself will be with us in heaven. Mind boggling to imagine isn't it! "For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known" 1 Corinthians 13:12.
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate (reflect) the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit, 2 Corinthians 3:18.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Encouraged, yet? I am. How amazing He is! His Word is Life. His Word is Alive! Sometimes we just need to look to heaven, to what is in store for us! This brings joy, this brings peace...He does, through His Word. Do you see it, I mean, did you really look with me? He will wipe away every tear from (MY, YOUR) eyes! I hate to cry, it doesn't feel good, it doesn't help, usually it only gives me a headache! Think about this, NO MORE TEARS at all! Death will not exist! Exist! What an awesome word in this context! Exist - no longer! Grief, crying, and pain will no longer exist! SIGN ME UP!!! Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come! (Revelation 22:20)
God is so good to us isn't He? He promises to make all things new in heaven and yet He doesn't make us wait until then. He says if we are in Christ, then we are new, now! I am so thankful. I don't know about you, but I know for me I need Him desperately. His Word is trustworthy and true!!! I am being transformed into His image, because He is at work. There is hope in that for me. He is in charge, not me. Yes, this life hurts, people hurt us and sometimes we have to do things that others do not understand and their lack of understanding hurts as well. Yet He understands! He knows! He is leading and directing. I will hold on to Him! Not to my feelings, not to the words of the accuser, not to the lack of understanding from those around me, but to Him! May I hold on to Your truth, Lord, and stay in Your peace.
Oh, God, truly, I am thankful for Your Word! (Paraphrase of Psalm 139) Thank You, LORD that You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, LORD. You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me, I thank You that I cannot escape from Your Spirit, from Your presence. That You promise Your hand will lead me, Your right hand will hold on to me. I can and will praise You because You created me and I am not hidden from You. Thank You, God for being bigger than I can grasp, more than I can understand. That my days do not catch you by surprise and that You have a plan, a good plan for me. Help me to walk in Your ways, in Your plan and not get sidetracked by the opinions and thoughts of others, to trust that You are leading and that You will give me the strength to obey. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.
Father God, thank You, thank You, thank You. Here in Your Word, in Your truth is rest, is joy, is peace. No where else. Lord Jesus, may I live for You today, in the here and now. Help me as I long for heaven, for completeness of Your presence, the opportunity to have joy at all times, to fully see You and worship You. Have Your way in me. Forgive me for so often getting my eyes off of You and placing them on myself, on my circumstances, on my feelings. May I truly recognize that You understand me, You know me and You love me anyway. Help me to trust You more, forgive me for the lack of trust I so often show by trying to figure things out or by trying to explain things that are unexplainable. May I learn to really rest in the fact that You know all things. Rest from this ridiculous need to figure out what to do or say and trust You to do as You say. To lead me, to hold me with Your right hand. To live with in me. To know that You are at work, You are pleased with me, that it is okay to have peace when those around me think I should do something differently. That I do not have to believe the lies of the accuser, the guilt that he tries to smother me with and the perceptions of others. You are the only One that I need be concerned with. Your opinion, Your direction, Your lead, have Your will and way in me. Make me more like You.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Philippians 2:1-4
Philippians 2:1-4
1) Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion
2) then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
3) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.
4) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Let's look at some words in this passage: encouragement, united, comfort, love, sharing, tenderness, compassion, joy, one, humility. Wow, those are some good words. We all enjoy the relationships in our lives where these characteristics are present. Are we ourselves being this kind of person in the lives of those around us?
As we all gather together with family and friends on this day to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, often there is unrest, conflict, sadness, anger, stress, etc. Are we a part of bringing the negative to our environments or are we willing to be 'united with Christ' and therefore be able to bring encouragement, comfort, love, joy, etc. It's tough, I mean we all see things a little bit differently don't we? We all have our opinions and our ways of doing things. But really what is more important getting our way or being a blessing to others? It all comes down to our choice.
Will I chose to have to have my own way, to look out for my own interests or will I chose to be a comfort to those around me, an encouragement? So it is easy to write what to do, but how do we really do it?
Well the Word says that I must allow myself to be united with Christ, to allow Him to bring me comfort so that I can in turn be a comfort to those around me. There is so much more to life than stuff! Stuff does bring ease and comfort, no doubt, but having a good relationship with the Lord and to be able to love those around you in His strength; that brings real joy, real comfort.
What is joy? A source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; someone greatly valued or appreciated. You know, we all love to be appreciated and delighted in; however often our days are filled with criticism and pain. Do you realize that regardless what the people in your world say or do that you have a Heavenly Father who 'rejoices over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:17
That is something to give thanks for don't you think? Think this all the way through with me. If God rejoices over me with gladness, if He promises to quiet or calm me with His love and even goes so far as to delight in me with shouts of joy shouldn't I make that kind of effort to treat the people in my life with this same love, to endeavor to be like Christ? How? Well, we must begin with making sure that we are in right relationship with Christ. Do I have any sin in my life that I need to confess to Him? Is there any anger or bitterness that I am holding onto? This essentially ends up hurting me more than the person with which I am struggling. I can ask God for the strength to be kind, to be thankful, to be loving. He will give me strength if I am truly willing to allow Him to work in and through me. (Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.)
Do I want joy? Do I want to express joy to others? I definitely want others to express joy to me, to show me comfort, to encourage me. I'm thinking it will be easier for them to show me this type response if I make it my goal to be humble, to value others above myself. It's hard. In my own nature I want my way, I think of myself first and yet when I do this I do not have joy, not really. So I guess what I am getting at today on this day where it is sometimes hard to be thankful, just because we are supposed to be, when we find ourselves around people that maybe we don't get along with all that well is that we have the choice to draw strength from the Lord. To recognize that He is joy. He is hope. He wants to provide for us, comfort us, rejoice over us. Our choice.
I pray, Father, that as the God of all hope, You will fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of Your Holy Spirit (Romans 5:13) to all those we come in contact with today. May we choose to take our eyes off our own wants, desires and opinions and be willing to express Your love to those we come in contact with. Help us God, to be thankful. You have blessed us with so much. May we realize that life isn't about the things we own, hope to own or just stuff in general but about You and the people that You have put in our lives. Begin with me, Lord. I need You to enable me to be compassionate, encouraging, loving, to help me to value those around me that I tend to take for granted. Please God reveal Yourself in our midst today. Help us to be like-minded in showing Your love and Your compassion, regardless of how we may feel.
1) Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion
2) then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
3) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.
4) not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Let's look at some words in this passage: encouragement, united, comfort, love, sharing, tenderness, compassion, joy, one, humility. Wow, those are some good words. We all enjoy the relationships in our lives where these characteristics are present. Are we ourselves being this kind of person in the lives of those around us?
As we all gather together with family and friends on this day to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, often there is unrest, conflict, sadness, anger, stress, etc. Are we a part of bringing the negative to our environments or are we willing to be 'united with Christ' and therefore be able to bring encouragement, comfort, love, joy, etc. It's tough, I mean we all see things a little bit differently don't we? We all have our opinions and our ways of doing things. But really what is more important getting our way or being a blessing to others? It all comes down to our choice.
Will I chose to have to have my own way, to look out for my own interests or will I chose to be a comfort to those around me, an encouragement? So it is easy to write what to do, but how do we really do it?
Well the Word says that I must allow myself to be united with Christ, to allow Him to bring me comfort so that I can in turn be a comfort to those around me. There is so much more to life than stuff! Stuff does bring ease and comfort, no doubt, but having a good relationship with the Lord and to be able to love those around you in His strength; that brings real joy, real comfort.
What is joy? A source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; someone greatly valued or appreciated. You know, we all love to be appreciated and delighted in; however often our days are filled with criticism and pain. Do you realize that regardless what the people in your world say or do that you have a Heavenly Father who 'rejoices over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:17
That is something to give thanks for don't you think? Think this all the way through with me. If God rejoices over me with gladness, if He promises to quiet or calm me with His love and even goes so far as to delight in me with shouts of joy shouldn't I make that kind of effort to treat the people in my life with this same love, to endeavor to be like Christ? How? Well, we must begin with making sure that we are in right relationship with Christ. Do I have any sin in my life that I need to confess to Him? Is there any anger or bitterness that I am holding onto? This essentially ends up hurting me more than the person with which I am struggling. I can ask God for the strength to be kind, to be thankful, to be loving. He will give me strength if I am truly willing to allow Him to work in and through me. (Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.)
Do I want joy? Do I want to express joy to others? I definitely want others to express joy to me, to show me comfort, to encourage me. I'm thinking it will be easier for them to show me this type response if I make it my goal to be humble, to value others above myself. It's hard. In my own nature I want my way, I think of myself first and yet when I do this I do not have joy, not really. So I guess what I am getting at today on this day where it is sometimes hard to be thankful, just because we are supposed to be, when we find ourselves around people that maybe we don't get along with all that well is that we have the choice to draw strength from the Lord. To recognize that He is joy. He is hope. He wants to provide for us, comfort us, rejoice over us. Our choice.
I pray, Father, that as the God of all hope, You will fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of Your Holy Spirit (Romans 5:13) to all those we come in contact with today. May we choose to take our eyes off our own wants, desires and opinions and be willing to express Your love to those we come in contact with. Help us God, to be thankful. You have blessed us with so much. May we realize that life isn't about the things we own, hope to own or just stuff in general but about You and the people that You have put in our lives. Begin with me, Lord. I need You to enable me to be compassionate, encouraging, loving, to help me to value those around me that I tend to take for granted. Please God reveal Yourself in our midst today. Help us to be like-minded in showing Your love and Your compassion, regardless of how we may feel.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Galatians 5:22-25
Drama, trauma, fear, anxiety, conflict, relationship, difficulty, stress, reality.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faith, self-control.
Not much of a choice when it is written in front of me. I mean I would be foolish to chose the first grouping of words over the second; however that is often just what I do. I have said this over and over and since really I am writing to myself and you have chosen to be a part of this journey with me I need to hear it again. I need to see it again.
The key is the working of the Holy Spirit and that it is His fruit in me.
Galatians 5:22-25.
22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
23) gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24) Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25) If we life by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.
Let me just say that the enemy is working overtime! I am sure you know exactly what I mean. He is not in charge though! God is.
I want to be thankful. I want to walk by the Spirit.
Father God, thank You that Your Holy Spirit is willing and able to live inside of me and work through me. May I chose Your ways. God, my flesh is rising up this morning, I want to be angry. I want to allow its passions and desires to be in charge. Change my want to. I surrender this battle to You. I ask for Your strength to exhibit the fruit of Your Spirit rather than the lusts of my flesh. You know the circumstances, You know the issues. You are aware of how they continually bombard me. I need Your strength, Jesus. I need Your help. I need You to give me the desire to follow Your lead and not my own. It hurts, You know that better than anyone. Please give me wisdom to do what You say; to obey. Your Word says there is no law against love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control. What does that mean? I am thinking You mean that I can always chose to respond in these ways with the strength of Your Spirit. So hard. This 'crucifying' of the flesh hurts and yet it will hurt me less than disobeying You. Thank You that I belong to You, Jesus! Thank You for never giving up on me, though I certainly don't understand it I am grateful. Thank You for Your amazing grace. Your plans and purposes. Your forgiveness, Your love. Thank You that You are the Great I AM! I need You more than ever before. Please be my all in all. Your will God, not mine.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faith, self-control.
Not much of a choice when it is written in front of me. I mean I would be foolish to chose the first grouping of words over the second; however that is often just what I do. I have said this over and over and since really I am writing to myself and you have chosen to be a part of this journey with me I need to hear it again. I need to see it again.
The key is the working of the Holy Spirit and that it is His fruit in me.
Galatians 5:22-25.
22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
23) gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24) Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25) If we life by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.
Let me just say that the enemy is working overtime! I am sure you know exactly what I mean. He is not in charge though! God is.
I want to be thankful. I want to walk by the Spirit.
Father God, thank You that Your Holy Spirit is willing and able to live inside of me and work through me. May I chose Your ways. God, my flesh is rising up this morning, I want to be angry. I want to allow its passions and desires to be in charge. Change my want to. I surrender this battle to You. I ask for Your strength to exhibit the fruit of Your Spirit rather than the lusts of my flesh. You know the circumstances, You know the issues. You are aware of how they continually bombard me. I need Your strength, Jesus. I need Your help. I need You to give me the desire to follow Your lead and not my own. It hurts, You know that better than anyone. Please give me wisdom to do what You say; to obey. Your Word says there is no law against love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control. What does that mean? I am thinking You mean that I can always chose to respond in these ways with the strength of Your Spirit. So hard. This 'crucifying' of the flesh hurts and yet it will hurt me less than disobeying You. Thank You that I belong to You, Jesus! Thank You for never giving up on me, though I certainly don't understand it I am grateful. Thank You for Your amazing grace. Your plans and purposes. Your forgiveness, Your love. Thank You that You are the Great I AM! I need You more than ever before. Please be my all in all. Your will God, not mine.
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