We all struggle with a variety of areas in our Walk. I am no different! Lately, God has had His finger on one particular area; my tongue! As you know, I share a home with my 16 year old. As you probably have guessed by now, he frustrates the life out of me! Sometimes, I have a hard time remembering that I love him--he "pushes my buttons" like no one else can. I am desperately trying not to bash him with my words. I especially am trying not to use words like "always" and "never" as they are words that simply are not accurate. My struggle is that when he frustrates me, I throw the entire relationship with him (16 years) into one pot. The truth is that he, with all his issues, was a delight until the last couple of years. So throwing his entire life in the pot of frustration is not fair. But when I see red--its all I see and my memory fails me.
1Peter 3:9 Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing or berating) but on the contrary blessing (praying for their welfare, happiness and protection, truly pitying and loving) them. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing, bringing welfare, happiness and protection. (Amplified)
When we put ourselves in a position of defense, we create a condition in our hearts that invites offense. Think about this for a minute. If I am continuously feeling like my child's behavior is a personal attack, and I am constantly defending my position as the authority in our home. I have created in my heart a condition that invites offense. This is a dangerous condition! If my heart suffers with this condition, it will always be looking for offenses and the enemy will have a field day with that. It will transfer itself to every relationship. Soon, I will have only enmity rather than love. Let us not forget, sin takes us further than we ever want to go and keeps us longer than we ever wanted to stay.
But God... by His grace,and through His Holy Spirit, shows me the areas in which I need to grow. As I pray and ask Him to create in me a pure heart, He reveals the ugliness and sets out on the mission of removing it. It is a process, and if I keep myself on the alter and allow Him to do the work, He will rid me of this hideous condition and bring me one step closer to resembling Him!
As I look back over my life, I see that this condition has plagued my heart for many years and caused many failed relationships. Now that I see it, (now that God has revealed it) I am disgusted by it and ready for Him to remove it. This is not to say I won't be frustrated by my teenager or anyone else for that matter; but I can choose how I respond and God will enable me to walk it out the way He would--with love and compassion, pity and prayer. My new position will be offensive rather than defensive. This is how we score! This is how I will win my race!
Are you asking God to show you areas in which you need growth? He is gentle and merciful. His yoke is light. He is faithful to forgive and remove the diseases of our hearts. Amen!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Walk by Faith
2Cor 5:7 For we walk by faith ( we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk) not by sight or appearance. (Amplified)
Some new friends here in Savannah are moving in a few weeks due to a job relocation. I have been praying for them as I am fully familiar with picking up your life and moving it to another place. One of the things God put on my heart to do for them, is research the various churches in their new community. One less thing they will have to do! As I was doing this today, the Scripture above came to mind. As I read it over and over in the Amplified version and prayed about it, I came to realize what an awesome challenge and courageous venture it is to walk in this world according to our faith; Regulating our lives and our Conduct according to our conviction or belief.
It occurred to me as I sat with this verse, that while we have solid convictions of belief ie: the inerrant Word of God, the plan of Salvation, the Trinity, the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, etc--the foundations of our faith--there are also the individual convictions that the Holy Spirit brings to us personally in which we must conduct ourselves. The "tweaking" in our character, or the areas in which we struggle with sin. As we learn to live our lives, open to the Spirit's direction, we fulfill the purposes of God, not only in us but through us, for others. The statement is easier to make than to live! The struggle I find is in the "not by sight" part of the verse.
I struggle with this area. I truly want to please God. I desire to hear His leadings and be obedient, to move when He says move and to stay put when He says stay. The problem is, I would like the directions to be more clear! Maybe its the remnants of perfectionism in me, but I would love it if I could know without a doubt that I was hearing the promptings of God, and not my self. And that is the challenge we all face! We want to know, without a doubt. That is not possible!
He assigns us these seemingly impossible tasks, knowing that they are impossible for us; knowing that we will have to seek Him and walk in faith, wondering if we heard Him correctly; clinging to Him, asking Him to illuminate the next step, getting small assurances along the way, calling out to Him, moving further and further. Its like fumbling around in the dark, and yet it is this walk, this process, that leads us to fulfillment. The Scripture doesn't say we must run by faith, it says walk for a reason! God wants us to stay in touch! Daily, sometimes moment by moment. He knows when to send the little encouragements; He knows when to be completely silent, so that we rely on what we know of Him. He knows what it will take to turn our hearts toward Him, and He knows how to assuage the doubts that creep in. ... With trust and holy fervor we walk.
If I had to be truly honest, I would say that even though I step out in faith, the trust and holy fervor are accumulated along the path. The truth is, I may be willing, but I don't usually have a clue what the cost is, and that is where God comes in. He is building faith. He is cultivating trust. He is trodding over doubts. These are the "alters" of my life with Him. These are the places I visit over and over, as I walk by faith. They are my reminders of His faithfulness. They are the pillars I lean on when I am too weary to continue. These are the building blocks of my Strong Tower.
Walking by faith has become a balance of looking to God, (who is in the lead), examining self and looking back at my "alters".
Some new friends here in Savannah are moving in a few weeks due to a job relocation. I have been praying for them as I am fully familiar with picking up your life and moving it to another place. One of the things God put on my heart to do for them, is research the various churches in their new community. One less thing they will have to do! As I was doing this today, the Scripture above came to mind. As I read it over and over in the Amplified version and prayed about it, I came to realize what an awesome challenge and courageous venture it is to walk in this world according to our faith; Regulating our lives and our Conduct according to our conviction or belief.
It occurred to me as I sat with this verse, that while we have solid convictions of belief ie: the inerrant Word of God, the plan of Salvation, the Trinity, the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, etc--the foundations of our faith--there are also the individual convictions that the Holy Spirit brings to us personally in which we must conduct ourselves. The "tweaking" in our character, or the areas in which we struggle with sin. As we learn to live our lives, open to the Spirit's direction, we fulfill the purposes of God, not only in us but through us, for others. The statement is easier to make than to live! The struggle I find is in the "not by sight" part of the verse.
I struggle with this area. I truly want to please God. I desire to hear His leadings and be obedient, to move when He says move and to stay put when He says stay. The problem is, I would like the directions to be more clear! Maybe its the remnants of perfectionism in me, but I would love it if I could know without a doubt that I was hearing the promptings of God, and not my self. And that is the challenge we all face! We want to know, without a doubt. That is not possible!
He assigns us these seemingly impossible tasks, knowing that they are impossible for us; knowing that we will have to seek Him and walk in faith, wondering if we heard Him correctly; clinging to Him, asking Him to illuminate the next step, getting small assurances along the way, calling out to Him, moving further and further. Its like fumbling around in the dark, and yet it is this walk, this process, that leads us to fulfillment. The Scripture doesn't say we must run by faith, it says walk for a reason! God wants us to stay in touch! Daily, sometimes moment by moment. He knows when to send the little encouragements; He knows when to be completely silent, so that we rely on what we know of Him. He knows what it will take to turn our hearts toward Him, and He knows how to assuage the doubts that creep in. ... With trust and holy fervor we walk.
If I had to be truly honest, I would say that even though I step out in faith, the trust and holy fervor are accumulated along the path. The truth is, I may be willing, but I don't usually have a clue what the cost is, and that is where God comes in. He is building faith. He is cultivating trust. He is trodding over doubts. These are the "alters" of my life with Him. These are the places I visit over and over, as I walk by faith. They are my reminders of His faithfulness. They are the pillars I lean on when I am too weary to continue. These are the building blocks of my Strong Tower.
Walking by faith has become a balance of looking to God, (who is in the lead), examining self and looking back at my "alters".
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
In the Position of Blessing
As I prayed for my son last night, I asked God to show me a way that I could bless him for his birthday today. I have no means for material gifts at the moment, and as most parents would, I am feeling badly because of it. I want to bless him simply because He is my child. I decided that, as a 16 year old boy, he would most like for me to allow him to get his driver's permit. While I have major reservations about him getting his license right now, I thought that getting the permit would not only bless him, but encourage him as well. So, I took the card that I had bought him and signed the permission for permit that has been sitting on my desk since we arrived here in Savannah, and I put them both on the counter so that he would see them when he went out the door for school. That was the plan...
As usual, getting my son out of bed in the morning is a chore. This morning, it was a battle! After arguing, he got up and slammed the door of his room, locking it; and to my surprise went out the window, never coming out to the kitchen to realize the blessing I had prepared for him.
I say all of that not as a "put down" of my son, but because it reminded me of how God must feel. God loves us and so desires to bless us; yet we do not always put ourselves in a position of receiving His blessings.
Throughout the Bible we read the stories of rebellion and disobedience. The children of Israel were famous for their disobedience and they suffered time and time again, for it. The reality of it is that God requires obedience for our benefit. Gen 20:12 Regard and treat with honor, due obedience and courtesy, your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you. As I read this verse today, I saw something that I had not seen before. Not only does this verse speak of obedience to earthly parents and to God, as our Father, but it speaks of the lengthening of our days in the land that he promised to His people. The very land they wandered around for 40 years and didn't enter because of their disobedience.
As I thought on that, I thought about the promises of the New Covenant. I thought about my own disobedience and how it causes suffering and keeps me from entering in to all (the fullness) of Christ. While we live in grace--the unmerited favor of God through the sacrifice of Christ--there are still consequences for our sin. The degree of peace, the unrealized blessings because I did not follow His leadings, not to mention the blessing to someone else that should have come but didn't, because I failed to speak the word of exhortation God put on my heart for them. All of these things and more, keep us from seeing and realizing the right hand of God in this life.
And like me, wanting to bless my son, God wants to pour out on us, His Children, the riches of His Glory in Christ. We need to position ourselves through obedience and faith for His blessing. Deut 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse--the blessing if you obey...and the curse if you will not obey. God gave Israel the choice; and He presents each of us with the same choice each day. While we are no longer under the law, God still requires our obedience. He is just. It is His nature; it can not be changed. Yes, we who are under grace are already blessed. Rom 4:8 Blessed and happy and to be envied is the person of whose sin the Lord will take no account nor reckon it against him. In addition, under grace, there are blessings for those who trust, who are steadfast, who endure and who adhere to (our obedient in) the things of God.
I want to be in a position to receive the blessings from His right hand each and every day. I don't want to miss a single one!
Father, forgive us our failings and trespasses. Teach us to trust you completely and to love you obediently. Help us to see your blessings toward us and to be vehicles for your blessings to others. We thank You and praise Your Mighty Name. Amen
As usual, getting my son out of bed in the morning is a chore. This morning, it was a battle! After arguing, he got up and slammed the door of his room, locking it; and to my surprise went out the window, never coming out to the kitchen to realize the blessing I had prepared for him.
I say all of that not as a "put down" of my son, but because it reminded me of how God must feel. God loves us and so desires to bless us; yet we do not always put ourselves in a position of receiving His blessings.
Throughout the Bible we read the stories of rebellion and disobedience. The children of Israel were famous for their disobedience and they suffered time and time again, for it. The reality of it is that God requires obedience for our benefit. Gen 20:12 Regard and treat with honor, due obedience and courtesy, your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you. As I read this verse today, I saw something that I had not seen before. Not only does this verse speak of obedience to earthly parents and to God, as our Father, but it speaks of the lengthening of our days in the land that he promised to His people. The very land they wandered around for 40 years and didn't enter because of their disobedience.
As I thought on that, I thought about the promises of the New Covenant. I thought about my own disobedience and how it causes suffering and keeps me from entering in to all (the fullness) of Christ. While we live in grace--the unmerited favor of God through the sacrifice of Christ--there are still consequences for our sin. The degree of peace, the unrealized blessings because I did not follow His leadings, not to mention the blessing to someone else that should have come but didn't, because I failed to speak the word of exhortation God put on my heart for them. All of these things and more, keep us from seeing and realizing the right hand of God in this life.
And like me, wanting to bless my son, God wants to pour out on us, His Children, the riches of His Glory in Christ. We need to position ourselves through obedience and faith for His blessing. Deut 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse--the blessing if you obey...and the curse if you will not obey. God gave Israel the choice; and He presents each of us with the same choice each day. While we are no longer under the law, God still requires our obedience. He is just. It is His nature; it can not be changed. Yes, we who are under grace are already blessed. Rom 4:8 Blessed and happy and to be envied is the person of whose sin the Lord will take no account nor reckon it against him. In addition, under grace, there are blessings for those who trust, who are steadfast, who endure and who adhere to (our obedient in) the things of God.
I want to be in a position to receive the blessings from His right hand each and every day. I don't want to miss a single one!
Father, forgive us our failings and trespasses. Teach us to trust you completely and to love you obediently. Help us to see your blessings toward us and to be vehicles for your blessings to others. We thank You and praise Your Mighty Name. Amen
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
For His Name Sake
As I cry out to the Lord today, I am reminded of the Scripture in Daniel 9:19. "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive, O Lord, give heed and act! Do not delay, for Your own sake, O my God, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name." As His child, I am invited to come boldly before His throne and make my plea. God answers because of His Covenant and His Name. Vs. 23 " At the beginning of your prayers, the Word, giving an answer, went forth..." While I see delay, and the waiting may seem endless; there are reasons for the delay. There is a battle raging in the Heavenly realms, that I am not aware of. BUT GOD... has sent forth His answer and by His Holy Spirit, He speaks. (Dan 10:12) "Then he said to me, FEAR NOT, for from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come as a consequence of and in response to your words."
My God is Faithful! My God hears and responds to my prayers! He wages war in the Heavenly Realms on my behalf, for His Name's sake!
Without the Word of God, I could not endure this season of my life. It alone is life to me. I am reminded every time I pick it up, of the words of the Apostle Peter, "Lord, to whom shall we go? For You have the words of eternal life." (Jn 6:67) There are seasons in the life of every Believer in which God brings us to the place where there is nothing and no one for us to rely on, except Him. He allows us to be stripped and emptied so that He may clothe us and fill us with Himself. While it may be the most frightening time in our lives, if we can cleave to Him and endure it, His reward (both here and in eternity) will be immense.
I have a Helper. I have a Comforter. I have the Holy Spirit of God living in me. It is Him who rises up, as I decrease, and "it is the Spirit Who Gives Life: the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The words that I (Jesus) have spoken to you are spirit and life" (Jn 6:63) I can not rely on my emotions to tell me the truth, I must rely on the One who is the Word, who is the Truth; to lead me and direct my paths.
I will never tell anyone that this is easy--it is NOT. I heard a woman preacher, when I was first saved, speak on this very topic. I did not understand then as I do now, but I always remembered this little tune she sang; it was something the Spirit spoke to her during a period of stripping. "I am not moved by your tears." The are times when God must not be moved by our tears, in order that He do a work in us. There are times when the cup we are asking Him to take away, is the very cup that will bring the fulfillment of His purpose for our lives into being.
And so I sing that tune to myself today, as a reminder to myself that God is on the throne; that He has sent His answer from the very first day I humbled myself and called out to Him; and that this cup, though it be filled with tears, is the very cup with which God will bring blessing to others. Jesus poured Himself out for me; who am I to think that He would not require the same of me.
Father I thank you for Your Word. I thank You for the Comforter in the midst of this season, and I surrender myself to You. Have Your way, for the glory of Your Name. Amen (so be it)
My God is Faithful! My God hears and responds to my prayers! He wages war in the Heavenly Realms on my behalf, for His Name's sake!
Without the Word of God, I could not endure this season of my life. It alone is life to me. I am reminded every time I pick it up, of the words of the Apostle Peter, "Lord, to whom shall we go? For You have the words of eternal life." (Jn 6:67) There are seasons in the life of every Believer in which God brings us to the place where there is nothing and no one for us to rely on, except Him. He allows us to be stripped and emptied so that He may clothe us and fill us with Himself. While it may be the most frightening time in our lives, if we can cleave to Him and endure it, His reward (both here and in eternity) will be immense.
I have a Helper. I have a Comforter. I have the Holy Spirit of God living in me. It is Him who rises up, as I decrease, and "it is the Spirit Who Gives Life: the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The words that I (Jesus) have spoken to you are spirit and life" (Jn 6:63) I can not rely on my emotions to tell me the truth, I must rely on the One who is the Word, who is the Truth; to lead me and direct my paths.
I will never tell anyone that this is easy--it is NOT. I heard a woman preacher, when I was first saved, speak on this very topic. I did not understand then as I do now, but I always remembered this little tune she sang; it was something the Spirit spoke to her during a period of stripping. "I am not moved by your tears." The are times when God must not be moved by our tears, in order that He do a work in us. There are times when the cup we are asking Him to take away, is the very cup that will bring the fulfillment of His purpose for our lives into being.
And so I sing that tune to myself today, as a reminder to myself that God is on the throne; that He has sent His answer from the very first day I humbled myself and called out to Him; and that this cup, though it be filled with tears, is the very cup with which God will bring blessing to others. Jesus poured Himself out for me; who am I to think that He would not require the same of me.
Father I thank you for Your Word. I thank You for the Comforter in the midst of this season, and I surrender myself to You. Have Your way, for the glory of Your Name. Amen (so be it)
Sunday, May 15, 2011
This is the Day!
"This is the day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" I woke today with a headache and found myself in the same circumstances I was in yesterday. However, "His mercies are new each morning" and I can face the day with praise and thanksgiving! As I walk with the Lord, I realize more and more that true Worship and Reverence are evidenced by how I respond in the tough places. Like anything else, I am free to choose my response.
Today, I choose to rejoice! In the Light of His presence, in the beauty of my surroundings, in the blessings of His right hand. I am His and nothing can take me from His grip!
I pray that your response to God today will be the same.
Today, I choose to rejoice! In the Light of His presence, in the beauty of my surroundings, in the blessings of His right hand. I am His and nothing can take me from His grip!
I pray that your response to God today will be the same.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Press
Everything profitable comes through effort. I was thinking earlier today about the process of " re-inventing myself", and what a popular catch phrase it has become. The phrase has been made popular primarily by women in their forties and later who after years of raising a family, or embracing the corporate life and their career, are rounding a corner, so to speak, and finding themselves at a crossroad. I see more evidence of women my age and a bit older, who are now worn out by the "I can bring home the bacon, and fry it up in the pan"syndrome and "I can do it all and have it all" nonsense. They are now realizing what is important to them and what they can live without for the sake of fulfillment. They, like me, are in a place of examining themselves; what they enjoy, what they are good at, what their gifts and talents are, and how to maximize those things so that they not only bring financial, but also mental, emotional and spiritual satisfaction.
I hope and pray, that if anyone finds themself in this place, they remember to seek God for the answers to these questions. "Every good and Perfect gift is from above". All of my gifts and talents, skills and limitations are from God. "Apart from Him, I can do nothing". God is an expert designer! He is an excellent Lifecoach! He is all about making things "new again", and He knows me more intimately than I know myself. I could not imagine facing the re-invention process without Him.
I am finding, as I walk through this process, that I meet resistance at every turn. I am also finding that I am growing stronger in Spirit as I press against the resistance I face. The enemy of my soul would love for me to cower and run away, but it is not my desire to simply visit my Calling, but rather to live in it! For the first time in my life I am thriving in my hard places!
The Bible says of Samuel, John the Baptist and Jesus, that they "grew and became strong in Spirit." They worked at it. They allowed themselves to be disciplined. They were obedient. They cultivated in themselves a place for the Spirit to dwell. They did not coast through life, they pressed against the resistance. So can I, and so can you! One of my most favorite Scriptures is Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk, not stand still in terror, but to walk and make spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble, suffering or responsibility.(Amplified)
Regardless of the season of life I am in, or how things change, He is my Source. It may seem that it is time to re-invent myself, but the truth is, He created me, and short of my willingness to obey, I don't have much to do with the calling He placed on me. I am His to use; however He sees fit. He, who began a good work in me, is faithful and able to perfect it and bring it to completion.
I hope and pray, that if anyone finds themself in this place, they remember to seek God for the answers to these questions. "Every good and Perfect gift is from above". All of my gifts and talents, skills and limitations are from God. "Apart from Him, I can do nothing". God is an expert designer! He is an excellent Lifecoach! He is all about making things "new again", and He knows me more intimately than I know myself. I could not imagine facing the re-invention process without Him.
I am finding, as I walk through this process, that I meet resistance at every turn. I am also finding that I am growing stronger in Spirit as I press against the resistance I face. The enemy of my soul would love for me to cower and run away, but it is not my desire to simply visit my Calling, but rather to live in it! For the first time in my life I am thriving in my hard places!
The Bible says of Samuel, John the Baptist and Jesus, that they "grew and became strong in Spirit." They worked at it. They allowed themselves to be disciplined. They were obedient. They cultivated in themselves a place for the Spirit to dwell. They did not coast through life, they pressed against the resistance. So can I, and so can you! One of my most favorite Scriptures is Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk, not stand still in terror, but to walk and make spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble, suffering or responsibility.(Amplified)
Regardless of the season of life I am in, or how things change, He is my Source. It may seem that it is time to re-invent myself, but the truth is, He created me, and short of my willingness to obey, I don't have much to do with the calling He placed on me. I am His to use; however He sees fit. He, who began a good work in me, is faithful and able to perfect it and bring it to completion.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Who Needs Rose Colored Glasses
The way we measure success in our culture has little to do with God's measure. In our society, we are to be independent; in God's, we are to depend and rely on Him. In this world we are measured by our social class, in God's , there are no classes, we are all one in Him. In the world, our success is measured by the amount of money we have and what material possessions we own. In God's, we are measured by what we give and the attitude with which we give... I say all this as a reminder, mostly to myself, to be careful how we view things.
I can get entangled fairly easily in the world view. It wouldn't take much for me to look at my own circumstances right now and think "what a loser", "can't even support her own family", "not much use", and myriad of other negative thoughts; if my eyes were not focused on Christ. I could grumble and complain. I could compare myself to someone else and stumble in self-pity. I could be miserable and ungrateful. I could, if I didn't have my Christ-colored glasses on.
With my Christ-colored glasses I realize that everything I have and everything I am is from God. There is no need then, for me to compare myself to anyone else. I understand that I am responsible to use what I have and who I am, to bring God glory and honor. I know that God wants me to multiply what He has given me, and when He returns, I will give an account to Him for all of it.
With my Christ-colored glasses on, I am able to be grateful and content in all things. I am willing to give whatever to whomever God instructs; be it as simple as a smile or word of encouragement, an invitation for coffee and conversation, or sharing my story with someone who needs Jesus too. With my special glasses on, the ones that help me to see Jesus and all that He cares about, I am able to lay down my life for others and give, even the little I have, back to Him.
Success is doing the best I can, with what I have,where I am, right now, with a good attitude. I can do that, as long as I have my Christ Colored glasses on!
Father, help us to continuously fix our eyes on Jesus; be an imitator of Him in word, deed and heart, For Your glory. In His mighty name we pray. Amen
I can get entangled fairly easily in the world view. It wouldn't take much for me to look at my own circumstances right now and think "what a loser", "can't even support her own family", "not much use", and myriad of other negative thoughts; if my eyes were not focused on Christ. I could grumble and complain. I could compare myself to someone else and stumble in self-pity. I could be miserable and ungrateful. I could, if I didn't have my Christ-colored glasses on.
With my Christ-colored glasses I realize that everything I have and everything I am is from God. There is no need then, for me to compare myself to anyone else. I understand that I am responsible to use what I have and who I am, to bring God glory and honor. I know that God wants me to multiply what He has given me, and when He returns, I will give an account to Him for all of it.
With my Christ-colored glasses on, I am able to be grateful and content in all things. I am willing to give whatever to whomever God instructs; be it as simple as a smile or word of encouragement, an invitation for coffee and conversation, or sharing my story with someone who needs Jesus too. With my special glasses on, the ones that help me to see Jesus and all that He cares about, I am able to lay down my life for others and give, even the little I have, back to Him.
Success is doing the best I can, with what I have,where I am, right now, with a good attitude. I can do that, as long as I have my Christ Colored glasses on!
Father, help us to continuously fix our eyes on Jesus; be an imitator of Him in word, deed and heart, For Your glory. In His mighty name we pray. Amen
Monday, May 9, 2011
The Limits of Love
"I have seen that everything human has its limits and end, no matter how extensive, noble and excellent; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits into eternity." Ps 119:96
My daughter is writing a paper for her English class Love and War. She must write an academic paper on Love. How hard is that? I don't envy her plight. At 19 years old, one does not know much about love--at 44 years old, I am not much further ahead of her! What I do know is this: The kind of love we have for one another is temporal, unless God infuses it with Himself. God is Love, the Bible tells us. So, the way I see it, I am only capable of loving someone through God.
Jesus summed up the law (which the verse above is referring to) in one word: Love. We are to Love God and Love our neighbor as ourself. If I re-read the verse above and inject the words "to love" after "commandment", I see a glimpse of the truth that to love another person requires God. God would not command us to love without enabling us to do so. The Bible says, "All your commandments are faithful and sure" (Ps 119:86) This is because God is faithful and He is a solid foundation (sure). If I continue to love people in my own strength then my human love, which has many limitations, will end and die with me. It will not produce the everlasting fruit that God desires.
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you." (Jer 31:3) God loved you, prior to your birth, prior to your parents or grandparents birth! As far back as the foundatons of the earth and even before that! God was and is love, and therefore His love is without any limitations of time.
I was telling my daughter last night, that love is like wind, we can not see it, but there is plenty of evidence that it exists. In order for her to write an academic paper on something as intangible as love, she will have to approach it from the arena of evidence. I love that God approached us in the same way. "For God so loved the world, He gave His only son..." (Jn 3:16) God's love was evidenced by the fact that He gave. God did not expect us to understand His love for us without evidence. He designed the earth for us so that it would supply our needs. He designed our bodies so that, if we took care of them, they could heal themselves. He designed a plan of salvation so that we could have access to Him forever. He disciplines us, so that we will learn righteousness. These are the evidences of His love, and there are many, many others! There are no limits in the love of God.
One of the other things I mentioned to my daughter, is the fact that love is a choice; an act of free will. Many people think that love is a feeling or emotion, but they are sadly mistaken. The freedom to love or not is a choice, and that choice may produce emotions, but its not the other way around. You cannot, contrary to the popular belief, "fall in love"; you choose to love. You choose to take the steps necessary to get to know someone, you choose to share yourself with that someone, and you choose whether or not someone holds a place of value in your life. If this were not true, God would not have designed the plan of Salvation for us. He would simply have caused each of us to love Him and therefore obey Him, forever. Love is relational because God is relational. He wants us to want Him! He allows us to choose. The same is true of Jesus' command to us. "love your neighbor". We can choose to do that or not. The evidence of whether or not we belong to God is found in how we love our neighbor. If we belong to God and he is love, then we are able to love our neighbor in an everlasting way; a way that produces "fruit" (evidence). The evidence of God's love in us, causes others to choose God, which causes them to love, which causes others to come and so on. It is how we cause others to want what we have. Jesus. This is the everlasting evidence of love. It is everlasting, because each person who chooses God, will spend eternity with Him. This is where love is limitless!
My daughter is writing a paper for her English class Love and War. She must write an academic paper on Love. How hard is that? I don't envy her plight. At 19 years old, one does not know much about love--at 44 years old, I am not much further ahead of her! What I do know is this: The kind of love we have for one another is temporal, unless God infuses it with Himself. God is Love, the Bible tells us. So, the way I see it, I am only capable of loving someone through God.
Jesus summed up the law (which the verse above is referring to) in one word: Love. We are to Love God and Love our neighbor as ourself. If I re-read the verse above and inject the words "to love" after "commandment", I see a glimpse of the truth that to love another person requires God. God would not command us to love without enabling us to do so. The Bible says, "All your commandments are faithful and sure" (Ps 119:86) This is because God is faithful and He is a solid foundation (sure). If I continue to love people in my own strength then my human love, which has many limitations, will end and die with me. It will not produce the everlasting fruit that God desires.
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you." (Jer 31:3) God loved you, prior to your birth, prior to your parents or grandparents birth! As far back as the foundatons of the earth and even before that! God was and is love, and therefore His love is without any limitations of time.
I was telling my daughter last night, that love is like wind, we can not see it, but there is plenty of evidence that it exists. In order for her to write an academic paper on something as intangible as love, she will have to approach it from the arena of evidence. I love that God approached us in the same way. "For God so loved the world, He gave His only son..." (Jn 3:16) God's love was evidenced by the fact that He gave. God did not expect us to understand His love for us without evidence. He designed the earth for us so that it would supply our needs. He designed our bodies so that, if we took care of them, they could heal themselves. He designed a plan of salvation so that we could have access to Him forever. He disciplines us, so that we will learn righteousness. These are the evidences of His love, and there are many, many others! There are no limits in the love of God.
One of the other things I mentioned to my daughter, is the fact that love is a choice; an act of free will. Many people think that love is a feeling or emotion, but they are sadly mistaken. The freedom to love or not is a choice, and that choice may produce emotions, but its not the other way around. You cannot, contrary to the popular belief, "fall in love"; you choose to love. You choose to take the steps necessary to get to know someone, you choose to share yourself with that someone, and you choose whether or not someone holds a place of value in your life. If this were not true, God would not have designed the plan of Salvation for us. He would simply have caused each of us to love Him and therefore obey Him, forever. Love is relational because God is relational. He wants us to want Him! He allows us to choose. The same is true of Jesus' command to us. "love your neighbor". We can choose to do that or not. The evidence of whether or not we belong to God is found in how we love our neighbor. If we belong to God and he is love, then we are able to love our neighbor in an everlasting way; a way that produces "fruit" (evidence). The evidence of God's love in us, causes others to choose God, which causes them to love, which causes others to come and so on. It is how we cause others to want what we have. Jesus. This is the everlasting evidence of love. It is everlasting, because each person who chooses God, will spend eternity with Him. This is where love is limitless!
Friday, May 6, 2011
More on Doubt...
Oswald Chambers said, "Doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong; it may be a sign that he is thinking."
So much of my Christian Faith gives way to questions. When I was young in the Lord, I thought it wrong to question the things that didn't make sense to me. Now that I've walked with God a while, I find myself asking many questions. Clarity is something I need. It's kind of like Order or Air or Food or Water. You understand what I'm saying. It's a "Type A" thing, I guess. Yet so much of our Faith is a mystery and often times I find myself walking blind. Not blind in the sense that I don't know Whom I'm following, but blind in the sense that "I think I'm behind you Lord, but I can't see through all this darkness."
What is it about the darkness, that makes us question what we know? I have a fairly small condo, and the layout is quite simple; it is just an open space with a bedroom on either end. I know the space like the back of my hand. Yet, when I forget to turn the light on in the bedroom before shutting off the one in the kitchen, it takes me a lot more time to get from one room to the other, even though I know the way. It's as though I had never stepped foot in this space and I don't have a clue what the layout is or how to maneuver through it!
Sometimes the darkness in our life is like that too. My hands are out and I am consumed with feeling my way through things when all I really need to do is recall (bring to mind and remember) that which I know. I know I have walked with the Lord through many dark times in my life. I know that when the time was right, God revealed Himself and what I needed. I know that He supplied everything I needed. I know that I could never have come up with the answer He brought to the situation. I know that when the light of Christ finally goes on, it will all be clear; maybe not all at once, but eventually. Yet, with each new trial that comes my way, I still have the same sense that it is pitch dark and I'm walking around blindly in this new darkness. Now, I have experienced more peace in the trials as the years have accumulated, and I have gone from shaking my fists at God to saying "in your timing, Lord", but, its still dark, and its still scary and the outcome is still unknown, and the doubts still come...
I can't help but wonder, if the darkness (trials in life) is meant to bring doubt. I have found in my experience, that the doubts I have, when I am walking through very difficult times, are not so much of who God is, or what He can do (His power), but I question who I am in Him. Do I have what it takes to cling to Him through this? Do I have enough faith to ride out this storm? Do I trust Him with every detail of my life? Will He really take care of me? Is there something I have done that would cause Him to turn away from me? (this may be my Catholic upbringing (?) or it may be that I just can't comprehend unconditional love.) In recent years, there has been a particularly large amount of difficulty and "dark" times in my life and at times I have been distraught by the amount of time it took for me to see God's light or revelation or illumination. What I have noticed, however, is that in those times, God has revealed something to me about Himself that has altered my thinking and released me to love deeper than I had before the situation began. My doubts led me to a deeper understanding of God. Perhaps, as there is a circle of life (lion king!) there is a full circle to doubt as well; and when doubt has come full circle, there is life abundantly!
As I grow in Christ, I realize more and more that very little matters, except how we Love one another. I am finding that all the trials in my life come down to this point. Sometimes I have chosen not to love, sometimes I simply didn't know how and God showed me, and sometimes I didn't understand the question at all, and God had to bring me through it and test me again, hoping that this time I would pass the test! I may be slow, but I am beginning to understand, its all about Love--for Him and for others.
Create in me a pure heart, O Lord. That I may love as you have loved. Amen
So much of my Christian Faith gives way to questions. When I was young in the Lord, I thought it wrong to question the things that didn't make sense to me. Now that I've walked with God a while, I find myself asking many questions. Clarity is something I need. It's kind of like Order or Air or Food or Water. You understand what I'm saying. It's a "Type A" thing, I guess. Yet so much of our Faith is a mystery and often times I find myself walking blind. Not blind in the sense that I don't know Whom I'm following, but blind in the sense that "I think I'm behind you Lord, but I can't see through all this darkness."
What is it about the darkness, that makes us question what we know? I have a fairly small condo, and the layout is quite simple; it is just an open space with a bedroom on either end. I know the space like the back of my hand. Yet, when I forget to turn the light on in the bedroom before shutting off the one in the kitchen, it takes me a lot more time to get from one room to the other, even though I know the way. It's as though I had never stepped foot in this space and I don't have a clue what the layout is or how to maneuver through it!
Sometimes the darkness in our life is like that too. My hands are out and I am consumed with feeling my way through things when all I really need to do is recall (bring to mind and remember) that which I know. I know I have walked with the Lord through many dark times in my life. I know that when the time was right, God revealed Himself and what I needed. I know that He supplied everything I needed. I know that I could never have come up with the answer He brought to the situation. I know that when the light of Christ finally goes on, it will all be clear; maybe not all at once, but eventually. Yet, with each new trial that comes my way, I still have the same sense that it is pitch dark and I'm walking around blindly in this new darkness. Now, I have experienced more peace in the trials as the years have accumulated, and I have gone from shaking my fists at God to saying "in your timing, Lord", but, its still dark, and its still scary and the outcome is still unknown, and the doubts still come...
I can't help but wonder, if the darkness (trials in life) is meant to bring doubt. I have found in my experience, that the doubts I have, when I am walking through very difficult times, are not so much of who God is, or what He can do (His power), but I question who I am in Him. Do I have what it takes to cling to Him through this? Do I have enough faith to ride out this storm? Do I trust Him with every detail of my life? Will He really take care of me? Is there something I have done that would cause Him to turn away from me? (this may be my Catholic upbringing (?) or it may be that I just can't comprehend unconditional love.) In recent years, there has been a particularly large amount of difficulty and "dark" times in my life and at times I have been distraught by the amount of time it took for me to see God's light or revelation or illumination. What I have noticed, however, is that in those times, God has revealed something to me about Himself that has altered my thinking and released me to love deeper than I had before the situation began. My doubts led me to a deeper understanding of God. Perhaps, as there is a circle of life (lion king!) there is a full circle to doubt as well; and when doubt has come full circle, there is life abundantly!
As I grow in Christ, I realize more and more that very little matters, except how we Love one another. I am finding that all the trials in my life come down to this point. Sometimes I have chosen not to love, sometimes I simply didn't know how and God showed me, and sometimes I didn't understand the question at all, and God had to bring me through it and test me again, hoping that this time I would pass the test! I may be slow, but I am beginning to understand, its all about Love--for Him and for others.
Create in me a pure heart, O Lord. That I may love as you have loved. Amen
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Assurances from John 15
I have been doing a lot of studying for a project I am working on. One of the great things about the Holy Spirit is the fact that He leads us in truth. He brings assurances to our hearts and minds from the Word of God. At times, the enemy comes with his lies, and I need to fend him off with the truth and assurances I have as one of God's own. Here are a few of those assurances from John 15
I know I am His because:
15:1 Jesus is truth: I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
15:2 He (the Father) prunes me:...He cleanses and prunes repeatedly every branch that continues to bear fruit, in order that it bears more and richer and more excellent fruit.
15:4 I abide in Him and He abides in me: Dwell in Me and I will dwell in you. No branch can bear fruit on its own, without abiding in (being vitally united to) the Vine...
15:5 I bear fruit!: Whoever lives in me and I in him; bears much fruit
15:7 His Word lives forever in my heart: If you abide in me my words will continue to live in your heart.
15:7 I have been invited to ask anything of the Father: If you live in me and my words continue to live in your hearts, Ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
15:8 I honor God: When you bear (produce) fruit My Father is honored and Glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.
15:9 He loves me and I love Him: I have loved you as the Father has loved me; Abide in my love and continue in His love with me.
15:10 I know I live in His love because I obey His commands: If you keep my commandments ( if you continue to obey my instructions) you will abide in my love and live on (eternally) in it.
15:11 I have joy when I obey: I have told you these things that my joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.
15:12 I Love: This is My Commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you.
15:13 He enables me to put aside my wants and needs for the benefit of others: No one has greater love (no one has shown greater affection) than to lay down his life for his friends.
15:14 I have the Fear of the Lord: You are my friends IF you keep doing the things which I command you to do. * We demonstrate Reverence through Obedience
15:15 I am a friend of God: I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. I have revealed to you everything I learned from Him.
15:16 He chose me: You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you.
15:16 The fruit I bear is eternal: ...and appointed you that you may bear fruit, and keep on bearing it, and that your fruit may be lasting (that it may remain and abide forever)...
15:17 I grow in Love: This is my command: that you love one another. *from the previous verse, we are to continuously ask that we be enabled to fulfill that this command.
15:19 I Do Not belong to This World: If you belonged to this world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of this world; because I selected you out of this world, the world hates (detests) you.
15:21 I share in Jesus' sufferings: The world hated me and they will hate you also...they will do all this to you because you bear my name and on my account, for they do not understand the One who sent me.
15:26 I have received the Holy Spirit: But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby) comes...He will testify regarding Me. *The Holy Spirit is the way that makes abiding possible.
15:27 I confess Him and Testify of Him: You also will testify and be my witnesses because you have been with me. *We need to abide in Him to bear witness to Him
Are you His? Do you have the assurance that comes from the Holy Spirit and His Word?
Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that bears witness to my heart that I belong to You. Keep us continually abiding in You and Grow us up in Your love that we may bear fruit that is everlasting. We Thank You and Praise You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
I know I am His because:
15:1 Jesus is truth: I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
15:2 He (the Father) prunes me:...He cleanses and prunes repeatedly every branch that continues to bear fruit, in order that it bears more and richer and more excellent fruit.
15:4 I abide in Him and He abides in me: Dwell in Me and I will dwell in you. No branch can bear fruit on its own, without abiding in (being vitally united to) the Vine...
15:5 I bear fruit!: Whoever lives in me and I in him; bears much fruit
15:7 His Word lives forever in my heart: If you abide in me my words will continue to live in your heart.
15:7 I have been invited to ask anything of the Father: If you live in me and my words continue to live in your hearts, Ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
15:8 I honor God: When you bear (produce) fruit My Father is honored and Glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.
15:9 He loves me and I love Him: I have loved you as the Father has loved me; Abide in my love and continue in His love with me.
15:10 I know I live in His love because I obey His commands: If you keep my commandments ( if you continue to obey my instructions) you will abide in my love and live on (eternally) in it.
15:11 I have joy when I obey: I have told you these things that my joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.
15:12 I Love: This is My Commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you.
15:13 He enables me to put aside my wants and needs for the benefit of others: No one has greater love (no one has shown greater affection) than to lay down his life for his friends.
15:14 I have the Fear of the Lord: You are my friends IF you keep doing the things which I command you to do. * We demonstrate Reverence through Obedience
15:15 I am a friend of God: I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. I have revealed to you everything I learned from Him.
15:16 He chose me: You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you.
15:16 The fruit I bear is eternal: ...and appointed you that you may bear fruit, and keep on bearing it, and that your fruit may be lasting (that it may remain and abide forever)...
15:17 I grow in Love: This is my command: that you love one another. *from the previous verse, we are to continuously ask that we be enabled to fulfill that this command.
15:19 I Do Not belong to This World: If you belonged to this world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of this world; because I selected you out of this world, the world hates (detests) you.
15:21 I share in Jesus' sufferings: The world hated me and they will hate you also...they will do all this to you because you bear my name and on my account, for they do not understand the One who sent me.
15:26 I have received the Holy Spirit: But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby) comes...He will testify regarding Me. *The Holy Spirit is the way that makes abiding possible.
15:27 I confess Him and Testify of Him: You also will testify and be my witnesses because you have been with me. *We need to abide in Him to bear witness to Him
Are you His? Do you have the assurance that comes from the Holy Spirit and His Word?
Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that bears witness to my heart that I belong to You. Keep us continually abiding in You and Grow us up in Your love that we may bear fruit that is everlasting. We Thank You and Praise You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen
Monday, May 2, 2011
Freedom in Doubt
Ever experience a paradigm shift in your thinking? Yesterday my Pastor started a new series on Doubt, and it was an awakening of sorts for my soul! I guesss, for me, I have always felt guilty for having doubts in my walk with the Lord. There has always been a negative connotation asssociated with doubt in my estimations. Some things have always raised questions for me, and for a period in my life, those questions caused me to make some choices that were not good for me and my family.
Yesterday the message that was preached from the pulpit was liberating! Doubt is a gift! Not the curse I have always believed it to be. I will attempt to do justice to what I learned yesterday in this post and I pray that the Holy Spirit will do the rest, so that you may experience this shift in thinking as well, if need be...
"Doubt is what brings many people out of their old beliefs and into faith in Jesus." When my daughter was a year old she had an accident that shook my world and the outcome of that accident changed the course of my life and the lives of my family forever. She got hold of a bottle of nail glue, somehow removed the top and it poured down her tiny little arm. This glue was from a "bad batch" and within seconds of hitting her clothing the temperature of this catalyst rose to over 387 degrees burning through her clothing and through the layers of skin on her wrist. She immediately went into shock and I into action. I will spare you the gruesome details but suffice it to say that we went through a couple of surgeries, skin graphs and tremendous pain. We were told at the time, by the doctors that she would never have use of her wrist because the tendons, nerves and muscles were burned and they could only do so much.
As a mom, I was stricken with guilt and fear. I was not a Believer at the time, but something inside me told me that someone needed to lay hands on her and pray for her. I took my daughter and spent an entire day driving her from church to church looking for someone--some priest or minister or whatever--to pray for her. It was mind boggling to me that no one I came into contact with that day would do what I requested! Yes, they said they would pray, but the voice in me was saying "lay hands on her and pray" it was very specific. The Catholic priest said they didn't do that, and the other ministers looked at me like I had six heads!
I brought my daughter home in tears and I remember yelling out loud in the car, "Doesn't anyone believe in you God?". These men were supposed to be servants of God, yet they did not believe that He could heal my child! The voice inside me would not go away, and I became a women on a mission, trying to find someone to pray for her healing. I was working at a salon at the time, and one of the women I worked with (who was a bit peculiur!) said to me that she would pray for my daughter. She said she believed that as she layed her hands on my baby, the child would be healed. She went on to say, when I questioned her extensively, that as a child of the Living God, she had the right to call on the power of the Name of Jesus for every need that presented itself and that I could as well, if I believed on Him. I did not understand, but I allowed her to lay hands on my girl and pray. She drove to my home after work, and the prayer she prayed and the faith she had in the One she prayed to, altered our lives forever. I knew, without a doubt, that my daughter was healed. I also knew, that I needed what she had.
I went with her to church that Sunday, with my children, and not only did I receive the gift of Salvation, but I dedicated my children to the Lord as well. That was 18 years ago, and my daughter, in case you were wondering, is healed.
"Don't reject what you KNOW because of what you don't yet understand." Having been raised in the Catholic Church and having gone to Catholic school my whole life, I knew that the Bible was full of stories of Jesus healing people when he touched them. They were just stories to me then, but now they are Truth to me. Some things have happened along the way that have caused me to doubt, not so much the facts of who God is or His power, but more of who I am, as His child. The source of my doubt is usually found in my emotions and my choices, not the facts.
Matthew 5:8 says, Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperpous--possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their condition) is the pure in heart, for they shall see God! (Amplified) Obedience combined with right living and the disciplines of reading the Word of God and daily prayer, bring CLARITY.
Without doubt, you can't really go deeper into faith. So, that is my paradigm shift. God is not afraid of my questions, as a matter of fact, He desires my questions, because He knows they will keep me seeking Him.
Father I thank you for the gift of doubt! I thank you for your Holy Spirit, who leads me in all truth. I thank you for counting me out of the crowd and making me one of Your children. I thank you for the power of Your Name, which is now at my disposal. I love you Lord. Keep me, keep us, ever questioning and ever seeking You. Amen
Yesterday the message that was preached from the pulpit was liberating! Doubt is a gift! Not the curse I have always believed it to be. I will attempt to do justice to what I learned yesterday in this post and I pray that the Holy Spirit will do the rest, so that you may experience this shift in thinking as well, if need be...
"Doubt is what brings many people out of their old beliefs and into faith in Jesus." When my daughter was a year old she had an accident that shook my world and the outcome of that accident changed the course of my life and the lives of my family forever. She got hold of a bottle of nail glue, somehow removed the top and it poured down her tiny little arm. This glue was from a "bad batch" and within seconds of hitting her clothing the temperature of this catalyst rose to over 387 degrees burning through her clothing and through the layers of skin on her wrist. She immediately went into shock and I into action. I will spare you the gruesome details but suffice it to say that we went through a couple of surgeries, skin graphs and tremendous pain. We were told at the time, by the doctors that she would never have use of her wrist because the tendons, nerves and muscles were burned and they could only do so much.
As a mom, I was stricken with guilt and fear. I was not a Believer at the time, but something inside me told me that someone needed to lay hands on her and pray for her. I took my daughter and spent an entire day driving her from church to church looking for someone--some priest or minister or whatever--to pray for her. It was mind boggling to me that no one I came into contact with that day would do what I requested! Yes, they said they would pray, but the voice in me was saying "lay hands on her and pray" it was very specific. The Catholic priest said they didn't do that, and the other ministers looked at me like I had six heads!
I brought my daughter home in tears and I remember yelling out loud in the car, "Doesn't anyone believe in you God?". These men were supposed to be servants of God, yet they did not believe that He could heal my child! The voice inside me would not go away, and I became a women on a mission, trying to find someone to pray for her healing. I was working at a salon at the time, and one of the women I worked with (who was a bit peculiur!) said to me that she would pray for my daughter. She said she believed that as she layed her hands on my baby, the child would be healed. She went on to say, when I questioned her extensively, that as a child of the Living God, she had the right to call on the power of the Name of Jesus for every need that presented itself and that I could as well, if I believed on Him. I did not understand, but I allowed her to lay hands on my girl and pray. She drove to my home after work, and the prayer she prayed and the faith she had in the One she prayed to, altered our lives forever. I knew, without a doubt, that my daughter was healed. I also knew, that I needed what she had.
I went with her to church that Sunday, with my children, and not only did I receive the gift of Salvation, but I dedicated my children to the Lord as well. That was 18 years ago, and my daughter, in case you were wondering, is healed.
"Don't reject what you KNOW because of what you don't yet understand." Having been raised in the Catholic Church and having gone to Catholic school my whole life, I knew that the Bible was full of stories of Jesus healing people when he touched them. They were just stories to me then, but now they are Truth to me. Some things have happened along the way that have caused me to doubt, not so much the facts of who God is or His power, but more of who I am, as His child. The source of my doubt is usually found in my emotions and my choices, not the facts.
Matthew 5:8 says, Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperpous--possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their condition) is the pure in heart, for they shall see God! (Amplified) Obedience combined with right living and the disciplines of reading the Word of God and daily prayer, bring CLARITY.
Without doubt, you can't really go deeper into faith. So, that is my paradigm shift. God is not afraid of my questions, as a matter of fact, He desires my questions, because He knows they will keep me seeking Him.
Father I thank you for the gift of doubt! I thank you for your Holy Spirit, who leads me in all truth. I thank you for counting me out of the crowd and making me one of Your children. I thank you for the power of Your Name, which is now at my disposal. I love you Lord. Keep me, keep us, ever questioning and ever seeking You. Amen
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