My friend Melissa Mann wrote this, I'm replacing my blog today with this. That is how much I believe we need to get ready for battle! The battle is here, are you ready?
http://momentsalongthejourney.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-heart-for-minute.html
Please ready Melissa's blog! You don't have to be dissatisfied, God wants to give you His fullness! Don't limit Him!!
Monday, August 31, 2015
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Do We Believe As We Should?
Ok, honesty time. No one knows what you are reading so they will not know why you are raising your hand. :-) How many of you prayed hard for something and then sat there with your jaw dropping when God did it? Glad you can't see if my hand is raised, but in truth, yes I have.
I know in my heart that God CAN do anything. I know He is all powerful. Yet at times, especially when the answer comes quickly or in a way we never imagined, we go 'Whoa, He did it!' I know I'm not on the only guilty. As I sit here on any given day, I know that God is able. I do believe it. Yet satan will send those slivers of doubt, those little words like 'unworthy', 'unimportant', 'trivial' to make me wonder if God will be bothered.
Yet He is. Just as we care about what bothers our children, God cares about His as well. It's another of those 'can't get my head wrapped around it' moments sometimes. With all the people in the world, all the cares and the problems God hears every prayer.
We are told we can come boldly before God with our requests. Now let's get real here, there is a different in bold and cocky. Boldly, yet with a holy reverence of who He is, that is how we pray. I don't think I really understood that boldly part until recently.
We are to come to God confessing our sins, praising His name and I get that but I think some times we are almost apologetic that we are asking God for things. We pray like we are saying 'I'm really sorry to bother you, I know You don't really have time for me, but if You don't mind and it's not too much trouble, do You think maybe, You might can possibly do something about this'.
God wants us to be humble but He doesn't want us cowering down like an abused child that is afraid if they ask for something they will punished. If we come into our prayer time with humbleness of spirit and we spend the time confessing and praising, by the time we get to our requests, we have a free flowing conversation with God. We can pour out our hearts to Him just as we would with any friend. We are not only asking Him for requests and answers but we will be asking Him to show us how to be what He wants us to do. How we can be used by Him. We are asking Him to keep us in His paths. Our prayer isn't just a list of "I wants".
We can pray for that protection for our families and that peace as the troublesome times come and know that He is right there in the midst of whatever we are going through. To truly enter into prayer boldly, we must enter into prayer the way God meant it to be. Recognizing and confessing our failures and all the while recognizing and praising Him for his holiness. Because He is holy and He has covered our sins with His blood, God sees us as holy when we come before Him. We have His holiness.
By the time you read this I will have gone to see the new movie The War Room. Since May, over and over I have been in services where the importance of a prayer closet have been preached. God is telling me this is important. My heart is coming to feel the overpowering need to have that place that God knows I mean business. You can read your Bible and pray anywhere but do you have a place that when you go there God knows, they are serious? What if you knew that your family depended on it? Would you have one there? I think it just might.
I know in my heart that God CAN do anything. I know He is all powerful. Yet at times, especially when the answer comes quickly or in a way we never imagined, we go 'Whoa, He did it!' I know I'm not on the only guilty. As I sit here on any given day, I know that God is able. I do believe it. Yet satan will send those slivers of doubt, those little words like 'unworthy', 'unimportant', 'trivial' to make me wonder if God will be bothered.
Yet He is. Just as we care about what bothers our children, God cares about His as well. It's another of those 'can't get my head wrapped around it' moments sometimes. With all the people in the world, all the cares and the problems God hears every prayer.
We are told we can come boldly before God with our requests. Now let's get real here, there is a different in bold and cocky. Boldly, yet with a holy reverence of who He is, that is how we pray. I don't think I really understood that boldly part until recently.
We are to come to God confessing our sins, praising His name and I get that but I think some times we are almost apologetic that we are asking God for things. We pray like we are saying 'I'm really sorry to bother you, I know You don't really have time for me, but if You don't mind and it's not too much trouble, do You think maybe, You might can possibly do something about this'.
God wants us to be humble but He doesn't want us cowering down like an abused child that is afraid if they ask for something they will punished. If we come into our prayer time with humbleness of spirit and we spend the time confessing and praising, by the time we get to our requests, we have a free flowing conversation with God. We can pour out our hearts to Him just as we would with any friend. We are not only asking Him for requests and answers but we will be asking Him to show us how to be what He wants us to do. How we can be used by Him. We are asking Him to keep us in His paths. Our prayer isn't just a list of "I wants".
We can pray for that protection for our families and that peace as the troublesome times come and know that He is right there in the midst of whatever we are going through. To truly enter into prayer boldly, we must enter into prayer the way God meant it to be. Recognizing and confessing our failures and all the while recognizing and praising Him for his holiness. Because He is holy and He has covered our sins with His blood, God sees us as holy when we come before Him. We have His holiness.
By the time you read this I will have gone to see the new movie The War Room. Since May, over and over I have been in services where the importance of a prayer closet have been preached. God is telling me this is important. My heart is coming to feel the overpowering need to have that place that God knows I mean business. You can read your Bible and pray anywhere but do you have a place that when you go there God knows, they are serious? What if you knew that your family depended on it? Would you have one there? I think it just might.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Bridge Out Ahead
I saw a joke in a post the other day that made me think a bit.
Two preachers were posting signs just before a big curve in a road, saying 'the end is near, turn back now'. A man yells as he passes 'you religious nuts!', as he goes around the curve you hear a loud crash. One preacher looks at the other and says 'do you think the sign should have said bridge out ahead?'
We chuckle yet in our daily life we have many warning signs that we completely ignore because we don't like how the message is worded or who is giving the message. Then when we get in trouble we try to tell God 'why didn't you stop me'. I'm sure He wants to shake His head and just point to all the signs He gave us that we ignored.
Sometimes the sign is a feeling where He nudges us to listen to His still small voice, sometimes it is a friend that, in love, questions our decisions (notice I said in love, I'm not talking about that person that criticizes everything with a holier than thou attitude), sometimes it is the words of a Sunday School teacher or a preacher that give us insight to ways we should change, it may even be the words to a song that we can't get out of our head.
But whatever the way, whatever the sign, God doesn't let us go head long into chaos without warning us. Our challenge is learning to listen for the warnings. Then even more challenging is listening without fighting back.
I remember times I've had warnings, almost flashing signs and I've run full speed ahead. It's easy to convince ourselves that the signs or struggles to get somewhere is the devil not wanting us to succeed. I'm having to fight, it must mean the devil doesn't want me to have it, right? Maybe, or maybe God is trying His best to show you something and you are wearing blinders.
Why can't God be clearer, you may ask. Well, are you reading your Bible? Are you praying? Those are the ways He uses most often to give you clarity. If you are praying, what are you praying? Are you praying 'God show me, guide me' or are you praying 'God, I want to do this, please make it happen'? What you pray is as important as actually praying.
God will give you the desires of your heart but you must delight in Him, spend time with Him, read and apply His word, talk to Him and allow Him to talk to you. (Psalms 37) The bridge is often out or the road closed but He will show you if you will allow Him to, what path is best for you.
Two preachers were posting signs just before a big curve in a road, saying 'the end is near, turn back now'. A man yells as he passes 'you religious nuts!', as he goes around the curve you hear a loud crash. One preacher looks at the other and says 'do you think the sign should have said bridge out ahead?'
We chuckle yet in our daily life we have many warning signs that we completely ignore because we don't like how the message is worded or who is giving the message. Then when we get in trouble we try to tell God 'why didn't you stop me'. I'm sure He wants to shake His head and just point to all the signs He gave us that we ignored.
Sometimes the sign is a feeling where He nudges us to listen to His still small voice, sometimes it is a friend that, in love, questions our decisions (notice I said in love, I'm not talking about that person that criticizes everything with a holier than thou attitude), sometimes it is the words of a Sunday School teacher or a preacher that give us insight to ways we should change, it may even be the words to a song that we can't get out of our head.
But whatever the way, whatever the sign, God doesn't let us go head long into chaos without warning us. Our challenge is learning to listen for the warnings. Then even more challenging is listening without fighting back.
I remember times I've had warnings, almost flashing signs and I've run full speed ahead. It's easy to convince ourselves that the signs or struggles to get somewhere is the devil not wanting us to succeed. I'm having to fight, it must mean the devil doesn't want me to have it, right? Maybe, or maybe God is trying His best to show you something and you are wearing blinders.
Why can't God be clearer, you may ask. Well, are you reading your Bible? Are you praying? Those are the ways He uses most often to give you clarity. If you are praying, what are you praying? Are you praying 'God show me, guide me' or are you praying 'God, I want to do this, please make it happen'? What you pray is as important as actually praying.
God will give you the desires of your heart but you must delight in Him, spend time with Him, read and apply His word, talk to Him and allow Him to talk to you. (Psalms 37) The bridge is often out or the road closed but He will show you if you will allow Him to, what path is best for you.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Philippians 4 - What We Know
So the last few days I've talked about verses from Philippians 4 and what we can learn from them. It is one of my favorite chapters. It gives so much direction and encouragement. It gives me answers.
Do you have a lot of questions? Sometimes I feel like that's all I do is ask why or how. How to I manage this, how to I pay that, why did this happen? Do you have those days? It's so hard to apply what I know, that God is in control, to the chaos that I seem to live in.
One of the things that stands out to me on this chapter is the order of things. 1) Rejoice, 2) God's peace, 3) I can do all things & 4) God will supply my needs. It starts with my rejoicing. I think that is true in our lives as well. If we want God's peace, we must rejoice. If we want to conquer giants and move mountains, we must rejoice. If we want our needs met, we must rejoice.
I'm guilty of wanting it in the other order, Lord do something and I'll rejoice. Yet here we are clearly shown it begins with us rejoicing! Rejoice in the chaos because God can put it in order. Rejoice in the sorrow because God promises a better tomorrow. Rejoice when the storms are raging because we know the Peacemaker. Rejoice just because He is!
Once we learn to rejoice because He is, we free Him to do what He does! He is waiting on us to acknowledge Him and the awesomeness of who He is. He has much to give us and all He is waiting on is for us to hold up our hands to receive. As our joy and praise flows up, His blessings flow down, it is a two conduit.
Do you need God's peace, His strength, His comfort, His intervention? Then praise Him, you know He is able, praise Him for what He can do, for what He will do! Don't let the devil slide his doubts or fears into your heart. He is a liar, he the cause of chaos and unrest. The devil doesn't want you to praise, that is reason enough to praise right there, it makes the devil mad.
Now, let's be clear, praise doesn't mean you won't have problems. In fact, the closer you get to God the more the devil wants to stop you! But God's grace far outweighs anything the devil can throw at you. He is able! If you need encouragement and joy in your life, spend some time in the book of Philippians. Let God speak to you.
Do you have a lot of questions? Sometimes I feel like that's all I do is ask why or how. How to I manage this, how to I pay that, why did this happen? Do you have those days? It's so hard to apply what I know, that God is in control, to the chaos that I seem to live in.
One of the things that stands out to me on this chapter is the order of things. 1) Rejoice, 2) God's peace, 3) I can do all things & 4) God will supply my needs. It starts with my rejoicing. I think that is true in our lives as well. If we want God's peace, we must rejoice. If we want to conquer giants and move mountains, we must rejoice. If we want our needs met, we must rejoice.
I'm guilty of wanting it in the other order, Lord do something and I'll rejoice. Yet here we are clearly shown it begins with us rejoicing! Rejoice in the chaos because God can put it in order. Rejoice in the sorrow because God promises a better tomorrow. Rejoice when the storms are raging because we know the Peacemaker. Rejoice just because He is!
Once we learn to rejoice because He is, we free Him to do what He does! He is waiting on us to acknowledge Him and the awesomeness of who He is. He has much to give us and all He is waiting on is for us to hold up our hands to receive. As our joy and praise flows up, His blessings flow down, it is a two conduit.
Do you need God's peace, His strength, His comfort, His intervention? Then praise Him, you know He is able, praise Him for what He can do, for what He will do! Don't let the devil slide his doubts or fears into your heart. He is a liar, he the cause of chaos and unrest. The devil doesn't want you to praise, that is reason enough to praise right there, it makes the devil mad.
Now, let's be clear, praise doesn't mean you won't have problems. In fact, the closer you get to God the more the devil wants to stop you! But God's grace far outweighs anything the devil can throw at you. He is able! If you need encouragement and joy in your life, spend some time in the book of Philippians. Let God speak to you.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
His Riches
Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Do you ever worry? Almost funny to hear someone ask that isn't it, we all worry at times but we don't have to and it doesn't do any good. God says He is able to supply ALL our needs. I don't believe that is just financial but financial is often an important one on our list.
The problem is often we don't know what we need. We have lived in this world so long that we get confused on what is a need. I don't need a million dollars, now I wouldn't turn it down if someone wanted to give it to me. And after bills were paid off there are a number of good things that would bless people that I could do with it. But if I had it and didn't have to depend on God daily to meet my needs, would I forget that He is the one that met them? I'd hope not but I've seen it happen.
Sometimes it is health, I've heard people say 'I had ________ and I prayed and God didn't heal me'. But you are still here, so He gave you strength to make it through, that was your need. Sometimes we pray for someone's health and God gives perfect healing. That is seldom what our prayer was. When we pray for healing we sometimes forget that in heaven there will be no sickness.
Sometimes it is sorrow, I have trouble sometimes understanding why God takes some people out of our world but I must trust that He knows the answer. But this one is one that I still have trouble dealing with. The fact that someone is 'better off', 'that they are no longer suffering', 'they won't come back for anything', has a form of comfort but it doesn't change the sorrow. But God will supply our need for comfort and for peace. But each day is new and we may have to ask for that grace over and over.
We sometimes look at what others go through and think 'I just don't think I could handle that', yet God has Grace for that as well, but He doesn't give us that grace until the time we need it. I've seen people stand in the midst of great sorrow and point others to the overwhelming grace of God.
I don't know your need and as much as I might want to help you, I'm not the one that can meet your needs. But I can introduce you to the One who can. He is our provider, He is our load lifter, He is our burden bearer, He is comfort, He brings peace, He supplies our every need.
Thank Him today for every need He has supplied for you. Trust Him for every need in your present and future. He is able!
Do you ever worry? Almost funny to hear someone ask that isn't it, we all worry at times but we don't have to and it doesn't do any good. God says He is able to supply ALL our needs. I don't believe that is just financial but financial is often an important one on our list.
The problem is often we don't know what we need. We have lived in this world so long that we get confused on what is a need. I don't need a million dollars, now I wouldn't turn it down if someone wanted to give it to me. And after bills were paid off there are a number of good things that would bless people that I could do with it. But if I had it and didn't have to depend on God daily to meet my needs, would I forget that He is the one that met them? I'd hope not but I've seen it happen.
Sometimes it is health, I've heard people say 'I had ________ and I prayed and God didn't heal me'. But you are still here, so He gave you strength to make it through, that was your need. Sometimes we pray for someone's health and God gives perfect healing. That is seldom what our prayer was. When we pray for healing we sometimes forget that in heaven there will be no sickness.
Sometimes it is sorrow, I have trouble sometimes understanding why God takes some people out of our world but I must trust that He knows the answer. But this one is one that I still have trouble dealing with. The fact that someone is 'better off', 'that they are no longer suffering', 'they won't come back for anything', has a form of comfort but it doesn't change the sorrow. But God will supply our need for comfort and for peace. But each day is new and we may have to ask for that grace over and over.
We sometimes look at what others go through and think 'I just don't think I could handle that', yet God has Grace for that as well, but He doesn't give us that grace until the time we need it. I've seen people stand in the midst of great sorrow and point others to the overwhelming grace of God.
I don't know your need and as much as I might want to help you, I'm not the one that can meet your needs. But I can introduce you to the One who can. He is our provider, He is our load lifter, He is our burden bearer, He is comfort, He brings peace, He supplies our every need.
Thank Him today for every need He has supplied for you. Trust Him for every need in your present and future. He is able!
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
All Things, Not just Some!!
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Did you read that verse? How many times have you quoted it? How many times have you used it when someone else was having doubts? Yet how many times in your own life do you say " I can't' or 'I don't know if I can'? Now you are in good company when you say that, some great men of God have also told God what they could not do. Yet God has been faithful and they accomplished great things.
Stepping out in faith can be hard and sometime we need an encouraging push to get us moving in the right direction. That is human. It is also human to give up but that is never God's will. Paul had realized that God is faithful, God is not going to tell you to do something that cannot be done. Now it may not be done the way we would have thought it should be, but if He tells you to do it, He will give you the ability.
Do you feel too tired to do it, Christ is our strength. Do you feel unqualified? Do you think you know the qualifications better than God does? Really that's what we are saying when God tells us to do something and we 'I'm not qualified'. We are saying to God 'You don't know what you are talking about'. I mean really, have your ever thought about what you are telling God? I had never thought about it in those terms, but in truth we are telling God we know what is needed to preform this task better than He does. That's just not true. He knows all things.
Do you feel your past keeps you from it? Maybe your past has the key to you being able to reach someone that no one else could reach. Maybe something you have lived through will help them relate to what God is doing. But it's too painful to relive it, I'm going to be harsh here. Is it more painful than the cross, the beating Christ suffered? No, I didn't think so.
We can do whatever God calls us to do, but we can only do it in the strength of Christ. We can only do it if we are walking with Him daily. We can't do it on our own and if we managed on our own it would not have the desired impact. God wants us to lean on Him daily for our strength. He is our power source. Trust Him today that He WILL give you strength.
Did you read that verse? How many times have you quoted it? How many times have you used it when someone else was having doubts? Yet how many times in your own life do you say " I can't' or 'I don't know if I can'? Now you are in good company when you say that, some great men of God have also told God what they could not do. Yet God has been faithful and they accomplished great things.
Stepping out in faith can be hard and sometime we need an encouraging push to get us moving in the right direction. That is human. It is also human to give up but that is never God's will. Paul had realized that God is faithful, God is not going to tell you to do something that cannot be done. Now it may not be done the way we would have thought it should be, but if He tells you to do it, He will give you the ability.
Do you feel too tired to do it, Christ is our strength. Do you feel unqualified? Do you think you know the qualifications better than God does? Really that's what we are saying when God tells us to do something and we 'I'm not qualified'. We are saying to God 'You don't know what you are talking about'. I mean really, have your ever thought about what you are telling God? I had never thought about it in those terms, but in truth we are telling God we know what is needed to preform this task better than He does. That's just not true. He knows all things.
Do you feel your past keeps you from it? Maybe your past has the key to you being able to reach someone that no one else could reach. Maybe something you have lived through will help them relate to what God is doing. But it's too painful to relive it, I'm going to be harsh here. Is it more painful than the cross, the beating Christ suffered? No, I didn't think so.
We can do whatever God calls us to do, but we can only do it in the strength of Christ. We can only do it if we are walking with Him daily. We can't do it on our own and if we managed on our own it would not have the desired impact. God wants us to lean on Him daily for our strength. He is our power source. Trust Him today that He WILL give you strength.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Contentment, Is It Possible?
Philippians 4: 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned , in whatsoever state I am , therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased , and I know how to abound : every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry , both to abound and to suffer need .
Contentment, how little we see of that in today's world. That is true in the secular world but it is also true in the church as well. There are many that still want to keep up with the 'Jones' or 'the church down the street'. There are those that belief unless you have something bigger and better, then you aren't in God's will.
Did they ever read about Paul? This man had it all, he was respected, he had power, he was well off in his days before his conversion. Yet he served time in jail, he was beaten, he was ship wreaked. He truly was forced 'give up' all the things that we hold dear but the treasure he was building is so much greater than anything we can imagine.
In jail, he was content, not because he had good food, a color tv, an exercise room. He was content because he knew and SAW that God could unlock the cell. He was content because He knew his treasure was in heaven. He was content because he had the peace of God.
This is the 3rd or 4th time I'm taken verses out of Phil. 4, there is a reason for that. There is so much there for us to get. Paul gave us the basis of what our Christian life should be about. He shows us what life is like when it gets down to the nitty-gritty. It's not about unfounded promises but on the basis of God being the God of His promises. We so often base 'where we are' on what is happening to us in that minute.
We may be having a rough day but God is still God, that is where our contentment should come from. We may be suffering, we have been wronged, we have been hurt, we are mistreated. God is still God and He along is where our contentment will come from.
When we look to a person, a church, a group to find our peace, to give us contentment, we will always be disappointed. They all fail, WE all fail. We are not able to always be on point, we have bad days and any one you put on a pedestal will fall off at some point and time.
But God fails not, He is faithful and when we trust Him, we can be content. The most important thing we can do in any given day is trust God. All other things revolve around that. We must believe His word and trust His promises.
Monday, August 24, 2015
Peace, sweet peace
Philippians 4: 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
There are so many verses in Philippians 4 that speak to me, so many give me hope and promise. Over and over God tells us that we are not to worry, 'be careful for nothing' means you don't have to worry about what is going to happen, God says "I've got this". And when God's got it, there is no reason to fear.
We are to pray, bring Him our needs, our wants, our desires, our concerns and once we have brought them, we are to thank Him for what He will do. We are to trust that He will do it. We are to live in the confidence that HE and HE alone is the answer. If we trust Him, He will give us His peace. But you can't have peace where this is conflict or anxiety.
All He asks is that we trust him and He will give us the peace that passes all understanding. You hear the voices of satan telling you that you can't do something? Give it to Jesus, thank Him for the answer and God's peace will keep your heart and mind. God knew that satan would play mind games with us. He know that he would whisper lies to us. God knew that satan will try to keep our hearts anxious and our minds fearful.
But if we trust God and take every need to him in prayer with thanksgiving, He will give us the peace that only He can give. It is a peace that saturates us in love, calm and comfort. It is a peace that draws a line in front of satan and saids 'MY Grace is sufficient, devil, you can't come here'.
Now you say, I've done that but it didn't last. I thought that to but you know one, this isn't a one time deal, this is a daily, maybe an hourly exercise. You see the devil doesn't just try once an if it doesn't work leave us alone. He is relentless in his pursuit of trying destroy us. We must be just as vigilant in our pursuit of seeking God and allowing God to protect us.
Our hearts and minds need His peace, without them we are vulnerable to the doubts and whispering that the devil does in our ear. I love how things in the Bible tie together. In Eph. 6:18 God tells us 'Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit'. This is immediately after telling us to put on the whole armor of God. Having almost the exact same words tied to verses that tell us how to preserve our minds tells me that it is important. It is one of those points God wants to make sure we get. It took me a while and I still slip back but I know that my life is only as good as my prayer life.
I may have things but if I don't have power, I really have nothing. Power comes from God, I need to be in constant contact with my commander. He has the ability to send the rescue when needed. He has the ability to put that army around me, around my family. I need to talk to Him and allow Him to talk to me on a daily basis.
There are so many verses in Philippians 4 that speak to me, so many give me hope and promise. Over and over God tells us that we are not to worry, 'be careful for nothing' means you don't have to worry about what is going to happen, God says "I've got this". And when God's got it, there is no reason to fear.
We are to pray, bring Him our needs, our wants, our desires, our concerns and once we have brought them, we are to thank Him for what He will do. We are to trust that He will do it. We are to live in the confidence that HE and HE alone is the answer. If we trust Him, He will give us His peace. But you can't have peace where this is conflict or anxiety.
All He asks is that we trust him and He will give us the peace that passes all understanding. You hear the voices of satan telling you that you can't do something? Give it to Jesus, thank Him for the answer and God's peace will keep your heart and mind. God knew that satan would play mind games with us. He know that he would whisper lies to us. God knew that satan will try to keep our hearts anxious and our minds fearful.
But if we trust God and take every need to him in prayer with thanksgiving, He will give us the peace that only He can give. It is a peace that saturates us in love, calm and comfort. It is a peace that draws a line in front of satan and saids 'MY Grace is sufficient, devil, you can't come here'.
Now you say, I've done that but it didn't last. I thought that to but you know one, this isn't a one time deal, this is a daily, maybe an hourly exercise. You see the devil doesn't just try once an if it doesn't work leave us alone. He is relentless in his pursuit of trying destroy us. We must be just as vigilant in our pursuit of seeking God and allowing God to protect us.
Our hearts and minds need His peace, without them we are vulnerable to the doubts and whispering that the devil does in our ear. I love how things in the Bible tie together. In Eph. 6:18 God tells us 'Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit'. This is immediately after telling us to put on the whole armor of God. Having almost the exact same words tied to verses that tell us how to preserve our minds tells me that it is important. It is one of those points God wants to make sure we get. It took me a while and I still slip back but I know that my life is only as good as my prayer life.
I may have things but if I don't have power, I really have nothing. Power comes from God, I need to be in constant contact with my commander. He has the ability to send the rescue when needed. He has the ability to put that army around me, around my family. I need to talk to Him and allow Him to talk to me on a daily basis.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Rejoice and again I say Rejoice
Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say , Rejoice
That verse says it all. REJOICE! I don't feel like rejoicing today but the Bible doesn't say rejoice WHEN you feel like it. In fact, it could be said that we rejoice UNTIL we feel like. God will reward praise, He will reward us basking in His holiness.
He wants to be our all in all. He wants to be the source of our strength. He wants to be provider, our comfort, our King of Kings. He wants so much for us to just fall into Him. Did you ever jump off a porch or someplace high into a dad or granddad's arms. I did with Daddy Bill a lot.
Something I never really noticed until the Lord pointed me that way. When I would jump into Daddy Bill's arms, he would grab me and pull me close so that felt the security of him catching me. He didn't just hold his arms out stiff, catch me without holding and cuddling me then set me down. As my body came in contact with his hands, his strong arms would wrap around me, he would pull me close. Often he would kiss my check but he would always hold me for a few seconds so I knew I was safe and at no risk from the fall.
Now that is how God is, we stand at the cliff of whatever He is asking us to do and we ask for the ladder to climb into it. Yet He is saying 'jump, I will catch you.' But we are afraid. Many of us are afraid because you didn't have the figure like my Daddy Bill that showed you that security. But even when you have had that sometimes you are still afraid.
I was asking myself today, 'was I ever afraid when Daddy Bill told me to jump?' and I realized that sometimes I was, yet with that fear was a confidence that He would die himself before he would let anything bad happen to me. How much more does our Heavenly Father love us. Jesus did die to keep us from hell but that is not ally that He wants to keep us from. He wants to keep us from fear, anxiety, mistrust. He wants to give us comfort, assurance and peace.
Lord, give me that mustard seed faith to trust You with all parts of my life and to follow even when You tell me to jump. Help me to rejoice that I am Yours and You are mine. If there were nothing else, that would a reason to rejoice.
That verse says it all. REJOICE! I don't feel like rejoicing today but the Bible doesn't say rejoice WHEN you feel like it. In fact, it could be said that we rejoice UNTIL we feel like. God will reward praise, He will reward us basking in His holiness.
He wants to be our all in all. He wants to be the source of our strength. He wants to be provider, our comfort, our King of Kings. He wants so much for us to just fall into Him. Did you ever jump off a porch or someplace high into a dad or granddad's arms. I did with Daddy Bill a lot.
Something I never really noticed until the Lord pointed me that way. When I would jump into Daddy Bill's arms, he would grab me and pull me close so that felt the security of him catching me. He didn't just hold his arms out stiff, catch me without holding and cuddling me then set me down. As my body came in contact with his hands, his strong arms would wrap around me, he would pull me close. Often he would kiss my check but he would always hold me for a few seconds so I knew I was safe and at no risk from the fall.
Now that is how God is, we stand at the cliff of whatever He is asking us to do and we ask for the ladder to climb into it. Yet He is saying 'jump, I will catch you.' But we are afraid. Many of us are afraid because you didn't have the figure like my Daddy Bill that showed you that security. But even when you have had that sometimes you are still afraid.
I was asking myself today, 'was I ever afraid when Daddy Bill told me to jump?' and I realized that sometimes I was, yet with that fear was a confidence that He would die himself before he would let anything bad happen to me. How much more does our Heavenly Father love us. Jesus did die to keep us from hell but that is not ally that He wants to keep us from. He wants to keep us from fear, anxiety, mistrust. He wants to give us comfort, assurance and peace.
Lord, give me that mustard seed faith to trust You with all parts of my life and to follow even when You tell me to jump. Help me to rejoice that I am Yours and You are mine. If there were nothing else, that would a reason to rejoice.
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Today is the Day
Psalms 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made ; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
That is so much easier said than done, isn't it? Rejoice, to be glad, there are days that just waking up is a chore but God wants us to rejoice. I've noticed a thread of what God has taken me to the last week or so. It is about our praise, it is about keeping our eyes on Him. Why is it such a struggle? Or maybe you are one of those folks that it isn't a struggle for, I'd love to know your secret.
Yet deep down I know the secret, it is getting in His word, it is spending time talking with Him and more importantly listening to Him. Our lives are filled with 24/7 business. The last few weeks I've been watching God move in several different places. The one thing that I've noticed these place have in common is they have people who are willing to take time to go into a prayer closet and stay until God moves. It's not a 5 minute 'now I lay me down to sleep' prayer.
It is God, WE NEED YOU! God, WE ARE SORRY FOR THE FAILURES AND WE WANT TO SERVE YOU! It is an acknowledgement of who God is and not just what He can do but what He WILL do. We believe that God is able but our faith often questions if He is willing.
His word promises us if we humble ourselves, if we acknowledge Him and repent of our sin, if we call on HIM, He will answer our prayers. He loves us, with a never failing love. I love but my love fails, I lose patience or I become distracted. But no matter how many of His children call on Him, He is never distracted. He never is short tempered. I'm sure I've tested that one a few times with some of the things I've done.
But He doesn't react as we do. Oh, He can be hurt by our rejection or our unfaithfulness. He can be disappointed that we take a wrong path. But unlike us that at times react hastily, God is true and just even when we are in our worst condition. I cannot tell you how thankful that makes me. I can't tell you how amazed I am at that.
The last few weeks God has been trying to help me get my mind wrapped around Who He Is and what that means to us. I'm still in awe. I can't grasp it in the way I wish I could but each day, He reveals just another little something that will make me go 'wow!' I knew that but I didn't 'get it'. There is a lot about God's awesomeness that I don't get because my frail mind can't wrap around it. I only have human examples to compare to and what He is so far exceeded even the greatest example I have.
This is the day the LORD hath made and no matter what my problem or trials, no matter what my aches or pains, my prayer is that I will rejoice and be glad in it because He is worthy of all my praise.
That is so much easier said than done, isn't it? Rejoice, to be glad, there are days that just waking up is a chore but God wants us to rejoice. I've noticed a thread of what God has taken me to the last week or so. It is about our praise, it is about keeping our eyes on Him. Why is it such a struggle? Or maybe you are one of those folks that it isn't a struggle for, I'd love to know your secret.
Yet deep down I know the secret, it is getting in His word, it is spending time talking with Him and more importantly listening to Him. Our lives are filled with 24/7 business. The last few weeks I've been watching God move in several different places. The one thing that I've noticed these place have in common is they have people who are willing to take time to go into a prayer closet and stay until God moves. It's not a 5 minute 'now I lay me down to sleep' prayer.
It is God, WE NEED YOU! God, WE ARE SORRY FOR THE FAILURES AND WE WANT TO SERVE YOU! It is an acknowledgement of who God is and not just what He can do but what He WILL do. We believe that God is able but our faith often questions if He is willing.
His word promises us if we humble ourselves, if we acknowledge Him and repent of our sin, if we call on HIM, He will answer our prayers. He loves us, with a never failing love. I love but my love fails, I lose patience or I become distracted. But no matter how many of His children call on Him, He is never distracted. He never is short tempered. I'm sure I've tested that one a few times with some of the things I've done.
But He doesn't react as we do. Oh, He can be hurt by our rejection or our unfaithfulness. He can be disappointed that we take a wrong path. But unlike us that at times react hastily, God is true and just even when we are in our worst condition. I cannot tell you how thankful that makes me. I can't tell you how amazed I am at that.
The last few weeks God has been trying to help me get my mind wrapped around Who He Is and what that means to us. I'm still in awe. I can't grasp it in the way I wish I could but each day, He reveals just another little something that will make me go 'wow!' I knew that but I didn't 'get it'. There is a lot about God's awesomeness that I don't get because my frail mind can't wrap around it. I only have human examples to compare to and what He is so far exceeded even the greatest example I have.
This is the day the LORD hath made and no matter what my problem or trials, no matter what my aches or pains, my prayer is that I will rejoice and be glad in it because He is worthy of all my praise.
Friday, August 21, 2015
It Make Me Cry
In April of this year, I walked into a church to hear some folks sing. Can I be really honest with you? I wasn't looking for a new church. I'd allowed satan to get me very discouraged on the church front. I'd decided, the best I could do was endure. Now if you know me you know one thing, I don't 'endure' well. I'm a fixer and when I see things broken, including myself, I want to fix things. I want to 'make it better'. But I felt that endure was the best I could do.
I was in church a lot of Sundays, not faithful as I should have been but no set place, no place where I'd be held accountable or where I'd be missed if I went somewhere else. What I'm going to say next may sorry like a pity party but that's not my intent. I don't want to dwell on the negative but I do want to acknowledge that as Christians we get hurt, often by those that we look to for love and/or encouragement. It may not be rational, it may not be reasonable but the fact is uncaring or callous people can hurt us. It hurts no less if they are Christians or if they didn't intend to do it. The pain is real.
That pain has driven many a young or unseasoned Christian from church. It has given many a doubter the 'dirt' to down the church. Well we would tell them, they need to just look to God right? I mean it wasn't God that did it, it was another human. It wasn't God that forsook them, it was a man-made church. Ok, read those words over and no matter how many times you say it, the hurting person is still hurting. Instead of judging or condemning for allowing a 'person' to be bigger to them than God, how about we just step up and say the real reason we throw those sayings out to those that have been hurt is we don't want to take responsibility for the hurt we have caused.
Back to April, I walked into that church because my granddaughter loved to hear the Browders sing. We had only been there a few minutes when she saw on the Powerpoint that rising 2nd-6th graders were going to camp that summer and she said "I want to go to camp". I told her we didn't go there to church, she said "I don't care, I want to go to camp". So I told her 'maybe'. There was such a sweet spirit in the church that day. It was one of those 'wrap you up in it' feelings that you couldn't deny. The preacher got up and told about the bus trouble that the Browders were having and that because of that, they would be at the church that night too. Erin looked at me and said 'are we coming back?' I gave my standard 'maybe'.
Almost from the first song, the tears began to flow. Now I really enjoy the Browders singing but I knew the tears were the Holy Ghost ministering. I cried out to God as I sat in that seat. I asked Him to forgive me for allowing people to interfere with my relationship with Him. I was in awe of how He blessed me that morning. And yes, we went back that night, again the Lord really blessed during the service and my praise was flowing from my heart. I asked myself why I had never visited the church before, I'd known the pastor for years. And I realized the distance from the house was the reason why.
Erin's mind was made up, she wanted to go back. They had Pastor's Pals that sang before most services, she felt at home from the first moment we walked in. And to be honest so did I. Over the next few weeks a number of things happened, I was sick, then papa died. I didn't call Pastor Robbie, I'd only visited there a couple of times. I almost did. I look back and realize that if I had, he and Trinity would have been there to help, that's just who they are.
I realized one day soon after as I was listening to the radio, why I felt at home there. It wasn't just the old time preaching and singing, it wasn't just the friendly people, while those were awesome. But as I listened to the Bowlings sing 'That's What I Missed The Most', I realized that freedom of the Holy Ghost to move in hearts and to 'rearrange' services is what my heart had been missing.
Someone asked recently, 'why do you drive there?' and my answer is simple this is where God put me, this is where I get fed, it is where my toes get stepped on when I'm not in line with God and where I get encouragement when I am. It is where I found my desire to sing again and to write again. Well, there and some awesome retreats that I've gone to and heard people speak directly to what I've carried in my heart for years. But God has used both those speakers and my church to revive my heart. I know that today or tomorrow the devil will try to take me back to that place where I had no song. I will not say that I will never go there again but I will say with God's help I will not go there.
Sometimes tears are from sorrow but other times, tears are cleansing, they are refreshing. Yes, my first service at Trinity I cried a lot and I've cried at other services there as well. I've also rejoiced and praised and prayed and confessed. That is why it feels like home.
I've sat in services where I've learned things from the scriptures, I'm one of those 'simple' folks, I love a good object lesson. I love the message to be easy to understand, even though at times it is hard to apply. A recent conversation on Facebook regarding folks wanting a 'feel good religion or church'. I don't want or need that but I'm also thankful that God allows me to feel His presence. He sometimes wraps me in His love in a way that I can't fully describe.
I was in church a lot of Sundays, not faithful as I should have been but no set place, no place where I'd be held accountable or where I'd be missed if I went somewhere else. What I'm going to say next may sorry like a pity party but that's not my intent. I don't want to dwell on the negative but I do want to acknowledge that as Christians we get hurt, often by those that we look to for love and/or encouragement. It may not be rational, it may not be reasonable but the fact is uncaring or callous people can hurt us. It hurts no less if they are Christians or if they didn't intend to do it. The pain is real.
That pain has driven many a young or unseasoned Christian from church. It has given many a doubter the 'dirt' to down the church. Well we would tell them, they need to just look to God right? I mean it wasn't God that did it, it was another human. It wasn't God that forsook them, it was a man-made church. Ok, read those words over and no matter how many times you say it, the hurting person is still hurting. Instead of judging or condemning for allowing a 'person' to be bigger to them than God, how about we just step up and say the real reason we throw those sayings out to those that have been hurt is we don't want to take responsibility for the hurt we have caused.
Back to April, I walked into that church because my granddaughter loved to hear the Browders sing. We had only been there a few minutes when she saw on the Powerpoint that rising 2nd-6th graders were going to camp that summer and she said "I want to go to camp". I told her we didn't go there to church, she said "I don't care, I want to go to camp". So I told her 'maybe'. There was such a sweet spirit in the church that day. It was one of those 'wrap you up in it' feelings that you couldn't deny. The preacher got up and told about the bus trouble that the Browders were having and that because of that, they would be at the church that night too. Erin looked at me and said 'are we coming back?' I gave my standard 'maybe'.
Almost from the first song, the tears began to flow. Now I really enjoy the Browders singing but I knew the tears were the Holy Ghost ministering. I cried out to God as I sat in that seat. I asked Him to forgive me for allowing people to interfere with my relationship with Him. I was in awe of how He blessed me that morning. And yes, we went back that night, again the Lord really blessed during the service and my praise was flowing from my heart. I asked myself why I had never visited the church before, I'd known the pastor for years. And I realized the distance from the house was the reason why.
Erin's mind was made up, she wanted to go back. They had Pastor's Pals that sang before most services, she felt at home from the first moment we walked in. And to be honest so did I. Over the next few weeks a number of things happened, I was sick, then papa died. I didn't call Pastor Robbie, I'd only visited there a couple of times. I almost did. I look back and realize that if I had, he and Trinity would have been there to help, that's just who they are.
I realized one day soon after as I was listening to the radio, why I felt at home there. It wasn't just the old time preaching and singing, it wasn't just the friendly people, while those were awesome. But as I listened to the Bowlings sing 'That's What I Missed The Most', I realized that freedom of the Holy Ghost to move in hearts and to 'rearrange' services is what my heart had been missing.
Someone asked recently, 'why do you drive there?' and my answer is simple this is where God put me, this is where I get fed, it is where my toes get stepped on when I'm not in line with God and where I get encouragement when I am. It is where I found my desire to sing again and to write again. Well, there and some awesome retreats that I've gone to and heard people speak directly to what I've carried in my heart for years. But God has used both those speakers and my church to revive my heart. I know that today or tomorrow the devil will try to take me back to that place where I had no song. I will not say that I will never go there again but I will say with God's help I will not go there.
Sometimes tears are from sorrow but other times, tears are cleansing, they are refreshing. Yes, my first service at Trinity I cried a lot and I've cried at other services there as well. I've also rejoiced and praised and prayed and confessed. That is why it feels like home.
I've sat in services where I've learned things from the scriptures, I'm one of those 'simple' folks, I love a good object lesson. I love the message to be easy to understand, even though at times it is hard to apply. A recent conversation on Facebook regarding folks wanting a 'feel good religion or church'. I don't want or need that but I'm also thankful that God allows me to feel His presence. He sometimes wraps me in His love in a way that I can't fully describe.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Why I Blog.... It's Not About Me, It is About Him
Every week, probably every day we have things said to us that discourage us. I've heard them, I'm ashamed to say that at times I've said them. Had someone say I was writing a blog so folks would think I was 'super spiritual'. If that wasn't so sad, it would be funny!
For the record I'm not super spiritual, some days I struggle just to be human. Not a day goes by that I don't fail God. Not a day goes by that I don't have regrets. The reason I write is in spite of that God still loves me and I have seen over and over others struggle with those same failures and doubts. I've seen them face heartache that I've personally dealt with. If one word I say helps one person, then I'm thankful.
It's not about how spiritual I am (or I'm not), it's about helping those that face those struggles. Any load is lighter if many people bear the burden. The Bible tells us over and over to love one another. If we love each other, we are going to want to help each other.
I know that some things I say over and over. Because I've found them to be true and I've found that often people don't get it. Shoot, often I don't get it until it has been given to me over and over.
Jesus loves me, do you really on a daily basis have your mind wrapped around that truth? If so, WHY are you so defended? I can tell you why I am, it is because I don't continually keep my eyes on Him. I get distracted. I get pulled in many different directions and allow satan to whisper his lies in my ear.
You know God never told me I'd have hundreds of people read a blog if I wrote it. He never said, 'this will make you famous'. He never said 'they will see how wise you are'. You know why He never said that, first, it may not be true. Only God knows how many will read this. It may be a few, it could be a lot. Neither answer is why I'm to obey Him when He tells me to write it. Wisdom comes from God and while I'm asking for it, I'm a LONG way from having it. While I know He will hear my prayer for it, someone thinking I'm wise isn't a reason to write. Famous, well, I've looked around and most folks that are famous are also miserable, it isn't my desire.
My desire is that someone will read each day's posts and will find something that helps them. My desire is to take what I've read in the Bible, seen in the world around me or heard from the pulpit and write a word that will help and encourage. My desire is for me to learn, if I am writing this blog I have to study God's word, I have to seek His guidance. If I do those things I will learn. If you learn something while I'm at it, that's a bonus.
Yesterday I was tired, I was a bit discouraged, I felt overwhelmed. I admit writing was neither my desire or something I felt I could do yesterday. This morning God has given me encouragement. It has come from FB books, messages and His world. I'm ready to go another day. Tomorrow will take care of itself, today I want to praise Him.
He is my provider, my healer, my all-knowing Father. I will continually thank Him. I will praise His name and thank Him for his faithfulness.
I won't apologize for thanking God. I won't back down from giving Him glory for what He has done. I might have days of weakness when I don't really feel like praising, I may have days that I feel He has left me But in my heart I know that He will never forsake me.
Today I pray if you see anything in what I have written that impacts you, that God will confirm it in your heart, Praise Him today. Praise Him always! No matter how good our deeds are, it is not about us, it is all about him!
For the record I'm not super spiritual, some days I struggle just to be human. Not a day goes by that I don't fail God. Not a day goes by that I don't have regrets. The reason I write is in spite of that God still loves me and I have seen over and over others struggle with those same failures and doubts. I've seen them face heartache that I've personally dealt with. If one word I say helps one person, then I'm thankful.
It's not about how spiritual I am (or I'm not), it's about helping those that face those struggles. Any load is lighter if many people bear the burden. The Bible tells us over and over to love one another. If we love each other, we are going to want to help each other.
I know that some things I say over and over. Because I've found them to be true and I've found that often people don't get it. Shoot, often I don't get it until it has been given to me over and over.
Jesus loves me, do you really on a daily basis have your mind wrapped around that truth? If so, WHY are you so defended? I can tell you why I am, it is because I don't continually keep my eyes on Him. I get distracted. I get pulled in many different directions and allow satan to whisper his lies in my ear.
You know God never told me I'd have hundreds of people read a blog if I wrote it. He never said, 'this will make you famous'. He never said 'they will see how wise you are'. You know why He never said that, first, it may not be true. Only God knows how many will read this. It may be a few, it could be a lot. Neither answer is why I'm to obey Him when He tells me to write it. Wisdom comes from God and while I'm asking for it, I'm a LONG way from having it. While I know He will hear my prayer for it, someone thinking I'm wise isn't a reason to write. Famous, well, I've looked around and most folks that are famous are also miserable, it isn't my desire.
My desire is that someone will read each day's posts and will find something that helps them. My desire is to take what I've read in the Bible, seen in the world around me or heard from the pulpit and write a word that will help and encourage. My desire is for me to learn, if I am writing this blog I have to study God's word, I have to seek His guidance. If I do those things I will learn. If you learn something while I'm at it, that's a bonus.
Yesterday I was tired, I was a bit discouraged, I felt overwhelmed. I admit writing was neither my desire or something I felt I could do yesterday. This morning God has given me encouragement. It has come from FB books, messages and His world. I'm ready to go another day. Tomorrow will take care of itself, today I want to praise Him.
He is my provider, my healer, my all-knowing Father. I will continually thank Him. I will praise His name and thank Him for his faithfulness.
I won't apologize for thanking God. I won't back down from giving Him glory for what He has done. I might have days of weakness when I don't really feel like praising, I may have days that I feel He has left me But in my heart I know that He will never forsake me.
Today I pray if you see anything in what I have written that impacts you, that God will confirm it in your heart, Praise Him today. Praise Him always! No matter how good our deeds are, it is not about us, it is all about him!
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
So Many Bad Things Happening To Good People
You see it on the news, you hear it on the radio, you see it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Periscope. Everywhere people are hurting. They are dealing with financial issues, health issues, spiritual issues. They are oppressed, depressed, feel abandoned. Life is just sad it seems.
Yet the Bible tells us that Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. I read those words and I look at so many around me and I wonder, where is that abundant life? Where is the joy? Those things come from God and the Bible also tells us that God inhabits the praise of His people.
So now I ask, where is your praise? We aren't told to praise for the good things. We are commanded in everything to give thanks. That means when your spouse leaves and you are broken hearted, you are to thank God, not for the situation but because He is God and He is faithful. You notice it doesn't say FOR everything give thanks, it says IN everything give thanks. When your children are wayward, in EVERYTHING give thanks. When the bank account looks slim, we are still to give thanks! When you are tired in spirit and body, give Him praise!
If we will find our praise we will be rewarded by the comforting presence of the Holy Ghost. Right now, I'm looking at a number of things I don't understand - health issues, family issues but God knows where I am and He alone can comfort me and assure that I make it through. There are other things that happen, I don't like them but I know they are consequences of choices/decisions I have made over the years, God isn't going to forsake me or neglect me because of these. He is still there and He still wants to hear my praise.
A friend wrote a song years ago that has spoken to me many times over the years. This is the chorus (Rodney Griffin I hope you don't mind if I use this)
'God wants to hear you sing,
When the waves are crashing round you,
When the fiery darts surround you
When despair is all you see
God wants to hear your voice
When the wisest man has spoken
And says, "Your circumstance is as hopeless as can be"
That's when God wants to hear you sing'
We find it easy to sing when we are on the mountain top but the true test of our praise is when we are going through trials. God wants to hear us sing! Because during those trials and battles we need Him there with us and He inhabits the praise of His people. When we praise, we bring Him into the fight with us! God answers prayers and I never want to discount the power of prayer. Yet here is something that I believe I never truly understood to the fullest before. He does answer prayer but He inhabits (Lives in) the praise of His people.
I can cry to God and He hears me but when I praise Him, He is there with me. Can you see why praising Him always is so important? This is why Paul say IN EVERYTHING give thanks. Thankfulness and praise go hand in hand. I don't think we really get it. At least I know I've been guilty of not getting it.
God is showing me, He is leading me. He wants me to have the joy and the abundant life but I can only have that when I trust Him, I praise Him. I can't be mired in my circumstances and have it.
Yet the Bible tells us that Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. I read those words and I look at so many around me and I wonder, where is that abundant life? Where is the joy? Those things come from God and the Bible also tells us that God inhabits the praise of His people.
So now I ask, where is your praise? We aren't told to praise for the good things. We are commanded in everything to give thanks. That means when your spouse leaves and you are broken hearted, you are to thank God, not for the situation but because He is God and He is faithful. You notice it doesn't say FOR everything give thanks, it says IN everything give thanks. When your children are wayward, in EVERYTHING give thanks. When the bank account looks slim, we are still to give thanks! When you are tired in spirit and body, give Him praise!
If we will find our praise we will be rewarded by the comforting presence of the Holy Ghost. Right now, I'm looking at a number of things I don't understand - health issues, family issues but God knows where I am and He alone can comfort me and assure that I make it through. There are other things that happen, I don't like them but I know they are consequences of choices/decisions I have made over the years, God isn't going to forsake me or neglect me because of these. He is still there and He still wants to hear my praise.
A friend wrote a song years ago that has spoken to me many times over the years. This is the chorus (Rodney Griffin I hope you don't mind if I use this)
'God wants to hear you sing,
When the waves are crashing round you,
When the fiery darts surround you
When despair is all you see
God wants to hear your voice
When the wisest man has spoken
And says, "Your circumstance is as hopeless as can be"
That's when God wants to hear you sing'
We find it easy to sing when we are on the mountain top but the true test of our praise is when we are going through trials. God wants to hear us sing! Because during those trials and battles we need Him there with us and He inhabits the praise of His people. When we praise, we bring Him into the fight with us! God answers prayers and I never want to discount the power of prayer. Yet here is something that I believe I never truly understood to the fullest before. He does answer prayer but He inhabits (Lives in) the praise of His people.
I can cry to God and He hears me but when I praise Him, He is there with me. Can you see why praising Him always is so important? This is why Paul say IN EVERYTHING give thanks. Thankfulness and praise go hand in hand. I don't think we really get it. At least I know I've been guilty of not getting it.
God is showing me, He is leading me. He wants me to have the joy and the abundant life but I can only have that when I trust Him, I praise Him. I can't be mired in my circumstances and have it.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
A Godly Heritage
Yesterday a young lady, Brooke posted a picture of her grandparents and her dad in a church service using it to describe her Godly heritage. Having known the family even before her dad was born, I can attest she has a had a Godly heritage. But as I looked at the picture the Lord began to show me something.
My friends will recognize these folks if I can get the picture to up load. Jim is singing, his hand raised to heaven. He is one of the most talented people I know. He can sing, play, preach, teach, organize. He is a people person and can talk to anyone. He has the ability to follow the Holy Spirit in a service and stay tuned with where God wants him to go musically or if it's time to turn things over. I call him my 'big brother' because I never had one of those but if I had one, I would have wanted one like him.
Carol is playing the organ and she is watching Jim closely. It doesn't matter where he goes or what direction he heads musically she will be right there providing the notes to make his singing even better. She is the most Godly woman I've ever met. She tends to stay in the background, yet she is talented in her own right. She plays, she sings, she teaches, but more importantly she lives the finest example of Christ to people I've ever seen. I am blessed to call her my friend.
Travis is their son, he is in the background in this pic with both hands in the air praising God. He not only inherited the physical talents of his parents, he followed their Godly example. In the picture he is full out praising God! He is listening to the voice of the Father who is blessing him. He is a lot like his dad with a good bit of his mom thrown in. Do I sound biased? I am because I've seen their example, I've learned from their teaching.
So Brooke is right, she has a Godly heritage. Her mother, Michele, is a wonderful Christian as well. Brooke is blessed and she knows it. Not nearly enough children grow up with that heritage and as we look in the mirror we see the reasons why.
But looking at the picture I see some other things too. Each person is doing what God wants them to do at that moment, there is no 'jockeying' for position. There is no jealousy of what God is doing in each of the other two. God wants that of us. He has given us gifts and those gifts are to be used for His honor and glory.
Now if I wanted to get in a 'worldly frame of mind', I could be downright jealous of those 3. Their singing ability, their musical ability, the doors God has opened over the years could all cause me to feel envious. Yet I've walked some of those miles that took them there. I've seen the trials, the pain, the frustration, the confusion and at times the oppression they have lived through to get there. God has them there because they went through the fire and they have come forth as gold. They didn't run when the going got tough, they didn't give up with others 'hated' them or bashed them. Oh, they cried the tears, they felt the pain but they kept their eyes on the cross.
I know for myself there are times that I gave up, I ran, I took my eyes off the cross. I failed my child, my grandchild because I didn't hold that heritage as sacred as I should have. And God gives us new mercies every morning so if we have done those things, we can begin again today. I don't know about you but I want my family to be able to look at pictures and see the good things, the Godly things. I know there are times that hasn't been what they have seen but my desire is that as they look back, they will find these times that they can look at and see the heritage. My prayer today is that God will keep me on track, that He will be my focus, that His will be my goal.
I'm thankful that God has allowed me to cross paths with people like the Burns family. I love them but more importantly I respect them and their Godly heritage. In today's world we need this type of examples. We need to be this type of example to our families and friends.
My friends will recognize these folks if I can get the picture to up load. Jim is singing, his hand raised to heaven. He is one of the most talented people I know. He can sing, play, preach, teach, organize. He is a people person and can talk to anyone. He has the ability to follow the Holy Spirit in a service and stay tuned with where God wants him to go musically or if it's time to turn things over. I call him my 'big brother' because I never had one of those but if I had one, I would have wanted one like him.
Carol is playing the organ and she is watching Jim closely. It doesn't matter where he goes or what direction he heads musically she will be right there providing the notes to make his singing even better. She is the most Godly woman I've ever met. She tends to stay in the background, yet she is talented in her own right. She plays, she sings, she teaches, but more importantly she lives the finest example of Christ to people I've ever seen. I am blessed to call her my friend.
Travis is their son, he is in the background in this pic with both hands in the air praising God. He not only inherited the physical talents of his parents, he followed their Godly example. In the picture he is full out praising God! He is listening to the voice of the Father who is blessing him. He is a lot like his dad with a good bit of his mom thrown in. Do I sound biased? I am because I've seen their example, I've learned from their teaching.
So Brooke is right, she has a Godly heritage. Her mother, Michele, is a wonderful Christian as well. Brooke is blessed and she knows it. Not nearly enough children grow up with that heritage and as we look in the mirror we see the reasons why.
But looking at the picture I see some other things too. Each person is doing what God wants them to do at that moment, there is no 'jockeying' for position. There is no jealousy of what God is doing in each of the other two. God wants that of us. He has given us gifts and those gifts are to be used for His honor and glory.
Now if I wanted to get in a 'worldly frame of mind', I could be downright jealous of those 3. Their singing ability, their musical ability, the doors God has opened over the years could all cause me to feel envious. Yet I've walked some of those miles that took them there. I've seen the trials, the pain, the frustration, the confusion and at times the oppression they have lived through to get there. God has them there because they went through the fire and they have come forth as gold. They didn't run when the going got tough, they didn't give up with others 'hated' them or bashed them. Oh, they cried the tears, they felt the pain but they kept their eyes on the cross.
I know for myself there are times that I gave up, I ran, I took my eyes off the cross. I failed my child, my grandchild because I didn't hold that heritage as sacred as I should have. And God gives us new mercies every morning so if we have done those things, we can begin again today. I don't know about you but I want my family to be able to look at pictures and see the good things, the Godly things. I know there are times that hasn't been what they have seen but my desire is that as they look back, they will find these times that they can look at and see the heritage. My prayer today is that God will keep me on track, that He will be my focus, that His will be my goal.
I'm thankful that God has allowed me to cross paths with people like the Burns family. I love them but more importantly I respect them and their Godly heritage. In today's world we need this type of examples. We need to be this type of example to our families and friends.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Do You Have Perfect Peace?
Isaiah 26:3 - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Perfect peace, that sounds heavenly doesn't it? In today's world of hustle and bustle, with all the problems of our society, perfect peace seems like a fantasy at times. But it is not a fantasy, it is not a dream. It is a promise.
Yet like most of God's promises, there are requirements. Those requirements at times seem hard, yet in reality what better place to have our minds that on God? Are there problems at work? Do you have problems at home? Do you struggle with finances? God is the answer, no matter what the question is.
It's no secret and that's part of the problem, satan knows it too. He knows he needs to keep you distracted, he needs to keep the things around you in turmoil. The more you crave Jesus and to honor Him in your life, the more satan will send to take your eyes off Him.
Satan is a loser and liar, he wants you to be as well. He will tell you that you are, yet God says 'you are my child', 'I love you with an everlasting love', 'I am preparing a home for you'. But often God speaks in a whisper so that means to keep you from hearing the devil is going to be LOUD. God wants your undivided attention so the devil will send rockets of doubt and confusion into your world.
When our eyes are on Jesus, trust is easy. Just as Peter walked on the water when his eyes were on Jesus, we can do great and mighty things when we are focused on Him. Just as Peter sank when his eyes drifted away from Jesus, we lose the battle when our lives drown out the peace of His love. The winds and waves may crash around us but our eyes must stay glued on Jesus.
But the most amazing thing is the way Jesus will hear our cry when our eyes leave His face. His hand will quickly pull us from the depths of any sea. He is there to rescue and hold us. He is ready to assure us of His love, grace and mercy.
He will not only keep us in perfect peace, He will restore perfect peace as we turn from the world and again turn toward him.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
Perfect peace, that sounds heavenly doesn't it? In today's world of hustle and bustle, with all the problems of our society, perfect peace seems like a fantasy at times. But it is not a fantasy, it is not a dream. It is a promise.
Yet like most of God's promises, there are requirements. Those requirements at times seem hard, yet in reality what better place to have our minds that on God? Are there problems at work? Do you have problems at home? Do you struggle with finances? God is the answer, no matter what the question is.
It's no secret and that's part of the problem, satan knows it too. He knows he needs to keep you distracted, he needs to keep the things around you in turmoil. The more you crave Jesus and to honor Him in your life, the more satan will send to take your eyes off Him.
Satan is a loser and liar, he wants you to be as well. He will tell you that you are, yet God says 'you are my child', 'I love you with an everlasting love', 'I am preparing a home for you'. But often God speaks in a whisper so that means to keep you from hearing the devil is going to be LOUD. God wants your undivided attention so the devil will send rockets of doubt and confusion into your world.
When our eyes are on Jesus, trust is easy. Just as Peter walked on the water when his eyes were on Jesus, we can do great and mighty things when we are focused on Him. Just as Peter sank when his eyes drifted away from Jesus, we lose the battle when our lives drown out the peace of His love. The winds and waves may crash around us but our eyes must stay glued on Jesus.
But the most amazing thing is the way Jesus will hear our cry when our eyes leave His face. His hand will quickly pull us from the depths of any sea. He is there to rescue and hold us. He is ready to assure us of His love, grace and mercy.
He will not only keep us in perfect peace, He will restore perfect peace as we turn from the world and again turn toward him.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
How Do I Conquor Fear?
Psalms 34 - 1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad . 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked unto him, and were lightened :a and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried , and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
These are some of my favorite verses in the Psalms. They remind me of how I should praise the Lord always. I am to magnify the Lord, Pastor Robbie spoke of that a prayer meeting this week. Bob, brought it out in the verses he read before prayer time. It is in the verses I'm reading, so I'm thinking God really wants me to hear this, He knows that my victory lies in praising His name and He wants me to get it!
This week I've read messages and posts from folks dealing with fear and I understand that so well. For years fear held me captive. Oh, I had been saved, but satan had chains of fear all around my heart. The 'I will fail', 'I have failed', 'I can't do anything right' kinds of fear. The 'if they knew', 'if they found out', 'if they even imagined' fears', they were always on my mind. The 'why would He love me', 'why would anyone love me', 'how can anyone love me' fears, they were my daily thoughts. There were also the 'it must have been my fault fears', I think at times those were the worst. The things I allowed satan to torture me with, blaming me with every thing from 'they died because God didn't want them to see what a failure I was' to the 'look at how I screwed up and how it is impacting others'. God cannot possibly really forgive all of that, He loves me but He must shake His head when He looks at me and say 'what did I ever see in her?' Use me? Really??? What am I really capable of doing. I mess up about everything I touch.
The verses above assure me that if I seek the Lord, He will hear me and He will deliver me from every one of those fears and any other fear I may have. It tells me that when I cry the Lord will hear me and save me out of all my troubles. Blessed is the man (or woman) that trusts Him!
Psalms 37 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verilya thou shalt be fed .
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commitb thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass
Not only will the Lord deliver me from my fear and save me out of my troubles, in Psalms 37, He promises that if I delight in Him, He will give me the desires of my heart! He loves me (and you) that much. He will deliver, He will save, He will give me the desires of my heart. To receive those blessings, He asks that I love Him, that I praise Him, that I delight in Him. As in any relationship, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. He wants to bless us. He wants to give us the desires of our heart. We just need our heart in tune with His so He can.
6 This poor man cried , and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
These are some of my favorite verses in the Psalms. They remind me of how I should praise the Lord always. I am to magnify the Lord, Pastor Robbie spoke of that a prayer meeting this week. Bob, brought it out in the verses he read before prayer time. It is in the verses I'm reading, so I'm thinking God really wants me to hear this, He knows that my victory lies in praising His name and He wants me to get it!
This week I've read messages and posts from folks dealing with fear and I understand that so well. For years fear held me captive. Oh, I had been saved, but satan had chains of fear all around my heart. The 'I will fail', 'I have failed', 'I can't do anything right' kinds of fear. The 'if they knew', 'if they found out', 'if they even imagined' fears', they were always on my mind. The 'why would He love me', 'why would anyone love me', 'how can anyone love me' fears, they were my daily thoughts. There were also the 'it must have been my fault fears', I think at times those were the worst. The things I allowed satan to torture me with, blaming me with every thing from 'they died because God didn't want them to see what a failure I was' to the 'look at how I screwed up and how it is impacting others'. God cannot possibly really forgive all of that, He loves me but He must shake His head when He looks at me and say 'what did I ever see in her?' Use me? Really??? What am I really capable of doing. I mess up about everything I touch.
The verses above assure me that if I seek the Lord, He will hear me and He will deliver me from every one of those fears and any other fear I may have. It tells me that when I cry the Lord will hear me and save me out of all my troubles. Blessed is the man (or woman) that trusts Him!
Psalms 37 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verilya thou shalt be fed .
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commitb thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass
Not only will the Lord deliver me from my fear and save me out of my troubles, in Psalms 37, He promises that if I delight in Him, He will give me the desires of my heart! He loves me (and you) that much. He will deliver, He will save, He will give me the desires of my heart. To receive those blessings, He asks that I love Him, that I praise Him, that I delight in Him. As in any relationship, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. He wants to bless us. He wants to give us the desires of our heart. We just need our heart in tune with His so He can.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
It's a Heart Thing!
Well, while it is definitely a heart thing, it is also a mind thing. I don't remember a time in my life where I have seen so many people depressed, dejected, oppressed, suicidal. We have more 'things' than ever and are less satisfied than ever. In the last 24 hours I've received 4 messages about attempted suicides, 3 more than hinted they were considering suicide and several more than just felt they were at wits end. .
Do I just have a lot of depressed friends? Or is the devil stepping up his attacks? In truth a couple of those messages were not about people I knew personally. The messages were from folks wanting me to pray and/or request that others pray for situations they don't know how to handle.
They are heartbroken, they want to fix things. The good news is they have a shot at that, far too often people don't get a second chance. Whether they see the signs and react or they miss the signs totally, that friend, that loved one in one moment of despair takes away any chance to fix it. There are a lot of folks with opinions on suicide, heck on depression in general.
I grew up in world that believed 'you just get over it' and sometimes you do need to do that. I'm no expert and this blog isn't meant to be a 'guideline' for dealing with these types of things. I'm just telling you what I do know. I know that there is a cry for help. Now many times this cry happens over and over until it becomes like the boy who cried wolf, folks have tuned it out.
Many times the cry is private and almost no one knows. Many times the cry is disguised and we see it as helplessness or hopelessness, wallowing in self-pity. The cry can come in so many ways that is why it is often missed. There is no 'one size fits all' cry.
Sometimes the cry is only for attention, there is no real intent to harm themselves, but believing that is always the case is a dangerous path. There are some other things I know. If someone threatens to harm themselves you need to take drastic measures. Get help and get it quickly. Do not be embarrassed to ask for help if you are the one with suicidal thoughts. Do not think you have to handle it by yourself. Do NOT think the world is better off without you, no matter what your current situation is!
Some things for you to remember whether you are the person with these thoughts or it is someone you love. Jesus loves you! He loved you so much that He died for you. He will NEVER abandon you, no matter who else in your life has! He wants to help you but He is a gentleman, He will never 'take over', you must ask Him.
There are people who want to help you but you have to take that first step (or if you are the loved one - you may have to take that step for them). Every situation is different, but Jesus is always the answer. Now counseling may help, if you have a chemical imbalance meds may help but the only long lasting answer is Jesus.
I have gone through situations that I wonder 'Why?' but then I look at how I'm blessed and I wonder 'Why not?'. If you are struggling you need to find help. It may be a counselor, a church or a hospital but you need to ask for help! You need to be willing to receive help. Jesus wants to help you but if you don't let Him, He can't. The same is true of a counselor, a church, family, friends or a hospital. They cannot make you accept the help.
That is where this is very tricky. When you are depressed and oppressed you may feel you don't deserve help. That is not true. The devil may tell you that there is no help, well he is a LIAR! He wants you miserable and will do/say anything to keep you that way.
You need prayer, you need healing in your mind, body and soul. You pray and feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, well keep praying. God is not limited by our perceptions! He is there and He is listening.
If you have gone through this with a family member, I'm so sorry! I wish I could take your pain away. I wish I could give you an explanation that makes sense. All I can tell you is that, in spite of it all, Jesus loves you. Let Him help you today!
Do I just have a lot of depressed friends? Or is the devil stepping up his attacks? In truth a couple of those messages were not about people I knew personally. The messages were from folks wanting me to pray and/or request that others pray for situations they don't know how to handle.
They are heartbroken, they want to fix things. The good news is they have a shot at that, far too often people don't get a second chance. Whether they see the signs and react or they miss the signs totally, that friend, that loved one in one moment of despair takes away any chance to fix it. There are a lot of folks with opinions on suicide, heck on depression in general.
I grew up in world that believed 'you just get over it' and sometimes you do need to do that. I'm no expert and this blog isn't meant to be a 'guideline' for dealing with these types of things. I'm just telling you what I do know. I know that there is a cry for help. Now many times this cry happens over and over until it becomes like the boy who cried wolf, folks have tuned it out.
Many times the cry is private and almost no one knows. Many times the cry is disguised and we see it as helplessness or hopelessness, wallowing in self-pity. The cry can come in so many ways that is why it is often missed. There is no 'one size fits all' cry.
Sometimes the cry is only for attention, there is no real intent to harm themselves, but believing that is always the case is a dangerous path. There are some other things I know. If someone threatens to harm themselves you need to take drastic measures. Get help and get it quickly. Do not be embarrassed to ask for help if you are the one with suicidal thoughts. Do not think you have to handle it by yourself. Do NOT think the world is better off without you, no matter what your current situation is!
Some things for you to remember whether you are the person with these thoughts or it is someone you love. Jesus loves you! He loved you so much that He died for you. He will NEVER abandon you, no matter who else in your life has! He wants to help you but He is a gentleman, He will never 'take over', you must ask Him.
There are people who want to help you but you have to take that first step (or if you are the loved one - you may have to take that step for them). Every situation is different, but Jesus is always the answer. Now counseling may help, if you have a chemical imbalance meds may help but the only long lasting answer is Jesus.
I have gone through situations that I wonder 'Why?' but then I look at how I'm blessed and I wonder 'Why not?'. If you are struggling you need to find help. It may be a counselor, a church or a hospital but you need to ask for help! You need to be willing to receive help. Jesus wants to help you but if you don't let Him, He can't. The same is true of a counselor, a church, family, friends or a hospital. They cannot make you accept the help.
That is where this is very tricky. When you are depressed and oppressed you may feel you don't deserve help. That is not true. The devil may tell you that there is no help, well he is a LIAR! He wants you miserable and will do/say anything to keep you that way.
You need prayer, you need healing in your mind, body and soul. You pray and feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, well keep praying. God is not limited by our perceptions! He is there and He is listening.
If you have gone through this with a family member, I'm so sorry! I wish I could take your pain away. I wish I could give you an explanation that makes sense. All I can tell you is that, in spite of it all, Jesus loves you. Let Him help you today!
Friday, August 14, 2015
God's timing
Today is a bit of a rant. Not sure that I'll have scripture to post for it. But the rant is backed up by something as solid as concrete. I schedule this blog, I write at least 2-3 days ahead. So what has posted the last few days was written days before it posted.
Yet on the days immediately after it was written, I saw things play out that the blogs for Wed & Thurs addressed. Not because I'm psychic or have any special abilities, but rather because an all knowing God knew the things that would happen in my life and that blogs about the Tongue & Self-Righteousness would address things I was seeing happen.
He knew that I was going to see/hear things that would upset me. Things that would leave me wondering 'why?'. "How does someone change that much in such a short about of time?'. How do you go from being excited about something to downing it? What happens to make you change?
I sit here this evening still wondering 'why'. I'm one of those odd folks, I don't throw the words friendship and love around loosely. When I say I'm your friend that means through the good and the bad. I may not agree with you, I may think you are dead wrong but who really makes that a condition for friendship? Do I treasure those terms too much? Do I have unrealistic expectations of what they mean?
I don't think so. I think that others may just take it to lightly. We get so used to the 'unfriend' button on FB that we forget true friends don't walk away that easy. True friends are there when you need them. They have your back even if they disagree with what you do or say. Now that doesn't mean they condone those things, if they disagree. It just means a true friend doesn't attack a friend. It goes against everything the word friend means.
You can disagree, you can even fight about it but you don't attack if you are a true friend. Now if you aren't that type of friend, you may have a hard time realizing that someone else could be that type of true friend to you. That is if you will let them.
A few years ago a friend and I had a very heated disagreement. They were furious at something I had done and they lost no time telling me how wrong I was and they didn't care if we ever talked again. I was sad they felt that way but I truly believed I had handled the manner in the correct (Biblical) way. Time passed, we didn't talk, I was still their friend but they did not want to be 'friends'. Then they came under attack in a lot of areas of their life, life was very hard for them. I sent a message that I was praying for them and was there if I could help. Our friendship was still there, it had taken a break and it had to heal but the love rooted down deep would not go away that easily.
I'm not saying that to say 'oh look at me', I'm telling you this because that is what a true friend does! They care, it doesn't matter the disagreement, it doesn't matter how angry you may have been. When a friend is attacked a true friend is there, they may tell them that they disagree with them but they still have their back. You don't throw away friends.
Now, are their exceptions to that? Sure, if the 'friend' is causing you harm or is disloyal to you - yeah that's a bit different from a disagreement. Loyalty is a key word with me. If you can't be loyal, extend a hand to help even if you disagree with me, maybe investing in your friendship isn't my wisest investment. Sometimes you have to make those choices, I get it. I agree with it.
But I still don't think that friends are or should be expendable.
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