Recently, a brother in Christ made a comment to me about religion and faith that has been sitting on my mind a lot lately. In fact every time I sit down to write it's all I think about. This brother wrote about how he was not religious, he said he was a Christian and that he was a follower of Jesus alone, not religion or it's man made rules. This made total sense to me because I feel the same way, but I know many would be confused about the statement. Many do not know the difference between practicing religion and having a relationship with God, this was the mistake of the Pharisees also.
Pharisees were very well taught in the laws and practices of their people, they knew the traditions and scriptures extremely well and were prideful of this. They believed that this knowledge and keeping the traditions of their fore-fathers made them more righteous than others. The Pharisees would point out when others transgressed the laws or traditions in judgment of them, like they did to the disciples of Yeshua in Mark 7:5, this was done in an attempt to display the unrighteousness of Jesus's company and discredit the disciples (also Matthew 15:1-2). The Pharisees believed that with all their knowledge and religious practices that they were pleasing to God and man. They thought they were righteous and that they could identify the Messiah when He came, they thought they knew what they were looking for, but when Jesus stood before them they could not identify Him as the Christ (Messiah). This was because they had the knowledge about the prophecies and kept the religious practices but they didn't have a relationship with God. They didn't know God as Abraham and Moses did, they didn't seek Him intimately so they couldn't recognize God's voice in Yeshua. They didn't serve God in their religious practices but instead served themselves and the traditions of their elders to appear righteous and holy before others. I can think of no better example of this than the one Yeshua used in response to their accusations against His disciples found at Matthew 15:3-9 and Mark 15:6-13. Religion is the traditions of man, it is superficial and not from the heart, and not what God wants.
What is faith then if it is not the rules and traditions of man, what is it that God wants? He wants our hearts, He wants total surrender to His will and our obedience, and He wants our love for Him to reach out and touch others for His glory. He wants us to love others as He has loved us (John 13:34). God's true religion is not of actions or works alone but with faith and a devoted loving heart that results in actions (Ephesians 2:8-9,Galatians 2:16; James 2:18 ). God wants us to do the right thing because we love Him, not because it is expected and we have to. Faith in God should be and is like the loving relationship between family, with love and trust as the driving force behind all of our actions and interactions. God wants us to come to Him personally, seeking Him with all we have, so we can spend eternity with Him, so we are spared from death and it's torments. God wants us to honor Him first, worshipping Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), that is what is pleasing to God and that is a faith relationship not religion.
Romans 1:17
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Galatians 2:16
Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
What is Seeking God?
The other day I had a conversation with someone that brought to my attention something I had forgotten since I learned and understood it. It was that some people who believe in God don't know that there is a difference between seeking the Lord and praying just to ask for things. This conversation reminded me that many people, including myself at one point, get stuck after a while and frustrated when their prayers aren't answered. It reminded me of how I used to pray often, and read little, then get angry at God that He didn't respond to me, and how that changed dramatically after I genuinely started seeking Him and made God my first priority. So today I would like to share some of my conversation with this person in hopes it will bring clarity and understanding to the differences.
This person I spoke to explained to me in the course of our conversation that they were feeling frustrated with the Lord because they prayed a lot and never got answers. They said they felt like God wasn't listening, like He had turned away from them. I know that God will allow us to go through dry seasons, but I also know He is always listening too, even when He isn't answering. So I reassured this person of that before asking them what exactly they were doing to seek the Lord. They gave me a funny look and responded 'I just told you, I'm praying a lot. I ask Him everyday for stuff, to show up in my life and be part of it. But He never does.' I had to stop them then, and asked if they read their bible, they said they used to but not really anymore. I understood then what happened, why they weren't getting answers because I had been there too and found out I was completely the one at fault for this. While praying is great, and definitely part of seeking the Lord, it is just that part of how you seek Him.
I asked them to think back to when they were dating, when they were forming a relationship with someone they were interested in and asked them if when they were dating they spoke only of themselves, their wants, their needs, and neglected to find out about the other person or did they pursue information about them as well, was there the desire for wanting to know them closer, to know more about them. They looked at me confused and said, 'I tried to find out about them, I wanted to know them intimately to have a close relationship.' I nodded getting the answer I expected and continued 'so you sought out the information you wanted, you were seeking them to know them better, not just talking about yourself?' They then saw what I was getting at, and replied with, 'it's different with God though, I don't hear His voice or get dreams, I don't get the answers I want.' And I totally see why they responded that way, so I took them back to the dating scenario again. I asked them if they would answer the calls or messages of a person who said they were interested in them but spoke only of themselves instead, they answered 'no, I would feel like they were only interested in themselves and didn't care about me,' this time I could see in their eyes they got it, they understood. To know God, to hear Him you must be seeking Him with your whole heart, devoting time and energy to getting to know His heart just as you would anyone else who you wanted to be in a relationship with. It is the time we spend in the Word that gives us that opportunity, it is thru His Word that we learn to recognize His voice, and form a loving relationship with Him. We have to read the bible to know God, to have a relationship with Him, that is seeking the Lord, it's that simple.
Now I want you to ask yourself and be honest are you seeking the Lord or just asking for the things He can provide? Are you putting in the effort to get to know Him, to search out His heart or are you complaining to Him? Are you showing Him you care and love Him by reading His Word and getting to know Him better, or are you just going through the motions of religion and mistaking selfish prayers for a relationship? Be blessed in Jesus name.
1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Psalm 14:2
The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
Psalm 27:8
You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Psalm 119:10
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Amos 5:4
For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live
Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
This person I spoke to explained to me in the course of our conversation that they were feeling frustrated with the Lord because they prayed a lot and never got answers. They said they felt like God wasn't listening, like He had turned away from them. I know that God will allow us to go through dry seasons, but I also know He is always listening too, even when He isn't answering. So I reassured this person of that before asking them what exactly they were doing to seek the Lord. They gave me a funny look and responded 'I just told you, I'm praying a lot. I ask Him everyday for stuff, to show up in my life and be part of it. But He never does.' I had to stop them then, and asked if they read their bible, they said they used to but not really anymore. I understood then what happened, why they weren't getting answers because I had been there too and found out I was completely the one at fault for this. While praying is great, and definitely part of seeking the Lord, it is just that part of how you seek Him.
I asked them to think back to when they were dating, when they were forming a relationship with someone they were interested in and asked them if when they were dating they spoke only of themselves, their wants, their needs, and neglected to find out about the other person or did they pursue information about them as well, was there the desire for wanting to know them closer, to know more about them. They looked at me confused and said, 'I tried to find out about them, I wanted to know them intimately to have a close relationship.' I nodded getting the answer I expected and continued 'so you sought out the information you wanted, you were seeking them to know them better, not just talking about yourself?' They then saw what I was getting at, and replied with, 'it's different with God though, I don't hear His voice or get dreams, I don't get the answers I want.' And I totally see why they responded that way, so I took them back to the dating scenario again. I asked them if they would answer the calls or messages of a person who said they were interested in them but spoke only of themselves instead, they answered 'no, I would feel like they were only interested in themselves and didn't care about me,' this time I could see in their eyes they got it, they understood. To know God, to hear Him you must be seeking Him with your whole heart, devoting time and energy to getting to know His heart just as you would anyone else who you wanted to be in a relationship with. It is the time we spend in the Word that gives us that opportunity, it is thru His Word that we learn to recognize His voice, and form a loving relationship with Him. We have to read the bible to know God, to have a relationship with Him, that is seeking the Lord, it's that simple.
Now I want you to ask yourself and be honest are you seeking the Lord or just asking for the things He can provide? Are you putting in the effort to get to know Him, to search out His heart or are you complaining to Him? Are you showing Him you care and love Him by reading His Word and getting to know Him better, or are you just going through the motions of religion and mistaking selfish prayers for a relationship? Be blessed in Jesus name.
1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Psalm 14:2
The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
Psalm 27:8
You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Psalm 119:10
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Amos 5:4
For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live
Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Monday, April 27, 2015
The Lord Loves Obedience
Currently I am reading 1 Samuel and as I was reading this morning, 1 Samuel 15:22 stood out to me, it reads "and Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey, is better then sacrifice: and to hearken then the fat of rams." This stood out to me because I think it made it pretty clear what the Lord really wanted from us then, and still does now, it is our obedience. He wants us to show our love for Him by keeping His commands(John 14:15), by doing the things He ask of us and following His plan for our life. By being obedient to the Lord's voice, and to His laws we are showing our love for Him and worshipping Him by our actions. Obedience is important to the Lord, because when we are obedient to His Word we can overcome this wicked world and escape death, it is because of His love for us that He desires we obey.
The word 'obedience' is something that we hate to hear, this is something we desire in others but hate to actually do. We want our children, our pets, (sometimes even our spouses) our students, or our employees to listen to us and follow the rules we set in place. We want the environment to be safe and happy for all, so we make rules. We want them to show us respect by doing as we ask, we want to know they care by showing us this respect, but we as a society hate to follow the rules. This is something that I am still having trouble with at times, learning obedience can be hard in a culture that teaches you to always question authority. We love and celebrate rebellion and nonconformity, we encourage it really, and while I will agree it is not always a good thing to go with the crowd, that there are some laws that I think shouldn't exist, I understand there are reasons behind the laws, reasons that they are in place, and mostly it's for our protection. This is certainly the case with God's laws, each one of them is meant to spare us from death, because sin is a death sentence, but His laws and surrender to Him lead to eternal life.
Now having said all that and explained that it is an act of love and worship to be obedient to the Lord, I must remind you to not let that discourage you. The Lord knows it is impossible for us to be obedient to Him all the time, He knows it is part of the fallen man to rebel, He has seen us do it over and over again throughout the history of time. This is why Yeshua paid for our sins. This is why the Holy Spirit now resides in the heart of God's children. Through the blood of the Messiah we have been justified to God, cleaned and redeemed; and with the Holy Spirit we have a force helping and guiding us on the path of righteousness, an inner voice, a witness that lovingly leads us to obey. Be blessed and obedient my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.
Psalm 119:138
The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.
Psalms 119:144
Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.
John 14:15-21
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
The word 'obedience' is something that we hate to hear, this is something we desire in others but hate to actually do. We want our children, our pets, (sometimes even our spouses) our students, or our employees to listen to us and follow the rules we set in place. We want the environment to be safe and happy for all, so we make rules. We want them to show us respect by doing as we ask, we want to know they care by showing us this respect, but we as a society hate to follow the rules. This is something that I am still having trouble with at times, learning obedience can be hard in a culture that teaches you to always question authority. We love and celebrate rebellion and nonconformity, we encourage it really, and while I will agree it is not always a good thing to go with the crowd, that there are some laws that I think shouldn't exist, I understand there are reasons behind the laws, reasons that they are in place, and mostly it's for our protection. This is certainly the case with God's laws, each one of them is meant to spare us from death, because sin is a death sentence, but His laws and surrender to Him lead to eternal life.
Now having said all that and explained that it is an act of love and worship to be obedient to the Lord, I must remind you to not let that discourage you. The Lord knows it is impossible for us to be obedient to Him all the time, He knows it is part of the fallen man to rebel, He has seen us do it over and over again throughout the history of time. This is why Yeshua paid for our sins. This is why the Holy Spirit now resides in the heart of God's children. Through the blood of the Messiah we have been justified to God, cleaned and redeemed; and with the Holy Spirit we have a force helping and guiding us on the path of righteousness, an inner voice, a witness that lovingly leads us to obey. Be blessed and obedient my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.
Psalm 119:138
The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.
Psalms 119:144
Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.
John 14:15-21
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Friday, April 24, 2015
Look to Jesus
I suppose doing what I do, writing this blog, it should be no surprise that people often come to me with questions about God, faith, and spirituality. People come to me asking for prayer and advice, and I am honored by this, I hope I serve them and the Lord well on these occasions. I have been called prophet and apostle by some, but I claim no such thing nor has the Lord given it to me to claim. As far as I am concerned I am just servicing the Lord where I am and doing His will to the best ability I have with His help. Truth be told, I am no more special than you, nothing that I have can't be given to you as well, all you have to do is ask and serve Him dutifully with your whole heart.
I'm writing this today as a reminder to us all to not go following after anyone but Christ. While it is a sincere pleasure to me to serve others, answering questions, praying, and helping them gain understanding no one should be looking to me for all the answers, no one should be blindly following every word I say, please check me against scripture, make sure in your heart and mind that I am correct, because I'm human and make mistakes too. And this goes beyond just me, we should be checking anyone we receive teaching from, because we know there are deceptive spirits disguising themselves as children of light (2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1; Matthew 7:15-20).
It is important that we get the truth from the Truth, that we are filling ourselves up daily on the manna He has provided to us. That means we need to be in the Word daily, the only way to know the Truth is to be reading and meditating on it daily (Joshua 1:8; Psalms 119:15) then we will know how to identify the false teachers, corrupted teachings, and straight out blasphemy. But if you are not in the Word then you are allowing yourselves to become vulnerable to the widespread deception of the day, and let me assure I don't use the word 'widespread' lightly, the more time I spend with the Lord the more I know this world is disgustingly deceived.
This message is important and I hope you take it to your heart, look to no one but Yeshua, follow only Him. Of course we can seek counsel and support on issues from those brother and sisters of faith who may be more spiritually advanced or gifted in some area, but we are not to get in the habit of seeking them over God. He is our Counselor, our Healer, our Provider, our Teacher, our Father, our all in all, He is the alpha and the omega, to seek anyone above Him, or outside of Him, is to head down the wide road of destruction. Be blessed.
Proverbs 4:20-22
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I'm writing this today as a reminder to us all to not go following after anyone but Christ. While it is a sincere pleasure to me to serve others, answering questions, praying, and helping them gain understanding no one should be looking to me for all the answers, no one should be blindly following every word I say, please check me against scripture, make sure in your heart and mind that I am correct, because I'm human and make mistakes too. And this goes beyond just me, we should be checking anyone we receive teaching from, because we know there are deceptive spirits disguising themselves as children of light (2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1; Matthew 7:15-20).
It is important that we get the truth from the Truth, that we are filling ourselves up daily on the manna He has provided to us. That means we need to be in the Word daily, the only way to know the Truth is to be reading and meditating on it daily (Joshua 1:8; Psalms 119:15) then we will know how to identify the false teachers, corrupted teachings, and straight out blasphemy. But if you are not in the Word then you are allowing yourselves to become vulnerable to the widespread deception of the day, and let me assure I don't use the word 'widespread' lightly, the more time I spend with the Lord the more I know this world is disgustingly deceived.
This message is important and I hope you take it to your heart, look to no one but Yeshua, follow only Him. Of course we can seek counsel and support on issues from those brother and sisters of faith who may be more spiritually advanced or gifted in some area, but we are not to get in the habit of seeking them over God. He is our Counselor, our Healer, our Provider, our Teacher, our Father, our all in all, He is the alpha and the omega, to seek anyone above Him, or outside of Him, is to head down the wide road of destruction. Be blessed.
Proverbs 4:20-22
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Matthew 24:24
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Correction is a Blessing
We all get out of obedience sometimes, we all fail at doing as we are told on occasion, sometimes without even realizing it. That was the situation with yesterday's post. I had thought before that, that I was being obedient, I hadn't seen where I had failed. But then correction came through a brother in Christ. God had orchestrated a situation between him and I that opened my eyes as we worked through it and I prayed for clarity to understand our misunderstanding. Soon I was shown where I had gone wrong in the past, and the mistake that had taken place. I thank the Lord for causing this brother to correct me, even if it was over a misunderstanding, because his words were exactly what I needed to get back in obedience to the Lord.
This whole situation again reminds me how much our Father loves us, because the Bible says that God corrects those He loves (Proverbs 3:12; Hebrews 12:6). I know some people would look at that statement and ask how correction is proof of love and honestly it is because He does it for our benefit, to keep us from unwittingly going astray, just like a loving parent does for their child. If you truly love someone you want to keep them from harm or death, God corrects us so we don't die, so our souls aren't condemned. I needed correction but I was too blind and stubborn to realize it, I honestly didn't even realize that I had been disobedient. So, God used this brother to get my attention and see my error.
Now, a day later I can see clearly the ways God had been trying to get my attention to post that dream all along, before any of this happened. First there was the original word He laid on my heart. Then God kept reminding what He wanted me to do, He kept sending me that dream, awake and asleep it would replay in my mind. I just didn't understand why, I couldn't see that sharing that dream would help anyone, so I wrote on other topics instead. Then I went through about 3 days of writers block. I tried and tried but could not write anything that felt right, the dream continued to play in my mind though and I continued to brush it aside, instead wasting three days as I struggled to break out of the block and ended up re-posting old blogs instead. Then came the correction from the brother.
It was really upsetting at first, I'm not going to lie. It hurts to be corrected, especially from some one whom you respect, but the pain that comes from that correction is often a good thing because the lesson then sticks out in our memory and helps us to avoid the same trap in the future. This brother did me a huge service in correcting me, as I meditated on his words and prayed for clarity God answered me. The revelations I received made my heart repentant, and caused me to do what I wasn't doing before and I posted the dream. Since then there has been a change, the dream stopped hounding me, and I feel closer to the Lord. Now, I am rejoicing in the correction and am grateful to be in right standing with my Father again. Thank you brother for the correction, thank you Father for sending him to do so!
Today, I wanted to share the whole correction process with you, and my heart about it. I wanted you to see how easy it is to make this kind of mistake in hopes you could learn from it and avoid that mistake yourself. But I also wanted you to see God's love in it, I wanted you to see how correction is truly a blessing. It isn't comfortable, but it is necessary from time to time to grow us in to who we are meant to be. Be blessed.
Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
Proverbs 15:32
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Hebrews 12:11
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
James 5:19-20
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
This whole situation again reminds me how much our Father loves us, because the Bible says that God corrects those He loves (Proverbs 3:12; Hebrews 12:6). I know some people would look at that statement and ask how correction is proof of love and honestly it is because He does it for our benefit, to keep us from unwittingly going astray, just like a loving parent does for their child. If you truly love someone you want to keep them from harm or death, God corrects us so we don't die, so our souls aren't condemned. I needed correction but I was too blind and stubborn to realize it, I honestly didn't even realize that I had been disobedient. So, God used this brother to get my attention and see my error.
Now, a day later I can see clearly the ways God had been trying to get my attention to post that dream all along, before any of this happened. First there was the original word He laid on my heart. Then God kept reminding what He wanted me to do, He kept sending me that dream, awake and asleep it would replay in my mind. I just didn't understand why, I couldn't see that sharing that dream would help anyone, so I wrote on other topics instead. Then I went through about 3 days of writers block. I tried and tried but could not write anything that felt right, the dream continued to play in my mind though and I continued to brush it aside, instead wasting three days as I struggled to break out of the block and ended up re-posting old blogs instead. Then came the correction from the brother.
It was really upsetting at first, I'm not going to lie. It hurts to be corrected, especially from some one whom you respect, but the pain that comes from that correction is often a good thing because the lesson then sticks out in our memory and helps us to avoid the same trap in the future. This brother did me a huge service in correcting me, as I meditated on his words and prayed for clarity God answered me. The revelations I received made my heart repentant, and caused me to do what I wasn't doing before and I posted the dream. Since then there has been a change, the dream stopped hounding me, and I feel closer to the Lord. Now, I am rejoicing in the correction and am grateful to be in right standing with my Father again. Thank you brother for the correction, thank you Father for sending him to do so!
Today, I wanted to share the whole correction process with you, and my heart about it. I wanted you to see how easy it is to make this kind of mistake in hopes you could learn from it and avoid that mistake yourself. But I also wanted you to see God's love in it, I wanted you to see how correction is truly a blessing. It isn't comfortable, but it is necessary from time to time to grow us in to who we are meant to be. Be blessed.
Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
Proverbs 15:32
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Hebrews 12:11
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
James 5:19-20
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
An Unconveintial Testimony - The Repeating Dream
A while back I shared a word with several communities here on google that I felt the Lord placing on my heart, the word was to speak now, that now was the time to share our secret testimonies. That as we shared with each other divine connections in the body would be revealed. I shared this word in obedience, but did not myself act on it. In this I sinned, and the Lord has corrected me for it. Now, with a repentant heart I will share with you what I was too afraid to share before, a dream I have had repeatedly since childhood. Please understand that I am not sharing this for any motive or reason other than to be obedient to God. I don't know or understand how this dream relates to the word I was given except that I have kept it secret from most, I don't know how it could or would help anyone else. But I don't have to, I just have to be obedient and let go of the fear that has been stopping me. So here I go, forgive me for what may not make sense to anyone else.
I am standing on a busy street, it's crowded with people and there is a lot of shouting around me and commotion. I realize that this is not a modern city street, the city around me is old, and dusty with sand, it is an ancient city, the people are not dressed modern either, but in the style I associated with the Biblical times. An urgency rises up in my heart as the shouting becomes clear to me 'Kill him!" they scream. Hearing the words I know exactly what is happening and my heart responds with the cry 'My Lord! My God, my Savior!' Suddenly I know I must get to Calvary. I push thru the crowd, my heart pounding in my ears as I try my hardest to get to Him, I have to see Him. I finally make my way through to the crowd and get to the top of Calvary. I see them, the crosses standing tall with the condemned, innocent and guilty alike hanging there to die. I hear Yeshua's voice as He calls out to His Father, 'why have you forsaken me?' And our eyes meet. I see the blood and sweat on His face, and the torment in His eyes, pain that I know I am responsible for, the knowledge that He is doing this for me, suffering for me, drills deep into my heart. Then I wake up with my heart racing, a little disoriented, and motivated to serve.
The dream is always the same, never changing. I have believed and still do that this dream relates to what I am doing in life, pushing thru to see the man on Calvary, to see Jesus. Pushing through the chaos around me to seek Him and be in His presence, even for just a moment. I hope if I managed to do anything at all, other than entertain you at my expense, that it was to get you to take the chance and do the same. Share your story and experiences with others, this is how we lift each other up, this is how people know they have hope or can overcome the obstacles ahead, it is through your testimony. I know this wasn't a conventional post, or a conventional testimony, but I hope it blessed you anyway. To God be the glory, forever and ever, amen.
Psalm 71:15-18
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
Psalm 107:1-2
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble
Mark 5:19
And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
1 John 5:11
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
2 Timothy 1:6-10
Revelation 12:11
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
I am standing on a busy street, it's crowded with people and there is a lot of shouting around me and commotion. I realize that this is not a modern city street, the city around me is old, and dusty with sand, it is an ancient city, the people are not dressed modern either, but in the style I associated with the Biblical times. An urgency rises up in my heart as the shouting becomes clear to me 'Kill him!" they scream. Hearing the words I know exactly what is happening and my heart responds with the cry 'My Lord! My God, my Savior!' Suddenly I know I must get to Calvary. I push thru the crowd, my heart pounding in my ears as I try my hardest to get to Him, I have to see Him. I finally make my way through to the crowd and get to the top of Calvary. I see them, the crosses standing tall with the condemned, innocent and guilty alike hanging there to die. I hear Yeshua's voice as He calls out to His Father, 'why have you forsaken me?' And our eyes meet. I see the blood and sweat on His face, and the torment in His eyes, pain that I know I am responsible for, the knowledge that He is doing this for me, suffering for me, drills deep into my heart. Then I wake up with my heart racing, a little disoriented, and motivated to serve.
The dream is always the same, never changing. I have believed and still do that this dream relates to what I am doing in life, pushing thru to see the man on Calvary, to see Jesus. Pushing through the chaos around me to seek Him and be in His presence, even for just a moment. I hope if I managed to do anything at all, other than entertain you at my expense, that it was to get you to take the chance and do the same. Share your story and experiences with others, this is how we lift each other up, this is how people know they have hope or can overcome the obstacles ahead, it is through your testimony. I know this wasn't a conventional post, or a conventional testimony, but I hope it blessed you anyway. To God be the glory, forever and ever, amen.
Psalm 71:15-18
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
Psalm 107:1-2
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble
Mark 5:19
And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
1 John 5:11
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
2 Timothy 1:6-10
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Revelation 12:11
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Seek Ye First
This title obviously comes from Matthew 6:33 which reads (KJV) "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." What things was Jesus talking about? In verse 6:31 it says "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" So it sounds like God is saying that if we put Him first, seek after Him and His righteousness before all else that we don't need to worry, that He will provide for us, but is this true? I used to ask myself that, I used to wonder, but I don't anymore because I know it is truth, God has proven it to me.
I decided to write this post today because recently I have ended up discussing this verse and the idea of seeking God above all else several times with people struggling in their faith. Some told me about their worries or just asked for prayer and some asked how to get closer to God, or how to rebuild a past relationship with Him. My answer to them all was Matthew 6:33; why? Because it is a simple truth, easy to read, easy to understand, but I have to admit that it's hard to execute because the flesh will try to distract you. What do I mean? It is easy enough to say you believe that God will provide but it's hard to live it, to live like you believe it is true and it's even harder to really seek Him above all else, above all things and people. I said I believed it long before I actually did, I said He was first, long before I actually acted that way, my mind accepted the truth but the truth was not yet in me. I didn't spend time with Him, I didn't really know God, and so when that little voice would chime in and say things to make me doubt, I couldn't argue.
Then my world flipped upside down and I started to seek the Lord in desperation to be fixed. I became vulnerable to Him, allowing Him to have all my weakness and brokenness, I started to make Him a priority in my life, making time for His word everyday, spending time with Him in prayer whenever I could. I started devouring devotionals never feeling like I could get enough of His spirit. My life started to change. As I sought the Lord and His will over my life, I started to see His provisions. My cabinets have gone from barely anything to so full we have to rearrange every time we grocery shop. We went from below the poverty line to slightly above, and soon from renters to homeowners. When we have car trouble parts that can't be found appear, repairs that could cost as much as another used car, are a forth of the cost. These are a just a few of the examples I could share about what God has done in providing for us but none of this happened until I made God and His will first. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness."
As I began to see and acknowledge His gifts, His provisions, I read this verse with new eyes, I understood that seeking Him and His righteousness first is what made the difference, and by doing it I had nothing to worry about. The more I meditated on that thought the less I worried, as I worried less, I trusted more, and the more I trusted the stronger my relationship with the Lord became. I discovered that by seeking the Lord, by serving Him and trying to live a life that reflected Jesus's life, the things I need come to me, showing up just on time. And this truth is open to you too, it is not prosperity as some teach, but real provision and blessings through the Lord, and its dependent on you seeking Him!
Psalm 34:10
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Proverbs 10:3
The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
Proverbs 28:9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
Colossians 3:1
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
1 Timothy 4:8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
I decided to write this post today because recently I have ended up discussing this verse and the idea of seeking God above all else several times with people struggling in their faith. Some told me about their worries or just asked for prayer and some asked how to get closer to God, or how to rebuild a past relationship with Him. My answer to them all was Matthew 6:33; why? Because it is a simple truth, easy to read, easy to understand, but I have to admit that it's hard to execute because the flesh will try to distract you. What do I mean? It is easy enough to say you believe that God will provide but it's hard to live it, to live like you believe it is true and it's even harder to really seek Him above all else, above all things and people. I said I believed it long before I actually did, I said He was first, long before I actually acted that way, my mind accepted the truth but the truth was not yet in me. I didn't spend time with Him, I didn't really know God, and so when that little voice would chime in and say things to make me doubt, I couldn't argue.
Then my world flipped upside down and I started to seek the Lord in desperation to be fixed. I became vulnerable to Him, allowing Him to have all my weakness and brokenness, I started to make Him a priority in my life, making time for His word everyday, spending time with Him in prayer whenever I could. I started devouring devotionals never feeling like I could get enough of His spirit. My life started to change. As I sought the Lord and His will over my life, I started to see His provisions. My cabinets have gone from barely anything to so full we have to rearrange every time we grocery shop. We went from below the poverty line to slightly above, and soon from renters to homeowners. When we have car trouble parts that can't be found appear, repairs that could cost as much as another used car, are a forth of the cost. These are a just a few of the examples I could share about what God has done in providing for us but none of this happened until I made God and His will first. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness."
As I began to see and acknowledge His gifts, His provisions, I read this verse with new eyes, I understood that seeking Him and His righteousness first is what made the difference, and by doing it I had nothing to worry about. The more I meditated on that thought the less I worried, as I worried less, I trusted more, and the more I trusted the stronger my relationship with the Lord became. I discovered that by seeking the Lord, by serving Him and trying to live a life that reflected Jesus's life, the things I need come to me, showing up just on time. And this truth is open to you too, it is not prosperity as some teach, but real provision and blessings through the Lord, and its dependent on you seeking Him!
Psalm 34:10
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Proverbs 10:3
The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
Proverbs 28:9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
Colossians 3:1
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
1 Timothy 4:8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Pray For Them
Imagine if you will, being in your home reading your Bible and praying, maybe you are by yourself or maybe you are with your family. Then there's a knock on the door, quickly you hide your Bible before answering the door. It's the police and they inform you that they are taking you into custody because of accusations that you may have religious schizophrenia, they tell you that you need to be examined to determine if you are threat to the population or not. They take you into custody and you know this is it, this is the biggest test of your faith. Will you choose Jesus?
This morning I was talking to a dear friend from another country and in the course of our conversation I became extremely grateful to live in the USA. This country isn't perfect, and it saddens me to see the way it is beginning to crack down on Christians today who don't agree with our governments new policies, but at least I don't have to worry that the government is going to lock me up as a religious schizophrenic, take away my bible, force me to denounce my God or never leave the institution, and then even if you were to do renounce Jesus you'd never get a good job again because of the diagnosis. These, thankfully are not my realities, but they are my friend's reality, this is what she risks everyday if she's found out.
Speaking to her about the punishments, the harshness of her reality if she were found out to be a protestant Christian where she lives made me so grateful to be where I am, but it also made me really want to pray for her and for other oppressed Christians, others who are hiding their faith from terrorist groups like ISIS, oppressive governments, and even close family. These people who are literally in danger of imprisonment, torture, and death for their belief in Yeshua. These people who love God so much they are willing to risk it all. I thought about them this morning and my heart swelled with pride for these dear brothers and sisters, but also sadness and fear for what they face.
All of this made me want to do something for them, but my reach is limited and I don't even know how I possibly could help them, but I can pray. My Father's reach is not limited, and His resources and abilities are endless, I may not be able to physically help these individuals but I can intercede through prayer for them, and I can ask the Lord to show me what other things I can do here to help them in their struggles. I am asking you to think of them too, I am asking you to stand with me in prayer. We are one body, one family, and we need each other, they need us! We should be wearing out our knees and fasting for these brothers and sisters. Please pray with me today, and everyday for our persecuted brothers and sisters. Pray for the families of the martyrs, and those who are worshiping in secret.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Romans 12:4-5
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Ephesians 6:18-20
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
This morning I was talking to a dear friend from another country and in the course of our conversation I became extremely grateful to live in the USA. This country isn't perfect, and it saddens me to see the way it is beginning to crack down on Christians today who don't agree with our governments new policies, but at least I don't have to worry that the government is going to lock me up as a religious schizophrenic, take away my bible, force me to denounce my God or never leave the institution, and then even if you were to do renounce Jesus you'd never get a good job again because of the diagnosis. These, thankfully are not my realities, but they are my friend's reality, this is what she risks everyday if she's found out.
Speaking to her about the punishments, the harshness of her reality if she were found out to be a protestant Christian where she lives made me so grateful to be where I am, but it also made me really want to pray for her and for other oppressed Christians, others who are hiding their faith from terrorist groups like ISIS, oppressive governments, and even close family. These people who are literally in danger of imprisonment, torture, and death for their belief in Yeshua. These people who love God so much they are willing to risk it all. I thought about them this morning and my heart swelled with pride for these dear brothers and sisters, but also sadness and fear for what they face.
All of this made me want to do something for them, but my reach is limited and I don't even know how I possibly could help them, but I can pray. My Father's reach is not limited, and His resources and abilities are endless, I may not be able to physically help these individuals but I can intercede through prayer for them, and I can ask the Lord to show me what other things I can do here to help them in their struggles. I am asking you to think of them too, I am asking you to stand with me in prayer. We are one body, one family, and we need each other, they need us! We should be wearing out our knees and fasting for these brothers and sisters. Please pray with me today, and everyday for our persecuted brothers and sisters. Pray for the families of the martyrs, and those who are worshiping in secret.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Romans 12:4-5
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Ephesians 6:18-20
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Not The Easy Road
Some people believe that just because you say you are a Christian or that because you have God in your life that things should be easy for you. That the things you want and pray for should come easily to you, but that hasn't been my experience, nor has that been the experiences of the heroes that I read about in the Bible. Abraham did not immediately have a son after God promised him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, no, instead God made Abraham wait. And not only did he have to wait but Abraham faced situations that probably made him wonder if God would ever fulfill His promise to give Abraham the son he desired and the legacy he was promised. The same can be said for David who was anointed king over Israel by Samuel while Saul was still king. David actually served in Saul's house and married Saul's daughter in his waiting to become king over Israel and see the fulfillment of his promise, but I am sure as Saul had sons and they had sons David probably had moments where he wondered if what Samuel said was right, especially when Saul started hunting him down. So I am not sure how the idea of being a Christian became one of ease, comfort, and receiving all the desires of the world, because that isn't what the Word describes.
From my experience of being a Christian I have struggled with temptations, sometimes winning, sometimes losing. I have been made to wait for promises or prayers to be answered, usually to the point of wanting to give up entirely before anything changes. There have been seasons of miracles and blessings, and seasons of silence where I am forced to go deeper in search of His presence. Being a Christian has gotten me verbally attacked by people here on G+ and in life too. I have had family say some of the most hurtful things of all. I have been laughed at and gossiped about behind my back by co-workers for my beliefs, and I have had people trying to draw me out into disputes in attempts to discredit the changes in me. And honestly, I would endure more than this for my savior, this is a light burden I have gone through compared to those giving their lives for Him, or what He did for us on that cross.
Does the Bible promise that the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts, yes it's found at Psalm 37:4-5; but people often forget that the other side to this is that we were warned of persecutions as well and often throughout the Bible. Will He hear us if we pray for things and our heart is His, yes, but life as a real Christian isn't about getting everything you want and its not living like the world. Jesus said in John 15:18-21 that if the world hated Him it will also hate us, if the world persecuted Him so would it us. And this was proven to be true in the way the early Christians were hunted and killed by the Romans, and Christians are still being persecuted in other countries around the world today. The life of a true disciple isn't an easy one, it isn't a life where you get everything you want, where you are super popular with everyone, and never run into any troubles at all. There is not one story I have read in the Bible to back that. Everyone suffered in some way or fashion, and God delivered them all from it.
Did some of them end up with big houses and fortunes, yes both of the early kings of Israel, Saul and David, were lifted out of lowly places into the position of king. Gideon was lifted out of poverty to become a leader and judge over Israel. Ruth was a poor Moabite widow barely surviving with her mother-in-law before the Lord put Boaz in her path and Job came out of his troubles with twice what he lost, but they all suffered despite their faith. Daniel was thrown into a lion's den because of his faith. Shadrach, Meshach and Abdenago were thrown into a oven for refusing to disobey God's laws. Stephen, a disciple of Christ, was stoned to death for his faith, and Peter was crucified upside down for refusing to denounce Yeshua. They suffered for their faith, proving their commitment to the Lord by how they walked and refusing to give in to the pressures of their king or the most powerful nation in the world at this time. And why? Not for their own glory, not for some worldly thing, but because they knew it was more important to serve God than themselves, it was more important to do His will than to live in ease. Having faith, being a Christian, it is not an easy road paved with gold and glittery objects. It's a straight and narrow path paved with the blood, sweat, and tears of the martyrs and saints who came before us. It is a difficult journey but not one we must take alone because our Savior has made the way for us and takes each step with us.
Today, I hope I have stirred you to look deeply at your walk, which path are you on? What are your true heart motives in serving God, is it the road of gold or the narrow path? Are you willing to still call yourself a Christian if it means giving up the things of this world? Be blessed...
Proverbs 29:27
An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.
Isaiah 35:8
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.
Amos 5:10
They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.
Matthew 7:13-14
13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 10:22
And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Luke 13:24
"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
Revelation 2:3
I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.
From my experience of being a Christian I have struggled with temptations, sometimes winning, sometimes losing. I have been made to wait for promises or prayers to be answered, usually to the point of wanting to give up entirely before anything changes. There have been seasons of miracles and blessings, and seasons of silence where I am forced to go deeper in search of His presence. Being a Christian has gotten me verbally attacked by people here on G+ and in life too. I have had family say some of the most hurtful things of all. I have been laughed at and gossiped about behind my back by co-workers for my beliefs, and I have had people trying to draw me out into disputes in attempts to discredit the changes in me. And honestly, I would endure more than this for my savior, this is a light burden I have gone through compared to those giving their lives for Him, or what He did for us on that cross.
Does the Bible promise that the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts, yes it's found at Psalm 37:4-5; but people often forget that the other side to this is that we were warned of persecutions as well and often throughout the Bible. Will He hear us if we pray for things and our heart is His, yes, but life as a real Christian isn't about getting everything you want and its not living like the world. Jesus said in John 15:18-21 that if the world hated Him it will also hate us, if the world persecuted Him so would it us. And this was proven to be true in the way the early Christians were hunted and killed by the Romans, and Christians are still being persecuted in other countries around the world today. The life of a true disciple isn't an easy one, it isn't a life where you get everything you want, where you are super popular with everyone, and never run into any troubles at all. There is not one story I have read in the Bible to back that. Everyone suffered in some way or fashion, and God delivered them all from it.
Did some of them end up with big houses and fortunes, yes both of the early kings of Israel, Saul and David, were lifted out of lowly places into the position of king. Gideon was lifted out of poverty to become a leader and judge over Israel. Ruth was a poor Moabite widow barely surviving with her mother-in-law before the Lord put Boaz in her path and Job came out of his troubles with twice what he lost, but they all suffered despite their faith. Daniel was thrown into a lion's den because of his faith. Shadrach, Meshach and Abdenago were thrown into a oven for refusing to disobey God's laws. Stephen, a disciple of Christ, was stoned to death for his faith, and Peter was crucified upside down for refusing to denounce Yeshua. They suffered for their faith, proving their commitment to the Lord by how they walked and refusing to give in to the pressures of their king or the most powerful nation in the world at this time. And why? Not for their own glory, not for some worldly thing, but because they knew it was more important to serve God than themselves, it was more important to do His will than to live in ease. Having faith, being a Christian, it is not an easy road paved with gold and glittery objects. It's a straight and narrow path paved with the blood, sweat, and tears of the martyrs and saints who came before us. It is a difficult journey but not one we must take alone because our Savior has made the way for us and takes each step with us.
Today, I hope I have stirred you to look deeply at your walk, which path are you on? What are your true heart motives in serving God, is it the road of gold or the narrow path? Are you willing to still call yourself a Christian if it means giving up the things of this world? Be blessed...
Proverbs 29:27
An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.
Isaiah 35:8
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.
Amos 5:10
They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth.
Matthew 7:13-14
13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 10:22
And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Luke 13:24
"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
Revelation 2:3
I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Something Missing
When I was a little girl I didn't know much about God or Jesus, and I had really no clue about the Holy Spirit. I didn't have knowledge or understanding of these things like I do now, but I did love Jesus, I did love God and talked to Him. When I have thought back on being a child I have always remembered that as a really happy time in my life, nothing was missing then, I had my daddy, my mommy, a brother, a puppy, and Jesus, life was complete, although I did keep asking for a sister anyway. This feeling of love and being complete didn't last though, eventually the world got a hold of me and turned my head, leading me down a different path until suddenly I realized that something was missing deep inside of me.
For most of my teen years I had no idea what the gapping hole in my heart was all about, but I blamed God for it because the perfect happy years of my childhood had ended and I now walked through the valley of the shadow of death without a light to guide me back out again. The world I saw then was dark and cruel, soul crushing and lonely, and the emptiness in my soul grew in the world of chaos and pain that surrounded me. The darkness of this barren world without God consumed me from the inside, turning me into someone who was cold and angry; someone who was lonely, bitter and broken just waiting to die.
Then one day my mom suddenly decided that she wanted us to start going to church, I'm still not sure how that came about because to be honest, while both my parents are believers and always have been, they have never really been church goers. They had always taught us that it was most important to love God, and that church was a really good place to learn about Him, but not necessary to have faith or a relationship. So the whole church thing took me by surprise, but I went because she wanted me too, even if at that time my heart was in rebellion against the Lord. I didn't know it then but this would end up being the first step in finding the way back to what was missing in my heart.
It wasn't the first or even the second Sunday that we went that started to lead me home to the Lord, it was actually months later, May of 2006, when the regular preacher was away and an older Pastor from the congregation stepped in for the day. He gave a fiery sermon on damnation and the need for repentance in our lives that left me shaking on the inside. Fearing for my soul, and seeing clearly my sins I rushed to the altar and said the prayer of salivation for the second time in my life, the first being when I was about 4 or 5. I consider this the day I was saved, but if I'm honest with you it is not the day I was made complete in Christ, it wasn't the day I figured out what was missing in my life, but it was the first very important step to getting there.
For many years after this I was a lukewarm Christian, I was a hypocrite and a liar, trying to earn grace by serving the different churches I attended and making myself look good to the others at church. This only increased the emptiness. I prayed about this, wondering why I didn't feel complete if I had said the prayer, why was I still so unhappy. I heard about the joy of the Lord, and the life changing transformations that accepting Jesus can manifest in someone's life, but I wasn't experiencing it, and there were times where I started to doubt that anyone really did. I will admit that I had many experiences during all this that actually should have convinced me of the truth; there were so many times He reached out to me while I was living that shallow life, but I didn't hang onto Him. I was a stubborn, I knew that I wanted Jesus, wanted to serve God, but I didn't want to need Him, I didn't want to turn into a Jesus freak, I desired Him but I wanted to keep Him at a distance too and that was the real problem, that was the real reason I wasn't experiencing the changes I heard others testify about.
Finally He broke my stubborn will and put me in a place where I had to admit that I not only desired Him, but I needed Him too. This point of surrender was the life changing experience I had been hearing about. The world had come crashing down around me, but as soon as I surrendered I knew in my heart it was going to all be okay. I gave Him all of my brokenness then, all of me, and have been increasingly dedicated since. Christ came in and made me whole that day, but it wasn't until recently that I realized it. Ever since He started to change me I have said I feel better, I like who I am now, I am finally happy again, but it was the other night walking with my husband along the shore of a lake at one of the local parks that I found myself thinking and almost said out loud, 'I feel complete, and I've been complete a long time now.' It was a startling, and joyful revelation for me! With Yeshua in my heart I am no longer missing anything I am complete, redeemed, and made new in His image!
If you are feeling the way I did, incomplete, lonely, beaten down, and worthless, turn to Yeshua (Jesus). If you already have and you're still feeling that way, have you surrendered or are you still holding back like I did, too afraid to let go of yourself, and why? The Word tells us we are made complete in Jesus (Colossians 2:10) and that we were reconciled with God through Him (Colossians 2:14 among other places), if you believe this then letting go of your will for His is what you have been missing to experience the fullness of Christ, to experience completion in your soul. He is what is missing, and we can't feel whole without Him.
Isaiah 55:6-7
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Ezekiel 11:19-20
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
For most of my teen years I had no idea what the gapping hole in my heart was all about, but I blamed God for it because the perfect happy years of my childhood had ended and I now walked through the valley of the shadow of death without a light to guide me back out again. The world I saw then was dark and cruel, soul crushing and lonely, and the emptiness in my soul grew in the world of chaos and pain that surrounded me. The darkness of this barren world without God consumed me from the inside, turning me into someone who was cold and angry; someone who was lonely, bitter and broken just waiting to die.
Then one day my mom suddenly decided that she wanted us to start going to church, I'm still not sure how that came about because to be honest, while both my parents are believers and always have been, they have never really been church goers. They had always taught us that it was most important to love God, and that church was a really good place to learn about Him, but not necessary to have faith or a relationship. So the whole church thing took me by surprise, but I went because she wanted me too, even if at that time my heart was in rebellion against the Lord. I didn't know it then but this would end up being the first step in finding the way back to what was missing in my heart.
It wasn't the first or even the second Sunday that we went that started to lead me home to the Lord, it was actually months later, May of 2006, when the regular preacher was away and an older Pastor from the congregation stepped in for the day. He gave a fiery sermon on damnation and the need for repentance in our lives that left me shaking on the inside. Fearing for my soul, and seeing clearly my sins I rushed to the altar and said the prayer of salivation for the second time in my life, the first being when I was about 4 or 5. I consider this the day I was saved, but if I'm honest with you it is not the day I was made complete in Christ, it wasn't the day I figured out what was missing in my life, but it was the first very important step to getting there.
For many years after this I was a lukewarm Christian, I was a hypocrite and a liar, trying to earn grace by serving the different churches I attended and making myself look good to the others at church. This only increased the emptiness. I prayed about this, wondering why I didn't feel complete if I had said the prayer, why was I still so unhappy. I heard about the joy of the Lord, and the life changing transformations that accepting Jesus can manifest in someone's life, but I wasn't experiencing it, and there were times where I started to doubt that anyone really did. I will admit that I had many experiences during all this that actually should have convinced me of the truth; there were so many times He reached out to me while I was living that shallow life, but I didn't hang onto Him. I was a stubborn, I knew that I wanted Jesus, wanted to serve God, but I didn't want to need Him, I didn't want to turn into a Jesus freak, I desired Him but I wanted to keep Him at a distance too and that was the real problem, that was the real reason I wasn't experiencing the changes I heard others testify about.
Finally He broke my stubborn will and put me in a place where I had to admit that I not only desired Him, but I needed Him too. This point of surrender was the life changing experience I had been hearing about. The world had come crashing down around me, but as soon as I surrendered I knew in my heart it was going to all be okay. I gave Him all of my brokenness then, all of me, and have been increasingly dedicated since. Christ came in and made me whole that day, but it wasn't until recently that I realized it. Ever since He started to change me I have said I feel better, I like who I am now, I am finally happy again, but it was the other night walking with my husband along the shore of a lake at one of the local parks that I found myself thinking and almost said out loud, 'I feel complete, and I've been complete a long time now.' It was a startling, and joyful revelation for me! With Yeshua in my heart I am no longer missing anything I am complete, redeemed, and made new in His image!
If you are feeling the way I did, incomplete, lonely, beaten down, and worthless, turn to Yeshua (Jesus). If you already have and you're still feeling that way, have you surrendered or are you still holding back like I did, too afraid to let go of yourself, and why? The Word tells us we are made complete in Jesus (Colossians 2:10) and that we were reconciled with God through Him (Colossians 2:14 among other places), if you believe this then letting go of your will for His is what you have been missing to experience the fullness of Christ, to experience completion in your soul. He is what is missing, and we can't feel whole without Him.
Isaiah 55:6-7
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Ezekiel 11:19-20
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Sometimes it's Best to Walk Away
This morning and to be honest the last three mornings in a row, I have driven the 40 minutes into work with tears flowing down my face as I prayed. I have been at my wits end. Frustrated to the point of snapping, ready to lose my temper at a moments notice. I know this isn't how God wants me to be though, the Bible says in Proverbs 29:11 'A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.' I have been trying to do that, but I realized today as I prayed and cried again to the Lord about my frustration that I needed some Godly advice from a good friend because I wasn't seeing the whole picture anymore. Then as I continued to seek God in prayer it came to me to ask a certain sister in Christ for the needed advice and prayer support, and I am so glad I did!
It is always a humbling experience for me to ask for help from others, but I know that the Lord does not want us struggling alone, that's why He gives us friends or families to support us, its how He builds the bonds of trust between us. I know these things, and I believe them, but it is still hard for someone as independent and strong willed as myself to admit to anyone other than Jesus that I need help. I want to do things on my own, I want to handle things privately without bringing others in. But I am slowly learning this leaves me weakened spiritually. Why? Because pride is a sin and a sneaky one at that because it hides and you often can't see it until you follow your problems down to the root.
My pride has kept me struggling in secret, my pride has caused me to push issues that I had better left to the Lord in prayer, my pride has kept me from walking through this situation as I should have, my pride has whispered and lied to me saying I was doing everything right. My pride and my natural 'can do' attitude caused me to pray and pick back up, rather than letting go. I honestly didn't realize that was what I was doing before, but as I spoke with my friend and prayed about her words to me, and the advice she gave me, I began to see this. She actually didn't spot pride as part of the problem, that came to me as I prayed and meditated on our conversation and scripture, but she did point out that I might need to step back and just let the Lord work.
When I thought about that, and how she said to shake the dust from my feet I started to ask myself some questions and I didn't like the honest answers I found in my heart. I asked myself why I was pouring into someone who obviously didn't want to hear what I was saying, why I was continually allowing myself to be pulled into the same conversation that they weren't listening too to start with, why was I allowing these people to upset me and steal my peace? And the why I found was one that said 'because you know you are right.' That reason why changed everything for me today. I may be right, but if they aren't willing to listen then shouting at someone or getting into an argument with them certainly isn't going to help and it certainly isn't righteous behavior. All it has done is frustrate all both of us by keeping us going in circles.
So now, seeing clearly my folly I am changing my attitude and my actions. I am letting go, and letting God. I am making the determined decision to continue to pray and be available to them if they have a question, but no longer engaging in the conflict of the topic that has so frustrated all of the parties concerned. Instead, if it's brought up again, I'm excusing myself or changing the topic. I will not allow this poisonous issue to affect me anymore. Sometimes it's best to just walk away, even if you have all the evidence in the world to prove it, because sometimes people just don't want to listen or believe. Sometimes all you can do is pray and let go because all that back forth is just hindering your own walk. Be blessed today and always, in the name of Jesus.
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Proverbs 30:12
There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
Romans 12:3
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
James 1:19-20
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
It is always a humbling experience for me to ask for help from others, but I know that the Lord does not want us struggling alone, that's why He gives us friends or families to support us, its how He builds the bonds of trust between us. I know these things, and I believe them, but it is still hard for someone as independent and strong willed as myself to admit to anyone other than Jesus that I need help. I want to do things on my own, I want to handle things privately without bringing others in. But I am slowly learning this leaves me weakened spiritually. Why? Because pride is a sin and a sneaky one at that because it hides and you often can't see it until you follow your problems down to the root.
My pride has kept me struggling in secret, my pride has caused me to push issues that I had better left to the Lord in prayer, my pride has kept me from walking through this situation as I should have, my pride has whispered and lied to me saying I was doing everything right. My pride and my natural 'can do' attitude caused me to pray and pick back up, rather than letting go. I honestly didn't realize that was what I was doing before, but as I spoke with my friend and prayed about her words to me, and the advice she gave me, I began to see this. She actually didn't spot pride as part of the problem, that came to me as I prayed and meditated on our conversation and scripture, but she did point out that I might need to step back and just let the Lord work.
When I thought about that, and how she said to shake the dust from my feet I started to ask myself some questions and I didn't like the honest answers I found in my heart. I asked myself why I was pouring into someone who obviously didn't want to hear what I was saying, why I was continually allowing myself to be pulled into the same conversation that they weren't listening too to start with, why was I allowing these people to upset me and steal my peace? And the why I found was one that said 'because you know you are right.' That reason why changed everything for me today. I may be right, but if they aren't willing to listen then shouting at someone or getting into an argument with them certainly isn't going to help and it certainly isn't righteous behavior. All it has done is frustrate all both of us by keeping us going in circles.
So now, seeing clearly my folly I am changing my attitude and my actions. I am letting go, and letting God. I am making the determined decision to continue to pray and be available to them if they have a question, but no longer engaging in the conflict of the topic that has so frustrated all of the parties concerned. Instead, if it's brought up again, I'm excusing myself or changing the topic. I will not allow this poisonous issue to affect me anymore. Sometimes it's best to just walk away, even if you have all the evidence in the world to prove it, because sometimes people just don't want to listen or believe. Sometimes all you can do is pray and let go because all that back forth is just hindering your own walk. Be blessed today and always, in the name of Jesus.
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Proverbs 30:12
There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
Romans 12:3
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
James 1:19-20
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Sometimes We Need to Break to Heal
There has been so much stress in my life lately, some days have been better than other, some of it good stress, some of it bad but we are pushing through as a family. Lately though, as I've mentioned before, I have been struggling with this. Everything gets to be so overwhelming, and pushing on week after week through these difficulties gets tiring. Over Easter break I started to break down, to crack under the pressure. I started to have crying spells and was very over emotional. My husband is and has been very supportive, comforting me the best he can, but still I just couldn't seem to keep it together.
Finally, I asked my mom how was it that she hadn't broken down, how was it that she seemed to be handling the stress so much better than I was. Her answer wasn't what I had expected, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. She said "Jennifer, I did break down. I cried it all out. Then I picked myself up, said a prayer and marched on. Everyone has to break down some time, that's how you heal." Bam! This is what I needed, her words triggered memories for me of how often I do this. I bottle up my feelings, push them aside, and move on instead of processing them and truly giving them to the Lord. This is and has been a major stumbling block for me for long time, something I have done repeatedly that has in the past, and may have again if I hadn't talked to my mom, led me unwittingly back down the road into depression. I thank the Lord that I got brave enough to talk to my mom about this, and that her words were exactly what I needed.
This conversation with my mom reminded me of something else too, something I had written to someone else who was struggling before, 'sometimes we have to break, sometimes we have to fall, sometimes we have to crumble and admit that we aren't strong, because there is strength in vulnerability, strength in our weakness, when we trust our heart to the Lord.' It was something that helped them, something I had learned from scripture and experience, but in midst of the storm I had forgotten it. Not that I forgot to pray or talk it over with God, but that it's okay to break before my Lord, that's it's okay to say 'I can't do this God and I need you!'
In fact, that's what God wants us to do, He wants us to come running to Him and say 'Daddy please take care of this for me, please tell me what to do, and heal my heart. I can't do anything without you!' Because it is when we give Him our troubles and admit that we aren't strong that God will step in and show us His strength, glory, and mercy. It's when we crumble and let go of pride, when we allow our weaknesses to be evident that God can move in our hearts to heal us. Be Blessed.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, I asked my mom how was it that she hadn't broken down, how was it that she seemed to be handling the stress so much better than I was. Her answer wasn't what I had expected, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. She said "Jennifer, I did break down. I cried it all out. Then I picked myself up, said a prayer and marched on. Everyone has to break down some time, that's how you heal." Bam! This is what I needed, her words triggered memories for me of how often I do this. I bottle up my feelings, push them aside, and move on instead of processing them and truly giving them to the Lord. This is and has been a major stumbling block for me for long time, something I have done repeatedly that has in the past, and may have again if I hadn't talked to my mom, led me unwittingly back down the road into depression. I thank the Lord that I got brave enough to talk to my mom about this, and that her words were exactly what I needed.
This conversation with my mom reminded me of something else too, something I had written to someone else who was struggling before, 'sometimes we have to break, sometimes we have to fall, sometimes we have to crumble and admit that we aren't strong, because there is strength in vulnerability, strength in our weakness, when we trust our heart to the Lord.' It was something that helped them, something I had learned from scripture and experience, but in midst of the storm I had forgotten it. Not that I forgot to pray or talk it over with God, but that it's okay to break before my Lord, that's it's okay to say 'I can't do this God and I need you!'
In fact, that's what God wants us to do, He wants us to come running to Him and say 'Daddy please take care of this for me, please tell me what to do, and heal my heart. I can't do anything without you!' Because it is when we give Him our troubles and admit that we aren't strong that God will step in and show us His strength, glory, and mercy. It's when we crumble and let go of pride, when we allow our weaknesses to be evident that God can move in our hearts to heal us. Be Blessed.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Love is Not Some Fairy Tale
I just read a post that said "Your relationship should erase your tears, not your smile, true love doesn't hurt it heals" and while the idea is sweet and romantic, and there was certainly a time I would have +1 that post; I read it with different eyes today. Today my response to this post was, 'that's poppycock, an utter lie. A nice idea, a nice dream, but not truth.' It's post like that, comments and phrases like that, that give people the wrong idea about love, this statement would have you believe that your partner should never hurt you and heal all your brokenness, but that's not the way it works! That's not true to life.
If you are looking for a partner to fix you, to take care of all your problems, and never hurt you, you will never be happy. You will be constantly ready to move on when you are yet again met with disappointment, and always it will be that other person's fault because 'they didn't really love you, if they loved you they wouldn't hurt you.' But the truth is, people will always hurt you, and people can't heal you. No one person has the ability to fix you, and no matter how much they love you at some point they will hurt you, what becomes important then is how you respond to that hurt. We can continue to blame others for our pain and push them away because we were hurt, or we can decide to meet them with forgiveness, love, and the understanding that they are human as well.
I can say this as someone who once expected that after an awful relationship with the man I dated before I met my husband. I didn't at first expect Nick to heal me, or never hurt me, in fact at first I expected to be hurt and used because it was what I had become accustomed to. But after an entire year together I started to believe that he could heal the past hurts, and I started to believe he would never hurt me because he hadn't yet. This is when I would have quickly agreed with the post that I mentioned before. I would have thought about him and said 'this is true, look what Nick's done for me!' The reality of the situation though was not that he was healing me, I wasn't really healed at all, the same hurts and insecurities were there under the surface, I was just happier with him. The first time he hurt me made this abundantly clear because I reacted based on those fears and insecurities, and I pushed him away because I was hurt. It took a really long time for me to realize this, I am not sure that I was even really aware that I had done this until the distance between us became devastating to me and I started seeking the Lord on how to fix it, asking Him to heal my marriage. It was after this, after I sought healing from the Great Physician, that through His word and dreams He gave me that I was slowly humbled by the Lord and taught the errors of my actions and the expectations I had unwittingly placed on my spouse.
I learned there is really only one love capable of healing you, and its not the love of another human, it is God's love. If you want healing go to God, don't go looking for it in someone else because you will never find what you are looking for in someone who is just as flawed and broken as you. We can help each other, encourage each other, comfort each other but healing really starts inside of you, starts with the decision to change and is manifested by God in you as you draw near to Him. But, I'm not going to lie to you and say that you will never be hurt in this relationship either, because God is going to allow pain into your life, and He will hurt you by not giving you the things you want right away, and sometimes not at all. But those moments are meant to build you not break you, if you draw closer to Him during those times you will see this to be true.
Love is not some fairy tale where we live happily ever after with Mr(s). Right, where we are never hurt. No; love is forgiveness, love is looking past your own suffering and choosing what is right anyway. Love is toughing it out in the hard times because it makes you stronger, and often better. Love is Jesus nailed to cross for you, for your sins to spare you from hell, love is Him overcoming death and setting us free, giving us access through Him to God the Father and eternal life. Be blessed.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Lamentations 3:22
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
If you are looking for a partner to fix you, to take care of all your problems, and never hurt you, you will never be happy. You will be constantly ready to move on when you are yet again met with disappointment, and always it will be that other person's fault because 'they didn't really love you, if they loved you they wouldn't hurt you.' But the truth is, people will always hurt you, and people can't heal you. No one person has the ability to fix you, and no matter how much they love you at some point they will hurt you, what becomes important then is how you respond to that hurt. We can continue to blame others for our pain and push them away because we were hurt, or we can decide to meet them with forgiveness, love, and the understanding that they are human as well.
I can say this as someone who once expected that after an awful relationship with the man I dated before I met my husband. I didn't at first expect Nick to heal me, or never hurt me, in fact at first I expected to be hurt and used because it was what I had become accustomed to. But after an entire year together I started to believe that he could heal the past hurts, and I started to believe he would never hurt me because he hadn't yet. This is when I would have quickly agreed with the post that I mentioned before. I would have thought about him and said 'this is true, look what Nick's done for me!' The reality of the situation though was not that he was healing me, I wasn't really healed at all, the same hurts and insecurities were there under the surface, I was just happier with him. The first time he hurt me made this abundantly clear because I reacted based on those fears and insecurities, and I pushed him away because I was hurt. It took a really long time for me to realize this, I am not sure that I was even really aware that I had done this until the distance between us became devastating to me and I started seeking the Lord on how to fix it, asking Him to heal my marriage. It was after this, after I sought healing from the Great Physician, that through His word and dreams He gave me that I was slowly humbled by the Lord and taught the errors of my actions and the expectations I had unwittingly placed on my spouse.
I learned there is really only one love capable of healing you, and its not the love of another human, it is God's love. If you want healing go to God, don't go looking for it in someone else because you will never find what you are looking for in someone who is just as flawed and broken as you. We can help each other, encourage each other, comfort each other but healing really starts inside of you, starts with the decision to change and is manifested by God in you as you draw near to Him. But, I'm not going to lie to you and say that you will never be hurt in this relationship either, because God is going to allow pain into your life, and He will hurt you by not giving you the things you want right away, and sometimes not at all. But those moments are meant to build you not break you, if you draw closer to Him during those times you will see this to be true.
Love is not some fairy tale where we live happily ever after with Mr(s). Right, where we are never hurt. No; love is forgiveness, love is looking past your own suffering and choosing what is right anyway. Love is toughing it out in the hard times because it makes you stronger, and often better. Love is Jesus nailed to cross for you, for your sins to spare you from hell, love is Him overcoming death and setting us free, giving us access through Him to God the Father and eternal life. Be blessed.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Lamentations 3:22
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
God Can and Does Move Things to Bless You
Last night my husband and I were at a hospice visiting my aunt and sharing with her some exciting news we had just received. Before Easter we had gotten pre-approved to purchase a house, but there was a problem and we worried that things might not work out for us yet again. We knew before getting the pre-approval which house we wanted, we had found it online and it was like a dream to us, not perfect, not exactly what we wanted, but it has everything that was important to us in probably the best area we could hope for, we were thrilled it was in our budget! Then came the bad news, part of the house had been a mobile home at one time before being placed on a permanent foundation and being remodeled into a much larger, modern looking ranch style home, and the title to the trailer portion of the house is missing, without this the house would be next to impossible to buy. Despite that disappointing information we decided to try for it anyway, it was too perfect to pass up, we had to at least try.
After a week or so of phone calls though, I started to get discouraged, no one would finance us because of the missing title. The only option I saw was to hunt for the title myself, but I had no idea how to go about it. With all the other stress we had and the approaching holiday I decided it was probably best to give it and myself a break for a few days and just fast and pray about things. I decided that after Easter I would start the hunt for the title, but until then I would seek the Lord for His help and guidance.
In my heart I kept believing that after Easter everything would change, I didn't know how or why, and I had no real reason to believe that it would, but nonetheless I believed. In my heart I felt certain, and still do that it is meant to be our home partially because a long time ago when we looked before Nick and I said that we would know the house was right because there would be a creek behind it, this was to be our sign from God that it was our home, and this home has the creek behind it. And as silly as it sounds I partially believe it is meant to be our home because of the difficultly with the title, no one else has been willing to do the work to purchase it, so it's been sitting on the market with the price dropping as time went on, like it was waiting on us, like God was holding it for us. So, in my heart I really have believed that it is ours and I have kept saying, 'I don't know how but this will work out' and surprisingly, my typically pessimistic husband has agreed.
Now, it is 3 days past Easter, and the situation has changed in our favor. Mid-morning Monday I received an email from our realtor informing us that the owner is willing to do owner financing for us! It felt amazing to get the good news! I was and still am so happy and grateful to the Lord for this blessing! But I won't lie, fear is starting to creep into both our minds, doubts about whether or not we will able to keep up with the house and its payments, doubts whether this is the right decision or not, especially because now that the owner is willing to finance us, things are preceding quickly, more quickly than either of us were expecting to be honest.
As we shared all this with my aunt last night she listened and agreed, I could tell she was happy for us, and totally understood our fears. The conversation went on for several minutes, and at one point while discussing our fears and how fast things were starting to move since the day before, I placed my hand over my husband's and gave him an encouraging squeeze. Then, I looked over at him and said 'If you hold my hand, I'll hold yours, and we can both hold onto the Lord, we can do anything so long as we are walking with Him.' Nick smiled and nodded, and that was the last discussion we had of fear for the rest of the visit.
So why did I share all this? Because I want everyone to know that what looks impossible or too difficult in the natural, with man, IS possible with God. God can and does move things to bless you if you keep in faith and push forward despite how things look. I want you to know that fear is a natural reaction to change and that trust in the Lord can help you to overcome it. Most of all I want you know that we serve a great and loving God who really does give us the desires of our hearts, if we give our hearts to Him and seek to live a life that is pleasing to Him. Walk on Christian soldier with confidence in the God we serve.
Jeremiah 32:17
‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Psalm 27:1
Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
After a week or so of phone calls though, I started to get discouraged, no one would finance us because of the missing title. The only option I saw was to hunt for the title myself, but I had no idea how to go about it. With all the other stress we had and the approaching holiday I decided it was probably best to give it and myself a break for a few days and just fast and pray about things. I decided that after Easter I would start the hunt for the title, but until then I would seek the Lord for His help and guidance.
In my heart I kept believing that after Easter everything would change, I didn't know how or why, and I had no real reason to believe that it would, but nonetheless I believed. In my heart I felt certain, and still do that it is meant to be our home partially because a long time ago when we looked before Nick and I said that we would know the house was right because there would be a creek behind it, this was to be our sign from God that it was our home, and this home has the creek behind it. And as silly as it sounds I partially believe it is meant to be our home because of the difficultly with the title, no one else has been willing to do the work to purchase it, so it's been sitting on the market with the price dropping as time went on, like it was waiting on us, like God was holding it for us. So, in my heart I really have believed that it is ours and I have kept saying, 'I don't know how but this will work out' and surprisingly, my typically pessimistic husband has agreed.
Now, it is 3 days past Easter, and the situation has changed in our favor. Mid-morning Monday I received an email from our realtor informing us that the owner is willing to do owner financing for us! It felt amazing to get the good news! I was and still am so happy and grateful to the Lord for this blessing! But I won't lie, fear is starting to creep into both our minds, doubts about whether or not we will able to keep up with the house and its payments, doubts whether this is the right decision or not, especially because now that the owner is willing to finance us, things are preceding quickly, more quickly than either of us were expecting to be honest.
As we shared all this with my aunt last night she listened and agreed, I could tell she was happy for us, and totally understood our fears. The conversation went on for several minutes, and at one point while discussing our fears and how fast things were starting to move since the day before, I placed my hand over my husband's and gave him an encouraging squeeze. Then, I looked over at him and said 'If you hold my hand, I'll hold yours, and we can both hold onto the Lord, we can do anything so long as we are walking with Him.' Nick smiled and nodded, and that was the last discussion we had of fear for the rest of the visit.
So why did I share all this? Because I want everyone to know that what looks impossible or too difficult in the natural, with man, IS possible with God. God can and does move things to bless you if you keep in faith and push forward despite how things look. I want you to know that fear is a natural reaction to change and that trust in the Lord can help you to overcome it. Most of all I want you know that we serve a great and loving God who really does give us the desires of our hearts, if we give our hearts to Him and seek to live a life that is pleasing to Him. Walk on Christian soldier with confidence in the God we serve.
Jeremiah 32:17
‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life
of whom shall I be afraid?
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Don't Lie to Me
When I was a teenager and into college years it could be said that I lived a double life. I hated lies, hated telling them or finding out someone lied to me, but to keep up with my friends and keep my parents from finding out what we were really doing, I lied, and often. I absolutely hated myself, I was physically sick from the fear and anxiety of being caught everyday, but still I piled one top of the other doing my best to keep them all straight and cover my tracks. My friends honestly weren't much better, and I sometimes wonder just how much we really knew about each other. One girl in particular told more lies than could be kept straight and it was her I thought of today and how meeting her taught me how important honesty is in a relationship, how she taught me to be honest.
I know that may have sounded a little strange, but it took me having to face what I was doing to understand what my parents must have felt when they knew or found out I was dishonest with them; before I could come to terms with what I was doing and change. It took probably a little over a year for me to get to that point, after that I had caught her in lies so many times that my heart became distrustful of her and I started to wonder if she ever told the truth. I became suspicious of her heart and motives because I started to notice she said one thing and did another, including sticking me with her phone bill that she was supposed to pay me for each month (I stupidly believed her that if I added her to my plan she would pay me back for it, it never happened and I eventually had to pay a costly fine to my phone provider to break contract and drop the line). All of this though was not enough for me to change, it was however enough for me to get fed up with her lies.
It wasn't until later, I'm not really sure how much later as this was all well over 6 years ago now, but it wasn't until later that I related her actions to myself. I'm not sure now if it was a sermon on TV, or one at the church I attended, but I remember listening to a sermon about liars, and lying, about how it can start out as a little white lie here or there and grow into a habit or lifestyle. This sermon talked about how lying oftentimes comes from fear or shame, we want to be liked so we tell people what we think will impress them, or we did something wrong and we don't want discovered so we cover it up. The preacher talked about other reasons we lie too, but these were the ones that caught my attention and started the process of changing my heart.
As I sat there listening I remember smugly thinking to myself that I wished that certain friend was there so she could hear the sermon too. I remember thinking to myself, that this was exactly what she needed to maybe change her heart and make her a better person to be around, and then a whisper came from my heart that broke me on this issue and forced me to face it. The whisper was gentle but powerful, I knew it was God speaking to me, He said 'this message was for you.' My mind froze, did I really just hear that? Then the flesh rose up again and tried to argue, but as I argued against the truth that I needed that message too I was reminded of my lies, I saw myself clearly and I suddenly knew that the only way to make it right was to stop lying and ask for forgiveness.
Since that moment to now and beyond, I have strived to be honest, sometimes hurting people with my honesty because I now know it is better to be hurt with the truth than comforted with lie. I keep the memory of the lies I told and how hard it was to ask forgiveness as a reminder to stay honest. I keep the memories of this former friend and how much I was hurt by her lies to remember what it feels like to be deceived, but I am not embittered towards her at all, I'm grateful for her because by her actions and dealings with me I learned how much I need honesty. I learned that there really isn't a relationship between people without it, and the same goes for God. God knows our hearts and what we need, He knows when we are honest and when we are trying to hide things in our hearts from Him, and that hiding and shame will build a wall between you if you let it. Be open and honest with the Lord, He already knows, chances are He is just waiting on you to admit it before it can change. Be blessed.
Exodus 20:16
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
1 Peter 3:10-12
For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
I know that may have sounded a little strange, but it took me having to face what I was doing to understand what my parents must have felt when they knew or found out I was dishonest with them; before I could come to terms with what I was doing and change. It took probably a little over a year for me to get to that point, after that I had caught her in lies so many times that my heart became distrustful of her and I started to wonder if she ever told the truth. I became suspicious of her heart and motives because I started to notice she said one thing and did another, including sticking me with her phone bill that she was supposed to pay me for each month (I stupidly believed her that if I added her to my plan she would pay me back for it, it never happened and I eventually had to pay a costly fine to my phone provider to break contract and drop the line). All of this though was not enough for me to change, it was however enough for me to get fed up with her lies.
It wasn't until later, I'm not really sure how much later as this was all well over 6 years ago now, but it wasn't until later that I related her actions to myself. I'm not sure now if it was a sermon on TV, or one at the church I attended, but I remember listening to a sermon about liars, and lying, about how it can start out as a little white lie here or there and grow into a habit or lifestyle. This sermon talked about how lying oftentimes comes from fear or shame, we want to be liked so we tell people what we think will impress them, or we did something wrong and we don't want discovered so we cover it up. The preacher talked about other reasons we lie too, but these were the ones that caught my attention and started the process of changing my heart.
As I sat there listening I remember smugly thinking to myself that I wished that certain friend was there so she could hear the sermon too. I remember thinking to myself, that this was exactly what she needed to maybe change her heart and make her a better person to be around, and then a whisper came from my heart that broke me on this issue and forced me to face it. The whisper was gentle but powerful, I knew it was God speaking to me, He said 'this message was for you.' My mind froze, did I really just hear that? Then the flesh rose up again and tried to argue, but as I argued against the truth that I needed that message too I was reminded of my lies, I saw myself clearly and I suddenly knew that the only way to make it right was to stop lying and ask for forgiveness.
Since that moment to now and beyond, I have strived to be honest, sometimes hurting people with my honesty because I now know it is better to be hurt with the truth than comforted with lie. I keep the memory of the lies I told and how hard it was to ask forgiveness as a reminder to stay honest. I keep the memories of this former friend and how much I was hurt by her lies to remember what it feels like to be deceived, but I am not embittered towards her at all, I'm grateful for her because by her actions and dealings with me I learned how much I need honesty. I learned that there really isn't a relationship between people without it, and the same goes for God. God knows our hearts and what we need, He knows when we are honest and when we are trying to hide things in our hearts from Him, and that hiding and shame will build a wall between you if you let it. Be open and honest with the Lord, He already knows, chances are He is just waiting on you to admit it before it can change. Be blessed.
Exodus 20:16
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
1 Peter 3:10-12
For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Monday, April 6, 2015
The Decision to Press On
Something I have been struggling with lately is knowing what is God's will for me right now. I know that what I am doing here is, but other than the writing I have felt a drift for years now. Everything outside of this is a closed door and I am frustrated beyond reason by it. I can't figure out why He is keeping us stuck and it is making me crazy! We haven't been able to have a baby, or buy a house. We haven't been able to move or start the business we wanted. Every opportunity we get and explore, turns out to be another closed door, and if I am perfectly honest I spent a couple days over the holiday weekend crying over it. With every thing else that has been going on with us in our families I just keep praying, 'God cut us a break, please just let something work out for us!'
I know I am not the only one to ever feel this way, I'm sure there were times where you have too, and we know there were times that others in the Bible became impatient too waiting on God's promises, or the next step in life. It can be very frustrating to see the people in our lives get the things we want, or move ahead while we are still stuck and can't figure out why. It can be disheartening and leave you looking at yourself wondering what you are doing wrong. It can feel like you are being punished, or that you are failing in some way and that is why God is withholding blessings. Others in your life will try to encourage you, reminding you that it will happen in God's time not yours, but after a while there's no comfort left in those words, simply more frustration as you continually ask 'when?! When is the time?'
I know the Bible tells us that all things work together for the good of those who love God, (Romans 8:28) but it can be really hard to keep that perspective when you are frustrated and meet with one closed door after another. It can feel like a losing battle, like all hope is lost and you might as well give up. That's how I have felt lately, but each time I'm ready to throw in the towel and give up the same question pops into my head, 'what will that solve? What will giving up change?' As that questions comes up, I ponder it a moment and quickly realize giving up just isn't an option, there is no choice but to press on no matter how I feel. But this is easier said than done, how do you convince yourself to move on when nothing seems to be changing or getting better?
I can't promise this will work for everyone, but this was what I did and seems to helping me to press on. I stepped back from all the distractions for a few days, I turned off the social media, put my phone on vibrate, and put down the tablet. Then, I picked up my Bible and my prayer journal and poured my heart out, the good, the bad, the painful, and the shameful. Did it change my situation? No; but it did change my heart, and my outlook on things. I started to feel refreshed, revitalized, and hopeful again as I left everything in my Creator's hand. I read words of hope that built me up again, and helped me to focus on my faith and not my frustrations over life. Do I have the house and baby I have been praying for? Not yet, but I know they will come in God's time, whether I want to hear that or not. Reading His word, and then a little later a nature walk, reminded me that if God makes a promise it never fails, it may take years to manifest but God's word never fails, and that knowledge gives me the strength to go on when I feel like giving up, because of Jesus I can make the decision to press on with hope.
Numbers 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
I know I am not the only one to ever feel this way, I'm sure there were times where you have too, and we know there were times that others in the Bible became impatient too waiting on God's promises, or the next step in life. It can be very frustrating to see the people in our lives get the things we want, or move ahead while we are still stuck and can't figure out why. It can be disheartening and leave you looking at yourself wondering what you are doing wrong. It can feel like you are being punished, or that you are failing in some way and that is why God is withholding blessings. Others in your life will try to encourage you, reminding you that it will happen in God's time not yours, but after a while there's no comfort left in those words, simply more frustration as you continually ask 'when?! When is the time?'
I know the Bible tells us that all things work together for the good of those who love God, (Romans 8:28) but it can be really hard to keep that perspective when you are frustrated and meet with one closed door after another. It can feel like a losing battle, like all hope is lost and you might as well give up. That's how I have felt lately, but each time I'm ready to throw in the towel and give up the same question pops into my head, 'what will that solve? What will giving up change?' As that questions comes up, I ponder it a moment and quickly realize giving up just isn't an option, there is no choice but to press on no matter how I feel. But this is easier said than done, how do you convince yourself to move on when nothing seems to be changing or getting better?
I can't promise this will work for everyone, but this was what I did and seems to helping me to press on. I stepped back from all the distractions for a few days, I turned off the social media, put my phone on vibrate, and put down the tablet. Then, I picked up my Bible and my prayer journal and poured my heart out, the good, the bad, the painful, and the shameful. Did it change my situation? No; but it did change my heart, and my outlook on things. I started to feel refreshed, revitalized, and hopeful again as I left everything in my Creator's hand. I read words of hope that built me up again, and helped me to focus on my faith and not my frustrations over life. Do I have the house and baby I have been praying for? Not yet, but I know they will come in God's time, whether I want to hear that or not. Reading His word, and then a little later a nature walk, reminded me that if God makes a promise it never fails, it may take years to manifest but God's word never fails, and that knowledge gives me the strength to go on when I feel like giving up, because of Jesus I can make the decision to press on with hope.
Numbers 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
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