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Sunday, January 29, 2012
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Modern Day Eve
I have always had issues with control. Often times, I have felt like Eve … unable to trust that God had good things planned for me and unable to sit back and wait for them … so quick to do things on my own terms, eat the fruit from the tree because, like Eve, I know better than God.
This struggle has affected my life in minor ways - leaving me worried about parties at my house. Is the food good enough? Is there enough of it? Is the house clean enough? Will everyone have fun? Or Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents’ house - if I didn’t take responsibility for seating arrangements, who would? I allowed my need to handle all of these pieces of my life to leave me stressed beyond relief. I have been like Martha more times than not … so busy trying to manage everything and everyone all on my own that I missed the big picture and the greater Power.
However minor the repercussions for my Martha moments, my sin led to much greater consequences in major areas of my life. I had always planned on being married, having a family, and I just knew that God had that in His plan for me too. When I graduated high school and God didn’t just drop the man of my dreams into my lap, I started to question Him. I found someone who wasn’t 100% the man I knew God wanted for me, but he was close enough. After two years of backsliding in my relationship with God, I broke up with this guy. I expected to feel immediate relief and closeness with Christ. Part of me was waiting for the new miracle guy to be packaged and delivered. I moved onto guy after guy following my own heart and my own guidelines instead of the Lord’s. I finally gave up completely with the “knowledge” that God wasn’t working for me. He wasn’t doing anything for me and I would never be married, so I knowingly and willingly committed sin after sin without thought for how it would affect my life and my future. I still believed in God, but couldn’t figure out how to trust Him in any capacity. This led me to a place of hopelessness and depression.
We can only be rescued from a place that dark and deep and lonely
Some would think that being in a relationship with a wonderful man is my happily ever after and though it’s amazing, it’s a small drop in the middle of an ocean of blessings. My relationship with Christ has been re-awakened and has grown deeper and richer. I learned to forgive myself, since Christ's blood replaced my sin with righteousness. My lukewarm faith has been brought to a boil and though I’m still far from perfect, I am thankful for the wellspring of life bubbling in me. This has also benefited the small stuff too - like at the Easter dinner this year when my entire family found their seats at the table without any guidance from me.
Now I’m open to being used by this mighty, awesome God and can only pray that others can find His love and grace and power through me. I am fully trusting Him and His plan for my life, whatever that may entail. His plans are greater than my own and letting go and waiting on Him fills my life with a peace and freedom and joy. I’ve heard several times over the past couple months that though I may search for an area of my life that I can control better than God, I will never find even one. My life has proven the truth of that statement. God is good - all the time and all the time - God is good. My life is just one example of His incredible grace and faithfulness and all the blessings that come from relying on Him.
This struggle has affected my life in minor ways - leaving me worried about parties at my house. Is the food good enough? Is there enough of it? Is the house clean enough? Will everyone have fun? Or Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents’ house - if I didn’t take responsibility for seating arrangements, who would? I allowed my need to handle all of these pieces of my life to leave me stressed beyond relief. I have been like Martha more times than not … so busy trying to manage everything and everyone all on my own that I missed the big picture and the greater Power.
However minor the repercussions for my Martha moments, my sin led to much greater consequences in major areas of my life. I had always planned on being married, having a family, and I just knew that God had that in His plan for me too. When I graduated high school and God didn’t just drop the man of my dreams into my lap, I started to question Him. I found someone who wasn’t 100% the man I knew God wanted for me, but he was close enough. After two years of backsliding in my relationship with God, I broke up with this guy. I expected to feel immediate relief and closeness with Christ. Part of me was waiting for the new miracle guy to be packaged and delivered. I moved onto guy after guy following my own heart and my own guidelines instead of the Lord’s. I finally gave up completely with the “knowledge” that God wasn’t working for me. He wasn’t doing anything for me and I would never be married, so I knowingly and willingly committed sin after sin without thought for how it would affect my life and my future. I still believed in God, but couldn’t figure out how to trust Him in any capacity. This led me to a place of hopelessness and depression.
We can only be rescued from a place that dark and deep and lonely
Some would think that being in a relationship with a wonderful man is my happily ever after and though it’s amazing, it’s a small drop in the middle of an ocean of blessings. My relationship with Christ has been re-awakened and has grown deeper and richer. I learned to forgive myself, since Christ's blood replaced my sin with righteousness. My lukewarm faith has been brought to a boil and though I’m still far from perfect, I am thankful for the wellspring of life bubbling in me. This has also benefited the small stuff too - like at the Easter dinner this year when my entire family found their seats at the table without any guidance from me.
Now I’m open to being used by this mighty, awesome God and can only pray that others can find His love and grace and power through me. I am fully trusting Him and His plan for my life, whatever that may entail. His plans are greater than my own and letting go and waiting on Him fills my life with a peace and freedom and joy. I’ve heard several times over the past couple months that though I may search for an area of my life that I can control better than God, I will never find even one. My life has proven the truth of that statement. God is good - all the time and all the time - God is good. My life is just one example of His incredible grace and faithfulness and all the blessings that come from relying on Him.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday's a comin'
A dear friend asked me this morning what the life, death and resurrection of Christ mean to me. Pretty big topic to put into to a single blog. But, here it goes. Thank you for the challenge DJG-M.
There is so, so much that happens hundreds of years before the birth of Christ that makes this weekend so significant. Perhaps the most important is WHY the life, death and triumph of Christ was even necessary.
When the Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years, the Law was given to Moses from God Himself. Many times we hear only of the 10 commandments, but there were actually 613 rules in the Law. The Law contained the rules for the Kingdom of Heaven. They explained the way in which they were to live so as to provide maximum health, morality, and prosperity. When these rules were violated, the Law also explained the penance to cover each sin. Sometimes a sin could be covered by the blood of an ox, two doves, a ram, or a lamb. Whichever was sacrificed, the offering had to be FLAWLESS - no diseases, no broken bones, and with a perfect coat. If the animal was flawed it would have to die for it's own sin and therefore could not cover the person making the sacrifice. Imagine how painful it would be to have to give up your best every time even when a seemingly minor offense was committed.
God does not, and never did, want sacrifices. Instead, He wants our hearts to be turned toward Him. He wants an intimate relationship with His children. Any relationship requires time spent together. In the system of sin and sacrifice for atonement, we approach the altar as sinners trying to cover our sins. This sin offering is a constant reminder of the Law and our inability to follow it. It is only through the death of a perfect animal that their sin is covered so that they could come near the Presence of the Lord. Even then, they were separated from the Glory of the Lord by an enormous curtain. This was more symbolic than anything as God can't be stopped by a piece of cloth.
If the goal was to have a continual, growing, intimate relationship with God, then the system of sacrifice for atonement failed. Well, that is actually not true at all. The system, the Law, did not fail. We failed It. Instead of allowing us the relationship God sought, it actually drove us away from Him. After all, none of them could and none of us will ever be able to meet the standard of the Law.
Jesus came because we can't do it on our own. Jesus came because we can't measure up to the demands of perfection that God requires. Jesus came because God loves all of His children and wants that relationship with all of us. Jesus came to be our scapegoat. Jesus came to take the penance for our sins. Jesus came to eliminate the shortcomings of the old system - sin, suffering, death and the power of the devil. Jesus came to remove all of those things and to replace them with righteousness by demonstrating the grace, mercy and love that is God.
By living a perfect, sinless life, Christ is the perfect, spotless sacrifice that is able to cover sins. As a perfect lamb covered the sin of a man in the old system, the perfect Lamb of God is able to cover the sins of all mankind. But, even better than that. The perfect Lamb of God does not just "cover" our sins but removes them from us. In Christ, our sins are justified - just as if we'd never done it. Our sins are gone and we are washed clean.
So, the question remains. What does it mean to me? Personally. It is more simple than we think. While God's original plan is perfect and works in the Kingdom of Heaven, mankind ruined it. I am filled with sin and hung a giant curtain between myself and God that prevented His Glory from shining on me. Despite all of my errors, God still loves me and wants that relationship with me. And I can prove it. I cannot imagine giving my son up for anything. But God did that for me. And you. This weekend, when I think of Christ suffering on the cross that I nailed Him to the first emotion is sorrow. I'm remorseful for the pain I caused Him and others in my life with my mistakes. Then I am filled with repentance, a desire to not repeat those mistakes but to use them for good.
With Christ's death, the entire Spiritual world changed. The curtain that hid the glory of God was torn in half. Instantly the power, mercy, grace, and love of God became available to the world; for every person who wants it. What does Easter mean to me? It means that my God loves me, wants to be with me, empowers me, protects me. It means that Jesus is Risen. That I am forgiven and I may approach God with freedom and confidence. It means that I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. It means that I am a new creation in Christ.
It means that I am thankful that 2000 years ago they didn't know that Sunday was a comin'.
There is so, so much that happens hundreds of years before the birth of Christ that makes this weekend so significant. Perhaps the most important is WHY the life, death and triumph of Christ was even necessary.
When the Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years, the Law was given to Moses from God Himself. Many times we hear only of the 10 commandments, but there were actually 613 rules in the Law. The Law contained the rules for the Kingdom of Heaven. They explained the way in which they were to live so as to provide maximum health, morality, and prosperity. When these rules were violated, the Law also explained the penance to cover each sin. Sometimes a sin could be covered by the blood of an ox, two doves, a ram, or a lamb. Whichever was sacrificed, the offering had to be FLAWLESS - no diseases, no broken bones, and with a perfect coat. If the animal was flawed it would have to die for it's own sin and therefore could not cover the person making the sacrifice. Imagine how painful it would be to have to give up your best every time even when a seemingly minor offense was committed.
God does not, and never did, want sacrifices. Instead, He wants our hearts to be turned toward Him. He wants an intimate relationship with His children. Any relationship requires time spent together. In the system of sin and sacrifice for atonement, we approach the altar as sinners trying to cover our sins. This sin offering is a constant reminder of the Law and our inability to follow it. It is only through the death of a perfect animal that their sin is covered so that they could come near the Presence of the Lord. Even then, they were separated from the Glory of the Lord by an enormous curtain. This was more symbolic than anything as God can't be stopped by a piece of cloth.
If the goal was to have a continual, growing, intimate relationship with God, then the system of sacrifice for atonement failed. Well, that is actually not true at all. The system, the Law, did not fail. We failed It. Instead of allowing us the relationship God sought, it actually drove us away from Him. After all, none of them could and none of us will ever be able to meet the standard of the Law.
Jesus came because we can't do it on our own. Jesus came because we can't measure up to the demands of perfection that God requires. Jesus came because God loves all of His children and wants that relationship with all of us. Jesus came to be our scapegoat. Jesus came to take the penance for our sins. Jesus came to eliminate the shortcomings of the old system - sin, suffering, death and the power of the devil. Jesus came to remove all of those things and to replace them with righteousness by demonstrating the grace, mercy and love that is God.
By living a perfect, sinless life, Christ is the perfect, spotless sacrifice that is able to cover sins. As a perfect lamb covered the sin of a man in the old system, the perfect Lamb of God is able to cover the sins of all mankind. But, even better than that. The perfect Lamb of God does not just "cover" our sins but removes them from us. In Christ, our sins are justified - just as if we'd never done it. Our sins are gone and we are washed clean.
So, the question remains. What does it mean to me? Personally. It is more simple than we think. While God's original plan is perfect and works in the Kingdom of Heaven, mankind ruined it. I am filled with sin and hung a giant curtain between myself and God that prevented His Glory from shining on me. Despite all of my errors, God still loves me and wants that relationship with me. And I can prove it. I cannot imagine giving my son up for anything. But God did that for me. And you. This weekend, when I think of Christ suffering on the cross that I nailed Him to the first emotion is sorrow. I'm remorseful for the pain I caused Him and others in my life with my mistakes. Then I am filled with repentance, a desire to not repeat those mistakes but to use them for good.
With Christ's death, the entire Spiritual world changed. The curtain that hid the glory of God was torn in half. Instantly the power, mercy, grace, and love of God became available to the world; for every person who wants it. What does Easter mean to me? It means that my God loves me, wants to be with me, empowers me, protects me. It means that Jesus is Risen. That I am forgiven and I may approach God with freedom and confidence. It means that I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. It means that I am a new creation in Christ.
It means that I am thankful that 2000 years ago they didn't know that Sunday was a comin'.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Leap of Faith
Once upon a time there was a child born to a poor family in Egypt. The King at that time had issued a decree that all newborn males were to be killed. Instead of risking the life of her son, she gave him up so that whoever found him would be able to give him life. That is exactly what happened as the daughter of the Pharaoh adopted him as her own. As the adopted grandson of Pharaoh, he had no want or need that was not met. As he aged, his knowledge of the Creator grew.
Years later while out with his people a fight erupted between a Hebrew and an Egyptian. Not wanting to see his fellow Jew injured, Moses entered the fight and killed the Egyptian. When Pharaoh heard this news he issued a decree that Moses be killed. Instead, he fled. While in Midian to avoid prosecution Moses met his future wife, Ziporah and her father. They then waited for the news that the king had passed away. Finally safe again in his homeland, Moses became a shephard.
While tending sheep with his father-in-law, Moses witnessed an amazing sight. On the mountain there was a bush. Even though it was engulfed with flames, it did not burn up. This is the beginning of an incredible relationship between Moses and God. At that moment Moses became the only human after the fall to ever see Father God. God was using Moses to accomplish His goal of setting the captive Israelites free. Convinced that no human would believe what had happened, Moses pleaded for signs that he might be able to prove that God was working through Moses. Did he ever. Moses was given power like nobody had seen before.
When his staff was thrown to the ground it became a snake. The plagues that were brought on Egypt grew in severity and difficulty. Plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the firstborn proved the undeniable power of Yahweh. Those signs, however, were merely the beginning.
Throughout the 40 years when the Israelites wandered aimlessly through the wilderness His power was shown over and over again. God splitting the Red Sea is absolutely impossible in our weak, human minds. But, isn't that why it's miraculous? With science today proving that this split is reproducible should strengthen our faith, trusting in the God that does not change and is the same then, now and forever.
Although TWO MILLION Israelites walked throughout the desert for 40 years, not a single need was unmet. They had bread, meat, water, clothes, shoes and health. I dare you to find any group of people, the world over, that are even two thousand people without disease. God did it with two million. Also, there were so many other miracles that God performed through Moses. Cleaning water that was not be drinkable, obtaining water from a rock and healings.
As Moses was the closest to God than any other human being, he should have had an unbelievable knowledge of the Will and Ways of God. That knowledge actually became a negitive for Moses. For decades Moses and his people wandered through the wilderness. What they found was the truth about who God is. He provides, protects, defeats enemies and imparts wisdom. Moses was so close to God that he actually thought that he knew what God wanted. In Kadesh the people had run out of water again. They complained to Moses who brought that concern to Father. His response is here.
Moses did what he was told. He gathered the people and, raising his staff, hit the rock twice. Seeing Moses acting in faith, water gushed from the rock and the people were satisfied. In this instance, God saw Moses act in faith so that even though he didn't do it properly, his effort was still blessed. How much more might it have been? Because of this sin, Moses was forbidden to enter the promised land. He went right to the border, 40 years after leaving Egypt, just on the other side of the river. But alas, Moses' sin prevented him from going further.
I do not believe that we can expect to have the same revelation about God's Will in our own lives. But, He does still talk to us. That Still, Small Voice in us is Him revealing His plans. While it certainly takes practice to hear Him, the conversation has never stopped. Learning to hear is only the beginning. After the message is received we must follow it and we must follow it completely to the letter. Can you imagine following God most of the way, as He blesses everything we put our hand to, only to get to our own promised land but having access denied?
The plan that God has for our lives, that He wrote in us when we were conceived, is so much better than our simple minds can conjure. It can be difficult at times and may not be what our flesh wants. Even Christ, in whom we model, did not always like or want the Will of His Father. He did, however, always want Father's will to be done, no matter how painful. God does not give us something in the hopes that we will use it properly. Instead, after we take the first step, God has the ability to carry us the rest of the way, revealing every step, every door, every bridge along the way. It's walking through those doors, crossing that bridge, swimming in God's will that allows Him to work through us in the most effective and complete ways. All that He asks is that we trust in Him, believe His promises and give the glory for our accomplishments to Him. When you are in a situation that seems impossible to overcome in our ineffective human ways are looking aimlessly in hope to find a way? Or are you simply trusting that somehow, in some way that we don't have to understand, God will catch us and carry us??
Father God,
Thank You so much for all of the blessings that you bestow on us daily. We recognize that all that we have is from You. Thank you for trusting us with them for our short stay on Earth. Father, we understand that although your way is not always the most fun way, it is always the best way. We love you for that. Daddy, give us the desire to seek Your Will, the wisdom to recognize It, the courage to fulfill It and the strength and endurance to see it through to completion. We thank you that you have heard this prayer and praise You as You begin to teach each of us how best to serve You.
In the name of Christ Jesus,
Amen
Years later while out with his people a fight erupted between a Hebrew and an Egyptian. Not wanting to see his fellow Jew injured, Moses entered the fight and killed the Egyptian. When Pharaoh heard this news he issued a decree that Moses be killed. Instead, he fled. While in Midian to avoid prosecution Moses met his future wife, Ziporah and her father. They then waited for the news that the king had passed away. Finally safe again in his homeland, Moses became a shephard.
While tending sheep with his father-in-law, Moses witnessed an amazing sight. On the mountain there was a bush. Even though it was engulfed with flames, it did not burn up. This is the beginning of an incredible relationship between Moses and God. At that moment Moses became the only human after the fall to ever see Father God. God was using Moses to accomplish His goal of setting the captive Israelites free. Convinced that no human would believe what had happened, Moses pleaded for signs that he might be able to prove that God was working through Moses. Did he ever. Moses was given power like nobody had seen before.
When his staff was thrown to the ground it became a snake. The plagues that were brought on Egypt grew in severity and difficulty. Plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the firstborn proved the undeniable power of Yahweh. Those signs, however, were merely the beginning.
Throughout the 40 years when the Israelites wandered aimlessly through the wilderness His power was shown over and over again. God splitting the Red Sea is absolutely impossible in our weak, human minds. But, isn't that why it's miraculous? With science today proving that this split is reproducible should strengthen our faith, trusting in the God that does not change and is the same then, now and forever.
Although TWO MILLION Israelites walked throughout the desert for 40 years, not a single need was unmet. They had bread, meat, water, clothes, shoes and health. I dare you to find any group of people, the world over, that are even two thousand people without disease. God did it with two million. Also, there were so many other miracles that God performed through Moses. Cleaning water that was not be drinkable, obtaining water from a rock and healings.
As Moses was the closest to God than any other human being, he should have had an unbelievable knowledge of the Will and Ways of God. That knowledge actually became a negitive for Moses. For decades Moses and his people wandered through the wilderness. What they found was the truth about who God is. He provides, protects, defeats enemies and imparts wisdom. Moses was so close to God that he actually thought that he knew what God wanted. In Kadesh the people had run out of water again. They complained to Moses who brought that concern to Father. His response is here.
Moses did what he was told. He gathered the people and, raising his staff, hit the rock twice. Seeing Moses acting in faith, water gushed from the rock and the people were satisfied. In this instance, God saw Moses act in faith so that even though he didn't do it properly, his effort was still blessed. How much more might it have been? Because of this sin, Moses was forbidden to enter the promised land. He went right to the border, 40 years after leaving Egypt, just on the other side of the river. But alas, Moses' sin prevented him from going further.
I do not believe that we can expect to have the same revelation about God's Will in our own lives. But, He does still talk to us. That Still, Small Voice in us is Him revealing His plans. While it certainly takes practice to hear Him, the conversation has never stopped. Learning to hear is only the beginning. After the message is received we must follow it and we must follow it completely to the letter. Can you imagine following God most of the way, as He blesses everything we put our hand to, only to get to our own promised land but having access denied?
The plan that God has for our lives, that He wrote in us when we were conceived, is so much better than our simple minds can conjure. It can be difficult at times and may not be what our flesh wants. Even Christ, in whom we model, did not always like or want the Will of His Father. He did, however, always want Father's will to be done, no matter how painful. God does not give us something in the hopes that we will use it properly. Instead, after we take the first step, God has the ability to carry us the rest of the way, revealing every step, every door, every bridge along the way. It's walking through those doors, crossing that bridge, swimming in God's will that allows Him to work through us in the most effective and complete ways. All that He asks is that we trust in Him, believe His promises and give the glory for our accomplishments to Him. When you are in a situation that seems impossible to overcome in our ineffective human ways are looking aimlessly in hope to find a way? Or are you simply trusting that somehow, in some way that we don't have to understand, God will catch us and carry us??
Father God,
Thank You so much for all of the blessings that you bestow on us daily. We recognize that all that we have is from You. Thank you for trusting us with them for our short stay on Earth. Father, we understand that although your way is not always the most fun way, it is always the best way. We love you for that. Daddy, give us the desire to seek Your Will, the wisdom to recognize It, the courage to fulfill It and the strength and endurance to see it through to completion. We thank you that you have heard this prayer and praise You as You begin to teach each of us how best to serve You.
In the name of Christ Jesus,
Amen
Friday, February 18, 2011
You Complete Me
His presence here is impossible to ignore and you cannot miss his influence when you turn on the nightly news. Yet, the presence and influence of God here seems to go either unknown or ignored. It is actually fairly easy to miss unless you are looking for it. Evolutionists have been doing it for centuries. The same data, the same facts, the same evidence can be used to demonstrate your own belief and agenda. Realistically, the only difference is the lens you choose to view the world through. I choose to view our world through the Bible because I'm not willing to believe that this is all chance. I'm not willing to believe that our lives don't amount to anything after our last breath. That choice can be difficult at times, no doubt. I guess I'd rather believe it even though I can't see it with my eyes. That, after all, is exactly what the author of Hebrews encourages us with.
When it is so easy to see the powers of this dark world, the enemy killing, destroying and stealing, why can it be so difficult to see our Redeemer giving us the abundant life He promises? Again, the secret is revealed through His Word. Seek Him, you WILL find Him. It can be frustrating because the more intently we search the heart and will of God, the more diligently Satan wants to take our faith, to convince us that God will not, or can not, help us.
There is a continual lesson throughout the Bible; God gives us the tools we need but we must have the faith to use them and the knowledge of how to use them. My pastor likes to say that if God wanted us to have difficulties and troubles in our lives, He wouldn't have told us how to get rid of them. But, because He did, we can be assured that the Blood of Christ and the Armor of God is all that we need to live the abundant, blessed life that is available to those willing to reach for it. So, with all of the tools in our possession and all of the knowledge we need at our fingertips there seems to be just a couple of questions. How do you seek God? How do you equip yourself with God's full armor?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
forgiveness/trust/love
Forgiveness, trust, love. Some of the most important decisions any human can make. They are sometimes treated like emotions which are difficult to control. In reality though, they are choices. It is those three choices on which all of our relationships hinge. What a terrible feeling it is then, to have violated that trust. For the relationship to continue and thrive we must get past that violation. But how?
First, an honest decision must be made about whether the relationship continues or not. Some of those cases are easier than others. A 20 year marriage is a lot harder to leave than a six month relationship. Assuming that we want to continue, the first step is to make a conscious decision to forgive and attempt to let go of the mistake. That is not to say to forget about it or to pretend that it didn't happen. It does mean that the deception does not need to be obsessed over.
Christ tells us not to forgive our trespassers seven times a day but rather 70X7 times. Seems like an awfully lofty goal but that is what our Lord tells us. Complete trust takes time to be built but forgiveness can happen in an instant. Trust is the foundation that everything else on the relationship is based on. Without it the interaction feels hollow. With it we are allowed true closeness, connections, fellowship and intimacy.
Where do we even start in an attempt to rebuild that trust though? Regardless of the violation transparency is a must. Repentance can be a tricky thing. For the repenter it is a very personal, private decision. That makes it tough to prove because the change happens in the heart and mind and can take some time to have that fruit ripen. As the offender we say "Why can't you see the progress?" As the victim we say "I need proof; not words." Only when we are truly repentant are we comfortable enough to let others see who we are. It is when we haven't dealt with those issues that makes us want to hide, close off, or shut out. It's simple survival mode; not wanting someone else to see that we are flawed and exactly how badly. That doing something we don't want, that discomfort, is exactly why we need it. Revealing EVERYTHING shows a willingness to do things we don't like in an effort to move on and grow. With that it's important to make attempts over time to allow each other a chance to prove themselves. A small amount of responsibility, handled correctly, shows that we may be able to be trusted with more.
http://bible.cc/luke/16-10.htm
Sometimes love is such a difficult thing to describe. There are so many kinds and levels and intensities. Paul tells us what it should be. Love is patient, kind, protecting and trusting. Love is not jealous, haughty, proud or self seeking. The love that Father has for us and that we should have for each other rejoices in truth, perseveres and never fails. I have fallen so short of that so many times it is difficult to remember. Knowing the verse is easier than living it because in order to do so we feel like we must make ourselves completely vulnerable and asking for the pain again. I am hopeful that my vulnerability only makes me stronger. It is not possible to believe all people all the time. Thankfully, I don't have to. I can instead trust that Father will guide me when I seek Him, that He only wants the best for me, to have it abundantly and that He can not and will not lie. I know that when two people in any kind of relationship seek Him whole heartedly they will come to the same answer, the same solution, the same God.
Paul's descriptoin of love.
What does your God want to give you?
What do you want in YOUR life??
Actually..... God CAN'T do everything.
That chapter in 1 Corinthians about love is wonderful. Poet Helen Steiner Rice took many of the things from Paul's writing and wrote the most perfect description of love I've ever seen. But even that chapter, or this poem, are only words. When we are rebuilding trust our life has to be honest. Honesty is more than just telling the truth. Honesty is the lack of intent to deceive. The first thing that needs change is our words but people will not believe those until our actions line up with them. After we have been deceitful our words no longer carry weight. But our actions, our fruit, is undeniable.
Blessings!
What Is Love
(by Helen Steiner Rice)
What is love? A passing attraction
no words can define it-- that is seldom much more
It's something so great Than a mere interlude
only God could design it. or inflamed fascination,
Wonder of wonders, A romantic fling
beyond man's conception, of no lasting duration.
And only in God But love is enduring
can love find true perfection. and patient and kind,
For love means much more It judges all things
than small words can express, with the hearth, not mind,
For what man calls love For love is unselfish-
is so very much less giving more than it takes--
Than the beauty and depth And no matter what happens,
and the true richness of love never forsakes.
God's gift to mankind-- It's faithful and trusting
His compassionate love. and always believing,
For love has become Guileless and honest
a word that's misused, and never deceiving.
Perverted, distorted, Yes, love is beyond
and often abused what man can define,
To speak of light romance For love is immortal
or some affinity for and God's gift is divine.
First, an honest decision must be made about whether the relationship continues or not. Some of those cases are easier than others. A 20 year marriage is a lot harder to leave than a six month relationship. Assuming that we want to continue, the first step is to make a conscious decision to forgive and attempt to let go of the mistake. That is not to say to forget about it or to pretend that it didn't happen. It does mean that the deception does not need to be obsessed over.
Christ tells us not to forgive our trespassers seven times a day but rather 70X7 times. Seems like an awfully lofty goal but that is what our Lord tells us. Complete trust takes time to be built but forgiveness can happen in an instant. Trust is the foundation that everything else on the relationship is based on. Without it the interaction feels hollow. With it we are allowed true closeness, connections, fellowship and intimacy.
Where do we even start in an attempt to rebuild that trust though? Regardless of the violation transparency is a must. Repentance can be a tricky thing. For the repenter it is a very personal, private decision. That makes it tough to prove because the change happens in the heart and mind and can take some time to have that fruit ripen. As the offender we say "Why can't you see the progress?" As the victim we say "I need proof; not words." Only when we are truly repentant are we comfortable enough to let others see who we are. It is when we haven't dealt with those issues that makes us want to hide, close off, or shut out. It's simple survival mode; not wanting someone else to see that we are flawed and exactly how badly. That doing something we don't want, that discomfort, is exactly why we need it. Revealing EVERYTHING shows a willingness to do things we don't like in an effort to move on and grow. With that it's important to make attempts over time to allow each other a chance to prove themselves. A small amount of responsibility, handled correctly, shows that we may be able to be trusted with more.
http://bible.cc/luke/16-10.htm
Sometimes love is such a difficult thing to describe. There are so many kinds and levels and intensities. Paul tells us what it should be. Love is patient, kind, protecting and trusting. Love is not jealous, haughty, proud or self seeking. The love that Father has for us and that we should have for each other rejoices in truth, perseveres and never fails. I have fallen so short of that so many times it is difficult to remember. Knowing the verse is easier than living it because in order to do so we feel like we must make ourselves completely vulnerable and asking for the pain again. I am hopeful that my vulnerability only makes me stronger. It is not possible to believe all people all the time. Thankfully, I don't have to. I can instead trust that Father will guide me when I seek Him, that He only wants the best for me, to have it abundantly and that He can not and will not lie. I know that when two people in any kind of relationship seek Him whole heartedly they will come to the same answer, the same solution, the same God.
Paul's descriptoin of love.
What does your God want to give you?
What do you want in YOUR life??
Actually..... God CAN'T do everything.
That chapter in 1 Corinthians about love is wonderful. Poet Helen Steiner Rice took many of the things from Paul's writing and wrote the most perfect description of love I've ever seen. But even that chapter, or this poem, are only words. When we are rebuilding trust our life has to be honest. Honesty is more than just telling the truth. Honesty is the lack of intent to deceive. The first thing that needs change is our words but people will not believe those until our actions line up with them. After we have been deceitful our words no longer carry weight. But our actions, our fruit, is undeniable.
Blessings!
What Is Love
(by Helen Steiner Rice)
What is love? A passing attraction
no words can define it-- that is seldom much more
It's something so great Than a mere interlude
only God could design it. or inflamed fascination,
Wonder of wonders, A romantic fling
beyond man's conception, of no lasting duration.
And only in God But love is enduring
can love find true perfection. and patient and kind,
For love means much more It judges all things
than small words can express, with the hearth, not mind,
For what man calls love For love is unselfish-
is so very much less giving more than it takes--
Than the beauty and depth And no matter what happens,
and the true richness of love never forsakes.
God's gift to mankind-- It's faithful and trusting
His compassionate love. and always believing,
For love has become Guileless and honest
a word that's misused, and never deceiving.
Perverted, distorted, Yes, love is beyond
and often abused what man can define,
To speak of light romance For love is immortal
or some affinity for and God's gift is divine.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Oh, it's just you?
One of the great heroes of our faith, Mr Smith Wigglesworth, told a story of one night while asleep. He had been having terribly frightening dreams. At some point he awoke and aware of a demonic presence, looked around the room. There, near the foot of the bed was Satan himself. With a sigh, Smith simply said, "Oh, it's just you." rolled over and went back to sleep.
Sometimes, some days, some years Satan seems to have so much power over our lives. It seems that there could be no possible way that the God who created us and loves us so dearly would let any of those terrible things happen in our lives. The key in that thought is that He allows those things to happen. God does not and never will cause the turmoil in our lives because we live under the new covenant.
I think about my own children. If my son comes and asks for a bicycle am I going to run to the store and buy him a beautiful, brand new, leather bound encyclopedia set? Of course not; he's gonna get a bike. I am human and evil lurks around me and in me. But if I know how to give him what he wants, how much better will the gifts that God gives as He knows our desires and futures?
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011:11-13&version=NIV
Why do these things happen do us then? Perhaps more importantly, how do we stay faithful and confident in God despite of and because of our own struggles. The answer is revealed in the book of Job. Job had everything that anyone could ever possibly want. A family, friends, a home and wealth. But more than all of that he had absolutely unwavering faith. Job is described as blameless, upright, God fearing and able to shun evil.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=job%201:1&version=NIV
In the story of Job we find some interesting things. We start in Heaven where God and Satan are in the middle of a debate. Satan is certain that the only reason that Job has such great faith is the wealth and good fortune in his life. God of course knows differently and grants Satan permission to do anything he wants to Job, except for taking his life.
That quick summary says everything that we will ever need to know about what comes from who. Through a Godly life, Job had a life most would envy. It was only AFTER Satan was allowed access that loss entered the story. With free reign in Jobs life Satan takes all that he can. Livestock, servants, ten children and his health.
Jobs friends believe that the loss and agony he is going through is the direct result from sin that he had committed. Job refuses to believe this and wonders how God could possibly judge us when He could just as easily forgive us. God finally interupts and tells Job the truths about what is happening. Job immediately finds his friends living under their own laws. Job finally hears the Voice and begins his journey. Job not only begins again, but this more faith and God gives back to him double what he had.
What is the one thing the God wants? Us to love Him of course. Loving Him means we have to turn our back to the world and press forward. The temptations are great and difficult. However, there is nothing on this planet that can compare to the wonders of Christs glorious return. Unfortuneatly, the more faith we have, the harder the enemy tries to distract us.
James 4:7 says that if we put Him first, then Satan will flee from us and our Chirst. Flee is defined as running away from danger. Our God, our Christ, our Spirit is the most dangerous thing that he can imagine. I'm thankful that Satan knows the Bible and the power its words have. I'm thankful that nobody, including him, know the time of Christs return. It is that lack of knowledge that makes Satan flee. He's read the book too. He knows that at some point Christ will throw him into the lake of fire for all eternity. What he doesn't know is if that will happen today, tomorrow or 5,000 years from now. His ignorance and God's promises are our greatest weapons. Are you ready to fight?
Sometimes, some days, some years Satan seems to have so much power over our lives. It seems that there could be no possible way that the God who created us and loves us so dearly would let any of those terrible things happen in our lives. The key in that thought is that He allows those things to happen. God does not and never will cause the turmoil in our lives because we live under the new covenant.
I think about my own children. If my son comes and asks for a bicycle am I going to run to the store and buy him a beautiful, brand new, leather bound encyclopedia set? Of course not; he's gonna get a bike. I am human and evil lurks around me and in me. But if I know how to give him what he wants, how much better will the gifts that God gives as He knows our desires and futures?
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2011:11-13&version=NIV
Why do these things happen do us then? Perhaps more importantly, how do we stay faithful and confident in God despite of and because of our own struggles. The answer is revealed in the book of Job. Job had everything that anyone could ever possibly want. A family, friends, a home and wealth. But more than all of that he had absolutely unwavering faith. Job is described as blameless, upright, God fearing and able to shun evil.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=job%201:1&version=NIV
In the story of Job we find some interesting things. We start in Heaven where God and Satan are in the middle of a debate. Satan is certain that the only reason that Job has such great faith is the wealth and good fortune in his life. God of course knows differently and grants Satan permission to do anything he wants to Job, except for taking his life.
That quick summary says everything that we will ever need to know about what comes from who. Through a Godly life, Job had a life most would envy. It was only AFTER Satan was allowed access that loss entered the story. With free reign in Jobs life Satan takes all that he can. Livestock, servants, ten children and his health.
Jobs friends believe that the loss and agony he is going through is the direct result from sin that he had committed. Job refuses to believe this and wonders how God could possibly judge us when He could just as easily forgive us. God finally interupts and tells Job the truths about what is happening. Job immediately finds his friends living under their own laws. Job finally hears the Voice and begins his journey. Job not only begins again, but this more faith and God gives back to him double what he had.
What is the one thing the God wants? Us to love Him of course. Loving Him means we have to turn our back to the world and press forward. The temptations are great and difficult. However, there is nothing on this planet that can compare to the wonders of Christs glorious return. Unfortuneatly, the more faith we have, the harder the enemy tries to distract us.
James 4:7 says that if we put Him first, then Satan will flee from us and our Chirst. Flee is defined as running away from danger. Our God, our Christ, our Spirit is the most dangerous thing that he can imagine. I'm thankful that Satan knows the Bible and the power its words have. I'm thankful that nobody, including him, know the time of Christs return. It is that lack of knowledge that makes Satan flee. He's read the book too. He knows that at some point Christ will throw him into the lake of fire for all eternity. What he doesn't know is if that will happen today, tomorrow or 5,000 years from now. His ignorance and God's promises are our greatest weapons. Are you ready to fight?
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