May the blessing, peace, & joy of the Lord Jesus Christ reign on your life this year. What is gone is gone, never to be again-yet we glean much wisdom from what has gone before, so there is no loss in it. What lies before us we can embrace with expectation if we submit our lives to Christ & determine in our heart to please & serve him above all else. Start your year with prayer and consider fasting this year & stretching yourself with a greater understanding of his Word. Increased prayer, fasting & the Word is certain to bring revelations, blessings, and the joy of the Lord that will strengthen your inner man. This is the day the lord has made-rejoice & be glad in it! One of the best initial prayers we can pray is "Lord change me" for it is then that our perspective changes & he can speak to us & we will best hear.
Blessed New Year to all who visit this blog! You are in my prayers.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Great Read!
If you want to increase the power of God in your life....take a long look at Seven Ways to Increase your Anointing by Glenn Arekion. It will speak to you in ways you didn't realize it might. It makes incredible sense. If you want to tap in to God on HIS level, read this book! Don't keep plugging away in the way of man made religion! Dare to stretch yourself beyond your supposed limits. We put God in a box on the shelf all to often-expecting him to meet our expectations! We are supposed to meet his expectations beloved-do you REALLY know what that means...no, I mean do you really or are you entrenched in religion and a powerless faith that leaves you empty & confused?
Remember, God expected his people to do unusual things! He still does. Don't be afraid to stretch your faith in new ways-to walk in ways unfamiliar, but beckoning you to move toward the Lord & the power he can & will show in your life. Obedience is better than sacrifice! He uses the foolishness of man to confound the wise. The Christian life is meant to be lived dynamically before & because of the Lord. Jesus said to DO WHAT HE DID! Yet, we pooh-pooh those things as "for then". How often were the apostles in a "comfort zone"? I dare you this next year to do one small thing-ask God himself to show you new ways to approach him & serve him! He will, and you will be amazed.
God bless you as you endeavor to seek his face. Be watching for more here (& maybe elsewhere) throughout the year.
Remember, God expected his people to do unusual things! He still does. Don't be afraid to stretch your faith in new ways-to walk in ways unfamiliar, but beckoning you to move toward the Lord & the power he can & will show in your life. Obedience is better than sacrifice! He uses the foolishness of man to confound the wise. The Christian life is meant to be lived dynamically before & because of the Lord. Jesus said to DO WHAT HE DID! Yet, we pooh-pooh those things as "for then". How often were the apostles in a "comfort zone"? I dare you this next year to do one small thing-ask God himself to show you new ways to approach him & serve him! He will, and you will be amazed.
God bless you as you endeavor to seek his face. Be watching for more here (& maybe elsewhere) throughout the year.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Humility & Pride
Pride is an interesting thing-taking pride in your work, your appearance, & your communications is a good thing for example. However being "prideful" is a dangerous & slippery slope. There is a reason the Word says "Pride comes before a fall". It is the natural order of things that if something is off balance, out of line, etc. it is going to eventually run amuck! So it is with us when our pride gets in the way of our better behavior, our better choices, our appropriate speech. We have all at one time or another gotten puffed up probably and said or done something we shouldn't have, but often it is a way of life with a person-even a Christian! Oh horrors! Truly? Yes, truly! Pride is that sneaky little weapon of the enemy that makes us think we are all that & then some! We often think we "deserve" to treat ourselves (while letting others go without or when we should not, is the context I am putting this in) - or - we think we are justified in avoiding doing something we know full well the Lord would want us to do because we, after all, do so much else - or - we attempt to control situations because we think we have all the answers! (This person is easy to spot-they will always correct everyone or always have a better way than everyone else, down to the silliest things & things they truly know nothing about!) Intelligence & education do not always make us right. We all have areas we are knowledgeable in, but when we purport to be the authority on life we are straying far beyond our capacity-we are then playing God. So....BOOM! We fall, and we are surprised no less. Now why should we be? We shouldn't, but our pride has blinded us and we only see what we want to see-the us that we want everyone to believe & revere!
Humility is the exact opposite, and again there is sincere humility & false humility. I have seen people be quiet & unpretentious in public and be hailed as humble when in fact if you went home with them you would see a totally different person emerge! True humility is exhibited, I believe, in a genuine servant mentality. If you can take the time to help an old man in the grocery, or give your spouse a hand with chores, or visit the sick, write a note of encouragement, take that $5 you were going to spend at the DQ and buy a homeless person a lunch, babysit for a friend, etc. etc. simply because it is the right thing to do & it brings great joy to your heart then you are a person of humility. These are lessons we must re-learn every single day. One of the areas Satan works on a lot I believe is our "self", trying to make us care more about ourself than others because that WILL cause strife, hurt, and disorder. Christ cared SO much about us he laid down his life in a most painful way. We must learn to lay down our life in both the small & the big ways. The small ways are the hardest ones - they are the ways that often no one sees & we get little or no credit in man's eyes, so....we choose to ignore those chances to give glory to God by serving another in some way! Shovelling a friend's walk, giving a stranger a compliment, sending an anonymous gift or card to bless the day of a loved one (or a stranger!), saying "I'm sorry" (for being a jerk, for sounding like a jerk, etc.).
If you find life is going smoothly and you feel spiritual joy in what you do & say & can forgive the prideful folks you meet you are probably walking in humility. If you find Godly folks who know you well are annoyed with what you do & say more often than not & the joy and balance in life seems out of whack, maybe you are operating in a prideful way. If there are more "falls" than victories we need to examine what preceded the fall. There is an old saying "put mouth in gear, engage foot". Have you said or done stupid or hurtful things to suit your own agenda on a regular basis. Pride has tunnel vision-it only sees what it wants to see, responds only to what it wants to, and often attacks anything that might threaten that self-contained environment. There is an entitlement aspect to pride-that attitude that I am owed something, that often carries with it ungratefulness for things done for the individual. Humility has a loving worldview that defers to others without thought of personal gain or acclaim. Humility quite simply loves to give.
Christ was humble above all & we do well to strive to be more Christlike every day. It is a process, but one we should re-evaluate often.
Humility is the exact opposite, and again there is sincere humility & false humility. I have seen people be quiet & unpretentious in public and be hailed as humble when in fact if you went home with them you would see a totally different person emerge! True humility is exhibited, I believe, in a genuine servant mentality. If you can take the time to help an old man in the grocery, or give your spouse a hand with chores, or visit the sick, write a note of encouragement, take that $5 you were going to spend at the DQ and buy a homeless person a lunch, babysit for a friend, etc. etc. simply because it is the right thing to do & it brings great joy to your heart then you are a person of humility. These are lessons we must re-learn every single day. One of the areas Satan works on a lot I believe is our "self", trying to make us care more about ourself than others because that WILL cause strife, hurt, and disorder. Christ cared SO much about us he laid down his life in a most painful way. We must learn to lay down our life in both the small & the big ways. The small ways are the hardest ones - they are the ways that often no one sees & we get little or no credit in man's eyes, so....we choose to ignore those chances to give glory to God by serving another in some way! Shovelling a friend's walk, giving a stranger a compliment, sending an anonymous gift or card to bless the day of a loved one (or a stranger!), saying "I'm sorry" (for being a jerk, for sounding like a jerk, etc.).
If you find life is going smoothly and you feel spiritual joy in what you do & say & can forgive the prideful folks you meet you are probably walking in humility. If you find Godly folks who know you well are annoyed with what you do & say more often than not & the joy and balance in life seems out of whack, maybe you are operating in a prideful way. If there are more "falls" than victories we need to examine what preceded the fall. There is an old saying "put mouth in gear, engage foot". Have you said or done stupid or hurtful things to suit your own agenda on a regular basis. Pride has tunnel vision-it only sees what it wants to see, responds only to what it wants to, and often attacks anything that might threaten that self-contained environment. There is an entitlement aspect to pride-that attitude that I am owed something, that often carries with it ungratefulness for things done for the individual. Humility has a loving worldview that defers to others without thought of personal gain or acclaim. Humility quite simply loves to give.
Christ was humble above all & we do well to strive to be more Christlike every day. It is a process, but one we should re-evaluate often.
JOY=STRENGTH
Have you ever thought about the fact that happiness & joy are two very different things. The Word says, "The joy of the Lord is my strength". What exactly does this mean & how is it different from happiness? I believe that material things make us happy, but Godly things give us joy! Examples of things that bring us happiness are new cars, new TVs, going to fun places, watching or doing fun things, etc. Things that bring joy are helping others, worshipping God, sacrificing ourselves for others in some way, reading the Word's uplifting messages, etc. See the difference. Think about a time you got a new "toy" & a time you gladly gave of yourself/your time/your finances for someone in need (however small). I am guessing if you are a believer that sacrifice made you feel much better for much longer than the new toy that may even sit idle & was not worth the money invested. Toys are OK, but sacrifice is better. Obedience trumps sacrifice! Why? Because IF we obey, we WILL sacrifice.
How strong do you want to be? If "the joy of the Lord is my strength" I submit to you that the more Godly things you have in your life-the stronger you will be! Godly thoughts, actions, and words will make us as strong as steel in the face of the enemy who will tempt, persuade, and derail us! If we submerse ourselves in worldly things, beliefs, and behaviors we will be as weak as a well cooked noodle in the face of adversity! That is scary. Our "house"-our temple of the HS must be built on solid ground ("On this the solid rock I stand") and must be crafted with the finest materials of holiness (the fruits of the HS). Think how much more peace there would be if more kindness & self-control were exhibited in the world. We CAN change the world for Christ, and be full of joy in the process. Or, we can skip through life gleefully counting our money, buying our toys, and taking part in self indulgent activities that serve no purpose except to gratify our human desires.
How strong do you want to be? If "the joy of the Lord is my strength" I submit to you that the more Godly things you have in your life-the stronger you will be! Godly thoughts, actions, and words will make us as strong as steel in the face of the enemy who will tempt, persuade, and derail us! If we submerse ourselves in worldly things, beliefs, and behaviors we will be as weak as a well cooked noodle in the face of adversity! That is scary. Our "house"-our temple of the HS must be built on solid ground ("On this the solid rock I stand") and must be crafted with the finest materials of holiness (the fruits of the HS). Think how much more peace there would be if more kindness & self-control were exhibited in the world. We CAN change the world for Christ, and be full of joy in the process. Or, we can skip through life gleefully counting our money, buying our toys, and taking part in self indulgent activities that serve no purpose except to gratify our human desires.
Is it harder to forgive a believer?
It often is....because we know - they know better! It can be so hard to show the grace to them that Christ shows to us...oops! Wait a minute! ;) Is that the answer to the problem? (BTW, if you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem) Yes, it is the answer-IF we can remember the huge grace extended to us by Christ, then it is a whole lot easier to forgive them. Of course it helps if they see the error of their ways, but don't hold your breath on that one! Instead pray for the Lord to change your heart before you pray for God to change theirs. (Then you can wait out the time of divine revelation!)
Remember, we WILL be judged by the same measure we judge. Keep in mind-we ARE to be fruit inspectors, however. Fruit inspection is one way we should choose our friends. If the fruit of their lives is nasty we should not be going there. Judgement is harsh criticism that has no good purpose except to hurt the one being judged-it has no redeeming value whatsoever. Often, gossip is a part of judging others. There are fine lines in the sand sometimes between fruit inspection and judgement-lines we must heed. (Hint: don't let your prayer requests be gossip sessions-this is one way believers "justify" telling everyone they know about someone else's sin! Choose who you tell what with care, & watch how you tell it!)
Sarcasm can be a form of judgement. If we are sarcastic to or about someone it can reflect poorly on their character-but even more poorly on us! The next time you start to fire off a snide remark to someone or even under your breath-ask yourself if Christ would approve. Some folks think it is "funny" to put others down in front of friends or loved ones by making negative remarks about them. We all MUST be able & willing to laugh at ourselves but the way something is said makes all the difference. Lovingly joking & offensively joking are two very different things.
The Lord shows me things almost every day if I am paying attention, as I watch people interact out in public and as I watch news bytes about some senseless behavior. I am forever amazed at the rudeness, thoughtlessness, and self-absorption of the human nature. That is not the way the Lord taught us to be certainly. He taught us to always put others first & to not be so concerned with our desires that we fail to do the right thing. Sacrifice is not always "comfortable" but it is usually the correct avenue to take. I say "usually" as some folks have a misguided idea of "sacrifice" in that they give of themselves to the wrong people or places. The Word clearly outlines priorities & they have long been taught as God first, spouse next, then children, after that family, then friends etc. If we follow a logical order in our lives the outcome is much better.
"When I was a child I thought as I child..." We sometimes forget that we are now grown ups, and as believing grown ups we have a different standard to live by than children & nonbelievers. I think perhaps if we remembered this there would be less need to do that difficult thing-forgiving the believer! We would not see so many adult belivers acting like heathen children! Children have a smaller scope of perspective, & so it is with us grown ups when our view is so narrow it doesn't include grace towards those around us. (Think about that the next time someone cuts you off in traffic!) ;)
Remember, we WILL be judged by the same measure we judge. Keep in mind-we ARE to be fruit inspectors, however. Fruit inspection is one way we should choose our friends. If the fruit of their lives is nasty we should not be going there. Judgement is harsh criticism that has no good purpose except to hurt the one being judged-it has no redeeming value whatsoever. Often, gossip is a part of judging others. There are fine lines in the sand sometimes between fruit inspection and judgement-lines we must heed. (Hint: don't let your prayer requests be gossip sessions-this is one way believers "justify" telling everyone they know about someone else's sin! Choose who you tell what with care, & watch how you tell it!)
Sarcasm can be a form of judgement. If we are sarcastic to or about someone it can reflect poorly on their character-but even more poorly on us! The next time you start to fire off a snide remark to someone or even under your breath-ask yourself if Christ would approve. Some folks think it is "funny" to put others down in front of friends or loved ones by making negative remarks about them. We all MUST be able & willing to laugh at ourselves but the way something is said makes all the difference. Lovingly joking & offensively joking are two very different things.
The Lord shows me things almost every day if I am paying attention, as I watch people interact out in public and as I watch news bytes about some senseless behavior. I am forever amazed at the rudeness, thoughtlessness, and self-absorption of the human nature. That is not the way the Lord taught us to be certainly. He taught us to always put others first & to not be so concerned with our desires that we fail to do the right thing. Sacrifice is not always "comfortable" but it is usually the correct avenue to take. I say "usually" as some folks have a misguided idea of "sacrifice" in that they give of themselves to the wrong people or places. The Word clearly outlines priorities & they have long been taught as God first, spouse next, then children, after that family, then friends etc. If we follow a logical order in our lives the outcome is much better.
"When I was a child I thought as I child..." We sometimes forget that we are now grown ups, and as believing grown ups we have a different standard to live by than children & nonbelievers. I think perhaps if we remembered this there would be less need to do that difficult thing-forgiving the believer! We would not see so many adult belivers acting like heathen children! Children have a smaller scope of perspective, & so it is with us grown ups when our view is so narrow it doesn't include grace towards those around us. (Think about that the next time someone cuts you off in traffic!) ;)
Time with the Lord
Do you know that if you spend 1 1/2 hrs. at church a week that is only about 1% of the time he has given you for the week? If you tithe that time and spend 10% you would spend about 2 1/2 hrs. per day-reading the word, praying, going to fellowship functions, witnessing in some way, worshiping etc. I don't necessarily think God expects us to be legalistic re. that but it does give perspective. I also think that our heart attitude counts-if we go through the day offering up prayer, thanksgiving, praise to the Lord we are putting in time with him. Who better to walk through the day with. Remember the word says to "pray at all times".
Two of my "heroes" are my daughters-they do this and they are an example of how a Godly woman walks & talks & always a challenge to me to walk in an upright manner before the Lord. As proud as I am of their accomplishments, I am most proud of the relationship with the Lord that they exhibit. God honors the righteous so I can know each day they are covered in whatever they do. One of the greatest blessings in my life has been to have Godly children-children who help others with no second thought (my eldest son has a wonderful gift of "helping"), children who will travel to faraway lands to spread the love of God, children who honor the Lord and live righteous lives. As I watch them nurture their children in the ways of God I see marvelous examples of his spirit shining through the children.
So much around us today is tainted with worldly, unrighteous, hideous examples of what people can be who are not grounded in the Word. TV is rampant with real-life examples of this on the news & even more so is flooded with ungodly behavior in programming. "Garbage in, garbage out" is a well known phrase about what we put in our minds and what then manifests in our lives. If you soak up negative ungodly examples long enough you begin to believe that is the way you should live & that is the way everyone lives. You can find so much material in the video store & the bookstore to pollute your mind! If you would be uncomfortable with Jesus reading over your shoulder or viewing what you do-maybe your spirit is telling you there is a better way! Were there movies & TV in Jesus' day I wonder how much he would have given a G rating? One of the most infiltrating ways our mind is affected is by music. Much of the secular music today is filled with horrible lyrics, but listening regularly to spiritual songs can really transform your thinking in a positive way.
The Bible says we are to "be transformed by the renewal of our minds". This must happen every day-not once in a lifetime or once a year or even once a month or week. We must continually have an "attitude adjustment" so that our speech, our actions, and our thoughts are "taken captive to Christ". We are just grown up children. If you look at a child, they imitate what we do, what we say, and they learn what our words & actions teach them. There is a poem that says a child learns what he lives. If we live selfless lives before them, as Christ lived for us, sacrificing our own desires & comforts for that of others, so shall they. Although they will learn bad things in the world, the home is where they spend about 3/4 of their time in the formative years.
Spend time with God today-this week-and reflect on how you can renew your mind, taking it captive to him, and therefore being a Godly example in the world. If we were to add up the hours spent with God & then the hours spent in useless endeavors, glued to the TV for hours, or even just doing nothing we would probably be pretty shocked at ourselves! I do this every once in awhile and it centers me with a new perspective. One of my favorite scriptures is the one about "when I was thirsty you gave me water..." Time spent helping others is time spent for God! It is actually a form of worship if done in a cheerful, loving manner. Yeah, sorry grumbling time doesn't count for much in God's eyes. (Remember the Israelites!)
Here is the BEST part-time joyfully spent with & for God will make you feel SO GOOD! Way better than that off color movie you watched, that sleazy article you read, those hours vegging & feeling sorry for yourself, and even those hours you helped your neighbor all the while muttering to yourself that "you" shouldn't have to do this! It isn't about you! It IS about Jesus & living upright before & because of him!
Two of my "heroes" are my daughters-they do this and they are an example of how a Godly woman walks & talks & always a challenge to me to walk in an upright manner before the Lord. As proud as I am of their accomplishments, I am most proud of the relationship with the Lord that they exhibit. God honors the righteous so I can know each day they are covered in whatever they do. One of the greatest blessings in my life has been to have Godly children-children who help others with no second thought (my eldest son has a wonderful gift of "helping"), children who will travel to faraway lands to spread the love of God, children who honor the Lord and live righteous lives. As I watch them nurture their children in the ways of God I see marvelous examples of his spirit shining through the children.
So much around us today is tainted with worldly, unrighteous, hideous examples of what people can be who are not grounded in the Word. TV is rampant with real-life examples of this on the news & even more so is flooded with ungodly behavior in programming. "Garbage in, garbage out" is a well known phrase about what we put in our minds and what then manifests in our lives. If you soak up negative ungodly examples long enough you begin to believe that is the way you should live & that is the way everyone lives. You can find so much material in the video store & the bookstore to pollute your mind! If you would be uncomfortable with Jesus reading over your shoulder or viewing what you do-maybe your spirit is telling you there is a better way! Were there movies & TV in Jesus' day I wonder how much he would have given a G rating? One of the most infiltrating ways our mind is affected is by music. Much of the secular music today is filled with horrible lyrics, but listening regularly to spiritual songs can really transform your thinking in a positive way.
The Bible says we are to "be transformed by the renewal of our minds". This must happen every day-not once in a lifetime or once a year or even once a month or week. We must continually have an "attitude adjustment" so that our speech, our actions, and our thoughts are "taken captive to Christ". We are just grown up children. If you look at a child, they imitate what we do, what we say, and they learn what our words & actions teach them. There is a poem that says a child learns what he lives. If we live selfless lives before them, as Christ lived for us, sacrificing our own desires & comforts for that of others, so shall they. Although they will learn bad things in the world, the home is where they spend about 3/4 of their time in the formative years.
Spend time with God today-this week-and reflect on how you can renew your mind, taking it captive to him, and therefore being a Godly example in the world. If we were to add up the hours spent with God & then the hours spent in useless endeavors, glued to the TV for hours, or even just doing nothing we would probably be pretty shocked at ourselves! I do this every once in awhile and it centers me with a new perspective. One of my favorite scriptures is the one about "when I was thirsty you gave me water..." Time spent helping others is time spent for God! It is actually a form of worship if done in a cheerful, loving manner. Yeah, sorry grumbling time doesn't count for much in God's eyes. (Remember the Israelites!)
Here is the BEST part-time joyfully spent with & for God will make you feel SO GOOD! Way better than that off color movie you watched, that sleazy article you read, those hours vegging & feeling sorry for yourself, and even those hours you helped your neighbor all the while muttering to yourself that "you" shouldn't have to do this! It isn't about you! It IS about Jesus & living upright before & because of him!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
SPLENDOR OF CREATION
FOLLOWING ARE A FEW SHOTS FROM A TRIP ACROSS SEVERAL STATES. THE ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE OF CREATION REALLY SINKS IN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FORMING OF THE MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, VALLEYS, NATURAL WONDERS LIKE HOT SPRINGS, GEYSERS, WATERFALLS, ETC. EVEN WATCHING THE CLOUDS ON A DRIVE ACROSS THE PLAINS OR THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW FEELING. THERE IS A DEFINITE SPIRITUAL CONNECTION & REVELATION IN SEEING SUCH SIGHTS.
MORE PHOTOS WILL BE ON MY PERSONAL BLOG & A COUPLE ON FB BUT I WANTED TO PUT SOME ON HERE THAT WERE OF SPECIAL AWE TO ME IN RE. TO CREATION.
MORE PHOTOS WILL BE ON MY PERSONAL BLOG & A COUPLE ON FB BUT I WANTED TO PUT SOME ON HERE THAT WERE OF SPECIAL AWE TO ME IN RE. TO CREATION.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Grace, grace, more grace
I have been thinking of late of the enormous grace the Lord shed's on us! How very sufficient he is for us! There is nothing like the empowerment of the Holy Spirit! There is nothing like the forgiveness of our Lord. We must be transformed from the inside out...our heart must sucumb to him wholly, that we may be ...holy! The benefits of a solid faith, a good values system, and a pure life will reap a bountiful harvest in our lives. I have learned that when I walk in his spirit...when I rest in his love, when I respond to his voice...I am full of the joy that comes only from him. Transformation is essential to our walk-constant renewal of our minds.
Lately I had the opportunity to think about how to respond to the rudeness in others, and the Lord quickly reminded me that I am not always a "saint" ;). This empowered me to realize that I indeed can rise above the crowd and stand up for righteousness because I know my own shortcomings. Reflection on our own weaknesses can go a long way in tolerance for others. We must however stand for righteousness with compassion, grace, and understanding.
Likewise, recently I had an opportunity to stand for the values I believe Christ would have us walk out & know that my obedience will bring great joy & blessing to my life. Accountability to God for our thoughts, words, & actions should be important to us. We must be faithful in little if we are to be given much to handle.
Don't miss the small miracles God affords you in everyday life, and more importantly don't forget to examine your heart before him each day. There IS a peace that passes understanding...there is joy that comes only from God...that joy WILL be your strength.
Lately I had the opportunity to think about how to respond to the rudeness in others, and the Lord quickly reminded me that I am not always a "saint" ;). This empowered me to realize that I indeed can rise above the crowd and stand up for righteousness because I know my own shortcomings. Reflection on our own weaknesses can go a long way in tolerance for others. We must however stand for righteousness with compassion, grace, and understanding.
Likewise, recently I had an opportunity to stand for the values I believe Christ would have us walk out & know that my obedience will bring great joy & blessing to my life. Accountability to God for our thoughts, words, & actions should be important to us. We must be faithful in little if we are to be given much to handle.
Don't miss the small miracles God affords you in everyday life, and more importantly don't forget to examine your heart before him each day. There IS a peace that passes understanding...there is joy that comes only from God...that joy WILL be your strength.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The enemy of our soul...
...is alive & well. Did you know that a book entitled Rules for Radicals is recommended reading for public school educators, and the book is dedicated to none other than...Lucifer! How should that make us feel about the spiritual atmosphere in the public schools? How about what is mentally projected onto the screens of the minds of children? We all need to walk in & by the spirit of God, and teach our children to do so as well. They should know what the armor of God is and how to use it. If you don't know read Ephesians, and remember if you want any questions answered you can email me at ecbcfbt@gmail.com. My website for professional counseling is www.divineappointments.vpweb.com Feel free to share it.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
WHEN THE HAND OF GOD MOVES
There is no doubt about it...you know it! When we get our emotions, doubts & weak faith out of the way the hand of God moves in ways we can not think or imagine. Recently I was in a "numb" place spiritually. I could literally hear the whisper of the enemy stopping me from moving in a direction, yet moving me in another. Not bad things...just little things that distracted my walk...things that kept me working more on my own than in the spirit. I could feel a miracle around the corner only to notice I was immobilized to move in it's direction and eventually I couldn't even see it anymore. Ever been there?
Then I picked up a letter from a ministry I don't regularly support, and one that I have some spiritual doubts about. I had cast it aside a week or so before but God clearly was leading me to read it! Well I can tell you that I believe God uses anything and everyone he wishes, and though I still have reservations about that ministry...he used that letter to so speak to almost every thing I was questioning, struggling with, and praying for! I would say there was only one area that was not addressed directly (though it was indirectly)...I felt like the writer had been living inside my head for the last 6 weeks or so! Well, God was tuned in to where I was and he spoke volumes to me in about 5 pages. He wasn't done with me just yet. I turned on a Christian TV station to see a ministry I enjoy and one I highly questioned, and one I absolutely discerned was not fully of God. But in it all God challenged me to step out in faith...to dare to tread on waters unknown and trust him to keep me afloat! "OK Lord" I replied and hopped out of the boat of confusion to tread on the waters of deep abiding faith. We chatted awhile and I went to bed feeling inspired of God for the first time in weeks...because I followed HIS voice.
Guess how I awoke? Led to listen to a CD from Joyce Myer I had not gotten to. Immediately, I was struck by her words...realizing I had heard them before, and wishing I had not so quickly forgotten them. It was exactly what I needed to hear...common sense teaching on the testing of God! Whoa! I've felt that perhaps I was being tested, but not liking tests all that much I let everyday life and doing things in my own strength override the nudging of God to move in a few small directions...I know better! And get this...that pastor friend I mentioned in the last segment had warned me of an upcoming test just before the past few weeks kicked in! (I surely think she was indeed able to preach an awesome message for Pentecost!!) Walking in this world and not being "of" it is not easy...God didn't say it would be...he said it would be possible with him at our side because he gave us the tools...his word...his spirit...his son. He IS the Word...He IS the Spirit...He and the Son are one! I had popped a Keith Green CD in to play after Joyce, because I love it...but...again...exactly what I needed was on the CD.
Encouragement to renew the Holy Spirit in me was there...the love of God was spoken of there...
encouragement that the Lord is our Shepard was there...we forget all too soon it seems when we close our Bible that a Father who loves us gave us his Son, and the Son who loves us gave us HIS Holy Spirit...three in one...our Triune God...and we so often forget as we read and pray that the Holy Spirit is THE active manifestation of God in us and in our life today and we have the fruit of that if we live as God requires and we have power to use that fruit to our advantage and the enemy's disadvantage if we tap into the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit! WheeHaa! It doesn't get better than that. God's love is unconditional...his promises are conditional...we have to make choices that bring blessings to us, and we can make choices that bring curses to us as well.
It is my prayer that this has in some way helped you feel led to lean more into God, grab what he has for you, and run with it with thanksgiving. When you feel out of touch with God, don't try to manufacture relationship with him...just be open to his voice and go to the places where you know you hear him best...it may be a place in the word...it may be a place in your house...it may be in church...it may be listening to a certain message or song...it could be a drive in your car. I have had some pretty miraculous things happen when I was driving in my car!
God Bless you as you strive to serve him. He loves you more than you can possibly imagine!
Then I picked up a letter from a ministry I don't regularly support, and one that I have some spiritual doubts about. I had cast it aside a week or so before but God clearly was leading me to read it! Well I can tell you that I believe God uses anything and everyone he wishes, and though I still have reservations about that ministry...he used that letter to so speak to almost every thing I was questioning, struggling with, and praying for! I would say there was only one area that was not addressed directly (though it was indirectly)...I felt like the writer had been living inside my head for the last 6 weeks or so! Well, God was tuned in to where I was and he spoke volumes to me in about 5 pages. He wasn't done with me just yet. I turned on a Christian TV station to see a ministry I enjoy and one I highly questioned, and one I absolutely discerned was not fully of God. But in it all God challenged me to step out in faith...to dare to tread on waters unknown and trust him to keep me afloat! "OK Lord" I replied and hopped out of the boat of confusion to tread on the waters of deep abiding faith. We chatted awhile and I went to bed feeling inspired of God for the first time in weeks...because I followed HIS voice.
Guess how I awoke? Led to listen to a CD from Joyce Myer I had not gotten to. Immediately, I was struck by her words...realizing I had heard them before, and wishing I had not so quickly forgotten them. It was exactly what I needed to hear...common sense teaching on the testing of God! Whoa! I've felt that perhaps I was being tested, but not liking tests all that much I let everyday life and doing things in my own strength override the nudging of God to move in a few small directions...I know better! And get this...that pastor friend I mentioned in the last segment had warned me of an upcoming test just before the past few weeks kicked in! (I surely think she was indeed able to preach an awesome message for Pentecost!!) Walking in this world and not being "of" it is not easy...God didn't say it would be...he said it would be possible with him at our side because he gave us the tools...his word...his spirit...his son. He IS the Word...He IS the Spirit...He and the Son are one! I had popped a Keith Green CD in to play after Joyce, because I love it...but...again...exactly what I needed was on the CD.
Encouragement to renew the Holy Spirit in me was there...the love of God was spoken of there...
encouragement that the Lord is our Shepard was there...we forget all too soon it seems when we close our Bible that a Father who loves us gave us his Son, and the Son who loves us gave us HIS Holy Spirit...three in one...our Triune God...and we so often forget as we read and pray that the Holy Spirit is THE active manifestation of God in us and in our life today and we have the fruit of that if we live as God requires and we have power to use that fruit to our advantage and the enemy's disadvantage if we tap into the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit! WheeHaa! It doesn't get better than that. God's love is unconditional...his promises are conditional...we have to make choices that bring blessings to us, and we can make choices that bring curses to us as well.
It is my prayer that this has in some way helped you feel led to lean more into God, grab what he has for you, and run with it with thanksgiving. When you feel out of touch with God, don't try to manufacture relationship with him...just be open to his voice and go to the places where you know you hear him best...it may be a place in the word...it may be a place in your house...it may be in church...it may be listening to a certain message or song...it could be a drive in your car. I have had some pretty miraculous things happen when I was driving in my car!
God Bless you as you strive to serve him. He loves you more than you can possibly imagine!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Holy Spirit came...
...and he has not left earth. God is the same, yesterday, today, & tomorrow. (so says scripture)The Holy Spirit is God! Our Bible tells us that he left the Spirit to help us until Christ returns. God has always spoken to his people, whether it was through the prophets of old or through the "true" prophetic words of today. He has come to men in dreams & with angels, and he continues to do so, more often than we think. God is a God of order, and Satan is a messenger of confusion. One of the spiritual gifts God gave is Discernment...we can tell a "false prophet" from a Godly person-one anointed of God. He said we ARE a kingdom of Priests! We ARE anointed by God to do his work, if we choose to accept the assignment. I have come to realize that a large number of born again, headed for heaven believers not only don't accept all God has for them, they really do not believe ALL of the Bible or their lives would be far more victorious, living in the peace that passes all "understanding". We have become so indoctrinated to use our minds, we override the Holy Spirit God places in each of us at salvation, so we can be "proper", "religious", and appear "appropriate". That's OK if that is how you relate to God, but I promise you there IS a far more spiritual way to live that will cause you to wonder why it took you so long to "get it". We all have those..."duh" moments where it dawns on us that God IS way bigger than the box we were taught to keep him in. PTL! Hallelujah!
I don't know about you...but my Jesus is not ordinary in any way...he used spit and mud to heal a man's eyes for goodness sake! He walked on water & he died for every one of us. How many people do you know who would die for you? Not too many I assure you. In return what can we give him? Dare we....dare we..."lift up holy hands" (it's in the Bible you know), dare we "shout unto him" (again, it is there), dare we even dance before the Lord in excitement about all he has given us & done for us? What would people think! Who cares...what would Jesus think..he just might smile and clap right along with us that we dare pour our enthusiasm out as a fragrant love offering unto the King of Kings! I'm guessing many people are unaware of what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are, or that they were given to help us through every day until Christ returns! If God had given them to just the disciples of his day he wouldn't have told them to teach everyone about them. Check out some of Paul's writings again-he made it very clear what God blessed us with & what to do with it & why.
Pentecost is a time to celebrate, not just that the Holy Spirit came...not only that he lives in every believer...but to tap into that vast wealth of spiritual power God has given his children to enable them to live in a fallen world. I have been praying for a pastor friend to preach a dynamic Pentecost message that will start a revival in a small mainline church...and I know God is going to bless her with a great message, & I pray that the people will have receptive ears to hear the word of the Lord to them. The Lord told us we must come as little children...that means full of innocence and expectation...not full of fear, doubt, & religious rules. Don't get out of bed one more day without expecting God has not only divine appointments set up for you already, but knowing he has miracles all lined up just waiting for you to step out of your comfort zone.
I am walking a deliberate walk of renewed faith right now, seeking all those gems I may have missed in the Word. My friend told me I had better fasten my seatbelt! :) So far I have seen financial miracles, healing miracles, spiritual miracles, and I am trusting God at his word, that there is so much more to come. I have received confirmations of his will for me that continue to blow my mind.
Have a blessed Pentecost and remember if you are a believer the angel of death has indeed passed over you, and there is no way to go but deeper & deeper into the things of God. It does not get any more exciting than that. If you want some literature to fire you up, take a fresh look at God's word, order the free magazine Kenneth Hagin sends out, and find a book on Smith Wigglesworth. I am currently studying the book of Hebrews to build my faith in a God that does the impossible today, if we only invite him to do so. Be renewed & refreshed in his HOLY SPIRIT. May the Lord bless you at whatever place you are in your walk with him, as you seek him & serve him.
I don't know about you...but my Jesus is not ordinary in any way...he used spit and mud to heal a man's eyes for goodness sake! He walked on water & he died for every one of us. How many people do you know who would die for you? Not too many I assure you. In return what can we give him? Dare we....dare we..."lift up holy hands" (it's in the Bible you know), dare we "shout unto him" (again, it is there), dare we even dance before the Lord in excitement about all he has given us & done for us? What would people think! Who cares...what would Jesus think..he just might smile and clap right along with us that we dare pour our enthusiasm out as a fragrant love offering unto the King of Kings! I'm guessing many people are unaware of what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are, or that they were given to help us through every day until Christ returns! If God had given them to just the disciples of his day he wouldn't have told them to teach everyone about them. Check out some of Paul's writings again-he made it very clear what God blessed us with & what to do with it & why.
Pentecost is a time to celebrate, not just that the Holy Spirit came...not only that he lives in every believer...but to tap into that vast wealth of spiritual power God has given his children to enable them to live in a fallen world. I have been praying for a pastor friend to preach a dynamic Pentecost message that will start a revival in a small mainline church...and I know God is going to bless her with a great message, & I pray that the people will have receptive ears to hear the word of the Lord to them. The Lord told us we must come as little children...that means full of innocence and expectation...not full of fear, doubt, & religious rules. Don't get out of bed one more day without expecting God has not only divine appointments set up for you already, but knowing he has miracles all lined up just waiting for you to step out of your comfort zone.
I am walking a deliberate walk of renewed faith right now, seeking all those gems I may have missed in the Word. My friend told me I had better fasten my seatbelt! :) So far I have seen financial miracles, healing miracles, spiritual miracles, and I am trusting God at his word, that there is so much more to come. I have received confirmations of his will for me that continue to blow my mind.
Have a blessed Pentecost and remember if you are a believer the angel of death has indeed passed over you, and there is no way to go but deeper & deeper into the things of God. It does not get any more exciting than that. If you want some literature to fire you up, take a fresh look at God's word, order the free magazine Kenneth Hagin sends out, and find a book on Smith Wigglesworth. I am currently studying the book of Hebrews to build my faith in a God that does the impossible today, if we only invite him to do so. Be renewed & refreshed in his HOLY SPIRIT. May the Lord bless you at whatever place you are in your walk with him, as you seek him & serve him.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Imprint on a child's life
Lately the Lord has been speaking to me about the imprint various things make on the life of a child. Thinking about the fact that the mind of a child is not fully developed at least until about age 18, what sort of impression do things like pornography, sexual immorality, warring parents, anti-God sentiments, racism, violence in the things they read & watch, drunkenness in the home, drug addiction of friends, and the list goes on....what sort of imprint is made on the mind of youth? It makes a lasting mark on that child's mind...it may be a mark that says such things are OK or even good for you-it may be a mark of fear that brings timidity and an inability to believe that God loves them without condition...it may craft a young mind that is in turmoil and confusion.
Conversely, what sort of mark is made by watching parents worship, pray, & believe God for victory in all circumstances? Does a child who witnesses the embracing of all races in love, people who deal fairly and with conviction of morality, and peace in the home and relationships grow up to be balanced and a servant of God with purpose in life? How can we be "confident of this very thing that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion"? We train our children in the home, but we must also take them where they can worship the Lord at a very young age, we most assuredly must monitor the affect the public school system has on their fragile & forming minds, we must be aware of the stance our government takes with regard to the things of life and God, and we must carefully watch the things they see, hear, and do with regard to TV, the Internet, and gaming. It is our responsibility to guide them in who they form relationships with and hang out with.
I recently heard someone say what I have believed for years, and have found to fall on deaf ears for the most part. Our children need to be with us in church, watching us relate to God in worship & prayer & responding to the Holy Spirit's conviction. There IS a place for kid's church, but it has become a spiritual babysitting service in many churches where the parent drops them off and worships with the "grown-ups" leaving the child to listen to Bible stories and never see Mom & Dad in communion with God. Some places release children after worship until a certain age, which I believe is the correct approach. Sermons they are not ready for aren't appropriate certainly. I would encourage parents to keep their children with them until that point. Jesus said we are to come to him as a child, and it is that innocent child's heart that responds to Christ easiest. It is an awesome thing to have your child come to Christ at your side, not off in some classroom somewhere. I would submit that it is the more appropriate place.
Bless you as you parent, grandparent, and teach young parents to follow the will of God in the lives of their children. It has been said that it takes the entire church to parent a child, so pray for the children in your church, that they grow in Christ, not in worldly ways.
Conversely, what sort of mark is made by watching parents worship, pray, & believe God for victory in all circumstances? Does a child who witnesses the embracing of all races in love, people who deal fairly and with conviction of morality, and peace in the home and relationships grow up to be balanced and a servant of God with purpose in life? How can we be "confident of this very thing that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion"? We train our children in the home, but we must also take them where they can worship the Lord at a very young age, we most assuredly must monitor the affect the public school system has on their fragile & forming minds, we must be aware of the stance our government takes with regard to the things of life and God, and we must carefully watch the things they see, hear, and do with regard to TV, the Internet, and gaming. It is our responsibility to guide them in who they form relationships with and hang out with.
I recently heard someone say what I have believed for years, and have found to fall on deaf ears for the most part. Our children need to be with us in church, watching us relate to God in worship & prayer & responding to the Holy Spirit's conviction. There IS a place for kid's church, but it has become a spiritual babysitting service in many churches where the parent drops them off and worships with the "grown-ups" leaving the child to listen to Bible stories and never see Mom & Dad in communion with God. Some places release children after worship until a certain age, which I believe is the correct approach. Sermons they are not ready for aren't appropriate certainly. I would encourage parents to keep their children with them until that point. Jesus said we are to come to him as a child, and it is that innocent child's heart that responds to Christ easiest. It is an awesome thing to have your child come to Christ at your side, not off in some classroom somewhere. I would submit that it is the more appropriate place.
Bless you as you parent, grandparent, and teach young parents to follow the will of God in the lives of their children. It has been said that it takes the entire church to parent a child, so pray for the children in your church, that they grow in Christ, not in worldly ways.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
FAITH CHALLENGE
I am on a faith-walk of late and stretching my beliefs about an all powerful God, particularly in the area of seed faith giving. We all come from different backgrounds and different denominations, but we have the SAME God who says he is the same yesterday, today, & tomorrow. I recently watched a story of a miraculous happening on the news and it made me wonder why Christians only believe the miraculous once in awhile. In the New Testament there are many references to a God that has given us awesome power-to do even greater things than Christ did while on earth(SAYS THE WORD)-and the power he left for us was the Holy Spirit! But, how do we see that? Do we take the scriptures at face value or do we cloud them with our pre-conceived worldview thoughts & beliefs? How do we choose what to believe & what not to believe? Isn't it all the Word of God?
What does the Word of God say about the gifts of the Holy Spirit? What are they? What are they for? When will they cease? (the Word says when Christ returns) Why do we have them? Why don't we believe them??? Why don't we use them?? What is our reasoning for not believing the Word of God, and not using the gifts God gave us? FEAR is one reason we shy away from operating as the spiritual beings God made us to be. (Remember, in his image) We put a precious, valuable, powerful gift our Lord left for us to use on the shelf and about all we can say about the Holy Spirit is to maybe include reference to Him in a prayer? Remember, Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are ONE. He created us, died for us, and left a part of himself here with us. We say we are indwelt by his spirit at salvation, but then we do nothing with that. Does that really sound right? One thing I like to anchor on when thinking about our worldview prejudices about what seems "odd" to us-would you have believed Jesus when he healed a blind man with MUD?
Why is our prayer life, our faith, and our growth sometimes seemingly drab, ineffective, or confusing? What does Paul say he wishes we all would do? I would challenge you to read the scriptures about the Holy Spirit-every one-pray about them, and see if God shows you what you may be missing to bring greater power to your walk with God. You have nothing to lose, and as a believer who is growing in the area of seed-faith giving, I can say you may be ready to grow in the area of Holy Spirit-believing faith. When I first became aware of the immenseness of the Holy Spirit it made SO MUCH sense and it has brought enormous power & comfort in my walk of now 35 yrs. The part of the Bible we get the most out of, is the part we believe. I am so glad I chose to believe it all, even though I am still growing in areas, as we all are. I heard about a man who got to heaven and God took him to a room of unopened gifts. He explained that had he opened these gifts his life would have been more victorious. I hope to open all my gifts & I hope you do too.
What does the Word of God say about the gifts of the Holy Spirit? What are they? What are they for? When will they cease? (the Word says when Christ returns) Why do we have them? Why don't we believe them??? Why don't we use them?? What is our reasoning for not believing the Word of God, and not using the gifts God gave us? FEAR is one reason we shy away from operating as the spiritual beings God made us to be. (Remember, in his image) We put a precious, valuable, powerful gift our Lord left for us to use on the shelf and about all we can say about the Holy Spirit is to maybe include reference to Him in a prayer? Remember, Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are ONE. He created us, died for us, and left a part of himself here with us. We say we are indwelt by his spirit at salvation, but then we do nothing with that. Does that really sound right? One thing I like to anchor on when thinking about our worldview prejudices about what seems "odd" to us-would you have believed Jesus when he healed a blind man with MUD?
Why is our prayer life, our faith, and our growth sometimes seemingly drab, ineffective, or confusing? What does Paul say he wishes we all would do? I would challenge you to read the scriptures about the Holy Spirit-every one-pray about them, and see if God shows you what you may be missing to bring greater power to your walk with God. You have nothing to lose, and as a believer who is growing in the area of seed-faith giving, I can say you may be ready to grow in the area of Holy Spirit-believing faith. When I first became aware of the immenseness of the Holy Spirit it made SO MUCH sense and it has brought enormous power & comfort in my walk of now 35 yrs. The part of the Bible we get the most out of, is the part we believe. I am so glad I chose to believe it all, even though I am still growing in areas, as we all are. I heard about a man who got to heaven and God took him to a room of unopened gifts. He explained that had he opened these gifts his life would have been more victorious. I hope to open all my gifts & I hope you do too.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Easter Blessings
Hello all...thanks for checking the blog from time to time. Hopefully it challenges you and blesses you. Resurrection Sunday is nearly upon us & as I will possibly be away I wanted to put something here before I leave. A little bout of bursitis has limited my online time recently but a dear pastor friend is praying, so I know it will soon be healed...by His stripes...as the word says...we ARE healed, & in more ways than physically. As we enter this season let's reflect on the sin that Christ so sacrificially bore for us, that we might inherit eternal life if only we call upon his name to be saved.
If you have been a C&E(seasonal) believer, consider taking a step beyond as you reflect on the depth of the pain Jesus bore for you. I know, many are put off by the hypocritical attitude of some believers & would rather stay home and I don't blame them, but you know what-what better place for hypocrites to be than in church! So, go anyway-set an example for them that is present & visible, and go ahead and enjoy a close relationship with your Lord, not letting them deter you! Find a solid Bible preaching church and soak up all the Word you can! Ask the Lord to illuminate your mind and touch your heart as you seek his will for your life & to ever know more & more of him. The walk of faith is not easy always-sometimes it is downright hard, but God promises he will never allow more than we can handle, and I can attest to the fact that the blessings of God are so awesome that you will never understand why you didn't run hard after him before.
Our world is full of the "evil of the day" that comes at us from every direction, but the armor of God shields us from that-the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the sword of the spirit-if you picture this in your mind you will see there is nothing for the back-why? Because we are to ever move into battle against the evil one, and the Bible says the glory of the Lord is our rear guard! Some of the evil will not be clearly seen, beloved, so stay in touch with the Father every day, all day. Pray without ceasing as his Word says. When you find that place of divine interaction with the God of the universe, the things of this world WILL grow strangely dim. If folks fail to understand you as a believer, that's OK. They didn't understand Jesus either-they thought he was a fanatic, a fraud, & a failure-we know better-if we read the end of the book! Celebrate the new life in Christ that we can all have only because Jesus Christ died a horrible death on a cross in our place-yours, and mine! If you have never seen The Passion movie, I recommend it highly. It IS hard to watch, but it may help cement in your mind and heart the incredible sacrifice Jesus Christ made for you & for me at Calvary. May God bless you this Easter season in ways never before!
Agape & Shalom,
Liz
If you have been a C&E(seasonal) believer, consider taking a step beyond as you reflect on the depth of the pain Jesus bore for you. I know, many are put off by the hypocritical attitude of some believers & would rather stay home and I don't blame them, but you know what-what better place for hypocrites to be than in church! So, go anyway-set an example for them that is present & visible, and go ahead and enjoy a close relationship with your Lord, not letting them deter you! Find a solid Bible preaching church and soak up all the Word you can! Ask the Lord to illuminate your mind and touch your heart as you seek his will for your life & to ever know more & more of him. The walk of faith is not easy always-sometimes it is downright hard, but God promises he will never allow more than we can handle, and I can attest to the fact that the blessings of God are so awesome that you will never understand why you didn't run hard after him before.
Our world is full of the "evil of the day" that comes at us from every direction, but the armor of God shields us from that-the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the sword of the spirit-if you picture this in your mind you will see there is nothing for the back-why? Because we are to ever move into battle against the evil one, and the Bible says the glory of the Lord is our rear guard! Some of the evil will not be clearly seen, beloved, so stay in touch with the Father every day, all day. Pray without ceasing as his Word says. When you find that place of divine interaction with the God of the universe, the things of this world WILL grow strangely dim. If folks fail to understand you as a believer, that's OK. They didn't understand Jesus either-they thought he was a fanatic, a fraud, & a failure-we know better-if we read the end of the book! Celebrate the new life in Christ that we can all have only because Jesus Christ died a horrible death on a cross in our place-yours, and mine! If you have never seen The Passion movie, I recommend it highly. It IS hard to watch, but it may help cement in your mind and heart the incredible sacrifice Jesus Christ made for you & for me at Calvary. May God bless you this Easter season in ways never before!
Agape & Shalom,
Liz
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Negating the salvation message?
FOX News says "we report, you decide" so I am going to say..."I ask, you decide." Does the doctrine of Predestination, which theologians have argued for decades dismiss the very purpose of Evangelism and the reality of Free Will? I never thought about it a lot until recent conversation & study have led me to. It would seem that the doctrine of Eternal Security that also negates a choice on our part might also negate the truth of our Free Will, but I find it less troubling as those subscribing would simply feel the person wasn't ever saved and would continue to evangelize the person. However, if God already has chosen those who would be saved, what point is there in evangelism? God surely foreknew all of us & all of our choices, but I find it hard to believe he would not want our love to be unconditional just as his is, and that means we get to choose if we love him, even with the conditions of his "just" nature. He knew who would elect to choose him. God's movement in our life, post salvation, is conditional for our protection and spiritual growth. Salvation is a decision we make, prompted by the Holy Spirit, not something we grow into or are baptized into (in fact we are told to follow salvation with that as our public testimony), or acquire from our parents. Do you really think God "programmed" that into the lives of certain select persons and programmed the rest to spend eternity in hell? Does that even make sense? Scripture says that God is not willing that any should perish, yet he does know many will, and he knows who will. Is this important enough to worry about-it is if these doctrines shortcut evangelism and it indicates God indeed did not create us all equal. Scripture says God is no respecter of persons. He sees us all the same, so how does that resolve with Predestination? Hell we know is eternal separation from God. Would he really create with pre-determined separation from him? A final thought-if we are eternally secure & unable to fall away after salvation, what does that say about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? I believe this sin is meant to address the believer. I do not believe many fully understand it, and I believe it is sin to the extreme that few would ever reach. Scripture states those who do this are not able to be restored. This is entirely different from backsliding where God tells us the person can be restored to a point of Lordship salvation where they are living a Christlike life.
Monday, February 22, 2010
The living testimony of Faith
As we walk out our days we are a living testimony & witness to the Lord Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the love of the Father...or...we are a living testimony to the opposite... or we exhibit a weak & powerless faith that few could believe in. I don't know about you but I want to be a fiery, compassionate, and everlasting living, breathing, walking testimony to our all powerful & ever present GOD! I have come to understand, in a deeper way, the importance of God working not only in us but through us. We may have some understanding of preaching, teaching, giving, serving, etc. in general terms, but do we have an understanding of living in such a way...so close to the heart of God, that we can't wait to let him use us, and we do see the miraculous happen because we allowed God to speak to us, change us, move us in the direction he desires? This requires real deep & abiding FAITH and it comes only by deliberately connecting with God is such an open way that we give him our permission to do as he will, no matter how silly or strange or foreign it may seem to us. The Lord has been doing a great work of patience in me, and it is transpiring into a work of Faith. At some point most of us require a true breakthrough in Faith-not just a hohum whatever happens I will accept as God's will for my life, but rather a profound unwavering belief that God has done a work in me that has literally changed me, my life, and the circumstances around me. Step out, step out, step out! The time has come to STEP OUT & serve God by allowing him to work through you, not just to "do works" for him. What does the Bible say about that? Faith without works is dead, BUT it is Faith we are saved by, not our works. Ask GOD what he wants you to do-allow him to take you out of your comfort zone-if satan tells you not to...remember, that is a LIE.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
GOD outside the box.
It is said that we often put God in a box, and I believe we do. Has God ever moved on your heart in such a way as to make you feel so in AWE of his wonder & greatness that you could hardly contain yourself? Is this the "norm" or is this the "exception"? What was it for the apostles? What was it in the Old Testament? Is God the same, yesterday, today, & tomorrow? Does he keep his promises? Do you really believe every jot & tittle in that Bible you read? Do we, in today's world reserve such allowances of AWE for moments of salvation or trips to the Grand Canyon? Do we LIVE in AWE of a mighty, mighty God that affords us miraculous dreams, visions, and gifts so far beyond what our brains want to believe we truly have? We should...every single day! He said so!
Do we truly use the power that Christ gave that HE said would cause us to do greater things than he? IS the Holy Spirit of Pentecost that he sent to us alive & well today? The Bible says he is, and I believe my Bible. Did Jesus mean what he said about what we could do? Indeed he meant it! Satan puts a lot of "ideas" in our heads about how things are that directly refute the Word of God, and by golly, it has become more & more clear to me that we actually believe those lies above the word of God if we are honest with ourselves! Imagine that, the father of lies has duped us. Jesus Christ sent us a power to use after he left! Are we using it to it's fullest, or are we saving it for emergencies? Doesn't the Father care about even the sparrow? Did Jesus say the HS was for just a few days? Did he say it was for just a few things? NO! When something is given to you, until you use it, it is of no use to you. God cared enough about you & me every day of our lives to give us the comforter, the counselor, the power to do GREATER things!
I challenge you to look at 3 people...the Father, the Son, and the person of the Holy Spirit. Look at the Old Testament, the New Testament, and TODAY. Now, do you think the HS is for today? I believe that the completion of the Bible is the VERY reason the HS is for us today-it IS what empowers God's Word to us to live victorious lives in the here & now! Don't be short-changed by fear, man or the enemy. Take God at his word and live like the believer he said we could because your life will never be the same again. Take God at his word...his entire word, & be blessed!
Do we truly use the power that Christ gave that HE said would cause us to do greater things than he? IS the Holy Spirit of Pentecost that he sent to us alive & well today? The Bible says he is, and I believe my Bible. Did Jesus mean what he said about what we could do? Indeed he meant it! Satan puts a lot of "ideas" in our heads about how things are that directly refute the Word of God, and by golly, it has become more & more clear to me that we actually believe those lies above the word of God if we are honest with ourselves! Imagine that, the father of lies has duped us. Jesus Christ sent us a power to use after he left! Are we using it to it's fullest, or are we saving it for emergencies? Doesn't the Father care about even the sparrow? Did Jesus say the HS was for just a few days? Did he say it was for just a few things? NO! When something is given to you, until you use it, it is of no use to you. God cared enough about you & me every day of our lives to give us the comforter, the counselor, the power to do GREATER things!
I challenge you to look at 3 people...the Father, the Son, and the person of the Holy Spirit. Look at the Old Testament, the New Testament, and TODAY. Now, do you think the HS is for today? I believe that the completion of the Bible is the VERY reason the HS is for us today-it IS what empowers God's Word to us to live victorious lives in the here & now! Don't be short-changed by fear, man or the enemy. Take God at his word and live like the believer he said we could because your life will never be the same again. Take God at his word...his entire word, & be blessed!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
So many many things...
So often of late, as I watch the world events unfold, ponder our nation's state of affairs's , and reflect upon the God of the universe I wonder so many things and so many things come to mind. Some of these things have been:
Are we really hearing from God, and how can we be sure?
How often do we practice complacent Christianity?
Can our focus be too small?
Do we mean what we say and say what we mean?
Is our faith a CAN DO or WILL DO faith?
At the moment I only feel led to toss it out there to you and not comment further. I would ask that you consider reading the rest of this blog if you've never visited before and to also visit www.divineappointments.vpweb.com
Please feel free to refer people to the website and to this blog who might benefit from it.
God Bless You!
Liz
Are we really hearing from God, and how can we be sure?
How often do we practice complacent Christianity?
Can our focus be too small?
Do we mean what we say and say what we mean?
Is our faith a CAN DO or WILL DO faith?
At the moment I only feel led to toss it out there to you and not comment further. I would ask that you consider reading the rest of this blog if you've never visited before and to also visit www.divineappointments.vpweb.com
Please feel free to refer people to the website and to this blog who might benefit from it.
God Bless You!
Liz
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