Sunday, September 26, 2010
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!
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