Developing "Spiritual Receptivity"
Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident...Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming."...Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living...Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
Psalm 27:3, 7, 8, 13, 14 (selected verses, please take the time to read the entire Psalm)
To develop spiritual receptivity we must begin with putting our trust wholly in God. Trusting that God is Who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do in our lives (Beth Moore). To trust Him, we need to be in His Holy Word to know just who our God is and what His promises are. It's in the Word that we are called to seek God with all of our hearts. When we are pursuing God we are saying we aren't satisfied with a second rate relationship with Him. In pursuing Him we are willing to seek Him with all our hearts, with all our minds, and will all our souls.
1 Chronicles 28:9 ...If you seek Him, He will be found by you..."
There isn't a magic formula to developing spiritual receptivity...all we need is a hungry heart that will not settle for second rate faith. Here are some ways we can pursue God's voice. We begin with a change of heart as we go to church on Sunday morning. We enter the sanctuary with a heart attitude of worship. Remember we are going to be in the presence of God! That alone should excite us!
Approach God with a desire to know Him in a deeper and more personal way. If you haven't done so in the past, repent of your poor attitude and get ready to worship...be excited about meeting with God! Go with a heart and mind that expects to meet with God.
If you expect to meet with Him...YOU WILL!
MaryAnn
A.W. Tozer, A 31 Day Experience, The Pursuit of God
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Spiritual Receptivity Part 2
What if I don't exercise my "Spiritual Receptivity?"
There are always consequences to all our behaviors and our choices whether they are good or bad. There are consequences to not cultivating our gift of "spiritual receptivity" and it will show itself in a variety of ways. Here are just a few, according to A.W. Tozer;
a.) Our lives tend to become shallow. We never go below the surface to see what God wants to reveal to us. Our lives are only brain deep and not heart deep.
b.) We live with hollow beliefs. Our words say we believe and we say we trust but when the trials come (and they will come) we are lost.
c.) We attend church to have our eyes and our ears "tickled". We want to leave church and have warm and fuzzy feelings instead of being challenged by the Word of God.
d.) We may elevate some Bible teachers to "god" status and begin to rely solely on what they are preaching. We take the pastors' words and turn it into the "Word."
e.) If our faith isn't heart deep we will never look past the faith façade of others. So we are satisfied with surface relationships with others in the church.
f.) We become satisfied with a diet of Sunday morning service Scripture reading and think it is sufficient to carry us through the coming week.
We become satisfied with second rate and second best. We put our hopes in and we base our wisdom and knowledge about God on what someone else says and does, rather than looking into Gods Word and listening for God's voice. God wants so much more...no He passionately desires so much more for us...yet we settle for less.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (The Message)
"God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!"
Amen and Amen! Don't you want all that God has for you?
MaryAnn
There are always consequences to all our behaviors and our choices whether they are good or bad. There are consequences to not cultivating our gift of "spiritual receptivity" and it will show itself in a variety of ways. Here are just a few, according to A.W. Tozer;
a.) Our lives tend to become shallow. We never go below the surface to see what God wants to reveal to us. Our lives are only brain deep and not heart deep.
b.) We live with hollow beliefs. Our words say we believe and we say we trust but when the trials come (and they will come) we are lost.
c.) We attend church to have our eyes and our ears "tickled". We want to leave church and have warm and fuzzy feelings instead of being challenged by the Word of God.
d.) We may elevate some Bible teachers to "god" status and begin to rely solely on what they are preaching. We take the pastors' words and turn it into the "Word."
e.) If our faith isn't heart deep we will never look past the faith façade of others. So we are satisfied with surface relationships with others in the church.
f.) We become satisfied with a diet of Sunday morning service Scripture reading and think it is sufficient to carry us through the coming week.
We become satisfied with second rate and second best. We put our hopes in and we base our wisdom and knowledge about God on what someone else says and does, rather than looking into Gods Word and listening for God's voice. God wants so much more...no He passionately desires so much more for us...yet we settle for less.
Ephesians 3:20-21 (The Message)
"God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!"
Amen and Amen! Don't you want all that God has for you?
MaryAnn
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Instant ... Spiritual Receptivity
Instant...Spiritual Receptivity
Psalm 27:7-8 (The Message) "Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs: 'Be good to me! Answer me!' When my heart whispered, 'Seek God,' my whole being replied, 'I'm seeking Him!' Don't hide from me now!"
We live in a fast paced, instant world. We have instant breakfast, instant messaging, fast food, we can learn a new language in 30 day, get rich in 5 easy lessons and the list goes on and on. We want and expect our spiritual growth to be on the fast tract too, but that isn't the way it works.
If we were to study the great saints of the faith we would not only see that they were spiritually responsive we would see they didn't start out as spiritual giants. Each one continued to cultivate their spiritual receptivity until it was the "biggest thing in their lives." (A.W. Tozer) When they felt that longing to know God more and more...when they felt God pulling on their heart strings, they didn't put those feelings to rest, they responded and made it their lifelong habit to seek God.
Spiritual receptivity is a gift from God. God has given it to each and every one of us and there is nothing that we can do as individuals to manufacture it. However, even though it is a gift, that doesn't give us the leisure of resting on it, thinking we will instantly become "spiritual giants of the faith." First, each of us must recognize Gods gift of "spiritual receptivity," and then cultivate it, otherwise the gift will be destroyed. When we neglect exercising our bodies, our muscles will grow weaker and eventually atrophy. This is no different in the case of spiritual receptivity.
Have you been waiting for instant deep faith only to be disappointed and think that, well...you just don't have what it takes; you don't have the kind of faith that can move mountains and so you give up or become "satisfied" with where you are. Maybe you wonder why your faith seems shallow or hard to hold onto when trials come into your life.
My dear sisters in faith, don't be satisfied with a ho-hum faith, God has created you for so much more!
A.W. Tozer "Let any [woman] turn to God in earnest, let [her] begin to exercise [herself] unto godliness, let [her] seek to develop [her] powers of spiritual receptivity by trust and obedience and humility, and the results will exceed anything [she] may have hoped in [her] leaner years."1
Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." What a wonderful promise from our God! Are you ready to get up off your spiritual couch and exercise your "spiritual receptivity?"
MaryAnn
Psalm 27:7-8 (The Message) "Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs: 'Be good to me! Answer me!' When my heart whispered, 'Seek God,' my whole being replied, 'I'm seeking Him!' Don't hide from me now!"
We live in a fast paced, instant world. We have instant breakfast, instant messaging, fast food, we can learn a new language in 30 day, get rich in 5 easy lessons and the list goes on and on. We want and expect our spiritual growth to be on the fast tract too, but that isn't the way it works.
If we were to study the great saints of the faith we would not only see that they were spiritually responsive we would see they didn't start out as spiritual giants. Each one continued to cultivate their spiritual receptivity until it was the "biggest thing in their lives." (A.W. Tozer) When they felt that longing to know God more and more...when they felt God pulling on their heart strings, they didn't put those feelings to rest, they responded and made it their lifelong habit to seek God.
Spiritual receptivity is a gift from God. God has given it to each and every one of us and there is nothing that we can do as individuals to manufacture it. However, even though it is a gift, that doesn't give us the leisure of resting on it, thinking we will instantly become "spiritual giants of the faith." First, each of us must recognize Gods gift of "spiritual receptivity," and then cultivate it, otherwise the gift will be destroyed. When we neglect exercising our bodies, our muscles will grow weaker and eventually atrophy. This is no different in the case of spiritual receptivity.
Have you been waiting for instant deep faith only to be disappointed and think that, well...you just don't have what it takes; you don't have the kind of faith that can move mountains and so you give up or become "satisfied" with where you are. Maybe you wonder why your faith seems shallow or hard to hold onto when trials come into your life.
My dear sisters in faith, don't be satisfied with a ho-hum faith, God has created you for so much more!
A.W. Tozer "Let any [woman] turn to God in earnest, let [her] begin to exercise [herself] unto godliness, let [her] seek to develop [her] powers of spiritual receptivity by trust and obedience and humility, and the results will exceed anything [she] may have hoped in [her] leaner years."1
Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." What a wonderful promise from our God! Are you ready to get up off your spiritual couch and exercise your "spiritual receptivity?"
MaryAnn
Monday, September 03, 2007
Mom Always Liked You Best ...
Mom always liked you best....
I loved the comedy routine of Tom & Dick Smothers who were very popular when I was a kid. Poor Tom would always lament that "Mom always liked you [brother Dick] best." Tom would always expound the many ways their Mom would show her favoritism to Dick and it was always good for some great belly laughs!
Well, does our Heavenly Father play favorites do you think? I'm thinking if He does Billy Graham, Amy Carmichael or Joseph from the Old Testament must be among His favorites. Did God give them an extra measure of faith? Did God give them something He hasn't given to you or me? Did He love them more than He loves us?
These and other great men and women of faith accomplished so much and brought so many to the cross of Jesus. Many have given their all in service to the King. Why is it that some Christians experience God in a way that others like you and me don't? Why do so many of us struggle in our faith? Where does the difference come from? Is it that God likes them best?
A.W. Tozer says the number one quality of all the giants of the faith is "spiritual receptivity." Each one of those men and women were spiritually receptive to God's voice. This isn't some "extra faith quality" that God gives to a select few because He likes them best.
According to Tozer, spiritual receptivity blends several elements with the soul of the individual. Those elements are:
1. The knowledge of doctrine - principles and position of the Christian faith 2. Theology - the study of God, faith and His relationship with the world, including practice and experience 3. God's precepts - His commands and principals learned through His Word 4. All of the above mixed with our personal experience of God in our lives.
All of these elements are available to you and to me. I must stress that this doesn't mean we know all the answers or for that matter can know all the answers to the questions of the universe! To be spiritually receptive means we are open to what God is showing, teaching and leading us to...and then RESPOND to it. There is a second step that is required...to respond. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
Could you be the next Beth Moore? James says God gives generously to all who ask...but once God gives to you....you must respond. God has given you and I all we need....
Will you respond?
MaryAnn
A 31 Day Experience, The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer
I loved the comedy routine of Tom & Dick Smothers who were very popular when I was a kid. Poor Tom would always lament that "Mom always liked you [brother Dick] best." Tom would always expound the many ways their Mom would show her favoritism to Dick and it was always good for some great belly laughs!
Well, does our Heavenly Father play favorites do you think? I'm thinking if He does Billy Graham, Amy Carmichael or Joseph from the Old Testament must be among His favorites. Did God give them an extra measure of faith? Did God give them something He hasn't given to you or me? Did He love them more than He loves us?
These and other great men and women of faith accomplished so much and brought so many to the cross of Jesus. Many have given their all in service to the King. Why is it that some Christians experience God in a way that others like you and me don't? Why do so many of us struggle in our faith? Where does the difference come from? Is it that God likes them best?
A.W. Tozer says the number one quality of all the giants of the faith is "spiritual receptivity." Each one of those men and women were spiritually receptive to God's voice. This isn't some "extra faith quality" that God gives to a select few because He likes them best.
According to Tozer, spiritual receptivity blends several elements with the soul of the individual. Those elements are:
1. The knowledge of doctrine - principles and position of the Christian faith 2. Theology - the study of God, faith and His relationship with the world, including practice and experience 3. God's precepts - His commands and principals learned through His Word 4. All of the above mixed with our personal experience of God in our lives.
All of these elements are available to you and to me. I must stress that this doesn't mean we know all the answers or for that matter can know all the answers to the questions of the universe! To be spiritually receptive means we are open to what God is showing, teaching and leading us to...and then RESPOND to it. There is a second step that is required...to respond. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
Could you be the next Beth Moore? James says God gives generously to all who ask...but once God gives to you....you must respond. God has given you and I all we need....
Will you respond?
MaryAnn
A 31 Day Experience, The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tropies of God's Grace
Trophies of God's Grace
Day 5
For the past week we've been privileged to share with you one very real, very personal account of how through the power of Jesus Christ at work in someone's life they can have VICTORY rather than defeat.
On September 18, 1910, at the age of only 52, the life of William Raws (the founder) literally burned out for God and for lost men. The Keswick Colony of Mercy is truly a faith work which had its humble beginning in 1897 with $1.87 in capital. The ministry has been God's instrument in reaching multitudes of men from all walks of life and all parts of the country, showing them that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only perfect answer to the need of the addicted individual. Although the Colony has been expanded and improved through the years, there has been no change from the original vision and the faith principle upon which it operates. Men are charged a nominal fee of $150 for their four month stay and the Colony ministry is supported by voluntary contributions.
YOU ARE INVITED!
To join us as we celebrate
The Colony of Mercy...
For 110 years, America's KESWICK has been sharing with men, women, and children the path to Victory through Jesus Christ!
America's KESWICK isn't just about offering hope and victory to those trapped by drugs and alcohol, gambling, or sexual sins; it is for everyone. Freedom and Victorious Christian Living are for all of us.
Special Speaker: Chaplain Jim Freed, Counselor and Operations Manager at the Colony of Mercy.
Special Music: Robert & Joyce Hayes, and men from the Colony of Mercy President's Update: from Bill Welte, President & CEO of America's KESWICK.
*South Jersey Area
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Masso's Crystal Manor
210 South Delsea Drive,
Glassboro, NJ
Banquet at 6:30PM-Doors open at 6PM
*Philadelphia Area
Tuesday, September 13, 2007
Dock Woods Community
275 Dock Drive
Lansdale, PA
Banquet at 6:30PM-Doors open at 6PM
*Lancaster Area
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Lancaster Bible College
901 Eden Road
Lancaster, PA
Luncheon at 12noon-Doors open at 11:30AM Banquet at 6PM- Doors open at 5:30PM
*Whiting Area
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
America's KESWICK, Activity Center
601 Route 530
Whiting, NJ
Banquet at 6:30PM-Doors open at 6PM
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Luncheon at 12noon-Doors open at 11:30AM
*Philadelphia Area
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Ann's Choice
20000 Ann's Choice Way
Warminster, PA
Afternoon Tea & Dessert at 2PM-Doors open at 1:30PM
Although there is no charge for the meal, reservations are necessary.
Please Call: 1.800.453.7942 to reserve
Day 5
For the past week we've been privileged to share with you one very real, very personal account of how through the power of Jesus Christ at work in someone's life they can have VICTORY rather than defeat.
On September 18, 1910, at the age of only 52, the life of William Raws (the founder) literally burned out for God and for lost men. The Keswick Colony of Mercy is truly a faith work which had its humble beginning in 1897 with $1.87 in capital. The ministry has been God's instrument in reaching multitudes of men from all walks of life and all parts of the country, showing them that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only perfect answer to the need of the addicted individual. Although the Colony has been expanded and improved through the years, there has been no change from the original vision and the faith principle upon which it operates. Men are charged a nominal fee of $150 for their four month stay and the Colony ministry is supported by voluntary contributions.
YOU ARE INVITED!
To join us as we celebrate
The Colony of Mercy...
For 110 years, America's KESWICK has been sharing with men, women, and children the path to Victory through Jesus Christ!
America's KESWICK isn't just about offering hope and victory to those trapped by drugs and alcohol, gambling, or sexual sins; it is for everyone. Freedom and Victorious Christian Living are for all of us.
Special Speaker: Chaplain Jim Freed, Counselor and Operations Manager at the Colony of Mercy.
Special Music: Robert & Joyce Hayes, and men from the Colony of Mercy President's Update: from Bill Welte, President & CEO of America's KESWICK.
*South Jersey Area
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Masso's Crystal Manor
210 South Delsea Drive,
Glassboro, NJ
Banquet at 6:30PM-Doors open at 6PM
*Philadelphia Area
Tuesday, September 13, 2007
Dock Woods Community
275 Dock Drive
Lansdale, PA
Banquet at 6:30PM-Doors open at 6PM
*Lancaster Area
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Lancaster Bible College
901 Eden Road
Lancaster, PA
Luncheon at 12noon-Doors open at 11:30AM Banquet at 6PM- Doors open at 5:30PM
*Whiting Area
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
America's KESWICK, Activity Center
601 Route 530
Whiting, NJ
Banquet at 6:30PM-Doors open at 6PM
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Luncheon at 12noon-Doors open at 11:30AM
*Philadelphia Area
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Ann's Choice
20000 Ann's Choice Way
Warminster, PA
Afternoon Tea & Dessert at 2PM-Doors open at 1:30PM
Although there is no charge for the meal, reservations are necessary.
Please Call: 1.800.453.7942 to reserve
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wanted Dead or Alive (Part 4)
WANTED Dead or Alive Part 4
After all of the Lord's gentle leading Bill knew in his heart God's word was the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! "I knew what HE wanted but I couldn't say it, I didn't want to be gay but I knew I couldn't stop on my own. I was looking out the window at the big wooden cross in front of the Colony building and the Lord spoke to my heart saying; "You need to give it to Me and say it out loud." "Ok Lord, I can't do this so You will need to do it." "HE said; I know Bill just give it all to Me."
Finally...a surrender! There had to be one. One way or another. Our God is an awesome God and He loves and wants us. But there is also another whom we are wanted by. He doesn't love us nor, despite his attempts to deceive us, is he god. He is Satan and would have taken Bill dead or alive, emphasis on dead. Interestingly enough, God wanted Bill dead as well. Dead to himself that is, and raised to walk in the newness of a life in Christ for all eternity. This cowboy can claim a true Victory in Jesus! While Bill is a new creation, he says it is a daily walk with and commitment to the Lord for him. There are still struggles he faces only this time with the Lord. Having continued Victory over his past demands a daily, whole hearted desire and obedience to be transformed and not conformed. He reflects on Ephesians 2: 1-10, (being made alive in Christ.)
Bill graduated the Colony of Mercy, stayed for its discipleship program and was encouraged by Chaplain Jim to work with Harvest Ministries. At the Lord's direction he accepted an internship at our conference center. I've watched him serve our guests with such kindness and sincerity. His southern drawl doesn't hurt either! He enjoys working at Keswick and desires to stay as long as the Lord would have him. His dreams for the future include the hope of studying biblical counseling. He looks forward to what godly relationships will grow out of his new life. Bill is thriving under the Lord's hand and says he never in his life had a peace like he has now. As Jesus said in John 14:27; "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
It is our prayer that the following resources would be a tool for someone who may be seeking help: Know this: there is hope and help waiting for you!
America's KESWICK Colony of Mercy
Addiction Recovery for Men
www.americaskeswick.org
1.800.453.7942 x46
Harvest USA
www.harvestusa.org
215.482.0111
Exodus International
www.exodusinternatonal.org
800.264.0877
Pure Life Ministries
www.purelifeministries.org
800.635.1866
Setting Captives Free
www.settingcaptivesfree.com
330.620.8448
This week's series has been written by Dina based on an interview with Bill Pruitt. Bill has reviewed each day's Victory Call and has graciously approved their inclusion in our Week's devotionals.
After all of the Lord's gentle leading Bill knew in his heart God's word was the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! "I knew what HE wanted but I couldn't say it, I didn't want to be gay but I knew I couldn't stop on my own. I was looking out the window at the big wooden cross in front of the Colony building and the Lord spoke to my heart saying; "You need to give it to Me and say it out loud." "Ok Lord, I can't do this so You will need to do it." "HE said; I know Bill just give it all to Me."
Finally...a surrender! There had to be one. One way or another. Our God is an awesome God and He loves and wants us. But there is also another whom we are wanted by. He doesn't love us nor, despite his attempts to deceive us, is he god. He is Satan and would have taken Bill dead or alive, emphasis on dead. Interestingly enough, God wanted Bill dead as well. Dead to himself that is, and raised to walk in the newness of a life in Christ for all eternity. This cowboy can claim a true Victory in Jesus! While Bill is a new creation, he says it is a daily walk with and commitment to the Lord for him. There are still struggles he faces only this time with the Lord. Having continued Victory over his past demands a daily, whole hearted desire and obedience to be transformed and not conformed. He reflects on Ephesians 2: 1-10, (being made alive in Christ.)
Bill graduated the Colony of Mercy, stayed for its discipleship program and was encouraged by Chaplain Jim to work with Harvest Ministries. At the Lord's direction he accepted an internship at our conference center. I've watched him serve our guests with such kindness and sincerity. His southern drawl doesn't hurt either! He enjoys working at Keswick and desires to stay as long as the Lord would have him. His dreams for the future include the hope of studying biblical counseling. He looks forward to what godly relationships will grow out of his new life. Bill is thriving under the Lord's hand and says he never in his life had a peace like he has now. As Jesus said in John 14:27; "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
It is our prayer that the following resources would be a tool for someone who may be seeking help: Know this: there is hope and help waiting for you!
America's KESWICK Colony of Mercy
Addiction Recovery for Men
www.americaskeswick.org
1.800.453.7942 x46
Harvest USA
www.harvestusa.org
215.482.0111
Exodus International
www.exodusinternatonal.org
800.264.0877
Pure Life Ministries
www.purelifeministries.org
800.635.1866
Setting Captives Free
www.settingcaptivesfree.com
330.620.8448
This week's series has been written by Dina based on an interview with Bill Pruitt. Bill has reviewed each day's Victory Call and has graciously approved their inclusion in our Week's devotionals.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Wanted Dead or Alive (Part 3)
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE Part 3
In February of 2005, he made an impulsive decision to leave his career, sell his home, cash in his retirement and move to Cozumel, Mexico to start a business. He said; "I knew if things didn't get better there I wasn't coming back, I'd just die there." He went to Mexico alone, or so he thought. God protected him through hallucinations and hurricanes. He was in a drug induced state of paranoia and schizophrenia. After the destruction of his home and nearly his life, two men named Gabriel and Michael brought Bill through the jungles of Mexico and back to the U.S. border. He made it back and began again trying to control his addictions on his own. He also began attending another church oriented to the gay lifestyle.
Matthew 7, 21-28; "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
After yet another suicide attempt his mother's church helped him find his way to the Colony of Mercy. Once here, he did not want to discuss his homosexuality, only to be freed from drugs. But God was about to begin a "special education" in Bill's life. He was assigned to Chaplain Jim. And the first order of business that Bill had in mind was to make sure Jim understood that he was here to get clean...of drugs. As far as his homosexuality, that topic was off limits, he told Chaplain Jim that there was NO WAY! that God hadn't created him a gay man. And he wasn't going to listen to anyone who said differently. While he was laying down the law or should I say the lawlessness, Chaplain Jim was silently praying for God to help him minister the truth to Bill. He gave Bill a bible and simply asked him to begin studying it. God directed Chaplain Jim to let the Spirit do His work in Bill, as 2nd Timothy 2:24-26 so instructs; "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to a ll, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." Bill said that had his counselor fought with him or been in his face so to speak, he would have left. Instead he says: "Keswick created an environment where I could study the scriptures myself and my heart could hear the truth of God. It wasn't quarrelsome but gentle and kind instruction that allowed God to lead me to repentance. It was safe, calm, quiet and away from the distractions of the world. I've learned how to have godly friendships with other men of God. There have been some intense conversations and I admire the leadership of the men here. I want people who are hurting like I was, to know there is hope.
to be continued...
This week's series has been written by Dina based on an interview with Bill Pruitt. Bill has reviewed each day's Victory Call and has graciously approved their inclusion in our Week's devotionals.
In February of 2005, he made an impulsive decision to leave his career, sell his home, cash in his retirement and move to Cozumel, Mexico to start a business. He said; "I knew if things didn't get better there I wasn't coming back, I'd just die there." He went to Mexico alone, or so he thought. God protected him through hallucinations and hurricanes. He was in a drug induced state of paranoia and schizophrenia. After the destruction of his home and nearly his life, two men named Gabriel and Michael brought Bill through the jungles of Mexico and back to the U.S. border. He made it back and began again trying to control his addictions on his own. He also began attending another church oriented to the gay lifestyle.
Matthew 7, 21-28; "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
After yet another suicide attempt his mother's church helped him find his way to the Colony of Mercy. Once here, he did not want to discuss his homosexuality, only to be freed from drugs. But God was about to begin a "special education" in Bill's life. He was assigned to Chaplain Jim. And the first order of business that Bill had in mind was to make sure Jim understood that he was here to get clean...of drugs. As far as his homosexuality, that topic was off limits, he told Chaplain Jim that there was NO WAY! that God hadn't created him a gay man. And he wasn't going to listen to anyone who said differently. While he was laying down the law or should I say the lawlessness, Chaplain Jim was silently praying for God to help him minister the truth to Bill. He gave Bill a bible and simply asked him to begin studying it. God directed Chaplain Jim to let the Spirit do His work in Bill, as 2nd Timothy 2:24-26 so instructs; "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to a ll, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." Bill said that had his counselor fought with him or been in his face so to speak, he would have left. Instead he says: "Keswick created an environment where I could study the scriptures myself and my heart could hear the truth of God. It wasn't quarrelsome but gentle and kind instruction that allowed God to lead me to repentance. It was safe, calm, quiet and away from the distractions of the world. I've learned how to have godly friendships with other men of God. There have been some intense conversations and I admire the leadership of the men here. I want people who are hurting like I was, to know there is hope.
to be continued...
This week's series has been written by Dina based on an interview with Bill Pruitt. Bill has reviewed each day's Victory Call and has graciously approved their inclusion in our Week's devotionals.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Wanted Dead or Alive (Part 2)
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE Part 2
The need for some type of spiritual direction led Bill to a large church in Dallas that as he put it; "explained away the bible. They aided me in believing that my lifestyle was okay in the eyes of God and I found comfort in this." Bill shared that they presented strong arguments conforming God's word to justify their sins. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was explained something like this: "the men trying to force themselves on the others were rapes; it was an act of lust, that's not what we are doing. We're people in committed monogamous relationships, families; it's not the same at all." He wound up meeting and entering into a long term relationship with another man at the church in whom he began to idolize. Someone in Bill's situation wanted to hear their version of the truth. If they were wrong then his whole life would be wrong and to Bill that just wasn't an option. Bill knows he was deceived and that so are they. He shared this portion of scripture from 2nd Thessalonians
2 vs. 9-12 "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
While living in Texas he began to build a successful career as well. He and the man he was involved with had many things the world would consider to be "everything." This relationship was to them "beautiful", they traveled together, had cars and a home with all the bells and whistles. He showed me a picture of a room with a piano in it, and when I said; "oh, I didn't know you could play the piano". He replied; "I can't, the piano played itself." Sounds like they had what they thought was a wonderful life. So why did Bill still want to die? He was trying to fill his loneliness with possessions, drugs, sex and people. He felt he had to move fast to stay in front of his thoughts of depression and death. He took medications to help him with the depression and anxiety but to no avail. One night after a party at his home he overdosed on drugs and stopped breathing. After CPR he woke up in great pain and confusion, this was what normal looked like in his life. He spent that Thanksgiving unable to move or talk and being fed by a stranger God put in his path. Everyone else ran in fear of his dying. Yet four days later Bill continued to abuse himself.
to be continued
This week's series has been written by Dina based on an interview with Bill Pruitt. Bill has reviewed each day's Victory Call and has graciously approved their inclusion in our Week's devotionals.
The need for some type of spiritual direction led Bill to a large church in Dallas that as he put it; "explained away the bible. They aided me in believing that my lifestyle was okay in the eyes of God and I found comfort in this." Bill shared that they presented strong arguments conforming God's word to justify their sins. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was explained something like this: "the men trying to force themselves on the others were rapes; it was an act of lust, that's not what we are doing. We're people in committed monogamous relationships, families; it's not the same at all." He wound up meeting and entering into a long term relationship with another man at the church in whom he began to idolize. Someone in Bill's situation wanted to hear their version of the truth. If they were wrong then his whole life would be wrong and to Bill that just wasn't an option. Bill knows he was deceived and that so are they. He shared this portion of scripture from 2nd Thessalonians
2 vs. 9-12 "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
While living in Texas he began to build a successful career as well. He and the man he was involved with had many things the world would consider to be "everything." This relationship was to them "beautiful", they traveled together, had cars and a home with all the bells and whistles. He showed me a picture of a room with a piano in it, and when I said; "oh, I didn't know you could play the piano". He replied; "I can't, the piano played itself." Sounds like they had what they thought was a wonderful life. So why did Bill still want to die? He was trying to fill his loneliness with possessions, drugs, sex and people. He felt he had to move fast to stay in front of his thoughts of depression and death. He took medications to help him with the depression and anxiety but to no avail. One night after a party at his home he overdosed on drugs and stopped breathing. After CPR he woke up in great pain and confusion, this was what normal looked like in his life. He spent that Thanksgiving unable to move or talk and being fed by a stranger God put in his path. Everyone else ran in fear of his dying. Yet four days later Bill continued to abuse himself.
to be continued
This week's series has been written by Dina based on an interview with Bill Pruitt. Bill has reviewed each day's Victory Call and has graciously approved their inclusion in our Week's devotionals.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Wanted Dead or Alive (Part 1)
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE (PART 1)
This week we are sharing the testimony of one of our Colony grads who has recently joined our Keswick staff.
Forty-two years ago in Memphis, Tennessee a baby was born. "Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Pruitt you have a beautiful, gay, baby boy!" Well... that wasn't quite the way it happened. They did have a beautiful baby boy but he wasn't born gay. That was a desire he chose to follow some years later. Recently I had the privilege of interviewing Bill Pruitt, currently a full-time intern here at America's KESWICK.
Bill came to the Colony of Mercy at the urging of his mom and her church. Bill was raised in a Christian home and his mom saw to it that he and his three brothers attended church regularly. His dad was a good provider but worked long hours and wasn't as much a part of Bill's daily life.
At the age of twelve Bill says he was saved by Christ but didn't walk with Him for long. He was longing for intimacy, belonging and love from men. He found himself falling into a homosexual lifestyle early in his teens. Bill made it very clear that he didn't want to be gay; "the only time I felt comfortable in this sin was when I was high or drunk, this allowed me to tune God out of my life." He quickly became addicted to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. While talking with Bill he named more than one substance he abused that I had never even heard of. They were lethal substances and could have killed him, or so he hoped.
Bill was suicidal most of his life. On one hand he had his church and family telling him that his life was all wrong yet the desires inside caused great conflict because he felt that surely a loving God wouldn't have created him this way and given him such strong desires only to deny him the fulfillment of them. Bill couldn't handle living a double life any longer. He fled Memphis in an effort to live his life the way he wanted without opposition. He moved to Dallas and continued living exactly as he had in Tennessee. You would think he'd found it peaceful with no one to tell him how wrong it was or how much better God had intended for him. Only, there is no real peace for anyone unless they first have peace with God. The constant inner turmoil and conflict inside of him continued relentlessly.
At the age of 23 he found himself praying to God that he would allow him to go to sleep and never wake up. I asked Bill what he felt at the time that would have accomplished. Would he then be out of this horrific turmoil and mental torture and find peace? Or was it that final choice he would make to kill himself would be the last thing he'd ever have to decide? Or did he even care? He'd be dead. No one there to say; "this is wrong". I was surprised by his answer, he said; "All I wanted was for the pain to end, I thought it would be a release."
I have to admit that statement alone, more than anything else he said, gave me the shivers.
What a horrible lie he had been living under. There wouldn't have been any release from his bondage...not ever. He said he had never thought of where he would be after he died. The destination of his eternal soul wasn't a real concern to him. He grew up hearing as he put it; "hell, fire and brimstone preaching." But without the love, compassion and mercy that is also God's truth. He said; "people need to hear the truth, but they also desperately need to hear about the hope. Jesus said speak the truth in love."
God answered no to Bill's prayer that night and would not allow him to die. He found himself attending AA meetings and tried to get his addictions under control himself. He was failing. To be continued... (Written by Keswick staff writer, Dina Seaton)
Great quote: If we do anything to further the kingdom of God, we may expect to find what Christ found on that road - abuse, indifference, injustice, misunderstanding, trouble of some kind. Take it. Why not? To that you were called. In Latin America someone who feels sorry for himself is said to look like a donkey in a downpour. If we think of the glorious fact that we are on the same path with Jesus, we might see a rainbow. Elisabeth Elliot
This week we are sharing the testimony of one of our Colony grads who has recently joined our Keswick staff.
Forty-two years ago in Memphis, Tennessee a baby was born. "Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Pruitt you have a beautiful, gay, baby boy!" Well... that wasn't quite the way it happened. They did have a beautiful baby boy but he wasn't born gay. That was a desire he chose to follow some years later. Recently I had the privilege of interviewing Bill Pruitt, currently a full-time intern here at America's KESWICK.
Bill came to the Colony of Mercy at the urging of his mom and her church. Bill was raised in a Christian home and his mom saw to it that he and his three brothers attended church regularly. His dad was a good provider but worked long hours and wasn't as much a part of Bill's daily life.
At the age of twelve Bill says he was saved by Christ but didn't walk with Him for long. He was longing for intimacy, belonging and love from men. He found himself falling into a homosexual lifestyle early in his teens. Bill made it very clear that he didn't want to be gay; "the only time I felt comfortable in this sin was when I was high or drunk, this allowed me to tune God out of my life." He quickly became addicted to drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. While talking with Bill he named more than one substance he abused that I had never even heard of. They were lethal substances and could have killed him, or so he hoped.
Bill was suicidal most of his life. On one hand he had his church and family telling him that his life was all wrong yet the desires inside caused great conflict because he felt that surely a loving God wouldn't have created him this way and given him such strong desires only to deny him the fulfillment of them. Bill couldn't handle living a double life any longer. He fled Memphis in an effort to live his life the way he wanted without opposition. He moved to Dallas and continued living exactly as he had in Tennessee. You would think he'd found it peaceful with no one to tell him how wrong it was or how much better God had intended for him. Only, there is no real peace for anyone unless they first have peace with God. The constant inner turmoil and conflict inside of him continued relentlessly.
At the age of 23 he found himself praying to God that he would allow him to go to sleep and never wake up. I asked Bill what he felt at the time that would have accomplished. Would he then be out of this horrific turmoil and mental torture and find peace? Or was it that final choice he would make to kill himself would be the last thing he'd ever have to decide? Or did he even care? He'd be dead. No one there to say; "this is wrong". I was surprised by his answer, he said; "All I wanted was for the pain to end, I thought it would be a release."
I have to admit that statement alone, more than anything else he said, gave me the shivers.
What a horrible lie he had been living under. There wouldn't have been any release from his bondage...not ever. He said he had never thought of where he would be after he died. The destination of his eternal soul wasn't a real concern to him. He grew up hearing as he put it; "hell, fire and brimstone preaching." But without the love, compassion and mercy that is also God's truth. He said; "people need to hear the truth, but they also desperately need to hear about the hope. Jesus said speak the truth in love."
God answered no to Bill's prayer that night and would not allow him to die. He found himself attending AA meetings and tried to get his addictions under control himself. He was failing. To be continued... (Written by Keswick staff writer, Dina Seaton)
Great quote: If we do anything to further the kingdom of God, we may expect to find what Christ found on that road - abuse, indifference, injustice, misunderstanding, trouble of some kind. Take it. Why not? To that you were called. In Latin America someone who feels sorry for himself is said to look like a donkey in a downpour. If we think of the glorious fact that we are on the same path with Jesus, we might see a rainbow. Elisabeth Elliot
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Daddy's Voice
Daddy's Voice
I have this memory in my soul. It's me as a little girl riding in the backseat of our family station wagon. In this memory I hear the sound of my father's deep voice, singing to the radio. It's one of the few times I can remember being soothed or calmed by the sound of his voice. It's absolute beauty to my ears.
I've been thinking a lot about my parents lately as each one has just had another birthday. Each birthday that comes and goes is like a slap in the face as it reminds me anew that they are getting older, gulp, and so am I. They are no longer young parents and I am no longer a little girl riding in the back of the car listening with eyes shut to my father's voice. It's been at least 2 decades since I heard daddy sing and I miss it. I miss the happiness that was in the midst of his melody.
This is just a glimpse of my thoughts today and I can't help but to think of my Heavenly Father. I know that any longing I have, He, the Lord had first. I feel it because He did and He wants me, you -all of us- to bring our empty, longing hearts to Him for filling. Father longs to fill us to overflowing so that a new song forms within our breast and with new passion and vigor we sing the song of Moses.
"They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
"Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested."~~ Revelation 15:2-4 New King James Version Stephanie
I have this memory in my soul. It's me as a little girl riding in the backseat of our family station wagon. In this memory I hear the sound of my father's deep voice, singing to the radio. It's one of the few times I can remember being soothed or calmed by the sound of his voice. It's absolute beauty to my ears.
I've been thinking a lot about my parents lately as each one has just had another birthday. Each birthday that comes and goes is like a slap in the face as it reminds me anew that they are getting older, gulp, and so am I. They are no longer young parents and I am no longer a little girl riding in the back of the car listening with eyes shut to my father's voice. It's been at least 2 decades since I heard daddy sing and I miss it. I miss the happiness that was in the midst of his melody.
This is just a glimpse of my thoughts today and I can't help but to think of my Heavenly Father. I know that any longing I have, He, the Lord had first. I feel it because He did and He wants me, you -all of us- to bring our empty, longing hearts to Him for filling. Father longs to fill us to overflowing so that a new song forms within our breast and with new passion and vigor we sing the song of Moses.
"They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
"Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested."~~ Revelation 15:2-4 New King James Version Stephanie
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Faith & Rest
Faith and Rest
The deadline was rapidly approaching and I had more to do than time to do it. I was working frantically to complete my course requirements and the stress was building. I was down to the final week. Sunday morning I got up and was preparing to go roller blading before church when my husband asked what I planned to do that day. I replied, "After church I'm going to work on my paper the rest of the day"
As I was roller blading, the Lord began to prompt my heart, "What about a day of rest? What happened to all the things I have taught you?" "But Lord, I have way too much to do to take a whole day off. How would I get everything done?" I countered. "Remember the day of rest is for your benefit, not Mine. I'll give you what you need to get done in one less day" "But Lord, what if I'm wrong and it's not really you prompting me? What if I take the day off and I'm wrong and don't finish?" (When we start statements with "But Lord" we should know something's up).
I didn't make any decision at that moment other than wait until my devotional Bible reading to see if God confirmed it really was coming from Him.
After church I sat down and picked up my reading right where I left off the previous day. Before I completed the first chapter I read: "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, 'The Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.'" Now I was really beginning to believe that God wanted me to have faith, trust Him and rest. I continued reading a few more chapters and just to be sure, I pulled a Gideon, "Lord, would you confirm this again, because I sure don't want to be mistaken." Before I finished chapter 4, I was asleep.
Later, I did some reading in a devotional book, in the few short pages the author referred to Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please God..." Then I remembered during church that morning, three different pastors referred to Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please God..."
I took the day off - off from work, shopping, computer, internet, email, groceries, etc. What did I do instead? What would any grandmother do? I played with my granddaughter, of course. I read, and wrestled with our boxer puppies, I went for a walk. I rested.
It was a refreshing day and it recharged my batteries. I had a fresh new perspective the next day. By the way, I completed my school work also and submitted it on time.
With the pace at which most of us live, we need a day of rest. We NEED a day of rest. It may not be Sunday, but pick one day a week that you can be refreshed in the Lord. It will give you better perspective on the other 6 days.
Diane
The deadline was rapidly approaching and I had more to do than time to do it. I was working frantically to complete my course requirements and the stress was building. I was down to the final week. Sunday morning I got up and was preparing to go roller blading before church when my husband asked what I planned to do that day. I replied, "After church I'm going to work on my paper the rest of the day"
As I was roller blading, the Lord began to prompt my heart, "What about a day of rest? What happened to all the things I have taught you?" "But Lord, I have way too much to do to take a whole day off. How would I get everything done?" I countered. "Remember the day of rest is for your benefit, not Mine. I'll give you what you need to get done in one less day" "But Lord, what if I'm wrong and it's not really you prompting me? What if I take the day off and I'm wrong and don't finish?" (When we start statements with "But Lord" we should know something's up).
I didn't make any decision at that moment other than wait until my devotional Bible reading to see if God confirmed it really was coming from Him.
After church I sat down and picked up my reading right where I left off the previous day. Before I completed the first chapter I read: "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, 'The Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.'" Now I was really beginning to believe that God wanted me to have faith, trust Him and rest. I continued reading a few more chapters and just to be sure, I pulled a Gideon, "Lord, would you confirm this again, because I sure don't want to be mistaken." Before I finished chapter 4, I was asleep.
Later, I did some reading in a devotional book, in the few short pages the author referred to Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please God..." Then I remembered during church that morning, three different pastors referred to Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please God..."
I took the day off - off from work, shopping, computer, internet, email, groceries, etc. What did I do instead? What would any grandmother do? I played with my granddaughter, of course. I read, and wrestled with our boxer puppies, I went for a walk. I rested.
It was a refreshing day and it recharged my batteries. I had a fresh new perspective the next day. By the way, I completed my school work also and submitted it on time.
With the pace at which most of us live, we need a day of rest. We NEED a day of rest. It may not be Sunday, but pick one day a week that you can be refreshed in the Lord. It will give you better perspective on the other 6 days.
Diane
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Living Water
Living Water
Human beings need to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Many of us (including me) don't drink enough water. In the summertime on hot humid days, nothing will satisfy you as a tall glass of cold water.
Many of us are parched and dying of thirst but it isn't a bottle of Poland Spring water that we thirst for. It is our hearts and our souls that are parched and it is only the True and Living Water that will satisfy. Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God."
Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14. Only Jesus will be able to satisfy our spiritual thirst. Yet so many of us are dying of thirst....why when the answer to our thirst is so close?
A human being can't survive without water, it is essential to life. We can't survive without the Living Water that only comes from God. Are you thirsty? Are you parched? Open the Word of God and drink in His Truth, get to know God, pursue God, spend time with God. Not only will your thirst be satisfied but we will be filled to overflowing.
The answer to our thirst is simple...so what is still holding us back? Go and drink "Taste and see the Lord is good..." Psalm 34:8.
Mary Ann
Human beings need to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Many of us (including me) don't drink enough water. In the summertime on hot humid days, nothing will satisfy you as a tall glass of cold water.
Many of us are parched and dying of thirst but it isn't a bottle of Poland Spring water that we thirst for. It is our hearts and our souls that are parched and it is only the True and Living Water that will satisfy. Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God."
Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14. Only Jesus will be able to satisfy our spiritual thirst. Yet so many of us are dying of thirst....why when the answer to our thirst is so close?
A human being can't survive without water, it is essential to life. We can't survive without the Living Water that only comes from God. Are you thirsty? Are you parched? Open the Word of God and drink in His Truth, get to know God, pursue God, spend time with God. Not only will your thirst be satisfied but we will be filled to overflowing.
The answer to our thirst is simple...so what is still holding us back? Go and drink "Taste and see the Lord is good..." Psalm 34:8.
Mary Ann
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
God Himself
God Himself
I was preparing a Higher Ground lesson from AW Tozer's book A 31-Day Experience The Pursuit of God when this quote stopped me in my tracks:
"My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God. 'Tis His to lead me there, not mine, but His-'At any cost, dear Lord, by any road!'" F. Brook (pg. 141).
It caused me to pause and ask myself the question: Is my goal God Himself? If my goal is peace, joy and blessing I am setting my sights on the wrong thing. Are any of those blessings God graciously grants us wrong? Absolutely not but they are benefits of our relationship with Jesus Christ not the purpose for our relationship. If we pursue Christ, we will have peace, we will have joy, we will find blessing. Therefore we love God for Who He is not what He can do for us.
As we broke into small groups that night at Higher Ground we meditated on and discussed this quote. It is challenging to ask where our own heart is. Let me encourage you to consider Brook's thoughts for yourself. Is your goal God Himself?
Diane
I was preparing a Higher Ground lesson from AW Tozer's book A 31-Day Experience The Pursuit of God when this quote stopped me in my tracks:
"My goal is God Himself, not joy, nor peace, Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God. 'Tis His to lead me there, not mine, but His-'At any cost, dear Lord, by any road!'" F. Brook (pg. 141).
It caused me to pause and ask myself the question: Is my goal God Himself? If my goal is peace, joy and blessing I am setting my sights on the wrong thing. Are any of those blessings God graciously grants us wrong? Absolutely not but they are benefits of our relationship with Jesus Christ not the purpose for our relationship. If we pursue Christ, we will have peace, we will have joy, we will find blessing. Therefore we love God for Who He is not what He can do for us.
As we broke into small groups that night at Higher Ground we meditated on and discussed this quote. It is challenging to ask where our own heart is. Let me encourage you to consider Brook's thoughts for yourself. Is your goal God Himself?
Diane
Monday, August 20, 2007
Saved for What?
Saved for What?
More times that I can count I hear statements which can be summed up as follows:
I know God saved me for a reason.
I know God has some purpose, some high calling for all the pain and suffering God's going to use her experience in some major way.
Every time I hear statements like that I feel myself cringing inside. I cringe in part because such statements assume and presume much upon the person and character of God.
I remember well the first time I made a similar statement. My son was still a toddler and in his short life had already experienced so much, some of which had been life threatening. In the midst of it, I remember questioning myself (okay, I admit, I talk to myself...a lot) about why he was going through so much. And then after he would pull through, I'd rejoice inside and think or say, "God must have some great plan for my baby's life. The enemy tried to take him and God said no."
I finally have an answer which satisfies me, soul and spirit.
We, you, me, all of us are here for one reason, and that is conformity to the image of the Son.
Dear sisters, we're all on a journey. Those of us who are born again into the life of Christ are on a journey with Heaven as the final destination. Everything we go through is leading us and guiding us toward being more like Him...if we allow ourselves to be renewed and transformed by His Living Word.
I have received more faith with this revelation, more confidence, and more hope, to believe the truth, THE TRUTH! I am a new creation!!
Dear ones, we haven't been saved to wander in the wilderness wondering why. We don't have to wander or wonder what is His will for us. We can cross the hard and rocky places of our lives, the dry, parched deserts and step into His Word, allowing ourselves to be changed by His Spirit and set free!
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ~~Corinthians 3:17-18 (NIV) Selah Stephanie
More times that I can count I hear statements which can be summed up as follows:
I know God saved me for a reason.
I know God has some purpose, some high calling for all the pain and suffering God's going to use her experience in some major way.
Every time I hear statements like that I feel myself cringing inside. I cringe in part because such statements assume and presume much upon the person and character of God.
I remember well the first time I made a similar statement. My son was still a toddler and in his short life had already experienced so much, some of which had been life threatening. In the midst of it, I remember questioning myself (okay, I admit, I talk to myself...a lot) about why he was going through so much. And then after he would pull through, I'd rejoice inside and think or say, "God must have some great plan for my baby's life. The enemy tried to take him and God said no."
I finally have an answer which satisfies me, soul and spirit.
We, you, me, all of us are here for one reason, and that is conformity to the image of the Son.
Dear sisters, we're all on a journey. Those of us who are born again into the life of Christ are on a journey with Heaven as the final destination. Everything we go through is leading us and guiding us toward being more like Him...if we allow ourselves to be renewed and transformed by His Living Word.
I have received more faith with this revelation, more confidence, and more hope, to believe the truth, THE TRUTH! I am a new creation!!
Dear ones, we haven't been saved to wander in the wilderness wondering why. We don't have to wander or wonder what is His will for us. We can cross the hard and rocky places of our lives, the dry, parched deserts and step into His Word, allowing ourselves to be changed by His Spirit and set free!
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ~~Corinthians 3:17-18 (NIV) Selah Stephanie
Friday, August 17, 2007
Encouragement
Encouragement
Hebrews 10: 24-25 "...Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another..."
Romans 12:6, 8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a [woman's] gift is...encouraging, let [her] encourage."
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
What does it mean to encourage someone?
1 a : to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope b : to attempt to persuade
2 : to spur on
3 : to give help or patronage to
ENCOURAGE means to fill with courage or strength of purpose...suggests the raising of one's confidence. 1
Encouragement is a gift we all need to be giving one another on a regular basis. It doesn't cost us a thing and most times is worth a million bucks. How many times have you lacked the courage to do the very thing you know you must do and someone came along side you, encouraged you and prayed for you? Perhaps you had a season of trials in your life, a time of grief, or a time of discouragement. Then just when you needed it most a sister in Christ called, sent a note or perhaps even showed up on your door step. Or have you ever felt the prompting from the Holy Spirit to do one of those things for someone else? You have an irresistible urge to call or visit or perhaps you woke up at 3 a.m. and God placed someone on your heart. Too many times we brush that off or even say I'll get to that later...but later never comes. Then you find out it was at that very time this friend needed the strength, courage or endurance that comes from God alone.
I don't think any of us wants to miss these opportunities to encourage and bless another because there will be a time when we will need the very same thing and we certainly don't want someone else ignoring the Holy Spirit's promptings!
So...is there someone you can't get off your mind? Start now by praying and then maybe give a call or even stop by. You will be glad you did because you will know that was just what the Holy Spirit was prompting you to do.
MaryAnn
Hebrews 10: 24-25 "...Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another..."
Romans 12:6, 8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a [woman's] gift is...encouraging, let [her] encourage."
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
What does it mean to encourage someone?
1 a : to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope b : to attempt to persuade
2 : to spur on
3 : to give help or patronage to
ENCOURAGE means to fill with courage or strength of purpose...suggests the raising of one's confidence. 1
Encouragement is a gift we all need to be giving one another on a regular basis. It doesn't cost us a thing and most times is worth a million bucks. How many times have you lacked the courage to do the very thing you know you must do and someone came along side you, encouraged you and prayed for you? Perhaps you had a season of trials in your life, a time of grief, or a time of discouragement. Then just when you needed it most a sister in Christ called, sent a note or perhaps even showed up on your door step. Or have you ever felt the prompting from the Holy Spirit to do one of those things for someone else? You have an irresistible urge to call or visit or perhaps you woke up at 3 a.m. and God placed someone on your heart. Too many times we brush that off or even say I'll get to that later...but later never comes. Then you find out it was at that very time this friend needed the strength, courage or endurance that comes from God alone.
I don't think any of us wants to miss these opportunities to encourage and bless another because there will be a time when we will need the very same thing and we certainly don't want someone else ignoring the Holy Spirit's promptings!
So...is there someone you can't get off your mind? Start now by praying and then maybe give a call or even stop by. You will be glad you did because you will know that was just what the Holy Spirit was prompting you to do.
MaryAnn
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Too Wonderful For Me ...
Too Wonderful for me...
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:6
I have been involved in many conversations with people about the Biblical doctrine of Election, Predestination, God's Sovereignty, damnation of the lost, why God created Satan, etc. You know the questions none of us have the definitive answers to. Then there are the questions innocent minds of children ask like, "Who made God?" "When was God born?" and "How big is God?" There are definitely questions we do not have the answers for, nor were we meant to.
There was a time when not being able to grasp a truth about God, such as His eternality, I would get overwhelmed and anxious. Now, I find comfort in knowing that God is beyond my ability to comprehend. If I could comprehend God, He would be no greater than me. Scary thought.
God is knowable. God is not comprehendible.
"The best and safest way to deal with these truths is to raise our eyes to God and in deepest reverence say, "O Lord, Thou knowest." These things belong to the deep and mysterious Profound of God's omniscience."1
Sometimes the answer is : I don't know. Although it doesn't make sense to us, it makes sense to God.
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29
Diane
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:6
I have been involved in many conversations with people about the Biblical doctrine of Election, Predestination, God's Sovereignty, damnation of the lost, why God created Satan, etc. You know the questions none of us have the definitive answers to. Then there are the questions innocent minds of children ask like, "Who made God?" "When was God born?" and "How big is God?" There are definitely questions we do not have the answers for, nor were we meant to.
There was a time when not being able to grasp a truth about God, such as His eternality, I would get overwhelmed and anxious. Now, I find comfort in knowing that God is beyond my ability to comprehend. If I could comprehend God, He would be no greater than me. Scary thought.
God is knowable. God is not comprehendible.
"The best and safest way to deal with these truths is to raise our eyes to God and in deepest reverence say, "O Lord, Thou knowest." These things belong to the deep and mysterious Profound of God's omniscience."1
Sometimes the answer is : I don't know. Although it doesn't make sense to us, it makes sense to God.
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29
Diane
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Under the Doggie Pile
Under The "Doggie Pile"
When my children were small and we found my husband lying on the floor I would yell out- Doggie pile on Daddy! One by one we would fall down on top of him and have a good laugh as he would pretend to be unable to breathe and gasp as we leaned on him even harder! This past week I had come to my mind a picture of myself under the doggie pile. I found myself saying I can't breathe as the trials had jumped on me one by one. It seems to happen to me this way- life goes well for a period of time and then some voice I didn't hear yelled "Doggie pile on Kathy!" But this isn't a game. This is life and this is the hurts of life ganging up on me.
The last time I found myself under the doggie pile I crawled out and headed straight for the pit of depression. For a brief period of time I came from my pit to attend the Higher Ground Bible Study on Monday nights. At that time the study was Believing God by Beth Moore. Although I was unable to finish the series with the group I was able to finish on my own. I began to have enough tools to get the rest of the way out of the pit. Now as I peer from under the doggie pile again I am straining to breathe. For about 24 hours I was unable to cry and unable to pray. But now I am reaching for my tools not crawling to the pit. From under the doggie pile I reach for:
1. God. Even if for 24 hours or less I was unable to pray I knew that Jesus was at the right hand of God interceding on my behalf. (Romans 8:34) I reached for truth even if I could say nothing at the moment.
2. Sisters in Christ. Knowing that Satan loves to isolate us I refused to allow myself to be alone for too long. I called on my sisters in Christ to listen and to pray. I asked for help and allowed myself to be transparent. I showed up on the doorstep of a friend uninvited and unannounced. At that point my numbness and shock fell from me and I was able to finally cry. The following day God even brought my sisters to me- they were on my list to contact for prayer- but with godly wisdom on their lips they came to me! God is good!
3. The Word. I didn't run to open my Bible but rather the Holy Spirit brought scripture from my toolbox to me. I awoke this morning hearing "you are struck down but not destroyed". The full verse from 2 Corinthians.4:8-9 reads : "We are afflicted in everyway, but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing; persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed.
From under my doggie pile I remember the Five Statement Pledge from Believing God:
God is who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do.
I am who God says I am.
I can do all things through Christ.
God's Word is alive and active in me.
I'M BELIEVING GOD!
I hope that if you reached from under your doggie pile to read this today that you will continue to reach for God, for His truth in your situation and for a trusted Sister in Christ.
It has helped me to start to breathe again!
Kathy
When my children were small and we found my husband lying on the floor I would yell out- Doggie pile on Daddy! One by one we would fall down on top of him and have a good laugh as he would pretend to be unable to breathe and gasp as we leaned on him even harder! This past week I had come to my mind a picture of myself under the doggie pile. I found myself saying I can't breathe as the trials had jumped on me one by one. It seems to happen to me this way- life goes well for a period of time and then some voice I didn't hear yelled "Doggie pile on Kathy!" But this isn't a game. This is life and this is the hurts of life ganging up on me.
The last time I found myself under the doggie pile I crawled out and headed straight for the pit of depression. For a brief period of time I came from my pit to attend the Higher Ground Bible Study on Monday nights. At that time the study was Believing God by Beth Moore. Although I was unable to finish the series with the group I was able to finish on my own. I began to have enough tools to get the rest of the way out of the pit. Now as I peer from under the doggie pile again I am straining to breathe. For about 24 hours I was unable to cry and unable to pray. But now I am reaching for my tools not crawling to the pit. From under the doggie pile I reach for:
1. God. Even if for 24 hours or less I was unable to pray I knew that Jesus was at the right hand of God interceding on my behalf. (Romans 8:34) I reached for truth even if I could say nothing at the moment.
2. Sisters in Christ. Knowing that Satan loves to isolate us I refused to allow myself to be alone for too long. I called on my sisters in Christ to listen and to pray. I asked for help and allowed myself to be transparent. I showed up on the doorstep of a friend uninvited and unannounced. At that point my numbness and shock fell from me and I was able to finally cry. The following day God even brought my sisters to me- they were on my list to contact for prayer- but with godly wisdom on their lips they came to me! God is good!
3. The Word. I didn't run to open my Bible but rather the Holy Spirit brought scripture from my toolbox to me. I awoke this morning hearing "you are struck down but not destroyed". The full verse from 2 Corinthians.4:8-9 reads : "We are afflicted in everyway, but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing; persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed.
From under my doggie pile I remember the Five Statement Pledge from Believing God:
God is who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do.
I am who God says I am.
I can do all things through Christ.
God's Word is alive and active in me.
I'M BELIEVING GOD!
I hope that if you reached from under your doggie pile to read this today that you will continue to reach for God, for His truth in your situation and for a trusted Sister in Christ.
It has helped me to start to breathe again!
Kathy
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Love Without Stopping
Love Without Stopping
"Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping." ~~1 Corinthians 16:12-14 The Message
It's the last part of that verse which caused me to pause, really pause and ponder. I had to stop and ask myself the question "has my love stopped?" Most of us would probably say we never ever stop loving those we say we love...at least we wouldn't say it out loud.
Come on, get real honest with me, all of us have times when we don't feel loving, lovely or loved for that matter. We get tired of the same old, same old, and in our fatigue we don't give it all we've got; we don't resolve to set our faces like flint and love whether we feel like it or not.
Life has or will have difficult relational moments for all of us. It's in those times, the times when we close our eyes and loosen our hold on our convictions ~the things that God wants to matter most to us~ that our love can stop. Why... because, by our lonesome selves love is not possible. We forget to keep the main thing, the main thing.
Let's all of us, pause today and confess our lack of resolve and our sin if necessary and let Love Himself fill us with His Perfect Love. And then whether we feel it or not, let's reopen our eyes, and giving it our all, love without stopping.
Stephanie
"Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping." ~~1 Corinthians 16:12-14 The Message
It's the last part of that verse which caused me to pause, really pause and ponder. I had to stop and ask myself the question "has my love stopped?" Most of us would probably say we never ever stop loving those we say we love...at least we wouldn't say it out loud.
Come on, get real honest with me, all of us have times when we don't feel loving, lovely or loved for that matter. We get tired of the same old, same old, and in our fatigue we don't give it all we've got; we don't resolve to set our faces like flint and love whether we feel like it or not.
Life has or will have difficult relational moments for all of us. It's in those times, the times when we close our eyes and loosen our hold on our convictions ~the things that God wants to matter most to us~ that our love can stop. Why... because, by our lonesome selves love is not possible. We forget to keep the main thing, the main thing.
Let's all of us, pause today and confess our lack of resolve and our sin if necessary and let Love Himself fill us with His Perfect Love. And then whether we feel it or not, let's reopen our eyes, and giving it our all, love without stopping.
Stephanie
Monday, August 13, 2007
You Can't Take It With You
You can't take it with you
I have heard the saying many times "You never see a U-Haul behind a hearse." When we leave this world we can't take any of our possessions with us. It all gets left behind. I'm sure that most of you have heard that too. However this week at our staff chapel Christian author and conference speaker Marilyn Heavilin put a new twist to it that just about took my breath away. She said there is only one thing we can take with us and that is the hearts that we bring to the knowledge of saving grace through Jesus. Isn't that the best treasure we can possibly think of to take along to heaven?
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
Some times I get too wrapped up in my treasures on earth. When the Lord calls me home I'll have left a big pile of "stuff" that someone will have to get rid of. Shouldn't I be more concerned about my Buddhist neighbor or the kids playing down the street? As I pursue God, the more and more my heart will be aligning itself with what is important to God. And I don't think God cares or even gives a thought to my teapot collection....accept if it begins to take my eyes off of Him.
Treasures....many different things to many different people. We spend so much time searching for that "perfect teapot or teacup" (or what ever treasures you look for) and I may spend a good sum of money on it. But of what eternal value is it? What if I put that much effort into the lives of others? What a treasure it will be when the Lord calls me home and because of the love of Christ I have shown to another, or the Truth of the Gospel I shared with someone, we will be in heaven praising God for eternity together...now that truly is treasure!
MaryAnn
I have heard the saying many times "You never see a U-Haul behind a hearse." When we leave this world we can't take any of our possessions with us. It all gets left behind. I'm sure that most of you have heard that too. However this week at our staff chapel Christian author and conference speaker Marilyn Heavilin put a new twist to it that just about took my breath away. She said there is only one thing we can take with us and that is the hearts that we bring to the knowledge of saving grace through Jesus. Isn't that the best treasure we can possibly think of to take along to heaven?
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
Some times I get too wrapped up in my treasures on earth. When the Lord calls me home I'll have left a big pile of "stuff" that someone will have to get rid of. Shouldn't I be more concerned about my Buddhist neighbor or the kids playing down the street? As I pursue God, the more and more my heart will be aligning itself with what is important to God. And I don't think God cares or even gives a thought to my teapot collection....accept if it begins to take my eyes off of Him.
Treasures....many different things to many different people. We spend so much time searching for that "perfect teapot or teacup" (or what ever treasures you look for) and I may spend a good sum of money on it. But of what eternal value is it? What if I put that much effort into the lives of others? What a treasure it will be when the Lord calls me home and because of the love of Christ I have shown to another, or the Truth of the Gospel I shared with someone, we will be in heaven praising God for eternity together...now that truly is treasure!
MaryAnn
Friday, August 10, 2007
Entering the Holy of Holies -- Part 5
"Entering the "Holy of Holies" - the "Most Holy Place"' - Part 5 "Why is my life such a battle?" I used to ask myself. Things seemed to always be a struggle and not going "right" by my standards, and people just were not doing things my way. Then I realized that this life is a battle -a spiritual battle. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, describes this and how to be prepared for the battle. I am in a daily warfare because if the idols of my heart - the things that Satan wants to keep me bound with, that center around me (self-sins). The things I have done, the accomplishments I have achieved, that I am able to do this and that, are what is important to me for significance and recognition. But then my focus is not on God, and the battle will continue. Amy Carmichael says in "Edges of His Ways", "It is not the place where we are, or the work that we do or cannot do that matters, it is something else. It is the fire within that burns and shines, whatever be our circumstances." That fire is the Spirit of God as was present in the Holy of Holies and now indwells us as believers.
When the "old self" dies, we experience the resurrection to a new life of the glory and power of Christ in us. The pain of the cross is forgotten for the veil is removed and we can live in the spiritual presence of God. When the veil of self is removed from our hearts, the pretense is gone, that also removes the veil from our face and our countenance is changed. See 2 Corinthians 3:18. We won't have to pretend; we will have the real reflection of the glory of God through His Spirit dwelling in us.
Our part is to stay focused on Christ and not allow self-focus to veil our hearts and cause separation from the intimacy with God that He desires to have with us. Have you trusted Christ as Savior? Have you entered the Holy or Holies? Renounced those self-hyphenated sins that keep you just outside?
May our Prayer be: "Lord, how excellent are Thy ways, and how devious and dark are the ways of man. Show us how to die, that we may rise again to newness of life. Rend the veil of our self-life from the top down as Thou didst rend the veil of the temple. We would draw near in full assurance of faith. We would dwell with Thee in daily experience here on this earth so that we may be accustomed to the glory when we enter Thy heaven to dwell with Thee there. In Jesus' name." Amen. ---Quoted from The Pursuit of God, Tozer/Draper, 1995, p. 64)
djm
When the "old self" dies, we experience the resurrection to a new life of the glory and power of Christ in us. The pain of the cross is forgotten for the veil is removed and we can live in the spiritual presence of God. When the veil of self is removed from our hearts, the pretense is gone, that also removes the veil from our face and our countenance is changed. See 2 Corinthians 3:18. We won't have to pretend; we will have the real reflection of the glory of God through His Spirit dwelling in us.
Our part is to stay focused on Christ and not allow self-focus to veil our hearts and cause separation from the intimacy with God that He desires to have with us. Have you trusted Christ as Savior? Have you entered the Holy or Holies? Renounced those self-hyphenated sins that keep you just outside?
May our Prayer be: "Lord, how excellent are Thy ways, and how devious and dark are the ways of man. Show us how to die, that we may rise again to newness of life. Rend the veil of our self-life from the top down as Thou didst rend the veil of the temple. We would draw near in full assurance of faith. We would dwell with Thee in daily experience here on this earth so that we may be accustomed to the glory when we enter Thy heaven to dwell with Thee there. In Jesus' name." Amen. ---Quoted from The Pursuit of God, Tozer/Draper, 1995, p. 64)
djm
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Entering the Holy of Holies -- Part 4
"Entering the "Holy of Holies" - the "Most Holy Place"' - Part 4 I believe that this lesson is crucial for us to move ahead in our "Pursuit of God".
Perhaps you are thinking, 'Why would God want us to experience the pain of the cross and death to self?' Why did He allow the pain of the cross and the death of His Son? Both have the same answer - to provide for our intimate relationship with Himself.
What is there about "death" that is concerning for us? The unknown, the uncertainty of what the experience will be like? When we know Christ we can believe that the experience of death will bring a different and much better life, whether it be the "death" to self or physical death. God is trustworthy - His promises are sure, true, and faithful. He has our best interest in His plans for us and only allows what will best produce the result He desires for each of us -- to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. (Romans 8: 28, 29) Now we come to what I've called "Our Part".
Our part is to yield and trust God and insist that the work be done. We must confess and forsake the self-life and reckon it crucified, not just accept the doctrine of self-crucifixion. The cross is rough and deadly, but it is effective.
Do we have the courage to let go of those hidden "self-hyphenated" sins? And be truly freed from the inner struggles and battles in our daily lives? Jean Nicholas Grou writes, "When in His mercy God leads a soul in the higher paths of sanctification, He begins by stripping it of all self-confidence, and to this end He allows our own schemes to fail, our judgment to mislead us. We grope and totter and make countless mistakes until we learn to mistrust ourselves and to put all our confidence in Him."(The Pursuit of God, Tozer/Draper, 1995,p. 60)
djm
Perhaps you are thinking, 'Why would God want us to experience the pain of the cross and death to self?' Why did He allow the pain of the cross and the death of His Son? Both have the same answer - to provide for our intimate relationship with Himself.
What is there about "death" that is concerning for us? The unknown, the uncertainty of what the experience will be like? When we know Christ we can believe that the experience of death will bring a different and much better life, whether it be the "death" to self or physical death. God is trustworthy - His promises are sure, true, and faithful. He has our best interest in His plans for us and only allows what will best produce the result He desires for each of us -- to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. (Romans 8: 28, 29) Now we come to what I've called "Our Part".
Our part is to yield and trust God and insist that the work be done. We must confess and forsake the self-life and reckon it crucified, not just accept the doctrine of self-crucifixion. The cross is rough and deadly, but it is effective.
Do we have the courage to let go of those hidden "self-hyphenated" sins? And be truly freed from the inner struggles and battles in our daily lives? Jean Nicholas Grou writes, "When in His mercy God leads a soul in the higher paths of sanctification, He begins by stripping it of all self-confidence, and to this end He allows our own schemes to fail, our judgment to mislead us. We grope and totter and make countless mistakes until we learn to mistrust ourselves and to put all our confidence in Him."(The Pursuit of God, Tozer/Draper, 1995,p. 60)
djm
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Entering the Holy of Holies -- Part 3
"Entering the "Holy of Holies" - the "Most Holy Place"' - Part 3 Tozer states, "It is the veil of our fleshly, fallen nature living on, unjudged within us, uncrucified and unrepudiated...the close-woven veil of the self-life which we have never truly acknowledged, of which we have been secretly ashamed and which for these reasons we have never brought to the judgment of the cross." This veil is woven of the threads of the self-life - the self-hyphenated sins that are just so much a part of who we are - subtle and powerful - the human sinful spirit in each of us. Not necessarily what we do, but who we are - woven into our personality, our very nature.
The "self-sins" of self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, self- gratification, etc. They've been with us so long that we don't even notice them; they dwell so deep within that we aren't even aware of them until God focuses His light upon them and reveals them to us. Tozer says in Man: the Dwelling Place of God, "Self is one of the toughest plants that grows in the garden of life. It is in fact, indestructible by any human means. Just when we are sure it is dead, it turns up somewhere as robust as ever to trouble our peace and poison the fruit of our lives."
The second thing I found in this reading, I am calling 'God's Part'.
Self is like an opaque veil that hides God's face from us. We want instruction to know what to do, but the veil must be removed by the work of God - it is a spiritual experience. We must bring our "self-sins" to the cross for judgment. God will do the work, if we want it done. He must do everything for us before we are free. Isaiah 26: 12 says, "LORD, You will establish peace for us, for You have done all our works in us." I remember one time many years ago praying that God would remove the sham from my life - everything false - little did I know that for the sham to be removed I needed to be prepared to be purged. We need to know that it will be worth it. It can be and will be painful. There is nothing pretty about the cross. The cross is an instrument of death, and is rough, but effective. "Hinds Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard is a book that I read many years ago about the experience of surrendering those self-sins. I would recommend it to you for reading.
More recently I experienced looking in the mirror one day and just saying to the Lord, through my tears, "You just want to squeeze all of me out of me, don't You? But to fill me with Yourself." May it be so.
djm
The "self-sins" of self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, self- gratification, etc. They've been with us so long that we don't even notice them; they dwell so deep within that we aren't even aware of them until God focuses His light upon them and reveals them to us. Tozer says in Man: the Dwelling Place of God, "Self is one of the toughest plants that grows in the garden of life. It is in fact, indestructible by any human means. Just when we are sure it is dead, it turns up somewhere as robust as ever to trouble our peace and poison the fruit of our lives."
The second thing I found in this reading, I am calling 'God's Part'.
Self is like an opaque veil that hides God's face from us. We want instruction to know what to do, but the veil must be removed by the work of God - it is a spiritual experience. We must bring our "self-sins" to the cross for judgment. God will do the work, if we want it done. He must do everything for us before we are free. Isaiah 26: 12 says, "LORD, You will establish peace for us, for You have done all our works in us." I remember one time many years ago praying that God would remove the sham from my life - everything false - little did I know that for the sham to be removed I needed to be prepared to be purged. We need to know that it will be worth it. It can be and will be painful. There is nothing pretty about the cross. The cross is an instrument of death, and is rough, but effective. "Hinds Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard is a book that I read many years ago about the experience of surrendering those self-sins. I would recommend it to you for reading.
More recently I experienced looking in the mirror one day and just saying to the Lord, through my tears, "You just want to squeeze all of me out of me, don't You? But to fill me with Yourself." May it be so.
djm
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Entering the Holy of Holies - Part 2
"Entering the "Holy of Holies" - the "Most Holy Place"' - Part 2 When Christ declared from the cross, "It is finished" (Matthew 27:51) the veil (or curtain) of the temple that divided the "Holy Place" and the "Holy of Holies" was torn or "rend" from top to bottom opening the way for all to come into God's "Holy of Holies", His presence through Jesus Christ. God desires a personal relationship and intimate fellowship with each one of us.
Read Hebrews 10: 19 - 22 - The shedding of Christ's blood brought "the Way" for that relationship - the tearing of His flesh provided the tearing of the veil (curtain) which kept us from the opportunity to actually come into God's presence with boldness (v. 19) and have the intimacy with God that He desires. What is this saying to us? To you personally today?
So with nothing preventing our entering into to this personal relationship - - -Why do we stay in the outer courts and not enter into the "Holy of Holies", "the Most Holy Place" of God's Presence in our relationship with Him? What makes us unwilling to enter into His presence to live in victory, but instead just remain right where we are, just in the Holy Place, but not entering into the holiness of seeking His face - never experiencing the awesomeness of His presence daily - moment by moment - in our lives? We have trusted in Christ as Savior, but still are missing the peace of His Presence and Sovereignty.
In reading ThePursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, I see there are three things needed to begin and pursue this journey of entering and experiencing the awesomeness of God's Presence...
First, I need to have the desire to enter into His Presence. Tozer writes, "Ransomed men (women) need no longer pause in fear to enter the Holy of Holies. God wills that we should push on into His presence and live our whole life there." This is a conscious experience, a spiritual experience to enter the Presence of God. The greatest fact about the tabernacle or temple was that Jehovah was there. "Jehovah-shammah" means the God who is here.
To go beyond the veil "can never come from mere doctrinal knowledge of God" Tozer says, but "to penetrate, to push in sensitive living experience into the holy Presence, is a privilege open to the child of God." So why do we hold back and not enter into this intimacy with God? What hinders us?
Tozer calls it, "the veil in our hearts". This has not been taken away as the veil of the temple was, but remains "hiding the face of God from us".
djm
Read Hebrews 10: 19 - 22 - The shedding of Christ's blood brought "the Way" for that relationship - the tearing of His flesh provided the tearing of the veil (curtain) which kept us from the opportunity to actually come into God's presence with boldness (v. 19) and have the intimacy with God that He desires. What is this saying to us? To you personally today?
So with nothing preventing our entering into to this personal relationship - - -Why do we stay in the outer courts and not enter into the "Holy of Holies", "the Most Holy Place" of God's Presence in our relationship with Him? What makes us unwilling to enter into His presence to live in victory, but instead just remain right where we are, just in the Holy Place, but not entering into the holiness of seeking His face - never experiencing the awesomeness of His presence daily - moment by moment - in our lives? We have trusted in Christ as Savior, but still are missing the peace of His Presence and Sovereignty.
In reading ThePursuit of God by A.W. Tozer, I see there are three things needed to begin and pursue this journey of entering and experiencing the awesomeness of God's Presence...
First, I need to have the desire to enter into His Presence. Tozer writes, "Ransomed men (women) need no longer pause in fear to enter the Holy of Holies. God wills that we should push on into His presence and live our whole life there." This is a conscious experience, a spiritual experience to enter the Presence of God. The greatest fact about the tabernacle or temple was that Jehovah was there. "Jehovah-shammah" means the God who is here.
To go beyond the veil "can never come from mere doctrinal knowledge of God" Tozer says, but "to penetrate, to push in sensitive living experience into the holy Presence, is a privilege open to the child of God." So why do we hold back and not enter into this intimacy with God? What hinders us?
Tozer calls it, "the veil in our hearts". This has not been taken away as the veil of the temple was, but remains "hiding the face of God from us".
djm
Monday, August 06, 2007
Entering the Holy of Holies
"Entering the "Holy of Holies" - the "Most Holy Place"' - Part 1
How do we get there from where we are? How do I get there from where I am spiritually at present?
By way of introduction, let's look at a little background information in order to better understand where we are seeking to get to and why? What is the "Holy of Holies" or the "Most Holy Place"? Reading through Hebrews 9:1 - 14, we are given a description of the way that the Tabernacle and the Temple were set up and looked on the inside. In verses 1, 2, we are told that the first room was called the Holy Place were there was "the lampstand, the table, and the table with showbread". This is where the people came to worship the LORD. Read v. 3 - 5 - At the front of the Holy Place was a curtain or veil which divided these two parts of the Tabernacle/Temple. This was a heavy woven fabric of "blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with a design of cherubim worked into it." (Exodus 26:31) Behind this veil was the "Holy of Holies" or "the Most Holy Place" where God's Presence dwelt. His Presence was a fire (flame) between the cherubim that where atop the Ark of the Covenant. God's Presence was waiting within or behind the veil. Jehovah-shammah - "The God who is here".
But we see in v. 6 & 7, that only the High Priest could enter into the "Holy of Holies" and only once a year with blood to make atonement for himself and the sins of the people committed in ignorance which had not been confessed and atoned for previously. First he purified himself by a sacrifice for his sins, then went into the Holies of Holies and sprinkled the blood on the Ark of the Covenant. The people tied a rope around him so that he could be pulled back out in case he had not confessed all and was struck dead. Today the Jewish people celebrate a Day of Atonement, "Yom Kippur", once a year for the forgiveness of sins. Verse 8 - 12, tell us that this Old Testament practice was "a symbol for the present time", but that "the Messiah" - Christ, our High Priest, has come that He "once for all...by His own blood...obtained eternal redemption". On the cross, Christ said, "It is finished."
In verse 22, we read, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
Continuing reading the rest of the chapter, v. 23 - 28, on your own.
djm
How do we get there from where we are? How do I get there from where I am spiritually at present?
By way of introduction, let's look at a little background information in order to better understand where we are seeking to get to and why? What is the "Holy of Holies" or the "Most Holy Place"? Reading through Hebrews 9:1 - 14, we are given a description of the way that the Tabernacle and the Temple were set up and looked on the inside. In verses 1, 2, we are told that the first room was called the Holy Place were there was "the lampstand, the table, and the table with showbread". This is where the people came to worship the LORD. Read v. 3 - 5 - At the front of the Holy Place was a curtain or veil which divided these two parts of the Tabernacle/Temple. This was a heavy woven fabric of "blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with a design of cherubim worked into it." (Exodus 26:31) Behind this veil was the "Holy of Holies" or "the Most Holy Place" where God's Presence dwelt. His Presence was a fire (flame) between the cherubim that where atop the Ark of the Covenant. God's Presence was waiting within or behind the veil. Jehovah-shammah - "The God who is here".
But we see in v. 6 & 7, that only the High Priest could enter into the "Holy of Holies" and only once a year with blood to make atonement for himself and the sins of the people committed in ignorance which had not been confessed and atoned for previously. First he purified himself by a sacrifice for his sins, then went into the Holies of Holies and sprinkled the blood on the Ark of the Covenant. The people tied a rope around him so that he could be pulled back out in case he had not confessed all and was struck dead. Today the Jewish people celebrate a Day of Atonement, "Yom Kippur", once a year for the forgiveness of sins. Verse 8 - 12, tell us that this Old Testament practice was "a symbol for the present time", but that "the Messiah" - Christ, our High Priest, has come that He "once for all...by His own blood...obtained eternal redemption". On the cross, Christ said, "It is finished."
In verse 22, we read, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
Continuing reading the rest of the chapter, v. 23 - 28, on your own.
djm
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Okay Lord, He's Yours
Okay Lord he's yours
Higher Ground is a Monday night support group/Bible study here at America's Keswick. We recently began a new study of the book "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer. WOW...this book has really made me stop, think and examine my heart...Am I truly pursuing God with all my heart, soul and mind? Sadly and shamefully, I have to admit the answer is no....but oh how I want too!
In so many ways, and from so many different directions I have been hearing God asking me "How much do you love Me? Will you still love Me, will I still be sufficient, will you still be obedient, if I take_________ from your life? Or if ____never happens? If My answer to your prayer is no?"
One of the things that stands in my way is...things...and not just material things but people. Although it's natural to cling to those we love, to cling to our earthly treasures...Tozer calls this evil! Most of us would say that our families, especially our children are our treasures. So is this a bad thing? Is it evil? Doesn't God want us to love our husbands, children, parents? And of course the answer is yes we are to love our families, care for them, provide for them but in our very sin nature we have a propensity to take the very thing that is good an elevate it to an idol level. Any time our lives depend on anything other than God...we are in trouble. Everything I am, everything I "possess" is from God.
Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lords and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."
Psalm 50:12b "The world is mine and everything in it."
Ecclesiastes 5:19 "When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God."
I've taken some of my gifts and put them in first place position instead of having God first place in my life in all things. And so God has been placing these questions on my heart. One thing that keeps coming up in my heart is my oldest son John. God and I wrestled recently, it wasn't pretty. I wept, I tried to hold on, I tried to plead but God won. Oh it was and is so painful. John isn't saved and it breaks my heart...I had to put his name in those blanks and cry out to God YES YOU ARE SUFICIENT. YOU ARE MY ALL AND ALL.
"Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed." A. W. Tozer. John has never been safer because he is in God's hands. I know God loves him more and desires more for him then his Mom.
Dear Lord, continue to root out of my heart anything that's stands between putting you first place. I'm afraid Lord, give me your courage. Amen.
MaryAnn
Higher Ground is a Monday night support group/Bible study here at America's Keswick. We recently began a new study of the book "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer. WOW...this book has really made me stop, think and examine my heart...Am I truly pursuing God with all my heart, soul and mind? Sadly and shamefully, I have to admit the answer is no....but oh how I want too!
In so many ways, and from so many different directions I have been hearing God asking me "How much do you love Me? Will you still love Me, will I still be sufficient, will you still be obedient, if I take_________ from your life? Or if ____never happens? If My answer to your prayer is no?"
One of the things that stands in my way is...things...and not just material things but people. Although it's natural to cling to those we love, to cling to our earthly treasures...Tozer calls this evil! Most of us would say that our families, especially our children are our treasures. So is this a bad thing? Is it evil? Doesn't God want us to love our husbands, children, parents? And of course the answer is yes we are to love our families, care for them, provide for them but in our very sin nature we have a propensity to take the very thing that is good an elevate it to an idol level. Any time our lives depend on anything other than God...we are in trouble. Everything I am, everything I "possess" is from God.
Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lords and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."
Psalm 50:12b "The world is mine and everything in it."
Ecclesiastes 5:19 "When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God."
I've taken some of my gifts and put them in first place position instead of having God first place in my life in all things. And so God has been placing these questions on my heart. One thing that keeps coming up in my heart is my oldest son John. God and I wrestled recently, it wasn't pretty. I wept, I tried to hold on, I tried to plead but God won. Oh it was and is so painful. John isn't saved and it breaks my heart...I had to put his name in those blanks and cry out to God YES YOU ARE SUFICIENT. YOU ARE MY ALL AND ALL.
"Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed." A. W. Tozer. John has never been safer because he is in God's hands. I know God loves him more and desires more for him then his Mom.
Dear Lord, continue to root out of my heart anything that's stands between putting you first place. I'm afraid Lord, give me your courage. Amen.
MaryAnn
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
All My Ducks In A Row
All My Ducks In A Row
Isn't it great when you have a rare day when all your ducks are in a row? They are few and far between but it's wonderful when it happens! Sometimes when we pray we want all our ducks to line up in a row so we "know" God is working and He is showing the way. But I would like to warn you because sometimes when it all seems to be coming together we need to be careful. As you and I pray and watch we must be in the Word constantly! It is easy for our circumstances to seemingly point us in a certain direction.
King David found himself in a situation where it all lined up. 1 Samuel 24:1-5 tells us how David's ducks all lined up in a row. First, David happened to be hiding from Saul in a cave. Secondly, the cave that Saul found to "attend to his needs" in happens to be the one where David and his men are. Thirdly, David was advised by his men to take Saul's life. He was so close that David even cut a piece from Saul's robe! Doesn't it all line up so well? It would seem that this would be the hand of God moving so David could finally be rid of Saul. But David didn't see it that way! Verse 6 gives David's response to his circumstances -"The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed." To David it must have looked like everything was lining up for him to kill Saul. All the ducks were in a row. But he knew it was against what God would have him do. David knew the principles of God's word and that is what he counted on rather then his circumstances lining up.
God may very well be lining up all your ducks in a row but if your final decision in a matter is only determined by your circumstances be very careful that you do not sin against God. You and I need to go beyond our circumstances and clearly look into the Bible and see if there is a godly principle that we do not want to violate. God is patient as we seek Him. Take the time to see if your circumstances line up with the Word of God!
"Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) Kathy
Isn't it great when you have a rare day when all your ducks are in a row? They are few and far between but it's wonderful when it happens! Sometimes when we pray we want all our ducks to line up in a row so we "know" God is working and He is showing the way. But I would like to warn you because sometimes when it all seems to be coming together we need to be careful. As you and I pray and watch we must be in the Word constantly! It is easy for our circumstances to seemingly point us in a certain direction.
King David found himself in a situation where it all lined up. 1 Samuel 24:1-5 tells us how David's ducks all lined up in a row. First, David happened to be hiding from Saul in a cave. Secondly, the cave that Saul found to "attend to his needs" in happens to be the one where David and his men are. Thirdly, David was advised by his men to take Saul's life. He was so close that David even cut a piece from Saul's robe! Doesn't it all line up so well? It would seem that this would be the hand of God moving so David could finally be rid of Saul. But David didn't see it that way! Verse 6 gives David's response to his circumstances -"The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed." To David it must have looked like everything was lining up for him to kill Saul. All the ducks were in a row. But he knew it was against what God would have him do. David knew the principles of God's word and that is what he counted on rather then his circumstances lining up.
God may very well be lining up all your ducks in a row but if your final decision in a matter is only determined by your circumstances be very careful that you do not sin against God. You and I need to go beyond our circumstances and clearly look into the Bible and see if there is a godly principle that we do not want to violate. God is patient as we seek Him. Take the time to see if your circumstances line up with the Word of God!
"Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) Kathy
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
A Rose or Skunk?
A Rose or a Skunk.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
How do we live out our faith in front of our family? Friends? Co-workers? Do we live out our faith and share the gospel in a way that is a beautiful fragrance like that of a rose? When someone sees a beautiful rose they are drawn by its beauty. Sometimes a person is drawn by its beautiful fragrance before their eyes ever behold its beauty.
What about the smell of lets say...a skunk? You can smell a skunk a mile away before you ever see it! If you weren't familiar with skunks you might think it was cute and want to pet it. But very quickly you would find out that you didn't want to be any where near a skunk and run as fast as you could in the other direction!
I recently spoke with someone who was somewhat offended when I asked if she was "born again." She had a few "born again" believers at her office that were skunks rather than roses. They were judgmental, condemning and self-righteous. Their lives did not reflect the love of Christ and obedience to the Word.
I have to admit I've been a skunk on a few occasions and even been around a few skunks. I know I have grieved my Lord when I've been a skunk. But this is not my desire. I want to always have the fragrance of Christ through my life and my testimony to draw others to the gospel not send them running away.
Paul asks the question "Who is equal to such a task?" Are you? Think about how you represent our Savior. Strive to always be a rose.
Mary Ann
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?
How do we live out our faith in front of our family? Friends? Co-workers? Do we live out our faith and share the gospel in a way that is a beautiful fragrance like that of a rose? When someone sees a beautiful rose they are drawn by its beauty. Sometimes a person is drawn by its beautiful fragrance before their eyes ever behold its beauty.
What about the smell of lets say...a skunk? You can smell a skunk a mile away before you ever see it! If you weren't familiar with skunks you might think it was cute and want to pet it. But very quickly you would find out that you didn't want to be any where near a skunk and run as fast as you could in the other direction!
I recently spoke with someone who was somewhat offended when I asked if she was "born again." She had a few "born again" believers at her office that were skunks rather than roses. They were judgmental, condemning and self-righteous. Their lives did not reflect the love of Christ and obedience to the Word.
I have to admit I've been a skunk on a few occasions and even been around a few skunks. I know I have grieved my Lord when I've been a skunk. But this is not my desire. I want to always have the fragrance of Christ through my life and my testimony to draw others to the gospel not send them running away.
Paul asks the question "Who is equal to such a task?" Are you? Think about how you represent our Savior. Strive to always be a rose.
Mary Ann
Monday, July 30, 2007
God Put A Rainbow in the Sky
God put a rainbow in the sky...
God put a rainbow in the sky
When the sun came shinning though
Then we knew the storm was through
God put a rainbow in the clouds....
This is a silly little song that we sing in our Sunday School with the kids. Sometimes life can be a bit stormy. There are days I will sit at my kitchen table with my coffee in hand and wonder what is going on.
For a few weeks my family has been hit with one storm after another. My oldest son said to me, "What in the world is going on with our family". Not only me and my husband but my two sons were feeling it too.
It seems at times that you can really feel rain drops hitting your life and storms racing through your soul. That day when he said this to me this song popped in my head and I decided to sing it all day. It did bring a smile to my face.
I had to remind both my son and my self to stop looking at the storm and complaining but to turn the complaints into prayer. I decided to thank the Lord for all he has done in my life and is doing even through the storms.
The rainbows are in the sky of our life again and the storms are settling down but I know they will return at another time.
Sing this song with me and we can weather the storms together. May the Lord continue to bring us all a rainbow to show us His love and guidance in our lives.
God put a rainbow in the sky
When the sun came shinning though
Then we knew the storm was through
God put a rainbow in the clouds....
Lynn W
God put a rainbow in the sky
When the sun came shinning though
Then we knew the storm was through
God put a rainbow in the clouds....
This is a silly little song that we sing in our Sunday School with the kids. Sometimes life can be a bit stormy. There are days I will sit at my kitchen table with my coffee in hand and wonder what is going on.
For a few weeks my family has been hit with one storm after another. My oldest son said to me, "What in the world is going on with our family". Not only me and my husband but my two sons were feeling it too.
It seems at times that you can really feel rain drops hitting your life and storms racing through your soul. That day when he said this to me this song popped in my head and I decided to sing it all day. It did bring a smile to my face.
I had to remind both my son and my self to stop looking at the storm and complaining but to turn the complaints into prayer. I decided to thank the Lord for all he has done in my life and is doing even through the storms.
The rainbows are in the sky of our life again and the storms are settling down but I know they will return at another time.
Sing this song with me and we can weather the storms together. May the Lord continue to bring us all a rainbow to show us His love and guidance in our lives.
God put a rainbow in the sky
When the sun came shinning though
Then we knew the storm was through
God put a rainbow in the clouds....
Lynn W
Friday, July 27, 2007
Which Ones?
Which Ones?
“Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Matthew 19:16-18
Which ones? I have read this Scripture many times but I never saw the rich man’s question to Jesus until yesterday. ‘If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments’. ‘Which ones?’ What a silly question. Which ones? If we can pick and choose which commandments to obey then they are not commandments, they are suggestions. A commandment is something that is commanded, that is, an authoritative direction, a required action, a non-negotiable.
Before we laugh too hard at the silliness of this man’s question, we need to stop and reflect how our attitude betrays the same question.
In reality, don’t we pick and choose which commandments we are going to obey? Oh, sure, we may not be consciously asking ourselves the question but the way we live our life betrays a heart that wonders, “Which ones?”
I may not consider stealing from a store, but do I steal time at work doing personal things? I may not physically harm my children, but do I harm them with my words or attitude? I may not be willing to lie, but do I leave out some details so as to leave a less than accurate impression? I may not be willing to miss church on Sunday, but do I watch more TV during the week than I spend reading God’s word?
Lest I leave the impression that it is keeping all of God’s commandments that gains us eternal life, Jesus also told the young man to “…come, follow Me.” (vs. 21) It is only God’s grace through faith that any are saved. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph 2:8-9.
May the evidence of our life not reflect a “Which ones?” attitude but rather that we are fully devoted to the One True God and earnestly yearn to obey Him.
Diane
“Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Matthew 19:16-18
Which ones? I have read this Scripture many times but I never saw the rich man’s question to Jesus until yesterday. ‘If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments’. ‘Which ones?’ What a silly question. Which ones? If we can pick and choose which commandments to obey then they are not commandments, they are suggestions. A commandment is something that is commanded, that is, an authoritative direction, a required action, a non-negotiable.
Before we laugh too hard at the silliness of this man’s question, we need to stop and reflect how our attitude betrays the same question.
In reality, don’t we pick and choose which commandments we are going to obey? Oh, sure, we may not be consciously asking ourselves the question but the way we live our life betrays a heart that wonders, “Which ones?”
I may not consider stealing from a store, but do I steal time at work doing personal things? I may not physically harm my children, but do I harm them with my words or attitude? I may not be willing to lie, but do I leave out some details so as to leave a less than accurate impression? I may not be willing to miss church on Sunday, but do I watch more TV during the week than I spend reading God’s word?
Lest I leave the impression that it is keeping all of God’s commandments that gains us eternal life, Jesus also told the young man to “…come, follow Me.” (vs. 21) It is only God’s grace through faith that any are saved. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph 2:8-9.
May the evidence of our life not reflect a “Which ones?” attitude but rather that we are fully devoted to the One True God and earnestly yearn to obey Him.
Diane
Thursday, July 26, 2007
God Said, God Did, God Rested
God Said, God Did, God Rested
Then God said,
"Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them,
"Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Then God said,
"I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all his work.
And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. "1 Most of the sisters I am blessed to know have a problem. It is in fact, the same problem that I have. We don't know how to rest. Busyness is so entrenched in us; so pervasive that to some extent we have grown to accept it as "just the way it is". Thus, we continue to "be busy".
I don't think any of us would be so grossly bold as to think or say our busyness is different from God's. So my challenge...no, my encouragement to all of us "busy sistas" is simply this. REST.
We are body, soul and spirit and we all need to rest. Yes even you! Rest! And what better place than at the feet of Jesus?
Stephanie
Then God said,
"Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them,
"Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Then God said,
"I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all his work.
And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. "1 Most of the sisters I am blessed to know have a problem. It is in fact, the same problem that I have. We don't know how to rest. Busyness is so entrenched in us; so pervasive that to some extent we have grown to accept it as "just the way it is". Thus, we continue to "be busy".
I don't think any of us would be so grossly bold as to think or say our busyness is different from God's. So my challenge...no, my encouragement to all of us "busy sistas" is simply this. REST.
We are body, soul and spirit and we all need to rest. Yes even you! Rest! And what better place than at the feet of Jesus?
Stephanie
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
God Said It and It Was So
God Said It and It Was So
"Then God said,
"Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds."
And it was so.
The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.
And God saw that it was good.
And God said,
"Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, God made two great lights-the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.
And God saw that it was good.
And God said,
"Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."
So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind.
And God saw that it was good.
God blessed them and said,
"Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."
And God said,
"Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind."
And it was so." 1
For our benefit, God took the time to impart the Genesis account so we could some day, open a Bible and read about what He said and all that happened after He said it.
I believe that one of the reasons He did this was to encourage us to trust, believe and obey Him -by faith. We need to know Him in His Word, most especially in the moments when doubt is tempting us to surrender His Will and His Way for our own way.
Dear one, cling to Him! Pursue Him with all the hope He has already placed within you!
Selah...
Stephanie
"Then God said,
"Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds."
And it was so.
The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.
And God saw that it was good.
And God said,
"Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, God made two great lights-the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.
And God saw that it was good.
And God said,
"Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."
So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind.
And God saw that it was good.
God blessed them and said,
"Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."
And God said,
"Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind."
And it was so." 1
For our benefit, God took the time to impart the Genesis account so we could some day, open a Bible and read about what He said and all that happened after He said it.
I believe that one of the reasons He did this was to encourage us to trust, believe and obey Him -by faith. We need to know Him in His Word, most especially in the moments when doubt is tempting us to surrender His Will and His Way for our own way.
Dear one, cling to Him! Pursue Him with all the hope He has already placed within you!
Selah...
Stephanie
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
God Said ... And it was so ...
God Said...And it Was So
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said,
"Let there be light,"
and there was light.
God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night."
And there was evening, and there was morning~ ~the first day.
And God said,
"Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."
So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it.
And it was so.
God called the expanse "sky."
And there was evening, and there was morning~ ~the second day.
And God said,
"Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear."
And it was so.
God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas."
And God saw that it was good.
Then God said,
"Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds."
And it was so.
Genesis 1
I've been thinking a lot about God lately...more so than usual. In these troubled days that surround me there is great, great comfort for my soul and my spirit in reading anew about God...from the beginning.
Knowing and believing that He, God said it...and...it was so, allows be to lay my head down at night and receive His rest.
Dear one, whatever it is you're doubting, about your Redeemer today, I encourage you to stand fast; don't lose heart; draw near to Him and listen for His voice.
He said he will never leave you or forsake you...and it-is-so!!
Selah......
Stephanie
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said,
"Let there be light,"
and there was light.
God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night."
And there was evening, and there was morning~ ~the first day.
And God said,
"Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."
So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it.
And it was so.
God called the expanse "sky."
And there was evening, and there was morning~ ~the second day.
And God said,
"Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear."
And it was so.
God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas."
And God saw that it was good.
Then God said,
"Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds."
And it was so.
Genesis 1
I've been thinking a lot about God lately...more so than usual. In these troubled days that surround me there is great, great comfort for my soul and my spirit in reading anew about God...from the beginning.
Knowing and believing that He, God said it...and...it was so, allows be to lay my head down at night and receive His rest.
Dear one, whatever it is you're doubting, about your Redeemer today, I encourage you to stand fast; don't lose heart; draw near to Him and listen for His voice.
He said he will never leave you or forsake you...and it-is-so!!
Selah......
Stephanie
Monday, July 23, 2007
Spiritual Giant -- Spiritual Weakling
Spiritual Giant Spiritual Weakling
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son...and went to the place of which God had told him." Genesis 22:1-3
Can you imagine such a request? How could God ask such a thing? I imagine a thousand questions swirled through Abraham's mind, yet Abraham obeyed, and he obeyed immediately.
He believed God.
He trusted God.
When Isaac asked the obvious question, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham responded, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering."
What faith!
What trust!
Before we canonize Abraham, let us consider another story that appears a few chapters earlier in Genesis (Ch 20), the story of Abraham and Abimelech. When Abraham and Sarah stayed in Gerar, Abraham instructed Sarah his wife to say that she was his sister (which was half true since she was his half-sister) believing that this would protect him from being killed on account of his wife at the hands of Abimelech king of Gerar. (Genesis 20:1-13). So where is the evidence of Abraham's faith now?
He feared man!
He trusted himself!
How is it that he was a spiritual giant, full of faith obeying God to sacrifice his own son, but a spiritual weakling when he has to trust God with his wife and life?
I am by no means pointing a finger at Abraham as if I couldn't imagine doing the same thing. (I will apologize to Abraham when I see him for using him to illustrate my point.)
One moment we can be walking by faith, obediently following Jesus, and the next moment walking by sight, doing our own thing. Moment by moment we must choose, faith or fear, obedience or disobedience, trust or distrust, belief or unbelief. This is true whether you have been a believer for 50 years, 10 years or 10 days. It is a choice, moment by moment.
What is your choice today? Will you have faith or fear? Will you trust God or trust yourself?
Will you live as a spiritual weakling or a spiritual giant?
Diane
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son...and went to the place of which God had told him." Genesis 22:1-3
Can you imagine such a request? How could God ask such a thing? I imagine a thousand questions swirled through Abraham's mind, yet Abraham obeyed, and he obeyed immediately.
He believed God.
He trusted God.
When Isaac asked the obvious question, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham responded, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering."
What faith!
What trust!
Before we canonize Abraham, let us consider another story that appears a few chapters earlier in Genesis (Ch 20), the story of Abraham and Abimelech. When Abraham and Sarah stayed in Gerar, Abraham instructed Sarah his wife to say that she was his sister (which was half true since she was his half-sister) believing that this would protect him from being killed on account of his wife at the hands of Abimelech king of Gerar. (Genesis 20:1-13). So where is the evidence of Abraham's faith now?
He feared man!
He trusted himself!
How is it that he was a spiritual giant, full of faith obeying God to sacrifice his own son, but a spiritual weakling when he has to trust God with his wife and life?
I am by no means pointing a finger at Abraham as if I couldn't imagine doing the same thing. (I will apologize to Abraham when I see him for using him to illustrate my point.)
One moment we can be walking by faith, obediently following Jesus, and the next moment walking by sight, doing our own thing. Moment by moment we must choose, faith or fear, obedience or disobedience, trust or distrust, belief or unbelief. This is true whether you have been a believer for 50 years, 10 years or 10 days. It is a choice, moment by moment.
What is your choice today? Will you have faith or fear? Will you trust God or trust yourself?
Will you live as a spiritual weakling or a spiritual giant?
Diane
Friday, July 20, 2007
Are You Using God as A Vitamin Supplement?
Are you using God as a vitamin supplement?
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23 .to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19
Pastor Mark Wiley was preaching on the 7 deadliest sins, those sins that are root to so many other sins when he made this statement: "Are you using God as a vitamin supplement?"
God is not seeking to be a part of your life. He is your life. He is your all-in-all. So often we do not live as if this is true and we take daily doses of God and sometimes we even miss doses, much like our multi-vitamin.
A vitamin supplement is often taken as just that, a supplement. It is taken in addition to our main diet to fill in what may be lacking, where there are deficiencies. What we fail to see is that we don't have some deficiencies, but rather we are totally empty and void of anything of eternal value apart from Jesus Christ.
We try to fill our lives with so much stuff: people, things, activities none of which will endure or fully satisfy. It's kind of like eating cookies for lunch. They taste great but won't hold us until dinner because they lack good nutritional value.
When we stop using God as a vitamin supplement to a poor diet and start being filled by Him we will be fully satisfied with Him.
Our hearts will sing with delight and fullness. He is our All-in-All.
Diane
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23 .to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19
Pastor Mark Wiley was preaching on the 7 deadliest sins, those sins that are root to so many other sins when he made this statement: "Are you using God as a vitamin supplement?"
God is not seeking to be a part of your life. He is your life. He is your all-in-all. So often we do not live as if this is true and we take daily doses of God and sometimes we even miss doses, much like our multi-vitamin.
A vitamin supplement is often taken as just that, a supplement. It is taken in addition to our main diet to fill in what may be lacking, where there are deficiencies. What we fail to see is that we don't have some deficiencies, but rather we are totally empty and void of anything of eternal value apart from Jesus Christ.
We try to fill our lives with so much stuff: people, things, activities none of which will endure or fully satisfy. It's kind of like eating cookies for lunch. They taste great but won't hold us until dinner because they lack good nutritional value.
When we stop using God as a vitamin supplement to a poor diet and start being filled by Him we will be fully satisfied with Him.
Our hearts will sing with delight and fullness. He is our All-in-All.
Diane
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Think Victory! His Yoke is Easy
His Yoke is Easy
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ~~Matthew 11:28-30~~NKJV
In Christ alone we can, will and do find rest; we will obtain peace and comfort for our heart and soul. Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy. HIS YOKE IS EASY! What an amazing thought. As one who counsels many hurting people, I can say (with confidence) that many labor under heavy burdens; they carry yokes that are not easy or light. Are you such a one? Is your soul bent from the effects of an unlovely yoke?
Come to Him, whose yoke is easy and receive rest as His gift. Lay aside any other yoke whether devised by man or the evil one. Lay it aside; cast it off and receive His. Take His yoke. Submit to His authority. His yoke is easy and His burden is light and there is much freedom to be found in it.
Learn of Him. Add more and more and more to what you think you know about Him and find comfort in obedience to His Will and His Word and His Way. No matter how imperfect you are; no matter whose box or mold you don't fit in; no matter how flawed, invaluable or messed up you think you are COME TO HIM! His yoke is easy.
"It is a yoke that is lined with love. So powerful are the assistances He gives us, so suitable the encouragements, and so strong the consolations to be found in the way of duty, that we may truly say, it is a yoke of pleasantness. The way of duty is the way of rest. The truths Christ teaches are such as we may venture our souls upon. Such is the Redeemer's mercy; and why should the laboring and burdened sinner seek for rest from any other quarter? Let us come to him daily, for deliverance from wrath" (1) Sistas, I'm right there with you. Let us go together and find rest in the safe and gentle hands of our Redeemer.
Stephanie
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ~~Matthew 11:28-30~~NKJV
In Christ alone we can, will and do find rest; we will obtain peace and comfort for our heart and soul. Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy. HIS YOKE IS EASY! What an amazing thought. As one who counsels many hurting people, I can say (with confidence) that many labor under heavy burdens; they carry yokes that are not easy or light. Are you such a one? Is your soul bent from the effects of an unlovely yoke?
Come to Him, whose yoke is easy and receive rest as His gift. Lay aside any other yoke whether devised by man or the evil one. Lay it aside; cast it off and receive His. Take His yoke. Submit to His authority. His yoke is easy and His burden is light and there is much freedom to be found in it.
Learn of Him. Add more and more and more to what you think you know about Him and find comfort in obedience to His Will and His Word and His Way. No matter how imperfect you are; no matter whose box or mold you don't fit in; no matter how flawed, invaluable or messed up you think you are COME TO HIM! His yoke is easy.
"It is a yoke that is lined with love. So powerful are the assistances He gives us, so suitable the encouragements, and so strong the consolations to be found in the way of duty, that we may truly say, it is a yoke of pleasantness. The way of duty is the way of rest. The truths Christ teaches are such as we may venture our souls upon. Such is the Redeemer's mercy; and why should the laboring and burdened sinner seek for rest from any other quarter? Let us come to him daily, for deliverance from wrath" (1) Sistas, I'm right there with you. Let us go together and find rest in the safe and gentle hands of our Redeemer.
Stephanie
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Come To Me
Come to Me
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
~~Matthew 11:28-30~~NKJV
This verse of Scripture has been drifting in and out of my head and heart for a few days now. It has been and is a soothing balm for my weary soul.
Rightly defined, soul as a noun is "the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life."(1) In other words, we could say our soul is our mind, will and emotions.
As a woman, wife, mom, counselor etc., there are a variety of ways that I give myself (my soul) away daily, sometimes to the point of emptiness. Because I am surrounded by women; because I write to women, I want to ask; I must ask, "How is it with your soul? If you answered a resounding "Yes!" with me, then let's do what the Master's Word draws us, compels us to do. Let's come to Him! Let's pursue Him as if our lives depend on it!
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
~~Matthew11:28-30~~ The Message
God is not a God who is unwilling to be found. He will be found by us when we pursue with all our heart soul mind and strength.
Stephanie
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
~~Matthew 11:28-30~~NKJV
This verse of Scripture has been drifting in and out of my head and heart for a few days now. It has been and is a soothing balm for my weary soul.
Rightly defined, soul as a noun is "the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life."(1) In other words, we could say our soul is our mind, will and emotions.
As a woman, wife, mom, counselor etc., there are a variety of ways that I give myself (my soul) away daily, sometimes to the point of emptiness. Because I am surrounded by women; because I write to women, I want to ask; I must ask, "How is it with your soul? If you answered a resounding "Yes!" with me, then let's do what the Master's Word draws us, compels us to do. Let's come to Him! Let's pursue Him as if our lives depend on it!
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
~~Matthew11:28-30~~ The Message
God is not a God who is unwilling to be found. He will be found by us when we pursue with all our heart soul mind and strength.
Stephanie
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
What Kind of Garden Are You Growing?
What kind of Garden are you growing?
Years ago, when I was working as a Systems Engineer, our department secretary was facing a health crisis. I distinctly remember my conversation with her as I shared I was praying for her. Her reply unsettled me. She said she was praying too. She was praying to God, to Jesus, to Allah, and to Buddha because she wasn't sure who could help so she was praying to all of them.
As believers in Jesus Christ we cringe at such theology knowing there is One True God; but I wonder if we do much the same thing in our own walk with God.
Who are you listening to? In the counseling office, I hear people share who they are gleaning "wisdom" from: Dr. Phil, Oprah, Joel Olsten, James Dobson, Beth Moore, Joyce Myers, the internet, a radio speaker, a pastor, a book, or a magazine article. These things can be good but we must remember they are not the inspired word of God.
I believe a lot of confusion comes from listening to too many different sources, too many different voices.
It reminds me of a garden. When planting a tulip garden you plant all tulip bulbs, one at a time each in its own hole. When planting a wildflower garden you scatter a variety of seeds on the surface and rake over them to cover them with a thin layer of dirt.
"...for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."
Galatians 6:7
What kind of garden are you sowing? Are you indiscriminately scattering seeds from a plethora of sources? Are you intentionally planting the seeds of truth from God's word, watering and caring for them, allowing them to take root and grow deep? Are you keeping your garden well weeded to keep it clear of anything that does not meet the test of God's word?
All those other things will come and go, but God's word will stand forever.
"Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven."
Psalm 119:89
Diane
Years ago, when I was working as a Systems Engineer, our department secretary was facing a health crisis. I distinctly remember my conversation with her as I shared I was praying for her. Her reply unsettled me. She said she was praying too. She was praying to God, to Jesus, to Allah, and to Buddha because she wasn't sure who could help so she was praying to all of them.
As believers in Jesus Christ we cringe at such theology knowing there is One True God; but I wonder if we do much the same thing in our own walk with God.
Who are you listening to? In the counseling office, I hear people share who they are gleaning "wisdom" from: Dr. Phil, Oprah, Joel Olsten, James Dobson, Beth Moore, Joyce Myers, the internet, a radio speaker, a pastor, a book, or a magazine article. These things can be good but we must remember they are not the inspired word of God.
I believe a lot of confusion comes from listening to too many different sources, too many different voices.
It reminds me of a garden. When planting a tulip garden you plant all tulip bulbs, one at a time each in its own hole. When planting a wildflower garden you scatter a variety of seeds on the surface and rake over them to cover them with a thin layer of dirt.
"...for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."
Galatians 6:7
What kind of garden are you sowing? Are you indiscriminately scattering seeds from a plethora of sources? Are you intentionally planting the seeds of truth from God's word, watering and caring for them, allowing them to take root and grow deep? Are you keeping your garden well weeded to keep it clear of anything that does not meet the test of God's word?
All those other things will come and go, but God's word will stand forever.
"Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven."
Psalm 119:89
Diane
Friday, July 13, 2007
It's Only a House
It is only a House.....
Joshua 24:15 b
..as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Recently, I had an Aunt and Uncle move close to where I live. Most of my life they lived far enough away that we would see each other on holidays, weddings and all that other fun family stuff.
I knew of my aunt in a much different way than I am getting to know her now. There was one thing that always stood out in my mind, and now I see it even more clearly. This was the aunt that at Christmas time would give us Bible story books, Bible games and pretty much every gift was Bible related. My father always spoke of her with such respect and referred to her and her husband as two people that walked with God.
As a child this just stuck with me. She always held a special spot in my heart, even though I rarely got to see her. I remember her enthusiasm and spunk that she always had for the Lord. It was not a Sunday only thing; my Aunt and Uncle lived life daily, as full time Christian workers, but had ordinary jobs. Their daily life reflected their love for the Lord and His work.
Now that they are down here and closer to me, I have been able to spend time with them. Their love for the Lord, His people and their service to Him is still evident in their lives. They are older now and can not get around as much as they used to but WOW, how they still serve Him!
In spending one night at their new apartment they told me a little story....
When selling their house they decided to pray about it. The house was built many years ago by my Uncle's parents, who built it for the purpose of using it for the Lord and His people. When my Uncle got married he took over the house for his family and that original purpose remained; this house must be used for the Lord. There has been close to four generations from this family in the house and it is still standing firm; it was built to serve the Lord. Their desire and prayer was to sell the house to a Christian family who would maintain the original purpose and use it to serve the Lord.
They had several offers and the one chosen was not the highest bidder but the family that were Christians and said they needed a house where they could serve God's people.
My aunt and uncle needed to think through whether or not to sell high or low; they still had their needs to consider financially once they moved. But the Lord was leading them to sell to the lower bidder and know that this house would still be a place where the Lord would be served. They just knew God would honor this decision and their needs would be met by Him not the sale of the house.
Even in the apartment they are in now....the verse, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord" still lives on.
I can truly say I have seen this verse exemplified in the lives of my Aunt and Uncle and I praise the Lord for such Godly examples.
May I always remember that for me and my house we will serve the Lord, too.
Lynn W
Joshua 24:15 b
..as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Recently, I had an Aunt and Uncle move close to where I live. Most of my life they lived far enough away that we would see each other on holidays, weddings and all that other fun family stuff.
I knew of my aunt in a much different way than I am getting to know her now. There was one thing that always stood out in my mind, and now I see it even more clearly. This was the aunt that at Christmas time would give us Bible story books, Bible games and pretty much every gift was Bible related. My father always spoke of her with such respect and referred to her and her husband as two people that walked with God.
As a child this just stuck with me. She always held a special spot in my heart, even though I rarely got to see her. I remember her enthusiasm and spunk that she always had for the Lord. It was not a Sunday only thing; my Aunt and Uncle lived life daily, as full time Christian workers, but had ordinary jobs. Their daily life reflected their love for the Lord and His work.
Now that they are down here and closer to me, I have been able to spend time with them. Their love for the Lord, His people and their service to Him is still evident in their lives. They are older now and can not get around as much as they used to but WOW, how they still serve Him!
In spending one night at their new apartment they told me a little story....
When selling their house they decided to pray about it. The house was built many years ago by my Uncle's parents, who built it for the purpose of using it for the Lord and His people. When my Uncle got married he took over the house for his family and that original purpose remained; this house must be used for the Lord. There has been close to four generations from this family in the house and it is still standing firm; it was built to serve the Lord. Their desire and prayer was to sell the house to a Christian family who would maintain the original purpose and use it to serve the Lord.
They had several offers and the one chosen was not the highest bidder but the family that were Christians and said they needed a house where they could serve God's people.
My aunt and uncle needed to think through whether or not to sell high or low; they still had their needs to consider financially once they moved. But the Lord was leading them to sell to the lower bidder and know that this house would still be a place where the Lord would be served. They just knew God would honor this decision and their needs would be met by Him not the sale of the house.
Even in the apartment they are in now....the verse, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord" still lives on.
I can truly say I have seen this verse exemplified in the lives of my Aunt and Uncle and I praise the Lord for such Godly examples.
May I always remember that for me and my house we will serve the Lord, too.
Lynn W
Thursday, July 12, 2007
FINDING A QUIET PLACE
FINDING A QUIET PLACE
In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength (Isa. 30:15)
Be still and know that I am God (Psa. 46:10)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul... (Psa. 23:1-3)
These verses speak - shall I say it - LOUDLY to us about quieting ourselves before the Lord. Yes, He created us with the ability to sing (well at least some of us) and shout for joy and worship Him in that way. And He delights when we call out His name in joyful praise and thanksgiving for who He is and for all He has done for us.
But there is a time and place for quietness and solitude where we draw close to Him and hear Him whisper His instructions, His love, and His concern for our concerns.
I don't know about you, but I am a people person. I love being around people and I get energized from their energy. But - sometimes - I have a day when I have had too much of people, of listening and talking to others. It is then that I feel the need most keenly to listen and let my God talk to me. I truly appreciate the solitude of being by myself with my Lord and instead of me doing the talking, allowing Him to speak to me in quiet words, or even no spoken words at all. It is then that I open my Bible and find strength and comfort in just reading the words and letting the Holy Spirit calm me and minister to me in quietness and confidence. It is then that I find my strength renewed for the coming activities of the next day.
We live in an age when we are surrounded by all kinds of noise - traffic and honking horns, too loud radios and TVs, but also loud cries of despair and hopelessness as we hear about war, and crime and devastating tragedies all around us. And it is the quiet solitude and peace that only comes from knowing Jesus and the assurance that He is in control that keeps us going.
I pray that as we experience that blessed quiet and solitude in our lives that it will be obvious to those we encounter who are suffering from too much noise in their lives, too many loud distractions placed there by Satan that they will truly be drawn to the only One who can calm the din and bring peace to their lives.
May our family, friends, and others we meet during our day, come face to face with the quiet confidence we not only share with them, but SHOW them, that comes from knowing Jesus Christ and His power to bring rest to our souls.
Lynn Randall
In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength (Isa. 30:15)
Be still and know that I am God (Psa. 46:10)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul... (Psa. 23:1-3)
These verses speak - shall I say it - LOUDLY to us about quieting ourselves before the Lord. Yes, He created us with the ability to sing (well at least some of us) and shout for joy and worship Him in that way. And He delights when we call out His name in joyful praise and thanksgiving for who He is and for all He has done for us.
But there is a time and place for quietness and solitude where we draw close to Him and hear Him whisper His instructions, His love, and His concern for our concerns.
I don't know about you, but I am a people person. I love being around people and I get energized from their energy. But - sometimes - I have a day when I have had too much of people, of listening and talking to others. It is then that I feel the need most keenly to listen and let my God talk to me. I truly appreciate the solitude of being by myself with my Lord and instead of me doing the talking, allowing Him to speak to me in quiet words, or even no spoken words at all. It is then that I open my Bible and find strength and comfort in just reading the words and letting the Holy Spirit calm me and minister to me in quietness and confidence. It is then that I find my strength renewed for the coming activities of the next day.
We live in an age when we are surrounded by all kinds of noise - traffic and honking horns, too loud radios and TVs, but also loud cries of despair and hopelessness as we hear about war, and crime and devastating tragedies all around us. And it is the quiet solitude and peace that only comes from knowing Jesus and the assurance that He is in control that keeps us going.
I pray that as we experience that blessed quiet and solitude in our lives that it will be obvious to those we encounter who are suffering from too much noise in their lives, too many loud distractions placed there by Satan that they will truly be drawn to the only One who can calm the din and bring peace to their lives.
May our family, friends, and others we meet during our day, come face to face with the quiet confidence we not only share with them, but SHOW them, that comes from knowing Jesus Christ and His power to bring rest to our souls.
Lynn Randall
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
I Have A Face Like Flint
I Have Set My Face Like Flint
Have you ever heard someone use a phrase and wonder what does that really mean?
Recently this phrase- I have set my face like flint- had me wondering not only what it meant but how does one set their face like flint? I must begin with the word flint. Flint literally means rock. Well, that is helpful for me. It means I have to understand that I must set my face like rock towards the difficult tasks in front of me. For Jesus it was the Cross. He was determined to fulfill ALL that the Father had told him to do. For me right now I need to set my face like flint as I struggle to exercise, as I pray for our prodigal and as I constantly see the deceit in my own heart that I need to deal with. Setting our face like flint will mean that we are determined to be unmovable. We will remain strong. We will finish ALL that God has told us to do even when it seems impossible! But how did Jesus and how will you and I be able to remain strong like flint? Isaiah 50:7 says " For the Lord God will help me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set my face like a flint , and I know that I will not be ashamed." We have a strong, powerful God who is ready, willing and able to keep us strong regardless of what difficulties seem to be in our way. 1 Corinthians 15:58 also says "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain." What is before you today? What tasks are heavy on your heart? Set your face like flint! Be a rock of Gods strength knowing for certain that He is for you in all you do! And remember- The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us!
Kathy
Have you ever heard someone use a phrase and wonder what does that really mean?
Recently this phrase- I have set my face like flint- had me wondering not only what it meant but how does one set their face like flint? I must begin with the word flint. Flint literally means rock. Well, that is helpful for me. It means I have to understand that I must set my face like rock towards the difficult tasks in front of me. For Jesus it was the Cross. He was determined to fulfill ALL that the Father had told him to do. For me right now I need to set my face like flint as I struggle to exercise, as I pray for our prodigal and as I constantly see the deceit in my own heart that I need to deal with. Setting our face like flint will mean that we are determined to be unmovable. We will remain strong. We will finish ALL that God has told us to do even when it seems impossible! But how did Jesus and how will you and I be able to remain strong like flint? Isaiah 50:7 says " For the Lord God will help me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set my face like a flint , and I know that I will not be ashamed." We have a strong, powerful God who is ready, willing and able to keep us strong regardless of what difficulties seem to be in our way. 1 Corinthians 15:58 also says "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain." What is before you today? What tasks are heavy on your heart? Set your face like flint! Be a rock of Gods strength knowing for certain that He is for you in all you do! And remember- The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us!
Kathy
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Lessons from Esau -- Part 2
Genesis 25:34, "And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright."
Despise: to look down on with contempt or aversion; to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful1
At that moment, Esau despised his birthright, or regarded it as negligible or worthless. He regarded the stew as more important than his birthright. We may scratch our heads and wonder what kind of fool is this? The question that immediately came to mind was, "In what ways have I despised my birthright?"
I am not George and Martha's first-born, I'm actually fifth-born, so I'm not referring to a human birthright. However, I am born of God. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13 As a child of God, we have a birthright.
Birthright: a right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth2
We have privileges and possessions which become ours by the virtue of being born from above.
* We are adopted into the family of God - John 1:12-13, Ephesians 1:5
* We are friends of God. John 15:14-15
* We are His delight. Psalm 18:19
* We are heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Romans 8:17
* We are more than conquerors. Romans 8:37
* We have been given garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10
* We are the bride of Christ. Isaiah 54:5
* We have been set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:14
* We have been forgiven. Colossians 2:13
* We bear His name. Acts 11:26
* We have been set free. John 8:36
* He is our provider. Genesis 22:14
* He is our healer. Exodus 15:26
* He is our peace. John 14:27
This is just a very small sampling of the truths in Scripture about our spiritual birthright. As we consider Esau, what lesson can we learn from him? Are there ways in which we despise our birthright, exchanging the rights and privileges as His child, for anything that is more important to us at that moment?
Diane
Genesis 25:34, "And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright."
Despise: to look down on with contempt or aversion; to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful1
At that moment, Esau despised his birthright, or regarded it as negligible or worthless. He regarded the stew as more important than his birthright. We may scratch our heads and wonder what kind of fool is this? The question that immediately came to mind was, "In what ways have I despised my birthright?"
I am not George and Martha's first-born, I'm actually fifth-born, so I'm not referring to a human birthright. However, I am born of God. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13 As a child of God, we have a birthright.
Birthright: a right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth2
We have privileges and possessions which become ours by the virtue of being born from above.
* We are adopted into the family of God - John 1:12-13, Ephesians 1:5
* We are friends of God. John 15:14-15
* We are His delight. Psalm 18:19
* We are heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Romans 8:17
* We are more than conquerors. Romans 8:37
* We have been given garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10
* We are the bride of Christ. Isaiah 54:5
* We have been set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:14
* We have been forgiven. Colossians 2:13
* We bear His name. Acts 11:26
* We have been set free. John 8:36
* He is our provider. Genesis 22:14
* He is our healer. Exodus 15:26
* He is our peace. John 14:27
This is just a very small sampling of the truths in Scripture about our spiritual birthright. As we consider Esau, what lesson can we learn from him? Are there ways in which we despise our birthright, exchanging the rights and privileges as His child, for anything that is more important to us at that moment?
Diane
Monday, July 09, 2007
Lessons from Esau
Reading through the book of Genesis, it is easy to really wonder about this man Esau. He doesn't strike me as the brightest guy. The saying, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is demonstrated through his actions in Genesis 25:29-34. He surrenders his inheritance, his birthright for a pot of stew. That had to be a powerful hunger. It is also a perfect illustration of the short-sightedness and the desire for immediate gratification (sounds like a lot of the younger generation, well, to be honest, it sounds like me sometimes).
It comes time for his father Isaac to give the blessing (See Genesis 27) so he calls his oldest son into his tent and gives him instructions regarding the preparation of a special meal. You know the story how Rebekah (Isaac's wife) convinces Jacob (Esau's younger brother) to trick Isaac into giving him the blessing instead. When Esau returned, he discovered that Jacob had indeed received the blessing of the firstborn - the birthright. Esau was angry. When he heard Isaac share that he had blessed Jacob thinking it was Esau, "he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me-me also, O my father." (Genesis 27:34). "So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him and Esau said in his heart, 'The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob." (Genesis 27:41) Jacob fled for his own safety and stays in the land of his mother's family for many years.
When the time came for Jacob to return to his homeland, he knew he had to face Esau. Jacob sent messengers before him to announce his arrival. He sent multiple people with herds and flocks to placate Esau. It did not work, because Esau did not need placated.
What happened? Esau was exceedingly angry when Jacob left. But when he returned many years later, he received Jacob with open arms. "Then Esau said, 'What do you mean by all this company which I met?' and he said, 'These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.' But Esau said, 'I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.' (Genesis 33:8-9) Then Esau said, 'Let us take our journey' let us go, and I will go before you.'" (Genesis 33:12) Esau even offered to leave some of his men to help Jacob complete the journey.
What happened? Forgiveness is what happened. Esau forgave Jacob. The scripture does not tell us this directly, but it is proven through the actions of Esau.
Forgiveness is not just words spoken; it is borne out in our attitudes and actions.
Is your forgiveness evident to others? Are you living out forgiveness in your actions towards others? Let's not sell Esau short. He did a great thing or rather He allowed God to do a great thing through him.
Diane
Reading through the book of Genesis, it is easy to really wonder about this man Esau. He doesn't strike me as the brightest guy. The saying, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach" is demonstrated through his actions in Genesis 25:29-34. He surrenders his inheritance, his birthright for a pot of stew. That had to be a powerful hunger. It is also a perfect illustration of the short-sightedness and the desire for immediate gratification (sounds like a lot of the younger generation, well, to be honest, it sounds like me sometimes).
It comes time for his father Isaac to give the blessing (See Genesis 27) so he calls his oldest son into his tent and gives him instructions regarding the preparation of a special meal. You know the story how Rebekah (Isaac's wife) convinces Jacob (Esau's younger brother) to trick Isaac into giving him the blessing instead. When Esau returned, he discovered that Jacob had indeed received the blessing of the firstborn - the birthright. Esau was angry. When he heard Isaac share that he had blessed Jacob thinking it was Esau, "he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me-me also, O my father." (Genesis 27:34). "So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him and Esau said in his heart, 'The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob." (Genesis 27:41) Jacob fled for his own safety and stays in the land of his mother's family for many years.
When the time came for Jacob to return to his homeland, he knew he had to face Esau. Jacob sent messengers before him to announce his arrival. He sent multiple people with herds and flocks to placate Esau. It did not work, because Esau did not need placated.
What happened? Esau was exceedingly angry when Jacob left. But when he returned many years later, he received Jacob with open arms. "Then Esau said, 'What do you mean by all this company which I met?' and he said, 'These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.' But Esau said, 'I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.' (Genesis 33:8-9) Then Esau said, 'Let us take our journey' let us go, and I will go before you.'" (Genesis 33:12) Esau even offered to leave some of his men to help Jacob complete the journey.
What happened? Forgiveness is what happened. Esau forgave Jacob. The scripture does not tell us this directly, but it is proven through the actions of Esau.
Forgiveness is not just words spoken; it is borne out in our attitudes and actions.
Is your forgiveness evident to others? Are you living out forgiveness in your actions towards others? Let's not sell Esau short. He did a great thing or rather He allowed God to do a great thing through him.
Diane
Friday, July 06, 2007
Have You Hugged Your Mom Today?
Have you hugged your Mom today?
Although I didn't know it at the time I believe I began my "Hug Ministry" in my early twenties. As a child of immigrant parents from the Ukraine, I wasn't accustomed to many displays of affection through "I love you's" and hugs....especially from my Poppa. That just wasn't the way he or Momma was raised. However, I must have observed affection displayed to children through television because I craved it.
After I married at nineteen, I began to tell my parents that I loved them and began to give hugs on a regular basis. Poppa took to the idea and began to hug back (big bear hugs) and say "I love you too." I really enjoyed those hugs until his death in 1990.
Momma learned to hug too but the "I love you's" were a little tough so she would always answer with "I know you love me." And that was okay.
When my sons were born, I made a conscience decision to give them lots of hugs and "I love you's."
Perhaps you remember a television commercial from many years ago that stated "Its 10:00 do you know where your children are?" Because I believed showing affection was so important, I changed the words and would always ask my boys, "Have you hugged your Mom today?" We would hug and laugh...what sweet memories.
When, as teens they spiraled out of control in drug addiction and there was so much anger, pain and hurt, the hugs and "I love you's" dwindled down to almost non-existent. My pain blinded me to the fact that they needed my hugs and "I love you's" more than ever. After a time I began to attend Families Anonymous. At that time I didn't know Jesus as my Savior. One thing of great importance I learned in those meetings is the importance of sharing my love for my sons in the midst of the craziness and finding one thing each day to affirm each of my sons. Let me tell you, there were times that I was really reaching with things like "That's a great hair cut." I began to force myself, through my pain, to say "I love you". I desperately needed to reconnect and love my sons through it all.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Colossians 3:13-14 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
So have you hugged your spouse, child, mom, dad, friend today??
Mary Ann
Although I didn't know it at the time I believe I began my "Hug Ministry" in my early twenties. As a child of immigrant parents from the Ukraine, I wasn't accustomed to many displays of affection through "I love you's" and hugs....especially from my Poppa. That just wasn't the way he or Momma was raised. However, I must have observed affection displayed to children through television because I craved it.
After I married at nineteen, I began to tell my parents that I loved them and began to give hugs on a regular basis. Poppa took to the idea and began to hug back (big bear hugs) and say "I love you too." I really enjoyed those hugs until his death in 1990.
Momma learned to hug too but the "I love you's" were a little tough so she would always answer with "I know you love me." And that was okay.
When my sons were born, I made a conscience decision to give them lots of hugs and "I love you's."
Perhaps you remember a television commercial from many years ago that stated "Its 10:00 do you know where your children are?" Because I believed showing affection was so important, I changed the words and would always ask my boys, "Have you hugged your Mom today?" We would hug and laugh...what sweet memories.
When, as teens they spiraled out of control in drug addiction and there was so much anger, pain and hurt, the hugs and "I love you's" dwindled down to almost non-existent. My pain blinded me to the fact that they needed my hugs and "I love you's" more than ever. After a time I began to attend Families Anonymous. At that time I didn't know Jesus as my Savior. One thing of great importance I learned in those meetings is the importance of sharing my love for my sons in the midst of the craziness and finding one thing each day to affirm each of my sons. Let me tell you, there were times that I was really reaching with things like "That's a great hair cut." I began to force myself, through my pain, to say "I love you". I desperately needed to reconnect and love my sons through it all.
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Colossians 3:13-14 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
So have you hugged your spouse, child, mom, dad, friend today??
Mary Ann
Thursday, July 05, 2007
The Ministry of a Hug
The Ministry of a Hug
During the 2006 summer conference season an elderly women came into my office and asked for counseling. After meeting with her and praying with her, my heart was deeply impacted by the pain this women carried. When our session ended I felt the Lord prompting me to ask her if I could give her a hug. She said yes, and I gave her a hug that indicated to her that I cared about her and what she was going through. To my amazement she said this was the first time in 10 years that she had received a hug! I just had to give her a second hug. I couldn't imagine not having that personal touch in such a long time.
Have you ever thought that a hug could be a ministry? I've been thinking seriously about this very idea. Sometimes a listening ear is enough and sometimes it isn't and although a hug is not appropriate in all circumstances, there is times when a hug is very much what the person needs. It conveys so much to the woman receiving a hug. It expresses our sisterly love for one another and our compassion. It can convey to a hurting sister more than words ever could.
Have you ever been so deep in a pit that you couldn't imagine anyone caring about you? Or have you ever been so full of despair and pain that you felt unworthy of a hug? Maybe it's been a long time since someone gave you a hug or even a gentle touch of a hand. Perhaps there's a woman you know who is going through a very difficult time, illness or is in grief over the loss of a loved one. Maybe you've sat with a friend or a stranger, and have listened to her share her heart with you. You prayed with her and felt God prompting you to give her a hug. Ask permission and then give them their hug from God. I haven't met a woman yet who has turned a hug down or told me she didn't need the hug.
Matthew 22:37-39 "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."
Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
"Lord, when I learn that someone is hurting, Help me to know what to do and say; Speak to my heart and give me compassion; Let your great love flow through me today." Kurt De Haan
Mary Ann
During the 2006 summer conference season an elderly women came into my office and asked for counseling. After meeting with her and praying with her, my heart was deeply impacted by the pain this women carried. When our session ended I felt the Lord prompting me to ask her if I could give her a hug. She said yes, and I gave her a hug that indicated to her that I cared about her and what she was going through. To my amazement she said this was the first time in 10 years that she had received a hug! I just had to give her a second hug. I couldn't imagine not having that personal touch in such a long time.
Have you ever thought that a hug could be a ministry? I've been thinking seriously about this very idea. Sometimes a listening ear is enough and sometimes it isn't and although a hug is not appropriate in all circumstances, there is times when a hug is very much what the person needs. It conveys so much to the woman receiving a hug. It expresses our sisterly love for one another and our compassion. It can convey to a hurting sister more than words ever could.
Have you ever been so deep in a pit that you couldn't imagine anyone caring about you? Or have you ever been so full of despair and pain that you felt unworthy of a hug? Maybe it's been a long time since someone gave you a hug or even a gentle touch of a hand. Perhaps there's a woman you know who is going through a very difficult time, illness or is in grief over the loss of a loved one. Maybe you've sat with a friend or a stranger, and have listened to her share her heart with you. You prayed with her and felt God prompting you to give her a hug. Ask permission and then give them their hug from God. I haven't met a woman yet who has turned a hug down or told me she didn't need the hug.
Matthew 22:37-39 "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."
Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
"Lord, when I learn that someone is hurting, Help me to know what to do and say; Speak to my heart and give me compassion; Let your great love flow through me today." Kurt De Haan
Mary Ann
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