Thursday, September 13, 2012
Royal Connections: Firecracker or Dud
Royal Connections: Firecracker or Dud: Apostle Paul makes a point in 1Cor. 15:31 that he dies daily. Dies daily you question? What does that mean to die daily? Rest assured he is ...
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
What IF?
The word IF is used appx. 331 times in the Word of God(KJV). IF can mean uncertain or can also be a condition. Let us look at the condition. IF, IF only, IF I had.. How many times have you said this to yourself? IF I had only done this then that would not have happened. IF only that then I would be in a better place. Well there is another if.. IF my people that are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray, then WILL I hear from Heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land.
Now in truth God was speaking to the Israelis and referring to their actual country. I would say and you would more than likely agree that our country needs healing. However, I pose a question..what IF we as individuals humbled ourselves before God and our spiritual man(Land) was healed, on fire and full of the Holy Spirit? What IF the church(the people, not the building) began acting more like Jesus and less like the world? What IF the houses of God would be full of His glory and power. What IF? You could do away with gimmicks, because you would be burning for Christ and people would come just to see you 'burn' if not for any other reason .lol. Our marriages, children, families, finances, in other words our lives would flourish and be a beacon for the lost and dying.
We feel helpless and frozen in place from all the missed choices and chances. We have turned right when we should have gone left, we have stood when we should have sat..In short we have messed up our lives most royally. I like many of you think of all the what IFs? Let me bring you some wonderful news... The past is gone and wallowing in guilt and self condemnation will not change it. The GOOD NEWS is this--- The Lord's mercies are new EVERY morning and IF we repent and turn from our wicked ways, our self propelled choices He WILL forgive us, restore us and set us on the path to life in abundance. Then we will walk in victory and power causing change all around us :) So let me ask, "What IF?"
Now in truth God was speaking to the Israelis and referring to their actual country. I would say and you would more than likely agree that our country needs healing. However, I pose a question..what IF we as individuals humbled ourselves before God and our spiritual man(Land) was healed, on fire and full of the Holy Spirit? What IF the church(the people, not the building) began acting more like Jesus and less like the world? What IF the houses of God would be full of His glory and power. What IF? You could do away with gimmicks, because you would be burning for Christ and people would come just to see you 'burn' if not for any other reason .lol. Our marriages, children, families, finances, in other words our lives would flourish and be a beacon for the lost and dying.
We feel helpless and frozen in place from all the missed choices and chances. We have turned right when we should have gone left, we have stood when we should have sat..In short we have messed up our lives most royally. I like many of you think of all the what IFs? Let me bring you some wonderful news... The past is gone and wallowing in guilt and self condemnation will not change it. The GOOD NEWS is this--- The Lord's mercies are new EVERY morning and IF we repent and turn from our wicked ways, our self propelled choices He WILL forgive us, restore us and set us on the path to life in abundance. Then we will walk in victory and power causing change all around us :) So let me ask, "What IF?"
Monday, July 9, 2012
Not a list of rules
Eph.3v7- I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of His power. In times past and still ongoing in some places you are handed a list of rules to follow..this is what you must do to be a Christian. You must not do this, You must do that, step out of line and no no no, you are no Christian. You must speak a certain way or you are not in Faith. Lord help us. Paul said it well. He became a servant/follower of the gospel not of his own doing but by the working of God's grace brought to bear by God's power.
Should you be reading the bible? Should you be praying? Should you be attending worship services? Should you be???? Yes however none of these things make you a servant of the gospel. Pastor this weekend spoke on the differences between being religious and being 'born-again' or a servant of this gospel. Following a list of rules of do and do not's will not reconcile you to God. It will just make you religious and miserable. You can not work your way into God's good graces. When you make Jesus Lord of your life you will find love at work.. You read, pray, attend ect because you are so in love with The Lord . It becomes a Joy not a chore, rule ect.
I heard a few years ago something that tickled my mind. A religious person and a servant of the gospel will many times end up in the same place, doing the same things. The difference is one is doing it in their own power and grit their teeth getting there and the servant of the gospel is involved, doing it in joy. You can only grit your teeth so long. Have you noticed the ones who live by religious rules not Holy Ghost fuel are most miserable. Sour faced, sour spirited, sad, sad, sad. But let them fall in love with Jesus and their countenance changes.
So does this mean anything goes? As Paul said one more than one occasion,'Heaven Forbid'. Of course there are behaviors that should not be named among the brethren.Of course as you grow there are expectations of better behaviors..But those behaviors, lifestyles, ways of being are fueled by the power of His(God's) grace. We attain it through Him, our love of Him spurring us onward and upward. So it is all in Him and through Him that we come, grow and live. No list of rules can accomplish it..but by the power of His grace we shall overcome.
Should you be reading the bible? Should you be praying? Should you be attending worship services? Should you be???? Yes however none of these things make you a servant of the gospel. Pastor this weekend spoke on the differences between being religious and being 'born-again' or a servant of this gospel. Following a list of rules of do and do not's will not reconcile you to God. It will just make you religious and miserable. You can not work your way into God's good graces. When you make Jesus Lord of your life you will find love at work.. You read, pray, attend ect because you are so in love with The Lord . It becomes a Joy not a chore, rule ect.
I heard a few years ago something that tickled my mind. A religious person and a servant of the gospel will many times end up in the same place, doing the same things. The difference is one is doing it in their own power and grit their teeth getting there and the servant of the gospel is involved, doing it in joy. You can only grit your teeth so long. Have you noticed the ones who live by religious rules not Holy Ghost fuel are most miserable. Sour faced, sour spirited, sad, sad, sad. But let them fall in love with Jesus and their countenance changes.
So does this mean anything goes? As Paul said one more than one occasion,'Heaven Forbid'. Of course there are behaviors that should not be named among the brethren.Of course as you grow there are expectations of better behaviors..But those behaviors, lifestyles, ways of being are fueled by the power of His(God's) grace. We attain it through Him, our love of Him spurring us onward and upward. So it is all in Him and through Him that we come, grow and live. No list of rules can accomplish it..but by the power of His grace we shall overcome.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Enlighten
Enlighten our eyes,
show us your ways,
that times of refreshing may come.
Enlighten our eyes,
strengthen our resolve,
to put away those things which are not pleasing to you.
We live in a world,
Help captive by sin,
little by little sin has crept in.
Enlighten our eyes,
show us your ways,
that Revival may come to your people.
show us your ways,
that times of refreshing may come.
Enlighten our eyes,
strengthen our resolve,
to put away those things which are not pleasing to you.
We live in a world,
Help captive by sin,
little by little sin has crept in.
Enlighten our eyes,
show us your ways,
that Revival may come to your people.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Nevertheless
Today in my scripture reading I was directed to the Old Testament. 2nd Kings 13:1-5a. Israel once had straying into 'sin'. They were doing evil in the sight of God so God had brought the King of Syria against them as correction.Jehoahaz, the King of Israel, pleaded with God to deliver them from the hardships and distruction that they were experiencing. God sent them a deliverer so that they once again experienced peace and dwelt in their tents. NEVERTHELESS....they did not depart from the sins that Jereboam had led them into. In fact they walk in said sins.
How many times have we walk in sin. We stray and worship idols of our day--self, money, partying, stuff, power, our rights ect. We drink, whore, cheat, fight, judge, in other words sin. Our world at some point comes crashing down around our heads. We find ourselves in financial, spiritual,mental or relationship distress. So what do we do? We do like Israel and we call out to God. God answers and restores our peace, our joy, our homes, our finances and our relationships..NEVERTHELESS...
We do not quit living the lifestyles that got us into the messes to begin with. When will we learn? I guess is is said well in our venecular, " How's it workin' for you?" Another saying that I feel expresses it well is this..." The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results."
Do you want a true change? Then make a change. Not only cry out to God for help, call out to God and make His Son Jesus Lord of your life. Put away your 'idols'. You will find in him everything you will ever need.
Don't be a NEVERTHELESS person be a BECAUSE OF JESUS one.
How many times have we walk in sin. We stray and worship idols of our day--self, money, partying, stuff, power, our rights ect. We drink, whore, cheat, fight, judge, in other words sin. Our world at some point comes crashing down around our heads. We find ourselves in financial, spiritual,mental or relationship distress. So what do we do? We do like Israel and we call out to God. God answers and restores our peace, our joy, our homes, our finances and our relationships..NEVERTHELESS...
We do not quit living the lifestyles that got us into the messes to begin with. When will we learn? I guess is is said well in our venecular, " How's it workin' for you?" Another saying that I feel expresses it well is this..." The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results."
Do you want a true change? Then make a change. Not only cry out to God for help, call out to God and make His Son Jesus Lord of your life. Put away your 'idols'. You will find in him everything you will ever need.
Don't be a NEVERTHELESS person be a BECAUSE OF JESUS one.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
What can I give the Lame...man?
In Acts 3 v 5-6 we hear of the Lame man who looked to Peter and John expecting from them. Their answer was 'silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you..rise up and walk.' In our day and age people have their hand out all the time. Expectations...Now don't misunderstand me I am not referring to cash only.
People are desperate. They will take money of course, but they also will take of your time, emotions and energy. People in general are poor of spirit. They are desperate and they will grab onto any lifeline available. They are not necessarily bad just emotionally and spiritually crippled( in pain.).
Peter and John gave this man who was lame the most perfect gift. They gave they had to give..Jesus and His power. I got to thinking about this scripture. How many times have we given of ourselves to people in emotional, spiritual , physical or financial distress? We give comfort, council, words and our shoulders..all good things to be sure BUT- What they need is Jesus. Only He can give them ultimate peace, deliverance and prosperity and health. In and of ourselves we have nothing. We need to give them what we have- Jesus.
But therein is the problem--We as a whole no longer walk in power. We don't have an anointing to minister, are no longer instant in season and out. Why? We are saved aren't we? Yes we are but for many of us there is so much going on that we have left our first love and no longer spend the time needed in meditating on the word, praying and seeking Christs face. We do not spend enough time with Jesus so we don't have any Jesus to spare. We have become ineffective. Instead we depend on psychological and spiritual babble, spiritual cliches as it were. I have been guilty of it and if you are honest with yourself so have you.
What is the solution? More personal time with the Master.{Prayer, Praise, meditation on Him and His word}. Then when folks have their 'hands' out we will like Peter and John have something to give..Jesus.We will say,"I on my own don't have any answers, but by the power and authority of Jesus be made whole." We will deal with them in the spiritual level not just on a carnal mental plane. We will PRAY with them not try to talk them into wholeness..You see.. when Jesus comes He does it right.
When we do it in our own power, by patting of the hand, verbally 'talking' them through their problems(and there is a time and place for it, however) the Lame will be comforted but as we can not affect a permanent change, that only Jesus can do, they will become empty again. Only Jesus can take their hunger and thirst away. Who is all sufficient? Jesus! Who is savior? Jesus! Who supplies our needs? Jesus!
THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL YOU ARE! YOU ARE TRUE AND YOUR MERCIES ENDURE FOREVER!
People are desperate. They will take money of course, but they also will take of your time, emotions and energy. People in general are poor of spirit. They are desperate and they will grab onto any lifeline available. They are not necessarily bad just emotionally and spiritually crippled( in pain.).
Peter and John gave this man who was lame the most perfect gift. They gave they had to give..Jesus and His power. I got to thinking about this scripture. How many times have we given of ourselves to people in emotional, spiritual , physical or financial distress? We give comfort, council, words and our shoulders..all good things to be sure BUT- What they need is Jesus. Only He can give them ultimate peace, deliverance and prosperity and health. In and of ourselves we have nothing. We need to give them what we have- Jesus.
But therein is the problem--We as a whole no longer walk in power. We don't have an anointing to minister, are no longer instant in season and out. Why? We are saved aren't we? Yes we are but for many of us there is so much going on that we have left our first love and no longer spend the time needed in meditating on the word, praying and seeking Christs face. We do not spend enough time with Jesus so we don't have any Jesus to spare. We have become ineffective. Instead we depend on psychological and spiritual babble, spiritual cliches as it were. I have been guilty of it and if you are honest with yourself so have you.
What is the solution? More personal time with the Master.{Prayer, Praise, meditation on Him and His word}. Then when folks have their 'hands' out we will like Peter and John have something to give..Jesus.We will say,"I on my own don't have any answers, but by the power and authority of Jesus be made whole." We will deal with them in the spiritual level not just on a carnal mental plane. We will PRAY with them not try to talk them into wholeness..You see.. when Jesus comes He does it right.
When we do it in our own power, by patting of the hand, verbally 'talking' them through their problems(and there is a time and place for it, however) the Lame will be comforted but as we can not affect a permanent change, that only Jesus can do, they will become empty again. Only Jesus can take their hunger and thirst away. Who is all sufficient? Jesus! Who is savior? Jesus! Who supplies our needs? Jesus!
THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL YOU ARE! YOU ARE TRUE AND YOUR MERCIES ENDURE FOREVER!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Pool Party
Today's scripture was Acts chapter 2. On the day of Pentecost... most preachers and teachers use this particular passage of scripture to teach on the in filling of the Holy Spirit. This scripture tells of when the initial outpouring took place however there is more to chapter 2...
I bet by now you are wondering how pool party comes into it aren't you? Let me digress for a bit if you will...Many years ago and yet it still goes on quite a few 'full gospel' churches, Pentecostal and Charismatic became insular and withdrawn. They came for the spiritual 'drunk'. They hung around the alter getting staggeringly drunk on the presence of the Lord. Now don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with worship, getting happy, full of the Spirit or what ever Christianese term you want to use to describe being full of the Holy Spirit. However they stopped up the flow and turned it into a pool party mentality and because there was no flow from the pool it became stagnant and died out. Once again this did not happen everywhere but it did happen. This is what I refer to a pool party.
Now, Acts chapter 2. My study today showed me how to differentiate between a healthy flow and a dangerous one. This study took me beyond the initial outpouring and to the results we should see if we are being truly healthy in our spiritual growth and life. When we turn our worship into a bar like mentality we end up worshiping the the results and not the result giver. What is healthy.. In Acts chapter 2 v 1-13 was the initial out pouring.. then....
v14-36 the Word was preached- Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, why He came, how God honored Him, the showing that they(the listeners) were guilty but there was salvation through Jesus Christ.
v40- Repentance happened, 3000 were added to the church.
v 41-47 Holds these truths.. they were baptized, continued in sound teaching, prayed, signs and wonders through the apostles happened, took care of one another, were in one accord, went to temple' church', fellowship-ed, praised God and ADDED TO THE CHURCH.
This is the sign of a healthy growing body of Christ. We need to guard against worshiping the Feelings, the emotions. These are wonderful but they are not God. They are manifestations from our being that we have been in His presence. When we become more interested in splashing around and less in the lost outside we have become a church of Pool Party mentality. So break up your dam and let the RIVER of LIFE flow from you. Life was never meant to hoarded but shared.
I bet by now you are wondering how pool party comes into it aren't you? Let me digress for a bit if you will...Many years ago and yet it still goes on quite a few 'full gospel' churches, Pentecostal and Charismatic became insular and withdrawn. They came for the spiritual 'drunk'. They hung around the alter getting staggeringly drunk on the presence of the Lord. Now don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with worship, getting happy, full of the Spirit or what ever Christianese term you want to use to describe being full of the Holy Spirit. However they stopped up the flow and turned it into a pool party mentality and because there was no flow from the pool it became stagnant and died out. Once again this did not happen everywhere but it did happen. This is what I refer to a pool party.
Now, Acts chapter 2. My study today showed me how to differentiate between a healthy flow and a dangerous one. This study took me beyond the initial outpouring and to the results we should see if we are being truly healthy in our spiritual growth and life. When we turn our worship into a bar like mentality we end up worshiping the the results and not the result giver. What is healthy.. In Acts chapter 2 v 1-13 was the initial out pouring.. then....
v14-36 the Word was preached- Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, why He came, how God honored Him, the showing that they(the listeners) were guilty but there was salvation through Jesus Christ.
v40- Repentance happened, 3000 were added to the church.
v 41-47 Holds these truths.. they were baptized, continued in sound teaching, prayed, signs and wonders through the apostles happened, took care of one another, were in one accord, went to temple' church', fellowship-ed, praised God and ADDED TO THE CHURCH.
This is the sign of a healthy growing body of Christ. We need to guard against worshiping the Feelings, the emotions. These are wonderful but they are not God. They are manifestations from our being that we have been in His presence. When we become more interested in splashing around and less in the lost outside we have become a church of Pool Party mentality. So break up your dam and let the RIVER of LIFE flow from you. Life was never meant to hoarded but shared.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
A new look
Any one who knows me at all knows that I get frustrated with what I call spiritual cliches. I realize that we all fall into that trap once in a while and cliches become cliches because they are so true, sound good, and sometimes sound more spiritual. It isn't sin but it is a pet peeve. lol. So I ran across a portion of scripture that is usually not taught in a total and never really gone into in depth. Well I can't get to deep here on a blog but I for my own want to know look a little deeper. The scripture I am referring to is the Beatitudes. Mathew 5:3-10. When I got to the first one it captured me. If you will I will break what little I have learned down.
3) Blessed are the poor in spirit..Poor in spirit =someone who realize their abject poverty and inability to save themselves. They realize without Jesus there is no hope. Because of this realization they cling to Jesus and in doing so inherit the Kingdom of God.
4)Blessed are they that mourn- It does not really refer to those who are mourning the dead. It does refer to those who mourn their sinfulness and in doing so turn to Jesus. One reference I ran into says it can also refer to those who are oppressed...The word says those shall be comforted. How? Because Jesus came and He is our comfort.
5) Blessed are the meek...powerless. Because in and of ourselves we are powerless to effect change. Only through Christ can we be made new and in His doing so the powerless will be given power to inherit the earth. Now one way to look at this is terra firma but what if we look at it this way.. Bless are the spiritually powerless because Jesus becomes your power when you make him Lord and He gives you power over your earth(body, mind, and spirit) restoring you to right standing with the Father.
6)Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.. I ran into one explanation that says this could be a metaphor for Jesus coming and being our spiritual feast. Without Jesus as Lord we are hungry and thirsty and He comes and breaks our 'fast' and fill us...thus They shall be filled.
7)Blessed are the merciful..To be honest I am still chewing on this one and will need to get back to it later.But in obvious choice. Give mercy -receive mercy.
8)Blessed are pure in heart-'spiritually cleansed'. How do we get that way..Through Jesus and His blood. Because Jesus came and paid the price we can be clean' pure of heart.' We through Jesus have been restored to relationship with God the Father.
9)Blessed are the peacemakers--does not refer to pacifism. It more closely refers being at Peace with God and man. When we are at peace with God our lives will exemplify God's attributes. We reflect more and more of Him as we open our hearts to the Peace giving power of the Holy Spirit with in us. Someone who walks in peace with the Father stands out and they will say..they must be a Christian(there goes a son of God).
10) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake- the word here more closely means hounded. Have your ever had to stand and say I can't do that it isn't right and been made fun of? It is a mild form of what this means and the word says yours is the kingdom of heaven.
This has been what I have been looking at this week. It all comes down to this- Jesus came to achieve all of this in our lives. We were poor in spirit, mourning, powerless, hungry, thirsty, without mercy,unclean of heart, at war within and without and separated from God. We had no hope within ourselves and because Jesus paid the price we now Spiritually rich, comforted, given power to overcome, filled, given mercy, cleansed, at peace with God . Blessed are we.. Happy, Joyful and Blessed. Thank you Jesus you have made life Beautiful..(Beatitudes/beautifier).. Jesus our Beautifier.
3) Blessed are the poor in spirit..Poor in spirit =someone who realize their abject poverty and inability to save themselves. They realize without Jesus there is no hope. Because of this realization they cling to Jesus and in doing so inherit the Kingdom of God.
4)Blessed are they that mourn- It does not really refer to those who are mourning the dead. It does refer to those who mourn their sinfulness and in doing so turn to Jesus. One reference I ran into says it can also refer to those who are oppressed...The word says those shall be comforted. How? Because Jesus came and He is our comfort.
5) Blessed are the meek...powerless. Because in and of ourselves we are powerless to effect change. Only through Christ can we be made new and in His doing so the powerless will be given power to inherit the earth. Now one way to look at this is terra firma but what if we look at it this way.. Bless are the spiritually powerless because Jesus becomes your power when you make him Lord and He gives you power over your earth(body, mind, and spirit) restoring you to right standing with the Father.
6)Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.. I ran into one explanation that says this could be a metaphor for Jesus coming and being our spiritual feast. Without Jesus as Lord we are hungry and thirsty and He comes and breaks our 'fast' and fill us...thus They shall be filled.
7)Blessed are the merciful..To be honest I am still chewing on this one and will need to get back to it later.But in obvious choice. Give mercy -receive mercy.
8)Blessed are pure in heart-'spiritually cleansed'. How do we get that way..Through Jesus and His blood. Because Jesus came and paid the price we can be clean' pure of heart.' We through Jesus have been restored to relationship with God the Father.
9)Blessed are the peacemakers--does not refer to pacifism. It more closely refers being at Peace with God and man. When we are at peace with God our lives will exemplify God's attributes. We reflect more and more of Him as we open our hearts to the Peace giving power of the Holy Spirit with in us. Someone who walks in peace with the Father stands out and they will say..they must be a Christian(there goes a son of God).
10) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake- the word here more closely means hounded. Have your ever had to stand and say I can't do that it isn't right and been made fun of? It is a mild form of what this means and the word says yours is the kingdom of heaven.
This has been what I have been looking at this week. It all comes down to this- Jesus came to achieve all of this in our lives. We were poor in spirit, mourning, powerless, hungry, thirsty, without mercy,unclean of heart, at war within and without and separated from God. We had no hope within ourselves and because Jesus paid the price we now Spiritually rich, comforted, given power to overcome, filled, given mercy, cleansed, at peace with God . Blessed are we.. Happy, Joyful and Blessed. Thank you Jesus you have made life Beautiful..(Beatitudes/beautifier).. Jesus our Beautifier.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Where's the fire
I have seen on other social media lately allot of excitement, angst, and drama. I have even been caught up in some of the political debate. While not deeply invested and I haven't lost any sleep over it, it did get me to wondering.. Where's the fire? Fire takes 3 elemental things to burn... fuel, oxygen and a heat source. If any of the 3 are missing the fire goes out. Now I am sure by this point you are wondering why I am going on about fire, let me explain. Proverbs 25v20a states...'Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;'
Many an argument will die away if we just let it be. Yes it was wrong what they did or said. Yes, it was hurtful how they treated you. Yes, you have the right to stand up for yourself. But friends you can not change people, you can only have control over your part in any situation. Now they may be blowing a bunch of hot air(talking about or spitting hate-oxygen) they may be tossing verbal daggers( heat) but you don't have to add the wood. My dad constantly reminds me not to stir the pot. He says if you stir it it is going to stink. Like most people I have some old, new and very present hurts. I have discovered that if I don't constantly go over my 'they did this, I felt that list' that my hurt heals faster. I guess its like pulling off the scab on a wound. If you keep pulling off the scab it takes longer to heal. Does it make it right that someone yelled or called you a name? No however you got to let go and get to healing. Remove your wood from the fire. Don't feed it, don't stroke it, don't let it have reign over your life, for as long as you do they have reign over you. Turn to the Lord Jesus and ask for his peace and let it reign.
Now please, don't misunderstand me. There are some people who constantly trample over the line and must be dealt with. However dealing with them may mean not acknowledging them and letting them stew in their own juices. It may be you have to tell them that they are acting in an inappropriate manner you will no longer deal with them..have a good life! But above all you need to release(forgive) them. Forgiveness isn't for their benefit but your. I guess all this is a little rambling but in the common language--take your dog out of the fight. Because without wood the fire goes out, without your eyes or ears seeking out what or who said what, your pain will ease. Anyone who knows you will know if someone is lying on you.
If the offender is someone you must deal with, limit the access they have to you. By pursuing a less dramatic existence you will have a more pleasant one.
Many an argument will die away if we just let it be. Yes it was wrong what they did or said. Yes, it was hurtful how they treated you. Yes, you have the right to stand up for yourself. But friends you can not change people, you can only have control over your part in any situation. Now they may be blowing a bunch of hot air(talking about or spitting hate-oxygen) they may be tossing verbal daggers( heat) but you don't have to add the wood. My dad constantly reminds me not to stir the pot. He says if you stir it it is going to stink. Like most people I have some old, new and very present hurts. I have discovered that if I don't constantly go over my 'they did this, I felt that list' that my hurt heals faster. I guess its like pulling off the scab on a wound. If you keep pulling off the scab it takes longer to heal. Does it make it right that someone yelled or called you a name? No however you got to let go and get to healing. Remove your wood from the fire. Don't feed it, don't stroke it, don't let it have reign over your life, for as long as you do they have reign over you. Turn to the Lord Jesus and ask for his peace and let it reign.
Now please, don't misunderstand me. There are some people who constantly trample over the line and must be dealt with. However dealing with them may mean not acknowledging them and letting them stew in their own juices. It may be you have to tell them that they are acting in an inappropriate manner you will no longer deal with them..have a good life! But above all you need to release(forgive) them. Forgiveness isn't for their benefit but your. I guess all this is a little rambling but in the common language--take your dog out of the fight. Because without wood the fire goes out, without your eyes or ears seeking out what or who said what, your pain will ease. Anyone who knows you will know if someone is lying on you.
If the offender is someone you must deal with, limit the access they have to you. By pursuing a less dramatic existence you will have a more pleasant one.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Counting
Time is short, that is the long and the short of the matter. Weather life was minutes or 100 years in the space of eternity we are come and gone. We put off doing things until later. We will serve Jesus later. We will quit doing this or that later.
Let us take a look at Psalms 90. It was a prayer of Moses to Father God. V1 acknowledge God as our refuge. Verse 2 acknowledges His eternalness. From everlasting to everlasting.The chapter also acknowledged the sins of his, Moses, nation. But the verse that spoke the most to me is verse 12- Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
How many times have we just drifted along doing the same old thing and expecting different results? Weather it be in the natural realm or the spiritual realm we drift. When I started contemplating this blog I was thinking of people who I know are not serving God or just plain old straddling the fence. I was thinking of ones who show up to church occasionally as fire insurance but, I have began to see that Christians have not been numbering their days well. And by Christians I mean me.
How many times have I woke up and realized that it had been 2, 3, 5 days since I picked up a bible or took time away from the runaround world and prayed? How many times have I thought to myself I need to spend more time with God? There are many who read this who will recognize themselves here I am sure. We lack power in the house of God because we do not spend time with the creator of the house. We have same old church as usual because ritual is what is left when we lose relationship or it has grown lukewarm. The word tells us that Christ will spew the lukewarm from out of his mouth.
This blog today is an accounting. This blog is a numbering of my days. I am contemplating, laying it out and being accountable before God. In doing so I will gain a heart of wisdom. I want my relationship with the Father to be one of closeness not just a fond remembrance of the past. I want to a be what He wants me to be-being able to hear Him when He says go this way or go that way. I want to be able to pray for someone when He says pray and not have to think that He will be shocked to hear from me..ahem.. I want my relationship to surpass everything else in this world. So here on January 2, 2012--I begin anew considering my ways and counting my days.. How about you?
Let us take a look at Psalms 90. It was a prayer of Moses to Father God. V1 acknowledge God as our refuge. Verse 2 acknowledges His eternalness. From everlasting to everlasting.The chapter also acknowledged the sins of his, Moses, nation. But the verse that spoke the most to me is verse 12- Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
How many times have we just drifted along doing the same old thing and expecting different results? Weather it be in the natural realm or the spiritual realm we drift. When I started contemplating this blog I was thinking of people who I know are not serving God or just plain old straddling the fence. I was thinking of ones who show up to church occasionally as fire insurance but, I have began to see that Christians have not been numbering their days well. And by Christians I mean me.
How many times have I woke up and realized that it had been 2, 3, 5 days since I picked up a bible or took time away from the runaround world and prayed? How many times have I thought to myself I need to spend more time with God? There are many who read this who will recognize themselves here I am sure. We lack power in the house of God because we do not spend time with the creator of the house. We have same old church as usual because ritual is what is left when we lose relationship or it has grown lukewarm. The word tells us that Christ will spew the lukewarm from out of his mouth.
This blog today is an accounting. This blog is a numbering of my days. I am contemplating, laying it out and being accountable before God. In doing so I will gain a heart of wisdom. I want my relationship with the Father to be one of closeness not just a fond remembrance of the past. I want to a be what He wants me to be-being able to hear Him when He says go this way or go that way. I want to be able to pray for someone when He says pray and not have to think that He will be shocked to hear from me..ahem.. I want my relationship to surpass everything else in this world. So here on January 2, 2012--I begin anew considering my ways and counting my days.. How about you?
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