The other day I was in the accountability group with Mike and Jane. I was listening to Mike give an analogy over and over about Mustang Wild vs. Saddle Broke. He kept saying it as though being saddle broke was bad. I have to look at it another way.
While it is true that Mustangs run wild and seem to be care free, the reality is that they run out of fear. All of their lives they are scared and unsure about what will happen next. They have to scrounge for food and stay alert all night, because the darkness holds so many enemies. They never truly know where they will end up and they have to rely on themselves to do all of the "heavy lifting."
When they are caught they fight the ropes. They pull against those who are trying to make their lives easier. At first the saddle and bridle feel like restraints. They fight and kick trying to stay in the life they have become accustom to. They watch the other tamed horses and fear that all of their spirit has been taken away. What they do not realize is that the horses who have surrendered to their master have surrendered out of strength. Yes, they no longer run everywhere they desire, but when they run it is not out of fear. They know they will be taken care of. They do not have to worry when the world gets dark, for they know their master is in control. They can be completely secure in their walk because they are being lead by someone who knows their destination.
This life is a life of choices. You can either choose to run this life out of fear or you can choose to surrender to the master of life. It is not a bad thing to surrender. By surrendering you can find true freedom. Those of us who have been caught by the master have become secure in our journey. We no longer have to fear or fight. We can travel with the assurance that we do not have to worry about anything.
It seems so scary at first. When the ropes feel so tight around your neck, you feel like fighting and you think you are going to be strangled. Some times it takes quite a while. Then you hit your knees, because the fight is so hard. After you stop fighting against the ropes you find that you can breath. You can live in peace and assurance that you are going to be taken care of. It does not mean that you will never have to carry a heavy load and the road may be long. But your master will never give you anything that you cannot carry, with his help. He will guide you and keep you safe. Do not fight against the rope, follow your master. Fear is no longer your way of life.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Waiting on God
Impatience is my number one enemy, it always has been. I love instant gratification. I like to see the results before the work is completed. As I watch other lives, I become impatient. I want them to be "fixed" now. I work this way with health and spiritual development. Everything takes time and waiting is not my strong suit.
I have a friend who is dying with an awful disease and another who is dealing with drugs and alcohol. I have, with the help of my mother, been led by God to alternative health care. I have Multiple Sclerosis. It hit me hard and fast when I was 20. But my mother, being a RN, new there was not much the Dr's could do for me. She began the search and God guided us to Chinese medicine. Now I am very healthy and I have begun taking a fruit and veggie supplement called Juice Plus+. I am even a distributor I love this stuff so much. I want people to just accept the fact that I have walked down those lonely roads, before them. I have paved the path for their "quick fix." But, it does not work that way. Everyone has to figure it out on their own and this takes time and patience. This is where God is still working on me.
Instead of fixating on how far they still need to go, I need to see how far they have come. Many people can look at me and think, "Why don't you get it, it is right in front of you." But as with everyone, I have to figure it out on my own. I have to walk the road of growth, so that it sticks. Anything that is given to us easily, does not help to make us stronger. That is why so many poor people, who win the lottery, end up poor. Nothing that is worth holding on to comes easily. If drugs were easy to give up, I would be tempted to use them every once in a while. If I hadn't been so badly stricken with MS, I wouldn't have been so convinced when God gave me the tools that actually helped me.
Everyone has to figure out what God wants of them, on their own. I can be here for them to watch and lean upon. I cannot save them, or give them a quick fix. They have to search that one on their own. When they are ready they will finally have their eyes open and they will discover the path to a better life. That is the same with me, when I am spiritually mature enough to handle different things, God will open my eyes and I will finally understand. We cannot focus on the now. We must look at how far we have actually come and strain toward what lies ahead. If I look, just a the now, it seems so far to the prize. We have to look at the whole picture.
My friend with this disease is searching. They eat better and are trying alternative medicine. They still have a long way to go, but look how far they have come. My friend that is dealing with drugs is doing so much better. She no longer is getting high all of the time. She is trying. She still relies on cigarettes, but she is at least trying. Before she just wanted to get high, now she wants to leave that life behind her. I still lose my patience and my anger still surfaces every once in a while. But now, I am getting better with waiting on God and the fire I used to feel, very seldom burns me with anger.
Can we just be stagnant? No, God wants us to continue to strive for better. Stagnant people live in their sin, in their weakness. People who love God and want to know him are moving forward. The question is not do you know God in your head, but do you want to know him with your heart? If you are stagnant, that is when you should fear. If you are moving then God is moving in you. I am so thankful that God can see the whole picture. I am glad that he is the creator of patience. If it were up to me, I would have been dead in my sin long ago. I would have sent myself to the abyss. It is not up to me. Thank God, it is not up to me. He is the one at work in peoples lives, I am just a tool. My job is to wait on God and let him do the work. The only thing that he has asked of me, is to love. I am hear to love all of his people, not fix them.......
I have a friend who is dying with an awful disease and another who is dealing with drugs and alcohol. I have, with the help of my mother, been led by God to alternative health care. I have Multiple Sclerosis. It hit me hard and fast when I was 20. But my mother, being a RN, new there was not much the Dr's could do for me. She began the search and God guided us to Chinese medicine. Now I am very healthy and I have begun taking a fruit and veggie supplement called Juice Plus+. I am even a distributor I love this stuff so much. I want people to just accept the fact that I have walked down those lonely roads, before them. I have paved the path for their "quick fix." But, it does not work that way. Everyone has to figure it out on their own and this takes time and patience. This is where God is still working on me.
Instead of fixating on how far they still need to go, I need to see how far they have come. Many people can look at me and think, "Why don't you get it, it is right in front of you." But as with everyone, I have to figure it out on my own. I have to walk the road of growth, so that it sticks. Anything that is given to us easily, does not help to make us stronger. That is why so many poor people, who win the lottery, end up poor. Nothing that is worth holding on to comes easily. If drugs were easy to give up, I would be tempted to use them every once in a while. If I hadn't been so badly stricken with MS, I wouldn't have been so convinced when God gave me the tools that actually helped me.
Everyone has to figure out what God wants of them, on their own. I can be here for them to watch and lean upon. I cannot save them, or give them a quick fix. They have to search that one on their own. When they are ready they will finally have their eyes open and they will discover the path to a better life. That is the same with me, when I am spiritually mature enough to handle different things, God will open my eyes and I will finally understand. We cannot focus on the now. We must look at how far we have actually come and strain toward what lies ahead. If I look, just a the now, it seems so far to the prize. We have to look at the whole picture.
My friend with this disease is searching. They eat better and are trying alternative medicine. They still have a long way to go, but look how far they have come. My friend that is dealing with drugs is doing so much better. She no longer is getting high all of the time. She is trying. She still relies on cigarettes, but she is at least trying. Before she just wanted to get high, now she wants to leave that life behind her. I still lose my patience and my anger still surfaces every once in a while. But now, I am getting better with waiting on God and the fire I used to feel, very seldom burns me with anger.
Can we just be stagnant? No, God wants us to continue to strive for better. Stagnant people live in their sin, in their weakness. People who love God and want to know him are moving forward. The question is not do you know God in your head, but do you want to know him with your heart? If you are stagnant, that is when you should fear. If you are moving then God is moving in you. I am so thankful that God can see the whole picture. I am glad that he is the creator of patience. If it were up to me, I would have been dead in my sin long ago. I would have sent myself to the abyss. It is not up to me. Thank God, it is not up to me. He is the one at work in peoples lives, I am just a tool. My job is to wait on God and let him do the work. The only thing that he has asked of me, is to love. I am hear to love all of his people, not fix them.......
Monday, April 21, 2008
Heart Ache
I was recently in a meeting with a young couple, Mike and Jane, who are trying to get their life together, after drugs and alcohol. His mother, Sally, was there as part of the accountability group. There were two main things that hit me and made me very sad. The first was how painful their life is, and the second was his mother. The meeting lasted for two hours and in those two hours I didn't have much to say, which is a first. I just listened and looked at all those involved.
As I watched Mike give his "speech" to us, on how he is changing his life, Jane cried. Their life is in turmoil. They have no money, because of the addictions, and it seems like everything is so hard. I kept looking at Jane and Sally; I looked into my life and placed myself, very easily, in Jane's seat. I couldn't help it, I was right with her on her journey. I took that journey several years ago, the only difference was, she has children and she is trying to do this with her husband. My heart breaks for her and for Sally. My mother was in Sally's seat. My mother had that pain on her face and her heart was in turmoil. I cried so much after that meeting, my heart breaks for them....
I think this is why I try to help those who have broken their lives with drugs and other hurtful things of this world. I can so easily place myself in their shoes. I feel their pain and how truly alone they feel. I feel their sorrow and I know their despair. I was there. My mother was sitting in that seat thinking, "Will you ever get your life together, is there any hope, where is God in your life?" I can answer those questions now. God is there, he is right there helping Mike and Jane. He is there putting the right people in their lives. He is helping them, only they cannot see him, yet.
I pray that Sally can find a little peace in knowing that I made it. Let me tell you, if I can make it, then Mike and Jane can too. The only thing that made it easier for me was that I had no children. But, in saying that, the children may be the ones giving them the reason to save themselves. I had no money. I was addicted to drugs. I was a stripper. My life was full of turmoil. I had no hope and no God. But isn't it interesting, God was right there the whole time. He was there whispering in my ear, I only had to listen.
I recently read Philippians, The book of Joy. I am so thankful that I now have joy. I have peace. I have been saved from my life of turmoil. I no longer have shame at my door. I am whole and pure. I thank my God for saving me, before I could feel him. I thank him that he looked into my heart and saw a broken spirit, that he desired to mend. Phil. 3:3, "We put no confidence in human effort. Instead we boast about what Christ Jesus has done for us." I did not save myself. My mother did not save me. God saved me! God loved me, while I was unlovable.
Phil. 2:12-18, "...God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him....You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God....I will rejoice, and I want to share my joy....rejoice with me." Often it is in doing God's will that we gain the desire to do it. It takes stepping out of our comfort zones and doing the work. After a while the work becomes our desire and it is no longer work, but our life. A life full of joy, peace, purity and love.
"My Father,
Please be with those who are suffering and trapped by the lies of Satan. Let them see that we are meant to have joy and peace in you. This life does not have to be a struggle and that with you all things are possible. It only takes one step at a time. Nothing comes over night, but the journey is so worth it. Let your love be known and know that we, none of us, are perfect. Yet, you love all of us, just the same. You are a true and just God. I thank you that you are not a God of works, but a God of love.
Amen"
As I watched Mike give his "speech" to us, on how he is changing his life, Jane cried. Their life is in turmoil. They have no money, because of the addictions, and it seems like everything is so hard. I kept looking at Jane and Sally; I looked into my life and placed myself, very easily, in Jane's seat. I couldn't help it, I was right with her on her journey. I took that journey several years ago, the only difference was, she has children and she is trying to do this with her husband. My heart breaks for her and for Sally. My mother was in Sally's seat. My mother had that pain on her face and her heart was in turmoil. I cried so much after that meeting, my heart breaks for them....
I think this is why I try to help those who have broken their lives with drugs and other hurtful things of this world. I can so easily place myself in their shoes. I feel their pain and how truly alone they feel. I feel their sorrow and I know their despair. I was there. My mother was sitting in that seat thinking, "Will you ever get your life together, is there any hope, where is God in your life?" I can answer those questions now. God is there, he is right there helping Mike and Jane. He is there putting the right people in their lives. He is helping them, only they cannot see him, yet.
I pray that Sally can find a little peace in knowing that I made it. Let me tell you, if I can make it, then Mike and Jane can too. The only thing that made it easier for me was that I had no children. But, in saying that, the children may be the ones giving them the reason to save themselves. I had no money. I was addicted to drugs. I was a stripper. My life was full of turmoil. I had no hope and no God. But isn't it interesting, God was right there the whole time. He was there whispering in my ear, I only had to listen.
I recently read Philippians, The book of Joy. I am so thankful that I now have joy. I have peace. I have been saved from my life of turmoil. I no longer have shame at my door. I am whole and pure. I thank my God for saving me, before I could feel him. I thank him that he looked into my heart and saw a broken spirit, that he desired to mend. Phil. 3:3, "We put no confidence in human effort. Instead we boast about what Christ Jesus has done for us." I did not save myself. My mother did not save me. God saved me! God loved me, while I was unlovable.
Phil. 2:12-18, "...God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him....You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God....I will rejoice, and I want to share my joy....rejoice with me." Often it is in doing God's will that we gain the desire to do it. It takes stepping out of our comfort zones and doing the work. After a while the work becomes our desire and it is no longer work, but our life. A life full of joy, peace, purity and love.
"My Father,
Please be with those who are suffering and trapped by the lies of Satan. Let them see that we are meant to have joy and peace in you. This life does not have to be a struggle and that with you all things are possible. It only takes one step at a time. Nothing comes over night, but the journey is so worth it. Let your love be known and know that we, none of us, are perfect. Yet, you love all of us, just the same. You are a true and just God. I thank you that you are not a God of works, but a God of love.
Amen"
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Old Pictures
I was looking at some old pictures of my life, just the other day. I saw so much in those photos. My younger days were full of animals and bugs (tomboy days). I had very short hair and I was always dirty. It wasn't until I reached puberty that people realized I was a girl. My body started changing when I was in the 5th grade. I was so awkward. I had short curly hair, my mother insisted on perms, I had glasses, and I was developing breasts. I truly looked pathetic.
I was always a very lonely child. In fact most of my life I have been alone. I did not fit in with the rest of the girls. I was too interested in bugs and stuff. I look back at my childhood, I smile and hurt all at the same time. I had a good life. My parents gave us a good life. We were loved, but childhood is hard. It is a time of discovering who you are, developing your personality, and figuring out right from wrong.
How does a child, who is already confused and struggling with her changing body, handle being molested? I'll tell you how I handled it. I started letting all of the young boys feel me. I became "that girl." Then at age 15, I lost my virginity, in the boys bathroom at school. (And people wonder why I choose to home school)
All that I ever wanted was to get married, so that I would no longer have to struggle with sex. What I did not understand was, marriage would not fix a broken heart. That was never the answer. I married the first guy who would run away with me. I married him to avoid life. In return, I discovered the reality of life without Christ guiding your steps.
Ephesians 2
"Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan (the accuser), the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead."
Satan "accused" me all of my life and convinced me that I was dirty, worthless, no good to anyone, I was only meant for sex and to be used. OH, how wonderful is Jesus. He found me while I was laying in my own blood and washed me clean. I am now pure. For the first time in my life I feel Pure, Holy, Clean and Wanted. I cry....
"Thank you, my Lord, for saving me while I was dying. Thank you, for loving me when I was unlovable."
I was always a very lonely child. In fact most of my life I have been alone. I did not fit in with the rest of the girls. I was too interested in bugs and stuff. I look back at my childhood, I smile and hurt all at the same time. I had a good life. My parents gave us a good life. We were loved, but childhood is hard. It is a time of discovering who you are, developing your personality, and figuring out right from wrong.
How does a child, who is already confused and struggling with her changing body, handle being molested? I'll tell you how I handled it. I started letting all of the young boys feel me. I became "that girl." Then at age 15, I lost my virginity, in the boys bathroom at school. (And people wonder why I choose to home school)
All that I ever wanted was to get married, so that I would no longer have to struggle with sex. What I did not understand was, marriage would not fix a broken heart. That was never the answer. I married the first guy who would run away with me. I married him to avoid life. In return, I discovered the reality of life without Christ guiding your steps.
Ephesians 2
"Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan (the accuser), the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead."
Satan "accused" me all of my life and convinced me that I was dirty, worthless, no good to anyone, I was only meant for sex and to be used. OH, how wonderful is Jesus. He found me while I was laying in my own blood and washed me clean. I am now pure. For the first time in my life I feel Pure, Holy, Clean and Wanted. I cry....
"Thank you, my Lord, for saving me while I was dying. Thank you, for loving me when I was unlovable."
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Do's and Don'ts
My older brother has three children, and one on the way. He and his wife are very strong in their faith. They are homeschooling their kids and teaching them about the love of God. They had the two older kids come up with a list of rules and consequences, if the rules were broken. After a time of trying to follow the rules, they were very discouraged. They began to complain that it was too hard, at which my brother would reply, "But you came up with the rules, aren't they fair." The children did agree they were fair rules, but who could live up to so many rules. Living by rules is hard. It is not very much fun, you are constantly expecting the worst, because no one can keep all of the rules.
He shared this new development with me, just the other day. He based it out of Galatians. Which just "happened" to be the book I was beginning to read. Isn't God cool! He gives us what we need, when we need it. We cannot earn God's love, we cannot obey every rule, and we are Loved by God, just the same.
We cannot earn our salvation. The call upon us is to love one another. Gal 5:6, "What is important is faith expressing itself in love." Loving one another is all that God is asking of us. Gal 5:13ff, "For you have been called to live in freedom-not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love....But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants."
Here is a list, following the sinful nature, many focus on the obvious ones, but look deeper at the ones that are not so obvious:
sexual immorality, impure thought, eagerness for lustful pleasure idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, division, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin.
Gal 5:21, "Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Here is a list that shows you, the Holy Spirit is in control of your life:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
Gal 5:24, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there."
The list of don'ts are long. They are not impossible to stay away from for they bring a sour harvest. The list of do's are easy and bring a wonderful bounty. Gal 6:5-10, "For we are each responsible for our own conduct...Don't be misled. Remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it. You will reap what YOU sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit."
Does this mean that I get everything right? No, this is what is so wonderful. It is not that we earn our salvation. God did not make a set of do's and don'ts so that we earn our way to heaven. That is why Christ died. The rules are for us so that we find true joy. Living a life to only please our self, at that moment, is a life of death. What you sow is what you reap. I have discovered that to truly live in joy, I must sow love, peace and kindness. This is what all of us as parents desire for our children. Our Father desires us to have a life of freedom, a good life. I must ask myself every day, "What am I sowing, so that I feel this way, good or bad?" Do I feel good, Do I feel bad? It is my choice.
I am free! Free in Christ and his everlasting LOVE!
He shared this new development with me, just the other day. He based it out of Galatians. Which just "happened" to be the book I was beginning to read. Isn't God cool! He gives us what we need, when we need it. We cannot earn God's love, we cannot obey every rule, and we are Loved by God, just the same.
We cannot earn our salvation. The call upon us is to love one another. Gal 5:6, "What is important is faith expressing itself in love." Loving one another is all that God is asking of us. Gal 5:13ff, "For you have been called to live in freedom-not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love....But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants."
Here is a list, following the sinful nature, many focus on the obvious ones, but look deeper at the ones that are not so obvious:
sexual immorality, impure thought, eagerness for lustful pleasure idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, division, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin.
Gal 5:21, "Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Here is a list that shows you, the Holy Spirit is in control of your life:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
Gal 5:24, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there."
The list of don'ts are long. They are not impossible to stay away from for they bring a sour harvest. The list of do's are easy and bring a wonderful bounty. Gal 6:5-10, "For we are each responsible for our own conduct...Don't be misled. Remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it. You will reap what YOU sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit."
Does this mean that I get everything right? No, this is what is so wonderful. It is not that we earn our salvation. God did not make a set of do's and don'ts so that we earn our way to heaven. That is why Christ died. The rules are for us so that we find true joy. Living a life to only please our self, at that moment, is a life of death. What you sow is what you reap. I have discovered that to truly live in joy, I must sow love, peace and kindness. This is what all of us as parents desire for our children. Our Father desires us to have a life of freedom, a good life. I must ask myself every day, "What am I sowing, so that I feel this way, good or bad?" Do I feel good, Do I feel bad? It is my choice.
I am free! Free in Christ and his everlasting LOVE!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Living Right byproduct of Loving God
There are many ideas about Christianity. I have been growing and learning through my daily walks with my Lord. I have grown in the knowledge of his love and his wonderful GRACE. There is so much there, he loved me when....He still loves me now. The only thing that has chanced is my gratitude for his love. Because, those who have been forgiven much, love much. Oh, how I have been forgiven much. He still forgives me daily. I can never do enough to earn what he has already forgiven.
There are those who believe; you have to live by a long list of do's and don'ts. This group of people believes that God's favor is earned by good behavior. I have been in this group. I believed that if you really changed on the inside you should show that change on the outside. This system of belief tends to make God's love something to earn, rather than free acceptance from God.
Then there are those who believe; Gods Word is not as important as our personal sense of God's guidance. They believe that, it is all about how you feel and you do not need to go to church, read God's word or live a certain way. I have also been a part of this group. I believed that I was fine, without the help of other believers and that I had no need for his daily guidance. My belief that he was real, was enough. What I did not realize was this system leaves you open for false beliefs and false teachers. I need the help of the other believers and I most desperately need his word to help guide me to "true freedom."
While, both of these beliefs have their good and are partially correct, they do not give the whole picture. True Christianity, is to believe inwardly and outwardly that Jesus' death has allowed God to forgive us. This is an eternal gift. We accept that gift through faith. I show my gratitude for what God has done for me. I show my gratitude by trying my best to live a life that pleases my Father. This love is both private and public. I am now challenged to live a life of obedience, out of gratitude, for saving me. While, I was still living in sin.
I no longer live trying to please God, so that he will accept me. But, I live my life, so that I can show him, how thankful I truly am. He has freed me from my life of sin. I am no longer a slave of this world but I am a free woman. I love my Lord. I want to thank him daily for loving me when I was unlovable. I did nothing to deserve his love. He loved me first. He set me free even when I did not realize I was a slave.
There are those who believe; you have to live by a long list of do's and don'ts. This group of people believes that God's favor is earned by good behavior. I have been in this group. I believed that if you really changed on the inside you should show that change on the outside. This system of belief tends to make God's love something to earn, rather than free acceptance from God.
Then there are those who believe; Gods Word is not as important as our personal sense of God's guidance. They believe that, it is all about how you feel and you do not need to go to church, read God's word or live a certain way. I have also been a part of this group. I believed that I was fine, without the help of other believers and that I had no need for his daily guidance. My belief that he was real, was enough. What I did not realize was this system leaves you open for false beliefs and false teachers. I need the help of the other believers and I most desperately need his word to help guide me to "true freedom."
While, both of these beliefs have their good and are partially correct, they do not give the whole picture. True Christianity, is to believe inwardly and outwardly that Jesus' death has allowed God to forgive us. This is an eternal gift. We accept that gift through faith. I show my gratitude for what God has done for me. I show my gratitude by trying my best to live a life that pleases my Father. This love is both private and public. I am now challenged to live a life of obedience, out of gratitude, for saving me. While, I was still living in sin.
I no longer live trying to please God, so that he will accept me. But, I live my life, so that I can show him, how thankful I truly am. He has freed me from my life of sin. I am no longer a slave of this world but I am a free woman. I love my Lord. I want to thank him daily for loving me when I was unlovable. I did nothing to deserve his love. He loved me first. He set me free even when I did not realize I was a slave.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Helper even through Sexual Sin!
Ladies Night Out
Study Notes
Study Notes
4-7-08
I recently went to another Stone Gate retreat. Stone Gate is the counseling center I went to, after I left my ex-husband. I have a strong desire to share, what we learned there. To encourage you, when you face the difficult times, your husband probably already faces, everyday.
I want you to raise your hands, if your husband is in church leadership; pastor/preacher, youth minister, worship leader/song leader, deacon, elder.
50% of all men in church leadership struggle with some sort of pornography
80% of the rest of men struggle with it
Gen 2:15, 18, 20
The garden was not paradise.
It is a place to work. It was a lot of work for Adam so he needed help, God gave him a helper fit for him.
I watch Jimmy and Karen Evans on Marriage Today, Channel 369, DTV. I have not looked this up, but he says that the word helper, is used to describe two different things in the bible. This one certain word, that is used in Genesis to describe Eve, is the same word used to describe the Holy Spirit.
I looked up Holy Spirit on the internet and this is some of the things that were said.
The Holy Spirit is composed of intellect, emotions and will. In 1 Corinthians 2:11, we see an example of the Holy Spirit’s intellect and will: “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” In Romans 15:30, we see the Holy Spirit has emotion, as represented by the capacity to love: “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;” Although the Holy Spirit has all the characteristics of God, He has specific roles and functions in our lives. In John 16:13, we see the Spirit of Truth as our guide: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth: He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” In John 14:26, we learn that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor and teacher: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” In 1 Corinthians 3:16, we see that the Holy Spirit lives inside us: “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” In Acts 1:8, we understand where our power comes from: “When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power…." In Romans 8:26, we learn that the Holy Spirit is there for us in times of weakness and prayer: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, or how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”
In saying all of this I am not saying you are to be a nag and nag your husbands to death. We are not RIGHT about everything. And we are not the “know all” for our husbands.
This is the role of the Holy Spirit; How do we, fulfill this role, as helper, for our husbands? Can we place ourselves in the line of fire and pray for our husbands, can we help him to feel powerful? The question is; can we help him?
What do we need most from our husbands? What was the command of husbands toward their wives?
Eph 5:22
“Husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church…to make her holy and clean….for a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife.”
What do you see in the commandment for Husbands?
Something stood out to me that hit me right in my face. When I was married before and my husband was not loving me, at all, and was trying to destroy everything about me, who was he really hating, who was he truly trying to hurt? Himself. “For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife.” This is very sad to me, because instead of helping him with his self-hate I “turned up the volume.” I was no helper. I was his enemy.
What is our command? While he is telling the husband how they are to behave, toward their wives, he tells the wife what she needs to do, for her husband.
Eph 5:33
“Wife must respect your husband”
How do we respect a man that we see as week? How do we show him the honor he deserves as a husband when we do not feel he is living up to the command that God gave him? How do we stay with a man that has committed adultery, lives in silent pornography, or shows no respect or love toward us as wives? How?
All of this, for a long time, baffled me. Yes, it is easy to respect a man who loves me first. It is easy to follow a man who leads a godly life. How do you fulfill your role as a wife when your husband is, in your eyes, not even close to being the man that God called him to be?
I can tell you what will not work.
*Giving in to his weakness, never works. (looking at ect…)
*Disrespecting him, calling him names, throwing it in his face etc.
*Giving up on him
*Treating him with contempt
*Leaving him
None of these things work. Do you see anything of the Holy Spirit in any of these things? Truly how can this help him to love himself more? How can this show him who God truly is? Your job, as a helper, is to help him. Show him love and respect, so that he feels respectable.
I used to think that if a man is struggling with pornography, strip clubs, prostitution, etc; KICK HIM OUT!
I ask you, do you ever see the Holy Spirit saying, you are pathetic, you are dirt, you must leave, I never want to see you again, you will never amount to anything! No, the Holy Spirit is always there, trying to help you.
And how does he help you? By praying for you, with groanings, that you cannot understand.
Do you have to let him sleep with you? No, he can sleep on the couch.
Suppose your husband struggles with pornography and he has had struggles flirting with the idea of strip clubs, but has never acted on this. After you catch him and knock him to his knees, with your words of conformation, about how pathetic and worthless he is, you kick him out. Where do you think he will turn? You may just help him jump right into the pit he has so desperately been trying to avoid. Because let me tell you those women will give him exactly what he feels he needs, and that is to feel desired, on top of everything, worthy of respect (just because he is a man), and wanted.
I am in no way saying that it is your fault if he chooses to sin. But, ask yourself are you helping him. Is it your goal to help him get to heaven?
Now what does the bible say works?
*Wife must respect her husband
*Submit to your husband, as to God (God first Husband second)
*As a Helper
*Speak the truth in love, speak lovingly
*As a counselor
*Most of all PRAY for him
*Live so that he sees a change in you, God in you
*Live for God first
*Be nice
You cannot change your husband. You ARE commanded to help him, respect him and submit to him, and obey him.
You may not respect his actions. Just like we may not respect the person in office as president, we respect the position. He is your husband and you must respect his position.
If you are critical of your husband, you are not interceding for him. You are not praying for him and what he needs in order to obey God. You may be praying, but it is not what he needs, you will be praying for what you want.
To live by prayer is to pray often for pardon, peace with God and Brokenness. (sometimes in order to change we must first be broken)
We pray for God to change things rather than for God to change us.
Col 1:9-14
This is how we are to pray. The only thing that matters is that, we know God better and our husbands know God better. When this happens, God will guide us in our daily walk and we will not have to feel like, we have to do it all, on our own.
You are your husbands support group. This means you hold him accountable, you are his friend. You will not accept whatever action he throws at you, but you are on his side.
You are not his teacher, but you are his helper. And the closer you are in loving your God the better you will be at loving your husband the way Christ intended you to love him.
You have to ask yourself, When your spouses “body is in hell” is it the act that is most important to you or is it his soul.
God will do whatever it takes to save his soul all you have to do is be there for him when it hits, because sometimes, the things that save us hurt the most.
The loss of a life is nothing compared to the loss of a soul. Are you willing to lose your life here on earth in order to save your husband’s soul?
When the hard times come you must be willing to meditate on the Sovereignty of God during those difficult circumstances.
When we suffer in difficulties we often blame the devil. Be careful about blaming everything on the Devil. Look at what is really going on. God is in control of everything including evil.
Your job is to pursue vigorous holiness not self fulfillment. Its all about REDEMPTION. Am I living to glorify God? Our personal calling is to glorify God.
Our hearts are deceitful, we have short memories. Remind one another.
Rom 12:2
Don’t become arrogant. It is not about your husband’s actions, it is all about how you respond to him.
This life is not “my life” what does God want me to do?
The Garden was work, Marriage is work.
You are the helper in the garden; the garden is the world of people out there that are struggling without God, who need to know God. The garden just may be right in your own home.
It is your job to help your husband, if your husband is the only one that comes to Christ through your obeying Christ, isn’t that enough?
Don’t make marriage a god. You must know your job, you must recognize it and you must, with all of your heart and all of your strength turn to God and ask him to help you help your husband, with the work that is to be done. What ever that work is.
Girl’s, I know how it feels when you are asking, “Why aren’t I enough for you, why can’t you just love me and not need anyone else?”
You have to remember this struggle is not about you, it is his internal battle, with his own self worth. And you have the power to either be his helper or the one who hinders him the most. Choose to be his helper. I so, regret that I did not chose this path the first time. You must ask yourself, is his soul worth it?
Get close to God; fall in love with your savior. Ultimately, this is the only way you will ever be able to truly fulfill your roll in this world as a “HELPER.”
I want you to raise your hands, if your husband is in church leadership; pastor/preacher, youth minister, worship leader/song leader, deacon, elder.
50% of all men in church leadership struggle with some sort of pornography
80% of the rest of men struggle with it
Gen 2:15, 18, 20
The garden was not paradise.
It is a place to work. It was a lot of work for Adam so he needed help, God gave him a helper fit for him.
I watch Jimmy and Karen Evans on Marriage Today, Channel 369, DTV. I have not looked this up, but he says that the word helper, is used to describe two different things in the bible. This one certain word, that is used in Genesis to describe Eve, is the same word used to describe the Holy Spirit.
I looked up Holy Spirit on the internet and this is some of the things that were said.
The Holy Spirit is composed of intellect, emotions and will. In 1 Corinthians 2:11, we see an example of the Holy Spirit’s intellect and will: “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” In Romans 15:30, we see the Holy Spirit has emotion, as represented by the capacity to love: “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;” Although the Holy Spirit has all the characteristics of God, He has specific roles and functions in our lives. In John 16:13, we see the Spirit of Truth as our guide: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth: He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” In John 14:26, we learn that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor and teacher: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” In 1 Corinthians 3:16, we see that the Holy Spirit lives inside us: “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” In Acts 1:8, we understand where our power comes from: “When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power…." In Romans 8:26, we learn that the Holy Spirit is there for us in times of weakness and prayer: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, or how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”
In saying all of this I am not saying you are to be a nag and nag your husbands to death. We are not RIGHT about everything. And we are not the “know all” for our husbands.
This is the role of the Holy Spirit; How do we, fulfill this role, as helper, for our husbands? Can we place ourselves in the line of fire and pray for our husbands, can we help him to feel powerful? The question is; can we help him?
What do we need most from our husbands? What was the command of husbands toward their wives?
Eph 5:22
“Husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church…to make her holy and clean….for a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife.”
What do you see in the commandment for Husbands?
Something stood out to me that hit me right in my face. When I was married before and my husband was not loving me, at all, and was trying to destroy everything about me, who was he really hating, who was he truly trying to hurt? Himself. “For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife.” This is very sad to me, because instead of helping him with his self-hate I “turned up the volume.” I was no helper. I was his enemy.
What is our command? While he is telling the husband how they are to behave, toward their wives, he tells the wife what she needs to do, for her husband.
Eph 5:33
“Wife must respect your husband”
How do we respect a man that we see as week? How do we show him the honor he deserves as a husband when we do not feel he is living up to the command that God gave him? How do we stay with a man that has committed adultery, lives in silent pornography, or shows no respect or love toward us as wives? How?
All of this, for a long time, baffled me. Yes, it is easy to respect a man who loves me first. It is easy to follow a man who leads a godly life. How do you fulfill your role as a wife when your husband is, in your eyes, not even close to being the man that God called him to be?
I can tell you what will not work.
*Giving in to his weakness, never works. (looking at ect…)
*Disrespecting him, calling him names, throwing it in his face etc.
*Giving up on him
*Treating him with contempt
*Leaving him
None of these things work. Do you see anything of the Holy Spirit in any of these things? Truly how can this help him to love himself more? How can this show him who God truly is? Your job, as a helper, is to help him. Show him love and respect, so that he feels respectable.
I used to think that if a man is struggling with pornography, strip clubs, prostitution, etc; KICK HIM OUT!
I ask you, do you ever see the Holy Spirit saying, you are pathetic, you are dirt, you must leave, I never want to see you again, you will never amount to anything! No, the Holy Spirit is always there, trying to help you.
And how does he help you? By praying for you, with groanings, that you cannot understand.
Do you have to let him sleep with you? No, he can sleep on the couch.
Suppose your husband struggles with pornography and he has had struggles flirting with the idea of strip clubs, but has never acted on this. After you catch him and knock him to his knees, with your words of conformation, about how pathetic and worthless he is, you kick him out. Where do you think he will turn? You may just help him jump right into the pit he has so desperately been trying to avoid. Because let me tell you those women will give him exactly what he feels he needs, and that is to feel desired, on top of everything, worthy of respect (just because he is a man), and wanted.
I am in no way saying that it is your fault if he chooses to sin. But, ask yourself are you helping him. Is it your goal to help him get to heaven?
Now what does the bible say works?
*Wife must respect her husband
*Submit to your husband, as to God (God first Husband second)
*As a Helper
*Speak the truth in love, speak lovingly
*As a counselor
*Most of all PRAY for him
*Live so that he sees a change in you, God in you
*Live for God first
*Be nice
You cannot change your husband. You ARE commanded to help him, respect him and submit to him, and obey him.
You may not respect his actions. Just like we may not respect the person in office as president, we respect the position. He is your husband and you must respect his position.
If you are critical of your husband, you are not interceding for him. You are not praying for him and what he needs in order to obey God. You may be praying, but it is not what he needs, you will be praying for what you want.
To live by prayer is to pray often for pardon, peace with God and Brokenness. (sometimes in order to change we must first be broken)
We pray for God to change things rather than for God to change us.
Col 1:9-14
This is how we are to pray. The only thing that matters is that, we know God better and our husbands know God better. When this happens, God will guide us in our daily walk and we will not have to feel like, we have to do it all, on our own.
You are your husbands support group. This means you hold him accountable, you are his friend. You will not accept whatever action he throws at you, but you are on his side.
You are not his teacher, but you are his helper. And the closer you are in loving your God the better you will be at loving your husband the way Christ intended you to love him.
You have to ask yourself, When your spouses “body is in hell” is it the act that is most important to you or is it his soul.
God will do whatever it takes to save his soul all you have to do is be there for him when it hits, because sometimes, the things that save us hurt the most.
The loss of a life is nothing compared to the loss of a soul. Are you willing to lose your life here on earth in order to save your husband’s soul?
When the hard times come you must be willing to meditate on the Sovereignty of God during those difficult circumstances.
When we suffer in difficulties we often blame the devil. Be careful about blaming everything on the Devil. Look at what is really going on. God is in control of everything including evil.
Your job is to pursue vigorous holiness not self fulfillment. Its all about REDEMPTION. Am I living to glorify God? Our personal calling is to glorify God.
Our hearts are deceitful, we have short memories. Remind one another.
Rom 12:2
Don’t become arrogant. It is not about your husband’s actions, it is all about how you respond to him.
This life is not “my life” what does God want me to do?
The Garden was work, Marriage is work.
You are the helper in the garden; the garden is the world of people out there that are struggling without God, who need to know God. The garden just may be right in your own home.
It is your job to help your husband, if your husband is the only one that comes to Christ through your obeying Christ, isn’t that enough?
Don’t make marriage a god. You must know your job, you must recognize it and you must, with all of your heart and all of your strength turn to God and ask him to help you help your husband, with the work that is to be done. What ever that work is.
Girl’s, I know how it feels when you are asking, “Why aren’t I enough for you, why can’t you just love me and not need anyone else?”
You have to remember this struggle is not about you, it is his internal battle, with his own self worth. And you have the power to either be his helper or the one who hinders him the most. Choose to be his helper. I so, regret that I did not chose this path the first time. You must ask yourself, is his soul worth it?
Get close to God; fall in love with your savior. Ultimately, this is the only way you will ever be able to truly fulfill your roll in this world as a “HELPER.”
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Door of Joy
I have been trying to read this morning from Romans 2-4.(It is hard when you have two little boys coming to you and wanting your undivided attention.) There have been so many things that I have been struggling with, since I turned my life over to Christ. James, "Faith without works is dead" this statement confuses me when I also hear that you cannot earn your salvation.
I think that I may finally understand it, a little better, this morning. In Romans it speaks a lot about faith, faith in Christ is what saves you. In doing good, you show what is in your heart. It is the same if you choose to continually do wrong. It is the heart. Do you love him, you will obey him.
Does this mean that you will get everything right? No, no one is perfect. What is your heart saying? If you are lost in a dark world and surrounded by sin, if you keep asking God to help you, if you are continually reaching out to him, he will be patient with you and help you get out of the world, you have chosen. This is not the life that he chose for you. He had nothing to do with it, you chose it yourself, when you chose sin over God. He will, however, be patient with you and help to guide you to joy. This is the life he desires for everyone, to find joy in him.
Romans 2:1-4, "When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do these very same things...Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn form your sin?" OH, I see how patient he was with me. How, I can condemn myself, in that time of sin, but how patient, he was. He did not want me to die in that life, because how sad I truly was. He wanted me to have joy. How good it feels to live a life with Christ and how sad it is apart from him.
If you are calling to him, if your heart is saying, "Please God help me." He will be patient with you, while you find the door. He has given you a door. He has made a way for you to find joy. Do you see the door? Open it! Find the joy.
Romans 3:20-31, "For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.....For God sent Jesus to take the punishment four our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us....Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law....He makes people right with himself only by faith...only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law."
Romans 4:4-8, "people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work...
.
I think that I may finally understand it, a little better, this morning. In Romans it speaks a lot about faith, faith in Christ is what saves you. In doing good, you show what is in your heart. It is the same if you choose to continually do wrong. It is the heart. Do you love him, you will obey him.
Does this mean that you will get everything right? No, no one is perfect. What is your heart saying? If you are lost in a dark world and surrounded by sin, if you keep asking God to help you, if you are continually reaching out to him, he will be patient with you and help you get out of the world, you have chosen. This is not the life that he chose for you. He had nothing to do with it, you chose it yourself, when you chose sin over God. He will, however, be patient with you and help to guide you to joy. This is the life he desires for everyone, to find joy in him.
Romans 2:1-4, "When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do these very same things...Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn form your sin?" OH, I see how patient he was with me. How, I can condemn myself, in that time of sin, but how patient, he was. He did not want me to die in that life, because how sad I truly was. He wanted me to have joy. How good it feels to live a life with Christ and how sad it is apart from him.
If you are calling to him, if your heart is saying, "Please God help me." He will be patient with you, while you find the door. He has given you a door. He has made a way for you to find joy. Do you see the door? Open it! Find the joy.
Romans 3:20-31, "For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.....For God sent Jesus to take the punishment four our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us....Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law....He makes people right with himself only by faith...only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law."
Romans 4:4-8, "people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work...
.
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
Yes, what joy for those
whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord."
.
The more you know, the more you want to please God, with your actions. This is to show him that you love him. It is not to earn your salvation. How thankful I am, I finally have joy. I thank my Lord. He was patient with me, while I looked for, and found, the door.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Honey, the taste of God!
Ladies Night Out
study notes
03/03/08
Before you eat place a small drip of honey on every one's finger, have them taste the honey.
Eat
Study begins
It is great getting to know one another. I love the time we have in coming together and eating. It is a wonderful opportunity to get closer to our fellow sisters, but that is not the point of the night. I hope that we have come together to learn more about God and to fall madly in love with him.
Repeat after me:
Hear O Israel,
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
LOVE the Lord your God
With all your Heart
With all your Soul
With all your Might
Amen
Who are you and what are you doing here?
Really, who are you and why are you here?
Listen to me. The only reason we are here is so, that the world may know there is a God.
Isaiah 41
“I have placed you in this land that you may be my witnesses. That the world may know that I am God.”
In the Jewish custom, the Rabbi will come in, the first day of kindergarten and teach the children "The taste of God." He will take a small sheet of wax paper, place a small drop of honey on the paper. Then ask the children to dip their little finger in the honey and lick it off.
The bible is written so that you can see, smell and taste our Lord. He is real and he is here.
Now take your little finger, dip it in the honey, and lick it off your finger. Don’t ever forget, THAT IS WHAT GOD TASTES LIKE!
Honey is a metaphor for the sweetness of God.
Palm 81
“I would feed you with the best of foods. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”
There is enough of God in every rock, on every path of life, to help you take another step. It is often that God is the most intense during the toughest times. This is when he is the sweetest!
Honey is God. So what are we supposed to be?
You are the salt of the Earth.
What does this mean? What is the salt of the earth and how is it used.
NIV
Mark 9:49ff
Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourself, and be at peace with each other.
Luke 13:34
Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out and trampled by men.
Salt was mixed with the manure. Yes, you are to mix with the foulest of the world. But you are the reason the fire burns hot. The salt would make the fire burn hot. Every time the fire would burn out they would scrape the salt out then mix it again. After a while the salt would loose its saltiness, its ability to make the fire hotter. It would be thrown out. If you are not burning hot for God, you are more worthless than the manure itself. He will throw you out.
If the fire in your soul is not saying, “what ever I do, if it is not at its core, my way of showing the world there is a God.”
Have you lost your saltiness? Are you burning hot for God?
To keep the passion, you have to speak the word.
Stop reading only silently.
Talk about God. TELL, TELL, TELL
Psalm 103
Capture your heart.
Many people have God in their head. But their heart is a stone. Capture the FIRE in your soul so that you want to fill your head with the knowledge of God.
The way to a persons head is through their heart. Not the way to a person’s heart is through their head. If I can reach your heart, I can reach your head.
Let this word become a fire in my chest.
Revelation 10:9-10
“So I approached him and asked him to give me the scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “At first it will taste like honey, but when you swallow it, it will make your stomach sour!” So I took the little scroll from the hands of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but it made my stomach sour.”
If the word does not make you fall in love with God, what or who are you in love with?
Proverbs 16:24
“Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”
Proverbs 24:13-14
“My child, eat honey, for it is good and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste. In the same way wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it you will have a bright future and your hopes will not be cut short.”
When did the honey taste the best, before or after you were full? God’s word is the same. If you are hungry you will cherish what you read. Even the correction will be sweet to your spirit.
Proverbs 27:7
“Honey seems tasteless to the person who is full, but even bitter food taste sweet to the hungry.”
Do you find the sweet taste or are your experiences sour.
Psalm 19:10
“The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.”
Listen to these beautiful words. Fall in love with your Lord.
Psalm 119
Oh how your Lord wants to sing for you. Do you know that he loves you? He wants to sing to you, his Bride. Can you feel him, can you hear him?
Zephaniah 3:17
“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
If you will let him he will sing to you the most beautiful love song you have ever heard. He desires for you to be his bride, his lover. I am in love with my Lord, my love. This is a call of lovers. He is in love with you. Are you in love with him?
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