What is sin? Is there really such a thing as sin, or do we just make mistakes? Romans 5, " When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did." Sin is death. Sin is the thing we do that makes us feel dead inside. There is no life there. Everyone sins, they are not just some mistake that affects no one. Everything we do, everything we say that brings a feeling of death to either us or to others around us, is sin. Sin is death.
Some sin is obviously leading to death, and everyone can see it. Other sins are more obscure. You may think you are living, but you are still searching. I know for I was a walking dead person, and I can now see it. There was no meaning in my existence. There was no life there. I can see it now, for I was constantly looking for that next thing that would make me at least feel like I was having fun, for everything revolved around fun. If we are dead we know it, for we cannot be free to just be ourselves without the next high. Whether it is the next party with friends, the next boyfriend/girlfriend, the next intoxication, the next sexual encounter, the next.... what ever it is that you are looking to, to give you life. That is the walking dead. Nothing satisfied me, I was always looking to the next, whatever.
Romans 5:21- 6, "So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord... For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with Him... Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God... Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living."
How I thank my Lord, for giving me new life. Does this mean that I no longer sin and I get everything right all of the time? No, but my desire has changed and for the first time in my life, my chains are broken. I was a slave of death. I was a slave to my own evil desires and for the first time, I now live. I no longer seek that party. I no longer look toward that next high. I am free and live for Christ. It is through Him that I have found the true joy in living. It is not just about dieing and going to heaven to get my reward, but it is about the freedom of living. I am no longer a slave. I am a woman that was sought by God, while I was still a slave to death, and given a chance to truly live. It is not because I am grown and have a good family, but because of the love of Christ. It is not my circumstances that has set me free, but the real faith in the one who gives that freedom. There are many people out there that should feel the joy that I feel, for their circumstances are perfect for it, but they are still the walking dead. They have not found the One that will bring them true joy. There are others that their circumstances say they should be miserable, but they have found the One who truly gives life, and so they live. Are you the walking dead, claiming to live? Or, have you really been set free, so that now you can truly live?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Can We Boast?
As others look at me from the outside, I do not really know what they are seeing. I figure, they may see me and think, "but it comes easy for you. Your change came easier for you than it is for me." I don't know, this is just, maybe, what others think of me now. If they think this, they are wrong. Do you know what my sins were? My life was sin. Everything that I thought was impure. Everything that I did had sin written all over it in some form. Whether it was in the form of chemical addictions, pornography, lies, hate, bitterness, slander, you name it, I lived it. Whether we want to admit it or not, we have all sinned. Even those, who claim they do not believe in God, suffer the consequence of disobeying Him. Romans 2, "Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right." I breathed the consequences of my living, even while I while I was denying the right of God's laws, I was feeling the consequences of disobeying Him. If you ever think that faith just falls in some peoples laps and obeying God comes naturally, you are wrong. But, everyone is given the same opportunity to change their life and open their eyes. It may seem easier for some than for others, but in my case, you have not seen the early mornings that I have spent with God. You have not seen the intense physical struggle that I have had with my own evil desires. You have not felt the many mornings of emptiness that I have gone through, while I was just reading words on a page, waiting for something to change within me. God has given everyone the same opportunity. He did not give me any more of a special gift, than He has given to everyone else.
I spent many years learning who I was, before I could accept the free gift that Christ has given to me. I went through several phases before truly seeing the freedom that He has offered. The first phase was one of realizing, I had done everything wrong. I had to see myself for who I really was, a dead person lost in sin. Then, the next phase was in trying to be good enough, by obeying laws. After I realized the bondage that laws gave me, I knew there had to be something more. Romans 3:21, 22, "But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are." Does this mean that we continue living in sin? No, it means that we learn what true living is all about. If we see our sin, in the truth of our sin, we will not want to continue to live in it. Neither, will we want to leave our sin to earn our salvation. Instead, we will want to leave it, because we have faith In Christ.
Romans 3:23-27, "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law."
My journey has taken me through many different paths. The path I am most grateful for, is the one I am currently enjoying. My life has changed. It has changed, because I first took the step in faith. I did not understand everything and I had to journey down some wrong roads, even after accepting Christ, but this time I was not walking alone. Every morning I ask Him to reveal His truth to me. Sometimes, I do not think I can hear Him, but with time, I have realized, He was just waiting for me to take my next step in faith. He has given everyone the same opportunity, they just seem to be different. It is the same, for He died for everyone. His blood covers us all. It is a free gift. He is patient in waiting for us to accept it. The only question is, how many consequences will we have to suffer through, before we will grab hold of Him, for He has never let go of you. I have not really changed all that much, for I still sin. What has changed is the fact that I now put my faith in Christ and not myself. My hearts desire is to live my life for Him, instead of seeking the false intimacy and pleasures the world offers. I have found what true living is all about. Have you?
I spent many years learning who I was, before I could accept the free gift that Christ has given to me. I went through several phases before truly seeing the freedom that He has offered. The first phase was one of realizing, I had done everything wrong. I had to see myself for who I really was, a dead person lost in sin. Then, the next phase was in trying to be good enough, by obeying laws. After I realized the bondage that laws gave me, I knew there had to be something more. Romans 3:21, 22, "But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are." Does this mean that we continue living in sin? No, it means that we learn what true living is all about. If we see our sin, in the truth of our sin, we will not want to continue to live in it. Neither, will we want to leave our sin to earn our salvation. Instead, we will want to leave it, because we have faith In Christ.
Romans 3:23-27, "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law."
My journey has taken me through many different paths. The path I am most grateful for, is the one I am currently enjoying. My life has changed. It has changed, because I first took the step in faith. I did not understand everything and I had to journey down some wrong roads, even after accepting Christ, but this time I was not walking alone. Every morning I ask Him to reveal His truth to me. Sometimes, I do not think I can hear Him, but with time, I have realized, He was just waiting for me to take my next step in faith. He has given everyone the same opportunity, they just seem to be different. It is the same, for He died for everyone. His blood covers us all. It is a free gift. He is patient in waiting for us to accept it. The only question is, how many consequences will we have to suffer through, before we will grab hold of Him, for He has never let go of you. I have not really changed all that much, for I still sin. What has changed is the fact that I now put my faith in Christ and not myself. My hearts desire is to live my life for Him, instead of seeking the false intimacy and pleasures the world offers. I have found what true living is all about. Have you?
Saturday, October 10, 2009
It Feels GOOD!
My journey with God has truly been amazing to me. Most everything that He has revealed to me, has first come from me taking the first step in obedience. I believe that He has something great for me, but He wants me to believe in Him first. That belief is revealed by my stepping out of my comfort zone, and trusting that He will do what He has promised. Oswald Chambers, "How will I know? Matthew 11:25, Jesus answered and said, ’I thank You, Father . . . that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes’ ..."But if we walk in the light," we are cleansed "from all sin" (1 Jn 1:7). It is a matter of obedience, and once we obey, the relationship is instantly perfected...All of God’s revealed truths are sealed until they are opened to us through obedience. You will never open them through philosophy or thinking. But once you obey, a flash of light comes immediately. Let God’s truth work into you by immersing yourself in it, not by worrying into it. The only way you can get to know the truth of God is to stop trying to find out and by being born again. If you obey God in the first thing He shows you, then He instantly opens up the next truth to you..." I love to see how God has always been with me and kept me safe, even when I have been a fool's fool. But, my relationship with Him only grew and developed into life, when I started to obey Him. I had to set aside my fleshly desires, even though I thought I would suffocate from boredom, so that His life could be revealed to me. "Jesus did not come to make bad people good, but to make dead people live." (RZ)
Just the other day I was blessed to be in worship with my Lord, on the back of a horse! A friend, that God has blessed me with, took me on a four hour horse ride. What an awesome day we had, being blessed by God's creation and connecting with one another. I could not imagine a better way to spend the afternoon. What she did not know was that I have been asking God, for some time, to give me a wiser, older woman. I have needed that relationship, for all of a sudden I am surrounded by younger women, looking to me. I needed someone older to help guide my steps, for I have found myself in that age of being the older and younger woman. I am right in the middle, and not knowing all of the answers, I needed God to give me that one special older woman to help me. As we were riding, our conversations took us many times to God. In one of those moments, the verses in the Old Testament that say, "If you.... I will..." were brought up. Over and over, God has told His children, "If you will obey me... I will...." In this, it all boils down to trust. Do I trust Him? Do I really believe Him when He says that His ways are better?
I have turned my back on God so many times, just because I did not trust His moral law. I thought that He was just trying to keep me from enjoying this life. But, what I did not realize was that He was just trying to show me what living really felt like. He wanted me to obey Him, so that I could feel the true joy that He has offered me. This true joy comes from the Cross. It is through the Cross that all of my sins have been forgiven, and the freedom of living is found. My debt has been paid and my past has been erased. It is through the Cross, that my wheezing has stopped and my freedom to breath has begun. I once thought I would die from boredom, but what I have found is the freedom to truly live. He has given me the opportunity to live, I just have to trust Him enough to obey. Through my obedience, in turning from my own sinful desires, I have found what true living feels like. It feels, GOOD!
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/10/10/devotion.aspx?year=2009
Just the other day I was blessed to be in worship with my Lord, on the back of a horse! A friend, that God has blessed me with, took me on a four hour horse ride. What an awesome day we had, being blessed by God's creation and connecting with one another. I could not imagine a better way to spend the afternoon. What she did not know was that I have been asking God, for some time, to give me a wiser, older woman. I have needed that relationship, for all of a sudden I am surrounded by younger women, looking to me. I needed someone older to help guide my steps, for I have found myself in that age of being the older and younger woman. I am right in the middle, and not knowing all of the answers, I needed God to give me that one special older woman to help me. As we were riding, our conversations took us many times to God. In one of those moments, the verses in the Old Testament that say, "If you.... I will..." were brought up. Over and over, God has told His children, "If you will obey me... I will...." In this, it all boils down to trust. Do I trust Him? Do I really believe Him when He says that His ways are better?
I have turned my back on God so many times, just because I did not trust His moral law. I thought that He was just trying to keep me from enjoying this life. But, what I did not realize was that He was just trying to show me what living really felt like. He wanted me to obey Him, so that I could feel the true joy that He has offered me. This true joy comes from the Cross. It is through the Cross that all of my sins have been forgiven, and the freedom of living is found. My debt has been paid and my past has been erased. It is through the Cross, that my wheezing has stopped and my freedom to breath has begun. I once thought I would die from boredom, but what I have found is the freedom to truly live. He has given me the opportunity to live, I just have to trust Him enough to obey. Through my obedience, in turning from my own sinful desires, I have found what true living feels like. It feels, GOOD!
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/10/10/devotion.aspx?year=2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Tend and Feed and Guide
Acts 20, "Take care and be on guard for yourselves and the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops and guardians, to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of the Lord or of God which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood. I know that after I am gone, ferocious wolves will get in among you, not sparing the flock; Even from among your own selves men will come to the front who, by saying perverse (distorted and corrupt) things, will endeavor to draw away the disciples after them [to their own party]. Therefore be always alert and on your guard..."
As I was reading this, I felt something, something that I did not expect to feel. "Take care and be on guard for yourselves," this practically jumped off of the page at me. "Be on guard for yourself," could this mean that I could turn into the wolf this passage is talking about? I think I could. I could very easily start to think that what I am doing, "I am doing." It could very easily become all about me. "Do you see the people who say that I did ____? It is by my good that others are finding Christ...." Oh, the temptation to think that I am in control and it is really all about me. The pressure that I place upon myself to get my theology right; to say the right things; to have a word for someone, when I think they need a word; lets me know that I think a lot about what I know. I have a tendency to think that I draw people to me, or that they even really need me. I know, I know; If I am going to be teaching anything to anyone, I better be saying what Jesus would say. I better have my theology correct, He has called me to shepherd His flock. The danger lies in the motive of my heart and the "pats on the back" that I desire. Are others really coming to my party, or to His?
"...to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of the Lord or of God which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood." Here is the thing, I need to be concerned that I am guiding others in the right direction. I better be concerned about what I am teaching. But, here is the key, They are His. I am His to use. Others that He brings to me, are His. My words are His. I study and I search, for in reality, I know that I really know nothing. I have to rely on others myself. If I think that I am at the top of the spiritual food chain, I may be a wolf in disguise. For here is the truth, I know no one who thinks "I am the one who is going to destroy everyone and lead them to Hell." It seems to me that most start out with pure motives in heart, but then we forget about Him, while we say we are working for Him. The job gets in the way. We forget that everything we are doing is supposed to point to the Cross. For if we keep our eyes pointing to the Cross, we will be able to keep ourselves out of His light.
Oswald Chambers, "I cannot save and sanctify myself; I cannot make atonement for sin; I cannot redeem the world; I cannot right what is wrong, purify what is impure, or make holy what is unholy. That is all the sovereign work of God. Do I have faith in what Jesus Christ has done? He has made the perfect atonement for sin. Am I in the habit of constantly realizing it? The greatest need we have is not to do things, but to believe things. The redemption of Christ is not an experience, it is the great act of God which He has performed through Christ, and I have to build my faith on it. If I construct my faith on my own experience, I produce the most unscriptural kind of life— an isolated life, with my eyes focused solely on my own holiness. Beware of that human holiness that is not based on the atonement of the Lord."
As we are going out and doing the will of the Lord, we better be on guard for ourself, first. Everything we do, everything I say, I better look at myself first and direct myself first, to Christ on the Cross for me. For if I keep my eyes upon the Cross, then I can better walk toward the Cross, and those who happen to walk behind me will be able to see Him over me.
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/10/09/devotion.aspx?year=2009
As I was reading this, I felt something, something that I did not expect to feel. "Take care and be on guard for yourselves," this practically jumped off of the page at me. "Be on guard for yourself," could this mean that I could turn into the wolf this passage is talking about? I think I could. I could very easily start to think that what I am doing, "I am doing." It could very easily become all about me. "Do you see the people who say that I did ____? It is by my good that others are finding Christ...." Oh, the temptation to think that I am in control and it is really all about me. The pressure that I place upon myself to get my theology right; to say the right things; to have a word for someone, when I think they need a word; lets me know that I think a lot about what I know. I have a tendency to think that I draw people to me, or that they even really need me. I know, I know; If I am going to be teaching anything to anyone, I better be saying what Jesus would say. I better have my theology correct, He has called me to shepherd His flock. The danger lies in the motive of my heart and the "pats on the back" that I desire. Are others really coming to my party, or to His?
"...to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of the Lord or of God which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood." Here is the thing, I need to be concerned that I am guiding others in the right direction. I better be concerned about what I am teaching. But, here is the key, They are His. I am His to use. Others that He brings to me, are His. My words are His. I study and I search, for in reality, I know that I really know nothing. I have to rely on others myself. If I think that I am at the top of the spiritual food chain, I may be a wolf in disguise. For here is the truth, I know no one who thinks "I am the one who is going to destroy everyone and lead them to Hell." It seems to me that most start out with pure motives in heart, but then we forget about Him, while we say we are working for Him. The job gets in the way. We forget that everything we are doing is supposed to point to the Cross. For if we keep our eyes pointing to the Cross, we will be able to keep ourselves out of His light.
Oswald Chambers, "I cannot save and sanctify myself; I cannot make atonement for sin; I cannot redeem the world; I cannot right what is wrong, purify what is impure, or make holy what is unholy. That is all the sovereign work of God. Do I have faith in what Jesus Christ has done? He has made the perfect atonement for sin. Am I in the habit of constantly realizing it? The greatest need we have is not to do things, but to believe things. The redemption of Christ is not an experience, it is the great act of God which He has performed through Christ, and I have to build my faith on it. If I construct my faith on my own experience, I produce the most unscriptural kind of life— an isolated life, with my eyes focused solely on my own holiness. Beware of that human holiness that is not based on the atonement of the Lord."
As we are going out and doing the will of the Lord, we better be on guard for ourself, first. Everything we do, everything I say, I better look at myself first and direct myself first, to Christ on the Cross for me. For if I keep my eyes upon the Cross, then I can better walk toward the Cross, and those who happen to walk behind me will be able to see Him over me.
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/10/09/devotion.aspx?year=2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Right One. Marriages
Most married couples are together because there was a physical attraction that brought them together in the first place. When most of us start dating, sexual desires are on the top of the dating criteria. With this being the most important facet of our relationships, we never really get to know the other person. We are blinded by our lust, but then the marriage vows are spoken and we realize this is supposed to be forever. The blinders are removed and the hard reality of our decision faces us. We discover that we really have nothing solid to hold on to. We have a tendency to go our separate ways and develop our own goals in this life, that have nothing to do with our spouse. Then we are either astounded, or anticipate it when the marriage vows are broken. Our society does not expect to find that right person, for we have forgotten what makes a person "the right one" to begin with.
In Acts 19, the first introduction of Aquila and Priscilla are made. There is not a ton of information about them, but what is obvious, is that they are never mentioned alone. They are always together. They have common goals and they know how to work together as a team. They have fostered an environment in their home that allows their individual strengths to grow. Their home is a place where others come and find refuge and a security, they may not find if they had chosen to stay somewhere else. Their hearts for God, that is what they truly had in common. They worked together in business, but the key is they worked together for God.
I have been married two times, for two very different reasons. My first marriage, was what I will call, typical. I say this because we were typical. We were young and based our entire relationship on our passions. Our sexual relationship had no boundaries and we were only together for our next rush. We had a blast together. The parties, the bars, the sexual pleasures, they were our play ground. But, after the marriage vows were spoken, the blinders were removed. The only thing we had to hold on to was the next high, and that just about destroyed us both. You cannot base a relationship on partying, for after the party there is life looking you right in the eyes.
My next relationship was different. I truly felt God had put Jason in my life. I did not however, like this fact. There was nothing wrong with Jason, trust me, I tried to find that one. He just was not my "type." But I had told God that I would walk through whatever door He opened, and Jason was that next door. I had made many bad decisions on my own. I knew I could not trust myself. So we got married, for God never closed that door no matter how I begged Him. We were both still learning and we made many mistakes, but our common goal was the same. We both really wanted to do what God wanted us to do. Other than that, we really had nothing else in common. Our likes, our interests, our past experiences were completely different. Honestly, we had nothing in common, except our desire to please God! This is all it takes. I truly believe we have an Aquila and Priscilla house. God is the common interest, and our love for Him has made our marriage a place of refuge. It is not about the party. It is all about life!
The heart aches I could have avoided, if I had just learned earlier in my young life, what is really valuable. It is not about the next party. It is not about the next rush or the next date. It is about life. What kind of life are you building? What you do while you are young, you will have to some day face. You can only live with the blinders on for so long. One day you will have to take them off and look truthfully at what you have done with your life. One day you will reap what you have sown. No one can avoid it and run forever. So if you are dating, are you developing the character and experiences you desire in a marriage? If you are married, are you searching for something that will make your marriage a good one? There is only one thing you need. And that one thing is God. If you can discover who Christ is, and live as a true Christ follower, that is all you will ever need. How would Christ treat that person? What would He do in this situation? Discover that, and you will discover the key to a truly wonderful life.
In Acts 19, the first introduction of Aquila and Priscilla are made. There is not a ton of information about them, but what is obvious, is that they are never mentioned alone. They are always together. They have common goals and they know how to work together as a team. They have fostered an environment in their home that allows their individual strengths to grow. Their home is a place where others come and find refuge and a security, they may not find if they had chosen to stay somewhere else. Their hearts for God, that is what they truly had in common. They worked together in business, but the key is they worked together for God.
I have been married two times, for two very different reasons. My first marriage, was what I will call, typical. I say this because we were typical. We were young and based our entire relationship on our passions. Our sexual relationship had no boundaries and we were only together for our next rush. We had a blast together. The parties, the bars, the sexual pleasures, they were our play ground. But, after the marriage vows were spoken, the blinders were removed. The only thing we had to hold on to was the next high, and that just about destroyed us both. You cannot base a relationship on partying, for after the party there is life looking you right in the eyes.
My next relationship was different. I truly felt God had put Jason in my life. I did not however, like this fact. There was nothing wrong with Jason, trust me, I tried to find that one. He just was not my "type." But I had told God that I would walk through whatever door He opened, and Jason was that next door. I had made many bad decisions on my own. I knew I could not trust myself. So we got married, for God never closed that door no matter how I begged Him. We were both still learning and we made many mistakes, but our common goal was the same. We both really wanted to do what God wanted us to do. Other than that, we really had nothing else in common. Our likes, our interests, our past experiences were completely different. Honestly, we had nothing in common, except our desire to please God! This is all it takes. I truly believe we have an Aquila and Priscilla house. God is the common interest, and our love for Him has made our marriage a place of refuge. It is not about the party. It is all about life!
The heart aches I could have avoided, if I had just learned earlier in my young life, what is really valuable. It is not about the next party. It is not about the next rush or the next date. It is about life. What kind of life are you building? What you do while you are young, you will have to some day face. You can only live with the blinders on for so long. One day you will have to take them off and look truthfully at what you have done with your life. One day you will reap what you have sown. No one can avoid it and run forever. So if you are dating, are you developing the character and experiences you desire in a marriage? If you are married, are you searching for something that will make your marriage a good one? There is only one thing you need. And that one thing is God. If you can discover who Christ is, and live as a true Christ follower, that is all you will ever need. How would Christ treat that person? What would He do in this situation? Discover that, and you will discover the key to a truly wonderful life.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Pray Church, Pray
Acts 12, "After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists."
I got a call this morning from a dear friend who is going through some attacks by Satan. I am also going through some attacks of my own, my MS is acting up. This comes at an opportune time for both of us, for we are getting ready to go into battle. We are getting ready to bring the Abstinence Only program to High School and Junior High kids. Satan hits us where we are the weakest. My weakness is in my health. I have been doing very well for about one year, but in this year I have not kept up what I knew I needed to in order to stay well. So where does the enemy strike, where I have let my defenses down. Where does he strike my friend, where she is the weakest. This past few weeks we have both been under Spiritual attack. Only, we did not realize exactly what was happening until we talked about it with each other. This is not a physical battle, this is spiritual warfare. We are behind the bars and the chains are upon our wrists. How was the battle won? "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." We will be set free we just need to trust and wait patiently for Him to bring us to the other side.
In the book "The Grand Weaver", Ravi talks about Moses and the doubts that he faced. Moses had seen the burning bush and heard the audible voice of God! He had seen His mighty miracles, yet before he led the people into the desert he still doubted and asked God if it was really His will for him to do this. He wanted proof, before he walked out. Peter was in prison facing death. The night before he could have been killed, he was rescued by God. But here's the point, he still had to do his waiting in prison. While he was waiting the church was praying for him. They did not know how he would be set free, but they were praying earnestly for God to rescue him. This life is really not about the physical, what is happening right now. It is all really Spiritual Warfare. I have a title to put on mine, MS, but it is really a spiritual fight. Satan attacks me where I am the weakest, that is my physical body. Your weakest point may be food, jealousy, envy, your marriage, pornography, drugs, alcohol. Whatever it is, the point is that it is really not about this physical hardship. It is all about your spiritual relationship with God. Satan is attacking me, to cause me to doubt. If I doubt God, then I become weak and can no longer work for my Lord. If I doubt God, then I will not be able to do what He has called me to do. If I doubt, then I will not walk out in faith.
Faith is trust, while we have unanswered questions. Faith is trusting and obeying, while we struggle with doubt. Peter was in a spiritual battle, but he was not alone. He was the one suffering, but he was not fighting by himself. Did you notice one line that was crucial? "...but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." He had the church praying for him. That is where the battle was being won. When you pray for others; when you pray for me; when I pray for you, I will not be praying about the physical, but the spiritual battle that is being fought. Pray that the trials we go through, will not cause us to succumb to our doubt. Pray that as we are standing at the edge of the dessert, we will be able to walk in faith knowing it is God who is leading us. Pray that we will see, this is really not about what happens in our bodies. This is about arming ourselves for the true fight, and putting on the armor of God. He has already won the war, we just have to fight this battle in faith.
I got a call this morning from a dear friend who is going through some attacks by Satan. I am also going through some attacks of my own, my MS is acting up. This comes at an opportune time for both of us, for we are getting ready to go into battle. We are getting ready to bring the Abstinence Only program to High School and Junior High kids. Satan hits us where we are the weakest. My weakness is in my health. I have been doing very well for about one year, but in this year I have not kept up what I knew I needed to in order to stay well. So where does the enemy strike, where I have let my defenses down. Where does he strike my friend, where she is the weakest. This past few weeks we have both been under Spiritual attack. Only, we did not realize exactly what was happening until we talked about it with each other. This is not a physical battle, this is spiritual warfare. We are behind the bars and the chains are upon our wrists. How was the battle won? "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." We will be set free we just need to trust and wait patiently for Him to bring us to the other side.
In the book "The Grand Weaver", Ravi talks about Moses and the doubts that he faced. Moses had seen the burning bush and heard the audible voice of God! He had seen His mighty miracles, yet before he led the people into the desert he still doubted and asked God if it was really His will for him to do this. He wanted proof, before he walked out. Peter was in prison facing death. The night before he could have been killed, he was rescued by God. But here's the point, he still had to do his waiting in prison. While he was waiting the church was praying for him. They did not know how he would be set free, but they were praying earnestly for God to rescue him. This life is really not about the physical, what is happening right now. It is all really Spiritual Warfare. I have a title to put on mine, MS, but it is really a spiritual fight. Satan attacks me where I am the weakest, that is my physical body. Your weakest point may be food, jealousy, envy, your marriage, pornography, drugs, alcohol. Whatever it is, the point is that it is really not about this physical hardship. It is all about your spiritual relationship with God. Satan is attacking me, to cause me to doubt. If I doubt God, then I become weak and can no longer work for my Lord. If I doubt God, then I will not be able to do what He has called me to do. If I doubt, then I will not walk out in faith.
Faith is trust, while we have unanswered questions. Faith is trusting and obeying, while we struggle with doubt. Peter was in a spiritual battle, but he was not alone. He was the one suffering, but he was not fighting by himself. Did you notice one line that was crucial? "...but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." He had the church praying for him. That is where the battle was being won. When you pray for others; when you pray for me; when I pray for you, I will not be praying about the physical, but the spiritual battle that is being fought. Pray that the trials we go through, will not cause us to succumb to our doubt. Pray that as we are standing at the edge of the dessert, we will be able to walk in faith knowing it is God who is leading us. Pray that we will see, this is really not about what happens in our bodies. This is about arming ourselves for the true fight, and putting on the armor of God. He has already won the war, we just have to fight this battle in faith.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Peter and Cornelius
Acts 10-11, talks about Peter and Cornelius. Many times I have heard others talk about this, and how everyone is acceptable in the sight of God. Peter was a devout Jewish follower of Christ, who still followed the laws of Kosher. He did not eat anything that God had instructed Moses not to let the people eat. God came to him in a vision and informed him that all was good to eat. In this vision, God was not really telling Peter to stop following Kosher. What He was saying, was that all people are acceptable to God. God wanted His message to go to all people, not only the Jews. But here is the thing that I find interesting, before Peter and Cornelius met, they both had visions from God. God did not need Peter to teach Cornelius anything. He could have done that Himself. What He was wanting was to help them mature. In order for us to mature, we have to go through things ourselves. We do not tend to really listen to others, even to God. I am like many others, I am a stubborn woman. I persecute myself, before I learn and am willing to listen. God has given us the gift to listen, but many times we do not. God has called us to be in relationships with others, but many times He has to make us get uncomfortable before we will do what He is asking us to do.
Does God need any of us? No, He does not need any of us. He is a God of love and He does desire a relationship with us. But since He knows we are a fallen people made for relationships, He forces us to have relationships with others. He has called us to not only love Him, but to love other people, all people. As I watch others, and as I am in relationships myself, I have discovered those relationships always fall apart when both people are being selfish. It does not really matter if we are always called to be the one giving up what we want in a relationship. What matters, is that love is shown. When I am with Jason, we never eat where I really want to eat. But that is why God has given me others in my life, they like the same food as I do. If Jason fulfilled every desire that I had, I would never have a need for anyone else. That does not mean that if your spouse is not fulfilling your sexual desires, you go out and get it somewhere else. Everything must be in accordance with God. What it does mean, we are made for relationships. We are called to go out and do things that we may normally find uncomfortable.
The moment that I feel God needs me to do something is the very moment that I am not really seeing what God is saying to me. It is the very moment my relationships are in danger. God does not need me to say or do anything. What He wants is for me to mature in my love with Him and others. Everything really boils down to love. Am I loving God? Am I loving other people? The very moment that I get selfish and say, "what about me," is the very moment any relationship I am in, is in danger. If we leave a relationship with others, before we have learned what we need to learn about ourselves and God, we are doomed to repeat it, until we learn it. Something that I find interesting is when people are married and divorced multiple times. The trends in their life are set, and they tend to pass the blame game. Any relationship we are in, we have to look at how God is growing us. In order to get better, we have to step away from our own selfish desires and learn to love others the way God loves us.
Oswald Chambers, "Jesus does not mention the other person— He says for you to go. It is not a matter of your rights. The true mark of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and obey the Lord Jesus. '. . . and then come and offer your gift.' The process of reconciliation is clearly marked. First we have the heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, then the sudden restraint by the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit, and then we are stopped at the point of our conviction. This is followed by obedience to the Word of God, which builds an attitude or state of mind that places no blame on the one with whom you have been in the wrong. And finally there is the glad, simple, unhindered offering of your gift to God." What is God calling you to do? How is He trying to help you to grow? Is your love life, the walk He has called you to? He does not need you, in order to help others. What He desires from you is relationship. What He knows about all of us is that we need others, so we can grow more in love with him, our self.
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/09/26/devotion.aspx?year=2009
Does God need any of us? No, He does not need any of us. He is a God of love and He does desire a relationship with us. But since He knows we are a fallen people made for relationships, He forces us to have relationships with others. He has called us to not only love Him, but to love other people, all people. As I watch others, and as I am in relationships myself, I have discovered those relationships always fall apart when both people are being selfish. It does not really matter if we are always called to be the one giving up what we want in a relationship. What matters, is that love is shown. When I am with Jason, we never eat where I really want to eat. But that is why God has given me others in my life, they like the same food as I do. If Jason fulfilled every desire that I had, I would never have a need for anyone else. That does not mean that if your spouse is not fulfilling your sexual desires, you go out and get it somewhere else. Everything must be in accordance with God. What it does mean, we are made for relationships. We are called to go out and do things that we may normally find uncomfortable.
The moment that I feel God needs me to do something is the very moment that I am not really seeing what God is saying to me. It is the very moment my relationships are in danger. God does not need me to say or do anything. What He wants is for me to mature in my love with Him and others. Everything really boils down to love. Am I loving God? Am I loving other people? The very moment that I get selfish and say, "what about me," is the very moment any relationship I am in, is in danger. If we leave a relationship with others, before we have learned what we need to learn about ourselves and God, we are doomed to repeat it, until we learn it. Something that I find interesting is when people are married and divorced multiple times. The trends in their life are set, and they tend to pass the blame game. Any relationship we are in, we have to look at how God is growing us. In order to get better, we have to step away from our own selfish desires and learn to love others the way God loves us.
Oswald Chambers, "Jesus does not mention the other person— He says for you to go. It is not a matter of your rights. The true mark of the saint is that he can waive his own rights and obey the Lord Jesus. '. . . and then come and offer your gift.' The process of reconciliation is clearly marked. First we have the heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, then the sudden restraint by the sensitivity of the Holy Spirit, and then we are stopped at the point of our conviction. This is followed by obedience to the Word of God, which builds an attitude or state of mind that places no blame on the one with whom you have been in the wrong. And finally there is the glad, simple, unhindered offering of your gift to God." What is God calling you to do? How is He trying to help you to grow? Is your love life, the walk He has called you to? He does not need you, in order to help others. What He desires from you is relationship. What He knows about all of us is that we need others, so we can grow more in love with him, our self.
http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/09/26/devotion.aspx?year=2009
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