This blog site has a new adress. fadedpurple.com come see.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Divine Escape
2 Timothy 3:11
I teased you a little with the title. There is no escape from life except through the will of God. And since He is an Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent being, He ultimately knows what is best in all situations. However, if you have been like me, you do agree that we all look for an escape because we do not want to suffer. As children we were at the mercy of adults. If they were principled, mature, unselfish people, we fared well, if not we were abused. I would say there is not one person who reads this that has not had some form of abuse during childhood. As adults, we live out our childhood experience by using the same coping devices we learned during that time to avoid pain and suffering. Now this is the good news. When Jesus the Christ comes into our lives a healing process begins and we are eventually delivered. It does not happen all at once in most cases but the deliverance from our past experiences does take place.
As I read this verse, I become even more convinced deliverance, the only escape, is found in trusting God THROUGH it all. I do agree that He often protects us and I have no doubt that every evil that could have taken place did not. But, for the most part I would conclude that we all experience trouble, suffering and pain in this life in one form or another. There is a song from the 70's or was it the 80's called Through it all. One of the phrases says....If I had never known a struggle, I would not have learned I could trust Him. That I believe is the answer.
Since the goal is to be conformed to His image and that takes place when we surrender and trust Him in everything, then I would dare to say we do not escape life. The escape and deliverance from all our struggles and troubles, as the verse talks about, is an escape through it all once we are on the other side of it all. This is the Divine Escape.
I teased you a little with the title. There is no escape from life except through the will of God. And since He is an Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent being, He ultimately knows what is best in all situations. However, if you have been like me, you do agree that we all look for an escape because we do not want to suffer. As children we were at the mercy of adults. If they were principled, mature, unselfish people, we fared well, if not we were abused. I would say there is not one person who reads this that has not had some form of abuse during childhood. As adults, we live out our childhood experience by using the same coping devices we learned during that time to avoid pain and suffering. Now this is the good news. When Jesus the Christ comes into our lives a healing process begins and we are eventually delivered. It does not happen all at once in most cases but the deliverance from our past experiences does take place.
As I read this verse, I become even more convinced deliverance, the only escape, is found in trusting God THROUGH it all. I do agree that He often protects us and I have no doubt that every evil that could have taken place did not. But, for the most part I would conclude that we all experience trouble, suffering and pain in this life in one form or another. There is a song from the 70's or was it the 80's called Through it all. One of the phrases says....If I had never known a struggle, I would not have learned I could trust Him. That I believe is the answer.
Since the goal is to be conformed to His image and that takes place when we surrender and trust Him in everything, then I would dare to say we do not escape life. The escape and deliverance from all our struggles and troubles, as the verse talks about, is an escape through it all once we are on the other side of it all. This is the Divine Escape.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Delivered
Psalm 34: 17-18
Some days life crowds in so much we want to cry out, Lord deliver me. Just exactly what do we need to be delivered from? So many things. We get into a jam with relationships, or finances or we get discouraged by looking at past mistakes. Troubles with our health or identity theft or you name it; the world is full of troubles.
Jesus said, "In this world you will have troubles but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
No positive thinking, or meditation or drugs or addictions or people or religion can change or lighten troubles in our lives. He said come onto me you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. He is the answer. He is the only deliverer.
What does all this mean? Well first of all, it means that He will deliver us, as it says above, out of all our troubles. It means, as it says, that He will be close to the broken hearted. Believe it or not, all our troubles and challenges are rooted in our decisions. Decisions based on lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. We just need to let Him handle all our troubles. We do this when we trust Him with our lives and allow Him access to our heart and soul so He can make us 'whiter than snow' (Isaiah) and guide us through life. I mean, lets think about this a minute. If we are in a lot of trouble, and we are lost in what ever situation is upon us, who would we want to guide us out? RIGHT! The one who knows the road map. The one who wrote the manual on life. Our saviour, our Creator, our God, Our King, our Deliverer.
We need to come to Him and repent. We need to allow Him to heal. We need to surrender and give our lives away to Him, the only one who can deliver.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Some days life crowds in so much we want to cry out, Lord deliver me. Just exactly what do we need to be delivered from? So many things. We get into a jam with relationships, or finances or we get discouraged by looking at past mistakes. Troubles with our health or identity theft or you name it; the world is full of troubles.
Jesus said, "In this world you will have troubles but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
No positive thinking, or meditation or drugs or addictions or people or religion can change or lighten troubles in our lives. He said come onto me you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. He is the answer. He is the only deliverer.
What does all this mean? Well first of all, it means that He will deliver us, as it says above, out of all our troubles. It means, as it says, that He will be close to the broken hearted. Believe it or not, all our troubles and challenges are rooted in our decisions. Decisions based on lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. We just need to let Him handle all our troubles. We do this when we trust Him with our lives and allow Him access to our heart and soul so He can make us 'whiter than snow' (Isaiah) and guide us through life. I mean, lets think about this a minute. If we are in a lot of trouble, and we are lost in what ever situation is upon us, who would we want to guide us out? RIGHT! The one who knows the road map. The one who wrote the manual on life. Our saviour, our Creator, our God, Our King, our Deliverer.
We need to come to Him and repent. We need to allow Him to heal. We need to surrender and give our lives away to Him, the only one who can deliver.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Do Good
Psalm 34:14
Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.
Turn from evil. Evil? As a Christian I assumed an evil heart, a heart of iniquity no longer existed in me because I am now a new creation. I assumed right. God did deliver me and every one who who repents and receives Christ as Savior and Lord. He at that time removes iniquity from our hearts and we become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus because of His death and cleansing blood.
So what is the problem? We do not always choose to do good. Even though a change of heart has taken place we can still revert back to those old ways, those old habits and coping devices that use to work for us, even though they no longer work for us or satisfy us as they did in the past. So why do we choose to do evil actions instead of good. Why do we think, talk or even act outside our new nature. The words of our mouth are often faithless and filled with worry. Thoughts filled with the same. We slip into unprofitable worldly thinking often. Why?
We are at times blinded to the truth of who we are in Christ. We are new creations. We have the mind and heart of Christ. Let us choose to discipline the thoughts in our mind and cause the impressions in our heart to be conformed to His. Let us decide to act like children of the King, to do good, seek peace and pursue it.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
White as Snow
Do you remember the hour you first believed? That moment when Christ entered your life? I often think of it because life changed that day. How about you? I know many of you probably received the truth, Christ, when you were children. In fact they tell us unless someone receives Christ during childhood the chances of them hearing and believing gets less and less. But I have never liked statistics or pigeon holes. God can do what He wants when He wants and will.
I was one of those who received the truth, Christ, as an adult. So I remember the change and the moment well. The verses I bring to you are those that came to me on that day as I am sure they have come to you.
Isaiah 1:18 Come now let us reason together, says the Lord, Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool
Psalm 23: 5- You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and Love will follow me all the days of my life.
I was one of those who received the truth, Christ, as an adult. So I remember the change and the moment well. The verses I bring to you are those that came to me on that day as I am sure they have come to you.
Isaiah 1:18 Come now let us reason together, says the Lord, Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool
Psalm 23: 5- You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and Love will follow me all the days of my life.
God's Image
We are created in His image and He will restore that image through our relationship with Christ.
Phil 4:8 He is true (faithful, loyal, factual, reliable
He is Reverent (Shows respect, to regard, awe)
He is Honorable (Integrity, principles, chastity)
He is Seemly ( suitable, proper, good taste, decent)
He is Just (fair, legal accurate, right, true.)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Psalms 34: 11-14
The Word of God never fails. It has been written down in scripture for more years that any of us are old and still holds up as truth. So I simply bring to you the WORD. The only truth that has the power to change lives.
Come, my children listen to me;I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
We are created in His Image. It is Gods desire to conform us to His Image. That is His will for our lives.
HIS IMAGE
Come, my children listen to me;I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
We are created in His Image. It is Gods desire to conform us to His Image. That is His will for our lives.
HIS IMAGE
1 Cor 13 Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.
Monday, July 21, 2008
God is in Control
Many times we get into fear and worry. The world is filled with trials and unprincipled men, who exercise power over other people. These will always exist. However, we have a God who promises to care for us. Who tells us to rejoice, believe, trust and to cast our cares on Him. He is the creator of the Universe, surly He has a plan for each of us.
Let us place our mind on the one Who has us in the palm of His hand. The one who has our best interest in mind because we belong to Christ. Take time to read Psalms 23;34 and Phil 4:4-8. For in this world we will always have trials, troubles and unprincipled men. But we can be of good cheer for Christ has over come the world and He has plans for our welfare and a future.
Even though it may seem otherwise, He is in control and we are called to rejoice in Him and believe the best from Him.
HIS IMAGE
PHIL 3: 9-10 He is dead to the flesh. He is righteous. He is faith. He is the resurection. He is patient
1 Sam. 5:1-6 He is above evils power
Prov 15:3 He knows good from evil.
Let us place our mind on the one Who has us in the palm of His hand. The one who has our best interest in mind because we belong to Christ. Take time to read Psalms 23;34 and Phil 4:4-8. For in this world we will always have trials, troubles and unprincipled men. But we can be of good cheer for Christ has over come the world and He has plans for our welfare and a future.
Even though it may seem otherwise, He is in control and we are called to rejoice in Him and believe the best from Him.
HIS IMAGE
PHIL 3: 9-10 He is dead to the flesh. He is righteous. He is faith. He is the resurection. He is patient
1 Sam. 5:1-6 He is above evils power
Prov 15:3 He knows good from evil.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Psalms 34:7-10
I wanted to put more of the word out there for those of us who hunger and thirst to hear His voice. Seems once we decide to read the Word on a regular basis, we hunger for it even more. This is another entry on Psalms 34, one of the more comforting verses in my life.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you His saints for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you His saints for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
His Image
Philippians 4:8 He is true, reverent, honorable, seemly, just, pure, lovely, gracious, virtuous,
excellent, praiseworthy.
Check these words out in Websters. It is always more exciting to see the full meaning of things. Remember, this is the image God wants for us. This is His will, that we be conformed to His image. Even if we do not see it in us continually as we journey to our Home with Him, this is what we will be like.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Never Crushed
Psalms 34:18
I have so enjoyed dwelling on this Psalm a while. It is rich in peace and comfort.
I have so enjoyed dwelling on this Psalm a while. It is rich in peace and comfort.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Crushed. So many times we feel crushed. The only true benefit from crushed is when the Lord convicts us of sin and that awareness causes us to come to Him for that drink of life eternal, that supernatural change, that work of His He plans to complete while we live out our lives. That crushed moment brings us into eternity with Him for ever and is needed.
Other crushed moments also come to mind. A broken heart from failure, a lost dream or the death of something or someone. This loss of self as we become aware of our shortcomings. Either way, it is a loss that breaks the heart and helps us to see how frail we are and how much we desperately need the power of Almighty God, our Lord, Savior, Father.
The reason I say 'Never Crushed' is because that crisis point leads us home. We become conformed to His image and we see Him. It takes a crushed moment to give it all up and say, "Here I am Lord. I am yours and you are mine."
Psalms 34:6-10
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord you His saints for those who fear Him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
His Image
Deut 7:9 His is faithful
2Pet.3:9 He keeps his covenant
1John4:8 He is loving and kind
Psalms 115:3 He is loyal to those who love Him even through all generations
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Weeds
This week I decided to weed that front yard of mine. Once they begin the take over, the grass dies. I have put in a ton of work on the yard. We have an HOA and they do not allow any type of discord in the yards. During these last two years that front yard has had more attention than it deserves. It couldn't be much larger than 400 sq feet.
First I tore the grass out and put in turf. I thought my troubles were over until I discovered that the turf was summer grass. It did as designed and died when winter came. So I did winter grass seed. Then I got busy and you guessed it. The winter grass died for summer. I did not mow it right away so it once again did the natural thing. It smothered the new growth form the turf that lived underneath. To top it off, ants came to live in that dead mess. Those ants were so thick they made the earth move. I had what looked like a fire burned yard with ants and weeds. See what I mean? I killed the ants (actually I believe they are just hiding somewhere waiting for my nice new grass.) and for the last five days I have weeded that thing. Remember, it is July in Arizona. Victory is at hand, however, for now that yard is weeded, bug free, covered in seed and fertilized. Pray it grows. We have monsoons now but if that sun hits it too hard it can die again.
The reason I write this saga to you is because of what I learned while weeding that yard, as the sweat dripped from my body. The weeds resemble evil roots in our life that keep us from enjoying the abundant life Christ died to give us. Things like bad habits, sorrow or grief from the past, shame from childhood, victimization and abuse. The wrong coping devices we used to survive that past life, then, still paralyzes us for today. I noticed that the weed root attached to the grass root making it harder to pull up. Even though the old grass root was being choked out by the weed it still attached deep. When the old grass root was dead the weed was a breeze to pull up, so was the old grass root.
You see, we need to release the old grass root, those things from the past we hang on to as if we need them to survive. Those old coping devices are unhealthy so are the recordings of the past that tell us stuff that no longer applies. They may have been a reality yesterday but today they are a lie. The truth is that we are new creations in Christ and we have a new life in Him. Once we let go of and release the past and place our lives into his hands we can site and pull out the weeds that choke and steal our new life. That weed has no power if it can not attach to the old memory. Pull it out, get every last bit of that root out and throw it away.
First I tore the grass out and put in turf. I thought my troubles were over until I discovered that the turf was summer grass. It did as designed and died when winter came. So I did winter grass seed. Then I got busy and you guessed it. The winter grass died for summer. I did not mow it right away so it once again did the natural thing. It smothered the new growth form the turf that lived underneath. To top it off, ants came to live in that dead mess. Those ants were so thick they made the earth move. I had what looked like a fire burned yard with ants and weeds. See what I mean? I killed the ants (actually I believe they are just hiding somewhere waiting for my nice new grass.) and for the last five days I have weeded that thing. Remember, it is July in Arizona. Victory is at hand, however, for now that yard is weeded, bug free, covered in seed and fertilized. Pray it grows. We have monsoons now but if that sun hits it too hard it can die again.
The reason I write this saga to you is because of what I learned while weeding that yard, as the sweat dripped from my body. The weeds resemble evil roots in our life that keep us from enjoying the abundant life Christ died to give us. Things like bad habits, sorrow or grief from the past, shame from childhood, victimization and abuse. The wrong coping devices we used to survive that past life, then, still paralyzes us for today. I noticed that the weed root attached to the grass root making it harder to pull up. Even though the old grass root was being choked out by the weed it still attached deep. When the old grass root was dead the weed was a breeze to pull up, so was the old grass root.
You see, we need to release the old grass root, those things from the past we hang on to as if we need them to survive. Those old coping devices are unhealthy so are the recordings of the past that tell us stuff that no longer applies. They may have been a reality yesterday but today they are a lie. The truth is that we are new creations in Christ and we have a new life in Him. Once we let go of and release the past and place our lives into his hands we can site and pull out the weeds that choke and steal our new life. That weed has no power if it can not attach to the old memory. Pull it out, get every last bit of that root out and throw it away.
Christ's Image verses
Phil 2:27 He shows mercy
Prov 16:5 His not proud
Psm 34:16 He is against evil and intends to remove the memory of evil from the earth
Monday, July 14, 2008
His Image .
Romans 3:29
I listened to Charles Stanley yesterday. Though many wonderful things were said and a great plan laid out on how to live the Christian life, the most important thing I got was this phrase from Romans 8:28. be conformed to the image(likeness) of His son (Christ).
I know we all have heard this from the beginning. We all try to attain this as well. Of course this cannot be attained without the power of the Holy Spirit. We all know this too. This is the new thought, though, that came to me. Why fight it? If this is his goal and it is, then this is God's will, His total, perfect will for our lives. We look, search and wonder about our gifts, our place or our role in life. Well, here it is, To be conformed to His image. The end. Why continue to stumble along in selfish immaturity doing what we want, when we want, how we want or making sure we have done everything, seen everything or experienced everything when we can stop, listen and seek to be like Him.
I've decided to make a list of bible verse of His image when God shows me His image. How about you? I do believe the lists will be slightly different for each of us beause each of us is at different stages of growth. (Thank you Lord for not throwing everything at me at once in the 'lets conform Donna' today.) So this is my plan for our blog. I will continue with the psalms 34 list and do it by verse but I will also start the endless list of verses that reveal the image of Christ to us .
I listened to Charles Stanley yesterday. Though many wonderful things were said and a great plan laid out on how to live the Christian life, the most important thing I got was this phrase from Romans 8:28. be conformed to the image(likeness) of His son (Christ).
I know we all have heard this from the beginning. We all try to attain this as well. Of course this cannot be attained without the power of the Holy Spirit. We all know this too. This is the new thought, though, that came to me. Why fight it? If this is his goal and it is, then this is God's will, His total, perfect will for our lives. We look, search and wonder about our gifts, our place or our role in life. Well, here it is, To be conformed to His image. The end. Why continue to stumble along in selfish immaturity doing what we want, when we want, how we want or making sure we have done everything, seen everything or experienced everything when we can stop, listen and seek to be like Him.
I've decided to make a list of bible verse of His image when God shows me His image. How about you? I do believe the lists will be slightly different for each of us beause each of us is at different stages of growth. (Thank you Lord for not throwing everything at me at once in the 'lets conform Donna' today.) So this is my plan for our blog. I will continue with the psalms 34 list and do it by verse but I will also start the endless list of verses that reveal the image of Christ to us .
Christ's Image
Psalms 34:6 He hears the cry of the poor.
Psalms 34:14 He does not speak evil or lies.
Psalms 34: 15 His eyes are on His children and he listens to our cry
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Psalm 34: 1-5
You know how stressful the world is and how we get into fear, worry and anxiety at the drop of a hat? We all experience this and fight it off often. I usually seek to solve it daily with the Word and prayer as I allow myself to just relax and trust in the one who knows the game plan and who has us all in the palm of His hand.
During one of those daily readings I asked to hear something that would help for that particular day. I opened the Word to Psalms 34. You know one of those things you do. Just flip the book open and read. I've always loved this passage but today, in answer to my prayer, I decided to spend time drinking in all its meaning. Thus I bring it to you. Let's spend time on this one and maybe memorize portions. Notice how much peace, love and confidence it produces. God in this passage gives clear promises and instruction.
I will extol the Lord at all times, His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me, let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord and He answered me, He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame.
So, take a moment with me now. Let's praise Him, glorify His name and boast in Him even in our afflictions. He is with us. He will deliver us and we will experience His radiance within us.
During one of those daily readings I asked to hear something that would help for that particular day. I opened the Word to Psalms 34. You know one of those things you do. Just flip the book open and read. I've always loved this passage but today, in answer to my prayer, I decided to spend time drinking in all its meaning. Thus I bring it to you. Let's spend time on this one and maybe memorize portions. Notice how much peace, love and confidence it produces. God in this passage gives clear promises and instruction.
I will extol the Lord at all times, His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me, let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord and He answered me, He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame.
So, take a moment with me now. Let's praise Him, glorify His name and boast in Him even in our afflictions. He is with us. He will deliver us and we will experience His radiance within us.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Favor
Prov 14:9b; 2 Cor12:9
God's Favor, Wow! Do we realize what's being said in this phrase? Yet the scriptures tell us at every turn we have God's favor. I think we miss this fact and have trouble believing this truth because we all experience tragedy, sickness, troubles and so much stress in our busy lives. We just need to take time out and sit at his feet a while. Take a break now and then and let his favor pour over us. What a change we would experience in every day life.
Who are these favored people? Who are these people who experience supernatural power, during times of trouble and supernatural strength when life over whelms them? Those who know that His strength is made complete when they are weak. Those who know that He has made His dwelling place within their hearts. Those who know Him as Lord (boss) and Savior(the one who paid their debt of sin). NO it is not Oprah's new world religion. Our God, Our Savior has a name, has a plan, has a home waiting for us, has redeemed us from sin with His own blood (death on the cross), has been raised from the dead and lives in those who repent and ask Him into their lives.
May you know you are part of the redeemed. May you understand that this gives you favor with God. May you know this day that you are called the righteous, holy, saints, the children of God. May you know this day how much he loves and accepts you and always will. Who is the person. What is His name?
God's Favor, Wow! Do we realize what's being said in this phrase? Yet the scriptures tell us at every turn we have God's favor. I think we miss this fact and have trouble believing this truth because we all experience tragedy, sickness, troubles and so much stress in our busy lives. We just need to take time out and sit at his feet a while. Take a break now and then and let his favor pour over us. What a change we would experience in every day life.
Who are these favored people? Who are these people who experience supernatural power, during times of trouble and supernatural strength when life over whelms them? Those who know that His strength is made complete when they are weak. Those who know that He has made His dwelling place within their hearts. Those who know Him as Lord (boss) and Savior(the one who paid their debt of sin). NO it is not Oprah's new world religion. Our God, Our Savior has a name, has a plan, has a home waiting for us, has redeemed us from sin with His own blood (death on the cross), has been raised from the dead and lives in those who repent and ask Him into their lives.
May you know you are part of the redeemed. May you understand that this gives you favor with God. May you know this day that you are called the righteous, holy, saints, the children of God. May you know this day how much he loves and accepts you and always will. Who is the person. What is His name?
Jesus the Christ
Friday, June 27, 2008
His Touch
Lord many the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight.
It is not what a man eats the defiles him but the words that he speaks, for words
come from the heart.
I have not written much this month because like everyone I got too busy. I even got too busy to read the bible much or take time to worship, or allow my heart to connect. Oh.. I would read a devotional or check out a verse or make a stab at trying to put those pure nuggets of gold in my heart and that little bit helps but the real meat the real connections comes when I sit still, listen to His voice. His mercy's are new every morning and the word He speaks each day of my life is a treasure. Why waste breath without connecting to the King of the Universe
Thank you Lord....He got my attention as I was driving to the gym (a new thing lately to keep alive). The man on the radio, in a very kind slow voice, like a grandfather would speak, talked about the words of our mouth. How these words can build up, encourage and deliver others into to presence of God. How they can help us all see life as God intended. Positive words of faith and discipline that eliminate the presence of the negatives we are surrounded by daily. His words immediately placed me into God presence and for a brief moment I experienced Gods heart and touch. There is nothing in life like His touch and nothing in life is worth missing that presence.
So today, if you have not taken a moment to connect to the King of the universe and let His presence carry you away to peace, stop what ever it is that keeps you so busy and let His touch free you.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Indescribable
1 Cor. 1:18,19; Gal 2:20
We always go into Christian Book stores on vacation. This year was no exception. My husband found a video called Indescribable by Louie Giglio. You must get it and enjoy the indescribable universe and how it glorifies our God. The message? The Cross.
We always go into Christian Book stores on vacation. This year was no exception. My husband found a video called Indescribable by Louie Giglio. You must get it and enjoy the indescribable universe and how it glorifies our God. The message? The Cross.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written " I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
We can tell others about all the things God has done for us but the only thing we can ever say that has power to bring someone into salvation is the message of the cross. In other words, until a person understands that he or she has messed up, sinned, made mistakes in the sight of God, our creator, the boss of the universe and that this creator through love died for those sins; (taken the punishment, paid the debt) they do not get it. They miss what life is all about.
Life is about surrendering our lives to this creator, our God. Life is accepting his forgiveness which involves admitting fault , confession of sin, repentance and letting him live his life through us. Life is about him and what he wants not about us and what we want. Once we surrender to His will and stop trying to get everything we think we want, life is never dull, never unsatisfying never empty. It has meaning, direction, fulfillment because the one who created us knows what we need and satisfies us with Himself. It turns out that He is all we need to be happy and enjoy life. He is the answer, the treasure.
For it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and the life I now live I live by faith in him who gave himself for me.
Check out the video. It puts things into perspective.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
A Prayer
Ephesians 1:17-23
I have pray this passage often for my family because scripture says to pray according to God's will. Since scripture passages are God's will for our lives, we can know the prayer is answered. There is much depth in this small passage. Thus I've placed questions to encourage research.
A Clue
The answers are personal and deal with our admiration, worship and awe of God. They relate to knowing him in a way that results in eternal life from now through eternity.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and His incomparable great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church, which is His body the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.
- What is wisdom and revelation?
- Know Him better, why?
- Eyes enlightened, how?
- What hope, what calling?
- What glorious inheritance?
- What power?
- What age to come?
Friday, May 23, 2008
Logos/Rama/Energeo
1Thess:2:13; Phil2:13
Logos, Rama, and Energeo are Greek words. (Now, you Greek Scholars and English Majors must forgive me if I spelled them wrong. We can look them up later.) They refer to what I read in the verses above.
Logos is the written Word of God. The Bible
Rama is the Word of God when He speaks into our heart
Energeo is the energy (power) of God.
Now, here is when it gets exciting. The Holy Spirit of God takes the Logos and the Rama and causes us to experience the Energeo of God. Simply said: He works changes in our lives through the spoke word in our hearts and the written word in the Bible. God speaks to us, we believe. The result is a changed life.
Why do I get excited about this? It means that God works in us. It means that His word both Rama and Logos changes our lives. It means the scriptures are alive and powerful today. It means we can relax, believe, enjoy, and experience God. We lean on Him as He completes the work needed in our hearts. We can do nothing on our own. He does the work in us and through us.
Logos, Rama, and Energeo are Greek words. (Now, you Greek Scholars and English Majors must forgive me if I spelled them wrong. We can look them up later.) They refer to what I read in the verses above.
Logos is the written Word of God. The Bible
Rama is the Word of God when He speaks into our heart
Energeo is the energy (power) of God.
Now, here is when it gets exciting. The Holy Spirit of God takes the Logos and the Rama and causes us to experience the Energeo of God. Simply said: He works changes in our lives through the spoke word in our hearts and the written word in the Bible. God speaks to us, we believe. The result is a changed life.
Why do I get excited about this? It means that God works in us. It means that His word both Rama and Logos changes our lives. It means the scriptures are alive and powerful today. It means we can relax, believe, enjoy, and experience God. We lean on Him as He completes the work needed in our hearts. We can do nothing on our own. He does the work in us and through us.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Heart talk
Proverbs 11:3; 3:5; 17:3-6; Psm141:3-5
All of us, male and female, long for heart talk. Just look around at all the ways we try to connect today. We all want to interact in such a way as to be known by another. We want to be heard and understood. We search for someone somewhere who will truly connect to us. It's as if we believe that a soul mate is out there somewhere and we need to find them.
I am not sure I believe in soul mates. I am not even sure that it is wise. But I do know we were created to interact and connect. Yet, as many times as we reach out for and search out connections we are disappointed and often unsatisfied. That is because we are looking for a connection that only God can fill. We need to connect to Him first for He is the only true soul mate.
The longing in us to connect on a heart level is there because God wants to connect to us on a heart level. It is a hunger placed in us by Him so we will seek Him out and it is not to be satisfied by anything or anyone else. That is why most relationships fall short, even friendships. However, once that need is filled by a personal relationship with God (Found in my book Teach Me Lord under lesson 1) then all the other connections we make have deeper meaning.
God reaches out to us all the time. He speaks to us all the time. Heart talk is on His lips all the time. In the verses above, He talks about integrity and how it guides us. How He tests the heart, how we are to trust in His heart. He asks us to acknowledge Him and let Him guide us. He warns us to not let our hearts be drawn to the world and people of the world. He basically draws us to Himself throughout scripture. He wants us to receive Him as Lord, Savior...God; so we can experience Him, know Him and be known by Him. That is a soul mate.
He is the answer to heart talk because He wants us to connect to Him on that level. He is the soul mate. He is the connection. When we lean on Him, go to Him, let Him fill our heart we will know Him and be known. We will have the relationship we seek.
When the bank wants their tellers to recognize a counterfeit they have them study and handle real money. They do not show them counterfeit money. Then when a teller experiences counterfeit money they immediately recognize the fake. God is the real heart connection, the only soul mate, the only one who knows heart talk. So allow yourself to experience Him through worship, prayer and scripture. Be still and let His heart connect to yours. (Teach Me Lord lesson 2) Then when you connect to people you will recognize the real thing.
God wants us for soul mates. He wants to make a heart connection to us. He wants heart talk. Why would we want to settle for anything less.
All of us, male and female, long for heart talk. Just look around at all the ways we try to connect today. We all want to interact in such a way as to be known by another. We want to be heard and understood. We search for someone somewhere who will truly connect to us. It's as if we believe that a soul mate is out there somewhere and we need to find them.
I am not sure I believe in soul mates. I am not even sure that it is wise. But I do know we were created to interact and connect. Yet, as many times as we reach out for and search out connections we are disappointed and often unsatisfied. That is because we are looking for a connection that only God can fill. We need to connect to Him first for He is the only true soul mate.
The longing in us to connect on a heart level is there because God wants to connect to us on a heart level. It is a hunger placed in us by Him so we will seek Him out and it is not to be satisfied by anything or anyone else. That is why most relationships fall short, even friendships. However, once that need is filled by a personal relationship with God (Found in my book Teach Me Lord under lesson 1) then all the other connections we make have deeper meaning.
God reaches out to us all the time. He speaks to us all the time. Heart talk is on His lips all the time. In the verses above, He talks about integrity and how it guides us. How He tests the heart, how we are to trust in His heart. He asks us to acknowledge Him and let Him guide us. He warns us to not let our hearts be drawn to the world and people of the world. He basically draws us to Himself throughout scripture. He wants us to receive Him as Lord, Savior...God; so we can experience Him, know Him and be known by Him. That is a soul mate.
He is the answer to heart talk because He wants us to connect to Him on that level. He is the soul mate. He is the connection. When we lean on Him, go to Him, let Him fill our heart we will know Him and be known. We will have the relationship we seek.
When the bank wants their tellers to recognize a counterfeit they have them study and handle real money. They do not show them counterfeit money. Then when a teller experiences counterfeit money they immediately recognize the fake. God is the real heart connection, the only soul mate, the only one who knows heart talk. So allow yourself to experience Him through worship, prayer and scripture. Be still and let His heart connect to yours. (Teach Me Lord lesson 2) Then when you connect to people you will recognize the real thing.
God wants us for soul mates. He wants to make a heart connection to us. He wants heart talk. Why would we want to settle for anything less.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The excuse
Galatians 5:22-26
This morning I woke to a speaker that said we could love with out restraint. We have God living in us and because of his presence we have the capacity to love without restraint. I had to look at myself once again and notice that I give myself an excuse for not living that way. I say, "I am human, not god; thus I am not perfect enough to live that way."
Well, this is true. I am not God. I am not perfect and I will not live a God inspired love walk without restraint. But that is not the point. You see, the point is that the possibility is there. That maybe we all live below the mark because we give ourselves this excuse.
I am not suggesting we will live a perfect love walk. What I want to say is that maybe we should allow the Spirit of God to have His way in our hearts more often. Not turn ourselves over to selfishness so often. Maybe say..."Father here I am, use me. I surrender my heart and soul to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control...Your nature that already lives in me."
Yes, this requires us to grow up and to stop with the ME attitude. The selfish, self-centered me, myself and I attitude. But then is that not the goal; to be more like Him. That can only come if we surrender our lives and let Him be God in us.
I, at this age, have regrets for not being more mature in Him, for not being more loving in years past, for being too selfish in relationships. In fact, I think that we all would notice a marked difference in all our relationships if we allowed Him to have His way more often. I do know that when we walk in Him and follow His ways we experience less pain. His way is the best way.
No more excuses.
This morning I woke to a speaker that said we could love with out restraint. We have God living in us and because of his presence we have the capacity to love without restraint. I had to look at myself once again and notice that I give myself an excuse for not living that way. I say, "I am human, not god; thus I am not perfect enough to live that way."
Well, this is true. I am not God. I am not perfect and I will not live a God inspired love walk without restraint. But that is not the point. You see, the point is that the possibility is there. That maybe we all live below the mark because we give ourselves this excuse.
I am not suggesting we will live a perfect love walk. What I want to say is that maybe we should allow the Spirit of God to have His way in our hearts more often. Not turn ourselves over to selfishness so often. Maybe say..."Father here I am, use me. I surrender my heart and soul to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control...Your nature that already lives in me."
Yes, this requires us to grow up and to stop with the ME attitude. The selfish, self-centered me, myself and I attitude. But then is that not the goal; to be more like Him. That can only come if we surrender our lives and let Him be God in us.
I, at this age, have regrets for not being more mature in Him, for not being more loving in years past, for being too selfish in relationships. In fact, I think that we all would notice a marked difference in all our relationships if we allowed Him to have His way more often. I do know that when we walk in Him and follow His ways we experience less pain. His way is the best way.
No more excuses.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Samson
Judges16
Remember this guy. He had super-human strength. A gift from God. As long as he did not cut his hair he kept the gift.... BUT... poor Samson fell in love and turned his life over to Delia. She, a wicked person out to destroy this child of God, managed to accomplish her goal; or did she.
I heard this week at bible study that God answers prayer His way. We ask, hope, believe but His answer is not always what we want or think. However, it is always answered in a way that gives God the most glory. Isn't that what we want for our lives? We want God to receive all the glory for our lives, correct? In fact our lives, in our minds, are not a success until He receives the glory. It is a built in desire that comes from hearts surrendered to Him.
This Samson story is a little like that thought. He gave his life over to Delia and she had her way and put him in a painful place. Blind and in a prison. His hair grew while in prison and at the end of chapter 16 he comes back to God and ask for help. He does not ask that he be spared but that God would use him once more and be glorified. God was glorified for it says that Samson in his last act on earth did more for God than he had his entire life.
This encourages me because it tells me that regardless of our mistakes we can turn to God anytime, turn our lives back over to Him and He will rescue, deliver and use our lives again...BIG TIME.
Remember this guy. He had super-human strength. A gift from God. As long as he did not cut his hair he kept the gift.... BUT... poor Samson fell in love and turned his life over to Delia. She, a wicked person out to destroy this child of God, managed to accomplish her goal; or did she.
I heard this week at bible study that God answers prayer His way. We ask, hope, believe but His answer is not always what we want or think. However, it is always answered in a way that gives God the most glory. Isn't that what we want for our lives? We want God to receive all the glory for our lives, correct? In fact our lives, in our minds, are not a success until He receives the glory. It is a built in desire that comes from hearts surrendered to Him.
This Samson story is a little like that thought. He gave his life over to Delia and she had her way and put him in a painful place. Blind and in a prison. His hair grew while in prison and at the end of chapter 16 he comes back to God and ask for help. He does not ask that he be spared but that God would use him once more and be glorified. God was glorified for it says that Samson in his last act on earth did more for God than he had his entire life.
This encourages me because it tells me that regardless of our mistakes we can turn to God anytime, turn our lives back over to Him and He will rescue, deliver and use our lives again...BIG TIME.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
