Sometimes Change is Good

Time has surely passed since I last posted. There have been so many changes and it has been very busy! The changes have included moving, sending a son off to military, preparing another for college (next year), etc. One of the things that has been on the forefront is finding a new church. Stepping out and visiting new churches is scary to be sure. The first visit is a bit awkward and then there is the pressure to figure out if that is where God would have you. But I believe this is part of something bigger that God has been doing in our lives.

About six months back, the Lord our God began preparing us (as a family) for something. We simply do not know what yet. God has opened our eyes to some things, allowed us to be sifted in other areas, and allowed for growth in Him.  It is with excitement and trembling we take each step forward and sometimes a few steps back. As time moves forward. . . He ask for more and more to be given to Him. Often times we are deeply convicted of something we paid no attention to in the past. And that is where I am beginning to see that change is good.

Now please know that I am not speaking against any denomination or church. I would not so long as they preach the Word of God and believe in King Jesus as Lord and Savior. There will be no denominations in Heaven and we are all the same church! That being said, it is easy to do what you have always done. For example, your comfort zone may be with a particular denomination, certain friends, style of music, or even type of building for worship. While all those things may be wonderful. . . I wonder how often they keep us from being stretched or hinder our growth? This is what I have noticed. . .

In visiting other churches, we are required to go back to the Bible for answers. It causes questions to be raised as to why we do certain things or believe certain things. So much of what we do or believe falls back on tradition rather than the Word of God.  That is dangerous ground. I have been strongly convicted over past months that I must look to the Word of God for proof of everything. Other than Jesus Himself, there is no one who has walked this earth that knows everything and always speaks 100% truth. Sure there are many who desire to speak 100% truth, but Romans 3:10 says that "As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one". So despite our best efforts, we cannot always be right.

The Bible is the very word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that every word of it is "God breathed!" Are you hungry for more of the Lord? Are you wishing He would speak to you today? He will! All you need to do is open His word and read. While reading. . .remember that you are reading the living breathing words of the God who created all things including you. His desire is to have a relationship with you and that begins with a humble heart reading His words. I pray that His Word will greatly minister in and through you today! Praising Him with you!

Finding the Light in the Darkness

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Ephesians 4:18

 

We live in a time that the darkness is becoming more and more apparent. People aren't hiding the evil (Genesis 8:21) within their hearts any longer.  It seems that many feel it very socially acceptable to put it on display.  Even so many of the TV shows and movies put on display the overwhelming evil that comes from Satan.

"Day after day we exercise our natural impulses, spurning our Creator's authority over us. God beckons storm clouds, and they come. He tells the wind to blow and the rain to fall, and they immediately obey. Everything in creation responds in obedience to the Creator. . . until we get to you and me.  We have the audacity to look God in the face and say no. . . when you reflect not only on the power of God but also on the fullness of His perfection, you come to see just how heinous, destructive, and arrogant our rebellion really is." David Platt

Yet even within such a dark time, it seems that many are hoping/ pleading for something more. Often times we do not even know what we are yearning for. In Ephesians 4:18 and 2 Corinthians 4:4, the Bible tells us that our understanding has been darkened and ours hearts hardened. We no longer "see" the truth. In fact, aside from Jesus there is no way we can see the truth. That is why God had to make a plan for us.  So He sent His Son who is Truth to show us His light in the darkness.  Jesus is the light beckoning us from the darkness.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Have you submitted your life completely to Him? Do you obey the Word of God? When the Holy Spirit speaks do you obey? Be like the ocean, wind and all the rest of creation. . .obey God!

God loves us with an everlasting love. When you see the light rather than the darkness. . .you will know that love. When you obey Him, then His love will over-whelm you.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

 

 

 

Running

"Do  you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." 1 Corinthians 9:24

For a myriad of reasons you don't want to hear. . .I am out of shape.  I have never been a true runner but have discovered that it is very refreshing (almost cleansing).  Even as I wonder if I can take the next step while running, I feel that sense of cleansing.  It occurred to me today as I tied on my shoes for the Couch to 5k that I desperately want to complete that running is what we do with God. We either run to Him or we run from Him.

Before we accept Christ as our Savior this is easy to see.  I think some people are afraid of the unknown and some just simply don't want to change.  They run and run and run in the opposite direction.  Sometimes the sin is so deep that they even believe they no longer can accept Christ. This is simply not true.  He wants to know you no matter what you have done or what has happened to you.  Sometimes we just try to be good but still have no place for God.  We run to keep busy and fill our lives with other things.

But what about after we are saved.  I still think it applies.  We may spend time with Him and grasp every possible opportunity to know His presence. In this case, we are clearly running toward Him.  But just like an unbeliever, we can busy ourselves and fill our lives with all sorts of things (some good, some bad).  All of it helping us run from true abundance that is offered in a daily relationship with Christ.  I want to challenge you that no matter how busy you think you are. . . you do have time for Bible Study and for church.  Be creative if need be and be willing to cut some things out of your life.  Make time for what really counts.  When you are no longer in this world, what will you be known by? What will people say about you and your walk with Christ?

That cleansing feeling that running gives is nothing compared to the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit! He saved you to have a relationship with Him.  I hear running can be very addictive and, you know what, so can spending time with God.  He will absolutely spoil you for the ordinary!

Status Quo Christian

Getting ready to start a new Bible Study tomorrow.  I am filled with excitement and nervousness about it.  I know God has prepared this lesson for us.  For months now, He has repeatedly laid it out before me.  Now I feel the burden of the task to try to put together cohesively all that I have been learning.  I sense that this is the one.  The one that could radically change lives. The process of preparation has changed me and I so want to share it.

The theme of the study has been pounded out on my computer in a few of these post.  It is basically, how to not be a (what I am calling) a "status quo Christian".  You may be thinking,  what in the world does that mean? It is being a Christian but having a surface level daily relationship. If you are a "status quo Christian" then you may feel moved Sunday morning during the sermon, but by Monday you are too busy to let it matter.   You probably heard that God speaks, but doubt He does these days. When you hurt or are in a difficult situation, you have no faith God will change anything. You probably don't read your Bible or may not have ever been on your face before the Lord. And as a result, you are ho hum about your relationship with Christ.

The study we are doing is "One In A Million" by Priscilla Shirer".  I hope to be able to add to that some of what God has taught me over the past months.  In the end, I pray we will find our Promise Land.  The place where we live an abundant life with a God who desires to talk with us. I pray that we learn to "walk" with Him daily on both good days and bad. I pray that bitterness and lack of faith with be sent packing back to the father of lies.  That every time we read His Word our excitement will grow and we will tingle head to toes.  I cannot wait to see what the Lord Jesus will do with our lives when they are fully submitted (eyes upon the one who loves us more than life itself - literally).

The Pageant Contestants

I recently had the experience of going with a friend to shop for pageant dresses for two of her daughters.  It was a truly heartwarming experience. I watched as these girls went through the selections to find the one to delight their heart.  Only these girls didn't handle the experience as many would (after all it was one of those true "princess" moments).  They were pretty quiet about the whole thing.  They never whined, never begged and even only softly voiced their opinion. Even when the possibility of a favorite dress slipped away they handled it with such a humble attitude and not even a complaint.  I was so proud of them and felt I had been given a blessing to be there.

As I pondered on the shopping trip, I wondered if I handle things in the same manner or act like a spoiled little girl.  No, of course I don't pitch tantrums jumping up and down, crying and screaming.  But let's face it, the damage we do pitching a tantrum on the inside can be far worse.  Even as Christians, I wonder how often we pitch an internal fit because after all we are daddy's little girl. Knowing that we are so special and loved by the Father could give us a feeling of entitlement.   And it does.  Just not that kind.  It entitles us to act like Jesus.  Oops, for this we must take the tiara off and stop swirling in our beautiful gown.  This entitlement requires humility, selflessness, love, forgiveness and the list goes on.  But it requires us to be so passionate about the Savior that we have no time for tantrums. The good news is that we don't even need them because Daddy has our back. He always provides the best for us.

So often we are stressed and even panicked about life's circumstances.  When we go to the Lord in prayer, we give Him our fix-it list.  Father, please show my husband he is wrong, help the kids obey, give us enough money. . .  We whine, beg and maybe even pitch a fit.  Today I want to make a point to go to Him humbly ready to do as He ask and knowing that His plan is always what is best!

I am so proud of my little pageant contestant friends. I hope that it is so much more than they dreamed and that they will lay their crown at the Father's feet.  They are truly beautiful on the outside and inside.  And they will always be a Princess! Meanwhile, I might need to swirl around a bit as I praise God for the lesson these two sweet girls showed me.