Many people that I love are going through the worst trials of their lives. It seems impossible that they could be joyful in the midst of them, but that is what God has commanded us to do. "Rejoice always...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1Thess. 5:16,18) We must choose to give thanks, even in the difficult times of our lives, if we are going to be obedient to our Lord...and it must be a deliberate choice everyday. "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!" He is always working for our good and for His glory, He is always directing our steps, He is always working to conform us into the image of His Son...that we might be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.!
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:4,7)
Do you see the direct correlation here between rejoicing and having the peace of God in your heart? We rarely understand why God is sovereignly leading us down a path of difficulty and suffering, but we must trust Him and keep our eyes upon Him...not the problem. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Cor. 5:7)
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength!"
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
My God of the Impossible
Are you facing a situation in your life that looks impossible or hopeless? Jesus said, "...with God all things are possible." Apart from Him, we can do nothing! The apostle Paul, imprisoned in Rome for two years, was facing an impossible situation when he wrote, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory...forever and ever." (Ephesians 3: 20-21) God is able! And He is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think!
Are you fearful concerning your impossible situation? We must put on the armor of God and fight against the wiles and the schemes of the devil! We are told to resist him and stand firm in our faith. For God has not given you the spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. Satan wants to kill us, steal from us, and destroy us, but Jesus came that we might have an abundant life...full of joy and not fear. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. "The Lord is my Helper, I will not fear; what can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6)
"Out of the Depths"
Out of the depths, O Lord, I cry to You,
When I am tempted to despair.
Though I might fail to trust Your promises,
You never fail to hear my prayer.
And if You judged my sin
I'd never stand again,
But I see mercy in Your hands.
I will wait for you, my God,
When my fears come with no warning.
In Your Word I'll put my trust,
I will wait, I will wait for You.
The secret mysteries belong to You,
We only know what You reveal.
All my questions that are unresolved,
Don't change the wisdom of Your will.
In every trial and loss,
My hope is in the cross;
Where Your compassions never fail!
Great is His faithfulness! His mercies are new towards us every morning...His love for us never ceases! "The Lord is my portion," says my soul," therefore, I will hope in Him! The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him." (Lamentations 3: 24-25)
In the midst of impossible situations:
1) Fix your eyes upon Jesus - the author and perfecter of your faith. The One who came and died for you - that you might have life, and have it more abundantly. The One who can do far more abundantly than all you can ask...or even think!
2) Pay attention to His Promises - rest in His Word and His truth! God's Word is absolutely true...it stands above any other truth! Jesus prayed for those who believe in Him, "Sanctify them in truth; Your Word is truth." (John 17:17) He told His followers that the truth would set them free, and it would remain. "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever!" (Isaiah 40:8)
3) Rejoice in Him - we must make a deliberate choice. I don't always know or understand the why of trials, but I know what His Word says:
"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:4 & 7)
"Rejoice always...in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thess. 5:16 & 18)
"The joy of the Lord is my strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
"Count it all joy when you face various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect work work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
In her devotional book on joy, Lydia Brownback says: "It isn't human to rejoice in suffering, it is supernatural. God is glorified not by calling strong women but by giving His strength to weak women. How joyful we could be in times of trouble if our primary focus, our top priority, is what God is doing through it - for us, for others, and for His glory. Each trial is a gift. It's a chance to know God's strength and to show that following Him is worth everything."
My prayer today is that I will find true joy in God...and God alone. That I will make a deliberate choice to rejoice every morning...for it is the day that He has made. That I will remember that He is my Helper in whatever I face! That I would rest in His Word and His promises that will remain forever. That I would know that He is always working for my good and for His glory!
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:12-13)
Are you fearful concerning your impossible situation? We must put on the armor of God and fight against the wiles and the schemes of the devil! We are told to resist him and stand firm in our faith. For God has not given you the spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. Satan wants to kill us, steal from us, and destroy us, but Jesus came that we might have an abundant life...full of joy and not fear. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. "The Lord is my Helper, I will not fear; what can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6)
"Out of the Depths"
Out of the depths, O Lord, I cry to You,
When I am tempted to despair.
Though I might fail to trust Your promises,
You never fail to hear my prayer.
And if You judged my sin
I'd never stand again,
But I see mercy in Your hands.
I will wait for you, my God,
When my fears come with no warning.
In Your Word I'll put my trust,
I will wait, I will wait for You.
The secret mysteries belong to You,
We only know what You reveal.
All my questions that are unresolved,
Don't change the wisdom of Your will.
In every trial and loss,
My hope is in the cross;
Where Your compassions never fail!
Great is His faithfulness! His mercies are new towards us every morning...His love for us never ceases! "The Lord is my portion," says my soul," therefore, I will hope in Him! The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him." (Lamentations 3: 24-25)
In the midst of impossible situations:
1) Fix your eyes upon Jesus - the author and perfecter of your faith. The One who came and died for you - that you might have life, and have it more abundantly. The One who can do far more abundantly than all you can ask...or even think!
2) Pay attention to His Promises - rest in His Word and His truth! God's Word is absolutely true...it stands above any other truth! Jesus prayed for those who believe in Him, "Sanctify them in truth; Your Word is truth." (John 17:17) He told His followers that the truth would set them free, and it would remain. "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever!" (Isaiah 40:8)
3) Rejoice in Him - we must make a deliberate choice. I don't always know or understand the why of trials, but I know what His Word says:
"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:4 & 7)
"Rejoice always...in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thess. 5:16 & 18)
"The joy of the Lord is my strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
"Count it all joy when you face various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect work work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
In her devotional book on joy, Lydia Brownback says: "It isn't human to rejoice in suffering, it is supernatural. God is glorified not by calling strong women but by giving His strength to weak women. How joyful we could be in times of trouble if our primary focus, our top priority, is what God is doing through it - for us, for others, and for His glory. Each trial is a gift. It's a chance to know God's strength and to show that following Him is worth everything."
My prayer today is that I will find true joy in God...and God alone. That I will make a deliberate choice to rejoice every morning...for it is the day that He has made. That I will remember that He is my Helper in whatever I face! That I would rest in His Word and His promises that will remain forever. That I would know that He is always working for my good and for His glory!
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed." (1 Peter 4:12-13)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Mean Girls
This week, I sat under the teaching of Kay Arthur as she taught from 2 Timothy 3 about difficult times in the last days. She asked that we pay particular attention to what God said about women in verse 6:
"For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth." 2 Timothy 3:6
Yesterday, I read words of advice from a mother to her son, the king, in Proverbs 31:3:
"Do not give your strength to women, to those who destroy kings."
Thus began my thought process about women and how mean we can be at times! We destroy kings...we are weak, impulsive, and weighed down with sins. We are, according to 2 Tim. 3, lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, malicious gossips, without self-control...we are mean girls!
The things that others say and do can cut like a knife, and those wounds go very deep into our hearts. This morning, I thought about wounds that I had suffered at the hands of mean girls...and unfortunately/fortunately...I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that I have been a mean girl at times and guilty of inflicting wounds to others' hearts...wounds that go deep and leave scars.
Just like the scars that are on Jesus' hands and His feet, they are always there...a reminder of the great love that He had for us, in that He was willing to suffer and die on a cross for us, that we might have everlasting life. He was willing to bear the shame, the humiliation, the pain...and live with the scars...just for me! Though He was crushed, bruised, and scarred for man's sin, His love is everlasting for all mankind. His forgiveness and His mercy goes on without measure for those who have hurt Him.
My prayer is that I will allow hurts and painful circumstances in my life to make me better and not bitter. That I would die to self and be more like the One who chooses love and forgiveness, instead of hate and unforgiveness. That I would not be a grown-up mean girl!! That I would show love and forgiveness to all...for it is the kindness of the Lord that leads to repentance. That I would stop and think before I speak: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it really necessary??
"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26
"For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth." 2 Timothy 3:6
Yesterday, I read words of advice from a mother to her son, the king, in Proverbs 31:3:
"Do not give your strength to women, to those who destroy kings."
Thus began my thought process about women and how mean we can be at times! We destroy kings...we are weak, impulsive, and weighed down with sins. We are, according to 2 Tim. 3, lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, malicious gossips, without self-control...we are mean girls!
The things that others say and do can cut like a knife, and those wounds go very deep into our hearts. This morning, I thought about wounds that I had suffered at the hands of mean girls...and unfortunately/fortunately...I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that I have been a mean girl at times and guilty of inflicting wounds to others' hearts...wounds that go deep and leave scars.
Just like the scars that are on Jesus' hands and His feet, they are always there...a reminder of the great love that He had for us, in that He was willing to suffer and die on a cross for us, that we might have everlasting life. He was willing to bear the shame, the humiliation, the pain...and live with the scars...just for me! Though He was crushed, bruised, and scarred for man's sin, His love is everlasting for all mankind. His forgiveness and His mercy goes on without measure for those who have hurt Him.
My prayer is that I will allow hurts and painful circumstances in my life to make me better and not bitter. That I would die to self and be more like the One who chooses love and forgiveness, instead of hate and unforgiveness. That I would not be a grown-up mean girl!! That I would show love and forgiveness to all...for it is the kindness of the Lord that leads to repentance. That I would stop and think before I speak: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it really necessary??
"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26
Monday, January 30, 2012
What's Wrong with Me?
Speaking about being different...and I did in my last blog...I heard a young man speak that, obviously, had been radically changed by the Lord. He preached an awesome message, and I wanted to share some of his message with you. I am not going to attempt to organize his thoughts in any manner, but want to share them with you at random...which is how he shared them with us.
What's Wrong with Me?
Some of us are crippled by ME, and the fruit of ME is temporal and disgusting! If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed! If something is wrong with you, it's not His fault! Where the presence of the Lord is, there is change.
Don't worship your circumstances...worship Him! Celebrate what's been done for you, and not to you! Don't be a victim and hold your circumstances or what's happened to you up like a trophy! Don't stay in your circumstance, but stand in your covenant relationship with God.
You say, "I don't feel righteous," ...and you never will...but believe Him! You are righteous in Christ Jesus! We have become partakers of His divine nature. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away, behold, all things have been made new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Our biggest problem is that we don't know what to hope in...we don't know what He has promised us in God's Word. Is His mercy done? No...it endures forever...His mercies are new every morning! Lay down your options and celebrate the promises of God. He cannot lie...His Word is truth! You can bank on what He says.
God's promises are not based on me and my performance but on His merit! Jesus wants us to come to Him now...just like we are...don't try to clean yourself up or straighten yourself out.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. It is a gift of God...not of works...lest any man should boast!"
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
What's Wrong with Me?
Some of us are crippled by ME, and the fruit of ME is temporal and disgusting! If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed! If something is wrong with you, it's not His fault! Where the presence of the Lord is, there is change.
Don't worship your circumstances...worship Him! Celebrate what's been done for you, and not to you! Don't be a victim and hold your circumstances or what's happened to you up like a trophy! Don't stay in your circumstance, but stand in your covenant relationship with God.
You say, "I don't feel righteous," ...and you never will...but believe Him! You are righteous in Christ Jesus! We have become partakers of His divine nature. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away, behold, all things have been made new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Our biggest problem is that we don't know what to hope in...we don't know what He has promised us in God's Word. Is His mercy done? No...it endures forever...His mercies are new every morning! Lay down your options and celebrate the promises of God. He cannot lie...His Word is truth! You can bank on what He says.
God's promises are not based on me and my performance but on His merit! Jesus wants us to come to Him now...just like we are...don't try to clean yourself up or straighten yourself out.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. It is a gift of God...not of works...lest any man should boast!"
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Are You Different?
In a recent dicussion about the church and why I believed that it was important to "not forsake the assembling of yourselves together" and why I felt like it was important to attend church in order to encourage one another as believers and hear God's Word taught, this is the response that I got:
"Shouldn't the people in the church, on the whole, be a different breed of people? Not perfect, but different? I think that many Christians like to "talk" about being different, and they have all the right words to sound like they are different, but they really don't want to be different!! I do believe that some people are trying to pursue Christlikeness, but I've also seen people who don't practice what they hear preached....all the while, condemning others for being sinners. It's hard for me to argue that kids need to be in church when most of the people in the church are just like everyone else...only they go to church! Church, then, only becomes a hangout where people go to have fun and then feel more righteous because of it."
Whoa...how do you respond to that? Maybe that the church is a hospital for sinners? Though we have been saved by God's grace, we still continue to do wrong things, because we are not perfect...and we never will be this side of heaven? That our goal is not perfection, but that we are striving to go in the right direction?
My heart is hurting today, because I see myself in those statements...and I don't want to be guilty of attending church for the appearance of being righteous. I truly long to be more like Christ, but I know that there are times that I miserably fail the Lord, and I disappoint people. More than anything, however, I don't want to disappoint my Lord. I desire to be a God-pleaser and not a man-pleaser...and I struggle with that!
This morning, I heard Him whisper to me, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) Thank You, Lord...your Word is Truth!
"Shouldn't the people in the church, on the whole, be a different breed of people? Not perfect, but different? I think that many Christians like to "talk" about being different, and they have all the right words to sound like they are different, but they really don't want to be different!! I do believe that some people are trying to pursue Christlikeness, but I've also seen people who don't practice what they hear preached....all the while, condemning others for being sinners. It's hard for me to argue that kids need to be in church when most of the people in the church are just like everyone else...only they go to church! Church, then, only becomes a hangout where people go to have fun and then feel more righteous because of it."
Whoa...how do you respond to that? Maybe that the church is a hospital for sinners? Though we have been saved by God's grace, we still continue to do wrong things, because we are not perfect...and we never will be this side of heaven? That our goal is not perfection, but that we are striving to go in the right direction?
My heart is hurting today, because I see myself in those statements...and I don't want to be guilty of attending church for the appearance of being righteous. I truly long to be more like Christ, but I know that there are times that I miserably fail the Lord, and I disappoint people. More than anything, however, I don't want to disappoint my Lord. I desire to be a God-pleaser and not a man-pleaser...and I struggle with that!
This morning, I heard Him whisper to me, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) Thank You, Lord...your Word is Truth!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
My Son
Love this song by Mark Schultz, written for a friend's son with cancer:
He's My Son
I'm down on my knees again tonight,
I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right.
See there is a boy that needs Your help,
I've done all that I can do myself.
His mother is tired,
I'm sure You can understand.
Each night as he sleeps,
She goes in to hold his hand.
And she tries...not to cry...
As the tears fill her eyes.
Can you hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can you make him feel alright?
If You can hear him...let me take his place somehow,
See, he's not just anyone, he's my son!
Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep,
I dream of the boy he'd like to be.
I try to be strong and see him through,
But, God, who he needs right now is You!
Let him grow old...live life without this fear!
What would life be, living without him here?
He's so tired, and he's scared...
Let him know You're there...
Can You hear me?
Can You see him?
Please don't leave him...
He's my son!
"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You!" Psalm 56:3
He's My Son
I'm down on my knees again tonight,
I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right.
See there is a boy that needs Your help,
I've done all that I can do myself.
His mother is tired,
I'm sure You can understand.
Each night as he sleeps,
She goes in to hold his hand.
And she tries...not to cry...
As the tears fill her eyes.
Can you hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can you make him feel alright?
If You can hear him...let me take his place somehow,
See, he's not just anyone, he's my son!
Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep,
I dream of the boy he'd like to be.
I try to be strong and see him through,
But, God, who he needs right now is You!
Let him grow old...live life without this fear!
What would life be, living without him here?
He's so tired, and he's scared...
Let him know You're there...
Can You hear me?
Can You see him?
Please don't leave him...
He's my son!
"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You!" Psalm 56:3
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Iron Sharpens Iron
A few days ago, a friend shared with me her morning devotional, written by Sarah Young:
"Ask the Holy Spirit to control your mind, so that you can think great thoughts of God! Do not be discouraged, but know that time is a trainer, teaching us to wait upon Him, trusting Him in the dark. The more extreme the circumstances, the more likely we are to see His power and glory at work in the situation. Instead of letting the difficulty draw you into worrying...or even into yourself...try to view the difficulty as setting the scene for His glorious intervention!! Jesus is in control, and He is going to show Himself in a way that He will be glorified!"
My friend went on to say, "It's hard to humble myself when I've been wronged, but making the first move is a way of taking our love to a higher level. PRIDE is a strong word, but we must die to self each and every day...casting our feelings aside, and holding on to what we know is TRUTH!"
I am grateful today for that dear, sweet friend who sharpens me as iron sharpens iron. She is my encourager, my prayer warrior, and she always stimulates me to love more and to stay faithful to the Truth...God's Word! She has a way of gently pointing me back to the Lord - to walk in His ways and die to self daily. I am abundantly blessed for the gift of her friendship!
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17
"Ask the Holy Spirit to control your mind, so that you can think great thoughts of God! Do not be discouraged, but know that time is a trainer, teaching us to wait upon Him, trusting Him in the dark. The more extreme the circumstances, the more likely we are to see His power and glory at work in the situation. Instead of letting the difficulty draw you into worrying...or even into yourself...try to view the difficulty as setting the scene for His glorious intervention!! Jesus is in control, and He is going to show Himself in a way that He will be glorified!"
My friend went on to say, "It's hard to humble myself when I've been wronged, but making the first move is a way of taking our love to a higher level. PRIDE is a strong word, but we must die to self each and every day...casting our feelings aside, and holding on to what we know is TRUTH!"
I am grateful today for that dear, sweet friend who sharpens me as iron sharpens iron. She is my encourager, my prayer warrior, and she always stimulates me to love more and to stay faithful to the Truth...God's Word! She has a way of gently pointing me back to the Lord - to walk in His ways and die to self daily. I am abundantly blessed for the gift of her friendship!
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17
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