Welcome to the Truth and Grace (T.A.G.) Blog: a place where women can connect with other women and encourage and support one another. We want this blog to be a positive place where all is done in love according to
I Corinthians 16:14 which says, "Let all that you do be done in love." (NASB) We welcome you to this blog and hope that it will be a source of encouragement to you.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009~ Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 8 ~
Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 8
Here's the passage of Scripture I have chose to memorize for my Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 8.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
What a day this has been. It was evening before I knew it. I have plans to get my daughter's room packed up this week for the most part. Didn't get to that today. I went grocery shopping, did some Bible study, talked with a friend, cooked dinner, had family for dinner, made homemade bread, did a little work in my bedroom going through stuff in some drawers, read a book, spent time with the girls, got a midnight truffle blizzard and enjoyed it, talked with my hubby, talked with my Mom a couple of times, chased little Sugarplum around the house trying to keep up with her (she's everywhere if she's able to and seems to have 10,000 hands!)....By the way, I'm thinking surely keeping up with a one year old constitutes a regular exercise plan. Don't you think? :)
Things got a little chaotic this evening which made the midnight truffle blizzard taste even better. ;)
I discovered a wonderful chocolate bar that is very satisfying but not high in calories if you eat it by squares. It has 8 good size squares which makes one square come out to only about 59 calories. And it's good eaten with some whole almonds. I can eat a square of it and it satisfies my craving for chocolate but without all the calories! It is dark chocolate and has a hint of orange. Yum!
Oh - and just to let you know since my post on resting in God during stormy weather (literal stormy weather that I talked about HERE), we've had several stormy situations in the weather around here and I have been fine. No fretting. Give God some praise!!! It's all because of Him. I can't thank Him enough!
Okay ladies, I'd love to just hear about your day. Anybody tried the midnight truffle blizzard from DQ? What do you think about it? I thought it was pretty yummy! And I requested whipped cream to be added to mine. That was a great addition! Anyone out there lost weight from chasing around a little one off and on all day? Okay - just kidding. I tell you, our little one is certainly a busy little bee. Sometimes she practices her walking skills by going back and forth across the living room floor. It seems as if she's trying to get faster and faster. I suspect she might be taking off running before too long! Then I'll really get a workout! :) She's so cute! I don't think I could even begin to tell you how cute she is - just absolutely adorable. We all love her so much!
Well, it's getting late and I think I've finally begun to wind down. I need to get some pinto beans sorted, rinsed and in the pan to soak tonight so we can have homemade refried beans tomorrow with our dinner. Yum! I have working on my daughter's room in the plans for tomorrow along with making some chicken salad, and fresh fruit salad. Those are the top things to get accomplished along with doing school with my older daughter. And my daughter's room will probably have to be done in segments over a couple of days......you know how children's rooms can get sometimes.....whew! Tiring just thinking about it!
It's Memory Monday again and I am ready for my new verse! I was doing some Bible study this morning and came across a passage that I know well and love. So I am going to work on it this week for my memory verse. Here it is. Jesus tells us:
"'Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.'"
John 14:27, NASB
What a wonderful passage of Scripture! Jesus gives us His peace. We do not need to be troubled or fearful. Such encouragement!
As I sat down to do some Bible study this morning, I was opening my Bible to turn to where I was going to begin studying and I came across this passage. It is such an awesome passage! I love the part that tells us that God keeps faith forever. What an encouraging statement! We can always count on our God to be faithful at all times. People will fail us. But God never fails us! Give a shout out of praise!
"How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever; Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry The LORD sets the prisoners free."
Some 2000 years ago, it was a sad day indeed for many. So many hopeful people were struck with sadness that would one day (sooner than they'd realize) turn out to be a reason for joy. Their sorrow would endure for a night but soon joy would come. You see, the Man many came to love...the One many believed in and put their hope in...had just been most cruelly and harshly beaten and was barely able to walk. As He stumbled along the way, bruised and bleeding, tears must have been flowing freely from those who loved Him, who cared for Him, who believed in Him, who hoped in Him. As another person carried the load of the wooden cross, the burden was still upon Him - the burden of all the sins of the people - the burden of my sins - the burden of your sins. As they plunged the nails into his hands and feet, piercing his skin but missing the bones, excruciating pain must have surged through His entire body while agony of a different kind swept through His mother's body as she watched the child she gave birth to being put to an agonizing death. As if nails in His body weren't enough, a crown of thorns was pushed onto His head causing His skin to tear and His blood to flow even more. As they raised the wooden cross with Him nailed to it, His blood continued to flow from His wounds - the very blood that was right then paying the debt for my sins - for your sins. You and I were the reasons He went through this terrible, horrific process of being beaten and crucified.
"It is finished" He said before He breathed His last breath.
"It is finished." (John 19:30, NIV)
His mission on this earth was coming to a completion. He was dying for our sins. But the story didn't end there. Oh no - that's not all there is. On the day of His crucifixion He breathed His last breath and died. Yet three days later, He breathed anew, a new breath of air that every Believer would breathe when they accept Him as their Saviour. It is the breath of freedom:
Freedom from death
Freedom from sin
Freedom period.
Jesus' mission is stated so clearly in Galatians 5:1 - He came to set us free. He came for freedom. All that He suffered, all that He went through, and then His glorious resurrection all make me think about freedom - freedom from death, freedom from sin, freedom from bondage, freedom period. So tomorrow I think my mind will think of freedom as I dwell on the remembrance of what Christ did for me. That freedom that He died to give me is the very freedom that makes me truly alive not just existing. And I am grateful that God loved me enough to send His Son to die so that I could live in that freedom.
I recently came across The Simple Wife blog and noticed she hosts Memory Monday which is all about memorizing Scripture. I love it! Memorizing Scripture is a way to hide God's Word in our hearts. I began memorizing Scripture more consistently last year. As this year began, Beth Moore offered a Scripture memory challenge on her ministry blog. I decided to join her Siesta Scripture Memory Challenge for the entire year of 2009. The goal of this challenge is memorizing 24 verses this year. You can check out the specifics of the challenge HERE. We're memorizing a new passage of Scripture each 1st and 15th of the month. When I saw The Simple Wife offering Memory Monday I was game for that too! I like the idea of working on a verse every week. I am finding that the more I consistently memorize Scripture not only does it seem to get easier but also I am noticing that I'm being able to memorize longer portions of Scripture quicker. I am using an excellent Scripture memorization system. It not only keeps you working on your current memory verse daily, but also keeps you continually reviewing the verses you've already memorized. I would encourage you to give it a try. It works wonderfully well. You can learn more about this system for memorizing Scripture by clicking below:
Even though it's already Wednesday, I'm going to go ahead and work on the following passage of Scripture for the rest of this week:
"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB)
Thursday, April 2, 2009~ Adventure on the Horizon ~
Often times, the things God calls us to do, the places He leads us to go, are not easy for us. Many times, we will be called out of our comfort zones and asked to venture into the wild unknown where insecurity could abound. Sometimes, we may be asked to leave behind something we hold dear. In these times, we face a choice. We can either shrink back in our insecurity or we can step out in bold faith and go forth to where God leads us. If we shrink back then we may be able to stay where we are comfortable. We may be able to not have to feel the hurt that may have otherwise presented itself. But are those things worth what we could experience if we step out in bold faith and go forth to where God leads us? Is comfort and less hurt better than the risk it takes to go on an adventure with God? As a very popular Christian song put it, life with God is a great adventure. I, unfortunately, have not always wanted to go along for the adventurous ride that God might have had for me because either I was too afraid or I didn't want to risk the hurt that might have come about. And I've found myself wondering - what adventures have I missed out on? But my God is a forgiving God. He's a second chance God who is willing to let me have another go at it. The adventures He wants to take us on are so much more fulfilling and are so, so, SO worth the risk involved. So we may have to hurt a little - we may have to hurt a lot for a time. But God doesn't leave us to hurt by ourselves. He is our Strong Tower, Deliverer, and Best Friend. He is right there with us - He is right here with me.
My family is facing an adventure with God. And while I am excited about this new adventure we are about to take, I have a hurting heart that needs the soothing balm that only God can give. It's bittersweet. I will have to leave behind some loved ones that I don't want to leave behind. But in the heartbreak that is upon me right now, God can produce forth a bold and courageous servant for Him. He will lift me up. He will encourage me. He will minister to my hurting heart. He will strengthen me. As the song Lord, You're Holy tells me: He is wonderful, glorious, holy and righteous. He is THE victorious Conqueror. He's triumphant and mighty. He's my Healer, Deliverer, Shield, and Defense. He's my Strong Tower and most definitely my Best Friend. He's omnipotent, omnipresent, and my soon coming King. He is Alpha and Omega and He's Lord of everything.
God is my Adonai. He makes every single moment and He will carry me through. He will help my loved ones in their hurt as well. I can take comfort in knowing that. He is God. God alone. And He is sitting on the Throne.
Lord in Heaven,
You are MY God. I am right here with You for this adventure. In the midst of my tears, I say to you that I am okay. I will be fine. I just need to cry and let the emotions come forth. I just need Your healing balm to cover and heal my broken heart. I always need Your strength and mercy. But Father, I need your strength even more right now as I navigate through this new territory and try to make a place for us in this new adventure You have for us. My will is to do Your will. I know that unknown blessings will flood us Lord as we follow You where You lead us. As Ruth said to Naomi I say to You Lord - where You go I will go. For You are my God and where You want me is the best place for me to be. Even though this is unknown territory and it takes me out of my comforting place, Lord YOU are my ultimate comfort and in You I can rest and be at peace with this new road we are walking on. Thank You Father for allowing us to venture out into unknown territory with You. For this is a great adventure and I know You are with us all the way.
In Jesus' Mighty and Precious Name,
Amen.
It's a cold, blustery day in our area today. I sit here at the table in our suite at the hotel where my husband and I have decided to have a little overnight get-a-way. We don't get to do this often - go off by ourselves overnight. But when we get to, we so enjoy resting and relaxing and spending time with one another. It's been a great day that started with getting ready, taking our daughter to Sunday School, and then preparing to go to another church to hear my father preach. It tickles me to be able to listen to my Dad preach - almost seems like the old days - except that instead of the days being old, I'm the one that's older :) and I'm no longer that little girl sitting in the pew watching her Daddy preach. I was such a Daddy's girl growing up. When it came to the Bible - my Daddy had the answers. I was reared in a strong, Christian home with a solid firm foundation of God's Word. I certainly had my moments of straying in the teen/young adult years. But even those few years of poor decisions didn't wipe out the strong foundation of Truth my parent's instilled in me as I was growing up. Now, when I sat in the pew hearing my Daddy preach, it was not as that little girl with child-like ears but with adult ears that have put away the things of her youth and continues to strive to live a life pleasing to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus. What a full circle moment. And this girl was just as proud as ever of her Daddy and doesn't mind to say so.
After church, my entire family (my husband, myself, our children, and my parents) all went out to eat together. It was nice to enjoy the fellowship together over really good food (that Stuffed Chicken Marsala was pretty awesome!). Then my husband and I and our little Sugarplum (our 13 month old) headed off to the hotel while our two older children went home with my parents to spend the night with them. Yes, our 13 month old is with us here for our little get-a-way but we don't mind. She seems to be a little stuck to Mommy these days.
We walked into the hotel suite and I was immediately impressed with the size and cleanliness of the suite. Little Miss Sugarplum just kept walking around everywhere in the suite looking at stuff and talking. It was so cute. And now Little Miss Sugarplum is napping in her playpen, my hubby is napping on the couch, and I sit here at the table thinking about rest. Rest - such a small word that can produce so much good. As my eyes feel heavy, I am reminded that I am in need of some rest. But I can't help thinking about how much we enjoy getting little moments like this to get away and rest and relax and take a break from the normal daily grind. As I typed that last sentence, I see that word again - REST. God must think a lot about rest. In the beginning when He created the heavens and the earth and all that it contains, including man - He set aside one full day after He had done His creative work and He RESTED. (Genesis 2:2) He blessed that 7th day and made it holy. (Genesis 2:3) God established the 7th day as a day of rest for His children and called it the Sabbath. (Exodus 20:8-11) And Jesus reminded us that the Sabbath was created for man and not the other way around. (Mark 2:27) It was to be a blessing - a time for God's crown of creation, man, to take a break from the daily grind and rest and relax. I am also reminded that God tells us in His Word that His children also have an eternal rest waiting for them when we will be able to rest from the trials and sufferings of this life. (Hebrews 4:9-11) And finally, as I sit here and think about the coffee waiting for me, I am reminded that God tells us to abide in Him. And when I think of abiding, I think of being at rest in Him. All these different times of rest all intertwine together to give us a little bit of Heaven here on earth. When we rest on the 7th day, we are reminded of the eternal rest we will have in Heaven. When we continually abide in God, we are reminded once again of the eternal resting in God that we will have one day.
Each has its benefits as well. Resting on the 7th day each week shows that we trust God to make provision for us as we set aside time to cease our laboring for the week. It's a time to give our physical bodies rest that they need in order to function well. And it gives us the opportunity to spend special time with the Lord just like my husband and I can spend special time together when we have our little get-a-way.
Continually abiding in God provides so many benefits as well like peace of mind, less inner turmoil, not to mention a physical body more at rest instead of being full of tension and stress. Resting or abiding in God has been a theme in my life in this season. I've been talking a lot to God about learning how to simply abide in Him at all times. Last night was a perfect example of God showing me how to just rest in Him. I've always - for as long I can remember - gotten nervous when there would be a threat of tornadoes. And even recently I've noticed that the threat of high, damaging winds has been unsettling to me. Yet I've realized those situations are perfect times for me to just rest in God. We had gone to visit my parent's last night. When we returned home, my son had forgotten something and so I drove him back to my parent's house to get what he needed. On the way back home, I was flipping through the radio stations and landed on one that was reporting some tornado warnings in surrounding areas. I found myself getting a little nervous, fearing that we might have a tornado warning in our area. My husband was going to be leaving for work, and he provides strength and calmness in situations like that. We got home and I checked the weather alert on our computer. Sure enough, the next county over had a tornado watch. I went to watch the weather on TV - tornado watch for the entire viewing area (which included our area). I felt nervousness arising in me. I found myself watching the weather on TV thinking maybe it would miss our area or maybe the storms would dissipate before they hit our area. As my husband was getting ready to leave for work, I told him I was going to pray. I also mentioned that the bag of chocolate chips in the fridge would probably be gone by tonight. And we laughed.
My husband left for work and I went to my quiet spot and talked to God. I prayed. I talked about how Jesus told the storm to be still and it stopped. The winds and the seas obeyed Him. (Mark 4:35-41) And that I knew all God had to do was tell the weather to be calm and it would. I told God that I knew He was in control of all things. I asked for Him to protect us all and keep us safe. And I prayed that the storms would die down and be nothing much at all by the time they reached our area or that it would just miss our area altogether. But no matter what, I prayed that God would protect us all from all harm and keep us safe. Then I asked something that was highly important to me. I asked God to give me peace.
What an amazing thing happened! Before my hubby had left for work, I told him I was going to pray and then I needed to follow that prayer with action. So that's exactly what I did. Once I finished praying, I determined that I was going to go about my business just like I would have done when the weather was normal. And I knew that if there was a point where we'd need to take shelter, the town siren would go off and we would know what we'd need to do. Our little town has a siren that sounds when a tornado warning is issued. This is nice because it alerts you when you need to take shelter. So I knew that if things got to the place where we needed to take shelter, we'd hear the siren (it's just around the corner from us and it is indeed LOUD). Therefore, my proactive basis was covered and I just simply needed to trust God. For He is in control of ALL things - even the weather. And He will not allow anything to happen to me or my family that isn't for our good. So I set about doing the things I needed to get done. I got the kitchen cleaned up and started some laundry. My daughter lit candles and we turned on the TV and watched a movie while I fixed her hair. I then got my pajamas on and my daughter fixed my hair while we finished watching the movie. Do you know that during that entire time, I was at peace? I wasn't anxious in the least bit. And I was able to even rest in the recliner without feeling like I had to continually check the weather. Oh how I give God such praise and thanksgiving! I was truly able to rest in Him. And when the time rolled around for the weather to come on the nightly news (which was about 2 hours later), the weatherman reported that the storms were out of the area. It was all over. In those two hours before we watched the news, we saw lightning and heard thunder. But I wasn't shaken in the least little bit. It was just a bit of a thunderstorm. And we all went to bed that night having been calm throughout the whole situation.
What a perfect opportunity for me to learn about resting in God in all things. When Jesus was in the boat with his disciples and the storm was upon them and the disciples were in fear for their lives, they asked Jesus if He even cared that they were about to drown. (Mark 4:38) I sit here and think - what in the world kind of question is that to ask Jesus? But I was challenged to think - what would my actions speak in my current situation depending on how I handle it? If I give way to fear, my actions could very well say something similar in that actions done out of fear show a lack of trust. Jesus' response to the disciples question was this: "...'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'" (Mark 4:40, NIV) In my particular situation, while I may not be thinking God doesn't care - I know God cares - acting in fear is showing a lack of trust in God. On the other hand, handing over my situation and asking for God's peace and then acting in trust shows that I am having faith that God is in control of all things and He will not allow anything to happen to me that is not for my good and His glory. Unfortunately, in the past, I have reacted many times in fear and I've allowed fear to dictate how I respond or react to some situations. But perfect love casts out fear. (I John 4:18) And God's love for me is perfect love. When I am convinced that God loves me perfectly, then I have no reason to fear. I can trust God completely - no matter what. And isn't resting in God all about trust? Isn't that the very essence of what it means to rest in Him? Oh praise You Almighty Father in Heaven. For You have just now revealed to me what it truly means to rest in You - trust. To truly abide in God means I must continually trust Him in all things. For He knows what's best and He has my best interest at heart.
"Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him..."
Thursday, March 19, 2009~ Opportunities for Faith ~
Okay ladies. I had to joke with God tonight and I told Him that maybe I should just quit writing. It was a joke. I was kidding. And God knows I was. When I write, sometimes I am writing from experience (things I've learned)...sometimes I'm writing from what I'm learning and there are times I experience what I write (not every single thing...). My deep desire is to move into spacious faith - bold, courageous faith. I'm tired of fear....I'm tired of making decisions out of fear of the what ifs or the unknown. I'm just plain ole' tired of fear!!!! Well, I have been praying certain things. And I know there have been and probably still are some things floating around that need to be rooted out in relation to fear. And I want them gone. Bye-bye...see ya later baby....you're outta here fear! Well, I am currently studying two topics together - one of which is faith. I want to share with you what I wrote as I read one of the many passages in my study about faith:
Passage: Matthew 6:25-34
"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”(NASB)
When we worry about food, drink, or clothing, whether we'll have it or not, we are exercising little faith at that moment. Jesus tells us in this passage " 'And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?'" (Matthew 6:27, NASB) Worrying about anything does not do us any good. But catch what Jesus says about worrying about what we'll eat or drink or wear in verse 30. He says, " 'But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!'" (NASB) He is equating worrying about food, drink, and clothing with having little faith. Faith is crucial in EVERY area. Scripture tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith. Even a miniscule amount of faith - God can use and grow it. Ask God to work in you to increase your faith. Just understand that to increase your faith means you'll experience circumstances where you'll have to choose faith. I have been continually given opportunities to choose faith and I know those opportunities will continue to grow.
It's interesting because I want more bold, courageous faith. And I want fear out of here. When I wrote the statement - Just understand that to increase your faith means you'll experience circumstances where you'll have to choose faith. - I knew that I could expect to have more opportunities to build that bold, courageous faith - to choose faith over fear. I knew deep inside of me that I would be facing something or more than one something that would present the choice to choose faith over fear. I wrote that little segment yesterday. Tonight, an opportunity arose. Pretty quick, huh? God allowed me to be put in a situation that had me literally cringing on the inside. I could do absolutely NOTHING about the situation. It was totally out of my control. I could feel my body tense and it remained tense throughout the duration of time I was in that situation. When I was able to leave, I walked out of there, got in my van, and took a deep breath. I knew God allowed that situation and I knew it was a test for me. And I wanted to pass. At one point during that situation, I had to chuckle on the inside because I KNEW God was allowing it and it was just like God to allow this particular situation in order to help me have the opportunity to combat fear and choose trusting Him. In the van driving home, I told the Lord - "I want to pass this test. What do I need to do?" I still had some fear coming on me and I knew I had to show the enemy that I wasn't going to put up with fear any more. When I got home, I asked my hubby to come back to our room so I could talk to him. I told him what had happened. I told him what I knew I needed to do to fully pass the test. And I told him I just wanted to cry over it. But I had to do it. I had to show the enemy that fear was not going to win. And I had to show God that I trusted Him. I did it ladies - not on my own power - but with God's help and the Holy Spirit empowering me - I did what I knew I needed to do. And I thanked the Lord for the opportunity He'd given me. It was an opportunity to overcome in His strength. For His Word tells me that I am an overcomer in Christ. You see, I am victorious in Christ. And God has given me power, love, and a sound mind. God gave me power and strength to overcome tonight (as hard as it was for me to do) and I sit here now with peace - wonderful, sweet peace that is only coming from God. Praise His Name!!!!
Saturday, March 14, 2009~ Do I Really Trust God? ~
"For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day."
2 Timothy 1:12 (NASB)
When I heard a portion of this passage several days ago, it resonated with me concerning what God has been dealing with me recently. If you've read the post HERE, then you'll know that I am tired of dealing with fear in any form. And in the midst of the fight against fear, God has gently challenged me to consider how strong my faith really is and whether I really truly believe and trust Him in all things. That is the very essence of faith, is it not -- trust? Trusting that no matter what occurs in my life, God is in control of it. If it is happening to me, then God has allowed it for a reason. Years ago, I had a huge struggle with fear: the first of that magnitude in my life. I was in a stronghold of fear at that time that was so strong it literally crippled my everyday functioning for a time. I had to learn how to fight for freedom. But I also had to come face to face with the fact that I didn't really trust God in many ways. God and I had to deal with that crisis of faith. Praise His name He delivered me from that intense stronghold of fear. Yet it wasn't instantaneous. No - it was a process....a journey. And while God delivered me from that intense stronghold then, I have still had to work on dismantling fears in my life and allow God to root them out. And when confronting a fear, I had to realize that there were still areas where I needed to trust God more and allow Him to strengthen my faith. For you see, faith is what dispels fear. And so God and I continue to work on developing that bold, courageous, faith-filled life that I so desire. I want bold, courageous faith where fear does not hinder me. But equally important is that I have an intense desire to draw closer and closer to God. I want to abide with Him - rest in Him. And in order to live a bold, courageous, faith-filled live, I have to abide with Him. I have to rest in Him, not worrying or fearing but casting my burdens on Him because He cares for me and loves me with an unfailing, unconditional love.
That Scripture verse above was just a reminder to me to think if I truly do trust God. Do I really KNOW who I believe in? Am I really CONVINCED that God is able to guard what I entrust to Him? If I really KNOW that God is good and that He is in control of all things and that He wants what is best for me, then I can live more boldly in my faith. I can live more courageously in my faith. I can rise up when fear threatens me and fight and say - MY GOD HAS NOT GIVEN ME A SPIRIT OF FEAR. NO, MY GOD HAS GIVEN ME LOVE, POWER, AND A SOUND MIND.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009~ Proper Caution or Lack of Faith? ~
As I have been pondering on these recent situations (that I talked about HERE) and what I need to be learning, something crossed my mind recently that made me stop and go hmmm..... As I have realized that I have still struggled with the fear of the unknown and/or the "what ifs", it occurred to me that sometimes my cautiousness may very well be a cover up for distrust or unbelief. Maybe there have been times when I have been cautious not because proper caution was needed, but because I lacked the trust or belief that God would take care of something. Could that not be the case sometimes? Don't misunderstand me here. There are certainly times when appropriate caution needs to be exercised. But is anybody with me on this - sometimes we use caution to disguise what is really a lack of trust in God. And I think I have been guilty of that very thing. I do try to be very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. He can guide you in each and every situation. But sometimes, a circumstance may arise where we might be afraid or we might not trust that God will take care of it and then we cover over that with saying that we are just being cautious. This is a faith issue. Faith is trust. When we distrust God, we are exercising a lack of faith.
I know that it is God who works in me to will and to act according to His good will. He is the one that brings about change in me. If I continually give in to fear and continue to exercise distrust or lack of faith, I can hinder God's work in me - work that builds my walk of faith and my intimacy with Him. It all boils down to faith - to trust. I like what Hannah Whitall Smith said in her book The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life:
"Plainly the believer can do nothing but trust; while the Lord, in whom he trusts, actually does the work entrusted to Him...when we trust, the Lord works, and that a great deal is done, not by us, but by Him. Actual results are reached by our trusting, because our Lord undertakes the thing trusted to Him, and accomplishes it. We do not do anything, but He does it; and it is all the more effectually done because of this...What can be said about man's part in this great work, but that he must continually surrender himself and continually trust?...Our part is the trusting, it is His to accomplish the results. And when we do our part, He never fails to do His, for no one ever trusted in the Lord and was confounded. Do not be afraid, then, that if you trust, or tell others to trust, the matter will end there. Trust is only the beginning and the continual foundation; when we trust, the Lord works, and His work is the important part of the whole matter...And so we, yielding ourselves unto God, and our members as instruments of righteousness unto Him, find that He works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; and we can say with Paul, 'I labored; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.' For we are to be His workmanship, not our own. (Eph. 2:10.)'(pgs. 3-4, 6, 8)
Oh Father, forgive me for my lack of belief in any area! Forgive me for not trusting You in ALL things Lord. You are sovereign and in complete control of all things. My very life is in Your hands. The lives of my loved ones are in Your hands. I need not fear. Help me Lord to walk a total faith-filled, bold, courageous life for Your glory. In Jesus' Mighty and Precious Name I ask these things, Amen.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009~ Physical and Spiritual Food ~
Over the last few months, I have been revamping our eating and cooking more healthy foods for my family. I came to a point several months back where the realization hit me that I needed to be more conscientious about my eating habits. I'm approaching midlife and I have quite a few unwanted pounds that need to go. As I learned more about whole foods eating and how important it is to consider what kinds of foods we are putting into our body, I began making changes that have provided results. I'm losing weight and I think I am feeling better overall: feeling better physically and feeling better about myself. Yet as important as it is to take care of my physical body, my spiritual body has to be nourished as well. My very life is in God's hands. I can take care of my physical body as best I can but one day this physical body will die no matter how well I take care of it. And then that physical body will be no more. But when that physical body dies, the spiritual body will live on. It's important that I take care of this body God gave me. Doing so can help me have more energy and make the most concerning the quality of life I have while I'm here. But what good will it do me to gain a healthy physical body now if I am neglecting the spiritual body that will live on eternally? My spiritual body - my soul - needs to be nourished and fed even more than my physical body. I need a steady helping of the Word of God. I need to build my intimacy with the Father. I need to press forward in my faith and allow God to continue to do His Potter's work with this lump of clay to mold me and perfect me into the masterpiece only God can see. For I am God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that I would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) So while I work on this physical temple, trying to make it healthy so I can have the energy and vitality to do those good works, may I also remember that my spiritual temple is the most important temple to be taken care of. For it's in God that I live, move, and exist. (Acts 17:28a) And my spiritual temple will continue on after this physical one has passed away.
How do you take care of your spiritual body? Won't you share with us ways that you nourish and feed your spiritual temple?
I am so thankful for so many things - big and small. But today I am especially thankful for God's work in me. I am thankful that He loves me enough to show me things about myself that need to change. I believe that I am about to cross another threshold in my spiritual walk whereby moving into more spacious faith. God has been showing me some things that need to change and my desire is that He changes whatever needs changing. After all, true change is a work of God in me even though it requires work from me as well. If I try to change myself, it will be futile. God must do the changing. I must trust Him to help me to do what He asks me to do. My desire is to be fully and totally surrendered to God and His will. I desire at all times to walk by faith not by sight. And praise be to God that He will help me each and every moment to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
So what are you thankful for? Please share with us! And to read what other's are thankful for, be sure to stop by Iris's by clicking HERE.
“Our part is to believe God. His part is to be God and do what is ultimately
and eternally best.”1
Sometimes something happens that just throws you through a loop and leaves you spinning for a time. It may even threaten to knock you flat off your feet. I recently had something happen that just sent me spinning for a time - a couple of days in fact. And the enemy has been trying to knock me down and tie me up with fear. And you know what - it flat out makes me angry. I am tired of the enemy trying to bind me up in fear of the “what ifs.” Is anybody with me here? Is anybody just flat out tired of the enemy’s schemes to bring us down?
I am convinced that the recent situation that occurred that has had me reeling with the fears of “what if” has been allowed by God to show me some things. You see, God, in His sovereignty and infinite wisdom, knows just which situations He needs to allow in our lives to bring about more intimate faith in Him and continuing spiritual maturity. He knows which circumstances will draw us closer to Him. He is utmost concerned about our relationship with Him. He wants us to draw closer and closer and closer to Him all the more until we are finally face to face with our beloved Savior and Lord. I will be the first to admit that I don’t necessarily always enjoy the circumstances and situations God allows in my life in order to draw me closer to Him. Many times those types of situations are hard and often painful. Many times they may require me to fight; to wield the Word of God as a weapon. And learning how to fight is often hard work ladies. This I know first hand. It means being ever diligent to hide our weapon - God’s Word - in our hearts. But if we will allow God to work in us, the end result of deeper faith and more intimacy with Him is worth the hard work and pain.
As I think about this recent situation that occurred as well as some other things that have gone on recently, there are a couple of things for me to consider in all of it. On one hand, is there something, some pattern, some habit, some way of thinking, some distrust, some disbelief, that is in me that needs to be uprooted? Is something going on in my spiritual life that needs to be examined and handed over to God so that God can work more freely in me?
Yet I also think, on the other hand, am I heading in a right direction with God and the enemy is attacking me and trying to hold me back?
I believe the answer for me to all of the above questions is a resounding YES. How? First of all, I realize that I still struggle at times with the fear of the “what ifs” in life. And I don’t want to. I want to be bold and courageous in my faith. I want to “live out loud” as a popular contemporary Christian song talks about. I don’t want to fear what others think or what others may do. The fear of man can lead to so many poor decisions and a lack of trust in God. I’m tired of this particular battle! I’m just plain sick of it! I sit and ask myself, “Why can’t I just be bold and live out loud?” “Why can’t I just live my life without fear like my husband and my best friend? Those two people are examples of bold and unwavering faith where fear has no place and no foothold. I want that! If I am going to move forward in ministry, I have got to be able to not be afraid to live out loud and be bold. It’s like there’s this fine thread running across the line in front of me that separates bold, courageous, faith-filled living from a life where many decisions are weighed out in caution and fear of others. And I’ve yet to fully cross that line to the open space of the bold, courageous, total faith-filled life. Is my God not more powerful than man? Of course He is! Can He not override anything and call things in to being by His very words? Of course He can! In talking about Christ, Colossians 1:15-18 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (NIV) And in Ephesians, Paul tells us this about Christ: “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.” (Ephesians 2:22-23, NIV)
This Christ, whom the Scriptures make it abundantly clear that He is fully God and that He is all-powerful and supreme, is the Christ who lives in me and works in me! I am clothed with Him (Galatians 3:27). That means all of Christ, even His power, is upon me like clothes on my body. God didn’t give me a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7). He has given me love, power, and a sound mind! Where do you think that power is from? From my clothing - which is Christ. I have put on Christ and all His power. And God’s Spirit is dwelling within me empowering me to walk in the power of Christ! Fear has absolutely NO business - I mean NO BUSINESS WHATSOEVER - in my life. I am pounding the keyboard as I type this because I am so sick of living with fear - even in the least little ways! It’s time for me to buckle up that belt of Truth around my waist and fasten it tightly. Secure that helmet of salvation on my head. As long as I fear death, my salvation helmet is not secure and the enemy will continue to be able to get at me in my thoughts! As a Believer, death should not bring me fear. Fear of death is only bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15) And I am a child of God - destined to live in freedom! Christ came so I could live in freedom and be free from the fear of death! (Galatians 5:1) And trust me, fear of death can creep up in little ways; so many little ways.
Second is the thought that I am moving in the right direction with God and the enemy wants to hold me back. I am working on studying and writing a brand new Bible study. The last time I was working on a study, I felt the enemy tried to attack me with fear. My husband remembers it. I remember it. It was happening and it took me a little bit to put two and two together. But at last, it clicked and I knew what was going on. Here I am once again, working on a new study, and the spirit of fear is coming against me. And I am making it abundantly clear: I WILL NOT QUIT WORKING ON THIS STUDY! God has already been teaching me and showing me things in this new study and I’ve not even gotten very far into the material! Oh God is so good, ladies. He is so faithful! Praise His mighty Name! Ruth was bold. Ruth was courageous. She didn’t let the fear of the unknown or the “what ifs” keep her from moving ahead into the future God had for her. I WILL BE COURAGEOUS! I WILL NOT LET FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN OR THE “WHAT IFS” KEEP ME FROM MOVING AHEAD INTO THE FUTURE GOD HAS FOR ME. I speak this now as it is so and trust God to help me walk in it. I know this is God’s will for me because He has not given me a spirit of fear. I know He wants me to live out loud and be bold and courageous in my faith. I know He wants me to trust Him and walk in faith and not let fear of the unknown or the “what ifs” keep me from moving ahead into what He has for me.
God is in total control. No matter what situations and circumstances He allows in my life, I can know that all things rest in His hands. It is He who gives man his very breath and causes all things to be. I then can take comfort knowing that my very life is in His hands. And whatever He allows to come into my life is for my good and for His glory.
“…he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being…”
Acts 17:25b-28a (NIV)
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
You know, I've made a LOT of mistakes in my life. Many times, we make mistakes that we're ashamed of. Satan would really like us to get all bound up in shame and walk around with the burden of it the rest of our lives. But God can redeem our pasts, heal our wounds, and set us free from shame and guilt. Praise His Name! I want to share this song with you because it talks about how sometimes we want to just forget the past. Yet, what we need is for God to heal the wounds but leave the scars so that we won't forget what He has done for us. There's a difference between living in freedom with scars and living in shame and guilt. God can leave scars but heal the wounds completely and set us free. The scars are simply reminders of what God has done for us and brought us through and we can give Him glory and praise and honor. Take a moment and listen to this song. I think you'll be tremendously blessed.
This song has such powerful words along with powerful music. This video doesn't have all the words to the song included. However, I've included the full lyrics below the video. Do me a favor, really pay attention when it comes to the part where the singer begins saying all the different characteristics of the Lord. The first time around, why not close your eyes. I can't help but just close my eyes and want to lift my hands high when they start that section! I hope it blesses you as much as it blesses me.
Lord, You're Holy
LORD YOU'RE HOLY
Chorus:
Lord you're holy, Lord you're holy and we lift you up and magnify your name (twice)
Verse 1:
I look around and I see, all the works your hands have made, the awesomeness of you, and how your love will never fade, mere words cannot express what I feel inside, I can't describe your glory divine, but as a token of my love, this is what I'll do, I lift my hands and cry, Lord
Chorus:
Lord you're holy, Lord you're holy and we lift you up and magnify your name (twice)
Verse 2:
There's not enough words that I can say, to tell you how much, I appreciate, all the wonderful things, you've given me, your love and kindness, your tender mercies,
Choir: It's my desire, to praise you
Lead: I want to praise you Lord
Choir: And to tell you how much, I love you
Lead: Cause you're worthy of all, all the glory
Choir: You're worthy of all, the praise
Lead:
And you're worthy of all the praise, I don't know why you would love me, why you would show me, so much mercy, why you would suffer, and die for me, way back, way back, on Calvary, but I
Choir: But I, I thank you
Lead: I thank you, somebody help me thank him
Choir: I thank you
Lead: Jesus, I thank you Lord
Choir: I thank you
Lead: My heart cries thank you, and I give you all…. the praise……
Choir & Lead:
Wonderful, Glorious, Holy and Righteous, Victorious, Conqueror, Triumphant and Mighty, Healer, Deliver, Shield and Defense, Strong Tower and My Best Friend, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Soon Coming King, Alpha, Omega, Lord of Everything (Repeat x's) (S-A-T)
Choir: Holy, Holy, Holy is your name
Sopranos: Wonderful, Glorious, Holy and Righteous
Altos:Victorious, Conqueror, Triumphant and Mighty
Tenors:Healer, Deliver, Shield and Defense
All:Strong Tower and My Best Friend, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Soon Coming King, Alpha, Omega, Lord of Everything
Choir: Holy, Holy, Holy is your name…………………………
Choir:
Wonderful, Glorious, Holy and Righteous, Victorious, Conqueror, Triumphant and Mighty, Healer, Deliver, Shield and Defense, Strong Tower and My Best Friend, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Soon Coming King, Alpha, Omega, Lord of Everything
Holy, Holy, Holy is your name…………………………
Choir:Holy
Lead:My God is Holy
Choir:Holy
Lead:The Angels cry Holy
Choir:Holy is your name………………………………………...Holy
Lead:My heart cries Holy
Choir:Holy
Lead:So Holy, Holy, Holy is your name……………………….
Choir:Holy is your name……………………………………………………
"Victory begins with the name of Jesus on our lips. It is consummated by the nature of Jesus in our hearts. Most Christians only engage in spiritual warfare with the hope of either relieving present distresses or attaining a 'normal existence.' However, the purpose of all aspects of spirituality, warfare included, is to bring us into the image of Christ. Nothing, not worship nor warfare, neither love nor deliverance, is truly attainable if we miss the singular objective of our faith: Christlikeness."
From The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane
I grew up in a ministry family. The daughter of a preacher, I definitely fit the typical mold of a preacher’s kid. I have had many life experiences including being a pregnant teen and single mom, experiencing divorce, and more. All of my life experiences, good and bad, have molded me into the person I am today. I have an intense desire to see women live in the freedom Christ came to give them. I myself know the prison of bondage and the liberation of Christ.
I participate in the Siesta Scripture Memory Team with Beth Moore on The LPM Blog. Would you like to join us? Simply click on the link below for more details:
Verse 7: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
