This scripture is requiring a great deal of attention from me! The importance of it is pressing into my spirit. Consider that the Jewish people were not allowed to enter the promised land because of unbelief. They didn't believe that they could take over the land, they didn't believe that they could conquer the giants. Do you believe that you can conquer the giants in your life? Don't let unbelief prevent you from entering the promised land that the Lord has given to you.
Don't let unbelief prevent you from entering God's promises~
Hebrews 3:16 For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Husband~(your Maker is your Husband)~
Wow! This morning when I was headed to my study corner for my morning coffee and time of reading scripture and prayer, the Spirit prompted me to read Isaiah 54(instead of what I had planned to read). I have a little history with Isaiah 54, it was given to me during a prophetic word while we were in Tulsa. In Tulsa I didn't absorb it or let it go to my heart quite as much as it did today. What beautiful words God has given us in this chapter!
What a beautiful and intimate promise He has given me this morning. I've wondered and questioned how much of an intimate level He wants to reach with us. I will question no more, how much more intimate of a level can be reached than Husband? I have had experiences before and wondered the meaning and spoken to Lane about it, but we both were on a level of not quite grasping it all and as Lane says "put it on a shelf until it comes back again". This morning through these scriptures I have gained an understanding and a new greater joy that He has gifted me with through this whole chapter.
Words are only words until they sink into our being. While I was receiving this message this morning I wondered how I would refrain from dancing through the rest of my days in joy?! Such promises of vindication, protection and future that I am to set my heart on. This chapter is to become part of who I am, it is His promise to me, my comfort and my future promise!
Isaiah 54~
1 “Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child;
Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed;
For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous
Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD. (Lane and I have been prophesied to have many spiritual children, but as yet we do not have any.)
2 “Enlarge the place of your tent;
Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not;
Lengthen your cords
And strengthen your pegs.
3 “For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left.
And your descendants will possess nations
And will resettle the desolate cities.
4 “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;
And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;
But you will forget the shame of your youth,
And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 “For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth.
6 “For the LORD has called you,
Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,”
Says your God.
7 “For a brief moment I forsook you,
But with great compassion I will gather you.
8 “In an outburst of anger
I hid My face from you for a moment,
But with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,”
Says the LORD your Redeemer.
9 “For this is like the days of Noah to Me,
When I swore that the waters of Noah
Would not flood the earth again;
So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
Nor will I rebuke you.
10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,”
Says the LORD who has compassion on you.
11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
Behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
And your foundations I will lay in sapphires.
12 “Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies,
And your gates of crystal,
And your entire wall of precious stones.
13 “All your sons will be taught of the LORD;
And the well-being of your sons will be great.
14 “In righteousness you will be established;
You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;
And from terror, for it will not come near you.
15 “If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.
Whoever assails you will fall because of you.
16 “Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals
And brings out a weapon for its work;
And I have created the destroyer to ruin.
17 “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.
What a beautiful and intimate promise He has given me this morning. I've wondered and questioned how much of an intimate level He wants to reach with us. I will question no more, how much more intimate of a level can be reached than Husband? I have had experiences before and wondered the meaning and spoken to Lane about it, but we both were on a level of not quite grasping it all and as Lane says "put it on a shelf until it comes back again". This morning through these scriptures I have gained an understanding and a new greater joy that He has gifted me with through this whole chapter.
Words are only words until they sink into our being. While I was receiving this message this morning I wondered how I would refrain from dancing through the rest of my days in joy?! Such promises of vindication, protection and future that I am to set my heart on. This chapter is to become part of who I am, it is His promise to me, my comfort and my future promise!
Isaiah 54~
1 “Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child;
Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed;
For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous
Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD. (Lane and I have been prophesied to have many spiritual children, but as yet we do not have any.)
2 “Enlarge the place of your tent;
Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not;
Lengthen your cords
And strengthen your pegs.
3 “For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left.
And your descendants will possess nations
And will resettle the desolate cities.
4 “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;
And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;
But you will forget the shame of your youth,
And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 “For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the LORD of hosts;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth.
6 “For the LORD has called you,
Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,”
Says your God.
7 “For a brief moment I forsook you,
But with great compassion I will gather you.
8 “In an outburst of anger
I hid My face from you for a moment,
But with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,”
Says the LORD your Redeemer.
9 “For this is like the days of Noah to Me,
When I swore that the waters of Noah
Would not flood the earth again;
So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
Nor will I rebuke you.
10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,”
Says the LORD who has compassion on you.
11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
Behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
And your foundations I will lay in sapphires.
12 “Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies,
And your gates of crystal,
And your entire wall of precious stones.
13 “All your sons will be taught of the LORD;
And the well-being of your sons will be great.
14 “In righteousness you will be established;
You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;
And from terror, for it will not come near you.
15 “If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.
Whoever assails you will fall because of you.
16 “Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals
And brings out a weapon for its work;
And I have created the destroyer to ruin.
17 “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Deeper with God
"I think that the level of things you let go of in worldly things creates the level you can go deeper with the Spirit into Godly things."
This was a comment I added to a conversation that was on Facebook, concerning a comment by the Author Randy Alcorn, "I’m deeply concerned at how careless and morally soft we’ve become as Christians. At times we are frighteningly weak in our exercise of sexual purity. We watch and are amused by what offends a holy God. Our tolerance for impurity keeps expanding. Sin sneaks in under our radar. We make ourselves defenseless. “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire” (Col. 3:5).
It soon had a comment about what we do or do not allow our children to see and made me think a little more deeply about it. This is what evolved~ this subject gets deep pretty fast so please bear with me!
In my opinion(safe beginning, right?) there are some things we have to protect our children from but they are not the same as things that we have to protect ourselves from. With that said I think even adults have different levels that they can tolerate, I know Lane can tolerate a lot more violence and bloodshed in shows than I can. My spirit is really sensitive and once I see something it's like it's indelibly imprinted on my mind, so I have to be really careful! I have to know my limits and Lane has learned them and tries to protect me as well. Having limits isn't about depriving ourselves, it's about living where it's healthiest and safest for us to be.
People tend to want a hard and fast rule to live by, but our walk with God is a living, growing thing. We have to trust the Spirit to lead us to recognise what is detrimental for our own spirits. If we are walking with the Spirit daily(even moment by moment) we will be alerted when we are entering a danger zone. Haven't you received a feeling that something is not right? It may be the slightest nudge and if you choose to not pay attention you can easily quiet it by your human understanding, but if you are desiring to have a deeper relationship with the Lord, you need to become sensitive to the nudges. The more you pay attention to the nudges and respond correctly the deeper your spiritual walk will go.
Lane and I have been praying to move when God moves, to say what He says. We don't want to be out of step with Him at all. We are prepared to do what that requires of us, if it requires that we limit our entertainment to grow closer to our Father and to better hear the Spirit, then so be it, we will gladly give up questionable entertainment that is only for a short moments pleasure and then quickly forgotten so we will be able to walk in unison with our Lord! And again I say "I think that the level of things you let go of in worldly things creates the level you can go deeper with the Spirit into Godly things."
This was a comment I added to a conversation that was on Facebook, concerning a comment by the Author Randy Alcorn, "I’m deeply concerned at how careless and morally soft we’ve become as Christians. At times we are frighteningly weak in our exercise of sexual purity. We watch and are amused by what offends a holy God. Our tolerance for impurity keeps expanding. Sin sneaks in under our radar. We make ourselves defenseless. “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire” (Col. 3:5).
It soon had a comment about what we do or do not allow our children to see and made me think a little more deeply about it. This is what evolved~ this subject gets deep pretty fast so please bear with me!
In my opinion(safe beginning, right?) there are some things we have to protect our children from but they are not the same as things that we have to protect ourselves from. With that said I think even adults have different levels that they can tolerate, I know Lane can tolerate a lot more violence and bloodshed in shows than I can. My spirit is really sensitive and once I see something it's like it's indelibly imprinted on my mind, so I have to be really careful! I have to know my limits and Lane has learned them and tries to protect me as well. Having limits isn't about depriving ourselves, it's about living where it's healthiest and safest for us to be.
People tend to want a hard and fast rule to live by, but our walk with God is a living, growing thing. We have to trust the Spirit to lead us to recognise what is detrimental for our own spirits. If we are walking with the Spirit daily(even moment by moment) we will be alerted when we are entering a danger zone. Haven't you received a feeling that something is not right? It may be the slightest nudge and if you choose to not pay attention you can easily quiet it by your human understanding, but if you are desiring to have a deeper relationship with the Lord, you need to become sensitive to the nudges. The more you pay attention to the nudges and respond correctly the deeper your spiritual walk will go.
Lane and I have been praying to move when God moves, to say what He says. We don't want to be out of step with Him at all. We are prepared to do what that requires of us, if it requires that we limit our entertainment to grow closer to our Father and to better hear the Spirit, then so be it, we will gladly give up questionable entertainment that is only for a short moments pleasure and then quickly forgotten so we will be able to walk in unison with our Lord! And again I say "I think that the level of things you let go of in worldly things creates the level you can go deeper with the Spirit into Godly things."
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The All - Sufficient One
Today's entry, posted by Lane, comes from a devotion book that I try to read an entry from each day. I don't always succeed at this, but I am really glad I did today! What I read was something that really stood out and I wanted to share it here with you.
- Saint Francis of Assisi
Thank you Lord for all of these attributes and yet even so many more!
**This is from the book "Promises to keep: Daily devotions for men seeking integrity" by Nick Harrison. This book draws together the words of hundreds of prominent Christian authors and leaders.**
The All - Sufficient One
"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God,
'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'" - Revelation 1:8
You are Holy Lord, the Only God,
and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are Strong.
You are Great.
You are the Most High,
You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father, are King of Heaven and Earth.
You are Three and One,
Lord God, all good.
You are Good, all Good, Supreme Good,
Lord God, living and true.
You are Love,
You are Wisdom.
You are Humility,
You are Endurance.
You are Rest,
You are Peace.
You are Joy and Gladness.
You are Justice and Moderation.
You are all our riches and You suffice for us.
You are Beauty.
You are Gentleness.
You are our Protector,
You are our Guardian and Defender.
You are Courage.
You are our Haven and our Hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our Eternal Life,
Great and Wonderful Lord,
God Almighty,
Merciful Saviour.
- Saint Francis of Assisi
Thank you Lord for all of these attributes and yet even so many more!
**This is from the book "Promises to keep: Daily devotions for men seeking integrity" by Nick Harrison. This book draws together the words of hundreds of prominent Christian authors and leaders.**
Monday, April 23, 2012
Progress With Food Habits
OK, my food habits are holding pretty well! I've been having an orange for breakfast and coffee. I follow that up with some cottage cheese and pineapple chunks(in natural juice) at least an hour later. I've read somewhere that you should let fruit digest for at least a half hour before eating something else. I don't really follow that with the pineapple because it's mixed in with the cottage cheese, but it seems to be working for me. All of my eating is spaced around 2 hours apart. Sometimes at the next 2 hour mark I may have more cottage cheese or it may be a cheese omelet. My evening meal has been soup a lot of times. I fix 2 different types of soup, one is a tomato based soup and the other is cabbage soup, my husband enjoys the soups as well. So far(in 2 months) I have lost 17 pounds and looking forward to losing more.
My Vegetable Soup(Tomato Based)~Low Carb
~this is approximate, because I mostly just chop and add without measuring~
2 cans Cajun style stewed tomatoes
1 package frozen green beans
1 head broccoli(chopped to bite size)
1 head cauliflower(chopped to bite size)
2 stalks celery(sliced)
2 cloves garlic(diced)
1 onion(chopped)
2 slices dehydrated jalapenos(fresh should work also), or more if you want it hotter!
Filtered water(enough to cover vegetables), or tap water if yours is good~
1-2 Tablespoons Beef Bouillon
3(or more) Tablespoons Worcester Sauce
1 T black pepper
I normally cook until the vegetables are mostly tender, then I add some frozen okra just because we like it in the mixture. You can leave it out if you don't care for okra!
This is a very satisfying soup for us~ and low carb! I have considered preparing some macaroni seperate and mixing it in at the last minute for Lane since he's not watching carbs, but he said he loves the soup just the way it is~
My Vegetable Soup(Tomato Based)~Low Carb
~this is approximate, because I mostly just chop and add without measuring~
2 cans Cajun style stewed tomatoes
1 package frozen green beans
1 head broccoli(chopped to bite size)
1 head cauliflower(chopped to bite size)
2 stalks celery(sliced)
2 cloves garlic(diced)
1 onion(chopped)
2 slices dehydrated jalapenos(fresh should work also), or more if you want it hotter!
Filtered water(enough to cover vegetables), or tap water if yours is good~
1-2 Tablespoons Beef Bouillon
3(or more) Tablespoons Worcester Sauce
1 T black pepper
I normally cook until the vegetables are mostly tender, then I add some frozen okra just because we like it in the mixture. You can leave it out if you don't care for okra!
This is a very satisfying soup for us~ and low carb! I have considered preparing some macaroni seperate and mixing it in at the last minute for Lane since he's not watching carbs, but he said he loves the soup just the way it is~
Psalm 23~Be Restored!
We had a great message Saturday that is still rippling through my meditations. The scripture reference is Psalm 23.
The parts that are still seeping into my being are the words that "I shall not want", that means that God provides everything I need! There is nothing I should worry for or be anxious about. God's word promises that I shall not want!
The next part is that He "restores my soul". My soul is the part of me that makes me who I am, it's my "being", it's not physical and not spiritual...just me! And He restores it! After going through emotional trials and life's disappointments many of us hide behind walls that keep us from living our lives freely, myself included. I'm looking forward to complete restoration, I know I will be free to dance in praise of Abba and not care what anyone thinks, I will be restored to the joy and innocence I had as a child!
I used to think this Psalm was to comfort those going through hardships at the time they were reading it, but after hearing the message given Saturday by Pastor Steve Gray I can apply it to my life and use it to be more freely me. I have nothing to worry or be concerned about except staying close to my Shepherd, He will handle everything else!
1 The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The parts that are still seeping into my being are the words that "I shall not want", that means that God provides everything I need! There is nothing I should worry for or be anxious about. God's word promises that I shall not want!
The next part is that He "restores my soul". My soul is the part of me that makes me who I am, it's my "being", it's not physical and not spiritual...just me! And He restores it! After going through emotional trials and life's disappointments many of us hide behind walls that keep us from living our lives freely, myself included. I'm looking forward to complete restoration, I know I will be free to dance in praise of Abba and not care what anyone thinks, I will be restored to the joy and innocence I had as a child!
I used to think this Psalm was to comfort those going through hardships at the time they were reading it, but after hearing the message given Saturday by Pastor Steve Gray I can apply it to my life and use it to be more freely me. I have nothing to worry or be concerned about except staying close to my Shepherd, He will handle everything else!
Psalm 23
The LORD, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.1 The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Beach Trip A Couple Of Years Ago
A few years ago our family took a trip to a state park on the Texas coast called Mustang Island. It was just a quick 3 day run, but we all needed the time away to regroup and have some time to clear our collective mind. These are a few pictures from the trip that are put together in a video format that I found available online. I'm not sure anyone else will appreciate the efforts but I loved the result! My Animoto Video
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Was Jesus' Crucifixion Ordinary?
For a while I thought of Jesus' death as being like all the other people's that were crucified. I thought yes, it is a terrible way to die. Our Pastor Hap Prough used to describe death by Crucifixion quite vividly. He would take us through how the cat o nine tails, that was used for the scourging of Jesus by the Romans, was made. It was a whip with nine strands and in each strand it had bits of metal tied in to pierce and tear the skin. He also would point out that the one that administered the blows would flick their wrist in just such a way to cause the whip to tear in the most painful way possible. Then Pastor Hap would describe how the person on the cross would have the spikes driven through their feet and through their wrist just below the joint. Next he described the torture of pushing up with your legs against the dropping weight of your body, to be able to allow your lungs to expand for one more breath. He told us that the position of the body on the cross would not allow the lungs to capture a breath without the physical move of raising yourself up, pulling with your arms and pressing with your legs against the spike through the feet. That's why the Roman soldiers broke the legs of those on the cross when they wanted to finish the torture. With their legs broken they could no longer press up for another breath and died of suffocation. Jesus did not allow His legs to be broken, instead He freely gave His own life, He released it and had no broken bones, as prophecy had predicted.
But the Spirit has shown me recently that it wasn't just like the others. The others were carrying only the guilt for the things they had done. Have you ever felt guilt and remorse? You know it can haunt you and make you feel inferior, a failure, undeserving~ the emotions that guilt provokes goes on and on and can suck us into a dark hole. As a mother I have felt guilt that I didn't give to my children in the way I should have. I should of paid more attention, been more loving, more supportive, more understanding, not so strict or sometimes I think I should of said and taught things that I neglected. These feelings can bring me to tears! Other's have guilt over life choices also, divorces, alcohol or drug abuse, abortions, absent fathers, words said or unsaid, the things that we let guilt enter into our life through are unlimited! I wrote before about forgiving ourselves and this is where that thought first developed. We need to admit that yes, we may have stumbled, but we did the best we could at that time. Then forgive ourselves and let it go!
However, when Jesus was on the cross, all of the guilt of the world was crushing down on Him, and not just the guilt of that day, but the guilt of all of time! He didn't just feel guilt for Himself(He had no guilt!), or for me or for you, but the guilt of the WHOLE world! For ALL of time! I have felt my own guilt and it can be overwhelming for me, but I can not even begin to imagine the guilt carried for the collective world of all of time. And then at the time He was carrying this guilt, God-Abba had to look away, He would not be able to see all of that unrighteousness resting on His Son. He had to look away and Jesus cried out, Father, why have You forsaken Me? Many say that Hell will be separation from God, that is what Jesus experienced on the cross. He wasn't even dieing for His own sin, but for ours and then to be forsaken by His Father at that crucial point and surrounded by those who had brought about His Crucifixion, the enemies of His soul. Yes, that is a death beyond comprehension! But love for you and for me brought Jesus to it and through it. At any moment He could have called it off, He could have spoken a word and been released from the torture but love kept Him there hanging on the cross.
I no longer think that Jesus' death on the cross was like the death on the cross suffered by any other person. I cannot even begin to fathom the "dark night of the soul" that He went through. Yes it was the worst punishment imaginable. What a man! and what a loving God He is! (He was man and He was God!) And now He is ALIVE, seated at the right hand of God, preparing to return for His bride that He paid such a high price for and His own suffering paid to cleanse! Maranatha!
But the Spirit has shown me recently that it wasn't just like the others. The others were carrying only the guilt for the things they had done. Have you ever felt guilt and remorse? You know it can haunt you and make you feel inferior, a failure, undeserving~ the emotions that guilt provokes goes on and on and can suck us into a dark hole. As a mother I have felt guilt that I didn't give to my children in the way I should have. I should of paid more attention, been more loving, more supportive, more understanding, not so strict or sometimes I think I should of said and taught things that I neglected. These feelings can bring me to tears! Other's have guilt over life choices also, divorces, alcohol or drug abuse, abortions, absent fathers, words said or unsaid, the things that we let guilt enter into our life through are unlimited! I wrote before about forgiving ourselves and this is where that thought first developed. We need to admit that yes, we may have stumbled, but we did the best we could at that time. Then forgive ourselves and let it go!
However, when Jesus was on the cross, all of the guilt of the world was crushing down on Him, and not just the guilt of that day, but the guilt of all of time! He didn't just feel guilt for Himself(He had no guilt!), or for me or for you, but the guilt of the WHOLE world! For ALL of time! I have felt my own guilt and it can be overwhelming for me, but I can not even begin to imagine the guilt carried for the collective world of all of time. And then at the time He was carrying this guilt, God-Abba had to look away, He would not be able to see all of that unrighteousness resting on His Son. He had to look away and Jesus cried out, Father, why have You forsaken Me? Many say that Hell will be separation from God, that is what Jesus experienced on the cross. He wasn't even dieing for His own sin, but for ours and then to be forsaken by His Father at that crucial point and surrounded by those who had brought about His Crucifixion, the enemies of His soul. Yes, that is a death beyond comprehension! But love for you and for me brought Jesus to it and through it. At any moment He could have called it off, He could have spoken a word and been released from the torture but love kept Him there hanging on the cross.
I no longer think that Jesus' death on the cross was like the death on the cross suffered by any other person. I cannot even begin to fathom the "dark night of the soul" that He went through. Yes it was the worst punishment imaginable. What a man! and what a loving God He is! (He was man and He was God!) And now He is ALIVE, seated at the right hand of God, preparing to return for His bride that He paid such a high price for and His own suffering paid to cleanse! Maranatha!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Be 100% Persuaded~
I heard a message from our Pastor today that made me start meditating on the idea of how steadfast my love is for Jesus. His commitment to me brought Him to "His death", is my commitment to Him "to my death"? At the least little discomfort or trial will I turn from Him and say "well, this isn't for me, I need to try something else"? There are countries in the world, even today, where to say you are a follower of Christ is a death sentence. The people in those nations know that to choose to walk with Jesus is a choice that can cost them their families, their businesses, everything in the world they have, yet they still make that choice. Am I that brave? Am I that committed?
In World War 2, when the Nazis were persecuting so many Jewish people, along with other's they deemed not worthy of their "Society", the Jewish people couldn't change their heritage, they were born Jewish, that could not be altered. A follower of Christ can be tempted to say a word that would change who they are, they can deny Christ and no longer be persecuted for being a Christian. Of course that changes their inheritance also.
To give up their eternal inheritance as followers of Christ for relief in the temporary situation of their life on Earth seems such a large mistake that we cannot imagine anyone choosing that path.But how many of us have been faced with a life and death choice? How many of us have had our loved ones threatened because we love and follow Jesus?
The pastors message today was about making a choice, saying "Yes, I believe in Jesus" and then also being 100 % persuaded to live the life of following Jesus. Many have said yes to believing in Jesus, but that isn't the same as having a relationship with Him, even the demons believe. We have to be persuaded to completely give our lives over, to walk with Him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can't be a Sunday morning relationship, or even just a relationship of convenience. If we are not completely sold out to Jesus do you believe we will have the strength of a relationship with Him that will stand us in a position that we will not deny Him?
If we deny Him in small everyday things, why wouldn't we deny Him when we are faced with big scary things? As I was searching my heart, you search your own heart, have you given territory to the world that actually belongs to Him, is your commitment to Him to die to yourself or is it one of convenience? Beloved, I am just asking you to take a look into your life, do you live for Jesus, or do you live for self?
In World War 2, when the Nazis were persecuting so many Jewish people, along with other's they deemed not worthy of their "Society", the Jewish people couldn't change their heritage, they were born Jewish, that could not be altered. A follower of Christ can be tempted to say a word that would change who they are, they can deny Christ and no longer be persecuted for being a Christian. Of course that changes their inheritance also.
To give up their eternal inheritance as followers of Christ for relief in the temporary situation of their life on Earth seems such a large mistake that we cannot imagine anyone choosing that path.But how many of us have been faced with a life and death choice? How many of us have had our loved ones threatened because we love and follow Jesus?
The pastors message today was about making a choice, saying "Yes, I believe in Jesus" and then also being 100 % persuaded to live the life of following Jesus. Many have said yes to believing in Jesus, but that isn't the same as having a relationship with Him, even the demons believe. We have to be persuaded to completely give our lives over, to walk with Him 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can't be a Sunday morning relationship, or even just a relationship of convenience. If we are not completely sold out to Jesus do you believe we will have the strength of a relationship with Him that will stand us in a position that we will not deny Him?
If we deny Him in small everyday things, why wouldn't we deny Him when we are faced with big scary things? As I was searching my heart, you search your own heart, have you given territory to the world that actually belongs to Him, is your commitment to Him to die to yourself or is it one of convenience? Beloved, I am just asking you to take a look into your life, do you live for Jesus, or do you live for self?
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Forgive Yourself~
Have you ever done something and felt guilty? I think most people once they become Christians have a hundred and one things dredged from their memories of things they regret doing. Sometimes it's even difficult to forgive ourselves for the things in our past.
If we do not let these things go by forgiving ourselves, we let them become tools of our enemy. The enemy of our soul loves to stop us from becoming the person that God intends for us to be, we should not be helping him.
If God can forgive us, who are we that we are so much more important that Him that we can say, "No, what I did cannot be forgiven". Isn't there a lot of arrogance in that way of thinking?
Beloved, I am trying to encourage you to forgive yourself, let the past go! Because God has forgiven us, we should also forgive ourselves. Let your mistakes go and live in the Glory of God's Forgiveness~
If we do not let these things go by forgiving ourselves, we let them become tools of our enemy. The enemy of our soul loves to stop us from becoming the person that God intends for us to be, we should not be helping him.
If God can forgive us, who are we that we are so much more important that Him that we can say, "No, what I did cannot be forgiven". Isn't there a lot of arrogance in that way of thinking?
Beloved, I am trying to encourage you to forgive yourself, let the past go! Because God has forgiven us, we should also forgive ourselves. Let your mistakes go and live in the Glory of God's Forgiveness~
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
News from Hummingbird Lake~ Opportunities~
Opportunities~
Due to a change in our otherwise busy schedule we've found time to try a few new things.
One day while we were running errands Lane received a phone call and before he was able to answer it, it went to voicemail. When he checked the voicemail it was from a man that he had meet more than six months before at work. This man had been a customer and for a reason Lane can't remember he had Lane's name and phone number in his billfold. This call was at an opportune time, we had been praying for direction, knowing that we needed to do something but not knowing what the "something" was.
(There is an interesting element to this man's call though, previously I had gone to a conference at our church last September, in Lane's place. He had a ticket for the conference because it was going to be part of his school attendance, however he had to work. At the conference I sat at a long table with seven other people, mostly couples. I was really drawn to the couple directly across from me. They had an integrity and earnestness that I really appreciated. I wanted to introduce them to Lane and even wrote their names down so I wouldn't forget! I never saw the people again at church and so never had a chance to introduce them. However God must of wanted them to meet also because the same couple ate at Lane's restaurant and ended up with Lane's information! Lane did remember this couple, but neither of us knew the other person had met them and Lane had not remembered even giving his number. This man just happened to be cleaning out his billfold and ran across Lane's name again and called him just to visit. This man is Pastor Gilbert, during the time he shared with Lane the times for Bible Study, Prayer and Sunday Service was in their home.)
Opportunity 1~ One Thursday that Lane had off and we had an opening in our schedule, because of no school schedule, we decided to go to Pastor Gilbert's prayer meeting. The weather was nice and Lane had invited a coworker to go to the meeting with us so we left home early and planned to grab a bite to eat, then meet the coworker before the meeting. On a whim we drove down to the City Market to grab a burrito at a little restaurant that we had been to the summer before. The owner of the restaurant was one of Lane's customers occasionally and we had enjoyed the City Market area but had not really had much time to visit it while Lane was in school. Unfortunately we arrived there at a little after 4 and found the restaurant closed, we stood there for a moment and tried to decide what we wanted to do from here. Lane saw the manager inside the store and tapped on the window just to wave at him but the manager(Scott) came to the door and invited us in for chips and salsa(yum!). We told him we had driven down there for the restaurant and sat down and enjoyed the chips and salsa while we visited with him. Lane knew him slightly, because as a customer at the restaurant where Lane worked there wasn't really time to have a long conversation.
Opportunity 2~ As we talked Scott revealed to us that he has a strong passion for God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as we shared with him our lives and path also. We really enjoyed talking to him and getting to know him and his heart. He shared about his business, family and church and we shared about our reason for being in Kansas City(God's calling). We explained that we were heading to a prayer meeting and needed to leave we said our goodbyes. The next day Scott and his family came to Lane's restaurant and he asked Lane for his phone number and email address. We received an email from him and he told Lane he really wanted to talk to him and ended up telling him that he had been praying for a while and felt that our meeting the day before was part of what God was showing him. In their phone conversation he offered Lane a job with the expectation of advancement and responsibility in connection to his restaurant. We don't know exactly where all of this will lead us, we're content to wait on God's direction and timing, but Lane is in training there.
The point of all of this is that this happened because of the change in our schedule and involvements. God can only lead us if we are willing to give Him the time and space to do it. If we insist on running our own lives He will allow us to do it, but then we can't expect to have His guidance and blessings that are available if we live in His will.
Due to a change in our otherwise busy schedule we've found time to try a few new things.
One day while we were running errands Lane received a phone call and before he was able to answer it, it went to voicemail. When he checked the voicemail it was from a man that he had meet more than six months before at work. This man had been a customer and for a reason Lane can't remember he had Lane's name and phone number in his billfold. This call was at an opportune time, we had been praying for direction, knowing that we needed to do something but not knowing what the "something" was.
(There is an interesting element to this man's call though, previously I had gone to a conference at our church last September, in Lane's place. He had a ticket for the conference because it was going to be part of his school attendance, however he had to work. At the conference I sat at a long table with seven other people, mostly couples. I was really drawn to the couple directly across from me. They had an integrity and earnestness that I really appreciated. I wanted to introduce them to Lane and even wrote their names down so I wouldn't forget! I never saw the people again at church and so never had a chance to introduce them. However God must of wanted them to meet also because the same couple ate at Lane's restaurant and ended up with Lane's information! Lane did remember this couple, but neither of us knew the other person had met them and Lane had not remembered even giving his number. This man just happened to be cleaning out his billfold and ran across Lane's name again and called him just to visit. This man is Pastor Gilbert, during the time he shared with Lane the times for Bible Study, Prayer and Sunday Service was in their home.)
Opportunity 1~ One Thursday that Lane had off and we had an opening in our schedule, because of no school schedule, we decided to go to Pastor Gilbert's prayer meeting. The weather was nice and Lane had invited a coworker to go to the meeting with us so we left home early and planned to grab a bite to eat, then meet the coworker before the meeting. On a whim we drove down to the City Market to grab a burrito at a little restaurant that we had been to the summer before. The owner of the restaurant was one of Lane's customers occasionally and we had enjoyed the City Market area but had not really had much time to visit it while Lane was in school. Unfortunately we arrived there at a little after 4 and found the restaurant closed, we stood there for a moment and tried to decide what we wanted to do from here. Lane saw the manager inside the store and tapped on the window just to wave at him but the manager(Scott) came to the door and invited us in for chips and salsa(yum!). We told him we had driven down there for the restaurant and sat down and enjoyed the chips and salsa while we visited with him. Lane knew him slightly, because as a customer at the restaurant where Lane worked there wasn't really time to have a long conversation.
Opportunity 2~ As we talked Scott revealed to us that he has a strong passion for God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as we shared with him our lives and path also. We really enjoyed talking to him and getting to know him and his heart. He shared about his business, family and church and we shared about our reason for being in Kansas City(God's calling). We explained that we were heading to a prayer meeting and needed to leave we said our goodbyes. The next day Scott and his family came to Lane's restaurant and he asked Lane for his phone number and email address. We received an email from him and he told Lane he really wanted to talk to him and ended up telling him that he had been praying for a while and felt that our meeting the day before was part of what God was showing him. In their phone conversation he offered Lane a job with the expectation of advancement and responsibility in connection to his restaurant. We don't know exactly where all of this will lead us, we're content to wait on God's direction and timing, but Lane is in training there.
The point of all of this is that this happened because of the change in our schedule and involvements. God can only lead us if we are willing to give Him the time and space to do it. If we insist on running our own lives He will allow us to do it, but then we can't expect to have His guidance and blessings that are available if we live in His will.
News from Hummingbird Lake~ Gracie
Do you ever have a great idea and you're sure you won't forget it only to have it fly out of your mind and leave you with a terrible empty feeling that you've lost something of great value? That happens to me way too often!
Lane has taken two sessions(10 weeks for each session) of classes at a school for ministry classes. I had not felt that he should be taking a full load of classes and I can only say that it was the Spirit that led me to that understanding. When he started the first session I told him I believed that he should only take two classes instead of the full four classes. Unfortunately this came down to a difference of temperaments. I knew God had called us to Kansas City, but other than that He wanted us there I couldn't really give the reason we were there or what we were supposed to do. Lane felt that if we were in Kansas City he needed to be busy making use of his time. I did believe that Lane had things to learn from Steve Gray the Pastor of our church, that part I shared with him.
Everything did work out for Lane to take the first session of classes and work two part time jobs. However as the second session grew closer to starting I again encouraged Lane to reconsider his determination to take the full class schedule and to possibly take two classes. He listened to me, but didn't feel the same conviction that this was not the way for him to spend his time in Kansas City. We agreed that we would pray that if the money was not there we would know that he was not to take the full class schedule. Even though we prayed about it and agreed, the money was not there but Lane was still determined and enrolled in the full class schedule again. We went through the second session and Lane did appreciate two of the classes he experienced and felt he had gained new understanding from them.
During this last session of classes I experienced tons of dreams about the classes, the people of the classes and what it was doing in mine and Lane's lives. They were not good dreams and seemed to be showing a division that they were creating in our lives (I'll share some of the dreams later).
In the last few weeks of the class session our only vehicle, our faithful little truck broke down. This was not a small problem, because it was our only means of transportation and the truck needed a new motor! We were left stranded and had to find transportation immediately or get our truck fixed. The truck repairs were going to be over $2,500 and beyond our means. We contacted our assistant pastor and was advised that there was a man in our church that could help us find a replacement vehicle for around $1000. We went for the cheap car instead of the truck repair!
We were so blessed during this time! Some dear family members gave us a cash gift to help us get back on the road and a woman we don't even know generously gifted us with a large amount. Scraping all of our money together we were able to give the church man a nice little sum of money to get us a car. He asked us what we were wanting in a car and we told him we just wanted one that was mechanically sound. At the last minute I asked for air conditioning too, he said "well, you know this is going to be a used car and it probably won't have working air conditioning", I agreed, the mechanical part was more important, I just really don't like going through summer driving with no air conditioning!
The man started watching car ads and put his expertise to listening to the grapevine for a lead for our car. During this time he became very sick but still worked to replace our vehicle. One morning he called us and told us that there was a good chance for a car but he was going to try to meet the guy that evening. Because he was so sick, Lane and I called the guy and went to see the car right away, before Lane had to go to work! When we drove in we saw a nice little car, gold in color and kind of nondescript in style. I had expected a hodge-podge car with mismatched doors and no hubcaps for the amount of money we were going to pay. We did a test drive of the car and voila, we loved it! and guess what, the air conditioner worked!! We are not good car dealers and our toughest line is "so, what's your bottom dollar?" We asked the man what his bottom dollar was and he knocked $50 off and we gave him cash and he gave us the title!
The whole point of that story is that with the money spent to buy the car went the money and any chance of Lane enrolling in the next school's session. But it also ended my bad dreams! and other opportunities have opened for the time we have available now to follow God's leading. My next posting will talk about the new opportunities that have opened! But thank You Lord for our new car and thank You that it has air conditioning! (it has a cool sunroof too!) We've named our new(used) little car "Gracie" because by God's grace, we have a car.
Lane has taken two sessions(10 weeks for each session) of classes at a school for ministry classes. I had not felt that he should be taking a full load of classes and I can only say that it was the Spirit that led me to that understanding. When he started the first session I told him I believed that he should only take two classes instead of the full four classes. Unfortunately this came down to a difference of temperaments. I knew God had called us to Kansas City, but other than that He wanted us there I couldn't really give the reason we were there or what we were supposed to do. Lane felt that if we were in Kansas City he needed to be busy making use of his time. I did believe that Lane had things to learn from Steve Gray the Pastor of our church, that part I shared with him.
Everything did work out for Lane to take the first session of classes and work two part time jobs. However as the second session grew closer to starting I again encouraged Lane to reconsider his determination to take the full class schedule and to possibly take two classes. He listened to me, but didn't feel the same conviction that this was not the way for him to spend his time in Kansas City. We agreed that we would pray that if the money was not there we would know that he was not to take the full class schedule. Even though we prayed about it and agreed, the money was not there but Lane was still determined and enrolled in the full class schedule again. We went through the second session and Lane did appreciate two of the classes he experienced and felt he had gained new understanding from them.
During this last session of classes I experienced tons of dreams about the classes, the people of the classes and what it was doing in mine and Lane's lives. They were not good dreams and seemed to be showing a division that they were creating in our lives (I'll share some of the dreams later).
In the last few weeks of the class session our only vehicle, our faithful little truck broke down. This was not a small problem, because it was our only means of transportation and the truck needed a new motor! We were left stranded and had to find transportation immediately or get our truck fixed. The truck repairs were going to be over $2,500 and beyond our means. We contacted our assistant pastor and was advised that there was a man in our church that could help us find a replacement vehicle for around $1000. We went for the cheap car instead of the truck repair!
We were so blessed during this time! Some dear family members gave us a cash gift to help us get back on the road and a woman we don't even know generously gifted us with a large amount. Scraping all of our money together we were able to give the church man a nice little sum of money to get us a car. He asked us what we were wanting in a car and we told him we just wanted one that was mechanically sound. At the last minute I asked for air conditioning too, he said "well, you know this is going to be a used car and it probably won't have working air conditioning", I agreed, the mechanical part was more important, I just really don't like going through summer driving with no air conditioning!
The man started watching car ads and put his expertise to listening to the grapevine for a lead for our car. During this time he became very sick but still worked to replace our vehicle. One morning he called us and told us that there was a good chance for a car but he was going to try to meet the guy that evening. Because he was so sick, Lane and I called the guy and went to see the car right away, before Lane had to go to work! When we drove in we saw a nice little car, gold in color and kind of nondescript in style. I had expected a hodge-podge car with mismatched doors and no hubcaps for the amount of money we were going to pay. We did a test drive of the car and voila, we loved it! and guess what, the air conditioner worked!! We are not good car dealers and our toughest line is "so, what's your bottom dollar?" We asked the man what his bottom dollar was and he knocked $50 off and we gave him cash and he gave us the title!
The whole point of that story is that with the money spent to buy the car went the money and any chance of Lane enrolling in the next school's session. But it also ended my bad dreams! and other opportunities have opened for the time we have available now to follow God's leading. My next posting will talk about the new opportunities that have opened! But thank You Lord for our new car and thank You that it has air conditioning! (it has a cool sunroof too!) We've named our new(used) little car "Gracie" because by God's grace, we have a car.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Promotion aka Hardworking Husband (4-4-2012)
I want to take a moment to announce that Lane has reached the highest level available in his job position, he has had to spend time in title and take tests at several different points to be able to advance in this way! Yesterday he had his final testing and received a 100% correct on all answers! He is definitely an "Over Achiever" (he has been that for as long as I've known him!) and therefore he completed his challenge of advancement with the highest rating available! Congratulations to my Hardworking Husband!! ♥
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Passion Week(Thank You For The Cross)
As we enter into this week, it is something that can be overlooked as just another day-in, day-out week, yet it is so much, much more! This week should be one of "reflection" more so than all of the others. This is the week that is the last week that our King, our Lord, our Saviour, Jesus walked among us here on Earth.
Depending on what camp you are in, this can be a week of building anticipation (much like Christmas or as a young child looking forward to their birthday!), underscored with sadness, knowing what must be endured to get to the end result of this week. Another camp, will be viewing this week as nothing more than an overemphasis on a questionable historic event that is used to create church gatherings, nothing more, nothing less. Some camps will see "Passion Week" as a chance to defend their hardened or ever hardening hearts and question the intention and the heart of God-"If God is a God of love then how could He allow this to be done to His Son?" and so forth. I am sure there are many other camps and/or view points yet to be mentioned.
I, for one, am thankful for the end result of this week! I am not happy about the road Jesus took to get there, but I understand all was done for a multitude of reasons. From fulfilling all,not just some, of the prophecies concerning You, to removing any doubt that what You went through was no easy task and much more.
I pray that this week work on the hearts of the people and draw them into the Lord. To know Jesus in a more personal way, either for the first time or in a way that is brand new even to the ones who have know you and do know you!
Thank You for the Cross!
Depending on what camp you are in, this can be a week of building anticipation (much like Christmas or as a young child looking forward to their birthday!), underscored with sadness, knowing what must be endured to get to the end result of this week. Another camp, will be viewing this week as nothing more than an overemphasis on a questionable historic event that is used to create church gatherings, nothing more, nothing less. Some camps will see "Passion Week" as a chance to defend their hardened or ever hardening hearts and question the intention and the heart of God-"If God is a God of love then how could He allow this to be done to His Son?" and so forth. I am sure there are many other camps and/or view points yet to be mentioned.
I, for one, am thankful for the end result of this week! I am not happy about the road Jesus took to get there, but I understand all was done for a multitude of reasons. From fulfilling all,not just some, of the prophecies concerning You, to removing any doubt that what You went through was no easy task and much more.
I pray that this week work on the hearts of the people and draw them into the Lord. To know Jesus in a more personal way, either for the first time or in a way that is brand new even to the ones who have know you and do know you!
Thank You for the Cross!
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