Sometimes, I need people to remind me to use what I already have. Like today, my husband reminded me that if I put insoles in my shoes they will be more comfortable. I forgot I already had some.
The same thing applies to our walk with Christ. Sometimes we forget to use the weapons of the Spirit that we already have. Love is our greatest weapon and it pulls down strongholds around our lives. If we do things out of love, no matter who we are dealing with, it will work in amazing ways.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Update
Well, I know it's been a long time since my last post, but I just wanted to check in for those of you who read them and let you know things are going well. I've been working on being a "doer" of the word and not just a "hearer." God has put many opportunities in front of me to give and serve others, so I am taking them. But I do want to encourage anyone who is reading this to just do the thing that is in front of you today. Don't worry about tomorrow or five years from now. Just focus on what's on your plate today and let God take it from there.
Peace!
Peace!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Peace Be Still
Sometimes our emotions may feel like we are in the middle of a storm. The waves are crashing down on us and we fear that our boat is going to turn over, but those waves are only there to make you fear. If we can hold onto the boat and allow Jesus to tell our emotions, "Peace, be still," just like he did on the Sea of Galilee, then we will experience His rest which is beyond anything this world can offer.
James said that anyone who is in doubt is like a wave tossed and driven by the wind. Our emotions go buzurk when we are in doubt, but if we can get ourselves into a place of faith with whatever situation we are facing we will find ourselves to be more steady than ever. To get into faith you have to speak God's Word over your situation. Worried? Just proclaim, "God takes care of the birds. Of course, He's going to take care of me!"
James said that anyone who is in doubt is like a wave tossed and driven by the wind. Our emotions go buzurk when we are in doubt, but if we can get ourselves into a place of faith with whatever situation we are facing we will find ourselves to be more steady than ever. To get into faith you have to speak God's Word over your situation. Worried? Just proclaim, "God takes care of the birds. Of course, He's going to take care of me!"
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Perfect Peace
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”- Isaiah 26:3
Wow, could you imagine perfect peace? Not just peace or peace in some areas, but perfect peace. When I think of perfect peace I think of being a little kid. Going to one of my favorite places with my family. Having fun and not worried about anything because I know everything is going to be taken care of. Like going on a road trip with my dad. I didn't worry about how we were going to pay for food or where we were going to sleep. Even if we slept in the car, it was no big deal. I just enjoyed the ride and being with my family. Oh, that we could have that same attitude in our adulthood! Steady, steadfast, knowing we will be okay. Everything will be taken care of. Enjoy the places our heavenly Father takes us and be all there. 100% present and cast our cares on the Lord for He surely and actively cars for us!
Wow, could you imagine perfect peace? Not just peace or peace in some areas, but perfect peace. When I think of perfect peace I think of being a little kid. Going to one of my favorite places with my family. Having fun and not worried about anything because I know everything is going to be taken care of. Like going on a road trip with my dad. I didn't worry about how we were going to pay for food or where we were going to sleep. Even if we slept in the car, it was no big deal. I just enjoyed the ride and being with my family. Oh, that we could have that same attitude in our adulthood! Steady, steadfast, knowing we will be okay. Everything will be taken care of. Enjoy the places our heavenly Father takes us and be all there. 100% present and cast our cares on the Lord for He surely and actively cars for us!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
The Grave
The grave is very significant to our lives as Christians. The grave represents the place where we left our old man when we died with Christ. Our past failures and success. Our past. Period.
The Grave Calls
The grave calls to us like a Siren. "Think about your past," it says. "Remember all the wrong you've done and all the right you've done." It tempts us. "Dwell on these things. Live in these things."
David said, "The grave has wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path." (2 Sam 22:6) Those thoughts, regrets, joys and sorrows try to get their hands on you. To pull you back to the grave. To a place of death. Lifeless, motionless, fruitlessness. And it never stops. The temptation is always there. Solomn said the grave is never satifisfied. (Prov 30:16) It is a big, fat, empty place that wants us to be big, fat and empty. Full of ourselves, our past and without anything to add value to life.
Answering the Grave
There are two responses we can take in response to the grave.
1 - We could stay there. Just like the demoniac in the New Testament, we could hang out at the tombs. That obviously did a world of good for someone who wants to walk around naked cutting themselves against the rocks.
2 - We could get out! David said he "cried out to God for help." And "then the earth quaked and trembled." (2 Sam 22:7-8) And just like what happend when stone that rolled away from the tomb, we can rise up with the same resurrection power that lives in Christ and allow our light to shine before all to see. Nothing missing. Nothing broken.
The Grave Calls
The grave calls to us like a Siren. "Think about your past," it says. "Remember all the wrong you've done and all the right you've done." It tempts us. "Dwell on these things. Live in these things."
David said, "The grave has wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path." (2 Sam 22:6) Those thoughts, regrets, joys and sorrows try to get their hands on you. To pull you back to the grave. To a place of death. Lifeless, motionless, fruitlessness. And it never stops. The temptation is always there. Solomn said the grave is never satifisfied. (Prov 30:16) It is a big, fat, empty place that wants us to be big, fat and empty. Full of ourselves, our past and without anything to add value to life.
Answering the Grave
There are two responses we can take in response to the grave.
1 - We could stay there. Just like the demoniac in the New Testament, we could hang out at the tombs. That obviously did a world of good for someone who wants to walk around naked cutting themselves against the rocks.
2 - We could get out! David said he "cried out to God for help." And "then the earth quaked and trembled." (2 Sam 22:7-8) And just like what happend when stone that rolled away from the tomb, we can rise up with the same resurrection power that lives in Christ and allow our light to shine before all to see. Nothing missing. Nothing broken.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Dating Jesus
"Surely your goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life..." - Psalms 23
Before we give our lives to Jesus, he is constantly pursuing us and drawing us closer to him. The word says it's his loving kindness that draws us to repentance. So after we repent and receive God's love and forgiveness, do we continue to date Jesus?
Well, do we still date our spouse after marriage? Absolutely. Dating is about getting to know each other--before and after marriage.
The Lord continues to pursue us and to draw us closer to him. To know him more and more every day that we walk with him.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Healing the Wounds of Christ
Is Christ in pain? Is he hurt? Truthfully, he is no longer suffering as he sits at the right hand of the Father, but his body still carries wounds. The Body of Christ is wounded. If we look at the global church it would be like looking through a portal into 2000 years ago when Christ was brutally beaten. So we see His body brutally beaten today both inside and outside the church walls.
Denominational factions, sibling rivalry, abuse of every kind, and neglect as the little lambs wander off the path because the leaders are lost in disputes.
We must turn away from these things. Yes, we disagree. Yes, we may be right. But our rightness is not saving that little ten year old down the street that gets abused every night. Our doctrinal issues are not helping that momma on welfare with a sick baby.
21 For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered. (Jeremiah 10:21)
How do we move forward? Check out this admonition from St. Augustine:
"If you love unity, if you love the Church, what you possess is not a small thing, because whatever gift anyone else in the Body possesses, that gift belongs to you as well! Put aside all envy and whatever is mine will be yours; and if I put aside all envy, whatever is yours will also be mine." (cf. Augustine, Commentary on John, 32, 8).
Denominational factions, sibling rivalry, abuse of every kind, and neglect as the little lambs wander off the path because the leaders are lost in disputes.
We must turn away from these things. Yes, we disagree. Yes, we may be right. But our rightness is not saving that little ten year old down the street that gets abused every night. Our doctrinal issues are not helping that momma on welfare with a sick baby.
21 For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the LORD; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered. (Jeremiah 10:21)
How do we move forward? Check out this admonition from St. Augustine:
"If you love unity, if you love the Church, what you possess is not a small thing, because whatever gift anyone else in the Body possesses, that gift belongs to you as well! Put aside all envy and whatever is mine will be yours; and if I put aside all envy, whatever is yours will also be mine." (cf. Augustine, Commentary on John, 32, 8).
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