No Pain; No Gain???

Oh my head is full as is my heart. I am recovering from my time at church in a good way. 

If you have ever felt the touch of the Holy Spirit, you know what I mean. I have been slightly heavy hearted by many things. I see pain around me, I see sin, I see the decay of creation, and all of it saddens me. I think on the reality that with life comes pain in many versions. I see both believers and non-believers all suffering in the same ways.

Truth is, no one is immune. There is no guarantee that we will forego the suffering of this world because we have received eternal life in Christ Jesus. What sort of ministry could we offer the suffering world, if we never experience it. But we have the assurance of knowing that God will be with us, and that according to scripture what the enemy intended to harm or destroy us, God can use it to mature us and reveal His glory in and through us.

Honestly, my greatest times of maturity and seasoning has come amidst struggle, strife and suffering. Trials become like an olive press that squeezes out the best in us all. Studies show that in times of difficulty, people are kinder, reach out to one another and tend to be the best of themselves.

As I think over this very real fact, I am staring at the reality of my oldest daughter leaving to head off to college in the fall. I constantly am aware of my longing for her to embrace my God as her own God. I long for her to know Him as I do, I want her to desire Him as I do and I ache for her to be matured by Him. I long for her to cling to His word, seek His counsel and embrace His precepts. I want her to have the relationship I have with Him and then some. Then I think on all that I have gone through, and the pain I have experienced that brought me to this place. I stupidly longed for her not to go through any of the pain. Can she know Him as I do without the suffering? Do I long for her to know Him enough to desire that she suffer in order to know Him deeply? That is a message that will never gain in popularity. But isn't it grounded in truth?  The suffering of this world cannot compare to the all surpassing glory of knowing HIM!

There is a way that seems right to humanity, but it truly leads to destruction. However, many must find this out themselves. There is truth that can be learned by study, and by trusting those who teach us, but unfortunately many of the lessons I learn and keep as my own are those that I learned by my mistakes. Mistakes, consequences of our mistakes, and loss of opportunities can be a high price to pay, but if it leads us right into the arms of the wonderful savior, then it is all worth it.

Again, there is a way that SEEMS right to man, but it leads to destruction. Then God's way is what is best. It is not a list of do's and don'ts, but it is a way to live life in victory. A way that will lead to restoration, rejuvenation, revival, renewal and healing. 

I long for my children to embrace His ways by faith, but I live with the knowledge listed above. There is a way that SEEMS right to man, but there is a way that IS right. It is faith in Jesus Christ as our righteousness. 

We will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. We do not have a righteousness of our own by keeping the law, but one that is in Christ because it is the gift from God and we get it through faith. My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection, to fellowship with His suffering and to be conformed to His death. Not that I have attained this goal, but I forget what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead. (Jer. 29:13, Phil. 3:9, 10, 13) Remembering that God counted Abraham as righteous because he believed.  

Yes, much of the last paragraph is a combination of my memory verses for the year so far. I am working on truly memorizing the word, and it is really becoming a part of me. The Word is become alive and active through me.

Although I have studied the Word for years and even tried to memorize for years, this year I have been able to actually find a way to memorize that is working for me. Thanks to the Siesta Scripture Memory Team 2015, I have found a way that works for me. Because it is only one verse that I pick to memorize, and I have two weeks to learn it, I have finally been able to do it. Like eating an elephant; one bite at a time.

Waiting with Eager Expectation

I am having one of those days where weeping of sadness is mixed with tears of joy.

Being a part of the body of Jesus Christ is both painful and one of sheer joy. I feel so mixed up today. I feel as if I get a glimpse of God's truth and it tears me in two. I feel excited yet dreadful. I feel sad but happy. What a weird place I am in.

In our Sunday School class today, we were in Romans 8 and we covered a verse that holds a great history for me. The verse is Romans 8:19

Many years ago, I was walking with a family member through a long battle with her addiction to drugs. She had voiced her longing to attend a Beth Moore conference. She and I had been participating in a Beth Moore study at the time. I asked her to join me in Birmingham AL to attend a conference with Living Proof Ministries where Beth Moore would be speaking. She kept telling me she would go although her mother assured me she had no intention of joining me. I made all the arrangements and even the day before, her mother told me she would not attend, but the daughter continued to reassure me she wanted to go. I remember driving an hour from my house in obedience to God's direction to find she was not at home. I began to call and drive around the town looking to see if I could locate her before I left without her.  I was making every effort to be sure of her decision.

God had been speaking the Romans 8:19 verse to me for several weeks leading up to the event. He told me to wait in eager expectation! That was the key. Eagerly awaiting to see what He was going to do. It is the ONLY thing that got me to press through the next few hours.

I arrived at her home to find she had left her husband and children to join her drug dealer. I sat in the driveway and wrote her a letter.  I am still not certain what all it said, but it was written with a very broken heart.

I decided to go on to the conference alone.  It rained hard the rest of the way there.  I think my eyes did too. What I didn't know as I was praying the entire way to Birmingham, is that the car that was in front of me contained the young woman I was suppose to be picking up. She saw me, and God used it to deal with her.

I arrived late to the conference because I had spent several hours making sure I had not missed her. I had a hard time every where I turned that day, from finding a place to park, a place to sit, you name it. But I arrived at the conference center, made my way to an available seat and to my delight, was seated just to the right of the stage at stage level. Once I was in my seat, Beth Moore turned toward my direction and said " I want you to know that God knows what you've been through to get here today." Honestly, that was all I went there for that weekend. God had acknowledged me through that one statement. I have attended various conferences but to date none have ministered to me quite like that. Did Beth know me or my struggle? No, but the God she and I serve, did. Did she even see me when she made that statement? Probably not, but the God that she and I serve did.

So today when I heard the verse again fresh, those memories began to flood my soul. When I hear it, I am reminded to wait eagerly for Him. I am to expect Him to show up, to work and move in my life. Praise God, He loves me! He sees me! He knows me and knows when I am hurting or struggling. Oh I need Him so dearly in my life.

Beth Moore Conferences
Beth Moore blog

I would like to be able to report that the lady has turned her life around, but as with any addict, it is a daily struggle to get free.  She has had periods of times where she walked in victory, but as I write this, she is out in the world being swallowed up by her own desires. I still long for the day that she will be free of it but for now, I wait eagerly expecting what God will do in a life of one surrender to Him.  (That person to be revealed as a daughter of God)

Until that day...

How Valuable is the Bible to Me?

I was completing a day of study in 2 Thessalonians, and I came across a story about William Tyndale. I began to imagine the cost and price he paid in order to make an English translation available to all of us who speak the English language. It cost him his reputation, livelihood, his homeland, and eventually his life.  His desire and passion for us to have the ability to read the words of God in our native language cost him everything. My thoughts ran to gratitude and thankfulness and then thoughts of how treasured this particular book ought to be to each of us. Have we really counted the cost and valued it?  Have I?????

Do we really treasure it, read it, meditate on it, seek it for its wisdom, and recognize the number of times in history it was not available. Would it matter to each of us if it no longer were available in our language.  If only an elect few could read it and tell us what they thought it was saying, or even tell us falsely what they wanted it to say.

People like Tyndale who took the original language and translated into English, Martin Luther, who translated the original into the German language, and John Wycliffe who translate the Latin Vulgate into English prior to Tyndale; who despite the establishment, hungered to offer up the authentic word of God to us so that we could remove all "go betweens" and have direct access to our Creator's words. He could become personal to each of us. It removed the layer of corruption and abuse of power over the masses. It also helped to thwart the use of "so called religion" in order to dictate behavior and make the masses of people behave.

• Have you ever wondered how long those in power throughout history have used God for their own power grabs and gain?

Only when we have authentic desire for Jesus, when we are fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit, when we are completely obedient to God's word, motivated and spurred on by His sacrifice; will we truly have personal biblical reform. Too often we seek the morals of Christianity for the sake of behavioral modification both in ourselves and even in others like our children, neighbors, or those in our authority or sphere.However, it is so much more than that. We stop so far short if we only seek to modify or control behavior. It is about relationship and connection to Almighty God. In seeking God in prayer, in daily life, reading the word etc., we learn about who He is and what He can do. We also learn about who we are, why we are here and what we are able to do both apart from Him and through Him. We are able to determine what we are measured against, by and to. If by the measures of the word, we come up short, we are not condemned if we are already in Christ, but it shows us how much we need to remain in Him and Him in us. The measurement of coming up short shows us that we are still not fully surrendered to Him. It is an indicator of where we are in proximity to God.

As we walk daily in obedience to the word, we are made right not by the act of obedience in the law but rather by faith - trusting and believing God's word by obeying it. Following the word as the actual voice of God, obeying it and using that voice of the word to live in us. When God uses us as His instrument, we are made right, holy and sanctified (set apart to good works and special use) by His use.  According to Philippians 3:9 we are found in Him not having a righteousness of our own from obeying the law but one that is through faith in Christ - the righteousness from God based on faith.

The word of God is the light of God. It is the revealer of truth. It is a depth I personally still cannot fathom as each passage reflects new insight and meaning from one year to the next. It is truly alive and active. It brings life as it is read and meditated upon.

Pursue it and it will never turn out to be a useless task. It brings life into our very soul. It is the breath of God breathing life into our dry bones. It is living water to our thirsty mouths and bread of life that nourishes our stomachs with truth. It provides the sustenance we need for true life.

Receive Jesus' gift of eternal life, pursue God by the Holy Spirit, read His word as if it could be ripped from your availability tomorrow, love His word, obey His word by faith.

• The word is Jesus. 
• In Genesis, God spoke all things into existence by using the Word. 
• In John, the Word was in the beginning, the Word was with God and was God, and the Word became flesh and lived among us. 
• Jesus said that He was the way, TRUTH and life. 
• The Word is TRUTH. 
• Therefore Jesus is the Word made flesh.  
• In Psalms, God sent the word to heal us. 
• In Revelation, part of the way we overcome our enemy is by the WORD of our testimony. The word of our testimony is the word being alive and active in our lives.

Would you think on the price that was paid for you to have the word of God so easily available to you and determine today to pursue it as the treasure that it is? Consider the VALUE!

Is the Church for Discipleship or Disinfecting?

I listen to Radical on Moody Radio, and today I heard a message that totally set my thoughts on fire. I began to ponder, listen, tear up and ponder some more.  I just put on a pot of coffee and decided it was time to return to my keyboard for an update on where I have been.
I've been:
Reflecting!
Seeking!
Pondering!
Simplifying!

The devotion I ended 2014 with was all about entering into 2015 with a focus.  The devotion suggested that I seek to determine one word that God would lead me in for the year.  As I read, searched and pondered; the word "Simplify" came to my mind, my thoughts and even in everything I read.  So I posted the word around on sticky notes as a reminder. I even put it in my phone.  I also accepted the challenge to memorize a scripture every two weeks through a blog by Living Proof Ministries. Something that I have never, never, never been able to do, but so far I am two for two.  I have been simplifying my life, which includes saying NO alot more and not filling up my schedule as much.

However, today, I was walking my dog and listening to radio program mentioned above. The message grabbed me and the thoughts just started to run through my mind.

The message was in the Follow Me series, Serve the World, Part 2.  David Platt asked, "Is church a place for discipleship or disinfecting?" I started thinking on that question.  If we are setting ourselves apart to be disinfected from the world, to be disinfected is to KILL living organisms without discriminating good from bad. If we set ourselves apart to avoid looking like the world, we will become sterile. A sterile environment will not allow life of any kind. That just doesn't sound like what God sent His Son to earth to accomplish.

So the question remains: Is the church for discipleship or disinfecting?

God desires us to be set apart to do His work in the world, not to do His work in a sterile church building. I believe we come together as a body of believers to encourage and build up one another, and to spur one another on to works and good deeds. We come together to teach each other, and disciple one another within the walls of the church; but also to disciple as we go about our routine and daily lives, and as we serve the world.

Jesus died to rescue us from sin and death. If you have been saved from eternal death through accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you now need to grow in the knowledge of who He is, learn about His character, His love and then learn His commands. Seek to learn to hear His voice and gentle leading.  Once you have done this, simply OBEY. In doing this, He can then send you out into the world as His witness.

(If you were on trial for your life, would you want your attorney to use credible witnesses for your defense? Would you want them to be reliable and be of good reputation? Or would you be ok with someone who was a known liar, never reliable, and disrespected in the community?) So as Christ sends us out in the world to be His witnesses, we need to be credible witnesses. So that by our lives, others will know and believe He exists based on our testimonies. Based on their observation of our lives, they would desire what we have, become believers (rescued from Hell), and become disciples and credible witnesses for Christ to begin the cycle again.

What if we lived our lives in such a way that we wouldn't have to segregate ourselves from the world. We wouldn't live separately from the world, but we would instead be set apart (sanctified-consecrated) for God's use in the world for the sake of the world. We need to know when the world's corruption is infecting us and when we are affecting the world. As we see the decaying effects the world is having on our lives, we need to turn to the Father, in the name of Jesus and ask Him to fill us, equip us and minister to us. We are able to do all things through Christ. He will give us renewal and strength. He raises us back up and we can soar!

Jesus retreated from the world to have time alone with the Father. So we should do so as well.

He calls us to love Him and love others. Out of the love for Him, we will be prompted to obey Him. Out of that love, we will love others and by our love for the body of Christ, the world will know we belong to Him. Out of our love for the world, we will desire to live our lives in such a way that we are credible witnesses of Christ. As we live our lives NOT discrediting the good news of Jesus by living unholy lives, but instead living reliably, filled with the Holy Spirit; the world may become hungry for the good news, and turn to God for salvation. An entire generation may be saved from Hell just because the universal church decides to no longer live sterile lives (cleaned up like white washed tombs) where no real life exists; but instead lives authentic, biblical, reliable, credible lives where we make disciples who then make disciples.

We are called to make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Teaching them to obey all Jesus' commands.  --  to clarify: Each one of us in the body of Christ is called to make disciples. We are to teach them who God the Father is, who the Son is and who the Holy Spirit is. As we are immersed in the character of the trinity, we grow in our love for Him. As we grow in our love, we desire to obey Him. Part of that obedience is to love God and love others, obey Him and make disciples.

How simple is that.  It is simple, it is just not easy!

Preparing for Flight

When we originally give birth to our children, we desire they be healthy.  Some may want the child to grow up and be an athlete, intelligent, very social, or outgoing.  But when it comes down to it, don't we want our children to learn from our mistakes, or lessons learned in life and our wisdom.  We want them to have a great life regardless of what they chose to do with their time.

I have been pondering these points as we are anticipating our oldest daughter heading to college in the fall of next year.  We are in the middle of looking at possible colleges, filling out applications for admission and scholarships.  Looking at what the universities offer in line with her pursuits.  So as this task is ever before us, I can't help but contemplate all that I would like for her to carry with her.

I think of the packing that will need to be done, but I am not talking about the physical packing.  I am referring to the "Lessons in life".  When we will no longer be there with her to navigate the storms and temptations that will come her way, I ponder all that I wished I had shared.  Did I tell her to...  when... happens.   Boy that luggage is overstuffed.

There was a realization that occurred to me that even though I will not be there, she will not be alone. There is one MUCH greater than me that will never leave her nor forsake her.  He is the one that loves her SO MUCH more than I can.  He hired me to prepare her for such a time as this, and now He is preparing her to fly from the nest.  I can pack the bag for her to take with her, but it will be up to her and the Holy Spirit to unpack it (or not).  Just like every single trip I ever take, I always over pack and take more than I need.  Perhaps, she will not need half of the "lessons learned" and the wisdom that I think she will need.  And perhaps, since she will have the Greater One with her, maybe she will not need as much in the luggage, because she will be able to get the stuff locally and that way it will be fresher and much more relevant to her.

So all in all, I need to worry less, trust more and sit back and watch my heavenly Father mold my daughter into the most beautiful masterpiece as I release this darling into His care.

My desire is to protect her from hurt/harm, sin, and all the consequences that come from each.  But sin is redeemable, harm is part of life and consequences teach us more in a few minutes than a thousand lectures ever will.  So as she launches out, my prayers go with her always.  My heart goes with her. But most of all, my heavenly Father goes with her.  That is where I get my greatest comfort.

Why is it parents desperately desire for their children to walk obediently?  Not because we do not want them to have fun.  Parents know the obedient path is always the better path.  Parents want obedience also because we have invested much of our time and effort in providing opportunities for our children's success, whether in sports, education or music etc.  We  invest time and or money in hopes that the endeavor will be worth it in the end to open up opportunities for their future.  We have laid the ground work for them to be successful.  Our fear is that the football player will no longer want to play, the straight A student decides not to go to college, or the musician burns out.

When opportunities to be successful get tossed aside, the investment is called into question.  We can set our children up for success, we can provide them with the opportunity, but in the end it will be up to them to either take advantage of it, or not. We all hope they will take full advantage of them all.  But no matter what, one way or another, they will fly.

The Mid-Term Election of 2014

Weighing in on the latest election.  I am a conservative who believes in the foundation of our country.  I believe that we have made errors at times as a nation, but I am still a patriot.  I support and am thankful for those who step up and serve our country, and the freedoms we all share as a result.  I believe according to scripture, if you are able to work, if you choose not to do so, you go hungry.  I do not say that lightly.  However, if work is available and you are able, it is not societies responsibility to take care of your basic needs.

I believe according to scripture we are to care for those that are unable to care for themselves; widows and orphans.  But a young widow who is able to work should do so. This will eliminate her from growing idle and being prone to gossip.  The care and compassion of helping others talked about in scripture is not about handouts and enabling laziness.

We as a country should be concerned to care for those weak, and disabled, but not those who are just taking advantage of the rest of us who are contributing to society and not being a drain on society.

I believe in exercising compassion to those in TRUE need.

Our country has got to start exercising fiscal responsibility.  For the Republicans who just took over control of the Senate and who now control both houses of the legislative branch, I pray they do not go back to their old ways.  I have been disappointed in them before.

For the sake of our children's future, I hope they will step up and take responsibility of our out-of-control spending.  This was not as much of a vote in the favor of the Republicans as it was a vote against the Democrats.  Now a win is still a win, but PLEASE take note, we are all watching, and what takes place in the next two years can and will effect the swing of power in the parties for the presidential elections.

I am by all that I stand for, a Republican.  Now as the house and the senate move forward with a majority of Republicans, work with President Obama and find a way to get spending under control, Get to work defending our borders.  Get out of the job of civil matters, because those issues are not going to matter.  Find ways to protect my vote.  Stop allowing voter fraud to occur, which only serves to diminish my vote.  Stop worrying about polls, and re-elections and go do the job you were hired to do.  Balance the budget.  (our financial standing is a huge matter of national security.)

This majority that the Republicans are holding will be very fleeting if there is not considerable change before the next round of elections.  That includes safety and security.

So go do what you are hired to do.  Remember you work for us, not the other way around.  No matter what Gruber thinks of us "stupid voters".  Balance the budget, protect our borders.  Federal government is way to big and needs to be reduced.  And no matter what anyone says, small businesses do create an abundance of jobs in our county.

My prayer is that our leaders would be men and women of integrity.  I pray they will be convicted to take action that will return us to righteousness, compassion, strength and integrity.

I pray we as a nation will turn our hearts back to our founding principles and turn our eyes back toward God for His precepts to become our plumb line once again.

Amen.

Searching the Scriptures

I have been busy studying the word in a bible study by Beth Moore.  I started it over the summer in an online group and joined with my church family to study it along with the videos this fall.  The study is on 1 and 2 Thessalonians.  

As I lean into the study of God's word, I want to keep in the forefront of my mind that "Too much Word and not enough Spirit you puff up. Too much Spirit and not enough Word you blow up. With the Word and the Spirit together, you grow up. - Anonymous"  So thankful for our leader sharing this quote with us on Monday night.

I believe I need to search the scripture to determine God's direction for me, so I will be able to discern lies from truth, and so I will know God's ways and will.  If something comes to me outside of the scripture, I need to be able to measure it against what I know about God's character, His word and Him. If it lines up with scripture, I can receive it, but God will not speak counter to His word.

I pray we all search the scriptures and burn with hunger for the word in the presence and fullness of the Holy Spirit.

I also pray that we search the word of God in an effort to become better aquainted with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  I pray that we will grow in our love for Him, grow in our knowledge of Him and grow in our desire for Him.

Amen

Learning the Art of Caring for the Temple

 

When a toddler is learning to walk, a good mom never spanks the child for falling. For every fall is teaching the toddler balance and building strength.   Just remember that this life isn't about getting things perfect. It is a marathon of learning and relying on God.   It is all about a relationship with Him through His Spirit by what His Son did on the cross   

Brothers and Sisters who are dearly loved by God, you have a divine purpose. 

Each of us need to care for the temple as an act of worship to our king. Not to worship our body or have others worship it, but as an act of worship.  Just as if Jesus were coming to your house for a visit, you would care for it because "COMPNY is COMIN'"  (hopefully you can read that with a southern accent -- misspelled on purpose)

We are more than conquerors.  We are children dearly loved by our Father and He has chosen us for a divine purpose.  We are called to bring Him much glory in this world.  The greatest privilege is to live a life that so reflects His image that we are practically transparent (see through) so that the world sees Jesus.  Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  So let’s take care of the housekeeping and do it not for self but unto the Lord. 

When reaching for food out of habit or just because it is time, stop and think.  Grab you a glass or bottle of water.  Drink it all!  Now are you still hungry?  If so, eat a reasonable amount.  

Stay as close to the original food as possible.  The more processed a food is, the less it will truly satisfy the nutritional needs your body has.  When we look out at 3^rd world nations, we see malnutrition.  But if we truly understood what that means, we would see it here in this country as well.  When we strip the nutritional value from a food to extend its shelf life, we have eliminated its purpose for eating it.  Americans are overweight but malnourished.  The reason many overeat is that the body communicates to the brain what it needs through cravings.  But if those cravings are misread then we eat the wrong foods.  Our body may crave magnesium.  (most women crave this in the form of chocolate)  You can appease this by supplements or eating foods high in magnesium.  Even chocolate is not the problem.  But if I eat something else instead that has a long shelf life and that is manufactured until the magnesium is not even hardly a trace in the item I choose to eat; then I have consumed a high calorie item without meeting my nutritional need.  This means the craving for the magnesium was never met, the deficiency is still there and I will continue consuming or desiring to consume until the deficit is met.   Simple as that.  

Most isles in the center of the grocery store is all processed foods.  If you will start purchasing MOST of your groceries in the perimeter of the store, you will start to find that you will wean yourself off the bulk of your processed foods.  Does that mean you can never have another bowl of Mac N Cheese?  No,  It means that processed foods need to be reduced, and whole foods need to become more of a mainstream of your diet.   The main reason Americans over eat in my opinion is that they are starving themselves of nutrition, and the body is trying to preserve itself by sending signals to EAT!   But if we keep making choices that are of no value to the body, what’s a body to do?  The body is going to keep sending the signal of "I’M HUNGRY!!!!"

 

Regarding exercise, cardio at least 3/4 days per week for at least 20-30 minutes.  My preference is to do intervals of high intensity for 1/2 the time you recover.  (meaning jog for 1 minute, sprint 30 seconds, jog 1 minute continue)  Add weights to your week several times per week.  Park farther away from the entrance to make yourself walk farther, if you are in good health.  Take stairs when possible.  If you are sitting for long periods of time, get up and take a walk break.  Be a body in motion.   look for ways to be a BODY IN MOTION.  

Stay off the diet drinks.  They can have a reverse effect on your body and actually make you gain or make it harder to lose weight.  The artificial sweetener in them is known to cause migraines.  (among other possible negative side effects) 

Drink water throughout the day! 

Find an activity you enjoy.  Get you a hoola-hoop.  Jump rope.  Get a  small mini trampoline and just bounce on it.  Find something you love to do and get started doing it.

May God inspire you to endure as you take care of His temple, your body.  For I know, brothers and sisters who are loved by God, God has chosen you.  I also know that He will equip you and I pray that you will not grow weary in this endeavor.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Have a great week!!!!!!!

Be blessed today. Remember GOD has chosen YOU. 

Broken Heart

In reflecting upon many things, I keep reminding myself that God is in control and not surprised by current events world wide, national, locally; and the things happening in our own personal lives, homes, churches and communities.  As world events seem to be getting darker, and evil seems to be gaining ground, I have to keep reminding myself that God is not taken by surprised.  Actually His Word demonstrates this very truth.  So if we will be in The Word and not consumed by being in the world, I believe we can be prepared and not be surprised by the events.  We will be prepared to offer the hope we have when others see these events and cannot make sense out of it and come to us inquiring of our hope.  

So today, prepare yourself.

The enemy has made sure each of us have grown cold and/or bitter from hurts we have experienced.  He has come against us through family, friends and yes even Christian friends or leaders.  All of these offenses can take us in two distinct directions.  One can be to our harm and one can be for our good, for the benefit of others and for God's glory.  We can hold onto our offense and allow it to make us bitter, colder toward others, lack compassion, and even hateful and harsh.  This path makes us a bad testimony to others.  On the other hand, we can take these offenses to God in prayer, ask for Him to help us as WE CHOOSE to forgive and release the offender.  What this does is free us from their offense.  To hold on to it doesn't punish them, it only punishes us.  The thing God showed me is that a broken heart can become very fertile ground for the Father to expand our heart's capacity for love and compassion if we offer our broken heart to Him.  We have to be willing and decide to forgive.  It is a choice of the will.  Then we have to walk out our forgiveness.  

No offense is beyond our capacity to forgive, no matter how bad it is.  I know pain, believe me I have experienced it in large supply.  I have suffered at the hands of many, but it is for my sake that I forgive.  So let it go, release the offender, and leave them in the hands of Jesus to deal with.  You will be set free as you do it.  

The picture that I saw as these thoughts were flooding my mind was that of a heart that was broken, but not destroyed.  The heart was now able to freely expand its capacity because of the fractures.  Can you see that image?  

So if you are a follower of Christ and your heart has been fractured, run to the Father and ask Him to lead you into forgiveness because you choose to forgive today.  Act lovingly toward them and allow the Lord to love the offender through you.  In the process, you will experience the expansion of your fractured heart and it will become stronger and you will be free!!!!

Pondering Proverbs 2

Wisdom's Worth

1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; 3 furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, 5then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity 8 so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers. 9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity-every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your mind, and knowledge will delight your heart. 11 Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you, 12 rescuing you from the way of evil- from the one who says perverse things, 13 [from] those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness, 14 [from] those who enjoy doing evil and celebrate perversity,15 whose paths are crooked, and whose ways are devious. 16 It will rescue you from a forbidden woman, from a stranger with her flattering talk, 17 who abandons the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; 18 for her house sinks down to death and her ways to the land of the departed spirits. 19 None return who go to her; none reach the paths of life. 20 So follow the way of good people, and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those of integrity will remain in it; 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous uprooted from it.

Interesting when I read this, the Proverb "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" came to my mind.  I looked it up to reference it and found that it is used in Proverbs 9:10, 111:10 and in 1:7 it is actually "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."

When reading thru the Proverbs, it is so full of practical life advise that when followed and taken, can make our lives so much easier.  As I am reading thru the verses, I note that just hearing this advise is never enough.  Perhaps we all need to study them then life experiences prove them to be true.  It seems that only thru experience do we humans truly learn.  Of course, some of us learn quickly while others it takes a little more time in the field to actually learn the lesson.  The hope is that even if we veer of track, there is always a way back.  

So I pray that I will adhere to the sound advise and teaching found in this book.  I also pray that I will be able to take God at His word and just live it.  He has proven its reliability to me over and over.  However, I also know me.  I know I always tend to get the lesson better thru the exercise than from study alone.  UGH  I hate that about me, but it is just the hard cold fact.  

I pray for wisdom, understanding and knowledge that comes from the Lord for me today.  Would you join me and ask the Lord to enlighten you in your mind and heart to His true wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  I pray that you will.  I pray this for my family, friends and for all who will read this today.  I ask it in the name of our Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Valuable Proverbs From Walk in the Word Program (revised and corrected)

Proverbs for Parenting
19:18 (NIV) Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.

22:15 (NIV) Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

23:13-14 (NIV) Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Punish them with the rod and save them from death.

29:15 (NIV) A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

29:17 (NIV) Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.
1:8-9 (HCSB) Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck.

2:1-2 (HCSB) My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,

listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding;
13:1 (HCSB) A wise son responds to his father’s discipline, but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.

29:15-19 A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a youth left to himself is a disgrace to his mother. When the wicked increase, rebellion increases, but the righteous will see their downfall. Discipline your son, and it will bring you peace of mind
and give you delight. Without revelation people run wild, but one who listens to instruction will be happy. A slave cannot be disciplined by words; though he understands, he doesn’t respond.

28:23 (HCSB) One who rebukes a person will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.

13:24 (HCSB) The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.

10:1 (HCSB) A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.

17:25 (HCSB) A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.

23:24-25 (HCSB) The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him. Let your father and mother have joy, and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

22:6 (HCSB) Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

29:17 (HCSB) Discipline your son, and it will bring you peace of mind and give you delight.

Additional parenting scriptures

Ephesians 6:4 (NIV) Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Hebrews 12:7 (NIV) Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

Teach your children:

1. To have a healthy fear of God (1:7; 9:10; 10:27; 14:26-27; 15:16; 16:6; 19:23)

2. To guard their minds (4:23; 23:7)

3. To obey you (1:8; 4:1-4; 6:20-23; 30:17)

4. To carefully select their companions (1:11-18; 2:10-15; 13:20)

5. To control their sinful desires (2:16-19; 5:3-5; 6:23-33; 7:6-27)

6. To enjoy sexual fidelity (5:15-20)

7. To watch their words (4:24; 10:11, 19-21, 32; 12:18, 22; 15:1-2; 16:23; 20:15)

8. To pursue their work (6:6-11; 10:4-5; 22:29)

9. To manage their money (3:9-10; 11:24-26; 19:17; 22:9)

10. To love their neighbors (3:27-29; 25:21-22)