Somethings Have To Die

Today at my church, Free Chapel, Pastor Franklin spoke on the urgency of letting go of harmful habits and sins that will hinder our Christian life; he said "it's better to respond to the mercy of God than face His judgement".
He used scripture's from the Old Testament to illustrate( Psalm 51:17 & 116:15). I also like the New Testament verse in the book of Galatians 2:20- "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Pastor Franklin said we must allow the Holy Spirit to draw a line separating what lives and what dies. The Spirit will kill the things in your soul that were a part of your old nature before you accepted Christ. God's word is the sword of the Spirit and it says- "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4: 12" "

As a Christian you will feel convicted when your soul (flesh, old nature) starts pulling you back in the direction of sin, self centered living. This is your spirit telling you to let the Holy Spirit give you the power to mortify these unclean things of your old nature.

They must die or they will kill everything good in your life- eventually. My Pastor emphatically stressed that you can not compromise and keep some hidden addictions or fleshly desires. God's word is the life line. Harboring and coexisting with compromises is like playing with fire, you will get burned, and the smoke will choke the life out of you. The death will start in your spirit life and begin to spread like a cancer into your marriage, in your family, in your relationships with others. It will kill everything. He emphasized the danger of alcohol, drugs, anger, pride, lust, adultery, pornography, lying, gossip, slander, judging, hatred, and any behaviors you allow that compromise the word of God. Pastor said we can not excuse our behavior by saying, it hasn't hurt me yet. He says, refuse to accept this excuse. It's a lie, whispered to you by the master deceiver. He wants you spiritually dead. Just as he did Adam and Eve.We must not compromise and squelch the The Holy Spirit, and fall victim to the numbing effect of sin- the trap will snare and you will have a harder time getting free. If your under conviction now for something in your life it is no accident you are reading this. God wants you to live the abundant life, not captive to misery and pain. He is telling you to kill these sins right now. God's message today for all those attending, or streaming live, or who hear this word from any other source is this. You can not wait to deal with these convictions on your own time. If God is telling you to do something now, to refuse is very dangerous. We must take this seriously. Sin will need to be feed constantly, that's it's nature- like a cancer, sin will grow bigger and eventually take over and destroy all good things in your life. If you are not a believer and need this new life to save you from loosing everything, then you have to let go and let God inside your heart.

Pray right now for God to save you from this life. You must believe that God's words are true when He said in the book of Romans - that everyone has sin and needs a savior; and through Jesus death, your sins are taken away. Confess your sins and believe in Jesus and you will be a joint heir with Christ in God's kingdom. He said the truth is inside you, and you must believe in this resurrection power to be free. God's grace (favor) and love requires faith and trust. Acceptance of grace will allow your spirit to speak the truth, that you do not need, or want this old sinful lifestyle. This is not a one time thing however; you must daily take up the sword of God's dividing Spirit.for these old habits to die.- Pray, read God's word, connect with other believer's, and most importantly- Believe that you are set free. Free, indeed!

To Worship You

A prayer from my Journal written a few years ago.

Dear Lord,

I have been standing firm in the truth that you are God and you have loved me from the beginning. You desire only good things for me- like I do for my daughter Rose. At times I have disappointed you- but your love for me never changed. 

This disappointment is only of a loving nature- because you desire only good for me- it hurts you to see your children miss the opportunity.

I pray for you to reveal to me my purpose within the purpose "to glorify you". Today you told me my purpose is to worship You- in worship I receive your love.

And that's what I love to do at my church Free Chapel ! Watch and be blessed as I was that Wednesday night this was recorded. We so often will spend the whole service singing and praising  our Lord Jesus.

Rich in Mercy

The Book of Ephesians

Some theologians consider this book in the Bible to be the "Queen of the Epistles". It is so rich in the spirit and purpose of God's plans, through Christ, for all mankind. Paul wrote this letter in a Roman prison with a purpose to unite, comfort and encourage the believer's in Asia Minor. 

The time frame dates backs to around 62AD, over 2000 thousand years ago. I can't imagine any manuscript written by man has, or will ever have a following of such magnitude as the timeless messages penned by God through his disciples. This book is magnificently inspired from the gallows of what man sees as failure- but that's the beauty of knowing and trusting God- the eternal plan of God will work through any situation. Any!

God's purpose, as always, in this letter is to share the good news that salvation is obtainable, and available to everyone, through believing in Christ. Paul shares the plan right from the beginning of Chapter 1:

The Living Bible Translation

"Long ago, even before he made the world , God chose us to be his very own, through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault- we who stand before him covered with his love. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!

Awesome comes to mind; God saw me holy, even before I was conceived, or breathing on this planet, even still while I was lost as an unbeliever (2:4), even when I turned my back on him as a believer and fell in bondage to the trappings of the world. He still saw me through mercy's eyes.(3:8)

God loves everyone but he can't save everyone from the battle that rages in the unseen. You have to sign up in God's army to have safety and the power to withstand. (6:10-17)

 Read the rest of this letter to know how to prepare for this battle dear ones; you can't wait another minute. Time here on earth will end. Not all will perish, but many will- if the enemy of God has his way. He wants you just as much as God loves you. Don't take this lightly. Be prepared.

Read the book of Ephesians

Prosperity and Joy

I watch and learn from God inspired teacher's, James and Betty Robinson are top on my list. I wanted to share a recent "Life Today" episode where they are interviewing a Rabbi who has written a book titled " Thou Shall Prosper". As I watched, and listened, I was reminded, and very grateful, that God is our provider. 


God can lead us through this financial mess we are in. We need to go back to God's word and rethink this money thing. We need to look at the law of finance from a Biblical perspective, one being instituted first as spiritual laws God put in place long before Wall Street. 


The Rabbi said, "money is a spiritual reward from God as a result of providing a pleasing service to someone." One prosper's from giving-not getting.

Often this is a contradiction to the world's teaching which says- "What about me, what's in it for me? "


The world is fickle, and subject to the trapping of the great deceiver who has one and only one purpose. To lie, steal, and cheat you out of your joy in the Lord.


The Bible says-


The joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10 


Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." (KJV) Habakkuk 3:18 

Joy does not come from your bank account. Joy is in the giving of ourselves to something that pleases God. We, who are made in His image, will find that pleasing God activates the joy.  


The age old question that comes to my mind today is-


Choose this day who you will serve. 
God and his plan?
Man and his way?

I know the right choice for me. Trust God.
I pray you can see it too.


Today I choose to see the people, and the opportunities God  places in my path, as stepping stones of joy and prosperity.


http://lifetoday.org/video/prosperity-and-joy-2/

No Condemnation

Romans 8

Life Through the Spirit

 ¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.^[c]And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
 

Hearing God

I am reading a book titled  "Hearing God" written by Peter Lord, published by Baker Books 1988. Pastor Lord opens his book with a poem written by Louis Eberly in the magazine Alive Now! I would like to dedicate this post to my husband, who is (temporarily) away from me at this time- working for our future.

To Bruce

Love must express and communicate itself

That's it's nature.

When people love one another, they start telling

Everything that's happened to them.

Every detail of their daily life, they "Reveal" themselves

To each other, unbosom themselves

And exchange confidences.

God hasn't ceased being Revelation anymore

Than He's ceased being Love.

He enjoys expressing Himself.

Since He's Love, He must give Himself,

Share His secrets, communicate with us

And reveal Himself to anyone

Who wants to listen. 

Paul's Prayer

 In the first Chapter of Ephesians, the apostle Paul prays for the church at Ephesus. He address them as "the saints", and "the faithful in Christ". You can feel the love and passion he has for this early church in his prayer. 


Paul's conversion from hate and persecution of the Christians, to love and joy is so powerfully demonstrated in his prayer. He wants for them to know Christ in the way he knows him. This is his calling. The same for all Christians- to share the mystery of Christ.


A very significant revelation he prays is... he wants them to know that they have the same power that raised Christ from the dead, living within them. 


Think about that dear Christians of today. We too, share in this wisdom, power, and revelation.


Read with the eyes of your heart what God said through Paul-

Ephesians/ Chapter 1

verses 16-20

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better".

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and the incomparably great power for us who believe."

 "That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at the right hand in the heavenly realms".  

Prayer Matters

Over the years I have journaled many letters and prayers to God. Today I am looking back to see how much I've grown through this medium of submitting my wants, fears, needs, desires, weaknesses, and will to Him.

I can see how God has answered and manifested His perfect will for my life. It's not as clear in the real time, at the time of submission, but now I can see revelation, God revealing Himself  in relationship with me. It's a beautiful thing; and my faith, and trust matures and grows stronger.

I encourage you dear one's who are seeking a deeper relationship with God to keep a journal; bare your soul to God, and He will bless your spirit. He waits to hear from you, as a parent who's children have left home, he misses time spent caring for you. Write out your prayers, as letters sent home.

A few of my prayers shared with you..

Lord, show me how to love to life this poverty in my spirit when I try to love through my own expectations. 

Lord, I am unsure of my way today, but certain in you. You are with me, and have plans for me.

Lord, I pray today that you make me an instrument of your peace and love.

Lord, help me to stop judging others by their actions. Who am I to know their motivation at that moment, their heart's cry, superficially acted out. Help me to spend my time in the spirit of generosity  acceptance, and encouragement.

Amen

Call to me and  I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3

Treasures

I wanted to continue today looking at how we can pull down these false strongholds that bind believers from receiving the beautiful benefits of living full in the spirit and finding that peace.


First, we have to believe they exist in our life and we need to name them. I am sure you have heard the saying, "confession is good" for the soul, and so it is. 


Our most powerful offensive weapon in tearing down these strongholds is prayer, and God's word- combined with faith. We must come to God in prayer, and trust He will demolish these strongholds and replace them with the desire for heavenly treasures. 


One common area that can entrap us today is materialism- the acquiring and maintaining of stuff and more stuff. Having nice things is not in itself the stronghold- it is the idea that our worth and value lies connected to these things.


We spend way too much time working for, wishing for, and acquiring more. We become enslaved to the pursuit of riches instead of seeking God and his kingdom first.

Your barometer, given to you in God's word, says-

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:19-21

The heavenly treasure should be our goal- and that comes from giving away our stuff to help other's in need, for Jesus also said-

"Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12:33-34

Strongholds

Strongholds in the physical definition represent a fortress with difficult access, for the believer a stronghold in the spiritual represents Christ.

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is the stronghold of my life-

of whom should I be afraid?

False strongholds are anything that steals our focus from God, consuming too much of our emotional and mental energy, and strangles our abundant life. These strongholds come from false ideas, lies, and deceptions. They are born of Satan, in our mind and can be subtle in the beginning and grow stronger as we begin to act upon these ideas. 

How do we know in the beginning of the deception if this idea/ ideals we are entertaining are contrary to God's will for our life?

We must have a barometer, and that  barometer is God's word. Scripture teaches us through the Holy Spirit. 

There are thousands of measures to use for gauging the worth of activities in our lives in the Bible. Here's just one to think about today.

Colossians  3:23

23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not for men..it is the Lord you are serving."

Peace

John 14:27

Jesus died so that we could have peace with God through the gift of the Holy Spirit. This precious gift to mankind cost him dearly. Do you have peace in your life? Is it well with your soul today? 


Peace is the absence of strife in our live's. The unnecessary strife I am referring to, the strife that comes from our own doing. It is the by product of unforgivingness, resentment, unresolved anger, and bitterness- just to name a few common areas we habitually get caught up in repeating over and over. 


These character defects of the soul (our mind, will and emotions) rob us of the peace that God sacrificed so much for us to have.

The Bible says in Hebrews 12:14 that we must strive for peace to see God- follow after, seek it out, work at it. 


All the fruit of the spirit-  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control- start from a decision, and an action on our part. Then God works perfectly, in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, to bring beauty to an imperfect soul. 

There is no peace outside of God, dear ones. The gift Christ left was for all who know, love, trust and seek Him.

Seek  and you shall find.

Trust Him and you will know Him.

Marvelous Happenings

Today's "God Calling" Devotion-

Our Lord, with hearts full of joy we thank Thee for Thy marvelous blessings showered on us today and every day.

I am beside you. Follow in all things My Guiding. Marvels beyond all your imaginings are unfolding. I am your Guide. Joy in that thought. Your Guide and your Friend.

Remember that to Me a miracle is only a natural happening. To My disciples, to My chosen, a miracle is only a natural happening. But it is a natural happening operative through spiritual forces, and therefore the man who works and understands through the senses only, regards it as something contrary to Nature. 

Remember too that the natural man is at enmity with God. Realize fully, and pray to realize more and more fully, that there is no wonder too marvelous to be with you an everyday happening, if you are guided and strengthened by Me. My children, the children of My Kingdom are a peculiar people, set apart, different hopes, and aspirations, and motives, and sense of reward.

  

You see a marvelous happening (as that today), happening so easily, so simply, so free from all other agency, and you wonder. My children, listen, this has not happened easily and simply. It has been achieved by hours, days, months of weariness and heartache battled against and overcome, by a steadfast, unflinching desire to conquer self, and to do My Will and live My teachings.

  

The frets and the worries and the scorn patiently borne mean spiritual Power acquired, operating marvelously. 

The Lord is my shepherd; Psalm 23

This is such a beautiful reading from my  "God Calling"  book, I have used this devotion book for years- underlining, making notes in the margin, highlighting, rereading over and over. Jesus is speaking directly to me- just me, and I grow closer and more intimate with my savior; a deeper understanding evolves as I daily walk and talk with Him. My spirit is strengthened with every devotion. Today's reading  is a good one, it helped me to understand why God's ways are different from my ways, and dear reader's, that is a  very good thing- for God is so good. Amen!

Walk Humbly

Today's devotion in my "God Calling" book:

"Fear of what other's will say is want of trust in me. This must not be. Convert all these difficulties into the purification of your character. See yourselves as those around you see you, not as you wish. I will set you on high because you have known My Name, but it must be a purified you to be so exalted."

Matthew 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Hurts in the Past

An excerpt taken from a page in my notes last summer. A candid answer, I share candidly with you now.

The question in my Bible Study asks "What comfort has God given to me as I have sought comfort from hurts in the past? Journal about that, focusing on whether or not you are willing to pass on the comfort?

"I was angry and hurt when my life's plan for marriage and motherhood was shattered. I was raw with emotions, feeling no comfort, because I had turned my back on God. It was a dark and lonely place, the only light inside my heart was artificial and burned out repeatedly- I was running on empty. I had to run  into the desert, for a season of barrenness and drought. As I reached the end of myself, fallen face down, exhausted and lost, I finally surrendered and gave it all up to God. I had a lot inside that literally was making me sick. I purged and purged (prayed and repented) and sought the help of God (forgiveness), and life (love) began to come back into me. I still felt so alone, but continued to seek God for my daily manna. My prayers were on my knees, and Jesus was comforting me through the healing process. He is my rod and staff, and my desert is now a beautiful highland meadow, full of lush green grass and a babbling brook- My God sent me a help mate to stand with me. He was in need of the savior too, and we comforted each other. Today I am writing in a blog  "Dreams Do Come True"; I am doing this to help other's. I want my readers to see Jesus as the only way to true comfort."

Storms

There is a very beautiful poetic passage in Isaiah 43:2-4 where God reassures the Israelites that He will be with them during their exile in Babylon. He loves them, for they are His chosen people, and He will not let them perish His words given to the prophet Isaiah are to encourage them to endure this season knowing that He is still in control and will guide them through the trials of life and give them rest.

Today is no different. When we find ourselves in the storms of life, some of our making, and yet many times at the hands of things out of our control, we must still trust God is there right in the middle, and we should find our rest in Him.

We live in a fallen world that will rain down on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). God will be in the rain and He will continue to purpose His will. The circumstances of our life does not change God's providence.

We must not let the enemy pervert or take away our hope and faith in God during the crisis. We must stay calm- this is our way out. We must not loose our perspective of God's word. The storms will come, and dear ones, please prepare by knowing and trusting God today- while the sun is shining down on you.

Isaiah 43:2-4

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

         And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
         When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
         Nor will the flame burn you.

“For I am the LORD your God,

         The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
         I have given Egypt as your ransom,
         Cush and Seba in your place.

“Since you are precious in My sight,
         Since you are honored and I love you,
         I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your   life.

Rooted in Love

Ephesians 3:14-21

New International Version (NIV)

A Prayer for the Ephesians

 ¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a]in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Seasons

Life is hard. It can get you down. If you fail to realize the absolute necessity of taking time to work, rest, play, love, laugh; and instead all you do is work, you will experience burn out. 


I used to be a very serious minded person who felt the need to manage, control, dictate and perfect my every experience- and everyone else around me. 


As a result of years of that routine, I can tell you what happens- you will burn out, lose your self, and quite possibly the people you love- at least for a season. 


The Bible speaks very clearly to the seasons of a person's life- Listen and take this wise instruction.

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 3 a time to kill and a time to heal,a time to tear down and a time to build,

 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

 9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 

10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 

13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 

14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men        will revere him.

My controlling ways were ultimately a distrust in the plans God had for me. I was going to do it my way, which is not the way to finding yourself.


I had to learn this truth; that the one who created me knows me the best. The way to finding myself was the way of losing myself. I had to learn this the hard way, and with great cost. 


I think of the many times I've heard it said; if only I had listened to wise instruction, or listened to my parents as I grew older... or if only I knew then, what I know now. Truth is, I did know enough to see where changes were needed. I just refused to obey.

So today I follow the divine design of my creator God. He instructs me and tells me to take the time to go outside and play, to laugh, to love, and to share my life- and most importantly, to rest in Him. 


It's really not that hard, if I remember the command, to love others as Christ loves me. It's just not all about me.

How about you? Has it been too long since you played with your kids, ate a hot dog all messy and just let it drip on your shirt or walked the dog who worships your every move. 


Do you give love freely? Just now my husband jumped up spontaneously and grabbed me to dance to one our favorite Van 
Morrison songs. 


What inspires you?  Do you wake up and spend time alone with God, or in the evening watching the sun set. When was the last time you ended your day down on your knees, praying for your family and friends? 

Oh, loved ones. I know how miserable it is to live inside the walls. So I ask with honest care and concern. What's blocking your life from a life that flows? What dams have you built up to control your life? 


You know it will break down, for you weren't made to carry the heavy burden alone. The dam will break and over flow, leaving you, and those close to you, with only the remains of rubble, and trouble. 

Listen as I say this again, life is hard, yes, but it doesn't have to be as hard as we make it. 

Let go. Live in God. Life can be good and you know it, for your heart beats in the secret place with a plan and a purpose- placed inside of you long ago. 


So go, and get outside of your own self, and let God lead you to the life He designed; a life of love and laughter. 

Abiding

John 15: 9-13

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

 ¹² "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

My purpose for this blog "Trusting God" is that you would be encouraged to know your Creator and Savior as I do, and that you would daily seek him in the truth of his word and through the love of his spirit. 


To continue to trust in God (abide) we must know his words- through study, preaching, teaching, praying and hearing the word. We must also be doers of the word to see God working in the natural.   

Reading God's word daily, even if you only focus on one verse, the truths will begin to abide in you, and here is where the transformation of the mind to be more Christ like will begin- in the abiding. 

Today's truth is that God loves you so much, and wants you to really experience "true love"- the love of Christ. A love that is so full that it naturally overflows, never stopping, always seeking to share, giving new life to the wounded or dead in spirit. Love is the greatest gift from God. 

Just remember- Christ's command to love other's is spiritual, and must come from our yielding to his spirit. The natural man (our flesh) can only love selfishly. We battle with our own judgmental mind and prejudices. Only as we begin to learn how to daily abide- relying on the power of the indwelling Spirit to act on our behalf, do we begin to conquer hate and indifference- the opposite of love.

The spiritual truths of abiding in Christ are deeper than words on a page or spoken in a pulpit. We must believe and trust God; that the Holy Spirit will teach us as we walk in faith and share God's tender mercies. 

In Christ's love I am  praying for all of you dear ones seeking Him today.   

1Corinthians:13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

The God Formula

James 3:17

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. It is peace loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds. It is whole hearted and straight forward and sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness. (The Living Bible Translation) 
                                                                           

Pause

 

Yesterday my husband said something to me that hurt my feeling's. He turned to me and said, "Would you just pause for a moment?" He was a bit frustrated with my habit of jumping in with suggestions on how he should do something. I thought I was being helpful (thus the hurt feelings), but instead I was being inconsiderate.

Later that day I was thinking about this habit I have of speaking before thinking. I considered the word pause and what it would look like if I took the time to stop and wait before making a judgement, correction, or rendering even well intended advice.

I had to admit to myself that this is an area in which I could use God's wisdom and instruction. I thought how often God tells us to be still, and rest in him- trust him to do the work that is his to do, and for me to just be quiet.
.

Consider Psalm 46:10-  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth".  

     

The "be still", means in Hebrew translation- to let go, release, surrender. Webster's dictionary defines the word pause as a temporary stop, or rest- as in music. Both mean to give in to something (time/God).

My husband wanted something more than for me to stop talking- he wanted me to recognize that he had everything under control. I need to just rest (pause) and let him take the lead. God deserves the same respect and recognition. "Trust me" he is saying , or simply put- hit the button and...

 let go (pause) and let God.(rest).

Poem: The Bend in the Road

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the song has ended,
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended,

Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying?
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying?

There’s but one place to go and that is to God,
And dropping all pretence and pride,
We can pour out our problems without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side.

And together we stand at life’s cross roads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision,
And He tells us it’s only a bend.

For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the pause in the song is a rest,
And the part that’s unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best.

So rest and relax and grow stronger
Let go and let God share your load.
Your work is not finished or ended
You've just come to a bend in the road

By: Helen Steiner  Rice

Exercising Faith

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,'  says the Lord.

'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

When I was a new Christian I found it hard at times to understand how this faith concept worked. I knew I was a believer and my commitment to follow Godly principals was strong-or so I thought.    


It just seemed that when the world's standard collided with godly principles, I would feel weak and confused as which way to go. It was awhile before I realized I just needed some time exercising my faith to learn trusting God did not always mean understanding God's way's all the time. 


As seeker's of the way we will always rely on God's leading and direction. We must trust that the victory is already won and that His solution is always best. What the world sees- he sees beyond. Of course the Bible is that instruction book I find the answer to most of my questions. My part is to read, study and then exercise this understanding through faith.  


If you compare this discipline to that of exercise for physical fitness you know that in the beginning there will be some pain and a time of adjustment.  It was for me at least, when I was breaking free from the painful habits of my past that I knew were not good for me. 


I had to rely on God to help me, and to trust him that I would grow stronger against the enemy's attack on my new faith. There were times I wanted to quit, and do it my way (but  thank God) I held on to my Bible and prayed in sheer obedience for God to take this temptation away. I knew he could see beyond my limited view and that relying on my own "feelings" was a slippery slope. 


My trust was to hold on to the promises within this love letter he gave me. I am so glad I did I pray that you can too. 
Hold on dear ones.