Friday, August 24, 2012
Be Careful With Your Promise!
Recently, when asked by my friend if I thought she should share with others what God has recently revealed is coming down the line for her, I shared this: I don't think it's wrong for you to hold on to your intimate kiss from
your King. I think too many people are limited to today and can't see
the big picture. The last thing you want is nay-sayers, pushers, nosy
questioners, etc... This is yours to walk out. I would write about it
in a journal because one day you will want to testify and
minister about how to be joyful in the waiting for a promise. The best
gift you can give others right now is not the details of your business,
but the overflow of peace that you are gaining from trusting. You don't
need anyone saying anything that will keep your eyes on the gifts more
than the Gift-giver. One thing I know for sure...how you
walk with God through this will determine how long you walk...just like
the Israelites in the wilderness. It could have been an 11 day journey,
but because of their focus and attitude, it ended up being 40 years!
They let their eyes shift from Him to them...from what He wanted to what
they wanted. He purposefully led them to the wilderness FIRST before
the Promised Land TO TEACH THEM HOW TO WORSHIP HIM just so they wouldn't
worship their reward. In God's great love for us as His children, He
will not allow us to have idols before Him.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
I'll Pray for You!
Lately, I have been thinking about how often we throw this phrase around but rarely make good on our commitment.
Does that happen to anyone else out there? I think sometimes there really is good intention and legitimate forgetfulness, but I hate to think of all the times we have missed opportunities to make a difference.
I have tried to change this habit in my life. I heard someone say once that we should just stop what we are doing right then and there and pray for the person asking!
As I have adopted this act of selflessness and love, I have been rewarded so unexpectedly. From tears of joy or sorrow to smiles and hugs of relief, I have watched the sincere words sent to heaven's ears melt the hardest hearts of stone and bring peace to the most confused souls. What an easy way to give love and hope.
I know there are nay-sayers out there who don't even think prayer is anything more than a wish lost in the wind...and for those precious people, my heart breaks.
Blessedly, I know better! I KNOW beyond any shadow of doubt that God is real and He hears every word I speak and even every thought I think!
I remember awaking early one morning, around 5 A.M. and sensing this urgent burden to pray. For three hours I would lie in the bed, praying anything and everything I could think of to pray. At 8 A.M., when alas I had to get up and get myself ready for the day, I continued to carry the burden to intercede.
I did not know for whom or what I was calling on heaven to intervene. I hadn't the slightest idea of what was so heavy that it needed attention!
My sons began to rise and roam, and two of the young ladies living with us at the time were likewise getting ready for their day. One would be taking the other to the airport to catch a flight. They asked if two of my boys could ride along, and having no reason to hesitate to allow them time with their "big sisters," I, of course, agreed.
The oldest son remained at home with me, but within a half hour, I received the call no parent ever wants. There had been an accident.
I was told everyone was fine, but left immediately to go see for myself. My husband met me along the way, and Garrison and I jumped in the van with him.
As we pull up to the scene of the accident, we have to slow down to a stop on the side of the interstate. I look over to the ramp, my eyes searching for signs of my "babies," and I see the side of the little sedan stuck on the front of a semi truck. The truck had pushed the small car up the ramp!
As plain as day, I heard these words, "This is what you were praying about."
I am overjoyed to report that NOT ONE of my loved ones was hurt in any way, other than shaken up, and neither was the truck driver.
How might that morning have gone down differently if I had been too sleepy or too busy to pray? Only God knows for sure, but I know the lesson I learned that day!
Friends...God sees and knows everything, and He yearns for us to believe that!
Does that happen to anyone else out there? I think sometimes there really is good intention and legitimate forgetfulness, but I hate to think of all the times we have missed opportunities to make a difference.
I have tried to change this habit in my life. I heard someone say once that we should just stop what we are doing right then and there and pray for the person asking!
As I have adopted this act of selflessness and love, I have been rewarded so unexpectedly. From tears of joy or sorrow to smiles and hugs of relief, I have watched the sincere words sent to heaven's ears melt the hardest hearts of stone and bring peace to the most confused souls. What an easy way to give love and hope.
I know there are nay-sayers out there who don't even think prayer is anything more than a wish lost in the wind...and for those precious people, my heart breaks.
Blessedly, I know better! I KNOW beyond any shadow of doubt that God is real and He hears every word I speak and even every thought I think!
I remember awaking early one morning, around 5 A.M. and sensing this urgent burden to pray. For three hours I would lie in the bed, praying anything and everything I could think of to pray. At 8 A.M., when alas I had to get up and get myself ready for the day, I continued to carry the burden to intercede.
I did not know for whom or what I was calling on heaven to intervene. I hadn't the slightest idea of what was so heavy that it needed attention!
My sons began to rise and roam, and two of the young ladies living with us at the time were likewise getting ready for their day. One would be taking the other to the airport to catch a flight. They asked if two of my boys could ride along, and having no reason to hesitate to allow them time with their "big sisters," I, of course, agreed.
The oldest son remained at home with me, but within a half hour, I received the call no parent ever wants. There had been an accident.
I was told everyone was fine, but left immediately to go see for myself. My husband met me along the way, and Garrison and I jumped in the van with him.
As we pull up to the scene of the accident, we have to slow down to a stop on the side of the interstate. I look over to the ramp, my eyes searching for signs of my "babies," and I see the side of the little sedan stuck on the front of a semi truck. The truck had pushed the small car up the ramp!
As plain as day, I heard these words, "This is what you were praying about."
I am overjoyed to report that NOT ONE of my loved ones was hurt in any way, other than shaken up, and neither was the truck driver.
How might that morning have gone down differently if I had been too sleepy or too busy to pray? Only God knows for sure, but I know the lesson I learned that day!
Friends...God sees and knows everything, and He yearns for us to believe that!
Psalm 139
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me,[b] O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name.
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
for your enemies are my enemies.
Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name.
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
for your enemies are my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Tired of Hypocrisy? Then Stop It!
The definition of hypocrisy is a pretense of having virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.
I have heard this term thrown around since I was a young girl. I have heard it spewed out venomously toward others in judgment.
I have never liked it.
I have never liked the way it sounds coming out of someone,nor the way it made the other person look or respond.
I certainly didn't like the way it made my mother hurt when it was speared at her, just because she was trying to do what she thought best.
I have never had someone launch that particular word at me yet, but I have definitely gotten the same message...the attitude...the spirit...
the judgment. That's really what it is. It is someone's perception of another.
I have seen a lot of these judgments slashing lately, especially through Facebook. I have watched it happen over all kinds of issues, not just religious belief.
Some examples: how someone parents, how someone spends their money, what music someone listens to, how and when someone writes on their blog, what type of schooling someone does with their children, what someone eats, how someone cuts their hair, what kind of car someone drives, how big of a house someone lives in, what kind of mission work someone does, which school someone goes to, which country someone chooses to visit, how many children someone has...
I wish that was the exhausted list, but sadly I could go on. Do you see what I see?
Judgment...everywhere...about anything and everything!
It sickens me to see it in other people, but the main thing I want to keep before me is that it sickens me to see it IN ME!
One of my daily prayers has become, "Lord help me to see each person with your eyes today. Help my first thoughts to be of true love and nothing judgmental. I can't do it in my own power!"
And there is the key.
We are ALL human. NOT ONE of us is perfect. NOT ONE of us is exempt from judgmental thoughts in our minds. No matter what religious theology we choose, no matter our background, our color, our upbringing, WE ALL FALL SHORT!
Those who dare call themselves Christian seem to get watched the most. I think this is because we are willing to stand up and say, "This is the standard by which I choose to try to live." Those who don't affiliate with certain groups get the freedom of a little more leeway in how they get to behave toward others. We don't know exactly what standards they are trying to live by and therefore we can't point the finger as easily when we think they may have screwed up! We are left wondering what they think about what they said or did, but we can readily see if it doesn't meet the standard WE choose to live by.
Personally, I have the best intentions most days to not pass judgment on others. I constantly try to remind myself that most of us are doing the best we know how! Yet, I still find myself having those thoughts, and when I am really not diligent about my thought-life, I find myself saying something I shouldn't say about someone else!!!
UGH! I HATE WHEN I THINK AWFUL THINGS ABOUT OTHERS, AND I REALLY HATE WHEN I LET THAT POISON OOZE OUT! I MEAN, I DON'T WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND MAKE PLANS TO HURT OTHER PEOPLE! DO YOU? DO YOU REALLY THINK EVERYONE ELSE DOES???
Problem is, these things can't be taken back. Once they are out there, that's it. Most of the time, I really believe people are only reacting out of insecurities, fears, or hurtful experiences of their own past. I don't believe they are setting out to maliciously hurt others any more than I am. BUT, the fact remains that it happens, doesn't it? And sometimes WE are the guilty party!
What a difference it would make if we would all remember that WE ALL DO IT AT SOME POINT!
I can't fathom calling someone a hypocrite, for I can't imagine I will ever attain a place in this human life where I won't be one in some way or another! Do I want to be? NO! Do I try not to be? YES! But do I fail? YOU BETCHA!
So, this is just a challenge to all the "humans" out there, despite your specifics of religion, race, culture, etc... try to daily lay down your judgments of other people and focus on yourself because truth is: YOU CANNOT CALL OR SEE SOMEONE ELSE JUDGMENTAL WITHOUT PASSING A JUDGMENT OF YOUR OWN!
Sobering isn't it? We ALL have work to do, don't we?
For me, I know it is ONLY my understanding of the Word of God and my intimate relationship with Jesus that keeps me trying to walk in love. I know who I am and how I am without HIM. I have tried it both ways, and I am disgusting without the conviction of the wisdom of God!
I didn't need a Savior because I was terrific! I needed one because I was a mess...in my thoughts, my attitudes, my actions, everything!
And sometimes...somedays, guess what? I'm still a mess. Accepting Him, believing in His atonement on my behalf, didn't make me less human; it just gave me a fighting chance to start over in grace every day.
I ache for those who call themselves "Christians" who aren't able to boast in their weaknesses...for those who still try to look like they have it all together. They have sent a confusing picture to the world of what Christ came to do. He didn't come and lay down His life to make any of us look like something perfect or even great!
He did what He did to set us free from having to look like anything! He did what He did to glorify the Father of all...so that every person would be drawn to a Father who loves so much that He didn't even withhold His very Son!!! He did what He did so that we didn't have to look like Him, but so we could be like Him...the picture of love despite what is said and done to us.
I sure don't have this down. But I sure do rest in the freedom of not having to! I wish we could all let each other rest in that.
As my friend Becky posted today, "Lord help us ALL!"
I have heard this term thrown around since I was a young girl. I have heard it spewed out venomously toward others in judgment.
I have never liked it.
I have never liked the way it sounds coming out of someone,nor the way it made the other person look or respond.
I certainly didn't like the way it made my mother hurt when it was speared at her, just because she was trying to do what she thought best.
I have never had someone launch that particular word at me yet, but I have definitely gotten the same message...the attitude...the spirit...
the judgment. That's really what it is. It is someone's perception of another.
I have seen a lot of these judgments slashing lately, especially through Facebook. I have watched it happen over all kinds of issues, not just religious belief.
Some examples: how someone parents, how someone spends their money, what music someone listens to, how and when someone writes on their blog, what type of schooling someone does with their children, what someone eats, how someone cuts their hair, what kind of car someone drives, how big of a house someone lives in, what kind of mission work someone does, which school someone goes to, which country someone chooses to visit, how many children someone has...
I wish that was the exhausted list, but sadly I could go on. Do you see what I see?
Judgment...everywhere...about anything and everything!
It sickens me to see it in other people, but the main thing I want to keep before me is that it sickens me to see it IN ME!
One of my daily prayers has become, "Lord help me to see each person with your eyes today. Help my first thoughts to be of true love and nothing judgmental. I can't do it in my own power!"
And there is the key.
We are ALL human. NOT ONE of us is perfect. NOT ONE of us is exempt from judgmental thoughts in our minds. No matter what religious theology we choose, no matter our background, our color, our upbringing, WE ALL FALL SHORT!
Those who dare call themselves Christian seem to get watched the most. I think this is because we are willing to stand up and say, "This is the standard by which I choose to try to live." Those who don't affiliate with certain groups get the freedom of a little more leeway in how they get to behave toward others. We don't know exactly what standards they are trying to live by and therefore we can't point the finger as easily when we think they may have screwed up! We are left wondering what they think about what they said or did, but we can readily see if it doesn't meet the standard WE choose to live by.
Personally, I have the best intentions most days to not pass judgment on others. I constantly try to remind myself that most of us are doing the best we know how! Yet, I still find myself having those thoughts, and when I am really not diligent about my thought-life, I find myself saying something I shouldn't say about someone else!!!
UGH! I HATE WHEN I THINK AWFUL THINGS ABOUT OTHERS, AND I REALLY HATE WHEN I LET THAT POISON OOZE OUT! I MEAN, I DON'T WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND MAKE PLANS TO HURT OTHER PEOPLE! DO YOU? DO YOU REALLY THINK EVERYONE ELSE DOES???
Problem is, these things can't be taken back. Once they are out there, that's it. Most of the time, I really believe people are only reacting out of insecurities, fears, or hurtful experiences of their own past. I don't believe they are setting out to maliciously hurt others any more than I am. BUT, the fact remains that it happens, doesn't it? And sometimes WE are the guilty party!
What a difference it would make if we would all remember that WE ALL DO IT AT SOME POINT!
I can't fathom calling someone a hypocrite, for I can't imagine I will ever attain a place in this human life where I won't be one in some way or another! Do I want to be? NO! Do I try not to be? YES! But do I fail? YOU BETCHA!
So, this is just a challenge to all the "humans" out there, despite your specifics of religion, race, culture, etc... try to daily lay down your judgments of other people and focus on yourself because truth is: YOU CANNOT CALL OR SEE SOMEONE ELSE JUDGMENTAL WITHOUT PASSING A JUDGMENT OF YOUR OWN!
Sobering isn't it? We ALL have work to do, don't we?
For me, I know it is ONLY my understanding of the Word of God and my intimate relationship with Jesus that keeps me trying to walk in love. I know who I am and how I am without HIM. I have tried it both ways, and I am disgusting without the conviction of the wisdom of God!
I didn't need a Savior because I was terrific! I needed one because I was a mess...in my thoughts, my attitudes, my actions, everything!
And sometimes...somedays, guess what? I'm still a mess. Accepting Him, believing in His atonement on my behalf, didn't make me less human; it just gave me a fighting chance to start over in grace every day.
I ache for those who call themselves "Christians" who aren't able to boast in their weaknesses...for those who still try to look like they have it all together. They have sent a confusing picture to the world of what Christ came to do. He didn't come and lay down His life to make any of us look like something perfect or even great!
He did what He did to set us free from having to look like anything! He did what He did to glorify the Father of all...so that every person would be drawn to a Father who loves so much that He didn't even withhold His very Son!!! He did what He did so that we didn't have to look like Him, but so we could be like Him...the picture of love despite what is said and done to us.
I sure don't have this down. But I sure do rest in the freedom of not having to! I wish we could all let each other rest in that.
As my friend Becky posted today, "Lord help us ALL!"
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