Peace comes to a person for many reasons. None, it seems to me now, impact your life more than the peace that comes when God Himself revels to you what makes you ... you. My journey of peace all started one day, not so long ago, when I asked the Lord for inspiration. Blessed be, it was then that I began to see myself through His eyes. Oh, I'm not referring to my physical attributes or even what purposes have been assigned to my life ... no, I'm referring to the core of who I AM.
The details of what I discovered are pure in nature to me, and although I don't want to bore you, I do wish to bring you a taste of the revelation that I encountered so that by bearing my soul, you too may be blessed and encouraged to seek revelation of your own. Suffice as to say I'm learning the value of living within myself so that I am who He created ME to be.
As my journey began, the heart of a simplistic person emerged. Nice is sufficient ... less is better. On the sinister side, the heart of a people pleaser was revealed and sadly, I can see with clarity that rejection was my driving force. True to my tender side, my heart's desire has always been to make others feel comfortable, worthy and loved. In and of itself that's a wonderful thing but as I have learned, the full measure of accomplishment comes only if your motives are selfless! Spirits of fear drive selfish motives while a Spirit of Love leads us to selfless motives. The truth is that Satan himself DRIVES us to conform to this world ... but God, with all His compassion and gentleness, LEADS us to be transformed into His image!
I've recognized for years ... and years ... that I've conformed my thinking and actions around an 'all or nothing' mentality. It's been my 'identity badge', if you will, giving me reason to declare that "I'm not good at balancing anything in my life" (a grim warning here about guarding your words). And although I've been very aware throughout the years of my obstinate attitude, I, nevertheless, accepted the lie that drove me to live a life that was out of balance. Never before did it occur to me to question whether or not God chose this way of life for me. Never did I consider that God, the One who loved me enough to create me and die for me ... the very same One who wants to spend eternity with me, had something much different planned for my life.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that God's Word offers us guidance even where this challenge is concerned. In his loving kindness He tells us in Romans 12:2"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."
It's all there ... just waiting for us ... and I acknowledge freely that I've never been more excited than I am now to go on a journey of discovery! It's been a LONG haul but without reservation I can honestly say ... with the utmost of humility ... that 'I'm in' ... WHATEVER His plan ... I'm totally willing to do and be whatever it is that He has planned for me.
Father God, I pray that you will be flooded with seekers who look to You for inspiration ... who seek Your revelation ... and who willingly take Your hand as You lead them to a peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray most earnestly, Lord, that You will help them discover, but more importantly, that they, without reservation, become the person of Your heart's desire. I pray this all, Father, in Jesus' Name.
Amen and amen.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Thankful Today ... Fruitful Tomorrow
A friend of mine recently shared with me a challenge that rocked her world. In a nutshell she was asked to consider this ... What would you have available to you today if you were given only that which you gave thanks to the Lord for yesterday?
YIKES - I don't know about you but all of a sudden I'm beginning to feel my own world rock beneath me!
Quickly I rush into a mode of thanksgiving ... Thank You, Lord, for the air that I breathe - and the fact that I'm able to take that air into my lungs. Thank You for a sound mind, for my friends, my coworkers and the waitress at my favorite restaurant. And certainly, Lord, thank You for my family, my job and the absence of fear and violence in my life! Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord, for the countless things that I openly cherish but even more so, those things that I've taken for granted. Truly I realize that I am NOTHING without You, I have nothing apart from you, and I have every reason to spend my entire day pouring out my thanks to You.
But is it all about what He can ... and does ... do FOR us? Or what things He gives TO us? No! It's about the Holy Spirit that lives within us and the abundance that flows through our lives because of Him. For as it is written in Galatians 5:22-23 "The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Each of these Fruits flow from us because of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. What more could I ever desire ... what could be greater in my life and more worthy of my eternal gratitude?
Joy is the kiss that seals each unselfish act. Kindness resonates from each of us as we go forth being patient, understanding and considerate. As you give in abundance, surely goodness, gentleness and self-control will be your blessing. An in the end, peace will about as faithfulness adorns our crown of love!
It is only by God's grace that His mercies are new every morning. He prepares us each day for the time in which we will stand before Him. And as we stand in the fullness of who our God truly is, may we see HIM as the God we worshiped throughout our lives and not a mirror that displays a reflection of ourselves as the worshipped god.
It was ... it is ... and it always will be ALL ABOUT HIM but oh, the blessings we have to be thankful for when, through His mercy and grace, He lavishes His Glory upon us.
Thank You, Father, for Your presence in my life through the Holy Spirit. May my heart overflow with thanksgiving each day as I live in wild anticipation of our days of eternity together, for I ask this now, in and through the Name that is above all names, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus my Christ.
Amen and amen.
YIKES - I don't know about you but all of a sudden I'm beginning to feel my own world rock beneath me!
Quickly I rush into a mode of thanksgiving ... Thank You, Lord, for the air that I breathe - and the fact that I'm able to take that air into my lungs. Thank You for a sound mind, for my friends, my coworkers and the waitress at my favorite restaurant. And certainly, Lord, thank You for my family, my job and the absence of fear and violence in my life! Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord, for the countless things that I openly cherish but even more so, those things that I've taken for granted. Truly I realize that I am NOTHING without You, I have nothing apart from you, and I have every reason to spend my entire day pouring out my thanks to You.
But is it all about what He can ... and does ... do FOR us? Or what things He gives TO us? No! It's about the Holy Spirit that lives within us and the abundance that flows through our lives because of Him. For as it is written in Galatians 5:22-23 "The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Each of these Fruits flow from us because of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. What more could I ever desire ... what could be greater in my life and more worthy of my eternal gratitude?
Joy is the kiss that seals each unselfish act. Kindness resonates from each of us as we go forth being patient, understanding and considerate. As you give in abundance, surely goodness, gentleness and self-control will be your blessing. An in the end, peace will about as faithfulness adorns our crown of love!
It is only by God's grace that His mercies are new every morning. He prepares us each day for the time in which we will stand before Him. And as we stand in the fullness of who our God truly is, may we see HIM as the God we worshiped throughout our lives and not a mirror that displays a reflection of ourselves as the worshipped god.
It was ... it is ... and it always will be ALL ABOUT HIM but oh, the blessings we have to be thankful for when, through His mercy and grace, He lavishes His Glory upon us.
Thank You, Father, for Your presence in my life through the Holy Spirit. May my heart overflow with thanksgiving each day as I live in wild anticipation of our days of eternity together, for I ask this now, in and through the Name that is above all names, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus my Christ.
Amen and amen.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Let Not My Heart Be Judgmental
Recently I have been filled with the conviction to address the same issue in my life that has plagued all of mankind since the beginning of time ... being judgmental. As my eyes were opened to a particular event in which I stumbled ... and inflicted pain ... I quickly recalled Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge or you too will be judged." The concept of that truth is clearly understandable in my heart but in my humanness, and maybe even in yours, it seems that at any given moment it is much easier to talk the talk than it is to walk the walk.
In my world, the opportunity to judge others comes knocking without an open invitation. I don't set out to form opinions or to develop attitudes but, more often than I like to admit, that is exactly what happens.
As a child, my mother taught my sisters and I the importance of minding our own business. All she had to say was 'M' 'Y' 'O' 'B' and we knew, without question, that we were treading on ground that was to remain a mystery to us. Now, years later, I find that the lesson my mother firmly instilled in us was only the first step in being mindful of my "P's and Q's".
The truth is that we communicate with people every day and as we do, we run the 'risk' of getting involved in their lives. With human nature being what it is, it should come as no surprise that even a brief encounter can innocently set us up to wear a black robe ... with a gavel in hand! As soon as that happens you're just liable to hear a familiar voice in your spirit saying ... "Uh, excuse me, my child ... you are sitting my My seat."
YIKES!
It's then that you realize fully that it is best to love beyond yourself ... Love in a way that only He could equip you to do ... and Love with the kind of love that reflects who HE is ... not who you are.
So now I set out to touch someone's life without coming away with preconceived notions ... without dictating a 'sure fired cure' for what ails them ... and without running head long into a list of things that only serve to drive wedges and create hurtful barriers. Remarkably, thankfully, the ultimate Truth that we need is stated in Matthew 19:26 "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." In and of ourselves, on occasion, we are likely to slip and fall, but by His grace we are free of condemnation and hopeful of forgiveness.
Father God, may this message concerning the challenges of being judgmental, bring each of us a clear revelation of where we stand in Your eyes. Forgive us Lord, for our willingness to succumb to the temptation of judging others. Allow our very souls to be moved beyond measure as we consider the pain we inflict, first on those we judge but more importantly, on Jesus Himself. We delcare YOU, and YOU alone, Father, as the only true and everlasting Judge, and in Jesus' name we give immeasurable thanks for Your Grace that sustains us in our greatest moments of weakness.
Amen and amen.
In my world, the opportunity to judge others comes knocking without an open invitation. I don't set out to form opinions or to develop attitudes but, more often than I like to admit, that is exactly what happens.
As a child, my mother taught my sisters and I the importance of minding our own business. All she had to say was 'M' 'Y' 'O' 'B' and we knew, without question, that we were treading on ground that was to remain a mystery to us. Now, years later, I find that the lesson my mother firmly instilled in us was only the first step in being mindful of my "P's and Q's".
The truth is that we communicate with people every day and as we do, we run the 'risk' of getting involved in their lives. With human nature being what it is, it should come as no surprise that even a brief encounter can innocently set us up to wear a black robe ... with a gavel in hand! As soon as that happens you're just liable to hear a familiar voice in your spirit saying ... "Uh, excuse me, my child ... you are sitting my My seat."
YIKES!
It's then that you realize fully that it is best to love beyond yourself ... Love in a way that only He could equip you to do ... and Love with the kind of love that reflects who HE is ... not who you are.
So now I set out to touch someone's life without coming away with preconceived notions ... without dictating a 'sure fired cure' for what ails them ... and without running head long into a list of things that only serve to drive wedges and create hurtful barriers. Remarkably, thankfully, the ultimate Truth that we need is stated in Matthew 19:26 "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." In and of ourselves, on occasion, we are likely to slip and fall, but by His grace we are free of condemnation and hopeful of forgiveness.
Father God, may this message concerning the challenges of being judgmental, bring each of us a clear revelation of where we stand in Your eyes. Forgive us Lord, for our willingness to succumb to the temptation of judging others. Allow our very souls to be moved beyond measure as we consider the pain we inflict, first on those we judge but more importantly, on Jesus Himself. We delcare YOU, and YOU alone, Father, as the only true and everlasting Judge, and in Jesus' name we give immeasurable thanks for Your Grace that sustains us in our greatest moments of weakness.
Amen and amen.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Anticipating Easter
We're only days away from celebrating what most Christians consider the holiday of all holidays ... EASTER! Christmas (minus the commercialism, of course) is wonderful in and of itself, for it brought about the possibility of a love affair between God and man, but EASTER ... Oh, EASTER, undeniably is the pinnacle of that love affair! And the proof is in the Truth given to us in John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." From the excessive depths of cruelty, to the unfathomable heights of sacrifice and redemption ... the absolute love for us, spoken of in John 3:16, is fulfilled "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." HALLELUJAH!
As Easter draws near we see signs of the promises given to all people through the renewal of Spring. Every sense is excited by the rebirth that erupts from the stillness brought on by the long, cold days of winter. The anticipation of Spring sets our hearts to know ... if only minutely ... the true hope that Easter will bring us throughout all of eternity. We who lay ourselves down for the glory of Christ anticipate EASTER like it is the very air that we breathe. We look to it as the very hope that sustains us. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!
The other day, as I sat waiting for a new hair-do to emerge at the hand of the beautician who only moments before became my newest best friend, I was asked if I was 'ready' for Easter. Realizing that our definition of being 'ready' may differ greatly, I paused only slightly before telling her that I was, indeed, ready for the greatest holiday of the year. I'm ready to consider yet another re-enactment of the unfathomable brutality that my Lord was willing to endure for ME, AND, I'm ready to receive the indescribable assurance that His resurrection affords to all of us who declare Him as Lord. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLEULJAH!
Father God, I pray that each person reading this message knows You intimately. I pray that the anticipation of this blessed Easter will bring each of us to a new understanding of our need to surrender ourselves to You. I pray, most earnestly, for those who have not yet declared Your Son as thir Lord and Savior. Please, Father God, move them during this season of renewal to a place of Spiritual rebirth and everlasting life.
As always, Father, I leave these requests at Your feet, asking that You view them through the purity of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen.
bb
As Easter draws near we see signs of the promises given to all people through the renewal of Spring. Every sense is excited by the rebirth that erupts from the stillness brought on by the long, cold days of winter. The anticipation of Spring sets our hearts to know ... if only minutely ... the true hope that Easter will bring us throughout all of eternity. We who lay ourselves down for the glory of Christ anticipate EASTER like it is the very air that we breathe. We look to it as the very hope that sustains us. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!
The other day, as I sat waiting for a new hair-do to emerge at the hand of the beautician who only moments before became my newest best friend, I was asked if I was 'ready' for Easter. Realizing that our definition of being 'ready' may differ greatly, I paused only slightly before telling her that I was, indeed, ready for the greatest holiday of the year. I'm ready to consider yet another re-enactment of the unfathomable brutality that my Lord was willing to endure for ME, AND, I'm ready to receive the indescribable assurance that His resurrection affords to all of us who declare Him as Lord. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLEULJAH!
Father God, I pray that each person reading this message knows You intimately. I pray that the anticipation of this blessed Easter will bring each of us to a new understanding of our need to surrender ourselves to You. I pray, most earnestly, for those who have not yet declared Your Son as thir Lord and Savior. Please, Father God, move them during this season of renewal to a place of Spiritual rebirth and everlasting life.
As always, Father, I leave these requests at Your feet, asking that You view them through the purity of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen.
bb
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Truth Empowered Lives
We've all chuckled at the truth that lies within the familiar adage ... Garbage in/Garbage out ... but have we allowed that truth to convict our actions? The music we listen to, the TV we watch, the books we read, the people we spend time with ... even the food that we eat. It's true - we ARE what we consume!
WOW - I'm feeling shamefully defensive - filled with reasoning and arguments and even a touch of stubborn defiance. As I squirm in my seat I'm reminded once again of the wisdom that my friend Betty has shared with me on countless occasions ... "read books sparingly - read the Word often". Thank God for the gems of life and for the angels of mercy who deliver them!
As I consider the truth of Betty's guidance, I think of one of my favorite Books of the Bible ... 'Esther'. In it we are told of Esther's challenge to go against the traditions of the time and do what was needed to save all Jews from annihilation. As Queen she had the nation of Persia at her disposal but the cornerstone to the victory that saved her people came by way of her own personal courage to stand up to what 'the world' called acceptable protocol. Drawing her people to herself through fasting, Esther was empowered by God Himself to change the course of history. What an incredible example her act of dependency on God was for us.
If you think about it, the world around us even now presents you and me with the same challenges that beset Esther. Protocol dictated who she could speak to, what she was to wear, even when she could be in the presence of the King ... HER HUSBAND! For us the 'world' wants to direct our thoughts, our viewpoints and our values. Our standards are being jeopardized daily and our convictions severely compromised. Our beloved country is seriously at risk of changing into something that we may not continue to cherish ... or at the very least, be willing to fight for.
Father God, I pray that each of us see Truth as He is. I pray, in Jesus' name, that as our eyes are opened we will be willing to stand up to the challenge of saying NO to those things that are not of You. I pray also that we will be convicted to understand with clarity the saying that teaches us "Right is right, even when no one is doing it. Wrong is wrong even when everyone is doing it."
In Jesus' name, Father, I praise You endlessly.
Amen and amen
WOW - I'm feeling shamefully defensive - filled with reasoning and arguments and even a touch of stubborn defiance. As I squirm in my seat I'm reminded once again of the wisdom that my friend Betty has shared with me on countless occasions ... "read books sparingly - read the Word often". Thank God for the gems of life and for the angels of mercy who deliver them!
As I consider the truth of Betty's guidance, I think of one of my favorite Books of the Bible ... 'Esther'. In it we are told of Esther's challenge to go against the traditions of the time and do what was needed to save all Jews from annihilation. As Queen she had the nation of Persia at her disposal but the cornerstone to the victory that saved her people came by way of her own personal courage to stand up to what 'the world' called acceptable protocol. Drawing her people to herself through fasting, Esther was empowered by God Himself to change the course of history. What an incredible example her act of dependency on God was for us.
If you think about it, the world around us even now presents you and me with the same challenges that beset Esther. Protocol dictated who she could speak to, what she was to wear, even when she could be in the presence of the King ... HER HUSBAND! For us the 'world' wants to direct our thoughts, our viewpoints and our values. Our standards are being jeopardized daily and our convictions severely compromised. Our beloved country is seriously at risk of changing into something that we may not continue to cherish ... or at the very least, be willing to fight for.
Father God, I pray that each of us see Truth as He is. I pray, in Jesus' name, that as our eyes are opened we will be willing to stand up to the challenge of saying NO to those things that are not of You. I pray also that we will be convicted to understand with clarity the saying that teaches us "Right is right, even when no one is doing it. Wrong is wrong even when everyone is doing it."
In Jesus' name, Father, I praise You endlessly.
Amen and amen
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