To strive for perfection is to choose insanity because perfection is absolutely impossible! The only perfection God asks of us is in our extention of love and grace towards others and ourselves... To demand anything more of ourselves or others is to discredit that love and grace provided for us by what Jesus did for us on the cross.
We all want to be the strong one, the one reaching out to help others, the one who has it all together in order to not be a hindrance for the Spirit of God to work through us to help others. There is just one catch though to this type of thinking, it is IMPOSSIBLE! You see, there is only One God, and to think that we can measure up to such a level of perfection is to make yourself like God. Ephesians 4:2 "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
What you are filled with will overflow to those around you... Let your life overflow with God's grace!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Hiding Under the Pretense of Waiting
Have you ever found yourself in a long season of "waiting" on God for His direction? Could it be that your waiting is something else? Could it be that you are hiding from facing the challenge He gave to you a long time ago? I suspect that many of us know the answer already and we are stuck in the "waiting" because we are not ready to follow through with all the challenges that may come along with obedience. Maybe we are in disobedience because we don't want all of the attention that obedience can bring, so we are playing "humble" to not have eyes upon us in our obedience. Sometimes walking in what we think is "humility" is actually pride because we are walking in our own understanding and hiding the gifts God has given to us. Why is it that we are okay with children singing "This Little Light of Mine", but as adults we think we need to hide and not be seen? Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
The bottom line is that whatever we do, we need to do it as unto the Lord and not as unto men. Man will always have their opinions and those opinions vary from person to person, moment by moment. To build you life on the opinions of those around you is to build upon sinking sand, a very unsteady and wavering foundation. Keep your eyes focused upon Jesus and build your life and your days and your family upon Him alone. This is the only sure security and foundation. Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, wether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Don't hide your gifts and talents in fear that you will intimidate others, shine them for Jesus! If we worry about offending others, we will not do anything because it is impossible to please everyone around you. We are to live our lives out to an audience of One.
So today, open up that email that God sent you a long time ago, you know the one where He asked you to do something special, and reply and decide to come out of hiding and take off the garment of false humility and put on the garment of obedience! There will be distractions, challenges, opinions from others, but you know it is the right thing to do... you have known it for a long time... no more WAITING... it is time to simply say "okay" and OBEY. :)
The bottom line is that whatever we do, we need to do it as unto the Lord and not as unto men. Man will always have their opinions and those opinions vary from person to person, moment by moment. To build you life on the opinions of those around you is to build upon sinking sand, a very unsteady and wavering foundation. Keep your eyes focused upon Jesus and build your life and your days and your family upon Him alone. This is the only sure security and foundation. Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, wether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Don't hide your gifts and talents in fear that you will intimidate others, shine them for Jesus! If we worry about offending others, we will not do anything because it is impossible to please everyone around you. We are to live our lives out to an audience of One.
So today, open up that email that God sent you a long time ago, you know the one where He asked you to do something special, and reply and decide to come out of hiding and take off the garment of false humility and put on the garment of obedience! There will be distractions, challenges, opinions from others, but you know it is the right thing to do... you have known it for a long time... no more WAITING... it is time to simply say "okay" and OBEY. :)
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Perfection
I don't know about the rest of humanity, but I know that reaching perfection in character, performance, duty, righteousness, holiness, self-image, social appearances has always been a stronghold for me. I have always had this "failure-like" mentality, that no matter how hard I tried or how good I did in something, sure enough, I would turn around and fall, fail or disappoint myself in some way or another.
I have realized lately that the world is not mad at me... *tears*... wow, that hit deep to type that out... I will type that again, The World is Not Mad at Me... wow... for some, that is simple, for me, that is a Huge new way of thinking, an amazing realization, a newfound freedom to simply BE... you see, my dad is an alcoholic and all my life from before I left my mother's womb, he has yelled and yelled and yelled and yelled... in his world, everyone, and I mean everyone is wrong and he was sure to let us know it again and again and again... he was always filled with such anger and rage at my mom, his parents (this is where those roots of hurt lie), the whole world around him was the target of his anger, anger that came from years of hurt and pain that he never dealt with as a child, a teenager, a young adult... and even now... he has had these wounds festering such bitterness, hatred and anger and it spewed out on us, his sweet children. I know he loved us, but we were there and the stress that was upon him from not learning how to love and to be loved just came out on us... we were always scared, well, more like completely terrified of what he might do to us or our mom... He was just always mad... this is so heavy and I don't think I can write further on this now... but I do want to write that:
God has been working in my heart in a big way lately and has taught me on a much deeper level that:
It is on Christ the solid Rock we stand - all other ground is sinking sand. If we stand on the rock of ourselves, we are sure to sink!
I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST, who strengthens me - my fleshly nature will always be such, and will always be mortal, thus, the "THROUGH CHRIST" part of this verse... He gets all the Glory!
The bottom line is, I have jumped off of the roller-coaster of ME and am OKAY knowing that... I, in and of myself, will never be "perfect" in the human sense of the word and it is ONLY in Christ and through Christ that I stand! WOOH! Sweet Freedom! No more striving towards the impossible!
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
I have realized lately that the world is not mad at me... *tears*... wow, that hit deep to type that out... I will type that again, The World is Not Mad at Me... wow... for some, that is simple, for me, that is a Huge new way of thinking, an amazing realization, a newfound freedom to simply BE... you see, my dad is an alcoholic and all my life from before I left my mother's womb, he has yelled and yelled and yelled and yelled... in his world, everyone, and I mean everyone is wrong and he was sure to let us know it again and again and again... he was always filled with such anger and rage at my mom, his parents (this is where those roots of hurt lie), the whole world around him was the target of his anger, anger that came from years of hurt and pain that he never dealt with as a child, a teenager, a young adult... and even now... he has had these wounds festering such bitterness, hatred and anger and it spewed out on us, his sweet children. I know he loved us, but we were there and the stress that was upon him from not learning how to love and to be loved just came out on us... we were always scared, well, more like completely terrified of what he might do to us or our mom... He was just always mad... this is so heavy and I don't think I can write further on this now... but I do want to write that:
God has been working in my heart in a big way lately and has taught me on a much deeper level that:
It is on Christ the solid Rock we stand - all other ground is sinking sand. If we stand on the rock of ourselves, we are sure to sink!
I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST, who strengthens me - my fleshly nature will always be such, and will always be mortal, thus, the "THROUGH CHRIST" part of this verse... He gets all the Glory!
The bottom line is, I have jumped off of the roller-coaster of ME and am OKAY knowing that... I, in and of myself, will never be "perfect" in the human sense of the word and it is ONLY in Christ and through Christ that I stand! WOOH! Sweet Freedom! No more striving towards the impossible!
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Priest of Our Home
"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."
I love this passage and I am so thankful to have a wonderful husband who loves me and leads me as Christ leads the church. My husband is not perfect, but I know he is lead by God when it matters most and I am so thankful to rest in that.
I love my Husband and the divine role he plays in mine and my children's lives.
I love this passage and I am so thankful to have a wonderful husband who loves me and leads me as Christ leads the church. My husband is not perfect, but I know he is lead by God when it matters most and I am so thankful to rest in that.
I love my Husband and the divine role he plays in mine and my children's lives.
There is None Like YOU
The words to a song are singing in my mind... "I could search for all eternity long, and find; there is none like You". Wow! So true. No matter what this life may bring your way there is only ONE answer... Jesus. The depths of His love, healing, forgiveness, grace, strength, joy, and peace are matchless and we as humans have yet to tap into the depths of the freedoms we have IN HIM. We get so hung up on symptoms, distractions of this world and our own human frailties and limitations that we fail to simply look up and let God melt it all away. God will melt it all away. God WILL melt it all away! There is nothing, NOTHING this world or this life can bring our way that is impossible for Him! He has not given us a spirit of fear, panic, dismay, failure, NO, BUT He HAS given to us a spirit of Power, a spirit of Love and a SOUND MIND! Wooh! God, you are so wonderful! You are so Great!!!
Romans 8:28 - 39 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; thoes he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in reponse to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:28 - 39 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; thoes he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in reponse to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A FULL Heart
My heart is so filled to overflowing with the Love and Goodness of God. The kid's song "It's Bubblin" is such a reality for me and I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit who is my constant Companion and Counselor.
On my way to church today as we were running late I was so content and peaceful and not frantic and worried about being late... a change of heart just came over me that I may not be 'on time' but I am 'just in time' for... something great! I am still striving to be more punctual, but now in grace and not in my own strength because that just has never worked. :o)
Anyways...
On the way home from church my heart was so full that I had to put a note in my phone while I was in the Wendy's drive thru... Here they are... I will ponder these and write more on them as I find time...
"You cannot love UNCONDITIONALLY until you are loved unconditionally... learn to be loved."
"Be no one's puppet, only God's child. Change yourself for no one but only allow God to change you to be more like Him. You will never please everyone and that is not what we should try to do anyways."
On my way to church today as we were running late I was so content and peaceful and not frantic and worried about being late... a change of heart just came over me that I may not be 'on time' but I am 'just in time' for... something great! I am still striving to be more punctual, but now in grace and not in my own strength because that just has never worked. :o)
Anyways...
On the way home from church my heart was so full that I had to put a note in my phone while I was in the Wendy's drive thru... Here they are... I will ponder these and write more on them as I find time...
"You cannot love UNCONDITIONALLY until you are loved unconditionally... learn to be loved."
"Be no one's puppet, only God's child. Change yourself for no one but only allow God to change you to be more like Him. You will never please everyone and that is not what we should try to do anyways."
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