tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75076794012320269732024-03-08T09:45:59.302-08:00Grace DwellingLearning to live in His gracesammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-87406092911679734322015-06-17T12:46:00.000-07:002015-06-17T12:46:35.403-07:00Hope: Anchored in ChristSometimes it doesn't make sense to have hope. Sometimes life's circumstances are overwhelming. Sometimes there's pain, grief, anxiety, relationship difficulties, self loathing, others loathing, fear, bitterness, anger or a wretched combination of any/all of the above. <br />
<br />
When I hear the news of another *someone* in the public eye
taking their life, sadly, I am not surprised. Hopelessness is not a
respecter of power or position or celebrity or "success" or status. <br />
<br />
<br />
I have been in that pit. I have felt it would be better to die than to inflict my miserable self on my family or others. I have been there, because it's part of the human condition. It's not a disease.<br />
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Thankfully, in Christ, we are able to have hope in a world where it often times makes more sense to be hopeless. Because our hope is not anchored in our circumstances, our feelings, our relationships, or our selves (no matter how much we are told we all have the answers inside ourselves if we can just look inside, accept ourselves and love our selves enough.) Our hope is anchored in Christ alone. He never changes. His love for us never waivers. It never fails. No matter what is in the deepest, darkest corners of our hearts and minds, He loves us.<br />
<br />
If we really take the time to receive that love...to let Him meet us in the depths of our hearts, He gives us all the hope we need. As we lean on Him and not our own understanding (which is so limited) we learn to trust in the One Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith, even when none of our circumstances change. We can become thankful not only for His unfailing love, but for our trials, our pain, and anything that comes our way because His love is just that powerful.<br />
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We must not relinquish our hope in believing the lie - "There is no hope," but look to Jesus, who <i>is</i> our hope.<br />
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<br />sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-36687248702385015322014-10-23T13:47:00.001-07:002015-06-17T12:43:23.552-07:00Following Perfection<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I
was in a dark forest. He was walking close to me, just ahead and to my
left when he offered, "Follow me." His invitation awakened something
inside my soul and I was compelled to go with him though I could only
see the shadow of his eyes behind his hood...</span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I <span style="font-size: large;">must digress</span>.
Two things: First, have I mentioned I'm a recovering perfectionist?
I've started a couple entries about it, but they weren't good enough.
(Ba-dum-dum. I only wish I was kidding.) For some reason I grew up
thinking if I could be good enough, I would be happy and accepted. If I
earned the best grades, won my dance competitions, looked good enough
and behaved properly, life would somehow be better and people would like
me. As you might imagine, because I obviously am not and cannot be
perfect, I became angry, frustrated and unhappy. Even though I knew in
my head only Christ is perfect, I still thought perfection was expected
from me as well. "Be ye perfect," right? (Somehow "perfect" still meant
"perfect" instead of "complete in Christ.") It was a weird dichotomy <span style="font-size: large;">-</span>
trying so desperately to perform something I knew was innately
impossible and still being angry at myself for not meeting my own
ungodly expectations. Weird, right? I know. That's the worst part.
Second, everyone's been hurt. I get that. Everyone's hurt someone else.
I get that, too. That's why we all must forgive. The hardest part,
for me, was being hurt by people in the body. Feeling abandoned,
rejected, ostracized and disqualified has been a tough road. I'm not <span style="font-size: large;">meaning to complain</span>
because there are times of both discipline and pruning and God ordains
those times and I accept them. I don't have a victim complex. I will
say navigating through it all has certainly been an interesting journey,
one I wouldn't have chosen for myself, but one God has used to teach me
many lessons. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...back to the forest.</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">
A few days before this dream and within a period of about a week, I'd
heard not one, but two radio teachings where Jesus simply said "<span style="color: red;">Follow me<span style="color: black;">.</span></span>" </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">John 21:18-22</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Most
assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and
walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out
your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not
wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And
when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” Then Peter,
turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also
had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one
who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what
about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I
come, what is that to you? <span style="color: red;"><i>You follow Me</i></span>.”
<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>You Follow Me</b></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
had heard it many times before, but this time it was different. Tears
ran down my hot cheeks (thankful my kids weren't in the car with me) as
my heart realized I hadn't been following Him. Yes, I knew Him; I knew
many things about Him. I prayed. I read. I pondered. Yet faced with
the personal question His Spirit was was asking my mine, I had to admit
with grief my heart had been wandering. I had allowed hurt and fear to
paralyze me. I'd been wondering, "What about this or that person, or
what they'll say about us?" I realized <i>why</i> Proverb 29:5 had been floating around in my mind for so long, "<i>The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.</i>"
And I definitely hadn't been trusting Him. In fact, in the more
honest moments of my mind I'd wanted to turn and walk away. Run,
maybe. Still He was beckoning, "<span style="color: red;">You follow Me</span>." "<i>You</i>." "<i>I</i> want <i>you</i>." When<span style="font-size: large;"> it was just Him and me in my car, there was no one to blame but myself. Nothing else mattered but <span style="font-size: large;">what He was s<span style="font-size: large;">peaking to my heart. </span></span></span>He reminded me of how I was as a child, how I used to love reading His words in <span style="color: red;">red</span>
in my bible. He asked me to do it again, to search for Him through
those red words. As a child, my faith was strong. I had always wanted
to follow Him.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Within the week I'd heard it again, "<span style="color: red;">Follow Me</span>."
The next Sunday during music/worship, the worship leader sang love songs
proclaiming wholehearted abandon and adoration for Jesus. As I sang
along, I wanted so badly for those words to be true for me again. Then
came the same question Jesus asked Peter,
"Do you agape Me?" </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Oh, Lord, I <i>phileo</i> You. I <i>want</i> to agape you," I answered, grieved at my confession. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Do you agape Me?"
"I phileo You. I can't agape. I don't know how." </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Feed my sheep. As you've done to the least of these my brethren, you've done to Me."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
then what song played? "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus." One of my
favorites as a child and one new meaning has been ascribed to as an
adult. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have decided to follow Jesus, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">No Turning Back, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">No Turning Back"</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"<span style="color: red;">Follow Me,</span>" - I heard it again in the teacher's message after worship. Life outside the church box, as he described it. <span style="font-size: large;">Not g</span>etting so caught up in "church life" that we miss the opportunities outside the four walls of a building - the<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> things I had been feeling for years.<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">He encouraged us to focus on practically serving others outside those walls and sharing <span style="font-size: large;">Jesus' love with them. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's
another conversation Jesus had with His disciples including Simon Peter
in John 6:67-78. Jesus told them something they didn't understand or
like <span style="font-size: large;">and it caused</span> many disciples to leave and walk away from Him. Then Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “<i>Lord, to whom shall we go? You have
the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that
You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's what I come back
to. Whom have I but You, Lord? There's no one else.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He
wants want us to have His heart, and I've been so caught up in the bad
things that happened in "church life" I've neglected simply following
Him. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lord,
Life is a dark and deep forest - so dark I can't see where I'm going no
matter how badly I want to be good enough/independent/cable of figuring
it all out myself...but I'm unprepared and lonely and lost and still
drawn to You with an aching in the caverns of my heart and soul. You
haven't given up on me or disqualified me from knowing and serving You.
You are still drawing my heart and mind back to You with Your
invitation and burning presence. It's just You and me as You gently <span style="font-size: large;">lead me</span> with your invitation, "<span style="color: red;">You follow Me</span>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HYk8ziwmMog" width="480"></iframe>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-68937672577263864922014-05-21T17:02:00.002-07:002014-05-24T10:57:28.204-07:00Peace, Rest, and Stillness<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Peace, rest, and stillness. These are the things the Lord has been weaving through my heart and soul. These are the things I share here with you.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Psalm 1:1-3</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NLT-13918"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NLT-13919"></a><i>1 Oh,
the joys of those who do not<br /> follow the
advice of the wicked,<br /> or stand around with
sinners,<br /> or join in with mockers.<br />2 But
they delight in the law of the Lord,<br /> meditating
on it day and night.<br /><b>3 They are like trees planted along
the riverbank,<br /> bearing fruit each
season.<br />Their leaves never wither,<br /> and
they prosper in all they do.</b></i> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Colossians 1</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>We always pray
for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love
for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of
what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this
expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>
</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about
you. We ask God to give you complete<span style="color: teal;"> knowledge
of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding</span>.
Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your
lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will
grow as you learn to know God better and better.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>
</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NLT-29437"></a>We also pray that you will be
strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the
<span style="color: #280099;">endurance</span> and <span style="color: navy;">patience</span>
you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the
Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs
to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the
kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear
Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">I want to be a woman who is like the tree planted by the water in Psalm 1. How does that happen? By meditating on His word to us. We grow as we learn to know God better and better. This is why
the Psalm 1 tree can bear fruit in every season. It's also how we can be filled with joy and
choose to be thankful every single day, because He has saved us from darkness. Do you remember the darkness He rescued you from?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm
1:3 tells us the tree's leaves will never wither and will prosper in all
they do. The word<span style="color: black;"> “prosper” is
fascinating to me. It means “to advance, prosper, make progress,
succeed, be</span>
profitable.” Strong's Exhaustive Concordance adds “break out,
come mightily, go over, be good, be meet, be profitable, cause to,
effect.”</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui-gen118"></a>How
we spiritual prosperity is not the same as the world's definition of prosperity.
Spiritual prosperity is growing in the <span style="color: teal;">
knowledge of His will and having spiritual wisdom and understanding. It's
honoring and pleasing the Lord and producing every kind of good
fruit, growing as we learn to know God better and better. Through this knowledge and His glorious power, we are strengthened, having all the </span><span style="color: #280099;">endurance</span><span style="color: teal;">
and </span><span style="color: navy;">patience</span><span style="color: teal;">
we need supplied by Him. Through this, we are filled with joy, thanking the Father.</span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b>I am so thankful He supplies our endurance and patience. Mine runs out. Sometimes I'm astounded by how quickly. Other times, I am reminded we are running a race...like a marathon. Just. Keep. Going. And when it's hard to keep going, trust Him to carry you.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Colossians 1:13 NKJ</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NKJV-29480"></a> <i>He has
delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the
kingdom of the Son of His love, </i></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I started thinking about these two sections of scripture, I noticed the word
“planted,” in Psalm 1, which also means
“transplanted.” Then I looked at verse 13 in Colossians which tells us
we have been "delivered," which means “to draw to oneself, to rescue,”
and we have been conveyed, or “transferred,” into the kingdom of the
Son, Jesus. I love that word picture. He has drawn us to Himself
and rescued us. He scooped us up at just the right time, didn't He? Jesus' work of
reconciliation with the Father was the payment for our being transferred
into His kingdom. He has transplanted us from darkness into His
light. That work has already been done. Yet it's the daily walking out of our faith, our choice to continue to allow ourselves to be drawn to Him, (to think about, rely, and wait on Him,) <i>that</i> is when
we will be strengthened and become like the tree in Psalm 1:3, firmly
planted along the riverbank – by the water, the <i>Living Water</i>
Himself, Jesus! As we stay by the water (Him,) meditating on His words
and ways, resting in His Spirit, we will naturally produce good fruit each
season. We will have strong, healthy roots, free of bitterness and
anything else that will ultimately bring death in our lives – our
leaves will not be withered, and we will prosper in what He's called
us to do, because it will be in His strength and timing. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Isaiah
26:3-4</b> tells us, </span></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NKJV-18134"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="en-NKJV-18135"></a>
“<i>You will keep him in perfect peace,<br />Whose mind is stayed on
You,<br />Because he trusts in You.<br />4 Trust in the Lord
forever,<br />For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui-gen98"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui-gen92"></a>
<span style="font-style: normal;">Peace... what the world, and so
often, we Christians, lack in our lives. This world is busy and
spinning and everything around us calls us and beckons us and seeks to persuade us to keep ourselves busy, too busy for Jesus...too busy to
spend time in His word, resting in His presence, sitting at His feet.
I am convinced this is the enemy of a fruitful life in Christ. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">When
trials attacks come (and they are PROMISED to come,) the LORD is the <i>only</i> One Who keeps us in perfect peace. “Keeps”
means "</span>to
guard, watch, watch over, to preserve, to keep from danger, to guard
with fidelity, watchman." “Perfect peace” means "completeness,
soundness, welfare, health, prosperity, peace, safety, welfare, quiet,
tranquillity, contentment." </span><span style="font-size: large;">“Stayed”
- </span><span style="font-size: large;">to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon,
sustain, refresh, revive. As we lean on Him (keep our mind "stayed" on Him,) we rest in Him, let Him support, sustain, refresh, and uphold us, He </span><span style="font-size: large;">keeps (guards and watches over) us in perfect peace (complete safety and contentment.) Isn't that amazing? W</span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">hen we choose to
lean on Jesus, we are putting our trust in His ability
to handle it. To “trust” is "to have confidence in, to be bold, be
secure, to be safe and carefree." <span style="font-style: normal;">As
one Hebrew lexicon explains, “to confide in, to set one's hope and
confidence on...to be secure, to fear nothing for oneself.”</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">...<i>to fear nothing for oneself</i>. When we're trusting in Him, we are relying on His everlasting, unwavering, unchanging, continuous strength. We don't need to fear.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Isaiah 26:4</b> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Trust
in the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Lord</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
forever,<br />For in YAH, the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Lord</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">,
is everlasting strength.”</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Strength
– rock, rock wall, block of stone, of course, Jesus is the rock.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">...I knew a couple whose baby girl was
injured during labor and delivery and she was born only to pass on a few hours after her birth. I remember watching them walk through that trial,
leaning on Jesus and trusting in His goodness even when they didn't
understand. Later on, the husband shared with us that after going
through that trial, he's not afraid of anything anymore. He had been
through the worst, and his faith in Christ had been strengthened
through the testing of that fiery trial...he is a very dangerous
man in the kingdom of God - one who fears Christ alone.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Isaiah 26:</b><span style="font-style: normal;"> <b>12-13</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Lord, You will establish peace for us,<br />For You have also
done all our works in us.<br />O Lord our God, masters besides You<br />Have
had dominion over us;<br />But by You only we make mention of Your
name.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"</i>Establish" means "to set, place, put, ordain." </span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">This tells us <i>He</i>
will place peace in us. He is the one working in and through us.
Isn't that a load off? Do you realize He never intended for you to do
it on your own? He intends for us to come to Him, you who are weary
and heavy laden, and He will give you rest.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We
were once ruled by our flesh and worshipped other gods, but now, in
Christ, we worship Him alone. We don't have to be overwhelmed with
life. We don't have to yell rant and rave and complain or let the storm rage in our hearts. We can
choose to have peace and thank and worship Him, no matter what the
circumstance may be.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Psalm
46:10</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Be still and know that I am God.</i> <i>I will be
honored by every nation. I will be honored
throughout the world.</i>”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui-gen71"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui-gen75"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui-gen77"></a>
<span style="font-style: normal;">What does that mean, to be "still?" It means "t</span>o sink, relax, sink
down, let drop, withdraw, idle, abandon, refrain, forsake, to let go,
let alone, to be quiet, to show oneself slack." "Know" means "to learn to know, to learn by experience, perceive, be
instructed."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is this what a gentle and quiet spirit looks like? The stillness in this verse </span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">allows us
to let go, to be quiet, and relax. As we do this, we learn by
experience Who God is as we sit still, quiet our hearts and minds,
and experience Him as we learn from Him. Thankfully, we can also rest in knowing that He will be exalted. We are blessed to exalt Him now as
we look forward to the day when He will be exalted by <i>all</i>, when every knee
will bow and every tongue confess that He is LORD!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Jesus
spoke to the storm and said, “</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Peace,
be still,</i>” in Mark 4:26. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">"Peace," "to be silent, hold one's peace, metaph. of a calm, quiet
sea, to close the mouth with a muzzle, to muzzle."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">As we cast all our cares on Him, pouring our hearts out to Him, we can let it all go. Then we are able to sit quietly and listen, allowing His Spirit to work in our hearts and bring the peace, rest, and stillness we so desperately desire. Go to Him. Everything you need - your deepest, innermost heart's desires are only met in that deep place of intimacy with your maker. Pour out your heart. Let it go. Let Him carry it. It's not for you anymore! He will watch over you. Trade in your heart's hurts and longings for His gift of perfect peace and overflowing love. Let Him weave a beautiful work of peace and rest into your soul. He is the one doing all the work in you (Isaiah 26:12.) Let Him. </span></span><br />
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</span></span>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-24487405264473499872014-03-25T14:15:00.003-07:002014-03-29T11:35:19.347-07:00It's All GraceA few years ago I really began to...um...<i>perceive</i> my gracelessness. My natural default is to be critical and short; both with myself and others. I started realizing I really didn't understand grace. You can't give away something you don't have. Although head <i>kind of</i> got it, and although I knew grace has been explained as: <br />
<br />
<b>G</b>od's<br />
<b>R</b>iches<br />
<b>A</b>t<br />
<b>C</b>hrist's<br />
<b>E</b>xpense;<br />
<br />
aka the "great switcheroo," I was still needing...more, a deeper knowledge of grace - grace searching the caverns of my soul and rooting out everything ugly and loveless and lifeless. I began my investigation by reading a few books and as I picked and gleamed some insight from them, I continued to ask God to <i>show</i> me His grace so I could better understand and live in His grace. As I searched for the thing (grace,) I discovered, as always, it wasn't the thing I desired, but more of Him, my Jesus. He is grace. What I ached and longed for was more intimacy with my creator. As I drew close to Him and allowed Him to teach me, I began to experience His grace in my inmost being, and realized that was what I had been craving all along. What's fascinating to me now is that I see grace <i>everywhere</i>. <br />
<br />
Grace is God reaching into my life and saving me from myself. <br />
<br />
Grace is God condescending to reside in my heart and soul and giving me new life.<br />
<br />
Grace is simply <span style="color: #0b5394;">waking up</span>.<br />
<br />
Grace is coming alongside someone who's fallen down and picking them up, washing their wounds, and tending their broken heart.<br />
<br />
Grace is a kind word replied to a cranky one.<br />
<br />
Grace is a hug when I'm grumpy.<br />
<br />
Grace is receiving forgiveness and forgiving others.<br />
<br />
Grace is open arms to the hurting.<br />
<br />
Grace is loving even when it's <b>awkward</b>.<br />
<br />
Grace is friendship with the "unworthy."<br />
<br />
Grace is Jesus calling me "friend" when I've been unfaithful to Him.<br />
<br />
Grace is patiently teaching me the same lesson over and over, until I finally understand, even if it means discipline.<br />
<br />
Grace is realizing His goodness and mercy do chase after me, and all I need to do is turn to Him to receive it.<br />
<br />
Grace is His holding onto me when I can't hold on anymore. <br />
<br />
Grace is learning to love after a heart break.<br />
<br />
Grace is feeling joy again after loss.<br />
<br />
Grace is realizing my own insufficiency and allowing His power and abundance to live through me instead.<br />
<br />
Grace is His Spirit living inside me, leading me, whispering to my heart throughout the day.<br />
<br />
Grace is the ability to receive and give love.<br />
<br />
Grace (and truth) is what Jesus is full of.<br />
<br />
Grace is Jesus being enough in all things, every situation, every moment of the day. <br />
<br />
Grace is my Savior giving me dreams, speaking to my heart, and revealing Himself to me more and more every day.<br />
<br />
I pray as I grow in Him, my days will be marked by His grace. I pray for His bride, that we will be a people who are so attuned to His lavish grace for us that we can't help but pour it out on everyone around us. That's the heart of this blog - learning to recognize, receive, pour out, and simply <i>live</i> in His miraculous grace - Grace Dwelling - Him living in and through each one of us.<br />
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<br />sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-91983454108744524192014-01-10T07:13:00.002-08:002014-01-10T14:55:07.449-08:00The Big Picture and Sweating the Small StuffYou've probably heard the phrase "Don't sweat the small stuff," right?<br />
<br />
I was thinking... it's all the small things that become our life's sum...the big picture is comprised of all the little moments, isn't it? There are so many seemingly small things every single day...we wake up. Brush our teeth. Take a shower. Shave. Take care of children. Take care of spouses. There are toilets to clean and dinner to be made, home work to help with and laundry and dishes, driving and our car needs gas (all the time) to take us to voice and karate classes, dentist appointments, church and school meetings, clothes shopping and laundry (oh, the ever piling chore) and then we wake up and begin again...we spin like clay on a potter's wheel - the wheel turns, the world turns, and we, like clay, are shaped and formed in our Master's hands.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Oswald Chambers said this:<br />
<i>A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances
simply happen at random, nor does he ever think of his life as being
divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in
which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of
Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total
surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we will have the
realization of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives, and He will
bring us back to the same point over and over again until we do.
Self-realization only leads to the glorification of good works, whereas a
saint of God glorifies Jesus Christ through his good works. Whatever we
may be doing— even eating, drinking, or washing disciples’ feet— we
have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus Christ in
it. Every phase of our life has its counterpart in the life of Jesus.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
I happen to believe he's right...and at the end of the day, it's all the little things that make a life. For in Him, we live and move and have our being, Acts 17 tells us. So all those "small" and insignificant things are not so small or insignificant. Everything was created in Him, for Him and by Him, and He is the One Who holds all things together, including me! (Colossians 1)<br />
<br />
Maybe there's nothing small or insignificant - even cleaning toilets and doing dishes or wiping little noses - not when it's done for Him. When the pieces of my life are shattered - broken relationships, broken dreams or broken hearts, I simply offer them back to the One who holds my heart in His hands and trust that He is using all those smashed up little pieces of my life to fashion them into a beautiful
mosaic, a work of art, that reflects His love in and through me. We are His "poeima," His work of art. (Ephesians
2:10) <br />
<br />
So I don't sweat the "small" stuff, instead I entrust it all to the Master Artist of my life. Even if I don't see a beautiful mosaic, I trust Him (the Author and Finisher of my faith) to finish the process, as He sees fit.<br />
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sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-28458369330799519842013-12-07T00:01:00.001-08:002014-10-23T13:28:57.003-07:00Insufficient Funds & Special Needs<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever experienced that moment when you're checking out at the cashier's stand with your bags ready to go and the message comes back - Denied - Insufficient Funds?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Red face. Humiliation.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you know that <i>we</i> are all Insufficient Funds?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">-without His grace, love, and mercy? Not just zero, but negative - in the red.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you ever feel unworthy? Less than? Empty? Cast aside? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever been told or treated like you are simply not good enough?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a dream. Another one.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In it, I was searching for someone to talk to about my son's youth group (they had spent all their time outside chasing chickens...so clearly I needed to discuss this with someone in charge (-:) and I walked into a room that had a few older people sitting in chairs, holding clipboards and discussing who would serve where and what the needs were. I thought I would speak with one of them, but instead I quickly scanned the room and noticed there were a lot of young children (about 5-6 years old) who were joyfully learning and working and playing. I sat next to one of them and asked her a question about what she was working on. She enthusiastically responded and as we continued our conversation I thought, "<i>Oh</i>, this is why I'm here. <i>This</i> is where the need is."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then the Lord opened my eyes and as I looked around again, I realized each one of the kids had special needs. My heart swelled and tears filled my eyes as He flooded me with His love for these precious children...who had been ostracized and taunted and cast aside by others...but not by Him.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I woke up and I knew...we are all special needs. </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are all special needs <i>and</i> insufficient funds. And I laugh and cry at the same time as I grasp this. Because no matter what anyone has ever said about you, He is <i>wild</i> about you! He loves you to the core of your being. He loves you with your special needs and your weakness and your lack. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In our weakness, His strength is perfected. When we understand we are insufficient, we invite His sufficiency and abundance into our lives. And we humbly give Him what He alone deserves, all the glory and honor and praise! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 1Cor-1-31" id="en-ESV-28378">1 Corinthians 1</span></span></b><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 1Cor-1-26" id="en-ESV-28373"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-28373c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28373c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup> not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-1-27" id="en-ESV-28374"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;</span> <span class="text 1Cor-1-28" id="en-ESV-28375"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,</span> <span class="text 1Cor-1-29" id="en-ESV-28376"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>so that no human being<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-28376d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28376d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup> might boast in the presence of God.</span> <span class="text 1Cor-1-30" id="en-ESV-28377"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>And because of him<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-28377e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201&version=ESV#fen-ESV-28377e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</sup> you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,</span> </span></i><span class="text 1Cor-1-31" id="en-ESV-28378"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-40648034946486694942013-10-26T14:51:00.003-07:002014-10-23T13:21:01.828-07:00Calling Up Grace<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's something I've been thinking about for quite some time now. In fact, I <i>mostly</i> think about these things and <i>occasionally</i> write about them...so this is something I've been chewing on...mulling over...praying over...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe it's time.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe it's time to call people up. Notice I said, "up," not "out." Because this isn't a confrontation. It's an invitation. To what? To take off the blinders and hold the mirror up to our faces; to let His truth and light be known as we let go of hypocrisy and let His Spirit cleanse us of that which is...I'll say it...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">...evil.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>James 1:22-26</b></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-1-22" id="en-NLT-30249">But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-23" id="en-NLT-30250">For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-24" id="en-NLT-30251"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-25" id="en-NLT-30252"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>But
if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if
you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless
you for doing it.</span><sup class="versenum"> </sup>If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.</span></span></i><br />
<span class="text Jas-1-26" id="en-NLT-30253"></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">James 2:1-12</span></span></b><br />
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<div class="first-line-none chapter-1">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="text Jas-2-1">My dear brothers and sisters,<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-30255a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202&version=NLT&utm_expid=13466113-8.PChnVLuORx-FtxVb0v4HEQ.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblegateway.com%2Fpassage%2F%3Fsearch%3DJohn%2B3#fen-NLT-30255a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you <b>favor</b> some people over others? </span><span class="text Jas-2-2" id="en-NLT-30256">For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-30256b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202&version=NLT&utm_expid=13466113-8.PChnVLuORx-FtxVb0v4HEQ.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblegateway.com%2Fpassage%2F%3Fsearch%3DJohn%2B3#fen-NLT-30256b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup> dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes.</span> <span class="text Jas-2-3" id="en-NLT-30257">If
you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you
say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the
floor”—well,</span> <span class="text Jas-2-4" id="en-NLT-30258"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?</span><span class="text Jas-2-5" id="en-NLT-30259"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Listen
to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this
world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the
Kingdom he promised to those who love him?</span> <span class="text Jas-2-6" id="en-NLT-30260">But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?</span> <span class="text Jas-2-7" id="en-NLT-30261">Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-30261c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202&version=NLT&utm_expid=13466113-8.PChnVLuORx-FtxVb0v4HEQ.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblegateway.com%2Fpassage%2F%3Fsearch%3DJohn%2B3#fen-NLT-30261c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup> you bear?</span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="text Jas-2-8" id="en-NLT-30262"><sup class="versenum"></sup>Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-30262d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202&version=NLT&utm_expid=13466113-8.PChnVLuORx-FtxVb0v4HEQ.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblegateway.com%2Fpassage%2F%3Fsearch%3DJohn%2B3#fen-NLT-30262d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup></span> <span class="text Jas-2-10" id="en-NLT-30264"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. <sup class="versenum"></sup>For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.</span> <span class="text Jas-2-12" id="en-NLT-30266"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.”<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-30265e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202&version=NLT&utm_expid=13466113-8.PChnVLuORx-FtxVb0v4HEQ.0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biblegateway.com%2Fpassage%2F%3Fsearch%3DJohn%2B3#fen-NLT-30265e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</sup> So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. <sup class="versenum"></sup>So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.</span> <span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267">There
will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if
you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Galations 6:1-5</b></span></span><br />
<div class="first-line-none chapter-1">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Gal-6-1"><span class="chapternum"> </span> </span></span></div>
<div class="first-line-none chapter-1">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Gal-6-1">Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-29150a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gal%206&version=NLT#fen-NLT-29150a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> is overcome by some sin, you who are godly<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-29150b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gal%206&version=NLT#fen-NLT-29150b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup>
should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And
be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.</span> <span class="text Gal-6-2" id="en-NLT-29151"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.</span> <span class="text Gal-6-3" id="en-NLT-29152"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.</span></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Gal-6-4" id="en-NLT-29153"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Pay
careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the
satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself
to anyone else.</span><span class="text Gal-6-5" id="en-NLT-29154"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>For we are each responsible for our own conduct.</span></span></i></span><br />
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<div class="first-line-none">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Mark-9-38"><b>Mark 9:38-41</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Mark-9-38"><b> </b> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="first-line-none">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Mark-9-38">John
said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out
demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”</span></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Mark-9-39" id="en-NLT-24550"><span class="woj">“Don’t stop him!”</span> Jesus said. <span class="woj">“No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me.</span></span> <span class="text Mark-9-40" id="en-NLT-24551"><sup class="versenum"> </sup><span class="woj">Anyone who is not against us is for us.</span></span> <span class="text Mark-9-41" id="en-NLT-24552"><sup class="versenum"> </sup><span class="woj">If
anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah,
I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.</span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Mark-9-41" id="en-NLT-24552"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></i><br />
<div class="line">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Prov-19-17" id="en-NKJV-16943">Romans 14</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="line">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Prov-19-17" id="en-NKJV-16943"></span></span></span></div>
<div class="line">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">4 <i><span class="text Rom-14-4" id="en-NKJV-28285">Who
are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or
falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him
stand.</span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="line">
<br /></div>
<div class="line">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-14-4" id="en-NKJV-28285"><span class="text Rom-14-10" id="en-NKJV-28291">10-13</span></span><span class="text Rom-14-4" id="en-NKJV-28285"><span class="text Rom-14-10" id="en-NKJV-28291"> </span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="line">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-14-4" id="en-NKJV-28285"><span class="text Rom-14-10" id="en-NKJV-28291">But
why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your
brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NKJV-28291c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2014&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-28291c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup> </span> <span class="text Rom-14-11" id="en-NKJV-28292"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>For it is written:</span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="poetry top-1">
<div class="line">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-14-11"><span class="oblique">“</span>As <span class="oblique">I live, says the L</span><span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">ord</span><span class="oblique">,</span></span><br /><span class="text Rom-14-11"><span class="oblique">Every knee shall bow to Me,</span></span><br /><span class="text Rom-14-11"><span class="oblique">And every tongue shall confess to God.”</span><sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NKJV-28292d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2014&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-28292d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup></span></span></span></i></div>
</div>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></i><br />
<div class="top-1">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-14-12" id="en-NKJV-28293">So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. </span><span class="text Rom-14-13" id="en-NKJV-28294">Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="line">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-14-19" id="en-NKJV-28300"> 19 </span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="line">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-14-19" id="en-NKJV-28300">Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="line">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="crossverse"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-5.htm">Proverbs 17:5</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="crossverse"> </span><br /><i>Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
</i></span></span><br />
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<div class="line">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Prov-19-17" id="en-NKJV-16943">Proverbs 14:17</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="line">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="text Prov-19-17" id="en-NKJV-16943">He who has pity on the poor lends to the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br /><span class="text Prov-19-17">And He will pay back what he has given.</span></i></span></span><br />
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<div class="line">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Gal-6-5" id="en-NLT-29154"> </span></span></i><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">There it is - favoritism. It seems so...<i>small</i>, doesn't it? Harmless, even? Don't we all have our favorites, if we're actually honest? True, we may feel a certain way - after all, we're still flesh and blood, and it's normal to feel closer to some people than others, <i>however</i>, God's word clearly commands us not to show partiality, or favoritism, in how we treat others. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">It's easy to agree with the example given here in scripture - rich and poor - and I think we can all obviously see how wrong it is. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">So let's dig a little deeper. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">What about the <i>spiritually</i> poor? Immature? Dirty, even? What about those who come to fellowship and are difficult to be around? What if they're wounded? Bleeding? Dressed wrong? What if it's none of that but sadly our pride that calls them less for a made up or ill perceived reason? What if we just don't like them? What if they don't have spiritual status? Can we spiritually justify treating them as <i>less than</i>? Why would we even try? When we treat other brothers and sisters as "less than," what have we become? Well, the word calls us "judges with evil thoughts/motives." (James 2:4)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267">Evil</span></i><b><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267">.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">It's <i>that</i> serious. It's <b>not</b> harmless. It's not small.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">When we oppress the poor, we are like the blasphemers who dragged the poor to court. If we really are obeying God's royal law, we will love others as we love ourselves. We will treat others how we want to be treated. We won't have an inner circle others must earn their way into in order to be loved or truly to minister to, or minister with. It's not about "us" and "them," because we are one body and Christ is the Head. If we are truly loving others as He loves us and has command us to, we simply will not show partiality and favoritism.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">Let me break it down very clearly:</span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">favoritism/partiality = SIN</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">When we treat others with partiality, we're guilty of breaking God's law just like an adulterer or murderer has. I find it fascinating these are the two examples given when addressing favoritism. Not lying or stealing or some nicer sounding sin. But <i>unfaithfulness</i> and <i>hate</i>. Guilty. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">Let's all be really honest here. When we let it be known (through words or actions, whether by gossip barely cloaked in concern or insinuation with raised eyebrows) that "they" are just not as worthy or deserving of our time, energy, effort, prayer and service as someone else is, we have become evil judges. We are not leading people closer to Jesus, but hindering them, hurting them, and stumbling them. Christ warns us not to cause the young in Him to stumble. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"> It breaks His heart, and He takes this seriously. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">(Mark 9:42.)</span></span></span></span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">We must ask - deep down, in my innermost being, do I pride myself on my service or wisdom or knowledge or position or status? How do I react when someone corrects me or tells me I am wrong? Proudly? Angrily? If so, we must stop. It's hurting us, and it's hurting the bride of Christ. He is the One who sees our hearts' intentions, and at times He is grieved. Sadly, there will be naive and immature people who will willingly believe and follow us, especially if we keep telling them they are to submit. They will have to suppress the truth in unrighteousness to keep going along with what is, in truth, deception. In this we are not doing the Lord's work - we are working against Him. Jesus said, "As you've done to the least of these my brethren, you've done it to me!" He desires we bring encouraging refreshment in His name. (Matthew 10:42) He desires calling up, helping up, and bearing one another's burdens instead of putting people down under our footstool...so we can rest our feet on their backs... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">The poor - the least of these. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">The immature.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">Those who disagree with us.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">Those who don't take our advice.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">Those we just don't like.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">The way we've hurt and ostracized and rejected them, sadly, sickeningly, in the Lord's <i>name</i> even, we must realize we've done it to <i>Him</i>. Will we hear this? Will we humble our hearts and repent? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">To those who are leading, whether it be family or fellowship, we are not at the top of a power pyramid. Jesus said being great in His kingdom means being servant of all! When we mock or belittle others because they have not lived up to our standard we are being judges with evil motives. We are showing contempt for <i>God</i>. For God! Let's sit with that for a minute.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;">He fashioned each one in His very image, and leaders are no better than anyone else.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Jas-2-13" id="en-NLT-30267" style="font-size: large;"> God's will is that each one will <i>stand</i> before Him, not that we would tear each other down.</span></span> Have we forgotten the sweet, simple fact that it's <i>all</i> grace?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Rom-14-19" id="en-NKJV-28300">That's our remedy! Grace! Mercy! Peace! Edification! Mercy triumphs over judgement!! Thank You, Jesus! Realize that everyone of us needs grace and mercy <i>every day</i>. When we are real about our own need for mercy and grace, it's so easy to allow it to pour over onto the people around us. </span>Let's be those who pursue and chase after peace with each other. Let's let God be God and stop acting like <i>we</i> are God Who sees inside people's hearts. (1 Samuel 16:7.) Listen, people disagreeing with us does not equal people disagreeing with Him. Please understand, leaders are not the Holy Spirit and we do not have special access to God. We must not allow people to treat us like we do! We must be honest and humble and upfront about this truth.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Body, hold your leaders accountable. It is so easy to speak the truth so well, yet refuse to humbly recognize our own sin. There are those who pervert the truth and take advantage of the bride, placing themselves in the driver's seat of other's lives where only our Great Shepherd belongs. Body, if we treat our "leaders" differently, unquestioningly obeying even when God's very Spirit living inside us is warning us something is wrong, we are showing favoritism/partiality as well. If we belong to a fellowship where we feel we are not truly supposed to ask and question and talk and are actively encouraged to hold leaders (servants) accountable, <b>run</b>! Find somewhere else to fellowship. Because we are not to be following men who say the right things but do another, but Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith! The Holy Spirit leads us into all understanding. He shows no favoritism. He died for all. He loves all - unconditionally, poor or rich, sweet or difficult. He lavishes grace and mercy on every single one of us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you are reading this, I pray you will be one who will allow God to lavish His great love and mercy and grace and peace on you! May you never forget you are destitute without Him! May you treat those He has allowed in your care with that same grace, mercy, and love He is pouring out on you. His people are precious!! Love them, and leave the judgement up to God. Let go of the "us" and "them" mentality. The question isn't "Can you get behind me on this?" but "Will you follow <b>Jesus</b> with all your heart, mind, and strength? Will you get behind <i><b>Him</b></i>?" Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ! Edify each other! Have the mind of Christ, who made Himself of no reputation and humbled Himself to the point of death. <span class="text Phil-2-3" id="en-NKJV-29395">Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others <i>better than</i> himself. </span><span class="text Phil-2-4" id="en-NKJV-29396">Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phil. 2) </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Phil-2-4" id="en-NKJV-29396">Ask the LORD, "Who do You want me to lift up today?" and then do it!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Phil-2-4" id="en-NKJV-29396">Lord, take us deeper - we want to know <i>Your</i> heart.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-76667159084445255352013-10-15T14:54:00.001-07:002014-05-19T09:46:31.679-07:00Failure and Falling Forward<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This scene - who would have thought <i>this</i> scene would cause a grown woman to cry in a movie theater? Let's all take a moment to be thankful for dark theaters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If we could all learn to respond this to way failure - how amazing would it be? To our own failure; to other's failure? How many times have I caused fear with my frustration with my kids or spouse instead of helping them move forward with loving, enthusiastic encouragement?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What
I'm learning in this season of my life (whether it be in marriage, parenting, growing up <span style="font-size: small;">which I intend to do until the day I pass on</span>, or walking out my faith,) is to let go of
comparing myself to others or even to myself - my "past" self, my
"should be" self, or even the shiny and beautiful "who I want to be" self. Because what it
does is discourage and immobilize me. It takes my focus from Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, and turns it outward or
inward instead...and I'm not talking about frank reflection on the state of one's
soul or learning from watching someone else, but the problem that invariably exists when the wrong thing becomes the <i>main</i> <i>focus</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When
I finally learned I could truly let go of my ideas and expectations of
perfection, oh - the freedom and growth! Thinking it would bring joy, I had fastened my will to my own ideas only to find they were the very things that kept me bound. Those things I wanted so
desperately - they were idols. "I'll be happy when" owned me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The other day, I spent some time simply basking in and resting in His great love - for me! How dare I, really, because - who am I?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Who am I? I am His, and that is <i>everything</i>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But
if I choose to keep pushing His love - in reality, HIM - away with all my expectations of
what "should" be, I'll miss it. Because I'm not abiding in Him when I'm
trying to be in control. Giving up my own willfulness for His perfect will, letting go of the thought of how it "should be" and
letting Him simply love me, just as I am...and in turn, loving Him back ...and
others through Him...that is never failure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So here I am, loved, thankful, and free. Falling forward, caught in His grace, finding my rest in His arms of love as He lovingly cheers me on to keep moving forward in Him.</span>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-16535916076035271012013-07-19T12:52:00.001-07:002015-06-17T12:52:32.524-07:00Safety in His Presence<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I recently found myself in a very uncomfortable situation. I remember feeling like the Israelites when they told Moses, "You brought us out here to kill us!" </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's what I told Him, "Lord, You've brought me here to kill me!"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sometimes I'm dramatic. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It brought up some extremely painful things from my (church) past.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I felt very unsafe. Sick. But I also knew to trust the Lord and His perfect timing in and through the situation. I knew He brought me there for that very reason. My emotions welled up, threatening to take over, so I desperately told Him, "I need security." Normally I ask. But this was different; it was a bold request. I wrote the word "Security" in my notes, an urgent plea from my panicking heart. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He spoke so clearly through the teacher that night...she referred to Valentine heart candies with "sweet nothings" written on them, encouraging us to listen for God's voice to speak intimately to our hearts that weekend. When she pointed to and read one that said, "You're Mine," i</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">t was God Who used her hand as an arrow to point from His heart straight into mine. </span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"You are <b><i>Mine</i></b>. <b>You</b> <i>belong</i> to <i><b>Me</b></i>."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Isn't that what security is?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One of the sweet nothings God had spoken to me through a very broken part of my life was from Zechariah 2:8b, "for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The teacher shared the verse she had been given upon her arrival that weekend, a verse that was very personal to her. <i>"He found him in a desert land, And in the wasteland, a howling in the wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, <b>He kept him as the apple of his eye</b>."</i> Deut. 32:10 </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How sweet that the LORD would share that verse with me, too; another "apple of his eye" verse. It was meaningful to me because it showed me how personally He cares for us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The LORD allowed me to sift through my emotions. There was healing to be done. The soil of my heart was being dug up and tilled. I woke up sobbing the next morning...embarrassed, and praying I wouldn't wake my room mates. I took a shower and walked outside. The beautiful breeze brought to my mind <a href="http://sammyze.blogspot.com/2013/04/dreaming-again.html" target="_blank">"Heaven's Dream"</a> and sounded like beach waves as I closed my eyes and listened. It was quiet and I was alone (double bonus,) so I took my bible, notebook and flashlight and spent some time with Him in His word. </span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He took me to verse after verse, chapter after chapter affirming me and ministering safety as His presence filled my heart. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="chapter-2"><span class="text Ps-17-1"><span class="chapternum"> </span><i>Hear a just cause, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</i></span></span><i><br /><span class="text Ps-17-1">Attend to my cry;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-1">Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.</span><br /><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span class="text Ps-17-2" id="en-NKJV-14106"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup><b>Let my vindication come from Your presence;</b></span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-2">Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="text Ps-17-3" id="en-NKJV-14107"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>You have tested my heart;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-3">You have visited me in the night;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-3">You have tried me and have found nothing;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-3">I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-4" id="en-NKJV-14108"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Concerning the works of men,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-4">By the word of Your lips,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-4">I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-5" id="en-NKJV-14109"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>Uphold my steps in Your paths,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-5">That my footsteps may not slip.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="text Ps-17-6" id="en-NKJV-14110"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-6">Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-7" id="en-NKJV-14111"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-7">O You who save those who trust in You</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-7">From those who rise up against them.</span><br /><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;"><span class="text Ps-17-8" id="en-NKJV-14112"><sup class="versenum">8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;</sup></span></span></b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Ps-17-8" id="en-NKJV-14112"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span></span><span class="text Ps-17-8">Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-9" id="en-NKJV-14113"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>From the wicked who oppress me,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-9">From my deadly enemies who surround me.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="text Ps-17-15" id="en-NKJV-14119"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-17-15">I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the very first verse He gave me that morning, He showed me He understood exactly where I was, who I was, and what I was going through. And He told me my vindication is found in <i>His presence</i> and assured me He would keep me, for the third time that weekend, as the apple of His eye. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b>Psalm 18</b><span class="chapter-2"><span class="text Ps-18-1"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="chapter-2"><span class="text Ps-18-1"> <i>I will love You, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, my strength.</i></span></span><i><br /><span class="text Ps-18-2" id="en-NKJV-14121"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup><b>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;</b></span><b><br /></b><span class="text Ps-18-2"><b>My God, my strength, in whom I will trust</b>;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-2">My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-3" id="en-NKJV-14122"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>I will call upon the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, who is worthy to be praised;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-3">So shall I be saved from my enemies.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-18-3">When I read verses 16-19, He reminded me of a dream He gave me years ago. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-18-3">In that dream, my husband and I had stopped in to eat at a bar/restaurant while we were on vacation. We were talking about the Lord with a man who was working there. Some people from our fellowship came in and told us we shouldn't be doing that there. After awhile we left and the next thing I knew, we were on a boat. I saw a huge wave coming (a massive storm was headed our way) and I knew there was no way we would survive it. But then I was lifted above the clouds, watching everything below grow smaller and smaller as I was shown the bigger picture. What I remember most clearly was the amazing, peaceful presence I felt with me. I knew God had lifted me out and above the impending danger. I knew He was literally with me, behind me.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="text Ps-18-16" id="en-NKJV-14135"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>He sent from above, He took me;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-16">He drew me out of many waters.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-17" id="en-NKJV-14136"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>He delivered me from my strong enemy,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-17">From those who hated me,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-17">For they were too strong for me.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-18" id="en-NKJV-14137"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>They confronted me in the day of my calamity,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-18">But the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> was my support.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-19" id="en-NKJV-14138"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>He also brought me out into a broad place;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-19">He delivered me because <span style="font-size: x-large;">He delighted in me</span>.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-18-19">He delivered me because He <i>delighted</i> in me? </span><span class="text Ps-18-19"><span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497">Who am I, that He would think about me?</span> How can I ever even begin to understand <i>that</i>?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-18-19"> </span><i><span class="text Ps-18-25" id="en-NKJV-14144"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-25">With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-26" id="en-NKJV-14145"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>With the pure You will show Yourself pure;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-26">And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-27" id="en-NKJV-14146"><sup class="versenum">27 </sup>For You will save the humble people,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-27">But will bring down haughty looks.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="text Ps-18-28" id="en-NKJV-14147"><sup class="versenum">28 </sup>For You will light my lamp;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-28">The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> my God will enlighten my darkness.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-29" id="en-NKJV-14148"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>For by You I can run against a troop,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-29">By my God I can leap over a wall.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-30" id="en-NKJV-14149"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>As for God, His way is perfect;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-18-30">The word of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is proven;</span><br /><b><span class="text Ps-18-30">He is a shield to all who trust in Him.</span></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-18-30">He assured me, <i>"I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for <b>I know their sorrows</b>."</i> Ex. 3:7</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-18-30"><b>Psalm 9</b> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="text Ps-9-9" id="en-NKJV-14031"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> also will be a refuge for the oppressed,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-9-9">A refuge in times of trouble.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-9-10" id="en-NKJV-14032"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; </span><span class="text Ps-9-10"><b>For You, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, have not forsaken those who seek You</b>.</span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-18-30">He sees me as blameless, not because of my own perfection (because that can never be on this side of eternity) but because of <i>His</i> work in me. He knew *exactly* what I was going though. He saw it all. Every part of it. And <i>still</i>, He chose me, loved me, and sheltered me.</span><i><span class="text Ps-18-30"> </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-18-30"><i>"The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him, Who shelters him all the day long, And he shall dwell between His shoulders."</i> -Deut. 33:12</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-18-30">Is there any place safer than that? *sigh*<!--3--><!--3--></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Ps-18-30">Then He reminded me of Moses. God had told Moses to take His people to the promised land, that He would send an angel before them but that He wouldn't go with them because they were being stubborn and rebellious.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="text Exod-33-12"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>Then Moses said to the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
“See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me
know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name,
and you have also found grace in My sight.’ </span> <span class="text Exod-33-13" id="en-NKJV-2487"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>Now
therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now
Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.
And consider that this nation is Your people.”</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> </i><i><span class="text Exod-33-14" id="en-NKJV-2488"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> </i><i><span class="text Exod-33-15" id="en-NKJV-2489"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. </span> <span class="text Exod-33-16" id="en-NKJV-2490"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>For
how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in
Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people
and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> </i><i><span class="text Exod-33-17" id="en-NKJV-2491"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>So the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> </i><i><span class="text Exod-33-18" id="en-NKJV-2492"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> </i><i><span class="text Exod-33-19" id="en-NKJV-2493"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” </span> <span class="text Exod-33-20" id="en-NKJV-2494"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” </span> <span class="text Exod-33-21" id="en-NKJV-2495"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>And the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. </span> <span class="text Exod-33-22" id="en-NKJV-2496"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>So
it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft
of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. </span> <span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497">Moses realized if God's presence didn't go with then, then he didn't want to go at all. And the LORD granted him that request, assuring him he'd found grace in His sight and that the LORD knew him by name. Moses wanted to see the face of the One Who knew him so well, but knowing that would kill him, God generously offered, "Come over here by Me, stand on the rock, and I'll cover you with my hand. I'll pass by and you can see the trail of My glory." </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497">He showed me I'd found grace in His sight. He was my safe place. <b><i>Him</i></b>. And He doesn't change! He still does that with us today. "LORD, I want to know You. I want to see Your face."</span><i><span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497"> </span></i><span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497">So we stand on the Rock, Jesus, and find <i>all</i> our safety and salvation in Him. One day we <i>will</i> wake in His Presence and see Him face to face and not die because we are hidden in Christ. How great are the precious promises He's given us! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497">It's all found in Him.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497">It's all about His Presence.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497">How's your heart? Is it hurting? Angry? Broken? Betrayed? Accused? Forgotten? Proud? Numb? Shattered?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497">Everything you need is found in His presence.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text Exod-33-23" id="en-NKJV-2497">Go to Him.</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span><!--3-->sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-47935705143789797082013-04-19T10:31:00.002-07:002015-06-17T12:55:25.388-07:00Heaven's Dream<span style="font-size: large;">I had been feeling lonely, missing people who have passed on, missing people who for one reason or another, I didn't/don't see anymore - missing my husband at work, my kids at school, my friends... aching, painful, overwhelming loneliness was after me! I was exhausted and had to actually lie down *gasp!* - in the middle of the day - what?! - and then, it overtook me. I fell asleep. And I'm so glad I did, because after the dream I had, I didn't want to wake up. I wanted to stay there forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I dreamed</span> I had gone on a retreat and I didn't know anyone. I was walking around by myself with the relentless loneliness I'd been carrying with me. There were women milling around, some walking around the common area and some had gone outside. I hesitated, and then decided I'd also go for a walk outside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I stepped out the back door, I was shocked by the view. It was breathtaking. I realized the door was the entry to the sandy shore of a beautiful, calm beach. To my left there was a cliff - there was only one way to get to this special place. The rainbow of the color streaked sky was gorgeous; it was the most glorious place I'd ever been! I inhaled it all with slow, deliberate breaths and wondered in awe at the striking beauty of
the beach. I stepped up to the water's edge...just being near to the water awakened a dormant longing in my heart. I was being drawn to it the way one's soul longs for its lover. My heart was being filled as I was drawn to wade in deeper, up to my knees. The aching in my soul was being filled with peace and the overwhelming loneliness was replaced with fullness of joy. Taking in the beauty gave me rest and respite from the dark aching that had been in my heart and I realized - it was <i>God</i> who had drawn me there, it was <i>Him</i> who <i>was</i> the water. <i>He's</i> the beautiful One, my place of rest and calm and retreat and the One I had been longing for with soul loneliness. I sat down in that lovely, inviting water and I began to weep. I was so sorry for having neglected coming to this place, this sweet and precious refreshing gift - this valuable time of coming to Jesus and letting Him <b>be</b> <i>my</i> water of <span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">life</span>! My shoulders heaved and I cried cleansing tears of beautiful confession and repentance. And peace came. And grace. Even in correction, I was protected by His grace as I entered into the cleansing and righteousness that had been waiting there, available to me the whole time! Even in the midst of my salty tears, I was so grateful I hadn't chosen to walk around inside my loneliness but had made the simple decision to go outside myself for the refreshing presence of Christ through His Spirit, all in the Father's love. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I woke up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The beautiful beach was gone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But the rest, the peace, the love, the deep joy and abiding presence of Jesus - that abides. Matthew 11:28-29 has never been so real - <a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/11-28.htm" style="color: #001320; text-decoration: none;"><span class="reftext"><b></b></span><span style="color: red;"><i>“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.</i></span></a><span style="color: red;"><i><a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/11-29.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="reftext"><b> </b></span><span style="color: red;">“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.</span></a><span style="color: red;"><span class="reftext"><b> </b></span>“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”</span></i></span><span class="brk"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="brk">And as He said to the woman at the well in John 4:14, <span style="color: red;"><i>"</i></span></span><span style="color: red;"><i><span class="red">Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the
water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to
eternal life!”</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-31386456046312145722013-03-15T22:40:00.002-07:002015-06-17T12:57:37.401-07:00The Greatest Undercover Boss Reveal - Ever.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">T</span>ell me you've seen the tv show <i>Undercover Boss</i>, because this post will make *so much more sense* if you have: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At tonight's coffee shop study we were reading about the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4&version=NKJV" target="_blank">woman at the well</a> in John 4:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <i><span class="text John-4-19" id="en-NKJV-26176"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. </span> <span class="text John-4-20" id="en-NKJV-26177"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="text John-4-21" id="en-NKJV-26178"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>Jesus said to her, <span class="woj">“<span style="color: red;">Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.</span></span><span style="color: red;"> </span></span><span style="color: red;"> <span class="text John-4-22" id="en-NKJV-26179"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup><span class="woj">You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.</span> </span> <span class="text John-4-23" id="en-NKJV-26180"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup><span class="woj">But
the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to
worship Him.</span> </span> <span class="text John-4-24" id="en-NKJV-26181"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup><span class="woj">God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”</span></span></span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then it hit me: Jesus gave the GREATEST Undercover Boss reveal EVER! (I may be a little too excited about this, but stay with me - ) Jesus told her the Father is <b>seeking</b> those who will worship Him... Jesus who would say, "If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father," and I had a picture in my mind of the delighted look in Jesus' eyes as the meaning behind His words drew her to Him, "<i>I AM</i> God, and I'm seeking <i>you</i>. In fact, I went of of my way to come here and meet with you. I sought you out." You, who haven't found lasting love in the <i>5 husbands</i> you've had or the man you are living with now. " </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I want <u><i>you</i></u>."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="text John-4-25" id="en-NKJV-26182"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text John-4-25" id="en-NKJV-26182">And....then, wait for it... - </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text John-4-25" id="en-NKJV-26182"> </span><i><span class="text John-4-25" id="en-NKJV-26182"> </span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="text John-4-26" id="en-NKJV-26183"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>Jesus said to her, <span class="woj"> </span></span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="text John-4-26" id="en-NKJV-26183"><span class="woj">“<span style="color: red;">I who speak to you <b>am He</b>.</span>” </span></span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text John-4-26" id="en-NKJV-26183"><span class="woj">!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text John-4-26" id="en-NKJV-26183"><span class="woj">In other words, as God the Father said to Moses when he asked Him who should he say sent him, "<span style="color: red;"><b>I AM</b>.</span>" God of the Universe, Love Unconditional, Awesome, Powerful, Merciful Savior. <i>That would be Me</i>, Jesus was explaining to her. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text John-4-26" id="en-NKJV-26183"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text John-4-26" id="en-NKJV-26183"><span class="woj">Can you see it? The kindness and excitement in His eyes as He revealed His true self to her? His smile as He offered her EVERYTHING - "<span style="font-size: large;">Dear w</span>oman, you thought you were bringing me a drink and some food, but I came to reveal myself to you and offer <b>you</b> <i>eternal life</i>." </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text John-4-26" id="en-NKJV-26183"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text John-4-26" id="en-NKJV-26183"><span class="woj">Boom.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text John-4-26" id="en-NKJV-26183"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text John-4-26" id="en-NKJV-26183"><span class="woj">Greatest Undercover Boss Reveal. Ever.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-51389299915089226312013-03-08T14:48:00.002-08:002015-06-17T12:59:38.365-07:00Freedom Roots and Bitterness<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Showering. <i>It's where quiet time happens</i>. The majority of my uninterrupted time is spent there. And, let's face it, the acoustics are *amazing.* I can sing my heart out, offerings of praise rising to heaven along with the steam. :-)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I began to pray, I finally realized what I'd been trying so hard not to admit, "They broke my heart, LORD." </span><span style="font-size: large;">I had never put it in those words before. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hot tears slid down my face as I gave Him the brokenness of my heart. I didn't want to confess it, because I </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">didn't want </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">it to be true. I also knew I had a root of bitterness in my soul, and try as I might, it wasn't going anywhere </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">but </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">down</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">deeper.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yet as I laid my heart bare before Him, He instructed me gently, "Pray for them."</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, that. To be perfectly honest, I didn't want to - I had before, though truth be told, much more in the beginning than as of late.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"But...it's going to be ugly."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I know."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"And I don't want to pray anything I shouldn't."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hmmmm. "Should I call my best friend?...my mentor?" I wondered. Someone flesh and blood to put their arm around me and pray with me?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm right here," He gently offered. His presence was so real. His love. His grace. His mercy. His welcoming. His faithfulness. His love. <i>Him.</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> He was enough.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I did. I started praying for them. Some words came easily and others were stilted and gutteral, but they came nonetheless, and as I poured out the dark contents of my heart, He filled it with His healing balm of love and mercy. And I as I felt relief, I wondered if it would last. Would I wake up the next day and feel horrible all over again?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because, in truth, I know a lot of verses about forgiveness. But I also know what it's like to wake up and not *feel* like doing it. To have all those fiery darts and accusations and reminders of words spoken and injuries incurred and to want to give into the ugliness. But more than that, I want to walk like Jesus walked. I want to look like Him. He forgave. He loved. He died for us while we were yet sinners! And I want to obey Him. His command is simple, "forgive." Even if you never get an apology. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The beauty of it all is that He strengthens us through <i>His</i> Spirit to be <span style="color: #990000;">r</span><span style="color: #990000;">ooted</span> and grounded in <span style="color: red;"><b>love</b></span>. His love pushes out the roots of bitterness and fills us with the fullness of Himself. It's His power that works in us to obey Him. Specifically, to dig out the root of bitterness and unforgiveness and to have His love for others, yes, especially the ones who hurt you. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's so healing and freeing! The next day when I woke up? His fullness and grace was shielding me from those fiery darts. That "stuff?" It's not mine anymore. I gave it to Him. And that, my friends, is freedom. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ephesians 3:14-21 <i><span class="text Eph-3-14"><sup>"</sup>For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, </span><span class="text Eph-3-15" id="en-NKJV-29267">from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, </span><span class="text Eph-3-16" id="en-NKJV-29268">that
He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, </span><span class="text Eph-3-17" id="en-NKJV-29269">that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, </span><span class="text Eph-3-18" id="en-NKJV-29270">may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— </span><span class="text Eph-3-19" id="en-NKJV-29271">to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><i><span class="text Eph-3-20" id="en-NKJV-29272"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, </span><span class="text Eph-3-21" id="en-NKJV-29273">to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<div class="first-line-none">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text Eph-3-14"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-30353282261834004412012-07-19T08:21:00.003-07:002015-06-17T13:02:28.444-07:00Learning the Hard Way<span style="font-size: large;">I've spent a few years learning things I didn't want to know. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sting. Shame. Shunning. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember Who holds you, never leaves or forsakes you, never betrays you and NEVER forgets you - Savior, strength, surrender. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hypocrisy, hurt, heartbreak.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember the One well acquainted with grief and sorrow. Remember <span style="font-size: large;">His</span> Spirit sent to comfort, guide, lead and teach us -</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Healing, hope, help.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Failings, fear.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember the One who calls us His friend and is always faithful, even though we have not been faithful.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Friendship, forgiveness. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Grungy, garbage.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes we are a little messy. Sometimes we feel worthless. </span> If you see a hurting brother or sister, I pray you'll be kind. Don't treat each other like trash. Goodness, grace -
We will be hurt by each other. Let God perfect His work in you and in each other. Don't isolate yourselves. We are living stones which can smooth each other's rough edges. Don't cut each other down.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jaded, jagged.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In Revelation, John sees Jesus standing in the middle of seven lamp stands which represent the seven churches. As imperfect as they are, He still chooses to standing among them. He sees it all. Trust Him to sort everything out in His perfect and righteous timing. Jesus, justice, joy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Painful, prickly, petty.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Some days are plagued with trouble. So what do we do? Press in. Worship Him.
Prayer, praise - to the One who is our peace.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So yes, I learned some things I didn't want to learn the way I didn't want to learn them. Yet these things others have meant for harm, God has used for good in my life. In the way which only He can, He's used them to grow me in ways I wasn't expecting. When you feel like you're sinking, call out to Jesus. He will hold you through the storm. He will bring you to safety. He'll meet you in your pain and sorrow. He will heal you. And you'll know what real love looks like. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Agape</span>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-65845368715292249012012-03-05T14:01:00.001-08:002014-10-23T13:28:19.523-07:00Growing PainsHave you ever have one of those days where God sends someone to speak right into your heart and life, to let you know He hears you and He cares about *y o u ?* To remind you what matters to Him is your heart? To reassure you that He is in control, He has a purpose and a plan, and He gets you? And loves you still?<br />
<br />
<br />
Spend time with Jesus, and let Him encourage your heart today. It seems so overly simplistic, but it isn't. It's simplistic in our heads, but not in our hearts. In our hearts, He overflows and pours into and out from our lives. In our hearts, we can't hold unforgiveness, because His love is bigger and has squeezed out the ugliness of bitterness. Let's be people who forgive and put all our pain, hurt and injustices on His alter and release it to Him. Let's grow up. Let's be people who trust Him. Completely. People who can love others because God loves us. Let's be people who know we will be hurt and choose to love anyway. Do you want to be a grown up Christian? Let Him heal your hurts. Ask Him the "big picture" questions. Wait to hear His answers. Understand life will sometimes be entirely too difficult, and that's okay. Our God is bigger. Let Him be bigger in our lives.sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-81240365654186285432011-12-12T10:42:00.001-08:002015-06-17T13:04:43.300-07:00The Audacity of Flash Mobs<span style="font-size: large;">How many times in life do I *know* but don't do? More than I'd care to admit. I've been in a <strike>weird</strike> <strike>tough</strike> <strike>painful</strike> growing? time in my life, and this is one I would do without if I was the author of my story (or the conductor of my song)... but every single one of us goes through things we don't want to. Life gives us what we don't want or doesn't give us what we do want, or things seem to be going well, and then WHAM, our hears are broken and we feel like all our insides are on our outsides and everything hurts and nothing is as it seems it should be and there's nothing that can be done but to</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">just</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">keep</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">walking -</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">to</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">keep putting one foot in front of the other, standing on what we know is true, and refusing to give up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been watching Christmas flash mobs on youtube. I must be a complete sap, because they make me cry every time I view one. My favorites are the ones where people are at the mall, perhaps in a food court, and one person has the <b><i>audacity</i></b> to stand up and begin to sing. <b>Loudly</b>. People walk by, stare, or look at said individual as if he/she is CRAZY. Some watch in joy and wonder; some are completely confused. Others walk by, barely taking notice, yet those do who stop to take it all in and allow themselves to soak in that moment - the beauty of voices lifted together - experience the oneness of voice and soul. By the end, most people smile with new found joy and clap with gratitude for that little piece of *something* they were unexpectedly inundated with.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And then I think of Jesus, fully divine in all His glory, emptying Himself of those divine attributes and having the <b>audacity</b> to be born <i>here</i>, into His own creation, wrecked by sin and evil and death, coming completely helpless and dependent upon His earthly family to care for Him. He had the audacity to come, wrapped in fragile, mortal flesh and live a perfect, sinless life and become the sacrifice for my sin. I wonder, is God pleased when people gather in a mall, sing praises to His name, and proclaim the truth of His son's birth? Does their boldness delight Him? He sent Jesus to this dark world as a light to love and give His life as a ransom for us. It pleased Him. He delighted in it. This leads me to believe He delights in these flash mobs the way He delights in giving good gifts to us. He delights in mercy, love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, strength under control, boldness to proclaim His truth, and also the audacity to </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">love</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">in this dark world. Sacrificially. Costly. All in, no holds barred, love. It blows my mind that He came down to this dirty, messed up, evil world and <i>inundated</i> it with life, love, forgiveness, and truth, knowing full well He would be met with rejection, gossip, hate, betrayal, selfish people, religious persecution and ultimately a torturous death. He came to pay the price for our debt - knowing full well some would reject that, too. How many people ignore Him, walk by and busy themselves with all kinds of nothing just to keep from stopping and taking a moment to let it all in - the audacity of Christ's love - the divine meeting humanity in the humblest of ways - born to poor, scandalous parents in a borrowed barn? I pray those who know Him will live our lives as beautifully and boldly as the people in those flash mobs. I pray people will see the divine come to them and let the moment wash over their hearts and let Jesus in. I will never understand all it cost Him. But I know I'm not alone, even when it feels like it. He is the conductor of the orchestra of our lives. So I will listen and follow Him and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">just</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">keep</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">walking.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I love the end of this one:</span><br />
<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vnt7euRF5Pg?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vnt7euRF5Pg?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-73378550214048697792011-07-27T10:03:00.000-07:002015-06-17T13:05:44.892-07:00Schooled by My Daughter<h4 style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</h4>
<h4 style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Psalm 27</span></h4>
<h5 class="passage-header" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>A Psalm</i> of David.</span></h5>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14287">1</sup> The LORD <i>is</i> my light and my salvation;<br />
Whom shall I fear? <br />
The LORD <i>is</i> the strength of my life; <br />
Of whom shall I be afraid?<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14288">2</sup> When the wicked came against me<br />
To eat up my flesh, <br />
My enemies and foes, <br />
They stumbled and fell.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14289">3</sup> Though an army may encamp against me,<br />
My heart shall not fear; <br />
Though war may rise against me, <br />
In this I <i>will be</i> confident. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14290">4</sup> One <i>thing</i> I have desired of the LORD,<br />
That will I seek: <br />
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD <br />
All the days of my life, <br />
To behold the beauty of the LORD, <br />
And to inquire in His temple.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14291">5</sup> For in the time of trouble<br />
He shall hide me in His pavilion; <br />
In the secret place of His tabernacle <br />
He shall hide me; <br />
He shall set me high upon a rock. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14292">6</sup> And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;<br />
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; <br />
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14293">7</sup> Hear, O LORD, <i>when</i> I cry with my voice!<br />
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14294">8</sup> <i>When You said,</i> “Seek My face,”<br />
My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14295">9</sup> Do not hide Your face from me;<br />
Do not turn Your servant away in anger; <br />
You have been my help; <br />
Do not leave me nor forsake me, <br />
O God of my salvation.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14296">10</sup> When my father and my mother forsake me,<br />
Then the LORD will take care of me. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14297">11</sup> Teach me Your way, O LORD,<br />
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14298">12</sup> Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;<br />
For false witnesses have risen against me, <br />
And such as breathe out violence.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14299">13</sup> <i>I would have lost heart,</i> unless I had believed<br />
That I would see the goodness of the LORD <br />
In the land of the living. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-14300">14</sup> Wait on the LORD;<br />
Be of good courage, <br />
And He shall strengthen your heart; <br />
Wait, I say, on the LORD!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">M<span style="font-size: large;">y</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;">daughter loves to read and learn from the Bible. This morning she read this Psalm to us, and if she only knew how appropriate it was for me today! I love how God uses His innocent little ones to speak to us. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I asked her, "Do you know what waiters do?" wanting to explain to her that "waiting on the Lord" is not passive but active.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Take orders?" came her reply.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Um...yes!" (Duh. It takes a child, right?)...I had thought I was going to teach her, but she ended up schooling me without even knowing it (good morning, Holy Spirit!) Taking orders <i>is</i> what waiters do. How very simple. Yet how often do we want to <i>give</i> orders instead of take them? What kind of waiter does this make? What if said waiter takes an order and then gets sidetracked or just plain decides not to serve his customers? Ridiculous, no? How much more then as Christ's servants are we to obey what God has revealed to us? Isn't this what "waiting on the Lord" should look like in our lives? </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Going to <i>His</i> table, listening and receiving <i>His</i> orders, and then walking them out in humble service to <i>Him </i>is the waiting David was speaking of. When we do this, our hearts will be strengthened whether or not people or circumstances are against us, this Psalm assures us. Even when we hurt or are being attacked, we don't have to experience fear and anxiety. We can have peace. We can know that He will never leave us or forsake us. As we truly "wait" on Him, He gives us protection and rest, strength and boldness. As we seek to touch His face, we get to see and perceive His goodness. We can know which way to go in our journeys as we draw close to and learn from Him. We can trust in His timing and His justice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Clark's Commentary on the Bible says this: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"<i>I had fainted, unless I had believed</i>" - The words in italics are supplied by our translators; but, far from being necessary, they injure the sense. Throw out the words I had fainted, and leave a break after the verse, and the elegant figure of the psalmist will be preserved: <i>"Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" - What! what, alas! should have become of me!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">How very true. Without faith in Him, what should have become of me! Instead, today, my heart is happy dancing. Today, I see His beauty and goodness because He is faithful and merciful. Today, I can serve Him with joy in my heart and sing songs of praise because of who He is! Today, I can see His beauty. All from a Psalm and the faith of a child.</span></div>
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sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-86509317012931472952011-06-28T09:50:00.002-07:002015-06-17T13:17:46.898-07:00The Friendship of Pain<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I once saw a t-shirt that read, "Pain is weakness leaving the body." I don't know if it was a marine, an athlete or just someone at the gym who wore it, but the thought intrigued me. "Yea, that's true," I <span style="font-size: large;">pondere</span>d. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Except when it's <i>not</i>. Sometimes pain <i>is</i> weakness leaving the body, and sometimes it's your <b>femur bone being snapped in half!</b> (Thank <span style="font-size: large;">you, Brian Regan.) </span><i>Sometimes</i> it means being pushed to your ultimate limit resulting in growth and <i>sometimes</i> it means cruel and permanent damage…which leads me to yesterday morning's teaching about friendship. We read from 2 Samuel chapter 15 which tells of Absalom's (David's son's) betrayal of his father, and the loyalty of David's friends.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By the way, may I just pause here and *thank* God for not whitewashing people's lives in His word? God chose to tell His story through real people with messy lives who loved God imperfectly. I say this because I relate to real people who don't give me whitewashed versions of themselves. It's those persons of integrity from whom I can receive wisdom, encouragement, and, yes, correction. David, who was called a man after God's own heart, grievously sinned by taking many wives, including Bathsheba, with whom he had already committed adultery, impregnated, and subsequently had her husband murdered in battle. (Extremely <span style="font-size: large;">messy, yes?</span>) For those who say God winks at sin, though, I say keep reading. Yes, David was forgiven, but he had <span style="font-size: large;">the </span><i>dire</i> consequences of his sin to live with for the rest of his life - including </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">the death of his son and </span>the inability to properly discipline his remaining sons. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So back to pain. And friendship. Why is it these two words are related? Our pastor said something at the end of his teaching Sunday that struck a painful chord in my heart. He said sometimes those friends we share our lives with will pull out your heart and stomp on it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Yep.</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On one hand you have friends you become closer with through pain, and on the other hand you have friends who cause it. Friendship and pain, hand in hand, closer than I ever expected those two words to be.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So what's the lesson? What's the point? Through this last year there have been many times I wanted to crawl up, disappear, and just<span style="font-size: large;">...</span><i>quit</i>. <span style="font-size: large;">Y</span>et, since quitting is not a valid option, my next choice was to allow a wall to form to keep people at a distance and protect myself from getting hurt again. The truth is…although I tried for awhile, I couldn't continue doing that either, because it would really just be another form of quitting, and besides, we <i>need</i> <span style="font-size: large;">each other.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">It's true, <span style="font-size: large;">p</span></span>eople are often messy and flaky, and can be ugly, mean, and/or downright cruel. <i>But</i> people can also be kind, beautiful, humble, and encouraging. Jesus loved in a way that cost Him. Who am I if I am unwilling to even be open to making new friends? He was God wrapped in flesh, yet He chose to keep company with a group of self centered, slow to understand, stinky sinners (including me.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There have been people this past year I can't even think about. The pain of loss just cuts too deeply. On Sunday morning, while "kitchening" (it's my own word; with a family of 5, I spend a lot of time in our kitchen cooking, cleaning, etc. so <i>indulge</i> me,) my thoughts turned to some of the people who<span style="font-size: large;"> ha</span>ve<span style="font-size: large;">, for all inte<span style="font-size: large;">nsive purposes, </span></span>shunned us...<span style="font-size: large;"> I <span style="font-size: large;">thou<span style="font-size: large;">ght about their sweet</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;">babies, some in heaven, some <span style="font-size: large;">pro<span style="font-size: large;">bably <span style="font-size: large;">crawling around <span style="font-size: large;">by now</span>, who</span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;">we prayed for through their entire pregnancies, dear, sweet people - I thought about the people whose little ones I would love to see grow up into not so little and then big people, the same people who chose to cut us out of their lives <span style="font-size: large;">entirely</span> - I was able to pray for them and <i>feel</i> the pain instead of pushing it away. I was able to give it to Jesus and let His healing wash over me. Jesus, the Lover of my soul, the One Who will <i>never</i> leave us or forsake us. The One who knows more betrayal than I can ever fathom. And so now I thank God for my friends, like David's, who, though an entire kingdom seemed to be turned against him, would not leave him, even to save themselves. They are the friends I want to be like. Friendship like that is rare, even within the body of Christ. I am extremely grateful for my dear, precious friends and family who have loved us through this hard life season, giving us encouragement along the way. I am also thankful for the sweet and humble new friends He has brought into our life this past year. But do you want to know something else? I am even grateful for the people I thought were my friends who ended up smashing my heart. Because I know God deeper now. I have experienced His great faithfulness<span style="font-size: large;">!</span> I have lived in His grace and mercy. I get to forgive. I get to grow. And I get to know God's strength through my own weakness. Because without Him, my smashed up heart would have been cracked in half like a femur with no one to set it, causing crippling and death in my heart and life permanently. Not to say I never limped, or bled. There's been more of that than I would have chosen to experience. I wish healing could always be instantaneous but often it's not; <span style="font-size: large;">He</span> sets us in place and lets us walk it a<span style="font-size: large;">ll out. And that's okay. His way is better.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christians are called "the Body of Christ." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I Corinthians 12:18 adds, <i>"But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased."</i> Funny thing<span style="font-size: large;"> - </span>yesterday as I drove my kids to do errands, we listened to a bible teacher on the radio who expounded on the word "set" in this verse. It's an orthopedic term. God took broken people, and "set" us in His body. We are made whole only in Him, yet He's chosen to put us together with other believers for our own (and each other's) health and growth. <i>"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend,"</i> Proverbs 27:17.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe pain <i>isn't</i> weakness leaving the body. Maybe pain is one of our friends.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">*It's been a few years since I wrote this. I am eternally grateful for the lessons I have learned through the experiences which prompted this post. I shared with my husband one day, "Maybe we can only truly serve the body sacrificially until we've been wounded by the body." Just a thought. Either way,</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I wouldn't change what we've been through. God has used it all as only He can. He has given us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. We are blessed to encourage others with the comfort and encouragement the Holy Spirit has comforted and encouraged us with. We are humbled every day that He has called us faithful and made us His own. If you are going through a church hurt, press into Jesus. Lean into what He's doing. He will make it into something beautiful.</span><br />
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sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7507679401232026973.post-30362070771412359702011-05-27T09:00:00.000-07:002013-10-16T22:57:34.688-07:00Warning: Woman with Uninterrupted Thoughts Ahead<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, I had to edit this because, frankly, my thoughts are often interrupted. A family of five with three school aged children and an almost 16 years of marriage keeps me busy and interrupted almost constantly, which is fine. One day, my kids will be grown and have lives and families of their own; these times are as precious as they are trying - probably much moreso! :-) These are my often interrupted thoughts on life and walking with Jesus. Sitting down to write helps me process the things in my heart and mind. I hope you find something here that helps you along your way.</span>sammyzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351519706459333312noreply@blogger.com1