Literally

How often do I read a passage of the Bible and not recognize what it is actually saying, literally? The last several days I've been depressed and wondered how can God use a person who sees things "half-empty" the majority of the time. This afternoon while I was fixing supper I'd been listening to Chris Tomlin's new CD "HELLO LOVE" and I hear scripture woven in his songs. And it made me think about how I see God's words but I don't take it literally. The song that's playing right now says "my deliverer is the Lord" I've heard those verses and read those verses so many times and thought of King David as he wrote them but never, ever realized that the words are alive. God is my deliverer. And if I have to endure this time of depression He is my deliverer. He told Paul that His grace is sufficient. Taking this literally and continually doing so means that as I feel this darkness all I have to do is remember that His grace is sufficient. I'm not alone no matter if that's how I feel.
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor 12:9

The meaning of Christmas

I've been concerned lately about the relationship that my children have with God. I tried the other morning to initiate a conversation with my daughter, Kelsey, about her spiritual walk. The talk didn't go very far. But as I was driving her to school that morning something was said about Christmas. I asked her if she knew the true meaning of it. She said something that just hit me as very profound. She said that the true meaning was that God loves us. And I thought, wow, she's right.
Christmas is definitely about the birth of Jesus. But His birth is about the fact that God loves us.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

refrigerator magnet

I was reading a devotional last week named "Hope for the Holidays" It was about labeling ourselves by our past mistakes. It also was about salvation. How because of God's forgiveness and His erasing our past mistakes our slate is clean. And because He forgave us. we should forgive ourselves. And no longer label ourselves by the past.
But, for me as I read this all that really stood out was the labeling. I don't know for how long I'd considered myself to be a failure, unfit parent, unfaithful wife. I look at my past and say, "wish I'd never did that. I such an idiot for having said that." And I began wondering about the people I see everyday at the bank. How many of them consider themselves not to be worthy or unloveable? Maybe they needed to be treated special that day because they didn't feel special.
I also read something else around this time: Remember this, if God had a refrigerator, He'd have your picture on it.
As for my labeling of myself, God's still working on me. Using statements like the latter to remind me of how much He loves me. Showing me that my "slate is clean" That the past is just that, the past. I can't change it. I just need to move on. And to remember that if God had a refrigerator my picture would be on it.
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalms 103:12

Discipline

At our Sunday school class the other day the question was asked; are you anxious, angry (and there was a 3rd thing but I can't remember it) everyday. And I thought, yep, at least 2 out of 3. With the being anxious I just try to remember Phil. 4:6. Though I admit I'm not always successful at it. But the anger is something different. It sneaks up on me. I don't think I'm angry about something and then I examine what I'm feeling and realize that I'm angry. Some of it is from past situations that I'm trying to put behind me. But some of it has to do with just the present. My oldest son is the youth leader in our church. One evening I was sitting in a church meeting thinking about him and what I think is his lack of concern for his position. And then it came to me; I actually was angry at him. For various reasons. And I prayed that God would forgive me for that and my attitude. I felt God speak to my heart that it was okay. He forgave me and that it was going to be a process for He and I to work through.
I praise Him for this. He is such a God of love and compassion. And also my Father who disciplines me. And if you think He didn't discipline me about my anger, you need to think again. It breaks my heart to disappoint my Father. And it makes me want to be better. Just to please Him.
So, as I continue to walk with Him, it's good to know that as my Father who loves me, He disciplines me and does so with that love.
Those whom I love I reprove and discipline......Revelations 3:19

Politics

This blog is going to be more about a personal issue than about my growth in Christ. Our elections are now over. And a man that most evangelical Christians did not want elected was. There are brothers and sisters, though, who did vote for him. My concern is the possiblity of division in our "family" in regards to this. And that means that there are things we need to remember.

Though I can't find the verses for these I know the Bible says somewhere about God has chosen our leaders and that we are to pray for them.

It also goes back to my earlier blog about "being anxious for nothing" We have to remember that God is in control. No matter what man chooses God can and will use it for our good and His purpose.

Sing, Baby, Sing

The past year has been a great time of spiritual growth. God is calling me into something deeper, into serving Him in some way. Last Sunday at church I really felt that pull from God about serving Him. But He hasn't shown me what that would be yet. I sent an email to PC (my pastor, Cliff) to talk to him about this. He answered me to keep wrestling. Today there was a church dinner and as he was walking passed me he stopped. PC asked me if I knew what Howard Goodman told his wife Vestal just before he died. It was sing, Baby, sing. Cliff said that as he saw me, this thought came to him. So, is this what I'm to do? I'm willing to wait and see.
"I will sing to the Lord as long as I live, I will sing praise to my God while I have my being."
Psalm 104:33

Perfect love casts out fear

My husband, Gary, and I have been married for 26 years. During our entire married life I've always been afraid of his being angry with me. Mostly because I was afraid he'd leave me or not want me anymore. I've also realized that it comes from my insecurity with my father's love. The fear of Gary has diminished some. Last week a thought came to me about that. How I'm still a bit afraid of telling him something that would make him angry. But I'm not afraid of telling God anything. I can talk to God and say whatever I want and He'll never turn away.

I've been reading a book by Larry Crabb called "The Papa Prayer." PAPA stands for Presenting yourself to God (authentically, being real) Attend to how you are thinking of God (how you picture Him) Purge yourself of your relational faults (getting rid of your interests ahead of His and anything else that blocks intimacy with Him) Approach God just as you are. (tuning in to your passion to know Him and to honor Him above all others.) This is Dr. Crabb's formula for a relational prayer life.

God is now my Papa. I know I can come before Him with anything and He'll still love me. I used to think of Him as being angry with me. But again, He loves me. I want to know Him more. And I can, because He loves me.
"...Perfect love casts our fear." 1 John 4:18

Today's devotion

It amazes me how you can read a verse so many times and then someone comments on it and you see a whole new perspective. In the mornings I'm usually rushing and don't take time for actual devotions. So, I signed up for this email devotional which I try to read before I leave for work.
Today's devotional is called Keeping Our Joy by Micca Monda Campbell. I'd like to share with you just a small section of what she has written.

...but how do we find true joy in midst of heartache? We find it by depending on the Lord. David reminds us;
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trust in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song." Psalms 28:7
First, David believed God heard his cries. Second, he relied on God's provision and strength. Third, David trusted in God's help with all of his heart. This kept him from growing weak, losing heart, and giving up. Finally, because David believed God was for him, in him, with him, and behind him one hundred percent, David was able to give thanks with a joyful heart.
.....You and I don't serve God because we are good enough. We serve God because He's good enough. It's His perfection working through our imperfections.
By the same token, our joy is not defined by our circumstances. It's based on our relationship with God ...
In my life this is what I want to remember;
1. Believe God hears my cries
2 Rely on His provision and strength
3 Trust in God's help with all my heart.
4. Believe God is for me, in me with me and behind me one hundred percent
And with all of this, I then want to do the most important part. Give thanks with a joyful heart.

A new walk

This is a new blog for me. I had one before but it became too much about me. This one I want to be different. I'd like to write about how God is working in my life. How HE is drawing me out of my stale walk and into a relationship with Him.
This change started almost a year ago. And it's becoming so exciting. He's showing me deeper things in His word. Verses I've known for years are new. Such as Philippians 4:6. "Be anxious for nothing." Think about this. "BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING" I don't have to carry the weight of problems. God will. I can just let it go. Now this isn't to say that it's easy to do or that I'll do it all the time. For all of the changes God is showing me I'm still human.
We're in an election year with 2 candidates who neither appears to be worth their salt. But put this in conjunction with the verse above. Yes, we need to decide who we feel is the best out of the two, but the ultimate control is God's. Whomever becomes president, God is allowing him to hold that position. And though we want to fret about our economy, jobs, healthcare, God has it all under control.
"Be anxious for nothing, but with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus."