Sometimes life takes unexpected turns. Or maybe we just turn the wrong way and God makes His will known? Either way the experience is anything but pleasant. Filled with pain and grief as well as a bunch of confusion about sums up the concoction of feelings.
The power comes when you begin to embrace the turns and stop trying to maneuver your way through His will. It won't work and believe me you do not always have to be intelligent enough to understand it. Even if you finally figure it out... it still takes obedience on your part to be willing to accept it.
Sitting there you may think well if it is God's will of course you accept it. How could you not? Well I need to be honest and share that although I may also think those thoughts, thinking and acting upon them are two completely different things.
Have you ever watched the movie Groundhog day with Bill Murray? It is a movie that as my life goes on I can actually begin to relate with. The whole process of living out each day again and again until you finally get it right is what we as Christians do on a daily basis. Maybe most people get it faster than me, I am not sure but I do know it continues to be a challenge to change the behavior or circumstance God continues to bring me through.
When I think about what I have seen others endure I feel selfish in my thoughts for their path and turns have been more bitter sweet than anything I have ever endured. We each have watched others suffer and often times tried our best to understand their pain and yet can not even come close to empathizing with it.
We have the best interests at heart but the question remains, is that God's interest? It appears I have learned the hard way often times it is not. Grief is a hard lesson to learn, the pain is intense and the idea and often times the prayer of please Lord let this be a dream ends with a bitter reality. It is not a dream. Life is really what is seems at this moment.
Finally embracing this is much harder than I ever conceived. It seems foolish to ever think a life change would some how be easy. But what I have found is that it is anything but easy. Often times it is the pain that brings you back to the only One who can take it away. Waiting on His perfect time to relieve it is often even harder. Here I am as a fellow Sister in Christ with arms lifted high, yet trembling at the thought of releasing it ALL to Him. Reminding myself that it is not the release that scares me but more my resistance to change. Here is to trying once again as a new day approaches. Can Groundhog day come to an end... only His time will tell.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
God Sized Piggy Back Ride
Have you ever had the kind of day... week... year that appears to be filled with constant apprehension? When much seems uncertain it is hard to focus and enjoy the gifts given to us each and everyday. Instead you feel forced into the endless unknowns of your mind. The strange thing is that often times it is the same unknown we continue to have swirling around in our mind. Replaying the same scenarios over and over again, unable to grasp if and when these events will come to pass.
My friends I have been having one of those years. In all honesty I have spent a number of years filled with apprehension. Ever since I boldly said yes to God I have been under attack. As time continues on life only appears to get harder. Although the body can often times become numb to the mental abuse of the mind, our Spirit never does. The Holy Spirit grieves each and every time we fall victim to the abuse and lies of the enemy.
Over and over I have been reminded to take such thoughts captive, 2 Corinthians 10:5. To rebuke the enemy away from my mind and thoughts and to pray for God's truth of scripture to fill the void that the captivity has left behind. The Bible is clear if you do not fill your mind and heart with God and His truth after you remove the sin and lies you will allow the enemy to come right back in. Most cases stronger than he was before, Matthew 12:43-45.
You see we can not do anything about our current state of attacks. The more we do for the Lord and His Kingdom, the more fierce the attacks from the enemy. The truth is that simple. Yet even with such a statement, we know that although it may be simply put... it is in no way easy. Unless we are going to attempt to go back to our old ways and sin filled life we should not expect the attacks to go away. The closer we are to God's will, the more fierce the beatings we receive from those of this world. Take a moment to think of Jesus and His last days. Think about the things that others said about him, the horrible and harsh way He was treated. Remember this when the words of others used to describe you are also cruel and their behavior toward you at times filled with contempt. Take heart and hold on to the hope found in 1 John 5:4 (NLT), "For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith."
Friends, I share with you today because I know I am not the only one being attacked. That there are many more of God's warriors being bombarded with lies and being whipped into a state of disillusionment. We must keep our focus on Heaven and we must persevere! God is not only leading us, He is walking with us. At times He has even carried us when the burdens have staggered our walk. Other times He races for us with us holding tightly on to Him, smiling with excitement and joy as He triumphantly carries us like a child on His back. Can you imagine this God sized piggy back ride?
Just recently I had the privilege of hearing a Brother in Christ share his hope and faith. Bryant and his wife Jennifer had just said goodbye to their 1 year old daughter. Mikayla fought the good fight before she was eventually called home. Bryant said boldly and courageously that the decision to let Mikayla go was much easier because he knew where she was going and that they would be together again... this time forever. Bryant imagined Mikayla receiving the most amazing piggy back ride up to Heaven. These are words I will not forget. Jennifer and Bryant's faith will be forever etched in my memory as will the picture of Mikayla getting a God sized piggy back ride into paradise.
The race has already begun friends and God is cheering us onward. He is enabling our falls to be used for His glory and His purpose, Romans 8:28. He will remain at our side until we reach the finish line. The next time you feel like giving up and begin to lose sight of your Heavenly prize, close your eyes and ask God to remove the distractions. Ask Him to peel back the curtains of Heaven and give you a sneak peek at what He has been preparing for you. Pray to embrace and cleave to His will and to do it with His strength, Philippians 4:13. Remind yourself of the truth that God spoke to me through Paul's sharing in The Message version of Galatians 5:7-10 "You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn't come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don't toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment."
Friends God will ultimately deal with those in our life who try time and time again to knock us off the track and have us eliminated. Take heart and remember that although we may not know all God has in store for us, or what lies ahead. We do know the most important part... how the story ends. Praise the Lord, come Lord Jesus come!
My friends I have been having one of those years. In all honesty I have spent a number of years filled with apprehension. Ever since I boldly said yes to God I have been under attack. As time continues on life only appears to get harder. Although the body can often times become numb to the mental abuse of the mind, our Spirit never does. The Holy Spirit grieves each and every time we fall victim to the abuse and lies of the enemy.
Over and over I have been reminded to take such thoughts captive, 2 Corinthians 10:5. To rebuke the enemy away from my mind and thoughts and to pray for God's truth of scripture to fill the void that the captivity has left behind. The Bible is clear if you do not fill your mind and heart with God and His truth after you remove the sin and lies you will allow the enemy to come right back in. Most cases stronger than he was before, Matthew 12:43-45.
You see we can not do anything about our current state of attacks. The more we do for the Lord and His Kingdom, the more fierce the attacks from the enemy. The truth is that simple. Yet even with such a statement, we know that although it may be simply put... it is in no way easy. Unless we are going to attempt to go back to our old ways and sin filled life we should not expect the attacks to go away. The closer we are to God's will, the more fierce the beatings we receive from those of this world. Take a moment to think of Jesus and His last days. Think about the things that others said about him, the horrible and harsh way He was treated. Remember this when the words of others used to describe you are also cruel and their behavior toward you at times filled with contempt. Take heart and hold on to the hope found in 1 John 5:4 (NLT), "For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith."
Friends, I share with you today because I know I am not the only one being attacked. That there are many more of God's warriors being bombarded with lies and being whipped into a state of disillusionment. We must keep our focus on Heaven and we must persevere! God is not only leading us, He is walking with us. At times He has even carried us when the burdens have staggered our walk. Other times He races for us with us holding tightly on to Him, smiling with excitement and joy as He triumphantly carries us like a child on His back. Can you imagine this God sized piggy back ride?
Just recently I had the privilege of hearing a Brother in Christ share his hope and faith. Bryant and his wife Jennifer had just said goodbye to their 1 year old daughter. Mikayla fought the good fight before she was eventually called home. Bryant said boldly and courageously that the decision to let Mikayla go was much easier because he knew where she was going and that they would be together again... this time forever. Bryant imagined Mikayla receiving the most amazing piggy back ride up to Heaven. These are words I will not forget. Jennifer and Bryant's faith will be forever etched in my memory as will the picture of Mikayla getting a God sized piggy back ride into paradise.
The race has already begun friends and God is cheering us onward. He is enabling our falls to be used for His glory and His purpose, Romans 8:28. He will remain at our side until we reach the finish line. The next time you feel like giving up and begin to lose sight of your Heavenly prize, close your eyes and ask God to remove the distractions. Ask Him to peel back the curtains of Heaven and give you a sneak peek at what He has been preparing for you. Pray to embrace and cleave to His will and to do it with His strength, Philippians 4:13. Remind yourself of the truth that God spoke to me through Paul's sharing in The Message version of Galatians 5:7-10 "You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn't come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don't toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment."
Friends God will ultimately deal with those in our life who try time and time again to knock us off the track and have us eliminated. Take heart and remember that although we may not know all God has in store for us, or what lies ahead. We do know the most important part... how the story ends. Praise the Lord, come Lord Jesus come!
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