Thrive . . . Remain . . . Pray!

It’s been quiet here for some time.  Nothing like the reality in my own home and heart.  So much has been happening, but not every story is my own.  I share in the story of others. 

This place—this special place of questioning, reflecting, triumphing in Jesus—is a glimpse of my walk seeking His face every day of each season. 

But sometimes the walk cannot be written until a few more steps have been taken. 

And sometimes, the walk cannot be spoken out of respect for others involved. 

That’s where I find myself this morning.  

Stretched, worn and lovingly embraced!

But I had to share this verse with you.  

Could it be what you needed to hear as well?

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  

Romans 12:12 (NIV)

My Greek geek self dug a little deeper into the original language and found a rich reservoir worth drinking from for some time!

Thrive and be well while expecting good . . .

Remain in the pressing while holding fast to your faith . . .

Be constantly in prayer—continually . . .

May God bless you and keep you wherever He takes you walking today!

Soli deo Gloria!

Robin

A Remedy for Gluttony

Delve into prayer!

Awareness of the spiritual realm 

lessens the draw of the physical realms trappings!

I am like others—in love with the pretties of this world.

They are pretty!

And God created me to admire and to desire.

But He also created me capable of withholding affection for the things that do not satisfy.

He satisfies all needs.

He satisfies all desires.

If I come to Him—meet with Him—He will fill me up in a way

no thing,

no food,

no vice,

no temptation

 . . . ever could!

First, I must repent my sin of gluttony.

Second, receive the Lord’s gracious forgiveness!

Third, rebuke Satan’s influence to feed my desire for “it”.

Fourth, walk in the opposite spirit.

God wants to fill me up, but I must spend time with Him for that to happen.  And I spend time battling in the spiritual realm in prayer!

Prayer fulfills and satisfies and frees . . .

from the bondage of want, envy, covetousness and discontent.

Why not try Him and see?

Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Fear—At its Center—Is a Loss of Control

Most of us do not realize how deeply fear is rooted in our everyday life.  
We literally live in a culture of fear.

And fear leads to unbelief in the Word,

Character,

And power of God! *

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and a sound mind.” 

2 Timothy 1:7

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.”

1 John 4:18

“Fear involves torment.”

Isn’t THAT the truth!

But we, who Believe, have been given a SOUND mind!

The nature of fear is to deceive (mislead by a false appearance or statement; outwit, misrepresent, dupe, misinform, misdirect).   When we are fearful, we are vulnerable to exploitation, manipulation, deception, and control.  The enemy knows this and uses it to his full advantage. *

Fear distracts us, 

making us self-absorbed so we are not effective!

Fear—at its center—is a loss of control!

Did you know that there are 365 references to “do not fear” or “fear not” in the Bible?

So how do we not fear?

Scripture tells us fear is not of God. 

Fear is lack of faith—

the root of fear is the result of not knowing

or understanding

or believing

in God’s character and His word.

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.  Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you.  I will help you.  I will uphold you with My victorious right hand.”  
Is 41:10-13

Want NO FEAR?

Want FAITH, WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING in all things Jesus!

“When you have holy fear, you will fear nothing but God!

When you have unholy fear, you will fear everything but God!

Michael Yousseff

* Living Free; Mike Riches; August 2007; pg 70

Trust

“If you are in the habit of sitting at Jesus’ feet, then whatever God says to you, do it with confidence and without hesitation” ~ Kay Arthur

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

I’m getting better at the “with confidence and without hesitation”.  My struggle remains in my own addendum to this quote . . . “without looking back!” 

Satan can use my looking back to stir up doubt and regret.

Jesus tells us in John 14:27 “Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”  One of the meanings for the Greek word “troubled” is to perplex the mind of one by doubt! 

Is your mind perplexed—even plagued—by doubt?

The first part of that verse in John says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.”

He has “cast upon” us His peace and His gift of peace is irrevocable—unlike the worlds which is contingent upon circumstance! 

He is with you wherever you go.

Lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him.

He WILL direct your paths!

Think on the things that bring confidence and rest.  Like His constant, caring faithfulness.  He has never left you—abandoned, rejected or forsaken you—and He never will!

We are so close to completely trusting Him!

Rest and wait!

He will bring you to complete dependence upon Him.

It is coming!

Your reward for diligently seeking Him.

And it will be good—so good!

Walk with Him today with joy in your heart, a smile on your face and peace permeating your being!

“This is the day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” 
Ps 118:24

Remember Today

Remember today . . .

Whose you are!

Who you are in Christ!

Who God is!

And believe Him, not only IN Him!

Remember today . . .

You belong to God and not this world—

so no envy

no jealousy

no discontent

Remember today . . .

Follow Abba’s guidelines for living—not the world’s

Follow after His heart—not your own

Remember today . . .

To be Holy, as He is holy

To not fear, but trust . . . 

and keep on believing!

Remember today . . .

You are holy, chosen and dearly loved!

{Col. 3:12}

Affirming Truth vs. Positive Thinking

“What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand later.”  John 13:7

I speak these words today not to convince myself all will work out fine or to look on some “bright” side.  This is not me hugging myself while saying over and over again—

"Jesus loves me."

“I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not evil.”  Jeremiah 29:11

“I love those who love Me; and those who diligently seek Me will find Me.”  Proverbs 8:17

I affirm truth!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:8-9
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding."  Proverbs 3:5

This is not positive thinking. 

This is truth proclamation! 

“How precious . . . are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.”  Psalm 139:17-18

“Thou hast taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Thy bottle . . . This I know, that God is for me.”  Psalm 56:8, 9

There is a HUGE difference—

“For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you.  He is a mighty Savior.  He will rejoice over you with great gladness.  With His love, He will calm all your fears.  He will exult over you with singing {shouts of joy}.”  Zephaniah 3:17

Positive thinking only temporarily changes my thought process or perspective until something else happens to stir the pot.

Truth is bound to God’s Covenant! 

“For great is Your love toward me.”  Psalm 86:13

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, and your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You.”  Psalm 40:5

Jesus is always victorious!

Jesus is never defeated!

“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.”  Isaiah 49:16

I truly am rejoicing in the days to come!

“We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.”  1 John 4:16

God's Lesson to Me Today on Anxiety . . .

Anxiety is a self-contradiction to true humility.  

I am His concern.  

Since the humbling process has been allowed to come to me in the permissive will of God and He is using it to accomplish His purpose in my life—

He has it under His control

and me in His care! 

Anxiety wastes today; the good and bad!

The verse that started it all????  J

"Be anxious for nothing . . ." Phil. 4:6

Forbearance

So I'm studying Philippians 4:4-7 pretty indepth right now.  It involves a challenge I'll probably go into more later.  But . . . I thought you would appreciate {and maybe not if you're not so much of a Greek geek like I am! J} this word study I just concluded on the word "forbearance" from verse 5.

"Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men."

FORBEARANCE

• Mildness
• Patience
• Yieldingness
• Gentleness
• Clemency

It is . . .

• to interpret things in the best sense
• unwillingness to litigate or contend
• meekness under provocation
• readiness to forgive injuries
• fair in judging the character and actions of others
• sweetness of disposition
• not rigidly insisting on one's rights
• using the best of words and actions
• treating ALL others with humanity, kindness and respect
• forgiving offences
• not avenging self or giving way to wrath
• no return of ill; by word or deed
• patient suffering for well doing

It does not mean to yield the rights belonging to God in matters of doctrine and worship. 

But . . .

To give way and yield up what is one's right and due, 

for the sake of peace!

Wow!  Gonna need some help on this one, Jesus!

*Information gathered from Clarke's and John Gill's Bible Commentaries*

Linked to Raising Homemakers

Lessons From a Tea Bag

When we take a tea bag, place it in a teacup, and fill the cup with hot water, the water activates the tea in the bag, unleashing its taste into the water around it.

The hot water didn't create the taste; it merely revealed, or drew out, what was already in the bag.

This depicts what happens in the human heart. The pressures around us (the unfavorable circumstances, the temptations, and the commands of God to love Him and our neighbor) merely draw out of our heart what is already in it.


We cannot blame the hot water for the taste in the cup. The contents of the tea bag determine the flavor of the tea. If we don't like the particular taste, we need to put into the water a bag containing a different kind of tea.


Similarly, we cannot shift the blame for any bitterness, anger, despair, deception, cruelty, and so forth that we display when we are under pressure. The pressures merely expose how unlike Christ we really are.

{From Changed Into His Image, pg 4, by Jim Berg. Tea bag illustration adapted from J. Allan Petersen, Your Reactions Are Showing, pg 14-15}

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Am I Wanting From The Wrong Giver?

One of my biggest difficulties???

Sacrificing my wants from others!!!

None of us like giving up what we want . . . 

it bothers us to surrender our “rights”.

But whether I can have what I want or can’t—only in giving up my wants can I be free from dependency upon others for being pleased. 

Frees them others up too!

I can be a slave to my emotions.

Am I confident in who I am in Christ?

Do I even know "who" that is???

Do I love where I am today with Christ?

Do I want Him above all other wants—

including those “wants” from others?

Only He can grant me the desires of my heart.  All other attempts from others will fall short. What do I want from them any way?  
Usually the stuff that feeds my fleshly self.

My Pastor spoke awhile back on despair and envy—they’ll crush the life right outta ya if you let them!  So true!

Inwardly despairing—outwardly envying

Jesus asked the blind man before healing him, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

If Jesus were to ask you that same question, how would you respond? 

Could what I want from others be fulfilled in what Christ is already willing to give me?

Am I wanting from the wrong giver?

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Linked up with We Are That Family, Women Living Well, Far Above Rubies, A Steady Rain  and {Titus 2}sDay

Rest

The one word I have heard repeatedly from the Lord over the past several weeks now has been the one activity I am least capable of achieving—on my own!  And that is to rest . . .

Anxiety, fills me . . .

Hurry, pushes me . . .

Noise, encompasses me . . .

Control, defines me . . .

Busyness, surrounds me . . .
Fear, threatens me . . .

But rest  ? ? ?

Rest, eludes me . . .

Didn’t I just write about this in April? 
Writing about truth is one thing . . . learning to live truth is another!

“Come to Me, all who are weary 

and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”  

Nearness to Jesus offers me the rest I desperately need for refreshing.  As I abide in Him I collect His strength and recover from the constant onslaught of heaviness living on earth creates. 

A heart at rest is kept quiet, calm and expectantly patient!

One tangible way He is teaching me how to rest . . .

“Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.” (Exodus 14:13)

“Sit still . . . until you know how the matter will turn out.” (Ruth 3:18)

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Hoping (and praying!) to be a quick learner! J

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Silver Refining

Malachi 3:3 says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.  That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work.  She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.  He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.”  She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.  If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

God sees it necessary to put His children into the furnace; but His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.

The woman was silent for a moment.  Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”  He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy—when I see my image in it.”

 ~source unknown~

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Applied Christianity

God...how do I live this out practically?

I mean, this is what you want—this is what you are looking for in your children.  So help me to understand the walk You desire behind these few words . . .

“He has showed you, O man, what is good.  
And what does the Lord require of you?  

To act justly 
and to love mercy 
and to walk humbly with your God.”  

Micah 6:8

 

Be kind.

Be fair.

Be loving.

Be patient.

Curb your self and self’s desires.

Walk in the fruits of the Spirit. 

Live to please Me, not your self.

Make My priorities yours.

Live your life in such a way that others will see your good works and attribute them to Me. (Matt. 5:16)

Don’t just learn—implement!

“More than conquerors” don’t simply 

receive truth in their minds. 

They work that truth into their thinking 

until it is a natural reflection of their being!

Be changed.

Be renewed.

Be humbled.

Be lost—to self so that you can be found in Me!

Set your heart to seek Me—and when you find Me—don’t walk away unchanged. 

Allow grace and mercy full access to your soul. 

Purpose to change. 

Determine to renew your thinking. 

Then apply the truth to your living. 

This is sanctification.

This is the walking out of your salvation.

This is applied Christianity.

This is living in My power and authority.

This is not only what I require of you—it is what I desire for you!

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Linked up with Works For Me Wednesday, Above Rubies, Women Living Well, A Steady Rain and {Titus 2}sday

To Live What I Believe

I keep thinking about what was shared yesterday—

between me and God, then me and you . . .

What if I were to live believing 100% in Psalm 121?

Don’t get me wrong—I DO believe it 100% already!!!

I just don’t LIVE like I believe it . . .

100%

I want to live believing without doubt—knowing experientially!

And not tangled within Satan’s lies that . . .

I do not deserve that kind of loving.

I fall short of being acceptable. 

I am not worthy of attentive care and protection. 

The fact is God loves me, deemed me worthy of Jesus 

and Him within makes me acceptable!

I have experienced God’s love personally and uniquely.  Yet down deep, the Lord has shown me that I have unwillingly and unknowingly come to believe some ugly lies Satan spreads.  And this has hampered belief in my soul—my mind, will and emotions.

I am loved, protected and cared for!

God is in control!

And He is faithful, dependable and good!

This is truth!  Truth I believe!  Truth I walk in . . . in part. 

Truth I want to not doubt.

That’s what our enemy does.  He makes us doubt God.  From the very first, with Eve—his intentions were to get her to doubt what God had said.  And that is what he continues to do with you and me today.

If we doubt—we are less a threat to his kingdom on earth.

If we believe—we walk in full power and authority for the Kingdom of Heaven.

I am weeding through this, but here is where I start today . . .

I commit to being more active & less passive in these 6 areas:

1. Take control over thoughts. (2 Cor. 10:1-6)
2. Come against the evil one in power and authority. (James 4:7)
3. Meditate more on the Word. (John 15:1-11)
4. Believe God! (Hebrews 11:6)
5. Stop worry and fear at the doorstep of my mind. (Luke 12:22-32)
6. Let ALL my requests be made known to God. (Phil. 4:6, 7)

      {Lots more verses than these given—do some searching on Studylight.org!  J }

God longs to see us rest in Him—trusting Him completely. 

We have all come far. 

He will bring us the rest of the way.

That is certain!

Do you struggle with living out what you believe in certain areas?

What is holding your faith back?

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Prayer For Deliverance From Self

Deliver me, O Jesus,
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the desire of being popular,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebuke,
From the fear of being slandered,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being suspected.
Amen


~The Missionaries of Charity~

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Beauty From Ashes

God desires to make with our life something beautiful.

But He cannot take.  We must yield.

He cannot work with a heart unsurrendered to His touch.

I cannot continually pull away when the touch is uncomfortable.

I cannot have a new me while clinging to the old.

If I don’t let go—let the old die—

I remain stuck in desire for more, forever.

Trusting in Him . . .

Yielding to Him . . .

When I allow the Holy Spirit’s fire to flame my soul and burn the chaff—burn all uselessness, all worldliness, all selfishness of the inner man . . . then, and only then, can real beauty rise. 

Beauty from ashes—

I want this!

So as my heart prepares for Easter, I ask what paths to death am I in need of taking.

His reply comes quick . . . 

Self

Entitlements

Recognition

I want the ashes of self
            the ashes of rights
            the ashes of esteem!

Only in the ashes can the beauty of Christ rise within me in such a way as to not only be noticed, but to stop others in their tracks of senseless self-living because the beauty of something powerfully different and undeniably attractive stands before them, bidding them—“come, come die too!”

On my own I am unrecognizable, unimpressive to the world.

But Christ within—

Fully alive and functioning 

as my valleys are given over to be burned . . .

He is the Beauty that stops all, stops me mid-breath—demanding gaze, requiring attention.

I yearn to be a vessel yielded to death.

“Come, Lord Jesus, consume all of me. 

I release my self to your touch. 

I release in trust to burn in Holy fire.

Burned to destroy all that would fight for precedence over me.

I release to become ashes all that desires to consume me . . .

For the beauty You desire within me.”

~ Our Way of Light Wreath . . . for slowing the pace as well as the heart in preparation of Easter.  A candle marks Christ's journey from Ash Wednesday to the candle burning brightly in celebration of Easter Sunday.  They burn all day so as I walk by my rush would slow to remember.  I whisper words of love and gratitude as I consciously turn my gaze on self to rest on Him...practicing until the habit evolves to always, intently, rest in Him ~ Also our Ever Grateful Memo Board ~


And yes, that is a burn mark in hole #5.  That warning wrapping the candle "do not leave unattended"???  Yes, one must not take a nap while a taper candle is burning...duh?!  J

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Also linked up with {In}Courage

Who Am I To Judge? (James 4:11, 12)

You don’t know my heart . . .

I don’t know yours.

You don’t know my intentions . . .

I don’t know yours.

You don’t know the path God’s walking with me . . .

I don’t know yours.

You don’t know the “where I’ve been” . . .

I don’t know yours.

So why—in heaven and glory’s name—are we so quick to judge one another?  Why do I think I can thoroughly assess your failings and sins?  Why do you try to nail me to mine?

“If you think you can judge others, you are wrong. When you judge them, you are really judging yourself guilty, because you do the same things they do.”  Romans 2:1 (NCV)

Your critical spirit calls me condemning.  

I critically judge you as being a condemner.

“Do not speak against one another, brethren.  He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?”
James 4:11, 12

This is not about coming alongside to pray over areas of struggle. 

This is not about noticing an obvious lack of fruit in another’s life. 

This is not about “speaking the truth in love”. 

(and as a side-note, 

we're not always too good with lovingly presenting—

neither are we too gracious in humbly receiving)

“Do not speak against one another.”

This is about holding our tongue while examining our heart!

Do I need to say anything?  Really? 

Do I really need to comment at all to them or to others? 

Do I see uglies in another while blinded to my own? 

Them planks in the eye can be mighty inconspicuous!   J

What AM I “to do”?
I am “to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with [my] God.” (Micah 6:8).

THAT is a big enough, full-time, all-encompassing task! 

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy.” 

The One who established righteousness 

is the One who has the right to hold us to it!  

We cannot save or destroy.  But in our arrogance we think our judgment ascertains the situation so completely that we believe we could save them, had we the opportunity.  We seek to boost self whilst belittling.  In some ways, we can destroy—possibly a reputation and most assuredly we taint our own as being “without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful.” (Romans 1:31)

Who am I to judge my neighbor?

No one!  I’m just a sinner myself!

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Click here for the other posts from my study of the book of James
I am joining The Good Morning Girls as we study James together.