Fighting the Right Fight

Hard Love.  Sometimes that is what God's love seems like.  We want easy.  We want cushy.  We want perfection.  But sometimes, God's love lets us get messy, takes us down rough, pitted roads. We look for smooth sailing and find waves towering above us, threatening to overwhelm and pull us under. It's hard.  It hurts.  And we fight against it. 

We fight God's love, His plan.  We fight our circumstances, wallowing in self-pity when they don't change.  We fight people, blaming them, letting anger or disappointment color our thoughts and feelings.  Yet this is not the battle we are supposed to be fighting.  The battle we are in is spiritual. 

It's against the Devil and his minions, it's against our own flesh, our own sinfulness.  As I listened to this song to day, I felt so strongly the Lord impressing upon me that I am fighting the wrong war.  

Matthew 16:24  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me."  It's not about me, it's not my way, it's following Jesus, the way of the Cross.  Selflessness, humility, service, holiness, love.  All those stand in contrast to my flesh, which wants things my way, when I want it, how I want.  

Galatians 5:16-17   So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.  Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.  The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants.  And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.  Until we reach Heaven, we will have to stand against the inborn sinful nature  we inherited from Adam and Eve.  But we can win this battle, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Ephesians 6:10-18  A final word:  Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.  For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.  Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness.  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.  Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.   

I get mad at people because they don't do or act the way I thing they should.  They hurt me or hinder my plans (sometimes knowingly, sometimes unintentionally)....yet God wants me to die to self, exhibiting mercy and patience.  He wants me to take time to love, time to care.  I get upset with God for allowing circumstances instead of trusting His heart, knowing that even if the circumstances were engineered by Satan to derail me, compromise my witness or bring harm, God will still see me through, and bring beauty from sadness, difficulties and trial.  

The battle is not against people, it's not against the difficulties of life, it's against my own sinfulness and the enemy of God's people--Satan.  God is teaching me to fight the right fight!

Thank You Lord for clarity.  Lead me to fight the good fight of faith, knowing that I do so in Your power and for Your glory.   At the end of this life I want to say:  I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful  (2 Timothy 4:7.)    

1 Timothy 6:12  Fight the good fight for the true faith.  Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.

Message???

A few days ago I was making some pictures to go on our church bulletin boards.  The theme is growing in the fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22  But the Holy Spirit  produces this kind of fruit in our lives:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

All was going pretty well as I printed the words on the paper circles I had cut out....except two. Those two I couldn't get right to save my life!  I had to do each of them over and over and over...And would we all like to guess which ones I struggled the most with??   Yes, yes, you guessed it, self-control and patience.  LOL    I have no idea why those two would be such a problem.  Hmmmm, art mirroring life perhaps?

I actually took great hope in this whole experience.  The fact that I was able to do it over, and then retry, and then over again kind of let me know that, like with my art project, I can keep working on these areas of my life where I seem to fail often.  God doesn't just quit, and He doesn't let me just quit.  We keep trying, keep working at it.  Such an encouraging message.

Philippians 1:6  And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

2 Corinthians 3:18  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.  And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

We can hang onto these Scriptures, knowing God is at work, changing us, growing us and causing us to reflect His image more and more.

Thank You Lord that You never quit or give up on us.  You let us keep trying, there's no failure in Your life classes.  That's an amazing, comforting thought given we live in a world based on performance and perfection.  Thanks that You love us as much when we fail as when we succeed. And thank You that You are always working in us and with us to help us grow.  Thank You for the lessons in even the smallest things.  Your hand is always upon our lives.  Help us to grow.  Help us to keep going forward.  In Jesus Name, amen.

Don't give up today!

It's Working

Matthew 5:43-48  You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies!   Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way you will be acting as true children of your  is there in  heaven.  For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.  If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?  Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?  Even pagans do that.  But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Luke 6:35-36  Love your enemies!  Do good to them.  Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.  You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.  

Recently I challenged a friend to pray for those at work who were unfair, not kind and who seemingly go out of their way to harm or harass those around them.  I of course met with some resistance.  It's hard to pray for those who bother us, hurt us, do us grievous or even not so grievous harm.  It feels impossible to pray for them, let alone do anything nice for them!  It's not fair!!

Well, as I challenged my friend, God challenged me.  In essence, He asked me, "Are you practicing what you preach?"  Hmmmm....aaaa, no.  I really wasn't, at least with any consistency.  I spent more time complaining, even if it was just in my own head, about the injustices, the annoyances and what I saw was unfairness than following the command of Jesus to pray for and be kind to people who I was not happy with.

So I began to pray for them....daily.   And you know what, in praying for them, it's become easier to be kind.  At first it was done in obedience to God's directive.  There was no real emotion to back it up...I mean I didn't want harm to come to these people, they really just annoyed me more than intentionally hurt me, but still their inability to do the right thing makes my life at work more difficult than it  should be.  And that made me angry with them all the time.  Now that I am praying for them, I feel less agitated, I truly want God to work in their lives and I have more peace at work.

All the things God teaches, everything He commands blends together to help us.  This command to pray for those who hurt us turns our eyes upwards and softens our hearts.  What a wonderful God visit!

Romans 5:10  For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son WHILE WE WERE STILL HIS ENEMIES, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son.  We were once enemies too.  Yet God showed us love and kindness.  Hallelujah!!

It starts with prayer.  And that is all God asked me to do.  The rest is the work of the Holy Spirit.  He is softening my heart to those around me.  Obedience is our necessity.  It's the only way for us to have peace and joy.  It's working!

Thank You God for Your instructions.  Thank You for the fact that while I was still Your enemy You did good for me, You loved me, and You saved me.  Help us all to follow Your example.  Some days it's so hard, people hurt our feelings, treat us unfairly.  I think of those who are persecuted for Your name, how horribly they are treated and yet they minister to and pray for their enemies.  Lord, help me in this area.  I want to glorify You and be like You.  I can't do this alone....I know it has to be You in me.

Pray for someone who you consider an enemy today.

God Sees Mended

Sometimes, I think a God visit is God using us to reach out to others.  He gives us a song, a sentence, a verse, to give out to those who are hurting.  Sometimes He may ask us to give a hug, give a smile, or just listen...we'll feel that prompting to do something to reach out in His name, being the one He uses to ease some heartache.  Not that we can't use those same words or songs ourselves, mind you. Yet they are given to us to be given away.  I feel like that is what today's God visit is about.  

On Sunday, I felt this song come into my heart as we worshiped in church, and knew I was to share it today.  Visit part one.  Last night I read the days devotional from Charles Stanley's "In Touch" magazine and one line popped out, "Be assured that God makes no mistakes in His dealings with us." Visit, part two.  The Holy Spirit has linked these two incidences together to form His message of encouragement for those who are hurting.  

God isn't finished.  God is never accidental or coincidental.  He continues to work, even when all we see is darkness, when all we feel is pain.  And He doesn't leave us abandoned to our own misery.  He sends comfort, He sends His love....like He is doing right now.  

Lord, I know we can't see like You.  To us, things are confused, things are upside down, and beyond what we think is right.  We hurt.  We cry.  We don't understand.  Help us to remember that You are at work.  You do nothing that isn't for our good, nothing that is not out of Your love, nothing that doesn't fit into Your wonderful plan for our lives.  Help us to hold onto these truths beyond our feelings. Lord, please comfort those who are reading this right now, please let them sense Your presence in the hardship, Your love in the dark night of their souls.  You love us.  Thank Your for that.  

Romans 8:28-39
28And we kn w that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Heart, From Mom

Mom drew some insights about the heart from Scripture.  And really, where better can we learn the truth about the human heart than from the one who created it, who sees and knows it's fallen condition.  Here is her words.

Psalm 37:4  Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires.   
The heart is defined as intellect, awareness, mind, inner person, inner feelings, deepest thoughts, inner self.

Proverbs 4:23  Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Footnote from Mom's Bible:  Keep your heart:  value and protect your mind, emotions and will.

Jeremiah 17:9-10  The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?  But I, the Lord search all hearts and examine secret motives.  I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.
Footnote:  The heart is the inner self, which things, feels and acts.  it is central to man (Proverbs 4:23) but it is deceitful and wicked.


From me:

The heart without God, without a bent toward Him is deeply wicked and deceitful.  We live for self, things like anger and pride dwell freely in our hearts and lives.  I feel like, even though I still struggle with those things, my heart's desire is for God, towards God, and to make Him my delight--and that is why those things, the negative emotions and thoughts that so often plague me are changing...although I wish they would go away all together, forever.  It is definitely a work of the Holy Spirit.

Part of guarding our heart is taking every thought captive.  2 Corinthians 10:5  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  Letting every thought that pops into our heads run rampant, stirring up diseased thinking will never lead to anything good.  I find it in myself, if I don't put aside my unkind thoughts during work, I just get angrier, more unsettled and then it ends us coming out in some way, usually a hurtful way.  One unkind thought leads to another angrier thought, leads to another antagonistic thought and so on and so on.   I suffer, the people around me suffer, and ultimately my witness and my relationship with God suffers.

More and more I am coming to the conclusion that it's just not worth it.  The things that make my heart fill with pride, anger, dread, fear, rebellion, unforgiveness....any kind of negative feeling, are not worth the price of losing my peace, displeasing God, and not being a good witness for Him.  This life and the junk that comes with it is temporary!!  I want to live for the eternal.  It's taken a looonnnggg time for me to get to this place.  And I have to fight every day to stay here, sometimes slipping back into the old familiar patterns of thinking.  New pathways have to be made in my brain!  But I want to get there.  Again, a work of the Holy Spirit.

I am lead back to the story of Cain and Abel, one of the saddest stories in the Bible.  Cain's problems started in his heart, he was angry and dejected, felt rejected and jealous.  Those things, and we are not told how long this went on for, took hold of his heart, built up in there, until finally those feelings caused him to murder his brother.  Negative feelings left unchecked lead to disaster.  Genesis 4:7  You will be accepted if you do what is right.  But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out!  Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.  But you must subdue it and be its master.  When it comes to our hearts, what we let grow in them matters very much.

A couple of weeks ago I got extremely stressed out.  I was overwhelmed, angry at everyone and the thoughts and emotions swirled round and around until they caused a whirlwind of toxins in my body. I felt sick.  My head hurt, my body hurt, I was nauseous....I felt terrible.  All from ill-thinking.  I was reminded how important it was to keep one's heart pure.

God is so good in His teaching, in His reminding.  Thank You Lord for the lessons you give.  Help me, help all of us to allow You to be King of our hearts.  Let our hearts be focused on You, be set up to desire You.  It's funny, we just started study on the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-23.  Lord give us good soil in our hearts.  Let Your Word grow and produce much fruit.  Lord, soften our hearts to hear You speak, teach us to obey Your voice.  Lord, forgive my stubbornness when I fail or when I allow unfruitful thoughts to have sway over me.  Teach us to guard our hearts.  Thank You.  In Jesus Name, amen.

Practice taking every thought captive to Jesus today.

What If

The first few lines of this song rang out Sunday morning during worship and my mind was immediately drawn to them, and the question "What if?" came into my head.   It started out as "what if instead of giving into my addictions I stand beneath Your wings, rest in Your shelter, allowing Your faithfulness to shield me and Your Spirit to strengthen me?"   What if I waited on the Lord instead of just grabbing the cupcakes or the extra cup of coffee I 'm not supposed to have?  And throughout the service as I heard Bible verses, and teaching the "what ifs" continued, and are still continuing to pop into my thoughts today.

The biggest one, and it pretty much encompasses all of the smaller ones is "What if instead of bowing down to self, to my emotions, I patterned my life after Jesus?"   Hmmmm.  And interesting question.

What if I pressed in instead of giving in?  What if I walked in mercy instead of judgement?  What if I prayed for those who hurt or annoy me instead of speaking badly of them?  What if I forgave instead of holding on to anger?  What if I put God first instead of leaving Him the crumbs of my day?  What if, what if, what if.  On and on the list can go.  I'm sure you can add many of your own "what ifs."

I loved this God visit.  So often we spend time in the "if onlys."  Thoughts of, "if only I had done this or if only I had done that" sometimes plague our hearts and create such a heaviness of regret and sorrow.  We can't live in the "if only."  But I feel like the "what if" can lead us forward.  "What if I did this in stead of that..."  "What if" can lead to positive change, and godly behavior when we follow the lead of Jesus.

Lord, lead us in Your ways.  Let us use the question "What if?" to provoke us to grow in You, to mirror Your life on earth and the love You always showed.  What if instead of following my desires I laid down my life for Your purpose.  I can answer that!  I would have a life more fulfilling and meaningful than anything I could ever imagine.  Lord, thank You for this one little question.  You are amazing in the simplicity of Your teaching, even when the concept is so profound.  I love You Lord. Help us to go in the right direction.

Get personal with your own "what ifs' today.

Jesus is the Way

I am doing a Bible study called "Redeemed" by Angela Thomas-Pharr.  Last year my friend and I actually got to be a part of this study while it was being taped and so when it was released a few weeks ago we were eager to renew our acquaintance with it.  

Yesterday as I began Day 15 in the workbook I came across a passage highlighted as "Jesus is the way."  This section spoke on Jesus being the only way to be reconciled with God and redeemed from our sin nature we inherited from our ancestors, Adam and Eve.  It detailed how we cannot save ourselves, even if we are "good" people, we can never be perfect.  Jesus is the only hope of a fallen world for restoration.  

I had this strong feeling that I was to take a picture of these few paragraphs and post them on Facebook.  I continued on in the study, still "arguing" with this feeling.  Was God really telling me to do this?  Was it just my idea?  You know, that little back and forth we do in our minds whenever we are unsure "if it's God."  The feeling persisted, and so I  figured it certainly couldn't hurt to let people know on social media they need Jesus.  LOL.  So on to Facebook it went!

Part of the study is prayer and praying through the Psalms.  And so I did this, being up to Psalm 40. As I read through the Psalm, I came to verse 10 and had one of those "words jumping off the page" experiences.  Psalm 40:10  I have not kept the good news of Your justice hidden in my heart.  I have talked about Your faithfulness and saving power.  I  have told everyone in the great assembly of Your unfailing love and faithfulness.  

Talk about confirmation!  Wow.  I can't imagine the author David thinking of anything like the social media platforms of the 21st century being a great assembly...but hey, we work with what we have!  

Thank You Lord for leading me to share Angela's rendition of our need and Your provision for salvation and redemption.  I pray that people's hearts are open and receptive to Your love, Your plan and the exclusivity of the way to into redemption.  Lord, I pray that each who read that Facebook post yesterday will search their hearts, see their need and turn to You, to Your welcoming arms.  Salvation for us is so easy, yet it cost You so much.  Lord, please save.  And thank You for using me as a small part in Your plan to reach people.  I am so humbled and blessed to be part of this.  Forever grateful.

If you haven't asked Jesus to save you, do so right now!  If you have, don't be afraid to listen to that nudge to share His salvation in whatever way He points to.

Death Where is Your Sting

1 Corinthians 15:54-55  Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:  "Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting."  

It seems lately there is a lot of death around.  I know that sounds odd, and death is always with us, but it seems to be making more appearances around me.  Friends, family, acquaintances seem to be losing family members.  The death of an unborn infant for my oldest, dearest friend and her daughter,  a brother of a friend at work, a cousin of another precious friend, the beloved pet of another friend and now one of our most favorite kitty residents of our shelter has passed over the rainbow bridge (as we animal people like to say) after her three short years on this earth.  A lovely sister in the Lord from church is facing the likely death of her son in a short time (praying for a miracle in this instance---our God is greater!) You would think this would start to get a bit depressing, right?  And yes, I am saddened by each of these; lost dreams, relationships put on hold until the hereafter, companionship lost.  My heart breaks for each of this families, for all of us who have faced loss...but it's not the end of the story.  And we are not without hope!!

So it's a funny "Godincidence" that we happen to be at the end of Luke in our Bible study at church, The death and resurrection of Jesus.  God is amazing...what perfect timing.  How does He do it!!  As I read the final chapter last night, (a very sad last night) I felt His hand of comfort bringing my heart hope and peace as I grieved the loss of our much loved shelter cat Skyler. Her antics made us laugh and smile, her affection brought us joy, and now this sweet three year old cat is dancing around the feet of Jesus.  On Earth she made her home in our hearts, and now has a truly forever home in Heaven.

Our God brings comfort.  But more than that He gives us hope.  As believers and as His children we know death is not the end of the story.  And I am so grateful for the reminder He gave last night.

1 Thessalonians 4:13  And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have not hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died.  

And as for animals being in Heaven....Psalm 84:3  Even the sparrow finds a home and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven's Armies, my King and my God!  

We serve a living God, are loved by a risen Savior.  We have hope, and joy and peace everlasting!  Praise God!!

Thank You Father for Your comfort.  I am so glad that nothing is more powerful than You...not even death itself.  All things serve You.  Your care for us, for our hurts and heartaches is so sweet and dear. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Take comfort today in Jesus' resurrection.

Stillness

Two days, two verses.  I think God is saying something here!

Psalm 46:10  Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted in the earth.  

Psalm 37:7  Be still in the Presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.  Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.  

Two admonishments to " be still."  Oh, that is so difficult for us human "doings!"  Run, rush, hurry....do, do, do!  Lists and lists of lists....But to just take time to sit in God's presence, wait on His timing...these are gifts of the Lord.  The quiet peaceful patience of trust.  I long to live there.  All too often though, it's as if the Lord gives us these beautifully wrapped boxes, filled with His good gifts of peace, joy, love....we open them, oohhing and ahhing over their beauty then proceed to stick them up on a shelf and forget about them.  What the heck!!!

 I don't think this "being still" is to be limited to our prayer time either.  I think it's an attitude of the heart.  I know this God visit is Him telling me to get to this place.  It's where He wants me, all of us to live.  The 23rd Psalm comes to mind:  The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.  

I feel like my stress level as been off the charts lately.  I know this is not from God, not His plan nor His desire for me.  But I can't seem to come out of it.  And yet He calls me to stillness in His presence.  Perhaps spending more time just sitting at His feet is the answer.  Remember, it was Martha, the one who was busy and doing, that was stressed and fretting while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and just absorbed His life and light.  I love the pictures the Bible gives that help us live and grow in the Lord.

Today I will practice being still in God's presence.  Not just now, as I sit in the peacefulness of prayer and study, but when I go out "there," to the crazy bustle of the world, where people don't play by my rules (and how utterly annoying is that!!  LOL) and circumstance conspire to derail my faith and my determination.  And lets not forget, God has His own plan for my day that usually doesn't follow my script!!  Throw that into the mix as well....Lord, it will take Your power to keep me still, peaceful and trusting.  LOL

Be still and know....!

Lord, I want with all my heart to be able to rest in You no matter what is transpiring around me.  Or even in my physical body or my emotions.  You tell us we are given the peace that passes understanding, yet so often I, and I'm sure many who are reading this forfeit that peace by allowing "life" to get in the way, get inside our souls and stir up worry, anger, frustration....But You are in charge and You love us.  Teach us all to be still in Your Presence, lead us in the way of peace.  I know this is not, cannot be of myself....only a work of the Spirit within me.  I yield myself to You in this. Help me to submit, not just now in my prayer closet, but as I step into the world outside my door.  Let Your peace be evident in all I do.  Every thought, every word, every action for You.  In Jesus name. Amen.

Be still today.  Take time to just sit in the love of God.