This morning was difficult. Before I even got out of bed, my trying to reason and figure things out began to give me a headache. I got up prayed and remembered how good God has been to me. I felt better and went for a walk. However the thoughts of my circumstances resurfaced and began to overwhelm me. I sat on our deck out back trying not to feel sorry for myself knowing that it is unproductive and that there are others worse off than I. Still I just felt tired. Tired of being strong and tired of the fight. Depression hovered and the tears began to fall. My son came out and said,” you’ll be alright “I responded, “I know. It will pass it always does.” After he went inside I moved to another area of the yard and noticed a little girl playing in the cul-de-sac nearby. She walked up an incline sat in a small contraption with wheels then slid down several times. She found enjoyment in this simple activity. Once she tried sliding down backwards, but stopped. It was too difficult because her balance was off and she couldn’t get the same momentum as when she was facing forward. So she went back up a little ways faced forward and continued having fun. Seeing this helped me. I was reminded from scripture that we are to be as little children in many ways.
Luke 18:17 GNB says,
Remember this! Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."
Romans 14:17 GNB for God's Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of the righteousness, peace, and joy which the Holy Spirit gives.
I had not been experiencing the peace and joy available to me even though I’ve been made righteous through accepting Jesus Christ. Why? Because I had been trying to figure things out and not completely cast my concerns over on the One who can handle all of my stuff. I also realized how important it is to keep moving forward. Looking backward is a hindrance. I have to purpose to really trust God in and for everything. Becoming like a little child doesn’t mean you become irresponsible it just means you do what you can do then leave the rest up to God. You see children with good parents don’t worry. They trust that their parents will take care of them. Children are not complicated. They find joy in simple things like rolling down a hill.
Thank You Lord for the lesson on simplicity!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Who Do You Think You Are?
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see someone blessed and loved by God or do you see an old filthy rag? Do you think you have value? These questions are important because according to Proverbs 23:7, a person is as he/she thinks in his/her heart. You are loved and have value and worth in the eyes of God, not just after you get born again by accepting Jesus as your personal Savior, but in what ever state you find yourself. Please pay close attention to Romans 5:6-8 GNB:
(6) For when we were still helpless, Christ died for the wicked at the time that God chose.
(7) It is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person.
(8) But God has shown us how much he loves us---it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!
What a wonderful Savior! Clearly, it was out of Gods unconditional love for us that He sent Jesus to die to pay the price for our sins. Remember John 3:16.
But it doesn’t stop there. After receiving Jesus as your Savior, He wipes the slate clean. No matter what sins you’ve committed or how dirty you think you still are because of your past, you are made brand new by the blood of Jesus. Read it for yourself.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Darby
(17) So if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new:
(18) And all things are of the God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation.
Thank God He’s not holding our past against us. Jesus’ death reconciled us to God and restored our relationship with Him. We no longer belong to Satan but to God.
You might be saying,” I don’t feel like a new person, and sometimes I don’t even feel saved.” First of all salvation is not based on how or what you feel. It is based on Who you believe in. That Who, is Jesus. (Read Romans 10:9)
The truth is that when you get born again it is your spirit man (the real you) that is changed not your physical body. In order to begin to experience changes in how you behave, your attitudes, thoughts and even feelings, you must begin to read and study the word of God to see who you are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:2 GNB
(2) Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
The way to change the outward behavior is to first be changed or transformed inwardly. That happens as your mind is renewed by the word of God.
Therefore it is necessary to have a fresh prayer life daily and to read the Bible, especially focusing and meditating on the scriptures that give you your identity.
So, the next time someone says, “Just who do you think you are?” tell them, without flinching, I am a child of the Most High God. Hallelujah!
(6) For when we were still helpless, Christ died for the wicked at the time that God chose.
(7) It is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person.
(8) But God has shown us how much he loves us---it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!
What a wonderful Savior! Clearly, it was out of Gods unconditional love for us that He sent Jesus to die to pay the price for our sins. Remember John 3:16.
But it doesn’t stop there. After receiving Jesus as your Savior, He wipes the slate clean. No matter what sins you’ve committed or how dirty you think you still are because of your past, you are made brand new by the blood of Jesus. Read it for yourself.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Darby
(17) So if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new:
(18) And all things are of the God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation.
Thank God He’s not holding our past against us. Jesus’ death reconciled us to God and restored our relationship with Him. We no longer belong to Satan but to God.
You might be saying,” I don’t feel like a new person, and sometimes I don’t even feel saved.” First of all salvation is not based on how or what you feel. It is based on Who you believe in. That Who, is Jesus. (Read Romans 10:9)
The truth is that when you get born again it is your spirit man (the real you) that is changed not your physical body. In order to begin to experience changes in how you behave, your attitudes, thoughts and even feelings, you must begin to read and study the word of God to see who you are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:2 GNB
(2) Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
The way to change the outward behavior is to first be changed or transformed inwardly. That happens as your mind is renewed by the word of God.
Therefore it is necessary to have a fresh prayer life daily and to read the Bible, especially focusing and meditating on the scriptures that give you your identity.
So, the next time someone says, “Just who do you think you are?” tell them, without flinching, I am a child of the Most High God. Hallelujah!
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