"Do not be surprised at again finding yourself becoming sensitive, impatient, haughty, and self-willed. You must be made to understand that this is your natural disposition, and without God's grace, you will never be anything different.
We must be made to feel our weakness, our wretchedness, our inability to correct ourselves. We must give up hope in ourselves, and have no hope but in God."
by Francois de Salignac de La Mothe Fenelon, the Archbishop of Cambrai, France, during the 17th century.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
My Testimony
I have lived a very blessed life, not because I have been exempt from trials and pain, but because I have someone who is beside me that sees me through every circumstance and hard time I have faced. That someone is Jesus Christ. He has seen me through some very dark places in my life. I cannot share many of the things I have walked through because I would never want to hurt anyone or damage their reputation by speaking of those things, but I can tell you that God has comforted me and given me His peace when my world was falling apart. When I was disappointed by people, He assured me of His love and His faithfulness to me. When I was discouraged, He reminded me of the hope that I have because of what He has done for me on the cross. Jesus knows me. He knows my heart and my desires. I can trust Him with my future and everything that is important to me, because He care, and He is a wise God. He knows all things and sees all things and understands my heart.
One of the most amazing things to me about God is that He can take every painful place, every mistake, every sin I have committed, and somehow redeem them and turn it into something good in my life. He weaves together this beautiful tapestry that He has carefully created of all that has happened to me, both good and bad, and makes my life beautiful.
When things happen in my life that I don't understand, like my Mom dying from cancer at the age of 66, I know that I can come to Him, lay it at His feet, and trust Him with it. I will never understand some things that have happened in my life, but I know that I can trust God.
Right now Mark is working in El Paso and has to travel back and forth from there to Austin to see us every other weekend. It is not something I would have chosen for myself or our family, yet we know this is where we are supposed to be right now. I am trusting that somehow God is going to use this for our good, and work it out - whatever that looks like. He will either give me the grace to be at peace and full of joy in the midst of it, or He will change our circumstances. But it is such a comfort to know that my future is in His hands. I don't have to worry, and I don't have to try to figure it out.
God is a close and personal God, and He cares. If something matters to us, then it matters to Him, because He loves us. He is a good God and will always be there for us to show us the way and encourage our hearts.
Thank God that I do not have to rely on myself to find my way through this life. He is always here right beside me and will keep me until the end of this temporary journey into a glorious future. My hope and my trust are in Him. He is all I have, but He is all I need!
One of the most amazing things to me about God is that He can take every painful place, every mistake, every sin I have committed, and somehow redeem them and turn it into something good in my life. He weaves together this beautiful tapestry that He has carefully created of all that has happened to me, both good and bad, and makes my life beautiful.
When things happen in my life that I don't understand, like my Mom dying from cancer at the age of 66, I know that I can come to Him, lay it at His feet, and trust Him with it. I will never understand some things that have happened in my life, but I know that I can trust God.
Right now Mark is working in El Paso and has to travel back and forth from there to Austin to see us every other weekend. It is not something I would have chosen for myself or our family, yet we know this is where we are supposed to be right now. I am trusting that somehow God is going to use this for our good, and work it out - whatever that looks like. He will either give me the grace to be at peace and full of joy in the midst of it, or He will change our circumstances. But it is such a comfort to know that my future is in His hands. I don't have to worry, and I don't have to try to figure it out.
God is a close and personal God, and He cares. If something matters to us, then it matters to Him, because He loves us. He is a good God and will always be there for us to show us the way and encourage our hearts.
Thank God that I do not have to rely on myself to find my way through this life. He is always here right beside me and will keep me until the end of this temporary journey into a glorious future. My hope and my trust are in Him. He is all I have, but He is all I need!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Seek the Kingdom
God has told us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He said in Mathew 6:25 to "stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried about your life," and in verse 24 He said that we can't serve two masters, that is, you can't serve God AND riches, money, or possessions. (We serve God alone, and money becomes OUR servant).
When Jesus taught us how to pray, He said to pray that His kingdom would come on this earth, just as it is in heaven.
Jesus said He came to "destroy the work of the devil" and to give us abundant life. (1 John 3:7)
So what does the Kingdom of Heaven look like? How can we agree with God and bring about His Kingdom on earth?
Well, guess what? The Kingdom of God is WITHIN US, because His Spirit endwells us. Jesus went throughout the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom. He preached the Kingdom, and he drove out evil spirits and healed every disease and sickness.
In Mathew 10:7 He said, "As you go, preach this message: The Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."
In Mathew 12:28 He said, "If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon You."
God's kingdom is manifested in His works. When John the Baptist was in prison and was wondering if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus said to go back and report to John what you have seen and heard, "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."
Luke 17:21 says, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you, in your hearts and among you, surrounding you."
So it seems to seek His Kingdom would mean to seek after being filled with His Spirit, so that the manifestion of His works would be known, as well as to seek after His will being done. Jesus went about doing the will of the Father - He went about doing good. He set people free. Is. 61 states that He was sent to "bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release prisoners from darkness, to proclaim God's favor and His vengeance, to comfort those who mourn, and provide for those who grieve" (paraphrased). Instead of ashes, He wants to give us a crown of beauty; instead of mourning, He wants to give us the oil of gladness; and instead of despair, He wants to give us a garment of praise (verse 3). This is His Kingdom being manifested. This is His heart, and His desire.
The enemy has destroyed, stolen from us, and killed us. But Jesus came that we might have life and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (John 10:10). That is what His kingdom is about. Life in Him. Life with Him. Abundant Life. Free from sin. Full of His Spirit. In Him we live, and move and have our being.
We bring about His Kingdom on earth as we seek to be filled with His Spirit, agreeing with God in prayer for His will and His purposes to be accomplished.
Lord, we desire to see Your Kingdom manifested in the earth. We seek Your will. Make us vessels of honor so that we are fit to carry Your Glory and Your Purposes in this earth. Come, Lord Jesus.
When Jesus taught us how to pray, He said to pray that His kingdom would come on this earth, just as it is in heaven.
Jesus said He came to "destroy the work of the devil" and to give us abundant life. (1 John 3:7)
So what does the Kingdom of Heaven look like? How can we agree with God and bring about His Kingdom on earth?
Well, guess what? The Kingdom of God is WITHIN US, because His Spirit endwells us. Jesus went throughout the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom. He preached the Kingdom, and he drove out evil spirits and healed every disease and sickness.
In Mathew 10:7 He said, "As you go, preach this message: The Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."
In Mathew 12:28 He said, "If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon You."
God's kingdom is manifested in His works. When John the Baptist was in prison and was wondering if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus said to go back and report to John what you have seen and heard, "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."
Luke 17:21 says, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you, in your hearts and among you, surrounding you."
So it seems to seek His Kingdom would mean to seek after being filled with His Spirit, so that the manifestion of His works would be known, as well as to seek after His will being done. Jesus went about doing the will of the Father - He went about doing good. He set people free. Is. 61 states that He was sent to "bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release prisoners from darkness, to proclaim God's favor and His vengeance, to comfort those who mourn, and provide for those who grieve" (paraphrased). Instead of ashes, He wants to give us a crown of beauty; instead of mourning, He wants to give us the oil of gladness; and instead of despair, He wants to give us a garment of praise (verse 3). This is His Kingdom being manifested. This is His heart, and His desire.
The enemy has destroyed, stolen from us, and killed us. But Jesus came that we might have life and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (John 10:10). That is what His kingdom is about. Life in Him. Life with Him. Abundant Life. Free from sin. Full of His Spirit. In Him we live, and move and have our being.
We bring about His Kingdom on earth as we seek to be filled with His Spirit, agreeing with God in prayer for His will and His purposes to be accomplished.
Lord, we desire to see Your Kingdom manifested in the earth. We seek Your will. Make us vessels of honor so that we are fit to carry Your Glory and Your Purposes in this earth. Come, Lord Jesus.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Spirit of David
Oh that we would have the spirit of David who said of Goliath, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
He did not cower at his enemy, but instead allowed God's Spirit to rise up within him and boldly proclaim, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him!"
I would say to God's people this morning to allow the Spirit of God to arise within you that we might come against the spirit of lawlessness and the god of this age that has so brassly come against God, His people, and His truth. It is time to slay this giant and proclaim truth in this land.
David came against this giant, not in his own strength and abilities, but he came against him "in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give all of you into our hands."
It is the Spirit of the Living God within us that will enable us to overcome sin, our flesh and the devil. He has given us His Spirit, His Word, and His blood. There is no power that can defeat us - He has caused us to be more than conquerors - overcomers!
I know that circumstances are bleak. Evil forces are at work all around us. Our country has turned our backs on God and declared that we have no need of Him. But we, the church, always have hope because of Jesus. We have all that we need to turn this nation upside down and inside out - the Holy Spirit! I believe it is time to fall on our faces before God, seek Him and His Kingdom for this nation. God's promise to us is sure, "If we humble ourselves and pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, then God will hear from heaven and forgive our sin and heal our land."
Lord, give us that same spirit of David, your Spirit. Stir us up to seek Your face and Your will for this nation. Nothing is impossible to those who believe. We believe.
Bring in a harvest of souls. Grant us a gift of repentence, true repentence, that will touch the heart of God, and usher in the return of Christ. Come soon, Lord Jesus.
Amen.
He did not cower at his enemy, but instead allowed God's Spirit to rise up within him and boldly proclaim, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him!"
I would say to God's people this morning to allow the Spirit of God to arise within you that we might come against the spirit of lawlessness and the god of this age that has so brassly come against God, His people, and His truth. It is time to slay this giant and proclaim truth in this land.
David came against this giant, not in his own strength and abilities, but he came against him "in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give all of you into our hands."
It is the Spirit of the Living God within us that will enable us to overcome sin, our flesh and the devil. He has given us His Spirit, His Word, and His blood. There is no power that can defeat us - He has caused us to be more than conquerors - overcomers!
I know that circumstances are bleak. Evil forces are at work all around us. Our country has turned our backs on God and declared that we have no need of Him. But we, the church, always have hope because of Jesus. We have all that we need to turn this nation upside down and inside out - the Holy Spirit! I believe it is time to fall on our faces before God, seek Him and His Kingdom for this nation. God's promise to us is sure, "If we humble ourselves and pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, then God will hear from heaven and forgive our sin and heal our land."
Lord, give us that same spirit of David, your Spirit. Stir us up to seek Your face and Your will for this nation. Nothing is impossible to those who believe. We believe.
Bring in a harvest of souls. Grant us a gift of repentence, true repentence, that will touch the heart of God, and usher in the return of Christ. Come soon, Lord Jesus.
Amen.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Depend on God
I've been thinking more and more about how much we rely on our own resources and strength to live this life, yet God tells us to rely and trust in Him and His strength.
Hab. 1:11 says this, "Then they (the Babylonians) sweep past like the wind and go on - guilty men, whose own strength is their god."
It is God who gives us everything we need to live a Holy life. To give ourselves credit for anything that we have or anything we have become is to place ourselves as God, thinking that it is our hard work or our natural talents that have gotten us where we are. But we must remember, the Lord is the one who has given us our gifts and talents, and every good thing we have.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights," James 1:17.
We must not trust in our own wisdom, in our own strength, or in our wealth. To do so is to be a fool:
Pr. 28:26 He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
Is. 5:21 Woe to them who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own strength.
2 Cor. 1:9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God, who raises the dead.
Pr. 23:4 Labor not to e rich: cease from your own wisdom.
There's not a thing that we need that God hasn't already provided for. Our part is to
Hab. 1:11 says this, "Then they (the Babylonians) sweep past like the wind and go on - guilty men, whose own strength is their god."
It is God who gives us everything we need to live a Holy life. To give ourselves credit for anything that we have or anything we have become is to place ourselves as God, thinking that it is our hard work or our natural talents that have gotten us where we are. But we must remember, the Lord is the one who has given us our gifts and talents, and every good thing we have.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights," James 1:17.
We must not trust in our own wisdom, in our own strength, or in our wealth. To do so is to be a fool:
Pr. 28:26 He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
Is. 5:21 Woe to them who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own strength.
2 Cor. 1:9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God, who raises the dead.
Pr. 23:4 Labor not to e rich: cease from your own wisdom.
There's not a thing that we need that God hasn't already provided for. Our part is to
Trust God
Rely on God
Believe God
Hab. 3:9 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to go on the heights.
I believe the downfall of America will be her pride and self-reliance; thinking that we don't need God anymore. We're smarter and wiser than He is. We do things our way, because His ways don't make sense to us, so we don't trust Him. We are stubborn and puffed up and have declared our independence from God.
But God says to depend on Him, because He is faithful. Rely on His strength, because He is strong. He will meet every need, because He owns everything. He says to trust in Him to keep us safe and to deliver us from evil.
Is. 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsement, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord.
I guess we don't think of self-reliance as a sin sometimes, but I believe the Lord says otherwise. He's teaching us to come to Him for everything - for all our needs - because He cares for us. He'll let us try things on our own, but there is a much better way!
With God on our side, who can be against us?!!
He is worthy of our trust!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Turn Aside
In Exodus Chapter 3, Moses was tending to his flock of sheep when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that it wasn't burning up, so he decided that he would "now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn."
It was his decision to turn aside that enabled God to speak to Him. God had chosen Moses as His deliverer. It was God's will and desire to speak to Him and show His glory to Moses. But Moses had to turn aside toward the flame of God's all-consuming presence. He had to turn aside from his daily duties and when he did, God called him by his name, took him into His presence, and commissioned him for his destiny.
It seems that we have all gone through so much these past few years - so much so that we are weary, disappointed and have lost the joy of living. I believe what God is asking us to do is to turn aside into His presence, into His all-consuming fire, and allow Him to renew us, to restore us and awaken us to live again.
God promises to restore us, to revive us, to heal our broken hearts and give us hope again. He's asking us to believe again. Hope again. Expect God's goodness. Turn aside from the disappointments of life into the fiery flame of His presence. He is pursuing us - relentlessly. And He will not give up. Our hearts are dry and cracked, but I pray that the warmth of His love will find its way into those places of pain and numbness and cause us to come alive again.
The bush is burning. Turn aside - take the time to go check it out. You will discover that you are on Holy Ground, and the fire of His presence will consume you, revive you, and cause you to come alive in Him - to truly live again.
I think there's a new song here!
It was his decision to turn aside that enabled God to speak to Him. God had chosen Moses as His deliverer. It was God's will and desire to speak to Him and show His glory to Moses. But Moses had to turn aside toward the flame of God's all-consuming presence. He had to turn aside from his daily duties and when he did, God called him by his name, took him into His presence, and commissioned him for his destiny.
It seems that we have all gone through so much these past few years - so much so that we are weary, disappointed and have lost the joy of living. I believe what God is asking us to do is to turn aside into His presence, into His all-consuming fire, and allow Him to renew us, to restore us and awaken us to live again.
God promises to restore us, to revive us, to heal our broken hearts and give us hope again. He's asking us to believe again. Hope again. Expect God's goodness. Turn aside from the disappointments of life into the fiery flame of His presence. He is pursuing us - relentlessly. And He will not give up. Our hearts are dry and cracked, but I pray that the warmth of His love will find its way into those places of pain and numbness and cause us to come alive again.
The bush is burning. Turn aside - take the time to go check it out. You will discover that you are on Holy Ground, and the fire of His presence will consume you, revive you, and cause you to come alive in Him - to truly live again.
I think there's a new song here!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A Peculiar People
God wants you blessed!!!
1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a peculiar people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
The Greek word for peculiar means to be over and above - hence abundance, plenty; riches, wealth, property, that which is one's own, and belonging to one's possessions.
In 1 Chr. 4:10 we find an interesting prayer from an obscure man who is made note of in a long line of geneologies.
Jabez called on God, because he knew only God could change his future and turn him into a blessing instead of a pain. God calls us to lead a high life - a life with God's hand upon it. He wants to expand our territory - lands, wealth, our influence.
God wants to empower us, and enable us to live a Holy life, extravagantly blessed by God.
Most believers shrink from living at this level of blessing and influence, but in fact, it is the very life God has called us to live.
Believe God for something so big, that unless God comes through, utter failure is inevitable. Trust Him to increase your territory in 2010 - we are His ambassadors, sent to do good works and be a blessing.
May God's people be marked by His presence and His favor upon their lives! We are blessed to be a blessing!
1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a peculiar people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
The Greek word for peculiar means to be over and above - hence abundance, plenty; riches, wealth, property, that which is one's own, and belonging to one's possessions.
In 1 Chr. 4:10 we find an interesting prayer from an obscure man who is made note of in a long line of geneologies.
The mark of God on His people is His presence, His hand, His blessing. The rest of the world will know that we are a people belonging to God, set apart for Him, because of the blessings that God bestows upon our lives."And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!' So God granted him what he requested."
Jabez called on God, because he knew only God could change his future and turn him into a blessing instead of a pain. God calls us to lead a high life - a life with God's hand upon it. He wants to expand our territory - lands, wealth, our influence.
God wants to empower us, and enable us to live a Holy life, extravagantly blessed by God.
Most believers shrink from living at this level of blessing and influence, but in fact, it is the very life God has called us to live.
Believe God for something so big, that unless God comes through, utter failure is inevitable. Trust Him to increase your territory in 2010 - we are His ambassadors, sent to do good works and be a blessing.
May God's people be marked by His presence and His favor upon their lives! We are blessed to be a blessing!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Blessings of Obedience
Obedience is the foundation of faith. Obedience makes it easy to believe and trust God. God demands our obedience throughout scripture and declares that it is the measure of our love for Him. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
The Lord tells us specifically in scripture what will happen when we obey Him, and what will happen when we disobey Him. All of God's blessings come upon us when we listen and obey. But He also tells us that when we disobey Him, curses will come upon us, and He lists those curses explicitly.
God sets before us blessings or curses, life or death. And if the decision is not obvious enough, He tells us what the right answer is - choose life!
The reason God commands obedience is because He knows what will bring us joy and satisfaction, and what will destroy and harm us. He knows that when we are in right relationship with Him, we will be full of joy and be satisfied. We can trust Him with this. "No good thing does He withold from those who walk uprightly". Everything that God gives us is good. But we have an enemy who wants to kill us, steal our relationship with God, and destroy everything good that God has given us.
Obedience to God secures His blessing - God's blessing is His very presence and favor with us and upon us. Oh the things that we forfeit when we choose to do things our own way, instead of trusting in God. What joy and what peace could be ours if only we would trust His way.
Break the cycle of self-reliance this new year. God wants us to know that He is fully and completely worthy of our trust. He knows our needs, our desires, and He alone knows how to satisfy us like no other can. He is faithful, and He is GOOD.
Whatever part of us we are withholding from God, or are fearful of turning over to Him, I challenge you to trust Him with it this year. Give it to Him and know that He has good plans in store for you, nothing but good. All of His thoughts towards you are good. The only things He asks us to give up are things that would eventually bring us harm and keep us from His goodness.
When we choose to hold on to OUR ways, we forfeit the grace of God that could belong to us. He will empower us, enable us, and equip us as we yield to Him.
May 2010 be a year of total surrender to God - total trust in Him. Nothing held back. Even that one thing that has been so difficult to put into God's hands.
"In quietness and trust is your salvation". Give God the reins and watch and see what God will do! Let God see your love for Him through your obedience and trust in Him.
The Lord tells us specifically in scripture what will happen when we obey Him, and what will happen when we disobey Him. All of God's blessings come upon us when we listen and obey. But He also tells us that when we disobey Him, curses will come upon us, and He lists those curses explicitly.
God sets before us blessings or curses, life or death. And if the decision is not obvious enough, He tells us what the right answer is - choose life!
The reason God commands obedience is because He knows what will bring us joy and satisfaction, and what will destroy and harm us. He knows that when we are in right relationship with Him, we will be full of joy and be satisfied. We can trust Him with this. "No good thing does He withold from those who walk uprightly". Everything that God gives us is good. But we have an enemy who wants to kill us, steal our relationship with God, and destroy everything good that God has given us.
Obedience to God secures His blessing - God's blessing is His very presence and favor with us and upon us. Oh the things that we forfeit when we choose to do things our own way, instead of trusting in God. What joy and what peace could be ours if only we would trust His way.
Break the cycle of self-reliance this new year. God wants us to know that He is fully and completely worthy of our trust. He knows our needs, our desires, and He alone knows how to satisfy us like no other can. He is faithful, and He is GOOD.
Whatever part of us we are withholding from God, or are fearful of turning over to Him, I challenge you to trust Him with it this year. Give it to Him and know that He has good plans in store for you, nothing but good. All of His thoughts towards you are good. The only things He asks us to give up are things that would eventually bring us harm and keep us from His goodness.
When we choose to hold on to OUR ways, we forfeit the grace of God that could belong to us. He will empower us, enable us, and equip us as we yield to Him.
May 2010 be a year of total surrender to God - total trust in Him. Nothing held back. Even that one thing that has been so difficult to put into God's hands.
"In quietness and trust is your salvation". Give God the reins and watch and see what God will do! Let God see your love for Him through your obedience and trust in Him.
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