The other day, a friend told a story from NPR about a man getting mugged in NY. The victim, upon seeing the age of the mugger and recognizing the cold air, offered the mugger his coat along with the wallet that was asked for. Apparently the victim and mugger ended up getting coffee and talking.
My first thought upon hearing this story was, "Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love." (1 John 4:18 NLT) I don't know if the victim is a Christian or not but I do know that Christ empowers us to love the way that he did.
This situation has really been sitting on my heart since hearing it. What if we chose love instead of fear, in every situation? How would our lives change? How would our ministry change?
I recently started working for a ministry called Joni and Friends. Joni is a quadriplegic and the ministry reaches out to those with disabilities. When we see someone with a disability, our initial response might be fear. We don't know what they can and cannot do. We don't know how to respond to them, or how they'll be able to respond to us. This oftentimes cripples the person without a disability, keeping them from walking in love. When this happens, we lose the opportunity to show Christ's love. What if we would choose to put this verse into action instead, choosing the love of Christ instead of the fear of the unknown? To me, that looks like introducing myself and engaging that person with a disability in conversation, treating them as I would someone without a disability, instead of walking away and acting as if they don't exist.
Fear can be crippling. Fear keeps us from meeting new people and trying new things, from stepping out of our comfort zones into obedience and faith, and from experiencing life as God intended. Fear keeps us from growing because we feel safe where we are. Fear keeps us from building relationships.
So what if we didn't respond in fear? What if we stopped giving fear so much freedom in our lives and started focusing on love? Perfect Love to be exact. If perfect love casts out fear, or as the New Living Translation says, expels fear, then there should be no fear in our lives. This should enable us to trust The Lord in every situation, that He is with us and we do not need to be afraid. Even if you are afraid, as I'm sure most of us would be in the midst of being mugged, we can still rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us to respond in love instead of fear.
I'm sure you're asking what if. What if they shoot? Or with meeting new people - what if they don't like me or think I'm dumb? Or with a new job or new experience - what if I do it wrong? If they shoot, you get to be with Jesus, so it's a win-win situation. If people think you're dumb, Jesus still loves you and is your identity. If you do something wrong, Jesus is still on the throne. No matter how you look at it, if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?
I think specifically of people with disabilities and the ministry we miss out when we respond in fear instead of love. We miss out on amazing children in God's Kingdom, or even miss out on the chance to offer them an invitation to be a part of God's Kingdom.
So I challenge you with the same challenge I've accepted myself. When you feel afraid, in any situation, remember that you belong to Christ, that He is with you, and that you are enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit to love instead. Ask for the Holy Spirit to lead you and be obedient. Finally, watch God use you to further His Kingdom in ways you never imagined.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Simple obedience
In the last year, God has really taught me about my emotions. I have learned that we are to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). More than that, He's taught me how to apply that verse in real life situations.
I've heard it said a few times that the Word is objective. God's Word never changes. My life and my emotions are subjective. They change constantly. I have been a given a choice about what to do with my feelings. When a situation happens and I feel a certain way, I still have a choice about how I'm going to respond. Emotions happen without me thinking about them, but I still get to choose how I respond to those emotions.
I'm working on practicing this on a daily basis, but one situation stands out in my head. My principal made a choice that affected my classes for the day and involved me in a project without my say. I felt quite frustrated about this. I responded by standing up for myself, taking on the new responsibility but also taking back say over my classes. I also involved my boss and asked for help. As I started working to change the decisions my principal had made (walking around the school to speak with teachers), I realized I had a choice. I could be really frustrated and share my frustrations with everyone and let the situation ruin my day, or I could choose joy. I could choose Christ, being thankful for my bosses helpful ideas and for the opportunity to practice love. So that's what I did. I still had a lot of work to accomplish, but it all came together and my day wasn't ruined because I chose to follow Christ and let Him be my joy instead of my situation.
In discussing this choice with a friend, a question was brought up. I don't remember what the wording was exactly, but it was something about praying to get to that decision, or praying more in that situation to be able to make that choice. The Holy Spirit reminded me of these simple truths. I had already spent time in "prayer." Prayer is communion with God, whether that be through reading His Word, talking about Him with friends, worshiping Him at church, or something else. Because of my time in prayer, I already knew what God's will was for that situation. I didn't have to pray more. The choice was now mine: would I be obedient to His will or would I choose my emotions instead?
This is something I'm continually working on practicing, but those 3 steps are ones I never really realized.
1. His Word - When we spend time in the Word, we're spending time with God. (John 1:1)
2. His Will - Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding of His Word.
3. Choose obedience - My response doesn't need to be more prayer, my response now needs to be obedience to what I know according to His Word.
This is simple truth. So I encourage you to know His Word so that when you come across any situation in life you will know His will. And then I encourage you to be obedient to what His will is. He that is in us is greater than He that is in the world (1 John 4:4) and provides all the power and strength we need to walk in obedience.
I've heard it said a few times that the Word is objective. God's Word never changes. My life and my emotions are subjective. They change constantly. I have been a given a choice about what to do with my feelings. When a situation happens and I feel a certain way, I still have a choice about how I'm going to respond. Emotions happen without me thinking about them, but I still get to choose how I respond to those emotions.
I'm working on practicing this on a daily basis, but one situation stands out in my head. My principal made a choice that affected my classes for the day and involved me in a project without my say. I felt quite frustrated about this. I responded by standing up for myself, taking on the new responsibility but also taking back say over my classes. I also involved my boss and asked for help. As I started working to change the decisions my principal had made (walking around the school to speak with teachers), I realized I had a choice. I could be really frustrated and share my frustrations with everyone and let the situation ruin my day, or I could choose joy. I could choose Christ, being thankful for my bosses helpful ideas and for the opportunity to practice love. So that's what I did. I still had a lot of work to accomplish, but it all came together and my day wasn't ruined because I chose to follow Christ and let Him be my joy instead of my situation.
In discussing this choice with a friend, a question was brought up. I don't remember what the wording was exactly, but it was something about praying to get to that decision, or praying more in that situation to be able to make that choice. The Holy Spirit reminded me of these simple truths. I had already spent time in "prayer." Prayer is communion with God, whether that be through reading His Word, talking about Him with friends, worshiping Him at church, or something else. Because of my time in prayer, I already knew what God's will was for that situation. I didn't have to pray more. The choice was now mine: would I be obedient to His will or would I choose my emotions instead?
This is something I'm continually working on practicing, but those 3 steps are ones I never really realized.
1. His Word - When we spend time in the Word, we're spending time with God. (John 1:1)
2. His Will - Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding of His Word.
3. Choose obedience - My response doesn't need to be more prayer, my response now needs to be obedience to what I know according to His Word.
This is simple truth. So I encourage you to know His Word so that when you come across any situation in life you will know His will. And then I encourage you to be obedient to what His will is. He that is in us is greater than He that is in the world (1 John 4:4) and provides all the power and strength we need to walk in obedience.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
I know
I don't care.
We all say this sentence. It's so simple, so easy. When I hear it in a heated conversation, I try to back off. I wouldn't want to offend someone who already knows. But then I realized what we really mean is, "I don't care." Because if you know, and you choose to do nothing about it, then you really don't care.
Words versus actions.
Until your words become actions, you either really don't know, or you don't care enough to make them real in your life. I know the Truth. I promise I do. I know I fight a battle for my emotions every day. I know that battle gets tiring. I know I get weary. I still know the truth, but notice how all these other "knowings" are starting to take over?
Feelings versus actions.
I've battled this week. Actually, I've been in a battle this week and even though I know what to do, I didn't do it. I can tell you that I know, but it wasn't real to me this week. I chose for it not to be real. I chose to let it sit in my brain and not affect my heart and my emotions. My emotions failed because of that, and I lost. That's what happens when "I know" really means "I don't care."
We all say this sentence. It's so simple, so easy. When I hear it in a heated conversation, I try to back off. I wouldn't want to offend someone who already knows. But then I realized what we really mean is, "I don't care." Because if you know, and you choose to do nothing about it, then you really don't care.
Words versus actions.
Until your words become actions, you either really don't know, or you don't care enough to make them real in your life. I know the Truth. I promise I do. I know I fight a battle for my emotions every day. I know that battle gets tiring. I know I get weary. I still know the truth, but notice how all these other "knowings" are starting to take over?
Feelings versus actions.
I've battled this week. Actually, I've been in a battle this week and even though I know what to do, I didn't do it. I can tell you that I know, but it wasn't real to me this week. I chose for it not to be real. I chose to let it sit in my brain and not affect my heart and my emotions. My emotions failed because of that, and I lost. That's what happens when "I know" really means "I don't care."
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
TV Drama
Changed Response
I've been watching Felicity on Netflix. Last night I realized that my emotions are being affected by a TV show. It came to me when I was interacting with my husband and the way I would have normally responded didn't happen because I had just been watching this show.
Real vs. Fake
TV is a way to escape from our own realities, and I agree, this can be good and fun sometimes. When it starts to affect the way I treat the ones I love, it makes me stop and think though. The shows we watch may be based on real experiences, or real life situations, but the ways in which those situations are resolved are not usually the way I choose to do it.
I think specifically of daytime soap operas. These are an extreme case mind-you, but I realized last night that Felicity has become a soap opera for me. I'm involved with the characters lives, wondering what's going to happen next, and affected by their drama.
These are normal emotions to have as you experience life with friends, but when I start to experience those same emotions from a TV show where I am not friends with those characters, I realize it's time to step back.
Unhealthy Expectations of What Life Should be Like
I compare Felicity to daytime soaps because it would be so easy for me to get caught up in the show and begin to think the way they're living is the way my life should be lived, or begin to question why my life doesn't look like theirs. I will be the first to admit, I struggle with my emotions, with keeping control of them and focusing them on what's good. This is the reason I know I need to stop watching Felicity. I don't want to expect my life to look like this TV show. That's not reality.
I want my life to be focused on the Lord, focused on His Word, focused on what is good and holy and just. These are not values I see on screen most of the time. I am acknowledging that I am a human and that I need boundaries in my life in order for me to live well. I don't want to expect anything that God has not promised, and I want to be fully aware of what His promises are. I want to be fully engaged in the life that I'm living in, the one that He has for me, not one that I'm trying to escape to.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Perfect Love
1 John 4:18 ESV
18 There is no fear in love, but dperfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not abeen perfected in love.
When you were young and you did something wrong, you had to go talk to a parent about it right? At least this is how it was at my house. You either had to confess your wrong, or they already knew about it. Either way, there was fear of being punished, fear of the consequences of your wrong doing.
Get this. We don't have to be afraid of going to the Lord, the greatest Father ever, because our punishment has been taken care of. WHAT?! For real. I know you've probably heard it before, but let me put it to you this way. We all have sinned. It's our human nature. That just means that we've all done something bad (just like when we were kids and went against our parents rules). The human response then is to be afraid of the consequences of doing that bad thing. Most people think that there's a power beyond them which means most people probably acknowledge that there's going to be some kind of ultimate judgment for those things that you've done wrong. But with God, when you accept Christ and come into the family of God, there's no punishment.
God is the best Daddy ever. Ever. He loves you. That's it. There's no punishment because He already sent Jesus to take care of it. Punishment is death if you don't know God. That's a pretty sucky punishment if you ask me. But when you know Christ, when you accept Him and come into the family, there's no more punishment.
The end of this verse says that "fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." I don't fear punishment. This simply means that I can go to the Father with joy, that I can be in His presence and know His amazing Love. I'm not going to focus on the things I've done in the past, or the things I might do today, because that's not how He sees me. I'm going to focus on His Love. I want to be perfected by His Love, not by fear.
18 There is no fear in love, but dperfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not abeen perfected in love.
When you were young and you did something wrong, you had to go talk to a parent about it right? At least this is how it was at my house. You either had to confess your wrong, or they already knew about it. Either way, there was fear of being punished, fear of the consequences of your wrong doing.
Get this. We don't have to be afraid of going to the Lord, the greatest Father ever, because our punishment has been taken care of. WHAT?! For real. I know you've probably heard it before, but let me put it to you this way. We all have sinned. It's our human nature. That just means that we've all done something bad (just like when we were kids and went against our parents rules). The human response then is to be afraid of the consequences of doing that bad thing. Most people think that there's a power beyond them which means most people probably acknowledge that there's going to be some kind of ultimate judgment for those things that you've done wrong. But with God, when you accept Christ and come into the family of God, there's no punishment.
God is the best Daddy ever. Ever. He loves you. That's it. There's no punishment because He already sent Jesus to take care of it. Punishment is death if you don't know God. That's a pretty sucky punishment if you ask me. But when you know Christ, when you accept Him and come into the family, there's no more punishment.
The end of this verse says that "fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." I don't fear punishment. This simply means that I can go to the Father with joy, that I can be in His presence and know His amazing Love. I'm not going to focus on the things I've done in the past, or the things I might do today, because that's not how He sees me. I'm going to focus on His Love. I want to be perfected by His Love, not by fear.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Your Words
1 John 4:5 ESV 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
"They" is talking about the evil spirits discussed previously in the chapter. These evil spirits are in the world and they speak to the world and the world listens to them.
The way the world speaks is completely different than the way the Lord speaks, and should be completely different than the way believers speak. The world speaks death, constantly putting each other down and saying words that discourage. The world talks about their neighbor behind their neighbors back. The world doesn't recognize the power of their words so they don't think about the words they're speaking.
These spirits speak from the world, and the world listens to them. The world has a hard time hearing the Word of God because God's Word is Love. The only way you can understand Love is to know the greatest Lover. Everyone gets challenged by God's Word because He calls us to Love. The world listens to the words everyone else speaks because they make sense to them: take care of #1, be as successful as possible by any means, money is happiness. These are all lies, but they are lies the world believes. The world is looking for something to fulfill them so they try these things and they find they don't work so they keep looking but they refuse to look to the One thing that will satisfy them. If what the world has told you is true isn't working, try something new.
Watch the words you speak. When something goes wrong don't assume that everything's going to fall apart. Instead, speak out your faith. As believers, we are blessed. We are loved without end. We have everything that we need in Christ. Be careful to speak blessings and not curses. What you speak will return to you. Speak life instead of death, speak love instead of hate. What you speak is what you believe in. What kind of life do you want to live?
"They" is talking about the evil spirits discussed previously in the chapter. These evil spirits are in the world and they speak to the world and the world listens to them.
The way the world speaks is completely different than the way the Lord speaks, and should be completely different than the way believers speak. The world speaks death, constantly putting each other down and saying words that discourage. The world talks about their neighbor behind their neighbors back. The world doesn't recognize the power of their words so they don't think about the words they're speaking.
These spirits speak from the world, and the world listens to them. The world has a hard time hearing the Word of God because God's Word is Love. The only way you can understand Love is to know the greatest Lover. Everyone gets challenged by God's Word because He calls us to Love. The world listens to the words everyone else speaks because they make sense to them: take care of #1, be as successful as possible by any means, money is happiness. These are all lies, but they are lies the world believes. The world is looking for something to fulfill them so they try these things and they find they don't work so they keep looking but they refuse to look to the One thing that will satisfy them. If what the world has told you is true isn't working, try something new.
Watch the words you speak. When something goes wrong don't assume that everything's going to fall apart. Instead, speak out your faith. As believers, we are blessed. We are loved without end. We have everything that we need in Christ. Be careful to speak blessings and not curses. What you speak will return to you. Speak life instead of death, speak love instead of hate. What you speak is what you believe in. What kind of life do you want to live?
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Winning!
I was reading this in my devotions this morning and got so excited that I couldn't keep this to myself.
1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for che who is in you is greater than dhe who is in the world. - I love this verse. We are called little children. We are still learning, we are still under the Lord’s headship and protection. Little children is also a name given to those who are loved. This is a reminder of our lineage, of our identity.
The next part gets better. We have overcome them; them being the spirits that do not agree with Jesus. He that is in me is greater than he who is in the world. The Holy Spirit has much more power than the devil, or any of the spirits who do his bidding. The Holy Spirit has already won the battle through Jesus’ blood and we have that same power living inside us. That also means that we’ve already won, and if we’ve won there is a new life to be lived!
Friends, you have overcome! Please notice that overcome is past tense, not present or future, but in the past. The war has already been won. We already know who wins. Will you choose to fight the battles that come along? Will you remember your true identity and walk in the victory that's already yours?
Rom. 8:37 says that we are more than conquerors. We're not just conquerors, but more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. We've already got it.
Check out this article and video from John Piper. He's talking more about suffering but I love what he says near the end about being more than a conqueror in Christ. Know that you have power, you have the strength living within you. As a believer, you are incredibly blessed. The same power that raised Christ from the dead LIVES inside you!
Are you using it to the full extent? Are you winning?
1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for che who is in you is greater than dhe who is in the world. - I love this verse. We are called little children. We are still learning, we are still under the Lord’s headship and protection. Little children is also a name given to those who are loved. This is a reminder of our lineage, of our identity.
The next part gets better. We have overcome them; them being the spirits that do not agree with Jesus. He that is in me is greater than he who is in the world. The Holy Spirit has much more power than the devil, or any of the spirits who do his bidding. The Holy Spirit has already won the battle through Jesus’ blood and we have that same power living inside us. That also means that we’ve already won, and if we’ve won there is a new life to be lived!
Friends, you have overcome! Please notice that overcome is past tense, not present or future, but in the past. The war has already been won. We already know who wins. Will you choose to fight the battles that come along? Will you remember your true identity and walk in the victory that's already yours?
Rom. 8:37 says that we are more than conquerors. We're not just conquerors, but more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. We've already got it.
Check out this article and video from John Piper. He's talking more about suffering but I love what he says near the end about being more than a conqueror in Christ. Know that you have power, you have the strength living within you. As a believer, you are incredibly blessed. The same power that raised Christ from the dead LIVES inside you!
Are you using it to the full extent? Are you winning?
Friday, February 3, 2012
Fear
LOVE
So get this. I've been pumped lately about the Lord's Love. He's been pretty amazing in showing it to me and giving me greater understanding about how utterly incredible it is. So I've been basking in that, trusting in that, and enjoying it.
FINANCES
In the midst of that, we've been doing a lot of trusting in God financially. It's been so good. I trust Him more than I've ever trusted Him before with our finances, our bills, our debt, and our current situation. The truth is, none of them matter because He's my Provider. He's greater than all those things I just named. So I have had absolutely no worry, and it's been beautiful.
PURPOSE
So I've been feeling pretty good. At the same time, I've been questioning God, for a while now, about my purpose. What am I supposed to do? What's His vision for me? What's my calling? I'm 30, I should know! Oy. And I've asked. And I haven't heard. And I've been frustrated. Here I'm trusting God with my finances and I have complete peace in His Word and His power. Why can't I get this vision thing?
FEAR
And then I realized. Fear. While working on trusting God with our finances I kind of let everything just be. And now that my faith in finances is in Him alone, we can start working on some other things. This fear is kind of ridiculous. Like it doesn't make sense to me and it ticks me off. I don't like it, and yet I struggle with getting rid of it. Ick.
So tonight I'm doing a word study on fear. Here are the verses I got. Be encouraged my friends. God doesn't give us fear, He gives us power. He's walking with us every step of the way like a father teaching a child to walk. This is what I'm going to be preaching and speaking to myself in the coming days. Praising the Father. He's immensely good.
Deuteronomy 6:13 ESV 13 It is (A)the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and (B)by his name you shall swear.
Isaiah 41:13 Amplified 13For I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you!
Mark 5:36 Amplified 36[a]Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.
2 Tim. 1:7 Amplified 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
1 John 4:18 Amplified 18There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love [a]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear [b]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].
So get this. I've been pumped lately about the Lord's Love. He's been pretty amazing in showing it to me and giving me greater understanding about how utterly incredible it is. So I've been basking in that, trusting in that, and enjoying it.
FINANCES
In the midst of that, we've been doing a lot of trusting in God financially. It's been so good. I trust Him more than I've ever trusted Him before with our finances, our bills, our debt, and our current situation. The truth is, none of them matter because He's my Provider. He's greater than all those things I just named. So I have had absolutely no worry, and it's been beautiful.
PURPOSE
So I've been feeling pretty good. At the same time, I've been questioning God, for a while now, about my purpose. What am I supposed to do? What's His vision for me? What's my calling? I'm 30, I should know! Oy. And I've asked. And I haven't heard. And I've been frustrated. Here I'm trusting God with my finances and I have complete peace in His Word and His power. Why can't I get this vision thing?
FEAR
And then I realized. Fear. While working on trusting God with our finances I kind of let everything just be. And now that my faith in finances is in Him alone, we can start working on some other things. This fear is kind of ridiculous. Like it doesn't make sense to me and it ticks me off. I don't like it, and yet I struggle with getting rid of it. Ick.
So tonight I'm doing a word study on fear. Here are the verses I got. Be encouraged my friends. God doesn't give us fear, He gives us power. He's walking with us every step of the way like a father teaching a child to walk. This is what I'm going to be preaching and speaking to myself in the coming days. Praising the Father. He's immensely good.
Deuteronomy 6:13 ESV 13 It is (A)the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and (B)by his name you shall swear.
Isaiah 41:13 Amplified 13For I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you!
Mark 5:36 Amplified 36[a]Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.
2 Tim. 1:7 Amplified 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
1 John 4:18 Amplified 18There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love [a]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear [b]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
God's Character
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (all scripture from ESV)
Related verses -
Related verses -
- 1 John 3:11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
- James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Living and Active
Hebrews 4:12 says that is what the word of God is, living and active, sharper than the sharpest double-edged sword. It even cuts through bone and marrow. From what I know, that is some of the thickest stuff out there. His word cuts through it. His word is truth. We say that we believe this. We go to church and hear it and read it and then put it away. Are we allowing it to be active in our lives?!
If God's word was active in your life, truly changing the way you thought, how would your life change?
The question is not "what would that look like?" Someone just told me that's something that Christians say. I wasn't aware. I've been saying it for years. Don't get me wrong, there are times when it's good to ask. Like when Mary asked God what having a baby looked like for her since she was a virgin. If she hadn't asked and just assumed it was through Joseph I don't think we'd know Mary. All that to say, this is not a time to ask what it looks like. God's word is active. If we would allow it be active, our lives would be changed. This is why it's SO important to know who you are in Christ. And I mean to really know it in your heart and believe it. Not to know it in your head and have it memorized but to believe it and live it so that when you look in the mirror you see the masterpiece that He calls you, you see the conqueror, you see the son or daughter of the Most High King, you see His righteousness. You don't see a loser, or a failure, or whatever else your emotions are seeing. You see the truth of the word of God because you have allowed it to be living and active in your life, the truth in your life instead of the lies that so easily squeeze in. If you don't know what He has to say about you, how much He loves you, and how He wants the best for you (even more than your earthly Dad), then how are you going to walk in the dreams He's calling you to?!
Know the word friends. Spend time in it. And then believe what it says about you. Satan is the lier and he's subtle. God and His word are the truth. And once you learn that, once you receive that and walk in it and allow it to manifest in all that you are, your life will never be the same.
The question is not "what would that look like?" Someone just told me that's something that Christians say. I wasn't aware. I've been saying it for years. Don't get me wrong, there are times when it's good to ask. Like when Mary asked God what having a baby looked like for her since she was a virgin. If she hadn't asked and just assumed it was through Joseph I don't think we'd know Mary. All that to say, this is not a time to ask what it looks like. God's word is active. If we would allow it be active, our lives would be changed. This is why it's SO important to know who you are in Christ. And I mean to really know it in your heart and believe it. Not to know it in your head and have it memorized but to believe it and live it so that when you look in the mirror you see the masterpiece that He calls you, you see the conqueror, you see the son or daughter of the Most High King, you see His righteousness. You don't see a loser, or a failure, or whatever else your emotions are seeing. You see the truth of the word of God because you have allowed it to be living and active in your life, the truth in your life instead of the lies that so easily squeeze in. If you don't know what He has to say about you, how much He loves you, and how He wants the best for you (even more than your earthly Dad), then how are you going to walk in the dreams He's calling you to?!
Know the word friends. Spend time in it. And then believe what it says about you. Satan is the lier and he's subtle. God and His word are the truth. And once you learn that, once you receive that and walk in it and allow it to manifest in all that you are, your life will never be the same.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Satisfaction
So often in my life I have seen people who have this relationship with Christ that wholly satisfies them. You can see it in the way they live. You can see how in love with Jesus they are, the fruit of the relationship emanates from them.
I've always wanted to be that person. Not so much because that person looked great, but knowing Christ like they did looked amazing. The relationship with Christ they had is what I really wanted.
So all of my life I've been searching for that. I've been thirsty for Him and never quite satisfied. How would I ever be satisfied? There are so many worship songs that talk about coming back to the heart of worship, about being fully satisfied with the Creator. Sometimes I felt like a lier singing these songs because as much as I wanted to be fully satisfied, I wasn't. Something was missing.
Something new happened this fall. A friend of mine started attending Rhema. Right before this happened I had been getting really thirsty again, thirsty for something more, thirsty to know the Holy Spirit more. I had started realizing the the fullness I've always sought must be found in the Holy Spirit. I was raised in a church that knew Jesus and taught the Gospel, but we didn't talk about the Spirit much. I've been blessed with more teaching, but I've always found the Holy Spirit so intriguing. I've always wondered why we don't talk about Him more.
Since then, I feel like a new person. God has blessed me with some wonderful friends who are helping me learn, but more than anything He has blessed me with a thirst that is finally being satisfied as I get to know Holy and gain understanding about the life we're truly capable of. I am finally satisfied, satisfied in knowing my Creator, satisfied in the most amazing Love relationship I've ever been a part of. Knowing the Holy Spirit has empowered me like never before. Learning more fully about the power He's given each and every believer blows my mind on a regular basis. Knowing that I coud have known this from the beginning is sad, but knowing it now is better than never.
I've written recently about gaining control over my emotions and all of that comes from knowing the power within me through the Holy Spirit to do that. I can do nothing on my own but in Him, I literally can do ALL things. I am not controlled by emotions and feelings, by pain or thoughts, but by the Holy Spirit living inside of me. If we could understand that it's better to have the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus said in John 16:7 (ESV, Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.), life would change for us. Jesus walked with the disciples and that was incredible. But the amazing thing is that we, as Christians, have the Holy Spirit living inside of us! He was given to us to help us, to teach us, to guide us, and to empower us to live the life Christ called us to! We can't do it without His help. This is the biggest, and best difference, about Old Testament believers and New Testament believers. We have Holy, and that's the game changer.
So all of my life I've been searching for that. I've been thirsty for Him and never quite satisfied. How would I ever be satisfied? There are so many worship songs that talk about coming back to the heart of worship, about being fully satisfied with the Creator. Sometimes I felt like a lier singing these songs because as much as I wanted to be fully satisfied, I wasn't. Something was missing.
Something new happened this fall. A friend of mine started attending Rhema. Right before this happened I had been getting really thirsty again, thirsty for something more, thirsty to know the Holy Spirit more. I had started realizing the the fullness I've always sought must be found in the Holy Spirit. I was raised in a church that knew Jesus and taught the Gospel, but we didn't talk about the Spirit much. I've been blessed with more teaching, but I've always found the Holy Spirit so intriguing. I've always wondered why we don't talk about Him more.
Since then, I feel like a new person. God has blessed me with some wonderful friends who are helping me learn, but more than anything He has blessed me with a thirst that is finally being satisfied as I get to know Holy and gain understanding about the life we're truly capable of. I am finally satisfied, satisfied in knowing my Creator, satisfied in the most amazing Love relationship I've ever been a part of. Knowing the Holy Spirit has empowered me like never before. Learning more fully about the power He's given each and every believer blows my mind on a regular basis. Knowing that I coud have known this from the beginning is sad, but knowing it now is better than never.
I've written recently about gaining control over my emotions and all of that comes from knowing the power within me through the Holy Spirit to do that. I can do nothing on my own but in Him, I literally can do ALL things. I am not controlled by emotions and feelings, by pain or thoughts, but by the Holy Spirit living inside of me. If we could understand that it's better to have the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus said in John 16:7 (ESV, Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.), life would change for us. Jesus walked with the disciples and that was incredible. But the amazing thing is that we, as Christians, have the Holy Spirit living inside of us! He was given to us to help us, to teach us, to guide us, and to empower us to live the life Christ called us to! We can't do it without His help. This is the biggest, and best difference, about Old Testament believers and New Testament believers. We have Holy, and that's the game changer.
Learning
On Christmas Eve, I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 13 . Most people know this as the love chapter of the Bible. It's always a favorite at weddings, reminding the bride and groom of what true love looks like. It's a beautiful chapter. The last paragraph in the chapter is interesting though.
You have to remember that 1 Corinthians 13 is in the middle of 12 and 14, two chapters that focus on the gifts of the Spirit. So verses 8-13 discuss how the gifts will cease, specifically the gift of tongues and of prophecy. This was brought up in discussion and it made me want to search and understand why God would say that these gifts would cease if we're using them today. The timeframe of them ceasing was my main concern. I know there are people who don't believe in these gifts, and people who believe that these gifts have ceased. From personal experience, I would have to disagree. So I wanted to study.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13 ESV
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Verse 8 says specifically that these gifts will end. But it says that after stating that Love never ends. I believe that God is Love (1 John 4:16), so it is stating that God never ends and His Love never ends. This is a beautiful promise. This is also the premise of this paragraph - Love.
Verse 10 speaks of the perfect coming. The perfect is Christ and Christ alone. There is no other perfection. Right now we know in part and prophecy in part. We do not have full understanding. We will not have it until the day that Christ returns because He is perfect. Verse 12 talks about seeing in a mirror right now, but then, when the perfect comes, we will see face to face. The only one I want to see face to face, the only perfect one to see face to face with is Christ. So these gifts will pass away when Christ returns. We will no longer need the gift of prophecy and of tongues when Christ returns because we will know fully. These gifts help us right now, just as the Holy Spirit is called our Comforter and Helper, so are His gifts. They will never replace Christ but they help us live the life Christ has called us to while He is not with us.
The greatest part of learning this was when God confirmed it a few days ago through a daily devotional. Only God knew that we had studied it. In reading the following devotional from Andrew Wommack, I felt so loved, like God had written it just for me to remind me of how much He loves me and wants me to continue to seek Him and understand His Word.
Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional, December 31, 2011 - GOD STILL PERFORMS MIRACLES
(http://www.awmi.net/home)
Mark 16:20 "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."
The Lord confirmed the preaching of His Word with miracles. If Jesus and the first century Christians needed the Word confirmed with the miraculous (Heb. 2:4), then we do too. There is no scripture that says these miraculous signs have passed away.
Some people have interpreted "that which is perfect" in 1 Corinthians 13:10, as being the complete Bible. This has led them to believe that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. Although God's Word is perfect (Ps. 19:7), it is not the "perfect thing" that is referred to here. 1 Corinthians 13:8 does say that tongues shall cease, but it will not happen until "that which is perfect is come."
In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul says, "when that which is perfect is come, we shall see face to face." This speaks of seeing the Lord face to face, instead of vaguely, as through a dark glass, as it is now. Some might argue that this is speaking in a symbolic sense, instead of literally face to face. But the next comparison in this verse says that then, "when that which is perfect is come," we shall know all things even as we are also known. There is no other way to interpret this, except as a description of when we will stand before the Lord, after this life. Then we will be face to face, and know all things even as also we are known.
Verse eight says that at the time prophecies fail and tongues cease, knowledge will vanish away. This is talking about the next life, or the new heavens and earth, because one of the signs of the end times is that knowledge shall increase (Dan. 12:4).
So the "that which is perfect" that Paul speaks of, cannot be the Bible. It has to be either our glorified body, or Jesus at His second coming. Either way, these verses establish that until "that which is perfect is come," tongues and prophecy will remain. They are still valid gifts, and even today, it is God's will to accompany the preaching of His Word with miracles
You have to remember that 1 Corinthians 13 is in the middle of 12 and 14, two chapters that focus on the gifts of the Spirit. So verses 8-13 discuss how the gifts will cease, specifically the gift of tongues and of prophecy. This was brought up in discussion and it made me want to search and understand why God would say that these gifts would cease if we're using them today. The timeframe of them ceasing was my main concern. I know there are people who don't believe in these gifts, and people who believe that these gifts have ceased. From personal experience, I would have to disagree. So I wanted to study.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13 ESV
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Verse 8 says specifically that these gifts will end. But it says that after stating that Love never ends. I believe that God is Love (1 John 4:16), so it is stating that God never ends and His Love never ends. This is a beautiful promise. This is also the premise of this paragraph - Love.
Verse 10 speaks of the perfect coming. The perfect is Christ and Christ alone. There is no other perfection. Right now we know in part and prophecy in part. We do not have full understanding. We will not have it until the day that Christ returns because He is perfect. Verse 12 talks about seeing in a mirror right now, but then, when the perfect comes, we will see face to face. The only one I want to see face to face, the only perfect one to see face to face with is Christ. So these gifts will pass away when Christ returns. We will no longer need the gift of prophecy and of tongues when Christ returns because we will know fully. These gifts help us right now, just as the Holy Spirit is called our Comforter and Helper, so are His gifts. They will never replace Christ but they help us live the life Christ has called us to while He is not with us.
The greatest part of learning this was when God confirmed it a few days ago through a daily devotional. Only God knew that we had studied it. In reading the following devotional from Andrew Wommack, I felt so loved, like God had written it just for me to remind me of how much He loves me and wants me to continue to seek Him and understand His Word.
Andrew Wommack Daily Devotional, December 31, 2011 - GOD STILL PERFORMS MIRACLES
(http://www.awmi.net/home)
Mark 16:20 "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."
The Lord confirmed the preaching of His Word with miracles. If Jesus and the first century Christians needed the Word confirmed with the miraculous (Heb. 2:4), then we do too. There is no scripture that says these miraculous signs have passed away.
Some people have interpreted "that which is perfect" in 1 Corinthians 13:10, as being the complete Bible. This has led them to believe that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. Although God's Word is perfect (Ps. 19:7), it is not the "perfect thing" that is referred to here. 1 Corinthians 13:8 does say that tongues shall cease, but it will not happen until "that which is perfect is come."
In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul says, "when that which is perfect is come, we shall see face to face." This speaks of seeing the Lord face to face, instead of vaguely, as through a dark glass, as it is now. Some might argue that this is speaking in a symbolic sense, instead of literally face to face. But the next comparison in this verse says that then, "when that which is perfect is come," we shall know all things even as we are also known. There is no other way to interpret this, except as a description of when we will stand before the Lord, after this life. Then we will be face to face, and know all things even as also we are known.
Verse eight says that at the time prophecies fail and tongues cease, knowledge will vanish away. This is talking about the next life, or the new heavens and earth, because one of the signs of the end times is that knowledge shall increase (Dan. 12:4).
So the "that which is perfect" that Paul speaks of, cannot be the Bible. It has to be either our glorified body, or Jesus at His second coming. Either way, these verses establish that until "that which is perfect is come," tongues and prophecy will remain. They are still valid gifts, and even today, it is God's will to accompany the preaching of His Word with miracles
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