By Kathy Smith
I’m certain your GPS has never been lost, but mine has been at times. The saddest part is the fact that it does not know that it is lost! Sadder still is the fact that if it is lost, I am usually lost with it! Being lost in the middle of nowhere and having to stop for directions is one thing, but being lost in the body of Christ is a whole different matter.
My husband says that my sense of direction is so poor that I could not find my way out of a paper bag. While that may be only a slight exaggeration, I have had to learn how to compensate for this shortcoming over the years. My compass, mapquest.com, and now my GPS can be very helpful navigational tools at times.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (KJV). An expected end is a destination or a bull’s eye. It is helpful to know what your destination is and have a general sense of where it is located. It is a good idea to plot out a basic plan to get there. If you fail to do your homework, you could wind up somewhere you did not want to go.
God has given an expected end to each one of us. Where is your expected end? For some, discovering their own personal expected end seems about as easy as finding the appropriate end to open on a produce department plastic bag. Am I the only one who has difficulty finding the designated end? You have your hands full of fresh fruits and veggies when you decide to find a bag that will protect it until you get home—except that you lose half of it on the floor while trying to open the bag in the middle of the grocery aisle. Sometimes it seems that finding what God has called you to do is just as challenging!
I am certain some of you may have heard from God as children, knew exactly what you were called to do and have been pursuing it ever since. If it was that easy for you, praise God and keep running for the prize. For others for whom God’s plan and purpose, His expected end, gifts and callings have been more elusive, the vision for the future may seem vague.
On my way to a preaching engagement, I found it necessary to use my GPS to help me find my destination. I programmed the address of the church into my phone and waited while it chose an appropriate course. It took a few minutes, but soon it began barking out commands to take me to my intended destination. The church was located in a remote area outside of Millersburg, OH. I knew that the church was somewhere on the west side of Millersburg. I trusted the GPS on my phone to take me to the exact location. We had planned to stop along the way for breakfast, but we got a later start than I had intended. No fear, we decided to snack on some cheese and make our way to Mansfield, OH. Then, if we had enough time, we would stop there to eat. Once we made it to Mansfield, I was a little apprehensive about the time, so we decided to proceed to our destination and find the church before eating.
Again, I knew that it was located on the west side of Millersburg, but strangely enough we found ourselves in the middle of town. Finally the GPS proudly announced, “You have arrived at your destination, it is approaching on your left.” There was no church in sight; obviously, we were nowhere near it. I looked at the church’s address once again and checked what I had programmed into the GPS. To my dismay, I discovered that the GPS had been unable to locate the address I had given it. Therefore, it had randomly directed us to a site in the center of Millersburg. It had not even warned me that it could not find the exact address. Now we were almost ten miles too far east and had to turn around and drive back to find the church. We stopped along the way at a gas station to ask for directions.
There was no time left for breakfast, even if there had been a restaurant open. (It seems everything is closed on Sunday in Amish country.) We did find our way to the church in time, but we did it without eating. If only I had spent more time plotting out our course, we would not have gotten lost! Perhaps we would even have found time to eat breakfast along the way. How many people fail to plan for their future, fail to plot the course to their destination and then become lost on their journey to their expected end?
You can plot a course for a successful future.
You must first seek the face of God for His gifts and His calling for which He created you. Then you must dream the dream and see the vision; write it out and make it plain. Once you have a written vision, you must plot your course and act upon the plan. Walk it out, endure the hardships, and diligently work the plan until you arrive at your intended destination. Paul said it best in Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Don’t You Dare Give Up... You Can Begin Again!
By Jan Kolb
There is a television commercial that shows an elderly woman who has fallen in her garden. She is wearing a medical alert device that signals for help. This ad makes me think of many people who have fallen in life. Some have been able to get back up, but others just cave in to despair, afraid to ever try again.
Has something so painful and overwhelming happened to you that it has affected every area of your life? Every time you kneel to pray, does your mind go back to the fact that someone broke your heart or wounded your spirit?
Have you experienced something so personally devastating that you can’t discuss it with anyone? Do you find it difficult to trust people and don’t know where to turn? You may feel as if everyone is grading you and evaluating your life to see if you are going to make it or not. Many are saying, “I told you so.”
Perhaps you know you should have finished school. You know you should not have gotten pregnant before you were married. Your parents tried to tell you, but you would not listen. You feel it is too late for you and that life has passed you by.
DON’T YOU DARE GIVE UP!
There is hope for you and healing for all your past hurts. The Bible is full of men and women who blew it big time, yet God never gave up on them.
Jacob was one of these men. His very name meant “swindler, cheat and liar.” Why, he even deceived his own father and cheated his twin brother. But when he was running in despair, God gave him a dream. Jacob had an encounter with the living God that changed his life forever.
The Lord gave him a new name. No longer was he Jacob, but his name was changed to Israel (which means “the one who wrestled with God” or “the champion of God”). Yet many times in the Book of Psalms, God is referred to as the Lord of Hosts and the God of Jacob; not the God of Israel, the changed man, but the God of Jacob, the failure!
Is there a little bit of “Jacob” on the inside of you? God wants to be your God. He is not ashamed of you. He will restore to you the years that have been lost. He is the Healer of broken hearts and the Mender of broken lives.
God has a way of taking people who have been forsaken by others and raising them up. In fact, God tends to prefer such individuals because as they are raised up into a place of power, they are not arrogant like those who think they deserve to be promoted.
Broken individuals tend not to be quite so self-righteous. They tend to be a little warmer and more loving, reaching out to embrace others without fear of rejection. They understand that if it had not been for the Lord, they wouldn’t be who they are. They realize that if it had not been for God’s grace and mercy, they would have never survived.
THERE IS HOPE!
There is healing for hurting single mothers, for insecure women and for battered wives. Abused girls and women in crises are exchanging their despair for hope. Hurting women are finding that they are special to the Father and that God has a personal interest in them.
You are “pregnant with a wonderful future!” DO NOT allow circumstances to perform an abortion on your future or rob you of the dreams and hopes you once had.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. We cannot change the past, but we can do everything about our futures. Your future is bright if you look to God for help.
Roll your cares over on Him, for He cares for you. He is stronger and wiser than you and can set things in order to charter your course.
The Scriptures declare that we are to serve the Lord with our whole being, including our mind. If there was ever a battleground that Satan wants to seize and dominate in your life, it is the arsenals of your own mind.
I believe that even now, God is calling every prodigal son and daughter back home. He is a loving Father, watching the horizons for your appearance. He alone can give you a life-changing, soul-cleansing, mind-renewing experience. When you get home, He will throw you a party, the likes of which you have never seen!
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
DON’T YOU DARE GIVE UP!
There is a television commercial that shows an elderly woman who has fallen in her garden. She is wearing a medical alert device that signals for help. This ad makes me think of many people who have fallen in life. Some have been able to get back up, but others just cave in to despair, afraid to ever try again.
Has something so painful and overwhelming happened to you that it has affected every area of your life? Every time you kneel to pray, does your mind go back to the fact that someone broke your heart or wounded your spirit?
Have you experienced something so personally devastating that you can’t discuss it with anyone? Do you find it difficult to trust people and don’t know where to turn? You may feel as if everyone is grading you and evaluating your life to see if you are going to make it or not. Many are saying, “I told you so.”
Perhaps you know you should have finished school. You know you should not have gotten pregnant before you were married. Your parents tried to tell you, but you would not listen. You feel it is too late for you and that life has passed you by.
DON’T YOU DARE GIVE UP!
There is hope for you and healing for all your past hurts. The Bible is full of men and women who blew it big time, yet God never gave up on them.
Jacob was one of these men. His very name meant “swindler, cheat and liar.” Why, he even deceived his own father and cheated his twin brother. But when he was running in despair, God gave him a dream. Jacob had an encounter with the living God that changed his life forever.
The Lord gave him a new name. No longer was he Jacob, but his name was changed to Israel (which means “the one who wrestled with God” or “the champion of God”). Yet many times in the Book of Psalms, God is referred to as the Lord of Hosts and the God of Jacob; not the God of Israel, the changed man, but the God of Jacob, the failure!
Is there a little bit of “Jacob” on the inside of you? God wants to be your God. He is not ashamed of you. He will restore to you the years that have been lost. He is the Healer of broken hearts and the Mender of broken lives.
God has a way of taking people who have been forsaken by others and raising them up. In fact, God tends to prefer such individuals because as they are raised up into a place of power, they are not arrogant like those who think they deserve to be promoted.
Broken individuals tend not to be quite so self-righteous. They tend to be a little warmer and more loving, reaching out to embrace others without fear of rejection. They understand that if it had not been for the Lord, they wouldn’t be who they are. They realize that if it had not been for God’s grace and mercy, they would have never survived.
THERE IS HOPE!
There is healing for hurting single mothers, for insecure women and for battered wives. Abused girls and women in crises are exchanging their despair for hope. Hurting women are finding that they are special to the Father and that God has a personal interest in them.
You are “pregnant with a wonderful future!” DO NOT allow circumstances to perform an abortion on your future or rob you of the dreams and hopes you once had.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. We cannot change the past, but we can do everything about our futures. Your future is bright if you look to God for help.
Roll your cares over on Him, for He cares for you. He is stronger and wiser than you and can set things in order to charter your course.
The Scriptures declare that we are to serve the Lord with our whole being, including our mind. If there was ever a battleground that Satan wants to seize and dominate in your life, it is the arsenals of your own mind.
I believe that even now, God is calling every prodigal son and daughter back home. He is a loving Father, watching the horizons for your appearance. He alone can give you a life-changing, soul-cleansing, mind-renewing experience. When you get home, He will throw you a party, the likes of which you have never seen!
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
DON’T YOU DARE GIVE UP!
Empowered to Laugh... after the Tears
By Karen Jones
“A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance,” Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NLT).
The Tears.
It was September 9, 1988. My life as I had known it would never be the same. The day began like every other morning. I had just returned to work after being off two days with the flu. I was a little over seven months pregnant, so I had been really sick those couple of days. At the time, I was working as a secretary at a law firm in Columbus, MS. A best friend of mine, Merita (our pastor’s daughter), was a secretary at another business in town, so it didn’t seem unusual when I answered the phone and heard her voice. As soon as she asked me if I was at work, something sank inside me. I had “that feeling,” the feeling that something was wrong. I tried to shrug it off with a sarcastic remark, “Well, yeah, I’m at work. How else would I be answering my work phone?” She said, “We will be there in just a little bit. I need to talk to you.”
I hung up the phone and instantly went into denial. I knew something was wrong, but I did not want to acknowledge it. Twenty excruciating minutes later, I heard the office door bell ring, and I walked into the front office. There stood my pastor with tears in his eyes. I immediately turned around and walked away from him into the other room. I guess I was thinking, “If I don’t talk to him, then I won’t have to hear what he is going to tell me; therefore, my life will be just fine.” Wow...the things that go through our mind, huh?
A few minutes later, Merita walked in, and then my boss, Pastor and Merita escorted me into my boss’ office and began to tell me there had been an accident. My dad and mom, who were going to be coming to my house that evening, were on their way to their business and were hit head-on by an individual that had a heart attack. I knew immediately—before they even told me—that my mom was gone. I reacted by saying, “This is not supposed to be happening!” Immediately, I began to beat the chair I was sitting in, screaming “NO, not my momma!!!!” Just a couple of days before, we were all together celebrating Labor Day, having a BBQ and playing horseshoes. I was seven months pregnant and about to have my first baby.
I suddenly realized they didn’t say anything yet about my dad, so I asked about him. All they could tell me was that they were not sure about his condition, but they knew he was on his way to the hospital. I found out later that I had also lost my dad, but thankfully they were able to get him back.
Fast forward. On October 16, 1988, I received one of the greatest gifts in my life as my daughter Lebriska was born. But in the meantime, the house I lived in since I was 9 years old—which was also home to almost all of my mom’s belongings—burned to the ground! I became very angry... angry at God. I was mad! I was done! I got in our vehicle and told my husband Eddie that I had no idea what I was going to do, but I needed to leave. I cranked up the car and immediately a song from a cassette tape (Yeah, that speaks my age!) began to play. Here are the words I heard:
I can go to the Master
He always listens
He welcomes my plea
Because He cares about me
He won’t overlook my petition
He’s standing above
He’s watching in love
He’s waiting my burdens to bear
He’s got time for you
And a place for me too
I can go to the Master in prayer
I immediately put my head on the steering wheel and cried. Wow, how could I quit on God?! After all, He thought so much of me that He would take time to speak to me through a song—right there in my driveway in Booneville, MS.
The Antidote: Laughter.
I have been through so many rough “life experiences.” It’s been over 21 years since that dreadful day when I was given horrible news. There have been times that I have missed my mother so badly, and even cried and longed for the feeling and warmth of her arms to just wrap themselves around me one more time.
One of the best ways I have discovered to help me make it through the circumstances in my life is laughter! No wonder it says in Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” It certainly has been like a medicine to my mind, soul and body. I love how Dorothy Dix puts it, “There isn't a single human being who hasn't plenty to cry over, and the trick is to make the laughs outweigh the tears.”
Now I’m not talking about going through life laughing and acting as though nothing bad is happening, but I am saying to take Ecclesiastes 3:4 to heart: Know that there absolutely is a time to cry, a time to grieve, but there is also a time to laugh and dance! Crying and grieving is absolutely essential to your healing, but so is laughing. And that is awesome, because if you know me at all, you know how much I LOVE LAUGHTER!!!
According to www.helpguide.org, laughter is good for your health:
A time to cry... A time to laugh.
A few tears quotes:
A few laughter quotes:
Prayer:
God, I thank You so much for all that You have done in my life. Your never-ending love for me is more than I understand. Even though there are life-experiences I must go through in my life, You do not leave me to go through them on my own. God, there have been so many times I have climbed up in Your lap just to lay my head on Your chest because my pain was so overwhelming. But You held me and comforted me—You were there. Today God, I pray that if there is someone who needs laughter to soothe some heartache that he or she is going through right now, help them to cry, to smile, to laugh and to be comforted by You. Amen.
“A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance,” Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NLT).
The Tears.
It was September 9, 1988. My life as I had known it would never be the same. The day began like every other morning. I had just returned to work after being off two days with the flu. I was a little over seven months pregnant, so I had been really sick those couple of days. At the time, I was working as a secretary at a law firm in Columbus, MS. A best friend of mine, Merita (our pastor’s daughter), was a secretary at another business in town, so it didn’t seem unusual when I answered the phone and heard her voice. As soon as she asked me if I was at work, something sank inside me. I had “that feeling,” the feeling that something was wrong. I tried to shrug it off with a sarcastic remark, “Well, yeah, I’m at work. How else would I be answering my work phone?” She said, “We will be there in just a little bit. I need to talk to you.”
I hung up the phone and instantly went into denial. I knew something was wrong, but I did not want to acknowledge it. Twenty excruciating minutes later, I heard the office door bell ring, and I walked into the front office. There stood my pastor with tears in his eyes. I immediately turned around and walked away from him into the other room. I guess I was thinking, “If I don’t talk to him, then I won’t have to hear what he is going to tell me; therefore, my life will be just fine.” Wow...the things that go through our mind, huh?
A few minutes later, Merita walked in, and then my boss, Pastor and Merita escorted me into my boss’ office and began to tell me there had been an accident. My dad and mom, who were going to be coming to my house that evening, were on their way to their business and were hit head-on by an individual that had a heart attack. I knew immediately—before they even told me—that my mom was gone. I reacted by saying, “This is not supposed to be happening!” Immediately, I began to beat the chair I was sitting in, screaming “NO, not my momma!!!!” Just a couple of days before, we were all together celebrating Labor Day, having a BBQ and playing horseshoes. I was seven months pregnant and about to have my first baby.
I suddenly realized they didn’t say anything yet about my dad, so I asked about him. All they could tell me was that they were not sure about his condition, but they knew he was on his way to the hospital. I found out later that I had also lost my dad, but thankfully they were able to get him back.
Fast forward. On October 16, 1988, I received one of the greatest gifts in my life as my daughter Lebriska was born. But in the meantime, the house I lived in since I was 9 years old—which was also home to almost all of my mom’s belongings—burned to the ground! I became very angry... angry at God. I was mad! I was done! I got in our vehicle and told my husband Eddie that I had no idea what I was going to do, but I needed to leave. I cranked up the car and immediately a song from a cassette tape (Yeah, that speaks my age!) began to play. Here are the words I heard:
I can go to the Master
He always listens
He welcomes my plea
Because He cares about me
He won’t overlook my petition
He’s standing above
He’s watching in love
He’s waiting my burdens to bear
He’s got time for you
And a place for me too
I can go to the Master in prayer
I immediately put my head on the steering wheel and cried. Wow, how could I quit on God?! After all, He thought so much of me that He would take time to speak to me through a song—right there in my driveway in Booneville, MS.
The Antidote: Laughter.
I have been through so many rough “life experiences.” It’s been over 21 years since that dreadful day when I was given horrible news. There have been times that I have missed my mother so badly, and even cried and longed for the feeling and warmth of her arms to just wrap themselves around me one more time.
One of the best ways I have discovered to help me make it through the circumstances in my life is laughter! No wonder it says in Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” It certainly has been like a medicine to my mind, soul and body. I love how Dorothy Dix puts it, “There isn't a single human being who hasn't plenty to cry over, and the trick is to make the laughs outweigh the tears.”
Now I’m not talking about going through life laughing and acting as though nothing bad is happening, but I am saying to take Ecclesiastes 3:4 to heart: Know that there absolutely is a time to cry, a time to grieve, but there is also a time to laugh and dance! Crying and grieving is absolutely essential to your healing, but so is laughing. And that is awesome, because if you know me at all, you know how much I LOVE LAUGHTER!!!
According to www.helpguide.org, laughter is good for your health:
- Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
- Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
- Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
- Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
A time to cry... A time to laugh.
A few tears quotes:
- “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'” — Billy Graham
- “Delicious tears! The heart's own dew.” — Letitia Landon
A few laughter quotes:
- “Even if there is nothing to laugh about, laugh on credit.” — Author Unknown
- “Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.” — Kurt Vonnegut
- “It is impossible for you to be angry and laugh at the same time. Anger and laughter are mutually exclusive and you have the power to choose either.” —Wayne Dyer
Prayer:
God, I thank You so much for all that You have done in my life. Your never-ending love for me is more than I understand. Even though there are life-experiences I must go through in my life, You do not leave me to go through them on my own. God, there have been so many times I have climbed up in Your lap just to lay my head on Your chest because my pain was so overwhelming. But You held me and comforted me—You were there. Today God, I pray that if there is someone who needs laughter to soothe some heartache that he or she is going through right now, help them to cry, to smile, to laugh and to be comforted by You. Amen.
Scars
By Kim Roberts
I have become more aware of my own scars, both on the inside and outside—scars on my body from childhood cuts and scrapes, and scars I received as an adult from giving birth to my children. I also have inward scars on my heart, mind and emotions, the same ones we all have received through life's tragedies, the difficult and sometimes desperate situations we all face. It has recently become evident that each scar is a reminder of the healing process we have been through. Our scars tell a story.
We went to church with Mark's family on the same weekend that we were preparing to put our son in rehab in Kennesaw, GA for drug and alcohol abuse. They attend a church in Hendersonville, TN. After the Sunday morning service, we went to lunch with family, friends and the pastors of the church. As I visited with the pastor’s wife, she spoke of the scars of her own experiences with a son who was an addict and drug dealer in Nashville, but was now saved, delivered and being used by God in a powerful music ministry. He was working as their associate pastor and facilitating ministry in their church, helping others to be set free who were battling similar life-controlling issues.
So many times, as pastors, we need ministry given to us during our own healing processes! That afternoon, I received ministry. As I was listening to this pastor’s wife and mom speak through her tears, what I really remember was seeing her scars. In time, your wounds will begin to heal, but what will be left behind are the scars of those wounds. These scars serve as constant reminders of the greatness of God's power and most of all, how His love and mercy carry us through.
I remember that my wound was so great I felt that I could bleed to death. God took His hand of love and applied pressure at the right time—not to intensify the pain—but to stop the bleeding.
I am very observant now of people with scars, especially those with scars like mine. We have shared in the same process; the tears we cried when we were up all night waiting for our child to come home safely, the time we spent wondering and holding on in faith, hoping that today would be the day of their deliverance. The one thing I know is that this is a walk of faith and we must keep putting one foot in front of the other. Now as I look at my scars, they are a reminder that "God is for me, not against me" and that He will chase me down to bless me! The Psalmist says ". . . surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all of the days of my life” (Psalm 23.6).
I have been reminded of how God blessed Jacob in Genesis 32:22-32 at the rising of the sun and that he walked with a limp the rest of his natural life. His limp was like a scar that reminded him, as well as others, that he was no longer the person he once was. He was changed from Jacob to Israel. My scars have served their purpose, not only for me, but for others as well. To all of those going through a battle, DON'T QUIT! This could be your day, your loved one’s day of deliverance. The darkest hour is just before dawn.
I'm sure you see people with scars, and even some with fresh wounds. Today, perhaps that person is you. If so, I pray God will give you daily strength. Please allow God to apply the pressure of His love to stop the bleeding.
One final thought: when John saw Jesus in heaven, what he saw was the Lamb with the scars of His suffering still apparent on His body. Why? His scars will serve as a constant reminder, throughout eternity, of what He did for us.
May you be blessed and may God's extravagant presence surround you daily!
Kim Roberts,
A friend with scars
I have become more aware of my own scars, both on the inside and outside—scars on my body from childhood cuts and scrapes, and scars I received as an adult from giving birth to my children. I also have inward scars on my heart, mind and emotions, the same ones we all have received through life's tragedies, the difficult and sometimes desperate situations we all face. It has recently become evident that each scar is a reminder of the healing process we have been through. Our scars tell a story.
We went to church with Mark's family on the same weekend that we were preparing to put our son in rehab in Kennesaw, GA for drug and alcohol abuse. They attend a church in Hendersonville, TN. After the Sunday morning service, we went to lunch with family, friends and the pastors of the church. As I visited with the pastor’s wife, she spoke of the scars of her own experiences with a son who was an addict and drug dealer in Nashville, but was now saved, delivered and being used by God in a powerful music ministry. He was working as their associate pastor and facilitating ministry in their church, helping others to be set free who were battling similar life-controlling issues.
So many times, as pastors, we need ministry given to us during our own healing processes! That afternoon, I received ministry. As I was listening to this pastor’s wife and mom speak through her tears, what I really remember was seeing her scars. In time, your wounds will begin to heal, but what will be left behind are the scars of those wounds. These scars serve as constant reminders of the greatness of God's power and most of all, how His love and mercy carry us through.
I remember that my wound was so great I felt that I could bleed to death. God took His hand of love and applied pressure at the right time—not to intensify the pain—but to stop the bleeding.
I am very observant now of people with scars, especially those with scars like mine. We have shared in the same process; the tears we cried when we were up all night waiting for our child to come home safely, the time we spent wondering and holding on in faith, hoping that today would be the day of their deliverance. The one thing I know is that this is a walk of faith and we must keep putting one foot in front of the other. Now as I look at my scars, they are a reminder that "God is for me, not against me" and that He will chase me down to bless me! The Psalmist says ". . . surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all of the days of my life” (Psalm 23.6).
I have been reminded of how God blessed Jacob in Genesis 32:22-32 at the rising of the sun and that he walked with a limp the rest of his natural life. His limp was like a scar that reminded him, as well as others, that he was no longer the person he once was. He was changed from Jacob to Israel. My scars have served their purpose, not only for me, but for others as well. To all of those going through a battle, DON'T QUIT! This could be your day, your loved one’s day of deliverance. The darkest hour is just before dawn.
I'm sure you see people with scars, and even some with fresh wounds. Today, perhaps that person is you. If so, I pray God will give you daily strength. Please allow God to apply the pressure of His love to stop the bleeding.
One final thought: when John saw Jesus in heaven, what he saw was the Lamb with the scars of His suffering still apparent on His body. Why? His scars will serve as a constant reminder, throughout eternity, of what He did for us.
May you be blessed and may God's extravagant presence surround you daily!
Kim Roberts,
A friend with scars
Intimacy with Christ
By Martha Hepker Stufflebeam
1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
A few months ago, the Holy Spirit woke me with a prophetic word. Through this Word, He began to do a new thing in me. This is the first paragraph:
Sometimes we need to look inside ourselves and test our love for family, friends and our Heavenly Father.
The Holy Spirit chose to test my love in a way that was beyond any proofs that I had ever understood. He asked me if I loved enough to walk away so another person could have their happiness, their fulfillment and desires, no matter what pain and distress it caused me. This question took me several days to chew on and pray about. In the end I came to an understanding of LOVE like I've never had. When one has deep love for another person, he or she wants the other person’s happiness and fulfillment more than their own, no matter how it hurts.
Jesus truly did that for us. When He was willing to go to the Cross, go through the loneliness and the pain, then leave it up to us to choose Him. He knew that upon our choosing Him, He would truly be pleased. There is no feeling like being chosen to be loved!
There is a song, "I Wonder If God Cries." How He loves us, even when His LOVE is unreciprocated. I am quite sure it brings tears to His eyes. How I pray that I give Him pleasure everyday as I choose to spend time with Him, just because I want to give Him happiness.
So I pray today that you receive LOVE from someone that is pure and unselfish, a love from Someone that wants to give you more love than He desires to receive. His love will comfort when you are weary, help carry your burdens and will bring you pure pleasure and happiness.
1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
A few months ago, the Holy Spirit woke me with a prophetic word. Through this Word, He began to do a new thing in me. This is the first paragraph:
I have many hard things to say unto you my children. A new season is not coming; it has turned over. The time of adorning my BRIDE is at hand. I am jealous for the world to see her in her “GLORY.” It is her ‘coming-out’ party, a time for her reveal. My true BRIDE must know my voice, my heart, my joys and my pain. She must spend more time with me to know my desires, and how to pleasure me. It is a time for the preparation of the wedding bed. Her fragrance must please me. Her adorning must be of my choosing. It is a new intimacy she must have.I have been on a journey that I would like to share with you, little by little, in the next few writings from me. My journey has been to have a new intimate love relationship with Christ.
Sometimes we need to look inside ourselves and test our love for family, friends and our Heavenly Father.
The Holy Spirit chose to test my love in a way that was beyond any proofs that I had ever understood. He asked me if I loved enough to walk away so another person could have their happiness, their fulfillment and desires, no matter what pain and distress it caused me. This question took me several days to chew on and pray about. In the end I came to an understanding of LOVE like I've never had. When one has deep love for another person, he or she wants the other person’s happiness and fulfillment more than their own, no matter how it hurts.
Jesus truly did that for us. When He was willing to go to the Cross, go through the loneliness and the pain, then leave it up to us to choose Him. He knew that upon our choosing Him, He would truly be pleased. There is no feeling like being chosen to be loved!
There is a song, "I Wonder If God Cries." How He loves us, even when His LOVE is unreciprocated. I am quite sure it brings tears to His eyes. How I pray that I give Him pleasure everyday as I choose to spend time with Him, just because I want to give Him happiness.
So I pray today that you receive LOVE from someone that is pure and unselfish, a love from Someone that wants to give you more love than He desires to receive. His love will comfort when you are weary, help carry your burdens and will bring you pure pleasure and happiness.
Turtles
By Kandace Rather
I just have to ask... have you ever wanted to be a turtle? I know that's a crazy question but I had this thought today while driving around with my daughter. The thought went something like this: "It must be nice to have a shell to hide under when you just don't want to face the world." OK, getting smashed on the highway because you're too slow to make it across in between cars is a big setback, but all that aside, turtles have it made. I wouldn't want to be a snapping turtle. Snapping turtles remind me too much of moody people. I've never considered myself to be moody. You might say I am a very positive, optimistic, upbeat person. However, if I do get in a bad mood, I might do more than just snap, so beware!
The part about turtles that was especially appealing to me today was the retreating inside my shell part. For the last year I have been in a storm, the longest storm of my life. At first, I just tried to rebuke it. You know, the get-behind-me-Satan-type rebukes. However, after that didn't work I began to think that maybe, just maybe, there was purpose in the storm. Maybe it was what Jesus talked about in Matthew 7:24-27:
"So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!" (TEV).
Basically, Jesus had just told His disciples many things in the previous chapters in Matthew, including the Sermon on the Mount. He then tells them, "Do these things and you're going to make it through the storm that's coming." However, not only are you going to make it through but you are going to come out of it knowing that your house is secure! He separates those who hear and those who hear and do. He also does not indicate IF the storm comes, but WHEN the storm comes. I believe there are two types of storms that come into our lives. The first kind of storms are ones that we rebuke even as Jesus did in Luke 8:22-25:
“One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they started out. As they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly a strong wind blew down on the lake, and the boat began to fill with water, so that they were all in great danger. The disciples went to Jesus and woke him up, saying, "Master, Master! We are about to die!" Jesus got up and gave an order to the wind and to the stormy water; they quieted down, and there was a great calm. Then he said to the disciples, "Where is your faith?" But they were amazed and afraid, and said to one another, "Who is this man? He gives orders to the winds and waves, and they obey him!" (TEV).
The second kind of storm we are to ride out as we stand upon the Rock of His Word. No doubt the "rebuke storms" are more desirable as we see the enemy bow to the Name of Jesus in our lives, but the "ride it out storms" are becoming to me even a greater miracle. With winds blowing and rain falling, peace prevails! Yes, the enemy flees long before the storms come when our lives are built on the Rock of His Word.
So, the thought about the turtle ended with the Lord whispering His Word to my heart.
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.’
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler." (Psalm 91:1-4, NKJV).
I'm kinda like a turtle after all! Even better... His faithfulness will not get smashed on the highway of life as I am making it to the other side! It is my protection and my shield. So, instead of dreaming about the life of a turtle I am choosing to live in the reality of His protection! I am hiding under the shelter of His wings and trusting Him until the end.
I just have to ask... have you ever wanted to be a turtle? I know that's a crazy question but I had this thought today while driving around with my daughter. The thought went something like this: "It must be nice to have a shell to hide under when you just don't want to face the world." OK, getting smashed on the highway because you're too slow to make it across in between cars is a big setback, but all that aside, turtles have it made. I wouldn't want to be a snapping turtle. Snapping turtles remind me too much of moody people. I've never considered myself to be moody. You might say I am a very positive, optimistic, upbeat person. However, if I do get in a bad mood, I might do more than just snap, so beware!
The part about turtles that was especially appealing to me today was the retreating inside my shell part. For the last year I have been in a storm, the longest storm of my life. At first, I just tried to rebuke it. You know, the get-behind-me-Satan-type rebukes. However, after that didn't work I began to think that maybe, just maybe, there was purpose in the storm. Maybe it was what Jesus talked about in Matthew 7:24-27:
"So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!" (TEV).
Basically, Jesus had just told His disciples many things in the previous chapters in Matthew, including the Sermon on the Mount. He then tells them, "Do these things and you're going to make it through the storm that's coming." However, not only are you going to make it through but you are going to come out of it knowing that your house is secure! He separates those who hear and those who hear and do. He also does not indicate IF the storm comes, but WHEN the storm comes. I believe there are two types of storms that come into our lives. The first kind of storms are ones that we rebuke even as Jesus did in Luke 8:22-25:
“One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they started out. As they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly a strong wind blew down on the lake, and the boat began to fill with water, so that they were all in great danger. The disciples went to Jesus and woke him up, saying, "Master, Master! We are about to die!" Jesus got up and gave an order to the wind and to the stormy water; they quieted down, and there was a great calm. Then he said to the disciples, "Where is your faith?" But they were amazed and afraid, and said to one another, "Who is this man? He gives orders to the winds and waves, and they obey him!" (TEV).
The second kind of storm we are to ride out as we stand upon the Rock of His Word. No doubt the "rebuke storms" are more desirable as we see the enemy bow to the Name of Jesus in our lives, but the "ride it out storms" are becoming to me even a greater miracle. With winds blowing and rain falling, peace prevails! Yes, the enemy flees long before the storms come when our lives are built on the Rock of His Word.
So, the thought about the turtle ended with the Lord whispering His Word to my heart.
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.’
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler." (Psalm 91:1-4, NKJV).
I'm kinda like a turtle after all! Even better... His faithfulness will not get smashed on the highway of life as I am making it to the other side! It is my protection and my shield. So, instead of dreaming about the life of a turtle I am choosing to live in the reality of His protection! I am hiding under the shelter of His wings and trusting Him until the end.
God's Treasure
By Rebecca Bogle
One day it is a song of praise; another day a song of forgiveness. Whatever the case may be, it’s always a song that is meant to minister to my day. I struggle with everyday life just like anyone else.
“Will I have clean clothes for tomorrow?”
“What will I fix for dinner?”
“How am I going to pay this $200 electric bill?!”
Questions like these go through my mind everyday. I find worry creeping into my thoughts more than usual. When it happens, believe it or not, I find myself asking, “Why God? Why don’t you just give me a couple of more hours in a day to wash clothes? Why are we getting hit with a $200 electric bill?”
I’m sure God has heard his share of “Why?” prayers, probably more than He can stand. However, His Word quickly puts an end to my worry. Matthew 6:31-34 states:
Regardless of how we feel or act towards God, He still loves and takes care of us. Looking back on my life, I’ve never gone a day without food; I’ve never had a day without clothes to wear... and PRAISE THE LORD, I still have electricity!
I may not be the holiest person on this earth. I may not have a lot of money or fame. I may not have it all together but....
“When I don’t measure up to much in this life, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ.”
“When I don’t measure up to much in this life, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ.”Every morning I wake up with a song on my mind. This morning it happened to be “Forgiven” by Sanctus Real.
One day it is a song of praise; another day a song of forgiveness. Whatever the case may be, it’s always a song that is meant to minister to my day. I struggle with everyday life just like anyone else.
“Will I have clean clothes for tomorrow?”
“What will I fix for dinner?”
“How am I going to pay this $200 electric bill?!”
Questions like these go through my mind everyday. I find worry creeping into my thoughts more than usual. When it happens, believe it or not, I find myself asking, “Why God? Why don’t you just give me a couple of more hours in a day to wash clothes? Why are we getting hit with a $200 electric bill?”
I’m sure God has heard his share of “Why?” prayers, probably more than He can stand. However, His Word quickly puts an end to my worry. Matthew 6:31-34 states:
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (NKJV)
Regardless of how we feel or act towards God, He still loves and takes care of us. Looking back on my life, I’ve never gone a day without food; I’ve never had a day without clothes to wear... and PRAISE THE LORD, I still have electricity!
I may not be the holiest person on this earth. I may not have a lot of money or fame. I may not have it all together but....
“When I don’t measure up to much in this life, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ.”
We Lost Our Home in a Fire
By Julie Skaggs
Christmas is always a special time. It’s when we celebrate the birth of Jesus and give thanks for His love and faithfulness. For our family, we were especially thankful because our son who serves in the U.S. Marine Corps was home for Christmas. He was getting ready to leave for his duty station in Hawaii, and we knew it would be several months until we would see him again. Also, our daughter would soon begin college and there was an acute awareness in each of us that this Christmas may be the last we share together for quite some time. Our lives were all changing and as a mother, I was struggling with a sense of loss. I knew my role in their lives was changing and I questioned what the future held.
Christmas day came and went and we enjoyed being together with family and friends. In just a few days, we would have to say goodbye to our son as he would leave to begin another chapter in his life. It was late on December 28 and everyone was asleep. I had just finished packing the last of our son’s things in his military bags; it would be only a few hours until we would take him to the airport. I was struggling with the thought of having to say goodbye, knowing that we would be miles and miles apart.
Our son was still out saying goodbye to his friends so I decided to doze on the couch until he came home. After I drifted off to sleep, I was soon awakened with the sensation that someone was choking me. When fully awake I realized our house was completely filled with smoke! I immediately awakened my husband. As he opened the door to our downstairs, he was met with flames and heat. I could not believe what was happening!
We ran to our daughter’s room to help her get out of the house. Once outside, I remembered our son’s military bags that were by the door downstairs. As my husband ran to the neighbor’s house for help, I ran around the outside of our house to see if I could get my son’s military bags. The basement was already engulfed in smoke and flames. As I opened the door, there sat our son’s bags untouched. I quickly pulled them from the burning building, but the intense smoke and flames kept us from saving anything else.
I cannot explain all the emotions that consumed me as I stood and watched our home of 20 years burn. I will never forget the look on my son’s face when he arrived home to see our family home consumed by fire. As the fire department worked to put out the blaze, the time came for our son to leave for the airport. With tears in his eyes, he asked me what he should do. He didn’t want to leave. I remember him making the statement, “I can’t leave not knowing if you are going to be OK.”
The Word of God tells us of a “peace that surpasses all understanding.” I know that it was the presence of my heavenly Father that held and comforted us that night. It was His strength that enabled us to say good-bye to our son and to our home in the same evening. It was His peace that gave us the reassurance that all would be OK.
All our worldly possessions were gone. Our comfort and security was taken away. All we had left was God—and we found that He was more than enough! God’s provision and faithfulness has overwhelmed us. Since that unforgettable night, He has blessed us not only with a new house and furnishings, but also with a family vacation to Hawaii to visit our son. More than anything else, we have been reminded that no matter what circumstances we may face, God goes before us waiting to show Himself strong. GOD IS FAITHFUL!!
Christmas is always a special time. It’s when we celebrate the birth of Jesus and give thanks for His love and faithfulness. For our family, we were especially thankful because our son who serves in the U.S. Marine Corps was home for Christmas. He was getting ready to leave for his duty station in Hawaii, and we knew it would be several months until we would see him again. Also, our daughter would soon begin college and there was an acute awareness in each of us that this Christmas may be the last we share together for quite some time. Our lives were all changing and as a mother, I was struggling with a sense of loss. I knew my role in their lives was changing and I questioned what the future held.
Christmas day came and went and we enjoyed being together with family and friends. In just a few days, we would have to say goodbye to our son as he would leave to begin another chapter in his life. It was late on December 28 and everyone was asleep. I had just finished packing the last of our son’s things in his military bags; it would be only a few hours until we would take him to the airport. I was struggling with the thought of having to say goodbye, knowing that we would be miles and miles apart.
Our son was still out saying goodbye to his friends so I decided to doze on the couch until he came home. After I drifted off to sleep, I was soon awakened with the sensation that someone was choking me. When fully awake I realized our house was completely filled with smoke! I immediately awakened my husband. As he opened the door to our downstairs, he was met with flames and heat. I could not believe what was happening!
We ran to our daughter’s room to help her get out of the house. Once outside, I remembered our son’s military bags that were by the door downstairs. As my husband ran to the neighbor’s house for help, I ran around the outside of our house to see if I could get my son’s military bags. The basement was already engulfed in smoke and flames. As I opened the door, there sat our son’s bags untouched. I quickly pulled them from the burning building, but the intense smoke and flames kept us from saving anything else.
I cannot explain all the emotions that consumed me as I stood and watched our home of 20 years burn. I will never forget the look on my son’s face when he arrived home to see our family home consumed by fire. As the fire department worked to put out the blaze, the time came for our son to leave for the airport. With tears in his eyes, he asked me what he should do. He didn’t want to leave. I remember him making the statement, “I can’t leave not knowing if you are going to be OK.”
The Word of God tells us of a “peace that surpasses all understanding.” I know that it was the presence of my heavenly Father that held and comforted us that night. It was His strength that enabled us to say good-bye to our son and to our home in the same evening. It was His peace that gave us the reassurance that all would be OK.
All our worldly possessions were gone. Our comfort and security was taken away. All we had left was God—and we found that He was more than enough! God’s provision and faithfulness has overwhelmed us. Since that unforgettable night, He has blessed us not only with a new house and furnishings, but also with a family vacation to Hawaii to visit our son. More than anything else, we have been reminded that no matter what circumstances we may face, God goes before us waiting to show Himself strong. GOD IS FAITHFUL!!
Seven Secrets to Living an Extraordinary Life
By Kathy Smith
Are you living an ordinary life or are you living an extraordinary life? God does not want you to live a mundane life; He doesn’t even want you living an average life! God wants His very best for you; after all, you are His child!
How can you live the extraordinary life God intended for you? Here are seven secrets to an extraordinary life in Him.
1. God is a jealous God and he wants to be first in your life.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Matthew 22:36-38 says, “ ‘Master, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.’ ” God wants to be first in your priorities, first in your day, first in your finances, first in your thoughts.
2. Pray without ceasing.
When we retain God first and foremost in our thoughts we are always in an attitude of prayer, no matter what we are doing.
3. Meditate in the Word.
Joshua 1:8 says," This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
4. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25).
If we are to be like trees that are planted by the rivers of waters, then we have to be planted somewhere and stay put so that we may grow, be fruitful, and multiply. (See Psalm 1.)
5. Follow the path of peace.
James 3:17,18 says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
6. Rejoice every day. Don’t worry, be happy!
Comic strip character Charlie Brown says, “I only dread one day at time.” As Christians, we do not need to dread even one day! Paul said in Philippians 4:4 that we are to “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” We are to cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).
7. Live life expecting God’s best!
Attitudes are like waves in the ocean... we want to make certain that we catch the best one so that it will take us all the way to the shore of our destination in Christ Jesus. Are you expecting God’s best for your life? Are you expecting a miracle? The woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5 was expecting God’s best and she received her miracle.
We are all pregnant with the expectation of something from the Lord. What are you expecting? Nurture a spirit of expectation in your life and you, too, will receive God’s best!
Are you living an ordinary life or are you living an extraordinary life? God does not want you to live a mundane life; He doesn’t even want you living an average life! God wants His very best for you; after all, you are His child!
How can you live the extraordinary life God intended for you? Here are seven secrets to an extraordinary life in Him.
1. God is a jealous God and he wants to be first in your life.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Matthew 22:36-38 says, “ ‘Master, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.’ ” God wants to be first in your priorities, first in your day, first in your finances, first in your thoughts.
2. Pray without ceasing.
When we retain God first and foremost in our thoughts we are always in an attitude of prayer, no matter what we are doing.
3. Meditate in the Word.
Joshua 1:8 says," This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
4. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25).
If we are to be like trees that are planted by the rivers of waters, then we have to be planted somewhere and stay put so that we may grow, be fruitful, and multiply. (See Psalm 1.)
5. Follow the path of peace.
James 3:17,18 says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
6. Rejoice every day. Don’t worry, be happy!
Comic strip character Charlie Brown says, “I only dread one day at time.” As Christians, we do not need to dread even one day! Paul said in Philippians 4:4 that we are to “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” We are to cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).
7. Live life expecting God’s best!
Attitudes are like waves in the ocean... we want to make certain that we catch the best one so that it will take us all the way to the shore of our destination in Christ Jesus. Are you expecting God’s best for your life? Are you expecting a miracle? The woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5 was expecting God’s best and she received her miracle.
We are all pregnant with the expectation of something from the Lord. What are you expecting? Nurture a spirit of expectation in your life and you, too, will receive God’s best!
Character: Part Seven
By Carol Dickey
Character development is not simply a matter of changing how we behave and think today. It also involves taking responsibility for how we have behaved in the past. This includes neglected debts and apologies never made.
Our relationship with God hinges on our relationship with people. We cannot resolve
our differences with the Father if we are unwilling to resolve our differences with others.
We cannot be in fellowship with God and out of fellowship with others.
To love God is to keep His commands; Jesus has commanded us to love others (John 13:34), which is His new commandment.
Reconciling relationships and making restitution are what instills character in men and women. Doing these things are signs of spiritual maturity and personal security. Sure, it is inconvenient. Yes, it is embarrassing. Often, it is humiliating. Our Savior suffered a painful, inconvenient, and terribly humiliating death on the Cross for the sins of the whole world. Some people think walking in the Spirit is a level reached after years of listening to tapes, reading books, having marathon quiet times and going further and further into the deeper things of God. Some hope for an infusion of willpower that would make choosing sin out of the question. Some wait for God to scoop them up and change them. None of these is what is meant by walking in the Spirit.
Sometimes do you wish God would take control of your mind? Wouldn’t it be easier if we could walk down an aisle, pray a prayer, push a button and then suddenly God would take over? However, control is not His goal; a relationship with us is His goal.
We have freedom of choice, freedom to follow, freedom to surrender. As we follow Him and surrender to His will and purpose, He empowers us to do what He desires us do.
Our pursuit of character is not intended to be a solo flight; God has sent the Holy Spirit to direct and empower us. He will enable us to be what we cannot be in our own strength... a PERSON OF CHARACTER!
Character development is not simply a matter of changing how we behave and think today. It also involves taking responsibility for how we have behaved in the past. This includes neglected debts and apologies never made.
Our relationship with God hinges on our relationship with people. We cannot resolve
our differences with the Father if we are unwilling to resolve our differences with others.
We cannot be in fellowship with God and out of fellowship with others.
To love God is to keep His commands; Jesus has commanded us to love others (John 13:34), which is His new commandment.
Reconciling relationships and making restitution are what instills character in men and women. Doing these things are signs of spiritual maturity and personal security. Sure, it is inconvenient. Yes, it is embarrassing. Often, it is humiliating. Our Savior suffered a painful, inconvenient, and terribly humiliating death on the Cross for the sins of the whole world. Some people think walking in the Spirit is a level reached after years of listening to tapes, reading books, having marathon quiet times and going further and further into the deeper things of God. Some hope for an infusion of willpower that would make choosing sin out of the question. Some wait for God to scoop them up and change them. None of these is what is meant by walking in the Spirit.
Sometimes do you wish God would take control of your mind? Wouldn’t it be easier if we could walk down an aisle, pray a prayer, push a button and then suddenly God would take over? However, control is not His goal; a relationship with us is His goal.
We have freedom of choice, freedom to follow, freedom to surrender. As we follow Him and surrender to His will and purpose, He empowers us to do what He desires us do.
Our pursuit of character is not intended to be a solo flight; God has sent the Holy Spirit to direct and empower us. He will enable us to be what we cannot be in our own strength... a PERSON OF CHARACTER!
Character: Part Six
By Carol Dickey
God’s goal for us is to be like Christ. His method is renewal. When we take steps to renew our mind, we are working hand-in-hand with God. He has promised to “complete what He has begun.”
“Putting on the new” means moving beyond a devotional approach to Scripture. It can mean opening your Bible on a daily basis for the first time. You will never renew your mind by merely reading a couple of pages of a devotional book and praying a short prayer.
Renewal is a lifestyle. Some new habits are required. Anytime we try something new, it can feel somewhat uncomfortable. God wants us to renew our mind with Truth, not just fill it with facts. Renewal will involve digging out specific Bible truths for ourselves. We are to live on the words that come from the mouth of God. Renewal is our way of working alongside the Holy Spirit as He endeavors to conform our character to that of the Lord Jesus.
Remaining in His Word helps us discover the Truth that removes the obstacles between us and our character development. Truth paves the way for spiritual progress. God is going to use a variety of things to shape our character; our responsibility is to trust Him and remain faithful.
God’s goal for us is to be like Christ. His method is renewal. When we take steps to renew our mind, we are working hand-in-hand with God. He has promised to “complete what He has begun.”
“Putting on the new” means moving beyond a devotional approach to Scripture. It can mean opening your Bible on a daily basis for the first time. You will never renew your mind by merely reading a couple of pages of a devotional book and praying a short prayer.
Renewal is a lifestyle. Some new habits are required. Anytime we try something new, it can feel somewhat uncomfortable. God wants us to renew our mind with Truth, not just fill it with facts. Renewal will involve digging out specific Bible truths for ourselves. We are to live on the words that come from the mouth of God. Renewal is our way of working alongside the Holy Spirit as He endeavors to conform our character to that of the Lord Jesus.
Remaining in His Word helps us discover the Truth that removes the obstacles between us and our character development. Truth paves the way for spiritual progress. God is going to use a variety of things to shape our character; our responsibility is to trust Him and remain faithful.
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