Sow. Reap what you sow.
Pastor Matt took a little hiatus from the John messages he's been going through on Sunday mornings. This week we turned to Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Sow. Do good. Persevere.
I have been growing weary and lazy. I have been letting my situations rule my thoughts instead of Him who carries me. I have grown weary of not knowing whether or not my girls will be taken from me. I have grown weary of loving the people I don't want to love. I have grown weary of sweeping up cigarette butts that are littered on my sidewalk. I have grown weary of having foul and disgusting language fill my living room, I have grown weary of watching the godlessness of W. Elm street fill my days.
I have grown weary of myself and how easily I get discouraged. I am weary of my selfishness and just plain stupidness.
But the mini message before the message was on Psalm 20. Trusting in Him. Trusting in God-not in chariots and horses or whatever else we rely on in our lives.
I've been trusting in the future and hope that it will be "better" and in doing so, neglecting the present and where God has us now.
Admittedly I've spent some time (a week or so) having my feathers ruffled and holding some sort of useless grudge against God. In my small feeble mind I thought we should have had Black Rock Road (and my heart hurts even thinking about it) but I have to just stop it, and rest in the knowledge that He wants what's best for us...and for now, it is W Elm Street.
Sow and trust. Sow and trust. Sow and trust.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Good old heretic
So recently I've been speaking out about Joyce Meyer. She is a blaspheming heretic and I'm so sick of people who should know better, listening to her.
While on someone's fb page I brought to light several issues about Joyce Meyer and was completely shot down. This person insisted she preaches the truth and basically how dare I say such things about a woman of God.
This kind of stuff scares me because it is truly evil.
Later on this person messages me and "asks" me to take her off my newsfeed so I won't be offended, goes on to say on her fb page that conversations aren't productive or something and then blocks me from being able to comment on her page.
SO, yes, this is hurtful. We absolutely ARE supposed to call out false teachers. We absolutely ARE supposed to look out for others.
I know I did the right thing. I will always stand for truth, but why does it hurt so much? And if this is my form of persecution, then so be it. I will gladly take any fb blocks or un-friending.
The truth offends. Look at how hostile people got towards Jesus. This is much less severe and I rest assured that in standing for Him, He'll stand for me.
Lord, give me more of Your work to do.
While on someone's fb page I brought to light several issues about Joyce Meyer and was completely shot down. This person insisted she preaches the truth and basically how dare I say such things about a woman of God.
This kind of stuff scares me because it is truly evil.
Later on this person messages me and "asks" me to take her off my newsfeed so I won't be offended, goes on to say on her fb page that conversations aren't productive or something and then blocks me from being able to comment on her page.
SO, yes, this is hurtful. We absolutely ARE supposed to call out false teachers. We absolutely ARE supposed to look out for others.
I know I did the right thing. I will always stand for truth, but why does it hurt so much? And if this is my form of persecution, then so be it. I will gladly take any fb blocks or un-friending.
The truth offends. Look at how hostile people got towards Jesus. This is much less severe and I rest assured that in standing for Him, He'll stand for me.
Lord, give me more of Your work to do.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Tragedy
Tragedy-this week has been full of it.
A false allegation destroys. Lies ruin.
If this will mold me and serve to purify and conform me to Him, so be it.
If it was easy I'd probably be doing it on my own strength, but I must rely on Him. He alone can carry me through this. He alone has the strength to bring me through.
I trust in His protection, in His Love, in His patience, faithfulness and goodness.
A false allegation destroys. Lies ruin.
If this will mold me and serve to purify and conform me to Him, so be it.
If it was easy I'd probably be doing it on my own strength, but I must rely on Him. He alone can carry me through this. He alone has the strength to bring me through.
I trust in His protection, in His Love, in His patience, faithfulness and goodness.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Light
I need some light. The darkness seems to be settling in, pushing out even the shadows.
What good is any of this? How is this helping anyone? In many ways I just want it to be over. To be done with all of this. To have a nice, normal family. Maybe I heard the calling wrong. Maybe just donations would be good enough. Most Christians seem content to live that way. Maybe I can just ignore the scriptures that speak of helping orphans-just read over then or skip them completely. Or twist them so that they're metaphorical, it doesn't really mean to take in orphans!
Does this count as suffering for the sake of Christ? I'm not sure. He's the only reason I'm still hanging on though. If I weren't fully convinced it was right, I'd have given up already. Maybe pushing through will earn me a jewel or two in Heaven-that I can graciously lay at His feet. I'd hate to give up now and be empty handed when I finally go home.
I long for Heaven. Daily I pray that He returns. Please come take me today Lord. I hate this place, I want to be home.
What good is any of this? How is this helping anyone? In many ways I just want it to be over. To be done with all of this. To have a nice, normal family. Maybe I heard the calling wrong. Maybe just donations would be good enough. Most Christians seem content to live that way. Maybe I can just ignore the scriptures that speak of helping orphans-just read over then or skip them completely. Or twist them so that they're metaphorical, it doesn't really mean to take in orphans!
Does this count as suffering for the sake of Christ? I'm not sure. He's the only reason I'm still hanging on though. If I weren't fully convinced it was right, I'd have given up already. Maybe pushing through will earn me a jewel or two in Heaven-that I can graciously lay at His feet. I'd hate to give up now and be empty handed when I finally go home.
I long for Heaven. Daily I pray that He returns. Please come take me today Lord. I hate this place, I want to be home.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Many Can, You Can Not
"If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians. In many ways He will seem to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.
Seemingly religious and useful men push themselves forward, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it. And if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their success, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do it. If you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good words.
Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them. But it is likely God wants you to have something far better than gold--a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.
The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can be produced only in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. And then to make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work you have done, making your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you with jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over. So, make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has the right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love-slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those in the inner circle.
Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or restraining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to do with others. Notice Jesus' reply when Peter was more concerned with what John should do than with his own responsibility. "What is that to thee? Follow thou me" (John 21:22)
When you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this particular, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven.
"If ye then be risen with Christ,...Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3).
"And lest I should be exalted about measure...there was given to me a thorn in my flesh...For this thing I besought and the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." G.D. Watson-adapted."
Seemingly religious and useful men push themselves forward, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it. And if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their success, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do it. If you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good words.
Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them. But it is likely God wants you to have something far better than gold--a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.
The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can be produced only in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. And then to make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work you have done, making your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you with jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over. So, make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has the right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love-slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those in the inner circle.
Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or restraining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to do with others. Notice Jesus' reply when Peter was more concerned with what John should do than with his own responsibility. "What is that to thee? Follow thou me" (John 21:22)
When you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this particular, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven.
"If ye then be risen with Christ,...Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3).
"And lest I should be exalted about measure...there was given to me a thorn in my flesh...For this thing I besought and the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." G.D. Watson-adapted."
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Encouragement
In these past few months I have grown increasingly discouraged. The more I study the Bible and read, the more I see sin and the world all around me. It's a stark contrast between things from above and things contrary to Him and although I used to see many more things as 'gray areas' I'm seeing more clearly the reality of it all. Selfishness and laziness are rebellion against the Spirit in that these things do not advance His work.
The passage in Matthew 9:35 sums it up my feelings completely, and Jesus of course hits the nail right on the head. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Couple things, first he chose an illustration that fits. Bringing others to Christ is work. It can require careful planning, diligence and dedication. Farmers work hard from morning till night. And perhaps that is why Jesus picks this picture, as a follower of Him, there is work to be done. But, not many will do it.
And that is exactly why we are encouraged here to pray for more workers.
And the very end of this passage is a bit of encouragement for me. It's all His. Sometimes I feel like my friends and family are mine for the winning over to Christ. But in reality-they are all part of His harvest. If they will not hear, it is not for me to worry. But this does not give me a justification to sit back, on the contrary-I, as a servant and worker, need to pray for others to work along side of me.
Another verse I just came upon today really helped put things in perspective. It's 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers (that's me!), stand firm. Let nothing move you (not even disappointment). Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
I have made the mistake of talking with other sinners of my despair about the situation I see. And not once yet has someone given a bit of encouragement like Paul does in this verse. I've heard it all from shooing my observances away as if they are not valid (even though our own Lord acknowledges them?), to pointing to differences among gifts (although this isn't really relevant) and even to changing the subject quickly so that a response doesn't even have to be thought up.
What I need to remember is first to pray for more help when I feel overwhelmed or even alone in my endeavors. Secondly to make sure I'm working my hardest and best for the Lord. Not sitting lazily around watching the wind blow (or all my favorite episodes of TV), and lastly that God sees my heart and He is glad with me. My labor is not in vain simply because it is for him. I'm not working for man's approval or for money or other gain, it is for Him, that others may see His glory and come to know Him for themselves.
I'm so glad that I read this verse today-I actually wanted to read through 2 Corinthians but started in the first one by mistake and decided to go for it anyways, thankful I did. God makes no mistakes.
The passage in Matthew 9:35 sums it up my feelings completely, and Jesus of course hits the nail right on the head. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Couple things, first he chose an illustration that fits. Bringing others to Christ is work. It can require careful planning, diligence and dedication. Farmers work hard from morning till night. And perhaps that is why Jesus picks this picture, as a follower of Him, there is work to be done. But, not many will do it.
And that is exactly why we are encouraged here to pray for more workers.
And the very end of this passage is a bit of encouragement for me. It's all His. Sometimes I feel like my friends and family are mine for the winning over to Christ. But in reality-they are all part of His harvest. If they will not hear, it is not for me to worry. But this does not give me a justification to sit back, on the contrary-I, as a servant and worker, need to pray for others to work along side of me.
Another verse I just came upon today really helped put things in perspective. It's 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers (that's me!), stand firm. Let nothing move you (not even disappointment). Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
I have made the mistake of talking with other sinners of my despair about the situation I see. And not once yet has someone given a bit of encouragement like Paul does in this verse. I've heard it all from shooing my observances away as if they are not valid (even though our own Lord acknowledges them?), to pointing to differences among gifts (although this isn't really relevant) and even to changing the subject quickly so that a response doesn't even have to be thought up.
What I need to remember is first to pray for more help when I feel overwhelmed or even alone in my endeavors. Secondly to make sure I'm working my hardest and best for the Lord. Not sitting lazily around watching the wind blow (or all my favorite episodes of TV), and lastly that God sees my heart and He is glad with me. My labor is not in vain simply because it is for him. I'm not working for man's approval or for money or other gain, it is for Him, that others may see His glory and come to know Him for themselves.
I'm so glad that I read this verse today-I actually wanted to read through 2 Corinthians but started in the first one by mistake and decided to go for it anyways, thankful I did. God makes no mistakes.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Luke 10:2
"He told them,"the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, to send out workers into his harvest field." Luke 10:2.
Oh Lord, how we need more workers. My heart is so heavy at the lack of care by Your people. Lord how I pray you would unload your blessings on those who serve You and do Your work. Take what you must until only you remain, and may this be true in my own life.
Lord burden the hardened hearts of those who look on but are unmoved. Break their will to conform to Yours. Show them Your love and how doing Your work is the most blessed job there could ever be.
Show me more clearly how to live for You, to walk with You, to speak Your words, to show Your Love.
Please Lord, increase the workers. The need is so great, but it is not burdensome. Show others this precious truth.
In Him only,
Amen.
Oh Lord, how we need more workers. My heart is so heavy at the lack of care by Your people. Lord how I pray you would unload your blessings on those who serve You and do Your work. Take what you must until only you remain, and may this be true in my own life.
Lord burden the hardened hearts of those who look on but are unmoved. Break their will to conform to Yours. Show them Your love and how doing Your work is the most blessed job there could ever be.
Show me more clearly how to live for You, to walk with You, to speak Your words, to show Your Love.
Please Lord, increase the workers. The need is so great, but it is not burdensome. Show others this precious truth.
In Him only,
Amen.
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