Thursday, April 24, 2008
We are not meant to survive-huh?
I know it sounds misleading but hear me out. I was listening to a message this week and wanted to share some of the ideas. I always have side table discussion with myself when I hear something because I am evaluating things constantly. Here’s the thing. Why do we live and cling and cower when we are supposed to live an abundant life? Did Jesus die so we could just merely survive? Was he bruised for our transgressions so that we can just meagerly make it. What I am saying is this, the joy of the Lord is my strength. Wait, joy= strength. I thought if you were strong you would automatically have joy because strong folks do not ger run over by life and do not struggle and fail. Well that is the key strong folks don’t do those things but get this, they are not strong and then have joy, They have joy in the Lord which makes them strong. Something inside is driving them like a power plant giving them energy when things seem hopeless and giving them the last mile that folks always tell us we are supposed to go. Something inside gives them joy when life is not picture perfect. That power is Christ inside. Women of strength and valor are that way because of the indwelling of Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Lesson One in moving on, tune in same bat time same bat channel for the next place I take this thought.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Trust, Relationships and Harm's Way
Trust is hard to define for me but is something that I know is vital in a relationship. When it is gone the relationship is over. Someone once said, "if only I were the person my dog thinks I am." I don't know all of the implications of trust or a lack thereof. I can only speak from a personal perspective. So I will plod along here for a few minutes if you will allow.
If you have read any of my previous post you have seen a couple of facts about me that might shed light on this post so I will repeat them here. Basically, I was grew up in a home with a very distant father, then I became a Christian and met and married a man who was on track to be a preacher, we met at Bible college and served the Lord in the music ministry at a fundamental Baptist church until he ran off with another woman. I know some would think, aaaack, don't say all of that online. Well, two things to consider, one what I might say could possibly help someone which would make it all work together for good, and secondly I find I need to share it somewhere.
So maybe I will give God a break and say it here :) . My marriage in 1982 was I thought a time in my life that was exciting and wonderful. I dearly loved my husband and what I thought was partnership and teamwork became burden and bondage to him. We never seemed to be on the same page. I thought if you love the Lord there would be fruit. He led the choir in our church and I taught in a Christian school. He never prayed, had a desire for souls, or read the Bible, slept in church and went through the motions.
There was always a tension there but I still thought the first 10 years we were just a normal couple and that because I didn't really know or understand the love of my father that I had to not put too much stock into the "something." Unfortunately, my coping mechanism was to see reality in a light that was more of a fantasy than what was really happening. I changed the truth into fantasy. I was clueless trying to love beyond all of it thinking love was enough.
In 1992, he had his first affair. I never saw it coming and was totally blown away emotionally. That is what happens when you believe in fantasies. When reality rears it's head you are in shock. I would say that day trust between us died. We stuck it out past 2 more affairs to finally divorce in 2001. I never could look at him again the same way. I couldn't get back in the game because he became to me someone who could throw me away and put me back to remembrance of my childhood pain.
I have loved since my first marriage but found that trust again has become an issue with me. I know now that I can not and will never exist in a relationship where there is no trust. Once broken I can not dream or imagine past the reality that trust is gone. No matter how much my heart might want to, my head now knows better. If someone betrays you no matter what their intention was there is no partnership, no team, no future, no hope, no value, no committment. That is how I believe it is and staying around is only to make yourself a victim. The truth builds a foundation that will stand the test and trials of life. Deception is not the work of God. So when people show you who they are you have to believe them to do otherwise is to put your emotional health in harm's way.
We can only trust our faithful God in this life if we want assurance of safety.
If you have read any of my previous post you have seen a couple of facts about me that might shed light on this post so I will repeat them here. Basically, I was grew up in a home with a very distant father, then I became a Christian and met and married a man who was on track to be a preacher, we met at Bible college and served the Lord in the music ministry at a fundamental Baptist church until he ran off with another woman. I know some would think, aaaack, don't say all of that online. Well, two things to consider, one what I might say could possibly help someone which would make it all work together for good, and secondly I find I need to share it somewhere.
So maybe I will give God a break and say it here :) . My marriage in 1982 was I thought a time in my life that was exciting and wonderful. I dearly loved my husband and what I thought was partnership and teamwork became burden and bondage to him. We never seemed to be on the same page. I thought if you love the Lord there would be fruit. He led the choir in our church and I taught in a Christian school. He never prayed, had a desire for souls, or read the Bible, slept in church and went through the motions.
There was always a tension there but I still thought the first 10 years we were just a normal couple and that because I didn't really know or understand the love of my father that I had to not put too much stock into the "something." Unfortunately, my coping mechanism was to see reality in a light that was more of a fantasy than what was really happening. I changed the truth into fantasy. I was clueless trying to love beyond all of it thinking love was enough.
In 1992, he had his first affair. I never saw it coming and was totally blown away emotionally. That is what happens when you believe in fantasies. When reality rears it's head you are in shock. I would say that day trust between us died. We stuck it out past 2 more affairs to finally divorce in 2001. I never could look at him again the same way. I couldn't get back in the game because he became to me someone who could throw me away and put me back to remembrance of my childhood pain.
I have loved since my first marriage but found that trust again has become an issue with me. I know now that I can not and will never exist in a relationship where there is no trust. Once broken I can not dream or imagine past the reality that trust is gone. No matter how much my heart might want to, my head now knows better. If someone betrays you no matter what their intention was there is no partnership, no team, no future, no hope, no value, no committment. That is how I believe it is and staying around is only to make yourself a victim. The truth builds a foundation that will stand the test and trials of life. Deception is not the work of God. So when people show you who they are you have to believe them to do otherwise is to put your emotional health in harm's way.
We can only trust our faithful God in this life if we want assurance of safety.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Freedom and Victory
Romans 7:14-25
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
What a declaration from the beginning of this passage. The words “we know.” There is nothing new under the sun and not much that we don’t know about what GOD expects in the area of our sin. We know God’s Word is the authority on these matters.
Have you ever known without any shadow of a doubt that something was being done in the flesh and still proceeded?
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
We can all find ourselves in the preceding verses. Without a doubt we know that certain behaviors lead us to shame and hurt. Self-loathing becomes a norm and we continue to feed our flesh telling ourselves all the while that “we just have to”
Have you ever hated yourself for being right back ensnared in a sin that you once had victory over? The good news is that if you once had or never had victory over that sin you can today! God is accountable to us to keep His Promises that we will cover later.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
I think human nature is defined in vs 16. Have you ever known someone so well that you said whatever they tell you to do … you’ll do opposite. That is the point made in vs 16. It’s so ingrained in us to do opposite of what the Spirit calls us to do. As a matter of fact the verse here is saying explicitly that the only way to agree with the law is to do opposite of what we want.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Recognizing the fact that in our flesh dwells no good thing will help us to regard the enemy within with due respect. Remember we are “born into sin.” Basically here the Bible says that it is easier to do what _______________ than to perform that which is ______. Notice the phrase “I find not” We have to aggressively seek to do that which is good. It doesn’t just happen to us. Sin will easily happen because in many cases just doing nothing brings it on.
What does this mean? Well God cannot lie and in His Word He promises that we have an escape for every temptation. That escape can be as simple as physically leaving the presence of a temptation or taking your thoughts captive. In either case it requires an active, purposeful decision on your part. That decision will not be as clear without the Word dwelling in you for ready access.
1Co 10:18
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Here again we see the conflict, at one time we live in the flesh for a season and another in the Spirit. God’s desire for us is to live in the Spirit and have the peace that comes with that. We can see in the following verses the relation of living that way.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
When life is rolling along and we are getting (and the word getting is appropriate) the victory GOD intended we do delight in the perfect peace that passeth all understanding. All too often we do not recognize the war and return to our complacency in our sin.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
IS there hope….. ? It seems that recognizing the war is part of the victory. And a good plan of attack is alluded to in the previous verses. The war is against our mind and brings us into captivity. We have to reverse this process and form our mind as outlined in the Bible we have to bring some things into captivity.
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
These verses below are a springboard for aggressively denying the flesh unto obedience to God.
Philippians 2:1-51 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
I Corinthians 10:4-6
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
What a declaration from the beginning of this passage. The words “we know.” There is nothing new under the sun and not much that we don’t know about what GOD expects in the area of our sin. We know God’s Word is the authority on these matters.
Have you ever known without any shadow of a doubt that something was being done in the flesh and still proceeded?
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
We can all find ourselves in the preceding verses. Without a doubt we know that certain behaviors lead us to shame and hurt. Self-loathing becomes a norm and we continue to feed our flesh telling ourselves all the while that “we just have to”
Have you ever hated yourself for being right back ensnared in a sin that you once had victory over? The good news is that if you once had or never had victory over that sin you can today! God is accountable to us to keep His Promises that we will cover later.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
I think human nature is defined in vs 16. Have you ever known someone so well that you said whatever they tell you to do … you’ll do opposite. That is the point made in vs 16. It’s so ingrained in us to do opposite of what the Spirit calls us to do. As a matter of fact the verse here is saying explicitly that the only way to agree with the law is to do opposite of what we want.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Recognizing the fact that in our flesh dwells no good thing will help us to regard the enemy within with due respect. Remember we are “born into sin.” Basically here the Bible says that it is easier to do what _______________ than to perform that which is ______. Notice the phrase “I find not” We have to aggressively seek to do that which is good. It doesn’t just happen to us. Sin will easily happen because in many cases just doing nothing brings it on.
What does this mean? Well God cannot lie and in His Word He promises that we have an escape for every temptation. That escape can be as simple as physically leaving the presence of a temptation or taking your thoughts captive. In either case it requires an active, purposeful decision on your part. That decision will not be as clear without the Word dwelling in you for ready access.
1Co 10:18
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Here again we see the conflict, at one time we live in the flesh for a season and another in the Spirit. God’s desire for us is to live in the Spirit and have the peace that comes with that. We can see in the following verses the relation of living that way.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
When life is rolling along and we are getting (and the word getting is appropriate) the victory GOD intended we do delight in the perfect peace that passeth all understanding. All too often we do not recognize the war and return to our complacency in our sin.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
IS there hope….. ? It seems that recognizing the war is part of the victory. And a good plan of attack is alluded to in the previous verses. The war is against our mind and brings us into captivity. We have to reverse this process and form our mind as outlined in the Bible we have to bring some things into captivity.
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
These verses below are a springboard for aggressively denying the flesh unto obedience to God.
Philippians 2:1-51 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
I Corinthians 10:4-6
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
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