It's always funny how we respond to the Word of God.
The word says to "honor your mother and father"; "to respect your husband"; "to love your wife"; "to forgive"; "to love your enemy" and "to love your neighbor as yourself".
It doesn't say do these things only if you feel like it or if they deserve it.
If you think about it, everything the Lord tells us to do is good for us. We think by forgiving or loving the unloveable, we're showing weakness or we're being taken advantage of. The Lord has shown me the opposite.
By doing what the Word tells us to do, frees us -- it frees us to walk in joy and peace and it allows the Lord to use us and most of all to be pleased with us.
The question is how can we possibly love someone who hurts us? Or how can we forgive someone who is mean. How can we walk in joy and peace when we're surrounded by hurt and chaos, especially in those times when the well is dry. You feel like you can't muster up the energy or "want to" to do these things. Good news! There are some practical things you can do to get you to where God wants you to be -- in a place of joy -- your happy place:)
We must first understand that every feeling begins with a thought and if we could change our focus from the negative to the positive, our joy would increase. In Philippians 4:8-9 says Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Some practical things you can do
1. Think about what brings you joy -- your children; laughing with friends; singing; your spouse, etc. I find looking at old photos bring back fond memories and a smile.
2. What are you thankful for -- We only have look at others misfortune to find our fortune. If its something as basic as breathing without assistance; or eating without a feeding tube; or be saved from hell; there's always something we can be thankful for.
3. Love what you can love about them -- find as many things as you can that you can love about them, even if you have to go way back in time to find it -- one memory, one good moment, a kind word or gesture.
4. Know that there are no justified attitudes. If your attitude causes you to act a way God doesn't want you to -- it's not okay. It doesn't matter if you're right in the situation, it matters if you're right with God.
5. If the word tells you to do it, do it!. If he tells you to love, love! If he tells you to forgive, forgive! If he tells you to honor, honor! If he tells you respect, respect!
These are some things the Lord has shown me that has allowed me to grow in love. They have also allowed me to walk through hurtful situation unscathed. And most importantly they have allowed me to please "My Papa" and retain my joy. I pray that they do the same for you.
Old Facebook Post from 1/13/10
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
If You Give A Pig a Pancake
It always cracks me up the way the Lord finds ways to talk to me...
There was someone I knew that I felt sorry for, but wasn't feeling moved to help them with their situation. So as I always try to do, I check myself with the Lord. I was asking him "Am I being hard hearted? Should I help this person even though they got themselves into their mess?" I really wanted to make sure that I wasn't just being a jerk. In the past the Lord had told me "Don't enable them to do what I do not want them to do." But I wanted to make sure I wasn't just using that so I wouldn't have to be bothered.
So I kept asking the Lord several times to see if I was suppose to reach out and help this person. A couple of days later, I find a book in Jack's backpack called "If You Give a Pig a Pancake". I asked Jack where the book came from because he had already brought his library book home the day before. He said he didn't know.
So I sat down and read him the book and thought "this isn't a book Jack would pick" -- it just wasn't a Jack-like book. The book was a story about if you give a pig a pancake, he'll want your maple syrup, you give him your maple syrup and he'll want something else and so on and so on and so on...
So I sent the book back to his teacher explaining I don't know how Jack got this book but I wanted to make sure she got it back.
Then the next week when I went to volunteer at Jack's school the teacher had me go to the library as that was where the class was at the time. Guess what book the librarian was reading to the kids -- none other than If You Give a Pig a Pancake.
Since no one knew how the book got in Jack's backpack and the librarian was randomly reading the book, and it came up somewhere else either on TV or the radio -- it made me ask the Lord "What's up with If You Give a Pig a Pancake?" ... no answer...
A couple of days later I was still discussing with Him the situation with the person I was feeling sorry for and all of sudden the Lord brought up "If you Give a Pig a Pancake he'll want your maple syrup, if you give him your maple syrup he'll want something else" and he went on to recite the whole book to me.
This just reiterated "Don't enable them to do what I do not want them to do". He also showed me that sometimes we can hinder what he is trying to do. Think about it. When do we cry out to the Lord? When did we decide we didn't like ourselves the way we were and wanted change? When did we grow in faith? -- When we went through the hard times; when we finally had enough of our way and wanted to try his way. Many times we can catch people before they fall and never allow them to hit their knees. It's only when we fall so far that only the Lord can lift us up that true change and growth can happen.
So dont' beat yourself up if you're not feeling like you should give just because someone wants. Check it with the Lord. He will guide your steps. And remember if you give a pig a pancake, he'll want your maple syrup and anything else he can get.
Be loving; be wise; be giving and be blessed.
From an old Facebook Post March 3, 2010
So I kept asking the Lord several times to see if I was suppose to reach out and help this person. A couple of days later, I find a book in Jack's backpack called "If You Give a Pig a Pancake". I asked Jack where the book came from because he had already brought his library book home the day before. He said he didn't know.
So I sat down and read him the book and thought "this isn't a book Jack would pick" -- it just wasn't a Jack-like book. The book was a story about if you give a pig a pancake, he'll want your maple syrup, you give him your maple syrup and he'll want something else and so on and so on and so on...
So I sent the book back to his teacher explaining I don't know how Jack got this book but I wanted to make sure she got it back.
Then the next week when I went to volunteer at Jack's school the teacher had me go to the library as that was where the class was at the time. Guess what book the librarian was reading to the kids -- none other than If You Give a Pig a Pancake.
Since no one knew how the book got in Jack's backpack and the librarian was randomly reading the book, and it came up somewhere else either on TV or the radio -- it made me ask the Lord "What's up with If You Give a Pig a Pancake?" ... no answer...
A couple of days later I was still discussing with Him the situation with the person I was feeling sorry for and all of sudden the Lord brought up "If you Give a Pig a Pancake he'll want your maple syrup, if you give him your maple syrup he'll want something else" and he went on to recite the whole book to me.
This just reiterated "Don't enable them to do what I do not want them to do". He also showed me that sometimes we can hinder what he is trying to do. Think about it. When do we cry out to the Lord? When did we decide we didn't like ourselves the way we were and wanted change? When did we grow in faith? -- When we went through the hard times; when we finally had enough of our way and wanted to try his way. Many times we can catch people before they fall and never allow them to hit their knees. It's only when we fall so far that only the Lord can lift us up that true change and growth can happen.
So dont' beat yourself up if you're not feeling like you should give just because someone wants. Check it with the Lord. He will guide your steps. And remember if you give a pig a pancake, he'll want your maple syrup and anything else he can get.
Be loving; be wise; be giving and be blessed.
From an old Facebook Post March 3, 2010
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thank God It's Friday
In the natural, Mondays are the first day of the week. Many times the dreaded day. They're usually the busiest after a weekend off work. It's everyone dragging their tails trying to get back into the swing of things after the weekend. The only time we're excited about Monday is when it's a holiday and we get a 3 day weekend.
Then there's Tuesdays. They seem to be a nothing kind of day. You're finishing up Monday's leftover work and looking forward to going home -- knowing there's three more days until Friday.
Wednesday's next. Known as hump day. Somehow makes life bearable as we get closer to Friday.
Thursday. Woo hoo. Only one more day after today and then we're off for the weekend.
FINALLY Friday. Fridays are awesome because it's the end of the work week and school week. We can look forward to a time of rest and fellowship with our family and friends over the weekend.
For many of us, it's payday. It's the day we go on dates or to dinner with our loved ones. It's the day that we not only see the fruits of our labor but get to enjoy them.
I'm thinking the Lord felt the same way. Genesis 1:31 fsays "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day."
Do you think our fondness for Fridays could be more than just a natural response -- Could it possibly be a spiritual one. It's the day the Lord breathed his supernatural breath into Adam. Its' the day we got to witness God's generosity, the blessing and all the good He created for us.
I'm thinking, "Maybe". So praise the Lord and thank God it's Friday:)
Then there's Tuesdays. They seem to be a nothing kind of day. You're finishing up Monday's leftover work and looking forward to going home -- knowing there's three more days until Friday.
Wednesday's next. Known as hump day. Somehow makes life bearable as we get closer to Friday.
Thursday. Woo hoo. Only one more day after today and then we're off for the weekend.
FINALLY Friday. Fridays are awesome because it's the end of the work week and school week. We can look forward to a time of rest and fellowship with our family and friends over the weekend.
For many of us, it's payday. It's the day we go on dates or to dinner with our loved ones. It's the day that we not only see the fruits of our labor but get to enjoy them.
I'm thinking the Lord felt the same way. Genesis 1:31 fsays "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day."
Do you think our fondness for Fridays could be more than just a natural response -- Could it possibly be a spiritual one. It's the day the Lord breathed his supernatural breath into Adam. Its' the day we got to witness God's generosity, the blessing and all the good He created for us.
I'm thinking, "Maybe". So praise the Lord and thank God it's Friday:)
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Moving Forward While at Rest
While speaking with my friend this morning, we were speaking of how we were feeling run down with headaches and the like. We know as Christians we should not be deterred by the attack of the enemy but that as physical beings we also need to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us.
After praying together, we put into words about how we didn't want to allow the physical to prevent us from moving forward in what the Lord is calling us to do. The thought came to me "How about moving forward while at rest". Now there's a concept.
The Lord gave me a vision of floating down the lazy river on an innertube (You're still moving forward, but you're at rest). Now keep in mind that this vision may have come to me because we're planning a weekend get away where that's exactly what I hope to be doing -- floating down the river in an intertube.
Reminds me of a scripture I read this morning In Acts 8:38-40 where Philip baptized the eunuch. "When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. " WOW! Talk about resting and moving forward. That was a 37 mile move without Philip lifting a finger.
That's how powerful the Holy Spirit is -- we just need to trust in Him.
Lord, we just ask that you help us to rest in you. To trust that by the power of Your Holy Spirit, we will be moved where you want us to go. As your word says, if we will learn from you, we will have rest for our souls. I receive that. I thank you and praise you! In Jesus precious name. Amen!
After praying together, we put into words about how we didn't want to allow the physical to prevent us from moving forward in what the Lord is calling us to do. The thought came to me "How about moving forward while at rest". Now there's a concept.
The Lord gave me a vision of floating down the lazy river on an innertube (You're still moving forward, but you're at rest). Now keep in mind that this vision may have come to me because we're planning a weekend get away where that's exactly what I hope to be doing -- floating down the river in an intertube.
Reminds me of a scripture I read this morning In Acts 8:38-40 where Philip baptized the eunuch. "When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. " WOW! Talk about resting and moving forward. That was a 37 mile move without Philip lifting a finger.
That's how powerful the Holy Spirit is -- we just need to trust in Him.
Lord, we just ask that you help us to rest in you. To trust that by the power of Your Holy Spirit, we will be moved where you want us to go. As your word says, if we will learn from you, we will have rest for our souls. I receive that. I thank you and praise you! In Jesus precious name. Amen!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Resist the Devil and He Will Flee...
It appears everyone is being attacked lately. Things that shouldn't go wrong do and things that should go wrong, go even worse.
What could be behind it... or should I say who?
We all know that the enemy tries to prevent us for moving forward and taking ground. So if the enemy is on the move, our Commander-in-Chief, The Almighty God, must be way ahead of him.
Have you ever noticed when you start to move forward with God, things start happening all around you. You're fighting with your spouse, your car breaks down, your child's acting up. The list goes on...
Or when you receive a blessing from the Lord and you're giving him all the glory and all of a sudden something happens that tries to threaten it -- you get a new job and the people stir up strife; you get a new car and it breaks down; you get an unexpected check in the mail but then an unexpected bill follows shortly thereafter.
That is the devil's ploy. To keep us distracted and try to make us think our God isn't as wonderful as his book says he is.
Years ago, the Lord gave me a song that says "If Jesus is for me, who can be against me? No one!. The Word says to resist and the devil will flee, the joke is on him, he thinks he's chasing me." I have to smile everytime I think about it:)
I always look at life like this -- new level, new devil. If I'm going through a trial, a blessing must be coming:) God will never leave me nor forsake me.
So everytime there's trouble brewing, know it's nothing you and your God can't handle.
He is faithful and loving. He knows all things. There's always a pressing (pressing us forward); a testing (testing our faithfulness); and then the possessing (possessing the promise land and all that God has for us).
Be blessed and know He is God :)
What could be behind it... or should I say who?
We all know that the enemy tries to prevent us for moving forward and taking ground. So if the enemy is on the move, our Commander-in-Chief, The Almighty God, must be way ahead of him.
Have you ever noticed when you start to move forward with God, things start happening all around you. You're fighting with your spouse, your car breaks down, your child's acting up. The list goes on...
Or when you receive a blessing from the Lord and you're giving him all the glory and all of a sudden something happens that tries to threaten it -- you get a new job and the people stir up strife; you get a new car and it breaks down; you get an unexpected check in the mail but then an unexpected bill follows shortly thereafter.
That is the devil's ploy. To keep us distracted and try to make us think our God isn't as wonderful as his book says he is.
Years ago, the Lord gave me a song that says "If Jesus is for me, who can be against me? No one!. The Word says to resist and the devil will flee, the joke is on him, he thinks he's chasing me." I have to smile everytime I think about it:)
I always look at life like this -- new level, new devil. If I'm going through a trial, a blessing must be coming:) God will never leave me nor forsake me.
So everytime there's trouble brewing, know it's nothing you and your God can't handle.
He is faithful and loving. He knows all things. There's always a pressing (pressing us forward); a testing (testing our faithfulness); and then the possessing (possessing the promise land and all that God has for us).
Be blessed and know He is God :)
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