March 29, 2012
Lifeline
Today I really thought about how people survive this life without God. I am left speechless. The trials that I have faced in my lifetime have broken me, shattered me, left me grasping for air. There were many times when I felt like there wasn’t a reason to go on, or I couldn’t survive. Even when in the Wilderness, even when I was a prodigal somehow God saw me through the good, the bad and the ugly. This past year has still left me grasping at times, it has left me doubting, angry, hurt, and overwhelmed but somehow God sees me through. I know that everything in my past God has used for His glory and for a purpose. The days of my brokenness he made sense of, He revealed to me how those things could be used for the greater good. On the days I have wanted to call it quits, the days when my body and emotions can no longer endure, God is there. I am so grateful to have a Heavenly Father that quiets the storms, that calms those raging seas. I am grateful that when I feel crippled and I feel as though I am suffocating I can bring all to His feet and somehow, someway I know I will be ok. This past year has been a beating, but I know that it all comes down to my Trust and my Control that God is seeking. The lessons of life are sometimes painful, the lessons sometimes make it hard to see that God is and was and will be. But I know that I survive, I continue to face each day because I trust and believe in the one who saves. Thank you Jesus for being my rock, my salvation, my saving grace. Thank you for being the strength when I am weak, the comfort to the emotions I can’t bear or comprehend, the love when I feel empty. Thank you for being the light in this dark world. I am so blessed to be His daughter and grateful that in weeks like this one, I have someone to lay it all out to and know He’s got me in his arms!!
March 27, 2012
The Inheritance Session 7
I missed actually attending this session and will be downloading the Session soon. My mother shared some notes with me that I thougth would be great to post. I will add more as soon as I have watched it myself.
• The spirit in us is our capacity to know God.
• God is our portion, and we are His
• The down payment made for us is God himself
• God continually prioritizes the internal work
• In the New Testament church, healing is often on the inside. His priority is what He does in the heart and mind of man
• You can be free of any kind of bondage because the Holy Spirit of God is in you
• You have divine power to overcome every single stronghold
• God’s huge priority in the New Testament church is that man is healed from the inside out
• Every single one of us in whom God has worked has a beautiful inheritance.
• Our spiritual gifts are the way that Jesus Christ becomes conspicuous in us
• A manifestation of the Spirit is when your deposit goes from the inside to the outside
• The fruit of the Spirit represents the personality of Christ, the spiritual gifts represent how He ministers to people
• We as Christians are the most gifted people on the planet
• We have confused humility with timidity
• If we are easily discouraged, we will never be profoundly used in this generation
• The enemy wants to know how quickly he can get you to quit
• Our giftedness is the result of the grace of God
• Your spiritual gifts were given to you, but not for you
• We are widely and profoundly gifted
• In all 3 segments teaching spiritual gifts, every single time Paul gives an exhortation to love
• If someone gets on your nerves, you need to pray to love them more
• Pray to love the body of Christ
• If you are a person who has a heart to love people, you will discover your spiritual gifts
• Don’t confuse your gifts with your talents
• Your gifting energizes you rather than exhausting you
• You will have a sense of “this is what I was made for”
• Don’t try to be something you aren’t
• Your spiritual gifts will work, they will have impact, will have influence
• Watch for the trap that will distort your spiritual gift into the flesh
• There is no amount of carnality, no amount of doing our own thin that will ever begin to match what life will feel like in our giftedness
• You have to have faith and patience to operate in maximum giftedness. Harvests grow over time
• The spirit in us is our capacity to know God.
• God is our portion, and we are His
• The down payment made for us is God himself
• God continually prioritizes the internal work
• In the New Testament church, healing is often on the inside. His priority is what He does in the heart and mind of man
• You can be free of any kind of bondage because the Holy Spirit of God is in you
• You have divine power to overcome every single stronghold
• God’s huge priority in the New Testament church is that man is healed from the inside out
• Every single one of us in whom God has worked has a beautiful inheritance.
• Our spiritual gifts are the way that Jesus Christ becomes conspicuous in us
• A manifestation of the Spirit is when your deposit goes from the inside to the outside
• The fruit of the Spirit represents the personality of Christ, the spiritual gifts represent how He ministers to people
• We as Christians are the most gifted people on the planet
• We have confused humility with timidity
• If we are easily discouraged, we will never be profoundly used in this generation
• The enemy wants to know how quickly he can get you to quit
• Our giftedness is the result of the grace of God
• Your spiritual gifts were given to you, but not for you
• We are widely and profoundly gifted
• In all 3 segments teaching spiritual gifts, every single time Paul gives an exhortation to love
• If someone gets on your nerves, you need to pray to love them more
• Pray to love the body of Christ
• If you are a person who has a heart to love people, you will discover your spiritual gifts
• Don’t confuse your gifts with your talents
• Your gifting energizes you rather than exhausting you
• You will have a sense of “this is what I was made for”
• Don’t try to be something you aren’t
• Your spiritual gifts will work, they will have impact, will have influence
• Watch for the trap that will distort your spiritual gift into the flesh
• There is no amount of carnality, no amount of doing our own thin that will ever begin to match what life will feel like in our giftedness
• You have to have faith and patience to operate in maximum giftedness. Harvests grow over time
The world lost a beautiful rose
I never have understood death. As a Christian I really hate that about myself because I can't process things outside of this world. I truly want to find comfort in our loved ones and friends leaving this temporary home and going to spend enternity in Heaven. This is something to rejoice over, for our bodies aren't meant to be here long, and this is only the stopping place before going onto either greater or worse things.
My heart is saddened and full of questions. I feel a loss and it's as time stands still. I remember her smile and her laughter. I remember those conversations we had as we pondered the world and tried to find all the answers to everything that plagued us, everything that made us smile, try to fit the pieces of life together. She had a smile that lit up the world She had a contagious, fun, outgoing, lovable personality. She definitely was the life in any room. People saw such beauty and confidence in her, she just radiated. I got to see many of her emotions, good and bad. We got to battle through things together, cry and laugh together. People enter into our lives for reasons, they touch us in so many ways, yet on days like today I am sad that I didn't get the chance to tell her recently just how much she impacted my life.
Today I found out that a beautiful, contagious spirit left this world and is dancing in Heaven. Part of me wants to smile and rejoice, while the human in me is heartbroken. She will live on in the lives of all she touched and will be missed by so many. Until we meet again, my God's peace surround you Melissa. Love ya!!!
"The Rose"
Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
An endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
And you its only seed.
It's the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking
That never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
Who cannot seem to give,
And the soul afraid of dyin'
That never learns to live.
When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose.
My heart is saddened and full of questions. I feel a loss and it's as time stands still. I remember her smile and her laughter. I remember those conversations we had as we pondered the world and tried to find all the answers to everything that plagued us, everything that made us smile, try to fit the pieces of life together. She had a smile that lit up the world She had a contagious, fun, outgoing, lovable personality. She definitely was the life in any room. People saw such beauty and confidence in her, she just radiated. I got to see many of her emotions, good and bad. We got to battle through things together, cry and laugh together. People enter into our lives for reasons, they touch us in so many ways, yet on days like today I am sad that I didn't get the chance to tell her recently just how much she impacted my life.
Today I found out that a beautiful, contagious spirit left this world and is dancing in Heaven. Part of me wants to smile and rejoice, while the human in me is heartbroken. She will live on in the lives of all she touched and will be missed by so many. Until we meet again, my God's peace surround you Melissa. Love ya!!!
"The Rose"
Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
An endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
And you its only seed.
It's the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking
That never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
Who cannot seem to give,
And the soul afraid of dyin'
That never learns to live.
When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose.
March 22, 2012
Hmmm....
True safety only comes from a life hidden in the safe place of Christ
For when you are tired of coming up with a plan, might you be willing to simply come? I’ve thought a lot lately about this space created for souls to breathe and the true meaning behind it.
He will not come undone. He remains un-overwhelmable
For when you are tired of coming up with a plan, might you be willing to simply come? I’ve thought a lot lately about this space created for souls to breathe and the true meaning behind it.
He will not come undone. He remains un-overwhelmable
March 19, 2012
Heart Tenderizer
This was in my devotional read for March 19, and I found so much in this that I needed to hear. Be blessed....
Heart Tenderizer
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Cor. 1:3-4
Great trials produce big hearts. But to those who have never been knocked down, or who have not felt the woes of adversity, the heart is small and insensitive. Indeed, it is on the bed of affliction that human beings find themselves horizontal—looking up to the Lord in heaven. A plague of bad news will pass—leaving behind a righteous residue on all hearts softened by the Spirit.
Where does the core of comfort come from for a Christian? Our consolation comes from Christ, where there resides an eternal security that transcends all fiery trials. He wraps us up with His love, and with a fire resistant blanket of belief. Jesus replaces anxiety with peace, and fear with courage. He is a friend who flocks to a friend facing great loss, giving His loyal support. A heart grows tender and true under the loving influence of the Lord.
“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.” 2 Chronicles 34:27
Ironically, the comforts of the world can crowd out the comfort of Christ. Our hearts can be so full of self-medication that there is no room for our Savior's intimacy. However, a humble heart is always on the hunt with spiritual weapons forged by faith. We go out of our way to be a blessing by serving behind the scenes. A tenderized heart stays moldable for its Master Jesus.
Above all, the green grass of grace grows best in a moist heart of humility. And it is grace upon grace that God gives you—to give to others. Grace extended to friends and foes alike helps them become like Christ. So, out of your softened heart, you comfort others for Jesus' sake. You are ready to birth comfort for others to enjoy, when your heart has been impregnated by Christ's consultation. Your tenderized heart is trustworthy to Jesus.
Lord, how can I apply Your tender touch to my heart, so I can be a conduit of comfort to others?
Related Readings: Joshua 22:5; 1 Samuel 10:9; Luke 1:78; Acts 15:8; Hebrews 4:12
Post/Tweet today: The green grass of grace grows best in a moist heart of humility. #grace #humility
Heart Tenderizer
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Cor. 1:3-4
Great trials produce big hearts. But to those who have never been knocked down, or who have not felt the woes of adversity, the heart is small and insensitive. Indeed, it is on the bed of affliction that human beings find themselves horizontal—looking up to the Lord in heaven. A plague of bad news will pass—leaving behind a righteous residue on all hearts softened by the Spirit.
Where does the core of comfort come from for a Christian? Our consolation comes from Christ, where there resides an eternal security that transcends all fiery trials. He wraps us up with His love, and with a fire resistant blanket of belief. Jesus replaces anxiety with peace, and fear with courage. He is a friend who flocks to a friend facing great loss, giving His loyal support. A heart grows tender and true under the loving influence of the Lord.
“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.” 2 Chronicles 34:27
Ironically, the comforts of the world can crowd out the comfort of Christ. Our hearts can be so full of self-medication that there is no room for our Savior's intimacy. However, a humble heart is always on the hunt with spiritual weapons forged by faith. We go out of our way to be a blessing by serving behind the scenes. A tenderized heart stays moldable for its Master Jesus.
Above all, the green grass of grace grows best in a moist heart of humility. And it is grace upon grace that God gives you—to give to others. Grace extended to friends and foes alike helps them become like Christ. So, out of your softened heart, you comfort others for Jesus' sake. You are ready to birth comfort for others to enjoy, when your heart has been impregnated by Christ's consultation. Your tenderized heart is trustworthy to Jesus.
Lord, how can I apply Your tender touch to my heart, so I can be a conduit of comfort to others?
Related Readings: Joshua 22:5; 1 Samuel 10:9; Luke 1:78; Acts 15:8; Hebrews 4:12
Post/Tweet today: The green grass of grace grows best in a moist heart of humility. #grace #humility
March 14, 2012
Walk By Faith
In waking I give thanks In what’s not known I have to trust, My Father That yesterday’s pain is gone For you’ve given me this day For me to rejoice To faithfully follow To willingly hear your voice For trials will come sometimes And burdens I’ll have to bare But you promised me father To always be there So I’m standing on that promise No matter what I go through And just in case I stumble I’m depending on you For you hold the master plan And your path is always right So today I’m embarking By faith and not by sight
March 5, 2012
March 2, 2012
Return To Love
Return To Love
Submitted by: Cage
Author: Marianne Williamson, 1992
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
will not feel insecure around you.
We were born to make and manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Submitted by: Cage
Author: Marianne Williamson, 1992
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people
will not feel insecure around you.
We were born to make and manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
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