Has given...

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 2 Peter 1:2-3

Tonight, the word HAS stuck out as I read this scripture. Has given is a present perfect verb tense indicating that God gave it in the past and we still currently possess what was given. So if God has given us things, why do we not have them?  We must grow in our knowledge of Christ.  As we grow in our knowledge of God, we are able to understand all the gifts that he has already given us and can use those gifts to further His kingdom.

So what has God given to those who follow and obey Him, according to New Testament scriptures: 

•  He has given us eternal life
•  I John 5:11
• He has given the Holy Spirit 
•  Acts 5:32, I John 3:24, I John 4:13 
• He has given assurance that there will be a judgement day
•   Acts 17:31
• He has given us the spirit of reconciliation  (to reconcile others to Him and the Body)
•  II Cor. 5:18
• He has given us authority to edify (instruct and lift up)
• II Cor. 13:10  
• He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (conforming to the laws and wishes of God)
•  II Peter 1:3
• He has given us an understanding that we would know Him 
• I John 5:20

Having read these scriptures I am now aware of what God has given to me.  I must accept as fact what God has given me in order to walk in what I already possess.  I must not take for granted what Christ died for me to have.

• I have eternal life, Christ died that I would have it.  
• I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me, Christ ascended to Heaven so He might come and dwell on the inside of believers. 
•  I have assurance that one day I will give account for my actions,  Christ was raised from the dead.  
• I have the ability to reconcile others to Christ and each other,  God reconciled me to Him through Christ Jesus.
• I have the ability to edify others and not tear other down,  Christ does not want His body destroyed. 
• I have life and godliness, God and was called by his glory and virtue.
• I have understanding, it continues to grow as I learn more of God and truth.

Don't be weary

King James 2000 Bible (©2003) Jeremiah 12:5 "If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the jungle of the Jordan?"

I realized today as I read this scripture, that the trials we face, have little to do with the earthly circumstance surrounding us.  Instead, they have a lot more to do with the Kingdom purpose God is preparing us for.

When we are going through the midst of a trial, it can seem overwhelming and many times we ask God to rescue us from it. Reality though: if we grow weary from these trials that are meant to prepare us, how then can we move on to the deeper tasks before us?

If in times of peace and comfort we are weary with life, how then can God move us into the deeper things of the Kingdom.  We must be content and full of God's life at all times, instead of allowing the weight of this world to bring us down.

 When we persevere and God takes us through the running with those tasks that our skills are equal to, and through those tasks that challenge us, and when we learn to be content in times of peace and comfort, then  we are then better prepared for the larger more difficult task that will take us deeper into things of Him.  God will be able to take us into the Kingdom purpose He has for us.

Broken

People tell me that I am strong and positive. Honestly, I am weak, but the Joy of the Lord is my strength. My world can be crashing down around me, and only those with a discerning spirit will know the hurt I feel and the burdens I am bearing.


I don't know when I started being that way. Maybe it was work. Maybe it was when the last person who really knew me and all my life died. Maybe as I changed and realized there were not people in my life I could share honestly with and trust. I am not sure, only that I realize I am tired of it.

Lately, I have realized how broken I am. The mask I have learned to wear so convincingly in the world, has only fooled the world about who I am. I realize that mask has greatly changed my personality, and kept me from making relationships with those God has placed in my life.


I long to be transparent, to share my life - the good, the bad, the ugly. I find it easier though, to share only the deep or the superficial. I can tell the darkest secret of my life if it will help someone. I can keep it superficial when I find it hard to trust, and I usually do. However, I never allow anyone in to the real.


But today, as I cried out to God in my brokenness, I realized He sees the real. He loves the real. He knows the real. He is the place where I can be honest and broken, and real.


I enter into worship, and almost immediately begin to cry before the Lord. I find there with tears streaming that I am free. I don't want to leave that wholeness I find in Christ. He brought me to this place, and He does not despise that sacrifice.


Psalm 51:17 NKJV. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart These, O God, You will not despise.

Bye Bye

The last few days I have really felt led to get rid of my Facebook. Not just fast it, which I have done several times, but to completely do away with it all together. Several times I have thought about it, but justified keeping it because so many people only post to Facebook and expect everyone will learn the news there. I mean my daughter made her engagement "Facebook official" before calling me. Yes, it made me cry, but it is the day and age unfortunately.

In addition, I try to be uplifting and positive in my posts, and have used it as a little ministry. I looked back at my years in review and the little photos that I have shared with sayings and although there are a few little cute ones in there, ultimately they are positive Christ centered messages. I will continue to post here on my blog, maybe even more frequently than I have as of late.

I realize in doing this, some things will have to change. My children will be more open to media checks than they have been. I will have to pick up the phone to get information, or better yet, go visit!

I think I will have more time to invest in other things. Writing, studying God's Word, and family and friends. So as soon as I get all my pictures downloaded - Bye Bye Facebook.

A prayer for the soldiers

Lord, on this day of memory I lift up our soldiers and their families. Keep a hedge of protection around them, strengthen them, encourage them. Lord pour out your blessing on those families who have given the ultimate sacrifice of life for our nation's freedom, wrap them in your arms of love and compassion.

Lord give wisdom, guidance and direction to our leaders and pastors on this day. In this time of battles for separation of church and state, let there be compassion and understanding. Lord, help each to extend their hands of love to help the other for the good of Your Kingdom and our Nation.

Lord place a hedge of protect around our emergency personnel. Lord each day, they offer thier service, we recognize they also offer their life not knowing what they will walk into. Guide their steps. Bless them for the work they willingly do.

Lord be with doctors and nurses who are helping people this day. Give them extra compassion for those they help. Let your healing mercies flow through them.

Lord, allow your arms of comfort and encouragement to surround those who lost loved ones in the tragedy of 9-11. Make Yourself real to them this day.

Turn our nation's heart back to you. In Jesus name. AMEN!

A Time....

I can't believe that it is already the 2nd month of 2012. Not sure where the time has went. As I look back on 2011, I see a year of change.

It started with my daughter finishing high school and moving out on her own. It was an unhealthy relationship that she moved in to, but I praise God that she is on the other side of that now. It was hard to let her go. As a mom it hurt so much to see her walk away from what she knew was right, but I did what I can do. I encourage her to get back on track, and I pray for her daily. I trust God will be faithful to his Word. Proverb 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. I know that she will come back to God.

Then in May she actually graduated. That was a whirlwind time. As we were celebrating her success at school, Joplin was being destroyed, as was my place of employment. Our guests had actually left before I knew of the devastation that would await me the following morning and for months to come.

Shortly after, I learned I would be a grandmother. By the time I was really coming to terms with it, she miscarried. It was enough to break the bond she had with the young man, but it is heartbreaking to have to go through and even harder because it was my baby in pain. I find comfort knowing that my grandchild will never have to face the life that he/she might have had and the struggles that would have surely come and that instead the child is safe in the arms of the Father waiting to meet those of us still here on the earth.

Then we hit some problems with our son. It completely took me off guard. It was amazing to see Tim come alongside and really support my position during that time. It really brought us closer together. Not that we saw eye to eye, but we supported each other.

In September, we decided to relocate back to Arkansas to save money since we were already spending more time there than anywhere else as well as the gas to get there. Mid-October we made the move to Centerton. The children changing schools from a small school to a class size similar to their old school's entire body.

In addition to the move, I decided to leave Mercy and return to a place that has deep meaning to me, but this time on the helping end instead of the receiving end. Havenwood, a place I stayed when my world was upside down - divorced, single pregnant parent of two children barely twenty years old. It is wonderful to be giving back. I know I am not where I need to be personally, but I have a testimony that can certainly encourage those there. I also am encouraged by them.

Then in December, my little girl got engaged. I know this new young man makes her happy. It is great to see her smiling again. I pray that they will take the steps to make their young marriage successful, and encourage that. I admit it is harder for me to not push my own beliefs and training in this area, so I have had to just completely step back from it.

This year has been a time....

Ecc. 3:1-8 Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pull out what was planted, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build up, a time to cry and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to hug and a time to stop hugging, a time to start looking and a time to stop looking, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear apart and a time to sew together, a time to keep quiet and a time to speak out, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

A Change in Country Leaders

If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. 1 Samuel 12:14 NKJV

I read this verse and what stuck out to me is the writer was talking to a specific person or group of people about fearing God, serving God, obeying and not rebelling. But the promise that comes with it, is not just for the audience, it is for the ruler over the audience too.

I immediately turned my attention to "the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. Speaking only for myself, I want leaders over me that are following God. I pray on a regular basis for God to lead, guide, direct and give wisdom to those in authority over me. This verse, in the first part says what I must do for the second part, which is what I want, to happen.

So this verse makes me think that instead of Christian's complaining about our leaders actions destroying our country, we need to be fearing God. Instead of complaining about our leaders actions, we need to be serving God. Instead of complaining about the laws and policies, we need to be obeying the Spirit and Letter of His Word. Instead of picketing and protesting, we need to not rebel against His correction.

I believe that a lot needs to change in our great country, but I know that it must be done God's way to bring about lasting change. I believe that there must be accountability in our leadership, but I also know ultimately they will answer to God for their actions. I believe in grass roots change and advocacy, but just like in Daniel 1:8-19 and Daniel 3:16-30, it must be done respectfully, honoring the position even when disobedience to the decree is needed.

God's Word is unchanging. It it was true then, it is still true now. If God required fearing Him, serving Him, obeying Him and not rebelling against His command then - it is no wonder that our nation is in the state it is in. Our nation's actions are not fearful of God, they are fearful of public opinion. Although service is increasing, one has to question if it is self-motivated service (it will look good on my application for work or college or for the judge or this girl/boy, etc), not God driven service. Obedience has been out the door for a long time as the nation rebels against every one of the ten commandments - working on the Sabbath, lying to get ahead, abortion, adultery as prime time TV, and keeping up with the Jones' to name a few.

So it is time for a change in our county leaders, election in next year. Let's try it God's way. Lets spend the next 13 months in preparation for the election with a reverent fear of God, serving one another to bring Him glory, being obedient to Him and not rebelling against His commands. That is how we will get a leader that is really following the Lord our God.