Those that have seen my blog know that I love to write. But, I have this deep need somehow inside of me for others that read my writing to enjoy it. I don't generally write on light topics but yet, I still try to tickle the mind a bit in my writings. So, I will mull on a topic until I feel ready to write. Tonight, I'm not ready but what I have inside of me can't wait. My prayer is that I will be able to pull it all together and make sense of what is boiling inside of me.
I read some quotes this morning written by a doctor I know. They were excellent quotes portraying Christian principles yet, he is not a Christian. One of the things he talked about was the power within ones mind to heal and he stated that anger and bitterness cause "dis-ease" and therefore disease within the body. I found myself agreeing with him, knowing that is a biblical principle (Proverbs 14:30 "The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.") and yet, somehow feeling sad because I realized how difficult it would be for this man to come to Jesus.
These thoughts were followed by thoughts on the book, "The Secret".... this book has become so popular and although a secular book, teaches Christian principles. I have seen it touted even in Christian circles and as I thought on it this morning, my heart was grieved. Grieved for the non-believers that figure out the principles in life that bring health and healing knowing that it will drive them farther from the Father and grieved for the Christians alike. You may wonder why it would worry me for Christians to learn Christian principles and I will tell you.... First, they are Christian principles but many Christians that have not searched the scriptures will not recognize them as such. Second, learning the principles this way circumvents the process that would normally bring one to these realizations.
The path to living an abundant life is a path of growth as we learn more about the character of Jesus and God the Father. We grow closer to Him as we learn His word and apply it precept upon precept in our lives. Mark 13:22 talks about the end times and states, "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." I believe we are being seduced into an abundant life that is a perversion of what God truly has for us. Satan is sly.... we have to take notice and carefully examine what we put before our eyes. The enemy is working hard to deceive us. 2 Corinthians 11:3 says, "But I am afraid that, as the serpent in his craftiness deceived Eve, so your minds may be led astray from their single-heartedness and their fidelity to Christ." My fear is that I am watching this happen. Jesus came and died that we might have life and have it more abundantly, He has offered us healing, deliverance, provision, love, peace but, there is no short cut. We gain these things through relationship with the one who created us to be in communion with Him.
P.S. Pastor Rob Hastings reminded me of this passage in 2 Timothy 3:1- "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."
This is most definitely a form of godliness but denying its power. What a strong admonition. We need to take heed.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Tired Perspective
I had a friend ask me the other day, "do you ever just get tired?" Of course the answer is yes. I do get tired.. in fact, I spent too much of my life tired. Now I have a different perspective and have left the tired perspective behind. Not that it doesn't try to creep in fairly often but I refuse to let it, instead casting my cares on Him and trusting in His promise to give me rest. Knowing that God is no respecter of persons (in other words what He has done for one, He will do for another according to Acts 10:34) I see many verses promising rest.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Isaiah 14:3 "And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear, and from the hard bondage wherein you were made to serve."
Exodus 33:14 "And he said, My presence shall attend thee, and I will give thee rest."
Joshua 1:13 "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land."
I have had a large number of trials in this life, some that I created through my own bad decisions and some that were foist upon me by other evil people. I started life with faith but somewhere along the way I began asking, "why me?" "Why me God? Why do I have to suffer?" I resented the hurt and the pain and wondered why God would allow such a thing to happen to me. I found myself tired and blaming my tiredness on my Lord. Here is where the tired perspective comes in.... the tired perspective says, "I hurt, God allowed it to happen and therefore I am tired and angry with God."
I am going to present to you a new perspective...I know without a shadow of a doubt that I have a calling on my life to serve the Lord... that makes me a huge threat to the enemy's kingdom. I know that as such a threat the enemy works that much harder to discourage me. The more he attacks me, the more convinced I become that I have the potential to be great in the kingdom of God. I am not bragging in any way because I have made so many mistakes in my life that I am humbled and so very grateful any time God chooses to use me to touch another.
So, what does this little change in perspective accomplish? Look closely at the shift... instead of saying "why me" and feeling beaten and run down I can now say, thank you Jesus for choosing me. Knowing that I am that big of a threat to satan and his minions empowers me. Instead of wearing me down now I have grown stronger.
I am tired of the tired perspective. It's long past time to shift our perspectives.... to recognize the call on your life, to recognize the greatness within you, to recognize that you are being buffeted by the enemy but you have been promised victory!
If you don't believe me, just look at the evidence below!
Psalms 108:13 "With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."
Proverbs 2:7 "He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless"
Psalms 44:7 "but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame."
1 John 5:4 "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."
You will overcome, God has destined you for greatness, God has a call on your life. Go after it, live in victory, rise up in strength as you change your perspective. You can do it. I believe in you.
Psalms 18:35 "You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great."
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Isaiah 14:3 "And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear, and from the hard bondage wherein you were made to serve."
Exodus 33:14 "And he said, My presence shall attend thee, and I will give thee rest."
Joshua 1:13 "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land."
I have had a large number of trials in this life, some that I created through my own bad decisions and some that were foist upon me by other evil people. I started life with faith but somewhere along the way I began asking, "why me?" "Why me God? Why do I have to suffer?" I resented the hurt and the pain and wondered why God would allow such a thing to happen to me. I found myself tired and blaming my tiredness on my Lord. Here is where the tired perspective comes in.... the tired perspective says, "I hurt, God allowed it to happen and therefore I am tired and angry with God."
I am going to present to you a new perspective...I know without a shadow of a doubt that I have a calling on my life to serve the Lord... that makes me a huge threat to the enemy's kingdom. I know that as such a threat the enemy works that much harder to discourage me. The more he attacks me, the more convinced I become that I have the potential to be great in the kingdom of God. I am not bragging in any way because I have made so many mistakes in my life that I am humbled and so very grateful any time God chooses to use me to touch another.
So, what does this little change in perspective accomplish? Look closely at the shift... instead of saying "why me" and feeling beaten and run down I can now say, thank you Jesus for choosing me. Knowing that I am that big of a threat to satan and his minions empowers me. Instead of wearing me down now I have grown stronger.
I am tired of the tired perspective. It's long past time to shift our perspectives.... to recognize the call on your life, to recognize the greatness within you, to recognize that you are being buffeted by the enemy but you have been promised victory!
If you don't believe me, just look at the evidence below!
Psalms 108:13 "With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."
Proverbs 2:7 "He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless"
Psalms 44:7 "but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame."
1 John 5:4 "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."
You will overcome, God has destined you for greatness, God has a call on your life. Go after it, live in victory, rise up in strength as you change your perspective. You can do it. I believe in you.
Psalms 18:35 "You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great."
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