on the fridge

I was looking at the stuff on my fridge today--pretty messy but it is a snapshot of our lives..:) --telephone numbers, a Mutts comic strip, various and sundry cards --then I came across this. It has been on the refrigerator for years. I don't even remember how long it has been there. but it struck me...this is the christian life I want to live. It has been really difficult lately. I feel beaten up , worn down and just plain tired of all the character building.

I recognize that I shouldn't live my life based on feelings; some days its just a whole lot easier to be grumpy and crabby. So this is what I found:

My commitment as a Christian:

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up , slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, posit ion, promotions,plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean of his presence, walk by patience, life by prayer and labor by power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up , let up -- until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go until He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me ...for my banner will be clear.

I don't know who wrote this --but I am thankful for the reminder that I can rise above my circumstances, I am a conqueror and that this to shall pass.

Amen and let it be so.

Therefore take up the armor....

"Finally be strong in the Lord and His might power. Put on the full armor so that you can fight against the devil's evil tricks. Our battle is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of the world's darkness" I just got done reading a book by Randy Alcorn--" Lord Foulgrin's Letters". It is along the lines of the " Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis which I have never read. Alcorn's book is very good--it gave me insight into what the passage in Ephesians was talking about.

I firmly believe in demons and that hell is a real place; I also recognize that I can't blame everything that happens to me on them... that I have a sinful nature. But the battle that is taking place daily, hourly , minute by minute for my thoughts and actions is real as well. I have a part to play--I must call on the shed blood to cleanse me and continually seek the LORD in all that I do: take thoughts captive, live the life He has called me to live, praise Him, read his word....but have you ever wondered about the battle taking place?

I had a vision of U of Michigan stadium: in this stadium the place was packed : one side was beautiful--angels all around. The other side was ugly--black and angry. I looked down on the field and saw a game going on: angels vs. demons---every time the demons cheered their team moved forward--every time the angels cheered they moved forward.. For a while, the demons were winning...then I heard this singing... the angels started moving forward very rapidly, I could hear low murmuring... they moved forward some more... then this loud cheer erupted and they scored. Praise , Prayer and someone accepting Jesus.... this ensured the victory.

I think this how we win--prayer and praise; the evil one thinks he will win--he doesn't. When I allow myself to wallow in negative thoughts, don't praise or read His word..I allow the enemy to move forward. He doesn't have much of a game plan--but it certainly works to his advantage...if he can make me doubt, bring confusion or believe the lies--he influences my behavior .

Thank you, LORD that you know the outcome..

prayer and refining

I have been " stuck" in a certain spot in my devotions for a couple of weeks now. In James 5, it talks about prayer: " anyone who is having troubles should pray. Anyone who is happy should sing praises.... When a believing person prays great things happen." I love that!! I know that it is all in God's will and timing but I can still go HIM with big troubles or little troubles and know that he hears me...even if I don't know or can't pray or it feels like it is very ineffectual. " God honors prayer..He longs to demonstrate His power in the tremendous trials that jar us like thunder and the pinprick troubles that annoy us. Giant needs are never too great for His power; dwarf-sized ones are never too small for HIS love." Warren Meyers



Then in 1 Peter 1 it talks about why we have troubles: " Theses troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is worth more than gold, which can be proved to be pure by fire, but will ruin. But the purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus is shown to you" I am learning that through the trials and troubles, I am made complete.





I read somewhere about how silver and gold is refined--the person has to stand right there and hold it into the fire for just the right amount of time: I guess the Lord knows how long this refining will take place and even though, I would like it to be over and done; (please LORD!!) I must not be there yet.

Between you and God

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway." Mother Theresa.



I read this and thought how true-- I am a "workman approved by God". It doesn't matter what people think I should be doing as long as I am doing what God says I should be doing. It doesn't matter if no one else approves of what I do as longs as God does. At the end of the day, all I need to know is that God approved--and if I am not doing what he wants me to do--he will deal with me on that.

clouds

I was thinking about Psalm 23 this week. I love the line " he makes me lie down in green pastures" I remember as a kid laying out in the backyard looking up at the sky and watching the clouds go by. I still love to do that. I see things--sometimes an animal; other times I just let my imagination run away. I think that was the purpose of laying down in green pastures--rest and refreshing . Sometimes I do that now--I watch the birds and wonder what it would be like to fly away. Or how neat they are and how the Lord provides for them.... and if He cares so much for them; how much more does HE care for me? Some days it is really hard to wrap my brain around that--HE LOVES ME !! I am HIS favorite! He sings over me!! wow!:)

Our pastor spoke this week on the Sabbath rest--I learned something new about the Sabbath and sabbath rest. In Exodus 31, God talks about the Sabbath being a covenant between Him and his people: " It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth and the seventh day he rested and was refreshed. I find it interesting that the LORD needed to be refreshed...what does that say about me? How can I expect to go on and on like the energizer bunny and not need to be refreshed?

I love Psalm 63--"Oh God you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my flesh faints for you as in a dry and weary land where there is no water" Some days I know exactly how that psalmist feels. Have you ever been so thirsty that all you want is a big cold glass of water? I know that if I don't spend time with him I become faint-hearted and my soul thirsts like nothing will satisfy it. When I become faint-hearted and thirsty, I have nothing to pour out. When I have nothing to pour out I am not using the gifts that He has given me. I continually must be seeking him and his rest, continually taking off yokes that I put on myself, others try to put on me and asking Him : what do YOU want me to do?

This is my prayer this week: LORD refresh me!!

storms

Hello to all my kids in my writing class--we will give this a try ;thanks David for the link.
I read something really good today--" No matter what storms come up in life, little or mighty, if we trust and believe in our Creator, we do not have to fear. The enemy would love to see us not have faith and rob us of that security but Jesus is always there beside us , waiting for us to ask and jsut believe." I really needed to read that today--this has been a very overwhelming week.

I used to hate thunder and lightening-but not any more!