"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:57
Another great "Verse of the Day" just happened to show up on my Facebook. Through Christ we can have victory over sin. Apart from Him we really can do nothing. Oh we can try and succeed to a certain extent but He has paid the price for us to have true victory. It is a day by day, moment by moment process. We get weak and fall back into that fallen nature.
The sinful way seems to be the easy way sometimes. When we are tired, we may snap back at our family when they ask a favor of us. We use the fatigue as an "excuse.” Matthew 4:1-4 says:
"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
Did Christ fall into sin when he was tired, hungry and totally spent when He was in the desert? Satan tempted Him but He used Scripture as His defense against the enemy. He could have given in but He stood firm and remained faithful to the Father.
Of course He was without sin, but He certainly was tempted in the same way that you and I are tempted. Hebrews 4:15 says:
" For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."
Then Hebrews 2:18 goes on to say that:
" For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."
He knows the struggles that we go through because He has been there. I know I have a sense of peace when I share my struggles with someone who has gone through a similar experience. They understand because they have been in the same place I have. That is how we can relate to Christ. He is our confidante who has experienced the feelings of hunger, pain, helplessness, and loneliness. Let's look to Him for our example when we feel at our weakest. He will give us the strength we need to carry on.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Verse of the Day Picked Just for Me!!
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
James 4:1-3
I always find it "funny" how a verse seems to be picked for you just at the right time and at the right place in your life. This one from James describes my day today. In my previous note I wrote earlier, I spoke of the Lord's revelation to me. It was an incident that happened today at work that brought me to a place of humility to receive what the Lord had to say to me.
There have been battles within me lately as James says, because I can't have what I seem to want. My motives have not been pure so the Lord will not allow me to receive based on those selfish motives. My soul has been in turmoil from the battles within me.
As always, God's timing is perfect. Another day, another time, I wouldn't have been able to receive from Him. My fallen nature placed me in a place where I could only look up.
James 4:1-3
I always find it "funny" how a verse seems to be picked for you just at the right time and at the right place in your life. This one from James describes my day today. In my previous note I wrote earlier, I spoke of the Lord's revelation to me. It was an incident that happened today at work that brought me to a place of humility to receive what the Lord had to say to me.
There have been battles within me lately as James says, because I can't have what I seem to want. My motives have not been pure so the Lord will not allow me to receive based on those selfish motives. My soul has been in turmoil from the battles within me.
As always, God's timing is perfect. Another day, another time, I wouldn't have been able to receive from Him. My fallen nature placed me in a place where I could only look up.
Roller Coaster
Today I realized something, or should I say the Lord revealed something to me. For about the last six months I have been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. It may not seem that obvious to those around me but for those who live with me, it will be no surprise. It goes beyond moodiness. It is more about dealing with the core being of my soul. I can almost pinpoint the moment it began and while the incident itself is not all that significant, the results certainly are. I allowed that serpent to speak to me and I listened. Remember in the Garden when the serpent appealed to Eve's pride saying that if she ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, she would be like God. Satan appealed to my personal pride.
Several months ago someone made a comment concerning something I had said. I perceived this comment to be an attack on me personally. Normally my feeling of offense would not be longstanding and would have forgiven the person quite easily and quickly. I would not have made an issue of it. However, when the comment was played over by another person, I became prideful and defensive. That dirty rotten pride that's in all of us was birthed into a monster that day. I needed to defend myself. So this began a "series of unfortunate events" in the journey of my self defense.
I can see now that I became more suspicious of other people in my life. What was the real reason behind actions and comments. I became more negative and didn't seek the positive elements in a situation. I began to retreat into myself, spending more time alone in my own company. I see now that I didn't want to be around people for fear they would make me accountable and for my "perceived" protection. My church attendance has been more sporadic but because we have two services, minor absence is not as noticed.
I spoke my mind without hesitation and offended people. I felt righteous because I was defending myself. After all I am right and they are wrong.
I allowed pride to be my guide. I reacted to people and situations when previously, I would have assessed the situation and "acted" instead of “reacting” based on my emotions. Action opposed to reaction is the difference between being like Jesus and reacting out of my flesh. My example as an ambassador of Christ has been pathetic. How could my non Christians friends and family see Christ in me when I was self serving and prideful?
Since this was revealed to me today, I need to act on it. I need to confess (which is what this note is) and repent of this pride. I pray that I can get off this six-month roller coaster and stand
Several months ago someone made a comment concerning something I had said. I perceived this comment to be an attack on me personally. Normally my feeling of offense would not be longstanding and would have forgiven the person quite easily and quickly. I would not have made an issue of it. However, when the comment was played over by another person, I became prideful and defensive. That dirty rotten pride that's in all of us was birthed into a monster that day. I needed to defend myself. So this began a "series of unfortunate events" in the journey of my self defense.
I can see now that I became more suspicious of other people in my life. What was the real reason behind actions and comments. I became more negative and didn't seek the positive elements in a situation. I began to retreat into myself, spending more time alone in my own company. I see now that I didn't want to be around people for fear they would make me accountable and for my "perceived" protection. My church attendance has been more sporadic but because we have two services, minor absence is not as noticed.
I spoke my mind without hesitation and offended people. I felt righteous because I was defending myself. After all I am right and they are wrong.
I allowed pride to be my guide. I reacted to people and situations when previously, I would have assessed the situation and "acted" instead of “reacting” based on my emotions. Action opposed to reaction is the difference between being like Jesus and reacting out of my flesh. My example as an ambassador of Christ has been pathetic. How could my non Christians friends and family see Christ in me when I was self serving and prideful?
Since this was revealed to me today, I need to act on it. I need to confess (which is what this note is) and repent of this pride. I pray that I can get off this six-month roller coaster and stand
Thursday, December 20, 2007
I Love This Verse!
December 20, 2007
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35,38-39
This is my "Today's Verse" on my Facebook and it was a timely reminder for me. My last note reflected my feelings of uncertainty. Today I feel more certain. My circumstances haven't actually changed but I am more certain about the love my Savior has for me. Nothing that I can do or not do can change that love. The circumstances in my present or my future can't change that love either. He stays the same and His love is the same no matter what. It is often said that there are no guarantees in life but this is one guarantee that I would stake my life on.
I don't know what the next few days, weeks, months or years hold for my family, but I do know that my relationship with Christ is the glue that will hold us together no matter what the storm is.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35,38-39
This is my "Today's Verse" on my Facebook and it was a timely reminder for me. My last note reflected my feelings of uncertainty. Today I feel more certain. My circumstances haven't actually changed but I am more certain about the love my Savior has for me. Nothing that I can do or not do can change that love. The circumstances in my present or my future can't change that love either. He stays the same and His love is the same no matter what. It is often said that there are no guarantees in life but this is one guarantee that I would stake my life on.
I don't know what the next few days, weeks, months or years hold for my family, but I do know that my relationship with Christ is the glue that will hold us together no matter what the storm is.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Uncertainty
I will admit. I am feeling uncertain about the future. Usually I am quite happy to rely upon the Lord and be at peace with what is ahead in life. I have lived that belief and felt quite confident in that faith.
Lately, that faith and belief are being tested. There are people and things in my life that may be here today and gone tomorrow. That is a reality I see so much in my work. I see it in the lives of others but haven't thought much of my own life and family being affected.
Roles seem to be shifting and I'm not comfortable with it. There are certain things that I feel responsible for and others that seem to be assumed by other members in the family. What if they aren't there anymore or are unable to assume those roles? That is where the role shift comes in. There is more responsibility and that's not something that was in the contract of life I signed up for, was it?
I know this note is vague and I guess it is intended to be. I need to rely on the Lord's strength in this and every area of my life but I am finding there are moments in my day that I get thinking about things and realize I'm afraid of what may be ahead.
I need peace.
Lately, that faith and belief are being tested. There are people and things in my life that may be here today and gone tomorrow. That is a reality I see so much in my work. I see it in the lives of others but haven't thought much of my own life and family being affected.
Roles seem to be shifting and I'm not comfortable with it. There are certain things that I feel responsible for and others that seem to be assumed by other members in the family. What if they aren't there anymore or are unable to assume those roles? That is where the role shift comes in. There is more responsibility and that's not something that was in the contract of life I signed up for, was it?
I know this note is vague and I guess it is intended to be. I need to rely on the Lord's strength in this and every area of my life but I am finding there are moments in my day that I get thinking about things and realize I'm afraid of what may be ahead.
I need peace.
Monday, December 03, 2007
The Gift of Giving
My husband told me a heart warming story today. There is a man in town whose wife has terminal cancer. This woman is in her forties with young children so it is especially tragic. A man my husband knows, works with this gentleman. He is working a day and a half each week for the man whose wife is dying so he can take more time off without worry about finances. He is trying to convince others at the workplace to do the same. I'm not sure how successful he will be.
How many of us would do that?
I don't even know if this man is a Christian, but he certainly has a giving heart. If he isn't, I think it would put alot of Christians to shame. How often do we get so attached to the material things in our lives and we don't surrender them to the Lord?
I was truly blessed by that story and it has made me think about how I can reflect the heart of Christ more often.
How many of us would do that?
I don't even know if this man is a Christian, but he certainly has a giving heart. If he isn't, I think it would put alot of Christians to shame. How often do we get so attached to the material things in our lives and we don't surrender them to the Lord?
I was truly blessed by that story and it has made me think about how I can reflect the heart of Christ more often.
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