Over the last six weeks, I have been on a journey with the Lord that has stopped me in my tracks while propelling me forward. I admit that I did not foresee all that has been revealed, and yet I am thrilled with the new joy the Lord has given me.
About two months ago I was doing the dishes, and as I stood there cleaning I just welled up with tears in my eyes. I told the Lord that I knew that there had to be more in Him. I told Him that if He would show me, I would go with Him.
Since that evening, He has taken me on a wild and fun journey. He has exposed false teachings, shown me how alive the Holy Spirit is, opened my eyes to things in the spiritual realm and, to say the least, I am still on the edge of my seat. I want more of Him. I am learning that "nothing is impossible with God." He really means it. It is time we take Him at His words and stop rationalizing everything or believing what we have always been told. We have to dig in the Word and fill our minds with Christ. We have to push and ask to be pushed by Him.
On Wednesday nights, I have been teaching a ladies class with an elder's wife. We were learning to "Live outside the box". My first questions were: What is the box and who makes it? My questions were laughed off b/c the truth is no one really knows who made the box b/c it has been taught so long and the box is defined but what it is not.
So the Lord has been teaching me about this box. He has literally blown it apart and has me still breathing hard. I do think it is time to ask ourselves as the people of God the hard questions about why we believe what we believe. Questions are not bad. Mary, the mother of Christ, asked Gabriel, "How can this be?" after hearing that she would bare a child as a virgin. And what is so awesome about that question is that Gabriel answered her and told her plainly how it would come pass.
So I encourage you to ask hard questions and seek real answers. Also, God can answer for Himself. You don't have to talk to others about it. He will answer you. The bible says, " if you seek Him, you will find Him". So go seeking.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Halloween
I took my little girls to Target today. It was a normal trip filled with the $1.25 drink and popcorn and lots of up and down isles looking for sale treasures. As we shopped, I found myself on the majorly discounted back to school isle which happened to be in the middle of all the Halloween stuff.
I will be VERY honest with you. From a very early age, I knew Halloween had nothing to do with my Jesus. I remember my parents going through all our candy to make sure there were no pins, needles, or poisoned candy. As for dressing up, my sister and I always choose happy things. However, as we walked from house to house, I sensed evil.
Time has not changed that for me. In fact now, I feel the evil stronger. So today in Target as little talking plastic witches were taunting my little girls by asking them to come closer and telling them that they could trust them, I was struck at how the industry embraces evil because all they want is our money. And not only that, the evil is pointed at my children not me. Talk about getting me all fired up!
I am newly convicted this year about Halloween. The Lord continues to bring to my attention Truths from the Word...
Deut 18:9-13
When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
David writes in the Psalms that he "will have nothing to do with evil". And in Ephesians we are commanded to "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, rather expose them." So what are we doing with this holiday? It is not a "Holy Day", in fact it is the opposite.
Friends, we are called to be salt and light for our King. We are called to walk in the light. We are called to be imitators of God all year round regardless of what anyone else is doing. We are called to be blameless before the Lord our God. Blameless means the bar is set high... not in the middle. I think we have to ask some hard questions, get the answers and then run the race marked our for us. We have been called and commanded to look different. I think Halloween offers a great instance in which we can radiate our Lord in a powerful way. So, let's shine the light in this season of darkness.
I will be VERY honest with you. From a very early age, I knew Halloween had nothing to do with my Jesus. I remember my parents going through all our candy to make sure there were no pins, needles, or poisoned candy. As for dressing up, my sister and I always choose happy things. However, as we walked from house to house, I sensed evil.
Time has not changed that for me. In fact now, I feel the evil stronger. So today in Target as little talking plastic witches were taunting my little girls by asking them to come closer and telling them that they could trust them, I was struck at how the industry embraces evil because all they want is our money. And not only that, the evil is pointed at my children not me. Talk about getting me all fired up!
I am newly convicted this year about Halloween. The Lord continues to bring to my attention Truths from the Word...
Deut 18:9-13
When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God.
David writes in the Psalms that he "will have nothing to do with evil". And in Ephesians we are commanded to "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, rather expose them." So what are we doing with this holiday? It is not a "Holy Day", in fact it is the opposite.
Friends, we are called to be salt and light for our King. We are called to walk in the light. We are called to be imitators of God all year round regardless of what anyone else is doing. We are called to be blameless before the Lord our God. Blameless means the bar is set high... not in the middle. I think we have to ask some hard questions, get the answers and then run the race marked our for us. We have been called and commanded to look different. I think Halloween offers a great instance in which we can radiate our Lord in a powerful way. So, let's shine the light in this season of darkness.
Friday, September 12, 2008
A Story to Tell
Two and a half years ago, I had a baby girl in the NICU. Only hours old, she was taken to the NICU for breathing help. As they took my beautiful baby girl away, I was overcome with the magnitude of what was happening. I had no control. I was at the mercy of the Lord. She was quickly put on a ventilator that sustained her life however after all different treatments, she was making little progress. After 5 days in the hospital, I was discharged and had to leave my sweet one there with people we barely knew but who we knew could help her.
Just after arriving home, our oldest fell asleep as did my mama, who had come to help. My hubby left to go the the office for a bit hoping he might feel "normal life" even just briefly. I declined a nap and decided to take a shower. The loud running water masked my sobs to my Jesus. I cried like I had never cried to the Lord. I begged Him to save her. I reminded Him of all the promises in HIS Word. I relinquished control telling Him that she was more His than mine and that I would rather her go be with Him than suffer. After an hour of sobbing, begging, and praying scripture, there was a good hard knock on the door.
I knew right away that it was my Jesus. However, the logical side of me called for my mama. After calling for her three or four times, she walked in very sleepily and rubbing her eyes, and asked, "Honey, are you okay (yawn)? Do you need something?" I told her no, and asked if she had knocked on the door. She told me that she had only gotten up just then and no she had not. She also added that Keith wasn;t home yet and our son still asleep. I told her that I was fine and she could go back to sleep which she did.
After mama headed back to sleep, I just started sobbing. I had had a God visit. He had come to my aid. After praising Him for this miracle moment, I called the hospital to check on our newborn daughter. Our nurse told us that she was doing great and had made great strides in only the last 15 minutes. They were weaning her off the vent.
I tell you this story to tell you and that our God is living and active. He loves you! In fact, He is wild about you and has made every way for you to come directly to Him. His Word, the Bible, is the Best Love Story ever told. It is filled with the miracles of God. I know from firm experience that our God is alive and well. He does not need your approval to be Who He is. He is the Great I AM. He is the Lover of your soul. He longs for you to know Him. The Bible tells us when we seek Him, we will find Him. It is a promise. He is the very Great Reward. Be renewed in your mind today by knowing that you are His Treasured Possession(Deut 7:6). Praise God for miracles and His Love that knows no bounds! Praise God!
Just after arriving home, our oldest fell asleep as did my mama, who had come to help. My hubby left to go the the office for a bit hoping he might feel "normal life" even just briefly. I declined a nap and decided to take a shower. The loud running water masked my sobs to my Jesus. I cried like I had never cried to the Lord. I begged Him to save her. I reminded Him of all the promises in HIS Word. I relinquished control telling Him that she was more His than mine and that I would rather her go be with Him than suffer. After an hour of sobbing, begging, and praying scripture, there was a good hard knock on the door.
I knew right away that it was my Jesus. However, the logical side of me called for my mama. After calling for her three or four times, she walked in very sleepily and rubbing her eyes, and asked, "Honey, are you okay (yawn)? Do you need something?" I told her no, and asked if she had knocked on the door. She told me that she had only gotten up just then and no she had not. She also added that Keith wasn;t home yet and our son still asleep. I told her that I was fine and she could go back to sleep which she did.
After mama headed back to sleep, I just started sobbing. I had had a God visit. He had come to my aid. After praising Him for this miracle moment, I called the hospital to check on our newborn daughter. Our nurse told us that she was doing great and had made great strides in only the last 15 minutes. They were weaning her off the vent.
I tell you this story to tell you and that our God is living and active. He loves you! In fact, He is wild about you and has made every way for you to come directly to Him. His Word, the Bible, is the Best Love Story ever told. It is filled with the miracles of God. I know from firm experience that our God is alive and well. He does not need your approval to be Who He is. He is the Great I AM. He is the Lover of your soul. He longs for you to know Him. The Bible tells us when we seek Him, we will find Him. It is a promise. He is the very Great Reward. Be renewed in your mind today by knowing that you are His Treasured Possession(Deut 7:6). Praise God for miracles and His Love that knows no bounds! Praise God!
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