As I'm experiencing and allowing myself to just embrace life today, I'm going to admit to you all that I am hurting...really hurting in my heart, emotions, feelings...whatever you want to call it. I am feeling deep sorrow, pain, aching, and that feeling of "will this end?" Right now, in the midst of it all, it feels like I'm one of the biggest disappointments to pretty much everyone I know.
Maybe you are feeling like this too. Sometimes, very well-meaning people will say things to you like "get over it" "get over yourself" and "what's wrong with you...it's not the end of the world." How about this one: "chin UP. You look like you lost your best friend!" Ugh, I hate that one! Does it ever occur to these well-meaning humans that maybe you DID lose your best friend? Maybe you are hurting for a very legitimate reason after all.
So, the question is...how can I know...how can YOU know...a God who is totally the opposite of everything you are feeling right now? How can you know God is not angry with you, when you are feeling that everyone under the sun hates your guts? How can you know a God who is in a good mood, when it seems nobody else is? How can you know this "God of reconciliation" when the person you most want that relationship, is not willing to even speak with you, let alone "make up?" How can you know the God of HOPE for the hopeless, when it looks like you really have hit a roadblock that is totally insurmountable in your life?" How can you know the One who really sticks closer than a brother, when your own family is lying to and turning against you and maybe even turning others against you too? How can you know the God who "will never leave you nor forsake you," who "will take you up even when your own mother forsakes you" who "is with you even to the ends of the earth."
Tell me, how CAN you know?
I'll tell you how...I'll show you what will work for you because it has worked for me and after a recent few hurtful events, I am counting on it to pull me through yet again.
Close your eyes right where you are. What do you see? Yes, the inside of your eyelids, of course...but, you can also see into another realm that is very different from this earth; peaceful, tranquil, serene. You get there by asking Jesus to take you. Just say, "Jesus, right now, nothing makes sense to me. Nobody seems to understand me. All feels very much lost to me. I need YOU to show me whatever I need to see, in order to live the very next second without pain and hopelessness. I need YOU to cause all other people, places and things to become totally obscure and dim to me. I need YOU to show me how to commune and cooperate with Your Spirit, so I can escape the uncertaintly in my life long enough to hear what the next step is that I should be taking."
After this, say "Jesus, if YOU don't take me here, to this place where Your Spirit is more real to me than this earthly existence, then I'm not going anywhere. Like Moses said to You, Lord...unless YOU go, I will not. So Jesus, by Your Holy Spirit, take me there, please. Take me now and show me what to do from that place."
To help with all this, put on some really mellow, sweet, soaking-type music. Some good songs can be found at www.soakingwithapurpose.com, or from my dear brother's site at www.dunamisarts.com. Focus on just tuning into God and where He is telling you to go, what He is telling you to do, what His good plan is.
I have learned that when I come to the end of my rope and usually myself, it's because people and myself became way too big in my life. It's time to come away and re-learn what He thinks of me, who He says I am, what He says I'm capable of and what I excel at. You will not find this 24/7 in any human relationship, I guarantee you.
Human beings only carry a portion of who God is. They are like little jagged chips of a mirror...each one reflecting just a part of God, but not able to totally join together to form the full picture. You need Him as He is...as clearly as you can see, feel, hear, smell, breathe Him...man cannot come close to displaying Him in His glory and splendor. Even time with Him cannot fully show you who He is. It will be enough, though. The foggy glimpse of Him that you are able to see, will be enough...to move you forward a little bit more each moment...till you one day see Him face to face.
Physical human beings cannot be all places at all times. We use telephones to communicate; we don't generally speak to each other spirit to spirit, although we can to an extent. God does that all the time and the best! We use computers that shut down in the middle of conversations. We talk in chat rooms in which we don't realize that we hit the "x" too soon and the other person feels slighted by us. God doesn't ever leave in the middle of a conversation, either accidentally or on purpose. We give up on people, on situations. God knows the end from the beginning; He doesn't quit, doesn't falter, doesn't lack answers that you need. People are finite creatures regarding this earth. We die. Lives end. We live again in eternity, but who we are here is nothing remotely close to who we will be when our characters have no flaws and are 100% plus, refined because of being captivated by the power and glory of the Perfect One.
When things happen that feel beyond remedy, Come Away with Him like I just showed you, and know that there is another finite human being, maybe on the other side of the world, doing the exact same thing...and finding myself in HIM.
I welcome any and all comments, suggestions, etc
Bless you all!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
What does the Bible say about Character?
I am writing this today because someone very dear to me believes in the writing ability God has blessed me with. What I'm going to share; by no means exhaustive in supply, definitely needs to be said, pondered upon, meditated on, and practiced, by myself and others who want to have all that God intended. Thank you for reading this, applying what Jesus says and thus, seeing your lives change. I'll be right there with you, doing the same in my own life. I will share these things a little bit at a time, so stay with me :) Thank you.
One of the best books I know of that talks about what true Godly character looks like, is the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Now, whether you regularly peruse the holy scriptures or not, I believe you will find value in what the Lord has me share here today. So, please, read on...
Proverbs 3 v 31, 32
"Do not envy the oppressor and choose none of his ways. For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright."
Think about that a moment. Someone who envies a person who is oppressive towards others! That means, to me, that, we'll call her "Mary"...Mary wants so badly to be like this lady "Sue" who is just plain MEAN to people! Now, Sue could be Mary's friend or teacher or parent or someone on television for all we know. The point is, the Bible is clear that if Mary wants to be like someone who is a "punishing" "bullying" type of person, she is actually wanting to be like a perverse person whose behavior is literally disgusting to God. God tells His secret plans and directions to people who are on the "up n up" though. Which way would you choose to be? Perverse or one of God's true confidantes? Who would you like for a companion, Mary or Sue?
Next, for all of you who believe you can "fix" someone or help counsel them into being a "good" person, when the core of that person needs and will only yield to the mighty hand of God...
Proverbs 9 v 7 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
If you try to approach someone who has such a personal character, that he laughs in your face when you try to point out some things that he needs to let God help him work on, you have met what the Bible calls a "scoffer." These are the people who often utter "yeah right" with a snide smile on their face, while they continue doing the wrong things in their lives.
Proverbs is so clear that when you attempt to correct this person, you get shame for yourself. I think maybe the word "regret" could also fit here. I know that when I have tried to correct these types of people, I walk away feeling like "why'd I even bother?" That person, unwilling to change, simply turned everything back on me and resented me for trying to give him a "wake-up" call.
On the other hand, I have approached some people who were of a personal nature that welcomed correction from God and from His delegated ambassadors (if you will). In these cases, those types of people thanked me for pointing out things they could seek God about helping them work on. I watched those people come back to me, time and time again, to pray with them, to help them get clearer understanding on things that were holding them back from moving in the more mature plans of God for their lives...and those people, I can tell you, I left those conversations with, the feeling that God through me, made a positive difference and planted yet another good seed into good soil in their lives.
Proverbs 11 v 5, 6 "The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust."
The good behavior and character of people who are doing their best to stay out of trouble (be blameless), will cause those people to be living rightly. However, someone who is doing things that God calls sin, is going to eventually fall because of his own actions.
I found this verse interesting, in that it shows that it's the person's actions that produce the results. Yes, God is Sovereign and in control, but He makes it clear that the choices a person makes, are going to either "make him or break him." The person who chooses to act cruel and evil and oppressive toward others, is eventually going to pay a penalty through consequences that come from that behavior. A person who does right, is going to stay on the path that the Lord wants him to be on.
People who do their best to live in a way that God desires, will find deliverance and freedom through Him, but people who stray away after things other than what God wants for them, will eventually replace Him with those things...be they other people, material possessions, vocations in life, their own children or spouses.
God is gracious in allowing us to have "the fullness thereof" as joint-heirs with our brother, Jesus, while here on the earth, but when those blessings become more important than what God wants from relationship with us, then those things become what the Word of God calls "lusts." Lust does not bring blessing. Its sole job is to mislead, entice, and ultimately bring us down to death of spirit and sometimes even complete destruction physically or otherwise.
God's description of the type of character He wants us to have or not have is spelled out in plain words if we'll look at His Word. The results of both types of character are also clear. He says "Choose you this day whom you will serve" Another way to say that is, "choose today who or what will be your God, hold your focus, lead, guide and direct you. Which path will you walk on? Will you bully people and be cruel and unempathetic or will you guard your heart, speak the truth in love, and walk in the example that Jesus showed in His own fine character? Will you live a happy life, full of all God's goodness and blessing...or will you die miserable, alone, with (as another verse in Proverbs 10 v 7 says) your very name rotting!"
These are only a few things I believe the Lord wants me to share right now. I'll be back again soon to continue as He impresses on me. I can't really make it any clearer than this, that people who are worthy of your close friendship and close ties, will be walking in the "light" of righteous behaviors and good choices. The others, let God deal with, because He is the one who best knows how to reach the heart and spirit of another. You also need to be one who walks in the truth and light of Jesus. Pray for unrigteous people, but focus your attention and energies on those people who are like-minded with the Word (the book, the Bible) and the WORD, Jesus Himself.
Talk to more soon on this topic. Thank you.
~Laura (aka: DelusionDispeller)
One of the best books I know of that talks about what true Godly character looks like, is the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Now, whether you regularly peruse the holy scriptures or not, I believe you will find value in what the Lord has me share here today. So, please, read on...
Proverbs 3 v 31, 32
"Do not envy the oppressor and choose none of his ways. For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright."
Think about that a moment. Someone who envies a person who is oppressive towards others! That means, to me, that, we'll call her "Mary"...Mary wants so badly to be like this lady "Sue" who is just plain MEAN to people! Now, Sue could be Mary's friend or teacher or parent or someone on television for all we know. The point is, the Bible is clear that if Mary wants to be like someone who is a "punishing" "bullying" type of person, she is actually wanting to be like a perverse person whose behavior is literally disgusting to God. God tells His secret plans and directions to people who are on the "up n up" though. Which way would you choose to be? Perverse or one of God's true confidantes? Who would you like for a companion, Mary or Sue?
Next, for all of you who believe you can "fix" someone or help counsel them into being a "good" person, when the core of that person needs and will only yield to the mighty hand of God...
Proverbs 9 v 7 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
If you try to approach someone who has such a personal character, that he laughs in your face when you try to point out some things that he needs to let God help him work on, you have met what the Bible calls a "scoffer." These are the people who often utter "yeah right" with a snide smile on their face, while they continue doing the wrong things in their lives.
Proverbs is so clear that when you attempt to correct this person, you get shame for yourself. I think maybe the word "regret" could also fit here. I know that when I have tried to correct these types of people, I walk away feeling like "why'd I even bother?" That person, unwilling to change, simply turned everything back on me and resented me for trying to give him a "wake-up" call.
On the other hand, I have approached some people who were of a personal nature that welcomed correction from God and from His delegated ambassadors (if you will). In these cases, those types of people thanked me for pointing out things they could seek God about helping them work on. I watched those people come back to me, time and time again, to pray with them, to help them get clearer understanding on things that were holding them back from moving in the more mature plans of God for their lives...and those people, I can tell you, I left those conversations with, the feeling that God through me, made a positive difference and planted yet another good seed into good soil in their lives.
Proverbs 11 v 5, 6 "The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust."
The good behavior and character of people who are doing their best to stay out of trouble (be blameless), will cause those people to be living rightly. However, someone who is doing things that God calls sin, is going to eventually fall because of his own actions.
I found this verse interesting, in that it shows that it's the person's actions that produce the results. Yes, God is Sovereign and in control, but He makes it clear that the choices a person makes, are going to either "make him or break him." The person who chooses to act cruel and evil and oppressive toward others, is eventually going to pay a penalty through consequences that come from that behavior. A person who does right, is going to stay on the path that the Lord wants him to be on.
People who do their best to live in a way that God desires, will find deliverance and freedom through Him, but people who stray away after things other than what God wants for them, will eventually replace Him with those things...be they other people, material possessions, vocations in life, their own children or spouses.
God is gracious in allowing us to have "the fullness thereof" as joint-heirs with our brother, Jesus, while here on the earth, but when those blessings become more important than what God wants from relationship with us, then those things become what the Word of God calls "lusts." Lust does not bring blessing. Its sole job is to mislead, entice, and ultimately bring us down to death of spirit and sometimes even complete destruction physically or otherwise.
God's description of the type of character He wants us to have or not have is spelled out in plain words if we'll look at His Word. The results of both types of character are also clear. He says "Choose you this day whom you will serve" Another way to say that is, "choose today who or what will be your God, hold your focus, lead, guide and direct you. Which path will you walk on? Will you bully people and be cruel and unempathetic or will you guard your heart, speak the truth in love, and walk in the example that Jesus showed in His own fine character? Will you live a happy life, full of all God's goodness and blessing...or will you die miserable, alone, with (as another verse in Proverbs 10 v 7 says) your very name rotting!"
These are only a few things I believe the Lord wants me to share right now. I'll be back again soon to continue as He impresses on me. I can't really make it any clearer than this, that people who are worthy of your close friendship and close ties, will be walking in the "light" of righteous behaviors and good choices. The others, let God deal with, because He is the one who best knows how to reach the heart and spirit of another. You also need to be one who walks in the truth and light of Jesus. Pray for unrigteous people, but focus your attention and energies on those people who are like-minded with the Word (the book, the Bible) and the WORD, Jesus Himself.
Talk to more soon on this topic. Thank you.
~Laura (aka: DelusionDispeller)
Friday, March 13, 2009
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