There's a thin line between sanity and insanity. Real and make believe. As of late, I feel like I've been doing the perculator across that mug. I am a woman. A very complex and emotional being. Derived from man and so eloquently created by God. Unrecognizable to myself in my own mirror and more defiant than our mother Eve. This is me. Trying to find my way in this unfair life. So desperately seeking an intimate relationship with my Redeemer. I hear him. I see him. I feel him. But just as impatient as Sarah, I too am pregnant with a seed. A different kind of seed that will allow God's glory to resignate and do life changing things through me. It was once prophesied, but see just like Sarah, I feel like I know best because my feelings and emotions said so. "If only you would get still", God whispers.
To the women I've so harshly judged, I don't hate you. I hate the me that I see in you. So simple minded and oblivious to the world. We are all no different. Misguided creatures making emotional decisions and not trusting God and the power we possess from within. Allowing others to define who we are. Measuring our self worth off of someone who really isn't even paying attention. Seeking man's approval over God's grace. Constantly struggling to find peace when peace never left. Peace is God. God tells us that he will never leave nor forsake us, but yet and still we are always on a journey to "find him." He's not lost. We are lost in what we want, think, and feel. "If only you would get still", God whispers.
Fear hovers over like a murderer. Fear wants to rule. Fear wants to bind. Fear wants my soul. Fear is the direct opposite of everything our Creator represents. Fear wants to strip us of everything we hold true in God. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Simple. Our minds are so stifled by the things and people in this world to the point that we are paralyzed with fear and discontentment in our own lives that others would love to have. Nothing is ever good enough. We want what others have. "If only you would get still", God whispers.
I now understand Fannie Lou Hamers heart, "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired." These feelings and emotions are destroying lives and passing on the torch of generational curses. It has to stop. It has to stop with me now. Helen Keller once said, "Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose." God is a worthy enough purpose. My family is a worthy enough purpose. God, I'm still.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
TGIF1 Repost: The Value of Hard Places
If you have found yourself in a hard place in your Christian journey, then this post is just what you need! Enjoy!
The Value of Hard Places
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, November 07 2011
"So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." 2 Corinthians 4:12
Being forced into hard places gives us a whole new perspective on life. Things we once valued no longer hold the same value. Small things become big things, and what we once thought big no longer holds such importance.
These hard places allow us to identify with the sufferings of others. It keeps us from having a shallow view of the hardships of others and allows us to truly identify with them. Those who speak of such trials from no experience often judge others who have had such hardship. It is a superficiality of Christian experience that often permeates shallow believers.
Those who have walked in hard places immediately have a kinship with others who have walked there also. They do not need to explain; they merely look at one another with mutual respect and admiration for their common experience. They know that death has worked a special thing in them. This death leads to life in others because of the hard places God has taken them through.
It is impossible to appreciate any valley experience while you are in it. However, once you have reached the top of the mountain, you are able to appreciate what terrain you have passed through. You marvel at what you were able to walk through. The valley of the shadow of death has yielded more than you ever thought possible. You are able to appreciate the beauty of the experience and lay aside the sorrow and pain it may have produced.
Death works in you for a greater purpose. If you are there today, be assured that God is producing something of much greater value than you will ever know.
The Value of Hard Places
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Monday, November 07 2011
"So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." 2 Corinthians 4:12
Being forced into hard places gives us a whole new perspective on life. Things we once valued no longer hold the same value. Small things become big things, and what we once thought big no longer holds such importance.
These hard places allow us to identify with the sufferings of others. It keeps us from having a shallow view of the hardships of others and allows us to truly identify with them. Those who speak of such trials from no experience often judge others who have had such hardship. It is a superficiality of Christian experience that often permeates shallow believers.
Those who have walked in hard places immediately have a kinship with others who have walked there also. They do not need to explain; they merely look at one another with mutual respect and admiration for their common experience. They know that death has worked a special thing in them. This death leads to life in others because of the hard places God has taken them through.
It is impossible to appreciate any valley experience while you are in it. However, once you have reached the top of the mountain, you are able to appreciate what terrain you have passed through. You marvel at what you were able to walk through. The valley of the shadow of death has yielded more than you ever thought possible. You are able to appreciate the beauty of the experience and lay aside the sorrow and pain it may have produced.
Death works in you for a greater purpose. If you are there today, be assured that God is producing something of much greater value than you will ever know.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Be still and know that I am God
Kudos to Debbie for an amazing first day of yoga class! I had been contemplating and trying to carve out time and I am so glad that I finally did. Just learning to breathe right and clearing my mind of all of the garbage that comes through it was awesome.
It is of utter importance that we don't allow our minds to dictate our lives. I have been very guilty of this very thing and it is not a good place to be; in fact, it's he'll on Earth. Throughout the Bible, God warns us:
HEB 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
HEB 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
HEB 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
PHI 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
PHI 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
PHI 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
PHI 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: PHI 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: PHI 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
TIT 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded .
TIT 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave , temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
CO1 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
ROM 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
And the list goes on. It is imperative that we do not become prisoner's of our minds. As I heard it put once, "Where the mind goes, the man follows." we will follow our twisted thinking all the way to the pit of destruction.
As we practiced on our breathing during yoga, one of the phrases she asked us to use was,"Be still and know that I am God." What wonderful words of reassurance! Be still and know that I am God! No matter what walk of life you are in, whether you are a garbage man or a CEO, happy or sad, lost or found, practicing yoga or sitting in front of the tv eating Ben & Jerry's, at the end of the day, we have to recognize our Prince of Peace. Our Lord of Lords. The one who is in ultimate control. The Alpha and Omega. He is the Great I Am!
Peace and Love
It is of utter importance that we don't allow our minds to dictate our lives. I have been very guilty of this very thing and it is not a good place to be; in fact, it's he'll on Earth. Throughout the Bible, God warns us:
HEB 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
HEB 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
HEB 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
PHI 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
PHI 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
PHI 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
PHI 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: PHI 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: PHI 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
TIT 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded .
TIT 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave , temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
CO1 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
ROM 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
And the list goes on. It is imperative that we do not become prisoner's of our minds. As I heard it put once, "Where the mind goes, the man follows." we will follow our twisted thinking all the way to the pit of destruction.
As we practiced on our breathing during yoga, one of the phrases she asked us to use was,"Be still and know that I am God." What wonderful words of reassurance! Be still and know that I am God! No matter what walk of life you are in, whether you are a garbage man or a CEO, happy or sad, lost or found, practicing yoga or sitting in front of the tv eating Ben & Jerry's, at the end of the day, we have to recognize our Prince of Peace. Our Lord of Lords. The one who is in ultimate control. The Alpha and Omega. He is the Great I Am!
Peace and Love
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