I clicked on a video today that I didn't much care for. It was suggest by a friend and I thought to give it a chance so as not to miss out on something great. Trust me- I wasn't. It wasn't a bad video, but it certainly wasn't moral either. Basically, my life will continue on just fine without seeing anything of the like.
Afterward though I felt....."gross". You know that contaminated, fuzzy feeling your mouth gets after you eat something you don't care for? It was kinda like that. My brain felt like it needed to brush it's teeth. That's when I realized Scripture was like a toothbrush for the soul.
I brush my teeth everyday - who wouldn't want to? Sometimes I'll brush even more often when after eating something that needs to be quickly cleaned away! Why is it then that I struggle so with reading my Bible everyday? It helps to get rid of the left over particles of life that want to cling on and decay the witness Christ desires for me to be. And here again- there are days when even one "brushing" won't do.
Now, most of what we eat it good for us. (Well.... or so we believe till we start reading ingredient lists.) But there are things in life, that if we indulge in too often will stain our soul no matter how often we brush. Like coffee and tea does to our teeth, daily practicing sin will stain our witness and soul.
For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and I may not be found by you to be what you want; there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and promiscuity they practiced.
2 Corinthians 12: 20-21 (Emphasis mine)
Take some time today and ask the Lord to reveal what is staining your soul and witness. Psalm 139: 23-24
Then go BRUSH.
Showing posts with label Bible-2 Corinthians 12. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible-2 Corinthians 12. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, August 30, 2010
Messed Up
Do you have it all together?
If you said "No", don't worry: You're not alone.
If you said "Yes", well, you might want to reconsider. Having it all together usually entails a little too much self pride and not so much leaning on God. The only time I can truly say "I've got it all together" is when I'm bundling it up to hand over to Him!
Here is the encouragement I feel I need to pass along today:
I am messed up. And guess what? So is everyone else around you.
No, the church is not perfect- it's still here on this sinful earth full of sinful people whose only hope is to rely on the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse and save them. We all struggle. We all have vices. We all make it one day, and sometimes even just one hour, at a time.
You are not alone.
And God didn't leave you alone down here either. He gave you brothers and sisters in Christ to walk with you. Be open and honest with one another. You may each be struggling with the same thing and can encourage and keep one another accountable. Be real. Do not try and hide- even from yourself.
Be encouraged, as I have, by Paul:
9 But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. 10 So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
If you said "No", don't worry: You're not alone.
If you said "Yes", well, you might want to reconsider. Having it all together usually entails a little too much self pride and not so much leaning on God. The only time I can truly say "I've got it all together" is when I'm bundling it up to hand over to Him!
Here is the encouragement I feel I need to pass along today:
I am messed up. And guess what? So is everyone else around you.
No, the church is not perfect- it's still here on this sinful earth full of sinful people whose only hope is to rely on the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse and save them. We all struggle. We all have vices. We all make it one day, and sometimes even just one hour, at a time.
You are not alone.
And God didn't leave you alone down here either. He gave you brothers and sisters in Christ to walk with you. Be open and honest with one another. You may each be struggling with the same thing and can encourage and keep one another accountable. Be real. Do not try and hide- even from yourself.
Be encouraged, as I have, by Paul:
9 But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. 10 So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Monday, January 18, 2010
Suffering
I hate to say this because I know it's going to come back to bite me - it always does - but, I don't think we tend to recognize the value of suffering. Most of us believe that if we are suffering it needs to be fixed and over with as quickly as possible, and if it isn't, then something is really wrong. What do I mean by that? Really wrong as in believing we are horrible people who have done a heinous and unforgivable sin, that God doesn't care/ listen to us, or that He doesn't really exist at all.
I was reading a Davidic Psalm the other day about the intense suffering of this man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22) David does not have a quick hissy-fit one night nor does he question God's righteousness and love. He is in turmoil night after night, but trusts in God to take care of him.
Good can be had from suffering.
Look at Job. He went through intense pain and suffering without ever knowing why. What was the point of it? To prove to those around him, including Satan, that Job was "...a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil." (Job 2:3)
Paul was shown to suffer with a presumably life-long physical pain. 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 "...Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me."
So why did God allow a messenger of Satan to follow around and torment His outspoken evangelist? Continue on in verses 9-10 "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Jesus Christ also suffered greatly for us! Acts 17:2-3 tells us concerning the Jewish synagogue that, "As usual, Paul went with them, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying: 'This is the Messiah, Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you.'"
If our Savior considers suffering worthy, then how can we not? In fact, we are expected to suffer. "For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him" Philippians 1:29
To be honest, none of this really makes sense to us. Yet, that's the point of faith: If it did make sense, we would be following our logic, but it doesn't- so we must follow God.
"For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out 'Abba, Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, and if children, also heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ - seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For we consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revelaed to us." Romans 8:15-18
Amen and Amen!!
I was reading a Davidic Psalm the other day about the intense suffering of this man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22) David does not have a quick hissy-fit one night nor does he question God's righteousness and love. He is in turmoil night after night, but trusts in God to take care of him.
I am weary from my groaning;
with my tears I dampen my pillow and drench my bed every night.
My eyes are swollen from grief;
they grow old because of all my enemies.
Depart from me, all evildoers,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea for help;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror;
they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.
Psalm 6:6-10
Good can be had from suffering.
Look at Job. He went through intense pain and suffering without ever knowing why. What was the point of it? To prove to those around him, including Satan, that Job was "...a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil." (Job 2:3)
Paul was shown to suffer with a presumably life-long physical pain. 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 "...Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me."
So why did God allow a messenger of Satan to follow around and torment His outspoken evangelist? Continue on in verses 9-10 "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Jesus Christ also suffered greatly for us! Acts 17:2-3 tells us concerning the Jewish synagogue that, "As usual, Paul went with them, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying: 'This is the Messiah, Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you.'"
If our Savior considers suffering worthy, then how can we not? In fact, we are expected to suffer. "For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him" Philippians 1:29
To be honest, none of this really makes sense to us. Yet, that's the point of faith: If it did make sense, we would be following our logic, but it doesn't- so we must follow God.
"For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out 'Abba, Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, and if children, also heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ - seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For we consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revelaed to us." Romans 8:15-18
Amen and Amen!!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Blessings and Roadblocks
It's amazing to me how actively the Lord has been working in my life lately. It has been anything but boring! In the last year or two, as I have finally been letting go and letting the Lord take control of my life and desires, I've noticed a huge shift in the way my life flows. There are two particular areas I have noticed: Blessings and Roadblocks.
The blessings I have begun receiving from the Lord have completely blown me away! They have come in different forms, such as money, care, respect, gifts, but are all summed up by love. The reason for this is, for me, found in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weakness, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weakness, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong." I realized that the less I care about letting my weaknesses be known, the more of Christ's power comes through. I am able to give Him ALL the glory for a situation, because I already know, and have told, that I'm too weak/flawed! There is such a freedom in that. I wonder why we fight it so much? Why I still even do at times?
The other area is in roadblocks. Now, I have learned that there are two different kinds of these. One from the Lord as a "no" or "not now" answer, and the other from Satan because I'm annoying him. (Ha! Finally...) The goal here is to pray to the Lord constantly for the discernment as to which it is. One way is to know that the Lord will never go back on His Word. Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flowers fade. but the word of our God remains forever." So the first thing is to test it against the Scriptures. If a specific answer can't be found there- pray. The Lord will honor your seeking Him. Then, when I discern whom it's coming from I can act appropriately. If from God, I back off. If from Satan, I persevere through knowing God will strengthen me. My favorite kind though is when Satan is blocking me in some obvious way, I go to the Lord in prayer about the situation, and He blesses me even greater through that particular thing! Don't you think that just gets Satan's goat???
Do you recognize your blessings and roadblocks? Make sure to give the Lord the glory He deserves in every instance in your life.
The blessings I have begun receiving from the Lord have completely blown me away! They have come in different forms, such as money, care, respect, gifts, but are all summed up by love. The reason for this is, for me, found in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weakness, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weakness, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong." I realized that the less I care about letting my weaknesses be known, the more of Christ's power comes through. I am able to give Him ALL the glory for a situation, because I already know, and have told, that I'm too weak/flawed! There is such a freedom in that. I wonder why we fight it so much? Why I still even do at times?
The other area is in roadblocks. Now, I have learned that there are two different kinds of these. One from the Lord as a "no" or "not now" answer, and the other from Satan because I'm annoying him. (Ha! Finally...) The goal here is to pray to the Lord constantly for the discernment as to which it is. One way is to know that the Lord will never go back on His Word. Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flowers fade. but the word of our God remains forever." So the first thing is to test it against the Scriptures. If a specific answer can't be found there- pray. The Lord will honor your seeking Him. Then, when I discern whom it's coming from I can act appropriately. If from God, I back off. If from Satan, I persevere through knowing God will strengthen me. My favorite kind though is when Satan is blocking me in some obvious way, I go to the Lord in prayer about the situation, and He blesses me even greater through that particular thing! Don't you think that just gets Satan's goat???
Do you recognize your blessings and roadblocks? Make sure to give the Lord the glory He deserves in every instance in your life.
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