Ephesians 4:31-32
31-32Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Wow...I read this in The Message Bible, and of course it spoke to me. We often speak of forgiving others, and letting go of past offenses, but do we really do this? More often than not, the answer is yes and now. Yes, we do forgive others of their offenses, however because of our own fleshly desires, this is a process that takes place due to the fact that we have trouble forgiving others at first for offenses committed against us. We feel as though we are 'owed' something and as a result are not willing to let go of those offenses so easily. I would venture to say that once we get a clear conception of what Christ has done for us on the Cross, it is easy to forgive others, AND ourselves. Forgiving ourselves is often difficult as we are often our own worst critics. Again, it is not our responsibility to carry our sins. It says in the Word in Matthew 11:28-30.
"28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will [h]ease and relieve and [i]refresh [j]your souls.]
29Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest ([k]relief and ease and refreshment and [l]recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
30For My yoke is wholesome (useful, [m]good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
What a God we serve to take on our sins so that we can forgive ourselves!! Selah...
Monday, October 3, 2011
From the Word for You Today....
Monday, October 3, 2011
Stop Hiding!
“The Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” Ge 3:9 NIV
The first recorded question God ever asked was, “[Adam]…Where are you?” And it’s a question you need to stop and ask yourself today: “Where am I—really?” If you don’t know the answer, or you do but you don’t like it, then today’s devotion is for you. When God asked Adam, “Where are you?” he responded by saying, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (v.10 NIV). It’s amazing the lengths we will go to in order to hide. We’ll bury ourselves in work, or get involved in an affair, or build a wall around our hearts—anything but face the truth. God wasn’t trying to find Adam; He just wanted Adam to find himself. Until you do that, you’re truly lost. And the problem is, when you hide you become a phony. Have you any idea how much emotional energy it requires to keep up a charade for others? Only two things are worse: being a phony with yourself, and being a phony with God. Furthermore, you’ll find it difficult to be honest with others or look them in the eye. Why? Because you’ll be afraid they might look into your heart and see the real you. Is that where you are today? Afraid to look into your own heart? The good news is, Adam was naked but God clothed him; he was guilty but God cleansed him; he was anxious but God comforted him. And if you come to Him today God will cleanse you, clothe you, and comfort you. He’s just waiting for the opportunity to do it!
Stop Hiding!
“The Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” Ge 3:9 NIV
The first recorded question God ever asked was, “[Adam]…Where are you?” And it’s a question you need to stop and ask yourself today: “Where am I—really?” If you don’t know the answer, or you do but you don’t like it, then today’s devotion is for you. When God asked Adam, “Where are you?” he responded by saying, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (v.10 NIV). It’s amazing the lengths we will go to in order to hide. We’ll bury ourselves in work, or get involved in an affair, or build a wall around our hearts—anything but face the truth. God wasn’t trying to find Adam; He just wanted Adam to find himself. Until you do that, you’re truly lost. And the problem is, when you hide you become a phony. Have you any idea how much emotional energy it requires to keep up a charade for others? Only two things are worse: being a phony with yourself, and being a phony with God. Furthermore, you’ll find it difficult to be honest with others or look them in the eye. Why? Because you’ll be afraid they might look into your heart and see the real you. Is that where you are today? Afraid to look into your own heart? The good news is, Adam was naked but God clothed him; he was guilty but God cleansed him; he was anxious but God comforted him. And if you come to Him today God will cleanse you, clothe you, and comfort you. He’s just waiting for the opportunity to do it!
Friday, September 30, 2011
How Can You See God?
I asked a question of one of my sister-friends...."How can you see God in a person?" Oftentimes that person doesn't see God in themselves. We go through situations in life, and we don't see the pieces coming together until we have a finished product. David was called a man after God's own heart, yet he was also a liar, a murderer and an adulterer. David cries out all through Psalms for God's mercy and protection.
My challenge is that you seek to find God in all situations, and in all individuals. It will make life that much sweeter....Selah...
My challenge is that you seek to find God in all situations, and in all individuals. It will make life that much sweeter....Selah...
Thursday, September 29, 2011
How’s Your Relationship with God?
Saw this and thought it bared repeating.
“I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Jn 5:30 NKJV
The relationship Jesus had with His Father is the kind of relationship that He wants you to have with Him. Three things describe that relationship. For the next few days let’s look at each of them: (1) Intimacy. Jesus said, “The Father loves the Son and shows him all he does” (Jn 5:20 NIV). You interact with many people throughout the day, but you only share your heart with those you trust, and with whom you have a close relationship. So, how close are you to God right now? Close enough to hear when He speaks to you? Close enough to know when you’ve said or done something which has grieved Him? Close enough to feel the warmth of His presence? The truth is, you are as close to God right now as you desire to be, decide to be, and discipline yourself to be. Nothing is born unless there is first an act of intimacy between two people, and intimacy is based on one word: “desire.” How much do you desire God? David said, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you” (Ps 63:1 NIV). Do you desire His house? “They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights” (Ps 36:8 NIV). Do you desire His Word? “I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12 NIV).
“I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Jn 5:30 NKJV
The relationship Jesus had with His Father is the kind of relationship that He wants you to have with Him. Three things describe that relationship. For the next few days let’s look at each of them: (1) Intimacy. Jesus said, “The Father loves the Son and shows him all he does” (Jn 5:20 NIV). You interact with many people throughout the day, but you only share your heart with those you trust, and with whom you have a close relationship. So, how close are you to God right now? Close enough to hear when He speaks to you? Close enough to know when you’ve said or done something which has grieved Him? Close enough to feel the warmth of His presence? The truth is, you are as close to God right now as you desire to be, decide to be, and discipline yourself to be. Nothing is born unless there is first an act of intimacy between two people, and intimacy is based on one word: “desire.” How much do you desire God? David said, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you” (Ps 63:1 NIV). Do you desire His house? “They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights” (Ps 36:8 NIV). Do you desire His Word? “I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12 NIV).
I Need You...
Was listening to Eddie James this morning..."I need You"....for some reason the words struck me. We say we need God, but what actions do we do that suggest we actually NEED God? Do we cry out for Him? Are we truly worshipping the Living God? For me, that became my solemn prayer. I NEED Him, and nothing, no place, no one else will do.....Selah
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Word For You Today -- Online Devotionals: Recognize When You Need Help
Word For You Today -- Online Devotionals: Recognize When You Need Help: “Moses…became so tired…Aaron and Hur…stood on each side… holding up his hands.” Ex 17:11-12 NLT
We like to think of ourselves as self...
We like to think of ourselves as self...
The Beautiful Rhetoric of Grace
Grace is such a simple word, yet it has far reaching meanings and implications. What does it mean to truly have grace? One might say that grace means that even though a person does or enacts a wrong, that wrong is thereby 'covered' or treated as if it never occurred. Of course, when I went to gather a meaning for the word grace, the following definitions stood out to me:
- favor or goodwill. Synonyms: kindness, kindliness, love, benignity; condescension.
- a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school. Synonyms: forgiveness, charity, mercifulness. Antonyms: animosity, enmity, disfavor.
- mercy; clemency; pardon: He was saved by an act of grace from the governor. Synonyms: lenity, leniency, reprieve. Antonyms: harshness.
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