Turn

This mornings text was Acts 9:1-22.  The apostle Paul's conversion.  Man, I would have liked to been there and seen that!!  I had always imagined Paul and his associates riding horses to Damascus but it doesn't say that.  Actually from the text it appears they were walking, which I suppose shouldn't surprise me, they all walked alot back then.  I wonder what ever happened to the others who were with him?  They heard the Lord's voice as well.  Did they become followers of Christ also or did they choose not to believe and continue on in blindness?  True blindness.
Paul had been spiritually blind then was physically blinded and from that Christ gave him true sight.  In my devotions today it was talking about turning points in life.  Often we look on some of these turning points as terrible disasters, crises and unwanted change.  Yet God is at work through these times to turn us in a new and better direction.  One in which we can better glorify Him and also have life more abundantly.  He satisfies the true desires of our heart, even the ones we don't really even know until he shows us.  Oh, what a God we serve and have the privilege to call Friend!!
"God does all these things to a man - twice, even three times - to turn back his soul from the pit,." that the light of life may shine on him." Job 33:29-30 NIV

Crippled by Fear

Today I was reading John 5:1-15.  It spoke about the crippled man who had lain by the healing pool for 38 years and not been able to get in to be healed.  The cripple complained that he had no one to help him and how others always got in before him.  I had thought to myself, "Well just go in anyway!".  The whole premise of the healing pool was that the first one in would be healed but I thought, "well you could try it!", at the same time realizing this came from my belief that God can heal anytime and anyone whereas the cripple probably didn't have that same faith.  Then God spoke to my own heart and I realized that I have been doing the same thing.  I have spent many, many years complaining that others were already doing what I longed to (and felt God wanted me to) and doing it very successfully, so why should I bother?  What if I failed or was just deluding myself?
  The next few verses slapped me upside the head!  Christ says to the cripple "Get up!  Take up your mat and walk."  In other words; stop making excuses and get moving!  Quit looking at others and comparing yourself to them and their lives and do what you believe I AM is calling you to do!  Stop living in fear and trust God to provide the results. 
I was at a Beth Moore simulcast on the weekend and one of the points she made was "Fear is the crippler of a walking, talking miracle."  When we don't trust God and allow fear to cripple us we are allowing Satan ground he doesn't deserve.
Psalm 44:5 says "Through you we will push back our adversaries; through your name we will trample down those who rise up against us." (NASB)
O, Lord, remind me that you are more powerful than anything I fear.  Open my eyes to what holds me back from following you and through your name to push back and "GET UP!  TAKE UP MY MAT AND WALK!!"

Well it has been 7 months since I last wrote on here. I have continued on my quest to be obedient to God in regard to my lifestyle change and have lost 36 pounds! I can't begin to tell you what a sense of FREEDOM this journey has brought me! I feel ike I have found the me I was created to be. It has been an endless thrill to rediscover parts of my body I forgot I had, muscles and bones I forgot were part of me. I have more energy and excitemnet in life but most of all I have found a deeper relationship with God. He has renewed my mind and the Holy Spirit has empowered me to exercise regularly and make good food choices. I have found my strength to continue even when it is hard, through Christ's example of obedience on the cross. He suffered SO much more than me, I can at least suffer a little for Him!
Oh, Lord, your way is true and right. Thank you for opening my eyes to my unhealthy lifestyle that was keeping me in bondage. Thank you for true freedom which is only found in You! Help me to continue to be odedient to you and your ways which bring true life! In the name of Jesus Christ, your Holy Son, Amen.

Craving God

So I have started a new journey of learning to crave God more than food, comfort, pleasure or anything else that tries to distract me and drag me off captive. Lysa Terkeurst has put together a book and bible study called Made to Crave that I am working through.

I had seen Lysa's book before Christmas but was not really interested. Then after Christmas and once again poisoning myself with all kinds of junk food, I saw it again and God spoke to my heart and I knew I had to do this study. So I ordered the book and study and began watching the Made to Crave live webcasts while I waited for them to arrive.

Four weeks ago I was feeling so tired and dragged out and sickly. I had missed church the day before and couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. Then a thought came that I should try exercising. "But I don't feel well!" I rationalized. "Well just try it and if you feel worse, stop and lay down." the thought responded. So I did. Far from feeling worse, I felt great after! I couldn't believe how much better I felt! How foolish am I that I don't do this thing which makes me feel so well physically and mentally, I thought. Why is it I crave what is bad for me instead of God who desires my best? So I have chosen to live a new lifestyle for God and choose Him over food that is permissible but not beneficial, choose exercise over lazyness, strength over weakness. God desires what is best for me which is also what glorifies Him most. When I am healthy and strong then I am better equipped to serve Him and follow the call he has on my life.

Father God, help me to follow the nudging of the Holy Spirit as I venture on this new lifestyle. May all I say and do be glorifying to you. Help me to turn to you when I am tempted in any area of my life and choose you. I was made to crave You first and foremost for you alone are what satisfies. Thank you for not leaving me in the mud and mire but lifting me up and setting my feet on the firm rock of your faithfulness and salvation!
Amen

September 4, 2010

As I read my bible this morning I was reading Gen. 3 and Isaiah 21 and Psalm 46. I love how God can take any part of His Word and bring it together in our hearts to speak to us. In Gen. Chapter 3 Eve is deceived by the serpent and, with her husband beside her, disobeys God and begins the accumulative destruction of all things. In Isaiah it talks about the Lord's destruction of Babylon and in Psalm 46 it speaks about the Lord's ability to destroy and protect. I love the words that jump out in Psalm 46 though, “be Still and know that I am God”. With all that I read, that sums it up. God is God. We will fall, the world will die, nations will fail and still God is God! “be still.....” I am to rest in that one immovable, unchangeable, eternal truth. God is God. Praise you Father for the peace and joy this brings to my heart. Thank You for your unchangeable nature!

Patricia E

Isaiah 5:19

" to those who say" Let God hurry, let him hasten his work so we may see it. Let it approach, let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come, so we may know it." Isaiah 5:19
When I first read this verse this morning, I did not really grasp its meaning. It is speaking to a people who are demanding to know God's plan and essentially mocking Him and not believing He is real.
All I saw at the time was what I needed to see. That God has a plan! He has a plan and it WILL come. Not in our time but His. He also has included you and me in that plan according to Ephesians 1:11-14. By the blood of Christ. I needed to hear that this morning when feelings of purposelessness and lies of Satan were trying to re-wallpaper my mind.
God has a plan and I am part of it. All I need to do is obey. To lay my life before Him each morning and seek His will not mine. To be faithful in the small things and leave the big up to Him. I am not to demand God show me His whole plan, merely what I need to do today. To follow in his footprints and do my best.
Father God, thank you for your Word and for your promises.

Heavy hearted

Life is just plain hard sometimes. Especially when I don't spend enough time with God. I have much to be thankful for but I still only see that which is breaking my heart at the moment. No, my sons aren't taking drugs or living wild lives, my health is relatively good and no one I know is dying in the near future. I have a good husband and a home and food in my cupboards but my heart is aching. It aches to be loved. It aches for all the love I have poured in to my children for 20 plus years to be returned, somewhat. It aches to be wanted by those I care about. It aches for significance and respect and to be valued.
I know, I know, I have all that in Christ and it should be enough but some days I need the tangible kind. The days I forget I have the resurrecting power of Christ dwelling in my soul. When I take my eyes off God and spend a little less time seeking Him out. Times when I just want to chuck it all and become a hermit. I forget how powerful and deadly sin is and coast along until I feel the pull of the vortex dragging at my soul and heart and mind.
Forgive me Father for getting lazy. I know you have what is best in mind for me and all things happen for a reason. After all it is not about me....but You. Fill me with Your unchanging, everlasting, boundless love so I can face each day recalling the resurrecting power you have promised dwells in me.