Friday, February 20, 2015
We Can Learn A Lot From A Tulip
For Valentine's Day, my husband gave me a pot of red tulips. Over the start of the week, we watched the stems soar and the petals start to open to beautiful ruby cups, and I asked him to put the plant on top of the entertainment center, but to turn the blossoms away from the window. He asked why, and I explained that flowers will bend and each for the light source from where they are.
We began to talk about how we as Christians should always turn toward the light (seek God) ourselves. I hadn't realized how blossoms from most, if not all, plants really do mimic how we should lead our lives.
Just like anyone, flowers can begin in ideal environments, to hostile ones, seeds possibly scattered by the wind or a wayward bird, to a rocky, dark harsh beginning. These flowers could still flourish, if they stretch and reach for the light - seeking the warmth, comfort and nourishment it can provide.
There are many who, at whatever season of their lives, find themselves immersed in the darkness, with little hope. We need to remember to seek the light.
--if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
No matter how many times you turn a flower pot, the stems will begin to stretch back toward the light, bending the other direction over the days to follow. The determination and instinct is incredible. If our faith be as strong, our rewards will be great.
-- And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Anytime you feel the darkness creeping into your thoughts, your actions, just stop and smell the flowers and let them gently remind you to turn toward the light...always.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Powerful
Raised in a Christian home, I was taught at a young age to pray. Pray at mealtime. Pray at bedtime. But, like a lot of young Christians, I had to grow closer to God and get deeper in His word to find prayer's hidden power.
You see Daniel demonstrate it in Daniel 6:10 -
Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
You read any number of times that Moses prays to God, like in Exodus 17: 4-6 -
So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me.” 5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
There are so many examples, but none are more profound on the heart than those that happen to you, and they do.
When you just sit and think about prayer, its the sweetest, most genuine conversation you will ever have in your life, with your creator. With the one who loves you more than any other. Ever. With the one, the only one, who can make anything happen. Its enough to take your breath away, such an amazing gift to have an unbreakable, an unifiable connection with our heavenly father.
And yet, so many of us don't use this gift to its full extent. We only pray, as we were originally taught, at mealtime, at bedtime. We miss the opportunity for guidance, for comfort, all throughout every day, through every sleepless night. We miss the chance for private celebration, for grace, for healing.
There was a time I wouldn't ask for prayers from others. It was the same sort of pride you get all puffed up with over asking someone for help. Then, in a Sunday School class, I was the recipient of prayer over a medical scare and it was transforming. I felt the love of my classmates pour over me as I watched a miracle with my health take over my body. It was a breathtaking experience that I am forever grateful for. It was also when I truly realized that as I got on my knees for my friends and loved ones, I can humbly ask for intersession as well, for there is nothing sweeter than carrying another's burdens before the throne.
The closer your walk becomes with the Lord, the more of these payers you will see fulfilled, in ways you could never imagine. Your heart will overflow from the power. Who else but our God could makes us stronger by bringing us to our knees?
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
You see Daniel demonstrate it in Daniel 6:10 -
Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
You read any number of times that Moses prays to God, like in Exodus 17: 4-6 -
So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me.” 5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
There are so many examples, but none are more profound on the heart than those that happen to you, and they do.
When you just sit and think about prayer, its the sweetest, most genuine conversation you will ever have in your life, with your creator. With the one who loves you more than any other. Ever. With the one, the only one, who can make anything happen. Its enough to take your breath away, such an amazing gift to have an unbreakable, an unifiable connection with our heavenly father.
And yet, so many of us don't use this gift to its full extent. We only pray, as we were originally taught, at mealtime, at bedtime. We miss the opportunity for guidance, for comfort, all throughout every day, through every sleepless night. We miss the chance for private celebration, for grace, for healing.
There was a time I wouldn't ask for prayers from others. It was the same sort of pride you get all puffed up with over asking someone for help. Then, in a Sunday School class, I was the recipient of prayer over a medical scare and it was transforming. I felt the love of my classmates pour over me as I watched a miracle with my health take over my body. It was a breathtaking experience that I am forever grateful for. It was also when I truly realized that as I got on my knees for my friends and loved ones, I can humbly ask for intersession as well, for there is nothing sweeter than carrying another's burdens before the throne.
The closer your walk becomes with the Lord, the more of these payers you will see fulfilled, in ways you could never imagine. Your heart will overflow from the power. Who else but our God could makes us stronger by bringing us to our knees?
Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Cuts Like A...Pair of Scissors?
It's been far too long. I'm hoping that won't happen again. I woke this morning with such a renewed spirit of the Lord in my heart I jut felt like shouting it from the rooftop. In suburban America at 6:50 in the morning, this is likely the more optimum choice.
I wanted to share the devotional I just got done reading and intertwine my thoughts and feelings in it if you don't mind.
Sometimes we get the impression that the Christian life consists
mainly of negative prohibitions. These are definitely an important part
of our spiritual discipline, as attested by the fact that eight of the
Ten Commandments are prohibitions. We need the
prohibitions set forth not just in the Ten Commandments but in all the
life-application sections of the New Testament. Indwelling sin needs the
constant restraint of being denied its gratification.
This is also how the world sees our views on most everything - that we come against widely accepted things in society and just hate those who are involved so much that we judge them to be horrible people and think they should be denied what others feel are their rights. Buts when it comes to ourselves and the toll it takes on us personally, well, read on...
The Christian life, however, should also be directed toward positive expressions of Christian character. All of Paul's ethical teaching is characterized by this twofold approach of putting off the old self and putting on the new self (as in Ephesians 4:21-24.)
One thing as Christians I feel like we allow other influences to make this an even more difficult experience. No one said this would be easy. Think of the pressure a single lump of coal must of through for some many years to become a bright and shiny diamond, or the unbearable heat that steel must be melted at in order to forge out impurities to become more pure and stronger. We have our on difficult journey that we each walk in order to get closer to our savior each day. How we handle ourselves with each step is being scrutinized by other believers and the lost alike.
I like to think of this twofold approach as represented by the two blades of a pair of scissors. A single scissors blade is useless as far as doing the job for which it was designed. The two blades must work in conjunction with each other to be effective. And we must work both at putting off the characteristics of our old selves and putting on the characteristics of the new selves. One without the other is not effective.
This is a brilliant comparison, don't you think? My biggest weakness here would be the struggle to synchronize the movements. Fortunately, this isn't something I have to figure out on my own. Jesus is here, holding my hand every step of the way.
Some believers seem to focus on putting off sinful practices but give little attention to what they are to put on. Too often their lives become hard and brittle and probably self-righteous, because they tend to equate godliness with a defined list of "don'ts." other believers tend to focus on putting on certain positive traits such as love, compassion, and kindness, but they can become careless in morality and ethics. We need the dual focus of "putting off" and "putting on" —each should receive equal attention from us.
This is a balancing act that thankfully doesn't have to be as difficult as me make it. As long as we rely on the power of prayer, immerse ourselves in God's holy word every day and keep our dialogue open with our Lord, our walk will become stronger, and the very harmony that we seek will shine like a beacon from us and will make it possible for Him to be seen in us by others.
Let today be your first day. Snip- Snip!
Love and Prayers,
Pam
Text in boldface font is taken from today's Jerry Bridges Devotional, as seen here. Italics is my own opinions and thoughts as a growing child of Christ.
I wanted to share the devotional I just got done reading and intertwine my thoughts and feelings in it if you don't mind.
Today's Scripture: Ephesians 4:22,24
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
This is also how the world sees our views on most everything - that we come against widely accepted things in society and just hate those who are involved so much that we judge them to be horrible people and think they should be denied what others feel are their rights. Buts when it comes to ourselves and the toll it takes on us personally, well, read on...
The Christian life, however, should also be directed toward positive expressions of Christian character. All of Paul's ethical teaching is characterized by this twofold approach of putting off the old self and putting on the new self (as in Ephesians 4:21-24.)
One thing as Christians I feel like we allow other influences to make this an even more difficult experience. No one said this would be easy. Think of the pressure a single lump of coal must of through for some many years to become a bright and shiny diamond, or the unbearable heat that steel must be melted at in order to forge out impurities to become more pure and stronger. We have our on difficult journey that we each walk in order to get closer to our savior each day. How we handle ourselves with each step is being scrutinized by other believers and the lost alike.
I like to think of this twofold approach as represented by the two blades of a pair of scissors. A single scissors blade is useless as far as doing the job for which it was designed. The two blades must work in conjunction with each other to be effective. And we must work both at putting off the characteristics of our old selves and putting on the characteristics of the new selves. One without the other is not effective.
This is a brilliant comparison, don't you think? My biggest weakness here would be the struggle to synchronize the movements. Fortunately, this isn't something I have to figure out on my own. Jesus is here, holding my hand every step of the way.
Some believers seem to focus on putting off sinful practices but give little attention to what they are to put on. Too often their lives become hard and brittle and probably self-righteous, because they tend to equate godliness with a defined list of "don'ts." other believers tend to focus on putting on certain positive traits such as love, compassion, and kindness, but they can become careless in morality and ethics. We need the dual focus of "putting off" and "putting on" —each should receive equal attention from us.
This is a balancing act that thankfully doesn't have to be as difficult as me make it. As long as we rely on the power of prayer, immerse ourselves in God's holy word every day and keep our dialogue open with our Lord, our walk will become stronger, and the very harmony that we seek will shine like a beacon from us and will make it possible for Him to be seen in us by others.
Let today be your first day. Snip- Snip!
Love and Prayers,
Pam
Text in boldface font is taken from today's Jerry Bridges Devotional, as seen here. Italics is my own opinions and thoughts as a growing child of Christ.
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