Trapped For Now But Not Forever

God Is In Every Circumstance

 

      Although we can’t always grasp what God is doing in our circumstances, we can rely on His promise to work all things together for good to those who belong to Him. It’s important to remember that nothing touches us without passing though His loving, sovereign hands.

      Romans 8:28  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Prayer Life

 

      How is your prayer life?  Often people call on God on a 911 basis, when their need is great and God is a desperate resource.  Would you like to be turned to only in an emergency?  No, of course not, and neither does God.  God is available to us, 24/7 and 365 days a year, but why is He often a last resource that we go to.  Self reliance and dependency are the main faulty reasons.

      What is  prayer and how does it work?  "Prayer is staying in communication with God—talking to Him, spending time in His presence, and drawing near to Him. Through prayer, we express adoration and thanks to God, we make requests known to Him, we intercede for others, and we learn more about His character and His will for our lives."  [gotquestions.org]

       Pastor and author Andrew Murray provided a good description of acceptable prayer, writing that “it must be to the glory of God, in full surrender to His will, in full assurance of faith, in the name of Jesus, and with a perseverance that, if need be, refuses to be denied."

        Is sin keeping you from an effective prayer life?  Unconfessed sin in your heart is a main hindrance of one's prayer life.  Isaiah 59:2  "But your iniquities have separated   you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you,   so that he will not hear."   Psalm 66:18  " If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened"

        Other Hindrances to Powerful and Effective Prayer Life:

1] When we are living according to the flesh, rather than in the Spirit 

2] When our prayers are selfishly motivated

3] A hardness of heart toward others

4] A spirit of unforgiveness toward others

5] Unbelief and doubt

6] Discord in the home

           “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”, and that the “eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer”, and, again, “the prayer of the upright pleases Him”

Ten biblical instructions concerning prayer :

1) Pray to the Heavenly Father

2) Pray for good things 

3) Pray for needful things

4) Pray from a righteous heart

5) Pray from a grateful heart

6) Pray according to the will of God

7) Pray in the authority of Jesus Christ

8) Pray persistently

9) Pray unselfishly

10) Pray in faith

 

        Sometimes we pray and pray, but our prayers go unanswered.  This could be God saying 'No' and we are just not listening or accepting of His answer.  Or, sometimes our prayers are made in the wrong way.  

1] We want to help God answer our prayers.   If the answer doesn’t come as soon as we’d like, our faith in Him begins to waver, and we try to fix the situation ourselves. 

2] We focus on our requests rather than on God.  Our thoughts are focused on the needs and not on the One who can meet them

3] We pray without the Word of God  When Scripture fills our hearts and minds, our thoughts and prayer requests align with God’s will, and our faith grows strong. But if we neglect God’s Word, there is no light to guide our path or to give us understanding and assurance 

       I hope these thoughts on prayer help to make your prayer life more powerful and effective, as it has mine.  Peace and grace to you all.

Push Forward

 

Ephesians 6:10-11 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

         Have you ever needed a little extra push to get something done?  I think we all have.  Remember, the little engine that could, he told himself 'I think I can' while others told him 'to believe its true then there's nothing you can't do' and that 'winners never quit'.    Encouragement is a basic need in our lives.   Life can be so discouraging at times, so much so that we have to seek out our own encouragement.  The Lord gave us the bible to not only guide us but to encourage us.  Matthew 6:33-34  "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

         Do you believe the Lord hears and knows your troubles?  Psalm 10:17-18  "You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed"   Prayer works, it's just not always on our timetable.  Our prayers are heard even when they go unanswered and sometimes no answer is the best answer.  Our cries to the Lord can motivate us to seek Him more, than we do when things are going as we'd like in our lives.  

          Romans 15: 4-6  "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

          Proverbs 21:21  "Whoever pursues righteousness and love  finds life, prosperity and honor."  This verse is one that pushes us forward on the right path. When we do the right thing and act with love with others, then it will bring you great reward.  We have to go after or pursue being Christ-like in all our ways and then our lives will be more peaceful and prosperous.  Hebrews 12: 14  " Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."

          We all need encouragement to make the most out of our lives and to avoid the snare of sin, that wants to entrap us.   1 Thessalonians 5:11  "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."    We can encourage each other: with a kind word, by our example, with an out-stretched arm, with a listening ear, with our resources, or by just sharing our faith.

          As for myself, I have been encouraged by many friends in different ways along my own journey.

          When I was 14 after my back surgery, I wanted to stay in bed and not move.  My aides, Missy and Tania, encouraged me with tough love to walk around the dining room and kitchen to make a training circle.  They knew that despite the pain and my complaints that this was the best path of treatment for me.  As it is with God, He helps us handle our trials, despite our complaints, knowing it will make us better and more like Him.

          Just yesterday, my church friends organized an Easter parade that went thru my driveway at home.  They knew that my recent days had been full of discouragement, so they banded together to show me that they were here for me and on my side.  As it is with God, He is always with me and will never forsake me.

Keep Going, Despite The Difficulties

 

     Do you ever have trouble putting one foot in front of the other, so to speak?  Perseverance is not easy, but it is a choice.  Circumstances can make you question why to keep going and why it's worth it.  Hebrews 10:36 tells us why we should persevere.."You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."  You will face adversity. It’s only a matter of time. Likely you already have.  “When things are going bad that does not mean God has stopped doing good. It means He is shifting things around to get them in place for more good, if you will go on loving Him.”  [J. Piper]

      As believers, we know that the Christian life is not easy or without hardship.  Standing firm in our faith in a world that encourages everything opposite to our godly perspective takes discipline and steadfastness.   1 Timothy 4:16  "Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."   Perseverance is defined as persistence in doing something despite difficulty.  As much as the world pushes back against us, we too must push back with our values, beliefs, purposes, and love for God and His ways.

James 1:12

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Ephesians 6:18

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Romans 2:7

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

Romans 5:3

We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance.

Hebrews 12:1

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

      "Perseverance is inspiring! Trying to live a Christ-honoring life while experiencing hardship can leave us frustrated and discouraged. But when we depend on God to help us through our difficulties, we are empowered to keep going even when we can’t always see the resolution of our problems." [odb.org]

         As for myself, I often feel like a Jenga puzzle with a few missing pieces.  My life has taken a few key pieces from me that have tried to topple me over.  I have persevered only because I have a firm foundation in the Lord.  I haven't always wanted to persevere, but it's a conscious choice.  I've had to think beyond myself and about God's will and purposes for me.  'God at times allows us to suffer so we can humbly recognize how much we need Him. When we trust His will, He uses those trials in amazing ways.'   

Stuck, but Not Forever

 

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.--Romans 8:2

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.-- Galatians 5:1

       Well, we survived the snowstorm of early 2021.  Some better than others, because some lost both power and water for days.  It was an uncomfortable and unpleasant week for some of us, while others made the most out of the week.  Did you feel stuck?  I think we all did in some form or another.  Today was my first day to get out of  the house and it felt like freedom.  How can we relate, as believers, about how we were once stuck in sin and are now free because of Jesus' death on the Cross?

       "Almost 2,000 years ago, the Lord Jesus cried out on the cross, “It is finished,” proclaiming the believer’s “declaration of independence.” All of humanity was under the tyranny of sin and death. But Christ, the sinless One, took our place on Calvary and died for our sins. Having satisfied God’s righteous demands, He now sets free for eternity all who trust in Him."  [odb.org]

        "The greatest freedom we can experience is the forgiveness of our sins, liberation from the strongholds that have held us captive, and the restoration of our relationship with our Maker and His creation.   With freedom comes responsibility. Freedom in Christ does not absolve us of responsibility and accountability. An important aspect of Christian freedom is our responsibility not to return to living under the Law. "  [intouch.org]

         "In his message titled “You Will Know the Truth and the Truth Will Set You Free,” John Piper explained true freedom this way: “If you don’t have the desire to do a thing, you are not fully free to do it … And if you have the desire to do something but no ability to do it, you are not free to do it. And if you have the desire and the ability to do something, but no opportunity to do it, you are not free to do it. And if you have the desire to do something, and the ability to do it, and the opportunity to do it, but it destroys you in the end, you are not fully free—not free indeed.”

         As for myself, I am stuck for now, yet fully free in Christ.  I am physically stuck in so many ways, good and bad.  I'm stuck where I live, but God has me right where He wants me and I now know it's a blessing.  I'm stuck with a purposeful van, but was blessed with 2 sportcars back in my youth.  I'm stuck with minimal strength, but still have enough power in my left arm to drive my scooter and click out this blog on my computer.  I'm sometimes stuck in my head with undermining thoughts, but I have God's word to pull me out of those with His encouragement.  I look forward more and more each day to the freedom I will have in eternity and I'll never be stuck in any way ever again.  ;-]

 

Emotional Overload

 

       This week has been quite snowfilled with downright frigid temperatures.  We haven't had weather like this in Arkansas since the late 1980's.  Has it brought you more emotions than you can bear?  Stress can bring on anxiety, worry, fear, and insomnia.  We have to learn to deal with our emotions so that we control them and they don't control us.

        "Are there good and bad emotions? Yes and no. Emotions in themselves are neutral. Their expression takes on the nature of good and bad. All emotions are valid, and each has a place in God’s design of your human psyche and spirit. God created your emotions so you might enjoy them and communicate to others by using them.  

         Sometimes we are overcome with emotion. We may lose control in a particular situation. At those times, we may feel that we should apologize for our lack of restraint, but we should never apologize for having feelings. After all, none of the psalmists held back in expressing their full range of human emotions to God. When we apologize for having emotions, we are in danger of stuffing them, with a possible eruption later. Stuffed emotions can only be damaging.”  [Charles F. Stanley, Becoming Emotionally Whole]

         "Emotions can become problematic when we allow them to overpower us and take over. There is a line between feeling anger and becoming it. Sometimes an emotion feels so big that I can’t separate it from who I am in that moment.  This is when I know I have to pull back. I don’t reject the emotion, but I want to be able to hold it at a distance. I change “I am desperate” to “I feel desperate; I am holding despair.” This small change in perspective is enough to give me relief. And if I treat the feeling with care and compassion, I am able to come out of it with time.  By treating our own emotions not as enemies but as neutral information, we can have compassion for ourselves and, in turn, with others."  [intouch.org]

         Emotional overload can lead to feelings of self discouragement and disappointment.  We may be told or feel like we are overreacting.  These are unfair and hurtful judgments that only further develop the emotional snowball.  "Since we cannot experience perfect success in a fallen world or keep ourselves from suffering, there’s no way to avoid all disappointments in life. However, we don’t have to yield to discouragement. With the right perspective of God and His sovereignty over us, we can avoid feelings of despair. When He, in His providence, allows failure and disappointment, it is part of His perfect plan, and He promises to use it for good.  May we all become victorious over despair and disappointment by trusting in and depending on Him."

         As for myself, I never understood anxiety as a real thing until after my fall in 2018.  Since then, anxiety can be brought on by things that normally wouldn't phase me at all.  I think a lot of it has to do with the realization of my lack of control.  God has always been in control, but I previously had a crazy facade going on in my mind that I had a little bit of control of in my world.  This week my emotions led to a fear of the possibility of a power outage here that overtook me, but led me to much prayer to the One in control of all things.  My mind told me I was being ridiculous, but my faith told me to rely and trust in my Protector and Sustainer.   God is faithful to take care of His beloved.

         2 Corinthins 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

 There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, " If I could see the world, I'd marry you".

One day someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her, " Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?"

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at him for the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying; " Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine."

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what our life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Today before you say an unkind word -Think of someone who cant speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they are barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive.

Father, forgive us when we complain. Help us to speak Loving kind positive words that uplifts, encourages one another. Let us Pray and Love for each Other!

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Just Breathe

 

      We should have learned so much in 2020 about things we take for granted, but one of the main ones is our ability to breathe.  The number of Covid related deaths still continues to rise at an alarming rate.  We have heard so much about people with shortness of breath, on ventilators, and on high levels of oxygen to try to survive.  Oxygen is not seen but is needed to live, as Christians we can think of God in the same way.  Have you thought about your own God given breath? 

 Genesis 2:7  "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."  

 Job 12:10  "In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."

  Job 33:4  "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life." 

 Psalm 39:5  "You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure." 

 Psalm 150:6  "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

        "God breathed His own breath of life into man. Man is more than “dust” or physical substance. Man has a spirit. We can picture it this way: Adam’s body had just been formed by God from the dust of the earth—a lifeless human body lying on the ground. Then God leaned over and “breathed” His own “breath of life” into the man’s nostrils; God is the Source of life, and He directly placed life within man."  [gotquestions.org]

         "There is an ancient prayer called the Jesus Prayer, which also works with breathing. You inhale, “Lord Jesus Christ,” and you exhale, “Have mercy on me.” You inhale your petition. You exhale your surrender. Over and over. I heard it suggested that the Jesus Prayer may be the simplest thing to remember for people with COVID-19 who are going to the hospital, who may have to die alone in isolation. The most famous breath prayer, derived from Luke 18:13, is the “Jesus Prayer”—Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.  But it’s also a useful practice for each one of us.  When life gets overwhelming, let’s take a deep breath and remind ourselves of God’s sovereign presence upholding our existence, His breath sustaining ours."  [intouch.org]

         "God fashioned our days even before we existed (Ps. 139:16), and we exist now only because “the breath of the Almighty gives [us] life” (Job 33:4). Though we don’t know how many breaths we have left—we can rest in the knowledge that He does."  [odb.org]

          As for myself, I have been keenly aware of the value of each breath since I was 21 years old.  I began wearing a negative pressure device at night while I slept to assist my breathing at age 21.  It was a bulky device that was like a portable iron lung.  It was awful and consisted of a metal cage that fit over my chest and had an overlaying jacket that was cinched at the neck, waist, and wrists to keep air from escaping.  A hose connected to the jacket and pushed air in and out to create a vacuum on my chest to help my muscles fully inhale and exhale.  The machine was hard on me and my marriage at the time, but it was necessary.  I wore it for 13 years.  Then, I got my Trilogy/bipap machine and mask that I now use.  I used it just for sleep for a few years but eventually went to daytime use as well.

           I am thankful for the forced air, not oxygen, that my Trilogy provides.  I wouldn't be here without it and it allows me to go out and about.  Right now, I can go about 4 minutes without breathing assistance.  I live on a timer you might say that says 'time's up, get your mask on'.  It's a suffocating feeling that follows me in everything I do.  For example, I have just enough breath to brush and mouthwash my teeth then times up.  You can ponder about how your own life tasks might be in spurts.  Life in 4 minute spurts is not easy but it's doable.  God gives me just enough breath to get by and not take those 4 minutes for granted.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of moments that take our breath away.

     

Time Matters

 

     Today's blog is about the importance of valuing your time.  We are all allotted a certain amount of time here on earth and it is predetermined by God alone.   Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  Psalm 39:4  “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is."   Our earthly lives will not last long, and we need wisdom to prepare for what follows.  We need God to reveal to us how short our lives are and that wisdom will help us to make wise choices that have eternal consequences.  "When we live in harmony with Jesus, death is simply a change of address. Our enjoyment of Him continues unabated when we step from this life into eternity." [gotquestions.org]

Psalm 39:5  "You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure."

     Time is a blessing.

      God grants us time to do our earthly responsibilities, but our primary focus is to do it all for His glory.  Colossians 3:23-24  ""Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."  Our primary focus is to be on God, it is He who has given us this time on earth, and He is the One who should direct how we spend it.

      God is more than patient and gracious with the time He often gives us to turn our hearts and lives towards Him.  We often manage our time as if it belongs to us and this is foolish behavior.  We should reflect on our priorities and use of our time, as it pertains to God.  We should live as if each minute counts—because it really does.

     Time is a thief.

      As a person with a progressive disease since a child, I have known the importance of using my time wisely.  I have known that what I may can do at some point won't always be with me at some unknown latter point.  For example, I could have opted out of kickball in elementary school P.E. class, but instead I tried to kick and run to first base the best I could.  Too many people sit on the sidelines of life waiting for another, better day. I can best describe my life as being on an unknown deadline without the window of waiting until a later day.  Do what you can while you can is my motto.  Time will steal your moments of opportunities, if you don't take advantage of them.  I encourage, especially my younger disabled friends, to make their dreams a reality before it's too late.  Before I got married and before he passed, my Uncle Jim told me, "Don't let anyone ever tell you 'you can't'.  Words of wisdom from a man who overcame so much.

       Time will rob all of us eventually of our physical attributes.  Many people sit on the sidelines of life and miss out on living life abundantly as God created it to be lived.  Don't let time take the blessings God has planned for you because of fear.  GO rollerskating, on a cruise, drive fast, parasailing, ride roller coasters, ride in a submarine, snorkeling, fly on a plane, water tubing, and fulfill your dreams...I've done all of these and survived and am so glad I did.

Finding Encouragement

 

        Have you found yourself in a state of fear, despair, loneliness, or loss?  The rest of the world may be celebrating, but despair follows you wherever you go.  The Apostle Paul understood this kind of feeling in 2 Corinthians 1:8  "“We were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life."  Whether you feel slowly drained into hopelessness by the accumulation of many everyday stresses or life has been torn down by one difficult and painful situation, what you need is encouragement.

        What do we need when we’re overwhelmed—someone who will stay with us, walk beside us through the dark valley and somehow lift us up when we grow weak?  Do you see the Lord as your encourager?   God is there to help us handle what we are given in life.  2 Corinthians 1:5  "For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."  God also gave us another form of help and encouragement through the Holy Spirit.  John 14: 16  "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever."

        " Upon salvation, we aren’t expected to fend for ourselves. God tenderly cares for us as His children, and He’s promised never to leave or forsake us. Even when we feel as if we’re all alone in our struggles, God is there, carrying us through when we have no more strength to continue.  If we never had troubles, we’d never know this comforting aspect of God or depend upon Him as we should. In fact, He sometimes allows us to go through suffering and hardships that are beyond our ability to bear “so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God” (2 Corinthians 1:9). He sovereignly rules over every situation we face, setting limitations on the intensity and determining the depth, length, and darkness of the valley we walk—all with the purpose of bringing us through, looking more like His beloved Son and having a closer relationship with Him." [intouch.org]  

          Sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers on our timeline, we can feel abandoned by God and withdraw into ourselves.  This is not the correct response to our discouragement.  "In those quiet moments alone with the Lord, He offers us strength and encouragement to persevere and grace to trust and delight in Him alone. There is nothing in the world to match the intimacy we find in His presence during times of need."

         Romans 15:5   "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had."

         1 Thessalonians 5:11  "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up"

         As for myself, I have been in the field of discouragement many times but I do not dwell there.  God encourages me by His faithfulness. His Word encourages me with truth, godly examples of people who have struggled too, and His promises.  As I look around, I see God in everything...from my dog, Jack, who is well and gives me great joy daily; to my cat, Tux, who is a constant presence of companionship; to my caregivers who seek to meet every need of my care; to my parents who try to be there for me as much as they know how; to my friends who bring me joy by listening to my thoughts and going out with me for fun.  The list of ways God encourages me with others is endless.  When no one else is around, He is still with me and His Word still encourages my thoughts.  How blessed I am in so many encouraging ways, but Satan still tries to come to kill and destroy those blessings from God.  Turning my eyes upon Jesus is the only way to keep me on the right path.  Psalm 46:1-3  "God is our refuge and strength,    an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way  and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

It may seem insignificant
To say a word or two;
But when we give encouragement,
What wonders it can do! —K. De Haan

A word of encouragement can make the difference between giving up or going on.

Things Change

 

        Today's blog is a personal viewpoint on change.  Change for its own sake is neither good nor bad. It depends on the direction the change takes you.  We live in a world of change and how we respond is a reflection of us personally.  I'm going to focus and reflect on a few areas of change that have affected me, my life and revealed some of God's plans.

        Living arrangements change:

        My parent's bought our current house when I was eleven.  If you had told me then that I would one day be living in the basement, I would've bet anything that you were wrong.  Back then, the basement was the workshop/storage area.  It was creepy dark with one pull string light and a dirt floor.  It stored the lawnmower, paint cans, tools and probably a snake or two.  Along the way, my parents had it refinished into a real room.  Then a few years before I moved back home, the basement became their game room.  Then in August 2001, the prediction that I would've never believed came true.  I didn't accept my new accomodations with open arms, but instead referred to it as 'the dungeon'.  I felt like Paul, in my own kind of prison.  This change was instead a place of spiritual growth. 

        People change: 

        Yes, people change and yet, they don't.  All of our bodies change due to time, stresses, and the nature of humanity.  The same person still resides deep down under that aging, changing skin.  What changes most about people, who change drastically unlike others, are the  unfair judgements placed on them by others.  As for myself, the same Angie is still living inside the Angie now, regardless if she walks, drives, wears a mask, or breathes like you.  One of my favorite quotes is about the wrongness of assumptions.  "When you assume, you make an ass out of 'u' and 'me' both."  Changes within my person has humbled me and taught me a lot about acceptance.

        Abilities change:

        Hopefully, you can see life as a learning process where we gain new abilities.  My favorite of all my learned abilities is driving.  My driving skills began with a go-cart making burnout donuts in the playground dirt, then to a 3-wheeler catching air in the sand dunes.  My first car was a Dodge Aries K car then a Honda Prelude. Between these two cars, I'm partly responsible for the now 30 mph speed limit on McCain Blvd.  I gave up driving vehicles in 2003 due to my noticeable change in my physical ability to control my van at the time.  My ability to drive well now is used with my scooter.  While my ability to drive hasn't been lost over time, it has just changed in its format.

       God doesn't change:

       "“I, the Lord, never change,” God declares in Malachi 3:6.  So that’s where we start. Change means a move in another direction. For God to change would mean that He either becomes better or worse, and God is ultimate perfection. He cannot change because He cannot be better than He already is; and He cannot fail or become less than perfect, so He cannot become worse than He is. God never changes, and nothing about Him changes: His character traits such as love, mercy, kindness, justice, and wisdom always exist in perfection. The methods He uses to deal with human beings have changed through the centuries, but the values and purposes behind those methods did not."  [intouch.org]

       

         God built in us the ability to change.  For that we can be thankful, because we can change from our sinful nature and become friends with God and his heirs.  Changes brought on by God are always good and benefit us.  Reflect on the changes in your own life.

God Reigns

 

          Today's blog is about how God reigns over all things.  He reigns over our lives, but what does that include?  Let's narrow it down to three things [for the writer's sake], to include our circumstances, our needs, and our protection. Our circumstances may not be exactly what we want, but God puts us where we need to be.  His purposes will prevail and our situations have purpose in them. Our needs are under His control too.  We may not enjoy the waiting part, but He will provide in His timing.  The prayerful struggle may seem to go unheard, but He sees, hears, and knows what is best to meet our needs.  Our protection is overseen by Him, more than we will ever know.  We may struggle to understand why some things don't work out, but often it falls under the category of His hedge of protection.

       "If you could change your circumstances, would you? Most of us would respond in the affirmative. Even if we’re experiencing relatively peaceful and comfortable conditions, we can always imagine a better life. And for those of us enduring difficult, painful, or trying situations, we long to see the burden lifted.  In reality, there are some circumstances over which we have no control. We can’t maneuver our way out, so our only option is to go through them. However, if we are redeemed children of God, we are exactly where He wants us, because His sovereignty rules over all our situations at all times."  {intouch.org]

         One biblical example of God's sovereignty over one's life is that of Paul.  He was imprisoned, chained, and watched by the Roman guard.  Yet despite his undesirable circumstances in life, it turned out to be the means God used to deliver the gospel to the entire Roman guard.   Paul’s imprisonment also prompted other believers to boldly proclaim Christ.  

        "The same sovereign God who used Paul’s circumstances for His purposes can do so with yours. But like the apostle, you’ll have to trust that the Lord will comfort and strengthen you to endure, and yes, even to rejoice."  [intouch.org]

       Paul learned to be satisfied because God supplied all his needs. Paul understood that spiritual, physical, and material needs are wrapped up in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our needs are met through Him.  Jesus is also our protector.  Despite the trials that we face and the ways they turn our world upside down, Jesus ensures us by not letting us encounter anything outside of His will.  "Christ has not abandoned us in our storms but instead is intimately involved, using them for our ultimate benefit. Knowing this, we can respond with trust, dependence, and worship." [intouch.org]

       As for myself, yes!  I would change my circumstances, if I could.  Thankfully God knows that and my heart and took that realm of possibility out of my control.  Instead, God chose both me and my parents to suffer for His glory.  Of course, there has been lots of waiting and prayer for specific needs along the way.  Recently, life has been a rollercoaster of emotions.  As we wait for the right caregiver replacement, we need the right perspective.  For all the ones we thought might be the right person thru our limited viewpoint, God's hedge of protection has shown otherwise.  I'm so thankful God is in control of ALL things in my life. 

Humble Yourself

 

       What does humility mean to you?  The worldly definition is all about putting the needs of another person before your own, and thinking of others before yourself.  It is a rare quality to find in this world anymore because pride is rampant these days.  There are so many people concerned with their rights, rather than what is right.  So how would Jesus define humility?  Maybe something like, learning to decrease one's self so that Christ may increase in one's life.  One of my favorite quotes is 'Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but it is thinking of yourself less."  C. S. Lewis

       "True humility isn’t seeing ourselves as worthless but seeing the Lord as worthy of service no matter what assignment He gives us.  No life lived in obedience to God is ever worthless or unimportant. When we stand before Him in heaven, our rewards will not be determined by how impressive our work was by human standards, but by how obedient we were to complete whatever He called us to do.  True humility exalts Jesus Christ, not self. "  [intouch.org]

        A humble life is Spirit led.  "Humility in the life of the believer is the mark of greatness—not because you shine when you are humbled, but because when you submit to God's will, He shines through you.  We are not the light but the lanterns that point others to the Lord. Only as we decrease will those around us be able to see the Savior, who can give them eternal life."  [intouch.org]

       I needed this next bit of advice back in 2001.  "Perhaps you are faced with a difficult situation but don't understand why God has chosen that avenue for you. Allow Him to use this time in your life to teach you how to be humble. Peter did just this. And he discovered that once humility accomplishes its perfect work, God will exalt us at the proper time . Blessing follows the obedience of a humbled heart." [intouch.org]  In hindsight, I see the beauty of His work in my life, but it took a lot of cooperation on my part to be willing and obedient to His plan for me.  Blessings have truly followed me all the days since.  It doesn't mean freedom from hardship, but that He is with me through it all.  The promise for true freedom is for the eternal future, not my present state.

       "Will humble living be worth it?  God accomplished His purposes through Jesus’ obedience. Similarly, living humbly—letting go of our sense of entitlement to embrace our humanity—puts us in the path of God’s work. If we have ears to hear the call to a humble life, to relinquish our own designs and embrace the kind of life our Savior modeled, we will find that He works in us “both to will and to work for His good pleasure”  In the Master’s hands, our humility will become a tool for making us holy." [intouch.org]

       Following Christ’s example of self-emptying sacrifice is more than ideal behavior—it’s the path to becoming our true selves.   A spirit of humility...says I'm not perfect, I make mistakes and am open to criticism.  It doesn't use authority as a means of superiority.  Some think humility will show weakness and then they can't show genuine love, because they're trying to defend a falsehood of an impeccable image.  

         As for myself, humiliating circumstances have been God’s best path to developing humility in me—it’s something I remember with every challenge.   It has not been easy to put my dreams, desires and abilities on hold till God grants me a new, fully restored body.  Isn't it an ironic blessing that He still enables me to do His work through this blog?  "We have to recognize that our relinquishment has more to do with our own kingdoms than with God’s."  I have let go of much more than physical belongings, but of feelings of resentment and loss.  I hope others will someday find that humility within themselves.  

         I like to think of humility in terms of riding as a passenger in a vehicle.  You have relinquished your right to control, but are still vulnerable to any joy or consequences.  You can respect the driver's plans and ways or create chaos and destruction.  You can have peace or fear during the journey.  You are either part of the plan or part of the problem.  You rid yourself of what is unnecessary, harmful and not enough room for during the journey.  Respect the driver, the rules of the road and you'll be okay.

How To Find Humility Within Ourselves:

1] Have a servant's heart and mind.

2] Trust in God's sovereignty.

3] Don't be wise in your own eyes.

4] Rejoice with others goodness.

5] Have a teachable spirit.

6] Encourage others.

7] Be in awe of grace given to you and forgive others.

What Humility Has Made Me Consider Personally:

1] Consider God's will for me.

2] How He has provided for me... in my care, finances, joy

3] This is temporary, not eternal

4] My focus is to be on Him, not my circumstances

5] He knows what's best for me, it's my choice in obedience to follow

6] Use my energy and time to share my testimony with others

7] It is all for His glory!