Are you a mighty warrior?

http://youtu.be/xj8wHfBKoRU - You raise me up - Josh Groban

Just exactly what could ever be too hard for me if I just remembered that the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, is living inside me giving me His power and strength to face any obstacle?  If like Paul, I could remember the promise that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, what could I possibly fear?

I have come to see the struggles God allows in my life as evidence of His love for me, and proof that HE believes in me and trusts me to keep my eyes on Him and give Him control.  I don't always feel courageous or powerful.  Too many times I don't feel qualified or good enough or strong enough for the battle I face, but God believes in me even when I don't.  He knows I won't alone.

When I'm feeling scared or like I can't face the mountain in front of me, I remember Gideon. 

Gideon was afraid.  He didn't feel strong enough for the challenge God had for him.  But God knew Gideon better than Gideon knew himself.  God believed in Gideon. 

Judges 6 - Gideon

Yet again the People of Israel went back to doing evil in God's sight. God put them under the domination of Midian for seven years. Midian overpowered Israel. Because of Midian, the People of Israel made for themselves hideouts in the mountains—caves and forts. When Israel planted its crops, Midian and Amalek, the easterners, would invade them, camp in their fields, and destroy their crops all the way down to Gaza. They left nothing for them to live on, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. Bringing their cattle and tents, they came in and took over, like an invasion of locusts. And their camels—past counting! They marched in and devastated the country. The People of Israel, reduced to grinding poverty by Midian, cried out to God for help.

The Israelites were so far away from God.  They worshiped Ba-al and had Asherah poles to honor the mother-goddess Asherah.  They did evil in God's sight.  They no longer were following Jehovah God.  And God allowed the Midianites to terrorize the Israelites for seven years because they would not return to Him.  What were they thinking? They worshiped man made idols when the Lord God Almighty had delivered time after time.  After seven years, the Israelites finally called out to the only True and Living God.

 7-10 One time when the People of Israel had cried out to God because of Midian, God sent them a prophet with this message: "God, the God of Israel, says,
    I delivered you from Egypt,
      I freed you from a life of slavery;
   I rescued you from Egypt's brutality
      and then from every oppressor;
   I pushed them out of your way
      and gave you their land.
    "And I said to you, 'I am God, your God. Don't for a minute be afraid of the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living.' But you didn't listen to me."

 11-12 One day the angel of God came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, whose son Gideon was threshing wheat in the wine press, out of sight of the Midianites. The angel of God appeared to him and said, "God is with you, O mighty warrior!"

Gideon was so afraid of the Midianites that he was basically threshing wheat in a hole so that he would not be seen by the enemy. The angel of God appeared  and said "God is with you, O mighty warrior!"   I'm guessing Gideon wasn't feeling much like a mighty warrior at that moment.

 13 Gideon replied, "With me, my master? If God is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracle-wonders our parents and grandparents told us about, telling us, 'Didn't God deliver us from Egypt?' The fact is, God has nothing to do with us—he has turned us over to Midian."
 14 But God faced him directly: "Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian. Haven't I just sent you?"

The angel of God may have been a special messenger angel sent by God, but some believe this could be an appearance of Jesus Christ - since verse 14 says "God" faced him directly.  This could very well be another appearance of the Son of God just like when Shadrack, Meshack and Abednigo were in the firey furnace with another figure who appeared to be "divine" according to Daniel 3:25 the 21st Century Kings James Version - 25 He answered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Listen to Gideon.  Does this sound at all familiar?  Gideon began to list his shortcomings, all the reason why he couldn't do what God has asked him to do.   Do you have a tape like Gideon's that you play when God shows you something He wants you to do?  Do you convince yourself that you're not smart enough, not good enough, too this or too that..?  Are you the runt of the litter - like Gideon?  If God asks you to do something, it doesn't matter if you don't have the strength, He works best through our weaknesses anyway.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
⁹ But he said to me, "My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak."
So I am very happy to brag about how weak I am. Then Christ's power can rest on me. ¹⁰ Because of how I suffered for Christ, I'm glad that I am weak. I am glad in hard times. I am glad when people say mean things about me. I am glad when things are difficult. And I am glad when people make me suffer. When I am weak, I am strong.
  

 Back to Gideon:

15 Gideon said to him, "Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan's the weakest in Manasseh and I'm the runt of the litter."
 16 God said to him, "I'll be with you. Believe me, you'll defeat Midian as one man."
 17-18 Gideon said, "If you're serious about this, do me a favor: Give me a sign to back up what you're telling me. Don't leave until I come back and bring you my gift."
    He said, "I'll wait till you get back."
 19 Gideon went and prepared a young goat and a huge amount of unraised bread (he used over half a bushel of flour!). He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and took them back under the shade of the oak tree for a sacred meal.


SIGN Number One

20 The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and unraised bread, place them on that rock, and pour the broth on them." Gideon did it.
 21-22 The angel of God stretched out the tip of the stick he was holding and touched the meat and the bread. Fire broke out of the rock and burned up the meat and bread while the angel of God slipped away out of sight. And Gideon knew it was the angel of God!
    Gideon said, "Oh no! Master, God! I have seen the angel of God face-to-face!"
 23 But God reassured him, "Easy now. Don't panic. You won't die."
 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to God and named it "God's Peace." It's still called that at Ophrah of Abiezer.
 25-26 That night this happened. God said to him, "Take your father's best seven-year-old bull, the prime one. Tear down your father's Baal altar and chop down the Asherah fertility pole beside it. Then build an altar to God, your God, on the top of this hill. Take the prime bull and present it as a Whole-Burnt-Offering, using firewood from the Asherah pole that you cut down."
 27 Gideon selected ten men from his servants and did exactly what God had told him. But because of his family and the people in the neighborhood, he was afraid to do it openly, so he did it that night.
 28 Early in the morning, the people in town were shocked to find Baal's altar torn down, the Asherah pole beside it chopped down, and the prime bull burning away on the altar that had been built.
 29 They kept asking, "Who did this?"
    Questions and more questions, and then the answer: "Gideon son of Joash did it."
 30 The men of the town demanded of Joash: "Bring out your son! He must die! Why, he tore down the Baal altar and chopped down the Asherah tree!"
 31 But Joash stood up to the crowd pressing in on him, "Are you going to fight Baal's battles for him? Are you going to save him? Anyone who takes Baal's side will be dead by morning. If Baal is a god in fact, let him fight his own battles and defend his own altar."
 32 They nicknamed Gideon that day Jerub-Baal because after he had torn down the Baal altar, he had said, "Let Baal fight his own battles."

33-35 All the Midianites and Amalekites (the easterners) got together, crossed the river, and made camp in the Valley of Jezreel. God's Spirit came over Gideon. He blew his ram's horn trumpet and the Abiezrites came out, ready to follow him. He dispatched messengers all through Manasseh, calling them to the battle; also to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. They all came.

SIGN Number Two

 36-37 Gideon said to God, "If this is right, if you are using me to save Israel as you've said, then look: I'm placing a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If dew is on the fleece only, but the floor is dry, then I know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said."
 38 That's what happened. When he got up early the next morning, he wrung out the fleece—enough dew to fill a bowl with water!

SIGN Number Three
 39 Then Gideon said to God, "Don't be impatient with me, but let me say one more thing. I want to try another time with the fleece. But this time let the fleece stay dry, while the dew drenches the ground."
 40 God made it happen that very night. Only the fleece was dry while the ground was wet with dew.


I love this story.  God spoke to Gideon, He performed the miracle of bringing down fire to light the sacrifice, but still Gideon wasn't sure that God would be with him in battle. 

Show me the wet fleece, God! 

Have you ever felt that way?  All Gideon could see was his own shortcomings and weaknesses.  How could he possibly lead his people against such a great army?   The Israelites were so far away from God.  They worshiped Ba-al and had Asherah poles to honor the mother-goddess Asherah.  They were no longer were following Jehovah God.  And God allowed the Midianites to terrorize the Israelites for seven years. Can you imagine?  They worshiped man made idols when God had delivered time after time.  So the Israelites called out to God.

And when they called out to God, He delivered them once again.

We can trust God.  He is all knowing, all powerful, all seeing, and He loves us.  I guess I don't always need the wet fleece.  Do you?

Holy Father, forgive me for needing to see the wet fleece so many times.  I don't know why I ever doubt You.  Every time You lead me to a hard place, I make excuses, I have so many reasons why I can't do what You ask me to do, but when I finally listen and obey, the end result has always been amazing.  Those times when I face my Midianites with Your strength, I feel Your powerful presence in a mighty way.  Help me to trust You and Your plan for my life.  Help me to do whatever You have for me to do.  Whatever battle, I know You will be right next to me, protecting and giving me everything I need to stand firm. For I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.   All praise and honor to You, Sovereign God, forever and ever. I pray these things in Jesus' precious Name, may You be glorified in this mighty warrior.  Amen.

http://youtu.be/DMZ8D6nTKhg - The Battle Belongs to the Lord

http://youtu.be/SZ-fghqc8Oo - From the Inside Out

Do I have to forgive others?

It's hard to forgive when people hurt us or betray us.  But God tells us to be holy - like He is holy.
That means we have to be different from the world.  That means we have to let go of real or imagined offenses and forgive.  We must hold no unforgiveness or bitterness in our hearts towards anyone.  The most amazing thing I have found about this "rule" of God's, even though it is incredibly hard to let go of the hurt, when I do, I have such an amazing peace - that peace that comes from Jesus.  I feel so powerful when I don't let the actions of others control my heart.  I just love no matter what, and God blesses me so much.

What seems too difficult for us is a sure sign that it belongs to God. 

                                                                 - Marie DePree

 

Forgiving others is one of the most effective ways to open the doors to God's blessings.  It's not always easy to do.  Many times, unforgiveness comes because I'm focused on myself.  My unforgiveness centers around my sense of what I deserve.  Someone doesn't treat me the way I think he should.  So I get angry, then I resent that person and have bitterness towards him.  The craziest thing about unforgiveness is that the person who has made me so angry usually doesn't even know it.  My unforgiveness either doesn't affect my "enemy" at all - he's completely clueless, and what's worse, is  my unforgiveness gives my enemy power over me.  That's totally not what I want.  The last person I want to have power over me is someone who has hurt me.

Sometimes, unforgiveness comes when a terrible injustice has been done to someone we love.  I can forgive someone who hurts me, but boy, let them hurt my children, and hell has no fury like a mother who is protecting her babies.  But even in those situations, God still calls us to forgive.

Forgiveness isn't about giving your enemy a "free pass" for what he's done.  It's about giving yourself freedom from the burden of anger and bitterness.  When we hold anger and resentment and bitterness in our hearts, they become huge footholds for the real Enemy.  Those destructive thoughts grow and grow and eventually will crowd out all the good things that God wants us to think on.

Jesus gave us the ultimate example. Remember the cross?  "Father, forgive them.  They don't know what they are doing."  Forgive.  Leave justice to God.  My enemy will have to answer for things he did against me.  And, I will answer for my unwillingness to forgive.  My job is to forgive and move on.  When I forgive others, God blesses me with a peace that's beyond my understand, but best of all, when I forgive, God is glorified in my life. 

Do you ever feel God isn't answering your prayers?  A heart full of unforgiveness can hinder your prayers.  Confess your sins and ask God to renew your spirit, and give you a heart full of love and mercy.  Remember Peter's words:

1 Peter 2:22-24  
He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God, ho always judges fairly.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.  By his wounds you are healed.

 http://youtu.be/KOIsjx2VwaM - Blessed Redeemer - Casting Crowns

Ephesians 4:23-27 
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.   25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.


Holy Father, You are so merciful to me.  I fail every day, yet Your mercies for me are new every morning.  I am so thankful that You have removed my sins from me as far as east is to west.  You look at me, and You don't see all my sins and shortcomings, You see the Righteousness of Jesus. His precious blood covers me.

Who am I, Lord?  I accept Your forgiveness, but then I fail to forgive others? Why can't I forgive and forget, Lord?  Please help me forgive the person who injured me.  I know I cannot do this on my own, only in Your Strength, Your Grace and Your Love. Fill my heart with Your mercy so that I can be merciful.  Father, You've forgiven me so much.  Without Your mercy, I couldn't dare approach Your Throne.  Thank You, Lord.  Thank You, Jesus, for covering me with Your Righteous.  Please purify my heart of any bitterness, anger, resentment, no matter how justified I may feel.  You forgave me.  Help me to forgive others. Now, please give me the means to forget this pain.  I don't want to keep bringing it up and picking at the wound.  Help me, Lord, as weak as I am, to forgive the offender and forget the pain. I ask these things in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. Amen.


I heard Paul Yonggi Cho speak a few years back. Yonggi ChoYonggi Cho’s own family during WWII. The Japanese were his Ninevites. 

Through a combination of a prolonged inner struggle, several direct challenges from others, and finally an urgent and starkly worded invitation, Cho felt called by God to preach in Japan. He went, but he went with bitterness. The first speaking engagement was to a pastor’s conference—1,000 Japanese pastors. Cho stood up to speak, and what came out of his mouth was this: “I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.” And then he broke and wept. He was both brimming and desolate with hatred.
At first one, then two, then all 1,000 pastors stood up. One by one they walked up to Yonggi Cho, knelt at his feet and asked forgiveness for what they and their people had done to him and his people. As this went on, God changed Yonggi Cho. The Lord put a single message in his heart and mouth: “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

Sometimes God calls us to do what we least want to do in order to reveal our heart—to reveal what’s really in our heart. How powerful is the blood of Christ? Can it heal hatred between Koreans and Japanese? Can it make a Jew love a Ninevite? Can it make you reconciled to…well, you know who?
                            —Mark Buchanan, Your God Is Too Safe (Multnomah, 2001)

Ephesians 4:32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Mark 11:25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.

 Matthew 18:21-35
 21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
 23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
 26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
 28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
 29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
 31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
 35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

http://youtu.be/cjhxOv9YDag  - Who Am I - Casting Crowns

Lord, You never let go of me!


Every time I hear this song, I feel His strength rise up inside of me.  No matter what I may have to face today, He will be with me. He never lets go. 

Seriously, if God is with me, whom then shall I fear? 

http://youtu.be/RB1NJV3rG6k - You Never Let Go - Matt Redman


Doing hard things

Esther 4:14For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Has God placed you in a situation that is uncomfortable?  A place that makes you vulnerable to the attack of others?  Just like He did with Esther, He sometimes gives us opportunities to be His special instrument.  Listening to His Voice instead of the lies of Satan is not always easy to do.  To discern truth from lies, we must ask ourselves which "Voice" is more in line with God's written Word.  Which direction will promote God's purpose?  Which voice speaks of God's character?

Do not be afraid of man who can only destroy the body. 

Mt 10:28 
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

We must be willing to do the hard things.  God tells us over and over again: "Don't be afraid", "Fear not! I am with you.", "Be courageous!"  I can't begin to list all the times God tells us to be strong in His mighty power.  He's saying "I'm right here next to you.  I am not going to leave you alone to fight this battle.  You will win because I'll be fighting for you."   He's promised to be with us.  Almighty God, Creator of the Universe has promised to get us through any struggle, so why are we afraid to go where He leads us?

My grand kids love being in the pool. Every year, the first time they go down the slide, they're a little afraid.  They're not too sure they have the ability to get to the side of the pool after they hit the water.  But each year, their dad is there at the bottom of the slide, waiting, ready to whisk them out of the water if they get into trouble.  In the beginning, there's lots of conversation about how they can trust their dad to keep them safe. Eventually, they take that leap of faith, and of course, Dad is there, just like he promised.

Our Father has promised to stand by us, to catch us when we might fall.  He even promises to keep our feet from stumbling.  Just like my grand kids trust their father, we, too, can trust our Father.
It helps me to remember how God has empowered those who have gone before. 

Esther, Moses, Joshua, Gideon and many others were called to do things that were not in their comfort zones.  They were asked to put themselves in dangerous positions, to speak truth, to go forth into battle when they felt totally inadequate to do so.  One of my favorite stories is of Gideon. 

Gideon  was chosen by God to lead the Israelites against their enemy, the Midianites.  He was a reluctant hero.  The Angel of the LORD (some believe this was Jesus himself) appeared to Gideon as he was threshing wheat in a wine-press.  This is our first clue that Gideon was afraid of the Midianites. The wine press was a much less vulnerable place than the threshing-floor.  Threshing wheat was normally done in the open where the wind blowing through the wheat could help separate the wheat from the chaff.  The wine press would most likely have troughs and tunnels - low lying areas.  Working in the wine press would offer less visibility for the enemy compared to the threshing floor. So, it's likely that Gideon was trying to hide from the Midianites.

But the Angel of the LORD called out to Gideon, "The LORD is with you, mighty man of valor!".  I'm guessing Gideon wasn't feeling very courageous at that point.  After all, he was hiding from the enemy.  We look at Gideon in that wine press, and our reaction might not be "Here's the man who will lead the Israelites against their enemy!"  But God doesn't look at the outside.  He looks at the heart.  When He looked at Gideon, HE saw a man who would be willing to trust HIM for the strength and power needed to lead the Israelites.  And Gideon became a a mighty man of valor through the power of Almighty God.

2 Corinthians 12:9
⁹ But he said to me, "My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak."

We can be mighty men (and women)  of valor, too, when we put our trust in God.  I love the passage in 2 Corinthians 12:9.  Paul tells us that God's grace is sufficient - all we need. And when we feel weak and ineffective, that's our cue to put our complete trust in HIM.  Then we are acting with His Strength, not our own.  So when we are weak, that's when we are strongest.

2 Corinthians 12:9b-10
So I am very happy to brag about how weak I am. Then Christ's power can rest on me. ¹⁰ Because of how I suffered for Christ, I'm glad that I am weak. I am glad in hard times. I am glad when people say mean things about me. I am glad when things are difficult. And I am glad when people make me suffer. When I am weak, I am strong.

HE's giving you an opportunity to be His hands and feet in a situation, He knows your heart.  He knows you will be willing to trust Him.  No, you can't do it on your own, but you won't have to.  HE will be your strength. 

 The Lord is with you, mighty man of valor!

                    

If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room,

I would not fear a million enemies. 

Yet distance makes no difference.   He is praying for me.

                                                         - Robert Murray M'Cheyne

 

 http://youtu.be/MKSyFOsAp6c - When the Night is Falling - Dennis Jernigan

 
For such a time as this?

13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”  Esther 4:13-14


Difficulties and obstacles are God's challenges to faith. When hindrances confront us in the path of duty, we are to recognize them as vessels for faith to fill with the fullness and all-sufficiency of Jesus; and as we go forward, simply and fully trusting Him, we may be tested, we may have to wait and let patience have her perfect work; but we shall surely find at last the stone rolled away, and the Lord waiting to render unto us double for our time of testing. --A. B. Simpson

Are you a "right fighter"?  How is that working for you?
                                                                                             Dr. Phil

Dr. Phil comes up with some pretty good advice sometimes.  I love this quote - I identify with it.
I am by nature a "right finder".   = )   But, after hitting my head into the brick wall for about a million times, I finally decided my "right finding" wasn't working too well.  Dr. Phil also has another quote that goes along with this:

"You can be right, or you can be happy."   

Dr. Phil is a smart man, but he didn't come up with these wise thoughts all by himself. 

GOD said it first.  = )

Familiar?

It's so hard to be attacked unjustly, isn't it?  Everything in me just boils up to the surface, ready to spew out of my mouth! I can give as good as I get  when it comes to words.  And I feel totally justified in defending myself when I'm being verbally assaulted - especially when I know I'm in the right.

But the Bible says:

Don't pay back evil with evil.

But Lord, did You just hear what he said to me?   Surely You don't expect me to stand here and take this unjust treatment!  I'm right and he's wrong.  I don't have to put up with his verbal abuse, do I?  Really, do I?

And Jesus answered me, ""Carol, don't pay back evil with evil.  Don't pay back unkind words with unkind words. Where does that get you?  Just because he's acting like a jerk doesn't give you the right to act like a jerk, too.   Instead, Carol, I expect more from you.  I want you to respond with kindness and gentleness.  I want you to leave retaliation to me. 

You see,  I have chosen you to be a peacemaker.  Can you do that for me?  Remember, sweet child, I did this for you.  I did not retaliate when I was verbally attacked and insulted.  I did not open my mouth to justify myself to my accusers.  I took their unkind words, their brutal attack - even though it was unjust, and I didn't say a word.  You say you don't deserve the verbal attack, right?  Did I?  But instead of lashing back in my defense, I left justice and retaliation to my Father who was witnessing the whole unfair, unjust treatment.  I trusted Him to be my Defender, and I want you to trust Him to be your Defender, just like I showed you.  And now, Carol, I'm sitting at the right hand of my Father, a place of honor and glory."

I thought about what Jesus said.  I guess if HE could refuse to retaliate with all the unfair treatment He experienced, surely I could follow His example. 

It took a while and lots of practice, but now, most of the time, I can respond instead of react to the unfair verbal attacks.  I learned to remain calm and to speak with love - not anger or harshness.  It was not easy at first.  It just didn't come naturally. 

The Enemy was always whispering "it's not fair, and he needs to know he's wrong about this!  He needs to be put in his place!  Tell him!  You'll feel better if you get it off your chest!"  And, of course,  I agreed!  My human nature wanted to get right back in the face of my attacker!  I wanted to set him straight.  But no matter how right I was, my attacker was never going to see my side with my finger pointing in his chest and my angry words lashing out.  Think about it.  Do you respond well to an attack?   If I wanted him to hear me, I had to be calm and speak with love - not defensively and not with anger.

I still mess up sometimes, but, once again, I have found that God's way is the best way.  My "attacker" didn't trust my new reaction for a while, but eventually, he saw that I was not going to lose my cool.  He saw me responding with kindness, and guess what?  He responded by cooling down much quicker.  Now, the few times he might verbally attack, he quickly catches himself and apologizes.  But even if he doesn't, I will not retaliate because I want to honor Jesus for all He did for me.  Peter makes it clear in 1 Peter 3, Jesus never wants me to get in a shouting match - even when I'm in the right.  And when I manage to obey His directions, He blesses me.

I Peter 2
²¹ Christ suffered for you. He left you an example. He expects you to follow in his steps. You too were chosen to suffer. ²² Scripture says,
  
"He didn't commit any sin. No lies ever came out of his mouth." —(Isaiah 53:9)

²³ People shouted at Him and made fun of Him. But he didn't do the same back to them. He suffered. But He didn't say that bad things would happen to them. Instead, He trusted in the One who judges fairly.
²⁴ He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did it so that we would die as far as sins are concerned. Then we would lead godly lives. His wounds have made you whole.

So, that's what Jesus did.  Here's what I'm supposed to do.

I Peter 3
8 Finally, I want all of you to live together in peace. Be understanding. Love one another like members of the same family. Be kind and tender. Don't be proud.  

9 Don't pay back evil with evil. Don't pay back unkind words with unkind words. Instead, pay them back with kind words. That's what you have been chosen to do. You can receive a blessing by doing it.  

10 Scripture says, "Do you want to love life and see good days? Then keep your tongues from speaking evil. Keep your lips from telling lies.  

11 Turn away from evil, and do good. Look for peace, and go after it.  

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

13 Who is going to hurt you if you really want to do good?  
14 But suppose you suffer for doing what is right. Then you will be blessed. Scripture also says, "Don't fear what others fear. Don't be afraid."#1(Isaiah 8:12)#2  

5 But make sure in your hearts that Christ is Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have. Be ready to give the reason for it. But do it gently and with respect.  
16 Live so that you don't have to feel you've done anything wrong. Some people may say evil things about your good conduct as believers in Christ. If they do, they will be put to shame for speaking like that about you.  
17 It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil if that's what God wants. 1

8 Christ died for sins once and for all time. The One who did what is right died for those who don't do right. He died to bring you to God. His body was put to death. But the Holy Spirit brought him back to life.  
19 By means of the Spirit, Christ went and preached to the spirits in prison. 20 Long ago they did not obey. God was patient while Noah was building the ark. He waited, but only a few people went into the ark. A total of eight were saved by means of water. 21 The water of the flood is a picture of the baptism that now saves you also. The baptism I'm talking about has nothing to do with removing dirt from your body. Instead, it promises God that you will keep a clear sense of what is right and wrong. Jesus Christ has saved you by rising from the dead. 22 He has gone into heaven. He is at God's right hand. Angels, authorities, and powers are under his control.  


I know it's hard but it really does work if it's done with consistency.  Obviously, there are times when the assault can become physically threatening.  Safety is a priority, so remove yourself from possible physical harm.  Verbal attacks can be just as harmful as physical attacks to our spirits, but if we learn how to respond as Christ did, maybe we can be His instrument for peace.

http://youtu.be/EPDPUoxylP4 - Be Still My Soul - Selah




"arguing photo"  from http://www.helpfromsurvivors.com/

Depending on Jesus

http://youtu.be/0vdLi8h-xdI - Dependence - Jamie Slocum


Psalm 51:15-17
Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.


Have you ever been broken by your sins? 


That's what God is looking for.  He wants us to understand that we need His help to live honorably.
I've cried many tears over my sins.  I have felt "broken", like I could never be whole again because of the things I've done that hurt people I loved the most.  I thought that's what "broken" meant.  And I do think God wants me to be very aware of the times I fail to live my best life.  But HE doesn't want me to wallow in shame and regret.  He wants me to learn from my past so I can look to Him for help to do better the next time.


Listen to this excerpt from Jennifer Kennedy Dean's He Restores My Soul:
"The Scriptures call your human nature, when it is acting on it's own power, your flesh.  The flesh must be broken so the Spirit of God in you can surface.  Your old patterns of thinking and acting have to be broken so that the real power can emerge.  Your old nature, your flesh, is a hindrance to you.  Paul called it a dead weight, like a dead body you have to drag around. 


What a wretched man I am? Who will rescue me from this body of flesh?"  Romans 7:24.

Dead weight slows you down.  God wants to free you from the dead weight of your flesh.  Brokenness is the way to that freedom.

The psalmist expressed that God loves a broken heart, that He desires a broken heart.  "A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise" Psalm 51:17 

• The term broken heart does not mean sadness.  It means a soul whose self-life has been exposed and its hold broken by the Spirit's power. 
• Brokenness does not mean great sorrow.  A person can be sorrowful without being broken.  Brokenness does not mean humiliation.  A person can be humiliated and not be broken. 
• Brokenness does not mean discouragement.  A person can be discouraged and still not be broken.

 
Brokenness is an ongoing process.  Daily the Spirit of God is revealing elements of the old nature still in operation.  He is bringing out into the open fleshly ways of thinking and acting so He can break their hold over you, leaving you free to experience the victorious life of Christ in you.

True brokenness means losing all faith in your own abilities, abandoning all dependence on human resources, and disavowing all outward pretensions of righteousness to cling to the Spirit of God as if to a lifeline.  The broken person - the person wholly dependent upon that indwelling life - will find that all of the resources of heaven and all of the Spirit's power are now at his disposal and, unless heaven's riches can be exhausted or the Spirit's power can be found wanting, he cannot come up short.

A broken person knows that God is the only worthwhile goal.  A broken person stands before God as a living offering and declares,

"You are my one desire."

Brokenness awakes us to our need for God.   I cannot do this life on my own.  My ways lead to destruction and heartache.  But praise God!  I am broken!  I know who I am and that's not so encouraging.  BUT, I know the answer to my brokenness.  Christ Jesus!!!

Romans 7:17-8:5

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Life Through the Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for making a way when there seems to be no way.  Thank You for being so faithful and merciful, to me, a sinner.   Take my life, renew a right spirit in me.  Help me to give You full reign in everything I think, say or do.  My life I give as a living sacrifice to You. 

Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.

What's a little rain?

Paul endured more suffering and hardships than most of us will ever have to endure.  He knew how to get through those times - He relied completely on the Lord Jesus who never failed to provide comfort in all his troubles.

2 Corinthians 1:3-11
³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷ And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

⁸ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, ¹¹ as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

As Paul attempted to encourage the Corinthian believers who were surrounded with all kinds of evil, he reminded them of the comfort he always found by trusting Christ to bring him through any struggle.   In fact, he recognized that the very struggles he endured through the strength and power of Christ, those same struggles provided a means for him to encourage and comfort others who were dealing with the same difficulties.  "we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."  

Too many times, we blame God for our struggles which is exactly Satan's scheme - he causes all kins of chaos in our lives to pull us away from the ONE who can get us through anything.  Our battle is not against God.  It is against the Enemy.  Remember the struggles and suffering Job endured?  Those things were from Satan - not from God.  Yes, God allowed the suffering, but don't miss this important thing.  He trusted Job to stay faithful.  Maybe He trusts you to stand firm in the struggles He allows in your life.  Job was a powerful witness for God and we can be too, when we face struggles by putting all our trust in Him.

Although I don't believe God causes our suffering, I do  believe that God sometimes allows suffering in our lives to continue in order to strengthen our dependence on Him. Suffering can also increase our ability to have compassion and mercy towards others who are enduring the same type of struggle. 

But why wouldn't He in His omnipotence just remove every one's suffering?  He is showing us how to love one another and nothing draws people together better than difficult times.  When our friends or family hurt, we draw near to offer our help.   The person who is suffering feels loved and comforted.  Relationships are created out of the struggles.  And every time we rely of Jesus to carry us through the struggles, every time we turn to Him for comfort and strength to handle the circumstance, someone is watching and learning about the amazing comfort found in Christ.

The NLT translation living bible note on this passage is very good:

"Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away.  But if that were always so, people would turn to God only out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for Him.  We must understand that being "comforted" can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope to deal with our troubles.  The more we suffer, the more comfort God gives us.  If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort you.  Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles."

God created us for relationship - with HIM and with others. The greatest command is to Love the Lord with all our hearts, minds and souls.  The second - to loves others as we love ourselves.  Unfortunately, we humans don't always find it easy to love like Jesus loves - unconditionally.  But what I've experienced is that when someone is struggling with the same struggles I have faced in life, I'm drawn to them.  I want them to know there is hope in Christ.  A kinship is formed because I understand their pain and struggle.  I want to comfort them as I have been comforted by Christ.  An amazing thing begins to happen.  I begin to love that person and care about what happens to them. 
So the very struggle that I endured has become a platform to help me reach out in love to others.

Paul's struggles were much more noble than mine.  His were struggles were because of his testimony for Christ.  Some have struggles because of illness and things out of their control.  My struggles have been against my own human nature.  But I see how God in His gracious kindness has used my darkest moments to draw me to Himself and others.

http://youtu.be/kseRKxkq5iY - Bring the Rain - Mercy Me

I couldn't help but notice the last portion of this passage:
¹⁰ He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, ¹¹ as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

When we see someone suffering we can offer comfort and encouragement because we, too, have endured suffering and received comfort from Christ.  But look at what else we can do.  We can pray!
Paul said that our prayers for others actually helps them.  And God answers prayer.

Instead of fighting and complaining about our difficult circumstances, maybe we can learn to trust God to strengthen us through the circumstance.  Maybe our struggles are blessings in disguise.

I love the words of this song -

"Bring me joy, bring me peace,
bring the chance to be free, b
ring me anything that brings You glory.
And I know they'll be days
when this life brings me pain,
but if that's what it takes to praise You, 
Jesus, bring the rain!" 

His Grace is Sufficient

http://youtu.be/JEqfMFAIyGI - Let Your Mercy Rain - Chris Tomlin2 Corinthians 12:9-10Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.








There are days when I feel so worthless.  I read God's Word and realize I don't measure up to the standards He has set for His children, not by a long shot.  And it's so strange but it seems the closer I draw to God, the more I become aware of my shortcomings.  As Paul said in his letter to the Romans, the problem is sin.  The solution: Jesus.

Romans 7:14-25
Struggling with Sin


14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.


21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.


Romans 8:1
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ² And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

That passage always makes me feel so much better.  Imagine! Me and Paul in the same boat.  Paul, considered by most believers to be the most powerful witness for the Risen Lord, that Paul!  He struggled with the same things I do.  He wanted to do better.  Me, too.  But Paul knew about Grace better than anyone.  I have experienced that Grace abundantly myself.

Paul was an enemy of the Faith for so long.  But then Jesus reached out to him and Paul responded.  His sins were great but the Grace of God was greater than all of Paul's sins. 

I have been an enemy of the Faith. And even though I don't want to do wrong,  I fall short of His glory every day in one way or another.  But Jesus is so faithful.  He has gifted every believer with the most power force in the Universe - the Spirit of God.  His Holy Spirit lives in me and you giving us the strength we need to keep getting back up no matter how many times we fall. 

That is Grace - Amazing Grace.

There was a time when I thought I had sinned too many times against my Savior, that He couldn't possibly forgive my willful transgressions.  I remember clearly thinking, "How dare I ask for His help after turning my back on Him.  I don't deserve another chance.  I don't deserve His forgiveness nor His help."  But that was Satan and he was so convincing.

But then my Father drew me back.  The link above is to the song,  "Let Your Mercy Rain".  I just love the lyrics.  One of the lines says "He came running looking for us" .  Thank You, Lord!  God came running looking for me. I know without a doubt He sought me when I was so far away.  He never let go.  He blessed me with another son at the impossible age of 46.   He knew just what it would take for me to receive His Grace again.  That baby boy that God entrusted to me was the instrument HE used to bring me back to church, where I could hear about His mercy.  Sitting in church I was reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made for all my sins.

I listened as God used preachers and teachers to remind me of how far reaching the Grace of God truly is.  And I realized all He required from me was a broken heart over my sins and an acknowledgement that I needed my Savior.  I turned back to Him, just like the prodigal son, and He was there with open arms.  I know the angels in heaven rejoiced when this lost lamb found her way back home.
I'm not good enough.  I never will be.  And that's okay. God knew I would fall, not once or twice but every day.  He loves me anyway.  He loved me so much that He made a way for lost souls just like me to find redemption and salvation - He sacrificed His precious spotless Son.  The suffering and death that Jesus endured was more than enough to cover all our sins.  Praise God!

When I read the Bible and see God's instructions for living a life that is holy - I understand that should be my goal.  I try to obey His directions but I still mess up.  I keep trying.  I keep getting back up - with His help. That is what He requires.  My heart's desire is to make Jesus proud.  To show others the joy I have from following Him - that's my aim.

I no longer worry about being good enough.  I don't go about trying to do lots of good deeds so that I can some how offset all the sins I commit. Any good I do is in gratitude - not to get gold stars. 

Now, because of His gracious mercy, I am so thankful and full of love for Him that I just want to honor Him with every part of my life.  I mess up every day but my heart belongs to Christ.  And He knows that.  I get up and start over many times during the course of day, and each time, I thank God for His Grace.

I hope you can listen to this song sung by Laura Story.  I can certainly identify with every word.
His Grace is abundantly sufficient.  Thank You for reminding me, Lord!



http://youtu.be/56fTWlFxvgs - Grace - Laura Story


My heart is so proud. My mind is so unfocused.


I see the things You do through me as great things I have done.

And now You gently break me, then lovingly You take me

And hold me as my Father and mold me as my Maker.



[Chorus:]

I ask you: "How many times will You pick me up,

When I keep on letting You down?

And each time I will fall short of Your glory,

How far will forgiveness abound?"

And You answer: " My child, I love you.

And as long as you're seeking My face,

You'll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace."



At times I may grow weak and feel a bit discouraged,

Knowing that someone, somewhere could do a better job.

For who am I to serve You? I know I don't deserve You.

And that's the part that burns in my heart and keeps me hanging on.



[Chorus:]

I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up,

When I keep on letting you down?

And each time I will fall short of Your glory,

How far will forgiveness abound?"

And You answer: " My child, I love you.

And as long as you're seeking My face,

You'll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace."

You are so patient with me, Lord.



As I walk with You, I'm learning what Your grace really means.

The price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary.

So, instead of trying to repay You, I'm learning to simply obey You

By giving up my life to You For all that You've given to me.



[Chorus:]

I ask you: "How many times will You pick me up,

When I keep on letting You down?

And each time I will fall short of Your glory,

How far will forgiveness abound?"

And You answer: " My child, I love you.

And as long as you're seeking My face,

You'll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace."