1 Corinthians 13. It's a book a chapter we've all read and heard. Even if not studied, we've been exposed to it--on t-shirts, mugs, bumper stickers.... But has it become such a "novelty principle" that we no longer analyze its deep implications?
The message:
"If I speak to people in an unfamiliar way of my faith, beliefs and God's love, but don't share my love, I am only an annoying, rambling, irritating noise to them. If I am blessed with special gifts of knowledge and spiritual wisdom to share...and if I have the strongest faith in God of any around but am not able to share pure love then I am nothing, and nothing I do means anything. If I give up everything I have for those who need it most and give my life to save others but do it without His pure Love, it gets me nowhere."
Derived from 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
So this part of the scripture says SO much! The short of it? "NOTHING I do means ANYTHING in this world if I don't have LOVE." But does He mean romance? Passion? A deep care for something? Family?
I think all of the messages/studies I've heard on this scripture pertained to a romantic love or friendships. And while there's nothing wrong with that I don't believe that these scriptures are referring to that...or at least not only that. I believe that God's message here is as simple as "rule #1": Love thy neighbor. He wants us to be filled with Love, exude Love, ooze Love, laugh Love, hug Love and so on. For who? EVERYONE--no matter our differences.
Gender, age, status, race, rank, character, religion, practice....they all segregate us. They put up walls that tear down the conduits for sharing this Love. So is it our job to make paths for Love that aren't there? I mean, really--I HAVE the Love; it's not my fault if I can't share it with certain others because of "the way things are."
But I think the message here says that if I do anything without expressing Love as my reasoning for doing it then it means nothing, goes nowhere, accomplishes nothing.
The message:
"The definition of His kind of Love-- What it is NOT: envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-centered, easily angered/temperamental, unforgiving, unforgetting, and pleasured by what is wrong. What it IS: patient, kind, truthful, trusting, protective, hopeful and always persevering."
Derived from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I find it interesting that scripture uses more words to describe what Love ISN'T than it does to describe what Love IS. Why do you think that is? :)
What stands out here the most to me are these two parts: "it is NOT pleasured by what is wrong" ("doesn't delight in what is evil"); and "it IS always persevering"
I find myself often with that sneaky grin on my face when I think, "Well, good--they deserved that." Gosh that sounds awful...but come on! You've done that too! "What goes around comes around?" Sound familiar? But if we are to find no pleasure in the evil then I suppose I have more work to do, for sure.
"Always persevering"....if I possess this Love then I should always look for ways to share it, no matter how thick the wall or large the barrier. I am supposed to channel Love to others. I am supposed to rebuild those conduits. Love is supposed to battle the world.
The message:
"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
1 Corinthians 13:8-12
It NEVER fails? Well, what about divorces, wars, murder....something went wrong! The Love was lost. Somewhere along the way actions--whether good or bad--were taken without the full meaning of Love. And without Love, we are nothing, receive nothing, get nowhere. Will we reach perfection? I know I won't--not here on this earth....but one day. In the meantime, I think I have a better idea of how to work towards it anyway.
If as a Christian I know that I am supposed to share God's message and salvation with others while I am here on this earth, then I MUST HAVE THIS LOVE to be successful in God's eyes. Do you have it? Do you think before you act and speak, pray and preach? Do you stop to check yourself each time to determine if you're acting, speaking, praying, preaching out of Love? If so, do you stop to ensure that your Love is persevering? Is it really getting through? I know I have a LOT of work to do in this area!
The message:
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13
Wow. It can't get much plainer than that. Love is the most important. Not our faith; not our religion, not the number of times we go to church, tithe, pray, read our Bibles, mission to others, do something for others, volunteer for a charity, hug a child, teach someone.....
So NONE of those things mean anything if they aren't done out of the Love that is described above??? Wow. That's huge. No more "check here to contribute to..." so I can sleep better at night. No more "baking brownies for the church fundraiser..." UNLESS I can honestly do it/say it with complete Love in my heart and on my lips as I do it. The kind of Love described above.
So the GREATEST of these is Love. More meaningful than anything else.
My prayer:
God please help me Love people the way you do. Let them see it in me. Let them feel it from me. Let them know it's from you. Help me remember this in all that I do. Amen!!
Thoughts to ponder...
Can you think of a way that you may be more successful and bear more fruit if you could interject more Love in a part of your life?
Monday, March 8, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The message:
My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My believer.
Derived from John 15:8
We are supposed to be profoundly effective in our mission to shine. It makes us feel good...and it makes God feel good, too! I want to be fruitful and effective. I want to know that I've somehow left an impression of Goodness behind...and shared an indication of its source.
One thing I love noticing in scriptures is that over and over it is mentioned that God rejoices in our success. He wants us to prosper in our lives, and tells us the key to that success is in following his lead. Obedience.
"The report of your obedience has reached everyone; therefore I rejoice over you!" Romans 16:19
Obedience. Ouch. I really don’t like that word. It sounds so confining. "Submission", "deference", "compliance". They all "feel" the same way to me. I guess I've learned to connect those words to negative emotions, most likely due to their definitions' inference of surrendering control. Ouch again.
But in my thesaurus is says that "respect" is a synonym for "obedience." Now that sits well. I don't feel negative about “respect” at all. Even when I have to give up my own desires to follow another's plan, if I respect them then it doesn't matter to me. There's no bother.
I respect God. After all, each and every time that I did "obey" and follow his direction he never let me down! I feel him and can honestly say that every time I've asked for his specific blessing of ___, it was given.... I have been "rescued", "fed", "relieved", "loved", "comforted" and so much more. So, yes, respect is definitely there.
"The report of your respect has reached everyone; therefore I rejoice over you." Now that sounds right to me. It completely changes the way I view that verse. I can do that! I can respect him and let him guide me and then he'll rejoice...over me??? Me?? Really? That's pretty cool! I know I feel joy and great satisfaction when I realize that my decisions to go with him resulted in immeasurable blessing. And that's a give and take that feels like an equally respectful opportunity!
Thoughts to ponder:
Do you think you’ve ever missed the mark in His message because of your human connection of a word to a past experience or emotion? If so, have you ever considered examining that word and exploring its true meaning? That simple practice can change everything…
My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My believer.
Derived from John 15:8
We are supposed to be profoundly effective in our mission to shine. It makes us feel good...and it makes God feel good, too! I want to be fruitful and effective. I want to know that I've somehow left an impression of Goodness behind...and shared an indication of its source.
One thing I love noticing in scriptures is that over and over it is mentioned that God rejoices in our success. He wants us to prosper in our lives, and tells us the key to that success is in following his lead. Obedience.
"The report of your obedience has reached everyone; therefore I rejoice over you!" Romans 16:19
Obedience. Ouch. I really don’t like that word. It sounds so confining. "Submission", "deference", "compliance". They all "feel" the same way to me. I guess I've learned to connect those words to negative emotions, most likely due to their definitions' inference of surrendering control. Ouch again.
But in my thesaurus is says that "respect" is a synonym for "obedience." Now that sits well. I don't feel negative about “respect” at all. Even when I have to give up my own desires to follow another's plan, if I respect them then it doesn't matter to me. There's no bother.
I respect God. After all, each and every time that I did "obey" and follow his direction he never let me down! I feel him and can honestly say that every time I've asked for his specific blessing of ___, it was given.... I have been "rescued", "fed", "relieved", "loved", "comforted" and so much more. So, yes, respect is definitely there.
"The report of your respect has reached everyone; therefore I rejoice over you." Now that sounds right to me. It completely changes the way I view that verse. I can do that! I can respect him and let him guide me and then he'll rejoice...over me??? Me?? Really? That's pretty cool! I know I feel joy and great satisfaction when I realize that my decisions to go with him resulted in immeasurable blessing. And that's a give and take that feels like an equally respectful opportunity!
Thoughts to ponder:
Do you think you’ve ever missed the mark in His message because of your human connection of a word to a past experience or emotion? If so, have you ever considered examining that word and exploring its true meaning? That simple practice can change everything…
What's your focus?
I want to find the unique and Godly balance between revealing my raw humanity without apology, permission or regret, and spiritually leading.
Some may look at this statement and think "She wants to be a Hypocrite?" No…but I want to be "real." I don’t want to place humans on the pedestal instead of God; and I don’t want to be on a pedestal in place of God.
I want people to see that my emphasis is on God; but that I’m a human being…nothing special…no better than others…but perfectly capable of loving and living Him. I am not happy to see people in churches who become focused on members, money, power, influence, prominence, sustainability, control, dominance, righteousness, image, and means; but then again, people are human…and humans will always fail.
We're human—goofing up is what we do! We screw up often, pee in our own cheerios, and fall short each day. Our faith will never be fruitful if we hold one human to higher expectations than others so we can slap a label on it and call it a "man of god". No wonder "Christianity" has created such distorted perceptions for some. Some people have been taught by other Christians to keep their eyes on the church; on the pastor--and not on the message.
The message:
God I have heard about you. God, I am in awe of the good I have seen you do. God, continue your good works in my time.
Derived from Habakkuk 3:2
My challenge: To keep my focus, as a Christian, on what I hear, see, know and believe God can and will do; and on my prayer that He will continue to reveal himself now and forever; using me, calling me and directing me vividly.
Thoughts to ponder: God has many titles that all too often lose their "punch" due to casual use. But to examine closer....
As Savior--he rescues
As Deliverer--he gets results
As Redeemer--he forgives and renews
As Master--he assumes authority
As Bread of Life--he provides
As Almighty--he exerts divine strength
As The Light--he directs and guides
As Father--he nurtures and protects
As The One--he is the focus
As The Healer--he consoles and mends
As The Beneficent--he provides relief and compassion
It seems to mean so much more when I focus on the definition; not the overused titles! Okay--so jump in the deep end with me for a minute:
If these definitions are accurate, is He really all of these things ALL the time??
Some may look at this statement and think "She wants to be a Hypocrite?" No…but I want to be "real." I don’t want to place humans on the pedestal instead of God; and I don’t want to be on a pedestal in place of God.
I want people to see that my emphasis is on God; but that I’m a human being…nothing special…no better than others…but perfectly capable of loving and living Him. I am not happy to see people in churches who become focused on members, money, power, influence, prominence, sustainability, control, dominance, righteousness, image, and means; but then again, people are human…and humans will always fail.
We're human—goofing up is what we do! We screw up often, pee in our own cheerios, and fall short each day. Our faith will never be fruitful if we hold one human to higher expectations than others so we can slap a label on it and call it a "man of god". No wonder "Christianity" has created such distorted perceptions for some. Some people have been taught by other Christians to keep their eyes on the church; on the pastor--and not on the message.
The message:
God I have heard about you. God, I am in awe of the good I have seen you do. God, continue your good works in my time.
Derived from Habakkuk 3:2
My challenge: To keep my focus, as a Christian, on what I hear, see, know and believe God can and will do; and on my prayer that He will continue to reveal himself now and forever; using me, calling me and directing me vividly.
Thoughts to ponder: God has many titles that all too often lose their "punch" due to casual use. But to examine closer....
As Savior--he rescues
As Deliverer--he gets results
As Redeemer--he forgives and renews
As Master--he assumes authority
As Bread of Life--he provides
As Almighty--he exerts divine strength
As The Light--he directs and guides
As Father--he nurtures and protects
As The One--he is the focus
As The Healer--he consoles and mends
As The Beneficent--he provides relief and compassion
It seems to mean so much more when I focus on the definition; not the overused titles! Okay--so jump in the deep end with me for a minute:
If these definitions are accurate, is He really all of these things ALL the time??
Is "perception" EVERYTHING?
I recently spoke with a pastor of a large, leading church in a big metropolitan area. This sweet pastor had recently lost his young daughter to tragedy. He mentioned to me his struggle to display “public righteousness with grief.” I was confused for a moment…then realized what he meant. There was pressure there—a pressure of being watched and needing to set the example. But that pressure had not allowed him and his family to grieve humanly.
So I asked him...was the pressure external or internal? Spiritual or professional? You know what he said? It was the “Christian world out there”. It wasn't his church leaders putting on the pressure; it wasn't God; it wasn't their friends or church members--it was the perceptions that the 'world' (aka 'other Christians out there) holds spiritual leaders to a higher standard of expectations in everything.
Bam! And there it was: the problem—“WHO holds spiritual leaders to a higher standard of living??" Not God?? Not friends?? Not family?? Not employers?? Oh--that's right--"CHRISTIANS" do. Hmmm. That is screwed up--bad. And the sad part is that a perception IS a person’s reality until something changes that perception.
Sure, all people--spiritual leaders included--are challenged with a mission and purpose in life to live well, love well, produce well, influence well, etc. But God doesn't place "rules" or "requirements" on us, does he? I don't think so. I think the intended focus is more on the personal overhaul...working within our own hearts to perceive ideas and people the way God would, without judgment and with much love....and then signifying to others that our perceptions are derived from God's messages and unconditional love.
So if that IS the way it is; then shouldn't the "Christians of the world" reflect that? I'd be horrified to know that someone felt pressured to perform a certain way--especially in the toughest time in their life--for MY benefit, belief, opinion, or need!!
So in further conversation, the pastor said that he and his wife finally learned how to compartmentalize their grief--the "grief for the public" and then the "grief for themselves." So very privately they screamed, ranted, raved, resented, questioned, doubted within their hearts and minds in order to work through the loss of their precious little girl. But on the surface they reflected sadness, peace, understanding, courage, strength and thank fullness--all to "glorify the Lord" for their daughter’s time here on earth and legacy of love she left behind. By separating it this way did it prevent them from grieving naturally? Were they able to use their God-given tools to work through their raw human emotions…or was it all too separated?
What would have happened if this sweet, spiritual family had allowed the public to see their human side…their disgust with ‘fate’?
I may be wrong…but I think their perception may have been right. I think the earth would have shaken when certain Christians of the world demanded action! They'd jump on the phone to call their own church leaders, who would then go to the religious hierarchy, who would then put pressure on the pastor’s church to severe themselves or get him under control. I'm quite sure that there are churches out there who are full of such Christians and power.
So there was, indeed, quite a pressure....a human one; a worldly one; a selfish one. NOT a Godly one. And that's sad. Really sad.
So I asked him...was the pressure external or internal? Spiritual or professional? You know what he said? It was the “Christian world out there”. It wasn't his church leaders putting on the pressure; it wasn't God; it wasn't their friends or church members--it was the perceptions that the 'world' (aka 'other Christians out there) holds spiritual leaders to a higher standard of expectations in everything.
Bam! And there it was: the problem—“WHO holds spiritual leaders to a higher standard of living??" Not God?? Not friends?? Not family?? Not employers?? Oh--that's right--"CHRISTIANS" do. Hmmm. That is screwed up--bad. And the sad part is that a perception IS a person’s reality until something changes that perception.
Sure, all people--spiritual leaders included--are challenged with a mission and purpose in life to live well, love well, produce well, influence well, etc. But God doesn't place "rules" or "requirements" on us, does he? I don't think so. I think the intended focus is more on the personal overhaul...working within our own hearts to perceive ideas and people the way God would, without judgment and with much love....and then signifying to others that our perceptions are derived from God's messages and unconditional love.
So if that IS the way it is; then shouldn't the "Christians of the world" reflect that? I'd be horrified to know that someone felt pressured to perform a certain way--especially in the toughest time in their life--for MY benefit, belief, opinion, or need!!
So in further conversation, the pastor said that he and his wife finally learned how to compartmentalize their grief--the "grief for the public" and then the "grief for themselves." So very privately they screamed, ranted, raved, resented, questioned, doubted within their hearts and minds in order to work through the loss of their precious little girl. But on the surface they reflected sadness, peace, understanding, courage, strength and thank fullness--all to "glorify the Lord" for their daughter’s time here on earth and legacy of love she left behind. By separating it this way did it prevent them from grieving naturally? Were they able to use their God-given tools to work through their raw human emotions…or was it all too separated?
What would have happened if this sweet, spiritual family had allowed the public to see their human side…their disgust with ‘fate’?
I may be wrong…but I think their perception may have been right. I think the earth would have shaken when certain Christians of the world demanded action! They'd jump on the phone to call their own church leaders, who would then go to the religious hierarchy, who would then put pressure on the pastor’s church to severe themselves or get him under control. I'm quite sure that there are churches out there who are full of such Christians and power.
So there was, indeed, quite a pressure....a human one; a worldly one; a selfish one. NOT a Godly one. And that's sad. Really sad.
The "Righteous Human"...an oxymoron??
I had the best evening yesterday! We had dinner with some dear friends who are moving today to Kansas City. This was my Dad's best friend; and some very special spiritual mentors in my life. Anyway, we joined them and a number of their friends (who were characters in my life way back when I was just a child) and just had such wonderful conversations! My Dad’s friend (we’ll call him Hunter) is THE MOST real "man of God" (pastor/writer) I have ever been blessed to know and I so want to identify the things that set he and his wife apart. I mean....he is so true to others and himself--and I find it so refreshing that he's so uninhibited and can just be human with a spiritual twist! :)
I think that it is this: Hunter and his wife both have such a strong belief that 1) there is a God; 2) God's messages and promises provided to us are real and true; 3) God is loving and forgiving and supportive of all of us when we allow him to be; 4) that God will reveal himself THROUGH the two of them--and not because they are "living righteously"; but because they are displaying their GENUINE love for people--all people! And those who are around them even for a short time can see it...and it's a miracle in itself, I think.
But what sets them apart from others I know who also radiate a genuine love for people and an indefinable joy, is that Hunter and his wife have found a very simple way to signal to those who are watching them that their joy and love is channeling through them from a higher power. They are not afraid to use God's name. Every now and then they may interject a simple praise to God in their conversation. But not an "Amen" or "Hallelujah"...it's more like a "Well, you know, God told me a long time ago that I needed to straighten up and fly right..." or "When we finally sold our house we knew God was saying 'Okay, you've been waiting for this; and it's time!'"
They are simple gestures; indications of where their radiance is generated from. But somehow it comes out so casually--but with such honesty and genuineness--that the message comes across with ease. It's understood; not smeared in your face.
Man! I want to be like that!! THAT'S (in my opinion) how we're supposed to live. They have set the standard in my book for what it means to "let your Light shine for all to see."
Thoughts to Ponder…
Do the Christians of the world (the righteous, powerful Christian leaders in churches everywhere) put too much pressure on Spiritual leaders to be more “righteous” than “human”?
I think that it is this: Hunter and his wife both have such a strong belief that 1) there is a God; 2) God's messages and promises provided to us are real and true; 3) God is loving and forgiving and supportive of all of us when we allow him to be; 4) that God will reveal himself THROUGH the two of them--and not because they are "living righteously"; but because they are displaying their GENUINE love for people--all people! And those who are around them even for a short time can see it...and it's a miracle in itself, I think.
But what sets them apart from others I know who also radiate a genuine love for people and an indefinable joy, is that Hunter and his wife have found a very simple way to signal to those who are watching them that their joy and love is channeling through them from a higher power. They are not afraid to use God's name. Every now and then they may interject a simple praise to God in their conversation. But not an "Amen" or "Hallelujah"...it's more like a "Well, you know, God told me a long time ago that I needed to straighten up and fly right..." or "When we finally sold our house we knew God was saying 'Okay, you've been waiting for this; and it's time!'"
They are simple gestures; indications of where their radiance is generated from. But somehow it comes out so casually--but with such honesty and genuineness--that the message comes across with ease. It's understood; not smeared in your face.
Man! I want to be like that!! THAT'S (in my opinion) how we're supposed to live. They have set the standard in my book for what it means to "let your Light shine for all to see."
Thoughts to Ponder…
Do the Christians of the world (the righteous, powerful Christian leaders in churches everywhere) put too much pressure on Spiritual leaders to be more “righteous” than “human”?
Using the right tools can make all the diffence!
The message:
God's messages to us are living and effective; and sharper than any two-edged sword...They set the standards of the ideas and thoughts of our hearts.
Derived from Hebrews 4:12
I thought this was so cool! It's just what I’ve said a million times..."if more people would just 'live right', 'love others', 'dismiss judgments', 'respect the earth', etc." What I mean by saying that is that those principles should be everyone's standard for living. The world would be so much better then!
And under the surface of thousands of scriptures are precious messages like those...so why am I just now starting to see them all?? I think I've finally been out of the “church” long enough to have rid myself of the preconceived notions I've had for so long of God's Holy Word. It once seemed so formal; so unfriendly; so intimidating and stiff--so judgmental. But when I changed my perception to think of the Bible as a "helpful book of wonderful messages for living a better life the way Goodness intended" and then it began to seem so much more real for me.
So the words "living" and "effective" really caught my soul in this verse. It's so true! So many times I've been so moved by God--directed, "called", "led", whatever you want to call it. And when I listen and follow....amazing things happen that are always SO effective! If only all of my energy could be surrendered to such missions...maybe then I'd be less exhausted. Which makes me think...
Maybe ALL of these messages bring that level of effectiveness when truly lived. Maybe I can do a better job of LIVING the messages to be more EFFECTIVE all the time---with or without some huge wave of spiritual directive. If I believe IN God then I believe GOD; and if God's message says that His messages are this way, then I must believe they are.
So this message lives in me now, and it will be another effective tool I will use to live better, love better, respect better, forgive better. It will be a good measuring device for me...my "checks and balances", if you will. (And the verse's reference to the sword implies to me that it's an incredibly powerful tool; "sharper than any", actually.) Lord knows I need it! I find it a daily chore to reference my tool kit in ALL of my actions; but then I guess everyone finds it a challenge. We're certainly not perfect; but we can all do better to let these divine messages set the standards for our hearts and minds.
God's messages to us are living and effective; and sharper than any two-edged sword...They set the standards of the ideas and thoughts of our hearts.
Derived from Hebrews 4:12
I thought this was so cool! It's just what I’ve said a million times..."if more people would just 'live right', 'love others', 'dismiss judgments', 'respect the earth', etc." What I mean by saying that is that those principles should be everyone's standard for living. The world would be so much better then!
And under the surface of thousands of scriptures are precious messages like those...so why am I just now starting to see them all?? I think I've finally been out of the “church” long enough to have rid myself of the preconceived notions I've had for so long of God's Holy Word. It once seemed so formal; so unfriendly; so intimidating and stiff--so judgmental. But when I changed my perception to think of the Bible as a "helpful book of wonderful messages for living a better life the way Goodness intended" and then it began to seem so much more real for me.
So the words "living" and "effective" really caught my soul in this verse. It's so true! So many times I've been so moved by God--directed, "called", "led", whatever you want to call it. And when I listen and follow....amazing things happen that are always SO effective! If only all of my energy could be surrendered to such missions...maybe then I'd be less exhausted. Which makes me think...
Maybe ALL of these messages bring that level of effectiveness when truly lived. Maybe I can do a better job of LIVING the messages to be more EFFECTIVE all the time---with or without some huge wave of spiritual directive. If I believe IN God then I believe GOD; and if God's message says that His messages are this way, then I must believe they are.
So this message lives in me now, and it will be another effective tool I will use to live better, love better, respect better, forgive better. It will be a good measuring device for me...my "checks and balances", if you will. (And the verse's reference to the sword implies to me that it's an incredibly powerful tool; "sharper than any", actually.) Lord knows I need it! I find it a daily chore to reference my tool kit in ALL of my actions; but then I guess everyone finds it a challenge. We're certainly not perfect; but we can all do better to let these divine messages set the standards for our hearts and minds.
I don't doubt it...
The message:
The person who doubts becomes a surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. The one who doubts should not expect to receive the total blessings God has planned for them.
Derived from James 1:6-7
So I think this plays into the "food for thought" topic--believing IN God vs. believing GOD. If I believe there is a greater power of absolute goodness and Love (God to me) who I believe sets our standards of living, then I must see enough worth in Him to also believe what He says without doubt! I guess it would be a double standard not to do both.
With that said, I'm personally trying to use my tool-kit to approach my own life a little differently--a little better, more positive and open to receiving His blessings and directions. This lesson spoke volumes to me! I am a chronic doubter; therefore I'm so easily influenced by stress, people's attitudes, my own perceptions or paranoid fears.... So I have to ask myself: How many of His blessings in life have I been too distracted by doubt and control to notice or receive?
I guess I doubt because I'm trying to rely too much on myself and/or other humans to steer my life most of the time--rather than relying on Him to lead me. (It's that control issue again!) And humans are unreliable most often--and we know that! That's why we fear and doubt that our missions will succeed...because we're trying to steer it, and other people, to the goal. No wonder I get so friggin' frustrated! It would be so much better to play the games that He knows we're best at so that we're relying on the backing of His incredible power. Boy, that'd remove some doubt, eh? (That is if we truly believe him and the things he's promised us. Why IS it so hard to have pure, blind faith absent of any doubt, worry or fear??!?)
Of course this will be a habit I'll have to really work hard to break; but I BELIEVE that this message is His, therefore I must BELIEVE the message has great merit.
Thought to ponder...
If I intend to have an impact on others through my personal demonstration of "organic faith" (grass roots, straight from Him, without boundaries, church walls, race, age, status or past) then I must prove that my method is successful in revealing God's pure love for all people. So am I personally producing fruit, both inside and out, to suggest that "it works?"
My personal challenge:
I will do better to fully trust that He will provide an ideal path for me, and I will continue to check myself so that my "self" is removed and my heart is open to receiving even His most soft-spoken direction.
The person who doubts becomes a surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. The one who doubts should not expect to receive the total blessings God has planned for them.
Derived from James 1:6-7
So I think this plays into the "food for thought" topic--believing IN God vs. believing GOD. If I believe there is a greater power of absolute goodness and Love (God to me) who I believe sets our standards of living, then I must see enough worth in Him to also believe what He says without doubt! I guess it would be a double standard not to do both.
With that said, I'm personally trying to use my tool-kit to approach my own life a little differently--a little better, more positive and open to receiving His blessings and directions. This lesson spoke volumes to me! I am a chronic doubter; therefore I'm so easily influenced by stress, people's attitudes, my own perceptions or paranoid fears.... So I have to ask myself: How many of His blessings in life have I been too distracted by doubt and control to notice or receive?
I guess I doubt because I'm trying to rely too much on myself and/or other humans to steer my life most of the time--rather than relying on Him to lead me. (It's that control issue again!) And humans are unreliable most often--and we know that! That's why we fear and doubt that our missions will succeed...because we're trying to steer it, and other people, to the goal. No wonder I get so friggin' frustrated! It would be so much better to play the games that He knows we're best at so that we're relying on the backing of His incredible power. Boy, that'd remove some doubt, eh? (That is if we truly believe him and the things he's promised us. Why IS it so hard to have pure, blind faith absent of any doubt, worry or fear??!?)
Of course this will be a habit I'll have to really work hard to break; but I BELIEVE that this message is His, therefore I must BELIEVE the message has great merit.
Thought to ponder...
If I intend to have an impact on others through my personal demonstration of "organic faith" (grass roots, straight from Him, without boundaries, church walls, race, age, status or past) then I must prove that my method is successful in revealing God's pure love for all people. So am I personally producing fruit, both inside and out, to suggest that "it works?"
My personal challenge:
I will do better to fully trust that He will provide an ideal path for me, and I will continue to check myself so that my "self" is removed and my heart is open to receiving even His most soft-spoken direction.
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