Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Calculated Risks
Sometimes we need to take a calculated risk, in faith. Not all risks are wise. Some are careless and cause more trouble than good, but there are times when we need to calculate the cost, evaluate the circumstances and GO FOR IT. Risks can pay off handsomely when wisdom is used.
I was reading an autobiography of a famous women. She went on and on about one divine connection after another and she wasn't particularly spiritual. I began to wonder how did all this happen for her? I realized she lived a spontaneous life. She was willing to change her plans, go on a whim and jump at anything. Her risks paid off every time. It got me thinking, "I'm playing it way too safe!". With God on my side and I on His, I should be taking more chances, in faith.
When I take a risk I know logically all the dots don't connect and God will have to step in if this risk is to turn into a success story. I know I'm leaving dry land and stepping on water. It's in those places where we exercise our faith - like weight lifting! Let's pump some iron!
I'm an over thinker. I like to prepare. I like to know what's next. I like to do good and follow the rules when I can. I'm not very good at being spontaneous or taking risks in faith. My husband on the other hand is extroverted, spontaneous, lighthearted and free in ways I'm not.The Lord has been teaching me to embrace my husbands differences as a good thing. He brings balance to me. The Lord has funneled many blessing through my husband's fun loving, easy going personality - blessings I would have missed out on because I wouldn't have jumped.
A calculated risk means you've done your part. You've obeyed the Lord. You've acted with wisdom and wise counsel and then decide to take a few steps beyond what's safe. You test the waters to see if these are waters the Lord's called you to walk on. Many times we stay on dry land and cry out for more, when the Lord is saying "Come to me, walk out here with me."
What chances and risks is God beckoning you to take today? Do you trust Him? Are you courageous? If we live our lives safe, only extending ourselves where logic says we can, we will never see God increase us. It's when we step out, expecting our Lord to meet us, that He actual does. Are you giving Him a chance to do super natural things in your life? Or are you playing it way too safe?
I was reading an autobiography of a famous women. She went on and on about one divine connection after another and she wasn't particularly spiritual. I began to wonder how did all this happen for her? I realized she lived a spontaneous life. She was willing to change her plans, go on a whim and jump at anything. Her risks paid off every time. It got me thinking, "I'm playing it way too safe!". With God on my side and I on His, I should be taking more chances, in faith.
When I take a risk I know logically all the dots don't connect and God will have to step in if this risk is to turn into a success story. I know I'm leaving dry land and stepping on water. It's in those places where we exercise our faith - like weight lifting! Let's pump some iron!
I'm an over thinker. I like to prepare. I like to know what's next. I like to do good and follow the rules when I can. I'm not very good at being spontaneous or taking risks in faith. My husband on the other hand is extroverted, spontaneous, lighthearted and free in ways I'm not.The Lord has been teaching me to embrace my husbands differences as a good thing. He brings balance to me. The Lord has funneled many blessing through my husband's fun loving, easy going personality - blessings I would have missed out on because I wouldn't have jumped.
A calculated risk means you've done your part. You've obeyed the Lord. You've acted with wisdom and wise counsel and then decide to take a few steps beyond what's safe. You test the waters to see if these are waters the Lord's called you to walk on. Many times we stay on dry land and cry out for more, when the Lord is saying "Come to me, walk out here with me."
What chances and risks is God beckoning you to take today? Do you trust Him? Are you courageous? If we live our lives safe, only extending ourselves where logic says we can, we will never see God increase us. It's when we step out, expecting our Lord to meet us, that He actual does. Are you giving Him a chance to do super natural things in your life? Or are you playing it way too safe?
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Right fighters
Some Christians want to argue about everything when it comes to the Bible. They feel it's their job to tell everyone how incorrect their theology is, whether it's more grace or less grace, pharisee this or pharisee that and blah blah blah, it's always something. They are simply allowing the enemy to use them as a distraction. If ministries spent time defending themselves against each and every Christian like this they'd do nothing else because it would be a full time job. Plus, these people usually argue over scriptures they've taken out of context and bring a spirit of confusion into every debate. No one could possible have it right, except them.
The Bible itself is not confusing, it's written at a 4th grade reading level. It says what it means and means what it says. We make the Bible confusing by adding and taking away what we want to fit our own theology. Instead we should allow the Bible to form what we think, not use the Bible to prove what we already think.
When we use scriptures out of context and have a "take this verse but not that verse" mentality it's usually because we are trying to defending something in our own life. Whether we are living in open sin, or want to be right in some area, we ignore scriptures that challenge us and embrace those that accept what we love.What's the point of living this way? Following Jesus is all about transformation, new birth, new life, redemption. If we only want to embrace scriptures that defend our old ways, what's the point?
Let's read the Bible with an open and honest heart. Let's see it for what it is and allow the Holy Spirit to do whatever work in us that He wishes.
There was this one guy that would always try argue about scriptures. It seemed any scripture with the slightest hint of correction was considered a "Pharisees" verse to him and he'd dismiss it completely and argue with anyone that mentioned it, even if the verse was from the New Testament. The thing is he lived in all sorts of open sinful behavior with no desire to change. He'd cause these huge debates, and confront anyone who embraced a verse he didn't simply because he was on a mission to prove his way was right in order to sooth his own conscious.
What is the point of trying to defend or explain your views to someone like this? It's really not about you, but his heart. You could debate until you were blue in the face it wouldn't make a difference. That's why ministers can't debate everyone that rises up against them, because many times it's not about the ministry, it's about the other person's heart. They are trying to find peace within themselves about their lifestyle.
The New Testament is full of scriptures about living holy and grace. You can't eliminate one or the other, but those who want to debate are usually those who have chosen one or the other. I really don't understand it. Wouldn't you want to know God for who He is, not just who you want Him to be? I do. Why is holiness such a bad thing? Why is grace so scary to some people? Both are amazing. Both are needed and both are true throughout the New Testament.
If we find that we disagree with someone's ministry it's best we settle in our hearts to "agree to disagree". Arguing and debating only brings out the ugliness in both sides and is a huge disservices to the body of Christ. Plus it's a waste of time because neither of us are truly trying to understand the other person's point of view, we are only trying to "win".
When I was younger I'd debate with people a lot. I thought it was the right thing to do until I believe God showed me the very thing I'm sharing in this blog. It's better to ignore or separate yourself from people that have a need to prove something all the time. It will consume your time, energy and emotions and stop you from being productive in the area of ministry God's placed you.
Don't mistakenly make the focus of your ministry about fighting everyone else - trying to discredit other people. On the other hand, if you are the one coming under attack don't wast your ministry by defending yourselves to everyone who rises against you. God lifts up and pulls down. We should focus on doing what He's called us to do with integrity and leave the rest up to Him.
The Bible itself is not confusing, it's written at a 4th grade reading level. It says what it means and means what it says. We make the Bible confusing by adding and taking away what we want to fit our own theology. Instead we should allow the Bible to form what we think, not use the Bible to prove what we already think.
When we use scriptures out of context and have a "take this verse but not that verse" mentality it's usually because we are trying to defending something in our own life. Whether we are living in open sin, or want to be right in some area, we ignore scriptures that challenge us and embrace those that accept what we love.What's the point of living this way? Following Jesus is all about transformation, new birth, new life, redemption. If we only want to embrace scriptures that defend our old ways, what's the point?
Let's read the Bible with an open and honest heart. Let's see it for what it is and allow the Holy Spirit to do whatever work in us that He wishes.
There was this one guy that would always try argue about scriptures. It seemed any scripture with the slightest hint of correction was considered a "Pharisees" verse to him and he'd dismiss it completely and argue with anyone that mentioned it, even if the verse was from the New Testament. The thing is he lived in all sorts of open sinful behavior with no desire to change. He'd cause these huge debates, and confront anyone who embraced a verse he didn't simply because he was on a mission to prove his way was right in order to sooth his own conscious.
What is the point of trying to defend or explain your views to someone like this? It's really not about you, but his heart. You could debate until you were blue in the face it wouldn't make a difference. That's why ministers can't debate everyone that rises up against them, because many times it's not about the ministry, it's about the other person's heart. They are trying to find peace within themselves about their lifestyle.
The New Testament is full of scriptures about living holy and grace. You can't eliminate one or the other, but those who want to debate are usually those who have chosen one or the other. I really don't understand it. Wouldn't you want to know God for who He is, not just who you want Him to be? I do. Why is holiness such a bad thing? Why is grace so scary to some people? Both are amazing. Both are needed and both are true throughout the New Testament.
If we find that we disagree with someone's ministry it's best we settle in our hearts to "agree to disagree". Arguing and debating only brings out the ugliness in both sides and is a huge disservices to the body of Christ. Plus it's a waste of time because neither of us are truly trying to understand the other person's point of view, we are only trying to "win".
When I was younger I'd debate with people a lot. I thought it was the right thing to do until I believe God showed me the very thing I'm sharing in this blog. It's better to ignore or separate yourself from people that have a need to prove something all the time. It will consume your time, energy and emotions and stop you from being productive in the area of ministry God's placed you.
Don't mistakenly make the focus of your ministry about fighting everyone else - trying to discredit other people. On the other hand, if you are the one coming under attack don't wast your ministry by defending yourselves to everyone who rises against you. God lifts up and pulls down. We should focus on doing what He's called us to do with integrity and leave the rest up to Him.
Monday, August 20, 2012
We pray and surrender
My hubs and I have been house hunting the past few weeks. If you've ever house hunted you know the emotional roller coaster it takes you on. "I love this house!", "No, I love THIS house", "Agh! I hate this house, umm, wait, no I change my mind I LOVE it" not to mention the countless houses you love online but are sold before you get to see them. The mixed emotions that come with finding a place to dig roots and start a family is exhausting. Thankfully I have God and I'm not left to my own wishy-washy feelings.
Before we started this process we committed our ways to the Lord. We agreed we would pray about every step. We believe,"The steps of the Godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of theirs lives." and if we "Seek His will in all we do He will show us which path to take." The Bible also says, "He (God) determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." Being confident in God's desires to lead us we have laid every house we've loved at His feet. He has closed every door thus far. Of course we could have pushed our way through, but we fear the Lord and honor Him, so we humbly bow and let go, no matter how emotionally connected we've become to a house. He has something better.
No matter how many times we tell ourselves not to get attached to a house it still happens. Our minds begin filling the house with our stuff, we envision our future kids playing, inviting guests over for dinner, holding Bible studies, watching our dog run in the yard. So it's painful when a door closes. It's as if a part of you is being ripped away. The good part is ultimately after a few tears and words of encouragement to one another, we know God is control. We don't submit our ways to Him because He forces us to, we do it because we want to. Because we trust Him. He knows best.
When we pray and surrender our will for God's will. We know we're risking losing things we think we want. Though painful, we are soon pleasantly surprised when He gives us more than we expected. He blesses us with things we truly want and need, but didn't recognize.
This is the confidence we have in our God. He has good plans for us. This goes for every area of our lives. When we pray, we are taking a risk, but the risk is worth it because the things we lose are replaced with things He knows we'll love. It's a choice. My hubs and I have chosen to be people of prayer. People led by the Holy Spirit and people that allow God to give and take away as he pleases.
House hunting has been tough because our emotions continually getting in the way, but God has been faithfully keeping our paths straight. We know at the end of this we will be planted exactly where He wants us.
Before we started this process we committed our ways to the Lord. We agreed we would pray about every step. We believe,"The steps of the Godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of theirs lives." and if we "Seek His will in all we do He will show us which path to take." The Bible also says, "He (God) determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." Being confident in God's desires to lead us we have laid every house we've loved at His feet. He has closed every door thus far. Of course we could have pushed our way through, but we fear the Lord and honor Him, so we humbly bow and let go, no matter how emotionally connected we've become to a house. He has something better.
No matter how many times we tell ourselves not to get attached to a house it still happens. Our minds begin filling the house with our stuff, we envision our future kids playing, inviting guests over for dinner, holding Bible studies, watching our dog run in the yard. So it's painful when a door closes. It's as if a part of you is being ripped away. The good part is ultimately after a few tears and words of encouragement to one another, we know God is control. We don't submit our ways to Him because He forces us to, we do it because we want to. Because we trust Him. He knows best.
When we pray and surrender our will for God's will. We know we're risking losing things we think we want. Though painful, we are soon pleasantly surprised when He gives us more than we expected. He blesses us with things we truly want and need, but didn't recognize.
This is the confidence we have in our God. He has good plans for us. This goes for every area of our lives. When we pray, we are taking a risk, but the risk is worth it because the things we lose are replaced with things He knows we'll love. It's a choice. My hubs and I have chosen to be people of prayer. People led by the Holy Spirit and people that allow God to give and take away as he pleases.
House hunting has been tough because our emotions continually getting in the way, but God has been faithfully keeping our paths straight. We know at the end of this we will be planted exactly where He wants us.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Do not be anxious...
Do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace
of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:6-7
Friday, August 3, 2012
Real Wisdom
Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. - James 3:17 THE MESSAGE
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Worship Wednesday- We are an ark
"My eyes have not seen, my ears have not heard, what you've prepared for me. I can't comprehend what you have spent. You gave your life for me. I am an ark of your glory, we are an ark of your glory. You make your home in me."
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