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Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Our thoughts
I'm reading Joyce Meyer's book "Me and My Big Mouth." I cracked up when I read this line: "Complaining is like whisting for the devil." Then she said "When we complain...we are calling for the devil, who will quickly come in to give us misery."
I think that is a great illustration. It's like saying Hey Devil, c'mon over here! She also says "complain and remain, praise and be raised." I have come a long way in the area of complaining, but I still have a ways to go. I like having the idea that if I complain I am just inviting the devil to make me miserable. No thanks!
The other day I was feeling kindof down, and I thought, I need to work on my thoughts and adjust them. So I began to thank God for all the blessings I could think of. Wow, that really shifted my mood, big time. So the praise and be raised really does work.
I was reading in Eagle's Wings about a book she is reading regarding our thoughts. The book was encouraging the reader to observer her thoughts. So I've been doing that, and I am realizing that my mind likes to wander, and tends toward worriesome thoughts.
I've read another Joyce Meyer book "Battlefield of the Mind" a few times so working on my thoughts is not something new to me, however lately I am realizing that I need to pay attention and work on my thoughts some more.
That reminds me of another quote that I really like: "Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words they become actions. Watch your actions they become habits. Watch your habits they become your destiny." - Anonymous
I think that is a great illustration. It's like saying Hey Devil, c'mon over here! She also says "complain and remain, praise and be raised." I have come a long way in the area of complaining, but I still have a ways to go. I like having the idea that if I complain I am just inviting the devil to make me miserable. No thanks!
The other day I was feeling kindof down, and I thought, I need to work on my thoughts and adjust them. So I began to thank God for all the blessings I could think of. Wow, that really shifted my mood, big time. So the praise and be raised really does work.
I was reading in Eagle's Wings about a book she is reading regarding our thoughts. The book was encouraging the reader to observer her thoughts. So I've been doing that, and I am realizing that my mind likes to wander, and tends toward worriesome thoughts.
I've read another Joyce Meyer book "Battlefield of the Mind" a few times so working on my thoughts is not something new to me, however lately I am realizing that I need to pay attention and work on my thoughts some more.
That reminds me of another quote that I really like: "Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words they become actions. Watch your actions they become habits. Watch your habits they become your destiny." - Anonymous
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Faith
I have been reading the book "Me and My Big Mouth" by Joyce Meyer. In it she is talking about having faith and believing the Lord for good things in our lives. I am really attracted to this becasue I know how important it is to have faith. However I've realized that I am holding back from God on this. I've been thinking a LOT about this lately and I am beginning to see why I am holding back.
It is fear of disappointment. I can list many examples of times when myself or others have believed God for something, and it didn't happen. Why should I believe when the thing doesn't come to pass?
Then I thought well the word says to endure hardship as discipline, God is treating us as sons and daughters. When God says 'no' that is a hardship to us. A 'no' answer is an opportunity for faith as well. In fact some famous writer said it requires MORE faith when God says 'no.'
So if I want to be a faithful person, living out ALL that God has for me in Christ Jesus, I must come to terms with the fact that God will say 'no' and I need to trust him all the more in these circumstances.
No one LIKES to be disciplined. But that doesn't mean dicsipline is bad. In fact discipline is good and necessary. So I can endure hardship because God is training me for his service, for his glory. Now I can get excited about that! There is a purpose in everything. A great purpose in the 'yeses' and the 'nos.'
Another peice of this is the "need to know why" issue. That drives a wedge and becomes a stumbling block when I "need to know" why God allowed something so awful or painful. Part of faith again is trusting that God is good despite all the evil that may befall me or my loved ones. I stumble over this one at times. Just "needing to know" in order to trust him.
I am now seeing the foolishness of holding myself back from taking all that is mine in Christ Jesus for fear of disappointment. Just because God says 'no' doesn't mean he is not worthy of my complete trust and faith.
"When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?"
Faith is of greater worth than gold. Faith is one of the things that remain, along with Hope and Love. Jesus rebuked those who had little faith, and rewarded those with great faith. Do I want Jesus shaking his head at me and saying "why did you doubt?" No! I want Jesus to say "well done good and FAITHFUL servant!"
It is fear of disappointment. I can list many examples of times when myself or others have believed God for something, and it didn't happen. Why should I believe when the thing doesn't come to pass?
Then I thought well the word says to endure hardship as discipline, God is treating us as sons and daughters. When God says 'no' that is a hardship to us. A 'no' answer is an opportunity for faith as well. In fact some famous writer said it requires MORE faith when God says 'no.'
So if I want to be a faithful person, living out ALL that God has for me in Christ Jesus, I must come to terms with the fact that God will say 'no' and I need to trust him all the more in these circumstances.
No one LIKES to be disciplined. But that doesn't mean dicsipline is bad. In fact discipline is good and necessary. So I can endure hardship because God is training me for his service, for his glory. Now I can get excited about that! There is a purpose in everything. A great purpose in the 'yeses' and the 'nos.'
Another peice of this is the "need to know why" issue. That drives a wedge and becomes a stumbling block when I "need to know" why God allowed something so awful or painful. Part of faith again is trusting that God is good despite all the evil that may befall me or my loved ones. I stumble over this one at times. Just "needing to know" in order to trust him.
I am now seeing the foolishness of holding myself back from taking all that is mine in Christ Jesus for fear of disappointment. Just because God says 'no' doesn't mean he is not worthy of my complete trust and faith.
"When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth?"
Faith is of greater worth than gold. Faith is one of the things that remain, along with Hope and Love. Jesus rebuked those who had little faith, and rewarded those with great faith. Do I want Jesus shaking his head at me and saying "why did you doubt?" No! I want Jesus to say "well done good and FAITHFUL servant!"
Monday, August 02, 2004
Scripture in Jude
" Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
This scripture was given in church yesterday and it blessed me. Praise God that we have a God who is able to keep us from falling! We don't have to do it ourselves. HE will do it IN us! Our Lord's goal is to present us faultless before him. It is HIS work, not ours. We only need to say yes and believe.
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
This scripture was given in church yesterday and it blessed me. Praise God that we have a God who is able to keep us from falling! We don't have to do it ourselves. HE will do it IN us! Our Lord's goal is to present us faultless before him. It is HIS work, not ours. We only need to say yes and believe.
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