Clothing

For choosing what to put on each morning the word of God offers these suggestions. Clothe yourself with:

Col 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also MUST do.

Rom 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Do you trust God?

Do you trust Him here and now?

Do you feel like you are in rigorous training? You are! This adventure was chosen just for you by God. It's not your choosing. If we are honest, if it were up to us we would choose an easy path. Wouldn't we? But that isn't how we grow spiritually.

By being on this path God has chosen it encourages us to stick closer to Him. To cling more tightly to Him.

Is 50:10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of His servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the Name of the Lord and rely on his God.

While God says He will never give you more then you can handle, He'll often give you more than you can handle on your own so that you will have to turn to Him.

That helps build trust in Him.

Transforming Your Heart

Ez 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

We are called to come to Christ just as we are. But we can't remain as we are. We are called to become Christlike.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

God is aware of the stony heart we come to Him with. He is the only one who can remove those parts. It will not always be painful. Most times pain will be involved. We don't like to admit it, but we are most times unwilling to give up those parts.

Many of the hard situations we find ourselves in are God's work on those stony areas of our heart.

Look to God through the tough times and thank Him for the removal of another stone. This won't stop the pain during the removal and healing process, but it will give it meaning.

Strive to look at your circumstances from a fresh perspective; God's!

Fellowship

Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

I recently became part of the Women's Ministry Leadership Team at the church I am attending. Tonight we have the first get together that I am involved with as part of the team.

This is my heart behind joining it. To fellowship and encourage each other in our growth in the Lord. I think it is important that we have spiritual growth in our busy lives as women. It is easy to say that we get that on Sundays, or during the week if we attend a service. But women have different needs then men, including our spiritual needs. We are called in Titus 2:3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-- 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

How will the older women teach the younger if we don't spend time with them? I want us to have fun, but most of all I want us to grow in the Lord. The younger women have much to teach older women (one of which I am) also. We can learn and grow together. Iron sharpens iron. But if you are never sharpened you will grow dull and not be very productive for God. Ever tried to use a dull knife? You can cut with it (including yourself ouch!) but it won't do a good job. And it makes the job a lot harder.

So let's spend time with other women sharpening each other, but let's remember to have fun also together.

Are you facing joyful circumstances today?

Or do you call them trials?

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Some versions say consider it all joy. You are not called to be happy in these trials, just joyful. Joy is a choice not a feeling. Happy is a feeling. You have the ability to be joyful and unhappy at the same time. They are not the same thing.

As you begin to look at your circumstances from God's perspective, you will come to understand that these multiple problems are testing your faith. This is both an opportunity to strengthen your faith and a temptation to let your feelings over take your faith. What will you choose?

One of the hardest things about trials is not knowing how long they will last. You can't control the duration. All you can do is live with them indefinitely. At times you feel you can't go on another moment. That is when you most need to ask God for His joy in this circumstance.

Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, " With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Who are you?

Is that a question your family or really close personal friends would ever think or ask?

What do I mean by that? Well, do you act one way when around certain people and another way around your family or close personal friends?

Do you treat others better then you treat your spouse or children?

Our first ministry according to the word of God is to our family.

God first, husband second, children third, everyone else after.

Does it say God first when it is convenient to spend time with Him? No, it is very specific God should be a moment by moment part of our life.

Does it say husband second when he deserves it? Nope, it just says we are to respect him.

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

It doesn't say that only when he loves her like himself. It just says respect him. Do we show respect to our husbands by acting like we are better (or more holy) then he is when he is struggling? No, we come along side, try and find out what is wrong and pray for him.

Our husbands need our appreciation. Do we show that by constantly being after them do do more when they return home from work? Yes, we have been home all day taking care of children, housework, meals, etc. And they should help out if there are little children at home. But can whatever you need them to do wait while he regroups for a little while? Or can it wait till he has a day off?

Now, I hear you ladies saying, but the problem is he won't do it then. Well, that is really between him and God isn't it? If you have voiced your need for him to do something and it never gets done, that is between him and God. Now you can interfere, but it will not make things better, trust me.

I have a mirror story. I had found a mirror at a garage sale for $5 and was very excited. I had been looking for one to hang behind my couch. Problem was the mirror was not in a frame and there wasn't a way to hang it. Now my husband is a woodworker and I knew when I bought it that it wouldn't take him 5 minutes to make a frame and hang. He had scrap wood around that he could use. But I also know my husband is a procrastinator. So for 4 1/2 years the mirror stood behind our entertainment center frameless even though I asked him the day I brought it home to make me a frame. The first month I left it out where he could see it but because I was concerned about it getting broken I moved it. Well the friend that was shopping with me when I found it, noticed each time she came that the mirror wasn't hung. Her hubby is the same way so she understood. I kept praying and praying that God would get hubby to hang that mirror but it just wasn't happening. Was it easy to overlook? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Every time I looked at the couch I remembered the mirror. One day I walked in and hubby was framing the mirror! I was shocked. But thanked God cause I knew that it was Him who finally got hubby to hang it. After the first day, I never spoke about the mirror to hubby again. When I moved it to safety he asked what I had done with it and I said I moved it so it wouldn't get broken. That was the last time I spoke of it. When I came in and saw him working on it he said he figured it was time he did it. I agreed lol. But when my friend would ask about the mirror my response was always, he will find time eventually to hang it. I never spoke about the fact that I felt as though he didn't care for me because he didn't hang the mirror. That would have been disrespectful to my husband. Even though at times that is how the devil made me feel. He would whisper in my ear "If he loved you he would hang that mirror". How does the fact that the mirror didn't get hung translate to he doesn't love me? He works hard all day to provide support for our family. He cooks some nights so I don't have to even without me asking. There are many ways he shows he loves me every day. Hanging a mirror isn't the gauge by which I should judge how he feels about me. Harping on the fact that it wasn't hung wasn't the right thing to do, although eventually he would have tired of hearing me and hung it. This way we didn't argue about it, and I still got it hung. I suppose God could have been teaching me patience? If so I hope I learned it though there are other things I have been waiting to get done as long or longer lol. But it doesn't change the fact that I love my husband and see him as a treasure from God. Stop looking at the things your husband fails to do for you and look for the things he does do for you.  That is what makes God happy.

Don't bury your wounds.

Burying emotions inside isn't a sign of strength.

When we are wounded we need to:

a. Find out which wounds need my attention most
b. How are they affecting me
c. Where am I on the path of healing
d. How can they make me stronger
e. How can God use my wounds for good

We must take ownership of our wounds. Until we do we will deny we have them. Once we own them God can (if we ask) start to heal them.

Wounds come in different varietes.

Here are a few:

1. Physical - most visible. Painful enough on their own, but often combined with others from the list

2. Sexual - This is one of the most personal and vulnerable areas of our life. Deep wounds can result from this kind, we can feel shattered.

3. Choices - Sometimes we make poor choices that lead to painful wounds. If we could go back and choose differently we would, but that isn't possible. We feel we only have ourselves to blame.

4. Verbal - Words can be as painful as physical wounds. Sometimes more so. Even when said unintentionally they can wound us deeply.

5. Social - We all want to be like. So if we are feeling ignored, embarrassed, excluded the wound is real. We tell ourselves we shouldn't feel that way but it is how we feel. Ignoring the pain won't heal the wound.

6. Spiritual - when we feel hurt by the church, someone in the church, or even God, the wound can cause a spiritual loneliness and depression. We think if God or His people hurt us then He must be against us. We think there can be no healing.

7. Emotional - Each wound above has an emotional part of it. Sometimes we bury the wound so far down it is hard to find. All we know is there is a deep, overwhelming ache.

Most wounds are a combination of the above list.

Ps 103:14 David tells us "He knows how we are formed, He remembers we are dust"

Jer 30:17 I will give you back your health and heal your wounds.

What is Jesus Watching?

Answer? Whatever you are.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things

People have always been drawn to storytellers from the beginning of time. That is what the devil did to Eve in a way wasn't it? Some stories are good, some not so good, and some are terrible. Now I wonder if you think I am saying that in terms of entertainment. Not, really although that can be true also. I am saying that in terms of would Jesus watch it with you? Cause you know He is if you have accepted Him as your Savior. It is very easy sometimes to forget He hears every word out of our mouth, knows our every thought, sees what we see, hears what we hear not only what we say. I wonder how many R rated films you would watch if you could see Jesus sitting next to you?  Now a days there are some PG or PG13 Jesus wouldn't watch and neither would you if He were visibly with you. Why do we think it is ok to see things, say things, hear things that we wouldn't want to see, hear or say if we could see Him right next to us. Do you believe He is always with you? Then why do we do some of the things we do? We don't have to see Him to know He is with us if we are saved. At least we shouldn't. 

How we must grieve our Lord and Savior by the things we hear watch and say. I'm sorry Lord, please forgive me.

God is my refuge???

You bet He is !!  I woke
with a major sinus headache today so God's reminders in my devotions this morning were most welcome. I have a noisy day ahead of me and it will be alot more fun without the headache. I took my sinus medicine and hopefully it will work soon.

Ps 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

God is Immanuel - God with us - an ever present help in trouble. Today my trouble is sinus issues and a headache. But it doesn't matter what my trouble is really. He has promised to be there with me in all trouble. He has everything I need for whatever situation I find myself in at the moment. And yes sometimes I have to go through my troubles moment by moment. Don't you hate those kind? I do.

Do you sometimes imagine and dwell on what trouble might come to you? Draw your mind back to God and His promise. There is NOTHING we can do about the trouble ahead. We can't change what is coming most of the time. BUT ALL OF THE TIME, God has promised to be right there in the middle of it with us.

As we spend more time with God we will learn to trust Him more and will trust in Him being our refuge more.

Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

God gave me a vision many years ago when I was going through some really difficult things. He showed me a HUGE eagle in the sky. It opened up one of its wings and I was standing right there protected and safe. That is what God is saying He wants to do here. I remember the feeling I got when I had that vision. It was so clear and so encouraging. I knew then that no matter what happened, I was gonna be safe in the end. I just had to trust God and stay in the shadow of His wings. Sometimes I need a reminder of that.

Ps 91:4 He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge, His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

Ps 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to Your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.

If you trust in God you can take refuge in Him. Trusting though is more then words. It is mainly our will. As we go through our day (everyday) we face many things that can make us anxious, even some of our thoughts, the what ifs. The what ifs are probably the worst for me. It is easier for me to run to God for refuge when I have an actual in my face, have to be dealt with situation. Are you the same? The ones that i think about (where a situation COULD lead to) are harder cause I have no way of knowing if it will even happen.

We must stay alert or anxious feelings can slip into your day without us even noticing. You may wonder why you suddenly start to feel anxious. You may ignore (or try to) these feelings. (doesn't work, just giving you a heads up from someone who has been there/ done that , has the t-shirt. You may try to numb them with food, drink, television, shopping, gossip or anything else that will distract you. (Again doesn't work, ask me how I know). God says be alert so we can catch those thoughts before they grab hold and make us anxious.

We can chose to take refuge in God as soon as the first little thought or situation comes. Or we can try to deal with them on our own till we are overwhelmed and anxious. Which sounds better to you? God is always at the ready to be our refuge. But it requires us exerting our will by turning to Him for help.

1 Pet 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Ps 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trust in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.

Ps 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.

I am seeking my refuge in Him today. What about YOU?

Patience

Proverbs 19:11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Colossians 1:10-12 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Have you ever asked God for patience? I have a few times. I understand after a few rounds of learning about it that it is a HARD lesson to learn. Very hard. It means you have to wait for something. Do you wait well? Patiently? I do sometimes, but other times it DRIVES ME CRAZY. I am smart enough to know in those time that God is trying once again to sharpen my edges up a little teaching me patience.

There are people who hate to be late going anywhere if they are supposed to be there at a certain time. I am one of those people. Surprised? lol. There are others who have no concept of time unless something is very important to them and are always late by varying degrees. 

I see being late for appointments, church, even meeting friends constantly is a sign that you think their time isn't worth anything. At least personally that is how it makes me feel. Like you think my time is less important then yours. Like I am less important then you.

Now I know that probably isn't the case. But that is how it makes me feel. I wonder if it makes others feel that way? I feel disrespected. Others? I can't answer for anyone but me, but because of the way it makes me feel, I try my best to not be late to anything. In fact I watch the time if I am going someplace at a certain time and will usually be there early. See I would rather be there early, wait on you, patiently (well at least until the time comes you supposed to be there lol) and not be concerned I will disrespect you . See God gave each of us 24 hours. And my 24 hours is just as important to God as is yours. So ask God to help you learn to be on time. Please. For people's sake that are less patient then me. lol