1 Peter 1:18-19 The Ultimate Obedience

You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold, But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19

It is on me to recognize my redemption and ransom bought with the price of the blood of Jesus.

     -- Man's natural way is useless - fruitless.

     -- It is only through the Holy Spirit that I can live in the fruit of the Spirit - it is my choice.

The precious blood of the lamb - there is power, power, holy working power - this hymn comes to me from verse 19.  He was a perfect man, no sin, no temptation overcame Him.  And for they joy of completing His Father's work He obeyed.  Precious indeed.

What temptation am I giving into?  What fruitless acts are consuming my time?  Where do I need to submit in obedience?

A Time to prune

It’s that time of year again.  This year we’ve planted a larger garden (12 x 5 area, so not that big).  We have annuals coming up from seed.  I go out to prune, to thin the seedlings so that the others will grow into full plants.

My husband struggles with this process.  "Don't pull out, they will do it themselves."  I remember my first garden.  I know the package of seeds said to prune to four inches, but that was so many plants.  What if I made the wrong choice and the ones left behind died, my garden would be ruined.  And who was this name brand seed company, did they really know that I needed to prune?  So I pulled a few out, but left a lot.

And any seasoned gardener would know what happened next, my garden was a complete failure.  Nothing grew, there wasn’t room.

I think the same when God from time to time prunes something in my life.  I may miss it at first, but after a while, I realize I’m growing in other areas.  We need to be pruned.  I’m pruned and thinned to be more like Christ.  I can mature further without as much or none of what was removed.

The recent example in watching TV at night.  I had formed the habit that any night I was home after 7, I watched TV.  In itself it is ok, but we’re are home more in the summer.  We don’t need to sit for the last several hours of our day watching TV.  There’s books to read.  There’s a yard to enjoy.  There’s my girl’s imagination to see in action.  There’s general conversation to catch up when we didn’t have many evenings alone. 

So instead of reaching for the remote, I look at what is going on.  For my girl won’t always ask for TV on, but when it comes on it commands her attention.  Then I turn to what else I could do with this precious time that would honor God.  It is a change in my thoughts, my habits, but totally worth it. 

Blessed Wait

via

I read a couple things about waiting.  The points made about the benefits of waiting really struck home.  The biggest thing about waiting is how I do it.  Is it with patience and understanding or impatience and frustration?

God moves in His own time and so does the rest of the world.  With our society saying get it now, it can be hard to wait with a great attitude.  I know I've done my fair share of waiting.  God has yet to disappoint me.  It has all been for my good.

If I take shortcuts to prematurely end waiting, it can be disastrous.  Imagine if Jesus took Satan up on his offer to give Him all the kingdoms of earth if Jesus would just bow down to him?  I shudder at the thought.

Some points on waiting:
Waiting causes anticipation, heighten pleasure.  A unopened present or letter on your birthday.  Your husband planning a special date and doesn't give you the details until your on it.  Just think of how children know something is going to happen and how much they look forward to it.

Waiting gives time for action.  We got over nine months to get ready for our daughters arrival.  Waiting to hear if I got a job gave me motivation to get things done so I wouldn't have it hanging over my head (I didn't get the job).  It's as simple as putting the dishes away or sweeping the kitchen floor while I wait for the water for my tea to heat up.

Waiting and planning brings appreciation.  Planning vacation, saving up the money to go, securing all the special places I'll visit along the way.  Last year I wanted a tablet.  I waited, planned, watched for sales, held a yard sale, saved a gift card.  When I finally found what I was looking for, it cost me very little out of my budget.

Waiting can be a protection.  God's timing is perfect.  If I trudge ahead in my own time, I may find myself over my head.  Kat waiting for me to walk her across the street or through a parking lot protects her from coming cars.

Waiting with a good attitude shows my maturity.  Patience comes with its buddy self control.  If I can wait with that good attitude, it shows my faith and trust in God.  I am thankful when God says 'No, this isn't My timing.'

Having a good attitude while waiting is a supernatural gift from God.  I resist my natural response to have what I want right now.  Life Principle:  I will not forfeit the promises God has for me with the compromise of pleasure today.  

Fruit of Repentance

Bear fruits that are deserving and consistent with [your] repentance [that is,conduct worthy of a heart changed, a heart abhorring sin]. Luke 3:8a

John the Baptist declares that repentance – true – bears fruit.  Life doesn’t go on as normal, there is a change to the new normal.

And the multitudes asked him, Then what shall we do?  And he replied to them, He who has two tunics (undergarments), let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do it the same way. Luke 3: 10-11

John Baptist answers what the fruit should look like: to share what you have with someone who has not. 

In studying this passage, it is evident that repentance has fruit – some action that shows a change of heart.  It isn’t just the absence of sin.  The fruit is an outward/other people action.  It shows I put my faith in action and love those who God loves.  I let go of my greed and hording, release things to those in need.

I asked God to reveal to me what the fruit of my repentance should look like.  To whom do I need to share what I have?  What do I need to let go of?  What am I’m keeping to provide for myself instead of trusting God to provide?

As I write, Go weighed jeans on my heart.  Simple yes, but nothing is insignificant with God.  My body shape has changed with the healthy issues I’ve had.  (Meaning less aerobics = thicker waist).  I have several jeans that no longer fit (can you say muffin top?).  I need to let the jeans go.  They will be put in the donate box as soon as I get up from here.  Thank you Lord for showing me.

Whatever is pure

I'm still discussing having control over my thoughts with God.  You may remember several post about where my mind takes me such as this one last week.  It is a point that God is working on and will give me the grace to change.

I was doing something mundane around the house, I believe doing the dishes.  Something sparked a memory of my past that I didn't want to spend my time thinking about.  I said 'Lord, why does this keep happening?'  

(It's not a every minute problem, but enough that I want it gone.  It's not just thoughts of me personally, but of what others went through, movies, books, stories I've read, just random things that add nothing to the here and now.)

Then I became aware of my situation.  My husband had just turned on the radio and Jesus Calling was playing.  Then I said, 'Why can't these things spur thoughts of You?'

His reply, 'They can'.  I just rolled that over in my mind.  I know it is so simple.  It felt like a big slap to my head, duh, moment.  Jesus can be my trigger thoughts.  To think of what He's done for me.  The blessings He gives me each day.

Paul says it best:
Philippians 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I don't eat sweets

This used to be my response to anyone who offered me sweets.  Then they usually say "What?"  I add, "God has called me to give up sweets."  Response: "you are so strong, I don't think I could ever do that" or "you are stronger than I am."

Unfortunately, the conversation dies off after that since others don't want the guilt of someone else exercising self-control successfully.  Although I tried to give God the glory, I felt it was laid on my feet because of the way I presented the conversation.  I do not deserve any glory, so things had to change. 

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.  This is not of my spirit, but the Holy Spirit.  And believe me, it is something I tried for years to do concerning food.  I could not do it on my own efforts and definitely was not motivated for my health.  I could not do it for me.

God called me to do it for Him, so that sweets no longer come before Him.  It is only through His enabling do I do anything good.  I have no self-control when it comes to food on my own.  Only through Him who strengthens me.

So my response is to start with "No thank you," and leave it at that.  If pressed, then I can present it to the person, hopefully in a way to bring God glory.  In doing that, I must remove myself from the equation and point to Jesus.  I can't have a canned response, but respond to each person with the words the Spirit gives me. 

Giving up sweets is from God to me and not to be imposed by me on someone else.  I do hope to encourage anyone is in bondage over food, that with God's enabling, you can do it to.  I was a mess and God cleaned me up.  He's still cleaning me.  He's turning my mess into my message.  Self-control doesn't just happen, it is developed by choosing God's way at each choice.  I didn't do it perfectly, but I made progress and that's what matters.

To God be the Glory.

It's harmless...

Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk.  Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.  Jeremiah 10:5

I stopped in my tracts reading this passage.  That last line: "they can do no harm nor can they do any good." 

Whoa...no harm, no good?  How much does this world say "that's harmless."  That's one of the mantras of this world.  Convince everyone that everything is harmless, nothing to think over.  Harmless, it won't hurt.  

Yet bring that with "nor can they do any good."  If it's so harmless, why keep it if it's not good.  God is good.  We should strive to have good in our lives.  I don't have room for harmless.  It is an opening for Satan to get to me.  

It's harmless, I hear, to eat a sweet treat from time to time.  Oh, for me, no good will come from it, for it may trigger an eating binge like no other.

It's harmless to watch that tv program.  But what message is it sending my daughter or me on what is right and good in the world?  Does it spark judgment of others in me?  Enter impure thoughts?  What good comes from that harmless show?  

And internet pages?  Is is harmless or is there good coming from it?  Pinterest is all the craze right now?  Is is harmless?  Is it good for people to spend hours on end pinning and coveting what other have?  It's the attitude to be wary of.

Speaking of attitudes.  It's harmless that I may get upset while driving?  Harmless that I lose my temper?  Oh, no good comes from that, no matter how temperate I am in the rest of my life.  

Satan will take any foothold you give him.  Don't allow harmless to be the entry point.  No good will come from it.

editing to add:
Life Principle: Idols are not harmless, they need to be gone.

Who began will Finish

 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6

Once you accept Jesus in your heart, you are His.  He will never abandon you.  He will never leave you.  He is a gentleman, so if you choose not to follow His ways, be in His blessings, He will allow you to do that.  But you are always His.  When you seek Him, He will gently work to make you Holy.  If you feel you are treated roughly, that is our enemy who does not want you to change from worldly ways.  He makes you doubt.  He makes you think God doesn’t care for you, that no one cares for you.  But take heart.  God is gentle, loving, kind, faithful, merciful and graceful.  He will give you all that you need.  He loves you.

Other verses that speak of God's love for you:

• Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies (Psalm 36:5).
• How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 36:7).
• Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love (Psalm 48:9).
• But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever (Psalm 52:8).
• But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15).
• Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:26).
• "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).
• The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).
• The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).
• For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
• Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends John 15:13).
• As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love (John 15:9).

The series this week I wrote to someone who has a lot of junk in her head and recently returned to God after a long time going her own way.  I love this person dearly.  I hope I do justice by her with God's truth.

Patience revisited

Patience.  Oh my.  Of course just when I think I'm patient, I'm tested.  I'm distracted as well.  My church is encouraging us to go over dreams - God given dreams.  

O course that lights me to start things.  However, God has laid out my next path.  That is why he is quiet on my current request for direction.  I mean - how many times does He need to tell me before I stop asking the same question?  (And that reminds me of my daughter, LOL.)

He reminded me of my path and how He wants me to be faithful to it.  It won't be overnight - so He made the following stories come to mind:

Abraham waited 20 years before Isaac was born. Genesis 21:5
Paul waited two years before he went to Rome. Act 24:27
Jacob waited 20 hears before he returned home. Genesis 30-35
Jesus trained for 30 years before beginning His ministry. Luke 3:23

The Bible is full of stories of how waiting on God or circumstances or training happens to move on to something else.

I am going through a time of continued faithfulness.  I must prove my faithfulness to myself that I can be faithful to God's calling.  This will be a time to draw on in the future, when I need encouragement.  In being faithful, I need patience to see it through and follow God's way of doing things, not try to do His will my way (legitimate things illegitimate ways).

Responsibility

I suffer from an exaggerated sense of responsibility.  I admit it.  And if I'm not careful, it will consume me.  

Things I've been known to do:

I correct children when their parents are present.

I don't ask for help because the other person will not follow through.

I take on the problems other people have and try to solve them.

I get depressed when I can't save myself or others from the heartaches of this life.

It's a waste of time.  

God has called me to do what He has called me and not to do anymore.  Allow others to have their responsibility.  Life is hard enough to do what's before me.  To take on what others are suppose to bare is to much.

What I'm not responsible for:

How others respond to me when I'm doing right.

What others say they will do and don't.

Trying to please everyone and still not doing that.

Generosity is an example.  I often worry about what will happen if I give something.  Will it be used wisely?  Will they value the sacrifice I made?  Then I ask those questions of myself in terms of the gift Jesus gave.  Do I use His gift wisely?  No, not all the time.  Do I value His sacrifice?  No always.  God calls me to give, not see that the gift is valued or used wisely.  It doesn't matter that the homeless man will sell the waterproof flashlight I give, I'm called to give.

So from time to time I take a look at my responsibilities.  I question if I'm giving what if truly mine enough attention.  Or am I giving more time to responsibilities that aren't mine?  I call these my reality check day. 

This is a Test...Part 2

Part 2 of this post

Test: People

I posted this before.  I have come a long way and allowed God to prune me in this. 

Isaiah 2:22 Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils.  Why hold them in esteem?

People disappoint because we look to a person to fulfill a need only God can meet.

I posted before on seeking the approval of people.  Only God can validate me and He approves of His creation!

Test: Persistence 

How many times did I promise I would give up sweets, not eat that thing, then immediately go do that.  This test is about that.

When you make a promise to God, don't delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools.  Keep all the promises you make to Him.  It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.  Ecclesiates 5:4-5 (NLT)

This is to keep at it.  To do what is right. Would you make a big business venture with someone who will quit in three weeks?  How about quit the next morning?  In fifteen minutes?  I have to draw from the Holy Spirit's power.  I can not do it on my own, yet the Holy Spirit can't do it on His own either.  I have to be willing.  This has enabled me to give up sweets.  This has enabled me to stop other habitual sins in my life.

Test: Priority

People who don't know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works.  Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.  Don't worry about missing out.  You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.  Matthew 6:33 (Mes.)

What is my priority?  Who is first in my life?  What do I think about most?  It was ‘fix me Lord’.  God showed me how I wasn't trusting Him.  Now I'm moving towards ‘help others’ because I expect Him to do that as well as to fix me.  

Where does the first part of my money go?  Am I giving enough to God?  

What about my time?  Do I spend it on me or being a blessing to others?  I posted before on wasting time.  God has worked and is continually working on this area.  I don't always make the best choices for my time.  I try to start my day focusing my mind on God.  Just as sleep is leaving my head, I turn to Him.  I give my day to Him.  Ask Him to be with me.  To weigh on my heart what He wants me to do, to direct my tasks.  Each day is different to what is added, yet this gets me focused on my day and I know He's with me.

When I first started praying for Him to prioritize my day, it went beautifully.  I dropped things that I thought were important and did the things He said were important.  And then it happened, that dreaded moment when conviction strikes, I'm doing something I want to do and it's not what God wants.  This combines the priority test with persistence test.  Will I follow His plan or do this little thing I want to do?  

If you never felt the Holy Spirit's conviction, ask God to help you change something in your life that you know needs changed yet you see it as impossible.  That nudging inside your heart when you're doing that thing...that's the Holy Spirit.

All in all, if you are going to experience a trial, go through a test, don't you want it to be fruitful?  I do.  I've gone through the same test over and over.  I'm ready to start learning so I can move on.  I want good to come from the bad.  I want to learn what good things God has for me.  

This is a Test...Part 1

Matthew 9:29 b “According to your faith let it be done to you” (NIV)

I heard a sermon earlier this year.  It gave me God’s perspective on circumstances in my life.  Tests and trials grow my faith.  Reaffirms what He’s telling me, “it didn’t turn out how you expected, but it did turn out as I expected.”

John 15:2 b while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (NIV)

God prunes every branch so it will be even more fruitful.  Since I am part of the branch, I must endure the pruning.  With the plants in my garden, I prune, I cut away dead leaves, cut off flowers that are past their prime, or parts that are going a way I don’t want it to go.  This hurts the plant.  Yet the plant bounces back.  Because the dead is removed, it sends nutrients to make another bloom or stem.  It grows beautifully because of my care.  The same happens when God prunes us. 

And what if a plant does not move on to grow new, but keeps sending nutrients to the dead parts?  It is fighting against what is best for it and it slows the growth.  Again, the same when I stubbornly refuse to die to self and go the way God wants.

Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says:  "See I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people?"  Jeremiah 9:7 (NIV)

God will refine me, test me to rid me of my sin.

because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.  Hebrew 10:14

See, by Jesus' sacrifice, He made me perfect.  I need not do anything else but profess and live out my faith.  It's the ‘live out my faith’ in which God works on, so I’m being made holy.  God sees me as perfect - let that sink in.  Yet, I am being made holy.  Test and refinement, moving me towards that full perfection.  Each step removing the sin in my life.

Test: Pressure

How do I handle stress?  Usually not good.  Remember, anxiety?  Yes, I used resort to rude, angry, demanding behavior when I’m stressed. 

Psalm 50:15 and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” (NLT)

God is teaching me to turn to Him.  To glance at my circumstances and focus on Him.  Also, if I’m feeling stressed, I step back.  I look to what all I think I need to do.  I seek God’s help to prioritize what I’m doing. 

In the sermon, it pointed out that we lose patience with God and often take the matter in our own hands, think Sarah and Hagar.  Sarah brought Ishmael to God.  She wanted God to bless ‘her’ son.  Yet that wasn’t God’s plan. 

Jeremiah 2:13“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. (NLT)

I love cistern example as well.  I remember the first time I heard this passage and thought on its meaning.  It was during my weight loss journey.  I could easily see many places in my life where I dug my own cistern and then asked God to bless my plan.  Particularly, when I start doing what God calls me to do and then add to it my own action plan.  I’m showing I don’t trust God and His ways when I do that.  I must have patience to follow God’s plan for me.

Busybody

2 Thessalonians 3:11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.

This verse stuck out to me.  Is this something in my life that I need to be aware of?  Am I idle?  Not busy?  Busybody?

Not busy?  Well at times I can look busy, but am I really?

I looked up the meaning of busybodies in Strongs:

4020   //  periergazomai  //  periergazomai   //  per-ee-er-gad'-zom-ahee  // 

from   4012  and   2038  ; v

AV - be a busybody 1; 1

1) to bustle about uselessly, to busy one's self about trifling,
needless, useless matters
1a) used apparently of a person officiously inquisitive about
other's affairs

I loved this reference.  It is someone who goes here and there, moving things around perhaps, yet is not busy.  Could this be someone who plays on their phone to look important?  Check Facebook status and replies?  Run to get texted messages?  Flips through the channels to find the next show to watch?  Eager to see the next “Real” TV?  Shopping for the next great thing? 

I posted before about wasting time.  Now this is the label to go with it.  Yes, I have been a busybody in my life.  I know I wasted my time.  I know I didn’t get accomplished the tasks I needed done because I peddled my time away with worthless activities that wasn’t more than trash.

It is a warning to me.  It is a reminder of yet another thing to be on guard for.  To allow God to fill my time, not Facebook.  This is why I don’t have texting on my phone (never have.)  This is why I limit my time on meaningless surfing and Facebook. 

What do I do when I find busybody activities invading my life?  Be aware!  Listen to the Holy Spirit nudging of how I’m spending my time.  And if that doesn’t work, I do what I do to K (my daughter) when she gets obsessive about something, I discipline myself to do without. 

Temperate

This word jump out at me while I read 1 Timothy.  In 3:2, temperate is a quality of an overseer.  Then scan on over to the qualities of a deacon wife in 3:11.  Anytime God states qualities of a wife, I take notice, since I am on and want to improve as a wife.

In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.  1 Timothy 3:11

What does temperate mean?  Merriam-Webster says: not extreme or excess: MILD. Moderate in indulgence of appetite or desire. Moderate in the use of alcoholic beverages.  Having a moderate climate.

OK, the last one didn’t apply to me, but ouch the rest is motivation for change.  An adaption of the line in Father of the Bride movie, “I’ve come from a long line of over reactors.”  How can I become temperate?

Well, just like anything else, I can’t do it on my own.  I’ll mess up when I try to do it on my own.  God drew this out for me for He desires me to be temperate. 

I can go from calm to extreme in about a half a second.  In patience, in rational thinking (which I’m not always good at), I can become temperate.

To be temperate I must submit to God’s desire rather than my own.  My desires are to indulge in food, alcohol and doing my own thing without thought to most people.  Yet God calls for better. 

Cut off excess goes with retrench.  This is a process.  I’ll have to post again on what God is doing to teach me to be a temperate wife.  I sit in awe of how He brings things together.  His plan is revealed in how all things are perfectly woven together.  It may look like a mess on this side of heaven, however in light of eternity, it is a beautiful tapestry of love.

Compete with Horses

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:5 

Over the past two years (more like 3), I've asked God to find me a job that works with K's school schedule.  To find something to fill my days besides idleness.  Of course I choose the idleness.


The past few months He has convicted me on my TV, computer time idle-busyness.  With His help I have obeyed and used my time better.  He gave me Jeremiah 12:5 as an explanation to what seemed like, but wasn't lack of response on my request.


How can I race with horses if racing with men wears me out?  Horses for me is the ministry God wants me to do.  The men are the above mentioned time wasters.  And I do often feel wore out.  To exhausted to do His work.


He revealed this when I was willing to give up on my dreams (writing), willing to move out of my comfort zone (shepherding and service to others), and stop putting my requirements on things (want of an income, time constraints).  He wanted me to expect Him to remove barriers and what seemed impossible. 


Looking at the things I wanted to do, God didn't really take them away, He just wanted me to do it His way.  He lead me to write this blog instead of the writing I did for myself.  He made the uncomfortable, comfortable.  Showing me that I did have the skills, just not used, to be comfortable in His will.  We do not need extra income for a paid position.  My husband provides enough for a simple lifestyle we live.  I am able to be available to my daughter instead of putting her in child care.  I no longer listen to the lie that I need an income for my own security, my own validation - all about me that the world tries to tell me.  In my work for God I am earning more than this world could ever give.


Now I'm ready to run with horses.

Domestic Support - tips

If you’re living in clutter and want to make a change, that’s the first step to making that change, so congratulations!

One of my biggest advice is to observe other’s in their home when you visit.  And if you’re house is cluttered, then I know that you visit other people’s homes, LOL.  Even on TV, look for how things get done.

For me, I noticed my sister-in-law, who is a clean fanatic, starts her dish water while she prepares dinner.  This allows her to use her wait for it to cook time to clean any dishes used while making dinner and it’s easy to take the dishes from dinner to the sink and finish the job after dinner.

Get in your mind the laundry isn’t finished until put away.

That each time I go out my back door, I need to have a recycle pile in my hand to put it in the bin.

On TV I watched Walton’s mom clean her kitchen.  Counters are cleared after each meal.  All things are put away so that she can do her work effectively.

Get the idea?  I mentioned Fly Lady before, which is a good place to start.  However I found that I had a tendency to waste time on the emails instead of spending the time doing it.  It was a great tool to get started with when you don’t know where to go.  I use many of her time management principles and how she breaks down a large task to manageable smaller tasks.

I took from Fly Lady having wipes in the bathroom to do a quick polish.  I might not do it daily, but the wipes are available when it needs done (at least once a week). 

Bottom line is that you need to figure out what works for you.  Start on one point and you’ll find you’re freed from the bondage of junk.  I find it difficult to ignore what needs done. 

Encouragement

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Roman 12:2a

If it is encouraging, let him encourage…Roman 12:8a

I am an encourager.  God has called me to this.  The problem lies in the fact that I didn’t know how to encourage others.  Yet this passage in Roman states clearly how to learn.  Don’t conform, or follow the ways of this world.  Allow God to transform me, to bring out the encourager in me.

Once I got on board with developing this gift, I began to learn.  An encourager has a smile on her face most of the time.  As posted before, I need to put the smile of faith on.  To encourage is to really listen and see.  Use God’s eyes to see beyond what is there and hear beyond what is said.  (Not to say develop supernatural powers, but to tap into the supernatural spirit that indwells you.)

To encourage I must have patience.  Patience to allow the other to speak, not jump right into rescue mode.  Patience to keep going when I see no fruit from my actions.  Patience to wait on the right opportunity.  Patience to obey God even when I don’t see how my little action could possible change things.

Most important to encourage is to keep the focus on Jesus.  To always point to Him. 

To do this, I must know Jesus.  I must have scripture in my head, even if I don’t know the address of the scripture. 

Patience

Patience is one of those fruits of the spirit we all long for, yet don’t pray for because we don’t want to endure the disciple that goes with the training.

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.  Hebrews 12:11

This is one of my favorite verses, so applicable to life.

What harvest comes developing patience?  In my life, many things.  For one, I am humble.  I don’t lose patience when dealing with others and jump to frustration or anger over how I’m being treated.  I accept that no matter how they behave, I am secure in who I am in Jesus.  I deserve worse than what I’m enduring, yet whatever happens it isn’t important in light of eternity.  Read and meditate on the Sermon on the Mount and see if your attitude isn’t changed.

Patience enables me to persevere.  I read the comments on the For Better or For Worse Dec. 4, 2011 comic.  I loved how she said her mother had endless patience so that she completed and got done what needed done.  How would my life change, what could I learn if I kept going and didn’t give up?  All those things I wish I could do could be a reality if I started the process with the intention to have the patience to see it through.

As you can see, patience is one of those foundational fruit of the spirit upon which others can grow.  In patience I can show kindness, gentleness (I’m not in a hurry to get it done), love, faithfulness, and goodness.  And through patience I get to joy, peace and self-control. 

I am able to encourage other by my patience.  I set an example for my daughter to follow.  I am tempered.

Please, I need a new attitude

Oh, boy, I had a horrible attitude yesterday morning.  I say at first I didn’t know where it came from, but after a while, God gently pointed to where it was.  I lost my cool the night before.  I spoke to a CR at a store.  I didn’t like the flack that they taught him to give customers.  I wasn’t as rude as I could have been in the past, yet I wasn’t nice or gentle, either.  I had a problem on the account and I expected this person to fix it.  I didn’t even stop to consider whether he could. 

So when I got off the phone, my husband didn’t listen to me complain.  He tended to my daughter, so I felt a little let down that I couldn’t dump all this on him.  It just wasn’t the time, nor was I in the right attitude.

I worked out a little of my “hurt” feelings in prayer that night.  I thought I was OK.  Yet the next morning, I just didn’t have a good attitude.  It wasn’t a morning to stay home and work it out, I had service I agreed to do.  Fortunately, I didn’t dump this attitude on my daughter, as I’ve been known to do in the past.  I got her off to school then submerged myself in prayer.  As the night before, I tried to focus my prayer on the others I would serve or be in contact with over the next few hours.

Right before going in, I asked God to do the work for me.  I knew I wasn’t in the right frame of mind.  I knew I still struggled to give my full attention and listen, yet that is what I needed to do.  I knew it would only get done if I allowed Him full control and get it done.

Please don’t be surprised that He did show up and did His work through me.  I thanked Him for how well it went.  Then He gives me a principle after my service was done.  That as a Christian, I am called to “reset” worldly thinking to a Holy Spirit filled/lead life.

Wow, this is the first time I experienced the revelation after the answered prayer.  It goes back to God often prepares my heart to receive the message He has for me.  I know I would not have got this message had I not had the bad attitude.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  Ephesians 4:22-24

This passage was preached on while I watched TV and walked on my treadmill.  When I was sick a while back, I started to watch more TV, other than what I normally watched (HGTV or GMC).  I began watching a reality TV show about weight loss as well.  Some of the words, the underlining message and attitude of guest on show (talk show) began creeping into my life.  At times I felt God ping me that it wasn’t good to watch.  I sometimes changed the channel or turned off the TV.  I sometimes said, ‘oh that scene is past, I’m ok.’  God would also weigh on me that this isn’t what He ordered for my day when I asked Him to arrange it so I would get His work done.

The program I watched furthered God’s message to me on resetting my thoughts.  I need to put off my old self, I need to take ever thought captive.  I have a new attitude. 

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  2 Corinthians 10:5

He showed me that these programs were corrupting my thinking.  Even in small ways.  I was allowing Satan a foothold into my mind.  Satan used programs that pleased my old self.  Things I enjoyed when I was self focused. 

I’m thankful for this message.  I praise Him for answering my prayers.  I thank Him for sanctifying me, for making me new.  I will not allow anything to set itself against the knowledge of God.  For it is the only truth.  Everything else if foolishness. 

Playlist

Lies or Truth?

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Casting Crowns Voice of Truth

This song is on my workout playlist.  It's has a slower beat in which I do my warm-up stretches and crunches.  I just love it.

How many times in the Bible does God tell His people "Do not be afraid."?  We'll leave it at a lot.  He tells us not to be afraid.  

The lies in my head says to be very afraid.  Don't write that, what will others think?  Don't speak that, how will others react?  Don't put in the effort, since it won't turn out how you expected anyway.

Every lie possible to foil the truth floats around waiting for that tiny opening to go in.

Lie: Don't work out, it's pointless boring and no matter how much you do, nothing changes.

Truth: Well, things do change, just slower than they used to.  I will never be an Olympian.  I will be strong enough to endure physically.  If God called me on a mission journey right now, I am not in a position to go physically.  With training, I can get there.  He may never call me.  Either way, He is calling me to prepare today to be in good physical health.

Lie: you'll give in a eat sugar eventually, just like you'll soon give in and drink a soda.

Truth: when I stop laughing about the soda part, I say watch me.  As I posted before, I've been sugar free since Dec. 27, 2011 and soda free since Dec 7, 2004.  Yes sugar is a big deal in my life, yet God is a bigger deal.  He's calling me to health.  He's calling me not to crave some food over Him.  He's calling me not to be afraid.  And even on Valentine's day where there's cookies and CHOCOLATE, I can stay true to what God is calling me to do.

Lie: why put in the time to write a blog that no one is reading and won't ever read.

Truth: God did not call me to write for others.  He gave me this gift for me.  He knows that if I write it down, collect the thoughts in a clear order, the words will also come out of my mouth.  That is His goal for my blog.  It isn't the be the hottest blog in the world.  It isn't to be worshiped with people longing to read what I have to say.  It is about Him and how I am part of His story.  How I am His tool to work in the lives of His children.

Lie: Don't point to Jesus, no one will accept you. 

Truth: Well that could be true.  No one here in the world that is.  Someone great, Wonderful, Counselor, Father will accept me.  He calls me to obey.  It's not up to me how others react.

As for me, I chose to listen to the voice of truth.