This closing benediction is an amazing Truth that should be dwelt upon, often, until it is so much apart of you that it permeates all that you do.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Jesus can do more than we can even imagine. Can you take that in? He can and not only that He wants to. God has chosen to work in and through us to share the message of salvation with those that have not heard. Even though we are feeble, self centered, easily distracted, and often times poorly represent Him. He still chooses to work through His Church. That is you and I. Knowing how slow I am to grow in Him and yet He is willing to risk all to allow me to be a part of building His church. I am humbled when I stop and take a moment to reflect upon this Truth. Now, Jesus is not a fool, He would not risk all and not empower me to be able to fulfill this task. His power comes to me and through me from His Spirit. He said in John that when He goes away He will send His Spirit that will lead me into all Truth (John 16:13).
I know how you have struggled and do not think that a single struggle has been wasted. He knows, and He continues to pursue you. He will help you, He will heal you, He will change you, and He will most assuredly call you out of the life style and into a divine dance with Himself that will spill over and touch many others through you. Hang in there the best is yet to come.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Love that surpasses Knowledge – Part 2
I want to look at Jesus' part now. This is the Ephesians 3;14-21. Here it is in its entirety.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
This section of scripture has lots of great stuff in it that we could take a look at but I want to focus on one verse in particular. That is verse 19. Verse 19 says that His love for us surpasses knowledge. I just love this part. There is something that Jesus does in our lives that is beyond our own knowledge. Now this may seem like a "da". But for me this was a light bulb moment when I saw this.
For me everything that I know and everything that I am is always limited by my mind. If in my mind I don’t believe it then it isn't true for me (even if in reality it is true). To know that God’s love for me is not limited by my mind and thus my knowledge is huge for me. His love goes beyond my mind and is also not limited to my mind. At the same time He will employ my mind to get to know and understand Him (Romans 12:2).
There are times when Jesus has done things in me and for me that have gone beyond my understanding to grasp them and yet He has done them anyway and I have realized them in my life. In the first two years of my relationship with Him, while I was stilling living with my last lover He changed two things inside of me. He taught me that I was lovable just as He created me. I had spent my whole life pushing away everything about me that was feminine. I didn't want to be a man but I didn't want to be a victim either. To me, anything feminine was a risk of being victimized. I would also build up every thing I could about me to make me more strong, more man like. Growing up I modeled myself not after my mom, but after my dad. I watched everything he did and copied it. I believe in my heart that if I was strong I could not be taken advantage of by men. Now I enjoy my freedom as a woman, fully feminine, fully loved. I still am learning and growing into my whole self. I'm having a blast.
He also showed me and took away my fear of rejection. I had absolutely no social skills as a young girl or woman. I could not talk to you unless you had something that I needed. The only thing that gave me some relief was booze and drugs. At least I didn't feel the pain of rejection while medicated and I was more social under the influence. After Jesus showed me my fear of rejection he then set me to the task of learning how to be more social. As I began practicing being more social He showed me the beauty He has placed in each person that I was willing to take the risk and talk to. I learned very quickly that we, the crown of His creation, are housing the very image of God Himself. If I wanted to know Him there was a way to see Him in all people. He is most creative and wonderful and the beauty that I've been exposed to through all these successive years has been amazing. I did not ask Him to do these things. In fact I did not even know that I had lived with a fear of rejection all my life and that it colored everything that I did. But He changed me any way.
I cannot explain to you how He did these things I can only tell you that I now live a life loving who I am, just as He made me. I also now live a life where the fear of rejection is rarely an issue for me. I now enjoy the opportunity to move freely in my life and get to know others and see the beauty that they are. Such a peace and freedom this has given to me.
There is a whole bunch more that you can get out of the verses above. You could camp there for days and continue to gain new insight and understanding that will bless you and change you. I do want to close this long blog by focusing on the last few lines of scripture from this set.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
This section of scripture has lots of great stuff in it that we could take a look at but I want to focus on one verse in particular. That is verse 19. Verse 19 says that His love for us surpasses knowledge. I just love this part. There is something that Jesus does in our lives that is beyond our own knowledge. Now this may seem like a "da". But for me this was a light bulb moment when I saw this.
For me everything that I know and everything that I am is always limited by my mind. If in my mind I don’t believe it then it isn't true for me (even if in reality it is true). To know that God’s love for me is not limited by my mind and thus my knowledge is huge for me. His love goes beyond my mind and is also not limited to my mind. At the same time He will employ my mind to get to know and understand Him (Romans 12:2).
There are times when Jesus has done things in me and for me that have gone beyond my understanding to grasp them and yet He has done them anyway and I have realized them in my life. In the first two years of my relationship with Him, while I was stilling living with my last lover He changed two things inside of me. He taught me that I was lovable just as He created me. I had spent my whole life pushing away everything about me that was feminine. I didn't want to be a man but I didn't want to be a victim either. To me, anything feminine was a risk of being victimized. I would also build up every thing I could about me to make me more strong, more man like. Growing up I modeled myself not after my mom, but after my dad. I watched everything he did and copied it. I believe in my heart that if I was strong I could not be taken advantage of by men. Now I enjoy my freedom as a woman, fully feminine, fully loved. I still am learning and growing into my whole self. I'm having a blast.
He also showed me and took away my fear of rejection. I had absolutely no social skills as a young girl or woman. I could not talk to you unless you had something that I needed. The only thing that gave me some relief was booze and drugs. At least I didn't feel the pain of rejection while medicated and I was more social under the influence. After Jesus showed me my fear of rejection he then set me to the task of learning how to be more social. As I began practicing being more social He showed me the beauty He has placed in each person that I was willing to take the risk and talk to. I learned very quickly that we, the crown of His creation, are housing the very image of God Himself. If I wanted to know Him there was a way to see Him in all people. He is most creative and wonderful and the beauty that I've been exposed to through all these successive years has been amazing. I did not ask Him to do these things. In fact I did not even know that I had lived with a fear of rejection all my life and that it colored everything that I did. But He changed me any way.
I cannot explain to you how He did these things I can only tell you that I now live a life loving who I am, just as He made me. I also now live a life where the fear of rejection is rarely an issue for me. I now enjoy the opportunity to move freely in my life and get to know others and see the beauty that they are. Such a peace and freedom this has given to me.
There is a whole bunch more that you can get out of the verses above. You could camp there for days and continue to gain new insight and understanding that will bless you and change you. I do want to close this long blog by focusing on the last few lines of scripture from this set.
Love that surpasses Knowledge – Part I
I want to look at our part first. The 2 Peter 1:5-11 verses. Here is the scripture in it’s entirety.
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
This scripture starts with, “Now for this very reason…” For what very reason, why should we do these things and have them in increasing measure. We must look at the beginning verses to see our motivation in being so diligent towards moving closer to Jesus. We will be motivated to be diligent because Jesus has given us the power already to do this (1 Pet 1:3). Not only that, He has also given us His promises as well. The promises of; life everlasting and an abundant life here and now (1Pet 1:4).
Since we are properly motivated to be diligent in our faith, let’s look at these things that we are supposed to do. I don’t want to look at them individually. They are easy to read and easy to understand. What I want you to see is that they build upon each other. There is a progression. As you begin to do the first you will then also move into the second. You will continue until you are able to do all of them. I also want you to notice that they start within you and move beyond you. They will help you to relate to and encourage others around you.
I also want you to see the positive and negative consequences of being diligent to work on these things. It says that if we are increasing in our ability to practice these qualities we will be fruitful and useful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if we do not put these into practice in our lives then not only will we not be fruitful and useful in knowing Christ but we will be as a blind person. It will be as if we had never met the Lord at all, as if our lives were never changed by Him, as if we never tasted the cleansing of the Holy Spirit. All the reality of the abundant life with Jesus will be out of our reach.
So what does this mean in practical everyday life. Well, ask yourself, what are you doing that causes you to long again for the gay life style. Is it your fantasy life? Are you actively keeping your fantasy life alive in your head. You need to replace it with something from Jesus. Confess this to Him. Ask Him for forgiveness. Receive that forgiveness and cleansing. Then ask Him for something to replace it. Ask Him for a scripture verse that holds a promise for you. Ask Him to help you to see what is underneath the fantasy life that gets it started up. Is it loneliness, or unworthiness, or a hurt place? Ask Him for a verse that speaks the Truth in your soul. He will do this for you. Then every time this fantasy life starts up, pray and ask the Lord for help and begin to dwell on the verse He gave you. This will be a struggle and often times a moment by moment battle. But it is also through this process that Jesus will grow you towards Himself. I don’t know what keeps you turned toward and desiring the old life style. I do know Jesus and how He has helped me. With each passing year I gained a greater understanding into who He is and the Power that He can and will impart to my life for His glory. His desire for you is that you will bear much fruit, and you will.
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
This scripture starts with, “Now for this very reason…” For what very reason, why should we do these things and have them in increasing measure. We must look at the beginning verses to see our motivation in being so diligent towards moving closer to Jesus. We will be motivated to be diligent because Jesus has given us the power already to do this (1 Pet 1:3). Not only that, He has also given us His promises as well. The promises of; life everlasting and an abundant life here and now (1Pet 1:4).
Since we are properly motivated to be diligent in our faith, let’s look at these things that we are supposed to do. I don’t want to look at them individually. They are easy to read and easy to understand. What I want you to see is that they build upon each other. There is a progression. As you begin to do the first you will then also move into the second. You will continue until you are able to do all of them. I also want you to notice that they start within you and move beyond you. They will help you to relate to and encourage others around you.
I also want you to see the positive and negative consequences of being diligent to work on these things. It says that if we are increasing in our ability to practice these qualities we will be fruitful and useful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if we do not put these into practice in our lives then not only will we not be fruitful and useful in knowing Christ but we will be as a blind person. It will be as if we had never met the Lord at all, as if our lives were never changed by Him, as if we never tasted the cleansing of the Holy Spirit. All the reality of the abundant life with Jesus will be out of our reach.
So what does this mean in practical everyday life. Well, ask yourself, what are you doing that causes you to long again for the gay life style. Is it your fantasy life? Are you actively keeping your fantasy life alive in your head. You need to replace it with something from Jesus. Confess this to Him. Ask Him for forgiveness. Receive that forgiveness and cleansing. Then ask Him for something to replace it. Ask Him for a scripture verse that holds a promise for you. Ask Him to help you to see what is underneath the fantasy life that gets it started up. Is it loneliness, or unworthiness, or a hurt place? Ask Him for a verse that speaks the Truth in your soul. He will do this for you. Then every time this fantasy life starts up, pray and ask the Lord for help and begin to dwell on the verse He gave you. This will be a struggle and often times a moment by moment battle. But it is also through this process that Jesus will grow you towards Himself. I don’t know what keeps you turned toward and desiring the old life style. I do know Jesus and how He has helped me. With each passing year I gained a greater understanding into who He is and the Power that He can and will impart to my life for His glory. His desire for you is that you will bear much fruit, and you will.
Love that surpasses Knowledge - Intro
I went to a women’s retreat this past weekend with a couple of girl friends. We had a great time being together, getting to know one another more, praying with and for each other, and then worshipping Jesus together, not to mention all the great teaching we received. I was deeply challenged by Jesus to continue to make better choices before Him in my life. As we were driving home I had a lot of time to reflect on all that we experienced and the challenges that Jesus had laid before me.
While reflecting I was thinking about what it takes to move out of the life style and into a life with Jesus. Why is it that some are able and others give up in total frustration and return to what they know and are familiar with. As I was pondering this the Lord brought two scriptures to mind that I want to share with you. I don’t claim to have all the answers and I also do not want you to believe that the transition out of the life style is easy, simple, or impossible.
The two scriptures are 2 Peter 1:5-11 and Ephesians 3:14-21. Now as I’m sitting here thinking about just what is it that I want to say, I’m realizing that this may be a very long entry, so get your coffee, find a good moment of time and then continue.
In my 2nd paragraph above, the first line may lead you to believe that it is the gay life or a life with Jesus, that they are mutually exclusive. I do not believe that to be true. What I’m trying to say and what I’ve personally experienced in my life is that living a life in Jesus must be your first priority. If you maintain your personal commitment to being in the life style then you will remain there. If what you are looking for is a closer relationship with Jesus then this must be 1st and foremost in your heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Since you are reading this I will presume that you already have a relationship with Jesus. If you do not you can go to this link and see how to start your relationship with Jesus: http://guidance.gospelcom.net/answer.htm (I have no personal connections with this site, I just did a quick Google search, read the site, and decided that it’s presentation is biblical and easily read.) I’m also assuming that you have a desire to leave the life style. It has not met your needs and has left you frustrated.
I believe that there are two parts to drawing nearer to Jesus. The first part is what Jesus does for us and to us (Eph 3:14-21) and the second is what we do (2 Pet 1:5-11). We have a part in a transformed life and if we fail to participate actively in our life with Jesus then we will fail for sure.
While reflecting I was thinking about what it takes to move out of the life style and into a life with Jesus. Why is it that some are able and others give up in total frustration and return to what they know and are familiar with. As I was pondering this the Lord brought two scriptures to mind that I want to share with you. I don’t claim to have all the answers and I also do not want you to believe that the transition out of the life style is easy, simple, or impossible.
The two scriptures are 2 Peter 1:5-11 and Ephesians 3:14-21. Now as I’m sitting here thinking about just what is it that I want to say, I’m realizing that this may be a very long entry, so get your coffee, find a good moment of time and then continue.
In my 2nd paragraph above, the first line may lead you to believe that it is the gay life or a life with Jesus, that they are mutually exclusive. I do not believe that to be true. What I’m trying to say and what I’ve personally experienced in my life is that living a life in Jesus must be your first priority. If you maintain your personal commitment to being in the life style then you will remain there. If what you are looking for is a closer relationship with Jesus then this must be 1st and foremost in your heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Since you are reading this I will presume that you already have a relationship with Jesus. If you do not you can go to this link and see how to start your relationship with Jesus: http://guidance.gospelcom.net/answer.htm (I have no personal connections with this site, I just did a quick Google search, read the site, and decided that it’s presentation is biblical and easily read.) I’m also assuming that you have a desire to leave the life style. It has not met your needs and has left you frustrated.
I believe that there are two parts to drawing nearer to Jesus. The first part is what Jesus does for us and to us (Eph 3:14-21) and the second is what we do (2 Pet 1:5-11). We have a part in a transformed life and if we fail to participate actively in our life with Jesus then we will fail for sure.
Monday, December 3, 2007
The Essence of a Woman
My sister is leading a group of women in her church through a series of books intended to help each women come to know their Creator in a more intimate way and thereby helping them to live a life of abundance and blessing as they glorify their God in Christ more. She sent me a daily reading from one of the books that they are currently reading. I think it speaks so wonderfully to a woman's spirit that I wanted others to benefit from it. One place that this group has used to get some benficail books is from the following website. Any of these books can help you to better understand who you are and why God brought you to this earth.
http://www.ransomedheart.com/default.asp?pl=http://www.ransomedheart.com/eventsMyRegLogin.asp?accessdenied=/eventsEditProfile.asp
you may need to paste the URL into your address line in one continuous line in order for it to redirect you to the site.
Daily Reading from - "The Ransomed Heart" Ministry
When we speak about the essence of a woman – her beauty – we don’t mean “the perfect figure.” The beauty of a woman is first a soulish beauty. We know – it’s a harder jump to make. We’ve lived so long under the pressure to be beautiful. But stay with the thought for a moment, because it will really help. The beauty of a woman is first a soulful beauty. And yes, as we live it out, own it, inhabit our beauty, we do become more lovely. More alluring. As the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, “Self flashes off frame and face.” Our true self becomes reflected in our appearance. But it flows from the inside out.
The essence of a woman is Beauty. She is meant to be the incarnation – our experience in human form – of a Captivating God. A Godwho invites us.
“You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride;
you have stolen my heart
with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
You are a garden fountain,
a well of flowing water
streaming down from Lebanon.” (Songs 4:9, 15)
Beauty is what the world longs to experience from a woman. We know that – somewhere down deep, we know it to be true. Most of our shame comes from this knowing and feeling that we have failed here. So hear this: Beauty is an essence that dwells inevery woman. It was given to her by God. It was given to you.
Surely you would agree that God is nothing if not beautiful.
All around us God’s creation shouts of his beauty and his goodness. The way snow creates a silhouette of lace on a barren tree, the rays of sun streaming forth from a billowing cloud, the sound of a brook trickling over smooth stones, the form of a woman’s body and the face of a child anticipating the arrival of the ice cream truck all speak of God’s good heart if we will have but the eyes to see. The coming of spring after a hard winter is almost too glorious for a soul to bear. God’s beauty is lavished on the world.
Beauty may be the most powerful thing on earth. Beauty speaks. Beauty invites. Beauty nourishes. Beauty comforts. Beauty inspires. Beauty is transcendent. Beauty draws us to God.
A woman in her glory, a woman of beauty, is a woman who is not striving to become beautiful or worthy or enough. She knows in her quiet centre where God dwells that He finds her beautiful, has deemed her worthy and in him, she is enough. In fact, the only thing getting in the way of our being fully captivating and enjoyed is our hiding and striving.
So Jesus says, “I will quiet you with My love” (Zephaniah 3:17). A woman of true beauty is a woman who in the depths of her soul is at rest; trusting God because she has come to know Him to be worthy of her trust. She exudes a sense of calm; a sense of rest; and invites those around her to rest as well. She speaks comfort; that all is well; that all will be well. A woman of true beauty offers others the grace to be and the room to become. In her presence, one can release the tight sigh that so often grips our hearts, and breathe in the truth that God loves us and he is good.
This is why we must keep asking. Ask Jesus to show you your beauty. Ask him what he thinks of you as a woman. His words to us let us rest. And unveil our beauty. (Captivating , 130-132)
From The Ransomed Heart, by John Eldredge, reading 336 Ransomed Heart Ministries http://www.ransomedheart.com/
http://www.ransomedheart.com/default.asp?pl=http://www.ransomedheart.com/eventsMyRegLogin.asp?accessdenied=/eventsEditProfile.asp
you may need to paste the URL into your address line in one continuous line in order for it to redirect you to the site.
Daily Reading from - "The Ransomed Heart" Ministry
When we speak about the essence of a woman – her beauty – we don’t mean “the perfect figure.” The beauty of a woman is first a soulish beauty. We know – it’s a harder jump to make. We’ve lived so long under the pressure to be beautiful. But stay with the thought for a moment, because it will really help. The beauty of a woman is first a soulful beauty. And yes, as we live it out, own it, inhabit our beauty, we do become more lovely. More alluring. As the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, “Self flashes off frame and face.” Our true self becomes reflected in our appearance. But it flows from the inside out.
The essence of a woman is Beauty. She is meant to be the incarnation – our experience in human form – of a Captivating God. A Godwho invites us.
“You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride;
you have stolen my heart
with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
You are a garden fountain,
a well of flowing water
streaming down from Lebanon.” (Songs 4:9, 15)
Beauty is what the world longs to experience from a woman. We know that – somewhere down deep, we know it to be true. Most of our shame comes from this knowing and feeling that we have failed here. So hear this: Beauty is an essence that dwells inevery woman. It was given to her by God. It was given to you.
Surely you would agree that God is nothing if not beautiful.
All around us God’s creation shouts of his beauty and his goodness. The way snow creates a silhouette of lace on a barren tree, the rays of sun streaming forth from a billowing cloud, the sound of a brook trickling over smooth stones, the form of a woman’s body and the face of a child anticipating the arrival of the ice cream truck all speak of God’s good heart if we will have but the eyes to see. The coming of spring after a hard winter is almost too glorious for a soul to bear. God’s beauty is lavished on the world.
Beauty may be the most powerful thing on earth. Beauty speaks. Beauty invites. Beauty nourishes. Beauty comforts. Beauty inspires. Beauty is transcendent. Beauty draws us to God.
A woman in her glory, a woman of beauty, is a woman who is not striving to become beautiful or worthy or enough. She knows in her quiet centre where God dwells that He finds her beautiful, has deemed her worthy and in him, she is enough. In fact, the only thing getting in the way of our being fully captivating and enjoyed is our hiding and striving.
So Jesus says, “I will quiet you with My love” (Zephaniah 3:17). A woman of true beauty is a woman who in the depths of her soul is at rest; trusting God because she has come to know Him to be worthy of her trust. She exudes a sense of calm; a sense of rest; and invites those around her to rest as well. She speaks comfort; that all is well; that all will be well. A woman of true beauty offers others the grace to be and the room to become. In her presence, one can release the tight sigh that so often grips our hearts, and breathe in the truth that God loves us and he is good.
This is why we must keep asking. Ask Jesus to show you your beauty. Ask him what he thinks of you as a woman. His words to us let us rest. And unveil our beauty. (Captivating , 130-132)
From The Ransomed Heart, by John Eldredge, reading 336 Ransomed Heart Ministries http://www.ransomedheart.com/
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Perplexed
I recently received a phone message from a friend of mine who needed to talk to me, right away. I sensed the distress in her voice so I called back immediately knowing that I didn't really have the time in that moment to get into a long call but that I could schedule something in the near future to help her out.
As my friend, let's call her Martha, was telling me that a close friend of hers had just told her that she is gay. This really sent Martha for a loop because she never saw any signs at all that sent her antenna up about anything. In fact Martha and her friend had had many discussions about this issue because there is another mutual friend who's mother is a lesbian. Also Martha's friend had just been to a meeting where I was able to share my story about Jesus pursuing me, healing me, changing me, and calling me out of that life style.
We set up a time to meet for lunch a few days later. My friend Martha processes things by talking through them thus she needed to meet me in person. We talked over several aspects of what was concerning Martha about this new disclosure from her friend. At one point in the discussion Martha mentioned that her friend did here me share my story. I asked what her friends response was. Martha said that she did not believe me. I responded, "what do you mean that she doesn't believe me." Martha said that this other mutual friend whose mother is also a lesbian, also is married and has five children so my story does not have any creditability.
We continued talking and then prayed but from the point that Martha stated that her friend does not believe me, I was no longer able to fully give my attention to Martha. In the back of my mind I was carrying on another conversation altogether like this, "what do you mean she doesn't believe me, she doesn't even know me, how can she say that so casually, what about all those years that I spent in process, doing the hard work of change with the Lord, did that mean nothing?" and on and on it went. In fact, after we prayed, and separated, my mind continued to dwell on this unbelief from Martha's friend.
The Lord knows me so well. He knew that it would be good to speak to me, to give me some perspective so that I would continue to trust Him, and that He would take some scripture and make it completely real for me, that I in turn can use it in the future to benefit others. I was doing my bible study lesson on Tuesday morning. We were studying Jesus' miracles at the beginning of His ministry. That days' study was focusing on Matt 8:28-34. This is where Jesus meets a demon possed man who is actually possessed by many demons named "Legion." Well, after a short discussion with the demons, Jesus casts them out into a herd of pigs. The pigs then run off a cliff and die. The towns people come out and see all that has occurred and they say to Jesus, "depart from our region."
This is such a curious response by the towns people. Here Jesus healed some demon possessed men. In Mark it says that the towns people observed "one man who had been demon possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had "legion." This man Jesus had such great compassion on. He was completely healed and "in his right mind." It says that the towns people became frightened. Why would this be. Here is the Son of God, working miracles beyond belief, and these people see it first hand, know it to be true and they become frightened. You would think that these people would say to Jesus, can you help me, I have this or that, but they don't. So what are we to take from this passage. The point that the Lord was showing me is that all of what He does is Righteous and True. He is able but not all will welcome His power to heal and to save. These towns people are not unlike many who witness the healing of someone by Jesus' power and reject what they see because it will involve a cost and their lives will be changed. Change is always unknown. Sometimes the unknown is harder to desire because the life we live is familiar and there is a comfort in the familiar.
The towns people wanted the life that they currently had over the life that they could have with Jesus. For them the cost was to high. My friend Martha's friend was discounting my story of healing and change not because it isn't true but because she is not ready to have her life changed. For her, for now, the cost is to high, and the desire to have her current life is highly prized. Interestingly enough Martha's friend is already a Christian. I don't know this woman personally but I trust my friend Martha's judgement of her position with the Lord. Why would a believer want something that is not from the Lord? That is a good question and one that we all must take into account in an active life with Jesus.
Jesus constantly has us taking stock of our lives, and by His Spirit, causing us to look at new areas of our lives that are not of Him. They are areas that are so familiar to us. Perhaps we've carried an area of sin for years without success of change and say to ourselves, "I just can't fight it any longer." I don't know. What I do know is that for now, Martha's friend is not ready for the Lord to bring healing to this area of her life. Perhaps the thought of doing the hard work with Christ is just to much and she has no fight left in her. For now, Martha's friend has a choice. It was no accident that she has heard my story. Jesus is pursuing her and calling her to change. He loves her and does not want to see her move farther into an area of sin. Sin is so debilitating. But He will allow her to walk the road that she sees as best. He will not leave her or forsake her. He will be there, when she is ready to ask for help. It is so sad that the pain of restoration will be much greater the longer she waits.
One of my favorite verses in scripture is 2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
and another is from Col 3:9-11 "Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all and in all."
The Lord richly bless you all.
As my friend, let's call her Martha, was telling me that a close friend of hers had just told her that she is gay. This really sent Martha for a loop because she never saw any signs at all that sent her antenna up about anything. In fact Martha and her friend had had many discussions about this issue because there is another mutual friend who's mother is a lesbian. Also Martha's friend had just been to a meeting where I was able to share my story about Jesus pursuing me, healing me, changing me, and calling me out of that life style.
We set up a time to meet for lunch a few days later. My friend Martha processes things by talking through them thus she needed to meet me in person. We talked over several aspects of what was concerning Martha about this new disclosure from her friend. At one point in the discussion Martha mentioned that her friend did here me share my story. I asked what her friends response was. Martha said that she did not believe me. I responded, "what do you mean that she doesn't believe me." Martha said that this other mutual friend whose mother is also a lesbian, also is married and has five children so my story does not have any creditability.
We continued talking and then prayed but from the point that Martha stated that her friend does not believe me, I was no longer able to fully give my attention to Martha. In the back of my mind I was carrying on another conversation altogether like this, "what do you mean she doesn't believe me, she doesn't even know me, how can she say that so casually, what about all those years that I spent in process, doing the hard work of change with the Lord, did that mean nothing?" and on and on it went. In fact, after we prayed, and separated, my mind continued to dwell on this unbelief from Martha's friend.
The Lord knows me so well. He knew that it would be good to speak to me, to give me some perspective so that I would continue to trust Him, and that He would take some scripture and make it completely real for me, that I in turn can use it in the future to benefit others. I was doing my bible study lesson on Tuesday morning. We were studying Jesus' miracles at the beginning of His ministry. That days' study was focusing on Matt 8:28-34. This is where Jesus meets a demon possed man who is actually possessed by many demons named "Legion." Well, after a short discussion with the demons, Jesus casts them out into a herd of pigs. The pigs then run off a cliff and die. The towns people come out and see all that has occurred and they say to Jesus, "depart from our region."
This is such a curious response by the towns people. Here Jesus healed some demon possessed men. In Mark it says that the towns people observed "one man who had been demon possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had "legion." This man Jesus had such great compassion on. He was completely healed and "in his right mind." It says that the towns people became frightened. Why would this be. Here is the Son of God, working miracles beyond belief, and these people see it first hand, know it to be true and they become frightened. You would think that these people would say to Jesus, can you help me, I have this or that, but they don't. So what are we to take from this passage. The point that the Lord was showing me is that all of what He does is Righteous and True. He is able but not all will welcome His power to heal and to save. These towns people are not unlike many who witness the healing of someone by Jesus' power and reject what they see because it will involve a cost and their lives will be changed. Change is always unknown. Sometimes the unknown is harder to desire because the life we live is familiar and there is a comfort in the familiar.
The towns people wanted the life that they currently had over the life that they could have with Jesus. For them the cost was to high. My friend Martha's friend was discounting my story of healing and change not because it isn't true but because she is not ready to have her life changed. For her, for now, the cost is to high, and the desire to have her current life is highly prized. Interestingly enough Martha's friend is already a Christian. I don't know this woman personally but I trust my friend Martha's judgement of her position with the Lord. Why would a believer want something that is not from the Lord? That is a good question and one that we all must take into account in an active life with Jesus.
Jesus constantly has us taking stock of our lives, and by His Spirit, causing us to look at new areas of our lives that are not of Him. They are areas that are so familiar to us. Perhaps we've carried an area of sin for years without success of change and say to ourselves, "I just can't fight it any longer." I don't know. What I do know is that for now, Martha's friend is not ready for the Lord to bring healing to this area of her life. Perhaps the thought of doing the hard work with Christ is just to much and she has no fight left in her. For now, Martha's friend has a choice. It was no accident that she has heard my story. Jesus is pursuing her and calling her to change. He loves her and does not want to see her move farther into an area of sin. Sin is so debilitating. But He will allow her to walk the road that she sees as best. He will not leave her or forsake her. He will be there, when she is ready to ask for help. It is so sad that the pain of restoration will be much greater the longer she waits.
One of my favorite verses in scripture is 2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
and another is from Col 3:9-11 "Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all and in all."
The Lord richly bless you all.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Daddy
I just read the greatest book. It is called "What a Difference a Daddy Makes" written by Dr. Kevin Leman. It was such a blessing to read this book. There were so many parts that ministered to my little girls heart that did not manifest in the life between me and my Daddy.
I will share with you a number of sentences from the book in hope that it will encourage you to get this book and read it for yourself. You will find it truly a blessing. This book is actually written to Dads and the best way to relate to their daughters but I believe that this will be a book of healing for many of us.
"In all my years of practice and of speaking to literally missions of people through radio and TV and at seminars, one fact has impressed me as much as anything else: Fathers leave an indelible imprint on the lives of their daughters."
"A woman's relationship with her father, more than any other relationship, is going to affect her relationship with all other males in her life.... There's not a single relationship that isn't indelibly stamped---for good or for ill---by the man known as Daddy."
"By understanding the father-daughter bond, you'll be able to help repair a damaged heart or strengthen the blessings of a healthy relationship."
"The father-daughter relationship is the key to every woman's aching heart. It's the genesis of every grown woman's sighs. It's also, unfortunately, the missing ingredient in many lost souls."
"That evidence shows that a father's relationship to his daughter is one of the key determinants in a woman's ability to enjoy a successful life and marriage."
"....Well, daddies treat kids differently; they provide a necessary complement to a mother's loving care."
"The connection between self-esteem and a father's love is well established. One study found that the perception of a father's unconditional regard was significantly related to a daughter's self-esteem..."
"You can divide most women into two camps. One camp is Miss Trust. The other is Mistrust. That one s makes all the difference in the world. The extra s is provided by the father, and it creates one of the richest inheritances that a son-in-law can received from his wife's father."
"it's my belief that these young women confuse abandonment and love because that's how their dad "love" them. They want to believe their dads cared for them, even if their fathers were distant."
"If you want to raise a well-adjusted daughter, don't run her into exhaustion in a vain effort at helping her finally prove herself. Prove your love. Prove your commitment. Prove your affection. That's what builds healthy kids."
".... a father's ability or inability to handle authority will greatly affect his child's ability to come to grips with the establishment---including God."
"I've realized that I can make my daughter's lives go much more smoothly by helping them to see that for most of us, life serves up ten helpings of reality for every one helping of bliss. Marriage is about service even more than it is about romance."
"A good father will keep moving toward his developing daughter, and he'll be prepared to talk to her about modesty, which has become a lost virtue."
"....an involved, affirming, and open father can steer his daughter around promiscuity."
If any one of these quotes above has touched you, get the book, read it, and ask God to minister to those hurt places, those hidden places, those places of unmet need.
Malachi 4:2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.
I will share with you a number of sentences from the book in hope that it will encourage you to get this book and read it for yourself. You will find it truly a blessing. This book is actually written to Dads and the best way to relate to their daughters but I believe that this will be a book of healing for many of us.
"In all my years of practice and of speaking to literally missions of people through radio and TV and at seminars, one fact has impressed me as much as anything else: Fathers leave an indelible imprint on the lives of their daughters."
"A woman's relationship with her father, more than any other relationship, is going to affect her relationship with all other males in her life.... There's not a single relationship that isn't indelibly stamped---for good or for ill---by the man known as Daddy."
"By understanding the father-daughter bond, you'll be able to help repair a damaged heart or strengthen the blessings of a healthy relationship."
"The father-daughter relationship is the key to every woman's aching heart. It's the genesis of every grown woman's sighs. It's also, unfortunately, the missing ingredient in many lost souls."
"That evidence shows that a father's relationship to his daughter is one of the key determinants in a woman's ability to enjoy a successful life and marriage."
"....Well, daddies treat kids differently; they provide a necessary complement to a mother's loving care."
"The connection between self-esteem and a father's love is well established. One study found that the perception of a father's unconditional regard was significantly related to a daughter's self-esteem..."
"You can divide most women into two camps. One camp is Miss Trust. The other is Mistrust. That one s makes all the difference in the world. The extra s is provided by the father, and it creates one of the richest inheritances that a son-in-law can received from his wife's father."
"it's my belief that these young women confuse abandonment and love because that's how their dad "love" them. They want to believe their dads cared for them, even if their fathers were distant."
"If you want to raise a well-adjusted daughter, don't run her into exhaustion in a vain effort at helping her finally prove herself. Prove your love. Prove your commitment. Prove your affection. That's what builds healthy kids."
".... a father's ability or inability to handle authority will greatly affect his child's ability to come to grips with the establishment---including God."
"I've realized that I can make my daughter's lives go much more smoothly by helping them to see that for most of us, life serves up ten helpings of reality for every one helping of bliss. Marriage is about service even more than it is about romance."
"A good father will keep moving toward his developing daughter, and he'll be prepared to talk to her about modesty, which has become a lost virtue."
"....an involved, affirming, and open father can steer his daughter around promiscuity."
If any one of these quotes above has touched you, get the book, read it, and ask God to minister to those hurt places, those hidden places, those places of unmet need.
Malachi 4:2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.
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