"Never be sympathetic with the soul whose case makes you come to the conclusion that God is hard. God is more tender than we can conceive and every now and then He gives us the chance of being the rugged one that He may be the tender one." MUFHH -12/19
Matthew 10:34 - 'I came not to bring peace, but a sword.'
'If a man cannot get through to God, it is because there is a secret thing he does not intend to give up.' 'People want the blessing of God, but they will not stand the thing that goes straight to the quick.' His message is merciless insistence on whatever keeps us from all He has for us.
'There must be a sense of need before the message of use.' I must see myself as he sees me and be desirous and willing to say 'take my life and let me be, consecrated Lord to Thee.'
1Peter 1:16 - 'Be ye holy as I am holy.' - a command. He does not give commands that we cannot keep. So? usually my problem is that I do not want to 'give something up' - usually my 'right' or myself. God wants us to be willing to give it ALL up - yet that does not mean that He will TAKE it or them - just that we must be willing to lay it all at His feet. All that we have comes from and returns to Him. why don't I? - I do not really believe that God is good. If I did understand and believe the depth of His goodness and love and plan.
Matthew 5:48 - "Therefore, you must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.'
2 Cor. 12:9 - 10 .."My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
It is all about DEPENDENCE on Him and the Holy Spirit!!
1 Cor. 9:22 - 'when I am weak, then I am strong.'
Phil. 4:13 - 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
from My Utmost for His Highest - Nov. 23rd (my mom's birthday!)
Three distractions to spiritual growth.
1. The cares of the world. the desire for things, position, power, wrong priorities that make us
prejudiced against anyone else.
2. The desire for vindication. St Augustine prayed "O Lord, deliver me from always vindicating
myself." why do I always feel I must 'explain' myself - get people to understand? Our Lord
never explained Himself.. he was secure in who He was.
3. Spiritual discernment. which can lead to criticism or spiritual pride.
God never gives us discernment to criticize or to be proud - only to pray!
These - and many others - distract us from purity of heart.
Three distractions to spiritual growth.
1. The cares of the world. the desire for things, position, power, wrong priorities that make us
prejudiced against anyone else.
2. The desire for vindication. St Augustine prayed "O Lord, deliver me from always vindicating
myself." why do I always feel I must 'explain' myself - get people to understand? Our Lord
never explained Himself.. he was secure in who He was.
3. Spiritual discernment. which can lead to criticism or spiritual pride.
God never gives us discernment to criticize or to be proud - only to pray!
These - and many others - distract us from purity of heart.
"Complaining is refusing to see anything but ourselves." It is a choice to keep something revolving around 'me' and what I want, what suits me the best, what I 'think' is right, etc.
We are told to do ALL things WITHOUT complaining and grumbling. (Phil. 4:13) All of Phil. 4 and Eph. 5 talk about 'walking in love' and as 'lights.' Complaining keeps one from both of these.
The opposite of complaining is GRATITUDE. WOW! How can we be grateful in the midst of a terrible situation? Only by continuing to 'put my mind on things above,' 'by 'looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith.' By believing in the Sovereignty of God - that He will 'work ALL things together for good to them who love God.' (Rom. 8:28) - By believing that He engineers all circumstances for his Glory. So - do I want His will and Glory?
I also KNOW that I have 'human responsibility' in this world. and that we live in a 'fallen world.'
God is not the author of evil.
So - just HOW can I be grateful, how do I develop and attitude of gratitude?
Gratitude takes the focus off of self, and presupposes a GIVER - God.
Gratitude is a CHOICE. Do/will I 'choose' (one part of human responsibility) to trust God - that He can work 'this' out for His glory and will?
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."
Remember the Israelites in the wilderness. God had blessed, was blessing - even though it was hard. But they could not SEE what He was doing and complained and asked to go back into slavery. Hind sight is so clear.
His goal is always the same - to fit us for Heaven and bring others to Himself. All will work for those things always.
When we give thanks, there is no room for grumbling and/or complaining about what we lack or envy to or from others. It makes the heart be at peace and frees it with gladness which results in spilling out to others with acts of kindness and generosity.
1 Thess. 5:18; Phil. 4:6,7; Rev. 7:12; Job1:21; Hebrews 13:15,16.
We are told to do ALL things WITHOUT complaining and grumbling. (Phil. 4:13) All of Phil. 4 and Eph. 5 talk about 'walking in love' and as 'lights.' Complaining keeps one from both of these.
The opposite of complaining is GRATITUDE. WOW! How can we be grateful in the midst of a terrible situation? Only by continuing to 'put my mind on things above,' 'by 'looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith.' By believing in the Sovereignty of God - that He will 'work ALL things together for good to them who love God.' (Rom. 8:28) - By believing that He engineers all circumstances for his Glory. So - do I want His will and Glory?
I also KNOW that I have 'human responsibility' in this world. and that we live in a 'fallen world.'
God is not the author of evil.
So - just HOW can I be grateful, how do I develop and attitude of gratitude?
Gratitude takes the focus off of self, and presupposes a GIVER - God.
Gratitude is a CHOICE. Do/will I 'choose' (one part of human responsibility) to trust God - that He can work 'this' out for His glory and will?
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."
Remember the Israelites in the wilderness. God had blessed, was blessing - even though it was hard. But they could not SEE what He was doing and complained and asked to go back into slavery. Hind sight is so clear.
His goal is always the same - to fit us for Heaven and bring others to Himself. All will work for those things always.
When we give thanks, there is no room for grumbling and/or complaining about what we lack or envy to or from others. It makes the heart be at peace and frees it with gladness which results in spilling out to others with acts of kindness and generosity.
1 Thess. 5:18; Phil. 4:6,7; Rev. 7:12; Job1:21; Hebrews 13:15,16.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Gal. 2:20 -I am crucified with Christ, yet now I no longer live, yet 'not I, but Christ' liveth in me and the live I live by faith in the Son of God.
these words, 'not I, but Christ' - herein lies a key to walking in the Spirit, to freedom in Christ, to joy, to peace, etc. etc.
It has been taught that 'I' have 'no rights.' so true. I assume so much, and none of it is really true as long as self is first - it is me deceiving myself.
1 Cor. 6:20 and 7:23 tell us that we are bought with a price and 'are not our own.' So why do we think and act like we are our own? we aren't, whether we live that way or not.
I read the other day that it is not a matter of giving up sin, but giving up my right to myself, my natural independence - and this is where the battle is fought. When I give up 'my' rights, then the giving up of anything else is easy - or easier - a little.
Jesus said , 'If any man would be my disciple, let him deny himself.' Matt 16:24 tough!
yet why is that? In 'reality' when we 'give up ourselves' and want God's will, it is always the Best - sometimes it is in 'the long view - eternity' because, we always want what we think is best according to what we 'see' and 'have.'
Oswald Chambers says that "the characteristics of individuality are independence and self-assertiveness. It is the continual assertion of individuality that hinders our spiritual life more than anything else." mufhh, day12/11
in the world today we are taught that to be 'great' - we should be 'ourselves' - me-first, how does it affect me? - if i don't take up for me, no one will - etc etc. we strive to be independent and put our good first. -
Jesus taught just the opposite - deny self. Phil. 2:1-11.
Things in the spiritual world of Almighty God - the maker of heaven and earth - sovereign God, etc. things are so often opposite of what they 'seem.' To save our life, we 'lose it.' the first shall be last. give to receive. die to live!! be 'captive to be FREE.'
These truths are only understandable by revelation and the willingness to yield.
Give us grac, God, so that we may live and honor You.
why do be wait so long? we 'think' we know best for us. We DON"T.
these words, 'not I, but Christ' - herein lies a key to walking in the Spirit, to freedom in Christ, to joy, to peace, etc. etc.
It has been taught that 'I' have 'no rights.' so true. I assume so much, and none of it is really true as long as self is first - it is me deceiving myself.
1 Cor. 6:20 and 7:23 tell us that we are bought with a price and 'are not our own.' So why do we think and act like we are our own? we aren't, whether we live that way or not.
I read the other day that it is not a matter of giving up sin, but giving up my right to myself, my natural independence - and this is where the battle is fought. When I give up 'my' rights, then the giving up of anything else is easy - or easier - a little.
Jesus said , 'If any man would be my disciple, let him deny himself.' Matt 16:24 tough!
yet why is that? In 'reality' when we 'give up ourselves' and want God's will, it is always the Best - sometimes it is in 'the long view - eternity' because, we always want what we think is best according to what we 'see' and 'have.'
Oswald Chambers says that "the characteristics of individuality are independence and self-assertiveness. It is the continual assertion of individuality that hinders our spiritual life more than anything else." mufhh, day12/11
in the world today we are taught that to be 'great' - we should be 'ourselves' - me-first, how does it affect me? - if i don't take up for me, no one will - etc etc. we strive to be independent and put our good first. -
Jesus taught just the opposite - deny self. Phil. 2:1-11.
Things in the spiritual world of Almighty God - the maker of heaven and earth - sovereign God, etc. things are so often opposite of what they 'seem.' To save our life, we 'lose it.' the first shall be last. give to receive. die to live!! be 'captive to be FREE.'
These truths are only understandable by revelation and the willingness to yield.
Give us grac, God, so that we may live and honor You.
why do be wait so long? we 'think' we know best for us. We DON"T.
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