Wednesday, June 25, 2008

change is hard, but not impossible in Christ!

Check out this article! It really was helpful today. John Piper is explaining the importance of treasuring Christ above all else. He described what it means to covet:
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"There is no difference between the Hebrew word for desire and the Hebrew word for covet. Coveting means desiring something too much. And too much is measured by how that desiring compares to desiring God. If desiring leads you away from God rather than closer to God, it is covetousness. It is sin."
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I was struck with the fact that this is a daily struggle in my life. I am quick to compare myself with others in "blessings" the Lord has given them and not me. Even today, my heart struggled with coveting over what a dear friend of mine received. My response was sinful in my heart. I responded in questioning God in why He hasn't given me that blessing! I repented to the Lord and realized how much my heart is so prone to deceive me. The truth is I am greatly blessed!! I have been given a wonderful Redeemer who has qualified me to share in His inheritance through the blood He has shed! "All You have shown me is grace, love and mercy. Now and forever I am Your child." I wonder if the Lord ever grows tired of my complaining?!! eeeee!! Oh me of little faith!
Thankfully, God is greater then our hearts (1 John 3:20)! He is teaching me so much in this time and in all of His delays and detours, He is using it all for my very good! May the Lord continue to mature us from our former way of thinking and idols in our hearts (idolaters, enviousness, and all bitterness) ...and may He continue to make us treasurers of Christ alone!
heart questions:
  • Am I satisfied in all that God promised to be for me in Christ?
  • Am I treasuring anything or anyone in a way that competes with God’s supreme place in my life?
so, READ the article, it's helpful!
May we treasure Christ in the midst of our fight against our idolatrous and "idol making" hearts! For now we are NEW creations in Christ! For He is able to do this in us and has given us much grace to walk forward in obedience, unto His glory! Amen! (1 John 4:4)

Friday, June 13, 2008

unworthy to even untie His shoe laces

some thoughts...

This past week I have been considering and wanting to grow in understanding of the mind of God. Lately, I have been dumb-founded with how my thoughts are so FAR differ then God's. I have no STINKIN' clue the mind of God (which am I owed this?)! At times, I think I'm kind of clued in to what He is doing and then some circumstance changes (that may seem for the worse) or a surprise blessings is given and I'm shocked at His plan. I know that I am not the one who gets to call the shots or control what is to come...in fact, most of the time I don't want that job. However, if I'm being ruthlessly honest, I know that I do want to be the deciding factor of what happens to my life...!

This is confession time and my heart is NOT so pretty! In fact, who am I? I must remember who I am in light of God! Job 38-42 always gives good perspective! I was not there when God laid the foundation of the earth and I have never seen His storehouses of snow or hail that He holds or the place where light is distributed or even know when the mountain goats give birth....all these things and more are governed and controlled by our Sovereign Lord and King! WOW to me to think I get to organize the happenings of my little life, for I am just the creature and that right is only worthy of the governing Creator! I must be brought low to see things in light of God's perspective.

For in faithfulness God afflicted me (Ps. 119:75), so that I may turn to Him and know Him. What a grace, that out of His love for us in Christ, He chooses to afflict us and cause us to turn to Him and rely on Him! Otherwise, I would be stuck in my unbelief and wrong thinking--that I get to control my life! Praise be to God to humble His people! For by this we know we are His children, for He disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 13). So for that, we should be rejoicing, knowing we are His! And He is my Great Reward! Thankfully, His ways are Higher and Far Better then my ways...oh for more grace to trust my gracious God and His perfect wisdom! Amen!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:8-9

"For who has understood the mind of the Lord so to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." -1 Corinthians 2:16

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." -John 15:15

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Still Alive...

Hey Everyone...I am still alive and doing okay! I have moved in officially to my new house and LOVE it! Such a blessing already! I live with a sweet couple from Church, Jack and Heather. AND a sweet sisterfriend from my church, Lyssa! I will put pictures up next post! It's a pretty sweet set-up, might I add! I get my own room for cheap rent and the luxury of living in a house with sweet fellowship! Very gracious of God!

Hope all of you are doing well! It has been challenging past couple of days...I'd appreciate prayer! Yet, it's good of God to humble me and want to keep on humbling me, to make me more dependent on Him...for this is His love to me! Therefore, I have much Hope....that this too will past...and will continue to conform me into His image. Which is exactly what is Best!

May He continue to fulfill His purposes for me and may He continue to receive all the glory!

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever."
-Psalm 23