Is Holiness a Goal?

Wow. I just saw Psalm 17:15 in a whole new light the other day as I was meditating on it (while weeding my garden... LOL!)

Psalm 17:15, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."

This verse became special to me in my freshman year of Bible college, when my friend April shared it with me... It was her life verse, and I claimed it for my own life verse for that period of time.  Thanks, April!

At that time I viewed it as a "declaration" verse stating that I was seeking to be holy, to become righteous. Now, there is a truth that as I yield to Christ, my behaviour and actions become more righteous as I grow in Him. However, there are many passages that tell me that positionally I already am righteous, because I am "in Christ." Please hear (read) me out and consider this carefully! This concept has really changed my life and my thinking!

As I learn to know Him and yield to Him more readily, more often, and on more of regular basis, rather than yielding to my default/fleshly desires and behaviour, my life will exhibit more and more of His righteousness that is already in me by His Spirit.

So from that change of thought--that I should look at holiness as a position in Christ that I yield to, rather than a goal to attain--this is the personal application the Lord gave me from my "old" life verse:

As for me, I will (desire and choose to) behold (gaze upon, focus upon, look to) His face in (through His) righteousness (in me). He plants the right desire in me as I yield to His Spirit living in me. The only way I will be satisfied (have true, lasting satisfaction, truly and deeply at rest and content) is when my focus is HIM, awaking with His likeness, from the early morning: starting my day beholding Him by claiming His righteousness afresh, first thing in the morning. Choosing to walk that way with Him through the day.

Priceless Simplicity

Side note: I just ran across this on another blog and loved the sense of humour... click the button... but please come back!



As you can see, I don't blog every day, or even every week. I do try to at least post once a month. Usually more often than that. But I don't want my blog to become a drudgery, I don't want to become a slave to it, and I definitely don't want it to become a tool the enemy uses to keep me from my responsibilities and ministries.

"Let all things be done decently and in order."~ I Corinthians 14:40

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Simplicity. 

I love the sound of that word!

It's right up there with calm and peace!

I have a blue wipe-off board on my refrigerator. At times I write notes to family members, usually noting what leftovers are available in the fridge for them. Please eat the leftover pasta before it becomes a science project... Please and thank you!

Lately though, I've taken to putting up a Scripture or phrase of which I need to be reminded.

If you come into my kitchen, this is what you will see on the board:

The Simplicity that is in Christ

Some may consider that a strange "reminder" phrase. Let me explain. As most pink people in the world, I tend to be a complex, emotional woman! That's not all bad, because God made me pink for a reason! Just as he made my husband  blue for a reason.

(If you're wondering where all the pink vs. blue comes from, read Love & Respect  by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs... one of the best books on marriage! It helps you understand members of the opposite sex in general.)

Well, being pink, as I said, I can be quite emotional. And when I yield to those wobbling emotions over what Christ says, I can complicate life. This is what the enemy wants!

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. ~ II Corinthians 11:3

I'm a mess when I start telling myself a bunch of stories (about myself, about someone else, or about a situation). And things get complicated in a hurry.

Here's how this has worked at times in the past... Do you ever do this?

1. Someone doesn't say hi to you at church, so you think they are mad at you.
2. Then you wonder what you did.
3. Then you start to mull it over and try to figure out what you did.
4. When you can't come up with any offence, you become irritated. She always acts that way. I don't know what her problem is!
5. Next thing you know, you have a story built up in your head about how much this woman hates you.
6. Later you feel depressed for seemingly no reason.
7. You start crying at the drop of a hat. You lash out at those you love, or withdraw from them.
8. Your husband can't do anything right.
9. YOU can't do anything right or accomplish anything.
10. Your kids are a pain and inconvenience.
11. And the hobbies you used to enjoy just aren't fun anymore.

Now, what happened?

You just got taken down in a round by the enemy!

We need to start recognising these things for what they are: attacks of the devil! He does not want us to have victory in Jesus! He wants us to be miserable. He can render us ineffective and steal our children as well in this way.

Life in Christ is simple. Christ is not complex. I do not mean disrespect here. It's true that His "ways are past finding out," and we will never know it all until we get to heaven. What I mean here is that we don't need to run around like chickens with our heads cut off in life! Settle down. Calm down. LET the peace of God rule in your heart!

Let's work back through our scenario and see how we could have let His peace rule.

1. Someone doesn't say hi to you at church, and you may think they are mad at you.
2. You may wonder what you did.
3. You ask the Lord if you did offend this person, if you are imagining things, or if it's their issue.
4. When the Lord does not reveal any offence, you pray for the person.
5. You may go to her, privately, and ask in sincerity if she's okay (as appropriate to the person or situation).
6. She may respond and ask you to pray for her, and realise that she has a true friend who really cares about her.
7. Later you feel happy, free, and released because you have listened to the Lord's leading, not to your unstable emotions!
8. You are free to love those you truly love, and draw closer to them, as well as to this fellow church member.
9. You believe you have the best husband in the world! You are content and grateful for the blessings in your life.
10. You believe you are right where God wants you, accomplishing all the things that He wants you to accomplish. This is fulfilling.
11. Your kids are a joy, and you enjoy being with them and teaching them the principles of God, because you are truly seeking to practise these principles yourself.
12. You enjoy your hobbies to the fullest.
13. You have a greater sense of your God-given purpose in life.

See what a relief that is? Jesus is the answer. Yielding to HIM is the answer. Setting your affection on things ABOVE is the answer. Let's purpose to change our responses and not go down the wrong emotional track!

Next time we'll talk about an acrostic that has helped me: H.A.L.T.

Personal Experience With Depression

I have personally suffered from depression for years and took anti-depressants for more than 10 years. I have struggled, seeking answers.

Three years ago I was able to wean off of the anti-depressants (not without fear and trepidation!) by starting a daily regimen of Omega-3 supplements along with 5HTP capsules. The 5HTP helps me get into a deep sleep and stay there through the night, as sleep problems many times contribute to depression.

I highly encourage anyone suffering with depression or mental illness NOT to make anti-depressants and medications their first option. Seek to find the SOURCE, rather than just treating symptoms. This is what most anti-depressant drugs do: treat symptoms.

Seeing a naturopathic doctor helped me as well, to check for food allergies, etc. Sometimes a gluten or wheat allergy wreaks havoc on someone’s system! Until someone reaches “bottom,” he/she may be unwilling to change his/her lifestyle and diet, but trust me, once you reach that all-time low, you’re willing to try just about anything. It seems to me that it’s better to try healing your body naturally with the things that God created (herbs, vitamins, etc.) than to immediately jump to a synthetic solution. Too many times the cure proves worse than the disease in the medical arena. (I speak with all due respect to medical professionals. I believe there is definitely a time and place for their services.)

Another thing that helped me is an exercise regimen. I definitely see a difference in my mood and a lack of feeling hopeless when I’m exercising or active in some way.

Most important of all–-and above any natural health or fitness solution-–JESUS is THE medicine! Singing and choosing to be with people (instead of isolating) are areas that helped me also. But THE most important is the input of GOD’S WORD daily. Jesus IS the WORD (John 1:1). Play Scripture music. Play the Bible on CD. Read it. Post print-outs of Scripture around the house. Make your own songs up out of the Scriptures that are meaningful to you. Meditate and saturate yourself with Scripture!!


The Apostle Paul had a "thorn in the flesh, a messenger of satan to buffet" him. He asked God three times to remove it, but God told him that His grace was "sufficient." This is how I have come to accept my battle with depression. I do all the things that God has allowed me to find that help me, but if I fight a day or two here and there when I feel depressed, I accept it that God still wants me to remember I need to run to Him first. He is my hiding place (Psalm 32:7); not my Omega-3 supplements or exercise, or anything else outside of Him that I have found to help me. Those findings are good and important, and I believe they are answers from heaven. However, when it comes down to it, HE is all I need. HE is my all in all.


...And when it comes down to it, I have a choice. 

‎"Lincoln once said that most people are about as happy as they decide to be. In the end, you may have to pray for the grace and courage to decide to say "yes" to life and, by so doing, prove to the world that you have indeed been saved: "by grace through faith." To make such a decision is not to be a Pollyanna. It is willing to will the will of God." ~ Tony Campolo

If you would like more info that I have found  in my search for help with depression, please feel free to message me.

New Beginnings in 2010

I can hardly believe that 2010 is here! Don't you think time just rolls on faster and faster, like a ball down a mountainside?



It is my goal to incorporate a bit more active exercise into my life in 2010. My lifestyle is too sedentary, and the older I become, the more I notice the need to change that! This does not mean that I'm becoming a distance runner this year! (Just FYI!) But I do need to walk on a more regular basis.

It is also my desire to create even more of a haven out of the home God has given to us. I want it to be a place of peace and rest for my family.



I liked my blogging friend Monica's list of goals for the year. Click here to read the list and see her lovely photos accompanying each goal.

More important than my physical or emotional goals, though, are the spiritual. My verse for 2010 is Luke 24:45, "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures."

It is my prayer to become more intimate with God this year than ever before--and that, through a better understanding of the Scriptures. He IS the Word (John 1:1). I need Him to open my understanding to comprehend the Scriptures more fully, thus knowing Him more.




What are your goals for 2010? It's great to have goals and to ask the Lord to live through us this year to accomplish them. When we fail, we just need to ask God to pick us back up and put us back on track; not beat ourselves up about it. God doesn't! Do not allow your goals to discourage you; neither allow past failures to keep you from making new goals.

Let the 2010 music begin!

(Last two photos courtesy of my photographer friend Monique Tremblay.)

Unashamed

Psalm 119:1-11

Have you ever felt embarrassed or that others view you as imperfect? I have many times! But verse 6 says we don’t have to “be ashamed.” When I feel ashamed, it indicates a focus on myself and a lack of wholeness and freedom within my own spirit. Ultimately this is pride (See blog entry Thoughts on Pride). My focus is on ME. I want to be viewed as good or right. I want to be liked by everyone. I want to feel good. I want to look good. I don’t want to be inconvenienced. I want what I want—now!

David recognizes that the "undefiled" (pure and clean) are blessed—not ashamed, and that these are those who "walk in the Law of the Lord." They "seek Him with the whole heart... do no iniquity... walk in His ways." God has commanded us to "keep His precepts diligently."

David then gives the prerequisites for truly living “unashamed” in the previous verses. David describes the habit or general mode of walking in the Lord's way. The focus is HIM. When my focus is HIM and HIS way, THEN "I will not be ashamed." THEN I will "praise [Him] with uprightness of heart." Why? Because THEN "I shall have learned [His] righteous judgments"!

OK, so I realize how self-focused I am... now how can I correct this? With sheer will power? “I’m not going to focus on myself anymore. I’ve tried before [sigh], but I’ll try again.” Is that what the Psalmist said? How can I truly “cleanse [my] way”? Psalm 119:9 tells me to cleanse my way “by taking heed” to His WORD! The Word is where the power is! I need to hide His Word in my heart (verse 11). If I take this to heart, then I need to “get the Word in” any way possible. When my body has an iron deficiency, I need to learn to pay attention and eat the foods that are rich in iron. Same with the Word of God. When I have a deficiency in my life—I’m continually wallowing in a low self esteem or self pity (when God says I’m complete in Christ, Colossians 2:10), I’m always blowing my stack (when God says to let all bitterness go, Ephesians 4:31), or I’m not giving (when Jesus said to give, Luke 6:38)—would I not be wise to seek out the power in the Word to counteract that specific deficiency?

The Old Testament speaks of putting God’s Word on the door posts (Deut. 11:18-20). One of the most effective ways I have found to hide God’s Word in my heart continuously is to print out Scripture ( Biblegateway.com or eSword) and post it around the house. Tape it on the bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator, on the front door so that I see it as I leave the house... Listen to Scripture on CD. The Word gives me power to "not wander from [His] commandments" (Psalm 119:10). The more I read it and hear it, the more I memorize it and hide it in my heart.
What is the outcome? I am settled in my spirit. I don't need to have the credit or praise for what I am doing, because I have peace inside my heart: my spirit is free to adore the Lord. My focus is HIM, not ME.

What verses are YOU meditating on today? Comment and let me know.