Does Anyone See or Care?

Hagar, Genesis chapters 16 and 21

There have been times I felt that no one, not even God, really saw or noticed all the work I was doing day after day with a toddler at home. I felt isolated... Hubby at work all day and then studying for sermons on the weekend.

But God really encouraged me with Hagar in Genesis 16... Remember Hagar? She felt like no one knew or appreciated her, but she had an encounter with God so real that she exclaimed that now she knew that "Thou God seest me"!

The neatest part? GOD pursued HER. When she gave up, at the lowest of her lows, HE reached out to HER! But it was her choice to respond to Him.

God gave me this passage of Scripture in direct answer to my cries to Him, "Do YOU even SEE me? Do YOU even SEE all I am doing here?" Of course, I knew in my HEAD that He did, but I FELT alone.

I don't know if you're discouraged, or what your life situation is, but the next time you feel down, I hope you'll be encouraged and lifted up with the thought that God SEES you...with LOVE and CARE! His Word is there to sustain and comfort you. He's reaching out. He's waiting for you to respond to Him.

Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone?
Does the road you travel harbour danger yet unknown?
Are you growing weary through the struggle of it all?
Jesus will help you, when on His name you call!

Is the life you're living filled with sorrow and despair?
Does the future press you with its worry and its care?
Are you tired and friendless? Have you almost lost your way?Jesus will help you; just come to Him today!

He is always there, hearing ev'ry prayer, faithful and true!
Walking by our side, in His love we hide all the day through!
When you get discouraged, just remember what to do--
Reach out to Jesus; He's reaching out to you!

~ Ralph Carmichael

Not Perfect; Just Forgiven

I often see bumper stickers and t-shirts with the phrase: Christians aren’t perfect; just forgiven.

Frequently, one will hear the phrase, “Well, I’m only human…” At times I get the impression that it is an excuse to act or respond a certain way.

Someone once asked me this question: How do you deal with and respond to people who think that because we are Christians we should be perfect?

I believe that my Authority, the Bible, teaches that I should simply respond with an apology if they feel I have offended them. Depending on the situation, at some point I may be able to quietly clarify that being a Christian doesn't automatically make me perfect, but I would not even say that, if that statement will merely be perceived as a fight.

“Being human” does not make it okay to do wrong--even with good intentions. And I don’t know about you, but I always want to be judged by my good intentions! ☺ My "humanity" does not excuse me automatically, and it does not exempt me from apologies, even when the other person owes me an apology! Jesus said to turn the other cheek to those who hurt us. I believe this could be applied to word barrages as well. The longer I "live the difference," not retaliating, but humbly admitting my wrong, even asking forgiveness if I were perceived as wrong, or misunderstood, the better I am able to reach people and build relationships. God keeps the books. He knows if I did wrong on purpose or if it was an honest mistake.

If it's someone with whom I am in close relationship, there may come a point when I would need to pull back a bit from them if they continue. However, I would bathe that in prayer for a LONG time before making such a decision. I do not believe the Bible teaches that we should arbitrarily cut people out of our lives. That's not what Jesus did; that's now how He lived. We can clearly see that in the Gospels.

If it's a marital relationship that is verbally abusive, that's another ballgame, but the Bible still obviously applies. (*See the note at the end of this post.) I am told to follow Jesus' example. When He was reviled (criticized, berated, etc.), He did not retaliate with criticism or word barrages.



I Peter 2:20 says, “For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God.”


He's saying, so what if I am criticised or mistreated for real failures and I take it patiently? But if I am doing right and I suffer for it, that is what is really pleasing—“acceptable”—to God!

 This is only accomplished by living by Jesus' faith (Galatians 2:20), yielding myself to His Holy Spirit, so that He lives through me. Humanly, I cannot do this. He can do this through me, His yielded vessel! (For more on this, read The Life That Wins by Watchman Nee. I highly recommend lots of reading on this topic!)

Check out the next few verses: For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 
(I Peter 2:21).


He says, this is what you were called to: to follow Christ, live as He lived.



Well, how did He live?

Verse 22: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (I Peter 2:22). 


He says, Christ didn't commit sin at all, did not sin with his mouth/words.

Verse 23: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously: 
(I Peter 2:23).


Then I, as Jesus did, am to commit myself to the Person Who righteously judges everything: God. He keeps the records, and He can set things straight in His own time. Sometimes He wants me to learn a little humility. Always He seeks to conform me to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29), which is my calling and purpose in life (Romans 8:28)!

Realizing my purpose and living free to yield to the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit living inside of me is a wonderful life! It is so freeing to realize I don't have to retaliate when someone criticizes or attacks me. I don't have to stew inside. My liberty in Christ Jesus allows me to simply talk to my Father about it, committing it all to Him, the Righteous Judge. He is always fair, and to top it off, He loves me! ☺


_____________________
*Note: There are certain situations, such as ongoing physical or mental abuse, that may require third party interventions. Matthew 18 teaches that if someone has something against me (or perceives they do, and in turn becomes abusive), I should first try to resolve it between the two of us. If that does not work, Matthew teaches me to take a fellow Christian with me to confront the abusive person. If that does not resolve the issue, I would need to take it to the church leadership, and possibly the church body, per the pastor’s decision in the matter.

If it is an abusive dating/courtship relationship, I believe one should run as fast as possible in the other direction! Marriage will only intensify the issues!

Thoughts All a Dither

Ever realized that you're a mess? Thoughts all a dither*?


*Dither (Mirriam-Webster):  a highly nervous, excited, or agitated state 

Image: Christine Martell, VisualsSpeak

I have come to this realization quite often. My emotions are a mess! (It might have something to do with the fact that I'm a woman!) 


Too many times I allow my emotions to direct my thought patterns, instead of disciplining my thought life to line up with the Truth (God's Word). I begin to tell myself stories that are completely fictional, with no foundation or backing. I tell myself stories that say people are mad at me, stories that say I am a failure, stories that say I am better than the next person, stories that say I will never learn, stories that say I am trapped, stories that say I can't help but be like I am... stories, stories, stories... all lies of the enemy of my soul.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul**; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. (Psalm 143:3)

**"Soul" in this case (Strong's Concordance): seat of emotions and passions


Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established."


Whenever I find my thoughts all a dither, the chances are high that I need to make a choice. I need to "commit" (or recommit) my "works"--whatever job or project that has my attention, as well as its outcome, to the Lord. Whatever has me worried or upset probably has to do with my taking control of the thing. Wanting to control its progress or its outcome. Wanting to manipulate someone else's behaviour to suit my needs. 


From a fleshly point of view, the solution is not easy, and yet it is simple. Once, through the power of the Spirit, I make the decision, choosing to rely on Jesus and trust that He is in control, no matter what it looks like, I come to peace, and my thoughts are established, settled. I can breathe. I can even sing. I'm no longer in turmoil. I have "laboured to enter into rest" (Hebrews 4:11). I have returned to a state of rest in my soul (Psalm 116:7). And I suddenly realize the Lord truly has "dealt bountifully with me"!

Building Personal Trust in My Father

TRUST: 1. Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety of a person or thing; confidence.

Trust is something that is earned, right? The more we know someone, the more (or less) we trust him/her.

So what about God? Do I really trust Him?

Photo: OpenResources.org

How well do I know Him?

His Word has proven true. He has never failed me. When it seems that He has let me down, I later come to understand that He had a purpose. Which is what He told me in the first place.

And we know that all things (not just some things) work together (multiple "bad" things together) for good (even when I can't see any good) to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (His perfect plan) ~ Romans 8:28.

Did you notice my emphasis on "the called"? I am the called one, according to His purpose and plan. There is no one else who can fulfill that plan in the same way. And what is His purpose?

Verse 29: "...to be conformed to the image of His Son."

Did Jesus suffer? Did He not "learn obedience" by the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8)?

Wasn't Jesus reviled... mocked... verbally abused (I Peter 2:21-23)?

How did He respond? "Committed Himself unto Him that judgeth righteously" (God, His Father)!

I can trust Jesus--He has already endured everything I go through in this life (Hebrews 12:2-3). Yet He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). I can trust Him to understand my overwhelming feelings. I can trust that He knows how much I can bear. I can also trust that He is my advocate with the Father (I John 2:1).

I can trust God my Father--He has a reason and purpose to everything (Romans 8:28-29), and He makes everything beautiful in His time, not mine (Ecclesiastes 3). He loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3)! Underneath me are His everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27)! He rejoices over me with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)!

God picked up a sparrow 

That could no longer fly 

He brushed off its wounds 

And then watched it soar into the sky 

If He's mindful of creation,

On this I can depend: 

I am His child 

And I can place all my trust in Him! 

I can trust Jesus, 

I can trust Jesus-- 

He never once has failed 

To meet my needs; 

He is my strong tower, 

The strength in my weakest hour-- 

I can trust Jesus, 

He takes care of me! 

I have prayed some prayers, 

And felt they never were heard, 

But I held to God's hand, 

And kept right on trusting in His word; 

My wants and God's desires 

Don't always agree, 

But I lean on His will 

For He always knows what's best for me.

I can trust Jesus, 

I can trust Jesus-- 

He never once has failed 

To meet my needs; 

He is my strong tower, 

The strength in my weakest hour-- 

I can trust Jesus, 

He takes care of me! 

~ Gerald Crabb

Trying Hard

"I'm trying."

How many times have you said that about your Christian walk?

"I'm doing my best."

I believe that this is many times my problem! It's "I" and "me"; not "He" and "Him."

Galatians 2:20 says, "...not I, but Christ liveth in me... and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God..."

It's not even my faith! It's His faith!

"That I may KNOW HIM, and the power..." Philippians 3:10

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit {at salvation}, are ye now {in sanctification/spiritual growth} made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:3


When we got saved, it was all HIM, so why do we think now we can mature spiritually in our own strength and "trying harder"?


Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:1


There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his {God's} rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. Hebrews 4:9-10

One thinks, well, we have to try or else nothing is accomplished. Yes, it's true that I still have a choice to yield to the Spirit inside me when He tells me to pick up my Bible and read it. Yes, it's true that I still have things to accomplish in my day. In order to get them done, I do need to focus my mind and actually put one foot in front of the other--actually fill that cleaning pail up with soapy water.

It's not that "doing" goes away and we just lay around "enjoying God's presence" all the time! It's just that the "doing" is not ours to accomplish; our responsibility is just to yield and rest in His power, strength, faith, and love. I take my orders from Him, but--here's the key: He bears all the responsibility and burden!

My husband handles our finances, and I am happy that he does! Numbers are definitely not my forte! There is such a comfort and rest for me in this, because I trust my husband to bear the responsibility of the finances. He gives me a budget, and I follow it. Then I don't worry about the money. I have great freedom in this!

This is the way it is when I am in Christ. He bears all the burden and responsibility, and He takes care of me. All I have to do is listen to His voice telling me the very next step to take. His Holy Spirit lives inside me, and in Him, I have all the power I need to respond to that irritation in a godly way, to love that annoying person, to have patience with that toddler, to clean up for the millionth time after someone else!

Do I "get it"?

Today, as I peck away at my "to-do" list at home, I want to focus on "being"... "feeling at home in the presence of Jesus... laying way back in His love."

When I rest confident in His love and acceptance, I am so humbled by it, that I can extend grace to the next person.

I feel honoured to serve.

I feel compassion for the unseen hurts that cause another's insecurities, and I can show love to them in the face of their immature actions.

This is not an opportunity to put myself on a pedestal... when my attitude is right (remembering and being humbled that I am in Christ and His Spirit lives in me, I have no desire or reason to be proud!


Instead, I hide myself in the Secret Place of the Most High, and allow HIS life to flow through me. What a privilege!

Choosing Joy

Sara (pictured here with her dog Riley) is dying of a hereditary, autoimmune disease abbreviated AS, but as her blog proclaims, she is "choosing joy."

This is the most inspiring, convicting, and sobering thing I have read in awhile. She writes...

“How do you manage to stay so positive? So happy? Don’t you ever just get really mad?”

I suppose the cop out answer, while true, is that I just don’t have the energy to be mad. Seriously. It takes so much effort and energy to wallow. And it’s not any fun. I live 99.8% of my time alone, and if anger was all I had to live with I would lose my mind.

I think, for me, it has been about learning to want what He wants for me more than what I want for myself.It's a tall order and I don't say that flippantly. But my joy has truly come from Him finding His joy in me rather than me finding my joy in what I desire. It doesn't mean I don't long for different, it just means I find peace in fulfilling rather than understanding. In the knowledge that this life isn’t about me, it’s about Him.

The thing I try to remind myself of, as I am without all the things that I wish I had to make me happy, is that my biggest need is Him. More than I need to be outside in the fresh air, more than I need to move without pain, more than I even need Dad... I need His will to be done in my life whether it is comfortable or not. There is not one thing that feels comfortable about my world right now, but I need Him more than I need to change my circumstances.

It's still brutally hard. I have to remind myself of these facts every day. It doesn’t always come easily.

But it doesn’t make the truth any less true.

And the truth is that I can choose the joy.

So I do.

~ Sara at Gitzen Girl: Choose Joy blog, http://gitzengirl.blogspot.com/

Update: Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2011...

Sara received information late yesterday afternoon that her body was beginning to shut down, and things have moved quickly since. Hospice arrived this morning and Sara is comfortable. Her family is surrounding her and reading her texts, facebook posts, and emails, so please feel free to contact her and share your love; she will not be able to reply but is taking great peace in your words, your heart.  I know how thankful she is for each of you, how much joy you’ve added to her days, and what purpose sharing Him has given her. I will continue to post as things change and want to thank each of you for the ways in which you have loved sweet Sara so well.

Wearied and Faint in Your Minds

From my tea time with God...

I feel tired. Weary. 


I know who I am. In Christ I am strong. I have power. 


But my flesh is faint.


The words come to my mind: "wearied and faint..." What was the next part? "...in your minds."


My mind is part of my flesh, my body that has not yet been redeemed. It does not agree with my [redeemed] spirit unless I choose to align my it with the Truth that resides in my spirit. 


"...lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."


What am I to do in order not to become weary and faint in my mind?


I go back to the beginning of the verse: "For consider HIM..." Jesus.


For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12:3


He was sinless, perfect. Never had He known pain or worry. Yet he choose to endure it for our sake--the sinners. 


Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:4


I sing a song in church at times, but I can hardly sing it without tears:


Compared to Calvary my cross is not so heavy,
Compared to Calvary my load's not hard to bear;
And it makes me ashamed that I ever complained,
I've had it easy, Lord, compared to Calvary!
Squire Parsons


His Word tells us to "consider Him" so that we don't REMAIN emotionally weary and faint. 


We live in this body of flesh; we WILL become weary and faint. That's a given. 


But what will we do when we get there? Wallow in it? Or consider Him?


Knowing Him more intimately is the greatest remedy for weariness there is!


Lord, I want to know You more,
Deep within my soul I want to know You;
O I want to know You!
To feel Your heart and know Your mind,
Looking in Your eyes stirs up within me,
Cries that say I want to know You!
O I want to know You more!
Steve Fry

I Can Trust Jesus

God picked up a sparrow that could no longer fly,
He brushed off its wounds and then watched it soar into the sky;
If He's mindful of creation, on this I can depend,
I am His child, and I can place all my trust in Him.

I can trust Jesus, I can trust Jesus,

He never once has failed to meet my need;

He is my strong tow'r, 
The strength in my weakest hour,

I can trust Jesus, He takes care of me.

I have prayed some prayers and felt they never were heard,
But I held to God's hand and kept right on trusting in His Word;
My wants and God's desires don't always agree,
But I lean on His will, for He always what's best for me.

I can trust Jesus, I can trust Jesus,
He never once has failed to meet my need;
He is my strong tow'r, 
The strength in my weakest hour,
I can trust Jesus, He takes care of me.

Songwriter unknown; sung by the Collingsworth family

You will be blessed if you watch the song here.

It's a simple truth, but I need to be reminded today. I am so thankful that He takes care of me. I can trust Him. He's working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

The Collingsworth family

The Haven of REST

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." (Hebrews 4:9)

Most of us are familiar with the old hymn "The Haven of Rest" by Henry L. Gilmour (music by George D. Moore). Yet sometimes we sing these old songs ho-hum with little thought to the powerful words, theology, and doctrine that characterize them.

Consider these words slowly and prayerfully. Was this not each of us prior to salvation?

1. My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea,
So burdened with sin and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice, saying,
“Make Me your choice”;
And I entered the “Haven of Rest”!

Refrain
I’ve anchored my soul in the “Haven of Rest,”
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.

Yes, in Jesus, I am safe evermore! I never have to question my eternal destiny or whose child I am! No matter what storms come my way, I'm safe!

But now what? Daily cares of life start to crowd my joyous heart. My flesh is still bound by bad habits, wrong reactions, binding emotions! So what do I do? Take a look at verse 2:

2. I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
(He's TENDER with me!)
In faith taking hold of the Word,
(His Word is my only help, and I accept it by faith!)
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul;
(Woo hoo! I'm FREE! My soul--mind, will, emotions--is ANCHORED!)
The “Haven of Rest” is my Lord.
(I'm at REST and in PEACE, because I've made Him my LORD. I've yielded to His embrace. I'm not fighting against His loving, tender control anymore.)

This is so powerful! It is THE KEY to the Christian life! Yielding my rights to His control. HE calls the shots; I am RESTING in HIS capable hands, which only act in my life out of PURE LOVE for me!

Now, what does this do to me? How do I now respond to His tender embrace? With anger? With striving? With trying harder? NO! By RESTING, I now feel free to SING the song of my SOUL, which is the OLD STORY, ever new!

3. The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blest,
Of Jesus, who’ll save whosoever will have
A home in the “Haven of Rest.”

I want everyone to know this "old story so blest"!
"I am nobody, telling everybody, that Somebody died to save anybody!" (unknown)

4. How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the belovèd so blest,
On Jesus’ strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the “Haven of Rest.”

Wow! We ALL have access to this grace wherein we stand (I Peter 5:12)! It's already available to us who are saved. It's there for the taking. Why, oh why do we struggle along through life, having no power, angry and bitter, or striving to do right on our own, when our REST awaits?

4. O come to the Savior, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the “Haven of Rest,”
And say, “My Belovèd is mine.”

Refrain
I’ve anchored my soul in the “Haven of Rest,”
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." (Hebrews 4:1)



If you have never heard this rendition of "The Haven of Rest," sit back and be blessed!


Tranquil garden photo: libraryhospital.blogspot.com

Calm or Defensive?

There is a stillness that lets God work for us, and holds our peace; the stillness that ceases from its contriving and its self-vindication, and its expedients of wisdom and forethought, and lets God provide and answer the cruel blow, in His own unfailing, faithful love. How often we lose God's interposition by taking up our own cause, and striking for our defense. God give to us this silent power, this conquered spirit! And after the heat and strife of earth are over, men will remember us as we remember the morning dew, the gentle light and sunshine, the evening breeze, the Lamb of Calvary, and the gentle, holy heavenly Dove. ~ A. B. Simpson

On trying to see the face of Christ in those with whom I differ:

When this spirit actuates us we shall be preserved at once from a narrow bigotry and an easy-going tolerance, from passionate vindictiveness and everything that would mar or injure our testimony for Him who came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. ~ W. H. Griffith Thomas

Source: Streams in the Desert, Mrs. Charles Cowman

Meditating on Hymns

Do you think about the words you are singing during the hymn time at your church? Hymns are rich in doctrine as well as encouragement and exhortation.

My favourite hymns are usually those that describe the intimate relationship that we as Christians can have with the Lord. Below is one of my all-time favourites. As you read, contemplate the depth of meaning in these words. They are beautiful!

I Am His and He Is Mine
Wade Robinson, 1838-1877
James Mountain, 1844-1933

Loved with everlasting love,
Led by grace that love to know;
Gracious Spirit from above,
Thou hast taught me it is so!
O this full and perfect peace!
O this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease,
I am His, and He is mine.
In a love which cannot cease,
I am His, and He is mine.

Heav’n above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in every hue
Christless eyes have never seen;
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
Flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine.
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms
Cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms,
Pillowed on the loving breast.
O to lie forever here,
Doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear,
I am His, and He is mine.
While He whispers in my ear,
I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His;
Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee,
Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine.
But while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine.

How sweet to know that I can rest in His arms no matter what is happening around me! All that matters is that I am His and He is mine! We belong to each other! Through Him I can rise above any situation. I can mount up with wings as eagles (Isaiah 40:31). He is all I need. I am HIS and He is MINE!

Listen to the hymn tune here.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Watch David Phelps sing this old hymn with passion you don't often hear hymns sung with anymore. Think about the words... let them sink in.

His love will never let you go!

Will you give Him back the life you owe?

Fullness of Joy

Joy Forney is a blogging friend I have never met face-to-face. Yet she encourages me so much!




















Joy is a missionary wife and mother in Indonesia. Her husband is a missionary pilot who is frequently gone for days at a time in places where there is no way to reach him. Joy is left at her home on foreign soil with her five young children--homemaking in the truest sense of the word, homeschooling, and on top of it all, inspiring hundreds via her blog.



Her recent post In His Presence especially encouraged me:

I am a mother, wife, missionary, friend, neighbor, daughter, sister, and many other things. And as such, there are so many times in my life that I feel that I am just surviving. Surviving from one mess, one meal, one exhausted morning, one tantrum, one homeschool day to the next.

However, as I am (slowly) learning, there is so much more to my life than merely surviving. I can choose to have deep, rich communion with my Heavenly Father in the midst of these seemingly mundane things that fill up my life.

I can choose to live my life in His presence, minute by minute. In Psalm 16:11 it says, "in His presence is fullness of joy." I can have the fullness of joy each and every day, no matter how difficult it may seem to do anything more than simply survive!!

I pray that this will be a reality in your life and mine as we serve the Lord in whatever He has called us to do!

In His strength and for His glory!
Joy

Will you pray for Joy and other missionary wives around the world today?

...And will you live in HIS presence today? There you will find "fullness of joy"!

Sourpuss?

When I'm on Facebook, I notice so many negative, unhappy statuses! Now, I know that life throws some unpleasant things our way, and we don't feel happy-go-lucky all the time. I'm not advocating being fake.

But Proverbs says, "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he."

I think we really need to be careful of how our attitudes affect our lives and the ways they are also affecting someone else, especially our husbands, our children, and others around us!

Many women end up chasing their husbands away without realizing it is happening... just by their sour attitude. Really... who would want to live with a negative person? (I am NOT defending the men who cheat or leave their marriages!) But I do believe that there are times when wives help drive their man away, just by bringing a bitter atmosphere into their home.

This affects our children as well. Which type of lady would you rather be around? One who's cheerful, makes life an adventure? Or a sourpuss who's always complaining about something (valid or not) and considers life a drudgery?

So many moms/wives get caught up in this trap. How does this teach our children joy in Christ? They learn by example. To be truly free in Christ is to know and experience that I am complete in Christ. Are we modeling that for our children or are we modeling bondage to the enemy? Do our husbands want to come home because our home is happy? Do we create a haven that they can't wait to come home to?

Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl has really helped me with this perspective. Though I do not agree with every part of the book, in this and many other areas she is right on. This is a biblical principle we so often ignore, excusing ourselves.

We need to stop being sourpusses, put on a fresh apron, a little make-up, play some good Gospel music, put some flowers on the supper table, and greet our husbands and children with smiles when they come in the door!

Christ made us free to do that. He made all HIS power available to us! Imagine that! It's for real!

How would you live differently today if you truly believed that?

I'm Free!

I'm free from the fear of tomorrow,

I'm free from the guilt of my past;

For I've traded my shackles for a glorious song!

I'm free--praise the Lord!--free at last!

~ William J. and Gloria Gaither

To be truly free in Christ is to know and experience that I am complete in Christ.

Isaiah 43:10-11 is a precious Scripture that makes it plain:
"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour."

Do I really know? Am I experiencing God in my daily life? Do I truly understand that Christ lives in me? Do I believe it? Do I believe Him?

To remind myself, I posted this on my refrigerator this week:

"Believe Me."
~ God
(Isaiah 43:10)

Colossians 2:10 says that I am "complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." Colossians 1:27 says that Christ is in me, "the hope of glory." So why do I get defensive and hold onto hurt? I am free from all that!

In Christ I have everything I need. I do not need to defend myself. I don't need to remain hurt and angry and allow it to fester into bitterness and resentment. Christ came to free me from all of that bondage! When hurt and anger put a hook in me, and I embrace them, forgetting that I am complete in Christ, I am holding out my hands to the devil and allowing him to handcuff me. Bitterness binds. Resentment restricts. Why would I do this to myself? Jesus is standing there with arms open to comfort my hurt, to give peace and grace in the area that is making me angry. He is all I need!

I no longer need to feel inferior to others. Christ made (and continues to make me) everything I need to be. I don't need others' approval. Christ is all and in all (Colossians 3:11). I am free to be who He made me to be. I do not need to fit into a mold someone else makes for me.

Is there an area that you have yielded to the enemy, allowing him to take you into bondage? Jesus has already paid for your freedom! Why are you sitting in that rotten jail? The doors are open! Come on out into freedom!

We're free! Praise the Lord! Free at last!

I Am Loved

I am continually struck by how quickly this world's philosophies can affect my mind, convincing me that I have to get my identity from my accomplishments or from others' approval. There is not a day that goes by that I don't need God's Word to get my head screwed back on straight!

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mightly man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment [justice], and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."

I have nothing to be lastingly happy and joyful about outside of God. Everything I have is from Him!

I like what Wilma Sullivan says in her book, A Song for All Seasons:

"This old world tells us that we have to get our identity, our "self-image," from what we do. Therefore, we can have self-esteem or feel good about ourselves if we do good, important and worthwhile things. In that reasoning, people can glory in being professionals (teachers, doctors, real estate agents, etc.), in doing what they do as a career. They can glory in the talents or characteristics they display (as musicians, artists, athletes, gourmet cooks, or having a good figure or great strength, etc.). They can glory in what they've acquired (money and other possessions). Or they can glory in the responsibilities they fulfill and in the people who need or respect them (parenting, church work, civic duties, children, friends, etc.).

"But God clearly tells us that we can't glory in any of those things. Either they will puff us up in pride (as we try to take the credit for God-given talents, possessions, opportunities, etc.), or they will fail us. We can lose jobs and money, and we certainly can lose our figures. People may not appreciate our talents. And regardless of our self-discipline, we still blow it at times when it comes to our responsibilities and relationships. To disregard God's direction and try to find our self-worth in such things is downright foolish.

"What's more, when we try to find our identity in what we do, sinful behavior becomes a part of that identity. What I mean is that when we as Christians allow sin to beset us, we think of that sin as a part of who we are, and thus we have to take the label of sin. We tie our weaknesses to our self-concept... We sink into despair and defeat because, in our flesh, we think that God couldn't love us as we are.

"Hey, wait a minute! Nothing can separate us from the love of God!... We play right into the devil's hands when we think our identity comes from all those things we do or have. Satan knows that we're looking for victory and acceptance in all the wrong places, and he wants to keep us in the dark." (pages 82-83)

No! Christ Himself is my life (Colossians 3:3-4)! I am complete in Him (Colossians 2:10)! My past is gone and all things are new (II Corinthians 5:17)! I am blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3)! He always makes me triumph (II Corinthians 2:14)!

I'm not defeated. I'm not a failure. I'm not stupid. I'm not defined by my accomplishments, or lack of accomplishments. My identity is in CHRIST. In HIM I live, and move, and have my being (Acts 17:28)!

REMEMBER: Satan knows that we're looking for victory and acceptance in all the wrong places, and he wants to keep us in the dark.

Don't let him win! I'm so glad that in Christ I find complete acceptance and unconditional love. He is constantly pursuing a closer, more intimate relationship with ME! I love Him because He first loved me (I John 4:19)! That makes my service for Him special; it's given out of love, not as an effort to try to gain His acceptance! I already have His acceptance!



I am unconditionally loved: knowing and accepting this gives me true joy!

Rejoice, Daughter of the King!

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)

Think of how carefully a bride and her groom dress themselves on their wedding day! How excited they are! How much delight they take in making themselves ready for one another! This verse says that in this same way God HAS ALREADY clothed me with the garments of salvation and covered me with the robe of righteousness!

He did it carefully. "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2:10).

He took delight in doing it! Psalm 18:19 says, "He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me."

He has done this for me so I can be viewed as righteous as Jesus! "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross... you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" (Colossians 1:20-22).

It makes me rejoice! It thrills me and brings me such joy in Him! Why? "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)

Rejoice, Daughter of the King! You have a reason!