tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164614842024-03-12T19:40:50.430-05:00God is GoodThings I think about, experience, learn and hear.Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-90377501229198402022012-03-11T08:10:00.001-05:002012-03-11T08:10:46.453-05:00making the switch to wordpress<br />
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<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-17729542397618455402012-02-20T17:20:00.003-06:002012-02-20T17:23:05.616-06:00"Professionalism Is For Everyone"<p style="height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><b>"Why I as a Christ follower should be the most professional person in my workplace." </b></p><p style="height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">I was asked to go a training seminar with the above title, the first one that is. Before hand I was given an easy to read, 67 page book by the same title. As I read this book the night before the training, I was struck time and time again by the fact that if I am really doing what I claim to be doing - being a Christ follower - then others in my work environment should be able to judge me as the most professional person there. Let me explain. </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The first section he discussed was "Character." I was struck by a few things in this section. First, the author proposes that professionals "make a conscious decision to hold themselves to a higher standard of performance and a more demanding code of conduct than most people use to guide their thoughts, actions and behavior." My mind immediately went to Scripture that would support this thought - Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:17 and Colossians 3:17. </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">So, as one who says she is following Christ, if I am not being shaped by this world but by a new way of thinking, if I don't live like those who don't believe and if I do everything as if it were Christ who was telling me to do it, my character - who I am and what I stand for - will never be in question. I will be able to set myself a higher standard of excellence that I can reach. I will be honest and truthful - neither stealing or lying to get ahead or make myself look better (Ephesians 4:28 and Colossians 3:9) and I will be trustworthy in word and action (Matthew 5:33-37). I will also be known as someone who is generous and kind to others (Matthew 6:3, 2 Corinthians 6:6, Galatians 5:22, Colossians 3:12). </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The next key element the author presents for a professional is "attitude - your mental outlook." A professionals puts passion into their work, are confident and always provide a good quality of work. They are always concerned with personal growth and development. Again, as I began this section, Scripture immediately came to mind - Colossians 3:23, 1 Timothy 1:7 and the book of Hebrews all speak of being confident, having passion and not being timid. Colossians chapter 1 talks about repeatedly bearing fruit (growth) and Paul to the Corinthians brings up personal development in Chapter 13. I, like most people, only think about chapter 13 of this book when I am thinking about love, however, in verse 11 Paul makes the assumption that everyone will grow and develop in their lives - "When I was child, I used to think like child, speak like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." If development and growth were not part of the Christian walk, Paul would have continued to think, speak and reason like a child. </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Also under attitude, the author of this book talks about having a serving mentality. To quote the book "...service to others is the highest calling one can have" and as a professional it should be "an integral purpose of their work and responsibility." Serving is at the heart of the walk for me if I am truly trying to walk the way of Christ (Mark 10:45, Matthew 20:28, Luke 22:27, Romans: 14:18, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 5). </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Another aspect that the author puts under attitude is "being a team player." A professional understands "that great achievements are not won single-handedly" but take "collaborative efforts" with people who are "willing to do whatever task is required" and above all a professional is "loyal to (her) team." Again, for me the language here is not a stretch for me to see how it relates to my walk in Christ. I won't deny that my view on this is heavily influenced by the leaders I have put myself under at Southwest church of Christ here in Amarillo however, I also know that this view of being "a team player" - the current church terminology being "in community" - is a very Scriptural view of the Christian walk. God Himself is in a community of three - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When He created man, he decided pretty quickly that is was "not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). When Christ began his ministry, he very quickly began surrounding himself with a close group with whom he could share the journey. When he sent them out to do his work, he did so by pairing them up. After Christ was resurrected, the disciples again gathered to be together and when they went about spreading the word of God, they did so, not alone but with others - Peter and John traveled together often; Paul traveled with Luke and Barnabas. The author of Hebrews says "you should not stay away from church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other" (10:25). All evidence in Scripture points to the fact that I was meant to walk the life of Christ with others, not alone. </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The third aspect of professionalism the author addresses is "Excellence." It is a fairly short section but still full of rich advice. The author states that a professional will "strive for results with the highest quality attainable", will not "tolerate mediocrity" and will "take action to improve things that are not up to par." They also "improve their skill and knowledge" and accept the reality that "improvements...come...by...taking...small, steady steps over time." Again, this to me echos some of the Scriptures previously mentioned but I also see a reflection of many men of God in this thought. I think of Abraham who argued repeatedly with God about not being qualified to lead God's people when first approached and yet in the end, he is one of the greatest examples of faithful walking we have. The disciples all started out as nobodies, basic fishermen, tax collectors, and such and yet, by the time Christ was taken up into heaven, they were all (minus Judas) transformed into great men of God who went on to change the world. In some ways, three years walking with Christ seems like a quick transformation, unless you actually live those three years day in day out and then you begin to realize just how slow the transformation was. In this day and age, I have been trained to expect immediate, instant results. This is not typically the way God operates (though there maybe a few examples to the contrary).</p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Under "excellence" the author also mentions that a professional is attentive -<br />"They listen when others are speaking." Once again, my mind is immediately flooded with Scripture. Christ himself prefaced or concluded many of the things he said with "He who has ears let him hear." James instructs us to "always be willing to listen and slow to speak" (1:19). Proverbs is also sprinkled with great advice regarding listening. </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The author identifies another area of professionalism - Competency. A professionals "understand the requirements and responsibilities of their job...acquire the skills necessary...obtain training, education and experience...they ask questions, seek guidance...(and)are not afraid." A professional is also "acutely aware of the results (she) is producing...focuses on doing the right thing, the right way" and does not "waste time on non-productive activities." A professional would also know that her "knowledge and expertise (is) of little value until they are applied and shared with others" and in sharing with others would use "short, simple words." I read this section two times. It spoke to me on many different levels. In my professional life, I have to admit, I tend to feel incompetent. I think the phrases I quoted here address that feeling and gives me answers on how to improve my competency. I my spiritual life alone with God I tend to feel incompetent. I think the phrases I quoted here address that feeling and give me answers on how to improve my competency. In my relationships and spiritual endeavors, I tend to feel incompetent. Again, I think the phrases I quoted here address that feeling and give me answers on how to improve my competency. And as I considered these phrases, my mind again was drawn to the Bible. In Luke 14:26,27 Jesus makes sure everyone listening understands what is expected of them if they choose to follow Him "If anyone comes to me but loves his father, mother wife, children, brothers or sisters - or even life - more than me, he cannot be my follower. Whoever is not willing to carry his cross and follow me cannot be my follower." Matthew records Christ saying "Foxes have holes to live in and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head." And for some it can even mean selling everything (Mark 10:21). While, yes, His yoke is easy and burden is light (Matthew 11:30), being a Christ follower does come with "requirements and responsibilities" that should be known before taking Him on as Savior and Lord and serving Him as master. Education and training are also important in the walk of a Christ follower (2Timothy 2:15). As a Christ follower, I if what fruit I am producing is not the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23), then I am not "doing the right things in the right way." And if I am doing something that is not making me more Christ like, or worse is making me less Christ like, then it is an activity that is non-productive and I should probably consider whether or not to eliminate it from my life. The "great commission" (Matthew 28:19) should be the only reminder I need to make sure my that I am applying and sharing with others all that I am learning about Christ on this journey.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">And I need to remember to communicate it in a way that makes sense to those I with whom I am speaking. This is one of the greatest challenges I have not because I think that I have this great vocabulary or my knowledge level is so much above others. On the contrary, I don't think I have an extensive vocabulary and I know that there are thousands of people who are much more knowledgeable than me on every subject. However, being raised in the church, going to a Christian elementary, junior high, high school and college I have been well trained in "church speak" which is usually not all that helpful when talking to people who are not familiar with that terminology. I really have to work on re-orienting my language to meet the needs of those with whom I am speaking so as not to sound as if I am better than them and to make the gospel understandable and attainable. And even when I am speaking to God one-on-one, I am instructed to keep it simple, not to be like the pharisees (Matthew 6:5, Luke 18:11). </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The final section that the author address is "conduct." He proposes that professionals "realize that anger and rage are never appropriate responses...accept criticism without being defensive or argumentative...laugh, have fun and fully enjoy the lighter side of life...(are) polite and courteous...express appreciation...(treat others) as a valuable human being regardless of race, creed, color abilities, achievements or mental and physical attributes...(and) honor the right and responsibilities of those in charge." Wow, what a summation of what my Christ like walk should be. Nine times in the Old Testament (Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2 and Nahum 1:3) God is described as being "slow to anger" and four times Proverbs instructs me to be to "slow to anger" (14:29, 15:18, 16:32 and 19:11) and again in the New Testament James gives the same instruction (James 1:19). Christ came that we might have life to full. There is nothing in Scripture that leads us to believe that the life he is talking about is one of mundane, depressing solace stuff. Jesus himself was one to enjoy a good party and there had to be a quality of peace and fun that drew people to him. Repeatedly throughout the New Testament we are told to give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Hebrews 13:15 for example). And if I am truly going to call myself a Christ follower, then I should emulate him in how he treated people - he hung out with the poor, the lame, the crippled, the outcast, the downcast all the time (See all of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John if you need to reaffirm that). And finally, Timothy instructs the readers to "Pray for rulers and for all who have authority..." (1 Timothy 2:2) and Paul instructs the reader of Romans 13:1-7 to "...yield to the government rulers" and "show respect and honor to them all" and again in Titus - "Remind the believers to yield to authority of rulers and government leaders, to obey them, to be ready to do good, to speak no evil about anyone, to live in peace and to be gentle and polite to all people" (3:1-2).</p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">So, after reading this short booklet, I am convinced that if I am proclaiming to follow the example of Christ in all that I think, all that I say and all that I do I will be a true professional in my work place. </p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: 'Just Me Again Down Here', serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">God, help me. </p>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-1774153825532424002012-02-11T08:42:00.003-06:002012-02-11T08:48:55.974-06:00Intimacy with Christ - Jeanne Guyon - Chapter 12<div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The first part of this book is general correspondence that Madame Guyon wrote to her followers. I wish we had other letters, the ones that made her respond as she did. However, it does open up a great opportunity to stretch my imagination and writing skills a bit. So for this particular chapter, I am going to attempt to write a letter to Madame Guyon that would elicit the response she gave in this chapter. My attempt at this is nothing more than an effort to gain a better understanding of what I should be seeking for in Christ. May the Lord bless this effort. </div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Madame Guyon, </div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Often times, I find myself longing for something more, something deeper than just casual contact with my friends or the people around me. I know that my ultimate satisfaction should come from knowing Christ on the deepest levels and while I enjoy that pursuit and the results of that pursuit, I often times feel like I am alone on that journey because others around don't understand what I am longing to do. Is it wrong of me to crave fellowship with others instead of just fellowship with God? I know Christ had his close friends and yet still, while journeying on this earth, was deeply connected to God at all times. Is that something that is possible for me? Should I be seeking out relationships with others or just focusing on me and God? - Ginger </div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Ginger, </div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><i><span >"How close and how precious is the union of spirits made one in Christ! Jesus said so beautifully "Whosoever shall do the will of my Father, the same is my mother, sister and brother." </span></i></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><i><span ><br /></span></i></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><i><span >There is no union stronger or purer than spiritual fellowship in Christ. Delightfully, this how the saints in heaven experience each other in God. This does not interfere with your relationship to God, but allows you know others in and through Him. </span></i></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><i><span ><br /></span></i></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><i><span >Continually say 'yes' to all that God wants. When you are united to God there can be no 'no' only 'Yes, be it so.' And let that 'yes' continually echo through you. This 'yes' makes you flexible and agreeable to the will of your beloved Lord. When the angel appeared to Mary, she said 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word.' It was the same with Samuel who said, 'Speak for your servant hears.' It was so with the Lord 'Lo, I have come to do your will.' </span></i></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><i><span ><br /></span></i></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><i><span >I am yours in the fellowship of the Spirit." - Jeanne Guyon </span></i></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Madame Guyon, </div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Thank you for your response to my question. I am grateful and full of joy to hear that my longing to be in fellowship with others is natural and good. I will take great delight in being in fellowship with others who are also in Christ. </div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">I especially like the your thought about spiritual fellowship not interfering with my relationship with God. I want my relationships to help me "know others in and through Him." I think that if my relationships are not doing this, I don't want to be a part of them. </div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">I am intrigued by the fact that you address as subject that I didn't mention directly. I don't even think I mentioned it indirectly but the Spirit saw it fit to use you to convict me of an area that needs great improvement in my life. I am never quite ready, never quite sure, never actually able to say "yes" readily. My first reaction, my gut instinct, my human nature, the voice of the serpent, always tells me that I can't do whatever it is I am being asked to do for the cause of Christ. Eventually, at times, I will come around to the "yes" answer, but it takes great prodding by the Spirit, often in the form of Him using others like my minister friend Brian or Kyle or Basil, or my best friends Sue or Jhansi or my husband Jason, for me to be convinced that I can and should do whatever it is I am being asked to do. I don't particularly like this about myself and have made some efforts to change it myself. However, I am understanding from your message here that the only way to have that transformed in me is to "continually say 'yes' to all that God wants." I will make the commitment now to do so. </div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-style: normal; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Thank you for fellowship in the Spirit. - Ginger</div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-83906829165875260852012-01-21T23:29:00.002-06:002012-01-21T23:34:30.074-06:00Desire<div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><b><span >"My only desire is to completely give myself up into the hands of God without any idea of turning back or of fear of what may happen to me." - Jeanne Guyon</span></b></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> I have no desire in turning back. That is not even an temptation. Life without God, life outside of the life of Christ isn't even attractive to me. It just doesn't make sense to me. However, there are two phrases in that sentence that confront me and give me pause. </div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> The second is "without...fear of what may happen to me." Fear is, unfortunately, a natural part of my life. One that I I don't really like and yet is still there. It makes me sad when I think about how many of my reactions are based in fear. Yesterday I heard someone say "you cannot fear what you love" and yet I find myself often fearing what God has planned for me, what He is going to let me go through. That statement makes me question my love for God. But deep in my spirit, I know that I love Him. Maybe what I need to focus on loving is His plan for me even if I don't know what that looks like. </div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> The first statement that confronts me is "My only desire..." I cannot say that. I think I want to be able to say that He is my only desire. In moments when I am engrossed in worship and adoration of Him, I can say with all sincerity, with all my heart, my soul and my mind that Him being my only desire is what I want. But in my daily life, my fleshly desires are truly different than that. I desire to always be full and never experience hunger. I desire to be comfortable in my home. I desire to be liked by others. I desire to be respected by others. I desire to be well known in my community. I desire to be smart. I desire to have nice things. The desires that I have are too many to list here and some are too personal to expose to anyone, even my journal. I hold on to the promise that as I grow in Christ, as I am transformed more into His image, that my old nature will go away and His nature will rise in me. But I also know that Satan is good at what he does and there are things that will always compete with my desire to make God the only thing I desire. </div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-30769097071879604112012-01-12T06:40:00.003-06:002012-01-12T07:26:29.017-06:00Religion vs. Church vs. Jesus<div>I listened to a video this morning and read a few comments about the video that lit a fire in my pit of stomach. My reaction to caused me sit down and begin writing a post about religion, church and Jesus, my view of it and why other people were wrong. I had great passion about to the point that I was willing to completely and totally disrupt my morning routine and be late to work. I realized that was not a good choice so I very begrudgingly got ready for work. </div><div><br /></div><div>While I was away from my computer my daily verse from Air1 came through my email. It was 1 Thessalonians 4:11 "Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before." </div><div><br /></div><div>And so I have deleted the post and will keep my mouth shut and go about my day figuring out how to become more like Christ, loving my neighbor and my God. </div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-83664540142517272122012-01-03T19:04:00.007-06:002012-01-03T21:37:23.845-06:00An Answer for "This" Feeling<div class="rteAll" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><p style="height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I received an answer to my above post. It came in the form of many answers, really therefore this is a long post. </p><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>First to keep "this" feeling, I need to <b>be very purposeful and deliberate about my time with God</b>. What does that look like you might ask? Here is something pretty cool that I have learned recently - it can look like lots of things. I used to think that it meant I had to clear my schedule completely at the same time every day, do the same thing every time and it would be best if it looked like "so & so" (insert name of mentor/minister/elder/highly respected individual/etc here). But what I have found is that sometimes clearing away that specific time every day is impossible and when I didn't do it, I felt horribly guilty and if I missed it too often I was usually too ashamed to go back into that same routine and approach God about it. As far as doing the same thing every time...well, to be perfectly honest with you, my ADD sort of kept getting in the way of that. I find it quite boring and therefore quite ineffective to always have the same thing on tap every time I actually did sit down to "be with God." And I also found that what works for "so & so" doesn't actually work for me. So, what does "time with God" look like? For me it includes a variety of things: </div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Planned Scripture reading (following a specific plan/path)</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Unplanned Scripture reading (just picking up the Bible to read whatever I want to)</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Planned spiritual reading</li><li> Unplanned spiritual reading</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Fasting</li><li><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Journaling (lots of different kinds)</li><li> Praying</li><li> Meditation</li><li> Listening to sermons/lessons</li><li> Engaging in spiritual conversations (both in person and via email/texts/chatting)</li></ul></div></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Another step to keeping "this" feeling <b>is to submit to Christ with no reservations</b>. I have lots of good excuses for not doing this none of which are actually good. Basically, I tend to base my relationship with God on my experiences with humans and this is completely and totally unfair to a Father who has never done anything to let me down. </div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">A third step in keeping "this" feeling is to <b>allow "the cross to deal with (my) most deeply held desires."</b> (Jeanne Guyon, <em>Intimacy with Christ</em>). There is great power in the cross that I leave untapped when I don't fully submit to Christ and am unwilling to suffer with Him. When I resist the call to step into the hard stuff - be it conversations, experiences, leadership or servant opportunities - because I am afraid of failure, disappointing someone or whatever, then I am not allowing the cross to do the work that is possible and necessary.</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Number four would be just <b>resting in Christ</b>. I don't always have to be working, striving, or searching to be good with God. Resting in Him is good and necessary (thus He gave us the Sabbath). Resting in God does not make me lazy or unproductive.</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The fifth and final answer that I heard on about keeping "this" feeling is probably more the first step but my answer was not given to me in that order. In Matthew 7:24, 25, Jesus tells his followers "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat on the house but it did not fall because it had been found on the rock." When I heard this, the relevance of it to me jumped out at me immediately - <b>hear and practice the words of Christ</b>. It sounds so simple but as I continued to listen I eventually came to the next logical question - what words? In this setting, Christ had just spoken what is now called "The Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5,6,7). Thankfully, these passages were summarized for me and here is what I heard that I need to practice (though this is not a comprehensive list of all that was given at the time): </div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><ul><li>Be compassionate </li><li>Practice self control</li><li>Desire right living <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></li><li>Show mercy</li><li>Exhibit purity <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></li><li>Willingly suffer</li><li>Get rid of anger <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></li><li>Take responsibility</li><li>Don't abuse sex <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></li><li>Work in marriage</li><li>Lay down your rights <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></li><li>Forgive completely</li><li>Pray inwardly <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></li><li>Give in secret</li><li>Value God's view of you <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></li><li>Don't worry</li><li>Stop judging <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span></span></li><li>Be a seeker and learner</li></ul></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">All these can really be summed by saying <b>"Live the Jesus way."</b> Doing this will provide me the foundation I need to weather the storms and still keep "this" feeling - peace, contentment, joy, happiness, and hope. This is wisdom at its core - to hear the words of Christ and do them. The flip side of that, which is where I have often lived is stupidity - to know the words of Christ and do the opposite.</div><p style="height: auto !important; width: auto !important; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; "><br /></p><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">And so, as we begin 2012 my goal, my resolution is keep "this" feeling. Regardless of my circumstances, I want to always know I am standing on a solid foundation and in all my circumstances - the good, the bad, the ugly, the pretty - <i><b><u>I want to be a woman of peace, contentment, joy, happiness, hope and wisdom</u></b></i>. If you have read this far, first let me say "Thank you." I am honored that you have given me some of your day and want to hear my ramblings. Second, I give you permission to to hold me to this. If you see me in circumstances where I am trying to build my house on the sand - in other words acting in stupidity - and I do not reflect peace, contentment, joy, happiness, hope and wisdom, please approach me and find out what is going on that I have lost my focus. Be gentle with me friend but be truthful with me.</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-91913738544825494152011-12-29T08:40:00.002-06:002011-12-29T08:40:48.641-06:00"This" Feeling<p>You know that feeling that you have when things are good? You know what I am talking about, right? You are at peace, connecting with God, feel grounded in all that you are and all is good and right? That is where I am at right now and while I am beyond ecstatic with it, I want to know how to capture this feeling and hold it in my heart for later. I am not living in fear of “the other shoe dropping” as I have in the past. However, I know the reality is that at some point of time something will happen either internally or externally that will challenge this place and I will find myself in facing despair, hopelessness, anger, disappointment, bitterness, hurt, etc. And while I am ready and willing to step into those situations now, I want to do so with this peace, this connectedness, this groundedness – “this” feeling – rather than with fear or anxiety. </p><br /><p></p><br /><p>What thoughts do you have on this? </p>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-8977758564110788242011-11-20T20:32:00.002-06:002011-11-20T20:44:42.651-06:00The Rest of God Poem ChallengeThey reach up, stretching to the heavens <div>Lifted high, begging for relief </div><div>They are dry, malnourished begging for water </div><div>Back and forth they sway </div><div>The wind does nothing to fill their desire </div><div>Bare, naked and thirsty they cry out</div><div>Yet for a while longer their thirst will go unquenched</div><div>Their roots, unseen, continue to hold them fast their job </div><div>To provide rest and room for weary wonders also ins search for water </div><div>To provide protection from the elements </div><div>They will stand tall and proud </div><div>Never faltering from their call</div><div>Always looking to heaven for their needs </div><div>Doing nothing more, nothing less than being what they were created to be </div><div>And in his faithfulness, in His time </div><div>The Creator and Sustainer will answer their plea</div><div>He will bring the blessings, the nourishment they need </div><div>And all those around them will shout "Praise the Lord!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Am I like those trees in a parched and weary land</div><div>Naked and bare do I look to heaven to meet my needs. </div><div>Do I allow my roots to hold me fast</div><div>When an answer I request and do not receive</div><div>Am I still a place of rest for the weary, </div><div>a place of protection from the elements of life</div><div>Do I share the well of life for those seeking water</div><div>Knowing that the Creator and Sustainor </div><div>Will answer my call and all around me will shout </div><div>"Praise the Lord!"? </div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-51874347671787656972011-10-31T13:02:00.002-05:002011-10-31T13:31:24.792-05:00UntitledThere is this nagging thought sitting at what I envision as the back of my mind. A thought that needs to be expressed and shared and yet the words will not take shape into any one or even two cohesive thoughts. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, to put together a journal entry or blog post that makes sense. <br /><br />I wouldn't consider myself an actual writer or author so I am not sure if the problem I am currently experiencing would be "writers block" or not. I tend to think it is not because I know (sort of) what I want to say in the end, I am just extremely scattered on how to get there. I have lots of great stuff - quotes, supporting texts, etc - to include and lead me to the end result and in my head they make sense but as I sit down and begin to write everything comes undone, disjointed and just down right confusing. There is no flow, no rythm, no continuity and yet the most frustrating part for me is that it all makes complete and total sense inside my head.<br /><br />I wish there was a way, friend, that I could just open my mind to you, let you gaze in side and see what I am talking about. Or maybe what I need is for you to be able to plug some earphones into my thoughts and listen in on what is happening verbally inside my mind. It is a great conversation inside there and one I believe that is meant to be shared.<br /><br />But alas, this is not a possibility and so I must struggle, work and continue the conversation in my head until the thought is brought to the surface and the words develop to share with you what my thoughts are. Until that time, I will leave you with a few quotes that I plan on incorporating into this post that is coming in hopes that by sharing them you will be blessed.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">“Any deep change in how we live begins with a deep change in how we think.” Mark Buchanan in </span></strong><em><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">The Rest of God<br /></span></strong></em><br /><span style="color:#6633ff;">"...Take it home, or out to a beautiful place, and dwell on it. Give it all your creative energy…every last drop…and let it transform from a wise saying to an new action or ‘way’ in you.” - Brian Mashburn </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">“Purposeful transformation is difficult and time consuming.” –Kyle Wade</span>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-59756196976619981522011-10-11T06:45:00.001-05:002011-10-11T06:45:56.035-05:00Tozer Prayer<div>beautiful Tozer Prayer I was blessed to start my day with - </div><div><br /></div><div>O God, be Thou exalted over my possessions. Nothing of earth's treasures shall seem dear unto me if only Thou art glorified in my life. Be Thou exalted over my friendships. I am determined that Thou shalt be above all, though I must stand deserted and alone in the midst of the earth. Be Thou exalted above my comforts. Though it mean the loss of bodily comforts and the carrying of heavy crosses I shall keep my vow made this day before Thee. Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my life itself. Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase, let me sink that Thou mayest rise above...and let me hear the children cry to Thee, "Hosanna in the highest." </div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-80653643054771211042011-08-28T08:35:00.002-05:002011-08-28T23:39:30.596-05:00The StagecoachI am sitting in a stage coach, holding the reigns. The Father God is riding shot gun. I see sadness on The Fathers face as The Father look at me and ask for the reigns. I ignore The Father some of the time, though some moments I do give The Father the reigns. While The Father has the reigns, the horses in front, are calm, sometimes running at the speed of light, other times, casually walking along allowing me to enjoy the scenery and The Father and I a chance to just talk and be with each other. Up ahead, the landscape is changing and I begin to get anxious. I notice that The Father actually doesn't have the reigns in his hands, they are just sitting on his lap. I begin to tell The Father about what I am seeing, to tell The Father how to drive this stage coach of my life. I look back my stage coach and see it packed with so things - friends, job, career, hopes, dreams, marriage, family, church - and I see that if The Father don't change course soon I will loose some if not all of my precious, precious cargo. The Father tell me to calm down, that he knows the way and it will be okay and tires to get me to see his way. But I can't see it, all I can see is the cliff that quickly coming up on the horizon and I know that my stage coach of life is about to plummet to disaster. And yet, The Father is staying the course, not changing anything at all. I ask The Father to at least slow the horses down and The Father denies me even that, asking me again to just focus on his face and reassures me that it is all under his control. I turn to look at The Father's face, to just gaze into his eyes, to trust The Father but I feel resistance. Sitting just behind me, crammed into a a place not meant to be occupied, Satan is perched. Every time I go to look at The Father, I feel his hand coaxing me to look again at the horizon. This goes on a for a few minutes while the horses just casually continue their journey. I see myself reach for the reigns that are just sitting in The Father's lap and The Father ask me why I am doing that. I tell him again about the cliff ahead and how to deal with it, but The Father again ignores me and ask me to just look at him, to trust him. Again, I attempt to do so but give into the pressure applied to my face by Satan's hand to watch the landscape and not study The Father's face. I quickly glance at The Father and I can see that he is saddened but I misunderstand The Fatherr sadness. I take it to mean that The Father too is sad about the cliff rather than my willingness to just trust him in the fact that he has control over the stage coach and horses. Satan picks up my hand and begins to caress it, consoling me in my grief that The Father is not listening to me. It feels nice to be consoled and I can hear Satan tell me about the bottom of the cliff, how devastating it will be to have the stage coach go over the edge. Before I realize what has actually happened, my hand has been guided to the reigns. The Father does not fight me at all, instead sits there quietly, in a small voice, trying desperately to convince me to leave the reigns with him. I ignore him and pick up the reigns and Satan smiles at The Father knowing he has won this battle this time. The Father is sad and sits back after saying something to horses that I couldn't quite here. The Father also looks back in sadness at my cargo, especially the people that are riding my stage coach and I can see his heart breaking for them and me. I beg The Father again to stop the horses from going off the cliff but with Satan's arms wrapped around me, helping me clutch reigns. The Father shakes his head and tells me to give him back the reigns. I point out how The Father had already messed that up and start wildly flapping the reigns, trying to get control of the horses. Yet the more I beat them, the more I scream at them, the more I watch the cliff come closer and closer, the more the horses run faster. They are trying to run in different directions, shaking the whole stage coach. I look back into time to see my cargo start to slip. I yell at The Father to jump back there and secure everything down. But he just sits there and ask for the reigns back. I tell The Father that I have that and The Father need to worry about my cargo and yet, The Father just sits, tears now welling up in his eyes. The cliff is not that far away and I try and steer the horses. They aren't responding to me at all and the stage coach jerks around more. That last bump something fell out - oh, it looks like a few friends fell off or jumped off and the job box is about to go. I beg The Father to go fix it but he doesn't. What I can't see is that in my haste to get the reigns, I have wrapped them around The Fatherr legs and He cant move. The Father tells me again to give Him the reigns and begs me to look at him, but Satan keeps one hand pressed against my face making it impossible to turn my face to The Father. His other hand and arm are holding mine much like a parent holds a child's hand when teaching them to write, not actually holding the reigns but definitely controlling the situation. The horses submit to the will of the bit finally and I think I am in control of them. I think back to the path The Father showed me and look for the markers he gave, where The Father said we were going to turn to avoid the cliff, where the bridge was but I can't find them. Satan is talking loudly in my ear, describing the cliff and how long the journey down will be. I look to The Father and see that The Father is crying. I ask The Father to tell me what to to, to remind me of where the markers are but he is silent. The Father looks back at my cargo and shake his head, knowing that its all about to go. I pick up the map that The Father brought with us and read it but it doesn't make sense because I can't find my place on it. The legend of the map says my location doesn't matter but I can't understand how that is possible when the cliff is quickly approaching. No matter what angle I hold the map, the compass on the map is always naturally pointing to The Father. However, I do notice that at times, it points at me. What I don't see is that Satan has moved the compass to point at me but when he moves is finger it pops back over to The Father. The cliff is right there and I know we are about to go over it. The horses are running at full speed now, fighting the bit, not stopping, I am desperately trying to gain control over them - yelling at them, screaming at them, shaking the reigns and hitting them as hard as I can. I look back and most of my cargo is thrown all over the road, laying scattered over the past few miles. There are still a few friends who have held on for dear life but they are ready to jump as well. Other friends have walked away from the scene before it can even happen while others stand still to watch the destruction. I can hear many of them calling out to The Father and I grow more and more angry with him for not answering them, for not taking control. What I don't see directly behind the stage coach is that there is something back there gathering the cargo, talking to the friends and family and I can't see that most of them are actually walking my direction. All I see is the cliff and The Father sitting there doing nothing. Satan is not even having to guide my hands any more or move the compass. I have complete control over both. It is now my finger that moves the compass to point only to me and my hand holding tightly to the reigns. We approach the cliff and the first two horses attempt to stop and not go over. I again angrily scream at The Father to make them stop but the momentum is too great. I still have the reigns. As we go over the side of the cliff, I let go of the map and the reigns and throw them up. Almost in slow motion, Satan reaches for the reigns and I scream. I speak nothing that is intelligible as we plummet to the bottom of the cavern. But then Satan again touches my shoulder and whispers in my ear. I look around and begin to think this fun. The cargo has all fallen away and my friends are screaming at me to look to The Father. The map has fallen off the stage coach as well and we are all free falling. I turn and look up and see The Father standing there, watching me fall, standing with many of my friends and family who are also watching me fall. I get angry and scream at The Father and Satan laughs loud and clear. I reach for the reigns again but can't reach them because Satan has a hold of them above my head, laughing a diabolical laugh. I again scream, not words just scream and become more and more angry. I hear my friends who are still in the stage coach yelling to me to look back at The Father on the cliff but I am so angry with him for leaving me that I won't do it. One of them again yells at me to give the reigns back Christ and I point out that I am alone up here and they just need to shut up. A few more jump out before we hit bottom in an attempt to save themselves. A few even try and grab me to stop me from being the carnage. I shake them off and scream out to The Father. Finally, moments before the horses hit rock bottom and everything is destroyed, I call out - this time I call out to The Father, not just scream. Though what I say is not discernible by any human ear I beg The Father to take control of my life again, to take the reigns from Satan and stop the wreck. Immediately, Satan is thrown from the stage coach and the reigns are moved back to the rightful place. It is then that I see Christ. Calmly, he pulls on the reigns but it is too late to stop the wreckage. As The Father looks down, tears in his eyes, The Father watch my stage coach, my horses, what little cargo I have left and the few friends I have left crash to the earth. And The Father along with those of my friends standing with him on the cliff weep for wreckage that is my life. The crash hurts, bad but I am alive. I sit up and look up around. My cargo is demolished, nothing has really survived. My friends and family that were still with me are there and are okay though some of them have sustained damage as well. It takes me a minute to find Christ but when I do, I crushed and heart broken. He looks worse than I do for sure. His body is completely mangled and it does not look like he is alive. I crawl over to him and am sickened by what I find. Satan is standing just a few feet away. He of course is completely unscathed and he is dancing, laughing. I reach out to Christ but his body is limp, lifeless. I look up and see The Father on the cliff, Father, crying at the carnage that was my life. I am too damaged, too tired to be angry and I collapse on the dead body of Christ, crying uncontrollably, inconsolable, desperate to change the situation but sitting at the bottom of this canyon, I can do nothing but weep. As I weep and beg and plead and scream, I feel something wrapped around me. First it reminds me of how I felt when Satan was holding me, guiding the reigns. But instead of anger and chaos, I begin to feel different. I begin to feel at peace. It is then that I realize that I am no longer laying my head on the body of Christ for that body is now gone. I look around and I see Christ and I do not see Satan. I am still at the bottom of the canyon but Christ is now standing there, whole not bruised and mangled. He smiles at me and turns to walk towards the destroyed stage coach. I watch as he tends to the horses, healing them and standing them back up. He then quietly and patiently begins to repair the stage coach looking back to me to, asking me to come help. I hurt for I am severely injured. I try to stand, to walk over to him but I can't. He asks if I want his help and I nod, unable in my shame to speak to him. He smiles tenderly at me and with tears in his eyes, he comes over to me and begins to heal my wounds. As he is healing me, he tells me about the blanket that is wrapped around my shoulders. He tells me that this blanket will continue to be a healer for me, that I should ever remove it and that when the stage coach gets fixed, I need to keep that blanket with me at all times because staying wrapped in this blanket, the blanket of his Holy Spirit will always keep me from Satan's touch. He also tells me that while I am healed I will be sore for a while and that he cannot take away the natural pain that comes from a wreck like this. He then stands up and reaches down his hand to me, inviting me to go help him repair the stage coach and gather the cargo that is left. With the blanket fully wrapped around me, I reach up and take the hand of Christ, the one who was there the entire time I was falling and we begin the long journey of repairing my life. I have no clue what I am doing because I have not been trained to do this sort of thing. But he is the Great Carpenter by trade and knows exactly how to fix the stage coach. As we work, I notice that we are not working alone. My friends who lived through the crash with me are also there, taking orders from Christ, helping to repair the stage coach. I look up to the cliff and I see The Father standing there, smiling. I also see that The Father is talking and then I see those friends who jumped coming down the path to help. I start to take off the blanket to go talk to them to find out why they jumped, but Christ reaches out to me and puts the blanket back on my shoulders and shows me where I need to focus on the stage coach. He assures me that the Father has already talked to them and what they did was between them and him and had nothing to do with me. I am a bit saddened and hurt and in my grief I rip open one or two of my wounds. The blanket immediately tightens around me and one of my of my friends calls over to Christ for me. He comes over and heals the wound, teaching me how to prevent it from opening again. After what seems like an eternity of work, the stage coach is rebuilt sturdier than before and the horses are ready to move on. My friends and family enthusiastically jump back on the stage coach, some carrying other cargo that has been replaced and replenished. I grab the map and head to sit in the back with my friends and family, knowing that Christ needs to control the reigns. But there is no room in the stage coach and Christ looks down at me, inviting me to join him back up where the reigns are. I am scared, terrified to climb up there because I know clearly what went wrong. The blanket again tightens around me and Christ again reaches down to pull me. Satan also starts to wiggle his way in between me and Christ and I scream at him. Christs pushes him off with just a flick of his fingers and Satan is cast away, carrying a huge box of cargo that is black with white letters on it - Ginger's Sin. I look to see where Satan went but I cannot see him. Christ offers me the reigns and I laugh and shake my head. He can have them, I want nothing to do with them at all. I look at the map and see that the compass is pointed in it's natural direction, to The Father, and we head off down that path. Each bump in the road hurts my wounded body but each time the blanket provides me great comfort. Before long, I again notice the landscape change. We are coming out of the canyon and The Father is there to meet us. The Father jump on board, adding the additional cargo that had fallen off in the chaos and then some more. A few more friends jump aboard and we restart the journey. The Father and Christ and the Holy Spirit are no worse for the wear. Some of my friend are still healing but we are beginning to talk again, laugh and enjoy each others company. I am still wounded and healing but I rest assured in the knowledge that I was never alone, that my sin has been carried away and I don't have to carry that cargo box any more, and that there is no room for Satan in the front of the behind the reigns. I have no doubt that he is following closely behind and will one day hop back up and try and squeeze in but for now I rest knowing I and my cargo, my friends, my family are safe because The Father has the reigns. And as we travel, I talk to The Father and Christ and the Spirit. And I am falling more and more in love with the three of them every day.Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-54489646966633279922011-08-21T07:18:00.002-05:002011-08-21T07:29:00.269-05:00The Father's Love<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; "><div>The Father Loves You. </div><div>Yes, you. And yes, me.
<br />I don't get is sometimes because I know me and I know how unlovable I can be. But fortunately His love is not based on me, its based on Him. I also tend to believe that my life circumstances, my immediate situation is always an expressions of His love and tend to forget that there are other forces, Satan and his army, trying to disrupt my ability to abide in God's love and presence. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; ">I didn't write the following, but it is full of truth and love. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. </span></div><div style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; ">
<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" >My Child ~</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I knit you together in your mother's womb ~ Psalm 139:13 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me ~ John 8:41-44</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139:17-18 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul ~ Jeremiah 32:41 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >And I want to show you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >For it is I who gave you those desires ~ Philippians 2:13</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:3-4 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:3-4 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed ~ John 17:26</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen ~ Luke 15:7 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I have always been Father, and will always be Father ~ Ephesians 3:14-15 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >My question is ~ Will you be my child? ~ John 1:12-13 </span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >I am waiting for you ~ Luke 15:11-32</span>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; ">Love, Your Dad, Almighty God</span></div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-65370061974710450252011-08-14T21:22:00.002-05:002011-08-14T21:24:58.075-05:00Christianity is...<div>Tweets by Brian Mashburn and my response (**) </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Christianity is characterized by suffering. When all is well in the world for a Christian, it is because he is too much of it.</div><div> <i> **Lord, make me uncomfortable in this world. Show me how to suffer for you. Show me how to be "in the world but not of the world rather than "of the world but not in the world." **</i> </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Christianity is characterized by peace. When a Christian leaves peace and peacemaking, it's because he's forgotten who his Father is.</div><div> <i> **Lord, you are teaching me how to be peaceful in the good circumstances. Continue to show me how to bring to the chaos that surrounds me.**</i></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Christianity is characterized by purity. When a Christian defends his rights to sin moderately, he's left Jesus as his Lord & example.</div><div> <i> **Lord, convict me often the sin that entangles me and do not let me ever defend or justify my sin.**</i> </div><div>
<br /></div><div> Christianity is characterized by a hunger for more of God. When a Christian isn't desiring God, its b/c they're feasting on temporal things.</div><div><i> **Lord, I know I feast on temporal thing often. I know I fill myself with lots of other things - food, entertainment, mindless reading - first instead of turning to you. Show me how to stop feasting on those things and rely only on You.**</i> </div><div> </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Christianity is characterized by sincerity. When a Christian is shallow, sarcastic or superficial its because he isn't "seeing" as God sees.</div><div> <i>**Lord, I want to see through your eyes. Stop my tongue from sarcasm and connect my heart to that which I want to hurt. Show me how to avoid shallow conversations and turn my conversations to you. when I want to be superficial make the circumstances impossible for that to happen. Give me a sincere heart and mind.**</i></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Christianity is characterized by mercy. When a Christian lacks mercy, it is because he has forgotten his own sins or God's forgiveness.</div><div> <i>**Lord, may I never forget the great extent that you went to offer me forgiveness and may I always offer forgiveness to the same extent to others. May my thoughts be like David's 'my sin is always before me" but not in a way that it produces guilt. May my sin be before me in a way that leads me to your feet and drives me to be more and more merciful daily. **</i> </div><div>
<br /></div><div> Christianity is characterized by dependence. When a Christian acts purely on his own initiative, he still has some growing up to do.</div><div> <i>**Lord, I want to be completely and totally dependent and yet I know for a fact that I act on my own will often. Continue to humbly me Father that in all that I do, I only look to you and your will for my decisions.** </i></div><div>
<br /></div><div> Christianity is characterized by love. Anything a Christian does that is not love is sin, a waste of his time, and suicide to his spirit.</div><div> <i>**Lord, I am tired of wasting my time. I am tied of sin. And I am tired of trying to kill my spirit by reacting and acting out of religious duty, guilt, habit or selfish ambition. I want to be known as yours and I know that for that to happen, I will have to love others as you love me. **</i> </div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-56337972747544967952011-08-08T21:40:00.003-05:002011-08-08T22:45:49.320-05:00Those who mourn will be comforted...The past few weeks have been tough. <div>
<br /></div><div>Sixteen days ago, a good friend of mine at work unexpectedly lost her husband in a horrible motorcycle accident. Reality is you will bury your spouse or your spouse will bury you. I have come to accept this. However, you are not supposed to do this when you are 26 years old and you have a two year old daughter. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Nine days previous to that a friend of mine unexpectedly lost his father to a heartache. Again, reality is that you will bury your parents. However, being able to say good bye is something we all expect to do. My friend didn't have that privilege. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>My friend whose father passed away has an extensive, strong support system around him filled with many people who have buried a parent and a lot of life experience that he can draw on to get him through this process.
<br />
<br />I mourn with him and for him. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>My friend at work has no life experience to speak of to draw on. Her support system while strong and filled with many people, does not include many people who have buried their spouse. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I mourn with her and for her. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I have no answers for either of them. I have no words that I can say that will change their circumstances, take away their pain, or help their healing process to go any faster. I know the promises that of my Father and these are the only things I know to say to my friends. My prayer is that God's presence will be made known to them through this; that in this, as in all things God will work for the good of those who love Him; and that because of this both of them will fall deeper and deeper in love with Jesus.</div><div>
<br />None of this changes that I still hurt, deeply, for my friends.</div><div>
<br /></div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-9423488220505620082011-07-21T10:30:00.002-05:002011-07-21T10:38:11.021-05:00A prayer I can't get out of my headA few days ago, I read the following prayer in a book by Brennan Manning called "Souveniers of Solitude". I cannot get this prayer out of my head. It has slowly become my daily prayer, something I have found myself praying more than once a day, actually.<br /><br />"Lord, I am not free - but who wants to be? You're all that matters in my life.<br />I don't want to be free of my hunger for your bread.<br />I don't want to be free of my thirst for your word.<br />I don't want to be free of my desire for your will.<br />I don't want to be free of my longing for your presence.<br />I don't want to be free of my need to be taken up, taken over, joined to you.<br />Lord, may I never be free from wanting you."<br /><br />God is doing amazing, great, powerful and awesome things in my life, my heart and my head. I am becoming a new creation in Him because of His grace and mercy. And through some amazing spritual friendship and guidance. As I pray this prayer, I find myself more and more humbled and longing for this to be truer every minutes of my day. And yet, Satan still sets traps for me and I fall into the easily. I will not live in guilt though when I do fall for his tricks because my God is more powerful than anything Satan will throw at me and His grace is more than enough.Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-31072533709721598332011-07-13T22:24:00.002-05:002011-07-13T22:26:12.914-05:00Flannel Graph History - Moses by Billy Burr<div>What I heard from Billy Burr tonight about Moses. </div><div><br /></div><div>Exodus 3:11, 12 </div><div>"But Moses said to God, 'I am not a great man! How can I go to the king and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?' God said, 'I will be with you..."</div><div> <b>- It does not matter who you are, it matters only Who is with you.</b> </div><div><br /></div><div> Exodus 4:1-8</div><div>"Then Moses answered, 'What if the people of Israel do not believe me or listen to me? What if they say 'They Lord did not appear to you?' The Lord said to him, 'What is that in your hand?' Moses answered, 'It is my walking stick.' The Lord said, 'Throw it on the ground.' So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, but the Lord said to him, 'Reach out and grab the snake by its tail.' When Moses reached out took hold of the snake, it again became a stick in his hand. The Lord said 'This is so that the Israelites will believe that the Lord appeared to you. I am the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.' Then the Lord said to Moses 'Put your hand inside your coat.' So Moses put his hand inside his coat. When he took it out, it was white with a skin disease. Then he said 'Now put your hand inside your coat again.' So Moses put his hand inside his coat again. When he took it out, his hand was healthy again, like the rest of his skin. The the Lord said, 'If the people do not believe you or pay attention to the first miracle, they may believe you when you show them this second miracle. After these two miracles, if they still do not believe or listen to you, take some water from the Nile River and pour it on the dry ground. The water will become blood when it touches the ground.' " </div><div> <b> - It does not matter if people believe you. It matters only Whose power you believe in and will allow to use you. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Exodus 4:10-11 </div><div>"But Moses said to the Lord, 'Please, Lord, I have never been a skilled speaker. Even now, after talking to you, I cannot speak well. I speak slowly and can't find the best words.' Then the Lord said to him, 'Who made a person's mouth? And who makes someone deaf or not able to speak? Or how gives a person sight or blindness. It is I, the Lord. Now go! I will help you speak, and I will teach you what to say.' " </div><div> <b>- It does not matter if you don't have the right words, it matters only Whose words you are speaking. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, <b>God is calling you to something</b> and there is no legitimate reason for you not to do it. <b>He will answer every questions, put aside every excuse and provide any and everything that you need to accomplish what He is calling you to. </b></div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-9674022539608420312011-07-10T15:23:00.003-05:002011-07-10T15:55:15.172-05:00He Loves Me<div><span class="Apple-style-span" >We are reading the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0964729253/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=7421082917&ref=pd_sl_99vp6nhovi_b">He Loves Me</a> by Wayne Jacobsen in my small group on Sunday nights. There is lots of good stuff in the book but today, this quote really got me. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >"In the long run it doesn't matter whether rebellion or religion keeps you from a vibrant relationship with the Father; the result is still the same. He is cheated out of the relationship he wants with you and you never come to know how He feels about you." </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I had never considered this idea until right this minute but how very, very true. In spinning my wheels, trying to earn God's grace and favor, I never really enjoyed a relationship with Him that amounted to anything besides frustration, sadness and the feeling of never measuring up. And yet, watching people rebel it is pretty obvious that doing that is not going to get there either. So there must be another choice, right?<br /><br />Yes, there is another choice - accepting grace and living in freedom!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Christ himself talks about this very specifically. John records the following (John 8:31-36) </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>"So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, <span class="woj">"If you continue to obey my teaching, you are truly my <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>followers. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>make you free." </span>They answered, "We are <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Abraham's children, and we have never been anyone's slaves. So why do you say we will be free?" Jesus <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>answered, <span class="woj">"I tell you the truth, everyone who lives in sin is a slave to sin. A slave does not stay with a <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>family forever, but a son belongs to the family forever. So if the Son makes you free, <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>you will be truly <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>free..."</span></span></div><div><span class="woj" ><blockquote></blockquote></span></div><div><span class="woj" ><blockquote></blockquote>Doesn't it sound great to live in freedom, not have to rebel and not live by religious standards that are pretty much impossible to meet and still be right with God? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: medium; ">What does that life look like? </span></div><div><span class="woj" >If I live that life would it change what I do day to day? </span></div><div><span class="woj" >Would it change how I treat others?</span></div><div><span class="woj" >Do I even want that life or am I too comfortable in my religious way of living that I am unwilling to change?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="woj"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><blockquote></blockquote><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><p><span class="woj"></span></p></span>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-17686088463019747972011-06-10T18:23:00.002-05:002011-06-10T18:39:52.429-05:00Things I learned this weekI learned and relearned some interesting things this week. I thought I would share them. <div><br /></div><div>Things I relearned: </div><div><ol><li>My husband supports me in whatever pursuit I choose. </li><li>God provides. </li><li>I have an amazing support system that stretches across the nation.</li><li>I have this great community locally that wants to see me become more like Christ and will pour out themselves to me to help me in that pursuit. </li><li>I have another group of friends who don't necessarily understand why I do what I do but still support me and hold me accountable.</li></ol><div>Things I learned for the first time.</div></div><div><ol><li>I can loose weight if the reason I focus on loosing that weight has to do with God and is not about how I look or what other think of me.</li><li>Food does not have to control me. </li><li>Being hungry has nothing to do with sadness or anger. </li><li>Dying to self is hard but possible and totally worth it. </li><li>Every other commercial on TV is about food. </li><li>I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. </li></ol><div>I praise God for all that I learned this week. He is good. </div></div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-54771559267294850422011-05-24T23:55:00.002-05:002011-05-25T00:11:43.641-05:00ExpectationsI am headed to Cuchara, Colorado with my husband. It is our 1oth Anniversary and we are going camping in our travel trailer for a few days then we are meeting a few couples at a cabin for a retreat, a PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) retreat to be exact. I am thrilled to headed on this vacation. I have lots of expectations though. <div><br /></div><div>I expect to read for at least a few hours. </div><div>I expect to play cards with husband (and lose). </div><div>I expect to sleep well. </div><div>I expect to hike. </div><div>I expect to see wildlife. </div><div>I expect to relax. </div><div>I expect to read Scripture.<br />I expect to listen for the voice of God. </div><div>I expect to see God's presence, often. </div><div>I expect to learn something about God I didn't know.<br />I expect to connect with my husband and the others on our retreat. </div><div>I expect to come back a different person than when I left here. </div><div>I expect God to do great and mighty things while we are there and then continue to do great and mighty things when we get back because we were there. </div><div><br />I hope I am not setting myself up for failure.</div><div><br /></div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-2158808661450711022011-05-18T23:19:00.002-05:002011-05-18T23:20:08.938-05:00A prayerGod, fortunately, You were there tonight and saw all that happened. You know the hearts of those people involved, including mine. I seriously doubt that the disregard shown for me was intentional or malicious in anyway. I don't think that was the desire at all. I cannot believe that the message I received tonight was the message You had prepared for me. I know that You would never set out to tell me that I am not valuable. That is not how You look at me. I know this fully well, in my head and my heart. And yet, You also know that is exactly the message I have received. A message that has been spoken into me from an early age and reinforced over and over and over again. And yes, Lord, I do know that You have spent thousands of hours, through thousands of conversations and scriptures with thousands of people in thousands of settings to contradict that message. And I I do believe Your message that I am valuable, treasured, precious, wonderful, holy and that You like and love me. Help my unbelief! I beg You to continue speaking to me in voice I can recognize as Yours, a voice that is speaking truth and is calling me farther and farther away from the lie that Satan wants me to put my trust in. Forgive me of my bitterness, dislike, and resentment I have towards my fellow Christ-follower. Do not allow any of those things to set in and take root. I humble ask that You reveal to me a way to let go of those feelings. Remove the plank in my eye that I might more clearly see my co-worker in Christ as You do - valuable, treasured, precious, wonderful, holy and liked and loved by You, just like I am. Spirit convict me of sin when my humanity begins to interfere with the calling I have to live honestly in every setting, regardless of the intentional or inadvertent messages I receive from people . Jesus, I know you had to have been tempted to deal with people in a harsh manner who disregarded You but you didn't, at least not in a way that was sinful or didn't glorify God. Show me how to do that, Christ so that You, the Father and Spirit my receive praise and glory. Amen.Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-79365668272306656422011-05-02T22:30:00.010-05:002011-05-03T00:14:16.584-05:00Osama Bin Laden is deadThis blog post is primarily for me to have a recorded memory of the events of the past 24 hours. Facebook posts do not last long at all and can be difficult to find. This entry will also make it into my online journals (yes, I have more than one. I am a bit anal about these types of things). <div><br /></div><div>The joy of Dish network is that the national media does not break into all regular programming on most stations. So from what I can gather it was about 35 minutes after the new broke that I finally received a text from someone telling me all I was missing. It was one of the rare times I was on my computer but didn't have facebook open. So I responded to the text, not quite believing what I was reading, finished what I was doing and then switched channels on the TV. I sat in stunned silence as NBC, CBS and ABC confirmed what my friend had texted to me. Osama Bin Laden was in fact dead. I looked at Jason and said "Are you watching this?" It was clear by his reaction that he was not because he looked up from his laptop, glanced at the TV and then looked back down at his laptop. Almost immediately he did a double take at the TV and I could see that the shock of the reality had hit him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Al-qaeda began sometime in the late 80's if I am not mistaken so this is a terrorist group I have heard about for much of my life. On and off, not always in the spot light but still there, still present. The name and face of Osama Bin Laden was etched into my memory and the memory of millions of Americans and most of the rest of the world on September 11, 2001, the day "the world stopped turning." And for the past 9 years and 8 months we have lived with consequences of his actions and the actions of those who followed him. I wish I could believe that his death would end this terrorist group. But to believe in that would be a fool's errand and would be putting my hope in a lie. I have no doubt that Al-qaeda will continue to maim, mutilate, and harm any and everyone they want to. Fear, insecurity, hatred and violence will continue through this group even without him as their leader. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have heard lots of talk about justice being done and I find myself unable to accept this man's death as justice for the 3000 lives lost on 09/11/2001, not to mention the thousands of lives lost prior to that date because of the work that Al-qaeda did. And there are thousands more that were lost since that time. The death of one evil man cannot provide justice for those deaths. In my mind there is nothing that will provide that justice, ever. I have heard the same talk about revenge and I feel the same way there. No amount of torture could be extracted on him on this earth that would fulfill my human desire for justice and revenge. </div><div><br /></div><div>And then I listen to the political side of this, you know the talk I a referring to, right? Whose administration should get credit for this? People taking shots at the current president for taking the credit. People taking shots at the previous administration for "not getting him." This man's death was not the work of one president, one administration or one anything. There is more going on here than anyone, including this administration, can see. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am not surprised by the reaction that our country is having, though I am saddened to see the reaction of those whom call themselves Christ followers. It is exactly what I expected to be the reaction. "USA! USA!" "Proud to be an American." "Woohoo! Way to go America!" And truthfully there is a part of me that wants to participate in those cheers.<br /><br />But I have not been called to be an American and I have not chosen to put my citizenship in America first. My citizenship is in a different Kingdom and I am feeling the struggle to be part of that Kingdom rather than rejoice in my American citizenship.</div><div><br /></div><div>The only thing I can hold on to in times like this is that there is a God who has provided a different way to live. Fear, insecurity, hatred and violence will continue, but God provides a way to have courage (Psalm 27:1), security (Romans 8:38,39), love (1 John 4:16) and peace (John 14:27). Justice and revenge need to happen but God has promised that He will handle that (Psalm 89:14). The fact is it really didn't matter who the President of the United States was on the day that Osama Bin Laden died, just as much as it didn't matter the who the ruler of Monaco was on that day. God's sovereignty mattered more (Job 14:5). And while my desire is to stand along side my fellow Americans and cheer, I cannot do so (Romans 12:2).</div><div><br /></div><div>A man, created in the image of God (Gen 1:27) by God (Psalm 139:13), died this week presumably not knowing God in a way that could save him (John 15:1-9). This was not God's desire for this man (1 Timothy 2:3,4) for if it was He had no reason to send Christ (John 3:16). Therefore if I rejoice in this man's death (Proverbs 24:17) I am not being faithful to what I claim I want to be (Romans 12:1,2). That being the case, I will continue to fight the urge to join my fellow Americans and instead purposefully pray for my enemies (Matthew 5:44), pray for my leaders (1 Timothy 2:1,2), and pray for the men and women who choose to give the ultimate sacrifice (John 15:3). </div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-57595652263459036202011-04-19T17:01:00.002-05:002011-04-19T17:36:37.089-05:00Accepting No As An AnswerOur first year in houseparenting world we were introduced to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Social-Skills-Youth-Handbook/dp/0938510398">The Skills Book</a>." This was a great resource we used often throughout our time as houseparents and actually still have a copy of today. It takes concepts and breaks them down to step by step, easy to follow, easy to remember instructions. Things like "Following instructions", "Setting Boundaries", "Answering the Phone", and "Completing a Task"- just to name a few. For many of our kids it provided a necessary, healthy way of handling situations that they previously did not know how to handle.<br /><br />One skill that is currently coming to mind for me right now is "Accepting No As An Answer." In theory and step by step instructions, it is a very simple skill.<br /><br /><ol><br /><li>Look at the person. </li><br /><li>Say "okay." </li><br /><li>Stay calm. </li><br /><li>If you disagree, ask later. </li></ol><br /><p>See what I mean, simple and easy to remember. </p>And yet as I sit here having to accept "no" as answer it is not that simple. I have said "okay" in the professional manner. I am staying calm in a professional manner. I disagree with decision but my disagreeing will not change the answer at all and I know that later I will be given a reason for the "no" answer I received. <br /><br />It is not easy or simple. What I want to do is rebel. What I want do is yell and scream and point out all the reason it should have been a "yes" instead of a "no."<br /><br />The fact is "no" is not an easy answer to accept. "No" is discouraging when the reason behind it has to do with quality of work performed. "No" is confusing when it contradicts other messages given. "No" is hard to handle when there are plenty of reasons that "yes" should have been answer. "No" hurts when the reason behind the it may have to do with character flaws. "No" is especially frustrating when your best isn't enough to get a "yes."<br /><br />And so I am having to repeat the skill of "accepting no as an answer" to myself. It is a good thing to practice though I am not much on being so well practiced at this skill.<br /><br />And of course, I am reminding myself of many of the promises my Father has given me - I am valuable because of Whose I am. I am loved by the Maker of the Universe. I have access to life to full and the Kingdom of Christ because He provided that way for me. I have the greatest Comforter ever. And I have power of the Satan who will not turn this "no" into a victory for himself because he has already been defeated.Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-3639228389245418702011-04-13T21:05:00.001-05:002011-04-13T21:05:59.175-05:00No words<div>This family needs your prayers. Period. </div><div><br /></div>http://familybondingtime.blogspot.com/<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-21287462768352801772011-03-31T06:42:00.006-05:002011-03-31T07:57:14.591-05:00The Speaking Voice<i><blockquote></blockquote>The Pursuit of God </i>by AW Tozer <div>Chapter 6 - The Speaking Voice </div><div><b>"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</div><div>As a child I was taught a very healthy respect for the Bible. From my first day in 4th grade until I graduated college it was a constant presence in my daily life because it was one of my text books I had to have with me for school. </div><div><br /></div><div>For a time though I stopped reading Scripture. I had my reasons, a "holy rebellion" as one friend called it. My Bible was always near by. I still carried it to church. It in class or a study when someone else was reading it out loud I would read along with them and I even opened it up when one of my kids had a question. But very, very rarely did I ever pick up the Holy Scriptures just to read them for the sake of getting to know Christ, learn something new or be fed. I just stopped reading Scripture. </div><div><br /></div><div>I never stopped hearing the Voice of God. </div><div><br /></div><div>For someone who grew up with the belief that God spoke only through His written word, the Bible, it was somewhat confusing to hear the voice of God while not reading the Bible. I think that is why the following passage moved me this morning - </div><div><blockquote>"I believe that much of our religious unbelief is due to a wrong conception of and a wrong feeling for the Scriptures of Truth. A silent God suddenly began to speak in a book and when the book was finished lapsed back into silence again forever. Now we read the book as a the record of what God said when He was for a brief time in a speaking mood. With notions like that in our heads how can we believe? The fact are that God is not silent, has never been silent. It is the nature of God to speak. The second Person of the Holy Trinity is call the <i>Word</i>. The Bible is the inevitable outcome of God's continuous speech. It is the infallible declaration of His mind for us put into our familiar words."</blockquote>There is a part of me now that grieves the time I lost in Scripture because I am learning how rich, deep, alive and amazing the written word of God truly is. And yet God showed great mercy and great grace to speak to me even when I would not read what He wanted to tell me. As Tozer also says</div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "></span></i></div></span></i></div><blockquote><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">"God did not write a book and send it by messenger to be read at distance by</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "> unaided minds. He spoke a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">speaking His words </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">and causing the power of them to persist across the years...</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">The tragedy is that our eternal welfare depends upon our hearing, and we have </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">trained our ears not to hear...Religion </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">has accepted the monstrous heresy that </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">, size, activity and bluster make a man dear to God. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">But we may take </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">heart. To a people caught in the tempest of the last great conflict </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">God says </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">'Be still, and know that I am God,'..."</span></i></div></span></i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div></blockquote><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>I am not advocating here to not read Scripture. Again, I lost much by giving up that part of my walk with God. But I also give up something if I limit myself to believing that the only way to hear what God has to is say is through that avenue. Without the Scriptures I will have no way to judge if what I hear is the Voice of God. But without the Voice of God, I will have nothing to hear. </div><div> </div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16461484.post-65355994449706939542011-03-20T16:28:00.007-05:002011-03-20T21:00:27.839-05:00Take My Life<div>I am blessed to worship with a large group of people, many of whom are very talented singers and since the tradition of our church is not to use musical instruments in our worship services I have the opportunity on a weekly basis to hear and participate in a-capella singing. And I am blessed to be under the worship leadership of man who is passionate about worshiping God in song and many other ways. On a very regular basis these three facts combine to make my worship experience a powerful and beautiful experience, despite the fact that I myself am not a great singer. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have been a part of this tradition all of my life and have rarely missed a Sunday. I also seem to have a great memory for songs. I find myself singing all types of songs throughout my day - hymns, praise and worship, devotional, children's, etc. For almost every situation I find myself in, I can find a song to bring me comfort, joy, or peace. I can walk into most any church within my tradition and sing the songs they are singing without any problems and without a song book most of the time. And for the most part I can walk into most Protestant based churches and do the same. I consider this a huge blessing from God and I am extremely grateful for it. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, I have found that there can be a downfall to this. And I suspect most long time Christians would be able to say they have this experience as well. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>I don't pay attention to the words I am singing. </b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, now that is not always the case and truthfully that is not the case the majority of the time. Songs that have me praise God for His power, His might, His holiness, His provision - those songs- old or new - I connect with deeply and truly pay attention to what I am saying to Him. Songs that are meant to edify others or connect me with others, those songs I connect to as well and pay attention to what I am saying. </div><div><br /></div><div>But there are these other songs, songs that talk about what I want Christ to do in my life or what I am giving Him, those songs I really just go through the motions. </div><div><br /></div><div>However today, the Spirit was at work and I had to stop and carefully look at the words to one of the songs led today. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><i><b>Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee</b></i> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><i><b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Take my moments and my days let them flow in ceaseless praise.</b></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >(Do I want my life set aside for a sacred and holy purpose for God? If so am I willing to give up everything to make that happen? </span>Do I give God the praise He deserves? In the good and the bad?)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><i> Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love</i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><b><i>Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee. </i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><b><i> </i></b></span></div><div>(Will I serve anyone God puts in front me, expecting nothing in return, only out of my love for Him? And if I am willing to serve, will I do it in His time frame, reacting immediately to His calling?)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><i> Take my voice and let me sing, only always for my King</i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Take my lips and let them filled with messages from thee. </i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">(</span>Are the words I use from God, about God or praising God? How do I make normal every day conversations become a praise to my King? I talk for a living and what I talk about is not evil in and of itself but is there a different message communicated to the people I talk to because of Christ?) </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b><i>Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold. </i></b></div><div><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><i><b>Take my intellect and use ever power as thou shalt choose. </b></i></span></div><div>(Am I wiling to give away anything that God tells me to? If He looked at me and told me sell everything and give my money to the poor would I without bitterness, complaint or resentment? Or more importantly would I do it with joy, peace, happiness and contentment? Whatever knowledge or skills I have, do let Him use?) </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><i> </i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b><i>Take my love my Lord I pour at thy feet its treasures store</i></b></div><div><b><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Take my life and I will be ever only all for Thee. </i></b></div><div>(ever as in always? only as in He is the only one I will store my treasure with and give my love to? All as in all of it, everything?) </div><div><br /></div><div>Lord, </div><div>Thank you for giving me the hard questions to answer and think about. Give me the courage to answer them honestly and where I need to change to become more like Christ, give me the courage to do that as well. Remove any fear, anxiety or shame I have in changing something about myself that allows me to sing these words with a pure, intentional heart. </div>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00398459526284898353noreply@blogger.com0