Will it Hurt?

Recently a pastor at my church was telling a cute story to demonstrate how literally children take things. He said his neice was in the back seat of a car after Sunday school one Sunday. Her mother was driving when the four year old plainly stated,

"Mommy, my teacher said I should ask Jesus into my heart but I don't want to."

"Why not?" her mother inquired.

"I think it would hurt too much since He is so big!"

Everyone laughed when he said it. The simplicity of a child's mind is precious. But I couldn't help but think of how profound that was.

It DOES hurt when we surrender our life to Christ. It HURTS to die to self and selfish motives. It HURTS to stand out and be different when everyone else is walking the way of the world. It HURTS to feel wall come down between old friends or family members who do not know Him and are suddenly repelled by your new found faith.

But then I remember to HEALING He brings in marriages. The HEALING He brings to our hearts. The HEALING He brings to our past pain. And I remember it is through pain we are truly healed. So yes, little one, it DOES hurt when Jesus comes into your heart, but praise Him it floods your heart with more healing than you ever thought possible!

"But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,
and by His wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

A One Thing Woman

What do you yearn for? What are the deepest desires of your heart? If you could gain 'one thing' what would it be?

Enough money to solve your financial issues? Enough wisdom to parent your children well? Knowing your children will be safe, well and cared for? Knowing your man loves you? The ability to reach others for Jesus? A thriving ministry? The accolades of others?

God asked Solomon,"ask what you wish me to give you." (1 Kings 3:5) We often commend Solomon for his answer..."give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, to discern between good and evil." (v. 9) Solomon asked for wisdom, a noble request in deed.

But Jesus invites us to a grander pursuit. As He sits teaching in Martha's home (Luke 10:38-42) with Mary at His feet soaking in His Word, He reminds Martha's scattered thoughts of this truth, "only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:42)

What was the 'one thing' Jesus was commending? Well, let's peek into the heart of another 'one thing' person, Solomon's own father, David, for some insight. David penned the words to Psalm 27:4, "One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life. to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple."

What was David after? The same 'one thing' Mary was after...to abide in the Presence of God. According to Moses, it is the one thing that sets us apart and makes us unique people. (see Exodus 33:16)

So what about us? What is your heart's 'one thing'? Is it truly to live in the Presence of God to behold His beauty (His delightfulness) and to meditate in His temple? If so, it ought to be hat we are pursuing, right? David sought it. Mary pressed into it. Today I am reminded afresh to breathe in His truth and exhale it on my children, my husband and my sphere of influence as I continue to seek the uniqueness of His Presence in my life. What about YOU?

Warrior Women!

Do you have a testimony with the Lord? Has He walked you through trials or taught you to depend on Him? Have you began to 'take possession' of the 'land' the Lord your God is given you? In other words, is there some spiritual growth in your life? Can you look back and take not of His faithfulness?

Joshua was Moses' sidekick, so to speak. He witnessed Moses' relation ship with the Lord and pursued it for himself (see Exodus 33:11). One day, it was his turn to step up to the plate of the calling God had placed over his life...to lead the new generation of Israelites into the Promised Land.

The book of Joshua opens with a repetitive phrase, "be strong and courageous". Over and over the Lord pushes Joshua to step out of his comfort zone and be strong and courageous...trusting God! Joshua rises to the occasion and calls all the 'fighting men' together in Joshua 1:14.

The word for 'fighting men' is the same word used in Proverbs 31:10 to describe the virtuous, rare woman. It is a word that means 'warrior'. God does not raise up wimps, He raises warriors! If you have the Holy Spirit of power within you, then you too, are a mighty warrior!

What does Joshua command these warriors to do? Verse 14 says, "You are to help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them."

This is our call, too, if we are believers and followers of the Lord Jesus. Mighty Warrior of God, YOU are to help your sisters in Christ (walk along side then and sharpen then, love then, encourage them) until the Lord gives them rest, AS HE HAS DONE FOR YOU (until He builds in her a testimony too!) , and until she has taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving her (until she has begun to walk with him on her own, NOT depending on you, but always looking to her Jesus!).

I have written this verse on a card and have been keeping it nearby to remind me of the purpose god has placed over me for writing the Names of God Bible study He has called me to write. What is the Lord calling YOU to step out and do? Is it hard? Impossible without Him? Step out into that Jordan, sister, and help those in your sphere of influence (your kids, your neighbors, your friends and your church) until the Lord gives them rest, as He has done for you.

Who is He?

How well do you know your God? Have you really spent time getting to know Him and understand a bit about who He is, His nature and character?

We live in such a hurting, fallen, painful world. We are surrounded with depravity beyond what we can swallow some days! Children being molested, husbands addicted to pornography, wayward teenagers, young widows, illnesses, losses, pain...How are we to persevere? We HAVE GOT to know the One we serve!! Only our God is enough, only Jesus can fill us, heal us and strengthen us in the midst of all of life's trials!

God has impressed on me to put together a study on His names for my bible study group this fall. As I have been digging into the meaning and depth of God's nature and character, I am continually blown away by His supply of grace, mercy and love! His very nature is to be our supply and pour out relationship lavishly on us. So why do we live depressed, pressed down and defeated lives in the body of Christ? Because we fail to STOP and BE STILL and SOAK in the reality of who we are and more importantly, Whose we are!!

He is life..it really is the nature of His Person! He is sufficient, He is Holy, He is Master, He is a mighty warrior for His child! You are His own treasured possession! What would our day look like if we really lived like we believe that? Read Ephesians 1 today and offer up praise to the One who supplies Himself for your weary soul!

...A Work in Progress...

Growing In Godliness is under construction!!! Knee deep in fonts, pictures and HTMLs!!! Can't wait to see what we come up with!! Come back soon and see!!

He is Good!

Praise the Lord.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

The word translated 'good' here is a word that carries MUCH more meaning than what our English word 'good' carries. Try replacing 'good' in this verse with other words in its meaning and catch a small glimpse of the true goodness of our God!

good: tob: pleasant, beautiful, excellent, lovely, wisdom, happiness, moral goodness, delightful, joyful, fruitful, precious, cheerful, kind, correct, righteous, practical and economic benefits, aestetic and sensual goodness

What a God we serve!

Clinging to Truth

Often in the Word of God, He will use the same original word a few times in a row to highlight a point. Unfortunately we miss that with some of the English translations. But in studying Psalm 119:25-32, I dug in enough to unearth a word the Lord choose to bookend this stanza with.

In the NIV the word is 'laid low' in verse 25 and ' hold fast' in verse 31. But in both instances the word is a Hebrew word meaning 'cleaving to, or clinging to'. So WHAT is the psalmist clinging to as the stanza opens? "I am laid low in the dust" He is clinging to the ground here. Then near the end of the stanza, what does he cling to? "I hold fast to your statues, O Lord" Now he is clinging to God's Word.

What happened to change his perspective here? He does something over and over, that I noticed...
* he asked God to preserve his life
* he asked God for insight
* he asked God to teach him

Do you see it? He was seeking God! He asked God, he asked God, he sought God! We will not cling to God's Word accidentally! It is a purposeful choice to turn our faces towards Him and seek Him in His word. Verse 30 teaches us, "I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws," we must choose to set our heart on His truth and then pursue Him with all we've got! Oh, it is so worth it!! What are YOU choosing?