Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christianity. Show all posts

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Thursday Word Thoughts

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These are actually Word Thoughts from last Monday. :)

Last Monday morning at 1AM, I was journaling. Most of the time that wouldn't be a big deal except I needed to be up for a doctor's appointment at 8AM. For some reason when I know that I have to wake up early for an appointment I struggle to sleep. If I know I am waking up for something like a day trip to see the kids it's no biggie. But when it's an "I have to be there at such-and-such a time or there will be some sort of penalty" I hit a brick wall. I can't figure out the psychology of it, either.

Back to my journaling notes...I was pleased with myself for staying hydrated, going for a walk, spending time in the sun, and eating healthy. I mentioned that I had done some prioritizing about all the giveaways I enter, but I didn't write any specifics and now I don't remember what it was. I also was on Chapter 30 of Power of a Praying Woman...which I won't be reading anymore. I have read Stormie Omartians Power of a Praying (insert the rest of your particular title here) books for some years. I would read and pray chapter 1 on the 1st of the month and so on. Well, this time I took a hard look at some of what she had written and I realized that she was promoting an idea as scriptural when it wasn't. Really, it was more of a traditional way of thinking. Christians need to be careful that what they believe and what they practice and what they share with others is based on specific scripture.

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What the Word said to me on August 1, 2011:
  • Jeremiah 29:11-13 - It's not too late. I'm not too old. I still have a future worth living even at my age. God still has plans for me. He sees a future for me. It is not the end of my making specific contributions to His plans.
  • Psalms 92:13-15 - I am not irrelevant to God's plans. I am not relegated to the position of spectator. I am a part of HIs design with a job yet to do. I matter. Servants of God are never "put out to pasture." God always has an important role in His plan for anyone willing to do the work.
  • Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing comes between me and the Love of God which is in the Anointed One Jesus my Lord. I need to guard against opening a gap between me and Jesus that would let junk come between us.
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As you can tell, apparently I was/am feeling a bit insignificant. It's not anything anyone has done...I think it's simply that it has been hot here for so long and the heat works against me and I do very little. The day before yesterday I was having difficulty catching my breath. The only time I've had an asthma attack was during the heat wave in the Chicago area in 1994 and I am not looking to repeat that incident. That wave lasted about 10 days...this in Oklahoma has gone on for over 2 months with no sign of letting up. I'm going to quit beating myself up over what I'm not doing and just move some of my plans to when it gets cooler. Take care of myself physically because it's certainly not worth doing things and ending up needing medical care.
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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

On the Road to Damascus

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Acts 9:1-9


The Message (MSG)


1-2 All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master's disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest and got arrest warrants to take to the meeting places in Damascus so that if he found anyone there belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.


3-4He set off. When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: "Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?"


5-6He said, "Who are you, Master?"


"I am Jesus, the One you're hunting down. I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you'll be told what to do next."


7-9His companions stood there dumbstruck—they could hear the sound, but couldn't see anyone—while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone-blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing.

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On the road to Damascus - what? What does that phrase mean to me. A bit of the song, by Rich Mullins, keeps floating through my head. All I'm getting is:

On the road to Damascus
-followed by-
I give my life to sing Your praise

Those 2 lines keep repeating over and over. Now, seeing as how a symptom (effect - whatever you want to call it) of my bipolar is getting songs stuck in my head, I choose to be thankful that it's a song that doesn't make me cringe. But, its making me question.

:::off to view lyrics:::

OK. So the summary, to me, is that I can be headed somewhere, somewhere that gives all the appearance that what I do is RIGHT. And in spite of my well-meaning & well-reasoned plans - plans I may even believe are God's will - I can be stripped clean of my own ambitions (ambitions I may have not even realized I had) and faced with the fact that I am naked before God. He sees the truth. And if I love Him enough to let Him correct me, I'll be clothed with His plans, His reasons (should He care to share them), & His goals.

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Monday, June 13, 2011

Fresh Grounded Faith 06.13.11

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Let your light so shine before men that the may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:16 (AMP)

What's Percolating in Me: My Response
Light draws the eye. I should not dim the light for fear of being a target. I should shine the light in hope of drawing people to God.

Spill the Beans: My Prayer
That I may live my life as John the Baptist did. Unafraid of confrontation. Strong in conviction no matter the cost.

Thanks a Latte! My Praise
An issue that had me pouring my heart out to God yesterday was already resolved before I had to deal with it. God, You are so good.

Lesson taken from Fresh Grounded Faith by Jennifer Rothschild

Disclaimer: The link is not an affiliate link.

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