Definitions..............
There's the dictionary definition, and there are also words, and concepts that we have our OWN definitions for.
How I define love, or protection, or provision, or safety or security............may not be the same as how you define those words.
This week, I had a "letting go" of my definition of certain words and it has been freeing, and yet adds more unknown.
I know, I'm not really making sense.
Let's take the word: provision....provide.
I have wrestled with God on this word, because I have MY definition of what God's provision, or how God should provide "looks like". If the measure of God's provision in my life, circumstances, etc. hasn't met what I determined needs to be provided for.........it has been a source of "defeat" for me.
Just what the "enemy" wants! He would want nothing better than for me to be defeated my relationship with God.
No more!
So, instead, every time I catch myself thinking God's love and care for me is measured by how I define love, provision, security, or safety.............I will stop myself.
OH, how I love the verse in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that reminds me that we walk by faith and not by sight. We need to live knowing and believing the truths in God's Word, and not let our feelings hinder what we know to be true.
If you have written your own "dictionary"----put it away.
God loves you.
Remember what the first chapter of James says....the trials are to test our faith and produce perseverance.
They are to make us mature and complete, lacking nothing, AND if we persevere under trial, we will receive the crown of life, reserved for those to love Him.
THAT is worth enduring for....struggling for....believing, hoping, trusting, and having faith for!
God is writing the story of my life, and I will daily give up my definitions, and know that I see in part, but God has the full picture!
Have a blessed holiday weekend!
Friday, August 29, 2014
Sunday, August 24, 2014
We just have to trust that God loves us and knows what's Best!
I know it's been quite a while since my last post. Life....it just takes a lot out of you sometimes!
Yesterday, my daughter was telling me that one of my grandson's went to his first t-ball practice. He has watched his older brother play ball for two years. He has gone to most every game. He knows what happens, and what to do. He knows that his parents aren't going to leave, and that it will be fun. He's watched, and wanted to play...........until his very own first game.
This little boy is smart as all get out! But he's also cautious, and analyzes things, and doesn't just join in. Sometimes he has to be coaxed, and sometimes.....forced. He's a little timid, especially in group things, where one of his parent's can't just stand beside him the whole time. This happened at t-ball. The little guy who doesn't want to draw attention to himself, made a scene, had a tantrum,and threw his parents for a loop!
He wanted his parents to stand in the ball field with him, because he didn't want to do it alone. It was a water-works display. His parents held their ground. They know that part of parenting is training the kids to do things without them. Honestly, it's probably harder for the parents (at least, the mom) than the kids-----this separation, detaching, pushing the baby birds out of the nest! But it must be done.
It will most likely take this little guy a few times before he allows himself to have fun, and gives it his best shot. Crazy deal is that he is really going to be an athlete. He's coordinated, and loves sports, and runs fast, and can "figure it out". He just has to trust, and submit to his parents, and the coach. He has to believe he will be ok when his parents aren't right next to him.....they are just a few more feet away, watching his every move. They'd be there in a flash if something happened, but they know this will be good for him.
I think I am like this little guy with the scarey things in life. I have watched God work in the lives of others, and even in my own life. I have seen miracles.....cancers cured, babies born, jobs found or saved, money come in the nick of time.....prayers answered. I have read the Bible, memorized many of the promises, and had others pray for me. I have felt the shelter of God's love wrapped around me when I have grieved a loss. I'm a fairly strong woman. I can "get it done". But sometimes, I let fear grab ahold of me and paralyze me. I get into a stubborn mood and tell God "I can't"! God replies,
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I tell God that it's too hard, and I don't want to! He reminds me---
2 Corinthians 12:9a
"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I resist, and at times, I refuse His blessings because I'm afraid, or I just want Him to hold my hand, and He gently nudges me "out of the nest"..........BUT He never takes His eyes off of me. He knows that I am equipped to do what He's asked me to do. He prepared me. He lets me get a skinned knee, and sometimes a ball hits me in the arm, or the side. Sometimes, when I'm up to bat, I strike out. Sometimes, I don't catch the fly ball thrown out into the field. That's how I learn. I make mistakes. Sometimes my weaknesses show. (Oh my!) Sometimes, I really screw up and it affects the "team".
If everything came easy, if I had lots of self-confidence, and believed it was all ME.............I wouldn't seek HIM! What wonderful lessons we can learn just from being nudged out of the nest a bit, and having to play t-ball! My grandson is just a little guy, so he won't understand all of the important lessons he will learn from playing on a team, or just being required, or "forced" to give this game a chance. His parents wouldn't ask him to do something they didn't think would be good for him! They love him!
God, who knows the whole story from beginning to end. He has many lessons for us to learn, blessings to shower on us, struggles we need to trudge through, and gems for us to find. We will get bumps and bruises, cuts and scrapes, and even sometimes-----feel alone, on this journey called life. But this life is not all about us! There is so much more than we can see that is happening every day, all around us! The greatest blessing in all of life is to be used by God to bring others to Him. Each struggle, trial, and victory is to prepare and equip us for His purposes.
Time to pray:
This week, as I anticipate a challenging one...........Lord, keep your eye on me! As you allow the tough things in life to strengthen me, and equip me, let me see you! When I tell you it's too hard, or I'm scared, or I can't......remind me that nothing is too difficult for YOU! You are with me! You will pick me up when I fall, and I am never alone. When I just don't want to play the game, when I'm tired, and worn, and ready to just watch.........remind me that there is a purpose in all of this, and you have a plan to give me a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Yesterday, my daughter was telling me that one of my grandson's went to his first t-ball practice. He has watched his older brother play ball for two years. He has gone to most every game. He knows what happens, and what to do. He knows that his parents aren't going to leave, and that it will be fun. He's watched, and wanted to play...........until his very own first game.
This little boy is smart as all get out! But he's also cautious, and analyzes things, and doesn't just join in. Sometimes he has to be coaxed, and sometimes.....forced. He's a little timid, especially in group things, where one of his parent's can't just stand beside him the whole time. This happened at t-ball. The little guy who doesn't want to draw attention to himself, made a scene, had a tantrum,and threw his parents for a loop!
He wanted his parents to stand in the ball field with him, because he didn't want to do it alone. It was a water-works display. His parents held their ground. They know that part of parenting is training the kids to do things without them. Honestly, it's probably harder for the parents (at least, the mom) than the kids-----this separation, detaching, pushing the baby birds out of the nest! But it must be done.
It will most likely take this little guy a few times before he allows himself to have fun, and gives it his best shot. Crazy deal is that he is really going to be an athlete. He's coordinated, and loves sports, and runs fast, and can "figure it out". He just has to trust, and submit to his parents, and the coach. He has to believe he will be ok when his parents aren't right next to him.....they are just a few more feet away, watching his every move. They'd be there in a flash if something happened, but they know this will be good for him.
I think I am like this little guy with the scarey things in life. I have watched God work in the lives of others, and even in my own life. I have seen miracles.....cancers cured, babies born, jobs found or saved, money come in the nick of time.....prayers answered. I have read the Bible, memorized many of the promises, and had others pray for me. I have felt the shelter of God's love wrapped around me when I have grieved a loss. I'm a fairly strong woman. I can "get it done". But sometimes, I let fear grab ahold of me and paralyze me. I get into a stubborn mood and tell God "I can't"! God replies,
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I tell God that it's too hard, and I don't want to! He reminds me---
2 Corinthians 12:9a
"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I resist, and at times, I refuse His blessings because I'm afraid, or I just want Him to hold my hand, and He gently nudges me "out of the nest"..........BUT He never takes His eyes off of me. He knows that I am equipped to do what He's asked me to do. He prepared me. He lets me get a skinned knee, and sometimes a ball hits me in the arm, or the side. Sometimes, when I'm up to bat, I strike out. Sometimes, I don't catch the fly ball thrown out into the field. That's how I learn. I make mistakes. Sometimes my weaknesses show. (Oh my!) Sometimes, I really screw up and it affects the "team".
If everything came easy, if I had lots of self-confidence, and believed it was all ME.............I wouldn't seek HIM! What wonderful lessons we can learn just from being nudged out of the nest a bit, and having to play t-ball! My grandson is just a little guy, so he won't understand all of the important lessons he will learn from playing on a team, or just being required, or "forced" to give this game a chance. His parents wouldn't ask him to do something they didn't think would be good for him! They love him!
God, who knows the whole story from beginning to end. He has many lessons for us to learn, blessings to shower on us, struggles we need to trudge through, and gems for us to find. We will get bumps and bruises, cuts and scrapes, and even sometimes-----feel alone, on this journey called life. But this life is not all about us! There is so much more than we can see that is happening every day, all around us! The greatest blessing in all of life is to be used by God to bring others to Him. Each struggle, trial, and victory is to prepare and equip us for His purposes.
Time to pray:
This week, as I anticipate a challenging one...........Lord, keep your eye on me! As you allow the tough things in life to strengthen me, and equip me, let me see you! When I tell you it's too hard, or I'm scared, or I can't......remind me that nothing is too difficult for YOU! You are with me! You will pick me up when I fall, and I am never alone. When I just don't want to play the game, when I'm tired, and worn, and ready to just watch.........remind me that there is a purpose in all of this, and you have a plan to give me a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Focusing on Jesus...........
There is a verse in the Bible that tells us to "fix" our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) When something is "fixed", it is "set". It does not look to the right or the left. It has focus.
That is what I am trying to do right now.
I am succeeding part of the time, and failing miserably at other times.
I am also remembering Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest".
I'm claiming it.
I'm looking to Jesus for my safety, my protection, my rest.
Are you burdened?
Are your trials heavy and you feel you can't see beyond them?
God sees! God hears the cries of your heart!
He tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:9 that now we see in part, our knowledge is incomplete. Someday, we will see in full! Someday, we will know the "whys" and we will see how it all fits together.
God has been reminding me of these verses because I too easily "forget"!!
He wants me to trust in His Word, and not live my what I feel! Feelings are not necessarily truth.
God can be trusted. He loves us and knows us by name!
This world is not our eternal home!
He has overcome the "world". There is VICTORY in Jesus!
The sun will shine tomorrow.
But the rain................oh the rain..........is God's provision! His hand to provide: all life needs water. He provides!
Rest, my dear friend, rest in knowing that when we fix our eyes on Jesus, and take it all, laying it at the feet of our Savior, we can trust Him.
We can trust Him!
Sleep well, sleep well!
Love,
Pam
That is what I am trying to do right now.
I am succeeding part of the time, and failing miserably at other times.
I am also remembering Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest".
I'm claiming it.
I'm looking to Jesus for my safety, my protection, my rest.
Are you burdened?
Are your trials heavy and you feel you can't see beyond them?
God sees! God hears the cries of your heart!
He tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:9 that now we see in part, our knowledge is incomplete. Someday, we will see in full! Someday, we will know the "whys" and we will see how it all fits together.
God has been reminding me of these verses because I too easily "forget"!!
He wants me to trust in His Word, and not live my what I feel! Feelings are not necessarily truth.
God can be trusted. He loves us and knows us by name!
This world is not our eternal home!
He has overcome the "world". There is VICTORY in Jesus!
The sun will shine tomorrow.
But the rain................oh the rain..........is God's provision! His hand to provide: all life needs water. He provides!
Rest, my dear friend, rest in knowing that when we fix our eyes on Jesus, and take it all, laying it at the feet of our Savior, we can trust Him.
We can trust Him!
Sleep well, sleep well!
Love,
Pam
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