TESTED BY FIRE

I Corinthians 3 talks about each person's work is going to be tested by fire and will be revealed for what it is. Just wondering what we think the fire looks like in our daily lives? Do you think that our difficulties and hardships could hardly be considered fire? Or maybe anything that is a discomfort or distraction? What seems to be getting under your skin and taking you to Wit's end.

There's no need to buckle, complain, or think that this is the end of the road. Get your running shoes on and take the challenge head on. You are in a race. Most people would walk out or run from their problems...you run to Jesus. You run with endurance and with a determination to never give up.

Nothing like an ugly situation or circumstance to knock your pride down and slap you back to reality. When we are squeezed or pushed we spill what we are full of. What comes out of us at a moment of intensity usually points out what is really going on inside, all that has been hiding behind the nice clothes and make up and muscles...

Someone so desperately in need of crying out to Jesus.

I Corinthians 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh that he stand, take heed, lest he fall.

QUIET CONFIDENCE

"A fool utters all of his mind..." Proverbs 29:11 Most of the time when I have gone ahead and said all of what I am feeling or thinking in regards to anothers actions or disagreeing with them, I soon realize that I do not know all the facts and I am not God. I am not all knowing and I cannot possibly consider fully all that is factoring in and influencing their life decisions. Human beings are ignorant of alot. Nothing escapes God's view.

It would be in our best interest if we are truly concerned about another's well being to be quietly confident of the greatness and faithfulness of the God we know and love and serve. Trusting that He can and He will move the mountains that seem to be obstructing clear vision or right thinking.

There is a time for everything under heaven. So may we rightly discern what time it is and what the heart of our Father is in every circumstance and all situations.

ADDRESSING THE ISSUES

VANITY. The other day I was driving down the road listening to the stats on how much money people spend on costmetics and hair styling products and haircuts. As if that was not disturbing enough, they began talking about how much money is spent on girls under 13 years old on the same thing. Due to sixty second commercials that these little ones and all of the public view, they are impacted enough to go and spend and spend some more to try to become more beautiful or more desirable or more something.

ENTERTAINMENT. Unless you live in the mountains (and one day, Lord willing I will) entertainment means constant television, video games, hand held devices, and distractions of all kinds. If we were to take a step back and
I can only hope and pray that no person takes any of the material in these blogs as ammunition for contentions or debate. The articles that I write are merely concerns and observations, meant to challenge and encourage and bring the Word of God front and center. Please examine yourself according to the truth, and do not condemn others or yourself as we have all fallen short.

FACING FEARS

A few years ago I recall telling a friend that I try my best to face every fear so that I will be walking by faith, as it is impossible to please God without faith. I recently have returned from a camp where we had staff meetings that would sometimes turn out to be discussion times, bibles studies or prayer meetings. Most of the staff had been at least glancing through a book entitled, Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. In a few chapters he points out scriptures that prove the danger of willful disobedience even when it is not intentional.

Fear being one of those sins. Fear is the opposite of faith. "God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind." II Timothy 1:7

I received word by the last week or so of my time at camp that mom had gone to the doctor and they told her she had psuemonia. She had not been feeling good for weeks. While I was praying for my mom the tears began to come for the reality of what my heart was feeling. Fears that had been in me since I was very small. Fears of something happening to my mom. I am aware that some things that trouble us in this life is to be expected regardless, but then there really are some fears that try to rule our lives and keep us from being free as the Lord has created us to be. I thank God for revealing simple truth of what is hidden in me. I also thank Him for the freedom and healing that repentance brings and that fear should never be allwed the living room in my heart. With the Lord's help --- I will continue to trust until all fear is gone. God loves me and He loves my mom. He is able to heal and restore and make all things new.

Also, it is always encouraging to look at life from an eternal perspective. This life is just a moment, eternity is forever. There is a time for everything under heaven. Seasons change and thank God that His mercy wakes us up to the truth and to the reality that we can trust His love will never fail us.

IN THE PRESENCE OF LOVE

I was reading Luke 12 and Romans 12 today. As I read, I was being strongly reminded that I must be bold in proclaiming Jesus name, unashamed to make Him known, and determined to know Him with all that I am. Willing and aware that it will cost me everything to follow after Him.

The second part of what I was reading encouraged me to be very mindful of how I go forward and what I put my trust in. Where my treasure is there my heart will be also. What is there to fret about if my Heavenly Father knows what I have need of and He is faithful to His word?

And finally, thank God for a friend that sticks closer than a brother. In the presence of love I am not afraid to fall, to fail, to be imperfect, to not have the right words, to be who I am, and to still be learning that without love... I am nothing and I have nothing.

OPEN UP

ALL SUFFICIENT ONE

GOD ALMIGHTY IS THE ALL SUFFICIENT ONE. WHAT IS THERE THAT I COULD POSSIBLY HAVE NEED OF THAT GOD HIMSELF HAS NOT ALREADY PROVIDED? NO THING. ACTIVITIES SEEM TO MEAN LESS AND LESS TO ME AND THE WORD OF GOD MORE AND MORE. EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST AN AVENUE TO SHARE HISTORY. I AM VERY THANKFUL...FOR THE COLD, SNOW, WIND, AND DAYS THAT ARE NOT ALL SUNSHINE AND FLOWERS. THE LORD HAS TAUGHT ME SO MUCH THROUGH HEARTACHE AND PAIN AND STORMS OVER THE YEARS. HIS LOVE IS UNFAILING. I BELIEVE HE IS DESIRING TO TEACH US ALL HOW GOOD HE IS AND WHAT A RESCUER AND FAITHFUL FATHER HE IS WHEN WE ARE FACING THE MOUNTAIN OF UNCERTAINTY, THE DUNGEON OF DESPAIR, AND A FLOOD OF UNWILLINGNESS IN OURSELVES. SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY WILL FOLLOW US ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES AND WE WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.