This week has been just an explosion of JOY for me. The resurrection of Christ certainly is one of the most debated topics. I have been on both sides.
The most painful experience I had was realizing that I had been wrong. To read and understand that God's Word described me to the Tee as an unbeliever and admitting to Him that I was indeed that way was shameful. But this pain, this agony, brought me onto my knees to receive a gift called grace. Grace is a gift that I did not expect and deserve. My old life, now renewed by His grace, is a life I never imagined for myself.
How does a person go from being depressed and beaten to joyful and victorious even in suffering? One word. Hope. Not just hope in a president, or hope in a relationship, or hope in new life, etc... but hope beyond death. I used to curl up in my bed with no more tears to sob at the age of 8. I felt lonely, hollow, meaningless, purposeless.... everything I did was just going into the air, so why try to live well? I gave up. I had no accountability. No one could hold me down. I rebelled and no one could stop me. I suffered many bad consequences from my bad choices. These bad consequences led me right to the bottom and I couldn't do it any longer. But the LORD was so good to me that He reached down to me when I thought I was done for. He reached down to me and touched my soul. He healed me and gave me a taste of what it would be like to be with Him. He opened my eyes to His Word and Work. Since that day, I have lived my life knowing that He has got my back no matter what. Do I still struggle? Oh yes. But I struggle with Him and wrestle with Him as I deal with my sinful nature. Just as He had suffered, I will suffer. I am willing to bear His legacy and testimony of suffering till He makes me perfect. Without suffering and struggles, my spiritual would be stagnant. Who wants that?
For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.2 Cor 2:15-17
" There is nothing left to fear, nothing Heaven knows. For He died for us to give us life and to give us hope, He rose." Easter Carol, Veggietales
If you don't know just how much God loves you, take it from an ex atheist/buddhist/new ager/... you need to find out. He loves you and He wants you to have peace.. peace with death, peace with life, peace with Him.
My Father, who am I that You pay attention to? I know Your hands are upon my family for I have seen Your faithfulness and Your marvelous work in us. You have been orchestrating everything around us these days and I am grateful to see Your favor. Hold me close to You. Awake my soul to sing praises to You. Blessed be Your name as You demonstrate great power and miracles in our lives. You are an awesome God. Thank You for filling me with such joy I haven't felt in months. Thank You for Your grace and assurance. Thank You that You have never forsaken me or left me during my struggles. Glory to You, my God, for You are the One who saved my soul from the depths. Continue to mature me in my walk with You oh LORD. Jesus You are the One, the Way, the Truth, the Life. You are alive and no one can keep You from accomplishing Your will. Bless this family with Your Spirit as we continue to give ourselves to You. Holy is Your name, AMEN.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Lord says STAY PUT
God said to me this morning as I studied Nehemiah, "Do not be afraid, stay put! This is your husband's season of blessing after years of struggle and hard work, and the Enemy is here to steal, kill, and destroy." That stilled my heart today and gave me courage. I can't wait to count His blessings. He is true, He cannot lie, all will see and praise Him.
Do you know who Tobiah and Sanballat were? They were big bullies. They were not just inexperienced bullies who used force but high class bullies who employed manipulation and psychology. They would be classified in psychology books as manipulative controllers. They feasted on weak minds and watched for people they could control to enlarge their territory. Sounds sick, huh? If you haven't yet read the book of Nehemiah, start reading it and don't put it down till you have read it all. Fascinating book. When King Nebuchadnezzar came to take the Israelites captive according to God's prophecy, Israel was already split into two kingdoms due to taxation issues. Northern Kingdom, completely destroyed by the Assyrians was never to recover, and the Southern Kingdom, Judah, was taken captive for many years till... well... on and off till the United Nations voted in 1947 to split Palestine into two. The remnant now lives in modern day Israel, which many Islamic nations still deny its existence. (Maps you get in the Middle East says Palestine, not Israel. This is first hand information, I know because I have been to the Middle East.)
In 2 Chron 36:11-23, Ezra gave us a brief summary of what had gone down with Judah. This is imperative because the people of God had once again turned away and He allowed a gentile King to take His people captive for 70 years so prophecy can be fulfilled. About 200 years before Judah was taken captive, the beloved prophets Isaiah and Daniel both spoke of King Cyrus who God had promised to deliver His people from captive. Ezra continued his book from 2 Chron 36:22 because 70 years passed and Cyrus came into history. How amazing is this?
Ezra watched and recorded this piece of history as Persian Kings Cyrus, Xerxes (Queen Esther's husband), Darius (Daniel's Darius the Mede), and Artaxerxes (Queen Esther's stepson, Nehemiah's King), assisted Israel in the rebuilding of its nation under the hand of our God. Ezra retold the restoring of the nation as Zerubabbel led a remnant (including Nehemiah, Mordecai, and Zechariah Ezra2:2, Nehemiah 7:7, Zechariah) back to Israel by Cyrus' decree to rebuild their homes and temple. In chapter 7:1-6, Ezra the priest, came into the story with a bang! as the LORD granted favor on him through King Artaxerxes. Ezra led the nation through a spiritual revival as he fasted, prayed, wept, admonished the people, opened the Book of the Law, read, and started a revolution.
Sounds like to me Nehemiah went to Judah and back a few times. He was named on the record with Zerubabbel (Ezra 2:2 and Nehemiah 7:7) in 538BC. Problem here I have is that this Nehemiah returned under King Artaxerxes in 445BC. That's almost 100 years in between. So, I think it is safe to say this Nehemiah is not the same Nehemiah in Zerubabbel's group. Unless he went as a child. Which is possible since his brothers were in Judah. Who knows? Anyway, Nehemiah and Ezra were in Judah at the same time. While Ezra started a spiritual revival, Nehemiah led the people in rebuilding the wall and gates.
No question, God orchestrated these godly men, families, and ungodly kingdoms to deliver His remnant. Amazing. They were appointed there "at a time such as this". All this came from studying Nehemiah. What can I say? I am always curious.
Ezra and Nehemiah faced lots of opposition but they were so confident because they knew the Lord's hand was upon them. As I studied Nehemiah, 6:11-13 really spoke to me. Tobiah and Sanballat had used every trick in their book, from intimidation, threats, ultimatums, outbursts of anger, sweet coercion, bribery, spying, you name it, to stop the work of God. Nehemiah saw through every single tactic to avoid sinning against his people and the Lord. His heart and motive was pure. All he wanted was for the Lord to finish His work through him. He stopped at nothing. I admired how his mind, soul, and strength were always focused on God at all times.
Have you pulled out Nehemiah 6 yet? Are you curious? Nehemiah 6:11-13:
Before God taught me a lesson of boundaries, I had failed to put up and enforce boundaries that protected me and my family. The Lord has used this to teach me to set good boundaries, but I can say, I am still in the process of healing from one of my violated boundaries. In general, as boundaries are being set, there are only two reactions toward them. Acceptance or rejection. The last chapters of the book are really great at explaining why and what kinds of people accept and reject them. I recommend buying this book and reading it in detail. Long story short, every boundary I set was accepted except for one. My biblical counselor has advised me to stay away and heal but my situation is currently like Nehemiah's. Opposition will not end even after rebuilding is complete. But he put strict boundaries and knew how to face opposition with tact, truth, and strength. Lord, I don't feel like a Nehemiah. I am glad I wasn't put to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. I am here to rebuild my fence. I know, God, but my legs want to run away. Everything happens for my good. I will choose to trust You continually as my Shield, my Strength, my Defender. I know You love me and that I am hidden in You. Teach me what to do when malice is done and said about Your daughter. Be my refuge and let her face bury into Your hiding place. Instead of running away from tough situations, strengthen me so I may run toward You and keep myself pure from all evil. Take my thoughts and my heart captive as You bring me healing. I am sorry I didn't learn this lesson faster. Now I ask for Your blessing on my fence. Thank You for not letting me go. Thank You that You have been with me through all of this. You are a great God who never fails me. There is none other like You. I love being close to You, my Father. How lovely is this dwelling place. I do not want to be anywhere else. Thank You Jesus for making this happen for me. AMEN.
Do you know who Tobiah and Sanballat were? They were big bullies. They were not just inexperienced bullies who used force but high class bullies who employed manipulation and psychology. They would be classified in psychology books as manipulative controllers. They feasted on weak minds and watched for people they could control to enlarge their territory. Sounds sick, huh? If you haven't yet read the book of Nehemiah, start reading it and don't put it down till you have read it all. Fascinating book. When King Nebuchadnezzar came to take the Israelites captive according to God's prophecy, Israel was already split into two kingdoms due to taxation issues. Northern Kingdom, completely destroyed by the Assyrians was never to recover, and the Southern Kingdom, Judah, was taken captive for many years till... well... on and off till the United Nations voted in 1947 to split Palestine into two. The remnant now lives in modern day Israel, which many Islamic nations still deny its existence. (Maps you get in the Middle East says Palestine, not Israel. This is first hand information, I know because I have been to the Middle East.)
In 2 Chron 36:11-23, Ezra gave us a brief summary of what had gone down with Judah. This is imperative because the people of God had once again turned away and He allowed a gentile King to take His people captive for 70 years so prophecy can be fulfilled. About 200 years before Judah was taken captive, the beloved prophets Isaiah and Daniel both spoke of King Cyrus who God had promised to deliver His people from captive. Ezra continued his book from 2 Chron 36:22 because 70 years passed and Cyrus came into history. How amazing is this?
Ezra watched and recorded this piece of history as Persian Kings Cyrus, Xerxes (Queen Esther's husband), Darius (Daniel's Darius the Mede), and Artaxerxes (Queen Esther's stepson, Nehemiah's King), assisted Israel in the rebuilding of its nation under the hand of our God. Ezra retold the restoring of the nation as Zerubabbel led a remnant (including Nehemiah, Mordecai, and Zechariah Ezra2:2, Nehemiah 7:7, Zechariah) back to Israel by Cyrus' decree to rebuild their homes and temple. In chapter 7:1-6, Ezra the priest, came into the story with a bang! as the LORD granted favor on him through King Artaxerxes. Ezra led the nation through a spiritual revival as he fasted, prayed, wept, admonished the people, opened the Book of the Law, read, and started a revolution.
Sounds like to me Nehemiah went to Judah and back a few times. He was named on the record with Zerubabbel (Ezra 2:2 and Nehemiah 7:7) in 538BC. Problem here I have is that this Nehemiah returned under King Artaxerxes in 445BC. That's almost 100 years in between. So, I think it is safe to say this Nehemiah is not the same Nehemiah in Zerubabbel's group. Unless he went as a child. Which is possible since his brothers were in Judah. Who knows? Anyway, Nehemiah and Ezra were in Judah at the same time. While Ezra started a spiritual revival, Nehemiah led the people in rebuilding the wall and gates.
No question, God orchestrated these godly men, families, and ungodly kingdoms to deliver His remnant. Amazing. They were appointed there "at a time such as this". All this came from studying Nehemiah. What can I say? I am always curious.
Ezra and Nehemiah faced lots of opposition but they were so confident because they knew the Lord's hand was upon them. As I studied Nehemiah, 6:11-13 really spoke to me. Tobiah and Sanballat had used every trick in their book, from intimidation, threats, ultimatums, outbursts of anger, sweet coercion, bribery, spying, you name it, to stop the work of God. Nehemiah saw through every single tactic to avoid sinning against his people and the Lord. His heart and motive was pure. All he wanted was for the Lord to finish His work through him. He stopped at nothing. I admired how his mind, soul, and strength were always focused on God at all times.
Have you pulled out Nehemiah 6 yet? Are you curious? Nehemiah 6:11-13:
But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
Before God taught me a lesson of boundaries, I had failed to put up and enforce boundaries that protected me and my family. The Lord has used this to teach me to set good boundaries, but I can say, I am still in the process of healing from one of my violated boundaries. In general, as boundaries are being set, there are only two reactions toward them. Acceptance or rejection. The last chapters of the book are really great at explaining why and what kinds of people accept and reject them. I recommend buying this book and reading it in detail. Long story short, every boundary I set was accepted except for one. My biblical counselor has advised me to stay away and heal but my situation is currently like Nehemiah's. Opposition will not end even after rebuilding is complete. But he put strict boundaries and knew how to face opposition with tact, truth, and strength. Lord, I don't feel like a Nehemiah. I am glad I wasn't put to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. I am here to rebuild my fence. I know, God, but my legs want to run away. Everything happens for my good. I will choose to trust You continually as my Shield, my Strength, my Defender. I know You love me and that I am hidden in You. Teach me what to do when malice is done and said about Your daughter. Be my refuge and let her face bury into Your hiding place. Instead of running away from tough situations, strengthen me so I may run toward You and keep myself pure from all evil. Take my thoughts and my heart captive as You bring me healing. I am sorry I didn't learn this lesson faster. Now I ask for Your blessing on my fence. Thank You for not letting me go. Thank You that You have been with me through all of this. You are a great God who never fails me. There is none other like You. I love being close to You, my Father. How lovely is this dwelling place. I do not want to be anywhere else. Thank You Jesus for making this happen for me. AMEN.
Monday, March 4, 2013
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