I've decided to do some short posts of two line sort of wisdom instead of always having to have a long explanation. I figure I'm more likely to post then, and even though it is simple it's still good.
Love the least. - You never know what affect your actions will have. You probably won't see results immediately, and sometimes you may never see results, but do it anyway.
John 13:35 (NKJV)
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
The Unseen Affect of Your Prayers
I posted this origionally on a facebook group that was just people who are praying for their future spouse. After getting asked by the admin if they could send it to everyone in the group as a message, I thought it might be good enough to post here as a reminder to all of you too. :) I hope it blesses you!
I just want to remind you all that even though you probably can't see any results from praying for someone - especially if they aren't in your life at the moment, your prayers can be having an affect beyond what you would think they are. It can get discouraging to pray for someone and not be seeing results, but don't give up!
An example of this: Many years ago, when I was still a child I got quite upset about something, and was crying to God about it. (I don't remember what - just that I was pretty distressed.) While I was still crying and praying, He opened my eyes, and I could see and hear the worship leader from church praying for me...
Now she probably had no idea why God put on her heart to pray for me, and I never said anything about it to her for years, but God knew...
You might not have any idea why you get woken up at some rediculous hour to pray or why God suddenly drops in your spirit that so and so needs prayer, but they probably need it. ;)
Personally some time ago there were a few months where the Holy Spirit kept telling me to pray for my future husband - there and then. I have no idea what he was going through, but God knew what he was facing.
On the flip side, I know that there have been times that he has been praying for me when I needed it. I know that there have been times God has acted on my behalf as a direct answer to his prayers, and I've very grateful for that.
While I may not know who I'm going to marry yet, at least I know I'm gonna marry a praying man. :D
I just want to remind you all that even though you probably can't see any results from praying for someone - especially if they aren't in your life at the moment, your prayers can be having an affect beyond what you would think they are. It can get discouraging to pray for someone and not be seeing results, but don't give up!
An example of this: Many years ago, when I was still a child I got quite upset about something, and was crying to God about it. (I don't remember what - just that I was pretty distressed.) While I was still crying and praying, He opened my eyes, and I could see and hear the worship leader from church praying for me...
Now she probably had no idea why God put on her heart to pray for me, and I never said anything about it to her for years, but God knew...
You might not have any idea why you get woken up at some rediculous hour to pray or why God suddenly drops in your spirit that so and so needs prayer, but they probably need it. ;)
Personally some time ago there were a few months where the Holy Spirit kept telling me to pray for my future husband - there and then. I have no idea what he was going through, but God knew what he was facing.
On the flip side, I know that there have been times that he has been praying for me when I needed it. I know that there have been times God has acted on my behalf as a direct answer to his prayers, and I've very grateful for that.
While I may not know who I'm going to marry yet, at least I know I'm gonna marry a praying man. :D
Saturday, October 31, 2009
What About the Strong Women?
After my previous post I had a bit of of feedback from people and almost everyone said something about women still being strong... as in they felt my previous post was lacking an explanation of where real strength comes from. Thus this post is a response to that.
When you have placed your trust in God you will stand stronger than those who are counting on their own will-power and the walls they have built around themselves to "protect" themselves.
The best way to explain this is to give another personal example.
Just a month ago my family was facing a bit of a mountain - we were getting our kitchen renovated. (Anyone who's been there will understand the pressure.) All the family was under extra pressure, some had assignments in before leaving the house for a week and a half, music exams were coming up... etc.
Some of the family were going to visit friends three hours away, and the few boys that needed stay in town were staying with Grandma. Everyone knew where they were going except for me. Because of my work situation I had no idea whether or not I needed to stay, and if I did stay, who with? Work messed me around, not giving me an answer until the last week, and well after they had said they would. I was also in the final stages of applying for a Bible college by correspondence.
With less than a week to go I found out that the course program had been changed, and if I wanted to enroll I would be two weeks behind. (Starting that day of course which couldn't happen!) The set up was completely different to what it was previously making it much harder. I went back and forth a bit. (Can I actually pull this off or is it just impossible/improbable?) I'm not someone to not try just because things look hard, and I knew I make it work, but at what cost? Particularly; what cost to my family? To make the decision harder different family members took sides as to whether they thought I should or shouldn't enroll in the course. (Talk about meat in the sandwich!)
After praying like mad and wishing for a lightning bolt from heaven which never came, I made a choice, and I knew from past experience that I would have to really firm on it, as I would be living with everyone's reactions to me not going with their idea for possibly months afterward. So I mentally prepared myself for the onslaught, determined that I was doing the best thing. - Not necessarily for me, but for a particular other family member who probably wouldn't cope with me studying from home like that. And when I made the choice something in me died.
Suddenly I went from knowing what was doing until I graduated (1-2 years) to being in total limbo. Anyone who has been in that place probably knows it's not pleasant. It's certainly not where I wanted to be.
So, I truly had to be unmoving and firmly convinced that this was where God had me next, therefore I had to trust Him completely and not waver. And trust Him I did.
At first almost everyone was telling me that I was mistaken, and trying to push me to change my mind. However, the day before I left to stay with friends for the two weeks (yes, God provided somewhere to stay), my mother said to me, "We're all falling apart and you're going on strong. I applaud you."
Now you have to understand a couple of things:
A) I was expecting the biggest opposition from my mum. This was a complete 180.
B) That was huge praise from her. She isn't liberal with her compliments.
So I felt a bit blown away. . .
Anyway, the only reason, I repeat; the ONLY reason I was able to be steadfast when everyone else was pulling their hair out was because I was trusting God. I wasn't passively trusting Him. I made a decision to trust Him regardless of circumstances and I didn't waver. That is how you are strong.
When you have placed your trust in God you will stand stronger than those who are counting on their own will-power and the walls they have built around themselves to "protect" themselves.
The best way to explain this is to give another personal example.
Just a month ago my family was facing a bit of a mountain - we were getting our kitchen renovated. (Anyone who's been there will understand the pressure.) All the family was under extra pressure, some had assignments in before leaving the house for a week and a half, music exams were coming up... etc.
Some of the family were going to visit friends three hours away, and the few boys that needed stay in town were staying with Grandma. Everyone knew where they were going except for me. Because of my work situation I had no idea whether or not I needed to stay, and if I did stay, who with? Work messed me around, not giving me an answer until the last week, and well after they had said they would. I was also in the final stages of applying for a Bible college by correspondence.
With less than a week to go I found out that the course program had been changed, and if I wanted to enroll I would be two weeks behind. (Starting that day of course which couldn't happen!) The set up was completely different to what it was previously making it much harder. I went back and forth a bit. (Can I actually pull this off or is it just impossible/improbable?) I'm not someone to not try just because things look hard, and I knew I make it work, but at what cost? Particularly; what cost to my family? To make the decision harder different family members took sides as to whether they thought I should or shouldn't enroll in the course. (Talk about meat in the sandwich!)
After praying like mad and wishing for a lightning bolt from heaven which never came, I made a choice, and I knew from past experience that I would have to really firm on it, as I would be living with everyone's reactions to me not going with their idea for possibly months afterward. So I mentally prepared myself for the onslaught, determined that I was doing the best thing. - Not necessarily for me, but for a particular other family member who probably wouldn't cope with me studying from home like that. And when I made the choice something in me died.
Suddenly I went from knowing what was doing until I graduated (1-2 years) to being in total limbo. Anyone who has been in that place probably knows it's not pleasant. It's certainly not where I wanted to be.
So, I truly had to be unmoving and firmly convinced that this was where God had me next, therefore I had to trust Him completely and not waver. And trust Him I did.
At first almost everyone was telling me that I was mistaken, and trying to push me to change my mind. However, the day before I left to stay with friends for the two weeks (yes, God provided somewhere to stay), my mother said to me, "We're all falling apart and you're going on strong. I applaud you."
Now you have to understand a couple of things:
A) I was expecting the biggest opposition from my mum. This was a complete 180.
B) That was huge praise from her. She isn't liberal with her compliments.
So I felt a bit blown away. . .
Anyway, the only reason, I repeat; the ONLY reason I was able to be steadfast when everyone else was pulling their hair out was because I was trusting God. I wasn't passively trusting Him. I made a decision to trust Him regardless of circumstances and I didn't waver. That is how you are strong.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The 1 Peter 3:3-6 Women
I've finally gotten around to writing the long awaited post on Godly Womanhood.
1 Peter 3:3-6 (NKJV)
When you have that sweet attitude in adversity it's that same incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. (See, it's a quiet spirit. Not stressed and agitated, but at peace.) The holy women trusted in God. You can't be quiet in spirit if you don't trust God. You can sound quiet on the outside, but be a churning mess inside. God doesn't want us to just hide our feelings, and bottle them up, but to trust Him. If we trust Him we won't be a churning mess.
I remember a time in my life when I went through quite a bit of hurt. It was probably one of the worst times I have ever gone through. (Ranks in the top 5) I felt like almost everyone I knew (my family, my friends, my church, etc.) had abandon me to whatever came my way, and I was drowning in fear and hurting badly.
After a few months I got tough. I didn't feel the pain as much. I didn't cry anymore. I hardly flinched at pain. My heart was all bricked up. Somewhere after this God told me I needed to soften my heart and let the barriers come down. I told Him I couldn't do it. When I said I couldn't do it, I really meant it. So God broke them down for me. It was like He destroyed in one second all the walls I had built over the months... and turned up the heat on my emotions. I cried so easily for the next few months. Anything would make me cry. I couldn't help myself.
The strangest thing I found was I had been proud of the fact that I was finally a tough girl. It was something my older sister seemed to be good at, and was always criticising me for not being tough enough. However God did not want me tough. He wanted me soft hearted, sensitive, vulnerable. I couldn't understand it at first. Why, why why?! When all of the culture around me said that the tougher you are the better? That was my silver lining in all the grey clouds, and God took it away from me because He didn't like it?
I remember crying to God one day during this stage saying that I felt like no-one cared about me. No-one would protect me. No-one would stand up for me. Not to mention that I felt incredibly vulnerable - more so than I had been before the whole mess had started.
Merriam-Webster's defines vulnerable this way:
1 : capable of being physically or emotionally wounded
2 : open to attack or damage
I didn't want to be any of that... and I don't know anyone who really likes being hurt.
Anyway after I had finished my spill, and started really crying God told me that He would protect me, He would vindicate me, He would provide for me, and take care of me, He cared and He loved me, etc. (A promise I've held on to many a time!)
God did keep His word to me. He has protected me, and after He pulled down the walls I had built around myself He did guard my heart and keep me from further pain. Over the next few months He healed the pain and dealt with all the problems that had arisen physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
This actually had some interesting "side affects". I used to be a very happy child. (Well... my name says it all!) However over the years I had gotten more and more serious, and it was like I had forgotten how to laugh to some extent. I just didn't have much reason to be happy. Once God healed my heart I was able to laugh - and laugh at lot. I'm one of the happiest people I know now!
God had to teach me a different sort of courage. It was several years before I was able to reach the point I have now, where I can truly say I trust God despite circumstances. I can only be at peace because I've put my trust in God completely.
It takes more guts to trust God to take care of you, and to love when it hurts than it does to be tough as a man and fight your way to the top. (And God bless the men with their strength. We need them like that, but that isn't how He made us.)
So, that is why I've come to the conclusion that God doesn't want us women to be tough like the men. He didn't make us men, He made us women. He made us gentle and breakable. That doesn't mean that our only emotions are those that fall into these categories, but that we shouldn't trample our emotions, and try to be tough like the men.
1 Peter 3:3-6 (NKJV)
3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
When you have that sweet attitude in adversity it's that same incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. (See, it's a quiet spirit. Not stressed and agitated, but at peace.) The holy women trusted in God. You can't be quiet in spirit if you don't trust God. You can sound quiet on the outside, but be a churning mess inside. God doesn't want us to just hide our feelings, and bottle them up, but to trust Him. If we trust Him we won't be a churning mess.
I remember a time in my life when I went through quite a bit of hurt. It was probably one of the worst times I have ever gone through. (Ranks in the top 5) I felt like almost everyone I knew (my family, my friends, my church, etc.) had abandon me to whatever came my way, and I was drowning in fear and hurting badly.
After a few months I got tough. I didn't feel the pain as much. I didn't cry anymore. I hardly flinched at pain. My heart was all bricked up. Somewhere after this God told me I needed to soften my heart and let the barriers come down. I told Him I couldn't do it. When I said I couldn't do it, I really meant it. So God broke them down for me. It was like He destroyed in one second all the walls I had built over the months... and turned up the heat on my emotions. I cried so easily for the next few months. Anything would make me cry. I couldn't help myself.
The strangest thing I found was I had been proud of the fact that I was finally a tough girl. It was something my older sister seemed to be good at, and was always criticising me for not being tough enough. However God did not want me tough. He wanted me soft hearted, sensitive, vulnerable. I couldn't understand it at first. Why, why why?! When all of the culture around me said that the tougher you are the better? That was my silver lining in all the grey clouds, and God took it away from me because He didn't like it?
I remember crying to God one day during this stage saying that I felt like no-one cared about me. No-one would protect me. No-one would stand up for me. Not to mention that I felt incredibly vulnerable - more so than I had been before the whole mess had started.
Merriam-Webster's defines vulnerable this way:
1 : capable of being physically or emotionally wounded
2 : open to attack or damage
I didn't want to be any of that... and I don't know anyone who really likes being hurt.
Anyway after I had finished my spill, and started really crying God told me that He would protect me, He would vindicate me, He would provide for me, and take care of me, He cared and He loved me, etc. (A promise I've held on to many a time!)
God did keep His word to me. He has protected me, and after He pulled down the walls I had built around myself He did guard my heart and keep me from further pain. Over the next few months He healed the pain and dealt with all the problems that had arisen physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
This actually had some interesting "side affects". I used to be a very happy child. (Well... my name says it all!) However over the years I had gotten more and more serious, and it was like I had forgotten how to laugh to some extent. I just didn't have much reason to be happy. Once God healed my heart I was able to laugh - and laugh at lot. I'm one of the happiest people I know now!
God had to teach me a different sort of courage. It was several years before I was able to reach the point I have now, where I can truly say I trust God despite circumstances. I can only be at peace because I've put my trust in God completely.
It takes more guts to trust God to take care of you, and to love when it hurts than it does to be tough as a man and fight your way to the top. (And God bless the men with their strength. We need them like that, but that isn't how He made us.)
So, that is why I've come to the conclusion that God doesn't want us women to be tough like the men. He didn't make us men, He made us women. He made us gentle and breakable. That doesn't mean that our only emotions are those that fall into these categories, but that we shouldn't trample our emotions, and try to be tough like the men.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
God's Worldview Part Two
So what are these controversial examples of God's worldview?
Now I don't want to be accused of putting words in God's mouth. So I'm going to pull things straight out of scripture. If you think you have a valid argument as to why I have taken the scripture out of context you can say something, but I'm not here to have a debate... I'm here to challenge your thinking - to think more like God.
Example One: Marriage. One of the reasons God gives that he wants marriage is that He wants godly offspring. Malachi 2:15 Ouch... I bet that stepped on a few religious toes. Don't children hinder your ministry opportunities? God thinks not.
But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
Which leads me to:
Example Two: Divorce. God says He hates it. So much so that He says He will not receive your offerings if you have "dealt treacherously with the wife of your youth". Malachi 2:13-16 Jesus says that God only permitted divorce "because of the hardness of your hearts". Matthew 19:3-9
Jesus also said in Mark 10:11-12
So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
(Do I need to send you back to the ten commandments here?)
Example Three: Global Warming (Oh whoops... this isn't pet doctrine - it's pet ideology.)
In Genesis 8:22 God says,
While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”
Don't we believe that God means what He says anymore?
I could give many, many other examples, but those who will get the point understand. Please, if you haven't already, read your Bible and actually believe what it says. God and His Word are one. (John 1:1) Some people think that God changes - particularly from the old covenant to the new one. Yes, we are under a new covenant, but He is the same yesterday today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Now I don't want to be accused of putting words in God's mouth. So I'm going to pull things straight out of scripture. If you think you have a valid argument as to why I have taken the scripture out of context you can say something, but I'm not here to have a debate... I'm here to challenge your thinking - to think more like God.
Example One: Marriage. One of the reasons God gives that he wants marriage is that He wants godly offspring. Malachi 2:15 Ouch... I bet that stepped on a few religious toes. Don't children hinder your ministry opportunities? God thinks not.
But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
Which leads me to:
Example Two: Divorce. God says He hates it. So much so that He says He will not receive your offerings if you have "dealt treacherously with the wife of your youth". Malachi 2:13-16 Jesus says that God only permitted divorce "because of the hardness of your hearts". Matthew 19:3-9
Jesus also said in Mark 10:11-12
So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
(Do I need to send you back to the ten commandments here?)
Example Three: Global Warming (Oh whoops... this isn't pet doctrine - it's pet ideology.)
In Genesis 8:22 God says,
While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”
Don't we believe that God means what He says anymore?
I could give many, many other examples, but those who will get the point understand. Please, if you haven't already, read your Bible and actually believe what it says. God and His Word are one. (John 1:1) Some people think that God changes - particularly from the old covenant to the new one. Yes, we are under a new covenant, but He is the same yesterday today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
God's Worldview Part One
Before we get started let me give some definitions here:
Worldview: the way you see the world - this is shaped but just about anything and everything: religion, education, family, culture, friends, etc.
Beliefs: the things that you believe. (Truth is not a factor in you believing it.) What you believe shapes your worldview. You usually believe that what you believe is truth, though most people acknowledge the fact that they can not have everything right. (Even though they act like it.)
But I can't understand the mind of God I hear someone say. Well actually - You have the mind of Christ. Just read 1 Corinthians 2: 14-16
15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
The natural man doesn't understand the things of God because they are foolishness to him. So it makes sense that this world's general view of the world does not line up with God's view.
So do you want to know God's worldview? Start by reading your Bible. Perhaps starting in Proverbs.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Don't Waste Your Life!
As some of you would know I have been a leader in a book club discussion the book: "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper.
I also have friends that speak wisdom occasionally. - Especially if they are male and I say the word advice.
Anyway between reading Piper, and talking to some friends... well maybe brothers in Christ fits better, but whatever the creatures were, I talked to them. *ahem* between reading Piper and talking to them I had a few things to think about while waiting in the airport for two hours and on planes three weeks ago.
And think I did. I have one life. Only one. I don't know how long that life is, but I do know that I said it belongs to God. What I do with my time now is what I am spending the one life I have to give on. Is what I am spending my life on worth it in eternity?
The more I thought about it the more I realised, "If I don't want to waste my life I need to be brutal with everything in it. If it does not bring God glory, if it is not edifying me and building me up in my walk with Him, then it should be removed immediately."
"Wow! Isn't that a bit drastic?" I have heard.
I suppose it is a bit "extreme" but really, Jesus said if your eye causes you to sin pluck it out. He wasn't joking if you haven't noticed... What ever is not leading you closer to God is drawing you away from Him - directly or indirectly. If we want to live in such a way that our short time on earth will not leave us regrets for the rest of eternity, than we need to live every moment of our lives for Him.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you can't ever have a break, or take a holiday, and you should be a miserable Christian that never does anything happy or fun. I'm on holidays at the moment. When I was in Townsville, I commented to someone about it, and they looked at me sideways, but I went on to point out that I was greatly blessed and edified because I had been able to relax I had gotten in a lot more time than I usually do to pray uninterrupted. I felt like I was close to heaven. (And no it wasn't the sun, pool, and ice cream that did that even though some of you may beg to differ with me on that.) It was the presence of God that surrounded me and made me to be at perfect peace. But things in the physical allowing me to draw near without distracting or interrupting made it very easy to do so.
So here is my challenge to you: Get rid of anything - absolutely anything (relationships, games, thoughts, habits, etc.) that is not leading you closer to God. It might hurt a little bit now, but you will reap the rewards if you are willing to pay the price now.
I also have friends that speak wisdom occasionally. - Especially if they are male and I say the word advice.
Anyway between reading Piper, and talking to some friends... well maybe brothers in Christ fits better, but whatever the creatures were, I talked to them. *ahem* between reading Piper and talking to them I had a few things to think about while waiting in the airport for two hours and on planes three weeks ago.
And think I did. I have one life. Only one. I don't know how long that life is, but I do know that I said it belongs to God. What I do with my time now is what I am spending the one life I have to give on. Is what I am spending my life on worth it in eternity?
The more I thought about it the more I realised, "If I don't want to waste my life I need to be brutal with everything in it. If it does not bring God glory, if it is not edifying me and building me up in my walk with Him, then it should be removed immediately."
"Wow! Isn't that a bit drastic?" I have heard.
I suppose it is a bit "extreme" but really, Jesus said if your eye causes you to sin pluck it out. He wasn't joking if you haven't noticed... What ever is not leading you closer to God is drawing you away from Him - directly or indirectly. If we want to live in such a way that our short time on earth will not leave us regrets for the rest of eternity, than we need to live every moment of our lives for Him.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you can't ever have a break, or take a holiday, and you should be a miserable Christian that never does anything happy or fun. I'm on holidays at the moment. When I was in Townsville, I commented to someone about it, and they looked at me sideways, but I went on to point out that I was greatly blessed and edified because I had been able to relax I had gotten in a lot more time than I usually do to pray uninterrupted. I felt like I was close to heaven. (And no it wasn't the sun, pool, and ice cream that did that even though some of you may beg to differ with me on that.) It was the presence of God that surrounded me and made me to be at perfect peace. But things in the physical allowing me to draw near without distracting or interrupting made it very easy to do so.
So here is my challenge to you: Get rid of anything - absolutely anything (relationships, games, thoughts, habits, etc.) that is not leading you closer to God. It might hurt a little bit now, but you will reap the rewards if you are willing to pay the price now.
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