June is a very difficult month for me, and has been for years. It brings back a flood of memories that are sketchy at best. I have realized, since recently reconnecting with my past, that a large portion of my past life has been erased from my mind. One memory that I do have, is that around this time, 25 years ago, I lost a child. I miscarried, I never knew if I was carrying a boy or a girl, but the way in which I lost that baby and everything about that day still remains very vivid. I rest in the hope that one day, I will see my baby, and will hold it in my arms. Maybe my child will be older......do people age in heaven? This brings me to......
Day 43 of 100 Days of Happiness: Today, I have looked back on my past, I will not go into details...maybe another day, but I have realized that I have seen the Strength of God as I have walked through my trials and tribulations. I have seen God's Love which has taught me to forgive others. I have also seen God's Mercy when He took a person like me; broken, beaten, and lost, stretched out His Hands and said, "Come to Me and I will give you rest." I am thankful for my faith in God!
Monday, June 9, 2014
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Storms!
When my son was young, he was terrified of storms. Once the wind began to blow and the first sign of lightening was seen, he would run to me with a terror struck face. "Mom," he would say, "There is a storm coming." As the weather outside escalated, so did the fear within my young son. I would have to comfort him during those times. He would cling to me until the storm passed.
One day he asked me why did the storms have to come. My reply to him was simply: "The storms come so that the earth can be cleansed."
Just like the weather, storms begin to brew until its power is unleashed. Our life also produces such storms. Some of life's storms may be gentle ones. Ones that are easy to walk through, like a gentle rain on a spring day. Others may be more fierce like a thunder storm on a hot summer day. While others are more like the tornadoes and hurricanes that come when the warm weather collide with the cool fall days.
Confusion, anger, depression and a sense of hopelessness can overwhelm us during these troubled times. We may feel that we are lost and have no clue in what direction we should go in order to find shelter from the storm. We may feel that all hope is lost and want to simply give up. When these feelings begin to over take us then hear these words, "Hold on to My strength!"
My son clung to me during the storms, burying his face so he would not have to see the lightening; covering his ears so he would not hear the thunder, the wind and the rain pounding on all sides of the house. I would wrap my arms around him and hold him tight until the storm passed. We may not have our mom's to cling to, but we do have a Father. A heavenly Father. A Father that loves us unconditionally and has promised us that He will be with us always. He will hold us tight and carry us through the storms we encounter in our lives. He simply says, "Hold on to My Strength!"
Exodus 15:11-13
"Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?
Who is like you —
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?
12 You stretched out your right hand
and the earth swallowed them.
13 "In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
One day he asked me why did the storms have to come. My reply to him was simply: "The storms come so that the earth can be cleansed."
Just like the weather, storms begin to brew until its power is unleashed. Our life also produces such storms. Some of life's storms may be gentle ones. Ones that are easy to walk through, like a gentle rain on a spring day. Others may be more fierce like a thunder storm on a hot summer day. While others are more like the tornadoes and hurricanes that come when the warm weather collide with the cool fall days.
Confusion, anger, depression and a sense of hopelessness can overwhelm us during these troubled times. We may feel that we are lost and have no clue in what direction we should go in order to find shelter from the storm. We may feel that all hope is lost and want to simply give up. When these feelings begin to over take us then hear these words, "Hold on to My strength!"
My son clung to me during the storms, burying his face so he would not have to see the lightening; covering his ears so he would not hear the thunder, the wind and the rain pounding on all sides of the house. I would wrap my arms around him and hold him tight until the storm passed. We may not have our mom's to cling to, but we do have a Father. A heavenly Father. A Father that loves us unconditionally and has promised us that He will be with us always. He will hold us tight and carry us through the storms we encounter in our lives. He simply says, "Hold on to My Strength!"
Exodus 15:11-13
"Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?
Who is like you —
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?
12 You stretched out your right hand
and the earth swallowed them.
13 "In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
A Tribute to my Grandpa
It was an early Sunday morning on June 24, 2012, my phone rang and on the other end was the voice of my mom. "Your grandpa passed away early this morning" my mother said. I was saddened by the news, but at the same time I felt a since of peace knowing that my grandpa would no longer be suffering from cancer. This is a tribute to my grandpa:
I remember grandpa as a loving happy man. He was always laughing and cutting up. I can still see his smile and hear the roar of his laughter. Although I never went fishing with Grandpa like I did with my other grandfather, I loved hearing him tell of his childhood and other fond memories he had buried deep in his mind. My grandpa knew how to tell a story. I don't know if his stories ever changed, they always seemed like new stories in my mind each and every time. He captivated my attention with the stories of his childhood; with stories of my mother's childhood; stories about the jobs he had and people he had met; and when he and grandma came to visit us while living in Germany. We traveled to the places he had been while fighting in WWII all the while telling us stories of the friends he met and the events he encountered during the war. I never tired listening to him.
From the stories that he would tell, I had assumed that he was a hard working man. He owned rental property and I remember once in awhile when we visited we, my family and I, would go and help grandpa with repairs or cleaning. I also gathered from his stories that he was a loyal friend, a loyal brother, husband and father. He was also a loyal grandfather.
One year, I went to visit my grandparents. I was about 20 years old. Grandma and Grandpa would go to the VFW on the weekend to visit with some of their friends. I am not sure that my mom would have approved, but I went and enjoyed my time. There were many people dancing on the dance floor. My grandpa took me by the hand and led me out to the dance floor to try and teach me how to dance. I am not sure I was a very good student. I realized that I had 2 left feet, but he was patient with me through the song. After that though he handed me over to a younger man to dance with. My first dance lesson was given to by my grandpa.
Grandpa was also the first person I rode my first big roller coaster with at Worlds of Fun. I was scared to death, but not grandpa. If he was scared, he never showed it. He sat next to me and after that roller coaster made its way slowly up the hill and was getting ready to start its decent, my grandpa threw his arms in the air and screamed like everyone else did! He yelled as if he were a young man again. I did not have his sense of bravery though. I clutched the bar in front of me and stared at my grandpa hoping the ride would end soon! What a great memory of my grandpa.
The only memories I have of my grandfather are happy ones and with every visit, I looked forward to watching grandpa make a big pot of Tapioca pudding. He would serve it to us while it was still warm. It was the best I had ever eaten. Mine could never compare to his in a million years. I suppose it's because he made his with a lot of grandpa love!
I will miss sitting out on his back porch on a hot sticky Missouri afternoon, drinking cold lemonade and enjoying the stories he told of his past. I will miss talking to him about his garden and of being envious that his tomatoes would grow 5 times larger than mine ever did! He would tell me that the secret to his big tomatoes was Miracle Gro....I will miss my grandpa very much!
I remember grandpa as a loving happy man. He was always laughing and cutting up. I can still see his smile and hear the roar of his laughter. Although I never went fishing with Grandpa like I did with my other grandfather, I loved hearing him tell of his childhood and other fond memories he had buried deep in his mind. My grandpa knew how to tell a story. I don't know if his stories ever changed, they always seemed like new stories in my mind each and every time. He captivated my attention with the stories of his childhood; with stories of my mother's childhood; stories about the jobs he had and people he had met; and when he and grandma came to visit us while living in Germany. We traveled to the places he had been while fighting in WWII all the while telling us stories of the friends he met and the events he encountered during the war. I never tired listening to him.
From the stories that he would tell, I had assumed that he was a hard working man. He owned rental property and I remember once in awhile when we visited we, my family and I, would go and help grandpa with repairs or cleaning. I also gathered from his stories that he was a loyal friend, a loyal brother, husband and father. He was also a loyal grandfather.
One year, I went to visit my grandparents. I was about 20 years old. Grandma and Grandpa would go to the VFW on the weekend to visit with some of their friends. I am not sure that my mom would have approved, but I went and enjoyed my time. There were many people dancing on the dance floor. My grandpa took me by the hand and led me out to the dance floor to try and teach me how to dance. I am not sure I was a very good student. I realized that I had 2 left feet, but he was patient with me through the song. After that though he handed me over to a younger man to dance with. My first dance lesson was given to by my grandpa.
Grandpa was also the first person I rode my first big roller coaster with at Worlds of Fun. I was scared to death, but not grandpa. If he was scared, he never showed it. He sat next to me and after that roller coaster made its way slowly up the hill and was getting ready to start its decent, my grandpa threw his arms in the air and screamed like everyone else did! He yelled as if he were a young man again. I did not have his sense of bravery though. I clutched the bar in front of me and stared at my grandpa hoping the ride would end soon! What a great memory of my grandpa.
The only memories I have of my grandfather are happy ones and with every visit, I looked forward to watching grandpa make a big pot of Tapioca pudding. He would serve it to us while it was still warm. It was the best I had ever eaten. Mine could never compare to his in a million years. I suppose it's because he made his with a lot of grandpa love!
I will miss sitting out on his back porch on a hot sticky Missouri afternoon, drinking cold lemonade and enjoying the stories he told of his past. I will miss talking to him about his garden and of being envious that his tomatoes would grow 5 times larger than mine ever did! He would tell me that the secret to his big tomatoes was Miracle Gro....I will miss my grandpa very much!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Broken Dreams
Broken Dreams
As children bring their broken
toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to
God
Because He was my friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
In
peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were
my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried,
"How could you be so
slow?"
"My child," He said, "what could I do?"
"You never did let
go."
[ Author Unknown ]
How many times in our lives do we cry out to God to help us overcome a problem we are experiencing in our lives and never feel that God is doing anything for us?
Maybe we haven't really let go of the problem so that God can help us.
Psalms 144:1
He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.
He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.
Psalms 144:7-8
Reach down your hand from on high;
deliver me and rescue me
from the mighty waters,
from the hands of foreigners
whose mouths are full of lies,
whose right hands are deceitful.
Reach down your hand from on high;
deliver me and rescue me
from the mighty waters,
from the hands of foreigners
whose mouths are full of lies,
whose right hands are deceitful.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Walking in Faith!
Faith, a word that has been lingering on my mind today. The definition of faith according to Hebrews 11:1 is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. According to dictionary.com, faith is having confidence or trust in a person; a belief that is not based on proof; belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings.
When I get in my car to drive from point A to point B, I don't do a 10 point inspection of my car before leaving my garage. I don't raise the hood of my car to make sure the engine is still where it's suppose to be. I don't stand and stare at my car asking myself, "Am I sure this car will get me to my destination?" No, I don't do any of this! I get in my car, put the key in the ignition, start the car and put it in the proper gear. I drive to my destination without a worry. Now, if there were something obviously wrong with the car, I would have to stop and fix the problem. Sometimes, I will need to stop the car in order to refuel it otherwise, my car will stop moving and leave me stranded.
I have faith in a car to get me around town, but what does my faith look like in Christ? Do I pause to do a 10 point inspection each time I read God's word, or hear Him speak to me? Do I question God's words to me every time? Or, do I just get up and say, "Okay God, I'm ready to go!"
I read about people from the old testament, new testament or people from this era that I have read about and even met that had/have an unwavering faith. Let's look at Noah for instance. Noah believed in God, he worshiped God and when God told Noah to build an Ark and handed him the instructions for building it, Noah built it. The Bible tells us that people laughed at him and ridiculed him for building such a strange contraption. I am sure that when Noah told his neighbors that God was going to cause water to fall from the sky, called rain, and cause the earth to flood, repent of your sinful ways and join me and my family on the Ark, they laughed at him. Maybe they even made a sign to display to the entire town that said, "Noah is one crazy man! Stay away from that guy!" Noah stayed faithful. I am sure that he felt sad at times and maybe even angry at times. I am sure that his heart broke for those who would not be entering the Ark with him. What feelings would go through ones mind knowing that all would be lost? Noah still remained faithful and obedient to God's calling. As a result, he and his family were saved from the great flood that destroyed the entire world.
Joseph, the beloved son Jacob who was hated by this brothers and who sold him into slavery, had great faith in God. Joseph was taken far away from his home and made to be a slave. Just when things were going smooth for him, a women accused him of a crime he didn't commit, and as a result Joseph was thrown into prison. I can't begin to imagine what it is like to be a slave. Sometimes I feel like a slave to my kids always cleaning up after them and driving them here and there, and sometimes I feel like the slave master making my kids clean their rooms. But what I feel here at home does not begin to compare to what the meaning of a "slave" really is. I have read many horrible experiences from those who were taken from their homeland, Africa, and shipped to America to be slaves to rich land owners of the South. I have read how the Jews were taken from their homes during the reign of Hitler and made at work as slaves within the concentration camps. Maybe Joseph experienced some of these same things. Prison may have been a worse place to be. I don't know, but what I do know is that even though Joseph may have experienced awful treatment as a slave and prisoner, he still remained faithful to his God in heaven. As a result, Joseph was able to save his family and an entire nation from dying during the great drought.
Paul, in the new testament, a man with a temper whose prior job was to kill Christians, was transformed by the power of God. Paul had great faith in the God that gave him a new life. Paul was jailed many times for the sole purpose of preaching the Gospel to those around him. Today, this is still happening to preachers and believers around the world. But despite what people may say to and about them, they still hold on to their faith and endure. Paul may have never known the full impact that he made to the Gentile world, but many were saved because of his faithfulness to sharing God's word.
Personally, many of us have not experienced some of what I just mentioned. On the other hand, we all in some way have experienced illness, death, broken relationships, financial troubles, joblessness, and many other things that can bring us down and test us. Faith should be a constant in our life, but it is during these times when our faith is tested. Is my faith strong enough that it can endure a long term illness, a broken relationship, or a death? Is my faith strong enough to endure any hardship that I may encounter in my life?
Just as I need to stop and put gas in my car to keep it moving so I can reach my destination, our faith must also be refueled. In other words, we must read our bibles, pray and even lift our hearts in worship to our Heavenly Father. These thing are what refuels our faith because if we don't, we will begin to lose our faith. It will begin to fade until suddenly, we stop having faith.
We were never promised that our life would be easy, but we are promised that God will see us through our hard times. But we must have faith in God, a faith that will allow us to believe God will supply all our needs, not according to our will, but His perfect will. We may never know what impact our display of faith will have on someone who sees us. What does your faith look like? Is it strong enough to sustain you through your hardships?
2 Chronicles 20:20-21
Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful."
NIV
Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.'"
NIV
Matthew 17:20
I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. "
NIV
Acts 14:22
strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,"
NIV
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you
NIV
When I get in my car to drive from point A to point B, I don't do a 10 point inspection of my car before leaving my garage. I don't raise the hood of my car to make sure the engine is still where it's suppose to be. I don't stand and stare at my car asking myself, "Am I sure this car will get me to my destination?" No, I don't do any of this! I get in my car, put the key in the ignition, start the car and put it in the proper gear. I drive to my destination without a worry. Now, if there were something obviously wrong with the car, I would have to stop and fix the problem. Sometimes, I will need to stop the car in order to refuel it otherwise, my car will stop moving and leave me stranded.
I have faith in a car to get me around town, but what does my faith look like in Christ? Do I pause to do a 10 point inspection each time I read God's word, or hear Him speak to me? Do I question God's words to me every time? Or, do I just get up and say, "Okay God, I'm ready to go!"
I read about people from the old testament, new testament or people from this era that I have read about and even met that had/have an unwavering faith. Let's look at Noah for instance. Noah believed in God, he worshiped God and when God told Noah to build an Ark and handed him the instructions for building it, Noah built it. The Bible tells us that people laughed at him and ridiculed him for building such a strange contraption. I am sure that when Noah told his neighbors that God was going to cause water to fall from the sky, called rain, and cause the earth to flood, repent of your sinful ways and join me and my family on the Ark, they laughed at him. Maybe they even made a sign to display to the entire town that said, "Noah is one crazy man! Stay away from that guy!" Noah stayed faithful. I am sure that he felt sad at times and maybe even angry at times. I am sure that his heart broke for those who would not be entering the Ark with him. What feelings would go through ones mind knowing that all would be lost? Noah still remained faithful and obedient to God's calling. As a result, he and his family were saved from the great flood that destroyed the entire world.
Joseph, the beloved son Jacob who was hated by this brothers and who sold him into slavery, had great faith in God. Joseph was taken far away from his home and made to be a slave. Just when things were going smooth for him, a women accused him of a crime he didn't commit, and as a result Joseph was thrown into prison. I can't begin to imagine what it is like to be a slave. Sometimes I feel like a slave to my kids always cleaning up after them and driving them here and there, and sometimes I feel like the slave master making my kids clean their rooms. But what I feel here at home does not begin to compare to what the meaning of a "slave" really is. I have read many horrible experiences from those who were taken from their homeland, Africa, and shipped to America to be slaves to rich land owners of the South. I have read how the Jews were taken from their homes during the reign of Hitler and made at work as slaves within the concentration camps. Maybe Joseph experienced some of these same things. Prison may have been a worse place to be. I don't know, but what I do know is that even though Joseph may have experienced awful treatment as a slave and prisoner, he still remained faithful to his God in heaven. As a result, Joseph was able to save his family and an entire nation from dying during the great drought.
Paul, in the new testament, a man with a temper whose prior job was to kill Christians, was transformed by the power of God. Paul had great faith in the God that gave him a new life. Paul was jailed many times for the sole purpose of preaching the Gospel to those around him. Today, this is still happening to preachers and believers around the world. But despite what people may say to and about them, they still hold on to their faith and endure. Paul may have never known the full impact that he made to the Gentile world, but many were saved because of his faithfulness to sharing God's word.
Personally, many of us have not experienced some of what I just mentioned. On the other hand, we all in some way have experienced illness, death, broken relationships, financial troubles, joblessness, and many other things that can bring us down and test us. Faith should be a constant in our life, but it is during these times when our faith is tested. Is my faith strong enough that it can endure a long term illness, a broken relationship, or a death? Is my faith strong enough to endure any hardship that I may encounter in my life?
Just as I need to stop and put gas in my car to keep it moving so I can reach my destination, our faith must also be refueled. In other words, we must read our bibles, pray and even lift our hearts in worship to our Heavenly Father. These thing are what refuels our faith because if we don't, we will begin to lose our faith. It will begin to fade until suddenly, we stop having faith.
We were never promised that our life would be easy, but we are promised that God will see us through our hard times. But we must have faith in God, a faith that will allow us to believe God will supply all our needs, not according to our will, but His perfect will. We may never know what impact our display of faith will have on someone who sees us. What does your faith look like? Is it strong enough to sustain you through your hardships?
2 Chronicles 20:20-21
Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful."
NIV
Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.'"
NIV
Matthew 17:20
I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. "
NIV
Acts 14:22
strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,"
NIV
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you
NIV
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Worship in spirit and truth!
John 4:19-24
"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
NIV
Last week I had to teach Sunday School. Our lesson was about the Woman at the well. I am very familiar with this story, but there was a few verses that really stood out in my mind as I studied. The passages was John 4:19:24. The woman questions Jesus as to where the right place is to worship God, on the mountain where the Samaritans have worshiped for years, or in Jerusalem where the Jews worship God. Jesus tells her that it didn't matter where you worship what matters is that the true worshipers will worship in spirit and Truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in Truth.
I began to wonder what it looked like to worship in spirit and truth. Am I a true worshiper or am I just doing what I am suppose to do? How far off am I from being a true worshiper? As I asked myself these questions, I prayed and asked God to show me what does this look like and what do I need to do to change. < Always be prepared when you ask questions like this....>
Sunday morning came quickly and I was to get a full dose of "worshipping in spirit and truth." That Sunday at church, I did something that I never dreamed of doing, stopping and praying over someone who was in need of prayer. I prayed with 3 ladies that day. I sang with confidence that Sunday (I am in the choir/praise team). To my surprise the sermon was from Mark chapter 7. Our worship needs to come from our hearts and not our lips. We need to let go of our traditions. The things we do all the time. The things we do without hardly thinking about it. We cannot worship God from our hearts if we are holding on to traditions. Traditions never change. They are constant. When we worship from our hearts, we are free to worship in the way that the Holy Spirit leads us. A way that will be honoring to God and only God! A way that will not draw attention to ourselves but that will draw other's attention towards God.
So, back to my questions: Do I worship in spirit and truth. The sad thing is, not really. I am holding on to my fears. I am hold on to some traditions. I am reminded that if I want to be a true worshipper, I will need to set aside all my fears. I will need to not concentrate on what others will think of me. I need to let go! I need to allow the Spirit to move. I need to allow the Spirit to flow freely though me and to put my focus on God.
Just a note, Sunday is not the only day we can worship God. It should be a daily thing. It may not always come in the form of a song either, but though our prayers; through our service and though our quite time.
Synonyms for worship: honor, adoration, revere, adore, glorify, adulate (excessive devotion).
"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
NIV
Last week I had to teach Sunday School. Our lesson was about the Woman at the well. I am very familiar with this story, but there was a few verses that really stood out in my mind as I studied. The passages was John 4:19:24. The woman questions Jesus as to where the right place is to worship God, on the mountain where the Samaritans have worshiped for years, or in Jerusalem where the Jews worship God. Jesus tells her that it didn't matter where you worship what matters is that the true worshipers will worship in spirit and Truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in Truth.
I began to wonder what it looked like to worship in spirit and truth. Am I a true worshiper or am I just doing what I am suppose to do? How far off am I from being a true worshiper? As I asked myself these questions, I prayed and asked God to show me what does this look like and what do I need to do to change. < Always be prepared when you ask questions like this....>
Sunday morning came quickly and I was to get a full dose of "worshipping in spirit and truth." That Sunday at church, I did something that I never dreamed of doing, stopping and praying over someone who was in need of prayer. I prayed with 3 ladies that day. I sang with confidence that Sunday (I am in the choir/praise team). To my surprise the sermon was from Mark chapter 7. Our worship needs to come from our hearts and not our lips. We need to let go of our traditions. The things we do all the time. The things we do without hardly thinking about it. We cannot worship God from our hearts if we are holding on to traditions. Traditions never change. They are constant. When we worship from our hearts, we are free to worship in the way that the Holy Spirit leads us. A way that will be honoring to God and only God! A way that will not draw attention to ourselves but that will draw other's attention towards God.
So, back to my questions: Do I worship in spirit and truth. The sad thing is, not really. I am holding on to my fears. I am hold on to some traditions. I am reminded that if I want to be a true worshipper, I will need to set aside all my fears. I will need to not concentrate on what others will think of me. I need to let go! I need to allow the Spirit to move. I need to allow the Spirit to flow freely though me and to put my focus on God.
Just a note, Sunday is not the only day we can worship God. It should be a daily thing. It may not always come in the form of a song either, but though our prayers; through our service and though our quite time.
Synonyms for worship: honor, adoration, revere, adore, glorify, adulate (excessive devotion).
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
"If anyone serves Me he must follow Me..."
John 12:24-26
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26 "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. NASU
When I was a child I played a popular game of "Follow the Leader." I am sure all of you have played this same game and are familiar with the rules. The leader of this game could go wherever they wished and do whatever they want to do. For example, the leader could walk zig zag, backwards or even jump. The leader could choose to walk waving their arms in the air, whistle or even hop one one foot. Whatever it was they did, the followers would have to do the same thing. We never questioned the leader we just did it and laughed out loud knowing that our turn to be leader was coming soon!
As children of God we are called to Follow Jesus. In the Gospel's of the Bible Jesus says to "Follow Me" at least 20 different times. Out of curiosity, I looked up the word "Follow." The Greek word is Akolouqeo which means to follow one who proceeds; accompany him; to join one as a disciple.
There are 3 different aspects of the word follow. My first initial thought of this word, is that it reminds me of the game, and that we are to simply follow the Leader. The leader being Jesus. If Jesus goes, we are to go. If Jesus stops, we are to stop. If Jesus walks through the fire than we are to walk through the fire.
We are to follow Jesus wherever He leads us exactly the way we played the game as children. Following Jesus is not always easy because many times we are lead into areas that are outside our comfort zone. As humans, we would prefer to stay where we are most comfortable. Although the Lord can use us within our comfort zones, the greater blessings come when we follow Jesus outside that zone of comfort. This is where part two of the word follow comes into play.
To follow: To join one as a disciple. Well, I had to then look up the word disciple. The
Greek word is Mathetes which means learner. According to dictionary. com, a disciple is one who is a pupil or one who adheres to the doctrine of another; follower. If we are truly following Christ, then we are just not going through the motions, but we are also learning as we go. Following the doctrine of Christ....well, that is simple the Bible. The Bible is God's inspired words (2 Timothy 3:16) The Bible is our Road Map, our directions, our encouragement and our example from the greatest Leader of all, God himself. Without this valuable tool, following Jesus would be almost impossible.
I have heard both my dad and husband talk about there experiences in the military. They have shared a training exercise that they had to do. They were given a map of coordinates and then dropped in the middle of nowhere. The goal was to find their way back to base by using the map. Imagine what would happen if they had left their map at home...When we do not use the Bible as our map, we would be lost in the world of the unfamiliar which is outside the walls of our comfort zone.
The third aspect of the word follow comes from the verb form of the word disciple. A verb is an action word. The action word for disciple is to teach or train. We are instructed to teach others to become disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
As a mother, I have passed on my childhood and teenage experiences with my children to either encourage them or to warn them of possible dangers; and to keep them safe and out of trouble. We are to share our experiences with other brothers and sisters in Christ. To share our experiences of following Jesus outside our comfort zones. Sharing our experiences can either encourage Christan Believers or warn them in hopes that they will be kept from harm and dangers. We are to also teach others to use the Road Map, the Bible so that they may learn to follow Jesus on their own paths that will lead them outside their comfort zones.
To sum all this up: Jesus wants us to follow Him. He has the plan and the Bible is our road map. Jesus wants us to follow Him even if it requires us to go outside our comfort zone. Just was we followed the leader in our childhood game, no questions asked, that is the same way we ought to follow Christ. We ought to be learning all we can about what it means to follow Christ and what His road map is telling us. In return, we should share with others all that we have learned as we walk as disciples following Jesus outside the realms of our comfort zone.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26 "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. NASU
When I was a child I played a popular game of "Follow the Leader." I am sure all of you have played this same game and are familiar with the rules. The leader of this game could go wherever they wished and do whatever they want to do. For example, the leader could walk zig zag, backwards or even jump. The leader could choose to walk waving their arms in the air, whistle or even hop one one foot. Whatever it was they did, the followers would have to do the same thing. We never questioned the leader we just did it and laughed out loud knowing that our turn to be leader was coming soon!
As children of God we are called to Follow Jesus. In the Gospel's of the Bible Jesus says to "Follow Me" at least 20 different times. Out of curiosity, I looked up the word "Follow." The Greek word is Akolouqeo which means to follow one who proceeds; accompany him; to join one as a disciple.
There are 3 different aspects of the word follow. My first initial thought of this word, is that it reminds me of the game, and that we are to simply follow the Leader. The leader being Jesus. If Jesus goes, we are to go. If Jesus stops, we are to stop. If Jesus walks through the fire than we are to walk through the fire.
We are to follow Jesus wherever He leads us exactly the way we played the game as children. Following Jesus is not always easy because many times we are lead into areas that are outside our comfort zone. As humans, we would prefer to stay where we are most comfortable. Although the Lord can use us within our comfort zones, the greater blessings come when we follow Jesus outside that zone of comfort. This is where part two of the word follow comes into play.
To follow: To join one as a disciple. Well, I had to then look up the word disciple. The
Greek word is Mathetes which means learner. According to dictionary. com, a disciple is one who is a pupil or one who adheres to the doctrine of another; follower. If we are truly following Christ, then we are just not going through the motions, but we are also learning as we go. Following the doctrine of Christ....well, that is simple the Bible. The Bible is God's inspired words (2 Timothy 3:16) The Bible is our Road Map, our directions, our encouragement and our example from the greatest Leader of all, God himself. Without this valuable tool, following Jesus would be almost impossible.
I have heard both my dad and husband talk about there experiences in the military. They have shared a training exercise that they had to do. They were given a map of coordinates and then dropped in the middle of nowhere. The goal was to find their way back to base by using the map. Imagine what would happen if they had left their map at home...When we do not use the Bible as our map, we would be lost in the world of the unfamiliar which is outside the walls of our comfort zone.
The third aspect of the word follow comes from the verb form of the word disciple. A verb is an action word. The action word for disciple is to teach or train. We are instructed to teach others to become disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
As a mother, I have passed on my childhood and teenage experiences with my children to either encourage them or to warn them of possible dangers; and to keep them safe and out of trouble. We are to share our experiences with other brothers and sisters in Christ. To share our experiences of following Jesus outside our comfort zones. Sharing our experiences can either encourage Christan Believers or warn them in hopes that they will be kept from harm and dangers. We are to also teach others to use the Road Map, the Bible so that they may learn to follow Jesus on their own paths that will lead them outside their comfort zones.
To sum all this up: Jesus wants us to follow Him. He has the plan and the Bible is our road map. Jesus wants us to follow Him even if it requires us to go outside our comfort zone. Just was we followed the leader in our childhood game, no questions asked, that is the same way we ought to follow Christ. We ought to be learning all we can about what it means to follow Christ and what His road map is telling us. In return, we should share with others all that we have learned as we walk as disciples following Jesus outside the realms of our comfort zone.
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