God's Suddenlies...

Read Exodus 3:1-5, John 4:1-30, Acts 3:1-8 Three familiar old stories, Moses and the burning bush, the woman at the well, and the blind man at the gate called beautiful. Familiar scripture with powerful truths hidden in them that we miss because we tend to read through them so fast because they are familiar.
Was Moses thinking on that day, take my father-in-laws flock to the back side of the desert, again. Perhaps the woman at the well was thinking, get my waterpot, go to the well, draw water, same old, same old. Maybe the blind man was thinking, hope I can beg enough to get some bread today, nothing ever changes. Our lives are not much different today. We do the same mundane things day after day. We get in a routine and tend to think, same old, same old, nothing ever changes. What these three didn't know, on those particular days, it wasn't going to be the same old dull day. Suddenly and unexpectedly, as they were going through their same old routine, the Lord shows up and their whole lives were changed.
That's what makes Jesus so exciting. You never know when, where, or how Jesus will show up and your whole life be changed. Today may be that day for you as you are going about your same old dull routine. Today just may be the day you get that long awaited answer to prayer or some other unexpected blessing.

Daily Bread

To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge, to find the will of God is the greatest discovery, and to do the will of God is the greatest achievement.


If any man serve me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour. -John 12:26

Root of Bitterness - Hebrews 12:15

This is one of the best explanations for Hebrews 12:15 that I have found.

What are bitter roots, or bitter root judgements?* They are our sinful reactions to circumstances that occur in our lives.* They are condemning judgements of other people.* They are the inability or refusal to forgive someone.* They are the operations of the unchangeable Laws of God, which cause us to reap in kind what we have sown.
Bitter roots are not:* Hurtful or terrible things that happen to us, nor are they the sins of those who have wronged us. They are OUR sinful responses to those things that have happened to us, planted deeply within us due to our refusal or inability to forgive.
We all have a past that God wants us to acknowledge, understand and responded to in a Biblical manner. Our response determines our happiness, hope and harmony. There are many wounded people walking the streets of our city. They have never been healed from the wounds of their past. Yesterday's hurts affect how we respond to people today.I have become aware that the health of our relationship with God is linked to our earthly relationships. That's why Jesus said, "Don't come and worship me if you have something against your friend. Patch the relationship and then bring your gift to the altar." (Matt. 5:24)Every adult has an incredible story to tell about the things that shaped their lives. The most instructive part of that story is how you are integrating the reality of the past with the cold hard facts of the present. If your stories were told with clarity and candour they would be powerful messages motivating positive change in others. Forgiveness sets you free from the bondage of the negative emotions. It does not set the person who hurt you free. Every one will answer to God for their sins. God is just and fair, and every evil act will be answered for.

Does this describe you?...

Psalm 109:22 - For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

That described me and unfortunately it describes the majority of the people walking the earth today. We are a needy bunch and our hearts are wounded from various things that went on in our past. For me I have just recently found out that a lot of things going on inside of my spirit is a result of a bitter spirit I had toward my mother. It was there all of my life, I just didn't or I should say refused to recognize it. Looking back I knew it was there, I just stuffed it away somewhere in the recesses of my spirit. I can also say "had" against my mother because I have completely forgiven her. For others it may not have been an abusive or neglectful parent, it could have been any number of things, from a sibling, a school teacher, a spouse, a friend, a boss, many things can leave us bitter and resentful. Some people are angry at God. Angry because of their "lot" in life. They're angry at things God let happen, etc. They won't admit it, but it's true. Instead of denying we need to confront the thing that is causing us the problem. If it is God you are angry at, tell Him. He can take it, He knows it anyway. First we have to admit we have a problem. I compare it to the alcoholic or drug addict that denies they even have a problem. That was me, I always knew something wasn't quite right, but never would come to terms with it.The next thing, and it is the biggest thing, is forgiveness. You HAVE to forgive, regardless of the wrong done to you. You have to make the choice to forgive just as Christ has forgiven you. It is not a feeling, it is a decision you make. My mother passed away 10 yrs ago, so I couldn't go to her personally and forgive her. Instead, I bought flowers and took them to her grave, and there I made peace with my mother. It was really odd to me because while my mother was living angd going thru cancer I grieved for her. I cried over her illness and her suffering. After she passed away, it was as if I had no emotion. I never understood it. I didn't cry at her funeral, never visited her grave. It was all very strange. Now that the Lord has opened my eyes to some things that was previously hidden to me, it all makes perfect sense. Your heart is a deceitful place the Bible says. No one can understand their own heart, much less be able to judge someone else's heart.Are you the needy person the above verse speaks about? Are you looking to any number of things to fill that need? Christ alone can heal your broken heart. That wound that is on your heart for whatever reason, let Jesus heal you from the inside out. It will take a deep look inside your soul. Ask God to reveal to you anyone you may be bitter toward, and and make the choice to forgive that person. Get rid of the bitterness and resentment and find a new freedom you didn't know was possible.

Recommended reading - "Total Forgiveness" by R.T. Kendall. Also a book by Dr. Larry Crab titled "Inside Out."

My Emotional Healing.... Pt 1

The Lord has really been showing me some things in my life that were previously hidden to me. Since my son Abram has been on his death bed God has been speaking to me more and healing me more than ever in my christian walk. It is as if part of me is dying (Abe) yet another part of me is coming to newness of life.The Lord has revealed to me about a bitter and resentful spirit against my mother I had no idea I had. My mother was always my very best friend, we had a good relationship, she lived with me when she passed away from cancer. When my mother died it was as if I had no emotion, I didn't cry at her funeral. She has been dead 10 yrs, and in those years I have not visited her grave, didn't take flowers at Mother's Day, etc. I always wondered why. My family was in complete shock that I was not devastated over her death, because we were so close. I was shocked as well. Never knew why I had these feelings until recently. I was praying about that, asking God why I reacted that way, why I had no desire to visit her grave, why I didn't cry, etc. I never told anyone that, but it was something that has bothered me over the years. I listened to Charles Stanley speak about bitterness and unforgivness, I have been studying about bitter roots, etc. I googled the word bitterness and unforgiveness and it blew me away what I was led to. It read:Who in your life should be important, but to whom you are totally indifferent? The opposite of love is not hate; it's indifference. If you are completely emotionally detached from a parent, you probably have not forgiven them, and your indifference is a sign of that.I loved my mother VERY much all of my life, so how could I be bitter? After my parents divorce when I was just 11 yrs old I had no discipline in my life. My brother and sister and myself, raised ourselves. My parents were married for 25 yrs, it was fighting, yelling, no peace for even one day in our household. After the divorce my mother went down the wrong road, drinking, staying out, leaving me home alone. I was the baby, my older brother and sister were out doing their thing. How does a child grow that is left to themself? Smoking, Drugs, Sex, you name it. Yep, all alone, and the devil was right there to accomodate me. I was 17 yrs old when Abe was born. I am thankful I was saved at 24yrs old and all of that is gone. But the scars of that wasn't gone. I never dealt with it, I "stuffed" it I guess you could say. That "root" of rejection and bitterness was planted in me at an early age, being left to myself. With all of that I had no idea I was bitter at my mom for it. I had no idea in the recesses of my spirit I blamed my mother for Abe. I always loved my mom very much, so how could I be bitter? You can, as I am finding out. The Lord is revealing more and more to me everyday. It hasn't come around full circle yet, and I am sure it won't be easy or quick, but I have a new life of freedom now. I can talk about things I have never told anyone. I was sharing with my friend Laurie at church this morning, and it is amazing to me that I can do that now. I never could before. If someone would have told me I was bitter against my mother I would have told them they were crazy. I am puzzled why all of this revelation while Abe is laying on his death bed. I am sure God has a reason I don't know or understand. His ways are past finding out. I am thankful for it though, it is changing me and I desperately need that. We all do. You just have to let go and let God do His thing as they say.Psalm 19:12 - Who can understand his errors? cleanse Thou me from secret faults.

Word of Wisdom

I don't know why I am blogging this, maybe it will help someone. Many years ago a Sunday School teacher of mine was teaching about enemies and forgiveness. He said think of 5 people that you don't like for whatever reason. It may be someone who wronged you in some way, or hurt you deeply, someone you don't like their personality. It may be someone you have held a grudge against for years, you are jealous of, or you just don't like them and don't know why. Now write those 5 names on a piece of paper and fold it up and keep it with you. Everyday call their names out in prayer and next Sunday I want to know if you feel differently about the people whose names you wrote down. I did that little exercise and it worked. You can't hold a grudge, or dislike someone you pray for regularly, it is impossible. Try it. I don't care if it is your most bitter enemy. Pray daily for God to bless them and see how differently you feel about them after just one week.

Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Luke 6:27,28

Contentment pt2

If you are like the average American, you own twice as much stuff as your parents did. You probably earn more money than your mother could. You are surrounded by luxuries. You eat out three times more often, own more cars, and travel more. You possess more rights and freedoms as a woman. But do you experience contentment, that is, the sense that "I have everything I need?" Or are you constantly looking to the future thinking, "If I can just do this or have that, I'll be happy?"
All kinds of pressures keep you from being content-because you don't possess this thing or you don't look like that person or you lack a certain ability. Refusing to dwell on comparison, developing a generous spirit toward the attributes of others, provides greed controls. Otherwise, you'll only tolerate what you have until you get more.
J Burroughs said, Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.
CONTENTMENT - Do you have it?