God is so amazing! The very thing we run from, hide from is that which sets us free. Tonight my small group had a night of confession. We each took a few minutes in prayer before the Lord, asking Him to point out to us areas of sin in our lives. Then we each confessed one sin to the group. After the individual was done with their confession, she prayed to the Lord and another woman prayed for her. We went around the group in this way until everyone had two chances to confess.
The Lord says in His word, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16 God was so faithful tonight to show us the fruit of acting on His word. Each woman was healed tonight from guilt and shame. Each woman was made clean and was given a lighter load, one filled with hope.
"Praise the Lord! How blessed am I who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments." Psalm 112
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
March 1st
I can't wait for March first!! We have a decorator/staging person coming over to help us get our house ready to sell. She will help us with color choices for the walls and floors, furniture and decor placement and I'm sure much more. We've already gotten quotes for painters and kitchen counter tops. Hopefully we can get the house on the market in April or May, then it is up to God to decide when the house will sell.
Please pray that I will be a grace filled, joyful "lady in waiting" as I wait on the Lord to sell our home.
Please pray that I will be a grace filled, joyful "lady in waiting" as I wait on the Lord to sell our home.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
From the Inside Out
God is working on me from the inside out and this blog is a way for me to share with you what God is doing in my life as well as other misc details and thoughts that I choose to share.
God's work on me is exciting, frustrating and scary. Exciting because I do not want to stay the same. I want to be more like Christ! I want to have a gentle spirit, joy that makes people look twice and wonder, peace beyond my understanding while in the midst of trials and a love for people that I both love and find hard to love. How exciting that Jesus wants to help me accomplish these changes. How merciful that God has already sent the Holy Spirit in me to be my guide, my coach, my personal "spiritual" trainer.
Change however is frustrating and scary. Who really wants to work hard? And when I work hard I want results and change NOW not months or years from now. Who wants to put themselves last while placing God and His will first? What if I don't like God's will or His plans? Who will be my make sure that I don't get taken for granted if I'm not advocating for 'my rights'? Am I guaranteed change for my hard work? And, why, O WHY, do I keep doing the same damaging things over and over and over and over again. "I really want to change, please help me God, make it fast and permanent and painless!"
Ha!!! God is not gonna let that happen, He loves me too much to let me get out from under my sinful habits so easily. If He were to change me quickly and without pain, hard work, prayer, or tears then I would boast in my own ability to change, I would deny God His glory and honor. I would become prideful and judgmental.
Lately God has been speaking to me about my mind. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he..." Or as I have recently adapted it, "For as Cris thinks in her heart, so she is." Did you know that I find it very hard to find any sort of joy in my life? I do and I have been this way for years. My mind is constantly full of negative, joy and hope stealing thoughts. I have been thinking things like, "I might as well not hope for good because then I won't be disappointed when it doesn't come." My thoughts have been negative and thus so has my life.
I've been cultivating a negative life, reaping one and then turning around and blaming God or others for it. I have felt trapped with no where to go and then prone to depression spurred on by feelings of hopelessness. I have been experiencing Matthew 8:13 where Jesus says that it will be done to us as we have believed.
So now what? Now I practice being positive in each situation even if whatever is taking place is not so good. And, THEN I prayerfully expect God to bring good out of whatever is happening. I choose to believe that God is earnestly waiting to be gracious to me, to extend me mercy and loving-kindness. I choose to believe that God is looking for people who are waiting on Him, longing for His victory, favor, love, peace and joy so that He may give it to them (Isaiah 30:18).
Father God, I choose to believe that you are with me, that you are cheering me on as I earnestly choose to change my mind, taking captive the negative thoughts that steal my joy and peace. I believe Lord that You are with me and that although the road will be long and my negative thoughts may at times seem to overtake me, You promise that I will not be overwhelmed (Isaiah 43:2). Prompt the Spirit, Father to convict me of each time that I begin to think negatively and show me the way out, the right way to think. ~Amen
God's work on me is exciting, frustrating and scary. Exciting because I do not want to stay the same. I want to be more like Christ! I want to have a gentle spirit, joy that makes people look twice and wonder, peace beyond my understanding while in the midst of trials and a love for people that I both love and find hard to love. How exciting that Jesus wants to help me accomplish these changes. How merciful that God has already sent the Holy Spirit in me to be my guide, my coach, my personal "spiritual" trainer.
Change however is frustrating and scary. Who really wants to work hard? And when I work hard I want results and change NOW not months or years from now. Who wants to put themselves last while placing God and His will first? What if I don't like God's will or His plans? Who will be my make sure that I don't get taken for granted if I'm not advocating for 'my rights'? Am I guaranteed change for my hard work? And, why, O WHY, do I keep doing the same damaging things over and over and over and over again. "I really want to change, please help me God, make it fast and permanent and painless!"
Ha!!! God is not gonna let that happen, He loves me too much to let me get out from under my sinful habits so easily. If He were to change me quickly and without pain, hard work, prayer, or tears then I would boast in my own ability to change, I would deny God His glory and honor. I would become prideful and judgmental.
Lately God has been speaking to me about my mind. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he..." Or as I have recently adapted it, "For as Cris thinks in her heart, so she is." Did you know that I find it very hard to find any sort of joy in my life? I do and I have been this way for years. My mind is constantly full of negative, joy and hope stealing thoughts. I have been thinking things like, "I might as well not hope for good because then I won't be disappointed when it doesn't come." My thoughts have been negative and thus so has my life.
I've been cultivating a negative life, reaping one and then turning around and blaming God or others for it. I have felt trapped with no where to go and then prone to depression spurred on by feelings of hopelessness. I have been experiencing Matthew 8:13 where Jesus says that it will be done to us as we have believed.
So now what? Now I practice being positive in each situation even if whatever is taking place is not so good. And, THEN I prayerfully expect God to bring good out of whatever is happening. I choose to believe that God is earnestly waiting to be gracious to me, to extend me mercy and loving-kindness. I choose to believe that God is looking for people who are waiting on Him, longing for His victory, favor, love, peace and joy so that He may give it to them (Isaiah 30:18).
Father God, I choose to believe that you are with me, that you are cheering me on as I earnestly choose to change my mind, taking captive the negative thoughts that steal my joy and peace. I believe Lord that You are with me and that although the road will be long and my negative thoughts may at times seem to overtake me, You promise that I will not be overwhelmed (Isaiah 43:2). Prompt the Spirit, Father to convict me of each time that I begin to think negatively and show me the way out, the right way to think. ~Amen
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Heavy heart
2/9/2008
This week and last I have found my heart heavy and my emotions raw. Tears have been my companion lately. Here is what my heart has been laden with:
My good friend's 2 year old had surgery, not life threatening, but life has been hard for her. Sleepless nights comforting her little one who doesn't understand the pain he is in. When praying for her son with Isaac I had to bite my lip to keep from sobbing. A flood of emotions came bubbling up unexpectedly.
Another good friend is organizing a writing campaign to send encouraging notes to Christians who are persecuted for loving our Lord. When I sat down to write the note, I was so overwhelmed by the pictures in my mind of the persecuted ones, that the words would not come, but the tears welled up. "Give me words to speak, Lord".
I got word last week that a former pastor of mine had a stroke and is in a medically induced coma while the doctors treat him. He has 3 teenaged boys and a fantastic wife who love him and need him so much. There is never a good time to loose a spouse. While he is still alive and things are looking good, the extent of the damage caused by the stroke hasn't been determined yet, since the man is still in the coma. My heart breaks for the possible damage, and prays fervently for his healing and restored health.
My cousin-in-law just found out last week that she has multiple myeloma (cancer of the blood plasma) for which there is no cure, but there are treatments. She is a mother of 4, age 10 to 17.
O, God, my God. There is so much sadness in my heart. O, how I want heaven now. No more tears, no more pain, no more struggle. But you have me here now, for this time, for this moment, for this struggle. What now shall I do with it all? People will die, people will recover, brothers and sisters will be tormented for loving you, how do I make sense of it, without simply pushing it aside with a "O, God will attend to it, attitude?"
My good friend's 2 year old had surgery, not life threatening, but life has been hard for her. Sleepless nights comforting her little one who doesn't understand the pain he is in. When praying for her son with Isaac I had to bite my lip to keep from sobbing. A flood of emotions came bubbling up unexpectedly.
Another good friend is organizing a writing campaign to send encouraging notes to Christians who are persecuted for loving our Lord. When I sat down to write the note, I was so overwhelmed by the pictures in my mind of the persecuted ones, that the words would not come, but the tears welled up. "Give me words to speak, Lord".
I got word last week that a former pastor of mine had a stroke and is in a medically induced coma while the doctors treat him. He has 3 teenaged boys and a fantastic wife who love him and need him so much. There is never a good time to loose a spouse. While he is still alive and things are looking good, the extent of the damage caused by the stroke hasn't been determined yet, since the man is still in the coma. My heart breaks for the possible damage, and prays fervently for his healing and restored health.
My cousin-in-law just found out last week that she has multiple myeloma (cancer of the blood plasma) for which there is no cure, but there are treatments. She is a mother of 4, age 10 to 17.
O, God, my God. There is so much sadness in my heart. O, how I want heaven now. No more tears, no more pain, no more struggle. But you have me here now, for this time, for this moment, for this struggle. What now shall I do with it all? People will die, people will recover, brothers and sisters will be tormented for loving you, how do I make sense of it, without simply pushing it aside with a "O, God will attend to it, attitude?"
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