What does it mean to really live beyond yourself? Is it spiritual? Maybe physical? Maybe a little of both? As we dive into the meanings of living beyond yourself, realize that this is going to require an open mind and heart, to really get to the matter. It may even be painful for some. But also realize that it will be beneficial and healing and rewarding to know what it takes to live beyond yourself.
For the spiritual side of the things, and the most important, takes strength, understanding, knowledge and wisdom. God gave us a helper in order to obtain these things.
John 14:16 NAS Says [Role of the Spirit] "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
John 14:26 NAS also says "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
There are countless scriptures speaking of this Helper (The Holy Spirit). Not only has God given us this divine being, but He actually left us so that we could have The Holy Spirit here to help us.
John 16:7 NAS says "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
Now I don’t know about you, but isn’t that amazing how God knew what needed to be done so that each and every one of us could be helped in an instant, by calling on the power of the Holy Spirit? This is what God means by saying in the literal sense “I am everywhere”!
Not only did God send us this helper, but He also is allowing us to live in His Glory. We actually reap the benefits of the Holy Spirit. We gain the fruit of the Spirit. You know the Scriptures:
Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Wow! You mean we get to obtain love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control? This my friend is living beyond yourself, when you call on the Holy Spirit to guide you in all your ways.
Now as for the physical part, the healing, the forgiveness, the strength also needs to come from God. You might ask: What does she mean forgiveness as being physical? Well what I mean is, forgiveness is an actual “heart matter”…hence physical.
I remember going through divorce of my first marriage. I remembered the actual physical pain I endured during the process. It was like nothing I felt before. But the healing began once I learned to forgive. Not only with forgiving myself, but my ex husband as well.
But before that happened, the unforgiveness took its physical toll on my body. I lost weight, my bones ached and my heart ached. I don’t know the exact science as to why this happens, but I know the spiritual toll it takes when I harbor unforgiveness in my heart.
This all routes back to the spiritual part of living beyond yourself. We must remind ourselves, or even ask the prompting of the Holy Spirit, that we need to simply fall on our knees and lift up “all” our prayers and cares to Him.
1 Peter 5:6-7 NLT Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Once we do this, we can only become stronger.
Philippians 4:13 says: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father in Heaven, I thank You for allowing us to be a part of Your Kingdom. Thank you for strengthening us to live beyond ourselves through Your Holy Spirit. Help us to remember that we just simply need to call upon You and we receive the power of the Holy Spirit and are able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. You God are an awesome God, let us not forget that! In Jesus’ Holy Name we pray, Amen
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Show Me the Right Path
Psalms 25:4-5
Show Me the right path, O Lord;
Point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God Who saves me
All day Long I put my hope in You.
Finally my own computer so that I can continue on the journey. I’m glad as it is that He has allowed me to go this far and feel the light literally penetrate as I pray and write and struggle through the process of self sacrifice in order for it to be His glory and not mine.
George and I have considered what this could mean if I follow what God wants me to do. In reality I should just be doing it. I know that just by doing it, my family and I will be blessed beyond what we ever expected. But as I am only human I tend to struggle with just letting go and putting my full trust in God.
So what happens when we do just let go?
I have learned along the way that my way is really never the right way! Yes I may have my “good” intentions, but until I consult with God first I will not know if my “good” intentions are really all that good!
My point is, when I trust God and really let go, through prayer, I am consistently blessed. When I hang on, I only block whatever blessings God has in mind for me.
That seems to make it a bit easier doesn’t it? Knowing that when we trust in the Lord, His blessings come to us directly. When we don’t trust in the Lord, we block it and it takes a detour so to speak until we do let go and become obedient to Christ.
This includes all areas of life. In marriage, parenting, health, finances, even the small things. It says in Eph.6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Always be thinking about what God would have you do in all areas of your life at all times. I know, I know. Easier said than done. But God knows this, that’s why He gave us the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to prompt you whenever there is a situation that needs a decision that must be made, and He will prompt you. But we must ask.
John16:23-24 says:
you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
So the next time we have a decision that needs to be made, lets prepare ourselves beforehand.
Let’s pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you that I may come before you with anything that is in my heart. I ask now that the Holy Spirit will prompt me when I need to pray concerning any decisions that may need to be made. I pray that I bring all of my requests to you and help me know which the right ones are. I know You only have good things for me and so I ask now that when I am struggling to kjust let go that You Lord God will remind me, that You only want to enable to do Your will. In all these things I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Show Me the right path, O Lord;
Point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God Who saves me
All day Long I put my hope in You.
Finally my own computer so that I can continue on the journey. I’m glad as it is that He has allowed me to go this far and feel the light literally penetrate as I pray and write and struggle through the process of self sacrifice in order for it to be His glory and not mine.
George and I have considered what this could mean if I follow what God wants me to do. In reality I should just be doing it. I know that just by doing it, my family and I will be blessed beyond what we ever expected. But as I am only human I tend to struggle with just letting go and putting my full trust in God.
So what happens when we do just let go?
I have learned along the way that my way is really never the right way! Yes I may have my “good” intentions, but until I consult with God first I will not know if my “good” intentions are really all that good!
My point is, when I trust God and really let go, through prayer, I am consistently blessed. When I hang on, I only block whatever blessings God has in mind for me.
That seems to make it a bit easier doesn’t it? Knowing that when we trust in the Lord, His blessings come to us directly. When we don’t trust in the Lord, we block it and it takes a detour so to speak until we do let go and become obedient to Christ.
This includes all areas of life. In marriage, parenting, health, finances, even the small things. It says in Eph.6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Always be thinking about what God would have you do in all areas of your life at all times. I know, I know. Easier said than done. But God knows this, that’s why He gave us the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to prompt you whenever there is a situation that needs a decision that must be made, and He will prompt you. But we must ask.
John16:23-24 says:
you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
So the next time we have a decision that needs to be made, lets prepare ourselves beforehand.
Let’s pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you that I may come before you with anything that is in my heart. I ask now that the Holy Spirit will prompt me when I need to pray concerning any decisions that may need to be made. I pray that I bring all of my requests to you and help me know which the right ones are. I know You only have good things for me and so I ask now that when I am struggling to kjust let go that You Lord God will remind me, that You only want to enable to do Your will. In all these things I pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Words We Speak
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
Proverbs 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
As I considered what to write, I thought I would write something profound, but I could not find the words. So, I prayed and asked God to give me even a slightest idea as to what He wants me to understand concerning these verses. I then began to consider prayer and wondered where this fit into the scheme of things.
The only thing I could come up with was not a profound essay, but a humbling prayer instead as this is something that should always be done when a disagreement arises. So here goes:
Dear Heavenly Father,
As I seek You today, I ask that You give me the words to speak, that will be like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. Not words that will only cause greater misunderstanding and anger but soft ones that turn away wrath. I ask the Holy Spirit to press upon my heart to remind me to look towards You in the midst of any argument, so that I can speak the truth in love and not hate. I ask You Lord God, to forgive me for the times that I have not looked to You first. I thank You that I can come to You and ask for Your guidance in all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
Proverbs 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
As I considered what to write, I thought I would write something profound, but I could not find the words. So, I prayed and asked God to give me even a slightest idea as to what He wants me to understand concerning these verses. I then began to consider prayer and wondered where this fit into the scheme of things.
The only thing I could come up with was not a profound essay, but a humbling prayer instead as this is something that should always be done when a disagreement arises. So here goes:
Dear Heavenly Father,
As I seek You today, I ask that You give me the words to speak, that will be like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. Not words that will only cause greater misunderstanding and anger but soft ones that turn away wrath. I ask the Holy Spirit to press upon my heart to remind me to look towards You in the midst of any argument, so that I can speak the truth in love and not hate. I ask You Lord God, to forgive me for the times that I have not looked to You first. I thank You that I can come to You and ask for Your guidance in all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Too Good to be True?
Once again its been a short period of time that I have written anything, but I really have to all0w God to lead me before I do write anything. After all it is in His timing not mine. As I have been thinking about what I'm to write next, I thought how some things just seem to good to be true, as I'm sure that everyone thinks that from time to time.
How many times do I think this and then it actually be true? Not many I have to say, but when its from God, how can it not be true? God can only give good things, even ones we don't expect or even deserve.
Psalms 21:2-3
You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. "Selah" For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
This Psalm can paint one of the best pictures of who God is and who we are to Him and His plans for us. Does this sound to good to be true? Maybe to some, but it's only the best, because we are His sons and daughters, His princes and princesses.
Is it too good to be true when God leads you to do something so completely beyond yourself and it blesses you along the way because you were obedient?
Maybe you need to step back look around you and ask, God, is this too good to be true?
How many times do I think this and then it actually be true? Not many I have to say, but when its from God, how can it not be true? God can only give good things, even ones we don't expect or even deserve.
Psalms 21:2-3
You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. "Selah" For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
This Psalm can paint one of the best pictures of who God is and who we are to Him and His plans for us. Does this sound to good to be true? Maybe to some, but it's only the best, because we are His sons and daughters, His princes and princesses.
Is it too good to be true when God leads you to do something so completely beyond yourself and it blesses you along the way because you were obedient?
Maybe you need to step back look around you and ask, God, is this too good to be true?
Monday, October 5, 2009
“Beauty” It’s what is on the inside.
“Beauty” It’s what is on the inside.
Psalm 139:14
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
As you walk along look around you, tell me, what do you see? Do you see beauty? Or do you see man made things that are supposedly beautiful?
Let’s take a look into the bible and see what true beauty is.
My goal here is to break any misconception about what is and is not beautiful. If God created us in His image, how is this not beautiful? He says we are His sons and daughters. How is that not beautiful all on its own?
The answers never seem to come easily, because we tend to look at ourselves and see what we were told to see. Society has given us a guideline to what we are supposed to look like. I don’t think I have seen anyone that was actually that perfect. Even perfection is misconstrued. I think it’s the little differences that make us beautiful!
We are complex beings. We are flesh, bone, the very fiber of the earth. God created us from nothing more then dust, but when He created us, He said "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis 1:26
Let me point out that He said “Let us make man in Our Image.” Tell me, what do you imagine God looks like? To me He is beautiful, He is everything. He is what gives my life beauty, and substance. He is light.
When I put God into this perspective, as small as it is compared to who God really is, I know that He lives in me. His light shines through me. I am beautiful because of Him who created me. Sure I have little differences from everyone else, but that’s what God gave me. I am who I am. If He lives in me, isn’t that what counts. It’s what is on the inside that is beautiful, which in turn makes us beautiful princes and princesses of God’s kingdom.
So the next time you look around you, realize this. God lives in you, and shines through you. You were created in his image. You are exactly what God had in mind!
Psalm 139:14
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
As you walk along look around you, tell me, what do you see? Do you see beauty? Or do you see man made things that are supposedly beautiful?
Let’s take a look into the bible and see what true beauty is.
My goal here is to break any misconception about what is and is not beautiful. If God created us in His image, how is this not beautiful? He says we are His sons and daughters. How is that not beautiful all on its own?
The answers never seem to come easily, because we tend to look at ourselves and see what we were told to see. Society has given us a guideline to what we are supposed to look like. I don’t think I have seen anyone that was actually that perfect. Even perfection is misconstrued. I think it’s the little differences that make us beautiful!
We are complex beings. We are flesh, bone, the very fiber of the earth. God created us from nothing more then dust, but when He created us, He said "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis 1:26
Let me point out that He said “Let us make man in Our Image.” Tell me, what do you imagine God looks like? To me He is beautiful, He is everything. He is what gives my life beauty, and substance. He is light.
When I put God into this perspective, as small as it is compared to who God really is, I know that He lives in me. His light shines through me. I am beautiful because of Him who created me. Sure I have little differences from everyone else, but that’s what God gave me. I am who I am. If He lives in me, isn’t that what counts. It’s what is on the inside that is beautiful, which in turn makes us beautiful princes and princesses of God’s kingdom.
So the next time you look around you, realize this. God lives in you, and shines through you. You were created in his image. You are exactly what God had in mind!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Masks
Hello everyone, I decided to try something a little bit different this time around. It's from my heart and can be very personal for some! I hope you enjoy it! I always imagine myself being one of those poets that stand on a stage reading a poem with this deep passion and being understood! I dont think will ever happen! But this is what I came up with. Imgine your on stage reading this to an audience....that might help to understand it!
Masks
Do you wear a mask?
One that doesn’t quit let people in? One that covers up all your “real” feelings? One that says…”Yea, I’m ok!”, “Really I am, everything is fine, just fine!”
And then every once in awhile , you run into someone that can see right through your mask, so you turn and run home, take that blasted thing off and check it for cracks, and then you turn around and there you stand, in front of a mirror. As you quickly fumble around with your mask to put it back on, because you’re afraid to look deeper into your own eyes, the windows to your soul, because of what you might find there, lurking in the deep darkness you call the wreckage of your life. If you can’t handle what you find, what makes you think anyone else can?
Do you wear a mask?
One that should never really reveal all that you are, even the good is hidden from view. Do you wear a mask?
As you slowly realize you still need to fix the cracks, you remove it once more, and you have this overwhelming feeling to just turn around and really look to see what has been hidden for so long, and what and who should be standing there? You feel overcome with grief , as you thought you were pleasing everyone, yourself, even God.
Do you wear a mask?
As you stand there, revealed to yourself all that you are , you fall on your knees, and you ask why you needed this mask for so long? What good did it do? You ask God to forgive you for being so silly as to think you could hide all that was wrong from everyone, even yourself.
Do you wear a mask?
Jesus walks up to you and gathers you into His arms, and tells you He loves you , to trust Him and He will show you the way! You can hardly believe it, but you soon realize that’s all you needed to do to be pleasing…”Trust Him”!
Do you wear a mask?
Masks
Do you wear a mask?
One that doesn’t quit let people in? One that covers up all your “real” feelings? One that says…”Yea, I’m ok!”, “Really I am, everything is fine, just fine!”
And then every once in awhile , you run into someone that can see right through your mask, so you turn and run home, take that blasted thing off and check it for cracks, and then you turn around and there you stand, in front of a mirror. As you quickly fumble around with your mask to put it back on, because you’re afraid to look deeper into your own eyes, the windows to your soul, because of what you might find there, lurking in the deep darkness you call the wreckage of your life. If you can’t handle what you find, what makes you think anyone else can?
Do you wear a mask?
One that should never really reveal all that you are, even the good is hidden from view. Do you wear a mask?
As you slowly realize you still need to fix the cracks, you remove it once more, and you have this overwhelming feeling to just turn around and really look to see what has been hidden for so long, and what and who should be standing there? You feel overcome with grief , as you thought you were pleasing everyone, yourself, even God.
Do you wear a mask?
As you stand there, revealed to yourself all that you are , you fall on your knees, and you ask why you needed this mask for so long? What good did it do? You ask God to forgive you for being so silly as to think you could hide all that was wrong from everyone, even yourself.
Do you wear a mask?
Jesus walks up to you and gathers you into His arms, and tells you He loves you , to trust Him and He will show you the way! You can hardly believe it, but you soon realize that’s all you needed to do to be pleasing…”Trust Him”!
Do you wear a mask?
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
LOVE
My Vision is becoming a slow reality. God opened up a door that can not be closed. I see where He is working, and I can only promote it and say...Yes He is Good! Here is one of the writing assignments I have been working on in the past 2 months. I hope you enjoy!
Love
Did you know that the word Love appears in the bible 496 times? Do you think God is trying to say something here?
I think what God is saying is that loving one another is not optional! HM?... If it’s not optional, how do we apply this to our daily lives, this thing called love?
I have struggled with this for a long time? Yes it’s easy to love someone when they are loving, but when they are not so lovable, I ask myself….OK now what? Of course the verse John 3:16 immediately comes to mind.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
If God can love us that much, who’s to say that I can’t? And this is why:
( If you have your bibles, go ahead and turn to John 15:1-17 )
1."I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2.He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3.You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4.Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5."I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6.If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7.If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
8.This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9."As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10.If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
11.I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12.My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13.Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
14.You are my friends if you do what I command.
15.I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16.You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
17.This is my command: Love each other.
When I read this passage I know how important this thing called love is. Why it’s not a thing after all, it’s God! You see when we keep all of Gods commandments; we will abide in His love “in Him”. And if we abide in His love, this is true discipleship. When we remain in Christ Jesus, love abounds, if love abounds, it is a way for the world to know that we are Christ’s disciples.
Let’s pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share this devotional to these wonderful people of faith. I ask that You bless each and everyone of them according to Your riches in heaven. I ask that you continually show us how to love one another as you commanded us so that we will be a sweet perfume that draws people to You. Thank you Lord for loving us unconditionally and showing us Your ways. In Jesus’ precious Name. Amen
Love led Jesus to come to us. Love of Christ leads us to love others. And love leads us to minister.
Love
Did you know that the word Love appears in the bible 496 times? Do you think God is trying to say something here?
I think what God is saying is that loving one another is not optional! HM?... If it’s not optional, how do we apply this to our daily lives, this thing called love?
I have struggled with this for a long time? Yes it’s easy to love someone when they are loving, but when they are not so lovable, I ask myself….OK now what? Of course the verse John 3:16 immediately comes to mind.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
If God can love us that much, who’s to say that I can’t? And this is why:
( If you have your bibles, go ahead and turn to John 15:1-17 )
1."I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2.He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3.You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4.Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5."I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
6.If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7.If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
8.This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9."As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10.If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
11.I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12.My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13.Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
14.You are my friends if you do what I command.
15.I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16.You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
17.This is my command: Love each other.
When I read this passage I know how important this thing called love is. Why it’s not a thing after all, it’s God! You see when we keep all of Gods commandments; we will abide in His love “in Him”. And if we abide in His love, this is true discipleship. When we remain in Christ Jesus, love abounds, if love abounds, it is a way for the world to know that we are Christ’s disciples.
Let’s pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share this devotional to these wonderful people of faith. I ask that You bless each and everyone of them according to Your riches in heaven. I ask that you continually show us how to love one another as you commanded us so that we will be a sweet perfume that draws people to You. Thank you Lord for loving us unconditionally and showing us Your ways. In Jesus’ precious Name. Amen
Love led Jesus to come to us. Love of Christ leads us to love others. And love leads us to minister.
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