May you walk in Son shine and be encouraged through the trials of life as a wife, mother and woman of faith. May laughter fill your days, courage strengthen your soul and His love light your way. May God be ever present and invited into your journey. May I refresh your spirit and cause your heart to smile.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
What’s Your Poison?
“I’d never choose you for a friend”. Those were the words said to me by my mother at the height of her frustration with me when I was 17 years old. She was separated from my Dad by temporary circumstances, weary of carrying the emotional load for the family, probably very lonely and frustrated with a stubborn teen daughter. Well, those words got my attention. Rather similar to a hot two edged sword being driven clean through my heart. Stopped me dead in my tracks. “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me”? What a dim-witted little rhyme and completely false. My deeply wounded heart leaked for years. I quoted something Oz Hillman said a few months ago that works here too: “The battle you are in will soon become a meal for you, an experience that will nourish and build you up spiritually.” I might remove the word “soon” but it’s true!
Those words came on the heels of other painful experiences. I continually prayed and worked on the 5th commandment. It took me years to forgive the hurt my mother’s words caused – not until I was married and the mother of four children ranging from 3 to 11 years in age could I manage to do so. Oh, that’s not good. Do you know that’s not good? Un-forgiveness is pure poison to the heart of a person who won’t forgive. God has not qualified one sin as being more grievous to Him than another and He has not qualified one sin committed against us as warranting forgiveness and another not. I took that pain and vowed never to hurt my children with my words. Yep, yep, yep that’s what one can do on their own power – vow!
My children are grown now so did it work for me? With my heart filled with love and the best intentions can I tell you it did not work for me. I too did and said things that wounded my children through the years. You may have noticed life isn’t all you dreamed it to be. There are no perfect parents and there are no perfect children. What we do have is a whole lot of imperfect people roaming the land in need of a Savior.
Pearl to string: We will never know Christ's victory in its fullness until we stop reacting humanly to our circumstances. Pray that for yourself…… that your faith grows in that direction. It may take some time. When you truly have His authority over something you can look at that thing without worry, fear or intimidation. Your peace is the proof of your victory.
“Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure: genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of His victory.” ~ 1 Peter 1:7 MS
Is something poisoning your life? Forgiveness is the first step. It is a commandment and it frees you from a prison you locked yourself into – God gave you the key and it has been in your hand the whole time.
por amor de Su Nambre
(for love of His Name)
Lyndi
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Life In a Jar
Thank you Holly Phillips for bringing this story to my attention.
In Memory of
Irena Sendlerowa
1910-2008
Irena Sendler passed away on Monday May 12th, 2008 at 8:00 am CEST in Warsaw, Poland. A funeral service was held on Thursday, May 15th at noon CEST in Warsaw. Memorial services were held in numerous places around the world, including Fort Scott, KS.
The life of Irena Sendler was one of great testimony, one of courage and love, one of respect for all people, regardless of race, religion and creed. She passed away peacefully, knowing that her message goes on. Our hearts and prayers go out to her worldwide family. She is gone, but will never be forgotten. Born in Warsaw, Poland, she live most of her young life in Otwock. Irena Sendlerowa led the rescue of 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto and those hiding in the Warsaw area, during the Holocaust in World War II. She was recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Her legacy of repairing the world continues, as good continues to triumph over evil. Irena Sendlerowa was 98 years old.
The Irena Sendler Story of love explained.
http://www.irenasendler.org/team.asp
In Memory of
Irena Sendlerowa
1910-2008
Irena Sendler passed away on Monday May 12th, 2008 at 8:00 am CEST in Warsaw, Poland. A funeral service was held on Thursday, May 15th at noon CEST in Warsaw. Memorial services were held in numerous places around the world, including Fort Scott, KS.
The life of Irena Sendler was one of great testimony, one of courage and love, one of respect for all people, regardless of race, religion and creed. She passed away peacefully, knowing that her message goes on. Our hearts and prayers go out to her worldwide family. She is gone, but will never be forgotten. Born in Warsaw, Poland, she live most of her young life in Otwock. Irena Sendlerowa led the rescue of 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto and those hiding in the Warsaw area, during the Holocaust in World War II. She was recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Her legacy of repairing the world continues, as good continues to triumph over evil. Irena Sendlerowa was 98 years old.
The Irena Sendler Story of love explained.
http://www.irenasendler.org/team.asp
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
High Fructose Religion
We really do not need any more hidden sugar added to our faith. I’m not sure where it went amuck but there are way too many translations of God’s Word rolling off the lips of Christians today. It’s confusing and many times it leads people away from God rather than towards God. So how do you know? Scripture! It’s your litmus test to God’s heart. The Holy Spirit may indeed direct you, instruct you and tell you wonderful things you did not know but NEVER would the Holy Spirit contradict Scripture. Proverbs 30:5-6 tells us: Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
I can promise you if you let your heart guide you trouble will follow. A wise friend taught me: “just because you think something does not make it truth”. You can have a sweet heart, a caring soul, a generous spirit, a giving nature and miss the heart of God if you pick and choose the things from the Bible you like and ignore that which is not palatable. I heard the sweetest and most kind lady say one time, “Surely God didn’t mean that”. She was referring to Scripture that contradicted her thoughts on a specific subject. If you question God’s Word how can you trust God? What kind of faith is that? If you think God is wrong does that mean you know better?
There’s a story about a group of scientists that got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. They picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, “God, we’ve decided that we no longer need you. We’re to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don’t you just leave us be.” God listened patiently to the man and after the scientist was finished talking, God said, “Very well. How about this? Let’s have a man making contest.” The scientist, with great arrogance said, “That would be fine.” The Lord added, “Now, we are going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam.” The scientist said, “Sure, no problem,” then bent down and grabbed a handful of dirt. God said to the scientist, “No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!”
A pearl to string: The Word of God has been sugared up so we can sin and feel guiltless. We can justify instead of repent. We can customize religion to fit the sign of the times. Thomas Paine said in a speech given in late December of 1776, “These are the times that try men's souls”. Here it is 2009 and that quote works perfectly. I don’t claim to understand the entire Bible but God hasn’t changed. God is the same today as He was yesteryear and will be in the future. (Hebrews 13:8) The world my grandchildren live in today is immensely different than when I was their age. Mankind has taken us a great distance to excess and selfishness – not something I can trust in or believe in. I’m sticking to God’s Word and NOT man’s great achievements and direction.
"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths".
Proverbs 3:5-6 (Amplified Bible)
Wow, a little improvement in lung function and I’m off to the races. I’ve stowed my soapbox for the day. Know you are dearly loved,
Lyndi
Saturday, January 17, 2009
A picture of Grace
Photo from Gainsville State School member
"There are some games where cheering for the other side feels better than winning."
They played the oddest game in high school football history last month down in Grapevine, Texas.
It was Grapevine Faith vs. Gainesville State School and everything about it was upside down. For instance, when Gainesville came out to take the field, the Faith fans made a 40-yard spirit line for them to run through.
Did you hear that? The other team's fans?
They even made a banner for players to crash through at the end. It said, "Go Tornadoes!" Which is also weird, because Faith are the Lions.
It was really strange - like rivers running uphill and cats petting dogs. More than 200 Faith fans sat on the Gainesville side and kept cheering the Gainesville players on - by name.
"I never in my life thought I'd hear people cheering for us to hit their kids," recalls Gainesville's QB and middle linebacker, Isaiah. "I wouldn't expect another parent to tell somebody to hit their kids. But they wanted us to!"
And even though Faith walloped them 33-14, the Gainesville kids were so happy that after the game they gave head coach Mark Williams a sideline squirt-bottle shower like he'd just won state. Gotta be the first Gatorade bath in history for an 0-9 coach.
But then you saw the 12 uniformed officers escorting the 14 Gainesville players off the field and two and two started to make four. They lined the players up in groups of five - handcuffs ready in their back pockets - and marched them to the team bus. That's because Gainesville is a maximum-security correctional facility 75 miles north of Dallas. Every game it plays is on the road.
This all started when Faith's head coach, Kris Hogan, wanted to do something kind for the Gainesville team. Faith had never played Gainesville, but he already knew the score. After all, Faith was 7-2 going into the game, Gainesville 0-8 with 2 TDs all year. Faith has 70 kids, 11 coaches, the latest equipment and involved parents. Gainesville has a lot of kids with convictions for drugs, assault and robbery - many of whose families had disowned them - wearing seven-year-old shoulder pads and ancient helmets.
So Hogan had this idea. What if half of our fans - for one night only - cheered for the other team? He sent out an email asking the Faithful to do just that. "Here's the message I want you to send:" Hogan wrote. "You are just as valuable as any other person on planet Earth."
Some people were naturally confused. One Faith player walked into Hogan's office and asked, "Coach, why are we doing this?"
And Hogan said, "Imagine if you didn't have a home life. Imagine if everybody had pretty much given up on you. Now imagine what it would mean for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you."
Next thing you know, the Gainesville Tornadoes were turning around on their bench to see something they never had before. Hundreds of fans. And actual cheerleaders!
"I thought maybe they were confused," said Alex, a Gainesville lineman (only first names are released by the prison). "They started yelling 'DEE-fense!' when their team had the ball. I said, 'What? Why are they cheerin' for us?'"
It was a strange experience for boys who most people cross the street to avoid. "We can tell people are a little afraid of us when we come to the games," says Gerald, a lineman who will wind up doing more than three years. "You can see it in their eyes. They're lookin' at us like we're criminals. But these people, they were yellin' for us! By our names!"
Maybe it figures that Gainesville played better than it had all season, scoring the game's last two touchdowns. Of course, this might be because Hogan put his third-string nose guard at safety and his third-string cornerback at defensive end. Still...
After the game, both teams gathered in the middle of the field to pray and that's when Isaiah surprised everybody by asking to lead. "We had no idea what the kid was going to say," remembers Coach Hogan. But Isaiah said this: "Lord, I don't know how this happened, so I don't know how to say thank You, but I never would've known there was so many people in the world that cared about us."
And it was a good thing everybody's heads were bowed because they might've seen Hogan wiping away tears.
As the Tornadoes walked back to their bus under guard, they each were handed a bag for the ride home - a burger, some fries, a soda, some candy, a Bible and an encouraging letter from a Faith player.
The Gainesville coach saw Hogan, grabbed him hard by the shoulders and said, "You'll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You'll never, ever know."
And as the bus pulled away, all the Gainesville players crammed to one side and pressed their hands to the window, staring at these people they'd never met before, watching their waves and smiles disappearing into the night.
Anyway, with the economy six feet under and Christmas running on about three and a half reindeer, it's nice to know that one of the best presents you can give is still absolutely free.
HOPE
By Rick Reilly
Life of Reilly
Posted at ESPN: The Magazine
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3789373&type=story
Monday, January 12, 2009
I see toes
Suffering? Oh my goodness there is so much suffering going on in this world. Things that are so foreign to me I cannot even imagine the horror or the depth or breadth of the pain. There is no way to measure pain or compare it or judge it. When it’s your pain it’s monumental.
More than a decade ago I hit a snag in my life that rendered me hopeless and functionless. It’s rather like being the baseball that satan hit out of the park. He’s thinking homerun – you’re not even thinking – just hurting as you hurl through the air for some unknown destination. If the sudden stop doesn’t kill ya you groan and bleed awhile. Depression sets in and red rimmed eyes become your only fashion statement. Paul Tillich said, “Depression is rage spread thin”. Learned that was true as I wailed on the floor day after day. You know when you cry a lot you get all clogged up and you need many boxes of Kleenex. I reached for the box crunched beneath my body only to find it empty. I opened my eyes and with a sudden inward breath of surprise I see toes! Jesus is here!
I’d been a Christian for a long time but that was a defining moment for me. Nothing in the world was more important than those beautiful toes of Jesus. I’ve never left them. At Jesus feet comes healing. Healing isn’t just a physical thing. You can look fabulous on the outside and be a gnarly mess in your soul. Adversity introduces you to yourself and sometimes it’s shocking ugly. Life just isn't fair and that IS in the Bible. Fair is such a secular expectation. Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world”. (John 16:3)
A pearl to string: When I’m hurting and praying for those who are suffering I try to focus on all the great fertilizer in the valleys of life. That's where we do our most and best growing - closer and closer to the Lord. No one grows on top of a mountain! It's just a pleasant experience and a great panoramic view.
“Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope”. (Romans 5:3-4)
Corrie ten Boom, (April 15 1892 – April 15 1983) was a Dutch, Christian Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape the Nazis during World War II. I’ll close with one of her quotes:
“You may never know that JESUS is all you need, until JESUS is all you have”.
Know you are loved,
Lyndi
Dearest Lyndi:
You don't know how timely and encouraging this message is for me.
Let me explain. Just two minutes ago, I sent an email out to a group of "prayer warriors" to pray for our friend, Debbie. I'm not sure if you remember her, but for many years, she has been the leader of our Womens Mininstry at Vinelife Church (a black woman from New Orleans).. my dearest friend. Well, this morning she went to the hospital for more tests. Bottomline, her kidneys are not functioning; bad reaction to meds & steroids causing her body to balloon; battling depression; barely able to walk. As I pray and ask others to WAR for her... the Holy Spirit quickens as my eyes fall upon your words "I see toes".
You see, 20 some years ago, I heard a testimony from a woman friend of Aldolf Coors. She shared how upon giving her life to Christ, the enemy came quickly to take it. She battled through 17 operations, faced many goodbyes to her children and friends, yet never lost sight of the Word of God planted deep within her soul that spoke... "By His Stripes I'm Healed". Her hope was in HIM.
Facing her last and final battle, she shared how she went to put on a hospital gown to prepare for yet another xray before surgery. From the top of her head to the souls of her feet, her scar ridden body from countless operations, was the color of gray ash. She had no hair left on head from all of the chemo and radiation treatments. Her body weighing 60 some lbs. Oh, the pain and agony she had endured, and now yes, preparing once more ....not knowing the outcome, she is trusting her Lord.
That day, within a barren cold cubical a strange thing happened. . As she put on her gown, her eyes glanced down. Startled, she stepped back to see toes.... "pink toes". With the first thought, "Whose?", the warmth of God's Presence came down like warm honey, over her head and down over her body, like the balm of Gilead. It was at that moment, she realized God had healed her.
Yes, today "I see toes". His toes standing with mine. As you have said, dear friend...
“You may never know that JESUS is all you need, until JESUS is all you have”.
PS... the ending to this story ...This couragious woman wondered as she stepped up to the xray table if those around her would see she was healed. It wasn't until the second (or was it third xray) that they realized what had happened. You see, the xray not only showed she was healed, but there were organs that had previously been removed, now in place and fully functioning in her body. I was advised this is on record in the Dallas, Tx hospital where it took place.
PSS... this is but the beginning to our story.
Love you, Melody
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The Needed Embrace
Did you see that?
What was that?
Whoa! She was fast!
So Retro! She can do the LocoMotion and run the stairs of a sky scraper – which is why she prefers small town living (shorter skyscrapers).
Look! Coming around the corner! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Supermom!
Yes, yes, it is Supermom – the very one you said was a strange visitor from another planet as she surrounded your lives with beauty for Thanksgiving and Christmas time. Yes, the one whose work load quadrupled as she added the planning, decorating, baking, visiting and reaching out to those beyond family. How about that lady that played tickle tag outside with you and backyard junk football with your brothers. Yes that was the same person who looked so breathtakingly beautiful going out the door to your Dad’s office Christmas party. OK Dad looked handsome. Not one ribbon, roll of wrapping paper, decorative bags or piles of colorful tissue paper came through your door without her special attention. Yes it was that lady that did all the shopping, wrapping, mailing, writing out Christmas cards, cooking, and serving your household. Who is that up on the roof?
It isn’t Rudolf!
If your Dad doesn’t string the Christmas lights then guess who does. There is no end to what that exquisite woman in your life won’t do to brighten your world – she works with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Supermom - who can change your rivers of tears into a smile; bend your steel problems with her heart of love, and who, disguised as Mommy, mild mannered neighborhood woman loves you. She was fashioned by God Himself to do all she does with joy, laughter and grace. Ok, maybe an occasional cranky meltdown here and there but none-the-less inspirational and enchanting.
Genesis 2:18, 20b-23 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him." …… But the man found no helper who was right for him. So the LORD God caused him to fall into a deep sleep. While the man was sleeping, the LORD God took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
A pearl to string: Wow, look what God gave you: that extraordinary woman at your house. If you didn’t notice or fully appreciate all she does in your life don’t wait till Mother’s day. Maybe we should take all of January to embrace and thank God for all the beautiful women in our lives and all they do just loving us.
I remember my Gram & my Mom and the beauty they bestowed in my life – treasured memories. I embrace my daughter, daughter’s-in-law, neighbors, friends and so many women I read about for the beauty and love they extend to so many others. I want to thank you – not only do you bless your families beyond measure - you enrich lives all around you.
I thank God for each one of you.
Know you are loved,
Lyndi
Note: I can't wait another day! Is no one freom the 50's reading this? You didn't recognize this was a rewrite from the Superman intro? "Faster than a speeding bullet.More powerful than a locomotive.Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.Look! Up in the sky!It's a bird. It's a plane. It's Superman!Yes, it's Superman - strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman - who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel with his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights the never ending battle for Truth, Justice and the American Way". I just had to spill the beans!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
I'd be Happy If...
By Sharon James
www.girlfriendsingod.com
"The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" John 10:10 (DARBY).
I'd be happy if... If you begin a sentence with those words, then beware. Those little words of discontentment are the very words that Satan uses to draw us into his deceitful traps. I'd be happy if I were married. I'd be happy if I had children. I'd be happy if I had a different husband. I'd be happy if I had more money. All these thoughts take our focus away from the blessings that we do have.
And it's nothing new. This is the same old story that began in the Garden of Eden with the same antagonist deceiving the leading lady. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the very beginning.
Five days after time began, the Creator of the Universe gazed at all He had made and was not completely satisfied. Yes, as the sun set on each of the first five days on God's kingdom calendar, He said, "It is good." But there was something missing. Something more. Someone more.
The stage was set for Act 6. The curtain rose. Everything had to be perfect for God's grand finale. The angels gathered round as God announced the final scene on the grand drama of "In the Beginning."
God began with an announcement..."Let us make man in Our own image."
This being will be different from all the rest. With body, soul, and spirit, man will enter into a relationship with the Creator on a personal and intimate level. He will be just a little lower than the angels and rule over the animals that creep on the earth, the fowl that soar in the sky, and the fish that swim in the sea. Man will be God's friend.
So God knelt on the ground and gathered a handful of dirt. He spat on the dust and began forming the most magnificent creation to date. With His very fingertips, God fashioned man's inward parts: capillaries, nerve endings, brain cells, hair follicles, eyelashes, taste buds. Meticulously and deliberately, the Artist created a masterpiece of divine design.
And as the lifeless form lay before the celestial audience, God placed His mouth upon the nostrils of man and breathed life into his waiting lungs. A collective gasp ran through the crowd as man's lungs filled with holy oxygen and he took his first breath. As if God flipped the breaker switch of life, man's heart began beating, the lungs began expanding, and the eyes began fluttering open to see. And the curtain began to fall on this, the sixth day of creation.
"Wait!" the Creator cried. "My work is not done. It is not good for man to be alone! I will create a helper suitable for him. A companion like him, but yet, oh so different."
So, mid-air, the curtain rises to expose the day, and God -- the Us, the Three-In-One, began to fashion the grand finale...woman.
Can't you just see it now? Can't you sense the excitement of the angels as they hovered low? From the very beginning of time, man was set apart. He was uniquely designed for a specific purpose as God's image bearer to rule the earth.
But there was one among the onlookers that day who watched with evil intent. Yes, he was among the created angelic beings, one of the most beautiful, in fact. But he wasn't happy with God's creation. Earlier, this angelic being decided he didn't particularly like his position in the heavenly order. He wanted to elevate himself above God. And while he had been created to be a light-bearer, his rebellion resulted in being thrown to the earth to become known as the Prince of Darkness.
Now there were these...humans...created in God's image. The enemy was not pleased. As soon as Adam and Eve stood on the stage, the Prince of Darkness began to devise their demise. If he was going down, he was going to take as many of these image bearers with him as possible.
Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world. All their needs were cared for. They had perfect communion with God and each other. They were "naked and unashamed." The only restriction placed on them was that they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil located in the middle of the Garden. God warned them, "If you eat of it, you will surely die."
As they basked in the light of God's love, darkness slithered into the Garden with his plan to kill, steal and destroy the image bearers. And how did he do it? He did it with the most powerful weapon of all...lies.
"Now the serpent..." The great deceiver clothed himself as a serpent and slithered up to Eve with a game plan to destroy God's prized possession. He didn't come with a sword, or gun, or even a knife for his attack. He simply wielded lies.
The serpent knew Adam and Eve would not buy into a radical flamboyant denial of God, so he slithered into the garden with a twist and a turn of the truth. He began by causing Eve to doubt... "Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?" (Genesis 3:1).
Satan knew exactly what God had said. He was simply trying to confuse Eve. Perhaps he was evaluating just how well she knew the truth. He found out.
"We may eat fruit from the tress in the garden," Eve replied, "but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die'" (Genesis 3:3).
Bingo. She didn't know the truth that well after all. God never mentioned not touching the fruit. That seems like a pretty good idea, but it was not what God said.
Second he denied God and lied about the consequences of disobedience. Satan said, "You will not surely die" (3:4). He didn't even try to disguise the deception. He told a flat-out lie.
Finally, he told her she could be like God: "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). In other words, "God doesn't know what He's talking about. He's holding out on you. You don't need Him. You can be your own god."
Eve rejected the truth and believed the lie. She believed that she could be like God ... in control of her own life. "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her" (Genesis 3:6).
And as she sunk her teeth into the forbidden fruit of deception and the lie slid down her delicate throat, the temptation settled in her soul and fermented into shame and condemnation. Her husband, who chose the woman over God, also felt the sickening rot of sin settle in his very soul. Suddenly shame and fear entered the world, and Adam and Eve hid from God like wayward children.
All temptation is an attempt to get us to live our lives independent of God. Satan is not very creative, but he is very effective. And he has been lying to us ever since. Why? Because it works.
Every one of his lies springs from the idea that happiness is just a decision away. Satan wants you to believe God is holding out on you; you can be like God; you can be your own god. Rather than being thankful for what we do have, he points out what we don't have. Think about it. Eve had at her disposal every tree in the garden except one. Every one! That is a smorgasbord of goodness! Rather than being thankful, she bought the lie that the one thing she couldn't have was the one thing that would make her happy. I would be happy if... Is any of this sounding familiar to you? It should. Satan uses the same tactics with us that he used with Eve.
Eve believed the enemy's lie over God's truth. His plan worked. But what the serpent did not know was that God's amazing plan of forgiveness and grace was about to unfold. Satan did not win the battle for man's soul in the garden. Jesus Christ won the war on Calvary's Cross. When Jesus said, "It is finished," and then breathed his last, He made a way for all mankind to regain all that Adam and Eve had lost.
A pearl to string: Your thoughts are not truth just because you think them. If they condemn you in any way they are not from God. You know God is talking to you when tuning towards God and His way rather than feeling guilt ridden crumby becomes the desire of your heart.
"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers (and sisters). Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" James 1:16, 17 (NIV).
May heaven's blue be in the eyes of your heart,
Lyndi
www.girlfriendsingod.com
"The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" John 10:10 (DARBY).
I'd be happy if... If you begin a sentence with those words, then beware. Those little words of discontentment are the very words that Satan uses to draw us into his deceitful traps. I'd be happy if I were married. I'd be happy if I had children. I'd be happy if I had a different husband. I'd be happy if I had more money. All these thoughts take our focus away from the blessings that we do have.
And it's nothing new. This is the same old story that began in the Garden of Eden with the same antagonist deceiving the leading lady. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the very beginning.
Five days after time began, the Creator of the Universe gazed at all He had made and was not completely satisfied. Yes, as the sun set on each of the first five days on God's kingdom calendar, He said, "It is good." But there was something missing. Something more. Someone more.
The stage was set for Act 6. The curtain rose. Everything had to be perfect for God's grand finale. The angels gathered round as God announced the final scene on the grand drama of "In the Beginning."
God began with an announcement..."Let us make man in Our own image."
This being will be different from all the rest. With body, soul, and spirit, man will enter into a relationship with the Creator on a personal and intimate level. He will be just a little lower than the angels and rule over the animals that creep on the earth, the fowl that soar in the sky, and the fish that swim in the sea. Man will be God's friend.
So God knelt on the ground and gathered a handful of dirt. He spat on the dust and began forming the most magnificent creation to date. With His very fingertips, God fashioned man's inward parts: capillaries, nerve endings, brain cells, hair follicles, eyelashes, taste buds. Meticulously and deliberately, the Artist created a masterpiece of divine design.
And as the lifeless form lay before the celestial audience, God placed His mouth upon the nostrils of man and breathed life into his waiting lungs. A collective gasp ran through the crowd as man's lungs filled with holy oxygen and he took his first breath. As if God flipped the breaker switch of life, man's heart began beating, the lungs began expanding, and the eyes began fluttering open to see. And the curtain began to fall on this, the sixth day of creation.
"Wait!" the Creator cried. "My work is not done. It is not good for man to be alone! I will create a helper suitable for him. A companion like him, but yet, oh so different."
So, mid-air, the curtain rises to expose the day, and God -- the Us, the Three-In-One, began to fashion the grand finale...woman.
Can't you just see it now? Can't you sense the excitement of the angels as they hovered low? From the very beginning of time, man was set apart. He was uniquely designed for a specific purpose as God's image bearer to rule the earth.
But there was one among the onlookers that day who watched with evil intent. Yes, he was among the created angelic beings, one of the most beautiful, in fact. But he wasn't happy with God's creation. Earlier, this angelic being decided he didn't particularly like his position in the heavenly order. He wanted to elevate himself above God. And while he had been created to be a light-bearer, his rebellion resulted in being thrown to the earth to become known as the Prince of Darkness.
Now there were these...humans...created in God's image. The enemy was not pleased. As soon as Adam and Eve stood on the stage, the Prince of Darkness began to devise their demise. If he was going down, he was going to take as many of these image bearers with him as possible.
Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world. All their needs were cared for. They had perfect communion with God and each other. They were "naked and unashamed." The only restriction placed on them was that they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil located in the middle of the Garden. God warned them, "If you eat of it, you will surely die."
As they basked in the light of God's love, darkness slithered into the Garden with his plan to kill, steal and destroy the image bearers. And how did he do it? He did it with the most powerful weapon of all...lies.
"Now the serpent..." The great deceiver clothed himself as a serpent and slithered up to Eve with a game plan to destroy God's prized possession. He didn't come with a sword, or gun, or even a knife for his attack. He simply wielded lies.
The serpent knew Adam and Eve would not buy into a radical flamboyant denial of God, so he slithered into the garden with a twist and a turn of the truth. He began by causing Eve to doubt... "Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?" (Genesis 3:1).
Satan knew exactly what God had said. He was simply trying to confuse Eve. Perhaps he was evaluating just how well she knew the truth. He found out.
"We may eat fruit from the tress in the garden," Eve replied, "but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die'" (Genesis 3:3).
Bingo. She didn't know the truth that well after all. God never mentioned not touching the fruit. That seems like a pretty good idea, but it was not what God said.
Second he denied God and lied about the consequences of disobedience. Satan said, "You will not surely die" (3:4). He didn't even try to disguise the deception. He told a flat-out lie.
Finally, he told her she could be like God: "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5). In other words, "God doesn't know what He's talking about. He's holding out on you. You don't need Him. You can be your own god."
Eve rejected the truth and believed the lie. She believed that she could be like God ... in control of her own life. "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her" (Genesis 3:6).
And as she sunk her teeth into the forbidden fruit of deception and the lie slid down her delicate throat, the temptation settled in her soul and fermented into shame and condemnation. Her husband, who chose the woman over God, also felt the sickening rot of sin settle in his very soul. Suddenly shame and fear entered the world, and Adam and Eve hid from God like wayward children.
All temptation is an attempt to get us to live our lives independent of God. Satan is not very creative, but he is very effective. And he has been lying to us ever since. Why? Because it works.
Every one of his lies springs from the idea that happiness is just a decision away. Satan wants you to believe God is holding out on you; you can be like God; you can be your own god. Rather than being thankful for what we do have, he points out what we don't have. Think about it. Eve had at her disposal every tree in the garden except one. Every one! That is a smorgasbord of goodness! Rather than being thankful, she bought the lie that the one thing she couldn't have was the one thing that would make her happy. I would be happy if... Is any of this sounding familiar to you? It should. Satan uses the same tactics with us that he used with Eve.
Eve believed the enemy's lie over God's truth. His plan worked. But what the serpent did not know was that God's amazing plan of forgiveness and grace was about to unfold. Satan did not win the battle for man's soul in the garden. Jesus Christ won the war on Calvary's Cross. When Jesus said, "It is finished," and then breathed his last, He made a way for all mankind to regain all that Adam and Eve had lost.
A pearl to string: Your thoughts are not truth just because you think them. If they condemn you in any way they are not from God. You know God is talking to you when tuning towards God and His way rather than feeling guilt ridden crumby becomes the desire of your heart.
"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers (and sisters). Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" James 1:16, 17 (NIV).
May heaven's blue be in the eyes of your heart,
Lyndi
Thursday, January 1, 2009
"START OVER"
When you've trusted God and walked his way
When you've felt his hand lead you day by day
But your steps now take you another way ...
Start over.
When you've made your plans and they've gone awry
When you've tried your best and there's no more try
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why ...
Start over.
When you've told your friends what you plan to do
When you've trusted them and they didn't come through
And you're all alone and it's up to you ...
Start over.
When you've failed your kids and they're grown and gone
When you've done your best but it's turned out wrong
And now your grandchildren come along ...
Start over.
When you've prayed to God so you'll know his will
When you've prayed and prayed and you don't know still ...
When you want to stop cause you've had your fill ...
Start over.
When you think you're finished and want to quit
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit
When you've tried and tried to get out of it ...
Start over.
When the year has been long and successes few
When December comes and you're feeling blue
God gives a January just for you ...
Start over.
Starting over means "Victories Won"
Starting over means "A Race Well Run"
Starting over means "God's Will Done"
Don't just sit there ..............
START OVER
Written by Woodrow Kroll as part of his "Start Over" Series "Back to the Bible"
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