These are some of my thoughts just after the earthquake that we experienced on Tuesday and can also be applied to the hurricane that is on it's way up the East coast...
After the earthquake on Tuesday, people were saying that I will never experience that again in my lifetime. But nobody can guarantee that. We cannot predict that it will or will not happen. Only God knows. This was an opportunity to share with others how I believe that there IS a God and that He controls all things.
I had a few Spiritual conversations with my co-workers and with customers that afternoon, but there was one conversation in particular that inspired me to write this- or at least to title it as I have. This lady in my drive thru said to me after our talk of the earthquake, "If it happens again, hang onto something!" My reply was, "Oh, I am! I'm hanging onto something!" She was driving off before I had the chance to explain how that something that I will hang onto and AM hanging onto is God. He is my Rock.
"On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God." Psalm 62:7
Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Blizzards, Tornados, HURRICANES, and other natural weather-related disasters...These are some of the things that man cannot control no matter how hard they try. How should we feel about this? Well, I don't know about you, but I praise God that I know Him. I know the Almighty God who controls all things. NOTHING happens outside of His will or Sovereign plan for His glory and for the good of His people.
He is our peace amidst the storms of life.
For me, I am actually more at peace knowing that nobody can control these things but Him. Who better to trust than the Lord!
In Matthew 8 we read about how Jesus and His disciples are on the boat during a storm. While Jesus is asleep the disciples are terrified of the great storm in the sea that is rocking their boat and threatening their lives. They run to Jesus to awaken Him and to ask Him to save them because they thought they were going to perish. I love Jesus' response to His disciples, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then Jesus rises up to speak to the winds and to the sea. The Bible says that Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and that there was a great calm. It says then that the men marveled saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey Him?"
In Matthew 14 we read about Peter walking on the water. Peter gets out of the boat to walk on the water toward Jesus and everything is fine until he looks around himself and becomes afraid because of the wind. This is when he starts to sink and cries out to the Lord to save him. Jesus immdediately reaches out His hand to Peter and takes hold of him saying, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Then they get into the boat and the winds cease.
In both of these stories, we see that without faith in Jesus the people were terrified. Jesus is the only one who can rid them of their fears and calm the storms.
Not only does He calm the storms around us, but even more He calms the storms within us.
Matthew 11:28-30 says:
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
He will give you rest. Nothing and no one else can.
Sooo...who or what are you hanging onto?
Put your trust in Him and Him alone. He will give you the peace that you need and long for. Not just peace amidst the storms around us but also peace amidst the storms and trials in life.
Isaiah 26:3-4
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."
Psalm 62:5-8
"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us."
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
The Christian Life is Like a Yo-Yo?
"I once heard a very helpful illustration of what the Christian life should look like from counseling professor David Powlison. He said the pattern of Christian life and growth is like a yo-yo: up and down, up and down. That is pretty depressing, but also pretty true. One day I feel as if I have sin beat; the next day I feel as if I am back at the beginning.
But there is more, Powlison said. The pattern of Christian life and growth may be like a yo-yo, but it's a yo-yo in the hands of someone walking up a flight of stairs. That is a much more encouraging image. In the day-to-day, we are acutely aware of the yo-yo feeling, the ups and downs of the battle against sin. But we miss the larger picture of growth and maturity that God is graciously working in us- He is carrying us up the stairs. Even our low points now are higher than our high points used to be."
Taken from "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley.
But there is more, Powlison said. The pattern of Christian life and growth may be like a yo-yo, but it's a yo-yo in the hands of someone walking up a flight of stairs. That is a much more encouraging image. In the day-to-day, we are acutely aware of the yo-yo feeling, the ups and downs of the battle against sin. But we miss the larger picture of growth and maturity that God is graciously working in us- He is carrying us up the stairs. Even our low points now are higher than our high points used to be."
Taken from "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Temptation: Fighting the Urge
disclaimer: I am still editing this note before an official publish.
There is a lot of Scripture I need to add...
What I have written below has been taken from one of CCEF's small booklets of resources for personal change. I haven't copied it word for word, and much of the booklet is left out. I highly recommend getting your hands on this if temptation is something you find to be overcoming you and really hindering your walk with the Lord.
I found it to be very helpful for myself and felt the need to share it on my blog so that others might be helped as well.
This is a topic that each and every one of us struggles with daily.
Please take the time to read it.
"I can resist anything but temptation" -Oscar Wilde
How many times have you tried to change a behavior or attitude only to find yourself doing the same thing again?
Each of us faces some kind of temptation every day. And, even though our temptations are different, our struggles are similar. We all have daily battles with temptation that stretch into monthly and yearly wars.
Can these battles against your particular temptation be won? God, in His Word says, "Yes."
You can't win a war against an enemy that you don't understand.
Soo...
Where do our temptations come from?
It's easy to think that our temptations come from our circumstances...
James tells us in his book that we succumb to temptation because of what's inside of us(what we want, desire, don't want, fear, etc...) not from what's outside of us(our circumstances).
In the first portion of James chapter one, James tells us that God sends circumstances into our lives to test us, so we will grow in grace. James also says that God never sends these circumstances to trap us.
So what makes the difference? It's the inner condition of the person in the midst of the circumstance.
JAMES 1:14
No external circumstance makes you sin. You sin because what you want leads you into sin.
What are the elements of temptation?
-The world
-The flesh
-The devil(1 Peter 5:8)
Be aware of your enemy and his schemes. The way the devil works is quite simple. He uses the external world and your sinful inclinations to trap you into sin. Then he accuses you of being a helpless case.
Thankfully the Spirit says something completely different.
Understanding all the elements of temptation is critical in helping you fight temptation.
STAGES OF TEMPTATION
Another important truth about your temptation is that they don't just appear in your life- they come in stages.
from James:
first stage is seduction- "He is dragged away and enticed"
...begins with your desire life.
You want something more than you want Christ.
You believe you need something in addition to Christ to be happy, satisfied, or okay.
It could be ANYTHING.
second stage is conception- "after desire has conceived"
When temptation moves to this stage, the initial desire is lodged deep in your heart.
What you want is becoming more important to you than your relationship with God.
third stage is birth- "it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death."
The end result of your desire for something besides Christ is being caught in full blown sin, both in attitude and action.
At any time during these stages, you can run to Christ and repent and learn from your failure how to stand against temptation instead of giving in to it.
Practical strategies for change.
Fighting against temptation begins by noticing what's happening underneath the surface of your life every time you give in to temptation.
Here is an important truth to remember as you struggle with temptation:
You don't behave your way into sinful responses, so
you can't behave your way out of sinful responses.
You worship your way into sinful responses, so you
must worship your way out of sinful responses.
Worship has everything to do with our temptations because whatever we worship(whatever is most important to us)changes our behavior.
In moments of sin, something else is more attractive to you than God and His love for you.
You are worshiping something or someone besides God.
Admit to God that your behavior is the result of forgetting your identity in Christ and finding your identity in what you believe you need besides Him.
Don't be discouraged...Name what it is that has captured your heart instead of Jesus, confess your sin to God, and ask for forgiveness. Remember 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Remind yourself that even though you have loved something more than God, Jesus is still completely committed to you. He lived, died, was raised, and sent His Spirit for you. Right now He is praying for you, and one day He will come to rescue you completely. You are not a slave to sin; instead, you belong to Christ. He is far more committed to you than you are to yourself.
He is far more satisfying and attractive than anything else in this world.
Christian change only happens in relationship with God. So getting to know Jesus as your friend, brother, and Savior will change your desire life and give you the power to resist temptation.
A fall into sin develops over time.
Every day a ware is raging for your heart and affections. In any given hour of your day, there are many things that can take your gaze off of Christ. Be vigilant in the little moments of your life. This is where the battle will be won or lost. Your goal should be to cultivate a normal, regular, moment-by-moment awareness of your relationship with God and your need for His grace and power.
So live wide awake.
Knowing Jesus better will lead you to live a vigilant, hopeful life as you face temptation every day. Genuine fighting of temptation begins as you take your eyes off yourself and readjust your gaze on Jesus and what He has done and is doing in your behalf.
Don't lose heart; look to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith(Hebrews 12:2).
There is a lot of Scripture I need to add...
What I have written below has been taken from one of CCEF's small booklets of resources for personal change. I haven't copied it word for word, and much of the booklet is left out. I highly recommend getting your hands on this if temptation is something you find to be overcoming you and really hindering your walk with the Lord.
I found it to be very helpful for myself and felt the need to share it on my blog so that others might be helped as well.
This is a topic that each and every one of us struggles with daily.
Please take the time to read it.
"I can resist anything but temptation" -Oscar Wilde
How many times have you tried to change a behavior or attitude only to find yourself doing the same thing again?
Each of us faces some kind of temptation every day. And, even though our temptations are different, our struggles are similar. We all have daily battles with temptation that stretch into monthly and yearly wars.
Can these battles against your particular temptation be won? God, in His Word says, "Yes."
You can't win a war against an enemy that you don't understand.
Soo...
Where do our temptations come from?
It's easy to think that our temptations come from our circumstances...
James tells us in his book that we succumb to temptation because of what's inside of us(what we want, desire, don't want, fear, etc...) not from what's outside of us(our circumstances).
In the first portion of James chapter one, James tells us that God sends circumstances into our lives to test us, so we will grow in grace. James also says that God never sends these circumstances to trap us.
So what makes the difference? It's the inner condition of the person in the midst of the circumstance.
JAMES 1:14
No external circumstance makes you sin. You sin because what you want leads you into sin.
What are the elements of temptation?
-The world
-The flesh
-The devil(1 Peter 5:8)
Be aware of your enemy and his schemes. The way the devil works is quite simple. He uses the external world and your sinful inclinations to trap you into sin. Then he accuses you of being a helpless case.
Thankfully the Spirit says something completely different.
Understanding all the elements of temptation is critical in helping you fight temptation.
STAGES OF TEMPTATION
Another important truth about your temptation is that they don't just appear in your life- they come in stages.
from James:
first stage is seduction- "He is dragged away and enticed"
...begins with your desire life.
You want something more than you want Christ.
You believe you need something in addition to Christ to be happy, satisfied, or okay.
It could be ANYTHING.
second stage is conception- "after desire has conceived"
When temptation moves to this stage, the initial desire is lodged deep in your heart.
What you want is becoming more important to you than your relationship with God.
third stage is birth- "it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death."
The end result of your desire for something besides Christ is being caught in full blown sin, both in attitude and action.
At any time during these stages, you can run to Christ and repent and learn from your failure how to stand against temptation instead of giving in to it.
Practical strategies for change.
Fighting against temptation begins by noticing what's happening underneath the surface of your life every time you give in to temptation.
Here is an important truth to remember as you struggle with temptation:
You don't behave your way into sinful responses, so
you can't behave your way out of sinful responses.
You worship your way into sinful responses, so you
must worship your way out of sinful responses.
Worship has everything to do with our temptations because whatever we worship(whatever is most important to us)changes our behavior.
In moments of sin, something else is more attractive to you than God and His love for you.
You are worshiping something or someone besides God.
Admit to God that your behavior is the result of forgetting your identity in Christ and finding your identity in what you believe you need besides Him.
Don't be discouraged...Name what it is that has captured your heart instead of Jesus, confess your sin to God, and ask for forgiveness. Remember 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Remind yourself that even though you have loved something more than God, Jesus is still completely committed to you. He lived, died, was raised, and sent His Spirit for you. Right now He is praying for you, and one day He will come to rescue you completely. You are not a slave to sin; instead, you belong to Christ. He is far more committed to you than you are to yourself.
He is far more satisfying and attractive than anything else in this world.
Christian change only happens in relationship with God. So getting to know Jesus as your friend, brother, and Savior will change your desire life and give you the power to resist temptation.
A fall into sin develops over time.
Every day a ware is raging for your heart and affections. In any given hour of your day, there are many things that can take your gaze off of Christ. Be vigilant in the little moments of your life. This is where the battle will be won or lost. Your goal should be to cultivate a normal, regular, moment-by-moment awareness of your relationship with God and your need for His grace and power.
So live wide awake.
Knowing Jesus better will lead you to live a vigilant, hopeful life as you face temptation every day. Genuine fighting of temptation begins as you take your eyes off yourself and readjust your gaze on Jesus and what He has done and is doing in your behalf.
Don't lose heart; look to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith(Hebrews 12:2).
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Are you lonely?
“Aloneness doesn’t have to mean loneliness; it can actually be the path God uses for my soul to find its rest in Him."
The Gospel Coalition Blog posted this today. It will be helpful for anyone who has struggled or is struggling with loneliness. As a single, this was a good reminder for me that marriage isn't ever going to be what fills any measure of emptiness that I might feel. Only God can fill and satisfy.
Lonely Me: A Pastoral Perspective
The Gospel Coalition Blog posted this today. It will be helpful for anyone who has struggled or is struggling with loneliness. As a single, this was a good reminder for me that marriage isn't ever going to be what fills any measure of emptiness that I might feel. Only God can fill and satisfy.
Lonely Me: A Pastoral Perspective
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