Come Into The Deep End... with ImHisServant (3)

Smileyill · Apr 3, 2007

I agree with the concept, but God gives different talents to different people. He expects us to use that which he gives us. If we use them wisely, he'll give us more - extraordinary work.

cristianna · Apr 4, 2007

woman.at.the.well said:
How about those of us on this thread? What do you think and believe about this? Are you ready for God to shape your vessel with His mighty hand and fill it with a matchless treasure like that of the "lowly" people in the bible we read about from time to time? Please discuss.

Good morning Deep Enders! I'm sorry for my absence, but hopefully as my healing progresses I'll be here on a more frequent basis! I know God is with me and His healing hand is working on me.

Great devo! I'm SOOOOOOO ready. I cannot even express how absolutely READY I AM! BUT... there's a part of me holding back for a variety of reasons. I don't feel biblically knowledgable enough. I cannot quote scripture like many people do. While I agree it's not vital, it is in my opinion important.

I fear the task may be overwhelming. I can dive head in to a project knowing the work will be hard and grueling. But those are projects "I" choose, not always ones I am "assigned".

I don't want to face further rejection and snickering from my peers. I'm sure everyone has experienced this. You befriend a person/family, you lack all judgement on them, have great times together until... religion surfaces. This happens to us all the time. Through a variety of means our family meets alot of people. They all want to get together for local events, backyard picnics, etc. We get invited to everything until the day comes the invite interferes with church or a church function. Then we're never spoken to again.

I try so hard to show everyone Christians have a personality, we laugh at jokes, we know how to have a good time, etc. I've come to realize just how many people think we are robots and self righteous critics, and it's sad.

I know all of those sound stupendously ridiculous. I know God will be at my side with each step, each failure, and each triumphant victory. Even with all of that there's a tiny percentage of me just not completely ready. Hopefully all of these baby steps I've taken will allow me to leap and hurdle down the path.

cristianna · Apr 4, 2007

The Talking Mummy!

By Sharon Glasgow

I Corinthians 2:9-10, No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. (NIV)

Devotion:
One morning I went to start my car, but it wouldnt start. I called the mechanic to pick it up.

The day got worse. After missing my dentist appointment, I got a call from the bank telling me I had overdrawn my account, then the mechanic called to say it would cost $900 to fix the car! He said I could pay later and pick up the car right away. Time was short because I had an appointment at 6:00 pm.

I was running late when, out of the blue, I remembered a lady Id met at a Christmas party months ago. Shed mentioned she lived in my old neighborhood and that she had a swimming pool. I felt compelled to find her and drove to my old neighborhood five miles away. Once there I found hundreds of houses and many had pools.

I took a left, then another left, and drove into the driveway of a house with a pool. I knocked on the door and then started to reason with myself: Why do I think this is the ladys house? I dont even know her name! What will I say to explain why Im here? About that time, a man opened the door. Quickly I said, Hi! Ive come to see your wife. I think I met her at a Christmas party. My name is Sharon, He scowled and said, My wife doesnt want visitors! before slamming the door.

Embarrassed, I ran to my car. As I started to leave, the man knocked on my window. My wife wants to see you, he said, Shes downstairs. I made my way inside and noticed there were no noises and no lights. It was a bit scary. I rounded the bottom stair and saw his wife lying on a recliner wrapped like a mummy from head to toe. Only her eyes and mouth showed between the gauze. I froze. Why are you here? she asked. I dont know, I replied. She repeated herself and I explained that I was on my way to an appointment when I remembered her, and that I didnt recall her name and wasnt sure how I landed at her house. Tears started spewing from her gauze as she said, Im the woman you met.

I walked closer as she continued, Three hours ago I was in so much pain my husband wrapped me tightly to ease my discomfort. I have lupus and asked God to show me that He still loved me. I needed a miracle or I couldnt keep on living. I told Him, If You dont show me by 6:00 p.m., then I am taking pills to end this misery forever. Turn around and look at the clock. It read 5:57. Then she said, On my mantle I have a bottle of oil. I want you to anoint my head with oil.

Oh, I cant anoint your head. Im not worthyIve bounced checks today!

Sharon, get the oil! she insisted. I rubbed a drop on her head and we prayed.

When we finished she said, I feel better, not completely, but thats not what I asked God for today. I asked Him to show me He loved me and He answered. Thank you for following the Holy Spirits nudging even though your day was busy.

What an honor to be used by the Holy Spirit. Jesus told believers that the Holy Spirit would dwell in us and never leave us or forsake us even to the end of the world. (Hebrews 13:5). Gods Spirit leads us. We have access to His supernatural leading, power, comfort, peace that passes all understanding, and divine illumination of the inspired Word.

He will lead you, too, just as He leads me. He speaks and leads through the living Word of God, a life of obedience, and through your thoughts when you surrender your whole being to Him.

Dear Lord, Thank you for Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be more focused on Your supernatural leading in my life. Thank you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Reflections:
When the Holy Spirit nudges you, are you obedient to follow through with it?

Are you controlling of your time, unwilling to take the Spirits detours?

Power Verses:
John 16:13, But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. (NIV)

Acts 1:8, But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (NIV)

Criada · Apr 4, 2007

Reflections:
When the Holy Spirit nudges you, are you obedient to follow through with it?

Are you controlling of your time, unwilling to take the Spirit’s detours?

This is hard!
I can so easily talk myself out of it -"Did God really say that?"
Which was, of course, the question the serpent asked Eve. So it should be easy to tell who it comes from!!
Praise Him, I am getting better - but it's a slow process!
Fear of what people think can be such a big thing.
And yet, when I think of what Jesus did for me, how can I possibly be afraid of people laughing at me or rejecting me?

So - I am trying to act on what God tells me quickly, so as not to give the enemy time to dissuade me!

Praise Him for His patience with us. He never gives up on us, no matter how many times we mess up!!

jenrenee · Apr 4, 2007

What a great story! And, I agree - it is hard! I only hope that when the Holy Spirit is nudging me, that I am able to know it - and to listen.

Direct us, O Lord, in all our actions by Your gracious favor, and further us with Your continual help that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in Your name, we may glorify Your holy name and finally by Your mercy receive eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your son, our Lord. Amen.

rosiecotton · Apr 5, 2007

I almost forgot!! I'm our chuch secretary and things have been kind of hectic getting ready for Sunday!!! So, here is the topic.....

How's Your Love Life?, Part 7

Series: How's Your Love Life?

Let's imagine that your coworker just got a big promotion. Would your first reaction be--to rejoice for them or to be envious of what they've achieved?
We're looking today at that third characteristic of love: Love does not envy. Love is not jealous. Love is not envious for the possessions of others. In fact, it can rejoice with those who have greater resources, greater position or greater abilities. I think one of the most difficult commands in the Word of God for us to obey--and one of the ones we frequently neglect--is the command to rejoice with those who rejoice. Some of you women have real tender hearts, and it doesn't take much to make you weep. When a person has a burden or a need, you're right there with mercy and kindness and weeping with those who weep. But do we rejoice with those who rejoice?

Your neighbor gets a nice new car, and you're driving a clunker that barely runs. Do you get excited about the fact that that new neighbor got a nice new car? Or is it a more natural tendency to want to criticize and put others down because we're jealous, we're comparing? Love and jealousy are mutually exclusive. If we have love, we will not be jealous. We will not be jealous for what others have.

Jealousy comes in a couple different forms. Sometimes it's the attitude that I want what someone else has. They have something I don't have; I wish I could have it. I'm jealous for it. Then sometimes it's not that we want what they have; it's just that we wish that they didn't have it. So, I want what you have or I wish that you didn't have what you have. Love is not possessive. God has given all of us material blessings, (and) other kinds of blessings--time, resources of different types.

True love doesn't hold on to--jealously cling to--my possessions but is willing to share, to give, to share with others. True love is, rather than being jealous, it's content with having my basic needs met--having basic necessities in life and having, of course, the most important thing we can have; and that is a right relationship with God. If I have a right relationship with God, if Jesus Christ is my Savior and lives in my life, and I have eternal life, and I have a clear conscience toward God--what else do I need? We're so short-sighted, and we crave and covet and long for the things that others have that are temporal. But true love is delighted for others to be blessed with things that perhaps we don't have.

Paul said, "What's the key to dealing with this issue of jealousy, comparison, (and the) contention that flows out of this jealousy?" The key is to live a life of love, to put on love, to pursue love, to learn to love in God's way. Love is not envious; it is not jealous.
When love sees another person who is more popular, more successful, more beautiful, more talented, than I am--then if I have a heart of love, I will be glad for that person, never jealous or envious. James 3 talks about the deadliness of the sin of envy or jealousy. James said that if any person is wise in understanding, "let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that come from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts..."

By the way those two invariably go together--envy and selfish ambition--seeking more for myself. James said, "If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come from heaven [this is not of God] but it is earthly, unspiritual and of the devil." One translation says it's devilish. It's demonic to have this kind of selfish ambition and envy. Envy is not just a little problem. Envy is something that comes from the pit of hell.

So James says in 3:16, "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." And isn't that a description of what was taking place in the church at Corinth? There was disorder. There was contention. There was pandemonium at their Communion services. You have disorder and every evil practice.

In that church there was a man who (had an) incestuous relationship with his father's wife. Talk about evil practices! And the church was condoning it. Where did this come from? Paul says it all goes back to a lack of love. "You envy. You're jealous of one another." James goes on to say in that passage, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (James 3:17).

In her book, The Music of His Promises, Elisabeth Elliot has a wonderful passage about this part of the love test. Here's what she has to say: "If I imagine that I love my neighbor let me test my love by asking how glad I am that he has achieved what I have failed to achieve; that he has managed to acquire what I have long wished to acquire; that he is loved by someone or by many or in some way that has never been granted to me."

By the way, let me put in a little word in there. Those of you who may be single, do you find yourself jealous of your friends who are getting married? They've got a mate; they've got a husband. Perhaps you're a woman who has married, but you've not been able to have children. Do you find yourself jealous of the one who's been able to have children because it's a blessing that's not been given to you.

She goes on to say, "Do I rejoice because he (my neighbor) has reasons to rejoice that have been denied me? Can I honestly praise God for His goodness to my neighbor? Can I praise Him wholeheartedly for His gifts to me? If I love my neighbor as myself, there will be no reason at all for the least twinge of jealousy--because I will be just as happy that he has what I wanted as I would be if I had it."

So, we ask this question as we take this little test: Do I rejoice with those who rejoice? Do you rejoice when others receive blessings and benefits that you have not received? How do you respond when your mate gets attention or honor or praise that you know, because you live with them, that they don't really deserve. When we're jealous, we will often say critical things to put others down so we can lift up ourselves.

How about when your friend's child excels at sports, at music, at academics, at everything; and that mother loves to make sure that you hear about it. Can you rejoice in the blessings of how well that child is doing? Or one of your siblings--brother, sister--their family is financially prosperous while your family is struggling to make ends meet. Do you find yourself being jealous, or do you find yourself rejoicing with those who rejoice?

woman.at.the.well · Apr 5, 2007

As always ... great subject rosie! This is something I think I am doing pretty well with! But definitely something worth giving some prayer and meditation about so I can see if the Lord brings another opinion to mind!

rosiecotton said:
I almost forgot!! I'm our chuch secretary and things have been kind of hectic getting ready for Sunday!!! So, here is the topic.....

How's Your Love Life?, Part 7

Series: How's Your Love Life?

Let's imagine that your coworker just got a big promotion. Would your first reaction be--to rejoice for them or to be envious of what they've achieved?
We're looking today at that third characteristic of love: Love does not envy. Love is not jealous. Love is not envious for the possessions of others. In fact, it can rejoice with those who have greater resources, greater position or greater abilities. I think one of the most difficult commands in the Word of God for us to obey--and one of the ones we frequently neglect--is the command to rejoice with those who rejoice. Some of you women have real tender hearts, and it doesn't take much to make you weep. When a person has a burden or a need, you're right there with mercy and kindness and weeping with those who weep. But do we rejoice with those who rejoice?

Your neighbor gets a nice new car, and you're driving a clunker that barely runs. Do you get excited about the fact that that new neighbor got a nice new car? Or is it a more natural tendency to want to criticize and put others down because we're jealous, we're comparing? Love and jealousy are mutually exclusive. If we have love, we will not be jealous. We will not be jealous for what others have.

Jealousy comes in a couple different forms. Sometimes it's the attitude that I want what someone else has. They have something I don't have; I wish I could have it. I'm jealous for it. Then sometimes it's not that we want what they have; it's just that we wish that they didn't have it. So, I want what you have or I wish that you didn't have what you have. Love is not possessive. God has given all of us material blessings, (and) other kinds of blessings--time, resources of different types.

True love doesn't hold on to--jealously cling to--my possessions but is willing to share, to give, to share with others. True love is, rather than being jealous, it's content with having my basic needs met--having basic necessities in life and having, of course, the most important thing we can have; and that is a right relationship with God. If I have a right relationship with God, if Jesus Christ is my Savior and lives in my life, and I have eternal life, and I have a clear conscience toward God--what else do I need? We're so short-sighted, and we crave and covet and long for the things that others have that are temporal. But true love is delighted for others to be blessed with things that perhaps we don't have.

Paul said, "What's the key to dealing with this issue of jealousy, comparison, (and the) contention that flows out of this jealousy?" The key is to live a life of love, to put on love, to pursue love, to learn to love in God's way. Love is not envious; it is not jealous.
When love sees another person who is more popular, more successful, more beautiful, more talented, than I am--then if I have a heart of love, I will be glad for that person, never jealous or envious. James 3 talks about the deadliness of the sin of envy or jealousy. James said that if any person is wise in understanding, "let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that come from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts..."

By the way those two invariably go together--envy and selfish ambition--seeking more for myself. James said, "If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come from heaven [this is not of God] but it is earthly, unspiritual and of the devil." One translation says it's devilish. It's demonic to have this kind of selfish ambition and envy. Envy is not just a little problem. Envy is something that comes from the pit of hell.

So James says in 3:16, "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." And isn't that a description of what was taking place in the church at Corinth? There was disorder. There was contention. There was pandemonium at their Communion services. You have disorder and every evil practice.

In that church there was a man who (had an) incestuous relationship with his father's wife. Talk about evil practices! And the church was condoning it. Where did this come from? Paul says it all goes back to a lack of love. "You envy. You're jealous of one another." James goes on to say in that passage, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (James 3:17).

In her book, The Music of His Promises, Elisabeth Elliot has a wonderful passage about this part of the love test. Here's what she has to say: "If I imagine that I love my neighbor let me test my love by asking how glad I am that he has achieved what I have failed to achieve; that he has managed to acquire what I have long wished to acquire; that he is loved by someone or by many or in some way that has never been granted to me."

By the way, let me put in a little word in there. Those of you who may be single, do you find yourself jealous of your friends who are getting married? They've got a mate; they've got a husband. Perhaps you're a woman who has married, but you've not been able to have children. Do you find yourself jealous of the one who's been able to have children because it's a blessing that's not been given to you.

She goes on to say, "Do I rejoice because he (my neighbor) has reasons to rejoice that have been denied me? Can I honestly praise God for His goodness to my neighbor? Can I praise Him wholeheartedly for His gifts to me? If I love my neighbor as myself, there will be no reason at all for the least twinge of jealousy--because I will be just as happy that he has what I wanted as I would be if I had it."

So, we ask this question as we take this little test: Do I rejoice with those who rejoice? Do you rejoice when others receive blessings and benefits that you have not received? How do you respond when your mate gets attention or honor or praise that you know, because you live with them, that they don't really deserve. When we're jealous, we will often say critical things to put others down so we can lift up ourselves.

How about when your friend's child excels at sports, at music, at academics, at everything; and that mother loves to make sure that you hear about it. Can you rejoice in the blessings of how well that child is doing? Or one of your siblings--brother, sister--their family is financially prosperous while your family is struggling to make ends meet. Do you find yourself being jealous, or do you find yourself rejoicing with those who rejoice?

cristianna · Apr 5, 2007

I think I can be jealous, even though I'd want to say I'm not that type. I don't think I'm jealous of material possessions. From childhood to now I have lived poor- single mother, very comfy- two parents, poor- parents divorced and then dh and I living on our own parenting my oldest before my graduation, too comfy- both of us working full time and now stable on one income. I have seen how easily material possessions come and go. And I have also learned how there will be something bigger and better that's *desired*, though not needed.

I do find myself on the brink of jealousy for those who can recite Psalm 32 or Matthew 5:13 without hesitating. Or those, who in my mind's wild interpretation, seem to walk closer to God than I feel I do. Literally, it's crazy things like that I think I could be classified as jealous over. My only comfort that keeps me from crossing the line is knowing I'm walking *my* path. But it does take me a minute to get those thoughts on track.

In general I am overjoyed and ecstatic to hear and celebrate great news. And my heart weeps for those who are constantly taking blow after blow after blow, be it family members, friends or neighbors-- Christian or not.

Smileyill · Apr 5, 2007

Criada · Apr 5, 2007

Praying for you, smileyill!

Didn't think I was too bad on this one - until I thought about my kids! On the whole, I think I tend to be satisfied with what He has given me, and able to rejoice with others. But sometimes, seeing what other kids have or do, I am envious that I can't provide the same for mine! Which is stupid, because they are far from deprived, and all of them know God, so they are far better off than most of their friends.

Praise God that He can be a great Parent to our children, even when we miss it!

Maharg · Apr 6, 2007

Hi

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I kind of lost touch when the other thread split and have been away for a couple of days. I'm struggling with anxiety at the moment so I'm finding it hard to read stuff, especially if it is on screen so I may not post for a little while. Thanks for keeping the thread up and posting such uplifting and helpful topics.

Criada · Apr 6, 2007

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I kind of lost touch when the other thread split and have been away for a couple of days. I'm struggling with anxiety at the moment so I'm finding it hard to read stuff, especially if it is on screen so I may not post for a little while.

I'll be praying for you, sister!

Hope you are back soon!!

cristianna · Apr 6, 2007

Maharg said:
Hi

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I kind of lost touch when the other thread split and have been away for a couple of days. I'm struggling with anxiety at the moment so I'm finding it hard to read stuff, especially if it is on screen so I may not post for a little while. Thanks for keeping the thread up and posting such uplifting and helpful topics.

Praying for you.

burn97 · Apr 7, 2007

I am so sorry guys, I totally forgot about yesterday's devotion

Maharg · Apr 7, 2007

Thank you for the prayers. Have managed to get a couple ofconstructive tasks done today. Am just about to tidy up my cr and then finish tidying up the house. Still finding it quite difficult to relax but getting there. Thanks for the prayers.

LivingLifeHisWay · Apr 8, 2007

burn97 said:
I am so sorry guys, I totally forgot about yesterday's devotion

That's ok... We'll be looking forward to this Friday.

LivingLifeHisWay · Apr 8, 2007

My hubby and Nadia are home tomorrow (Monday) so I don't know if I will be able to get on in the morning so I thought I would post it tonight.

I'm continuing my weekly study...

Monday's Topic

Week 2: Focusing on the Truth about God and His Word

What are the Truths of God?

God is a person
God is everywhere
God is all knowing
God is all powerful

The Word of God is to be the source of our knowledge regarding God. How easy is it to believe something we've heard from another person or another book? We shouldn't allow other people to feed us their perception of God, we should rely on His Word to teach us.

The Word of God nourishes.

The Word of God is powerful.

The Word of God equips us.

The Word of God has been given to us for battle.

The Word of God is active and working.

By reading it daily, God will show us where we need to "clean up" our life. The Word will train us in right living and guide us in all our relationships. The Word of God will mold us into Christ's likeness but we have to allow that to happen. Our hearts must be open to change and we must allow God fully into our lives.

It can be very scary to allow God to take control of our lives, to mold us, to change us. It means we have to surrender ourselves to Him. It means we have to let go of our wants, our needs, our desires.

I can't help but to think; Who better to surrender to? Who better to let go to? God. Our Creator who knows us from the inside out. Who loves us infinitely more then we can ever imagine. Let Him mold you. Let Him guide you. Let Him change you.

Memory Verse For Week 2:

Psalm 119:11> I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against you.

Discussion: Let's talk about where we are at in our lives with God. Have we let Him in to our daily lives? Are we allowing Him to mold and guide us? Are we decreasing while He's increasing? Is there anything we need to change in order to fully allow Him in?

cristianna · Apr 9, 2007

LivingLifeHisWay said:
Discussion: Let's talk about where we are at in our lives with God. Have we let Him in to our daily lives? Are we allowing Him to mold and guide us? Are we decreasing while He's increasing? Is there anything we need to change in order to fully allow Him in?

I hope everyone had a terrific Easter filled with God, family and friends!

Some time back when I allowed God into my life through daily conscienous means so many things changed-- some became complicated, while others were simplified.

I have allowed Him to mold and guide me, and I can vividly see where He's becoming larger, while I am becoming smaller. But I'm sure there's still alot I could change in to allow Him complete control.

Maharg · Apr 10, 2007

Discussion: Let's talk about where we are at in our lives with God. Have we let Him in to our daily lives? Are we allowing Him to mold and guide us? Are we decreasing while He's increasing? Is there anything we need to change in order to fully allow Him in?

Click to expand...

Well, I do try to let God in but I think I am quite hesitant about it. I let him in so far and then I retreat, then I let Him in gain and so on. I know I am not getting in to the word enough. I don't seem to be able to settle down to it at the moment. I can read the odd verse and take it in but don't seem to be able to concentrate on reading a chunk of scripture. I think it's due to anxiety. I go back to work in a week's time and I've been having nightmares abnout it since this time last week. The thing is, I'm sure it would help me if I could focus on God. He always puts things into perspective and helps me to focus on the things that really matter. I must make a real effort to put God first in everything this week.

Maharg

Criada · Apr 10, 2007

Discussion: Let's talk about where we are at in our lives with God. Have we let Him in to our daily lives? Are we allowing Him to mold and guide us? Are we decreasing while He's increasing? Is there anything we need to change in order to fully allow Him in?

God has been taking me through this in the last few weeks. I asked Him to bring all of my life under His Lordship, and to show me where I have not been submitting to Him. He has changed me so much. It has been painful, but worth it. I have a long way to go, but He is showing me step by step. I want to be what He wants me to be - whatever the cost - but it is a struggle! Praise God, He gived us the victory!

Maharg said:
I think it's due to anxiety. I go back to work in a week's time and I've been having nightmares abnout it since this time last week. The thing is, I'm sure it would help me if I could focus on God. He always puts things into perspective and helps me to focus on the things that really matter. I must make a real effort to put God first in everything this week.

Praying for you!

Come Into The Deep End... with ImHisServant (3)

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