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

[woman.at.the.well]

Here is today's topic:

April 10, 2007​

Compete Or Converge

READ: Ruth 4:13-22

[Ruth] bore a son. . . . They called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. —Ruth 4:13,17

Walking through campus one day, a seminary professor came upon a custodian reading the Bible during lunch hour. The professor asked what he was reading. “Revelation,” the custodian said. “I’m sure you don’t understand what it means,” said the professor condescendingly. “Actually, I do,” he replied. “It means Jesus wins.”
In the face of life’s challenges, it’s important to remember that ultimately God always wins! And since His plans are always in the victory lane, it’s infinitely wiser to converge with His will rather than compete with it.
In the story of Ruth, God providentially set the stage for Boaz to rescue Ruth and Naomi from a life of poverty and the shame of not having an heir. Ruth could have been bitter about her status as a young widow, and Boaz might have thought that as a foreigner Ruth was not worth his time. But they recognized the hand of God in their circumstances and converged with His plan to provide for her needs. The best part is that their story doesn’t end there. Salvation for the world was yet to come through their descendants—first David and then Jesus (Matt. 1:5-16).
We can compete with God’s plan and pursue our own agenda. Or we can converge with God’s plan and join the winning side. The choice is ours. —Joe Stowell
Choose not a path that God can’t bless,
For it will end in sure defeat;
But choose God’s path of victory
And with His plans you won’t compete. —D. De Haan
God’s plans always lead to victory.
​

How about it In Deepers . . . are you competing or converging?​

 

[LivingLifeHisWay]

Friends, for about a week I have been very down. Satan has been whispering in my ear and I was giving in. I was told that I shouldn't do the Jr High girls small group, that I am too stupid to pull it off, that I shouldn't give all that time up. I was starting to bieleve it.

I was getting scared about following through with what God asked me to do.

2 things happened to me today. One was I read this Daily Bread devotional. Am I running away from God's plans for me or running into His arms? I was beginning to tiptoe away from His plan for my life.

The other thing was I went to my first Beth Moore bible study at church. (my church is putting on "Believing God" by Beth Moore...so I stopped doing the one on Paul and will pick it up later.)

What I learned there was God wants to bless me but I need to be obidient to Him and co-operate with Him. Is running away co-operating? NOPE!

I need to stand up and BELIEVE GOD! Believe that He will help me through this, Believe that He is who He says He is, Believe that He can do what He says He will do. God whispered in my ear and now I HAVE to follow through. I have to ignore my shakey knees and my sweaty palms, I have to look up to Him and breathe - knowing that He is with me every step of the way.

God Bless You.

 

[LoverOfMySoul]

have a blessed day

 

[cristianna]

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

Praying for you.

Here is today's topic:

April 10, 2007​

Compete Or Converge

How about it In Deepers . . . are you competing or converging?​

Sadly I hover between the two. Generally I am obedient and willing. But there are times when I think a variety of things such as: I don't want to do that, I cannot do that, You've got be kidding me... I'm not ready for that, etc.

I have been enduring a horrendous struggle lately with an acquaintance who insists upon forcibly thrusting their life into mine. This is not a person I would be more than an acquaintance to. Even dh does not find this individual's character appealing (and that's putting it nicely), and embarrassingly enough... he's more or less drawn the line.

Yet I feel convicted to befriend her regardless if it's my desire or not. And let me tell you... I COULD SCREAM IT TO THE MOUNTAINS HOW I DO NOT WANT TO! Internally I feel like throwing a heinous temper tantrum far worse than each of us have ever witnessed or experienced from one of our children.

The characteristics continuously portrayed range from competitiveness, jealousy, trashing the spouse, gossiping, etc. I know I'm not perfect. I know I can fall into gossiping and things too, but I do not strive to fill my daily life with those things, let alone the dramatics of it.

If I want a friendship, I want a genuine and true friendship. And currently I just do not think I can be anything but *fake* to her right now when those characteristics swing into full gear. I've explained in a very loving and tactful way I do not like the competiveness or jealousy (towards me!), that I will not take sides on spousal issues, I simply do not acknowledge the trashing of the spouse, etc.

And...

And...

AND...

... when I go on a ranting and venting spree to God about this-- guess what???? I'm reminded about how I previously was!

I would embrace the winning side (I really like that phrase for it), but some times it's just soooooo difficult.

 

[Maharg]

Thank you for the prayers Criada and Christianna and anyone else who has been praying

 

[Maharg]

Christianna - praying that true friendship would develop here for you.

If you are loving someone who is behaving in an unlovely way then perhaps you are already in a true Christian friendship. Earhly friendships are often reciprocal, but maybe some friendships in Christioanity are not meant to be because the other person simply caanot offer you their friendship. I don't know. It's something I'm puzzling through. I have a 'friend' who tends to 'use' me quite a bit at the moment, but I am learning through the friendship how to say no to things. perhaps some friendships are sent to help develop our Christian character and it is our mutual friendship with jesus that holds us together rather than any feeling of liking the person with whom we are called to be friendly. Just my musings but maybe they could be helpful.

God bless you.



maharg

 

[Maharg]

Friends, for about a week I have been very down. Satan has been whispering in my ear and I was giving in. I was told that I shouldn't do the Jr High girls small group, that I am too stupid to pull it off, that I shouldn't give all that time up. I was starting to bieleve it.

I was getting scared about following through with what God asked me to do.

2 things happened to me today. One was I read this Daily Bread devotional. Am I running away from God's plans for me or running into His arms? I was beginning to tiptoe away from His plan for my life.

The other thing was I went to my first Beth Moore bible study at church. (my church is putting on "Believing God" by Beth Moore...so I stopped doing the one on Paul and will pick it up later.)

What I learned there was God wants to bless me but I need to be obidient to Him and co-operate with Him. Is running away co-operating? NOPE!

I need to stand up and BELIEVE GOD! Believe that He will help me through this, Believe that He is who He says He is, Believe that He can do what He says He will do. God whispered in my ear and now I HAVE to follow through. I have to ignore my shakey knees and my sweaty palms, I have to look up to Him and breathe - knowing that He is with me every step of the way.

God Bless You.

Amen! Well done for keeping going.

 

[woman.at.the.well]

Friends, for about a week I have been very down. Satan has been whispering in my ear and I was giving in. I was told that I shouldn't do the Jr High girls small group, that I am too stupid to pull it off, that I shouldn't give all that time up. I was starting to bieleve it.

I was getting scared about following through with what God asked me to do.

2 things happened to me today. One was I read this Daily Bread devotional. Am I running away from God's plans for me or running into His arms? I was beginning to tiptoe away from His plan for my life.

The other thing was I went to my first Beth Moore bible study at church. (my church is putting on "Believing God" by Beth Moore...so I stopped doing the one on Paul and will pick it up later.)

What I learned there was God wants to bless me but I need to be obidient to Him and co-operate with Him. Is running away co-operating? NOPE!

I need to stand up and BELIEVE GOD! Believe that He will help me through this, Believe that He is who He says He is, Believe that He can do what He says He will do. God whispered in my ear and now I HAVE to follow through. I have to ignore my shakey knees and my sweaty palms, I have to look up to Him and breathe - knowing that He is with me every step of the way.

God Bless You.

Converging and joining the winning side LLHW!!! And for completing the mod training program! God bless you sister!

 

[JPPT1974]

As Christians we are supposed to behave
In a way that God expects us to behave
Regardless of what the world wants us to do.
We aren't of this world like Jesus wasn't!

 

[Criada]

I would embrace the winning side (I really like that phrase for it), but some times it's just soooooo difficult.

Amen!! Praying for you on this one! It's easy to do what God wants, until other people are involved! I so often snap or act impatiently, when I know that's not what He wants!

But He is patient, and brings me back every time. So basically - I'm converging - only rather slowly!

 

[cristianna]

Christianna - praying that true friendship would develop here for you.

If you are loving someone who is behaving in an unlovely way then perhaps you are already in a true Christian friendship. Earhly friendships are often reciprocal, but maybe some friendships in Christioanity are not meant to be because the other person simply caanot offer you their friendship. I don't know. It's something I'm puzzling through. I have a 'friend' who tends to 'use' me quite a bit at the moment, but I am learning through the friendship how to say no to things. perhaps some friendships are sent to help develop our Christian character and it is our mutual friendship with jesus that holds us together rather than any feeling of liking the person with whom we are called to be friendly. Just my musings but maybe they could be helpful.

God bless you.



maharg

Thanks maharg! I do believe there is character building through this on both of our ends, mine and hers. And you know, I never thought about the Christian friendship side-- I think you're totally right!

 

[RuthD]

Friends, for about a week I have been very down. Satan has been whispering in my ear and I was giving in. I was told that I shouldn't do the Jr High girls small group, that I am too stupid to pull it off, that I shouldn't give all that time up. I was starting to bieleve it.

I was getting scared about following through with what God asked me to do.

2 things happened to me today. One was I read this Daily Bread devotional. Am I running away from God's plans for me or running into His arms? I was beginning to tiptoe away from His plan for my life.

The other thing was I went to my first Beth Moore bible study at church. (my church is putting on "Believing God" by Beth Moore...so I stopped doing the one on Paul and will pick it up later.)

What I learned there was God wants to bless me but I need to be obidient to Him and co-operate with Him. Is running away co-operating? NOPE!

I need to stand up and BELIEVE GOD! Believe that He will help me through this, Believe that He is who He says He is, Believe that He can do what He says He will do. God whispered in my ear and now I HAVE to follow through. I have to ignore my shakey knees and my sweaty palms, I have to look up to Him and breathe - knowing that He is with me every step of the way.

God Bless You.

Amen.

 

[cristianna]

The Faith of A Child

Peter 1:8-9 You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation. Message

While working in a room converted into an office, out of nowhere I begin to hear my daughter bellowing out a song. Her words are filled with emotion, thought and dedication. Her voice is angelic as she sings a love song. There is nothing I can do, but pause to listen. The words warm my heart, a smile lights my face as I hear: “He is strong. Yes Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus loves me—the Bible tells me so”. As she finishes she goes straight into a solo song she has been practicing for the upcoming Spring Program. For her, the words are powerful in building up her courage. It’s a reminder with God she can do anything. It’s her praise for answered prayers.

The faith of a child is inspiring and amazing. I cherish the delight and wonder when watching their face as they are told of Jesus rising from the dead, how He can and did do the impossible, how He parted waters, and more. For a child, faith is black and white, cut and dry. They know, believe and hold true that God can do the impossible, that God is the Master of Masters and with God by their side they are capable of their wildest, most creative dreams.

What song or bible verse inspires your faith? Is the faith of a child in your heart?

 

[LivingLifeHisWay]

Amen!! Praying for you on this one! It's easy to do what God wants, until other people are involved! I so often snap or act impatiently, when I know that's not what He wants!

But He is patient, and brings me back every time. So basically - I'm converging - only rather slowly!

Patience is a virtue I lack. I need more of it. I've been spending a lot of time thinking about how we are supposed to shine our light. That by just being around us (Christians) that Jesus' love would just ooze out from our pores and people would say "what's different about that person" or "I want what they have" which is Jesus.

I think my impatience tends to make that light flicker and fade.....the desire of my soul is that my light would shine bright, with a burning flame for Jesus. I pray that for all of us. Amen?

 

[Criada]

the desire of my soul is that my light would shine bright, with a burning flame for Jesus. I pray that for all of us. Amen?

Amen!

 

[LivingLifeHisWay]

The Faith of A Child
What song or bible verse inspires your faith? Is the faith of a child in your heart?

Song: Mighty To Save by Hillsong

This song speaks to my heart and I sing it to God with all my might. You can find the lyrics here.

Bible Verse: So many but my life verse is
Proverbs 3:5-6>Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

I try to live by this daily.

I would say that the faith of a child is in my heart. I love Jesus so much and I am so grateful to Him for saving me. There is so much I don't understand but that's ok, all I need to know is that my Redeemer Lives!

 

[jenrenee]

What song or bible verse inspires your faith? Is the faith of a child in your heart?

Song: What a Friend we have in Jesus - This song reminds me of what it says in the title - what a wonderful Friend we have in Jesus. That He is always there for us - and we can turn to Him in times of trouble. A lot of times I forget that all I have to do is give up my troubles, offer them to the Lord and He will take care of it.

Verse: Luke 11:9-10 So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Also: Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

I think I do have the faith of a child in my heart. I think it has a lot to do with not seeing but believing in the Lord and his works. There are a lot of people who don't believe in what they cannot see - but I trust in the Lord with all my heart and all my soul.

And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

 

[woman.at.the.well]

The Faith of A Child

Peter 1:8-9 You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation. Message

While working in a room converted into an office, out of nowhere I begin to hear my daughter bellowing out a song. Her words are filled with emotion, thought and dedication. Her voice is angelic as she sings a love song. There is nothing I can do, but pause to listen. The words warm my heart, a smile lights my face as I hear: “He is strong. Yes Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus loves me—the Bible tells me so”. As she finishes she goes straight into a solo song she has been practicing for the upcoming Spring Program. For her, the words are powerful in building up her courage. It’s a reminder with God she can do anything. It’s her praise for answered prayers.

The faith of a child is inspiring and amazing. I cherish the delight and wonder when watching their face as they are told of Jesus rising from the dead, how He can and did do the impossible, how He parted waters, and more. For a child, faith is black and white, cut and dry. They know, believe and hold true that God can do the impossible, that God is the Master of Masters and with God by their side they are capable of their wildest, most creative dreams.

What song or bible verse inspires your faith? Is the faith of a child in your heart?

I love the song "Hungry." That always inpsires my faith. There are so many to list but that one closely describes why I believe what I do.

I guess in a very small minimal way we all have to have the faith of a child to believe what we do. Not only do we need the faith of a child to believe what we do it's downright brave people; it really is. Tis not for the faint at heart to believe in Someone we have not seen. So I guess in essence, we are all brave children! God's brave children more specifically.

 

[Smileyill]

Christianna - praying that true friendship would develop here for you.

If you are loving someone who is behaving in an unlovely way then perhaps you are already in a true Christian friendship. Earhly friendships are often reciprocal, but maybe some friendships in Christioanity are not meant to be because the other person simply caanot offer you their friendship. I don't know. It's something I'm puzzling through. I have a 'friend' who tends to 'use' me quite a bit at the moment, but I am learning through the friendship how to say no to things. perhaps some friendships are sent to help develop our Christian character and it is our mutual friendship with jesus that holds us together rather than any feeling of liking the person with whom we are called to be friendly. Just my musings but maybe they could be helpful.

God bless you.



maharg

Very helpful, and very hard to accept. I tend to cut-off those friendships, they drain me. Actually, I'm pretty picky, unlike my bro. I could gather maybe 10 friends for an event, if I planned well in advance. My bro gathered 20 with about an hours notice.

 

[Maharg]

Good topic. I don't know whether I have the faith of a child in my heart but I believe I often have the joy of a child. Prior to the last few days when I've been feeling anxious I had actually begun to walk with a spring in my step and to feel joyful and relaxed. A song that really moves me is 'For the Beauty of the Earh' - the arrangement by John Rutter. I love John Rutter's stuff. He writes new tunes to older hymns and they are so beautiful.

I loved the description of Jesus' resurrection in the topic post. It's good when it is explained simply. A God who can rise from the dea can do anything! And I'm glad I serve that God.

Maharg