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

[RuthD]

 

[Smileyill]

Well, I finally turned something over to God which I had a lot of trouble doing. When I feel I need to confront someone, I tend to lay out word-for-word what I want to say and spends hours of sleeplessness, and even tears sometimes, (ya I admit, I'm a soppy guy) agonizing over what'll happen.

But this morning I decided to just get a general idea and let God handle the words. And he did, it went ok.

 

[jenrenee]

I kind of did the same thing - or at least tried to. Yesterday in church I was sitting by myself and just decided to start praying, asking God for something that I have been hoping for, for a long time. I don't know if it was just my imagination or not - but I felt like God spoke to me. It almost felt like He was saying Okay - I will do that for you. Like I said, I have an overactive imagination, but I really felt like God was speaking to me. It was an incredible feeling...

 

[cristianna]

Well, I finally turned something over to God which I had a lot of trouble doing. When I feel I need to confront someone, I tend to lay out word-for-word what I want to say and spends hours of sleeplessness, and even tears sometimes, (ya I admit, I'm a soppy guy) agonizing over what'll happen.

But this morning I decided to just get a general idea and let God handle the words. And he did, it went ok.

I kind of did the same thing - or at least tried to. Yesterday in church I was sitting by myself and just decided to start praying, asking God for something that I have been hoping for, for a long time. I don't know if it was just my imagination or not - but I felt like God spoke to me. It almost felt like He was saying Okay - I will do that for you. Like I said, I have an overactive imagination, but I really felt like God was speaking to me. It was an incredible feeling...

That is so awesome! I'm so happy for both of you!

 

[Criada]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smileyill
Well, I finally turned something over to God which I had a lot of trouble doing. When I feel I need to confront someone, I tend to lay out word-for-word what I want to say and spends hours of sleeplessness, and even tears sometimes, (ya I admit, I'm a soppy guy) agonizing over what'll happen.

But this morning I decided to just get a general idea and let God handle the words. And he did, it went ok.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenrenee
I kind of did the same thing - or at least tried to. Yesterday in church I was sitting by myself and just decided to start praying, asking God for something that I have been hoping for, for a long time. I don't know if it was just my imagination or not - but I felt like God spoke to me. It almost felt like He was saying Okay - I will do that for you. Like I said, I have an overactive imagination, but I really felt like God was speaking to me. It was an incredible feeling...

Praise God. He is so good.
I really need to hold on to that truth right now.
Thanks for the encouragement,
Bless you

 

[LoverOfMySoul]

have a blessed evening

 

[TheGloryisHere]

Well, I finally turned something over to God which I had a lot of trouble doing. When I feel I need to confront someone, I tend to lay out word-for-word what I want to say and spends hours of sleeplessness, and even tears sometimes, (ya I admit, I'm a soppy guy) agonizing over what'll happen.

But this morning I decided to just get a general idea and let God handle the words. And he did, it went ok.

Your Father God loves you so much!!! When you really really find out that's true, you'll notice all that fear is gone. That's what happened to me.

Be blessed.

 

[LivingLifeHisWay]

Well, I finally turned something over to God which I had a lot of trouble doing. When I feel I need to confront someone, I tend to lay out word-for-word what I want to say and spends hours of sleeplessness, and even tears sometimes, (ya I admit, I'm a soppy guy) agonizing over what'll happen.

But this morning I decided to just get a general idea and let God handle the words. And he did, it went ok.

Awesome news! I do the same thing too though...confrontation and I don't like eachother very much.

 

[LivingLifeHisWay]

I kind of did the same thing - or at least tried to. Yesterday in church I was sitting by myself and just decided to start praying, asking God for something that I have been hoping for, for a long time. I don't know if it was just my imagination or not - but I felt like God spoke to me. It almost felt like He was saying Okay - I will do that for you. Like I said, I have an overactive imagination, but I really felt like God was speaking to me. It was an incredible feeling...

I have no doubt that God did speak to you.

PS: Love your new CFC look!

 

[LivingLifeHisWay]

Hi everyone! So sorry to have been MIA the last few weeks. I had to go on a CF Fast....a lot going on lately. I'm back though, regrouped and refreshed with the lights back on. ::

Missed you all!

Judi, ODB was awesome today...hope you post it soon. ::

 

[cristianna]

LLHW ... glad to see you back Sista!

 

[jenrenee]

Hi everyone! So sorry to have been MIA the last few weeks. I had to go on a CF Fast....a lot going on lately. I'm back though, regrouped and refreshed with the lights back on. ::

Missed you all!

Judi, ODB was awesome today...hope you post it soon. ::

Glad to see you back!!

 

[woman.at.the.well]

April 24, 2007​

Care Of The Heart

READ: Proverbs 24:30-34

When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction. —Proverbs 24:32

My father-in-law took a rocky, barren hilltop in Texas and transformed it into a beautiful homesite with a shaded green lawn. After removing thousands of rocks, he added topsoil, planted trees and grass, and kept it watered. Since his death, it has lacked his consistent care. Today when I visit and work around that house, battling the invading thistles, thorns, and weeds, I ponder the state of my own heart.
Am I like that neglected yard, or perhaps the field and vineyard described in Proverbs 24—overgrown with thorns, covered with nettles, its stone wall broken down? (v.31). The owner is lazy and lacks understanding (v.30), perhaps putting off today’s tasks for a more convenient time.
Along with the practical instruction about diligence in work, I find an application for the care of my soul. The thistles of self-interest grow naturally within me, while the fruit that pleases God requires constant weeding and watering through prayer, confession, and obedience to the Lord. Without these, the soil of my heart will become choked with the thorns of trivial pursuits and greed.
“Keep your heart with all diligence,” Solomon wrote, “for out of it spring the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). That requires constant care. —David C. McCasland
One little sin, what harm can it do?
Give it free reign and soon there are two.
Then sinful deeds and habits ensue—
Guard well your thoughts, lest they control you. —DJD
The garden of our heart needs constant weeding and care.

How about it indeepers . . . how are YOUR weeds doing. I know mine are pretty deep!​

 

[cristianna]

Awesome topic! Normally I'm quite well at trying to keep pre-emergent on my weeds. But man oh man... some seeds have rooted and are growing nicely here lately. (Also kind of nicely ties into what I plan to post for tomorrow).

Where's the weed killer????? LOL

 

[LivingLifeHisWay]

LLHW ... glad to see you back Sista!

Glad to see you back!!

Thank you ladies!

 

[LivingLifeHisWay]

Weeds...yuck! I really do think that exposing those weeds is the best thing. If we keep them hidden away and try to cover them up...the roots just keep growing and pretty soon you have a whole lot of cleaning up to do. Talking about our temptations or failures can be quite difficult but if we can confide in at least one person I really do bieleve those weeds would die off.

 

[RuthD]

 

[cristianna]

Satan’s Bag of Tricks, Part 2

By Tracie Miles

“The man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” Genesis 3:8-10 (NIV)

Devotion:
Adam and Eve had a beautiful relationship living in paradise. Then Satan stepped in and pulled some tricks out of his bag. He disguised himself as a creature and tempted them with something that appeared to be good. Yesterday’s devotion discussed how Satan can use our own busyness to divide our marriages, but he has an even stronger trick up his sleeve – selfishness.

The second that Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately realized they were naked. They also became immediately consumed with themselves. The moment they sinned, a division was created in their marriage. Genesis 3:11-12 says, “And he said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?’ The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’ (NIV) Adam instantly blamed Eve, and then told God he didn’t even ask for this woman.

Then in verse 13, we are told, “Then the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’ Eve instantly blamed the serpent. I imagine she wanted to point the finger at Adam as well, saying “he did it too!” As soon as they sinned, they both turned inward – they both began protecting themselves. The tragic result was an instant division in their relationship. They were transformed from a beautiful couple, completely surrendered to each other, to two selfish people out to protect their own personal interests.

Selfishness tears many marriages apart and is a powerful act of trickery from Satan. No matter how willing we are to happily meet our husbands’ every need in the beginning of a marriage, it doesn’t take long before we begin thinking, “But what about my needs?”

Most of us would not admit to being self-centered, but due to Satan’s Garden of Eden trick which brought sin into the world, we are, by nature, selfish people. Society further conditions this thought-process by brainwashing us into thinking, “we are number one” and all that matters is “what’s in it for me.” This type of attitude in marriage is a death sentence. Satan uses our selfish desire to be served to destroy our desire to serve. He slowly tricks us into thinking things like: “my husband is not romantic enough;” “he never helps out at home;” “he works too much;” “he doesn’t spend enough time with the children;” “someone else could meet my needs better.” When Satan hears these words, he is jumping for joy once again.

A primary key to locking up Satan’s bag of tricks is to put aside selfishness by praying for God to remove selfish thoughts from your mind. Ask God to help you see your husband through His eyes, and to remind you of the reasons you fell in love with your man to begin with. Keep in mind that the definition of submissiveness is not “doormat.” The biblical definition is “a willing and positive response; a conscious and friendly yielding of his or her own will.” Before sin was introduced into the relationship, Eve was perfectly happy being a loving and submissive wife. It was only after Satan tricked her that her motives turned selfish. God desires for us to love our husbands unconditionally and to give them the privilege of being the men of our lives.


Dear Lord, Give me the strength to put aside my own selfish desires and make my husband a priority in my life. Open my eyes to new ways that I can show love to him. Give me the desire to lovingly submit to him as my one true love, just as You instructed in Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflections:

• Do I put my own busyness and selfish needs before the needs of my husband?
• Do I need to give my husband the gift of being the man of the household?

Power Verses:
Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.” (The Message)

Colossians 3:18, “Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.” (The Message)

 

[cristianna]

Reflections:

• Do I put my own busyness and selfish needs before the needs of my husband?
• Do I need to give my husband the gift of being the man of the household?

As most of you are aware I am in an unequally yoked marriage (uy). This certainly creates some strains and tough times in just trying to walk and stay on this road to begin with. While dh is a great person, his support isn't always there.

Yesterday we talked about weeds. And today I posted the final half of last Wednesday's topic. I have some serious weeds rooting that deal with both of these topics. I can absolutely say I offer and give dh utmost respect and leadership in our home.

Men carry a heavy burden to protect and provide for the family. And the woman carries a burden too of which many will call greater or less in their opinion. I've always felt my burdens were less and never tried to complain or criticize. Even my children will talk about daddy being the big boss of the home. So I do feel I'm very good at acknowledging and openly accepting his role without reservations.

The past week I have had more added to my plate. Why? Because of a multitude of reasons. The primaries are: 1) dh work schedule 2) dh doesn't want to deal with it and 3) dh doesn't have strategies or coping skills to achieve a goal of this size. This is no easy task for me. It's one that I will have to strive and fight to remain on course and not stumble or fail.

And as you can see.... I'm not pleased. The weed has well rooted itself. I'm tired of always managing the "hard" things. Hello? Don't I do more than enough already? I really almost feel as if one more thing on my plate will cause me to topple shattering it into a million pieces.

Before I go on a tirade let's just allow everyone to use their imagination on how I feel and skip to the next part. So once I was done throwing a temper tantrum to God I still was not satisified and decided to treat dh not quite how I really should. I haven't been downright nasty or vicious, but dh is well aware I'm irritated over the situation. And we all know the road that can be found from that: division between each other, snapping at one another, bickering over ridiculous things, etc.

Monday night I was feeling terribly vicious, but I was desperately trying to keep it well hidden as I went on and on in a monologue to myself about how ridiculous it was I am handed all of the hard things, how eventually I will break, how everyone expects me to remain strong and not need help, what about me and my weaknesses, how come I can't get away with saying I just can't do it-- let alone don't want to do it, etc.

After much prayer God is guiding me to just handle things day by day. I have found great comfort and hope in that. But I'm still a tad cranky about it. I guess I need more weed killer. And I need to stop my thoughts of selfishness and busyness, step up to the plate and pray God provides me with strength and endurance.


Well... I feel a bit better now!

 

[Criada]

Monday night I was feeling terribly vicious, but I was desperately trying to keep it well hidden as I went on and on in a monologue to myself about how ridiculous it was I am handed all of the hard things, how eventually I will break, how everyone expects me to remain strong and not need help, what about me and my weaknesses, how come I can't get away with saying I just can't do it-- let alone don't want to do it, etc.

After much prayer God is guiding me to just handle things day by day. I have found great comfort and hope in that. But I'm still a tad cranky about it. I guess I need more weed killer. And I need to stop my thoughts of selfishness and busyness, step up to the plate and pray God provides me with strength and endurance.

Are you sure this is you, Cristianna?
It sounds awfully like me!

Itts often easy to do the right things with the wrong attitude. Resentfulness and grumbling are fairly nasty weeds in my garden - which the Holy Spirit is currently yanking out, rather than applying weed killer! It can be painful when the roots are deep.
Praying for you!