Run Harder

I received a phone call from a dear friend who is also a pastor's wife. What a wonderful gift friendship is and how God uses it to sharpen us and shine His Light into areas of our lives.
The conversation we had impacted me as a result of one sentence that my friend said..."I can run harder"...meaning that she could submit to Him more. She felt God had been showing her this lately and since she said this to me I can't seem to shake it from my thoughts. The Lord has been showing me that I too can run harder for Him. He has shown me the areas of my life that I'm not running rather a good description would be a slow walk. Some areas I'm not submitting at all; I'm at a stand still.
So now comes the crucial part; I've been convicted and shown how I can run harder for Him in this race of life and now I must put what I know into practice and not just think about it but do it. Knowledge must produce action at some point or it is wasted. This applies to all aspects of life...sharing the gospel...spiritual disciplines...diet...exercise...etc.

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Galatians 5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Oh that I may run harder this race that has been set out before me.

Honesty: Silence Is Not Always Golden

Seeking God for personal revival requires a level of honesty that, at first, may seem quite threatening. Covering up our faults and failures is an involuntary reflex. At first glance, it often seems like the best option. We want others to think the best of us. However, humility-one of the first prerequisites for revival-requires the willingness to be honest with God and others about our true spiritual condition.

Quoted from: Seeking Him - - Experiencing The Joy Of Personal Revival, Nancy Leigh DeMoss & Tim Grissom with Life Action Ministries - pg. 41

We are to set aside falsehood and speak truth in love. It is a vulnerable place to be when we admit our true sin and our true spiritual condition before God and man. The cost of pretending to be something we are not is devastating. Denying sin hinders fellowship with God and cripples our relationships.
This is what I am learning these days and I'm so grateful for God's unfailing love and faithfulness to His Word.
"Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." Proverbs 28:13

Today has been a good reminder...

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:6-9
God is faithful.

What does it say when we have no interest or regard for Jesus' words?

"If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching."
Jesus - John 14:23&24

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.
Jesus - John 15:1-8

And now let the routines begin...

It seems that the theme of my life these days is adjusting and evaluating my routines. Whether it is daily, weekly or monthly routines I am considering it all very carefully. Everything from devotional life to home management, diet, exercise, work, ministry meetings and friendships I am maintaining or cultivating I am weighing it all and very aware that apart from Christ I can do nothing!
I'm so thankful that He is the supplier of my "daily bread".

When A Book Connects...

I'm not much of an avid reader so when I do choose to read I'm careful about what I spend my time reading. Non fictional books are my choice and so I am finishing a book right now that has challenged me to the core as a woman. It has helped to explain behavior patterns I've seen in myself and observed in other women. Now the challenge is what to do with this knowledge and new understanding? Where it applies to things that need to change about myself I must not forget what I've been shown; that would be foolish. I must pray that God will change me and rely on His power to do so. In regard to dealing with other women; well only time will tell how helpful this knowledge will be but if it helps me in future relationships even a fraction of how the book has helped to shed light on past relationships then I'm very encouraged indeed. Quite the book to pick up for a summer read.

My Church, My Home

Getting back home after summer holidays has been so nice. I loved being away and connecting with family & old friends etc...but there is nothing like getting back home and settling back into the place you love to be.
The best part of coming home was getting back to our church. The combination of hearing the Word preached, embracing our church family and just being able to adore God together once again. It is a gift that I don't ever want to take for granted. I am thankful to be home!

The Bread Of Life Feeds My Spirit

"I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
Jesus Christ - John 6:35
I've pulled up to His table and my spirit has eaten and drank; my heart is full of life and satisfied in Him.
Thanks be to God for He is true to His word.

His Word Is Living & Powerful...It Wise To Listen

As the Lord declares in Isaiah 55:8-11
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."

Dream A New Dream

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." C.S. Lewis

I thought many times because of past disappointments & failures in areas of my life & relationships that setting new goals or daring to dream new dreams was a lost cause. I have discovered that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I'm so very thankful.

Pressing on Toward the Goal(s)

Pressing on Toward the Goal
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
To reach the goal I have found it very crucial to have goals along the way. I praise and thank God for the wisdom and discernment to set goals and for the power it takes to reach these goals. To Him be the glory!

Giving out of wealth or poverty?

Mark 12:41-44
The Widow's Offering
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

After reading/listening through the Gospel of Mark one of the things I have been challenged to examine is my heart's attitude when I serve and worship the Lord. Do I give "safely" out of the wealth of my money or do I give with "reckless abandonment" out of the poverty of my money? Do I give sparingly of my 24 hour day and only when it is convenient for me to do so or do I give generously of my time whether I "feel" like it or not?

Loving this season.

I'm so thankful for the relationships the Lord has given me. Over and over again, with regard to the people I am in contact with on a regular basis, I see His glory and strength in these "good gifts" from above.
I love this season of life we are in. As I have read my blog entries from the past year or so I see how much the Lord has answered prayer and responded to the desires He has put on my heart. Hope does not disappoint.
Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

I'm kind of in a season of renewed strength, soaring on wings like eagles, running and not weary and walking and not feeling faint.

Praise God!

Am I in Christ Jesus or not?

2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I can be "in" ministry, church, good relationships, and also be "into" living according to God's "law" but if I am not "in Christ Jesus" I am deceived to think that any of the things that I'm "into" will save me in the day of God's judgement and wrath. I'm hopelessly "in my sin" if I'm not "in Christ Jesus". As a Christian, if I'm not seeking His presence more than His principles I begin to live by the law and the law's purpose is to show me my sin and need of forgiveness and salvation. Living by the law doesn't save only being "in Christ Jesus" saves.

Romans 10:9-11
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame."

What Is My Cross?

Luke 9:22-24 (New American Standard Bible)
saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day." And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it."

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (New American Standard Bible)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

Do I qualify as a follower of Jesus Christ? Do I deny myself, pick up my cross and follow Him daily? What is my cross? Is it a day at the spa? A potluck dinner? A two hour church service on my day off? Or is my cross one that is described in the verses above because I shared the gospel with family & friends and live to please my Lord and Savior daily denying myself and proclaiming His truth that offends people who love their sin?

John 17:13-15 (New American Standard Bible)
The Disciples in the World
"But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one."

John 15:18-19 (New American Standard Bible)
Disciples' Relation to the World
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you."

Deadly Deception Cloaked In Living Truth

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

Hebrews 5:11-14
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

My Prayer:
Oh Lord please deliver us if indeed we are dull of hearing. There is a lack of discernment due to being spiritually immature, not practicing discernment or out right rebelling against the truth. So many churches are believing & teaching a deadly deception cloaked in living truth. We are allowing this counterfeit to be declared as truth in our homes and churches. Lord, forgive us and wake us up to desire and seek Your truth. Give us a hunger for the pure truth not a regurgitated version of Your truth that comes from popular authors or speakers or even pastors today.

2 Peter 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

1 Tim 6:20-21
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge" which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith Grace be with you.

Polluting the temple of God.

My thoughts as of late have been focused on how I may be polluting the temple of God. In my Bible readings I see time and time again how the Lord abhors the mixing of anything worldly with His people or His ways or His Words. I want to understand and know the Lord and so when I read that His character doesn't change, that Jesus Christ is the same today as He was yesterday and so on....then I must not ignore how the Lord's heart is grieved and angered when I/we change or add to what He has revealed about Himself in Scripture. It seems the movement among churches and Christians today is to let our emotions guide our discernment. If it brings me warm fuzzies and serves "my" purpose then I/we easily justify it before God even though it is contrary to His Word. I/we distort how He has revealed Himself in His Living Word and I/we try to mix my/our own opinions in just to "tweak" it up a bit. This is polluting and defiling the temple of God because as a born again believer He dwells in me and I am participating in and taking the twisted truths into my mind and heart and influencing others to do the same. Since when did it become ok to portray God any other way than the way He has already portrayed Himself? When did the creation become arrogant enough to re-write the Creator? Well, here is just a portion of Scripture that addresses such behavior:
1 Sam 12:20-25

Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile. For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king will be swept away."

One Mind...One Purpose

"God's promises are new every morning." & "This day is a gift from God. Don't forget to thank Him."
These are two magnets that I have front and centre on my fridge and I find my thoughts immediately influenced as a result of seeing them. I find myself so encouraged to know that His promises are new every morning and a new day brings new hope. At night when my day is spent for all of eternity I want to thank Him for it & know I used it wisely and invested in things of eternal value. That I loved the things God loves and I hated the things God hates.
A verse that has helped to form the way I pray and give thanks to God is:

Romans 15:5-7 "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God."

I recognize that it is God that grants perseverance not people or myself. His encouragement isn't fickle or fleeting but rather everlasting. And I love that the purpose and focus of being of the same mind with one another is that it is according to Christ Jesus not according to a worldly mindset that is acceptable to man. If we are not one in Christ then we are not one at all. There is no mixing the two. The outcome of being of one mind in Christ Jesus is we may then together glorify God. Oh that I may run this race and finish well according to Christ Jesus and glorify God.

Thankful for this gift of friendship.

I have just had the privilege of attending the memorial service of a woman who was such a dear friend. It was the most beautiful memorial service I have ever attended. Her sons and daughters sang worship songs and one of her sons gave the message. Having this family in my life over the past couple of years has been such a blessing. A true and timely gift from the Lord. In some really personal dark times it has been the comforting words of this dear family that brought so much encouragement to my heart. They truly model Christ and spur us on to do the same in our lives. I could share anything with them and know that they'd pray faithfully for our family. We would have never gotten to know this family had we not moved to Regina. The Lord gave us joy out of sorrow by connecting us with this family.
I will miss my dear friend but I know she is in the presence of her Lord and Savior and as her son said yesterday, she is finally able to love the Lord with all her heart, soul and mind. I will miss her tenderness and openness. I will also miss the prayer support and understanding heart that brought so much comfort to those people who knew her.
As I stood and participated at the graveside service I was brought back to the two other times that I had stood in that same cemetery and watched as my own parents' coffins were committed into the ground. This time though there was solid assurance that my dear sister in Christ was indeed with her Savior. The atmosphere was sad but not despairing. There is such blessed assurance when we trust and believe in the salvation provided for us in Jesus Christ. I am so thankful that the Lord has kept me in relationship with Himself over these years and I rejoiced yesterday for the gift of this wonderful friendship that drew me closer to Him.

And so it begins....

A new season of life has started for me and this has me feeling like I'm at some kind of threshold. I am so very glad to be here. I'm thinking that it is time to move forward and get bolder in my walk with the Lord and my witness for Him. I know I can only do this with His strength and anointing and so I wait on Him. There is much in my life that has to be pruned away in order to produce more fruit. This is my desire though and so I must endure the pruning.
I love how the Lord's Word comes alive and is so pertinent to all of life no matter what the season of life I'm in. As of late I've been craving more of the Word thus more of Him. As the craving grows so does the battle to abstain from the life giving Word & relationship it points me to. And so it begins the throwing off anything that hinders me from running the race. I want to run hard and finish well.

New Look & New Start in 2009

I'm always encouraged when the calendar turns and the beginning of a brand new year starts. Out with the old in with the new! My hope is that what needs to change in my life will occur so that more of this new year counts in and for eternity. Also, that what changed last year that needed to change will remain firm in my mind and heart in order to serve Him better and assist me onward to achieve the goals I've set for this coming year. May I be content in what ever 2009 holds and fully trust and hold onto the One who holds me in His constant care. Thank you Jesus.