When God brings you to a "place of contentment" it does not mean that He has brought you to a "comfort zone" where you will stay in for the rest of your life. Just the opposite. It’s a place where He wants to stretch and grow you - by taking you to new levels with Him that you never thought possible. As long as you are attached to the Vine, daily seeking His desires and where He’s working, then you will be content in the places He asks you to go. Will you be scared at times? Of course. Any time God moves the peg, it must humble us and cause us to remember who we were and really who we still are (sinners). But God sees us in our finished state – complete (on earth as it is in heaven) as His new creations with all the potential that goes with it.
Just like God did with Gideon:
Judges 6:11-16
11 The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
13 "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."
14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have [God’s strength] and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"
15 "But Lord, " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
16 The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." [emphasis mine]
Gideon saw himself as weak, and the least in his family with no power to do anything for Israel. But God called him a Mighty Warrior. God saw him as a finished work - complete. God told him to “go in the strength you have.” God was not saying to do it in his own strength but over and over God said HE would be with Gideon. It was God’s strength and God’s power that would deliver them from the Midianites.
Peter is another example of Jesus seeing him as the completed work of God even while he was still yet full of sin (denial). Read about that in Luke 22:31 and Matthew 16:17-19
Wouldn't it be something if we could see those we love - the way God sees them? There are several people right now that God has put in my path to point them to Jesus and His ways. They desire to love and serve God but have a past life of sin that they sometimes find hard to get over even though they know God's forgiveness. Yet God sees them in their finished and completed state of Christ's purpose for them. May we all seek to encourage those around us to believe who they are in Christ and what His purposes are. May we pray for them to be in the center of His will where God can complete the very work He has begun.
Philippians 1:6
...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. [emphasis mine]
Choosing Joy,
Stephanie
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Finally BROKEN
I few months ago I wrote about how I had asked God to strip away everything in my life that did not please Him, or was not useful for His kingdom purposes. I was sincere in my prayer but I had no idea how bad this pruning would be. When I had told my pastor what I asked of the LORD, he relied with raised eyebrows, "You asked what?" He assured me then, that God took my prayer seriously and would do the work He intended to do. I asked him how long it would take - but God was the one that replied with the answer a few days later saying, "When I am finished."
A week or two ago I felt God showing that He was coming to the end of this pruning season (for now). I shared with you about the evergreen tree that had been stripped of its branches [CUT DOWN - Feb 6th] and I felt that was God's way of showing me His pruning process in my life. Well, last week we had a very bad storm one night where the winds kicked up and the rains came down in torrents. The next morning I looked out the window and two of the main trunks on that evergreen tree were lying on the ground. They were huge. I could barely lift them. As I dragged them to the back property I kept saying over an over to the Lord, this can't mean me, can it? These are the main trunks, the very life of the tree. But when I looked back at the evergreen, as full as it had been with those two large branches in the center, I could hardly tell that they were missing. It still stood tall and seemed to sway with the wind in a more gentle fashion. Do I now allow the Holy Spirit's gentle wind to blow into my life a little more often? Will I respond sooner to His leading?
The very day I wrote about coming to A Place of Contentment in my life, God showed me about the complete brokenness of my spirit. We must break down any altar where an idol stands in the place of God.
I looked up the word "broken" in scripture today and realized how many ways and how many things that God must break - in us and around us - in order to do His full and complete work. I challenge you to do the same, but here are a few verses of hope that show a long pruning season is worth all the pain it causes - when the process and the results are left to the LORD of Heaven.
Psalm 51:16-17
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, You will not despise. [emphasis mine]
Daniel 12:6-7
6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed." [emphasis mine]
Amos 9:11-12
11 "In that day I will restore
David's fallen tent.
I will repair its broken places,
restore its ruins,
and build it as it used to be,
12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations that bear My Name,"
declares the LORD, who will do these things. [emphasis mine]
When we are finally broken, we can approach God's throne of Grace and know that our God will rebuild, restore and renew our lives. We then become vessels fit for His use to be filled and poured out as He chooses. And we can stand tall with our confidence solely in Him.
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
A week or two ago I felt God showing that He was coming to the end of this pruning season (for now). I shared with you about the evergreen tree that had been stripped of its branches [CUT DOWN - Feb 6th] and I felt that was God's way of showing me His pruning process in my life. Well, last week we had a very bad storm one night where the winds kicked up and the rains came down in torrents. The next morning I looked out the window and two of the main trunks on that evergreen tree were lying on the ground. They were huge. I could barely lift them. As I dragged them to the back property I kept saying over an over to the Lord, this can't mean me, can it? These are the main trunks, the very life of the tree. But when I looked back at the evergreen, as full as it had been with those two large branches in the center, I could hardly tell that they were missing. It still stood tall and seemed to sway with the wind in a more gentle fashion. Do I now allow the Holy Spirit's gentle wind to blow into my life a little more often? Will I respond sooner to His leading?
The very day I wrote about coming to A Place of Contentment in my life, God showed me about the complete brokenness of my spirit. We must break down any altar where an idol stands in the place of God.
I looked up the word "broken" in scripture today and realized how many ways and how many things that God must break - in us and around us - in order to do His full and complete work. I challenge you to do the same, but here are a few verses of hope that show a long pruning season is worth all the pain it causes - when the process and the results are left to the LORD of Heaven.
Psalm 51:16-17
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, You will not despise. [emphasis mine]
Daniel 12:6-7
6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed." [emphasis mine]
Amos 9:11-12
11 "In that day I will restore
David's fallen tent.
I will repair its broken places,
restore its ruins,
and build it as it used to be,
12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations that bear My Name,"
declares the LORD, who will do these things. [emphasis mine]
When we are finally broken, we can approach God's throne of Grace and know that our God will rebuild, restore and renew our lives. We then become vessels fit for His use to be filled and poured out as He chooses. And we can stand tall with our confidence solely in Him.
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
Monday, March 10, 2008
Content at Last
As I have shared recently, God has brought me to a new place of prayer with Him that has changed everything in my life. Each time I think that I have finally arrived to this new place of prayer, He moves the peg just a little bit higher. I really fought this at first because it was out of my 'comfort zone' (especially the sleeping one). Getting up earlier to spend an hour in prayer is hard. I only committed to 10 weeks of this - but I can already see that it is a place that God is showing me is permanent. I won't be going back to my old ways - because I have followed Him into His perfect ways.
Philippians 4:4-7, 11b-13
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
11b ...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. [emphasis mine]
God gives us instructions on how, when and even where to pray. He tells us the results that will follow, and how to hear them.
In sharing all of this I have to say that today a question came up in one of my study workbooks [A Woman After God's Own Heart - by Elizabeth George] that measured how far God has brought me. She asks:
What is lacking in your life that robs you of joy and contentment?
I could honestly answer: NOTHING.......praise God, because I have finally come to the place where no matter what state I'm in, or what stage of life I'm in, or what season of life I'm in - THERE... RIGHT HERE, is where I am content. If God is THERE - then I am filled with great joy and contentment.
Aren't you glad that God chose to dwell in the hearts of His children?
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
Philippians 4:4-7, 11b-13
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
11b ...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. [emphasis mine]
God gives us instructions on how, when and even where to pray. He tells us the results that will follow, and how to hear them.
In sharing all of this I have to say that today a question came up in one of my study workbooks [A Woman After God's Own Heart - by Elizabeth George] that measured how far God has brought me. She asks:
What is lacking in your life that robs you of joy and contentment?
I could honestly answer: NOTHING.......praise God, because I have finally come to the place where no matter what state I'm in, or what stage of life I'm in, or what season of life I'm in - THERE... RIGHT HERE, is where I am content. If God is THERE - then I am filled with great joy and contentment.
Aren't you glad that God chose to dwell in the hearts of His children?
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Feed My Sheep
Have you ever tried to run your car on empty? It can't be done.
Have you ever tried to go an entire day without food just because you forgot to eat - being too busy to take the time to fuel up your body?
Have you ever been so busy in God's work that you ran out of spiritual fuel?
A few weeks ago I was to that point - I was exhausted spiritually - drained by all that God was doing in and through me. Then I read a page from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost From His Highest, from February 9th. Here is an excerpt from that day. I hope you will take time to read the entire thing on your own. It really helped put things in perspective for me.
Chambers writes:
[Whether or not you experience exhaustion will depend on where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," but He gave him nothing with which to feed them. (John 21:17)
The process of being made broken bread and poured out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other people's souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you completely --- to the very last drop. But be careful to replenish your supply, or you will quickly be utterly exhausted. Until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you. You must literally be their source of supply, until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and sheep, as well as for Him..... You have no right to complain, "O Lord, I'm exhausted." He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. "All my springs are in you" (Psalm 87:7)] [emphasis mine]
Many times God calls us to "be still...." when it's the last thing we want to do. But it may be so that He can replenish us in His word by His Holy Spirit so we will have more to pour out the next time. It's OK to become exhausted as long as we take time to 'be still' and get replenished by our spiritual supplier - Jesus Christ!
John 15:5b [Jesus said] ...apart from Me you can do nothing.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Choosing JOY,
StephanieThursday, March 6, 2008
Praying in the Heavenlies
For the last several months God has been showing me some startling and wonderful things about prayer that I never knew before. He has taken me to a deeper place of understanding of how HE works when WE pray. I know I have only scratched the surface with what God wants to reveal to me but I am open and willing to listen, learn, and grow into the kind of prayer dimension that He desires for me (and all of us) ... one that will make a difference and be affective for kingdom purposes!
Things I'm learning:
Things I'm learning:
- Prayer is most effective in the early morning because we begin our day aligned with His will and His purpose.
- We must believe the prayers we pray and wait in expectation for God to answer them.
Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation. [emphasis mine]
- Prayer......... Activates what God has already purposed in my life. (Psalm 139:4)
Psalm 57:2
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {His purpose} for me. [emphasis mine]
- Our prayers are prayed in heavenly realms where they become affective in what God is doing.
Matthew 6:8-10
...for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. [emphasis mine]
- Prayer keeps our focus off "self" - and ON GOD's will! (John 7:16-18)
John 7:16-18
16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not My own. It comes from Him who sent Me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but He who works for the honor of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about Him.
- Prayer brings JOY (John 16:23-24)
John 16:23-24
23 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. [emphasis mine]
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Changed in the Process
Psalm 4:3
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to Him.
Amos 3:4
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing
without revealing His plan
to His servants the prophets. [emphasis mine]
God is ALWAYS at work all around us. He never stops - except to invite us to a deep and intimate relationship with Him as well as giving us an invitation to participate (our faith in action) in all that HE is doing. Our "doing" means nothing - if it's not part of His plan.
When we draw close to the LORD we can't help being changed by Him! Let's join Him in His plans and His ways - it's the only WAY to live abundantly!
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to Him.
Amos 3:4
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing
without revealing His plan
to His servants the prophets. [emphasis mine]
God is ALWAYS at work all around us. He never stops - except to invite us to a deep and intimate relationship with Him as well as giving us an invitation to participate (our faith in action) in all that HE is doing. Our "doing" means nothing - if it's not part of His plan.
When we draw close to the LORD we can't help being changed by Him! Let's join Him in His plans and His ways - it's the only WAY to live abundantly!
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
Sunday, March 2, 2008
A Lightbulb Moment
Can you even imagine what it must have been like to be in the shoes of these two men as they walked with Jesus, to have it all spelled out for them and then having their eyes opened - just when He disappears? I can hear them now, "But..... Wait, don't go yet... we finally understand!"
Notice all the truths of promise, prophecy, fulfillment, doubt, rebuke, hopelessness, faith, hope, love and grace that are shown here - all at the same time! Only GOD!
Luke 24:13-31 NLT
The Walk to Emmaus
13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus Himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing Him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” [God's sense of humor shows here]
19 “What things?” Jesus asked.
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him. 21 We had hoped He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
22 “Then some women from our group of His followers were at His tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. 23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, His body was gone, just as the women had said.”
25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if He were going on, 29 but they begged Him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So He went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And at that moment He disappeared! [emphasis mine]
Oh to have been there that day - to have the Son of God explain all the scriptures concerning Himself. But wait............ we can be there every time we open the Word of God. His Holy Spirit speaks to our open hearts. May we understand and allow His Word to change those tender hearts - to a heart like His!
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
Notice all the truths of promise, prophecy, fulfillment, doubt, rebuke, hopelessness, faith, hope, love and grace that are shown here - all at the same time! Only GOD!
Luke 24:13-31 NLT
The Walk to Emmaus
13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus Himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing Him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” [God's sense of humor shows here]
19 “What things?” Jesus asked.
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him. 21 We had hoped He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
22 “Then some women from our group of His followers were at His tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. 23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, His body was gone, just as the women had said.”
25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if He were going on, 29 but they begged Him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So He went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And at that moment He disappeared! [emphasis mine]
Oh to have been there that day - to have the Son of God explain all the scriptures concerning Himself. But wait............ we can be there every time we open the Word of God. His Holy Spirit speaks to our open hearts. May we understand and allow His Word to change those tender hearts - to a heart like His!
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
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