God has really been working in my life. He has given me strength to overcome and mercy when I have not been successful. Lately I have been so excited about the misitry God is putting together through me that I can hardly stand it.
It is really neat to think that this ministry isn't a hand-me-down. It isn't something handed over to me from someone who didn't want it. It isn't something I would rather not accept. It isn't something to hide in the corner. It is something that God made.. brand new... just for me to use to serve Him. As each piece to the puzzle comes together, I seem to grow more and more in strength. The temptations that used to cause my emotions to knock me down and control me are not nearly as "tempting" as they used to be.
Don't get me wrong. Temptation is just as strong. The difference is that I am becoming more aware. I am seeing the better side of doing what God wants rather than what I want. I am seeing the benefits of waiting on His timing rather than my own. I am growing.
I was so proud of myself last night over a very wise decision I had made. It was a choice to avoid the opportunity for temptation. It was a choice that I didn't necessarily want to make, but knew there was a better reason for it. Some things are worth waiting for. I was able to put away Satan's offer to entice and put me in a situation where I may weak. I know that really BITES for him! LOL
You know, if Satan can't defeat you while you are fully awake when you are at your best, he tried to catch you off guard. Nothing like a late night phone call to get the temptations rising. Satan is smart and sneaks up on you. In my half asleep state, normally I would have fallen right into the temptation... willingly. But God gave me stregnth! Not only was I able to avoid temptation, but I used the time of interrupted sleep to spend some extra time with God.
What Satan wanted to use for defeat, God turned into victory! What can be better than that!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Hand-Me-Down Beliefs
I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. Life gets us busy. There is much I want to share, but this is on my mind and it cannot wait.
I just spent the past two hours debating my beliefs with a friend. I have to say, I was beginning to get a little hot under the collar so to speak. I will not go into all the details of the conversation. Many of the topics were doctrinally related. I have made it a general rule not to argue doctrine, especially with a fellow believer. I think there are too many divides in God's children already because of this. I do however, think it is important to know what you believe and why.
As I may have shared before, I was raised in a very legalistic church. Many of the beliefs and doctrines I still hold today; but many were a hindrance in my spiritual growth for years.
When talking about beliefs, whether it is between eternal security and the requirement of works to show fruit; whether it is about using the JKV instead of the other translations; whether it is if women should wear pants or not... whatever the disagreement; we as Christians need to know why we believe what we believe.
So many of us don't even have a true understanding of what we believe. We believe what we have heard for years growing up in the church. Did we ever really require there to be validation in the beliefs, practices, and doctrines we stand so firmly by? I think you would agree that the tendency of beliefs are more out of tradition.
I have said I am tired of hand-me-downs. I believe this includes those hand-me-down beliefs that I haven't searched out an proved for myself. I challenge you to examine your beliefs, your codes of ethics, your doctrines. Do you really know why you believe them? Can you support your beliefs with actual scriptures? Try examining your own life and get rid of those hand-me-down beliefs.
I just spent the past two hours debating my beliefs with a friend. I have to say, I was beginning to get a little hot under the collar so to speak. I will not go into all the details of the conversation. Many of the topics were doctrinally related. I have made it a general rule not to argue doctrine, especially with a fellow believer. I think there are too many divides in God's children already because of this. I do however, think it is important to know what you believe and why.
As I may have shared before, I was raised in a very legalistic church. Many of the beliefs and doctrines I still hold today; but many were a hindrance in my spiritual growth for years.
When talking about beliefs, whether it is between eternal security and the requirement of works to show fruit; whether it is about using the JKV instead of the other translations; whether it is if women should wear pants or not... whatever the disagreement; we as Christians need to know why we believe what we believe.
So many of us don't even have a true understanding of what we believe. We believe what we have heard for years growing up in the church. Did we ever really require there to be validation in the beliefs, practices, and doctrines we stand so firmly by? I think you would agree that the tendency of beliefs are more out of tradition.
I have said I am tired of hand-me-downs. I believe this includes those hand-me-down beliefs that I haven't searched out an proved for myself. I challenge you to examine your beliefs, your codes of ethics, your doctrines. Do you really know why you believe them? Can you support your beliefs with actual scriptures? Try examining your own life and get rid of those hand-me-down beliefs.
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