3 Essential Steps to Make 2016 an Awesome Year

There is one New Year's resolution that is always especially good (and at ANY time of the year). That resolution is to spend more time with God. Even if you just start small, it can have a bigger impact than you could have imagined! I've found this to be true with the Beth Moore "Breaking Free Day by Day" devotional that I've started. I was expecting the devotionals to be longer reads, but I'm finding that the verse with a short paragraph can be all you need to springboard you into more!

Today was a perfect example of how my heart was so blessed that it spurred me to read more. Then, I started putting what was on my heart into a Facebook status and discovered that it was more suited for a blog. What I've found in Isaiah 33 today are three really great tips for getting 2016 started off right! It begins with the verse featured in today's devotional that first inspired me:

1. Have the right foundation! He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. - Isaiah 33:6.

If there's one thing that's an absolute "must have", it's the right foundation! You can't build a house, a life, or ANYTHING without it! You have absolutely no stability or reliability if the foundation isn't solid, strong, and well established. I'll tell you one thing, Christ is my firm foundation and "on Christ the solid rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand". I can hear my Grandmother's singing voice in my head as I remember that hymn; which further makes me remember how long my foundation has been there. My parents laid it for me because my grandparents and great-grandparents laid it for them as well. It's a rich legacy of faith that has been passed down because I come from a family who has a fear of the Lord. Therefore, we have "the key to this treasure" which is the Kingdom of God. The rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge have never been in short supply in our lives! It has nourished and sustained my family for generations! I am incredibly blessed to have this foundation; and to pass it down to our children as well. Sadly, I know that not everyone has had this same experience. The good news is, it's not too late to start rebuilding! If you have a crumbling foundation, or no foundation at all, start building on The Rock (no, not Dwayne Johnson; I'm talking about Jesus!). Get plugged in with a great church in your community. If you don't know where to start, leave a comment or contact me and I'll help you get started wherever you are! You aren't meant to be a loner; get connected with other believers to help build you up so you can start growing in your faith (Ephesians 4:29, Hebrews 10:25).

2. Pray! Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. - Isaiah 33:2.

When I read that verse, I could feel the intense depth of that earnest plea! I think I will put this on the fridge so I can see it and recite it in the morning. To me, it communicates the strong desire to be close to the Lord as well as the hope that He will hear us and pour out His Spirit and blessings. It speaks of the need to be filled with His supernatural strength and to save us not just in the eternal sense, but in the every day sense. This verse feels very powerful to me because I know that God hears a heartfelt prayer like this. I know it is His joy to answer by providing the fruit of His Spirit in abundance! I believe that Beth Moore mentioned in another study that the fruit of the Spirit doesn't just change our lives, it changes our day! Yes, all of us who yearn for immediate gratification, the Spirit of the Lord is for NOW! It's not a distant hope or promise; it's NOW! Take hold of it through prayer! That relationship with the Father is for EVERY DAY; not "someday" when we go to heaven. "Ask and it will be give to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7.

3. Discover Him in His Word. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us. - Isaiah 33:22.

This verse makes a point of reminding us about how multi-faceted our God is! It's hard to take it all in sometimes, but as we read His Word, we learn more about the character of God and who He is. He is our King, our judge, the lawgiver; and we are the sinners that constantly break his laws. However, He is ALSO the one who SAVES us! Does anyone else find that amazing? It's almost difficult to comprehend, but it makes sense when you remember that He is our Father. A loving parent, even though he disciplines his child, works to restore and strengthen fellowship again even after the child has done wrong and broken the rules that are there for his benefit. I am thankful that God has allowed me to experience this as a mother because it helps me understand how He is with me as my Father. I will always be His child. No matter what I've done wrong, He restores and forgives me; always working to restore fellowship and intimacy with Him again. He rescues and spares us ALL from His own judgement because of the blood of His own Son who took our place! He is a good, GOOD Father; it's who He is (yes, that's a worship song....watch/listen!).  

The more I've discovered and read about the heart of God in the Bible, the more that I understand! That understanding has been more valuable in my life than anything because every truth I meditate on and absorb enriches my life in ways that nothing else can! His Word is the bread of life that always satisfies (John 6:35) and Christ gives us the living water that never runs dry and always quenches us (John 7:38). In Him, our soul's deepest longing is met! In fact, Beth Moore mentioned that in the previous devotional. She pointed out the simple fact that when we're hungry or thirsty, we eat and drink to satisfy/quench it. We need to take the same cue when we sense our soul is empty: "The most obvious symptom of a soul in need of God's satisfaction is a sense of inner emptiness--the awareness of a 'hollow place' somewhere deep inside--the inability to be satisfied. Let this longing drive you to your Savior." 

Grace and peace to you, my friends! I hope that this will be a blessed year for everyone! May we all discover God in fresh new ways which will deepen our faith! God bless you n the new year (and always)!

"Have A Nice Day!"

I can’t even begin to write about the many times that I have felt defeated, depressed, or less than wonderful. Neither could I begin to describe the pain that my friends have often described to me about their own anguish and frustration at their lives and circumstances. Because of the nature of this fallen world, we experience pain and struggles. However, there is hope!!

If you have had a bad day, week, month, year, etc. please continue reading (don‘t be scared by the length - it‘s worth it)!! What I am going to share are some awesome insights that I learned from the final lesson in the Beth Moore study “Living Beyond Yourself”. I think these principles of “victorious living” are very encouraging and helpful! They’ll ensure that you have a “good day” every day if you put these things into practice!

First off, Beth mentions something that I have always thought to be very important. She talks about starting off your day with God. Like any coach will tell you, the first “play” of the game is always the most important. It sets the tone of the game. Likewise, your first “play” of your day is going to set the tone/mood for you as well. So, what better way than starting it off with God?! Jesus modeled that very thing for us (Mark 1:35). King David even wrote in Psalm 5:3 about presenting his requests before God first thing in the morning and waiting on the Lord. Morning quiet time (even if it’s but a short time) is WORTH the time!! (Yep, even if you are not a morning person - like me! LOL Make God first in your day!).

Beth then lays out the following steps for abundant victory (see Psalm 63):

1. Acknowledge His authority! (v. 1)
2. Abound in His presence! (v. 1)
3. Ask to see His glory and power! (v. 2)
4. Award Him with your mouth! (v. 3)
5. Approach Him with praise! (v. 4)
6. Attribute all satisfaction to Him! (v. 5, & Psalm 65:4)
7. Audit the manifold blessings! (v. 6)
8. Allow yourself to rest in His arms! (v. 7-8)

Let’s break it down……

Beth says: “The moment you awake, settle the issue of authority. Awaken every morning to the challenge, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve!’ (Joshua 24:15). Remember, any day not surrendered to the Spirit is virtually surrendered to the flesh by simple default! We will slip back into what comes most naturally to us: our sin nature! Remember, the things of the Spirit come supernaturally to us by God’s invitation.”

Amen to that!! She also says to “confess to Him any thoughts, words, or deeds performed outside the realm of His authority. This is a perfect time for the repentance of all unconfessed sin and places Him in proper perspective and you in proper perspective. All sin boils down to an issue of authority. His will or my will?”

After you have given God charge of your day, invite Him to FILL your day! More importantly (since you have just been emptied out through confession and repentance) ask for Him to fill YOU!! Don’t have an empty house!! (Matthew 12:43-45). Beth gives this equation: “cleansing + yielding = filling, and with the filling of the Spirit comes the fruit of the Spirit!” That power of the Holy Spirit will enable you to truly live “beyond yourself” because in our flesh, we cannot exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.

Next, ask to see His glory and power! Do you want to see God working wonders?! Read and heed Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Beth explains it this way: “Only through the filling of the Holy Spirit can you truly see God in the daily grind of living because the things of the Spirit are spiritually discerned, and only those filled with the Spirit are spiritually discerning. Being filled with the Spirit means having our spiritual eyes opened. Like Elisha’s servant, we will see God work in ways to which the carnal Christian is blinded!” Beth also cautions us not to limit God to only the “big things.” God is all around you, but if you’re only looking for the obvious “Oh there He is!” moments, you are going to MISS Him more often than not! Pay attention to the small things!

Beth continues by urging us to glorify God with our mouths. We ought to “muzzle” our mouths and keep them from sin (Psalm 39:1). Like the old saying goes: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!” Choose your words carefully, and speak only what is good, beneficial, and encouraging to others (Ephesians 4:29). If we are going to open our mouths, it should be to have God fill it (Psalm 81:10) so that we can speak of His blessed truth, love, salvation, etc. (Psalm 40:10).

That leads us right into the next point: praise!! Even if you can’t think of a single thing to praise Him for, muster up that sacrifice of praise and do it anyways because HE IS WORTHY! Beth says that she’s always listening to praise music because it conditions her to praise God more and more! She’s filling her mind and heart with the praises of God because, as she put so truthfully, “I have a strong carnal nature and I cannot afford to allow my mind to be idle. Music is one of the greatest praise catalysts as well as spiritual pleasures in my life.”

Praise is one of those big keys to the next point which is satisfaction. When we are giving praise to God, we will find more and more reasons to be thankful, content, and satisfied. Contentment goes a LONG way!! Without it, pride, greed, and unhappiness abound and creates some remarkably horrid attitudes and a pathetic self-pitying view of life!!

With that being said, the next point emphasizes counting your blessings. Beth shares a great way of doing so: “If you asked in the morning to see His power and His glory, and you allowed Him to adjust your spiritual vision and sought Him with all your heart, then you can be sure He worked in the course of the day. Recount His faithfulness to you. In your journal record the ways you have seen Him that day. Keep a diary of His activity in your life. A record of your history with God is an immeasurable asset to your Christian experience. How do you know He will care for you today? Because He cared for you yesterday! And the day before! And the day before! He never changes. He’ll never forget you. When He discloses Himself to you, remember it, praise Him for it, and record it! Nighttime is prime time for remembering the day.”

Finally, we come to a principle that many of us forget (and yet it’s so vitally important!): REST in His arms! This world is “busy, busy, busy.” Can you imagine how much different our lives would be if we all took a little time to REST? When was the last time you were still and just rested in the fact that God is sovereign and in control? When was the last time you allowed His peace and comfort to flood your soul and sweep away your worries? If the answer is “too long”, I encourage you to make the time (even a few minutes) just to do nothing, and bask in His peace. It will do wonders for your mind, body, and soul!!

Grace and peace to all of you!! God bless all who read this and take it into their hearts!! May these things enable you to truly “have a nice day!”

Weighing Self-Control

In the last video session of Beth Moore’s “Living Beyond Yourself” (a study on the fruit of the Spirit), I was deeply touched by the things that she shared on self-control. I have enjoyed the duration of the study with my small group very much (and wish I could share every detail of the numerous things I have learned) but it’s a much richer experience if you can undertake the study yourself. However, I was eager to share some things from the last video because it was so powerful to me!

The first verses that Beth Moore highlights at the start of the video are these:

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)

She says that the Holy Spirit wants to be comfortable in our skin. Isn’t that a neat concept? To be comfortable in our skin, we ought not to grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30) and we should listen to Him. We need to have the self-control to know when to restrain ourselves and stop when we need to. She also made a point of telling us that the process of discipline is a “one day at a time” thing. Yet, so many of us expect instant maturity rather than being just as patient with ourselves as God is with us.

Beth particularly focused on the aspect of loving God with all of our strength; controlling the body that the Holy Spirit dwells in. She makes several important points and the first one is this: “Deeply absorbing a biblical perspective of our physical bodies would free us from the horrific stress our culture has placed on us.” Beth reminded us of just how media-driven our culture is. Though, I hardly doubt that comes as a shock to anyone reading this. ;) She says that we have a hard time reaching a point of balance. We are either one extreme or the other - either neglect or obsession. We either care too much or too little about caring for ourselves. She says the middle ground is a place called respect; where you neither obsess nor disregard yourself to either extreme.

I got to tell you, that had me nodding my head the whole time because I know what she’s talking about!! It resonated with me all the more as she shared the story of a woman who shared her testimony with her regarding this second point: “From a strictly biblical point of view (as opposed to medical), physical fitness is probably more about freedom than size (Galatians 5:1). Keep in mind that extreme conditions call for focused measures. The ultimate goal for most of us, however is freedom from obsession so that God rather than the body can be glorified. This goal is most often realized through recapturing the lost art (practice) of moderation.”

Wow!! Isn’t that powerful?!! She told us about a lady who said she has been everything from a size four to a size fourteen. She said that at a size four, she was not free because she had to work so hard to maintain it. She had to count every calorie and obsess about every detail in order to stay a four. She also said she was not free at a fourteen because at that size, she didn’t care much at all and food was her friend, comfort, and idol. Though, Beth was quick to point out that either one of these sizes could be the point of freedom and balance for someone else (everyone’s body is different). Though, for this lady in particular, she said her freedom is in being a size ten. She neither has to focus too much or too little about it and she’s free from both extremes of bondage.

I found that fascinating and so very true! As most of you know, I have been struggling with my weight for a long time. In the last couple years, I have lost some (and gained some back when I quit focusing on God as my “coach”). I don’t know what my ideal size is yet (because I haven’t gotten that far) but I hope to reach that place of balance as well. I know that at my highest size (18/20) was not freedom for me and I was neglectful of my body. I also know that obsessing too much over losing weight is not good either. So, I am patiently waiting and working to reach my goal without becoming too consumed with food at either end of the spectrum. I expect my place of freedom will be much like hers. I think the size that my height and frame can be will probably be around a 10. I KNOW that I am not built to be anything too much smaller than that!! I think anything below a six would NOT be for me. It’s like what she said, we just need to ‘learn to do what we need to do, then get on with living.’ We should focus on whatever needs taken care of, but it shouldn’t be the focal point forever. It goes back to that verse of Galatians 5:1 about Christ setting us free and not being burdened again by another yoke of slavery. When it comes to losing weight (or anything else) don’t trade one bondage for another! Don’t become free from being overweight just to become enslaved to becoming too thin!

Beth used Romans 12:1-2 as the scripture for her next point which is: “The most transforming and freeing way we can approach the care of our physical bodies is making fitness one way we worship God.” She talked about listening to praise and worship as she walked, and just praying and fellowshipping with Him as she took the time to maintain her body through exercise. She said our bodies were meant to be active. It wasn’t until the inventions of modern appliances/equipment that we lost the reason to keep our bodies moving. (LOL Isn’t that the truth?!). Technology and “labor saving devices” (as Mr. Lunt from Veggie Tales would say LOL.) are great! However, we don’t want to lose the benefits of physical activity just because we are enabled to be sedentary.

So, what do we do now? Beth made a very profound statement in saying that “radical restoration follows radical repentance.” Amen!! That’s true no matter WHAT you’re dealing with!! Amazing results are the product of first taking some radical actions! If the results in your life aren’t what you want, you got to change the steps you took to get there. “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got.” ;)

Beth concluded by having us celebrate our own Hanukkah. Does that sound odd to you? Well, she explained that the word Hanukkah was from the Hebrew word hanak which means “dedicated.“ She said our Hanukkah is about dedication/rededication and a reestablishment of worship. She said: “The time has come for us to take our positions. Before we do, let’s rededicate our temples.”

We are now a little over a week into the new year. For most, the new year symbolize a new start. Though, the new year isn’t the only time we can have a new start. We can have that each and every day because God’s compassion and faithfulness is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Every day can be a new start and a day of restoration as we surrender and rededicate ourselves to Him. Like the phrase Tom Felger said that has always stuck with me: “Surrender is a lifestyle.” Indeed it is!! We daily take up our crosses and lay down our lives before Him (Matthew 16:24) and He lifts us back up (James 4:10)!! How glorious and wonderful is that?

Grace and peace to all of you today, tomorrow, and always!! May this new year, and every year, be blessed!! God bless you all!!

Unloading The Bus

In the previous blog, judgment was talked about. Now, it’s time to focus on mercy and forgiveness. (Ahhhhh, much better!!).

Beth Moore uses the parable of the unmerciful servant in order to address the topic of forgiveness. Of course, we all probably know the story (which is found in Matthew 18:15-35). A servant was forgiven a tremendous debt that he couldn’t pay (which would equal millions of dollars in today’s currency). The king had mercy on him and forgave the debt. Yet, the servant went out and found a fellow servant that only owed him a few dollars and demanded payment. He refused to have mercy and patience with him; even though his plea was identical to his own plea that had just been honored by the king. He had the servant imprisoned, but also ended up being imprisoned as well (and tortured) when the king heard of his merciless behavior!

Beth Moore says about the parable: “The parable of the merciless servant is about forgiveness…a forgiveness prompted by patience, and a patience perfected by mercy. If we neglect the necessity of forgiveness, we fail to complete the portrait of biblical patience. Patience is the vessel through which God pours His mercy. Mercy is fueled by forgiveness.”

So, WHAT exactly is forgiveness? Beth explains it well: “The Greek word most often used in the New Testament for forgive is aphiemi. It means ‘to let go from one’s power, possession, to let go free, let escape.’ In essence, the intent of biblical forgiveness is to cut someone loose. The word picture drawn by the Greek terms for unforgiveness is one in which the ‘unforgiven’ is roped to the back of the unforgiving. How ironic. Unforgiveness is the means by which we securely bind ourselves to that which we hate most. Therefore, the Greek meaning of forgiveness might best be demonstrated as the practice of cutting loose the person roped to your back.”

Can you imagine “cutting loose” whatever person (or persons) are tied to your back? My gosh, why wouldn’t you want to?! That gets awfully burdensome and heavy!! Why hold onto that which you detest? How much sense does that make to torture yourself? Cutting loose will benefit YOU more than it benefits them!

Jesus tells us to forgive EVERYONE (Luke 11:4). And, in Mark 11:25, He reminds us to forgive others so God can forgive us. Yes, it’s difficult and sometimes even painful, but it’s a must if we expect to receive any mercy for ourselves (and also to set ourselves free).

Of course, there are those that have been offended greatly and for them, forgiveness is virtually unthinkable! Beth reminds us that “God desires to pour His patience through those with every right to avenge…every right to be merciless…every right to be angry and bitter…those to whom perhaps no earthly mercy has ever been shown.” Even in your “right” to be mad or vengeful, God wants to work out His patience, mercy, and forgiveness through you! “God wants to reveal Himself in us--not our rights or weaknesses.”

Maybe that’s not convincing enough for some. There are many offenses that just seem too monumental to forgive. However, Beth talks about several reasons why it’s so important to let go and forgive. We know that God COMMANDS it (and for good reason!). God wouldn’t issue a command if it weren’t for our benefit; after all, it’s His will that everything work out for good (Romans 8:28).

I like how Beth beautifully illustrates just how burdensome it is to carry unforgiveness in our hearts: “Frankly, it's difficult to live an effective Christian life with a body roped to your back. Can you imagine how many of us are walking around roped to a corpse? Some of us are harboring unforgiveness against someone who has long been in the grave. Is there anything heavier than 'dead weight'? Well, as a matter of fact, there is: a group roped to your back. Unforgiveness is extremely habit forming. Unchecked, it spreads from on person to another. Before you know it, you have a school-bus load of people roped to your back! You cannot be free to keep step with the Spirit when you are encumbered by the load of unforgiveness.”

Well said!! She also states that “the one who will not forgive always suffers more than the one not forgiven.” As in the case of the parable of the servants, both were imprisoned, but the merciless one was the servant that was tortured. To illustrate the point further, Beth tells of her own experience (which brought tears to my eyes): “After suffering a serious degree of childhood trauma, God continually confronted me to forgive my perpetrator. I refused for many years. Would you like to know why? I was absolutely certain that my forgiveness would ‘make it all right,’ and it wasn’t all right. I feared that if I forgave, he would be off the hook. I had suffered painful repercussions. I didn’t realize that my failure to forgive was causing me more pain than the original offense.”

I imagine that is how a lot of us feel. We feel the person needs punished and that if we forgive, that will be like excusing the behavior. But, that is not so! Beth said: “Finally, God wore me down until I was forced to listen to His gentle whisper to my heart. ‘Beth forgiving won’t make the offense all right; it will make YOU all right.’ He demanded that I forgive for my own sake…so that I would not be tortured by it for the rest of my life!” She said that once she forgave, it was the “most wonderful thing” that God ever gave her the ability to do! She says: “I am free. Not free from all memories-but free from all torture. Yes, He is faithful.”

Beth also reminds us that we must forgive so that Satan won’t have the opportunity to take advantage of us. “Few things exist in life that Stan can take advantage of more effectively than unforgiveness” she said. Just think of how he uses that one thing to spark a whole chain of events! He builds on that foundation to create more problems, rage, bitterness, the whole works!! Who wants or needs that?!

Beth further elaborates by affirming the fact that Satan will stop at nothing to rob God’s presence from us by using that unforgiveness to wedge itself between us and our heavenly Father. “He knows that it is impossible to be filled with the Spirit and filled with unforgiveness. Only Satan wins in the war of unforgiveness. When he sees a rope, he sees an opportunity to hang us.”

Finally, Beth says: “We must forgive because we are not the only ones bound by the rope of unforgiveness. If we refuse to forgive, we tie God’s mighty hands from ‘working all things together for good.’ He will not bring personal good to you from your pain if you do not release Him through your forgiveness. Why? Read Romans 8:28. This verse applies to those who love Him enough to be called according to His purpose. Christ has a purpose in the pain you’ve suffered or He never would have allowed it. Until you surrender to His purpose in the specific matter at hand, He cannot work it for your good. Do you know what that means? It all happened in vain--for absolutely nothing.”

In this fallen world, offenses and wrongs are a certainty. We are going to be offenders as well as the ones who get offended. There is trouble, pain, and all sorts of turmoil because of the sin nature in us all. Though, God’s promise is that He will use all of that for good if we will allow it. If not, we will have suffered for nothing if we remain bitter and cling to our pain. However, if we cut the cords, empty our bus-loads of people we need to “cut loose”, and allow God to heal us, He will be able to make the most of our misery and turn it into a ministry!!

I hope that these two blogs have been helpful to someone out there. It is a powerful subject matter, which is why I felt compelled to share it. If you need further help in learning to forgive, letting go of judgments, etc. PLEASE read “The Shack” by William P. Young. It’s one of the most helpful, inspiring, and powerful books you will ever read!!

Grace and peace to all of you!! May we all be blessed with patient, merciful, and forgiving hearts!! Amen!

Forsaking Our Judgment Robe

As many of you know, I have been involved in the Beth Moore Bible study “Living Beyond Yourself” which examines the fruit of the Spirit. Periodically, I have been sharing bits and pieces of it (though I wish I could share the whole thing! I encourage you to do this study for yourself because there is so much to it!).

I’ve decided to share some more of the study because this particular section that I am reading is something I think we all could stand to examine and get clarification on! I’m talking about the fruit “patience.“

While going into depth about this fruit, Beth talks about judging, condemning, and how to forgive. Does that seem like a strange link? One doesn’t really think of judgment when the word “patience” comes to mind right? Well, as Beth points out, where judgment exists, impatience abounds!! She said that judgment is the very opposite of patience. To BE patient is to DELAY judgment; just like God does with us. Because of His mercy and love, He is patient with us and delays punishment because He wishes to give us all a chance to repent and do the right thing. Patience cannot exist without mercy.

Here are the reasons why we shouldn’t judge; according to the Bible and as outlined by Beth Moore:

SCRIPTURES: Romans 2:1-5, Matthew 7:1-5, James 4:11-12, John 8:14-18

REASONS NOT TO JUDGE:

1. When we judge others, we cause God to be harder on us
2. We do many of the same things we condemn in others.
3. We do not know the whole truth.
4. We are mere humans.
5. When we judge others, we are judging God.
6. God’s judgment is always righteous. Ours is tainted by the flesh.
7. We risk application of the same type of judgment to ourselves.
8. We cannot judge the speck of sawdust in another’s eye because of the planks in our own.
9. “There is only one lawgiver and judge”
10. Only God has noble purpose in His judgment.
11. Just like Christ’s, our judgment would have to be completely consistent with God’s He must agree with us for our judgment to be valid.

To elaborate, I will state some of the things that she said for each reason. Reason one being that when we judge others, we only condemn ourselves and invite the Lord’s discipline.

For reason two, she gives this perfect example: “…we are quick to judge sexual sin; yet few of us have not transgressed in at least some area of sexual sin. If not physically, mentally. We often sit on the judgment seat as if to determine and compare degrees of sin. Judgment bears hypocrisy.”

Next, she points out the fact that God bases His judgments on truth. We as humans don’t always do that. Often, we have incomplete facts because we don’t see the whole situation. Even more so because of the fact that we cannot read minds or hearts like God can.

That goes in conjunction with reason four which states that we are merely human. She uses the verse from Isaiah 29:16 which says: “You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘He did not make me‘? Can the pot say of the potter, ‘He knows nothing‘?” Beth said, “We must withstand all temptation to assume God’s job!”

Furthermore, in reason five, we are judging GOD by judging others! How? Beth explains this perfectly: “Our judgment reveals contempt for the riches of God’s patience (Romans 2:4). To judge why God won’t bring a speedy punishment to those who mock or despise Him is not our responsibility. To all of us, His long-suffering has been our salvation. Eternity is a long time; the effects are irreversible. God desires to give every chance for the sinner to say ‘yes.’ I once heard Dr. Adrian Rogers say, ‘Time is not nearly as important to God as timing.’”

Reason six reminds us that while God’s judgments are consistently and always righteous, ours are tainted by the flesh. They are “colored by our attitudes, our pasts, our personalities, and our positions. Only God is the perfectly righteous Judge.”

In point seven, we see the danger of judging as applied to ourselves. What we measure out will be measured back! Forget the “Karma” crap! I absolutely detest it when people talk about “Karma” because God is the one who instituted the concept of reaping what you sow (Galatians 6:7). We need to treat others the way we want to be treated and love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). If we just go around judging instead of loving, then expect that which you dish out!

Next, of course, we have the infamous “plank in your eye” point. Beth says: “We can’t judge righteously because our sight is hindered by our own sin.” How can anyone with a sin nature judge correctly? It’s impossible! And, since we all have a sin nature and no one is perfect or righteous (Romans 3:10) no one can accurately and righteously judge!

Reasons nine and ten affirm that God is the only judge! “There’s simply no room on the bench!” You can’t sit beside Him and help Him do His job! Besides, what is our real intent in judging compared to God’s? Beth says: “We judge to make ourselves feel righteous in comparison. Whether or not the thought is conscious, most judgments boil down to this justification: ‘At least I don’t do that!’ God’s judgment is not based on His ‘ego.’ It is a practical action by which He determines the fate of all humanity.”

And finally, Beth explains reason eleven this way: “We judge by ‘human standards’ (John 8:15) and, therefore, possess little heavenly perspective. To make a valid judgment, the second testimony cannot by our best friend or neighbor…it must be God.”

In conclusion, Beth reminds us that it’s “easier to be clay than the potter.” Judgment isn’t our job, and would be one we are grossly under-qualified for if we had the job! Judgment isn’t a kind thing to do or to have done to you, so why participate in it? We need to show the same kindness, mercy, and forgiveness for others as God has displayed towards us. “If He is patient with us and He has no sin, how patient must we be toward others with whom we share the same sin? Judgment strangles patience and grieves the Holy Spirit.”

Now that I have shared about judgment, feel free to read the next blog that I will post which deals with mercy and forgiveness. Judgmental behavior can be overcome!! Grace and peace to all of you!!

Rejection (Part 1)

These past few weeks, I have been attending the “Living Beyond Yourself” Beth Moore study group. This is the first time I have ever read/watched anything of Beth Moore’s, and I must say, I am getting so much out of it!! This is a great study on the fruit of the Spirit and so much more!! I wish I could blog everything that we have been learning, but there is SO MUCH to it! I highly recommend this to everyone! If you have a chance to do this study, DO IT! It’s SO WORTH IT!

One thing in particular that I wanted to share is what we learned last week. In the video we watched, Beth Moore talked about this nasty three-syllable word that none of us like: rejection. It’s interesting what images and feelings come to mind when we hear that word isn’t it? When I heard it, I thought “Oh boy, I don’t want to sit here and listen to her describe it! I’ve had enough already!” However, I stayed, listened, and took it all in. I’m glad I did, because it really helped me; and I felt the nudge to blog it because I know that everyone can relate to this! So, if you have been rejected (and we ALL have!) keep reading! As Beth Moore said, “there is life after rejection”!

Since she covered so much in the video, I will break it up into the three parts she did and put it into three different blogs. This first part is “Word Pictures Of Rejection”. Part two is “Wounds Of Rejection”. And finally, part three is “Divine Healing”. Here are my notes from part one:

Beth Moore said that “all we need to create an environment for rejection is relationship.” I think the majority of us have figured that out! You can’t very well be rejected unless you connect with someone first. This is why some avoid socialization and relationships altogether. We fear eventual rejection and all the emotions that come with it. Eventually, we realize that the closer we get to a person, the greater the potential there is for them to hurt us if something should ever go wrong in the relationship. So, naturally, we sometimes build walls to protect ourselves. It’s hard to face the certainty that in this life, we WILL experience rejection. Even Jesus’ disciples betrayed and rejected Him (and many still reject Him today!). If this happens to our own Savior, then what would make us exempt?

Beth Moore defined rejection in several different verses. In Mark 8:31, Jesus talked about how He was going to be rejected by many, killed, and then after three days be resurrected. Beth said: “The Greek transliteration for rejected (apodokimazo) means to reject as the result of examination and testing of one’s qualifications for an office. Later, it came to mean to put out of office or place, to reject, disapprove, refuse.” In other words, this meaning of rejection boils down to “I’ve put you to the test and you don’t measure up.” Who among us has failed someone’s “measure up” test? Everyone one of us has been judged, condemned, and rejected by SOMEONE at some point in our lives. We’ve all been on both sides of the spectrum too. We have all been judged as well as the judges. We’ve all set expectations for ourselves and other people. We’ve failed others, and others have failed us. It’s painful; both on the giving and receiving ends.

Another definition of rejection comes from the scripture in Isaiah 53:3 which reads: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Beth said: “Strong’s definition of the Hebrew for rejected (chadel) adds the meaning: vacant.” Vacant. That’s another ugly word isn’t it? Vacancy equals “emptiness” and who likes the presence of emptiness? Lingering voids nag at us. Unsatisfied longings are a “stronghold waiting to happen.” Sadly, I’m sure we can all think of an example of that! What kinds of things have we allowed into our “vacancies”; to fill us as a result of the void that rejection left?

Lastly, Beth gives us Galatians 4:14 in which Paul says: “And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.” Beth said the Greek transliteration here is ekptuo Ek meaning “out” and Ptuo meaning “to spit.” (She said Ptuo is the sound your mouth makes when you spit!). So, rejection is “spitting out” something or someone. Have you ever been “spit out” (or been the spitter?). Not pretty is it?

Now that we have established that rejection is being put out, spit out, and left vacant, we can now delve into part two which deals with the “Wounds Of Rejection.” We all have wounds; we’ve all been hurt (and have hurt others). However, there is hope and healing!! We needn’t bear the weight of rejection for our whole lives! If you want to know how to let go and move on, read parts two and three!! Grace and peace to you!!