A couple of weeks ago, a very foreign thought went through my mind. I was laying in bed, looking at my husband as he slept, and I thought, "If I know who I am in Christ and my validation comes from Christ, then I no longer need to expect anything from this man. He simply becomes a wonderful gift from God for me to enjoy....a blessing. Precious." Now I know beyond a shadow of a doubt this thought did not originate from me. I know this because I have been waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to guilty of expecting Rob to rescue me, to fix my broken days, make things all better for me, and I have looked to him to validate me as a women. I know this thought was placed there by a loving heavenly Father who wants me to see my husband for who he really is in my life- a gift. Jesus desires for me to turn to Him to rescue me, to fix my broken days, make things all better for me, and to look to Him to validate me as a women. Looking at my husband through God's eyes, frees me to love Rob simply for who he is and to take great joy in the gift he is to me. It takes all burden of expectation off of him and I know it will free him also.
This is a new concept for me and I know I have a ways to go in putting it into practice in my life. Just Monday night, I told Rob I needed him to fix my day for me. Really. That is a lot of pressure to put on someone. They simply cannot do it . . . fix your day. There is only one person that I know of that can fix everything and that is Jesus. I had kind of forgotten about this thought until this morning. I took a few minutes, ok an hour, to sit down and read a few books that I am working through. One of them is Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. One of the statements in their book, brought back the memory of that night in bed. "No matter how much Adam pours into your aching soul, it's never enough. He cannot fill you......Every woman has to reckon with this-this ache she tries to get her man to fill. In order to learn how to love him, you must first stop insisting that he fill you. We say all this as a sort of prologue because we cannot talk about loving a man well-whoever he might be in your life-until we see that we cannot look to him for things he cannot give."
Wow! The memory of that night in bed and the thought that had swirled through my mind all came back to me. I share this with you to encourage you to join me in this journey of learning to love your spouse, not for what he has to offer you or what he can do for you, or in hopes that he will save and rescue you-but to love him simply for who he is. No expectations. I encourage you to begin seeking God to validate who you are as a women and as His daughter. Seek after Him to fix your days and to rescue you. He desires to do so. If you are reading this and you are a single women or young lady, I want to encourage you also. Before you seek out a spouse, make Jesus the lover of your soul. Allow Him to romance you and find your identity in Him alone. Become secure in Christ first and then allow Him to lead you to the man, the gift, He has for you to share your life with. When you know who you are in Christ first, then you are free to love as Christ loves. No strings attached. No expectations. Just a desire to have a deep relationship with the one God has gifted you with. Join me! I am excited to see what will happen on this adventure of learning to love!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
A Lesson From Naaman
Wednesday afternoon, I was feeling a little bit like Naaman from the Bible. I have poison ivy and I was thinking it would be wonderful to dip myself into a river and come back out spot and itch free! I started to read the story of Naaman in 2 Kings and began to put together a blog about why we don't always receive healing. However, God had another idea for taking my to 2 Kings Wednesday afternoon. It had nothing to do with healing. Isn't it just like God to whop me over the head with something else as I was dreaming up this blog I could write! What He spoke to me, hit me in a very tender spot . . . tender enough that I contemplated whether or not I should put it on my blog.
So here goes. The verse that stood out to me is 2 Kings 5:13:
"Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, "My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you 'Wash, and be clean'?"
I often find myself placing more value on certain things then on others. For instance, if you were to tell me that you are a doctor I would say, "wow, that is wonderful!" However, if you were to tell me that you are a trash collector, my response would probably be more like, "ohhh, that's nice." I find I also do the same thing with the work of the church/the work of Christ.
Missionaries, pastors, singers and song writers, healers, prophets, and evangelists are at the top of my list of people who change the world and make an impact. I, for one, do not want to be left out. I want to make an impact too. My greatest desire is, when I stand face to face with my heavenly Daddy, He will say to me, "Well done, Melody!" My greatest fear is He will say, "you did not do well, Melody. You missed the mark." This verse, in 2 Kings, cut deep down to this heart issue for me. The Bible truly is active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and pierced as far as the division of my soul and spirit, of both my joints and marrow, and judged the thoughts and intentions of my heart. (Hebrews 4:12) Ouch! It hurts when this happens! But, oh, how thankful I am that God loves me enough to open my eyes to see the areas of my life that need to be changed!!!!
Naaman was asked the question, if the prophet had asked you to do something great wouldn't you have done it? If he had asked you to build him a kingdom, or supply him with food and drink for the next seven years, feed the homeless, or care for the orphans wouldn't you go do it? But to dip yourself 7 times in the river is somehow asking too much of you!?!?!
Wow, those words came ringing back through my mind and I began to see how I complicate matters so much. The "bigger" and more "difficult" and "great" a task is the more value I place on it. I say "Yeah, bring it on! I can do this and I can do it well!" But to do something "simple" (and I am using that word loosely right now) like prayer, praise, giving thanks, walking daily with Jesus . . . . that is too much to ask of me?!?! Again, OUCH!
This is it. The answer I have been looking for. My Jesus has not asked me to be a superhero. That is His job. He is the Saviour and the Rescuer . . . not me. He has simply asked me to do one thing . . . Love Him. To be willing to join Him in a beautiful, intimate relationship and to say "yes" to His marriage proposal to me.
There is no greater value on one calling over another. Earlier, I mentioned the doctor and the trash collector. The doctor saves lives and there is no greater calling, right? But, so does the trash collector. If it wasn't for all of the faithful trash collectors in this world, who sacrifice their olfactory system on a daily basis, we would all die from filth, disease, and sickness. Both professions are equally needed.
Do me a favor. Look up and read 1 Corinthians 12 and 13. It talks about all of the spiritual gifts and how they are all needed. The last verse of Chapter 12 says:
"But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way."
This verse leads right into the love chapter! Isn't that beautiful!?
In this, I have found more freedom and rest in Christ this week. It has changed my walk with Christ. I got a picture on Wednesday afternoon that sums it up for me. I saw myself walking with Jesus in a garden. But instead of simply enjoying my time with Him and the beauty of all He is and all He has made, I was distracted. I was looking for work to do. I was looking for a shovel to pick up, a weed to pull, a row to hoe . . . then I would come frantically running back to Him. "Did I do good? Did I Jesus? Did I do ok?" Desperately desiring His approval. My picture has changed though. I don't have to look for work to do anymore. I don't have to be distracted from His presence and drawn away from His side. I don't have to do work in order to receive His approval. It has been made simple. All I have to do is join Him, by His side, walking with Him. Enjoying His presence, basking in His grace and love, communing with Him, and following His example. When I see Him take a step, I take a step, when I hear Him speak love, I speak love, when He sings, I sing . . . . It is so simple and restful. Thank you Jesus for continuing to reveal Yourself to me! I love you!
So here goes. The verse that stood out to me is 2 Kings 5:13:
"Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, "My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you 'Wash, and be clean'?"
I often find myself placing more value on certain things then on others. For instance, if you were to tell me that you are a doctor I would say, "wow, that is wonderful!" However, if you were to tell me that you are a trash collector, my response would probably be more like, "ohhh, that's nice." I find I also do the same thing with the work of the church/the work of Christ.
Missionaries, pastors, singers and song writers, healers, prophets, and evangelists are at the top of my list of people who change the world and make an impact. I, for one, do not want to be left out. I want to make an impact too. My greatest desire is, when I stand face to face with my heavenly Daddy, He will say to me, "Well done, Melody!" My greatest fear is He will say, "you did not do well, Melody. You missed the mark." This verse, in 2 Kings, cut deep down to this heart issue for me. The Bible truly is active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and pierced as far as the division of my soul and spirit, of both my joints and marrow, and judged the thoughts and intentions of my heart. (Hebrews 4:12) Ouch! It hurts when this happens! But, oh, how thankful I am that God loves me enough to open my eyes to see the areas of my life that need to be changed!!!!
Naaman was asked the question, if the prophet had asked you to do something great wouldn't you have done it? If he had asked you to build him a kingdom, or supply him with food and drink for the next seven years, feed the homeless, or care for the orphans wouldn't you go do it? But to dip yourself 7 times in the river is somehow asking too much of you!?!?!
Wow, those words came ringing back through my mind and I began to see how I complicate matters so much. The "bigger" and more "difficult" and "great" a task is the more value I place on it. I say "Yeah, bring it on! I can do this and I can do it well!" But to do something "simple" (and I am using that word loosely right now) like prayer, praise, giving thanks, walking daily with Jesus . . . . that is too much to ask of me?!?! Again, OUCH!
This is it. The answer I have been looking for. My Jesus has not asked me to be a superhero. That is His job. He is the Saviour and the Rescuer . . . not me. He has simply asked me to do one thing . . . Love Him. To be willing to join Him in a beautiful, intimate relationship and to say "yes" to His marriage proposal to me.
There is no greater value on one calling over another. Earlier, I mentioned the doctor and the trash collector. The doctor saves lives and there is no greater calling, right? But, so does the trash collector. If it wasn't for all of the faithful trash collectors in this world, who sacrifice their olfactory system on a daily basis, we would all die from filth, disease, and sickness. Both professions are equally needed.
Do me a favor. Look up and read 1 Corinthians 12 and 13. It talks about all of the spiritual gifts and how they are all needed. The last verse of Chapter 12 says:
"But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way."
This verse leads right into the love chapter! Isn't that beautiful!?
In this, I have found more freedom and rest in Christ this week. It has changed my walk with Christ. I got a picture on Wednesday afternoon that sums it up for me. I saw myself walking with Jesus in a garden. But instead of simply enjoying my time with Him and the beauty of all He is and all He has made, I was distracted. I was looking for work to do. I was looking for a shovel to pick up, a weed to pull, a row to hoe . . . then I would come frantically running back to Him. "Did I do good? Did I Jesus? Did I do ok?" Desperately desiring His approval. My picture has changed though. I don't have to look for work to do anymore. I don't have to be distracted from His presence and drawn away from His side. I don't have to do work in order to receive His approval. It has been made simple. All I have to do is join Him, by His side, walking with Him. Enjoying His presence, basking in His grace and love, communing with Him, and following His example. When I see Him take a step, I take a step, when I hear Him speak love, I speak love, when He sings, I sing . . . . It is so simple and restful. Thank you Jesus for continuing to reveal Yourself to me! I love you!
Friday, July 1, 2011
God's Benefits: I Cannot Forget Them
It is amazing to me how God works! Wednesday morning, I woke up frustrated. My mind was rehashing guidelines God has given to me in regards to food. I was vacillating between wanting freedom in this area to eat more and trying to figure out whether or not it was ok for me to not follow the guidelines given to me. Was I being legalistic eating the way God told me too? Maybe I was not living in true freedom if I stick strictly to the "rules" given to me. The questions and the thoughts went round and round in my head, until; realizing that I did not have time that morning to figure it all out, I grabbed them and stuffed them into my back pocket to think about later. Well, God brought "later" to me that evening at church when Pastor Don began preaching about freedom in Christ. Isn't that wonderful of God! He knows exactly what we need to hear at the perfect times! All the thoughts came rushing out of my back pocket and began running circles again through my head. God knew it was time for me to begin clearing this matter up.
God did not make me wait long until He spoke loud and clear! Thursday morning, as I had my devotions, Psalm 103 came to my mind. I looked it up. There lay the answer as clear as day!
"Bless the Lord, oh my soul, all my inmost being Bless His holy name. Bless the Lord oh my soul and FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS; who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who SATISFIETH THEY MOUTH with GOOD THINGS; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Forget not all His benefits! There it was. I had forgotten. I had forgotten the health, freedom, life, and joy that has flooded my life when I walk in obedience to Him. I had let religious thinking wriggle it's way back into my mind and I had allowed Satan's lies to penetrate my thoughts. (If this sounds familiar to you from other things I have posted, bear with me. I learn the hard way and sometimes it takes several lessons for me to finally get it and stop rehashing the matter!) I cannot forget His benefits! When I am dry and thirsty, weary, worn, and frustrated; I cannot forget the truth and what God has done and will continue to do in my life.
This morning as I was reading in Proverbs, it hit me how Satan likes to muddle our thinking. He likes to bring religious, legalistic thinking into our minds, cause he knows it will cause confusion. He likes to take truth and twist it. We have been talking a lot about freedom in Christ at our church lately. Satan took that truth, and twisted it for me. "You are not really free if you have to follow these guidelines. You are being legalistic. You will have more freedom, if you just do whatever you want." But instead of clarity and life, Satan's thoughts only brought confusion and death. It was like a light bulb went off for me this morning. (A light I have seen before, but I guess I let the bulb burn out.) I often feel that I am in a constant battle with my good self and my bad self. It is what Paul talks about in Romans and what Pastor Don was teaching about Wednesday evening. Clearly, I began to understand. I am not fighting at all against myself, but against Satan and his lies. Our fight is not against flesh and blood! (Ephesians 6:12) I asked myself the question this morning: Why would Satan twist my thoughts, cause confusion, desire me to struggle, and feel like I am at war with myself? Because, a house divided cannot stand. If I am fighting against myself, if I am in constant turmoil and confusion, then I will accomplish for Satan his desire for me: destruction. I will implode. I know that road. It leads to self-hatred and depression. It leads to anger. It is the road I once was on, but I refuse to walk that road again! It is not who I am anymore.
Thank you God for your changing power in my life! Thank you for forgiving all of my sins, for healing all my diseases, and for redeeming my life from destruction. Thank you for crowning me with lovingkindness and compassion, for filling my mouth with good things, and for restoring my life! You are an awesome, awesome God!
I am at peace again. God's ways are just and good. He is always faithful to complete in us what He has started. All those confusing thoughts have left me. They don't really matter. All that matters is the hope, joy, peace, and life that I have found in Christ!
God did not make me wait long until He spoke loud and clear! Thursday morning, as I had my devotions, Psalm 103 came to my mind. I looked it up. There lay the answer as clear as day!
"Bless the Lord, oh my soul, all my inmost being Bless His holy name. Bless the Lord oh my soul and FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS; who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who SATISFIETH THEY MOUTH with GOOD THINGS; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Forget not all His benefits! There it was. I had forgotten. I had forgotten the health, freedom, life, and joy that has flooded my life when I walk in obedience to Him. I had let religious thinking wriggle it's way back into my mind and I had allowed Satan's lies to penetrate my thoughts. (If this sounds familiar to you from other things I have posted, bear with me. I learn the hard way and sometimes it takes several lessons for me to finally get it and stop rehashing the matter!) I cannot forget His benefits! When I am dry and thirsty, weary, worn, and frustrated; I cannot forget the truth and what God has done and will continue to do in my life.
This morning as I was reading in Proverbs, it hit me how Satan likes to muddle our thinking. He likes to bring religious, legalistic thinking into our minds, cause he knows it will cause confusion. He likes to take truth and twist it. We have been talking a lot about freedom in Christ at our church lately. Satan took that truth, and twisted it for me. "You are not really free if you have to follow these guidelines. You are being legalistic. You will have more freedom, if you just do whatever you want." But instead of clarity and life, Satan's thoughts only brought confusion and death. It was like a light bulb went off for me this morning. (A light I have seen before, but I guess I let the bulb burn out.) I often feel that I am in a constant battle with my good self and my bad self. It is what Paul talks about in Romans and what Pastor Don was teaching about Wednesday evening. Clearly, I began to understand. I am not fighting at all against myself, but against Satan and his lies. Our fight is not against flesh and blood! (Ephesians 6:12) I asked myself the question this morning: Why would Satan twist my thoughts, cause confusion, desire me to struggle, and feel like I am at war with myself? Because, a house divided cannot stand. If I am fighting against myself, if I am in constant turmoil and confusion, then I will accomplish for Satan his desire for me: destruction. I will implode. I know that road. It leads to self-hatred and depression. It leads to anger. It is the road I once was on, but I refuse to walk that road again! It is not who I am anymore.
Thank you God for your changing power in my life! Thank you for forgiving all of my sins, for healing all my diseases, and for redeeming my life from destruction. Thank you for crowning me with lovingkindness and compassion, for filling my mouth with good things, and for restoring my life! You are an awesome, awesome God!
I am at peace again. God's ways are just and good. He is always faithful to complete in us what He has started. All those confusing thoughts have left me. They don't really matter. All that matters is the hope, joy, peace, and life that I have found in Christ!
Friday, June 24, 2011
God's Commands: Protection not Subjection
This is going to be short and sweet :) It is so encouraging to me and I have to share it!
Psalm 112:1 says, "Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments."
Rules and commandments feel stifling to me. They are the things I have to do in order to survive or to keep my life from being chaotic. They feel like the chores of life. Not things I particularly relish doing, but know I must. I could compare them to doing laundry or dishes or, worse yet, cleaning the toilets! Ugh!
Recently, I lost the use of my dryer. It broke and for several days I did my best to dry my clothes in it . . . this did not work so well. After two days of running a couple loads ALL DAY LONG, it was decided that the thing must be fixed. I was without a dryer and this felt immensely frustrating to me. The laundry pile was growing exponentially each day. On top of things, I had decided it would be great fun to pick 60 some pounds of strawberries, so I also had a lot of berries to take care of. (Don't worry. I gave some of them away and did not actually do 60 pounds of strawberries!) However, between the berries, a broken dryer, fussing children, and my bad attitude, the day was rather stressful. I was worried about having to haul my clothes into the laundry mat and was having a rather royal pity party about it. I was thankfully blessed by a friend who offered her dryer to me for a couple of days so that I could tackle the laundry pile, which by this time, had turned into Mount Everest. After a few trips back and forth to Centreville to drop off and retrieve my laundry, waiting a day for the heater coil to arrive, and a trip to Home Depot for some parts, my husband got the dryer fixed! YEAH! I have never in my life been so excited about doing the laundry! Even today, as I dried a load of towels, I found myself getting very excited because they were dry the first time through! AWESOME! The point of all of this is to say, in the past I absolutely hated doing the laundry. But my perspective has now changed. It is no longer a chore, because I find great delight in what my dryer has to offer me. I do not want to be without my dryer again . . . ever! With great joy I can do the laundry even if I have two Mount Everest piles to do! (By the way, you all can remind me of this if I ever forget and I start to complain about the laundry!)
This is just like God's commandments. (Well, in my mind anyway. Stick with me for a moment.) They feel like drudgery to us, until we realize what life is like without them. They are protection for us and were never meant to subject us. It is a joy and a delight to carry out the commandments of God, because we know how miserable life would be without them. I do not want to be without the protection of God in my life. I do not want to look anymore at His commandments in my life as a chore, something I have to do in order to reach heaven, or as a checklist to mark off everyday. No, they are joy; they are life to me! And for that I give thanks to a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to set boundaries over me! I give thanks for His protection over me! I can take great delight in His commandments over me! Thank you Jesus! Thank you for holding me in your hand, for hiding me under your wing, for protecting me on every side! Great is your faithfulness and your love for me! Your banner over me is love!
Psalm 112:1 says, "Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments."
Rules and commandments feel stifling to me. They are the things I have to do in order to survive or to keep my life from being chaotic. They feel like the chores of life. Not things I particularly relish doing, but know I must. I could compare them to doing laundry or dishes or, worse yet, cleaning the toilets! Ugh!
Recently, I lost the use of my dryer. It broke and for several days I did my best to dry my clothes in it . . . this did not work so well. After two days of running a couple loads ALL DAY LONG, it was decided that the thing must be fixed. I was without a dryer and this felt immensely frustrating to me. The laundry pile was growing exponentially each day. On top of things, I had decided it would be great fun to pick 60 some pounds of strawberries, so I also had a lot of berries to take care of. (Don't worry. I gave some of them away and did not actually do 60 pounds of strawberries!) However, between the berries, a broken dryer, fussing children, and my bad attitude, the day was rather stressful. I was worried about having to haul my clothes into the laundry mat and was having a rather royal pity party about it. I was thankfully blessed by a friend who offered her dryer to me for a couple of days so that I could tackle the laundry pile, which by this time, had turned into Mount Everest. After a few trips back and forth to Centreville to drop off and retrieve my laundry, waiting a day for the heater coil to arrive, and a trip to Home Depot for some parts, my husband got the dryer fixed! YEAH! I have never in my life been so excited about doing the laundry! Even today, as I dried a load of towels, I found myself getting very excited because they were dry the first time through! AWESOME! The point of all of this is to say, in the past I absolutely hated doing the laundry. But my perspective has now changed. It is no longer a chore, because I find great delight in what my dryer has to offer me. I do not want to be without my dryer again . . . ever! With great joy I can do the laundry even if I have two Mount Everest piles to do! (By the way, you all can remind me of this if I ever forget and I start to complain about the laundry!)
This is just like God's commandments. (Well, in my mind anyway. Stick with me for a moment.) They feel like drudgery to us, until we realize what life is like without them. They are protection for us and were never meant to subject us. It is a joy and a delight to carry out the commandments of God, because we know how miserable life would be without them. I do not want to be without the protection of God in my life. I do not want to look anymore at His commandments in my life as a chore, something I have to do in order to reach heaven, or as a checklist to mark off everyday. No, they are joy; they are life to me! And for that I give thanks to a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to set boundaries over me! I give thanks for His protection over me! I can take great delight in His commandments over me! Thank you Jesus! Thank you for holding me in your hand, for hiding me under your wing, for protecting me on every side! Great is your faithfulness and your love for me! Your banner over me is love!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Joseph: A Heart Refined by Fire
I think I have mentioned it before that I am reading through the Psalms. This afternoon, I was in Psalm 105. Verses 18 and 19 made me pause in my reading. They say,
"They afflicted his feet with fetters. He himself was laid in irons; Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him."
The Psalmist is speaking about Joseph and his time in prison after he was falsely accused of trying to seduce Potifer's wife. The words that specifically jumped out at me were, "until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him." I looked up the Hebrew word for "word" and it means utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command. Then I looked up the word "tested". It's definition is to smelt, refine, test, and prove true. Lastly, I looked up the word "smelt" and found it means to melt or fuse for the purpose of separating and refining the metal. It caused me to ask the question, "what was the word or promise of the Lord to Joseph? And how did it refine him and test him?"
I went back to Genesis and reread the story of Joseph. As I read, a new image of Joseph began to emerge for me. I believe that Joseph had an issue with pride. He was the son of his father's favorite wife; his first love. I am sure he knew he was the favorite and I think he used it against his brothers. There is nothing unusual about siblings pushing each others buttons on purpose! If you doubt me, I invite you to come over and observe my three children for awhile! I don't think Joseph was an exception to this button pushing, either! :)
In Genesis 37:2, Joseph brings back a bad report about his brothers to his father. This sounds an awful lot like tattling to me! I know there is only one reason that my children tattle. It is to get each other into trouble! That is what Joseph was up to also. Then on top of that, Joseph decides to share with his brother's his dream. This may not have been a big deal if Joseph and his brothers had a good relationship! But they didn't. His brothers hated him and could not say anything nice to him. I can imagine they were barely on speaking terms with each other. Joseph would have had to approach them and then get them to listen to him. This would have been a task in itself to talk to people that want nothing to do with you. He put a lot of effort into this. I can see him with a smug smile on his face as he says, "hey guess what I dreamed last night! Just let me tell you; this was a good one. I dreamed that you are going to someday worship me. Someday I will be greater then you!" He did this twice to them! No wonder they hated him so much! He was a twerp, cocky, arrogant, and full of himself.
I suppose Joseph may have been brought down a peg or two when his brothers finally had enough and threw him into the well to die. This might have felt like a better option to him once he realized he was going to be sold into slavery instead. But, I can just imagine that a bit of that cockiness came worming its way back into his life when he was sold to Potifer and put in charge of all Potifer's household. I could be completely wrong, but I believe that God allowed Joseph to be put into prison for this very reason. So that the promise of the Lord would be given the opportunity to test him. To put him through a smelting process. To draw out of Joseph all of his pride and to replace it with a humble heart. In order for Joseph to be used for the purpose God had ordained for him, he needed to be put through fire to separate the ore of pride from the precious metal of servant hood and humbleness.
I can imagine some of Joseph's thoughts and feelings as he was thrown into prison. Why am I here? How can the promise God gave me happen if I am stuck in here? This does not make sense!
God knew what would be required of Joseph to one day rule as second in command of Egypt. He understood Joseph could not rule properly if he did not have a humble heart. Pride of his position would quickly take over and a fall from great heights would have quickly ensued. Joseph had to be humble to be able to listen to God and then obediently carry out God's command.
It is the same for us too. That is what is so awesome about the lessons of those that have gone before us. They prove as examples and reminders for us to learn from and live by. It is hard to listen when we are so filled up with ourselves. It is even harder to obey the command, because we think we know better. But we don't. God knows best. I have been encouraged by this today! Going through a time of testing is not bad. It doesn't mean that God is not with us or that He is against us. It means that He is perfecting His perfect will in our lives. He is preparing us for what is to come! I do not look forward to times of testing, nor do I enjoy going through them! It hurts to die to self! However, it is encouraging to know, after the fire dies down and the process is over, we will come out refined as silver and as gold!
Job 23:10
1 Peter 1:3-9
Psalm 66:8-12
Malachi 3:3
The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."
"They afflicted his feet with fetters. He himself was laid in irons; Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him."
The Psalmist is speaking about Joseph and his time in prison after he was falsely accused of trying to seduce Potifer's wife. The words that specifically jumped out at me were, "until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him." I looked up the Hebrew word for "word" and it means utterance, speech, word, saying, promise, command. Then I looked up the word "tested". It's definition is to smelt, refine, test, and prove true. Lastly, I looked up the word "smelt" and found it means to melt or fuse for the purpose of separating and refining the metal. It caused me to ask the question, "what was the word or promise of the Lord to Joseph? And how did it refine him and test him?"
I went back to Genesis and reread the story of Joseph. As I read, a new image of Joseph began to emerge for me. I believe that Joseph had an issue with pride. He was the son of his father's favorite wife; his first love. I am sure he knew he was the favorite and I think he used it against his brothers. There is nothing unusual about siblings pushing each others buttons on purpose! If you doubt me, I invite you to come over and observe my three children for awhile! I don't think Joseph was an exception to this button pushing, either! :)
In Genesis 37:2, Joseph brings back a bad report about his brothers to his father. This sounds an awful lot like tattling to me! I know there is only one reason that my children tattle. It is to get each other into trouble! That is what Joseph was up to also. Then on top of that, Joseph decides to share with his brother's his dream. This may not have been a big deal if Joseph and his brothers had a good relationship! But they didn't. His brothers hated him and could not say anything nice to him. I can imagine they were barely on speaking terms with each other. Joseph would have had to approach them and then get them to listen to him. This would have been a task in itself to talk to people that want nothing to do with you. He put a lot of effort into this. I can see him with a smug smile on his face as he says, "hey guess what I dreamed last night! Just let me tell you; this was a good one. I dreamed that you are going to someday worship me. Someday I will be greater then you!" He did this twice to them! No wonder they hated him so much! He was a twerp, cocky, arrogant, and full of himself.
I suppose Joseph may have been brought down a peg or two when his brothers finally had enough and threw him into the well to die. This might have felt like a better option to him once he realized he was going to be sold into slavery instead. But, I can just imagine that a bit of that cockiness came worming its way back into his life when he was sold to Potifer and put in charge of all Potifer's household. I could be completely wrong, but I believe that God allowed Joseph to be put into prison for this very reason. So that the promise of the Lord would be given the opportunity to test him. To put him through a smelting process. To draw out of Joseph all of his pride and to replace it with a humble heart. In order for Joseph to be used for the purpose God had ordained for him, he needed to be put through fire to separate the ore of pride from the precious metal of servant hood and humbleness.
I can imagine some of Joseph's thoughts and feelings as he was thrown into prison. Why am I here? How can the promise God gave me happen if I am stuck in here? This does not make sense!
God knew what would be required of Joseph to one day rule as second in command of Egypt. He understood Joseph could not rule properly if he did not have a humble heart. Pride of his position would quickly take over and a fall from great heights would have quickly ensued. Joseph had to be humble to be able to listen to God and then obediently carry out God's command.
It is the same for us too. That is what is so awesome about the lessons of those that have gone before us. They prove as examples and reminders for us to learn from and live by. It is hard to listen when we are so filled up with ourselves. It is even harder to obey the command, because we think we know better. But we don't. God knows best. I have been encouraged by this today! Going through a time of testing is not bad. It doesn't mean that God is not with us or that He is against us. It means that He is perfecting His perfect will in our lives. He is preparing us for what is to come! I do not look forward to times of testing, nor do I enjoy going through them! It hurts to die to self! However, it is encouraging to know, after the fire dies down and the process is over, we will come out refined as silver and as gold!
Job 23:10
1 Peter 1:3-9
Psalm 66:8-12
Malachi 3:3
Refining Silver
Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady's opinion was that is was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.
She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. "But Sir" she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."
The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."
As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver....
--Author Unknown
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
A Balm in Gilead: The Witness Heap
In all honesty, I am not sure how to start this post. So, I am just going to begin with that fact and get it out of the way!
I have been struggling the last 2 1/2 weeks with an ugly monster that unfortunately is not a stranger to me. It is depression. I know that I have been set free from depression, so I have refused to claim it. I have been seeking God, "why!? is this back?" I have warded off thoughts that something must be wrong with me or maybe I have done something wrong. A sin perhaps, that I have committed . . . ? No, with each thought, I have smacked it down. That is not truth. There is nothing wrong with me, and if I have committed a sin, God would not bring depression on me as discipline. He is gentle and loving and that is not how He works. Never out of condemnation and darkness, but always, always out of hope and light.
Last Friday, I was feeling particularly out of sorts. Our family got done eating supper and I just wanted to keep eating as a way of drowning out my feelings. (This doesn't work by the way. It only leads to addictions.) I felt an absolute need to go upstairs to my room and read my Bible. As I read, a sweet peace began to wash over me and the words "balm in Gilead" went through my mind. My initial thought was how absolutely healing the Word of God is! There is so much power in His Word! Over the last couple days, I have begun to dig a little deeper into this phrase.
It comes from Jeremiah 8:22. Jeremiah is lamenting over the state of God's people. "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?" I don't normally look up commentaries, but I decided to this time. I don't remember the name of the guy that wrote the commentary. All I remember is two things. One: it was written in the 1800's and two: the Hebrew definition for Gilead. Gilead means "rocky region" and, according to the Greek/Hebrew Lexicon Bible, probably comes from the root word Gal'ed. Gal'ed means "witness heap". This caught my attention.
A witness heap. There is healing in our witness. Or in our testimony . . . In our testimony of what God has done in our lives, we will find healing. We often feel like we have to hide the truth about who we really are. I don't like to admit that I was depressed, and I am not referring to simply having a few bad days. I was depressed to the point of not showing up for work, dropping out of college, and not getting out of bed. I had suicidal thoughts and felt worthless and unloved. I especially do not like to admit that over the last 2 1/2 weeks, I have been struggling! It is embarrassing and I don't want others to know. It is a fear of letting down my walls in order to let others see the "real me". It is a very vulnerable place to let others see into us and to be intimate with others about our lives and what we have been through. However, the phrase, "balm in Gilead" speaks to letting down our walls. Letting others see in and sharing with them what God has done. There is a balm in the witness heap! Why? Because, we open ourselves up, to share with others the goodness of God in our lives! We are no longer hiding behind fear and condemnation, but we are jumping out into the light of God's love, opening up our lives, letting His light shine in so brightly that everyone can see what He has done!
Let me tell you what He has done in my life! God has delivered me from depression. He has delivered me from feeling that I am unloved and worthless. I still have days when these feelings rear their ugly head. But I know the truth now. I can fight off those feelings with God's truth. I have been fearfully and wonderfully made, wonderful are the works of God! (Psalm 139:14) God has taken a very sad, depressed and despondent young lady and filled me with His joy. I am not what I used to be and that is a cause for celebration!
I want to encourage you. I do not know where you are at right now, what your life is like, or the things that you have been through. But I do know, that what God has done in my life, He can also do in yours. There is hope! I encourage you, with what was shared with me this past Sunday by a dear women in our church. Continue to press into God. He has not abandoned you and you are not alone! Psalm 66:10-12 says, "For Thou has tried us, O God; Thou has refined us as silver is refined. Thou didst bring us into the net; Thou didst lay an oppressive burden upon our loins. Thou didst make men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; YET THOU DIDST BRING US OUT INTO A PLACE OF ABUNDANCE. He will bring you out into a place of abundance!
For those of you who have found healing and freedom, but are afraid to share with others what God as done in your life, I also encourage you. Do not be afraid. Be a "witness heap"! There is no condemnation! (Romans 8:1) Through your pain and your experiences God has shined His light, so that you can be a "witness heap" to those around you. Do not keep it to yourself! You will not only find more relief and freedom in your own life as you share with those around you, (you will no longer be hiding behind those walls built up to protect yourself from rejection and judgement) but you will also be offering the hope, the "balm", of Christ Jesus to others.
Bless you today as you step out of pain, depression, loss, condemnation, fear, anger, rejection, hopelessness, bondage; and into God's healing, light, love, hope, joy, peace and freedom! Be a witness heap!
I have been struggling the last 2 1/2 weeks with an ugly monster that unfortunately is not a stranger to me. It is depression. I know that I have been set free from depression, so I have refused to claim it. I have been seeking God, "why!? is this back?" I have warded off thoughts that something must be wrong with me or maybe I have done something wrong. A sin perhaps, that I have committed . . . ? No, with each thought, I have smacked it down. That is not truth. There is nothing wrong with me, and if I have committed a sin, God would not bring depression on me as discipline. He is gentle and loving and that is not how He works. Never out of condemnation and darkness, but always, always out of hope and light.
Last Friday, I was feeling particularly out of sorts. Our family got done eating supper and I just wanted to keep eating as a way of drowning out my feelings. (This doesn't work by the way. It only leads to addictions.) I felt an absolute need to go upstairs to my room and read my Bible. As I read, a sweet peace began to wash over me and the words "balm in Gilead" went through my mind. My initial thought was how absolutely healing the Word of God is! There is so much power in His Word! Over the last couple days, I have begun to dig a little deeper into this phrase.
It comes from Jeremiah 8:22. Jeremiah is lamenting over the state of God's people. "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?" I don't normally look up commentaries, but I decided to this time. I don't remember the name of the guy that wrote the commentary. All I remember is two things. One: it was written in the 1800's and two: the Hebrew definition for Gilead. Gilead means "rocky region" and, according to the Greek/Hebrew Lexicon Bible, probably comes from the root word Gal'ed. Gal'ed means "witness heap". This caught my attention.
A witness heap. There is healing in our witness. Or in our testimony . . . In our testimony of what God has done in our lives, we will find healing. We often feel like we have to hide the truth about who we really are. I don't like to admit that I was depressed, and I am not referring to simply having a few bad days. I was depressed to the point of not showing up for work, dropping out of college, and not getting out of bed. I had suicidal thoughts and felt worthless and unloved. I especially do not like to admit that over the last 2 1/2 weeks, I have been struggling! It is embarrassing and I don't want others to know. It is a fear of letting down my walls in order to let others see the "real me". It is a very vulnerable place to let others see into us and to be intimate with others about our lives and what we have been through. However, the phrase, "balm in Gilead" speaks to letting down our walls. Letting others see in and sharing with them what God has done. There is a balm in the witness heap! Why? Because, we open ourselves up, to share with others the goodness of God in our lives! We are no longer hiding behind fear and condemnation, but we are jumping out into the light of God's love, opening up our lives, letting His light shine in so brightly that everyone can see what He has done!
Let me tell you what He has done in my life! God has delivered me from depression. He has delivered me from feeling that I am unloved and worthless. I still have days when these feelings rear their ugly head. But I know the truth now. I can fight off those feelings with God's truth. I have been fearfully and wonderfully made, wonderful are the works of God! (Psalm 139:14) God has taken a very sad, depressed and despondent young lady and filled me with His joy. I am not what I used to be and that is a cause for celebration!
I want to encourage you. I do not know where you are at right now, what your life is like, or the things that you have been through. But I do know, that what God has done in my life, He can also do in yours. There is hope! I encourage you, with what was shared with me this past Sunday by a dear women in our church. Continue to press into God. He has not abandoned you and you are not alone! Psalm 66:10-12 says, "For Thou has tried us, O God; Thou has refined us as silver is refined. Thou didst bring us into the net; Thou didst lay an oppressive burden upon our loins. Thou didst make men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; YET THOU DIDST BRING US OUT INTO A PLACE OF ABUNDANCE. He will bring you out into a place of abundance!
For those of you who have found healing and freedom, but are afraid to share with others what God as done in your life, I also encourage you. Do not be afraid. Be a "witness heap"! There is no condemnation! (Romans 8:1) Through your pain and your experiences God has shined His light, so that you can be a "witness heap" to those around you. Do not keep it to yourself! You will not only find more relief and freedom in your own life as you share with those around you, (you will no longer be hiding behind those walls built up to protect yourself from rejection and judgement) but you will also be offering the hope, the "balm", of Christ Jesus to others.
Bless you today as you step out of pain, depression, loss, condemnation, fear, anger, rejection, hopelessness, bondage; and into God's healing, light, love, hope, joy, peace and freedom! Be a witness heap!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Blog changes
I have made a few changes to my blog. It is easier to post comments now. Thank you Lynette for letting me know how difficult it had been to post comments! :). Hopefully, it is all better now. I am definately not technically savvy!
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