No Longer a Critic.

What does it mean to be a critic? Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines it as this: 'one who expresses a reasoned opinion on any matter especially involving a judgment of its value, truth, righteousness, beauty, or technique.' So in short it means someone who expresses their opinion about something. And what is an opinion? An opinion is a view, a judgement, or a belief. Hmmm. This prods me to think about myself. Am I a critic? It seems so. I give my opinions on lots of things, movies, books, decor', art, music, sermons, etc. I, by nature, enjoy discussing and even debating. I love to talk and love to listen. Could I be a successful critic? Surely I would meet the standards of a good one, but according to who's standards? God is showing me that anyone can say something... or come up with something to say, but is that always a good thing? Sure it can be, as long as I am speaking God's word or speaking His truth in love. But, maybe part of accomplishing that is not speaking in an audible voice at all. Maybe it's just being quiet and listening for His still small voice. For quite awhile now, I have been measuring everything I hear or read with the Word of God. It's something that was prodded in me by the Holy Spirit, and I think it is extremely important to do. But, today, I had a revelation about it. Measuring all I hear with the word started off great, producing peace in me and it remained that way for awhile. But somewhere along the way, it turned a bit chaotic. I think it happened because I made it like a project, and I became more like a critic instead of a child willing to learn. This hasn't happened every time, but definitely some of the time. Doing this has caused me to experience occasional confusion. It is not my responsibility to question everything, and it is not my job to be critical either. The Holy Spirit searches ALL things and teaches me ALL things. I don't have to do it. I don't have to wonder or worry or critique anybody or anything. The Spirit will show me all I need to know! 
1st Corinthians 2:9-10 says this:
"However, as it is written:“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." 
So once again... the only responsibility I have is to abide in Him. It really does always come back to that. I don't have to figure anything out! He will reveal all things to me! 

Speaking of Edifying

We are commanded by God to be slow to speak and slow to become angry. But, that's not what I see among some of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We should be edifying, but instead we tear down. This is not love. It is not powerful to place our own convictions on other people with our prideful words or quotes, but it is very powerful to hold our tongue and speak the truth in love. Remember...love does not envy it does not boast, it is not proud and certainly not rude. We should not be proud of who we are or what we 'do' because apart from God we can do nothing. Instead of expecting everyone to do what we do or be where we are, let's love each other right where we're at. Let's give grace and mercy and love at all times. When I was a baby Christian I was often insulted for not being 'spiritual' enough, and now that I'm a little stronger in my faith, I've been criticized for 'thinking I have it all together or thinking I'm perfect.' But the truth is, Christ in me--the Hope of Glory, has set me free. I'm not held captive by what anyone says or thinks of me because I know who I am in Him. But there was a time when peoples words still had power over me, and lets be honest, the Bible does sat that the tongue can kill and destroy. There's lots of people out there that just need to be encouraged or edified with an encouraging word. Let's not be haughty and prideful thinking everyone should be where we are at. And let's not be deceived into thinking we have got it all together. That can be a very scary place. I am constantly learning. Everyday God teaches me something new because His word is living and active! I make a choice each day to place myself---my everything, at The foot of His cross and the throne of His grace. I encourage myself in the Lord and chose to walk according to his perfect will for my life, and when I miss it, He is faithful to correct me becasue He loves me.
Let us be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Let's think before we speak AND before we type. Let's use our tongues to bring glory to God and edify Him while we edify one another, and let's use Facebook for that, too! 

Jesus, I'm With You.

Why do we think we have so much power to do things on our own? I cannot do anything apart from Christ. If you only knew how many little journeys I've begun to change this about me, or change that about me, you'd have lots of trouble keeping up. What a revelation it was to realize this truth, that apart from Him I can do nothing. I can have the best intentions in the world, but without Christ it is impossible to make any progress...Faith and works go TOGETHER. We must have faith in the One who has rescued us if we want to make any progress here on this earth. 'I can do all things through CHRIST who gives me strength!' Not through, myself, not through my husband, not through my pastor, but through Christ alone. For a long time, I didn't understand the true meaning of that scripture. I thought, 'Ok. If I pray and I love Jesus, and I want to do good, it'll happen.' But that's not it. It is abiding in Him, being intimate with Him, knowing Who He is and Who He has called me to be. He has equipped me for every good work, to do all things according to His purpose for my life, and it's not a feeling, it is a knowing. It is a hope that's unwavering. It's just doing it---being it---acting it---all of that. Will we fall short? Sure, we will, but ONLY when we take our eyes of of Him! So keep your eyes fixed on Jesus! He is not only the author of our faith, but the PERFECTER of it, too!!

Weakness...It's All Good!

2 Corinthians 12:9

"But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!"

So, I was meditating on the verse today, and I thought....'Woooooo Hoooooo!' This gives me such a hope that whatever I struggle with are the VERY things that allows Gods perfection to step in! It's where my spirit knows that I need Him. Every area that is lacking, God is perfecting it... everything that's hard for me, God is overcoming it, every area I'm weak in, He is strong in. I'll take HIS capability in all things over my own any day. For apart from Him I can do nothing! But WITH HIM I CAN DO ALL THINGS! 

I can love my husband perfectly as His love is perfect towards me. I can train my children as He teaches me and trains me in all things. I can encourage my friends as I encourage myself in Him. I can sing songs of praise as He sings over me. I can love my enemies because while I was still a sinner He loved me and gave His son up for me. I can make right decisions because He has equipped me to do so. I can be righteous and upright because He has given me grace and mercy! I can do ALL THINGS because He is my very strength! He is my very joy! He is my All in All! <3

Thanking Him With A Grateful Heart

So last week my husband brought in a dozen roses to work for me--JUST BECAUSE. He left them with the front office.When I got them the front of the card said 'Many Thanks' and there were like 5 little 'thank you's' on the bottom. I thought to myself...'who could these be from?' I turned the card over and it said, "Honey, Thanks for all you do.' Of course it was my husbands writing. It felt so good to hear, or read, rather, those words. In the big scheme of life I KNOW my husband is thankful for me, but how nice it was of him to put an action to it. It felt so good.
So, of course, this got me thinking about God. Of course God KNOWS our hearts, and knows when we are thankful, but imagine what it does for Him when we are thankful on purpose, by giving Him praise with our words and thanking Him out loud. I think there are ways to 'send God flowers'. When we are thankful out loud it blesses Him, when we share His love with others we show forth His glory, when we serve Him with our time and our gifts and our talents, He is blessed! I want bless the Lord at all times! His praise shall continually be on my lips!
The other day after shopping at SAM'S CLUB and Stop and Shop, I was pretty surprised at how high the bill was, and even thought 'WOAH' at first. But, that quickly turned into joy and thanksgiving. I just began to thank Him out loud and thank Him for the funds to buy food in abundance for our family, praising him that we lack for no good thing! Seriously, in our early years of marriage our grocery bill was a stress. There is no stress when it comes to any bill anymore. How did we get here?? GOD! Because "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

Colossians 3:15-17

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

A revelation while plucking grapes ;-)

So, this morning, while plucking grapes for the kids' lunch, I had a revelation. As I was pulling grapes off of the vine, they were kind of becoming distorted and mushy! It was like they were literally cleaved together with their vine, their very source, and didn't want to come off. hehe.
Now, I'm not crazy. I know grapes don't have a will, but I DO! And I was able to relate to those grapes!
So many things can try and pull us away from our source of life. Jesus is my source, and when I stray from my source, I lose it. By 'it' I only mean----everything. Seriously, in order for me to mot turn to mush or become distorted, I need to be in Jesus ALL the time and I was thankful for the reminder!
THEN...I go to read my 'Jesus Calling' devotional a little while ago, and I was glad! The Holy Spirit is speaking to me... and I am rejoicing over that!
This is what today's devotional said,

"I designed you to live in union with Me. This union does not negate who you are; it actually makes you more fully yourself. When you try to live independently of Me, you experience emptiness and dissatisfaction. You may gain the the whole world and yet you lose everything that really counts. Find fulfillment through living close to Me, yielding to My purposes for you. Though I may lead you along paths that feel alien to you, trust that I know what I am doing. If you follow me wholeheartedly, you will discover facets of yourself that were previously hidden. I know you intimately--far better than you know yourself. In union with Me you are complete. In closesness to Me, you are transformed more and more into the one I designed you to be."

Abide in the One who made you today; the one who gives you life, for He is your source.

Love

God is love. Love endures long and is patient and kind...it does not display itself haughtily, it's not vainglorious. Those are just a few of the characteristics of My Heavenly Father, characteristics that I, myself, am capable of possessing because my Father has said I can. 

To endure literally means to put up with or to suffer through. Jesus has done that for us... He actually asked the Lord in regards to his disciples 'How long must I put up with them?' I can relate to Jesus, as I know we all can, since we don't have a high priest that can't relate to us, but One who has ENDURED all things, yet passed every test. Sometimes people are a challenge. But it's all good.

Jesus didn't just talk about love. He lived it, and in living it, He died for us. All of us have a choice. We can chose to walk around this life frustrated, or we can love---we can endure, and we can endure well! I choose love---all day, every day. And if I forget sometime, I know that my God is faithful to lead me back to Him with grace and mercy. LOVE is Amazing- Love is GOD!