Take Heed When You Think You Stand

A couple of Sundays ago, our Pastor gave a message about "Doing Wrong When You Know to Do Right". Something that is heartbreaking and life destroying. He spoke of what it is like to counsel with someone who previously has shared the joy of salvation and has now chosen to pursue a sinful life. This of course, being completely different than a bad choice made, in haste, confusion, or just plain fleshly weakness, and quickly repented from (which means to turn away from and head in another direction). But, somone who purposes through choice, after choice, deliberately chosing to turn their back on what they know to be true, through God's Word to us. And instead turn towards and pursue choice, after choice the lie of moral relativism. You know, the thought process that is overtaking our society, where each person must do what is "right" for "them" in a given situation. Another term is "situational ethics".

This message was inspired because of a series of phone conversations he had been having all the previous week. With a man and his wife. The couple having been in ministry for some 30 plus years. The man at one time being a sometimes mentor to my Pastor. The man had been living a double life in the last year or so. And now everything had come crashing down around him.

I won't go into details. We have all seen the same sort of stories on the internet every month or so. Someone who was once steadfast for the Lord, now caught in adultery, financial tom-foolery, and sometimes even worse. I never cease to be grieved when I come across such a story. The stories themselves do damage. Then there is the person, who once having tasted of the sweetness of life in Christ, now has renounced it. Not all find their way back. What of the family members? What pain. Then there are the congregation members, some who are weak in spirit and this will prove more than they are willing to endure and they may become offended and fall away. Instead of clinging even tighter to the cross, even tighter to the Name of Jesus. Even tighter to the Word.

As I listened to the message, and prayed for the people I thought of involved in this specific moral car wreck, I felt impressed with this scripture, again Maria's paraphrase "Take heed. Take heed when you think you stand lest you fall." I felt a solemn stirring to seek God for strength to hang onto Him and not be distracted. To seek Him for wisdom as I assessed where I am right now, where could danger be looking? "Teach me Lord, show me your ways, teach me your paths."

It's been almost 2 weeks since that message and from time to time the phrase comes back to me in my spirit. I have felt compelled to share this with you, my friends. Let's take heed. Of course I did a word study. Here's some things to think of:

Thinketh (as in you think you stand) means "to seem" to be whether truthfully or uncertainly, to be accounted of or supposed to be of good reputation.

Heed means to watch, look, behold, consider.

Stand means to establish, covenant, to stand, abide, continue.

Fall means to fail or fall.

"11 Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period). 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. 13 For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. 1 Corinthians 10:11-13 Amplified.

Sing to the Lord, bless (affectionately praise) His name; show forth His salvation from day to day. Psalms 96:2

A dear friend of mine has blessed me with a Guideposts every year for Christmas for so long. My husband and I are so blessed to read it every day. I can't TELL you how many times the devotion and/or scripture in it has ministered to me and practically saved my life. Just a day or two ago (I always peek ahead, so I can't remember which actual day it was for, because I read it for about 3 days straight! ;) ) Anyway, the verse was Psalm 96:2 "Sing to the Lord, bless (affectionately praise) His name; show forth His salvation from day to day.". It just stopped me in my tracks.

Show forth His salvation? Hmm...I wonder EXACTLY what that means? This sounds really good. Because day to day, meaning always, EVERY day I should, we should all, be showing His salvation...I bet Strongs (Concordance) will tell me something really good about this.

Check this out: to show as it used here means to be fresh, full, and rosy (to mean cheerful)! To proclaim, declare, and preach good tidings!

Salvation as used here means all these wonderful things: something saved, deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health, help, welfare. Also, from a word meaning (I LOVE this part!) to be open, wide, or free; to be safe, to free or give succor, to avenge, deliver, defend, preserve, rescue, saviour!

Bottom line? Psalms 96:2 says we should be showing the good effects of living as a child of God, saved by the grace of Jesus, Name written in the Lamb's Book of Life, filled with the precious Holy Spirit, wielding the sword of the spirit (which is the Word of God) and our shield of faith, Ephesians 6:16 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ". We have been given freedom from sin, freedom from the curse (been redeemed from it - Galatians 3:13), freedom, freedom to love, freedom to forgive, freedom for believing God is a God of His Word and taking and applying it to the doorposts of your life, and your family!

Fresh - every day! You could say, we ought to be able to have a sticker on us that says - "her rosy cheeks mean she has been made fresh daily!" Tee-hee! His mercies are new every morning! I will praise the Lord with my WHOLE heart! No offense, no bank statement, no bad attitude I may be tempted to have, is going to be allowed to preside in my life! People who come to my house, who I meet when I do business, they will know that I have a good reason for my hope!

Join me?

What Will YOU Do?

Proverbs 31:8 "Open your mouth for the dumb [those unable to speak for themselves], for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless"

We don't usually talk about things controversial here. I know more and more these days, Christains disagree on the issue of the sanctity of life. I am not going to try to change anyone's mind here. Nor will I apologize for my belief on this topic. I am very committed to the need to preserve the sanctity of life in our Nation, and at this time there is legislation pending which will take a left hook, then a right hook and then a move in for the kill in the issue of life.

Here is how we know the priorities of our current President. His actions match his words in this one regard. He promised the first thing he wouild do as President was sign the Freedom of Choice Act. And He has already put his authority to work in executive orders which undo good work that our recent President had done, in matters pertaining to life. Thanks to President Obama, your money and my money will fund abortions all around the world, because it's just not enough to make sure we are doing it here in our own country. In his mind, (and others which think like him), this is reasonable tool to fighting poverty and babies born out of wedlock. They truly believe this is a good thing to do. And in some ways they seem more committed to their belief than we do about ours.

Further the Freedom of Choice Act is scheduled for review and vote at any time now. If it makes it through the Senate, it would truly take a miracle to change his mind and veto it.

From the website Fight the Freedom of Choice Act here is an excerpt - "Barack Obama is now the incoming President. And he made a promise to Planned Parenthood last year they expect him to keep."The first thing I’d do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That’s the first thing I’d do." "

With all the troubles facing our Nation, THIS is his most serious priority? And for once his actions match his words, he is working with his party to accomplish this.

You want to know something about this current group on Capitol Hill? The wicked way they use words. They craft a piece of legislation, which has a purpose that much of America would either not be receptive to or would actually oppose, and they slap a name on it that makes it sound pretty and, ironically means the opposite of what the proposed legilation actually does.

Here's what Freedom of Choice would do, (and this is just one action, there are MANY). Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) would take away the right of faith based hospitals (which as I understand are a good 1/3 of our hosiptals nationally, and in some areas, just about the only hope of a hosipital.) and the right of medical personnel possessing moral conviction which prohibit them from committing abortions or assisting in them, to say "No, I can't, I won't do this" or as a hospital or clinic "No, we are in the business of preserving life, not killing it". Under this act, their "freedom of choice" to excercise their religious liberty is G-O-N-E.

Let's just say one of your dear children makes it through the education and training to be an OB GYN nurse or doctor. Most people who do this work, chose it because they LOVE the beauty of bringing life into the world and all that goes with it. Can you imagine them being forced to take life, against their will, or having to just leave the field all togther because they can not do this. That's all the choice there is. Under this law, you do it or face the consequences, the new consequences of depriving someone of THEIR so-called "right" to abort their baby. So now, a woman's right to abort her baby, trumps my right as an individual to say, "I'm sorry for what you are going through, but I am not going to be the person that helps you do this, nor is this hospital. We can give you help in other fashions, We can put you in touch with places that will help you either get started raising this child, and with job training, or with couples who are desperate to adopt. We can even help you with medical assistance to have this baby healthy. But, we can not help you abort this baby".

Can you imgaine any of the wonderful Catholic hospitals in our Nation having to close, because they can NOT abort babies? That's not why they exist, and the people who are responsible for the administration of those hospitals will have to answer before God if they allow this.

The scripture I chose above, is the scripture that reminds me the most, of the responsibility we all face to speak up, to take action, to not be passive in the face of evil, however well intended it might be. Eve meant well, I imagine so did Adam. But what they intended is not what they got, is it?

There are so many ways that quiet, unassuming people can be proactive and assertive in this topic.

PRAY! Prayer is POWERFUL! Ask for the Lord to grant you passion and zeal to pray with purpose and His wisdom in this matter. Pray for our leaders, to have the gift of a humble spirit before God, to have the grace to seek Him for guidance and divinely inspired solutions. As President Obama faces nay sayers, trouble makers and sycophants, I pray that God would move the hearts of a few well placed men and women, who are Godly, wise and willing to beard the lion's den and offer support, to work with President Obama, (and even poeple close to him who need help and Godly influence), to accomplish GOOD. People wise enough to not be manipulated, people with enough integrity to not become a people pleaser, because they are more concerned for their own re-election or next high ranking cabinet position.

Sign the Fight Freedom of Choice Act petition, and get your family and friends to do the same. It MATTERS to take the time. it also informs them as they do it. The site is worth the visit, it has much good information. It's free and easy to use. Click here.

E-mail, phone, or write a letter to your Senators and Congress men and women. Tell them how you feel about this act, and even the executive orders.

Every child deserves the right to live! What will you do to take action for all our children to have this right?

Dancing Backwards in High Heels!

Have any of Ya'll ever heard the Kenny Chesney song "The Woman with You"? Where they talk over spilt groceries, after a hard day's work for her, over a can of beans on the front porch? It's a great song, and of course in it is the line "dancing backwards in high heels". I LOVE that line!

It's an older song, and came out at a time when my husband and I could really relate to it. I recently got a fresh perspective on it from a message my Co-Pastor Kathy Cochran gave to our ladies meeting this past fall. I don't remember the point of the message exactly but, I was inspired during her message to this effect. That when we go through those painful, long term struggles, and/or sudden impact trials we feel like we are going through a minefield, it's so hard climbing that mountain, (like the rocky craigs traversed by the mountain goats), but there is a great reward for our efforts to keep moving forward.

I was inspired specifically to the verses in Habakkuk 3:17-19 Amplified "17 Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, (Though there was no money in the company budget for your husband's raise or yours {maria's paraphrase}) [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food (though the economy went from free market to socialist almost overnight) , though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, (though your kids don't belong to a church family) 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation (He WILL have the last word in my life!)! 19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet (Just like these goats in the pictures) and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! For the Chief Musician; with my stringed instruments."

I love that this was for a song! Can't you just imagine! What terror this as a song would put in the heart of the enemy? :) I like it!

We often feel like these goats in these first 3 pictures, from barely hanging on, to lonely and cut off from friends and companionship, and terribly unsure where next to place our feet, or if we are even going in the right direction.


But, He IS FATHFULL to guide us and lead us by His Holy Spirit, in a protected path. One such example of this promise (there are several) is Isaiah 26:7 "7 The way of the [consistently] righteous (those living in moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relationship of their lives) is level and straight; You, O [Lord], Who are upright, direct aright and make level the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous."

Often times, when inspired with a scripture often comes a song, a book or a movie as an analogy to go with it. In this case it was the song I mentioned, "The Woman With You" (of course until last night when I searched the net, I always thought the name was "Dancing Backwards in High heels")! The reason we like it, I think is important to these trials and seasons we go through on our way up the side of the mountain, to get to the mountain top. The woman is telling her husband her priorities have changed. Her goals, and what she always thought she needed to try to achieve have all turned upside down. Now what she values and strives for are things not necessarily looking so important in the world's eye view. That aspect of the song, mirrored our life, and something God did in me. To us, the song was a fun way to celebrate that fact, that grace from God bestowed upon us.

My point here is these trials give us the ability to have our goals and priorities turned upside down. Yes, though hurtfull and confusing many times, this is often for our good. Things we thought were good and important, we may find were, but for a season only, not for a lifetime. On that trek up the mountain, under the Lord's careful guidance, we will find ourselves unpacking our back packs to lighten the load. We may even be given some better treasures by our Guide as this occurs.

See this mountain goat? Doesn't he look like King of The Mountain? That's how we need to see ourselves, not as the the other 3 pictures!

The Battle you and I face, and our families and friends face this week, is The Lord's, and that victory?....Yep! It's OURS! Romans 8:37 "37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us."

Happy Monday, Ya'll!

Pray and Look for the Stray!

Matthew 9:36 (Amplified Bible) "36 When He saw the throngs, He was moved with pity and sympathy for them, because they were bewildered (harassed and distressed and dejected and helpless), like sheep without a shepherd."

Happy Saturday night, Ya'll! Tomorrow it's rise and shine! Time to go to church, to be encouraged in our faith, to honor God, to rejoice in the wonderful, priceless gift of eternal life with Him, to be reconciled with Him afresh! Why am I talking about this? I have had conversations and experiences lately, which have brought it to my attention that even in healthy church congregations (which I think of as a church family, no matter the size) people are still in our midst, crying out inwardly, desiring that they might make a connection with someone, that is more than just superficial.

I believe that at any given time, you can split the people in a congregation in to 2 simple groups in this one regard. And those roles are subject to change at any given time. The 1 group is the group that is able to reach out the hand of friendship, compassion, a listening ear to someone else in the congregation. The other group is the part that is unable to reach out, and instead they cry out inwardly, at that particular time. It's a critical time. It might not last long, or it might develop into a long term slide away from Heaven's Gates.

Every Sunday, or whenever we are given the gift of the opportunity to fellowship with other believers, we are also given the responsibility to let the Holy Spirit prompt us, lead us to the person, just the one (or maybe two) that we can have that meaningful conversation, that will just make the love and comfort of God swell up within them. Sometimes that's ALL it takes for them to keep pressing on.

We have all been in each group many times. We can all remember receiving the gift of a friendly conversation when we were just to emotionally weak to go start one, but oh, so grateful to be part of one, at someone else's initiative.

We can also think of times that we were so blessed, as to just let our eyes light on someone across the church, that we really knew needed a chance to talk with someone about their grandchild, or their parent they are caring for, or whatever the case may be. We leave the conversation with that "ZING" that you feel, when the Holy Spirit has ministered through you.

Jesus looked out at His congregation in Matthew 9 and SAW the condition of His sheep. He was MOVED with compassion, may we be moved with compassion. Let Him look out through YOUR eyes tomorrow and point the way to someone who you can comfort, with that same comfort He has comforted you with. I'll be doing this myself.

Don't let their age, or the scowl on their face, or the piercing in their eyebrows or nose, or how well put together they seem, put you off, and fool you into thinking they won't welcome your kindness, if the Holy Spirit draws you, trust Him.

And what you have done for others, God will do for your loved one someday. But, even if it's never necessary, you'll be glad for your efforts...there's nothing like that "ZING"!

2 Corinthians 1:2-4 "2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (Amplified Bible) "17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). 18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit."

As I went about my day doing the normal things one does to keep a household running, I was thinking, at certain times about all my friends out in the blog world, lurkers and all. It's a Sisterhood, I think we all agree. Those that I know who will visit, and those who are yet unknown. I love that part of blogging, the way God can (and does) orchestrate our "bumping" into each other, crossing paths, at just the "right" time!

I pondered what was most important today to hear. Today, what did God want us to know? And this is what I was inspired to, almost immediately. And the theme once apprehended by my mind, was seemingly every where I turned. My thought was that He is calling out to us to behold through the mirror of His Word who He sees in us. Not all the warts and shortcomings, but the destiny, the delicate design and great care He has taken with us and is yet to be revealed. To experience His personal, individual love for us, and great pleasure.

He desires that we (His daughters) begin to let His Word be the mirror it is meant to be, the mirror that brings the desired transformation. We love Him, We spend time in prayer, we spend time in the Word. We can all (at least mentally) rattle off numerous ways we "don't measure up". I believe He is beckoning us to take a deep breath and look again, and really, really, truly believe, profess, declare and just become thoroughly steeped in the knowledge of the fact that we are delightful to Him. He delights in us. We are His special creation - in His own image no less, fearfully and wonderfully made. He gave us His Name and authority when we believed in Jesus and gave ourselves to Him forever.

As sweet as all those things are, and that's not even the half, not even a pin-prick of His good purpose in and for us, it's not even the real point. The Christian faith is such a paradox, it's both all about us and not at all about us. In this case it's not about us, it's about who we can potentially damage and who we can potentially inspire and encourage.

There is every reason we need to be more assertive in guarding our hearts and minds in this regard. Because, we women have such an influence on those in our sphere. If we are not actively experiencing that love that only The Father can give us, we become well-intentioned, good-hearted and DRY, harried, and eventually (long term) we can become completely deceived. As we rush and work, study, serve, teach our children, pay our bills, give our tithes, but don't allow ourselves to become saturated with the knowledge the He loves US, YOU, ME! He loves ME! He loves YOU!

I know that we all know He loves us, in our heads, and even in our hearts. But, if we don't bask in that knowledge. Regularly bask in it, daily when possible, and train our minds and hearts to this powerful and heady knowledge, reminding ourselves and reminding the devil when he dares whisper his lies, (sometimes subtle, sometimes outrageous), we will slowly find ourselves thinking we are serving, when really we have become joyless Christians. Something that pushes away wobbly Christians, and pushes away people who are just confused and lost.

See, its a war out there. It's a war for our souls, for the souls of every person you know, every person you ever see. We are all in it. There are no casual bystanders. If we profess He is a God of love, then people need desperately to see that we are confident because we are well-satisfied with the lover of our souls. Nope, we aren't perfect, not nearly, but He is gently leading us day by day, and we trust Him to get us where He wants us, as we daily bask in His love and reflect that love to a lost and dying world.

As women, we most often first reflect this love (or not) to our spouses, nephews, nieces, children parents, grandparents, in-laws, adult siblings. What do they see when they see us? Do they see someone who is balanced in their perspective? Or someone pensive, sarcastic, someone passing judgement where none is due? Perhaps someone perpetually harried and worried?

I cringe as I type because this was so much sweeter in my head. As I type it sounds much harsher than it should be. But, the reason I dare is 1) He put it on my heart, and 2) I know from my personal experience that as an optimistic person, who really DOES believe the best many times, probably most times, (just ask my family, it can be a tad obnoxious!) about 2 years ago, I came to a realization that the pressures of a one income family, combined with living in the fish bowl of staying home with a husband who was home in the daytime and worked at night, and a son who I home educated were getting to me. This meant every expression that crossed my face, every worry, every time I gritted my teeth in frustration, and every time I disciplined myself to not give voice to worries was duly noted and was taking a toll. It became clear to me that the enemy was able to make inroads into our minds, partly because the people in the household with me needed to see that I really believed the good things I said. And I did, and I am sure that you all do as well. But, I needed to tell my face, I needed to tell my mind. I needed to take authority over the thoughts that I was merely mentally fighting off. That meant for me to quickly, every time, counteract the thoughts that would come each day, with a verbal affirmation of God's promises, which ever and as many as I could dish out. It meant take time to not just give love to God, but to dare to experience it, receive it, or I wasn't going to be reflecting it, and letting it shine from me.

If you haven't read C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, please, please do. It is such a wonderful, astute and droll rendition of this concept.

Look in the mirror, see how fair He thinks you are! Then go out and set the world on fire with your smile, your sass, your renewed sense of purpose, whatever the wonder of His love brings out in you. It'd hard not to smile when you know it's all gravy!

See you tomorrow!

Thanks Where Thanks is Due!

In setting up my blog, I was looking for pretty pictures with God's pretty Words. Sources I had used before just weren't working. So I took a Google thru the 'net and found 2 lovely sites. Apples of Gold and Growing in Grace. I wanted to specifically call them out, since their generosity and God given skills made what I found possible. Feel free to click over and check them out!

Welcome to the Bird House!

It's great to be able to visit again! I honestly didn't think this was going to happen - opening another blog. But, once again, the Lord has chosen to give me back something I had to be willing to surrender. It has been a pattern in my life since I was 17. I don't have any preconcieved notions of what this journey in blogging will hold. I just know that it will be the same in many ways, and in others different. It would have to be, because I KNOW that I am different now. The world we live in is different. I can't believe how much has changed since we last visited regularly in August 2008.

I'm going to keep this short. Please note the verse above.... I believe this verse has significant meaning to the Body of Christ this year.

Here it is in the Amplified. Feel free to leave something in the Squawk Box! Isaiah 61:7 "Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs."