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I have but one life, I choose to spend it praising Him
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Upside Down Sep 29, 2008 6:28 am
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Upside Down
Luann Prater

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" Matthew 6: 25 (NIV)
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Matthew 6 (Amplified Bible)
25Therefore I tell you, stop being [v]perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the [w]span of his life?(

Devotion:

Everything in my closet is shrinking! Do you notice it too? It is amazing how a little extra around my waist causes my pants to rise above my ankles! And I am sure that since I hit the 50 mark, the Michelin Tire Man has taken up residence inside my skin. I don't need an inner tube when swimming in the lake with my grandkids; I have one permanently affixed to my middle!

Recently I made a commitment to get back on track with my eating habits, choosing vegetables instead of bread, and fruit instead of snacks. Even though I know this is the right approach, I have found that it tends to consume my thoughts. Aren't we funny creatures? We seem to major in the minors of life.

The Bible teaches us to put first things first; to seek God before all else. And yet, we continually put Him somewhere on the to-do list with everything else. He has proven to me over the years that if I put Him first, all the other things will fall into place. So why is it so hard to do that on a day-in, day-out basis?

1 Chronicles 16: 11 tells us, "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always." So what do I do instead of seeking the Lord? Often I seek my own will or pleasure before I seek God. Sometimes I'm more interested in getting what I want before I ask what He wants. Other times, I operate in my own logic and strength -- calling my own shots according to what seems right to me.

When I live that way, I turn the guidance of the scriptures upside down. Matthew 6:33 clearly instructs us, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

So here is what I've learned recently on my quest to eat right. When I begin my day seeking Him, my appetite stays in check. Period. When I truly focus on my relationship with Him, eating is just where it needs to be. It becomes part of my day but not the focus of my day. God's ways do work -- we just have to follow them. So I challenge you, turn your logic upside down this week and begin each day seeking the One who created you.

Dear Lord, thank You for being enough. Teach us each day to seek Your face before all other things in our lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

Rise each morning this week and spend quiet time seeking the Lord. Spend this time only focused on Him, who He is, and what He has already done in your life. Save the "I wants" and the "please help me" for later. Then record how your days become drastically different than the norm.

Reflections:

What challenge am I facing today?

Why do I try to conquer challenges on my own?

How can I turn my prayer habits upside down?

Power Verses:

Matthew 7: 7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (NIV)
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Luke 12: 31, "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." (NIV)

Luke 12 (Amplified Bible)
30For all the pagan world is [greedily] seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also.

32Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!

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Acts 17: 27, "God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." (NIV)
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Temptation Sep 21, 2008 3:35 am
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I am currently studying a daily devotional by Oswald Chambers: My utmost His Highest. I came across the following and found it so true.

Satan does not tempt us to do wrong things, he tempts us to make us lose what God has put into us through regeneration (see Glatians 4:19), namely, the possibility of being of value to God.
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Can I 'Do All Things'? Sep 14, 2008 5:31 am
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Can I 'Do All Things'? Examining Philippians 4:13
Shawn McEvoy
Crosswalk.com Faith Editor

After John 3:16, Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, and maybe Romans 8:28, the following verse might be one of the most well-known, most-beloved, and most oft-quoted in all scripture:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

Surely many of us could share a time this verse has been an encouragement or a help, or another time where we've used it to admonish others. I can remember being a camp counselor and shouting this verse as support to youth too nervous to navigate our high ropes course. "You can do it, Sally! The Bible says you can!"

But later on I would reflect: "Is that what this verse means? That we can push ourselves to physical feats or worldly accomplishments? Can it really mean that? Then how do people who don't know Christ navigate these ropes and the obstacles of achievement?" Did I really need Jesus in order to climb those trees and zoom down that zip line?

Furthermore, I’ve always wondered, what does "do" refer to in this verse anyway? It's a bit of a vague verb if you think about it. Crosswalk.com lists several possible meanings for "do" that kind of fall into two different groups – groups that come close to echoing two different ways of understanding this oft-quoted (and sometimes mis-quoted?) verse:

Group A ) To: perform, execute, accomplish, render, bring into being

Group B ) To: serve, suffice, approve, give

We'll come back to those in a minute...

***

One of Steven Curtis Chapman's greatest ballads goes:

I can do all things
Through Christ, who gives me strength.
But sometimes I wonder what He
Can do through me.

No great success to show,
No glory on my own;
Yet in my weakness He is there
To let me know…

His strength is perfect
When our strength is gone;
He’ll carry us
When we can’t
Carry on.
Raised in His power,
The weak become strong.

His strength is perfect,
His strength is perfect.

Notice what Chapman does here. How does the song start? (With our verse, Phil. 4:13. Specifically, "I can do all things..."). How does it end? ("His strength is perfect"). Goes from "I" to "Him," a telling progression, perhaps. He also wonders what Christ can do through him. Why? Is it because he realizes the "all things" he would "do" on his own tend to avoid sacrifice, dying to self, and other personal, worldly victories? There is wisdom at work here, as one of our greatest Christian songwriters realizes he has to get out of the way. He must lose strength before the power comes, not the other way around.

Now, let’s work backwards and take a fresh look at Phil. 4:13 in context. If we begin reading in Phil. 4:10…

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. (NIV)

So… Paul's word "do," in context, lends itself much more to Column B of definitions above. In fact, the Commentary Critical says the literal Greek meaning here is "I have strength for all things;" so we can add words like "endure, survive, deal with, handle, be content in, etc.," to Column B.

Consider Gil's Exposition of the Bible on the phrase "I can do all things : "

[It] must not be understood in the greatest latitude, and without any limitation; for the apostle was not omnipotent, either in himself, or by the power of Christ; nor could he do all things that Christ could do; but it must be restrained to the subject matter treated of: the sense is, that he could be content in every state, and could know how to behave himself in adversity and prosperity, amidst both poverty and plenty; yea, it may be extended to all the duties incumbent on him both as a Christian and as an apostle, as to exercise a conscience void of offence towards God and men; to take the care of all the churches; to labour more abundantly than others in preaching the Gospel; and to bear all afflictions, reproaches, and persecutions for the sake of it; yea, he could willingly and cheerfully endure the most cruel and torturing death for the sake of Christ: all these things he could do, not in his own strength, for no man was more conscious of his own weakness than he was, or knew more of the impotency of human nature; and therefore always directed others to be strong in the Lord, and in, the power of his might, and in the grace that is in Christ, on which he himself always depended, and by which he did what he did.

I can't help but wonder what, if anything, this does for those of us who have always used this verse as a platitudinal confidence booster. Speaking for myself, as a younger Christian I might have felt like one of my primary weapons or favorite toys had just been cruelly yanked away from me, and I might be feeling a little defensive. When I was a fundamentalist, legalistic Christian, I would have beaten down myself and everyone else for not "doing" the take-up-the-cross, die-to-self version of "all things" every day, and taken smug satisfaction in telling younger Christians how wrong they were. Currently, I'm coming to find I have very little to do with any of it. I simply lay back. As the song we quoted says, "no glory on my own."

But if that's so, why is "Do All Things” still an important concept for Christian living (if indeed it is)?

Here's what I would contend:

If we can get to the point of accepting / being content in / enduring anything, that means we are totally dependant upon God for our needs. And when we become dependant upon God for our needs, they no longer become our primary concern.

Anyone remember from Psych 101 Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs (see pic)?

At the base of the pyramid are the most basic Physiological needs (food, water). Next up is Safety/shelter, then Belonging/love/acceptance, followed by Esteem and Self-actualization/personal growth at the top. According to Maslow, it's only after the lower levels are taken care of that we are free to exist in the upper planes.

My wife Valerie said something once that really put this idea into a new light for me. Our son Jordan, then 3, had been singing the praise song, "Seek Ye First," which is based on Jesus' words in Matthew 6:33. He asked, "What does 'all these things will be added unto you' mean? (emphasis mine)

Val explained (in a much more appropriate way for a 3-year-old than I am about to) that if we trust God to provide for us, take care of us, and direct our paths, while we focus on keeping His commandments and loving others (i.e. "doing"), instead of the other way around, or the world's way, then we're set. It's the order in which God wanted things done.

This totally jives with "doing" God's word and seeking to have his righteousness first. Notice how it totally inverts the direction of the pyramid! That's what being able to "do all things through Christ" does! Instead of "self-actualization" as the ultimate, final step, Christians can come to "God-actualization," if you will, involving true self worth, ministry, repentance, study, love, as the primary step, and then see their more basic needs met.

Now the question remains - a question one friend in my Adult Bible Fellowship class is fond of asking with almost any lesson - "what does that look like?" When this concept is really and truly played out in life, how does it look? Can it be done? How radical an idea is this?

If you want to read a very real, very inhumanly possible example from the recent past of what "doing all things through Christ" means through the lens we've constructed here today, please read Dave Burchett's excellent article: "Where Do You see Jesus? Contrasting Responses to PA Shooting." Warning: bring tissues.

***

There's nothing wrong with Philippians 4:13 giving you encouragement when you feel inadequate. That idea is biblical. But ask yourself: what have you come through in life that you could never have "done" except for that same strength that led Jesus to be able to live sinlessly and carry through with a brutal sacrifice He could have called upon angels to stop?

Let me leave you with this perhaps-disquieting thought... If the meaning here is, as the Commentary suggests, "I have strength for all things," then consider whether "all things" involves stuff we'd normally try to avoid – problems, suffering, trials, tribulations, and all manner of troubles that cause you to need that strength? Could it be that's where God wants you for His greatest glory to show His perfect strength? After all, Paul was in prison (yet content and still spreading the gospel) when he wrote these famous words...

Comment on this article that I agree with:
In response to the writer of the article and Lawrence Caldwell; I think the truth encompasses both your positions. It is speaking of being "enabled" by Christ to live in whatever position He places us in and being ready for whatever work He chooses to do through us or use us for.

In the final analysis it boils down to having faith - faith that He knows what He is doing and is actively watching over us whatever place we are in - and faith that He will uphold and support us in anything He asks us to do. We can step out in boldness knowing that we can "do" anything we have been asked. It does not mean that we can set ourselves to do anything we choose and that we are empowered by Him to do that - we follow Him, not He follow us, and the things we can do are the things He wishes us to do.

People set themselves up for failure by seeking His empowerment before seeking His direction.
Lawrence J Caldwell
2 Comments
Ole Sep 13, 2008 9:53 pm
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A doctor in Duluth wanted to get off work and go hunting, so he approached
his assistant. 'Ole, I am goin' huntin' tomorrow and don't want to close the clinic.
I want you to take care of the clinic and take care of all my patients.'

'Yes, sir!' answers Ole.

The doctor goes hunting and returns the following day and asks: 'So, Ole,
how was your day?'

Ole told him that he took care of three patients. 'The first one had a
headache so I gave him TYLENOL.'

'Bravo, Mate, and the second one?' asks the doctor.

'The second one had stomach burning and I gave him MAALOX, sir,' says Ole.

Bravo, bravo! You're good at this and what about the third one?' asks the
doctor.

'Sir, I was sitting here and suddenly the door opens and a woman enters.
Like a flame, she undresses herself, taking off everything including her bra and her panties and lies down on the table and shouts: HELP ME - I haven't seen a man in over two years!!

Ole, what did you do?' asks the doctor.

'I put drops in her eyes.'
2 Comments
Accuracy Sep 13, 2008 2:08 pm
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I am reposting this as somehow it says member deleted post.

David Burchett
Author and Speaker
A Plea For Accuracy In An Emotional Debate
The current state of discourse in this nation makes me want to put on the Bose headsets and resurface in mid-November. The internet can be a wonderful tool but too many writers have chosen to use the tool only as a chainsaw or hammer. I wrote a piece pleading for grace in the debate. After grace my next biggest gripe is the lack of accuracy in the debate.

This quote from George Eliot is not in the Beatitudes but Jesus might have thought about including it.

"Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact." Might I add blessed is the man or woman who takes a moment to confirm as fact what they forward as fact. May I suggest that forwarded e-mails are not the greatest source of truth available to mankind. The automatic forwarding of e-mail warnings is a real pet peeve of mine. About every other week I have to send an e-mail to a wonderfully well intentioned friend to let them know that they are forwarding a half-truth or flat out lie. I feel a little uncomfortable when I do that because I know it is embarrassing to them. And I have to be honest that once you have wasted my time by forwarding a untrue e-mail I am likely to send your next effort to cyber purgatory.

For Christians this is an important issue. When we forward false information it can (and often does) do damage to the image of Christianity and to the very name of Christ. It makes Christians appear lazy and uninformed (restraint Dave…easy). How about the poor receptionist who fields thousands of irate calls for something that is not even valid like the FCC hoax mentioned below? By the way, you would be amazed at the less than godly content of some of these calls.

The political campaign has caused an explosion in Compulsive Forwarding Syndrome. I am begging you to check the facts at a site like factcheck o r g or truthorfiction c o m to see if the content is true.

Here are my requests and suggestions (forward these to five friends and you might win something from somebody)
1) Be naturally suspicious. Your credibility is at stake.
2) Verify the story. Check before you forward. Please.
3) Be gracious.
5) Apply Proverbs 2:11 to your cyber-ministry. Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you.

James has a nice little take on wisdom.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James 3, NIV)

I could go on but I just received a personal note from a doctor in Nigeria. He needs my help and he promised me 5 million dollars. Don’t worry, I’ll tithe!

Note by Sonia:
I have been quilty of this myself and wish to make a difference by checking the facts. Many emails should have stopped by me but I did not check the facts. Information sharing is a valuable tool, let us start sharing the truth.
1 comment
The Battle is Won Through Forgiveness, Restoration Sep 13, 2008 5:17 am
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The Battle is Won Through Forgiveness, Restoration
Sinclair Ferguson
Bible Study Hour
How successfully do you handle the sins of others? Observation suggests that the Christian family too often reacts with either hot indignation or cold indifference, without a proper sense of biblical responsibility.
Sometimes we seem as bad at handling others' failures as we are at overcoming our own. No doubt these two things are related. Yet, given the nature of the gospel, would we not expect that the church should be vastly different from the world on this point?

Scripture gives several principles which should govern our response to the sins of others.

1. Grief. A life has been marred. Christ's name has been shamed. Perhaps others' lives have been invaded by the consequences of sin. Things can never be quite the same again. Hearts will have been hardened, making repentance the more difficult. Knowing this, we will weep with those who weep.

2. Realism. Conversion does not deliver the saints from the presence of sin. We may have died to sin, but sin has not yet died out in us. The regenerate man is only in the process of being healed. Sin dwells in him still, and is deceitful still.

This does not excuse the believer's sin, but it underlines that it is possible for Christians still to sin. Scripture encourages us that there will be no fatalities, but warns us that we can still be critically wounded.

The strong-stomached authors of the Westminster Confession caught this balance when they wrote that "sanctification is throughout in the whole man; yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war . . . In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail; yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome . . ." (XIV,ii,iii)

Such knowledge does not protect us from grief over others' sins, but it does help us to see that a single wound is not the end of the war, and thus preserves us from despair of ourselves or others.

3. Self-examination. We too are frail, we too may fall. Our sins may not have produced the same public consequences as those of our brethren, but may be no less horrible. We may have been spared the combination of sinful desire, the pressure of temptation, and the opportunity to act that has brought another to fall. Only those who know that they too are "subject to weakness" will be "able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray" (Heb.5:2).

4. Mutual confession. We are to confess our sins to each other, and to pray for one another (Jas.5:16). Why? Because mutual confession breaks the grip of Satan over the guilty heart.

Satan's paralyzing stranglehold depends on our acceptance of his winsome lies:1) No other Christian could have sinned as you did; 2) No other Christian will accept you and love you now, so you must disguise your sin by any means you can. But in mutual confession we discover and overcome his lies, and break the blackmailing grip that Satan has gained over us. It brings us back into the fellowship from which we have withdrawn out of guilt and a fear of discovery.

5. Forgiveness and reconciliation. Those whom Christ welcomes we must welcome. He grants grace and forgiveness in order that there may be amendment of life. We dare not reverse that gospel pattern by demanding rigorous rehabilitation before we extend forgiveness and reconciliation.

6. New discipline. Brothers and sisters who sin are to be restored gently (Gal.6:1). There is a twofold emphasis here, on discipline and grace. Those who have failed need to drink long and deeply from the fountain of grace, learning again and again that we are not justified by our sanctification but by God's grace. They will need to be protected from Satan’s efforts to overwhelm and cripple them with guilt, or to drive them to a sense of despair.

Moreover, they have sinned, as we ourselves have, and together we must help them to remodel and rebuild their Christian lives and testimony. The foundations must be strengthened, the ruins must be reconstructed.

It appears from our Lord's teaching that all this may normally be accomplished informally by fellow Christians, long before it becomes necessary for formal discipline to be inaugurated. Such discipline is for the intractable only (Matt. 18:15-17).

We must never lose sight of the fact that the New Testament church contained one who, after his regeneration, denied Christ with blasphemies. Christ prays for those whom Satan seeks to sift like wheat. He loves them still.

Who knows to what usefulness a brother or sister may be restored by those who have learned how to handle the sins of others as well as their own?

This article was previously published in Eternity Magazine.
2 Comments
Work and God Sep 13, 2008 4:34 am
208 Views
Work and God: The Importance of Knowing Which is Which
T.M. Moore
BreakPoint

"What has a man from all the toil and striving of his heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation." (Ecclesiastes 2:22,23)

Presidential campaigns have a way of focusing our attention on economic matters. One of the persistent themes in this category of campaign rhetoric is jobs: their flight to foreign countries, theft by illegal immigrants, battering at the hands of a weak economy and record oil prices, and the persistent claims of unequal opportunity, unjust remuneration scales, and uncertain futures related to jobs. Americans have a curious love/hate relationship with their work. They love their work because it keeps them busy, provides them the means for survival and self-fulfillment, and gives them a measure of status in society. They hate their work because it wears them out emotionally and physically, never quite seems to satisfy what they’d hoped from it, and, increasingly, keeps them on the edge of uncertainty and potential ruin.

It’s pretty clear that the attitude and perspective we bring to our work play a major role both in the way we work and the benefits we derive from our job. A positive attitude toward work is more likely to lead to a productive and fulfilling career. A negative attitude may affect both our contribution to the workplace and the sense of fulfillment and satisfaction we derive from our jobs. Work is not, as some suppose, a consequence of the fall into sin; it is not one of the evidences of the curse. Rather, people were made to work, created by God to tend to the creation and all its creatures and potential in such a way as to bring forth His goodness, beauty, and truth with increasing bounty and benefit.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon has a few things to say about work. And he should know, having devoted so much of his adult life to working at a wide range of projects and achievements as King of Israel. As he neared old age, Solomon sought to warn his already wayward-leaning heir, Rehoboam, about the dangers of confusing work and God. In his musings on this subject, he guides us to consider four ways that people experience their work. It might be helpful to reflect on our own work in the light of Solomon’s counsel, which is offered from two altogether different perspectives on life.

Work Under the Sun

On the one hand, Solomon explains to his son that it is possible to approach our work without any consideration as to how it relates to God or the fact that we are His creatures. He uses the phrase “under the sun” when he is speaking about work from this perspective. This is the way most men approach their work, and they find it neither satisfying nor meaningful; instead, work pursued “under the sun” leaves one wondering, “Is that all there is?”

People who approach their work without reference to God and His will end up experiencing their work either as a yoke, a means to self-fulfillment, or a tool. For people whose only perspective on work is “this-worldly,” work becomes something to which they bind themselves in the hope that, by devoting themselves to work, they’ll get what they want out of life.

Solomon explains that, in such a situation, work is like a yoke because it demands so much of us physically and emotionally. It is a burden to bear: “So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous for me, for all is vanity and striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:17). We are like animals; every day we take up the yoke appointed to us, grind out a few rows, break our backs, and strain our souls, and then come home too exhausted for much of anything else. Sooner or later, we die, completely unfulfilled (Ecclesiastes 3:18-21; 9:11,12).

Nevertheless, men expect their work to make them happy and to give them a sense of meaning and fulfillment; and, for a time, it does. But soon enough even our greatest achievements fail to satisfy, and we are left wondering if we’re ever going to know meaning and fulfillment in our work (Ecclesias
1 comment
The Pain of Rejection Sep 12, 2008 4:31 am
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The Pain of Rejection
by Tracie Miles

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or God? Or am I still trying to please men?

If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

Devotion:

If there is one thing that can make someone feel like they don't have a friend in the world, it's rejection. Whether it be rejection from a spouse, a co-worker's gossip, a friend's betrayal, an unappreciative boss, an unfriendly neighbor, or a teenager who suddenly doesn't want to be seen with you anymore - rejection hurts.

A few years ago I was dealt a harsh blow of rejection from someone I thought I had a positive relationship with. In the midst of this rejection, I became so focused on my hurt feelings that it became nearly impossible to think clearly, or rationally.

For most of us, when we are drowning in the pain of being rejected by someone, our thoughts are often, "How could that person have done/said that to me? Do they know how much I have done for them? Have they taken a hard look at themselves?"

Do those words sound familiar? They certainly do to me. These are some of the exact thoughts I had when I was thinking vengeful thoughts about my "rejecter."

My human nature wanted to get back at the one who hurt me. Maybe give them a taste of their own medicine. But God had a different plan in mind.

God desired for me to handle this challenging and painful situation with understanding and compassion. He wanted me to pray for that person, and see them as His child who had made a mistake and didn't realize how their words and actions affected others. He wanted me to forgive them.

Yes, that was His plan, but I didn't really buy into it at first. Instead, I chose to harbor anger and pierce the ears of my family and friends with all of my woes, forcing them to be an involuntary guest at my ongoing pity party. I chose to feel sorry for myself, and shed as many tears as possible, as if that would drown out the hurt.

However, despite my procrastination in handling things God's way, over the next few weeks, God repeatedly intervened and reassured me of His love. I stumbled across sweet Bible verses dealing with overcoming rejection. My weekly Bible study topic was on rejection, my daily email devotions touched on rejection, and my pastor's sermon was about rejection that Sunday.

Could all of those things just have been incredible coincidences? Definitely not! I knew it was the awesome work of my Lord and Savior, who cared about me enough to let me know that He was with me during this time of turmoil. He gently reassured me of my worth in His eyes, and reminded me that I did not need 'man's' approval, only His approval.

God's love helped me to wash away the pride from my eyes, and allow Him to wash my soul with His mercy and grace. In His arms, I was reminded that I am His and that He loves and adores me despite my flaws and insecurities. As a result, I was able to take my focus off of my rejecter, and instead focus on my approver -- Jesus.

Isn't it so comforting to know that you never have to try to earn Jesus' approval, and that you can live with a peace of mind knowing that He accepts you, no matter what.

Although Jesus may not always approve of our actions or choices, He always approves of us as a person whom He created, whom He loves, and whom He thought was important enough to die for.

Dear Lord, I pray for Your wisdom on how to deal with situations in which I feel hurt, rejected and worthless. Fill me with Your love so that I can love others, even when I do not feel loved in return. Please help me to remember that the only One who I need to seek approval from is You, and that it is in You alone, that I can truly believe that I am worthy and unconditionally loved. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

Ask God for the supernatural ability to forgive your rejecter. Remember who you are in God's eyes is all that really matters.

Reflections:

Are you allowing the opinion of one person to affect how you feel about yourself?

Power Verses:

1 Kings 8:50 And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy. (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 2:4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. (NIV)
16 Comments
You guys drive on the wrong side of the road!!!! Sep 1, 2008 3:53 am
422 Views
I arrived safely in the States. The flight was 25 hours, with a delay on my overlay in Atlanta, ended up being 3 hours instead of two, it felt so much longer after the 20 hour flight from South Africa.

I think you guys rock, everybody is so friendly and I feel right at home. Tom is a darling, and we hit it off very well. It feels as though it was meant to be. I know it is early days, but I am having a ball and are very excited.

Lol, had my first experience driving on the wrong side of the road, I have to agree, it was a nightmare, Lol, I think more for Tom than me. I had one freaky incident where I tried turning into oncoming traffic but lived to tell the tale. Every time a car approaches from the front it feels as though it is where I am supposed to be.

I met the family and friends and so far so good. It is awkward, you think it is difficult as a youngster to meet the parents, try meeting the children as a 40 something.

My internal clock is slowly adjusting, the first 3 nights I woke up at 1am and was wide awake because that was my mornings in South Africa. I am at 4am now lol.

Keep well and be blessed, will try and catch up between my new experiences.
12 Comments
46 hours to go.... Aug 22, 2008 11:31 am
Mood: nervous, 367 Views
I just passed the 46hour countdown mark and are almost done packing for my trip to the States.

I must admit, I am extremely nervous. Up to this morning I was fine but this morning, I woke up with a feeling of, what were you thinking.

I am looking forward to meeting Tom but lol, this is an extremely awkward time for me. He is so sweet and have gone through such a lot of trouble for me, which I appreciate so much.

It is also very exciting time, I may spend the rest of my life with him. We have so many plans and projects planned.

I have been quite bored the past week and yesterday I started a garden project, the result, a whole lot of broken nails but I feel good about the end result. It is almost finished. I have actually put in the plants and finished the boarders after the pic was taken.
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