They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings as eagles.
They shall run and not be weary.
They shall walk and not faint.
Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait!
~Woman, behold thy son!~
John 19:26
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, who he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
When I was getting ready for church Easter Sunday I thought of this verse. I guess it is the mother in me, but I could just picture her looking on her son, not only her Savior, but her son(even though she remembers in the back of her mind that he was sent from God and this was his purpose and she knew of his miracles and teachings and that he had even said all of these things would happen). She was human and I know she wanted to get him off that cross and take his place. Her baby had been beaten until he was unrecognizable, not because of something he had done, but for the sins of the world. You see that was far as Mary could see, the right here and now. The same as all of us. She was told and knew that he was the Savior of the world, but this was the worst battle of her life. She may not have seen an end to it and I know she didn't see me at an alter crying out to Jesus and asking him to change things for me. Jesus saw all of that... he not only knew his purpose, but he could see the end result. We go through battles in our lives and we don't understand why things happen the way they do or why we have to go through the things we go through and sometimes we see no way out, but we don't see down the road. We don't see whose lives we may be affecting or influencing by the way we handle things or the way God brings us through when there seems to be no hope. Our lives are a testimony and we will not know until we get to heaven exactly how God has used our lives to help change other peoples lives. Jesus told Mary, 'Behold thy Son!' When we are in the battles of our lives we need to Behold our Savior!
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, who he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
When I was getting ready for church Easter Sunday I thought of this verse. I guess it is the mother in me, but I could just picture her looking on her son, not only her Savior, but her son(even though she remembers in the back of her mind that he was sent from God and this was his purpose and she knew of his miracles and teachings and that he had even said all of these things would happen). She was human and I know she wanted to get him off that cross and take his place. Her baby had been beaten until he was unrecognizable, not because of something he had done, but for the sins of the world. You see that was far as Mary could see, the right here and now. The same as all of us. She was told and knew that he was the Savior of the world, but this was the worst battle of her life. She may not have seen an end to it and I know she didn't see me at an alter crying out to Jesus and asking him to change things for me. Jesus saw all of that... he not only knew his purpose, but he could see the end result. We go through battles in our lives and we don't understand why things happen the way they do or why we have to go through the things we go through and sometimes we see no way out, but we don't see down the road. We don't see whose lives we may be affecting or influencing by the way we handle things or the way God brings us through when there seems to be no hope. Our lives are a testimony and we will not know until we get to heaven exactly how God has used our lives to help change other peoples lives. Jesus told Mary, 'Behold thy Son!' When we are in the battles of our lives we need to Behold our Savior!
Update to Pretty Is...Pretty Does
I went back and read my last post and realized it sounds like I am only talking about myself and that is not how I wanted that to come across. The point I wanted to come across was that as we yield ourselves to Jesus, HE is making something beautiful of all of our lives. I just felt like I needed to make that clear.
~Pretty Is.... Pretty Does~
We are having camp meeting at our church this week and we came together expecting to receive from the Lord and he has done exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever think or even ask. I was getting ready for service the other morning and I started thinking about a little phrase my mom used to always tell me, "Pretty is, pretty does." It doesn't much matter what you have to offer from outside appearances if your actions aren't pretty, it cancels it all out. A couple lines of a song that I can't remember all the words to also started rolling over in my spirit. "Something beautiful, something good. All I had to offer him was brokenness and strife, but he made something beautiful of my life." Even my righteousness is as filthy rags, so can you even imagine how disgusting my sin and broken heart/life were when I turned myself over to him? I can look and see how he has put my life back together and I know that he is working all things for my good, but even more than that, he is making me beautiful. I am not talking about outward appearance. I am talking about the inside man, my heart and soul. He is making something beautiful of my life!
Let It Go!
Philippians 3:13-15
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
~
A great move of God is right at our finger tips. He is waiting to move and He wants to move and our expectation is building more and more. What will it take to unlock that expectation and make it a reality? What am I willing to do to make it happen? Am I willing to let go of those things that I convince myself are not really that big a deal? Those things that I tell myself won’t make a difference if I hang on to or decide not to change in my life. Am I willing to step out further in my faith and not worry about what the person to my right or left is thinking? What if not changing certain things in my life or just sitting in my seat meant that my lost loved ones wouldn’t be saved? What if I lose out on a touch from God that I NEED in order to make it on this journey? What if it means losing the anointing God has for me to help others? Is it worth not being able to touch God on my own? I am not saying that all of those things will definitely happen, but do I really want to test it? Why would I want to miss out on anything that God has for my life? He has done me nothing but good.
I am searching out that old path. I don’t know about you, but I have to know that I can reach God for myself. I don’t want anything in my life that will prevent my prayers from being answered. I don’t always have time to call someone that I know can reach God for me. I have to know that everything is ok between him and me and that I am doing everything I know to do to keep my heart right. Not to mention God sent his only begotten son to this earth for the sole purpose of being beaten and hung on a cross so that I could have an opportunity to make it to heaven. Why wouldn’t I want to give him every part of my life? I want to be a part of everything God has to offer. I am a sponge soaking in everything I possibly can. If I am willing to give myself to God, he will fill my cup to over flowing and those around me have no choice but to be affected. I think we really miss out on a lot that God has for us because we get in our own way (me included). It is time for us to LET IT GO… LET IT ALL GO. What God will do in our lives and in the lives around us is so far beyond anything we could ever imagine. He will take us to heavenly places that we know not of even in this life.
~
Philippians 2:12-16
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
~
Ephesians 2:1-6
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and make us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and make us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
~
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
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