The Path to Peace

I was recently in my living room with a woman and she began to talk about all the problems she has had in her life. I was heartbroken for her. She was a pariah in her own family. She was never thought self-worth in fact just the opposite. She was and is emotionally crippled by her past. She, then asked what was the path to peace in my life. After thinking and reflecting on my own road, I answered, "We have to be committed in the process of healing and only through the Lord and His healing has brought me peace." This world throws obstacles in our path and our goal is to overcome those obstacles. Unfortunately, we live among folks slinging arrows and stones. When you are living through a traumatic experience, it is hard to conceive hope, but hope is there!

What is hope? The expectation of something great or better. The hope is, we don't have to stay there. We do not have to live in the past. We can be made righteous. We are covered with filth and can be made white as snow.

How? By taking all that hurt, bitterness and anger and give it to someone. Take the sack of ugliness, the bag of self deprecation and get it off your back. Take the shame, guilt and indignation. Take it and give it to Jesus!

In John 16:33 Jesus tells us that we will have trouble, but then look at his promise "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

“Take Heart” He has overcome the world. What does that mean and who is he speaking to and about? Lots of commentaries are written about this. They say Jesus is speaking to the disciples about his death and resurrection. Jesus was trying to prepare them for what was to come.He also gives them a hope and a promise. Despite Jesus' preparation no one could fathom the horrors of the cross, or the amazement of the resurrection. His death and resurrection intertwined... mourning and then joy. Don’t forget that Jesus is also speaking to us. Jesus is confirming, we will experience loss, grief and pain. Then look at what Jesus says, "Take Heart, I have overcome the world." He is assuring us if we believe in Him, even despite our circumstance we can experience joy, trust, love and peace. Peace! Tranquility! Contentment!

It requires us to do something…it requires us to believe in Him, really believe. A belief He can take away those feelings of hurt, anguish, pain. Believe He has already overcome this world. So take Him the hurt you have experienced at the hands of a parent. Take Him the shame of having an abortion. Take Him the guilt of your past sins. Take Him the curses and words uttered in contempt from a spouse. Take Him the addictions binding you. Take Him the scars of abuse. Take Him your worry of the future. Take Him the feeling of unworthiness. Take Him your loneliness. Take Him the sickness. Take Him the doubting heart. Take Him the grief of loss. Take Him the bitterness of divorce. Take Him the anger you are carrying. Take Him the overwhelming pain that you can’t even describe. Give it to Jesus!

Give Jesus everything! Give Him your troubles. Give Jesus all your pain. He says to take His yoke for it is light. Lay it all at His feet and let Him begin to heal you. Let Jesus be the shoulder to lean on. Let Jesus carry you through the storm. Let Him pull you up. He can bring you peace, He can make you whole again!

Jesus has already overcome this world. Let Him overcome your wounds. Let Jesus free you from your past...and start living in hope, start living in His peace and start living the promise!

How Can I Keep From Singing Your Praise

We did this song by Chris Tomlin a few weeks ago, How can I keep from singing Your praise. I've heard it on the radio a few times and I just can't get it off my mind.

The songs speaks of weathering storms and darkest nights. I can totally relate to it. I went through a very sad, painful divorce about 6 years ago. I can speak from a place of security about it now, because the Lord intervened in my life and He began to heal the wounds I had.

It was a very unhealthy marriage. I can totally admit I was probably one of the worst wives ever. I didn't enjoy being married. It was full of turmoil and strife. Along the way, I became a mother and I absolutely lost myself in motherhood. I loved that part of it. In the midst of the worst moments of my marriage, I would cry out to God and ask is this what I have to endure for the rest of my life. This can't be what You the creator of all things had in store for me. The choice of divorce was not mine, but I followed and counter punched my way through the traumatic experience. I realize now, I would not have walked out, in the agony of abuse, I justified the reasons I should stay.

When I was growing up and playing house with my dolls, I never imagined grief or pain being associated with a marriage and wanting a family. I thought only of love and of happy endings. As the marriage got worse and worse, I still clung to the happy ever after. I longed for it, I prayed for it. It's funny to look back and wonder why I tried so hard to make everything right.

During the divorce process, I became angry, bitter and resolved to never again be hurt or let someone dupe me again. As I established my relationship with the Lord again and became reacquainted with His grace, I began to heal. I turned to Him for all my needs. In my hour of desperation, I began to learn something about my God. My God is a merciful God. My God is a tender God. My Lord is the only one, who will ever understand my pain. My Lord is the one who heard my cries so long ago. I can truly say I was rescued from a dangerous situation. God has provided for me through it all. His provisions exceeded anything I could have asked for. My church became a soft place to fall. My sons became the joy and happiness I had longed for. God was now my husband. The truth is I am glad I came through storm. I'm thankful the horribleness is over.

I can't help my past, but I can move forward with the assurance God will always be there for me, as He has always been there for me. His love is amazing and His forgiveness is unfathomable to the human mind. When I do look back in wonderment, and thank the Lord for my children and that time in my life, it makes me appreciate the life I have now. I am in wonder and awe of His wisdom and how He blessed me even in my time of darkness.

They are many things I give praises for, but the most meaningful is the praise I lay at my Father's feet... The praise I gave in my brokenness. The praise I shouted in my loneliness. The praise I gave through the tears and sorrow. The praise I gave with hope when I was surrounded by darkness. The praise I gave in the good times. The praise I whispered in my quiet moments. The praise in the midst of the storm.

Taking a glance back from a safe distance and seeing how my God, my Lord, my Jesus brought me through the storm is the reason, I love this song...

How can I keep from singing His praise, how can I ever say enough, how amazing is His love...

2 Samuel 22: 33-34 God is my strong fortress;And He sets the blameless in His way. He makes my feet like hinds' feet, And sets me on my high places.

Praying Through It All

WOW! You know studying for this weeks lesson has really made me think about prayer. My own personal relationship with the Lord. Communication with Him, it sounds easy and it can be. But sometimes it is so hard to openly communicate. I can't seem to find the words to express what I am feeling.

It's difficult for me, because well when it comes down to it I don't want to enter His throne room. God is so holy and I fall short daily. I carry malice in my heart. I have revenge on my lips. My eyes look upon things that are shameful. My mind lingers on things that are hateful. My hands carry the sword of unrighteousness. My feet wander into the badlands. How can I approach my God with unclean hands, heart and mind? How can I praise, plead, beg, exalt when I am in the pit of life?!

Praying through it all, it's ironic the very thing that keeps me from speaking openly with my Lord, is the very reason He sent His Son to earth. I can't express how awed to know that God loves me, really loves me with the unclean hands, heart and mind. I didn't ask for a sacrifice, Jesus gave it willingly. I did not know my sins were sins until I saw His righteousness.

Going through the list of my unworthiness, I have to stop and ask for forgiveness...sometimes over and over again! God still wants me to communicate with Him. It's not like He doesn't know my heart, my thoughts already.

I pray for a better understanding of who God is and why He has shaped me this way. He has a reason for everything!

He is JEHOVAH, my Lord yet loves me as His own.
He is YESHUA, my savior who came to rescue me.
He is JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU, the Lord of righteousness who bestows righteousness on me.
He is JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU, the Lord our shepherd protecting and guarding me.
He is EL ELYON, the most high and yet He loves the lowly.
He is JEHOVAH-SHALOM, the God who provides me peace.
He is JEHOVAH-M'KADDESH, the Lord that sanctifies even in my unworthiness.

Entering His throne is not about me and my lacking merit, for He has sanctified me with the blood of Jesus. His throne is a place of blessing and honor. His throne room is a place of forgiveness. I approach Him with unclean lips and He cleanses them. At His feet, I can find peace. In His presence,I am finally rescued and loved.

Lord bids us all to come to you, even with our troubled hearts and lay them down. Restore us, guard us, heal us of our brokenness. We praise you for who You are. We remember the longing You had for us. Thank you for being JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH, the Lord who is there!

Encountering Jesus

Our senior Pastor Jess Cole delivered a message about Worship. Not just the status quo worship but Passionate Worship. Through the message, I received a very distinct message about how I choose to encounter people, how I choose to encounter God.

He ask a question and gave a challenge...a dare. The question is "Am I that way?"
Do I look like wholesome milk on Sunday mornings and sour as the week goes on?
Do I clothe myself in self-righteousness on Sunday mornings and disgrace the Lord the rest of the week?

How do I approach God in my every day life? Do I have reverence for people or God...do I really revere them. What do I normally do when I encounter Jesus?

It was a hard thing to do...look inside and wonder....
I wonder what my response to someone losing a love one would be
I wonder how it would feel to be the "butt" of my own sarcasm and sharp tongue
I wonder how can I approach God with an unrepentant heart
I wonder what is like for people around me when I choose to sin openly
I wonder what it feels like to turn my back on someone, because I don't want to hear what they have to say
I wonder how it feels to be lonely and need a friend, as I choose not to be a friend

It made me realize how I encounter others, is exactly how I encounter Jesus. If I am a christian, I know I am not perfect, but not to even strive to be perfected in His grace?! If I want a different relationship with my God, if I want to know the Christ, who died for me, deeply, if I need to change the way I approach life, then why can't I change?

Change is a thing that must begin in the heart. Change must begin to seep into the mind. Change must become a habit. Change must become a longing. Change must be a goal to reach for. Change comes only when I choose to let go of worldly things. Change can be achieved, but I must want to change. Change must come for a healthy fear and reverence for God.

So my challenge is to change...my heart, my mind, my way of thinking and adopt God grace in all things. Grace is an unmerited favor. Grace comes by an encounter with Jesus, so powerful I can only fall to knees and say thank you for changing me.

Hebrews 12: 1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Fall is in the air

Fall is in the air...It's cooler
Fall is in the air...I can smell wood burning in fireplaces, lingering and making me want to curl up with a good book and hot cocoa
Fall is in the air...Nature is receding into our version of Winter in South Texas
Fall is in the air...Football on a big screen, barbecue on the pit, good friends to share it with
Fall is in the air...A season we can enjoy without sweating or freezing
Fall is in the air...Turkey, gravy, dressing, family, friends and blessings
Fall is in the air...Time before the crazy, busy Christmas happenings
Fall is in the air...Pulling the windows up, turning off the air conditioning, and enjoying the breezes God created
Fall is in the air...An extra hour of sleep, enjoying the coolness of evening falling faster into our midst
Fall is in the air...Time to enjoy the gathering of family, time to reflect on the Lord's goodness
Fall is in the air...Life slowly slipping into the next year with excitement
Fall is in the air...Time for relationships to be mended, time for forgiveness to be given
Fall is in the air...Cookies in the oven, grandma's recipes to be shared
Fall is in the air...Reading a story and cuddling with your kids
Fall is in the air...Digging through the attic for decorations
Fall is in the air...Star gazing, mischief making, marshmallow's roasting
Fall is in the air...A reminder of God's hand on everything in the universe
Fall is in the air...A season for giving thanks
Fall is in the air...A time for everything...

Ecclesiastes 3

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.