The belief that life has to be hard and difficult is the belief that fosters and feeds a victim mentality. We can change our negative beliefs about life, and we do have the power to stop our pain and take care of ourselves.
We are not helpless. We can solve our problems with God's help. We have access to a great power source of change. True change, lasting change results from repentance.When we began to turn and receive God's love and forgiveness for ourselves and others things began to change. Humbling ourselves is the first step. God is attracted to the humble but He resist the proud.
When we use each problem that comes our way to prove that life is hard and we are helpless, we develop codependency. This is the victim's trap.
Life does not have to be difficult. In fact, it can be smooth. Life is good. We don't have to "awfulize" it, or ourselves. And the difficult times don't prove life is bad; they are just part of the ups and downs of life; and when we approach them with the attitude that "all things work together for the good, because we love Him and are called to His purpose" the journey becomes more of an adventure and not dead end road.
Sounds so simple doesn't it ? Well I personally get turned off by religious formulas and 1.2.3. approaches to life's problems. Life is fragile, we do hit times of turbulence that seem that they will never end but God is still there. He said He would never leave us nor forsake us.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Becoming Yourself
Screwtape clarifies the Enemy's intent:
Of course I know that the Enemy also wants to detach men from themselves, but in a different way. Remember always, that He really like the little vermin, and sets an absurd value on the distinctness of every one of them. When He talks of their losing their selves, He only means abandoning the clamour of self-will; once they have done that , He really gives them back all their personality, and boasts (I am afraid, sincerely) that when they are wholly His they will be more themselves that ever. Hence, while He is delighted to see them sacrificing even their innocent wills to His, He hates to see them drifting away from their own nature for any other reason. And we should always encourage them to do so.
~ from The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
Of course I know that the Enemy also wants to detach men from themselves, but in a different way. Remember always, that He really like the little vermin, and sets an absurd value on the distinctness of every one of them. When He talks of their losing their selves, He only means abandoning the clamour of self-will; once they have done that , He really gives them back all their personality, and boasts (I am afraid, sincerely) that when they are wholly His they will be more themselves that ever. Hence, while He is delighted to see them sacrificing even their innocent wills to His, He hates to see them drifting away from their own nature for any other reason. And we should always encourage them to do so.
~ from The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Our First Ministry
One of the main reasons for the "power failure" in the Christian Church today is our failure to "minister to the Lord". Biblically speaking, our ministry to the Lord must come BEFORE our ministry to people if we are to be effective.
Likewise if we come to receive ministry from men/clergy before we ourselves have ministered to the Lord and offered up our sacrifice of praise and worship then the ministry of man to us inappropriately attaches us to fleshy or earthly ministry which results in glory of man not Christ. The end result being, we will become what we behold.
When reading the account of early Church forming at Antioch in Acts 13:1-3 we discover that,
"as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them". The Greek word for ministered is described as: the discharging of a function, officiating as a priest, performing religious or charitable acts, fulfilling an office.
I Peter 2:9 says: "But you are a chosen generation , a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people , that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you our of darkness into His marvelous light".
The Lord has separated us to bring worship unto Him just as He did with the tribe of Levi in Deuteronomy 10:8 ; I Chronicles 5:11-14 and as He did with Samuel who was dedicated as a boy to minister unto the Lord in I Sam. 2:11,18 .
We need to be caught up in the wonder of the person of Jesus Christ and to worship Him deeply. When we become focused on our first ministry (vertical) as priesthood of believers we will discover a new freshness and power. This will translate into greater compassion for man (horizontal) because we have put Christ first and He now flows through us in love and power to the world.
Likewise if we come to receive ministry from men/clergy before we ourselves have ministered to the Lord and offered up our sacrifice of praise and worship then the ministry of man to us inappropriately attaches us to fleshy or earthly ministry which results in glory of man not Christ. The end result being, we will become what we behold.
When reading the account of early Church forming at Antioch in Acts 13:1-3 we discover that,
"as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them". The Greek word for ministered is described as: the discharging of a function, officiating as a priest, performing religious or charitable acts, fulfilling an office.
I Peter 2:9 says: "But you are a chosen generation , a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people , that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you our of darkness into His marvelous light".
The Lord has separated us to bring worship unto Him just as He did with the tribe of Levi in Deuteronomy 10:8 ; I Chronicles 5:11-14 and as He did with Samuel who was dedicated as a boy to minister unto the Lord in I Sam. 2:11,18 .
We need to be caught up in the wonder of the person of Jesus Christ and to worship Him deeply. When we become focused on our first ministry (vertical) as priesthood of believers we will discover a new freshness and power. This will translate into greater compassion for man (horizontal) because we have put Christ first and He now flows through us in love and power to the world.
Monday, November 8, 2010
The Importance of Being True
This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. ~ William Shakespeare
To thine own self be true. This is a grounding statement for many of us who have the propensity to get caught up in the needs and feelings of others.
Sometimes the needs and the demands of other people and our confused expectations of ourselves can create a complicated mess. We can try to convince ourselves that people-pleasing, going against our nature and not being honest, is the kind, honest thing to do. NOT TRUE !!
When we discern this unrealistic drive to please and take on responsibility that is not ours we need to simply back off and return to basics. Let go of the confusion by honoring and respecting ourselves. Then we are able to break free of the hold of others and release the guilt and enjoy life.
Today seek to be true to yourself. God is speaking. Be still and listen to His voice and experience what it means to "labor to enter into His rest".
To thine own self be true. This is a grounding statement for many of us who have the propensity to get caught up in the needs and feelings of others.
Sometimes the needs and the demands of other people and our confused expectations of ourselves can create a complicated mess. We can try to convince ourselves that people-pleasing, going against our nature and not being honest, is the kind, honest thing to do. NOT TRUE !!
When we discern this unrealistic drive to please and take on responsibility that is not ours we need to simply back off and return to basics. Let go of the confusion by honoring and respecting ourselves. Then we are able to break free of the hold of others and release the guilt and enjoy life.
Today seek to be true to yourself. God is speaking. Be still and listen to His voice and experience what it means to "labor to enter into His rest".
Friday, November 5, 2010
Men and Bonding
"Our problem today as men (husbands) is not that we have failed to bond with a woman, but rather, with our own, manly selves. If indeed we have failed to bond with a woman, it is because we have not first bonded with our own manhood--recognized, accepted, celebrated, employed it."
~ Gordon Dalbey
~ Gordon Dalbey
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Are You in Denial ?
Recently it was brought to my attention that I was possibly in denial about a particular thing. How do you know if you are in denial ? One way is to take personal note of your behaviors. Some of those behaviors can be, controlling, focusing on others and neglecting yourself, frequent illness, and compulsive or addictive behaviors patterns. These among others have a tendency to emerge during denial.
Denial can be confusing. Many times we're not really aware we're doing it until we're done doing it. Forcing yourself or anyone else to see their denial doesn't help. We won't face the facts until we are ready. Neither will anyone else.
We need love, support, encouragement from people who really care about us in order to deal with denial.
The first step to move through denial is accepting that that we may be in denial. Sometimes if we have functioned in these negative behaviors for long periods of time they can develop into belief systems that literally control our lives. They become so familiar that it can be frightening to let go and or believe that there can be another way. We may admit to the truth for a moment , but we won't let ourselves know what we know until we feel safe, secure, and prepared enough to deal and cope with it.
"Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest". This is the loving secure invitation that Jesus extends to us. He cares and is waiting on our response to His invitation. The truth is that our soul is weary from carrying these burdens and only Christ can bring long lasting results and rest. Through the truth of His unconditional love we are set free and awaken from our denial and enter into His rest.
Denial can be confusing. Many times we're not really aware we're doing it until we're done doing it. Forcing yourself or anyone else to see their denial doesn't help. We won't face the facts until we are ready. Neither will anyone else.
We need love, support, encouragement from people who really care about us in order to deal with denial.
The first step to move through denial is accepting that that we may be in denial. Sometimes if we have functioned in these negative behaviors for long periods of time they can develop into belief systems that literally control our lives. They become so familiar that it can be frightening to let go and or believe that there can be another way. We may admit to the truth for a moment , but we won't let ourselves know what we know until we feel safe, secure, and prepared enough to deal and cope with it.
"Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest". This is the loving secure invitation that Jesus extends to us. He cares and is waiting on our response to His invitation. The truth is that our soul is weary from carrying these burdens and only Christ can bring long lasting results and rest. Through the truth of His unconditional love we are set free and awaken from our denial and enter into His rest.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Afraid of the Devil ?
"Christ in you, the hope of Glory". I'm not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me--he's got judo I never heard of. But he can't handle the One to whom I'm joined; he can't handle the One to whom I'm united; he can't handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature.
AW Tozer
AW Tozer
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