WILD RIDE - part 2

When, through reading Scripture or a loving friend’s confrontation, the Lord points out an area of our life that needs growth, what do you do? Feel guilty and ashamed? I hope not, because He is not a judge that condemns but a loving father that encourages us  to face the wrong within ourselves and then provides the power to make changes that we all need to make.

“Like what,” you ask. “The worst is Spiritual pride” I say. ‘I’ve memorized several books of the Bible. How many have you?  I am  in church every Sunday. And you?’” A pride that insinuates that I’m more spiritual than you are.  UUUGGGLLY!  God says,”I will share my glory with no man.”  Besides, who enjoys  being  around a person who puts you down?

Back to my story.    Could this life change be being exposed so that I would know more clearly how devastating are my fears and insecurities that abound. That is not trusting God.  Sin. Self-centeredness, which keeps me focused on self rather than on God and others.

Could all this trouble also be to remind me of how I need to put to rest all my performance-orientation? Work hard for approval. Notice me. Tell me I’m okay. If I can accomplish this fete, I will be somebody. (Self-esteem issues that makes for relationship challenges because the focus is not on loving others, but  on my achievement.)

Be careful to see sin in your life. Call it what it is. Don’t sugar coat it or blame  someone else. Repent and ask God   to change you, to transform you into the image of Christ (Roman 8:28-29). If we go by the name “Christian” meaning Christ-in-one. Do our attitudes and behaviors reflect Christ? Can our life pattern be “becoming like Christ?”

Frankly, I’m having  trouble rejoicing in this tough time as I expounded on in part one. (The prospect of having to wear a catheter the rest of my life (just found  that out just before this writing); my strength, especially in my legs is going south along with balance issues, means I walk with a walker; pain is a constant bed partner; not being able to drive is a bummer; goals of building another barn are laid aside; and on and on with an “organ recital” available. And seemingly, God doesn’t care.

The future looks tenuous and vague, “not the going out strong” I had  thought  of and prayed for. My only hope is found in Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all peace and joy as you trust in Him. So that you ( I )may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  My circumstances don’t have to dictate my joy or peace of mind.

My focus must not be on circumstances but on Abba Father who tells me:

·        He is sovereign – all powerful.  As I give attention to Scriptures that support that belief system, I remind myself that the situation in which I find myself was either caused by or allowed by God for my good and His glory.

·        That He loves me so much that when He sees me “He dances and whirls around” and the Bible is replete with many other expressions of God ‘s love for His children.
As Sarah Young  says in her book Jesus  Today, “Because I (God) am  sovereign. I am ultimately in control of everything that happens to you and to others. This knowledge is sometimes hard to swallow … in the face  of catastrophes Amid such carnage some people conclude that only a cruel God could be overseeing a world like this.

·         “When you are struggling with mysteries of this sort, come  to Me,” God says. “Express yourself freely to Me, trusting that I care and understand. Then subordinate your finite mind  to My infinite intelligence. Relinquish your demand to understand and rest in my compassionate presence,…”

·        That I am to build a trust in Him  that is inseparable. What  I can achieve ”in and through you is proportional to how much you depend on  me,” says God. (J. Young)

·        James 1:2-4  Dear brothers and sisters,^[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 

When I don’t accept  this as God’s word for me, I get resentful and cynical  . Not a pleasant sight nor position. But do you see how God is stripping away the spiritual pride? Praise the LORD!!!!

                       When, through reading Scripture or a loving friend’s confrontation, the Lord points out an area of our life that needs growth, what do you do? Feel guilty and ashamed? I hope not, because He is not a judge that condemns but a loving father that encourages us  to face the wrong within ourselves and then provides the power to make changes that we all need to make.

“Like what,” you ask. “The worst is Spiritual pride” I say. ‘I’ve memorized several books of the Bible. How many have you?  I am  in church every Sunday. And you?’” A pride that insinuates that I’m more spiritual than you are.  UUUGGGLLY!  God says,”I will share my glory with no man.”  Besides, who enjoys  being  around a person who puts you down?

Back to my story.    Could this life change be being exposed so that I would know more clearly how devastating are my fears and insecurities that abound. That is not trusting God.  Sin. Self-centeredness, which keeps me focused on self rather than on God and others.

Could all this trouble also be to remind me of how I need to put to rest all my performance-orientation? Work hard for approval. Notice me. Tell me I’m okay. If I can accomplish this fete, I will be somebody. (Self-esteem issues that makes for relationship challenges because the focus is not on loving others, but  on my achievement.)

Be careful to see sin in your life. Call it what it is. Don’t sugar coat it or blame  someone else. Repent and ask God   to change you, to transform you into the image of Christ (Roman 8:28-29). If we go by the name “Christian” meaning Christ-in-one. Do our attitudes and behaviors reflect Christ? Can our life pattern be “becoming like Christ?”

Frankly, I’m having  trouble rejoicing in this tough time as I expounded on in part one. (The prospect of having to wear a catheter the rest of my life (just found  that out just before this writing); my strength, especially in my legs is going south along with balance issues, means I walk with a walker; pain is a constant bed partner; not being able to drive is a bummer; goals of building another barn are laid aside; and on and on with an “organ recital” available. And seemingly, God doesn’t care.

The future looks tenuous and vague, “not the going out strong” I had  thought  of and prayed for. My only hope is found in Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all peace and joy as you trust in Him. So that you ( I )may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  My circumstances don’t have to dictate my joy or peace of mind.

My focus must not be on circumstances but on Abba Father who tells me:

·        He is sovereign – all powerful.  As I give attention to Scriptures that support that belief system, I remind myself that the situation in which I find myself was either caused by or allowed by God for my good and His glory.

·        That He loves me so much that when He sees me “He dances and whirls around” and the Bible is replete with many other expressions of God ‘s love for His children.
As Sarah Young  says in her book Jesus  Today, “Because I (God) am  sovereign. I am ultimately in control of everything that happens to you and to others. This knowledge is sometimes hard to swallow … in the face  of catastrophes Amid such carnage some people conclude that only a cruel God could be overseeing a world like this.

·         “When you are struggling with mysteries of this sort, come  to Me,” God says. “Express yourself freely to Me, trusting that I care and understand. Then subordinate your finite mind  to My infinite intelligence. Relinquish your demand to understand and rest in my compassionate presence,…”

·        That I am to build a trust in Him  that is inseparable. What  I can achieve ”in and through you is proportional to how much you depend on  me,” says God. (J. Young)

·        James 1:2-4  Dear brothers and sisters,^[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 

When I don’t accept  this as God’s word for me, I get resentful and cynical  . Not a pleasant sight nor position. But do you see how God is stripping away the spiritual pride? Praise the LORD!!!!

                       When, through reading Scripture or a loving friend’s confrontation, the Lord points out an area of our life that needs growth, what do you do? Feel guilty and ashamed? I hope not, because He is not a judge that condemns but a loving father that encourages us  to face the wrong within ourselves and then provides the power to make changes that we all need to make.

“Like what,” you ask. “The worst is Spiritual pride” I say. ‘I’ve memorized several books of the Bible. How many have you?  I am  in church every Sunday. And you?’” A pride that insinuates that I’m more spiritual than you are.  UUUGGGLLY!  God says,”I will share my glory with no man.”  Besides, who enjoys  being  around a person who puts you down?

Back to my story.    Could this life change be being exposed so that I would know more clearly how devastating are my fears and insecurities that abound. That is not trusting God.  Sin. Self-centeredness, which keeps me focused on self rather than on God and others.

Could all this trouble also be to remind me of how I need to put to rest all my performance-orientation? Work hard for approval. Notice me. Tell me I’m okay. If I can accomplish this fete, I will be somebody. (Self-esteem issues that makes for relationship challenges because the focus is not on loving others, but  on my achievement.)

Be careful to see sin in your life. Call it what it is. Don’t sugar coat it or blame  someone else. Repent and ask God   to change you, to transform you into the image of Christ (Roman 8:28-29). If we go by the name “Christian” meaning Christ-in-one. Do our attitudes and behaviors reflect Christ? Can our life pattern be “becoming like Christ?”

Frankly, I’m having  trouble rejoicing in this tough time as I expounded on in part one. (The prospect of having to wear a catheter the rest of my life (just found  that out just before this writing); my strength, especially in my legs is going south along with balance issues, means I walk with a walker; pain is a constant bed partner; not being able to drive is a bummer; goals of building another barn are laid aside; and on and on with an “organ recital” available. And seemingly, God doesn’t care.

The future looks tenuous and vague, “not the going out strong” I had  thought  of and prayed for. My only hope is found in Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all peace and joy as you trust in Him. So that you ( I )may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  My circumstances don’t have to dictate my joy or peace of mind.

My focus must not be on circumstances but on Abba Father who tells me:

·        He is sovereign – all powerful.  As I give attention to Scriptures that support that belief system, I remind myself that the situation in which I find myself was either caused by or allowed by God for my good and His glory.

·        That He loves me so much that when He sees me “He dances and whirls around” and the Bible is replete with many other expressions of God ‘s love for His children.
As Sarah Young  says in her book Jesus  Today, “Because I (God) am  sovereign. I am ultimately in control of everything that happens to you and to others. This knowledge is sometimes hard to swallow … in the face  of catastrophes Amid such carnage some people conclude that only a cruel God could be overseeing a world like this.

·         “When you are struggling with mysteries of this sort, come  to Me,” God says. “Express yourself freely to Me, trusting that I care and understand. Then subordinate your finite mind  to My infinite intelligence. Relinquish your demand to understand and rest in my compassionate presence,…”

·        That I am to build a trust in Him  that is inseparable. What  I can achieve ”in and through you is proportional to how much you depend on  me,” says God. (J. Young)

·        James 1:2-4  Dear brothers and sisters,^[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 

When I don’t accept  this as God’s word for me, I get resentful and cynical  . Not a pleasant sight nor position. But do you see how God is stripping away the spiritual pride? Praise the LORD!!!!