PRAISE GOD!
I am seeing signs of Spring!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
It is an awesome thing to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and abounding in our lives! I have been walking more closely to Him these days and throughout each day, I sense Him, hear Him and completely KNOW that through the person of the Holy Spirit, the very God who formed me, is abiding within my heart; guiding, keeping and loving me! I have SO FAR to go, but it is so sweet to experience more and more of God in my life each day!
If you do not intimately know God, through the redeeming Savior and Lord Jesus, the Messiah, I would encourage you to SEEK God. Scripture says that God will draw near to those who seek Him and to those who come near to Him. “Come near to God and He will come near to you….” James 4:8a Many years ago I experienced this very precept worked out in my life. I didn’t quite have the whole person of God figured out, nor was I even fully aware of how much He loved me or what He did for me, but I called out to Him and He sure drew near to me, revealing to me all I needed to know! I learned about my need for a Savior and I eventually met Jesus, The One who gave His life to set me free from the bondage of sin. God continues to teach and mold me through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. (There is SO MUCH to learn!!!)
The Holy Spirit IS GOD, in Spirit, living and dwelling within the heart of every person under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I believe that the Holy Spirit can be experienced in small or large doses…all dependent upon our willingness to surrender and allow God to have His way in our lives! The person of God and the power of the Holy Spirit HAS NOT CHANGED since the beginning of time (and before that!). So why aren’t we Christians living lives even remotely similar to the New Testament Christians about whom we read in the Bible? Have you ever asked yourself if, say Paul or Peter were to observe your life, would they recognize you as a Christian? And even more, would they see the Holy Spirit ALIVE and fully at work within you?
I have often wondered if Christians aren’t experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit because they are “afraid” of what God may do in their lives! I remember the occasion when I came to realize the magnitude of what God is waiting to do for and in His Kingdom through us! It is a humbling and yet awesome thing to know that God needs us to work out His plan and He is waiting for us to let Him move! How diligently are you (and I) involved in the work of God’s plan? Are we truly doing the work that HE directed us to do, not so much the work that we decide and chose to do?
I write to encourage you to talk with God. If you are not trusting in and experiencing the POWER and PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit in your life dig deeply into the well of God’s refreshment! Get to know God through reading the Bible, His Word. When I first read the Bible through in it’s entirety, my spiritual walk was revolutionized! A person can’t help to know God better by spending more time with Him and learning more about who He is!
I am rejoicing today in the Presence of the Holy Spirit. I am sure that the Holy Spirit has put forth these words for MY BENEFIT as well as for any reader who stumbles upon this writing. I sorely fall short of allowing God to have FULL CONTROL of my life. I SAY that I have completely surrendered to the Lord (and I MEAN IT in my heart) but… when “the rubber meets the road” I fall short of trusting solely in God to do all things in me and through me. Too often, as I examine my life in the light of Jesus Christ, well…you know the scenario. I end up catering to my ‘flesh’; allowing ‘Lindy’ to live her life as SHE wants to do!
Every person is at a different place in his or her walk with Christ. I am not suggesting that every word that I write is what the Holy Spirit is saying TO YOU today. I’m simply sharing with you what the Holy Spirit is saying to me and FOR ME! If any of this writing is used by the Holy Spirit in your life, praise God! My heart is overflowing today with the Presence of the Holy Spirit and it is an awesome thing that I wanted to share!
It is an awesome thing to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and abounding in our lives! I have been walking more closely to Him these days and throughout each day, I sense Him, hear Him and completely KNOW that through the person of the Holy Spirit, the very God who formed me, is abiding within my heart; guiding, keeping and loving me! I have SO FAR to go, but it is so sweet to experience more and more of God in my life each day!
If you do not intimately know God, through the redeeming Savior and Lord Jesus, the Messiah, I would encourage you to SEEK God. Scripture says that God will draw near to those who seek Him and to those who come near to Him. “Come near to God and He will come near to you….” James 4:8a Many years ago I experienced this very precept worked out in my life. I didn’t quite have the whole person of God figured out, nor was I even fully aware of how much He loved me or what He did for me, but I called out to Him and He sure drew near to me, revealing to me all I needed to know! I learned about my need for a Savior and I eventually met Jesus, The One who gave His life to set me free from the bondage of sin. God continues to teach and mold me through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. (There is SO MUCH to learn!!!)
The Holy Spirit IS GOD, in Spirit, living and dwelling within the heart of every person under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I believe that the Holy Spirit can be experienced in small or large doses…all dependent upon our willingness to surrender and allow God to have His way in our lives! The person of God and the power of the Holy Spirit HAS NOT CHANGED since the beginning of time (and before that!). So why aren’t we Christians living lives even remotely similar to the New Testament Christians about whom we read in the Bible? Have you ever asked yourself if, say Paul or Peter were to observe your life, would they recognize you as a Christian? And even more, would they see the Holy Spirit ALIVE and fully at work within you?
I have often wondered if Christians aren’t experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit because they are “afraid” of what God may do in their lives! I remember the occasion when I came to realize the magnitude of what God is waiting to do for and in His Kingdom through us! It is a humbling and yet awesome thing to know that God needs us to work out His plan and He is waiting for us to let Him move! How diligently are you (and I) involved in the work of God’s plan? Are we truly doing the work that HE directed us to do, not so much the work that we decide and chose to do?
I write to encourage you to talk with God. If you are not trusting in and experiencing the POWER and PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit in your life dig deeply into the well of God’s refreshment! Get to know God through reading the Bible, His Word. When I first read the Bible through in it’s entirety, my spiritual walk was revolutionized! A person can’t help to know God better by spending more time with Him and learning more about who He is!
I am rejoicing today in the Presence of the Holy Spirit. I am sure that the Holy Spirit has put forth these words for MY BENEFIT as well as for any reader who stumbles upon this writing. I sorely fall short of allowing God to have FULL CONTROL of my life. I SAY that I have completely surrendered to the Lord (and I MEAN IT in my heart) but… when “the rubber meets the road” I fall short of trusting solely in God to do all things in me and through me. Too often, as I examine my life in the light of Jesus Christ, well…you know the scenario. I end up catering to my ‘flesh’; allowing ‘Lindy’ to live her life as SHE wants to do!
Every person is at a different place in his or her walk with Christ. I am not suggesting that every word that I write is what the Holy Spirit is saying TO YOU today. I’m simply sharing with you what the Holy Spirit is saying to me and FOR ME! If any of this writing is used by the Holy Spirit in your life, praise God! My heart is overflowing today with the Presence of the Holy Spirit and it is an awesome thing that I wanted to share!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Hi friends,
Some of my 'facebook friends' have inquired about my walk of faith and specifically, how I came to know Christ. A year or so ago I created a brochure that shares my story as well as the message of how YOU can come to know Jesus as well. Since I can't get the MS Publisher file to you, I've copied at least a portion of this brochure for you as a blog entry.
The following excerpt is written in my words and from my heart. (and please excuse the absense of editing, as my 'blogger' account won't let me add edits when I copy something into the posting format lately. ?? not sure what's up with that!) Anyway....here it is:
My Story
I was a young mom, busy with responsibilities, trying to manage a home, marriage, job and kids and in the midst of it all, finding myself unfulfilled, empty and discontent. I was doing my best to ‘grab all the gusto’ I could to make life full, and satisfying, thinking that was the process through which I would find fullness and joy. To many, my life appeared as though everything was fine, yet on the inside I was in personal turmoil, yearning for wholeness and peace that was so elusive. My life became a quest to discover the key to fulfillment, purpose and peace. I searched for meaning and answers in all the wrong places. Though I was attending and participating in a local church’s services and programs, (often red-eyed and hung-over) the LAST place I would have sought answers was in a church! At the mention of the name of JESUS, other than expressions of anger or frustration, I cringed, criticized, mocked and ridiculed. I was a lady (to use the term loosely) who had no time for “Jesus Freaks”, “Holier Than Thou Church Goers” or “Bible Thumping Preachers”!
Into my life and comfortable country church came a former ‘bar room buddy’ who spoke about JESUS as if he knew Him! My friend Jack shared the Truth; about life and my existence, about God’s love and His Son Jesus and about SIN and my need for a Savior. Though I didn’t like the message, I DID like Jack’s style and I listened. For many months I challenged, criticized and rebelled while Jack lovingly and patiently introduced me to God, the Master and Maker of the Universe! As Jack taught, I eventually recognized my need for a Savior which ultimately changed my entire perspective and freed me to hear and receive the Truth Jack was sharing! I learned that the emptiness I felt was due to a void in my soul that could only be filled by the One True God who created and loved me and who was waiting to use me and direct me into a life of purpose, power and hope! I no longer needed to fake it through life or ‘do it on my own’. I took my hands off the wheel of my life and asked Christ to lead the way!
Nearly 25 years I’ve been living as a NEW creation…
thanks to the redeeming power of Jesus and the renewing of the Holy Spirit!
God gave me the Real Thing…
JOY, PEACE and PURPOSE…
like nothing else the world can ever give!
Some of my 'facebook friends' have inquired about my walk of faith and specifically, how I came to know Christ. A year or so ago I created a brochure that shares my story as well as the message of how YOU can come to know Jesus as well. Since I can't get the MS Publisher file to you, I've copied at least a portion of this brochure for you as a blog entry.
The following excerpt is written in my words and from my heart. (and please excuse the absense of editing, as my 'blogger' account won't let me add edits when I copy something into the posting format lately. ?? not sure what's up with that!) Anyway....here it is:
My StoryI was a young mom, busy with responsibilities, trying to manage a home, marriage, job and kids and in the midst of it all, finding myself unfulfilled, empty and discontent. I was doing my best to ‘grab all the gusto’ I could to make life full, and satisfying, thinking that was the process through which I would find fullness and joy. To many, my life appeared as though everything was fine, yet on the inside I was in personal turmoil, yearning for wholeness and peace that was so elusive. My life became a quest to discover the key to fulfillment, purpose and peace. I searched for meaning and answers in all the wrong places. Though I was attending and participating in a local church’s services and programs, (often red-eyed and hung-over) the LAST place I would have sought answers was in a church! At the mention of the name of JESUS, other than expressions of anger or frustration, I cringed, criticized, mocked and ridiculed. I was a lady (to use the term loosely) who had no time for “Jesus Freaks”, “Holier Than Thou Church Goers” or “Bible Thumping Preachers”!
Into my life and comfortable country church came a former ‘bar room buddy’ who spoke about JESUS as if he knew Him! My friend Jack shared the Truth; about life and my existence, about God’s love and His Son Jesus and about SIN and my need for a Savior. Though I didn’t like the message, I DID like Jack’s style and I listened. For many months I challenged, criticized and rebelled while Jack lovingly and patiently introduced me to God, the Master and Maker of the Universe! As Jack taught, I eventually recognized my need for a Savior which ultimately changed my entire perspective and freed me to hear and receive the Truth Jack was sharing! I learned that the emptiness I felt was due to a void in my soul that could only be filled by the One True God who created and loved me and who was waiting to use me and direct me into a life of purpose, power and hope! I no longer needed to fake it through life or ‘do it on my own’. I took my hands off the wheel of my life and asked Christ to lead the way!
Nearly 25 years I’ve been living as a NEW creation…
thanks to the redeeming power of Jesus and the renewing of the Holy Spirit!
God gave me the Real Thing…
JOY, PEACE and PURPOSE…
like nothing else the world can ever give!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
In my devotional time this morning, as always, I include the daily reading from Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest”. Today’s word was on seeking/attaining God’s vision through personal purity.
Instead of trying to surmise the teaching, I will simply copy it and allow you to read, what for me are, the very penetrating words of the Holy Spirit through the pen of Oswald Chambers.
"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8
Purity is not innocence, it is much more. Purity is the outcome of sustained spiritual sympathy with God. We have to grow in purity. The life with God may be right and the inner purity remain unsullied, and yet every now and again the bloom on the outside may be sullied. God does not shield us from this possibility, because in this way we realize the necessity of maintaining the vision by personal purity. If the spiritual bloom of our life with God is getting impaired in the tiniest degree, we must leave off everything and get it put right. Remember that vision depends on character - the pure in heart see God.
God makes us pure by His sovereign grace, but we have something to look after, this bodily life by which we come in contact with other people and with other points of view, it is these that are apt to sully. Not only must the inner sanctuary be kept right with God, but the outer courts as well are to be brought into perfect accord with the purity God gives us by His grace. The spiritual understanding is blurred immediately the outer court is sullied. If we are going to retain personal contact with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean there are some things we must scorn to do or to think, some legitimate things we must scorn to touch.
A practical way of keeping personal purity unsullied in relation to other people is to say to yourself - That man, that woman, perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend, that relative, perfect in Christ Jesus!
From the very first line of this devotional, I was cut to the core. "Purity is not innocence, it is much more. Purity is the outcome of sustained spiritual sympathy with God". Sustained spiritual sympathy with God!
You know, as I type this post today, I realize I could go on and on….but I will resist and simply utter a prayer that you would be open to what the Holy Spirit may want to teach YOU through these words. May we all grow in the knowledge and into the perfection of Christ Jesus!
Instead of trying to surmise the teaching, I will simply copy it and allow you to read, what for me are, the very penetrating words of the Holy Spirit through the pen of Oswald Chambers.
"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8
Purity is not innocence, it is much more. Purity is the outcome of sustained spiritual sympathy with God. We have to grow in purity. The life with God may be right and the inner purity remain unsullied, and yet every now and again the bloom on the outside may be sullied. God does not shield us from this possibility, because in this way we realize the necessity of maintaining the vision by personal purity. If the spiritual bloom of our life with God is getting impaired in the tiniest degree, we must leave off everything and get it put right. Remember that vision depends on character - the pure in heart see God.
God makes us pure by His sovereign grace, but we have something to look after, this bodily life by which we come in contact with other people and with other points of view, it is these that are apt to sully. Not only must the inner sanctuary be kept right with God, but the outer courts as well are to be brought into perfect accord with the purity God gives us by His grace. The spiritual understanding is blurred immediately the outer court is sullied. If we are going to retain personal contact with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean there are some things we must scorn to do or to think, some legitimate things we must scorn to touch.
A practical way of keeping personal purity unsullied in relation to other people is to say to yourself - That man, that woman, perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend, that relative, perfect in Christ Jesus!
From the very first line of this devotional, I was cut to the core. "Purity is not innocence, it is much more. Purity is the outcome of sustained spiritual sympathy with God". Sustained spiritual sympathy with God!
You know, as I type this post today, I realize I could go on and on….but I will resist and simply utter a prayer that you would be open to what the Holy Spirit may want to teach YOU through these words. May we all grow in the knowledge and into the perfection of Christ Jesus!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Hi friends....I'm still around! I've had some recent trouble with my photo editor which put blogging on a back burner for awhile. Also have been visiting facebook...which has consumed probably too much valuable time. In addition, I've been setting up an Etsy account. Etsy is a web site that provides a venue for crafts people to share and sell their original and handcrafted wares. I've decided that Etsy might be a good way to generate some additional income that I will designate to support Christian ministries. The needs are so great and I find that even the smallest amount of funds helps needy people and helps to contribute to spreading the Gospel! My Etsy shop is called "Fancy Bands".
I recently decided (well, recently submitted to the Lord's direction) to UNPLUG my TV. :) I've lived UNPLUGGED in the past, but recently found myself growing more attached to the 'idiot box' and knew it was time to re-examine my life and leisure. About a year ago I actually gave my TV to my daughter, but when she decided to 'live with mom' for a few months during the '08 holiday season, I purchased another TV so she could keep up with her TV viewing interests. BIG MISTAKE! Daughter moved out and "mom" ended up with a new lifestyle of brainless evening activity...watching TV! Interestingly, I have not had cable TV since I moved to CT, but nonetheless, I found there were sufficient number of programs that could keep a person 'busy' even with just using rabbit ears for tuning!
I write this post not to point fingers at anyone who enjoys TV viewing...but simply to keep others abreast of my recent change in leisure activity! God has His ways of molding and shaping and refining us until our eyes are pointed back toward HIM! FOR ME....television was one huge distraction from the face of Christ.
Yes, I occasionally will catch a taped video of a television program online....but that's within the boundaries that God has given me. His concern for me was my growing distraction AWAY FROM HIM. Praise God for quiet nights and constructive activity! I have such a very very long way to go, but I am moving closer to the One to whom I have given my life! UNPLUGGING THE TV has helped!
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