Gossip

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. Proverbs 20:19

A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Proverbs 11:13

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s most inmost parts. Proverbs 18:8

…and a gossip separates close friends. Prov 16:28

Gossip is dangerous… it’s hurtful and harmful to all involved.

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. James 1:26

Sin Interferes with Progress

Doesn’t sin have a consequence that wears heavily on us?!  We lose opportunities to grow, be blessed, and help others.  Instead we place huge obstacles in front of us that cause us and others only to struggle, as well as hurt God again and again.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a blog and this is what God has put on my heart this morning.  I am here because I continue to “lose track” of time.  Here, God has created a world for His children – for us to care for, replenish and fill, and share His truth to those who’ve not yet heard – and I don’t take hold of the authority He’s given me in Christ Jesus over my life.  I allow myself to hold onto temporary emotions that harbor only resentment, bitterness, and in some cases a deep rage that comes out on unsuspecting and innocent bystanders.

I have forgotten that I am stronger than temptation… I’ve been saying for so long that I “can”  and yet I don’t.  I have heard this said from smokers, drunkards, and the like – I “can” stop, I just “choose” not to.  I have found I use this EXACT phrase that has annoyed me to no end in the past.  Ugh.

Here I am to share with you because the struggles shared by others helps me and so I hope this helps you.  How have I allowed myself to neglect the very things that are important.  I haven’t done my devotions or my journaling in a long time.  When I have gotten into the Word, I’ve not allowed it to take it’s deeper place in me but instead have used it temporarily.  I’ve changed slightly over these past months but not as much as I know I would have – and have in the past – had I been in the Word as I should be.

I haven’t taken the time to train my children in areas that I know is important for them as children of God.  I haven’t taken time to play and be silly with them, nor pray and carry their burdens with them.  Even more important than all of that, I haven’t taken time to teach through my actions and through talking of the love of God nearly as often as I should be.

Thankfully God is SO great… and I know I can stop what I’ve been doing and start doing what I’m supposed to be doing – all the time – by faith, with Him.

I go back to remembering that feelings are temporary and truth is eternal… and God’s Word says “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3) As we do this we can be confident in the fact that, “he who began a good work in [us] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

So I commit to doing as the Lord asks, knowing that He’s promised success.  And I go forth ready for the in’s and out’s of life, standing on this truth – that the work He’s doing in me is good and He’ll carry it on, transforming me to His likeness until the day of Christ!  Praise God!

I pray that you be blessed on this glorious day!  Enjoy Him, get in His Word, and Pray.

Greetings!

I’ve missed you all!

While fasting the computer, I kept a journal.  Several entries consist of plans, struggles and mistakes.  Challenges beyond even my own understanding occurred.  I realized that my problem consisted more with distraction from real life – and the computer did just that.  Whenever I was bored, tired, cranky, stressed, and even hungry, I would desire to turn on the computer.  I longed to watch a movie/show… to do anything to take from the responsibilities around me that I had been avoiding for so long.

Laundry got tackled, reorganization occurred, relationships established, and most importantly I grew in Christ and spent time with Him.  I failed throughout most of the fast… but I did accomplish this – I saw where the problem lied.  I saw what my hindrance is and now I know what I must do.  Even with how hard it is.

I am committing myself to a partial fast.  I am trusting that though it will be difficult, God will help me through it as He did over the 40 days leading up to Easter.  I have found that I can’t do it for me or even my family.  It is only for Him that I was able to succeed.  I must do it for Him again.

I share this with all of you in hopes to be strengthened by the accountability and prayers of my brothers and sisters in Christ.  In my weakness His strength is revealed!  I will not be on the computer except for Fridays.  I will continue to keep a journal and share with you my troubles, prayer requests, and praise reports.  I thank you all for your friendship and love!

I have several praises!  God is so good and I am blessed to have seen Him at work in my life.

After an awful and lonesome day about 11 or so days into my fast, I fell at the feet of Jesus.  He gave me a fresh start and showed me in the Word that though a righteous man may fall, he will rise (Proverbs 24:16).  Praise God!

My children and I spent time with one another and played, talked, learned, and enjoyed each other.  Though I fell many times… I kept rising in the name of Jesus! Praise God!

After coming to a place of repentance for secret sins in my life and confessing them to God and those who I’m closest with, I was forgiven!  I rose!  Praise God!

During my fast, after many prayers of friends who lived closer by who I could glean from in the way of which He has been leading us, I received a phone call from a woman who had moved to my area a year ago with her husband and two sons.  They found us on a fellowship directory that was established to help like-minded Christians find others who lived nearby.  They are an experienced homeschooling family who share our Christian faith, family values, marriage roles, child raising, and political views.  I look forward to getting to know them more!  Praise God!

Our new friends suggested and lent us the book “To Train Up a Child” by Debi and Michael Pearl and once I started it, I could not put it down.  I have since (though I’ve fallen, I’ve gotten back up!) seen many changes in the relationship of my children with my husband and I once we started implementing the training we got!  Praise God!

Another book suggested was “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons” and we’ve begun teaching our girls to read.  They’ve enjoyed it and it’s been such an encouragement on this task of raising and educating our children as the Lord leads us to. Praise God!

Without sharing too personal of information, the Lord has brought back into my life several women who have fallen in the wayside over the last year and more!  It was after my decision to fast the computer that God used me to give scriptural strength to a woman against fear of the unknown, comfort and forgiveness to a mother who aborted her baby, as well as a new confidence and hope for a mother of three  in training her children, and who knows how else the Lord is moving/has moved!  I look forward to seeing what else He has in store for me! Praise God!

I am looking for every opportunity to share Jesus, something that I’ve not done as much as I should have been prior to my fast.  I want to speak only by the Lord’s leading and with only His words on my tongue.  Lord I pray that You would give me the words to speak!  In the authority of Jesus!

And so I leave you with the update of the past month and a half.  My prayer is that God would keep in my remembrance… and that I would purpose myself to remember… that I must smile always, speak softly, share the love of Jesus, and pray without ceasing!  In this, only His glory will shine forth!!

Praise God!

The Journey Ahead…

The Lord is moving and though I can’t quite explain it, I feel a change ocurring in me.  Over the last couple of years, I’ve become angry and so angry that a recent prayer was that the Lord would give me the compassion I once had – once prayed to remove because of the hurt that comes with it.  With compassion comes tears – with empathy comes torment – but with it comes emotion and love.  Anger feels like the removal of care.  It was a harboring of indifference and emptiness.  I longed to care but couldn’t and that was more frightening than the overwhelming compassion I once felt that broke my heart so many times.

The Lord knows what He’s doing, and I am so thankful that He’s shown me why He made me who I am.  He’s softening my heart again after it’s been hard for a long time.  It’s vulnerable and delicate and fragile right now, but strong at the same time.  I know why it’s that way now and I don’t want to change that for anything.  With love comes hurts, but without love … it’s just plain lonely.

Anger can overpower the very thing God made to set us apart from others.  My compassion for the unlovable people in the world that has often left me feeling lonely and sad is not a weakness but a strength that makes me more Christ-like.

He wept.  Now I understand.

Thank You, Lord, for who You’ve made me.  It’s been hard accepting what I’ve perceived to be weakness but it’s the very thing in me that you’ve used to reveal YOUR love through.  It’s not about me, Lord.  Thank you… thank You that I’m not alone in this and that You speak to me and are here.  I can’t do any of this without You.  It’s impossible.  Continue to be with me and don’t leave my side.  Thank You.  Thank You. Father… Daddy – thank You.

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:19-21

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:7-17

A Forty Day Fast

This year’s season of Lent begins on February 25, 2009 on Ash Wednesday.  It consists of a forty day journey of prayer, preparation, and reflection in celebration of Christ’s resurrection.  The climax of the forty days is that of the week prior to Easter which includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the conclusion on the Sabbath.  This week is often referred to as “Holy Week”.

Since Sundays celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the six Sundays that occur during Lent are not counted as part of the 40 days of Lent, and are referred to as the Sundays in Lent.

The number 40 is connected with many biblical events, but especially with the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for His ministry by facing the temptations that could lead Him to abandon His mission and calling.

Some churches today observe fasting during lent and often choose things in their lives that are highly important to them and replace it with time in the Word, prayer, and being in God’s presence.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is symbolic to the mourning and sorrow that sin brings into the world.  It brings us to the place to remember the consequences of sin.  It is a day in which we are to reflect on what needs to change in our lives.

Maundy Thursday commemorates four events: Jesus washing the Disciple’s feet, the Last Supper, Christ’s burden in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal by Judas Iscariot.  Good Friday commemorates Christ’s Crucifixion and His death at Golgotha.  And Holy Saturday commemorates Christ’s time in the tomb and His descension to Hell.

What I’ve chosen to do during this time of year of reflection and penitence is fast something that’s consumed most of my time, energy, mind and/or attention.  One year I chose not drink anything other than water, while another I fasted chocolate.  Both played a part in transforming my mind (and my habits) because instead of spending the time consuming those things, I spent time talking with God.

These things may seem silly or like no big deal to not partake – but for me, drinking water had always been a struggle while soda was my alcohol and chocolate my heroin.  These things in my life are no longer the stumbling block that they used to be, with Christ I’ve learned to moderate their consumption.

This year, I have chosen to fast the computer.  My computer usage includes watching movies and tv shows; checking my email, myspace and facebook; blogging and reading blogs; playing games; managing bills and our netflix account; studying; and miscellaneous surfing of the web.  It consumes most of my time during the week.

For the next week I’ll be preparing for the fast and on the 25th I’ll begin.  I will be journaling (the old fashioned way hah) and will update all of you after the 40 days have ended.

Your prayers are always welcome.  Especially requested during this time.  I know I have a problem with my computer use… I am online throughout the day, all day and can see this being the hardest fast for me so far.

During this Lenten season, I come before the Lord and all of you in humility, willing to confess that I’m a sinner.  I have idols over God and Christ continues to move in me to eliminate them from my life.  Lord, may this be a new beginning of healing in my life for which I have never experienced before.

O Lord, move. Within me; here and now.

Peer Pressure

You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. Leviticus 18:3

In short: don’t succumb to the pressures of the culture around us.  Egypt was a corrupt nation full of idols, slavery, and oppression.  Canaan, too, worshiped idols and its land was desecrated by the bloodshed of their own sons and daughters whom were sacrificed to their gods.

God has called me out of the cultural norm and into truth.  I will not follow the practices of the culture, but God alone.

Lord, I pray I would not lean to what looks or feels good but would always look to You in all that I do.  Only You hold the truth; only You are the truth.  In Jesus’ holy name I pray, Lord guide me.  Amen.