2 Samuel 22:2-4
22:2
He said: "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
22:3
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-- from violent men you save me.
22:4
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
Did you love learning the meaning of the original Hebrew word for 'hope' in Isaiah 40:31?
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
twist - bind - gather together - join - meet - expect - be confident in - trust - to be enduring
whew!
...to wrap ourselves so tightly around God that we end up automatically going where He's going!!!!!!!!
I want that auto-pilot feature in my life, don't you? I want to automatically sense where He is leading and walk with Him!
It will take spending time with Him - intertwining our lives with His.
Satan is not happy that you broke free....he will tempt you at every turn. He will want you to feel enslaved again by those strongholds.
The prescription for living free is not some bad medicine we have to gulp down!
He simply says, "Abide in Me."
Enjoy His presence. Talk with Him. Listen to His Word. Love the Lord with all that you have, heart, mind, body, and soul.
And He will tuck you under His wing where healing is found and you will soar with Him!
We all have 24 hours in each day, some choose to daydream them away; others choose to worry them away; some choose to spend them wondering why.
Choose this day to ENJOY HIS PRESENCE and this ride we call life will become an endless adventure soaring with the Master!
Thank you all for joining me on this trip. Love you forever,
Luann
22:2
He said: "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
22:3
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-- from violent men you save me.
22:4
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
Did you love learning the meaning of the original Hebrew word for 'hope' in Isaiah 40:31?
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
twist - bind - gather together - join - meet - expect - be confident in - trust - to be enduring
whew!
...to wrap ourselves so tightly around God that we end up automatically going where He's going!!!!!!!!
I want that auto-pilot feature in my life, don't you? I want to automatically sense where He is leading and walk with Him!
It will take spending time with Him - intertwining our lives with His.
Satan is not happy that you broke free....he will tempt you at every turn. He will want you to feel enslaved again by those strongholds.
The prescription for living free is not some bad medicine we have to gulp down!
He simply says, "Abide in Me."
Enjoy His presence. Talk with Him. Listen to His Word. Love the Lord with all that you have, heart, mind, body, and soul.
And He will tuck you under His wing where healing is found and you will soar with Him!
We all have 24 hours in each day, some choose to daydream them away; others choose to worry them away; some choose to spend them wondering why.
Choose this day to ENJOY HIS PRESENCE and this ride we call life will become an endless adventure soaring with the Master!
Thank you all for joining me on this trip. Love you forever,
Luann
The display of God's peace spilled all over me on Tuesday. You remember how I told you that God opened the door for me to have a one hour live radio talk show every week? Well, I have been praying for His divine guidance in putting it together. He has clearly told me that number one is gathering a band of women together to help me
Pray
Plan
Participate
So God was doing some orchestrating on Tuesday (well, on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday too...but there just isn't enough time to write it all down right now!)
Ok, so my girlfriend's mom is about 2 stages behind my mom in the Alzheimer's arena. She had an episode, was in the hospital and needed to go to a nursing home when released. She had just called me to pray that for the next 2 or 3 weeks she would find someone to sit with her there.
I am driving to a lunch appointment, when God redirects my mind. I am suppose to go by a salon where my good friend Weeta works. God had been telling me to ask select women to band together on behalf of this radio effort and He nudged me to take a detour to see Weeta at that moment.
I walk in and sitting in her chair is Christine, my friend from church (who I helped buy a house). She is a nurse at the hospital and was just told her position was gone a week or so ago. She feels confident that another position at the other hospital in town will open up
in 2 or 3 weeks....yep, me too I got Holy goosebumps and called my friend about her mom. They are now connecting on behalf of her sweet mom.
So I ask Weeta and Christine if they will be prayer warriors for me on this adventure. They said yes and then I told Weeta I would really like to speak to Karolyn Chapman (5 Love Languages - Gary Chapman's wife) sometime about being in this little band of women. Weeta said, "She is here, under the dryer!"
I said, "SHUT UP! She is not!" She said, "Yes! She is!!!!" So I sat beside Karolyn and we cried and prayed and got one big giant goosebump together! I told her that I was wondering what God was up to since this show is suppose to be on Saturdays and I have been speaking more and more on weekends.
She grabbed my arm, stroked it and said, "Honey, God works these things out. God is not stopping you from speaking, he is pouring out His bounty!"
I said, "I am amazed at how He works! Can you believe He arranged for us to meet today? I needed to hear your words!"
She said, "I think He gets a kick out of amazing us!"
So, that was my day....God is on the throne.
Pray
Plan
Participate
So God was doing some orchestrating on Tuesday (well, on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday too...but there just isn't enough time to write it all down right now!)
Ok, so my girlfriend's mom is about 2 stages behind my mom in the Alzheimer's arena. She had an episode, was in the hospital and needed to go to a nursing home when released. She had just called me to pray that for the next 2 or 3 weeks she would find someone to sit with her there.
I am driving to a lunch appointment, when God redirects my mind. I am suppose to go by a salon where my good friend Weeta works. God had been telling me to ask select women to band together on behalf of this radio effort and He nudged me to take a detour to see Weeta at that moment.
I walk in and sitting in her chair is Christine, my friend from church (who I helped buy a house). She is a nurse at the hospital and was just told her position was gone a week or so ago. She feels confident that another position at the other hospital in town will open up
in 2 or 3 weeks....yep, me too I got Holy goosebumps and called my friend about her mom. They are now connecting on behalf of her sweet mom.
So I ask Weeta and Christine if they will be prayer warriors for me on this adventure. They said yes and then I told Weeta I would really like to speak to Karolyn Chapman (5 Love Languages - Gary Chapman's wife) sometime about being in this little band of women. Weeta said, "She is here, under the dryer!"
I said, "SHUT UP! She is not!" She said, "Yes! She is!!!!" So I sat beside Karolyn and we cried and prayed and got one big giant goosebump together! I told her that I was wondering what God was up to since this show is suppose to be on Saturdays and I have been speaking more and more on weekends.
She grabbed my arm, stroked it and said, "Honey, God works these things out. God is not stopping you from speaking, he is pouring out His bounty!"
I said, "I am amazed at how He works! Can you believe He arranged for us to meet today? I needed to hear your words!"
She said, "I think He gets a kick out of amazing us!"
So, that was my day....God is on the throne.
How appropriate that this day's Treasure Verse is:
Isaiah 58:11
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
I stopped in the church office yesterday to see my 'sistas' who lift me in prayer whenever I am traveling and speaking. Jonia was the first woman who ever invited me into her home as a new Christian. She had no idea what my life had been, she simply invited this new couple at church over for lunch after service.
You all know I am the Woman at the Well! But back then, I hadn't made my way to the well yet. She saw me on the road to the well and offered kindness to this stranger! No one in my life had ever welcomed me like that, the minute I walked into the church.
Laura attended the first retreat I ever did on The Woman at the Well and she lovingly encouraged me to keep sharing. Every time I have a victory, or a God-sized story I feel compelled to share it with my personal cheerleader, Laura.
Dana is sweet, tender and always willing to help this crazy woman. I burst into the office at unexpected times asking for technical help, prayer or just a hug and she gladly stops to provide it.
Are you offering that kind of Jesus-with-skin-on to people in your world? You have no idea how those simple things can help God CHANGE the direction of a lost soul, a hurting heart, or a weary warrior.
They water my garden!
So they are the perfect example of what that passage in Isaiah 58:6-12 is talking about. When we totally empty ourself out for others - demonstrating God's love, God will fill up our empty places with His living water.
Challenge for the day:
Empty yourself for someone else and allow God to fill you up!
Isaiah 58:11
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
I stopped in the church office yesterday to see my 'sistas' who lift me in prayer whenever I am traveling and speaking. Jonia was the first woman who ever invited me into her home as a new Christian. She had no idea what my life had been, she simply invited this new couple at church over for lunch after service.
You all know I am the Woman at the Well! But back then, I hadn't made my way to the well yet. She saw me on the road to the well and offered kindness to this stranger! No one in my life had ever welcomed me like that, the minute I walked into the church.
Laura attended the first retreat I ever did on The Woman at the Well and she lovingly encouraged me to keep sharing. Every time I have a victory, or a God-sized story I feel compelled to share it with my personal cheerleader, Laura.
Dana is sweet, tender and always willing to help this crazy woman. I burst into the office at unexpected times asking for technical help, prayer or just a hug and she gladly stops to provide it.
Are you offering that kind of Jesus-with-skin-on to people in your world? You have no idea how those simple things can help God CHANGE the direction of a lost soul, a hurting heart, or a weary warrior.
They water my garden!
So they are the perfect example of what that passage in Isaiah 58:6-12 is talking about. When we totally empty ourself out for others - demonstrating God's love, God will fill up our empty places with His living water.
Challenge for the day:
Empty yourself for someone else and allow God to fill you up!
If you have just joined us, we are in the final week of Beth Moore's Bible Study, Breaking Free. Today she asks us to slow down and reflect on the five displays of God's Splendor.
1. To Know and Believe God
2. To Glorify God
3. Find Satisfaction in God
4. Experience His Peace
5. Enjoy His Presence
Today as I read the account of the Israelites being set free something struck me for the first time. Don't you love that about God's Word? It is new every time you read it! What other book can you say that about? God brings us through a variety of things at different seasons so that when we reread a passage a new meaning pops off the page! We have an ah-ha moment when we 'get it' like we've never gotten it before.
Now you may have already gotten this, but to me it was fresh stuff. Ready?
Exodus 12:35
The Israelites did as Moses instructed and ASKED the Egyptians FOR articles of silver and gold and for clothing.
God always gets us involved in the taking of the plunder! God is the Great Deliverer and he has more bounty than we could ever comprehend, but He expects us to follow his instructions and ask for more than 'we think we deserve.'
I don't know about you, but Satan always tries to throw those reminders in my way of how rotten I once was. Then that keeps me from experiencing God's massive bounty because I allow thoughts of inadequacy or guilt or shame to keep my treasure in the hands of the enemy!!!
This line of the lesson was put there for me to see TODAY! It said, "Don't just reclaim surrendered ground. God wants to enlarge your borders and teach you to possess land you never knew existed."
Oh ladies, can I just share with you how incredible this is?
When I returned from Destin, FL where I spoke at one of the most exciting retreats ever, I had a radio interview scheduled at the local Christian station. Afterwards they said that they had been discussing how their station was really missing a female component. They said when I was on they had good responses from their audience. So they asked me to prayerfully consider hosting a 1 hour weekly LIVE call-in talk show for women, that would be broadcast on stations in the Carolinas, Virginia and Salt Lake City!
I immediately called my prayer warriors into action. I was concerned about the commitment of time because we all know that I put more on my plate than anyone should.
My husband said, "Honey, God has opened this door, you need to run through it."
My minister said, "You said yes didn't you Prater? You didn't go looking for this, God offered it to you."
My sweet Proverbs 31 friend and leader Lysa said, "Oh girlfriend, this is an answer to prayer. We have been praying that God would expand Proverbs 31 Ministries' territories through new opportunities with our speakers and writers!"
So here I go! I said yes. Now I need your commitment. Will you take this ride with me? I need my girlfriends to help me:
Pray
Plan
Participate!
Please pray that God will be glorified and hurting hearts will come to know Him through this adventure. Pray for discernment and guidance as the pieces are put into place. Pray for protection against Satan's attacks. Pray for God to increase while I decrease. Pray for God to be my daytimer!!!
Plan - please give me your thoughts on topics that you believe would be relevant to today's busy woman. My goal is to lay out all 52 weeks of the first year with topic headers and then fill in with the details for each show. I picture this being a time when we can pretend like we are sitting around a table at the local coffee shop laughing, crying and sharing our life with our girlfriends. Please give me input on authors who have written about the topics who could be on as guests. Any and all feedback is appreciated!
Participate - yep, you! I am going to ask you to step up and write more on the comments sections for the ladies who will join us. I may ask you to call in to the program to share what God laid on your heart. I ask that you be open to whatever God lays on your heart on this adventure.
God is enlarging our borders and he is teaching us to possess land we never knew existed!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Jesus for blowing our minds once again. Hold us tightly together as we embark on this ride. Keep our eyes ever focused on You. May YOU be glorified. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
1. To Know and Believe God
2. To Glorify God
3. Find Satisfaction in God
4. Experience His Peace
5. Enjoy His Presence
Today as I read the account of the Israelites being set free something struck me for the first time. Don't you love that about God's Word? It is new every time you read it! What other book can you say that about? God brings us through a variety of things at different seasons so that when we reread a passage a new meaning pops off the page! We have an ah-ha moment when we 'get it' like we've never gotten it before.
Now you may have already gotten this, but to me it was fresh stuff. Ready?
Exodus 12:35
The Israelites did as Moses instructed and ASKED the Egyptians FOR articles of silver and gold and for clothing.
God always gets us involved in the taking of the plunder! God is the Great Deliverer and he has more bounty than we could ever comprehend, but He expects us to follow his instructions and ask for more than 'we think we deserve.'
I don't know about you, but Satan always tries to throw those reminders in my way of how rotten I once was. Then that keeps me from experiencing God's massive bounty because I allow thoughts of inadequacy or guilt or shame to keep my treasure in the hands of the enemy!!!
This line of the lesson was put there for me to see TODAY! It said, "Don't just reclaim surrendered ground. God wants to enlarge your borders and teach you to possess land you never knew existed."
Oh ladies, can I just share with you how incredible this is?
When I returned from Destin, FL where I spoke at one of the most exciting retreats ever, I had a radio interview scheduled at the local Christian station. Afterwards they said that they had been discussing how their station was really missing a female component. They said when I was on they had good responses from their audience. So they asked me to prayerfully consider hosting a 1 hour weekly LIVE call-in talk show for women, that would be broadcast on stations in the Carolinas, Virginia and Salt Lake City!
I immediately called my prayer warriors into action. I was concerned about the commitment of time because we all know that I put more on my plate than anyone should.
My husband said, "Honey, God has opened this door, you need to run through it."
My minister said, "You said yes didn't you Prater? You didn't go looking for this, God offered it to you."
My sweet Proverbs 31 friend and leader Lysa said, "Oh girlfriend, this is an answer to prayer. We have been praying that God would expand Proverbs 31 Ministries' territories through new opportunities with our speakers and writers!"
So here I go! I said yes. Now I need your commitment. Will you take this ride with me? I need my girlfriends to help me:
Pray
Plan
Participate!
Please pray that God will be glorified and hurting hearts will come to know Him through this adventure. Pray for discernment and guidance as the pieces are put into place. Pray for protection against Satan's attacks. Pray for God to increase while I decrease. Pray for God to be my daytimer!!!
Plan - please give me your thoughts on topics that you believe would be relevant to today's busy woman. My goal is to lay out all 52 weeks of the first year with topic headers and then fill in with the details for each show. I picture this being a time when we can pretend like we are sitting around a table at the local coffee shop laughing, crying and sharing our life with our girlfriends. Please give me input on authors who have written about the topics who could be on as guests. Any and all feedback is appreciated!
Participate - yep, you! I am going to ask you to step up and write more on the comments sections for the ladies who will join us. I may ask you to call in to the program to share what God laid on your heart. I ask that you be open to whatever God lays on your heart on this adventure.
God is enlarging our borders and he is teaching us to possess land we never knew existed!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Jesus for blowing our minds once again. Hold us tightly together as we embark on this ride. Keep our eyes ever focused on You. May YOU be glorified. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
03/27: His Renown - Wk 10 Day 2
I met Mary yesterday. Two years ago she stepped into the wrong car, or was it? A man took what he wanted from Mary, left her for dead, naked, beaten beyond recognition with a broken jaw, on the side of the road. As a child she rebelled against her parents and ran away from SC and found herself in Fayetteville, NC. They rushed her to Wake Med for treatment. When she was released, there was no place for her to go. Other facilities had tried to 'reform' Mary, but she was a user that didn't understand how to stay clean. For 21 years she had lived on the streets and she told me every night she looked for a place to lay down and finally die.
This time she went with a fellow homeless girl to Raleigh Rescue Mission and she saw something amazing happen. When they walked in, they embraced her friend, told her they had missed her and had been praying for her safety. No one had ever done that for Mary. There was something different here, and she wanted it. Mary physically healed at the mission while Jesus ministered to her soul through the love of his servants. Mary found out what it meant to be a child of the King. She learned how to be assigned a chore and do it with excellence. She found out how to make wise choices and WHY you make them. She learned there are consequences when rules aren't followed and she never wanted to go down that path again.
We sat beside each other at a fund-raising banquet yesterday for Raleigh Rescue Mission. Mary has been clean for 15 months, has two jobs, lives in her own apartment and attends church every time the doors are open. She glowed with God's brilliant grace and looked like she just stepped out of a magazine. Her smile lit up the room.
We hugged (as all of you KNOW I do), we shared, we cried, we prayed together and gave God thanks for all he has done and will continue to do.
She said her momma never stopped praying for her.
So today's treasure verse Isa. 26:8 is perfect:
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
Today Mary praises God for the man who beat her nearly to death. Her mom praises God for allowing her to be patient enough to wait on God's timing in all things.
Isaiah 43:11-12
I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.
I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "that I am God.
So how could my day have gone any better? Well, when I returned to my car there were two messages from fellow agents who are putting offers on my listings. I stopped by to play with my grandchildren since they live near Raleigh. I picked up my husband on my way home to go with me to a concert our church hosted for Mandissa. What a wonderful blessed day in the Lord!
Are you His witness? Go display His splendor today because I see Him shining on you!
This time she went with a fellow homeless girl to Raleigh Rescue Mission and she saw something amazing happen. When they walked in, they embraced her friend, told her they had missed her and had been praying for her safety. No one had ever done that for Mary. There was something different here, and she wanted it. Mary physically healed at the mission while Jesus ministered to her soul through the love of his servants. Mary found out what it meant to be a child of the King. She learned how to be assigned a chore and do it with excellence. She found out how to make wise choices and WHY you make them. She learned there are consequences when rules aren't followed and she never wanted to go down that path again.
We sat beside each other at a fund-raising banquet yesterday for Raleigh Rescue Mission. Mary has been clean for 15 months, has two jobs, lives in her own apartment and attends church every time the doors are open. She glowed with God's brilliant grace and looked like she just stepped out of a magazine. Her smile lit up the room.
We hugged (as all of you KNOW I do), we shared, we cried, we prayed together and gave God thanks for all he has done and will continue to do.
She said her momma never stopped praying for her.
So today's treasure verse Isa. 26:8 is perfect:
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
Today Mary praises God for the man who beat her nearly to death. Her mom praises God for allowing her to be patient enough to wait on God's timing in all things.
Isaiah 43:11-12
I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.
I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "that I am God.
So how could my day have gone any better? Well, when I returned to my car there were two messages from fellow agents who are putting offers on my listings. I stopped by to play with my grandchildren since they live near Raleigh. I picked up my husband on my way home to go with me to a concert our church hosted for Mandissa. What a wonderful blessed day in the Lord!
Are you His witness? Go display His splendor today because I see Him shining on you!
Whew! Can you believe we are walking down the last road in this bible study together? Wow! Our memory verse for this week made me shout Hallelujah!
Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon forged against you will prevail."
I love Beth's words to all those who have traveled through this bible study with her to this point...because I feel the same about you:
Words will never suffice to tell you how I feel about you. Of all the Bible study travels we have made together, this is dearest to my heart. Jesus took me from the ash heap. You are the beauty God has brought from my ashes. I love you.
This first day we dig into being - A Planting of the Lord.
The treasure verse is Isaiah 61:3 "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."
Reading through this day blessed my heart so much. We've been learning throughout this study how to take captive our thoughts, how to tear down the walls of Satan's lies, how to rise from the ashes of our past. But today it was as if I stepped out of the ashes and turned the corner.
My past was so stained...and yet, throughout this day I read:
I am His treasured possession (Mal. 3:16-17)
I was planted for His splendor (Isa. 60:21)
NO FEAR! I can trust and have confidence in Him because my roots are deep! (Jer. 17:7-8)
I will be recognized as His by the fruit I bear (Matt. 12:33)
But the verse that absolutely brought me to tears this morning was Psalm 45:11
"The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for he is your Lord."
God is proud of you! Does that not take your breath away? He doesn't see the past, he sees His Son reflected in your beauty!
Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon forged against you will prevail."
I love Beth's words to all those who have traveled through this bible study with her to this point...because I feel the same about you:
Words will never suffice to tell you how I feel about you. Of all the Bible study travels we have made together, this is dearest to my heart. Jesus took me from the ash heap. You are the beauty God has brought from my ashes. I love you.
This first day we dig into being - A Planting of the Lord.
The treasure verse is Isaiah 61:3 "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."
Reading through this day blessed my heart so much. We've been learning throughout this study how to take captive our thoughts, how to tear down the walls of Satan's lies, how to rise from the ashes of our past. But today it was as if I stepped out of the ashes and turned the corner.
My past was so stained...and yet, throughout this day I read:
I am His treasured possession (Mal. 3:16-17)
I was planted for His splendor (Isa. 60:21)
NO FEAR! I can trust and have confidence in Him because my roots are deep! (Jer. 17:7-8)
I will be recognized as His by the fruit I bear (Matt. 12:33)
But the verse that absolutely brought me to tears this morning was Psalm 45:11
"The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for he is your Lord."
God is proud of you! Does that not take your breath away? He doesn't see the past, he sees His Son reflected in your beauty!
For those reading this blog for the first time, WELCOME! We are wrapping up week 9 of the Beth Moore Bible study called Breaking Free.
I host this study in my home for my neighbors on Tuesdays and try to comment everyday for my friends who live all over the globe who have joined us on this journey. I had a speaking engagement for a fabulous group of ladies in Destin, FL (took my hubby too) during week 8, so my daily routine has been jarred. Yesterday and today I've been playing catch up, so it may be hard to grasp what in the world we are talking about. Hang in there, even if you don't have the study workbook, you might glean some things from the comments the ladies share.
So here we go capsulizing Week 9
Recognize the Captor!!!!! He showed up this week. After a mountaintop experience at the beach retreat in FL where God was SOOOOOO evident, he tried to shake things up. Did you recognize that it was him? He tries to disguise himself as other things, like a defiant child, a job loss, a complaining friend, a quarrelsome spouse, but it is really Satan on the prowl. If you have joy, he wants to steal it.
God always prioritizes our character over our comfort.
RATS! I long for comfort and dig my heels in when he tries to round off the rough edges of my character. But God's ways are not my ways, thank goodness.
He allows some tough stuff to happen to shape our character to more resemble His Son. So when the stealer-of-joy lands in your life, how do you deal?
Wendi, I'm going to share your comments from the beach retreat this past weekend. We were discussing our thoughts and quiet time with the Lord. Wendi said her prayers often went like this:
Dear Lord, thank you for this beautiful day that you've given us. Thank you for surrounding us with dear friends. Thank you for allowing us to have them over tonight for dinner. Oh man, I've got to pick up a pot roast....I wonder if I should have salad with that or just vegetables. Do I have enough napkins?.....oh my goodness, I'm praying! Dear Lord, forgive my wondering mind!
Let's be honest, we've ALL done it.
The original word for 'steadfast' is 'samak' which means "to sustain...to be braced...to lean upon."
When trouble comes and thoughts run wild in our mind, learn to lean on the Word of God to hold us up.
Stand in agreement with God.
My friend Debbie and I were just discussing how the 'middle of the night' wake up calls seem more frequent these days. I'm sure our hormones have something to do with it, much like my friend Ramona reminded me with a little magnet gift one day that read:
Do you think our hot flashes are contributing to global warming?
In this troubled world, it seems I wake up about 3:30 every morning and begin to pray. There is much to pray about.
I must tell you that the scripture she quoted, 2 Corinthians 10:5 is one that changed my life. After surrendering completely to the Lord after a lifetime of misguided steps, it was hard to break the pattern of 'stinkin' thinkin' that always got me into trouble.
I began quoting that scripture every single time a thought would enter my brain that was not righteous, pure, lovely and good. If it had the least bit of bite in it, I would say, "Lord, take captive this thought and hold it obedient to Jesus Christ."
And He did.
Tear down the lies of Satan.
The thoughts became fewer and less intense. And the thought patterns of my life took a turn.
Satan fights dirty. He loves to jump on ANYTHING that keeps your thoughts from centering on Christ.
I loved, loved, loved her examples of 'tearing down the high places' and 'deprogramming and reprogramming' our minds.
'High things' are the people, things, or circumstances that outgrow our thoughts of God.
We don't have to love something or someone to idolize it. Beth's example of an anorexic hating her body or Beth's own unforgiving heart toward someone becoming an idol. Anything that steals your focus, your God-given joy, becomes an idol.
Put up the Truth-memorize scriptures that target our struggle
Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."
Satan woos us into prison cells, but he has no power to keep us there. We go freely.
Take off the blinders. See what Satan is up to. He longs to draw you back each day.
The Spirit sanctifies us with the Truth
The Spirit breaks the power of deception in our lives.
The Spirit breaks the power of sin.
We MUST love and seek God's Truth daily. We MUST be in His Word. Without reading it, the Spirit cannot reveal God's truth to our mind and heart.
I know so many people who have bibles sitting around in every corner collecting dust. It is as if they think the Truth will jump off the pages by osmosis. Walking by the bible will not set you free. Walking with God through the Bible will!
The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6
Are you living in turmoil?
Bow thought to the Truth
Beth laid out 4 specific practices God used to renew her mind. Let's see how they will work for you:
1. Search God's Word for Scriptures. Find Scriptures that speak the mind of God to your specific stronghold.
2. Write these Scriptures on notecards
3. Take these Truth cards wherever you go.
4. Avoid as many forms of deception as possible.
So in summary, the Steadfast Mind does these 5 things:
1. Recognize the Captor
2. Stands in agreement with God
3. Tear down the lies
4. Put up the Truth
5. Bow thought, to the Truth
I loved her comment:
God's Word is your truth serum. The more you use it, the clearer your mind will become.
Amen - let it be so
I host this study in my home for my neighbors on Tuesdays and try to comment everyday for my friends who live all over the globe who have joined us on this journey. I had a speaking engagement for a fabulous group of ladies in Destin, FL (took my hubby too) during week 8, so my daily routine has been jarred. Yesterday and today I've been playing catch up, so it may be hard to grasp what in the world we are talking about. Hang in there, even if you don't have the study workbook, you might glean some things from the comments the ladies share.
So here we go capsulizing Week 9
Recognize the Captor!!!!! He showed up this week. After a mountaintop experience at the beach retreat in FL where God was SOOOOOO evident, he tried to shake things up. Did you recognize that it was him? He tries to disguise himself as other things, like a defiant child, a job loss, a complaining friend, a quarrelsome spouse, but it is really Satan on the prowl. If you have joy, he wants to steal it.
God always prioritizes our character over our comfort.
RATS! I long for comfort and dig my heels in when he tries to round off the rough edges of my character. But God's ways are not my ways, thank goodness.
He allows some tough stuff to happen to shape our character to more resemble His Son. So when the stealer-of-joy lands in your life, how do you deal?
Wendi, I'm going to share your comments from the beach retreat this past weekend. We were discussing our thoughts and quiet time with the Lord. Wendi said her prayers often went like this:
Dear Lord, thank you for this beautiful day that you've given us. Thank you for surrounding us with dear friends. Thank you for allowing us to have them over tonight for dinner. Oh man, I've got to pick up a pot roast....I wonder if I should have salad with that or just vegetables. Do I have enough napkins?.....oh my goodness, I'm praying! Dear Lord, forgive my wondering mind!
Let's be honest, we've ALL done it.
The original word for 'steadfast' is 'samak' which means "to sustain...to be braced...to lean upon."
When trouble comes and thoughts run wild in our mind, learn to lean on the Word of God to hold us up.
Stand in agreement with God.
My friend Debbie and I were just discussing how the 'middle of the night' wake up calls seem more frequent these days. I'm sure our hormones have something to do with it, much like my friend Ramona reminded me with a little magnet gift one day that read:
Do you think our hot flashes are contributing to global warming?
In this troubled world, it seems I wake up about 3:30 every morning and begin to pray. There is much to pray about.
I must tell you that the scripture she quoted, 2 Corinthians 10:5 is one that changed my life. After surrendering completely to the Lord after a lifetime of misguided steps, it was hard to break the pattern of 'stinkin' thinkin' that always got me into trouble.
I began quoting that scripture every single time a thought would enter my brain that was not righteous, pure, lovely and good. If it had the least bit of bite in it, I would say, "Lord, take captive this thought and hold it obedient to Jesus Christ."
And He did.
Tear down the lies of Satan.
The thoughts became fewer and less intense. And the thought patterns of my life took a turn.
Satan fights dirty. He loves to jump on ANYTHING that keeps your thoughts from centering on Christ.
I loved, loved, loved her examples of 'tearing down the high places' and 'deprogramming and reprogramming' our minds.
'High things' are the people, things, or circumstances that outgrow our thoughts of God.
We don't have to love something or someone to idolize it. Beth's example of an anorexic hating her body or Beth's own unforgiving heart toward someone becoming an idol. Anything that steals your focus, your God-given joy, becomes an idol.
Put up the Truth-memorize scriptures that target our struggle
Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."
Satan woos us into prison cells, but he has no power to keep us there. We go freely.
Take off the blinders. See what Satan is up to. He longs to draw you back each day.
The Spirit sanctifies us with the Truth
The Spirit breaks the power of deception in our lives.
The Spirit breaks the power of sin.
We MUST love and seek God's Truth daily. We MUST be in His Word. Without reading it, the Spirit cannot reveal God's truth to our mind and heart.
I know so many people who have bibles sitting around in every corner collecting dust. It is as if they think the Truth will jump off the pages by osmosis. Walking by the bible will not set you free. Walking with God through the Bible will!
The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6
Are you living in turmoil?
Bow thought to the Truth
Beth laid out 4 specific practices God used to renew her mind. Let's see how they will work for you:
1. Search God's Word for Scriptures. Find Scriptures that speak the mind of God to your specific stronghold.
2. Write these Scriptures on notecards
3. Take these Truth cards wherever you go.
4. Avoid as many forms of deception as possible.
So in summary, the Steadfast Mind does these 5 things:
1. Recognize the Captor
2. Stands in agreement with God
3. Tear down the lies
4. Put up the Truth
5. Bow thought, to the Truth
I loved her comment:
God's Word is your truth serum. The more you use it, the clearer your mind will become.
Amen - let it be so
Ok, I know I've been a slacker on my daily posts for Breaking Free. My struggle has been, do I pick up where I left off or begin today where you are, on Week 9 Day 4....I've decided
Today, I will recap Wk 7 and 8
Later today I will summarize Wk 9 days 1-4
Then tomorrow we will be together again.
Sorry!
Week 7 The Potter and the Clay
We left off in Week 7 talking about acting like a rebellious 2 year old at the feet of Jesus. We don't like to be
Corrected
Redirected
or asked to Change
What does my private life say to God? Do I give Him complete authority over my life? When will I finally get it?
His will is always perfect, mine is not.
God's rule is right. I loved the analogy of being our own producer and director of our life. Have you ever been behind the scenes of a production? There are many hands, many people racing around getting things done, but there is always ONE who sees the overall picture. Only one can call the final shots, otherwise the movie is a flop.
God's doing something new and exciting in our lives EVERY day. In Isaiah 43:18-19 he says, "Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"
How sweet is our God that He would take the time to write that down so we could be reminded daily that He isn't done with us!!!!!
We love to drag out the old memories whenever we mess up, but God is our cheerleader standing in front of us saying, "Forget about it! I'm doing something new in you that will blow your socks off!" (Ok, that is Luann's paraphrase)
God's Daily Rule - Did you have the light bulb go off in your mind when Beth told her epiphany? For years she had asked God to walk with her, then 'ta-da' the V-8 moment hit her - God wants us to walk WITH HIM!
God's blessings come when we STOP trying to do what we want - and START doing what he said, "Walk with Him."
He knows what He wants to do for us, but He won't force us to go there. We have to trust that He has a plan that far outweighs anything we could come up with.
When we do He promises:
Strength
Sure Foundation
Wisdom and Knowledge
A Fresh Morning Word
Victory!!!!!!!
So Week 8 Unfailing Love
'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
My world has been rocked at times, has yours? Isn't it funny, the older you get, the more things you learn to endure. So often for me it isn't the BIG things that shake me up, but the unexpected little-bitty thing!
I've lost a brother, a dad, unborn grandbabies, friends, family, jobs, material possessions, finances
and yet
His love endures forever.
What did you write on page 162 when she asked us to insert our own fears into the passage, Romans 8:38-39? My friend, Debbie hit the nail on the head. Deb, if you read this, please share your view on this with the ladies because EVERYONE can relate to it.
Do you desire lavish love. Focused love. Radical love. Love you can count on?
Proverbs 20:6
Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?
Through it all God's love is unfailing.
Beth tells us that God carefully and graciously allowed some of her fears of having someone cease to love her come true, so that
she would discover that she would not disintegrate!
EVERYTHING in this life is temporary! Everything! But God's love endures forever.
This is a truth that I wanted to wear pasted to my forehead!
Suicides are increasing at an alarming rate.
Working with teens and my own children through the years we encountered people who didn't understand this concept.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
Troubles in life are temporary. Nothing lasts. If you are in the valley of despair, hold on! The sun will rise again! If you are on the mountaintop, hold on! You will experience a valley!
But through it all, the ups and downs, God's love is UNFAILING. Period.
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Psalm 90:14
Today, I will recap Wk 7 and 8
Later today I will summarize Wk 9 days 1-4
Then tomorrow we will be together again.
Sorry!
Week 7 The Potter and the Clay
We left off in Week 7 talking about acting like a rebellious 2 year old at the feet of Jesus. We don't like to be
Corrected
Redirected
or asked to Change
What does my private life say to God? Do I give Him complete authority over my life? When will I finally get it?
His will is always perfect, mine is not.
God's rule is right. I loved the analogy of being our own producer and director of our life. Have you ever been behind the scenes of a production? There are many hands, many people racing around getting things done, but there is always ONE who sees the overall picture. Only one can call the final shots, otherwise the movie is a flop.
God's doing something new and exciting in our lives EVERY day. In Isaiah 43:18-19 he says, "Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"
How sweet is our God that He would take the time to write that down so we could be reminded daily that He isn't done with us!!!!!
We love to drag out the old memories whenever we mess up, but God is our cheerleader standing in front of us saying, "Forget about it! I'm doing something new in you that will blow your socks off!" (Ok, that is Luann's paraphrase)
God's Daily Rule - Did you have the light bulb go off in your mind when Beth told her epiphany? For years she had asked God to walk with her, then 'ta-da' the V-8 moment hit her - God wants us to walk WITH HIM!
God's blessings come when we STOP trying to do what we want - and START doing what he said, "Walk with Him."
He knows what He wants to do for us, but He won't force us to go there. We have to trust that He has a plan that far outweighs anything we could come up with.
When we do He promises:
Strength
Sure Foundation
Wisdom and Knowledge
A Fresh Morning Word
Victory!!!!!!!
So Week 8 Unfailing Love
'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
My world has been rocked at times, has yours? Isn't it funny, the older you get, the more things you learn to endure. So often for me it isn't the BIG things that shake me up, but the unexpected little-bitty thing!
I've lost a brother, a dad, unborn grandbabies, friends, family, jobs, material possessions, finances
and yet
His love endures forever.
What did you write on page 162 when she asked us to insert our own fears into the passage, Romans 8:38-39? My friend, Debbie hit the nail on the head. Deb, if you read this, please share your view on this with the ladies because EVERYONE can relate to it.
Do you desire lavish love. Focused love. Radical love. Love you can count on?
Proverbs 20:6
Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?
Through it all God's love is unfailing.
Beth tells us that God carefully and graciously allowed some of her fears of having someone cease to love her come true, so that
she would discover that she would not disintegrate!
EVERYTHING in this life is temporary! Everything! But God's love endures forever.
This is a truth that I wanted to wear pasted to my forehead!
Suicides are increasing at an alarming rate.
Working with teens and my own children through the years we encountered people who didn't understand this concept.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
Troubles in life are temporary. Nothing lasts. If you are in the valley of despair, hold on! The sun will rise again! If you are on the mountaintop, hold on! You will experience a valley!
But through it all, the ups and downs, God's love is UNFAILING. Period.
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Psalm 90:14
03/05: Broken Pottery - Wk 7 Day 2
Isaiah 30:13-14 - not the way I want to live my life, as broken pottery!
Ok, so today we discover two more lovely characteristics of rebellion. Yesterday there were four.
5. A rebellious child of God depends on deceit.
6. A rebellious child of God runs from the real answers
Depending on deceit leaves us clinging and crushed. Satan loves to slip in and supply what we 'think' we need. Then he slips that chain around our ankle and cripples our walk.
Real answers = repentence & rest - quietness and truth
Did you love learning about the Hebrew words for these nuggets? I did!
The whole notion of rest and quiet are foreign to my natural self. But God clearly tells us that repenting and not relying on my own strength will give me rest. And my strength will come from that quiet time with Him.
And the Hebrew word for Trust, meaning 'there is nothing more one can do' was an AHA moment!
It was as if God had his megaphone in my ear and said, "Enough! Stop striving! Sit back and wait. I won't let you down."
I can't, but God can.
Are you ready? I am. There is enough bulging on me, I don't want my high wall of sin to bulge and suddenly break into pieces.
Lord, forgive my stubborn rebellion. I can see where I have been guilty on all counts. Forgive me and train me to rest, be quiet and trust you. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Ok, so today we discover two more lovely characteristics of rebellion. Yesterday there were four.
5. A rebellious child of God depends on deceit.
6. A rebellious child of God runs from the real answers
Depending on deceit leaves us clinging and crushed. Satan loves to slip in and supply what we 'think' we need. Then he slips that chain around our ankle and cripples our walk.
Real answers = repentence & rest - quietness and truth
Did you love learning about the Hebrew words for these nuggets? I did!
The whole notion of rest and quiet are foreign to my natural self. But God clearly tells us that repenting and not relying on my own strength will give me rest. And my strength will come from that quiet time with Him.
And the Hebrew word for Trust, meaning 'there is nothing more one can do' was an AHA moment!
It was as if God had his megaphone in my ear and said, "Enough! Stop striving! Sit back and wait. I won't let you down."
I can't, but God can.
Are you ready? I am. There is enough bulging on me, I don't want my high wall of sin to bulge and suddenly break into pieces.
Lord, forgive my stubborn rebellion. I can see where I have been guilty on all counts. Forgive me and train me to rest, be quiet and trust you. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
No, that is NOT the actual title of this day, but it could be! She sweetly names it Upside Down, however in Isaiah 30:8-21 we find that we have so much in common with our rebellious ancestors. Beth breaks down the word rebellion and gives the Hebrew definition along with synonyms for it. One was pigheaded.
She asked us how God's children, in that passage cheated themselves through rebellion.
Have you ever thought about it like that?
Let me ask that a different way, have you EVER rebelled? Did you feel justified by taking that action? I mean, come on! There were times when someone told you not to do something, but by golly, they had no idea what you were going through so you were doing it anyway - and you were going to ENJOY it too!
In Isaiah God points out that his children would rather be oppressed and deceived than:
Repent and rest
Quietness and trust
Grace and compassion
in verse 18 it says 'blessed are those who wait'
OUCH! OUCH! AND OUCH!
I have been guilty on all counts!
God has so much good he wants to give us and yet we react to his instruction like a two-year old having a tantrum.
She listed the 4 characteristics of a rebellious child of God (see if you fit in any category)
1. A rebellious child of God doesn't act like a child of God
(others can't see the family resemblance in our attitude)
2. A rebellious child of God isn't willing to listen to the Lord's instruction
(resistant to being corrected, redirected or challenged to change)
3. A rebellious child of God prefers pleasant illusions over truth
(as Paul said to Timothy, people only want to listen to what their itching ears want to hear...and it isn't Truth)
4. A rebellious child of God relies on oppression
(people who DETACH from truth ATTACH to lies)
Have you been in rebellion while sitting in the pew?
Does your attitude reflect God's peaceful presence?
Are you willing to allow Him to take you on a detour or point out a change that needs to happen in your life?
Do you choose to listen only to what you want instead of truth God longs to reveal?
Have you detached from any kind of accountability group and attached to something else?
Maybe it's time to trade in the pigheaded rebellion for:
Repent and rest
Quietness and trust
Grace and compassion
She asked us how God's children, in that passage cheated themselves through rebellion.
Have you ever thought about it like that?
Let me ask that a different way, have you EVER rebelled? Did you feel justified by taking that action? I mean, come on! There were times when someone told you not to do something, but by golly, they had no idea what you were going through so you were doing it anyway - and you were going to ENJOY it too!
In Isaiah God points out that his children would rather be oppressed and deceived than:
Repent and rest
Quietness and trust
Grace and compassion
in verse 18 it says 'blessed are those who wait'
OUCH! OUCH! AND OUCH!
I have been guilty on all counts!
God has so much good he wants to give us and yet we react to his instruction like a two-year old having a tantrum.
She listed the 4 characteristics of a rebellious child of God (see if you fit in any category)
1. A rebellious child of God doesn't act like a child of God
(others can't see the family resemblance in our attitude)
2. A rebellious child of God isn't willing to listen to the Lord's instruction
(resistant to being corrected, redirected or challenged to change)
3. A rebellious child of God prefers pleasant illusions over truth
(as Paul said to Timothy, people only want to listen to what their itching ears want to hear...and it isn't Truth)
4. A rebellious child of God relies on oppression
(people who DETACH from truth ATTACH to lies)
Have you been in rebellion while sitting in the pew?
Does your attitude reflect God's peaceful presence?
Are you willing to allow Him to take you on a detour or point out a change that needs to happen in your life?
Do you choose to listen only to what you want instead of truth God longs to reveal?
Have you detached from any kind of accountability group and attached to something else?
Maybe it's time to trade in the pigheaded rebellion for:
Repent and rest
Quietness and trust
Grace and compassion
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