Act Like Romans?

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable.  This is truly the way to worship him.  Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."  Romans 12:1-2 NLT 

Proverbs 24:10 NLT  "If you fail under pressure, your strength is small."


When in Rome, do as the Romans do?  My answer is…I think not!  This statement is used many times as an excuse to compromise; to blatantly do whatever and not be held accountable.  No self-control.  (Proverbs 25:28 ESV  "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.")

Are we to compromise our beliefs and convictions to "fit in" with people or the world?  Should we be so concerned as to what people think or what God thinks?  Galatians 1:10 NLT  "Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God.  If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant."

Instead, we should be on guard.  Be aware.  Make a conscious choice to not follow anything that is not like God.  Romans 13:14 NLT  "Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." 

What is your choice today?  Compromise?  Stand strong?

Lessons from King Saul

As I was reading the Bible today, I came across 1 Samuel 15.  I don't guess I've really paid any particular attention to this chapter before, but it sure stood out today.

God had taken Saul, a nobody, and appointed him as king.  God made him into something great.  Later, God told King Saul to do something, but Saul listened to peer pressure and decided that he would only do part of what God wanted him to do.  He and the soldiers kept what appealed to them instead of destroying everything.  Saul disrespected and disregarded God's command to him; he was stubborn and rebellious.  He twisted and watered down what God wanted from him to fit his desires. Being deceived by those thoughts, Saul even began to believe them thinking he had truly obeyed God.  He built a monument to himself, instead of giving credit to God. He thought about God after the fact when Samuel called him out on his disobedience. Saul's disobedience to God cost him being king but he was still able to seek repentance.  

Several points come to mind about this story.  

God took Saul and made him great.  Not by anything Saul did but God using him. Unfortunately, this went to Saul's head.  His ego got the best of him.  He didn't fully submit and wasn't obedient to God.  How many times have I done the exact same thing?  Sometimes, we get into ourselves instead of fully relying on God and giving him the credit.  We must remember that without God we can do nothing (John 15:5 NLT "I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and I in them will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing").  It is not our own power or ability, but God through us ( 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT "My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness.  So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me...For when I am weak, I am strong").  And that it's only through Christ that we can do everything (Philippians 4:13)!

Saul decided to not fully obey and destroy everything evil.  He kept what he wanted and what appealed to him.  Oh man.  That one hit hard.  So many times God has asked for everything of me, and I would hold on to something here and something there thinking that God didn't really expect everything from me.  Just like Saul, I paid the price for it.  God won't continue to allow blatant disobedience without some kind of consequence.  When God says something, he really means it.  If we truly love God, we will be fully obedient and give him everything (John 14:15 NLT "If you love me, obey my commandments.")  That's when God got a hold of me and put me on my face before him.  As I gave him everything in me, all those dark places, all those things I wanted to hold on to, he broke me and removed those sinful things and replaced those holes with his love and light.  I won't say that's an easy process.  Quite the opposite, it's very painful; sickening even when you get real and realize what you've been holding back on from God.  

God desires a true relationship and obedience more than an outward showing or ritual from us.  (1 Samuel 15:22 NLT "What is more pleasing to The Lord:  your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice?  Listen!  Obedience is better than sacrifice and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.")  This isn't saying that what we do isn't important but we must evaluate the condition of our heart.  Am I or we doing something for the wrong reasons?  Am I or we just doing something out of religious obligation?  Am I just checking a box?  What will my friends and church people think?  God desires a complete heart relationship with us, and in turn, we will be fully open and obedient to him.  We shouldn't worry about what man thinks, rather what God thinks and desires of us (Galatians 1:10 NLT "Obviously I'm not trying to win the approval of people but of God").  Our desire should be to have a pure heart before God (Psalm 51:10).  We must be humble enough to ask God to search us, find what is not like him, and show us what needs to be changed so we can repent (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT "Search me o God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.")

Saul's influences helped him have a warped sense of what God wanted from him.  He watered down God's commands to him and his people.  This is exactly where our world is today.  So many thoughts and false teachings out there to make people feel good about a loving God.  Yes, he is loving.  But he also gave us certain guidelines to follow.  There is no gray area with God.  We can't take just a little bit of his word and make it fit what we want it to fit (2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.")

Even through Saul's disobedience and paying the price of his decisions, he still repented before God.  How many times have I failed God?  How many have you?  How many consequences have we faced from our poor decisions?  But we don't have to stay there wallowing in those decisions and failures.  I am so thankful that God is merciful and forgiving.  God doesn't want any of us to perish, but our motives and heart must be right.  We must be truly repentant of our sins.  God's grace isn't an excuse to sin; to go do what we want and say that I'll repent later.  God's grace isn't the great cover up!  No one who comes to Jesus and enters a true love relationship with him can stay the same.  It isn't just words we repeat in a prayer. It is a true heart transformation by Christ that changes us,  guides us to be more like him daily, and to seek him daily.  (1 Corinthians 15:31 NLT "But thank God!  He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.")

Dear God, I am so thankful for your love and mercy.  So thankful for your saving grace.  So thankful that you continue to search me and change me.  God I am yours.  Break me of me.  Everything in and of me is yours.  Continue to remove anything from me that is not like you.  Continue to mold me.  I pray that my heart and motives continue to be pure before you.  Forgive me of the times I hold back.  Forgive me of when I second guess you.  Forgive me of those times that I try to do it on my own.  Forgive me of the times I fail you.  I can do nothing on my own but with you there is unlimited potential.  Not for my glory but for yours Lord.  Use this vessel and servant.  Continue to teach me and give me wisdom.  Amen.

My Breakthrough

This year's International Assembly theme is Breakthrough. This isn't by happenstance. God is truly up to something good. A huge breakthrough in my life and many others began during our summer camp in June. 

I can say that my life is forever changed. He has restored life and joy in me and my marriage. He removed deep rooted hurt, anger, and bitterness and replaced those dark voids with his love, strength, and courage. I AM FREE!  I am free from the weight of the lies and tricks of Satan. I am free from not feeling adequate enough...in him I am enough!  My identity is in Christ, not what I thought I was nor what others say I am. I am his child. I am an overcomer through him. I cannot do anything on my own but with him there is unlimited potential.

My love for God is overflowing.  God is so good!  He cares about not just the big things but even the smallest things that concern us.

Do you need God?  Do you need his healing?  Get real with him and give him all of your heart. Hold nothing back. Let him forever change you and fill you with his love, strength, and courage.

God thank you for your miraculous healing in me and my life and never leaving me nor forsaking me. Let me keep my focus on you and rely on your strength for I can do nothing on my own. Continue to remove me and fill me with you. Continue to break me free from anything not like you. Mold me into your image. Use this vessel for your will and to show your love to others.

Looking Back

Matthew 6:24 MSG

“You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other."

For a few weeks now, I've had this thought for a blog running through my head.   I've been trying to get my thoughts together on it.

God's been asking me, "Why are you looking back?  Am I not I am?  Will I not stay true to my promises? Do I not take care of you?  Why look back?"

As I ponder those deep questions, I can't help but think of the Children of Israel and Lot's wife. They looked back physically and in their hearts, instead of fully trusting God in all aspects.  Looking back and hanging on to the past didn't and still doesn't produce positive results (captivity, sin, death).  So many times we've lived in a certain situation, bondage, sin, etc for so long that it just feels natural. It was such a part of us that going back to it "fits like a glove" (ST).  But fully repenting and relying on God brings freedom, victory, being overcomers, deeper relationship with him, peace, joy, happiness, promises, etc.

You can't straddle the fence. You either love God or hate God. You can't serve 2 masters. We're being to God or to Satan. But we must make the choice. Make the right choice and don't look back!

God forgive me of the times I've failed and looked back. Continue to change me. Continue to guide my steps and take me on your journey. Protect my heart, mind, eyes, and ears from the lies of the enemy who would want me to doubt you or look back. Help me to be still and rest in you when life gets crazy and burdensome. I am an overcomer through you because through you I can do all things.

God's Got This

Lately I've been praying for God to:
Continue to break me
Remove anything in me not like him
Fully restore me through him
Fill me with him
Take me on a new journey with him
Take me to a deeper level like I've never seen before

He's doing just that.

I have my most favorite scripture tattooed on my left shoulder blade - Philippians 4:13.

Philippians 4:13 NLT
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

God's been speaking to me about how that must apply to my whole life, not just pieces. It must apply spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, etc...ALL areas.  I must fully rely on him, not me. For those who really know the true SJ, this is a daunting task. I am a strong, independent, do-it-myself kind of person.

As I sit here this morning in the hospital room watching my very sick husband sleep, I can tell you that personal fears want to crop up. The fear of the unknown looms about. But I must and will stand, faith believing, that God's got this. I'm not sure of what all we may face or what bridge we will cross next, but I'm leaning on God and resting in him. He will be my strength. He will be my courage. He will be my hope. He will carry us. He will heal Timmy.

Israel and New Breed - We Have Overcome

I heard this song today and it spoke to me. I love how God continually reminds us that through Jesus we have overcome and can thrive not just survive. We are not defeated!  We are more than conquerors through Jesus!  Oh if we could only get that into our spirit!  Satan must flee when we tell him to leave us alone.  We don't have to struggle.  We don't have to be weighed down.  We are victorious children of God!

Be blessed!

Giving It All To God

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."  Psalms 139:23-4

God has been talking pretty sternly, yet loving to me lately and taking me to a whole new level.  He's asking for my whole being; my whole heart.  There are parts that I had not yet relinquished to him.  For him to do the healing and restoration that I asked, he needs all of me - those hidden places that I may or may not even be aware of.  

So I've had to take a hard look at me and those not so pretty places that he's showing me.  I must tell you that it hurts to see those things and it hurts to give them up.  Not because I want to hold on to them, but they've been imbedded into me.  Pulling those things out is not an easy process.  But through God's love, mercy, and grace, I'm giving those to him and finding life more pleasant as those dark voids are filled with his perfect love and light.

I met an amazing couple last week at camp.  We were able to talk and share about times like this when God wants everything in us.  I was introduced to this song, "You Won't Relent" by Jesus Culture.  It has spoken to me in an amazing way.  Be blessed as you listen to it.  I pray it speaks to you as well.

Lord, thank you for continuing to work on me; for never giving up.  Continue to search me and reveal to me those things that I may not even be aware of that need to be given to you.  Replace all voids in my heart with your love.  

Broken Chains

God's mercies are new each day.  I am so thankful that He continues to see fit to extend his mercy and grace over my life.  God has been showing himself in a different light and has begun a restoration in my heart and soul.  

Unfortunately, Satan had been at work for a while.  Little by little, I began to get weighed down with this and that.  (See, that's how he works, so you are unaware - kind of like the story of putting a frog in water and slowly warming it up, so the frog doesn't know it is being boiled alive.)  But thank you Jesus that I don't have to stay in that state!

I am free!  God took hold of my heart, broke the walls, took the hurts, and replaced those voids with his restoring love.  Such an amazing feeling!  

Thank you Lord for your continued love, mercy and grace.  You are an amazing God!  You are the one, true, living God.  I am truly thankful that you continue to work on me and never give up.