For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:13-14 NKJ
When I was leading worship this week I was singing the song "Unchanging" one of the verses goes like this,"True are Your promises, true are Your promises, You never change, You never change O God."
I thought how very true that is! His promises never change. And then I thought about how grateful I was that God made me the way I am. I am so thankful that God made my husband the way he is too! I had to laugh...we have both said at different times that the reason we stayed married when we were young was because we were both so stubborn that we were determined to make the other one leave first! Then I got to thinking about how God really did create my husband and I, both, with a determined streak! And that very quality has kept us from giving up on the promises of God to be seen here in Burley, Idaho and in our lives. There have times when one of us has been down and wanted to throw in the towel but the other one was there to encourage and pray for one another. I am so thankful that I serve a God so great that He knew what character traits that I would need to pastor and to be determined to not give up on the promises He has given us! I am thankful that He gave me a determined mate not to give up on me or us!
Later in verse 16 it says that "in Your book they were written, the days fashioned for me. When as yet there were none of them." God knows what we face and He has equipped us! He has given us His Word and even blessed us with character traits or giftings to handle or finesse each and every situation. He never changes and that means I have to be the one to change. He is with us! He will walk with us. Not always do I understand everything but this I know...that He has a plan and He IS my hope! I love You Lord Jesus.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Edify and Exhort!
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! Proverbs 15:23 NKJ
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
I Cor. 14:3 NKJ
Tonight I was reminded of how important exhortation and edification is! They say that for every negative thing spoken that it takes ten positive things to counter balance it. The enemy loves to whisper lies to us...he loves to tell us anything to tear us down or distract us. How can we counter that? By the Word of God! That is exactly what Jesus did when the devil was twisting the Word of God in the desert! Jesus spoke the truth! He quoted the Word of God right back at him! We need to fill ourselves up with His Word so that when the devil starts tearing us down or discouraging us we can counter attack with the Truth! We can build ourselves up with His Word of God.
Read His Word. Store it up in your heart. Then when you see someone that is hurting you can speak encouragement and health to them! You can administer comfort and hope to them! God's Word never fails. It is salve to the wounded. He is the healer! He is our hope! He is our defender!
So arm yourself and be ready to administer first aid to those who are in need of love, exhortation and encouragement! Remember...a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
Shanin
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
I Cor. 14:3 NKJ
Tonight I was reminded of how important exhortation and edification is! They say that for every negative thing spoken that it takes ten positive things to counter balance it. The enemy loves to whisper lies to us...he loves to tell us anything to tear us down or distract us. How can we counter that? By the Word of God! That is exactly what Jesus did when the devil was twisting the Word of God in the desert! Jesus spoke the truth! He quoted the Word of God right back at him! We need to fill ourselves up with His Word so that when the devil starts tearing us down or discouraging us we can counter attack with the Truth! We can build ourselves up with His Word of God.
Read His Word. Store it up in your heart. Then when you see someone that is hurting you can speak encouragement and health to them! You can administer comfort and hope to them! God's Word never fails. It is salve to the wounded. He is the healer! He is our hope! He is our defender!
So arm yourself and be ready to administer first aid to those who are in need of love, exhortation and encouragement! Remember...a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
Shanin
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tell the Truth in Love
23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue. Prov. 28:23 NKJV
Rebuking or correcting someone is never fun. I would much rather work, or be friends or spend time with someone who will tell me the truth or how they really feel than to hang out with someone who will flatter or lie to me. It might not "feel good" at the point of correction but I would not have to worry about how they "really" think or feel! Correction, when done right, brings about health!
I used to work with a lady that everyone in the office was afraid of! I wasn't because I knew that Shellie would shoot straight from the hip! She would tell me the truth! I never had to worry about her stabbing me in the back. I knew right where I stood with Shellie all of the time. I also worked with another lady. She was always nice to me and complimenting me but she would then turn around and cry to others about how I treated her. She was one I could not trust!
I am thankful for the people in my life who loves me enough to tell me the truth in love. Without those people I wouldn't have grown to where I am today. My husband was very faithful in telling me things that I didn't want to hear but being patient and loving by helping me in those areas of my life that needed "sanding." I wasn't always receptive or loving back but he loved me enough to help me!
Don't run from telling someone the truth. Stop and pray and ask God to help you to tell them the truth in love. I made a decision at one point in my life to not be a man pleaser and to commit to pleasing God. For me that meant sometimes keeping my mouth shut and just praying and other times it meant that I had to speak the truth. Is it fun? No but I would say that my friends know that I love them and I will tell them the truth...if you struggle with man pleasing or being in fear of someone not liking you if you tell them the truth that is not of the Lord. His desire is for us to be conformed in His Image. Lots of times that means there has to be some "sanding" to get to that smooth surface! Sometimes we get sanded and other times we have to do the sanding....ask Him for help and He will help you. Just remember to tell the truth in love not "love" to tell the truth!
Than he who flatters with the tongue. Prov. 28:23 NKJV
Rebuking or correcting someone is never fun. I would much rather work, or be friends or spend time with someone who will tell me the truth or how they really feel than to hang out with someone who will flatter or lie to me. It might not "feel good" at the point of correction but I would not have to worry about how they "really" think or feel! Correction, when done right, brings about health!
I used to work with a lady that everyone in the office was afraid of! I wasn't because I knew that Shellie would shoot straight from the hip! She would tell me the truth! I never had to worry about her stabbing me in the back. I knew right where I stood with Shellie all of the time. I also worked with another lady. She was always nice to me and complimenting me but she would then turn around and cry to others about how I treated her. She was one I could not trust!
I am thankful for the people in my life who loves me enough to tell me the truth in love. Without those people I wouldn't have grown to where I am today. My husband was very faithful in telling me things that I didn't want to hear but being patient and loving by helping me in those areas of my life that needed "sanding." I wasn't always receptive or loving back but he loved me enough to help me!
Don't run from telling someone the truth. Stop and pray and ask God to help you to tell them the truth in love. I made a decision at one point in my life to not be a man pleaser and to commit to pleasing God. For me that meant sometimes keeping my mouth shut and just praying and other times it meant that I had to speak the truth. Is it fun? No but I would say that my friends know that I love them and I will tell them the truth...if you struggle with man pleasing or being in fear of someone not liking you if you tell them the truth that is not of the Lord. His desire is for us to be conformed in His Image. Lots of times that means there has to be some "sanding" to get to that smooth surface! Sometimes we get sanded and other times we have to do the sanding....ask Him for help and He will help you. Just remember to tell the truth in love not "love" to tell the truth!
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