"Stripes" and Other Things

I'm not interested in changing your mind. I just want you to consider a few commonly held beliefs. 

I had some crisis moments in my life--a whole bunch! In looking back, I realize that those crises were necessary to humble me enough to see that I don't have all of the answers (imagine that!). It took trouble and discomfort for me to see Jesus and to begin to grasp the magnitude of His unspeakable Gift.

I learned that everything that I was so sure about--particularly Scriptural things, were not necessarily as I (thought) knew them to be. I was so sure of myself (and full of myself, too). 

Then, life got real...really real; and hard, too.

In the midst of my storms, I ran to God's Word for the answers to my prayers. My prayers weren't answered the way I assumed God would answer them. I think I forgot about His Sovereignty. You see, I had been getting information from unreliable sources about my situation and the way God works. So, I was "naming and claiming" release from all of the difficulties of my life. Things were not going according to (my) plan. God decided to show me that, "Men make plans; and God laughs". He let me see that trials really do make you grow. I have learned that pain always has a purpose when you walk with God; and something "good" will come out of it. That's a promise. 

He began to show me in His Word the correct things to declare/speak. More about that, later. (I'm sensing this will be my first "continued" post). 

He was really humbling me. He was teaching me, in spite of my reluctance. God showed me (He still is, actually!) that He wasn't pleased with me. I was dogmatic, judgmental and saw everything as black and white--there was no room for compromise. Thinking back, I was behaving as if I owned "the earth and the fulness thereof". So, I had to go all the way down. 

It took pain and losses  to teach me compassion. It took hard times for me to see that there are some variables in life. There are some things that aren't "Heaven or hell" issues. Some things are, but not the long list that I held. I had become so legalistic in my interpretation of Scripture that I forgot how to extend grace--and what that looked like. I thought I knew grace until God showed me that I didn't. 

After much bratty behavior (with the Father!), I finally surrendered. I made a promise to God that I would study His Word without any preconceived notions and theological ideologies. It was hard work. He had to tear down many walls in the process. 

Lately, I've seen Him begin to make more changes in my life. I think I may have forgotten a few of the lessons that the Holy Spirit previously taught me. I kind of went too far, in the worldly direction. I forgot that God still has standards for me to live by. By the way, His standards for me may look somewhat different from the standards He has for you...yup, it's not "black or white" for every spiritual issue. I'm 62 years old and I feel like I'm just beginning to learn what holiness is and true righteousness. And, righteousness doesn't involve me being right about everything. However, there are some things that are right (or wrong) no matter who you are--if you're interested in being "acceptable unto God".

To be continued, next time. If this gets any longer, no one will read it--I probably wouldn't!

Grace, as always--

Lisa 💛

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"DANGER OFTEN LURKS, WHERE DESTINY BECKONS"

I read this profoundly true phrase in a historical novel, by Christian author, Tommy Tenney. It was the story of Hadassah (Hebrew name)--or Queen Esther of Persia, as most of us regard her.When I read the phrase, it struck me. I thought, how true! We want the glory of our destiny, but no part of the process--often treacherous, that will get us there. Faith, however, requires some sacrifice, some trial, some work (James 2:20).I began to think back over my own life and my desire to get the prize, but always trying to avoid the battle wounds--only to find myself back at the starting point again and again. It was only after I made a decisive choice to submit my will to God, in the process of being molded, did I find the peace that I so desperately sought. When I stopped "kicking against the pricks", I found joy, in spite of difficult circumstances.Not only Hadassah recognized that where danger lurks, destiny beckons. The Word of God is full of hosts of characters that learned tha...
Read more

The Emperor Should Stick with State Issues

Image
 You know, when Constantine decided to get in the "business" of church he made a big mess. We're still trying to disentangle from that conundrum.  The Church was doing just fine following the Commission, that Jesus Christ left us. Every time, we try to mix church and state, we add to the mess. The Church is THE CHURCH and government is of the world . Until the Nicaean Council, the Church was growing--and people came to Christ, because they were drawn spiritually --they CHOSE this Way. The hardships and persecution couldn't keep them away! Those new Christians simply walked out their testimony and loved the way Christ taught us to; and they came in droves. The Gospel was never meant to be a "have to" thing. We have been gifted with free will to choose how we will live our lives, (at, and since) the beginning of the world. That free will has never been rescinded. Even when God was sorry (repented) that He had made mankind, He didn't withdraw it. What H...
Read more

Gideon, the Human

Image
" The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, 'The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.' ' Pardon me, my lord,' Gideon replied, 'but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, 'Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?' ' Pardon me, my lord,' Gideon replied, 'but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.' The Lord answered, 'I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, ...
Read more