Little by Little: Chapter 4
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Simple6
Posts: 170 Member
Phew! Great job of making it through last week. You did it! Well done. I just want to commend you, for taking the time to learn and apply. For engaging in spiritual warfare and persevering through the storms. He brought you through! He was one hundred percent faithful to provide for You. He is well pleased with you.
Now, for this new week. This week we get to focus on timing. I am some times so frustrated because God's timing is not the same as mine. Sometimes, He asks me to do things that are so much bigger than I think I can.:huh:
Then there are the times I act so much bigger than I actually am. :blushing:
The scripture that hit my heart this week is:
Deuteronomy 7:22 (AMP)
22 And the Lord your God will clear out those nations before you, little by little; you may not consume them quickly, lest the beasts of the field increase among you.
Nations are places that are independent and powerful. Places created by people coming into unity for a common goal.......hmmmm.....sounds like my thoughts and my emotions. I can see places in my thinking that operate as a "nation." These places which have been under my rule and I am now allowing God to clear out. I am so grateful and so irritated at the same time about the pace this happens. LITTLE BY LITTLE! Of course I want God to just press the clear button and annihilate all the "Nations" of Jenni. :bigsmile: That would seem so easy, yet sometimes, knowledge is too great. God gave me this example. What if I taught my kindergartners to drive. Even if they could grasp all of the intricacies, they are not mature enough to actually do it. Physically they are too small, emotionally they are too unstable and financially, they could not sustain it. They have to learn to drive when they can actually practice and gain experience. That is what I am like. God knows that I need time to learn and unlearn. He knows when I am ready to sustain the knowledge that He has for me.
"Clear out nations before you." I went back and read the whole chapter. God had already promised to pluck out the seven mightiest nations in the land of promise for the Isrealites. They were commanded to utterly destroy them. Not to make any covenant with them. God had brought them out of bondage to the land of promise, which was filled with nations to be destroyed. Furthermore, they were to destroy the nations completely and totally. This is a perfect picture of what has been happening in my life. God has brought me out of Pharaoh's bondage and through the wilderness and now it is my time to enter the land of promise. I do so with God's word as my sustenance. He will drive out the "nations" before me. But it is I who has to utterly destroy them. It is I who must recognize who the enemy is and not to make covenant with them. It is my time to learn as I go. I develop strength and wisdom as I face and overcome each of these nations. I can only do so through His power.
Listen to what else God says in this chapter.
Deuteronomy 7:17-19 (AMP)
17 If you say in your [minds and] hearts, These nations are greater than we are; how can we dispossess them?
18 You shall not be afraid of them, but remember [earnestly] what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt,
19 The great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the people of whom you are afraid.
Oh how this hits my heart. I am in the process of taking the territory which God has given me and oh, how I have been assaulted with the greatness of this task. Some of the 'nations' that I am facing are ideas and thoughts I have held all my life. They are ingrained in me. They occupy huge territories in my mind and in my emotions. Territories that I need to take back. One day, I feel like I have the victory and next I feel like I am in the midst of the battle again. The process is little by little, not like a nuclear bomb. That is in God's power but not mine. As I am growing I am learning how to allow the flow of His power to destroy that enemy. I am growing into Him. I must completely destroy the enemy, who will keep defending the territory. I will do this but only as fast as I can mature to humble myself before Him. God has a very specific plan for my maturing. I can't grow faster or quicker, I can only grow as He has designed me. I must trust Him for this maturing process. That is so soothing to me for He is so worthy of my trust.
"You may not consume them quickly, lest the beasts of the field increase among you." As I read this, I heard this,"empty territories invite habitation." If I am not mature enough to hold that territory or possess it in authority then that invites the 'beasts of the field" to habitat. What are those beasts? In the Strong's concordance that word beast can be translated "appetites." The word field is translated "soil." God created us out of soil. So, I heard this as "You may not consume them quickly, lest the appetites of our flesh, which is soil will increase. We must allow God to grow us big enough to occupy the position or territory that God has ordain for us. Little by little. I have observed the results of too much responsibility given before maturity. It has caused a stunted growth. That is not the kind of growth I want. I want the growth that totally depends on and is purposed by God. His growth plan for me is perfect. Life is a process, let it be His process.
Now your turn......how is your "little by little " going?
Now, for this new week. This week we get to focus on timing. I am some times so frustrated because God's timing is not the same as mine. Sometimes, He asks me to do things that are so much bigger than I think I can.:huh:
Then there are the times I act so much bigger than I actually am. :blushing:
The scripture that hit my heart this week is:
Deuteronomy 7:22 (AMP)
22 And the Lord your God will clear out those nations before you, little by little; you may not consume them quickly, lest the beasts of the field increase among you.
Nations are places that are independent and powerful. Places created by people coming into unity for a common goal.......hmmmm.....sounds like my thoughts and my emotions. I can see places in my thinking that operate as a "nation." These places which have been under my rule and I am now allowing God to clear out. I am so grateful and so irritated at the same time about the pace this happens. LITTLE BY LITTLE! Of course I want God to just press the clear button and annihilate all the "Nations" of Jenni. :bigsmile: That would seem so easy, yet sometimes, knowledge is too great. God gave me this example. What if I taught my kindergartners to drive. Even if they could grasp all of the intricacies, they are not mature enough to actually do it. Physically they are too small, emotionally they are too unstable and financially, they could not sustain it. They have to learn to drive when they can actually practice and gain experience. That is what I am like. God knows that I need time to learn and unlearn. He knows when I am ready to sustain the knowledge that He has for me.
"Clear out nations before you." I went back and read the whole chapter. God had already promised to pluck out the seven mightiest nations in the land of promise for the Isrealites. They were commanded to utterly destroy them. Not to make any covenant with them. God had brought them out of bondage to the land of promise, which was filled with nations to be destroyed. Furthermore, they were to destroy the nations completely and totally. This is a perfect picture of what has been happening in my life. God has brought me out of Pharaoh's bondage and through the wilderness and now it is my time to enter the land of promise. I do so with God's word as my sustenance. He will drive out the "nations" before me. But it is I who has to utterly destroy them. It is I who must recognize who the enemy is and not to make covenant with them. It is my time to learn as I go. I develop strength and wisdom as I face and overcome each of these nations. I can only do so through His power.
Listen to what else God says in this chapter.
Deuteronomy 7:17-19 (AMP)
17 If you say in your [minds and] hearts, These nations are greater than we are; how can we dispossess them?
18 You shall not be afraid of them, but remember [earnestly] what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt,
19 The great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the people of whom you are afraid.
Oh how this hits my heart. I am in the process of taking the territory which God has given me and oh, how I have been assaulted with the greatness of this task. Some of the 'nations' that I am facing are ideas and thoughts I have held all my life. They are ingrained in me. They occupy huge territories in my mind and in my emotions. Territories that I need to take back. One day, I feel like I have the victory and next I feel like I am in the midst of the battle again. The process is little by little, not like a nuclear bomb. That is in God's power but not mine. As I am growing I am learning how to allow the flow of His power to destroy that enemy. I am growing into Him. I must completely destroy the enemy, who will keep defending the territory. I will do this but only as fast as I can mature to humble myself before Him. God has a very specific plan for my maturing. I can't grow faster or quicker, I can only grow as He has designed me. I must trust Him for this maturing process. That is so soothing to me for He is so worthy of my trust.
"You may not consume them quickly, lest the beasts of the field increase among you." As I read this, I heard this,"empty territories invite habitation." If I am not mature enough to hold that territory or possess it in authority then that invites the 'beasts of the field" to habitat. What are those beasts? In the Strong's concordance that word beast can be translated "appetites." The word field is translated "soil." God created us out of soil. So, I heard this as "You may not consume them quickly, lest the appetites of our flesh, which is soil will increase. We must allow God to grow us big enough to occupy the position or territory that God has ordain for us. Little by little. I have observed the results of too much responsibility given before maturity. It has caused a stunted growth. That is not the kind of growth I want. I want the growth that totally depends on and is purposed by God. His growth plan for me is perfect. Life is a process, let it be His process.
Now your turn......how is your "little by little " going?
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Ladies:
If you have the opportunity - watch Joyce Myers Battlefield of the Mind DVD!!! I finally picked my copy up at the Library and watched it today as I made a batch of strawberry/pineapple jam. The best Saturday afternoon I have had in awhile! (even my husband sat and listened while he browsed online...God has such a perfect timing!)0 -
“Little by little” was our focus this chapter. When I began to read (book) and do my workbook follow- up, I gave a heavy sigh- thinking to myself…”Lord, it’s the “onion” layers…oh my! Pealing back all the layers, layers and layers of stuff in our heads, hearts and life, that make up our personalities…the essence of who we are. I think most of us ladies in this group understand the psychology of this counseling dynamic. It’s the one time we get to release all our emotional baggage, scares, blame, self-ridicule, you name it…dig deep enough…you’ll probably find it under one of the “layers”. Now, don’t misunderstand me, I have a great deal of respect for the study of the psychology of our human anatomy…mind, soul and spirit. Although, I think it is only God who knows the true “reins of a man’s heart”. We use these tools (interpersonal relationship) to gain a better understanding so we can cope during duress, stress, financial losses, life and death trauma, illness and yes, spiritual weakness. Another question I asked was why use the analogy of clearing the land…sounded a little “old testament” for our modern times we live in now. You can clear land fairly quickly with a bulldozer and bobcat. Then when I saw that God said in his word…”lest the beasts would not over take”… I understood why the need for balance in clearing the land. It’s a territorial battle…nature needs to be taken care of and provided a place to habitat. God’s wisdom requires balance. The same goes for us…as we begin to take the “layers” back and clear our sinful nature “little by little”. Our salvation is secure in Jesus…it is the healing, renewing and restoring that requires God’s balance. Ever get a splinter that somehow managed to get under the skin at an angle that when you pulled it out…some was left behind…deep in there! Quickly, you pull it out and think it’s clean but then it gets rubbed wrong or touched slightly…Ouch! It now requires more probing to find the end of the splinter…either way…left in or taken out, it is discomforting, none the less. So it is when we begin to peel back layers or break up the fallow ground of our life and clear out the garbage left behind. Sin, that only God can see with His holiness because it is so deep in our inner man. Little by little, area by area is all He requires… because He understands our suffering during this process of cleansing, renewing and restoration. Naturally, we will feel condemnation and want to give up or give in to the lies of Satan and be discouraged. That is why God will establish, strengthen, settle and ground you securely because He knows that Satan desires to sift us like wheat. What hope we gain while clearing the ground little by little…stretching our faith and trust in what God will provide to occupy the territories of our mind. Keep on keeping on…tilling the ground for God to occupy and flourish His good and perfect will for our balanced healthy mind, soul and spirit. 0 -
I have observed the results of too much responsibility given before maturity. It has caused a stunted growth. That is not the kind of growth I want. I want the growth that totally depends on and is purposed by God. His growth plan for me is perfect. Life is a process, let it be His process.
Wow! That statement there really hit home with me Jenni! I have been stunted for a long time now. I am in agreement with you.
I see what my problems have been. Before today, I would say that my problems have been my family, the abuse I have encountered, emotionally and psychically, my own self sabotage with food, control issues, ect. , but really my main problem has been I have been in CONDEMNATION ! I have not had HOPE or VICTORY. I have not been using God like thinking or allowing God be strong in my weaknesses. I may say it or write it, but to actually do it, think like Him, is a different story. I have been walking in the flesh, depending on myself or others to fulfill my needs. My God is all I need. I understand, I am really starting to understand.
I pray that we all walk hand in hand with God our Father. Let Him be the director of your life so that he can fulfill what his plan has been for you. Our gifts are waiting for us, He is waiting patiently. Who doesn't like receiving a gift? His is the most precious of all. How it would be so wonderful to live in true happiness, and I see now, to do that, I have to let God be in control.
Like Dr. Phil always states, "You always do things your own way. "How's it workin' for ya?" Well it has not been working for me. Time for a change.0 -
I just LOVED this week's chapter! It really spoke into the thoughts I had in my mind - both in areas of frustration with slow weight loss and with slow changing-thought processes! It was a very timely reminder from my wonderful, loving heavenly Father!
As with Jenni, it was the Deuteronomy reference that really spoke to me. I also loved Joyce's comment in respect of this: that pride is a beast that will consume us if we receive too much freedom too quickly. That REALLY hit home! How easy it is, when things seem to be going well (with our work, weight loss, relationships, etc) to feel pride in OUR achievements! And how dangerous that can be too. It made me see how wise and loving our Father is, in allowing things to change in our lives little by little,and not in one great rush (as much as we would like that at times!)
Since we are all friends on a fitness and weight loss site, let me use this example that really spoke to me: If I have been really good at exercising and eating right and the weight comes off easily, how often do I thank God for helping me with self-control and discipline? Or how often do I immediately think: YES, this week I got it right and did well! ? PRIDE! (Not that I have had the "pleasure" of that experience for a while!!) In fact WE ALL KNOW that the BEST way to lose weight is slowly but surely - LITTLE BY LITTLE! If we do lose in one great rush (besides the danger to our pride!) we know that there is also the danger that it will not last. Weight lost easily and quickly nearly always comes back on fairly quickly too! Our body DOES need to adapt little by little. As we work at it slowly, we learn along the way. We learn the healthy way to treat our body, to exercise, to lose weight. It becomes a life-style, not just a goal weight to achieve. We learn along the way. And that for me is what God was saying this week: The learning process is an important part of it all - and not just in weight loss. When we need to win that battle in our mind, all this HARD, LONG, DIFFICULT process is what matters. This recapturing our thoughts process is where we learn the important lesson of depending on God for help, of trusting in Him and not relying on our own strength. In this way He changes us - in all respects. IF He decided to, He could just wipe out those old patterns of thinking and give us new ones - but how would that really "perfect" us? The slow, hard way, is the one by which we appreciate the little victories and our freedom more. We realise all these things are gifts from God and not things achieved in our own strength. Our character is forged IN the process, and we become more like Jesus. I WANT that! The WHOLE process! EVEN when it is hard!
I also loved the Rom.8:1 reference about not receiving condemnation when we have set backs or bad days. I quoted that verse on a few occasions even in one day yesterday!!
I need to go back a week now and post in the Don't Give Up chapter! Sorry I was a bit absent last week :-)
Love to you all,
Ali0 -
Hi my sisters!!
Yes, for me also, this Chapter was great -it was not anything I did not already know from first hand experience, but now I have scripture references to go with my experience-you can't beat that with a stick!
I got off alcohol in January of 1984
Got off all my drugs in March 1985
Made a decision to live a heterosexual lifestyle 1988
Began dealing seriously with my anorexia 1991
Surrendered to my cutting in 1994
Accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior in November 1996 (WOW!! Anniversary month!!):drinker:
Surrendered my porn after reading about sexual immorality-
(my church was going through Ephesians when I first started going)
Gave up cigarettes October 2007:smokin:
Turned my husband's porn addiction over to God in August of last year-I must say, God is doing a much better job with it!!
Yes, I can honestly say that had I been given freedom from all these things all at once that I would most definitely have gotten drunk or high again. The bottom line in all of these "thorns in my side" is control-me trying to control either how I felt or the outside circumstances around me. As I have surrendered these issues....these addictions....over to God, I have gained freedom!!
I have also felt strongly that had I been aware of all these character defects at once that suicide would most probably have become a serious option. I would have just been too overwhelmed! My Heavenly Father has shown such grace and mercy towards me even before I knew HIM!! He brought me to Alcoholics Anonymous (yes, breaking my anonymity....shhhhhh) and the higher power in AA - who is.....go figure....GOD!!....brought me to the point where I was willing to allow Him to take more and more control of my life. As I became (and become) willing to give these things to Him and find out that I can actually survive without them He slowly begins revealing the next stumbling block in my walk with Him!! Its so awesome!!! I am humbled that Jesus has sought after me so diligently and has had so much patience with this little modern day Israelite!!
To Him be ALL the glory!!
Love you all!
Christine
PS-I have been thanked for my openness about my life, but I tell you that is why I share it! Because our Savior redeemed me from all of it and it is in my past and Satan has no claim on me!! All those things that I keep in the dark are a way for the enemy to get and keep strongholds in my life- and I say,"take a hike, dude!! I have no room for you!!" I am accountable to everyone I meet for Jesus and how will anyone know how gracious and loving and bold He is if I am unwilling to do the same?? Ya....:bigsmile:0 -
GOD'S WISDOM REQUIRES BALANCE: The same goes for us…as we begin to take the “layers” back and clear our sinful nature “little by little”. Our salvation is secure in Jesus…it is the healing, renewing and restoring that requires God’s balance. Keep on keeping on…tilling the ground for God to occupy and flourish His good and perfect will for our balanced healthy mind, soul and spirit.
My Zoey,
How accurate is your aim.....for this is what I needed to hear. I feel so out of balance, but that is how I should feel as I am in the process of learning balance. When I was a child I could not magically ride my bike, I had to practice balance(translated, falling over and over and over and over again.) The bike was a step to me getting around quicker and faster. A necessary step to increasing my mobility and independence. As I read your post, the Lord brought this scripture to my heart.
Philippians 2:12 (Amplified Bible)
12 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).
Little by Little allows us to work out, cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete what the salvation of the Lord looks like in our lives. This is the cultivating and tilling the ground. Praise God! Thank you, sis for sharing this. 0 -
I have to let God be in control.
Like Dr. Phil always states, "You always do things your own way. "How's it workin' for ya?" Well it has not been working for me. Time for a change.
Dearest Michelle,
I find letting God be in control so hard. I am so used to doing for myself. This is another symptom of too much responsibility too early. Praise God, He turns the plan of the enemy to good for me. I am finding so much relief in learning what I am really responsible for. He is teaching me. For truly, doing things my own way, feels good in the moment but always fails. In my own life, I am really struggling with dealing with the stress. So, I am practicing stopping and actually saying out loud to myself, "I surrender control! I lay down my way. I choose you, Lord, your way of thinking and doing and acting. Stress is not my Lord, The God of peace is my God. I will not bow down to anything else." This is a work in progress for me, but it helps me to refocus in the moment. Indeed, God's growth plan is perfect for us both. May He continue to nurture you and delight in your development. 0 -
My Dearest Ladies,
I am off to vacation in Oregon. Really, to cry and cry in my family's arms, whom I have not seen in eight months. We are a very close family and this separation has been very hard...a real place of challenge in my thinking. I will be gone for the week. I leave you in God's hands....DonnaLynn will lead off on Saturday with the new chapter. I know that you will all join in and share and comment as you have been doing. I love how the Lord has been using you.
:happy: :happy: :happy: :happy: :happy: :happy: I am also rejoicing, actually, bubbling over with extreme excitement, because I will finally get to meet my Zoey. God has arranged it that I will be very close to her. So on Friday, her and I will be fellow shipping. What a delight! I get to meet my first MFP friend. Someday, I hope to meet you all...here on earth, but if not, most definitely in heaven. :bigsmile: You all have found your very own niche in my heart....which is overflowing with love and appreciation for God bringing you into my life.
You will be in my heart as I travel five states to get to my family. I will pray for you as the Lord leads.
With lots of Love and much affection,
Jenni 0 -
Ladies:
My hometown is very close to where Jenni's family lives, so we are going to meet for coffee during her stay with family. :bigsmile: I am so excited and happy to meet her and I will take some pictures to post!!!:flowerforyou:0 -
Jenni - I am praying that you will have an absolutely wonderful time with your family.
Zoey - I am jealous that you get to meet our Jenni :-) YES - PLEASE post some photos! And have a fabulous time together!
With love, Ali xx0 -
a Promise--one of many "little by little" promises:
"Don't be impatient for the Lord to act!
Travel steadily along His Path.
He will honor you, giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.
I myself have seen it happen---proud and evil people, thriving like mighty trees.
But when I looked again, THEY WERE GONE!
Though I searched for them, I could not find them." ---PS 38:34, NIV0 -
What Results When Believers Pray On Through: (this is from today's Intercessors for America News Bulletin)
MASSIVE CHRISTIAN RALLY IN EGYPT BRINGS 25,000 TO CHRIST
Revival is spreading throughout Egypt…a revival of faith in Jesus Christ.
During the first weekend in October, 10,000 young people gathered in the desert 60 miles north of Cairo to sing, pray and worship the Lord.
The youth gathering was followed up with an even larger event at the same location — an October 25-28 “Count It Right” Christian rally which drew 45,000 people. Hundreds of buses brought in people of all ages to the conference grounds, which also hosted artistic and sports activities.
But the focus of the event was to present the message of salvation and call people to give their lives to Jesus at a time in Egypt when Christians are being persecuted even more since the June election of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi.
Included in the numbers reported by a Christian leader are:
45,000 – the number of attendees
25,000 – estimated number of people who gave their lives to Jesus
8,000 – cards filled out by people who requested follow-up visits by churches
2-3 million – estimated number of people who followed the rally on two Christian satellite channels 1,000 – children participating in a special program prepared for them
5,000 – people attending a one-day parallel festival on Oct. 25 in the Coptic Orthodox Cave
6,000 – people attending another similar gathering from different churches on Oct. 28 in Assiut
The Christian leader blogs: “Big numbers, but most important of all, great harvest! The view of thousands of people, standing up each of the four nights, proclaiming their desire to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior is hard to describe in words. This is when I could not hold my tears.
“Most of the attendees were from the Coptic Orthodox Church, and one of the nights a Coptic Orthodox priest was the main speaker for the meeting. Have I seen an Orthodox priest preaching from an evangelical pulpit to such a big crowd of people before? Never.
“In the evening services, attendees were challenged to put their cigarettes, drugs, magic charms and any other material objects that represented sin in their lives, or write on pieces of paper specific sins they were repenting of, and put everything into large baskets that were passed around throughout the entire stadium.
“On the first night alone, 12 large wicker baskets were filled with these items. I think Jesus was present in a similar multitude scene before. This was a powerful symbol of a sincere decision they have all made to follow Christ.”
The Christian leader explains: “We do not have an accurate count or a clear indication of how many people accepted Christ. Most of the days, more than half of the people in the stadium stood up to pray and repent in response to the altar call. It was impossible for the ushers and evangelism team to pray with all the people and fill out cards with each one. With this in mind, the estimated number was 25,000 people who prayed to receive Christ during the festival. The Holy Spirit is the only One Who has the exact count, though.”
The Christian blogger adds that Egyptian Christians “want to thank all our Christian brothers and sisters worldwide who have faithfully been praying with us and for us as we stood back and watched what mighty things God has done in the lives of many people. We are grateful to Him for His great work among us and for you as our partners in the Kingdom of God.
“We are so thankful to God for His protection over this large event and the large number of people who attended. Grateful for the smooth administration of so many logistics and for the spirit and attitude between all the believers who worked together to make it possible. We are overwhelmed by His goodness and His heart of mercy towards Egypt, and are expecting more and more signs of revival in the coming days.”
A link of the gathering from You Tube can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEbgN1XDfVI. Pictures of the rally are available from Open Doors USA.
An estimated 100 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with millions more facing discrimination and alienation. Open Doors supports and strengthens believers in the world’s most difficult areas through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development, prayer and presence ministry and advocacy on behalf of suffering believers. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (888-524-2535) or go to www.OpenDoorsUSA.org. (Contributor: Christian Newswire)
Give thanks to the Lord that in spite of the rise of cult government increases in Egypt with the Moslem Brotherhood, people are being saved and entered into God’s book of life! Pray for the increase in the harvest and pray for their safety as the realization that this will bring opposition to cultic Moslem beliefs.
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” (2 Peter 2:1)0 -
Today Jenni and I met for coffee. It was such a blast to me her and spend time visiting. I tried to put the pic in here but I can't figure out how to do this. won't work as a html or copy/paste...any ideas?0
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FROM SHOPGAL1 :Today Jenni and I met for coffee. It was such a blast to me her and spend time visiting. I tried to put the pic in here but I can't figure out how to do this. won't work as a html or copy/paste...any ideas?
LOVE this!!! So great to see you both ... together! I hope one day I too can meet some of you fabulous ladies in person. (Visitors to Mali always welcome!!)
Love, Ali x0 -
cc--I've had too much week in my week!, and am just now getting to read through thte posts from Ch 4. I am so glad to agree with what you say. Silence is the enemy of healing. It's the enemy of true fellowship as well. Sure, there is a place for silence: a spiritual discipline that sets me apart from the racket of life and positions me to hear the Voice of God to me. But the silence of shame, fear, condemnation---this is not to be sanctioned.
It is so appropriate to proclaim the Good Works of God in our lives! Hey! Keep on wearing the Glory of the LORD as your elegant clothing, girl! Your best party dress! one day, your beautiful white wedding dress (yes, we will ALL fit into the same dress!! hahaha!! ---talk about a Big Mamma!!) . If we keep the testimony silent, then those who need hope will not know how to find it. You're using your gifts, girl!! Shine on!!
My husband recently asked me if everything I say must have an exclamation point after it. of course, I said YES!!!!!! ( it is my favorite punctuation!)
Love, 'bev (!)0 -
THE PICTURE!
MAKES ME CRY!!! IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL, TO SEE YOU BOTH SMILING AT US!!! ..gotta go--gotta go cry! Love you, Bev.0 -
Chapter 4
Little by little. That is my life. I am a slow learner, and therefore it’s taking me even longer to go a “little bit”. Lately I've been asking myself if I've really allowed the Holy Spirit to guide me, or am I doing life in my own strength? My pride is a beast inside me! It disguises it’s self as other things, but when I take a good look at it, it’s pride. I know I've always believed that God is taking me on a journey of learning and letting go and then receiving blessings from Him. When I used to speak all the time in front of large groups, that is one thing I would say, “I know God can heal me right now, but He chooses not to because He has me on a path of learning and growing in Him. I know myself and my personality, I would say, ‘Thank you Lord,’ and move on. I would grow prideful and not seek after Him and rely on Him to bring me through each day.” I said it, but did I live it? It is so easy for me to say something that I want to do, or that I think God is leading me to do, but to LIVE it is totally different. I’m tired of my talk, I want to live the walk. I know it will be painful, but I want it! I’m so tired of the place I've been in. Don’t get me wrong, I know I've grown, I know I’m not the same person I used to be, but I want more. I want more of Jesus! I want to be transformed! I want to be born again, again!
As I read Romans 8:1, something hit me. I've read it so many times before, but for where I’m at now, it hit me. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,” but the second part is what hit me, “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Oh my goodness! I say I don’t walk in the flesh, but my actions show something different. Every time I choose to put something in my mouth that I know will set me up to fail I am walking in my flesh, and if I’m walking in my flesh, then the first part of the scripture doesn't apply? I then used my concordance and went to Galatians 5:16, “…Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” I then went to Romans 6:12, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.”
Joyce talks about not receiving condemnation when we have setbacks or bad days. She says just get back up. Then she talks about a baby and how they fall a lot and get back up. Really, I've been a Christian for thirty years and I’m still a baby? The devil will try hard to stop me from renewing my mind she says, and he knows that his control over me is finished once I've learned to CHOOSE right thoughts and reject wrong ones, and that the enemy uses discouragement and condemnation to keep me on the ground. Yes, I’ve experienced this many times. I do not receive condemnation, but I do receive from the Lord that He wants me to change my thoughts so that my actions will follow, so that I do not walk in my flesh, but in His Spirit. My thoughts start my choices I make each day. Either I choose to walk in the flesh, or I choose to walk in the Spirit. I have allowed the discouraging and condemning thoughts to take over many times, and it’s thrown me to the ground, but I’m learning little by little that I must choose right thinking to stay in the place God wants me. So right now this very minute I could listen to the thoughts going through my mind of, “I can’t believe you've been a Christian for thirty years and you still don’t have this down,” or I can choose to think, “Yes, you’re right I have been a Christian for thirty years, and they've been thirty beautiful years. I may not be where I’d like, and I may have made some poor choices, but I've also made some great choices, and through it all, the Lord has strengthened me, blessed me and helped me dust off every time I've fallen. I am a daughter to the King and I know I’m growing. I am NOT the same person I was thirty years ago. I am not perfect and until Jesus comes for me, I will always need work.”
Yes! This is what I choose today. One day at a time. Little by little. My feet will not leave this Rock! There will be victory in me! Thank you Jesus!0 -
... My thoughts start my choices I make each day. Either I choose to walk in the flesh, or I choose to walk in the Spirit. I have allowed the discouraging and condemning thoughts to take over many times, and it’s thrown me to the ground, but I’m learning little by little that I must choose right thinking to stay in the place God wants me. So right now this very minute I could listen to the thoughts going through my mind of, “I can’t believe you've been a Christian for thirty years and you still don’t have this down,” or I can choose to think, “Yes, you’re right I have been a Christian for thirty years, and they've been thirty beautiful years. I may not be where I’d like, and I may have made some poor choices, but I've also made some great choices, and through it all, the Lord has strengthened me, blessed me and helped me dust off every time I've fallen. I am a daughter to the King and I know I’m growing. I am NOT the same person I was thirty years ago. I am not perfect and until Jesus comes for me, I will always need work.”
Yes! This is what I choose today. One day at a time. Little by little. My feet will not leave this Rock! There will be victory in me! Thank you Jesus!
THIS is exactly it! Making those right choices day by day. You are SO right. And I needed to be reminded of that too today, so thank you for posting! I too will always need work, but you are right - I may have made some poor choices, but I've also made some great ones. I loved your words. They are exactly what I needed to read. Today (and every day) I need to make these choices - the choice to think those right thoughts.
Praying you and I will both continue to grow in this fabulous walk with Him - little by little.0
