Tag Archive | Significant Encounters

Friendship, Praise and Worship

May13

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I’ve been going through some old writings.

Pre-blogger days.

Interesting thoughts.

Pretty sure that I am not alone in wondering how we can know these things for so long,

and yet still struggle with them.

Can any one relate?

The following is pretty much un-edited.

Comments?

Small group teaching.

Originally written in 1997.

Friendship, Praise and Worship

In order to be able to have true praise and worship, you must first have a relationship, a relationship of the highest calling. Does it seem impossible that the God of the universe wants us to have a relationship with Him? Webster’s dictionary says relationship means to be of the same family. The same family!!! The same family with God!!!

It also says relationship is a connection, s in a thought. Did you know that God wants our thoughts to be His thoughts? How is this possible? God is holy. God is perfect. God’s word says He wants us to renew our thoughts. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)²²You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

When we allow (when you allow something, it takes effort) i.e. our thoughts to be renewed, we are building a relationship with God. Think of some people in your life that you have relationship with. Are they good ones? Some are, some are not.

Let’s talk about the good ones first. How do you become friends with someone? You might go where they go or do an activity with them. You must speak right? If you were in a group of folks and never said anything how would you get to know them? How could they find out about you?

Everyone find a partner. (This partner should be someone you don’t know well, or aren’t friends with) ((Bloggers ~ please remember this was a small group setting.)) Move if you have to, it’s ok. Now I want you to look at your partner, and think of the most wonderful thing that has ever happened in your life, without saying a word! Do they know what your thought is? How could they? Now, one at a time, I want you to tell them your thought, out loud. Good for you. You just started a relationship. WOW! Was that easy or what? I don’t mean you have to chatter on and on like some folks that we know, just be open with your feelings.

There are two things we must do to build that relationship with God.

#1 is to read His Word. Now God can and does speak to people, it’s just not the norm. So He sent is Word to tell us all about what He thinks. It’s all there guys. Anything you want to know. But how can we know if we don’t read it?

#2 Is to spend time with Him every day. The Word says to pray without ceasing. Psalm 55:17 (NIV)Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. (One gets the idea David was in a bad mood). This prayer builds the relationship. Webster’s says is to talk to God in worship or to ask for something. Why not ask God for wisdom? Wisdom on how to build this relationship! He would love to tell you. How do I know? I asked him!

Let’s read Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

. If you are talking to your friend you might say, “Well Violet, you handled that problem with the children well. You sure should work with them more.” What did Violet do? She helped the kids. You just let her know that you noticed, and at the same time encouraged her to further use her gifts. The same prayer to God might go like this, “God thank you for letting Violet help those kids today. Bless her God. Help her to use her gifts for your glory. Please show me where my gifts are God, I want to be used by you.” Do you know what you just did? You praised God for Violet, you blessed Violet with your mouth and you asked for wisdom. Not too tough eh?

Let the relationship begin! Once this relationship has begun, you will begin to know the God you are friends with.

Now you can begin to praise Him. Psalm 150:6 (NIV)Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.Praise the Lord. Webster says that praise is to say good things about, or words that show approval. We can show approval of God by thanking Him for what we have. Thank Him for friends, family, food, shelter, transportation; virtually everything we have is a gift from God. We also need to thank Him for sending His Son to die for our sins, sins too black to mention. But Jesus cleaned them up on the cross.

The trick is to b grateful for what He has given us and not crank about what we don’t have. This is where it gets tough, but by His power we can do it. Praise = Thanks.

Next is worship, showing great love admiration or reverence for God. I like to refer to it as a state of awe. Ah…………… I used to think that going to heaven and standing around all the time singing holy, holy, holy would be boring. (Boring means dull and uninteresting) But ah…….., was I ever wrong. It is peaceful here. Sitting on my Daddy’s lap and adoring Him. Letting His peace flow over me like a flood. Letting it get down to my insides. Being quiet and letting Him fill every corner of myself with His love. Being at peace is being free from war and fighting. We are safe sitting on Daddy’s lap. (This is the best!)

Growing up in my family, the daddy was pretty bad, and then he wasn’t even there anymore. He left us. I thought if God was like a daddy then I didn’t need anything from Him. I know many of you had the same experience. Believe me, if you think you don’t need Him, you couldn’t be further from the truth. God says He will never leave or forsake you. Even if your daddy was great, your Heavenly Father is better. Who do you think taught your daddy to be one? Your Heavenly Father knew you before time began. Before time began folks. Imagine. He knows what you need. (What do you need? Do you have something in mind?) Think of yourself sitting on His lap, and Him giving you every good thing. He loves you and wants the best for you!

The Word in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. See? It tells us to pray without ceasing. I believe this prayer is a combination of praise, worship and prayer.

You can do this daily, grow in the wisdom of God, and build relationship with Him.

I double dog dare you to try this for a month.

If God has not shown Himself to you, feel free to stop.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Grief Choices #1

Dec23

The process that has been working in my heart concerns making quality decisions.

Not the kind of decisions like New Year’s resolutions, which are gone in two weeks, leaving behind shame and guilt, but the kind of decisions that stick. The kind of decisions that can change an entire lifetime.

Proverbs 4:23 in the English Revised Version says – Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.

When making these choices, there is a knowing that there will no doubt be some sort failure ahead, but with these types of choices, we are determined to assess where we went wrong, and begin again.

These kinds of choices lead us to be more like our Father in Heaven, and to have the type of fullness in our lives that God intended for us from the beginning.

Excerpt from Joshua 24:15 says choose you this day who you will serve.

I am quite aware that some will believe my approach to be over simplified.

Please know that while I in no way think my process is conclusive, I do believe that it will start the wheels turning for some in the right direction, beginning to help to find the way through any blockages they may be experiencing.

The losses I grieve began early in life, and ran through childhood to adulthood, in relationships, emotions, lifestyle and finances.

These losses led to a deep sadness of heart, and a long journey seeking wrong ways to fulfill the sadness inside. They also led to a poverty spirit.

The poverty spirit says “That’s just the way it is, get used to it”. That’s the spirit that prevailed over most of my life.

This is so opposite of the purpose that God had stated for my life from the beginning.

Psalm 139:14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Jeremiah 29:11 says – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

With that said, I want to share two choices here that got my wheels turning;

I CHOOSE to let the losses in my life mature me into understanding the grace that God has for me.*

James 1:2-4 (NIV1984) consider it pure joy, my brothers; whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

*I CHOOSE to have joy. To allow God to raise my capacity for it – so that it can be shared. I choose to believe His word that says that joy comes in the morning. That joy will help me to regain any strength I have lost in the grieving process.

Psalm 30:5 (NKJV) For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Colossians 1:10-12(KJV) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Scripture tells us something about Mary when she knew that she would give birth to the Savior of the world. Here is what it says; In Luke 2:19 – But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Won’t you ponder these things in your heart with me until next time?

Fearfully and wonderfully made

No Through Traffic

Dec16

I pray that you and yours will have the merriest of Christmas’.

I pray that each and every tense moment;

you will be able to quiet yourself in Him,

and show His glory. After all, He IS the reason we sing!

road-block

God has been helping me to identify correctly something that has been blocking my path for quite some time.

The problem is that there are times that we are being blocked; We may not know it. We may not see it. Or there are always times, we do see it, but we do not recognize what it is.

I found myself in the latter category.

When we ask God to clean out the corners of our insides, He is of course faithful to do it.

The topic He brought to my attention could not have been any more appropriate for where I find myself today.

I think that there are some things we could learn at any time, but God saves these lessons for us, so that the maximum impact can be made. The truth of that impact is not then lost in the business of everyday life.

I do not believe in coincidence. Only God encounters. Encounters that change our lives at the exact moment the change is needed. Significant Encounters.

Over time, if you will allow me to, I would like to share my process with you.

The topic that has been a blockage is grief…… See I told you, appropriate right?

Up until now I have only considered grief as in the death of a loved one.

I believe God has chosen now to help me to realize that grief can be brought about in many ways, not just loss of life. Grief can come in the form of the loss of a job, loss of relationship, loss of health, divorce or other changes in long time family structure, changes in lifestyle, whether intentional or not. It is even possible to grieve for loss of childhood or loss of whatever one did not receive as a child. Not stuff mind you, but love, attention, emotional, physical or spiritual support, the things that could and probably would have raised your potential.

My story is both long and dark, but my Father in Heaven is both Big and Bright. He shined a spotlight, on many, many of things blocking my path

Journal excerpt; Loss produces grief. God gives grace for that season, but when that season is finished, if we do not move away from grief, it saps our strength – Shock, denial, bargaining, depression, anger, guilt, confusion must give way to →hope, and acceptance.

Denying these emotions can cause festering and then manifesting in harmful ways = addiction, chronic depression, fits of anger, or physical illness.

*Seasons of guilt incompletely dealt with can turn into STRONGHOLDS of grief.

Grieving that goes on too long robs our strength. The very strength we need to move on to our next season, our season of inheritance.

(I must also cite the book “Possessing Your Inheritance” by Chuck D. Pierce and Rebecca Wagner Systema)

Please ponder these things with me, and next time I will share with you some choices we can all make to get on to the other business God has for us to do.