My wife and I this morning were fellowshipping from the Word of God when we stumbled unto a revelation that was very profound from my wife . We were talking about how people in the body of Christ are so bound and not allowed to express themselves in the things of God in the Church and with that said they leave Church and are off by themselves not wanting anything to do with Church and their programs and agendas. My wife and I were talking about how the children of Israel used to carry the Ark of the Covenant around to different places. It was very important for kings such as David to bring the Ark of God and how the place was always blessed wherever the Ark was residing. In a different angle on this Carmen mentioned which was very profound is how the body of Christ is today, but, instead of God being inside the Ark (BOX) the people or Body of Christ are inside the BOX and God is on the outside. After she had said this I then pictured the Levites representing PRIESTS carrying the Ark (BOX). I then pictured that this to me represented teachers or Pastors today who are preaching doom, gloom and LAW to the body, styfulling believer’s potentials with man made rules and regulations and keeping God on the outside when all the while Father God wants us to fellowship with Him through His Word and revelation of His Son Jesus Christ and the power and person of God the Holy Spirit. God wants His Body to be used and express themselves, ministering to others with the giftings God has blessed them with and not to be kept in a box. God desires us to allow Him to manifest Himself and it’s always done through the Body with the enablinhg power of the Holy Spirit. It seems though that only people who consider themselves leaders are not allowing that and “Church” has become a place of disappointment and frustrations that develop building someone else’s kingdom and not the Kingdom of God. We are here on earth to be a blessing to people and to show ourselves examples of doing the works of Jesus by demonstrating Miracles, Signs and Wonders. People are fed up with this and we hear it said so often that they are just “Burned Out” with Religion and man made programs.
Archive for March, 2010
People are in a BOX
Sunday, March 28th, 2010
A Sufferer’s Prayer
Friday, March 26th, 2010O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.
- St. Ignatius of Loyola 1491-1556
Founder of Jesuits
God repeating Himself—again
Thursday, March 25th, 2010God uses our trials to mold and shape us into His image. The more molding and shaping goes on, the worse it hurts. We go through shaping seasons, which sometimes seem as though they will last forever. This season I’m in is 3 years now.
I just went up to Arkansas for a few days, to help my sister-in-law, who is battling breast and colon cancer. My brother drives a truck, and is away from home a lot. It’s a 9 hour drive up there, and I always hated traveling alone. However, the trip provides plenty of time to talk to God. I asked Him to use me to provide comfort and help on that trip.
Sitting with Carol in the hospital, seeing how sick she was from the chemo, praying for her to be healed, brought back sad memories of my husband’s last 3 months in hospital before he died from the cancer. Sitting there with her, trying to be encouraging and cheerful, trying to hide the way I felt was a challenge. Finding her favorite little Shihtzu, which got out and was attacked by the big farm dogs, when I went back to their house one night, cleaning her up, and then her later dying before we could get her into the vet was also difficult. They don’t have 24 hour vets out in the country. I hurt so bad for Carol and my brother, and the whole situation that week, with her being so sick, and her dear little pet being killed. I wondered if my being there was any help at all.
I drove home after 4 days, feeling horribly depressed. After yet another week of no responses to my job applications, no changes in our difficult family circumstances, and all the sad troubles there in Ark, hopelessness for the future was creeping in on me again. That is my biggest struggle, that’s where satan always fires his darts at me first. That is exactly why we need THE WORD every day to strenthen and renew us. If life is beating the hec out of us, and we don’t get our daily “WORD NOURISHMENT”, we start to fail and get weak. I was definitely going through church withdrawal, and WORD withdrawal. WEAK. I started questioning again “God, why am I here? What is my purpose? Where is my path? Why can’t I see any direction ahead of me, why is there no peace, no place, no provision? Where do I belong? Why didn’t you just call me home when you called James home? This planet is an awful place, and I really don’t want to be here. There is just too much misery in watching loved ones suffer, and nothing ever going right!”
When I got home that evening, I went right to bed, exhausted. I was rudely awoken in the morning by my daughter demanding that I hurry up and take her to work, that she was going to be late. I pursed my lips to keep from exploding, and drove her to work, with her nagging the whole way.
On the way home, I stopped at my little “second hand” place where I like to buy used books. I can’t afford to “shop” retail anymore, with no job, but occasionally I stop there, knowing that I won’t spend over a dollar or two, to get my “shopping fix”. I have figured out many inventive ways to economize. I can squeeze a nickel until he gags and turns blue.
Digging through the heap, I found a little book by my favorite minister, Charles Stanley, “How to Listen to God”. What a wonderful find! I bought it for 50 cents. When I got home, I noticed a tassel hanging out of it. I pulled out a beautiful bookmark, with dried flowers worked into it. The bookmark contained a Bible Verse. It is the same “promise verse” that God seems to have been throwing my way every few days, in various ways, ever since New Years. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope”. Jer 29:11.
Isn’t that funny — just that morning in the car, again, asking God “WHY AM I HERE?” He’s very patient. He just keeps telling me over and over “I have plans for you. Trust me.” Ahhhh. Trust his heart when we can’t trust his hand. Maybe one day….if I live long enough….I can tune my spiritual radio into the “God Frequency” and keep it parked there. I’m not there yet….but working toward it.
Timely Words
Thursday, March 25th, 2010So, Coll, I just wanted to let you know that the ‘suffering theme’ all over DBM this week has been a direct message from Him to me. I’ve been struggling the last couple of days, stressing over the fact that I have a treatment scheduled for Monday, and feeling like a big baby because I can’t help dreading it. Comparatively speaking, a couple of days of discomfort is nothing but I found myself hitting a wall the other day and thinking, Oh, God, I just don’t want to do this again. I needed to be reminded that I haven’t taken a single step down this road on my own and that won’t change. So, while it’s okay that I’m not anticipating the next week, I don’t have to fear it.
Love you and love the site. It’s like God’s party line.
When I Look At You
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
This week we’ve been THINKing about suffering. Last night as I watched American Idol, guest performer Miley Cyrus sang this song and it flowed right into our discussion. I had some serious God time as I listened. I know that probably sounds corny, but spontaneous appreciation for God gets the better of me at the weirdest times. I think that’s the way worship is supposed to be. It’s so real when it sneaks up on me like that. Nothing contrived or manipulated, just God awareness, pure and simple.
Anyway, the words of Miley’s song describe a truth that is so important.
When you’re suffering, don’t run away from God.
LOOK AT GOD.
He will help.
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1
Let It Grow
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010I’ve had my share of “darn, I broke my nail” kind of weeks. In my opinion, I’ve also had more than my share of “hit in the gut with a baseball bat” periods of time. Man, I want to give up sometimes. Living on this planet can suck the wind out of me. When strong suffering comes, my inclination is to find a quiet, dark place to hide. I don’t want to talk to people. I don’t want to live up to anyone’s expectations. After all, who will benefit from “follow me, we can all stay in bed and pull the covers over our heads”.
When I’m treading water in the deep end like this, one of the things I appreciate about God is His availability. During difficult times, no matter what He has on His schedule, it’s pushed aside whenever I come into the Throne Room for help. Recently, when I burst in, here’s how He responded.
God reminded me of this scene from a Hollywood movie. In the middle of my stuggle I could feel His eyes looking into mine and His voice ringing out strong and clear. “Colleen, no matter what you’re facing, it’s essential to keep the right attitude and not give up. I AM with you, and I’ll coach you all the way through it. You can do it! I’ll bring you through”.
James said this about suffering and struggle: when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 NLT
The persective that suffering can be redemptive is powerful. I have a decision to make in dark times. Is it “no” or is it “grow”? Do I shrink back and shrival into a bitter, walled off person? Or do I choose to forge ahead believing “this too shall pass, and I’ll stand firmer for it”? I hear the Holy Spirit’s voice during those times. Keep going Colleen. Give me your best. Don’t quit. You can do it. I’ll never leave you! Together, we’ve got what it takes.
Divine partnership is an amazing thing.
Alright God. Can you help me put one foot in front of the other?
OK OK, I’m going. Or should I say “I’m GROWING”.
Blog-Wise Wednesday.3
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
It’s Wednesday here at C Note’s, the day I link to a guest post that I believe will challenge you in a good way. Let’s grow wise together.
This week I’ve chosen a short entry that holds hands with our THINK question this week. I’m highlighting Hold On There! Nobody told me… from 37stories – GodSpots, a great blog by Archie Rhimes. Check it out and let us know what you come away with.
In Archie’s own words he is ”a believing Husband, Father, CEO, President, Research scientist, Physicist, Entreprenuer, Business owner, Software designer, Webmaster, Professional writer, Blogger, Consultant and Janitor.
It is the desire of my heart that God be Lord of my life. Life’s experiences have killed the old man and God is building a new creation in me. I look forward to experiencing the new man God creates in the old vessel known as Archie via “God Spots”.
