Not my will

Everyday we are faced with desires and sometimes those take us to places we don't' want to go. I'm talking from desire to anger to regret. Even the questions we want answers to, but don't get them. "Things don't make sense" statements or "why is this happening". How come I'm not here or there feelings. We kind of "plan" our lives with expectations of acquiring things, positions and even relationships in our "approved" timing. Living for God takes on a whole new life, one that is not our own. But He as a father and God is the one who directs our paths. As little children our parents told us when to go to bed, get up, go here or there and do many other things, not to hurt us but for the betterment of our lives and those around us. How many remember or do this as parents themselves; explain why your child is going to bed at this "time", every time you send them to bed. The simple things in life can explain deep things in Christ. We are not our own, we are bought with a price. God is our father and if He said to do this, as a father He has every right to make that decision in our "His children" lives. We as adults may forget this and some of our frustrations is from trying to do things on our own. He isn't commanding us as a dictator does, but guiding us as a loving, caring Father. Unlike our human fathers, God doesn't make mistakes and His counsel is always right.
I know that there are life altering situations that bring up those questions of why. Sicknesses, deaths or disablement's that change our life forever. These are hard to face and deal with at times. But they are not fully unexplained. But do you trust God? If He never explains why, will you still trust Him?

Do you as a parent, friend or family member always explain why you do the things you do? I respond or act certain ways because I know that if I do, it'll help a person. I don't always explain why, I just do it. I also do things that will provoke people to act. Sometimes in a joking matter or sometimes because I know if they don't get pushed they wont achieve. My intent isn't to hurt, but to help. Sometimes this cost me something personally. But isn't that what love does?

God stepped down into a body to not only make atonement with His people, but to show them or explain to them, the "Why".

Read Mathew 5, and see how God explains the OT meanings of why they couldn't do something. There was always something deeper behind the commandment.

[Mat 5:21-22 KJV Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.] The commandment was to not kill, but God went on to explain it was a matter behind it. One to really look into the heart. If you control your heart (hatred, envy, jealousy etc) you wont produce murder.

You tell your child to go to bed. You know that they child needs sleep for good health, better attitude, better thinking, energy, and so on. But you give the commandment "go to bed". And what does your child do? Resist because lack of understanding, desire to stay up and do, do, and do like an adult is there. Can you see yourself with God, doing the same thing.

God always has multiply reasons for doing or directing us into paths me may or may not understand. But His ways are right, good and have benefits beyond our comprehension.
Jesus knew He was headed to the cross. He knew the beating was coming, the persecution was moments away and He went to prayer. He is our example. And we know that not only did He endure the cross, but by His stripes we are healed, by His blood we are redeemed. He paid for our sins, He lead the way to victory and He raised out of the grave in a new body. On and on this one path direction cause things that are good for so many.

[Luk 22:42 KJV Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.]

 Jesus showed that He looked beyond cross (Heb 12:2) to the harvest of obeying God's will over our desires.
It's hard to do because it's against our nature, but during those questioning times we really need to say "not my will Lord, thine be done" and trust our heavenly Father.

Submitted by: Tina Marie

The Strength of Your Weakness

"Growth begins when we begin to accept our own weakness." -Jean Vanier


In 2 Corinthians chapter 12, the Apostle Paul says, "For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Though he was continually buffeted by his 'weakness', he understood the power of this weakness in his life. When we get too haughty, which is easy for this nature to rise up and do, we are more apt to forget God, or worse yet, we begin to think we are God and act in the stead of God. We can raise ourselves up above God, make ourselves God, and think what we think and do, IS the will of God. Is this not what the Apostle Paul did with his knowledge concerning the law? He used it to kill One God Apostolics and consented unto their deaths! This picture of the Apostle Paul represents a clear picture of all of us. Proud, haughty, and arrogant at times, and when we get this way, we are sure to raise ourselves up higher than needed and beyond the truth of our abilities.

You may be wondering...'what does this have to do with changing our lifestyle?' Well, I think it has everything to do with it. There is no doubt, some of us may have already experienced 'weakness' of the flesh. The past has definitely come back in all it's glory to haunt you and intimidate you! But herein lies the victory, if you will be willing to recognize it! The more we understand our weaknesses, the more we will understand our need for God! We are in desperate need of a Savior! If we will truly come clean, not one of us can make the changes necessary without the anointing power of an Almighty God. I am not talking about momentary changes here. I am talking about a change of LIFE that can only transpire when God touches the human heart and the only way such a change can happen is when we humble ourselves and admit we are weak without Him. King David said, "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God." (Psalm 40:16-17) What? Poor and needy? If King David were rich in material wealth, how could he be poor and needy? It is because he wasn't talking about material possessions, he was talking about his spirit and understanding. Maybe this is why God loved David so much. Though he was wealthy and held the position of an earthly king, David knew who was the real King! He knew his weaknesses and understood the fallibility of his thinking. "The strength of a person is often weighed by how they deal with their weaknesses." ~ Nathaniel Summers

Now there may be some who read this blog today and have not felt any assault on their bodies or any mental weakness to compromise. So maybe its just a heads up for future reference when the assault does come your way. As I have said before, over a long period of time to maintain any strength of character, you will be confronted by your weaknesses! And if you do not deal with any of this, well, you just are not human. Either you are not human or you are just too proud to admit you have any weaknesses. Robert Louis Stevenson said, "You cannot run away from weakness; you must some time fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand?" And so with Mr. Stevenson's words in mind, lets not avoid our weakness. Let us together to tap into our weaknesses. Lets come clean before God, drop our images, let down our guards, and let God arise in our lives. When our pride falls to ground, our load will be lighter and the Lord will lift us up on His scales of Life. Together we can step into the victory that our weaknesses hold...a closer walk with the Lord.

Submitted by : Elder David Green

Losing Conviction

You have likely heard the saying "familiarity breeds contempt", which means:

• A. The better we know people, the more likely we are to find fault with them. 
• B. If you know someone very well or experience something a lot, you stop respecting them.
• C. The more you know something or someone, the more you start to find faults and dislike things about it or them.

The story of Jesus returning to His own country; after preforming miracles all over the place, the people responded with great unbelief. They thought they knew Him.
[Mar 6:1-6 KJV And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.]

It's familiarity, they saw Him as a little boy following His mother around. Is this not.. Ever seen anyone make a mistake and you realized they're human. It shocked you. Or you found out something about them, a fault or bad habit, and you lost a little respect for them. But before you became familiar with them, you respected them highly.

Well now think about your habits.
[Rev 2:4 KJV Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.]
How did you lose your first love? Could it be possible that you became familiar with church, the word or the routine of things. How about when you've let something go and nothing seemed to happen. [Ecc 8:11 KJV Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.] It wasn't evil. Think about it, anything that takes you away from God, God calls evil. When the standards your Pastor preaches are slowly let go. When your prayer life went from two times a day to one time maybe once a week. When you find yourself so busy that you're waiting for the service to end verse wishing it would never end.

[Luk 9:62 KJV And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.] You can't back up.

[Mar 12:30 KJV And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.] That's means its the most important, kept fresh daily in relationship in your life.

When you are not feeling conviction over anything or less things, it's time to do some renewing yourself in the Holy Ghost. Convictions are the standards that keep the devil out and God close by. Don't let the familiar routine of daily life direct you back to the pit He pulled you out of. Press into God and recommit to Him. What you'll find is He will not only answer you, but show you how much has been happening (in that you've lost) from those little things that were let go and are now returning.

Start it with prayer.

Submitted by: Tina Marie