I have been doing a lot of soul searching the last two weeks and have not found all the answers I am seeking but have come upon some thoughts I’d like to share. The first one is founded around the word consume.
CONSUME. To Consume: to do away with completely; to spend wastefully; to eat or drink especially in great quantity; to engage fully.
Consume can be either good or bad depending on how we look at it. If we let a situation consume us to the point where we are no good to anyone, including ourselves, we are consumed badly. I have allowed my circumstances the last several weeks consume me and rob me of my joy, this is a horrible way to be consumed and yet I have allowed it to happen. I know it is ok to grieve and be sad but I must not allow it to consume my every moment. God gives us grace to make it through so I need to keep my eyes focused on Him. Are you being consumed by something and allowing it to take your joy?
So, what is consumed in a good or beneficial way? In Psalms, David writes, "Zeal for Your house will consume me." God is referred to as an all consuming fire. It we allow ourselves to be consumed by the fire of God, we will put away things that separate us from Him and others. By doing this we allow Him to use and transform us into His likeness. By becoming more like Him, our lives will be changed along with the lives of those around us.
Allow God to CONSUME you, not the things that will keep you down.
Be CONSUMED and Transformed.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Chase the Lion - Week 5
Embrace – to take up especially or gladly
Uncertainty – the quality or state of doubt and skepticism
Is uncertainty a quality that makes life better or worth living? I think so, uncertainty in life allows faith to enter giving you a great life, well not boring.
As long as you have spiritual certainty you can face circumstantial uncertainties. As long as you have a relationship with God, there is nothing you can’t handle.
Oswald Chambers said it best: “To be certain of God is to be uncertain in all our ways. You never know what a day may bring. This is generally said with a sign of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.”
Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
God asks us to give up our certainties to follow Him. What certainties do you need to give up?
God has plans for our lives, it is not up to us to know them but to trust Him!
Uncertainty – the quality or state of doubt and skepticism
Is uncertainty a quality that makes life better or worth living? I think so, uncertainty in life allows faith to enter giving you a great life, well not boring.
As long as you have spiritual certainty you can face circumstantial uncertainties. As long as you have a relationship with God, there is nothing you can’t handle.
Oswald Chambers said it best: “To be certain of God is to be uncertain in all our ways. You never know what a day may bring. This is generally said with a sign of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.”
Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
God asks us to give up our certainties to follow Him. What certainties do you need to give up?
God has plans for our lives, it is not up to us to know them but to trust Him!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Chase the Lion - week 4
Reframe - to recondition a mental attitude or outlook
Problem - a source of perplexity, distress or vexation
Who you become is not determined by your circumstances, but by your outlook.
We may not be able to change our circumstances but we can change how we view them.
“If you want to see yourself the way God sees you, you need to look through the frame of Scripture. If you don’t, you’ll have identity issues.”
Philippians 1:29
”For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him..”
God grants us the favor of suffering for Him…This is a hard passage for me to swallow. However, it helps me reframe my circumstances.
Here are a few of the verses that came up last night:
James 1:26
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”
James 1:19-20
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 3:14-16
14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
We all agreed that we liked the statement: “I may not want to write it, you may not want to read it, but God uses adversity to expand our capacity to serve Him.”
I challenge you to reframe any problems you have with scripture. Remember the adage NO PAIN, NO GAIN. Try this spiritualized version: NO ADVERSITY, NO OPPORTUNITY; KNOW ADVERSITY, KNOW OPPORUTNITY.
Problem - a source of perplexity, distress or vexation
Who you become is not determined by your circumstances, but by your outlook.
We may not be able to change our circumstances but we can change how we view them.
“If you want to see yourself the way God sees you, you need to look through the frame of Scripture. If you don’t, you’ll have identity issues.”
Philippians 1:29
”For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him..”
God grants us the favor of suffering for Him…This is a hard passage for me to swallow. However, it helps me reframe my circumstances.
Here are a few of the verses that came up last night:
James 1:26
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”
James 1:19-20
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 3:14-16
14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
We all agreed that we liked the statement: “I may not want to write it, you may not want to read it, but God uses adversity to expand our capacity to serve Him.”
I challenge you to reframe any problems you have with scripture. Remember the adage NO PAIN, NO GAIN. Try this spiritualized version: NO ADVERSITY, NO OPPORTUNITY; KNOW ADVERSITY, KNOW OPPORUTNITY.
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