Hey girls! How's the week? What kind of week are you having so far? All smiles as you bravely forge toward the mountain top, conquering every foe along the way, and finding shelter in your storms, this week, or has your week looked a little different than that? :-) Are you seeking growth in all 4 areas of your life as you consistently apply self-discipline and delay instant gratification for long term character growth? Have you visited your knowing place, inviting the Lord to join you, as you make those important decisions? How is practicing "being present" in your moments growing your relationships? Oh and those pesky thorns in the flesh with which you battle - are you allowing God's grace to be your hiding place in those weak areas? Hopefully,it's been the kind of week where mere religious duty has been kept at bay as you focus on your relationship with God? Did you take yourself to boot camp and do an overhaul or have you just made some quick cardio runs to the cleansing closet? Has it just been a glorious week of overcoming at every turn? If so, you probably don't want to read this blog, today! :-D lol!
Can I just let my hair down and open my heart with you here, today? I hope this doesn't come as a shock or disappointment to you but I don't always feel on top of the world, inspired and motivated! :-0 No, for real! In fact, I have had a couple of crummy days of being in the heat of battle and not feeling particularly inspired! Now, I know God put a desire deep within my heart to write, to speak and to share with other women the hope I have found, even during the darkest days in my life! There is joy, rest and peace for the hurting andburdened! I have that full confidence! Having established that, I have to believe that means I must also be open to sharing on the difficult days, too.
God's grace is truly sufficient and I have experienced his strength in my weakness too many times to count. I have been carried through numerous trials, only by his goodness and grace. It's also true that I have my moments, hours, even days, when I struggle with all the same things you do! I have lonely days, angry days, questioning days, painful days, sad days, fearful days, doubting days...you name it. After all, I am human and, moreover, I am woman! In it all, I find comfort with the Psalmist,
Psalm 73:23 "Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory."
That is good news, indeed. There is another passage richer, still.
It is one of the most telling passages in the Bible and is found in Hebrews 11. I strongly urge you to read the entire chapter! It defies all that the prosperity teachers are feeding the masses, today. Don't take my word for it...see for yourself how some of the heros of the faith lived out their lives and the commendation God gave them.
Heb. 11: "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again." All sounds peachy, huh? Read on! "Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them."
Ladies, all of these - and all of we's - if we are truly followers of Jesus Christ, are included here, in this list of the faithful. The list just continues on in the book of life. What does your story look like? Your legacy? What about mine? I'm sure glad God has that big erasor where he blots out all of our sins when we come to him with our whole heart and he gives us a new one. Otherwise, i wouldn't stand a chance of even getting in the servant's quarters! Some in this passage were great conquerors and some were tortured and starved for their faith. It concludes by telling us that the world was not worthy of any of them. I feel the weight of my shortcomings to live out the depth of faith that springs forth in true believers when there is persecution involved and of which we know little in America, today. Our "persecution" comes in another form - a life of ease and being lulled into a spiritual sleep, I believe, but that's for another time! Most days I'm not shutting the mouths of lions - I'm too busy trying to keep MINE shut! Nor am I being being persecuted for my faith. I'm struggling just to walk as a Christian, in battling my own weaknesses, and in wanting God's light to shine in my relationships and draw others to him.
If your week has been less than inspiring and you need to be refreshed, know that you are not alone and share your heart with a friend who will pray for or with you. Keep moving ahead in faith when the warm and fuzzy feelings aren't there. God will bless you in it! Pray for me as I do for you.
"Blessed are they who have not seen and yet, believe." Jesus
Still Climbing,
Cher
