In Need Of... Fresh Water.

I was reading the book of James tonight.... Some great stuff in there.
I came across some great verses that stuck out to me.

James 3:10-11 - Out of the same mouth proceed blessing an cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?

James is talking about "the tongue". Also known as, "things we say".

I know i have trouble controlling mine on occassion (as many can testify to). I also know i'm not the only one out there with that problem...

James says: With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God (2:9).

Striking the difference, and the hypocrisy. I use my mouth to bless God - the fresh water - and i use it to say mean things about the people He created in His image - the bitter/salt water.

I am ashamed.

As soon as i read that verse i realized how easy it is to do. I realized that, unwittingly, i probably do just that more than once a day. I realized that i probably cut people down more often than i praise God.

I am very ashamed.

I can only pray that God will help me to see what i am thinking to say before i say it... and pray that God will help me control myself........ and eventually...... i will not even think up bad things to say. I take God at His word when He says: ...God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you... (James 4:6-8)

So i draw near.

In Need Of... Instantaneous relief!

I am so excited!!!!! My last blog outlined the dilemma and process of changing, this blog comments on the results!

Today, I was soooooo blessed! God is SO GOOD!

The day did not start as any other. The day started with me handing it over completely to God. Something that i have been neglecting to do in recent times.
This day is God's day. Every day is God's day. Every day, Jesus can move in my life and bring me closer to being the person he wants me to be :o)

I was almost sucked back into my vortex of inferiority, but in that instant, i realized what was happening.... I realized that i was fooling myself or being fooled..... I realized that if i didn't hand over those thoughts and RE-hand over my day, that frustration would continue.

So, on the way to the lunch room, i prayed. Not elaborately, but enough i guess. Considering i was instantaneously relieved of the feelings plaguing me.

Praise God for His goodness... For His ability to show us to ourselves... To teach us how to change... To guide us on the path that leads us into His arms.

Colossians 3:9-10 (NKJV) - ...You have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him that created him...

It's all about knowledge. About learning enough about God to show me my own self.

In Need Of... a POWER source.

A few weeks ago, i started a new job... and a new inferiority complex.

NOT of GOD.

I have been having dreams about doing my job wrong, getting myself all worked up over whether or not i am capable of doing what i've been trained to do.

So i've tried my best to do my best so that i could give glory to God with my actions... And ended up warping what that verse was saying.

NOT of GOD.

I have been trying on my own strength. Trying to show them that i can do it. And by golly, it is NOT WORKING. I feel like i'm being examined under a microscope by almost every person i work with and i am found lacking.

NOT OF GOD!!!!!

SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE. This is all wrong. I should not be operating on my own power.
Jesus is NOT just a backup battery. He is the POWER SOURCE. Better than the sun in the solar panels, the uranium in the nuclear reactor, the water in the niagara falls.........
I should be drawing my strength from Him, leaning on Him, KNOWING that i can't do it without Him.

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

It should be Christ shining through me, working through me, building relationships with the people i work with THROUGH me... not through ME.

IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT ME! .... and that takes the pressure off!!!!!

Praise God for showing me that before i ran ragged into a nervous breakdown :o)

I had a lightbulb moment earlier with this verse...

II Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?...

Didn't i know myself?? JESUS IS IN ME.