In Need Of... the same thing as yesterday!

I just reread the scripture from yesterday... still such a powerful verse on the second day...

You know... each time you read a scripture, God can reveal something new to you! It's like reading a new book every time - provided you come to it with prayer and the right attitude!

But that is such an important promise from God, that He will cleanse your sins by Jesus' blood.
Another great passage with the same message:
Romans 5:12-18 - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned... But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.

God's grace is wonderful. So wonderful it was worth that lengthy explication. I don't think the apostle Paul would have spent so much time talking about God's grace and the death and resurrection of Christ if it were not so important and pivotal in our relationship with God - and for the salvation of our souls....

That passage is a little difficult to understand in its repeat explanations, but read it again and again until it makes sense. It's worth it.

In Need Of... Newness.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - ...If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them...
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

ZAP! You are forgiven.

It's really almost that easy! And soooo wonderful!

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins so that we don't have to suffer eternal punishment. Jesus had no sin, and yet He died the death we deserved.
If we were looking at ourselves from a "worldly point of view (2 Cor. 5:16)" we would see all the mistakes we had done in the past, all the mistakes we are making now, every relationship we'd ruined and all the punishment and consequences that are going to happen for all of that.
When God looks at us as forgiven believers in the risen Christ, He sees His beloved children, righteous people, people whom He wants to call His own. He sees Christ in us. That is far from what we deserve.
He sees us as new creations. Newer than a brand new baby - since we are born as sinful people. The blood that Jesus shed when He died on the cross washes us sparkling new - as God originally intended for man to be, except so much better since we don't deserve it.

It's also wonderful to think that anytime we sin - and all people continue to sin, regardless of their intentions - God will wash us clean again... and again... and again. Until the time comes that you meet Him face to face, He will continue to grant you forgiveness! And continue to renew and renew you...!

Woooooonderful!

In Need Of... A servant attitude.

I have been struggling recently with my attitude. With the way i present myself to others, Christians and non-christians alike. Behaving pridefully and self-righteously. Bad, bad, bad.

I have never consciously fought to overcome this attitude before, but i know with God's help (His love pouring through me) I can become a servant to others. By putting the example of Jesus, and the way He lived as a servant, in front of me, i can learn to humble myself and act the way He would.

Jesus washes the disciples' feet in John 13. This is a very humbling passage for me. Jesus is God and he kneels before sinful men (including Judas Iscariot- who betrayed him) to wash their feet. (And these men, I'm sure, were not foot models.)
At the end of that passage, in John 13:14-17, Jesus says: Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

I think that's pretty straightforward. Kinda says it all...

In Need Of... the good stuff...

You've probably taken those surveys or tests that ask you what your good qualities are... or what things you like best about yourself. If you're anything like me, you hesitate to answer... or you can only think of one thing... Some people can't think of anything they like about themselves.

It can be disappointing and dismaying when you compare those good qualities or virtues to everything you find bad about yourself. There's something or someone talking to us all the time trying to convince us that we're all bad. I tend to call that person Satan. He comes in all different forms. Negative comments or criticisms from immediate family members, friends, or people who are supposed to be your role models. Satan can help create a negative self image through magazines, television and other forms of media. (Did you know that some models don't look so skinny or have great skin before they're "fixed up" by a computer... computer people can do anything with a person's face and body.)

God's primary concern is with those things you can change about yourself. God is not concerned with how big your nose is......... well... honestly, maybe He is? He picked it out for you. And regardless of what you think, He was not out to get you. He thinks you are a wonderful creation formed in His own image.

David says in Psalms 70:5-6 - For You have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on You; You brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.

Regardless of what we think of ourselves, our confidence should be in our Lord. Our creator. The One who created us in His own image and formed us perfectly for the job He has called us to do.

God does not make mistakes, regardless of what your parents called you.

God loves all of His creation. And He rejoices when they come to Him and offer their lives to Him.

God loves you. Regardless of whether you love yourself or not.

You are important to Him.

In Need Of... Obedience.

There are many things that we can give to God... and there are many things that we can give up for God...

But what does God really want?

Does He want your money? Your talent? Your family? Your time?

Samuel offers this:
"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..." (I Samuel 15:22)

God wants obedience above all.

God desires for us to obey Him. And that's what it all comes down to.
We can lead perfect lives if we obey His word, if we listen to His voice.

Look at Abraham... (Genesis 22:1-18)

God gave Abraham a son, and his name was Isaac. This son was to be the heir of Abraham.
At one point, God told Abraham to take his son up a hill and sacrifice him.
Abraham obeyed.
God provided.
Isaac lived.
Abraham was blessed by God.

God provided Abraham with a ram to sacrifice in Isaac's place.

God did not really want Isaac to be sacrificed. He wanted to ensure that Abraham was in complete obedience to His voice. He wanted to make sure that Abraham loved Him more than anything else in the world. So that He could give Abraham the honour of being the ancestor of God's chosen people.

When Abraham listened, without understanding... God provided. God will never lead you where He cannot keep you. God doesn't want to take your life, He wants to give you better life... and the best life you could have is when you follow His leading, and take heed to His Word.

In Need Of... A summary.

So... that wraps up my Kiddie Song blog series ;o) It was more fun than i expected... haha!

And really.... By doing this series, i figured out just how much all of these things were inter-related.

John 15:9-11 says "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

Interesting that Jesus says Himself that your joy hinges on the love you have for other people.

And the thing is... If you have the Father's love, that also brings peace to you!
Really.... I think it all boils down to love! If you have love, and you seek to follow God, and choose to be like Jesus, you can have all your heart needs to be healthy!

Love=joy
Love=peace

Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Need Of... ((~~Love Like An Ocean~~))

You know I like to look things up in the dictionary... And if you didn't before, know it now ;o)

OCEAN: The entire body of salt water that covers more than 70 percent of the earth's surface.

I never would have said that. But that's pretty cool if you ask me! The ocean covers more are than land does on earth. (Why then, do they call it earth if there is so much more water?)

That's some pretty big love.

And because it's so big, i've sorta been avoiding talking about it.....

There are so many different aspects of love, and kinds of love and ways to express love that I might just put together a list of books for you to browse and learn about love for yourself!

The same could be said for the ocean... And i don't think we've scoured those depths to the best extent yet... I'm sure we'll be able to find more if we dig (swim?) deeper....

God's love is the best kind of love, though..... He has amazing plans for us (Jer. 29:11), He does amazing things for us, He comforts us, and He never leaves us (John 15:26).

Seriously a huge topic for discussion... I'll try to put together that list of books... Let me know if you think of any good ones?

In Need Of... }}>~ Joy Like A Fountain ~<{{

Alright.... This is not quite as hard to understand as those elusive peaces and rivers...

Joy like a fountain....

If i think about those times when i'm joyful, i feel like a fountain :o) Sometimes i feel as though laughter is just going to bubble up and out of me... It's a great feeling!

But it's the same as rivers.... Fountains CAN be stopped. They can be plugged or blocked.

And, just like with rivers, we have to make sure we don't let our fountain stop flowing... Let that joy keep coming!

Being joyful doesn't mean you have to be happy all the time... It doesn't mean you should feel like laughing when someone tells you their best friend just died... It doesn't mean you should only think pleasant thoughts.

Psalms 51:10-12 - Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation...

The deepest joy comes from knowing that you have that salvation; that you are a child of God. That's really the most important thing.

All the meaning in my life is based on the fact that God is my heavenly Father and He has accepted me as His own. I may not know where my life is headed, and bad things may happen, but God has control over my life and He has a perfect plan. And when i die, i'm going to heaven. That makes me joyful.
Even when i'm unhappy, i still know that i'm loved and cared for by the Creator of the universe. I know that Jesus died on the cross for me because He loved me that much. It makes me sad that i'm a sinful creature and that His death was necessary... But it makes me glad that i can now come to Him with all my needs and, eventually, be with Him for eternity.

Don't let anyone stop that joy. -- (I'm getting a picture from a cartoon.... There's a dam that's about to burst and the character is putting each finger into a hole and then starts using his toes and then someone starts tickling him and he lets go and the whole dam bursts apart.... *lol*)

In Need Of... ~~~ Peace Like A River ~~~

We all need a little peace of mind... But peace like a river? How do you figure?

This is my attempt to understand the metaphor "peace like a river".

Isaiah 48:17-18 - Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

So... That's where the simile comes from. Now what does it mean?

As usual, i'm going to take a quote from the dictionary ;o)

RIVER: A large natural stream of water emptying into an ocean, lake, or other body of water and usually fed along its course by converging tributaries.

So... if river=peace, then we can say... Peace is fed by something (ex. a tributary) and empties into something (ex. a lake).

I'm going to say that God is the tributary... He provides us with the peace, He's the stream or spring that feeds the river. Our job is to be the lake, and collect the stream... Be a holding tank for the peace that we receive.

You'll also notice that it says "natural" in that definition. Peace is not a man-made phenomenon. Yes... people can build canals and dams and reroute water... People are also fallible. I've heard of dams breaking and causing catastrophes and canals that redirect so much water that parts of land become arid and incapable of growing anything.
God is the only One who is capable of providing peace.
It's also natural in that people are supposed to be peaceful. It's the way we were made. Looking back to Adam and Eve, they were in a peaceful garden. That's the peaceful existence we were meant to live. That's natural.

I have seen people build dams... Blocking out their source of peace; knowingly or not. Dams made of fear, doubt, unhappiness, cynicism. All of these things can prevent our lives from being peaceful. I challenge you to tear down some of those dams and watch the river flow. :o)

God does NOT want you to live in uncertainty and unrest. He wants you to be in your natural state, the way He created you. As Jesus said,
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The world cannot provide you with that peace and Satan is doing his best to steal your peace away... Be on your guard that no dams are being built on your river of peace!

In Need Of... A kiddie's song!!

And so begins a series based on the popular Sunday School song... (and there are actions, too!)

I've got peace like a river,
I've got joy like a fountain,
I've got love like an ocean in my soul (sole ;o)........

Great song... it's a little more lengthy than that, but i decided to just use the last verse to give the overall impression of the song.... Definitely worth learning... If only because the actions are so fun!

In Need Of... A Love that's stronger than life.

I was reading Romans and this verse caught my attention.... Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (KJV)"

Those are some powerful and potent things: life, death, power, angels..... But think.... the Love of God is bigger than any of those things! God will still be here and loving me through all my life, and death is no match for His awesome Love. They can't stop Him.

That passage reminds me of a psalm........
Psalm 139:7-11-
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

I'd suggest reading that whole chapter.... It's amazing the things that God has done and the way He Loves us... It's hard to remember all the things He's done..... That chapter only enumerates a few..... But just look around yourself at all you have and seeeeee that God Loves you! Even when some things aren't going right.... Even when you can't afford to buy groceries for a month.... God provides, He won't stop loving you. No powers, not life, not death can keep Him from loving you.

No matter what i do, or where i go, like the psalm says, He won't leave me. He won't stop loving me............
Nothing can separate me from God and His great love.... not even ME.

In Need Of... Brilliance.

Brilliance:
1. The state or quality of being brilliant, as:
a. Extreme brightness.
b. Exceptional clarity and agility of intellect or invention.
2. Splendor; magnificence.
3. Music. Sharpness and clarity of tone.

(Yeah.. i love definitions, especially when it's a word everyone knows ;o)

Think of something u think is brilliant.... A diamond? A river when the sun hits it just right?..... U tell me :o)

When i think of something brilliant, i think of stars :o)

Have you ever looked outside in the middle of the night? Or when the sun is setting, or rising? Some of those stars are seriously brilliant! And really twinkly! I feel sorry for people who live in the city and never get to see them!

In Revelation 22:16, Jesus calls Himself "the Bright and Morning Star." Jesus says in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

And we know that as Christians, we are called to be like Christ. We are called to be lights, too

Matthew 5:14-16 says You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

I Thessalonians 5:5 - You are all sons of light...

Ephesians 5:8 - For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light...

While Jesus is within me, I am supposed to shine like Him. I am supposed to emit the same light He did and still does.

It's like that song by DC Talk (a little old/outdated, but you probly know of it) "I wanna be in the light as You are in the light/ I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens..."

Or... a little older.....

I John 1:5-7 - This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

That's enough to make a person brilliant :o)

In Need Of... Abundance!

Sheep. They produce wool. They go "baa"..... Who cares?

I do.

I want to be a sheep..... Jesus describes himself as the shepherd... Who wouldn't want to be a sheep when it means u have someone watching over you as good and loving as Jesus?
He says in John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."
Jesus will protect you, guide you, shelter you.... Make sure you have enough to eat and drink.... Ensure that you are healthy and productive each day! Life so good! Love so great! Protection so strong! He gave up His life to make sure that YOURS was saved!

Why would we follow this Good Shepherd (in case you haven't figured it out yet)?

Because just before He said He'd give His life, Jesus said in John 10:10 - "The thief does not come exept to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

He DIED so we can LIVE. Live ABUNDANTLY.

In Need Of... A comfort zone :o)

It's interesting.....
So many people are worried about getting stuck in their "comfort zone"..... There's so much emphasis put on "getting out of your comfort zone" and "making changes in your life in order to grow in your faith."
I don't think it's always necessary to make a change in order to stretch your faith......

Many people reading this blog know me..... They know how, in the recent past, i've had MANY changes, relocations, etc... I've learned how to step out in faith when God decides to move me somewhere......

My problem is, I haven't learned to stay put. I haven't learned how to grow my faith when i'm standing still..... when i'm not trying to find a place to live...

Since i've gotten a job and an apartment (with a one-year lease!), God has found new ways to expand my faith, and to shape my character...... I've had to learn commitment (strange as it may sound).
God is still teaching me about this....
I'm excited! I've actually stopped feeling stir-crazy! When i hit the 4 month mark of living here (at which point i would normally be moving on) i went out and cut off my hair.... lol.... i needed a change.... january was a tough month for me... but as february and then march came in, i've stopped NEEDING a change.

God is sufficient for all my needs. He can provide enough change in a stable environment.... He can make my comfort zone exciting :o)

And if you think about it..... There are so many times when God said to someone "Go to this place to live".... He wanted them to stay there and claim that place.... (Ex. Abram/Abraham... Genesis 12)

But really... whether coming or going, moving or staying, all we have to know is...
John 15:4 - Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
It doesn't matter where u live or how often you move, as long as u abide in Jesus and continue to bear fruit.

In Need Of... Pruning.

so, yeah... Pruning hurts.
And i'm not talking about trimming those overgrown, over-thorned rosebushes, either. (Although that does hurt.)

When God cuts things out of your life, or when He points things out to you that He wants u to cut out on your own... That's the tough stuff...

Learning about yourself, and figuring out what those things are is tough, too......
I've brought myself into a new light recently, and found some things that look ugly.... Things that need to be adressed...

Proverbs 12:1 says "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."

So i talk to people... People give me insight. And i talk to God... He corrects me. Sometimes the lesson is hard, but i know that in the end, it'll make me tougher, stronger, and more righteous. It'll help to turn me into someone i want to be... (and that's still a long way off)

It's like they say, "If it doesn't kill ya.... It only makes u stronger." 10points if u can find that in the Bible somewhere. ;o)

"In Need Of... Sushi???"

Just for the heck of it ;o)

I don't know if anyone in the Scriptures ever ate sushi??

In Need Of... A Voice that divides the flames of fire.

Just as i want to be heard, God wants to be heard.
If i want the sovereign Lord of the universe to listen to me, who am i to ignore Him?

This is amazing: (The lines in italics are the ones i was most taken with :o)

Psalm 29 -

Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars,
Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes them also skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, "Glory!"

The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood,
And the Lord sits as King forever.
The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.

It really makes me wonder how i don't hear Him when He speaks! I must be really out of tune if i can't hear a voice that shakes the wilderness...
But then, if i stop and think..... When i see a beautiful sunrise, or hear great music, or look at the contrast between a white building against a blue, blue sky -- I think of God. And how he created the world to be perfect and how he gives each person gifts to create beautiful things.
Isn't that like hearing His voice? Like getting a reminder that He is there and He is worthy of worship?

In Need Of... Desperation.

I want to be desperate for God. To be intense in my quest to find out who He is. To dwell on Him day and night....
The psalms contain great examples of desperation. Psalm 27:7 says "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me and answer me. When You said, 'Seek My face,' My heart said to You, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek.'"
So often in the psalms you hear David say, "Hear me Lord!" I can picture that... I can picture me doing that.... Sometimes i want to stand up and holler at God.... "LISTEN TO ME!!!!" lol
Even though i know He listens to me even when i'm whispering, and he hears my every thought.
I know i don't need to have a tantrum to get God to listen to me :o) But sometimes i just don't feel like i'm getting heard. Sometimes, i feel like i'm not desperate to be heard.
Talking to God should be the most important thing i could POSSIBLY imagine.
I want my heart to cry out to God. I want to seek His face with desparation, recklessly casting aside the world, and opening my soul to Him.

In Need Of... Shakin' Up!!

I have discovered (again) that i'm far too complacent. Far too happy to settle for what i have.
I have no real aspirations or goals..... No dreams for the future.
I coast..... i don't have any aim.... i don't have any direction..... i just kinda go where the wind takes me..... Life may be giving me lemons, and i have no problem making lemonade.... but i want fruit punch...
and it's drivin me nutty :o)

I look at people who have goals and i envy them.... I look at people who dream (large or small) and i wish i could emulate them....

Someone just told me (as i'm writing this):
"I think that you... can do whatever you set your mind to. Now all we have to do, is find something to focus your mind on."

Me in a nutshell? Perhaps.

In Need Of... More humility.

I experienced a reprimand today. It may or may not have been called for, but it was definitely needed.
I was not living the way i am called to live in Christ. I was not doing things with a servant heart. I was not living I Corinthians 10:31.
So God granted me discipline... and by His mercy, there was no permanent damage.

God is willing to discipline us, IF we are willing to humble ourselves to accept it. Then we have to be humble enough to realise that we needed the discipline.

I thank God that He has shown me how to change my ways, and i know by His grace only will i be able to change.

I Peter 5:5b-10 - ...Be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about seeking whom he may devour.
Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.