"L of East Coast"

Have you ever caught a glimpse of the television show "Joan of Arcadia"? After being bombarded with countless commercials of its upcoming debut, I watched it for the first few episodes. And I found it to be a refreshing respite from the other dramas and sitcoms that hash trash minute by minute.

In this show, God shows up and speaks to Joan, a teenage girl, in different ways through the guise of different people. One minute God could appear as the school lunch lady, and the next minute as a teenaged guy.

While talking to Joan, God never comes right out and tells her explicitly what to do to solve certain dilemmas. Instead, He gives her cryptic little nudges and incomprehensible suggestions, points of which are not clear to us, the viewing audience, or to Joan at that point in time. As the drama reaches the end of the hour, almost everything if not everything is now crystal clear to Joan, and why God had placed her in certain situations at the time. Does it portray real life resolution? Not hardly. But I still like the show, and think more of this type of programming is needed. But as seen on the show, if our problems were always resolveable in the inside of one hour or even over the span of a day or so, we would probably would not feel like we needed a God.

Strangely enough, (I have not watched the show often enough to know absolutely for sure), but I have never heard mention of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or scripture quoted on this show. Hmmm. Maybe that would scare away too many viewers, and keep people of the Jewish faith, Islamic faith, and countless other religions from watching. Ah, the almighty ratings. Money works in mysterious ways.

In real life, does God not speak to us and confirm things through the scriptures, the Holy Spirit, other people and different situations? Of course, the person in your life speaking to you, is not going to identify themselves as God as they do in the show. Most likely the reason for that is because they may not even be mentally aware that they are being used as an instrument for Him, doing His bidding at that time. They live so yielded to God and His Spirit and therefore do as called without giving it a second thought. The Holy Spirit speaks to us all the time. But we have to be listening with 'spiritual ears' to hear Him.

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John14:25-27

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
John 16:12-14

Here's one of my own "L of East Coast" experiences:

I remember as a birthday present to myself, I wanted to straighten out my spiritual life. The very first Sunday after my birthday, I attended the church I now belong to for the first time seeking some answers. I was actually looking for God to tell me something. I was scared, desperate, and in need of many things that only He could provide. How God was gonna deliver this, I did not know- but even though I actually did not expect Him to give me answers that day, I figured since I was on the right track with my heart finally looking towards Him, that He'd somehow answer me. I figured He had to, I had no where else to go but to Him.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:13

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 17:5-7

Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Psalm 71:1-3

Imagine my surprise when the Pastor gave his message and it seemed as if the message was tailored soley to me and my situation. The title of the message alone was enough to knock my socks off! I was BLOWN AWAY! But by mid-week, me and my hard-hearted, doubtful self had all but written it all off as a fluke...but still I came back the following week to test the waters again. Nah, it couldn't be God! Gee, could it be God?

"A double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. " James 1:8

And that indeed I was. A part of me wanted change, and desperately needed change. Another part of me wanted to remain just as I was: selfish, hard, cold, unfeeling, that way there be no guilt when I did or said something completely contrary to God. (The fire and brimstone messages had thoroughly smoked my brain, and I knew nothing [comparatively speaking] of His love and grace). If I had actually understood a very small measure of grace back then, I probably would still be doing my own thing, thinking, "Heh, heh, what the heck! He's gonna forgive me anyway!"

"...All things work together..."! Ya, know! (Romans 8:28)

The next week, the very same thing happened. I asked my girlfriend who was with me, "How could this be?" We both felt like the Pastor was talking directly to each of us. Weird! Uh! Get that spotlight off of me! I felt like a bug under a microscope! I was still confused as to how the Pastor could be speaking directly to me. How could this be? This has NEVER happened in all my years of 'Churchanity' before. This was somewhat uncanny, amusing yet frightening all at the same time!

The third Sunday, I went arms folded, thinking, "Ain't no way this is God" I was thinking still, that it had to be a fluke of a fluke, and there was no way a fluke could happen a third Sunday straight. And guess what? (Drum roll please....) Again, on the third Sunday, the words from the Pastor resonated within me so, that all I could do was cry, and weakly ask, "Um, okay, God...is that You?" (Doh!) Then it became, "Okay, God, I know it's You. Tell me what You want me to do."

Later on, I had a brief conversation with the Pastor about how the messages 'spoke to me' then, and still 'speak to me' now. He explained that if you come with an open heart, and ears attuned spiritually, that you are allowing the Holy Spirit to work within you and speak to you, in areas that you need. I remember that he mentioned in a message once, how different people would mention to him about how the message he gave on "ABC1" had really minstered to them. The Pastor said he'd be flabberghasted thinking, "I never talked about 'ABC1' in my message! I spoke on "DEF2". But the people had all listened with spiritual ears allowing the Holy Spirit to take that message and minister to them revealing the precise area(s) that they needed for their lives. Oh! So that's what's been going on!

And it's not just me - I've spoken to several of my friends at the church and they all have confirmed having the same experience of the message speaking directly to them too. God, in His infinite wisdom still speaks to us through the Holy Spirit in this day and time...if we'd only open up our spiritual ears and listen...are you listening?

"He who has an ear, let him hear." Revelation 13:9


\0/ Halleluyah!

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Names in the comments were removed to protect the innocent:

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At Monday, February 28, 2005 11:45:00 PM, A Heart of Worship said...

L, originally wrote:
"In real life, does God not speak to us and confirm things through the scriptures, the Holy Spirit, other people and different situations?"

LAL commented: Sure God can do these things and most likely does things of this type as the Holy Spirit, but what many believers end up doing is making God their personal magic 8 ball. Most christian television has become like the Psychic Friends Network as a result of this type of thinking in pop christian culture. God knows us warts and all and we end up trying to interact with him as the idealized perfect christian we have created in our heads. Joan of Arcadia is a fictional television show and unfortunately that is what most of us, including myself, have offered to God as a relationship: a fictional show. I don't think he is impressed.

L, responds to LAL:If you are offering a 'fictional show' to God as your lifestyle, you are right. He is NOT impressed with your outward actions. God is more concerned with the condition of your heart on a daily basis, not the outward show you present to others. There were groups of people mentioned in the Bible who were named for their displayed of acts of kindness, and other actions done to be seen by men. These actions were not done out of a pure love in the heart. It is the motive in your heart, the love in your heart that impresses God. Our whole lives are to be a form of worship of God, bringing glory to Him.

L, originally wrote: "Of course, the person in your life speaking to you, is not going to identify themselves as God as they do in the show. Most likely the reason for that is because they may not even be mentally aware that they are being used as an instrument for Him, doing His bidding at that time? They live so yielded to God and His Spirit and therefore do as called without giving it a second thought. The Holy Spirit speaks to us all the time. But we have to be listening with 'spiritual ears' to hear Him."

LAL commented: Well, there are instances in the bible where people do God's will without believing in him and are in direct conflict with God. Pharoah comes to mind when God hardened his heart to break his hold on the slaves of Israel. But Pharoah nor Moses seemed to be aware that it was God making Pharoah obstinate (i will have to reread to be sure)just like you pointed out. However, it had nothing to do with Pharoah having being so yielded to God and his spirit.

L, responds to LAL:I did not intend for that to literally mean that an unyielded person cannot be used by God. This goes back to believing that God is in control of everything and everybody all the time. Whether a person is yielded or not, God's purposes WILL BE SERVED in all things, at all times.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

LAL commented:As for spiritual ears tuned to the holy spirit...I know what you mean, but I don't know what it means. This is the kind of thing that most believers hear said, shake their head in agreement, and then have no idea how to tune in their ears. If they could tune in their ears then they would have no idea what it was they were supposed to be hearing When they hear nothing or themselves talking in their heads they aren't sure what to think.

L, responds to LAL:This is not something that you can really try to understand cerebrally. This is done moreso in the Spirit realm, and has to do with your heart's genuine seeking of God's will for your life. Having an active prayer life (nothing more than communicating with God on a regular basis) goes a long way towards 'attunement,' while spending time in God's Word wouldn't hurt either. Cultivating an intimate relationship through these means with God is usually how you attain these 'spiritual ears'.

LAL commented: I think this is why so many seek the experience of a worship service with a great band and powerful speaker. It is like a rock concert and political rally all rolled into one. It creates the atmosphere for something that passes as supernatural because they have no reference for a real supernatural experience.

L, responds to LAL:Maybe LAL... But people searching and seeking something for inner fulfilment makes sense. We all have an emptiness inside that cannot be fulfilled by anything or anyone but the Spirit of God. We can seek all we want, trying to fill it with manmade activities that will never quell that inner thirst for the Spirit of God inside of us.

LAL commented:Sure Jesus performed miracles, but not always. The supernatural display was not always required to change the human heart. In fact, for many the miracles did nothing to change some people's minds. Today many christians feel shorted if the worship service didn't blow their socks off and I wonder who were they there for.........God or themselves. Just my flawed point of view.


L, responds to LAL:Absolutely. Some people were there for the miracles, some only for the food, and some were genuinely there to get to know Jesus, miracles or not. And you are right, some people still did not believe after witnessing miracles first hand, or even after seeing someone they knew who had been healed. Some people seem to be born doubters.

As for the worship service, it is not supposed to be about flash, show and performance as it seems more and more churches are displaying these days in attempt to be more 'seeker friendly'. Worship is supposed to be soley 'all about Him.' The worship of our Lord and Savior...nothing more, nothing less. Worship service is not about what you did or did not do, or what you did or did not feel, experience, or see.

Excerpt from "A Heart of Worship" by Matt Redman"...You search much deeper within
Than the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

And it's all about You, all about You Jesus

I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it

When it's all about You, it's all about You Jesus"\0/

At Tuesday, March 01, 2005 8:54:00 AM, said...

We love the show, "Joan of Arcadia."
It is a refreshing change of pace, in the cesspool of what we call entertainment. Even though they never mention 'Jesus' everything we have heard "God" say on the show has been truth.
Lucy

At Tuesday, March 01, 2005 1:10:00 PM, A Heart of Worship said...

You are right. The few times I watched the show, what they had God say was truth.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-33

Thanks for commenting.

To The Wonderful Women In My Circle

I wish I could take credit for writing this, but this message was forwarded to me in an email by a dear woman friend who embodies exactly what this is talking about: The sisterhood of women friends who are sent by God at the right time and right season in your life to supply what you need at that moment in a friend! I thank God for her and the role she plays in my life. I thank God for all of my women friends that have really been there for me in various times of my life.

----------------------------------------------

THE WONDERFUL WOMEN IN MY CIRCLE

When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best
friend, and then I started to become a woman. And then I found out
that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the
best in many friends.

One friend's best is needed when you're going through things with
your children. Another friend's best is needed when you're going
through things with your mom. Another when you want to shop,
share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say let's pray together, another let's cry together,
another let's fight together, another let's walk away together.

One friend will meet your spiritual need, another your shoe fetish,
another your love for movies, another will be with you in your
season of confusion, another will be your clarifier, another the
wind beneath your wings.

But what ever their assignment in your life, on whatever the
occasion, on whatever the day, or where ever you need them to
meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back or to hold
you back from making a complete fool of yourself... those are your
friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman, but for many it's wrapped
up in several... one from 7th grade, one from high school, several
from the college years, a couple from old jobs, several from church,
on some days your mother, on others your sisters, and on some
days it's the one that you needed just for that day or week that you
needed someone with a fresh perspective, or the one who didn't
know all your baggage, or the one who would just listen without
judging... those are good girlfriends/best friends.

I thank my girlfriends, those who honor intimacy, those who hold
trust, and those who hold me up when life is just too heavy! The
special bond we share is unique.

Thanks for the words we've shared. The prayers we've sent up.
The laughs, the tears, the phone calls, the emails, the shopping, the
movies, the lunches, the dinners, the talking, talking, talking and
the listening, listening, listening....

So whether you've been there 20 minutes or 20 years, I love you!

To pass this link on to the women that God has placed in your life to make a difference, follow the instructions below.

Blessings! \0/

Why Do We Even Ask For Advice? What Constitutes Being a REAL Friend? Part III

Did you miss Part II? Or Part I?

Then on the other hand there is a completely different situation that concerns a different friend -'Friend A' who has abandoned a mutual friend -'Friend B'. Friend B has a God given gift that is used to encourage and share the love of Christ on a regular basis. But Friend A evidently feels like that is not 'good enough.' Because of a series of events that 'went down' she has decided that our mutual Friend B has not walked the walk, even though the talk is talked. Friend B no longer meets her human being standard 'measurement of righteousness'. And because of this, she is dropping our Friend B as a friend like a hot potato!

Gee, makes one wonder, "What do I have to do to have Friend A leave and abandon me as a friend?" When will I not be good enough to be her friend? Since when have any of us been appointed master judge and jury? Do we ever know all the sides of a personal equation to make a judgment call? Just how many sides are there to a story? Since we have the human minded measurement sticks out, I wonder how many people she has personally brought to Christ as compared to Friend B? Is walking away from a friend in dire need of Christ's love for themselves actually demonstrating any kind of love at all towards them? Hmm... walking away and turning your back is a strange form of unconditional love.

Gee, who are we to judge? If you walk away from a friend in need, because you don't approve of their lifestyle,(assuming that you have all the correct facts)then you have made a judgement in your mind that has been demonstrated in your action of abandonment. Are we equipped with a timetable that allows us to dictate by what point in time our friends and loved ones are to 'turn it around'? Who gave us that right? With this mindset of hers, I'd always be afraid that one day she'd point at me and say, "POOF! Be gone!" Gee, I'm glad that she's not God too!

"You therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else for at whatever point you judge the other; you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Romans 2:1

"...If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8: 7

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." I John 3:18

Am I guilty of judging Friend A? (sigh!) This makes me imagine what we collectively or even individually put God's heart through everyday with our judging, our lack of love, our indecision, our shortcomings, and our failure to do the right thing. After all His Son went through on our behalf for our sins! How dare us be so inconsiderate and haughty, petitioning Him with our selfish wants, desires and requests, only to forget all He has done for us daily from day one, even before we were born. The absolute depths of His mercy, forgiveness and love are completely unfathomable to the human mind as it exists in its purest, truest form in Him.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not persish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3: 16, 17

I am so glad that no matter what, no matter how stupid I act, no matter how ungrateful I am, or how deep in sin (our human degrees of sin) I immerse myself, that our God's love never changes for me! I can always come to Him and share all of my feelings and thoughts without worry that He tires of me, or is constantly judging me. He never abandons me, never tires of hearing from me, even if I am relearning the same lesson over and over. He never fails to demonstrate His infinite grace and mercy towards me. God never turns His back on me, even when I am not as completely holy as He is - which is every second of every day - SURPRISE!!!! (to clarify-from a completely human point of view). He loves me unconditionally...even if I 'know' what I am supposed to do, but do as my flesh wants to do anyway, He still loves me!

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 38

AWESOME! Wow! I am so glad that He is God! Glory!

\0/ Halleluyah!

Why Do We Even Ask For Advice? What Constitutes Being a REAL Friend? Part II

Did you miss Part I?

Here is the crux of my gripe: Even in this, I emphatically state that I don't want you to waste my time and yours seeking my advice if you know in your heart of hearts that you are not ready in your soul to turn around and do the right thing. (Seeking advice versus just wanting a listening ear or validation of your feelings are completely different things).

'But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." Moses said to the Lord, "I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nnor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue". The Lord said to him, "Who gave man is mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say"'. Exodus 4: 13, 10-12.

I'm preaching to myself as I post. Been happening alot lately...hmmm.
If you are wondering where all of this angst is coming from, here are the catalysts for this post:

One situation involves a friend of mine who is not making the best choice she could make concerning her relationship with her man according to God's Word. And she knows it...but yet she always wants Godly advice concerning their relationship everytime she sees me - which honestly is starting to be more often than I'd like.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."
I Corinthians 6: 19

I do the best I can, asking God to help me help her. But I am starting to feel really drained. I am starting to feel a sinking feeling at the sight of her. And I feel real guilty about that. How do I know that these are not 'appointments' that I am entrusted with to lead her onto the path of the Godly? And I am that qualified person to lead her? Why me, Lord? Good googa mooga! (Stop laughing!) I could give you a whole list of reasons of why not me! Maybe I could take a lesson from Isaiah.

'Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

But I wonder, just how many times does she want to hear the 'right thing'? Deep down, why does she keep coming to me? I have kept silent when necessary and just listened and been a supportive friend, offered advice when asked, I've shared scripture when appropriate, I've asked God just what to say to her. But Lord, this is exhausting me - being the loving, supportive friend, yet standing by watching her flounder around. That part is really hard. The watching...all I know to do is pray for her. Help me know what else to do for her, Lord. I love her as one of my dear sisters in Christ, and I want to 'have her back' in her time of need, but Lord, this constant asking me for biblical based advice, and then consistently ignoring it has me scratching my head in irritation. I guess I am guilty of imposing the 'allowed time frame' that dictates by what point in time our friends and loved ones are to 'get it right'. You know how we do...especially us church folks.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." I Corinthians 13: 4, 5, 7


Click here for Part III

Why Do We Even Ask For Advice? What Constitutes Being a REAL Friend? Part I

There have been times in my life that I have wondered if I have a sign only visible to others illuminating my forehead proclaiming, "Tell me ALL about it. I can help." People have come up to me out of the blue and started pouring out their hearts to me! Some of these people I have never seen before in my life!! I used to be kind of freaked out when this would happen, but I now view them as divine appointments. My job allows for regular interaction with the general public on the phone and in person, and I can't tell you how many times people feel a need to share.

On to the topic : When I ask my spouse or trusted friends something, it is because my inquiring mind wants to know! No, really, I am seriously seeking advice, if I have laid it all out for you, and asked you for Godly advice, I REALLY want/need it. But I am wondering why people even ask for advice!

It is one thing, if you are just unloading, and you just want a quiet/sympathetic ear. But if you ask for an opinion, for advice, for Bible based answers, then why, tell me why, do you go ahead and do what you want to do in your flesh anyway?! After all that time you asked that I expend energy into listening, holding your hand, praying with you, for you, and whatever else you needed for the situation to help you overcome it. Is it of any consideration that I have even been away from my family so that you can have private time to unload?

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1: 1, 2

Don't get me wrong - I understand all too well, the dilemma for a person with one foot in the world, and the other trying to walk holy - basically sitting on the fence. We've all been there/are there.... and if you honest with yourself, you know that doing the 'right' thing is hard sometimes even when you are supposedly living holy!

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do." Romans 7:15

But honestly, on the other hand, it just makes me mad sometimes. (The lack of action towards what is right, after all of the time spent talking, listening, praying etc...) Just be glad that I am not God! (insert lightning bolt ZAP here!) You know, I can understand just like everyone else reading this post, the temptations and situations that we face everyday. After all, I do live in this world too! And I do my best within my fleshly tent not to judge others in their walk. I love my family and friends, I stand by them, the way I would want them to be there for me in my time of trouble. (Even when they do what they want to do in their flesh).
Click here for Part II.

He is STILL in Charge!

This is an excerpt from John Fischer's Purpose Driven Daily Devotional. Thought I'd share:

"...Don’t ever underestimate yourself when Christ is living inside you. No matter what is happening to you, God has his own agenda He is working out in your life, and He may or may not inform you about it. No matter. He’s got plans, and He’s got purposes, and He’s got you. That’s a powerful combination.

You’re for real. Your faith is for real. God and His angels and demons are for real. There is a lot happening with our daily routine that is anything but routine. Wake up to this: You have a mission right where you are; your mission is to go through your day believing. And don’t let a little depression stop you, because God’s got something going on anyway. Carol’s story gives us just a little glimpse of this: God’s purposes are always at work in us. God’s got a light on, and other people can see it even when we can’t.

“But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT).

So regardless of what is happening to you, leave the light on for someone else. God may just have something to say, even when you think you don’t."

You REALLY ARE What you Eat..Part III

Click here if you missed Part II or Part I .

I also learned something that is important to ME...keep in mind, that I am NOT judging anyone else by what I do for myself! --I am just telling you that this is what works for ME! I have had to cut out a good portion of television for myself-and sometimes I abstain from it completely for days or weeks at a time.

Why, you may ask? Televison has a way of sucking the time away in the evenings and weekends with nothing but a vast emptiness to show for it.(And the main reason that I do not have cable TV) I only have limited amount of time each day, after working, family time, school, and homework-why would I give up what little time I have each day, when I could be in the Word learning more about God, to choose to sit and idly watch some inane sitcom? My mind and spiritual life fares much better digesting the Word unadulterated.. mixed with the cussing, and sleazy speech and actions seen on the TV, it is not a good blend!

Don't misunderstand...from time to time I do 'veg out' in front of the tube, but not on a regular basis. It steals too much precious time from my life.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Phillipians 4:8

I also learned a radical thought...radical to me at that time...as much as I love and enjoy the friendships and camaraderie I've established with the women at church, it is not nearly as important to be at church as it is to be the church to the world. How do I 'be the church' in my everyday life? The scriptures give us some instruction:

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you" John 15:12

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" I John 3:17, 18

"Instead speaking the truth in love we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15, 16

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1

So for me, feeding myself a regular diet of the Word everyday keeps me happy, and effective being focused on Him. It works for me! When I slack in up in my reading and/or my prayer life for whatever reason, boy can I tell! Whew, let me tell ya, it's not pretty! The more I get into the Word, the more I desire, and actually need it...sounds weird, huh?

\0/

*BTW, the "Feed me, Seymour" reference mentioned in
Part I is from the 1986 movie, "Little Shop of Horrors", with Levi Stubbs, lead singer of the Four Tops, as the voice of 'Audrey II,' the plant demanding to be fed by Seymour. You'd have to see it to understand the humor.

You REALLY ARE What You Eat..Part II

If you missed "You REALLY ARE What You Eat..Part I" click here!

For the majority of my life, all I was doing was going to church once at week, waiting for the Word to be poured into me. And from that once-a-week event, I believed I was supposed to know how to live, know how to love others like I love myself, know how to be more like Christ....and wondered why week after week I felt like such a failure. Frustration and depression started taking hold of my life. There had to be more to life than this! Where was the love, the fruit of the Spirit, shoot, where was God, Himself? The life I was living was not one that I would want to present before God...yet there I was on the same treadmill of doom and gloom mentally and emotionally week after week after week...

I grew up in churches where hooping and hollering was the norm. It was all about emotionalism, nothing more. I sat through that crap plenty of Wednesday nights, and Friday nights, and through 2-4 services just about every Sunday. The pastors and preachers did not share the Word at all...just a'hoopin' and a'hollerin'! I am not sure to this day if it was because they were not knowledgeable about the Word themselves or it was simply to keep the sheep stupid, ignorant and controllable. We, the congregational sheep were fed several calorically empty spoonfuls several times a week, (not even enough to be counted as a snack!) but never growing one ounce spiritually.

At that time, bible reading on our own was never encouraged, (you never saw anyone with a bible in hand) and bible study groups were strongly discouraged. I do know that when I was 18 years old, I accepted Christ as my Savior, and I started to read my bible for myself, but I had tons of questions. So I helped form a Saturday morning Bible Study class for teens, so we could ask questions. What a dumb idea- I really should have known better based on the current situation in the church. Every question I asked the Pastor, he either said, "I'll have to get back to you on that Tish" or he bluffed his way through to an answer he thought sounded good. What a punk, I thought! By the way, he never got back to me with any of the answers. After about 2 months of this frustrating annoyance, I stopped going, and the teen bible study disbanded. (sigh!)

It was only after my own daily life experience held no answers, (after many years of this) that finally sincerely I sought out the Word for answers. I became so hungry for more knowledge of the Word, that I was kind of worried about myself. They say too much of anything is not good, right? Balance in anything is key, right?

Anyhoo, I now belong to a church steeped in teaching the principles of the Word with real life application. After all, the Bible is timeless! And even though I think what I learn at my church is 'off da hook,' I have learned even by more reading and studying on my own. As I read the Spirit unveils understanding to me. If I don't read on my own, how can I learn and grow? Just as my natural body cannot subsist on a weekly snack, neither can my spiritual body! It needs to be fed! (Feed me, Seymour!* --If you have to ask, never mind!)

Okay, okay -I'll tell you the reference, later on in this blog...keep reading here for "You REALLY ARE What You Eat"..Part III!

You REALLY ARE What You Eat..Part I

From the time I was a little bitty girl I was taught the old adage "You are what you eat," when learning proper nutrition. I remember learning to think of my body as a car or machine that needed gasoline or fuel to run. And it could not be given the wrong kind of fuel to be able to run properly and to function and grow the way it was supposed to. To ensure that it would run properly and efficiently, I had to also give it the right kind of fuel in the form of the different food groups in the right size proportions.

One day, I finally learned that the same principles of proper nutrition applied to me spiritually. In order to grow and mature spiritually, I had to feed my spiritual body spiritual food on a regular basis in order for it to thrive and grow. (Duh!) Why did that simple lesson take the majority of my lifetime to figure out? Trying to grow spiritually soley on one and a half to two hours of church once a week is like trying to subsist on a once a week snack for my physical body! I'd actually starve to death! So why did I not see the direct relationship of the lack of spiritual food to the condition of my paltry spiritual life and the eventual near death of any sense of spirituality in me?

Those of you that know me personally can tell by looking at me, that one of my favorite things for me, and has been throughout my whole life is eating - enjoying good food....the tastes, the smells, the texture, the satiation...um, I could go for some piping hot, freshly buttered home-made rolls straight out of the oven right now! (Hint, hint to my favorite roll maker--you know who you are!)

Now in my 'middle age' I finally realize the importance of getting fed adequately spiritually. Hence finally getting to the meat of my message. (No pun intended. ;-)

Click here for Part II.

The Heart of Worship

Below are the lyrics to the worship song, "The Heart of Worship" written by the English worship leader, Matt Redman. Click on the link to hear a sample of the song as performed by
Phillips, Craig and Dean.


When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Than the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You, all about You Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You, it's all about You Jesus

Encouragement

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
2 Colossians 2:2, 3

Folks, I let this whole week slide by without offering one word of thoughts that were given to me. Why? I really can't say other than the overwhelming consuming thought that I have nothing to say that was worthy of writing. Well, in hindsight, reluctantly I have to admit, that I fell prey to a famous lie of the enemy -"You have nothing to offer, who are you?" And I am sure he was happy to quell my keyboardin' fingers for a week!

Thoughts would come to me, and I'd say, "Nah!" not gonna write about that. The Bible tells us not to quench the Spirit...and I was fed stories all week, but poo-poohed each one as they came - out of doubt. Doubt that it was worthy of writing, doubt that it would help or benefit anyone, and doubt that it was from God.

I also shared with my husband how I was distressed because "my site" was getting bigger than "I" wanted. I only felt led to share the site with a few people that I knew. But then those folks kept forwarding the blog link on to other people that I did not know! (insert scream here) NO! That's not what "I" had in mind! Now suddenly it was "my" site - not what I was doing on behalf of our Lord and Savior. Not good.....

My dear hubby looked at me and shook his head, saying, "Why are you trying to limit God? Why are you trying to limit your ministry? Evidently God is expanding your ministry to reach and help many more people than you know yourself." Gulp. At this point I stared at him blankly. Limit God? My ministry? Hmmm... Neither of those phrases had ever crossed my mind...especially the words "my ministry". And hubby is right. Who am I to limit God? I don't know anything, except that I have to obedient to the Spirit of God.

I never went into this endeavor seeking any praise or anything from people. I started this blog because I definitely know that I was led to do this by God to help others. Specifically how it helps them individually, I'll never know- that is up to God. I just have to be obedient, and do my part. But you know what? When I needed a little help, some encouragement to keep on keeping on, reinforcements were sent in to help a fellow soldier on the battlefield.

God sent several of my fellow soldiers of the Lord to encourage me today. One by one they came to me, and offering how the journals in the blog have really helped them see some things in their own lives. One shared that she sent the link of the blog to help a sister who is suffering from a disease, and the sister said it was encouraging to her! Another sister shared how my "Chicken Box" Story came to mind when she was in a similar situation, and she determined within herself to "do the right thing" by God's standards. Halleluyah! A brother even shared how he enjoyed the site. Another sister shared that she sent the link to her daughter to be blessed!

Wow! God is using this site for His own glory the way it is supposed to be. Now that I have confirmation of that inside of my frail humaness, I am ENCOURAGED!

Why is it even when we KNOW that we are doing the right thing that we still allow doubt to creep in? Lord, forgive me. And as if that were not bad enough, in the midst of the doubt that ol' ugly ego gal named "I" was unknowingly exalting herself. No wonder I couldn't write. But in spite of me, He still had mercy on me, and loved me, and sent encouragement my way.

It sure is nice to be loved unconditionally. Halleluyah! That should be encouragement enough.

\0/

Getting Close to God

This is a devotional that was posted by John Fischer, author of the Purpose Driven Daily Devotional. I thought I'd share. (Gee, he has a GREAT job!)

"Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you". (James 4:8 NLT)

It’s been this way since time began. God set it up so we would seek Him, and He would respond to us when we did. Is He playing hard to get? Well, He may be, only inasmuch as He wants a relationship with someone who wants one with Him, and the way you show that you do is by seeking Him. God will not force Himself on anyone.

This is an incredible privilege He has given His creation, when you think of it. God joins in the give and take of a relationship with us! That means that if you don’t get close to God, well… you don’t get close to God. In other words, He gives us the integrity of making the first move.

I think this is what was meant in that strange passage in Matthew 6:7 and 8, when Jesus warns us not to give what is sacred to dogs, and not to give pearls to pigs. God doesn’t reveal Himself to those who aren’t interested in a relationship with Him. And it’s no indictment on them; they simply wouldn’t get it. Dogs don’t know what is sacred. Pigs have no use for pearls. Their only value is what they can eat, so the real value of pearls would be wasted on a pig.

The truth about God is wasted on someone who is not interested in knowing Him, so He doesn’t draw near to that person. He draws near to those who come to Him. But believe me, once you show any indication of interest, He’s right there.

Actually we all need God and we all know it. Even those who deny God and run the other way are desperately seeking Him from some empty place inside. We just don’t all want to admit it.

But for those who do, God is all over any attempt on our part to get close to Him. It makes no difference how you do this. There is no right or wrong way to seek God. You just seek Him, and you keep on seeking Him. There’s no end to this because there’s no end to God. There’s always more of Him to discover and experience. Worship is never static. It keeps opening up more and more of God to us as we worship Him and live our lives out according to His purposes.