Thoughts Along the Way

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

My Salt and Light Share 4/16/08

This morning I was "doing school" with Gracie. Her Bible story was about the Israelites in Egypt. We read that they were slaves and had to work very hard, making and carrying and building with big, heavy bricks. Here is a picture of the page in her children's Bible that we read from: As I looked at that picture and read the words I had this huge realization that when I am trying to work to please God, or when I am listening to my sinful nature tell me what to do, I am just like the Israelite slaves in that picture. When I am forgetting my position in Christ, and that the sinful nature was crucified with Christ and that it no longer has any power over me...it is like I am dragging one of those huge stones up an incline all by myself. The sad thing is that I have been living far too much of my life like that. The awesome, most wonderful thing is, I don't have to live like that any more! My sinful nature was crucified with Christ! It doesn't have control over me! I don't have to listen to it, or do what it says! Another huge thing I am learning is that I can and should be completely honest with God about how I am feeling, what I am hear, what I want to do, what I don't want to do.... you name it! He desires honesty in the innermost being. He already knows how I am feeling, what I am thinking, what I am wanting to say.... I don't have to hide from Him. Praise the Lord! And when I share it all with Him, He can work in me and through me. Halleluiah! Romans 8:12-14 So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature is urging you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But, if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds you will live. All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. I was reading Ephesians 1 this morning. Wow! If you ever need a "pick-me-up", a reminder of what God has done for us, read this chapter! As you read it, talk with the Lord. Thank Him for what He has done for us through Christ Jesus!  Another thing I am learning is that I don't have to try to produce the fruit of the Spirit in my life. Because, the hard, cold truth is, I CAN"T DO IT! I just can't. Oh have I tried. But I can't. BUT, when I turn to the Lord and stop listening to the sinful nature, and I am honest with Him about what I am feeling, and I pour it all out to Him....He can clear out all the sludge and the yuck and clean me out and His Holy Spirit (which I have 100% of, by the way, and you do too, if you are a Child of God) is unleashed inside me (because when I'm listening to my sinful nature and doing what it is telling me to do, I am quenching the Holy Spirit) and the fruit of the Spirit (that is already all inside me because the Holy Spirit is in me) can come bursting out of me. Whooo Hoooo! I can stop trying to produce fruit on my own! Whew! Let me give a quick example that happened this morning. This morning, Sam was rolling around and having a hard time getting going with his day. I was starting to get frustrated with him because I have an agenda, and he was just not sticking to "my plan" for the day! Come to find out, he has a headache and it appears to be a big one. Now, did that help the momma love to start flowing? No way! My sinful nature was right there yapping in my mind...."Oh great! Here we go! Another day down the drain because Sam has a headache. Oh, and I'll have to do his chores now, too! Great!" And I was wanting to just run down that usual path of irritation, self pity, anger... But then, I remembered what I was learning yesterday in the Freedom Workshop. I HAVE NO OBLIGATION WHATSOEVER TO DO WHAT MY SINFUL NATURE IS URGING ME TO DO! So, what do I do now? I went in my room and started telling God exactly what I was thinking and feeling. I basically told him exactly what my sinful nature was telling me, above. Well, you know what? It truly was like it just melted away. That sinful nature just lost it steam and stopped talking. Next thing I knew I was asking forgiveness for my attitude. I was praying for Sam and for his healing. I was asking the Lord to show me what HE wanted me to do today. I even started praying for other people! I was actually able to go into Sam's room and in true love ask him how he was doing, I took care of what he needed, I even joyfully went out and took care of the chicken! (which is one of Sam's chores) Praise the Lord! Now, if I can remember to keep doing this! :-) I wanted to share that story, because, I am just learning how to do this. And, yesterday, when Debbie shared story after story of her own journey with this, it was so helpful to me. Psalm 27:8 My heart has heard You say, "Come and talk with Me." And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

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