PART TWO - THE LORD IS MY LIGHT!

I just have to draw your attention, for a minute, to these pictures. I looked up last years pictures. The red buds have never bloomed when the Bradley Pear does. The pictures of the red buds blooming came at 4/26/11 through May 2nd. The Bradley was already done. April 15th. Can you grasp it? I sure can't.

I chose to do a part two, because I just didn't feel I made my point yesterday. Pardon me for that.

When we talk about inquiring of God and requiring God, it becomes a true pursuit of ALL of Him. We know He is our Light and our Salvation, because His Word declares it. Our part is to love Him so much that we pursue with great persistence . . .Faith. That belief and trust that He really is there when we fall forward into His arms. His arms are that purpose and plan He has for our life. Take Esther for an example. She was a Jew, and she was chosen to be the Kings favored wife. When the whole plot about her people were to be killed came about, Mordecai quieted her comments by telling her what he felt was the purpose for her life. That it was no coincidence that things were in play to save her people. It was God's providence, His plan and His purpose for her to be heard. She agreed and took the mission to tell her King about the plot.
She fell forward into God's arms. She didn't look back. She didn't trust her human
fears. Inquiring of God is seeking Him. Requiring God, is seeking Him in prayer.

It puts you FIRMLY, SQUARELY, in His path for your life. It is fixing your future so it doesn't reflect your past. A Mordecai type individual crossed my path last November and prayed over me (us). Nothing has been the same since. God's providence becomes evident more every day. He is so very real and making Him the center focus of every minute, of every day is quite the adventure. I have had many adventures too! This one is my favorite.

Read Esther.

Happy Spring!

THE TOOL OF STEADFASTNESS!

Psalm 27. The entire chapter talks about how we can fix our future so it doesn't reflect our past!

Psalm 27: 1

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation - whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27: 7

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud for mercy and be gracious to me and answer me!

Psalm 27: 8

You have said, Seek My face (inquire for and require My presence as your vital need). My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require (of necessity and on the authority of Your Word). . .

There is so much to talk about here, I scarcely know where to start. Notice words like: whom shall I fear or DREAD?

Inquire and Require His presence. I seek. Vital need. When we SEE the Lord is our Light and Salvation, when we take that in. When we process that whole idea and visualize what that looks and feels like, there is no reason to fear anything or anyone.

When we say, hear me O Lord, be gracious and merciful, it needs to be our push to trust and know He will answer. He will set us free to be free indeed.

When we inquire and require His presence. Practice that. His Word is clear and precise.

So what is our problem then? Why do we gasp for air? Why do we get so blown out of the water over life and its events? Yes, it is true we are human. So that my friends is why we have the Bible and His Word and we need to draw near and He will draw near to us. It is our only real anxiety pill - call down medication. Take your humanness to God, to His Word. Take it in, hold that Bible to your chest and let it absorb into your being.

Part Two Sunday!

TAKING CAPTIVE. . .

EVIL OR BAD THINKING IS ANOTHER TOOL TO FIX YOUR FUTURE.


II Corinthians 10: 5 Amplified version

"(Inasmuch as we) refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."

and - NIV

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Verse 6, And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete."

Both versions represent a timely and poignant part of our daily living for Christ. Years ago, when I was in college, they called it "Stinkin Thinkin". We may see something on TV, or hear something someone says, get a phone call, just one little thought flicked at us from the Enemy; and away we go with our thoughts, feelings, and then it becomes real for us. You will hear from many theologians and speakers of the Word, that the mind is a dangerous thing. It is a battle for the mind. How true it is. And, don't get me wrong, real things happen to us that settle in our perspectives.

And, what is the answer you ask.

Evaluating our thinking. Checking it out. "Does it line up with God's Word?" "Does it stand as truth before the living Jesus Christ?" "Is it causing a negative stir?" "Have I checked it out to see if it is worth getting stirred up over?"

If I haven't learned anything, I have learned the hard way to check out that idea, or thought. I can't always trust myself in certain cases. So I decided I would have to check each thing out and bring it to the Lord in prayer and question. "Did she mean to brush by me without speaking, what have I done now?" The other learning is that if it feels negative, or uneasy I need to check it out. If I loose my peace that day, why? Check it out. What do I need to do to check it out? God is telling us to take captive unrestful thoughts. Things that bring frustration, anxiety, and fear. These kinds of things will drive us to the edge and keep us held hostage to the past.

I believe God ALWAYS shows us the truth if we ask, seek and knock. The key here then is, what? ALWAYS ASK, SEEK, AND KNOCK. Go until you know. I have had a lot of surprises doing that. I love God's surprises. Whew, I dodged another stupid idea and perspective. Sue I have good ones, good instincts. I also check them out.

What this means is a 24/7 focus on God. Some people find that too much work. I truly have learned to love it. I am so much more at peace these days. I carry out the trash every day! IT WORKS!!!

Another TOOL for . . .

Fixing your future so it doesn't reflect your past!

Coming Sunday - in the meantime read 11 Cor. 10: 5

DON'T REFLECT YOUR PAST!

Luke 9: 62


"Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back (to the things behind) is fit for the kingdom of God."

When I read this many years ago, I thought it was pretty tough talk. I argued that we do need to look back to see how far we've come and are we on the straight and narrow. Are the rows straight and did I get everything done just right. Figuratively, of course. Over the years I have come to understand this differently, and especially through counseling. People spend a lot of time looking back and condemning themselves or circumstances. They will blame the economy for their bad decisions, or themselves for everything. I believe Jesus is saying here, that, He has a plan for our life and His will for us is always meant for good. We need to grab onto the truth, the good and move forward.

Fixing our future so it doesn't reflect our past is an art to be sure. You will hear some say, "Well I will never amount to anything, just ask my dad, or mom." Some grandparents can be heard telling us those things as well. It is a natural thing to get out there and prove them wrong, and there is another natural temptation to sit down and give up. HOw do you see it?

God gave me this phrase when Logan, our 21 year old grandson, left Fort Wayne and headed west. And, not just because I said that, but he did fix it. He put his hand to the plan and made new footprints.

We always have a choice. We can forgive or not. We can hate or not. We can condemn ourselves and live a negative life or not. This is why I am so passionate about teaching people to forgive emotionally. They can make a choice, of course, to not fix things and look back. Most of them make a choice to go forward.

II Corinthians 5: 17

"Therefore if any person is (in-grafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!"

Yes, we can look back to remember how far we've come and praise our God! He is emphasizing in Luke 9: 62, that we are not to ignore His plan for our life by always condemning our future. Forgive and hang on tighter.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

You didn't really think I wouldn't jump the gun did you?

Until tomorrow - How to fix your future without it reflecting your past.

"OUR GIFT TO OTHERS. . .

AND OURSELVES" IS:

Giving them (and ourselves) Permission to NOT be perfect!

There are times each and every day that we may be experiencing the need to forgive someone for offenses. It could be a family member, a friend, a co-worker, a boss, and a person of leadership in the church.

When I was challenged this morning to think about whether I was answering God's call on my life or even dreams about my life, it caused me to reflect.

What is my dream - and you have heard me say before, I believe I do have the platform that has been there since I can remember. The Pollyanna in me is to get an "aha" moment and then want others to share my wonderful growth moment. Last year I worked on glitches. Glitches can be quite amusing or they can bring great depression. I decided to make them amusing and work hard to bring prudence and balance to those major changes.

And, so, what does this have to do with forgiveness? It is a BURNING desire to talk about it, to write about it, and to counsel with it in my practice. I could read a dozen Psychology magazines and utilize all those tools, and it wouldn't do half the Holy, permanent work that Embracing Emotional Forgiveness does. I wrote an article and used too many words. I have just resubmitted my 1500 word article to a magazine. After I put it in the mail, I realized, I need to write a handbook on this most important tool of God's guidelines for living a victorious life. I read about it from other authors, but never how to Embrace Emotional Forgiveness. I praise God that He put in my life, Pastor Harold Graham 22 years ago. The Holy Spirit gave him the formula One of peace and contentment in whatever circumstances we are living.

Let's look at Mark 11: 25/26.

"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your own failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings."

God's Word is perfect and truth. And, so we know we have to forgive on a logical, black and white level. I am here to tell you, however, you don't always forgive from the emotional part of your being. 22 - years after I learned about this issue, I know what I am saying. We do NOT give people in our lives permission to be imperfect. We hoard and fantasize what we would do if we had the nerve. Oh, and especially if I weren't a Christian.

Our gift to the people in our lives is the gift to be imperfect. I will be writing this handbook and sharing some of those excerpts. I will let you all know when it is done and you may request a copy for a very nominal fee. (Paper costs etc.) Take this very important message to heart and watch God honor your relationships and life.

I Thess. 5: 11

"Therefore encourage (admonish,exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing."

Do you have people you need to take off the hook? God will show you.

Part Two 3-11-12
shirley.faith.souder@gmail.com