Lessons I learned last week Saturday June 13th- Sunday June 21st:
- Authentic relationship requires risk. The more vulnerable, authentic and deep the relationship, the greater the risk that is required. The greater the risk, the more you have to lose. The more you have to lose, the greater the hurt when the shoe falls.
-
While it is the natural response of my heart, after insult and injury,
to feel: Deep heartache. Sadness. Anger.
to wrestle with temptation to believe lies: Undesireable. Worthless. Rejected. Dispensable.
to want to: Hate. Run. Build walls. Self-preserve. Withdrawl. – IT IS SIN TO DWELL IN THESE PLACES. -
Scripture refines our emotions and leads us back to the truth.
-
It is essential to STOP listening to yourself and START preaching to yourself.
-
And it is essential to pray for those who hurt you.
-
If one causes you pain– you are turn to him, forgive him and comfort him so that he is not overwhelmed with excessive sorrow and you are to reaffirm your love for him.
-
Love is not love if there are strings, expectations or conditions attached. Love is manifested without expecting ANYTHING in return. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Christ calls us to love one another with a pure, brotherly love.
-
God created both male and female in his image, but their ability to connect, communicate and understand one another effectively in this fallen world takes MUCH desire, time, patience and a persistance towards wanting to know the truth. This is how Community in Christ is created and maintained. A great lesson for the world race!
-
If, in all circumstances, we have FAITH in WHO God says he is and FAITH in WHAT God says he will do- we then have freedom from worry about the future, and have received the relinquishing power to let go of anything that we are holding onto which God has not rightly given. We have found the key to unlocking the secret door of contentment and extinguishing all the firey darts of Satan’s deceptiveness.
-
Cleaving to the Word of God and memorizing Scripture is how we build our foundation upon the solid Rock of Christ. I would have been destroyed this week if not for continually recalling and speaking out Scripture in times of intense sadness or anger, when the lies seemed overwhelming.
-
God is using all circumstances for my good in order that I might be conformed more and more to the image of Christ. He confirmed yesterday that he is using all my redeemed brokeness in relationship to men for the future glory of discipling broken women, who have been used and mistreated by men that I might empathize with them. (For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18). He is continually laying the sexually trafficked on my heart and mind.
-
God is renewing my desire to disciple and pour out my life for young women and gave me a fresh excitement for the ministry that I have with women in my house church now, and that I will have to women around the world (especially in Thailand), but also to my teammates on the world race!!
My Scriptural journey this week:
He will be like a tree planted by the water, which sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when the heat comes for its leaves are always green
and it does not grow anxious in times of drought for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17: 7-8
For he satisfies the longing soul and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”
Psalm 107:8-9
till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land [heart] Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land [heart] Beulah;
for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land [heart] will be married.
As a young man marries a young woman, so will your sons marry you;
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”
Isaiah 62:1-5
You lead me with your counsel and afterwards you will take me into glory.
Whom do I have in Heaven but you? And this earth has nothing I desire besides you.
Though my flesh and my heart may fail, you, O God, are the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:23-26
“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Romans 8:6
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first born among many brothers.”
Romans 8:28-29
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one”
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all, the Lord is near;
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving make your request known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding , will gurard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-6
“Now if anyone has caused pain . . . so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”
2 Corinthians 2: 5a & 7-11.
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love,
love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again,
not of perishable seed but of imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God;
for, ‘All flesh is grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.’
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”
1 Peter 1:22-25
Another piece carried away; soon nothing left to give.
Too many times toyed with and never pursued.
Young dreams of love contort; disfigured by nightmarish reality.
Forsake all, Beloved, of what you knew before; deceit no longer holds.
One step out from behind your wall; I know the risk, it scares you.
A trepid step; then timid gaze upon a sincere face, brings peace.
She, unknowingly, is holding out her hand; fingers slightly trembling.
He pulls her forth unto himself; her walls, left behind her crumbling.
Eyes opened by grace, flicker anew; mystery and beauty dance behind them.
