Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 25 ... II Kings 12 - 14 "Hate Selfishness More Than Unhappiness"
II Kings 14:24 "As far as God was concerned, he lived an evil life..." It really doesn't matter what our husband, our children, our friends, our pastors think concerning how we live our lives. As far as God is concerned about me and you, what would He say about the way we conduct our daily affairs? We just learned from Solomon that wisdom, money, power, gifts do NOT define a great king. Solomon never learned to love. Great people love well. Are we content with a good moral life? Are we satisfied with success? What does it look like for me to really walk with God this day? Six words of C.S. Lewis come to mind: "We are far too easily pleased" --- with ourselves, with what looks like apparent success, with conquering the circumstances of our lives. So what does God really think of how we are dealing with the fray of our heart? "You'll know My Plan is working when you realize you're beginning to hate your selfishness more than your unhappiness." 66 LL. You know, I've been unhappy about losing so many friends in my lifetime. And I'm unhappy about some other big stuff too! But, I'm so stirred by that quote and I am broken over my selfishness more. And that God would provide for me in the midst of my selfish ways! Oh My! Hating my selfishness more than my unhappiness "gets the real battle underway, the battle against sin, against your natural inclinations. As long as you see unhappiness as your worst problem, you'll think God should treat you better than He does...until you recognize that the way you relate to Me and to others is wicked, you'll see nothing that requires repentance." Help us all, LORD, to repent this day of our own evil ways.
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Okay, Deborah, so spill the beans. Who did you get to see? Did some of our friends attend? Met any new siestas? Will you post on your blog? I hope it was a very encouraging time for you!
ReplyDeleteOkay, Annette, tell us about your first outing in 3 weeks since surgery! HOW ARE YOU??? How was Bisagno?? My first pastor ever! I have him frozen in time as I was a recent college grad and thought he was really old THEN---so is he like 100 now? Ha! It has been almost 40 years ago since I've seen him. Wow. I hope you are doing well this beautiful morning!
ReplyDeleteOkay Michele H...I miss you! Are you out there?
ReplyDeleteOkay all the rest of all of you...I could okay each one of you. I just love the ways all of you are dealing with the crazy stupid evil things we all do. Someone described it as cancer of our soul. And you know the One, A Great Physician, Who has the cure for your disease. Praise God Aslan is on the move in your lives because you are submitting to "His Severe Mercy." Last summer, Crabb said this line to me: "Your suffering is God's Severe Mercy to you to put you in touch with what you are most afraid of." HE is after holiness in all of us. It's such an honor to know each of you, be known by you, and hear the beautiful cries of your hearts for holiness, for HIM! I love you all!!! Comment when you can!
ReplyDeleteMagnificent! What a day to thank God and worship my Redeemer, my Deliverer. Dr. Bisagno was funny, witty, and dead-on with a word about authentic love and marriage. His son and wife were with him and he gave God unashamed glory. I made it through the first set of songs standing, but sat after the offering. I never have done that, and realized it carved me out a little space where no one could see me, and I worshipped without distraction, like only Jesus and I were in that little nook. I came away with the same message that I have through 2 Kings and my own reflection these past few weeks: I need to love better, more wholly, more like Christ. That's all there is when it comes right down to it--extending the love that is so abundantly given to each of us in Christ.
ReplyDeleteWhere are you all in all this confrontation of evil? Does it make your heart as raw as mine? I see the vilest kings and realize I'm not one iota better than they. God knows my heart. It isn't very pretty. I pray this evening, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
We sang "Rock of Ages" this morning, one of my favorite hymns. I watched an elderly man, sitting all alone, sing every verse. He was not able to stand, had no hymnbook and didn't look at either of the two screens to his right or left. He's there every Sunday. He is finishing well. I want what he has.
ReplyDelete"Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me Savior or I die."
FG Foever Grateful
I read back over my comment this morning...don't want to give the impression that I think this man is "finishing well" because he is in church every Sunday, etc...I try to go over and talk with him, listen to him, and I see a most beautiful heart. I'm watching, talking, listening to people that I didn't have time for last year. I still have a long way to go. A heart set on pilgrimage, but not wanting to miss people on the way.
ReplyDeleteFG
I've not written much about what my struggles are right now, they seem so minor compared to what everone else is dealing with,so I've not shared them. I will tell you that what everyone else is going thru has spoken to my heart and blessed me when I see the Jesus in you all, "live"it out in your words that you write. Looking forward to your post about Blair. Blessing you for all you share with all of us and how you shine for Him and how you are living for Him...love you...
ReplyDeleteI had a bittersweet time, Bev. My brother was driven by ambulance back to the hospital very early Saturday morning. He was spiking fever after his bypass surgery. My family called me with the news around 1 am. Then let me know he was admitted to the hospital and had pneumonia.
ReplyDeleteI was lying there in the bed debating whether to go home or stay for the event.
I had felt such a strong feeling of the enemy's anger at this gathering of women intent on overcoming their insecurities.
I saw with my heart that this was an attempt to sidetrack me...to take my focus away from God's plan for my life.
So I fought valiantly in that bed through prayer and intercession. God, take care of my brother and heal him. I cannot be there for him but You can be. I surrender him into Your care and trust You with this need.
I then felt at peace.
I really didn't spend much time with siestas this time. I had been asked to help work at the LPM table with their Bible studies and messages available for purchase.
Do you know what an honor that was for me? Those messages have changed my life because of the TRUTH that is taught through them. That was one reason why I knew I had to serve God at that event instead of going back home. He had brought me there for this opportunity. And it was an honor.
I did meet KMac, Diane, Nancy and one other staff member (so sorry but I can't remember her name). And we were surrounded by Travis' praise team as the event was closing up and we were boxing up the remaining items. They were so on fire for this event! Travis...no words. He is just so loved by all of us. He told us as he started the praise and worship time that we needed to sing to our Redeemer. That he couldn't sing for us. Each of us needed our own relationship as redeemed. And that in the 300,000+ women watching this event, we were a "one" to God. That set the mood for the entire event to just be filled with our love for our Saviour.
Beth was tender with this teaching. So very tender. This was not a topic, it was pain and healing. And it was meant for us today and for the next generation of women. Beautiful message. Beautiful messenger. Beautiful and tender Healer. He was so loving to all of us there in His Name.
This one was more like a reunion...Fuzzytop, GaJan, Emmy and her beautiful daughter Lizzie, Momofeleven, Lorabythelamplight, OceanMommy, Fran, Jennyhope, Yolanda, Holly (a blogger I met on the plane home from the Scripture Memorization event in Houston), Karen Barrows, Nikkipoppins, AbbyLane, LindseeLou, 3girlsmom, Gratefulinga and so many others. I did meet a few for the first time...Miranda was a beautiful young girl, Ang from LSOF, Kate (I had been wanting to meet her for a very long time).
And now I'm remembering more faces...Lisa, The Preacher's Wife.
Lord knows it was an honor seeing all of these godly women who inspire me so very much.
Oh, of course, Leah (The Point). I just love her.
We were also told at the beginning of the second session, that a muslim woman was saved at the end of the first session during an altar call. What a blessing that was! Talk about insecurity...a muslim woman in a group of mighty Christian women of faith!!!
ReplyDeleteI just love God's heart for women...
Food...let me tell you. I had the honor of spending this time with a friend from my hometown who does not blog. We stayed together at the hotel and spent Friday night shopping at Hobby Lobby, Lifeway and eating at Copeland's. My food was heavenly...angel-hair pasta with shrimp, artichokes, spinach and tomatoes...an angel biscuit...and cheesecake with white chocolate sauce and strawberry topping...plus cappucino. This was a new restaurant for me...New Orleans style. We had the pleasure of a live Jazz band serenading us as we ate.
God was very good to me this weekend. In spite of the crisis with my brother. I have blogged a little bit about this and I will share my notes later.
Sorry this is so long. But it was a very sweet time in Woodstock.
About these chapters. God is angry over this evil.
ReplyDeleteNow that really stirs me.
He is emotional. I know that.
He wept over Jerusalem.
He is longsuffering, not willing for any to perish...slow to anger and of great mercy.
But He is angry over this evil.
And He is angry over the evil in me.
I have so much to keep me from evil.
A family of faith.
Friends of godly influence.
A civilized society (well, at least I hope so).
My completed Bible...Old and New Testament.
Churches on every street corner.
The internet and blogging world.
Huge people of faith in my generation (Beth Moore, James Dobson, Max Lucado, Billy Graham).
But there is still evil in my heart that God wants me to destroy, just like Jehu did filled with zeal.
Only by His Holy Spirit can I begin to have victory in this battle. I pray for all of us to be guided and convicted and taught by His Spirit.
Thanks Deborah for the precious update---the names you mentioned are dear to my heart! Some I keep up with like Abby and Linds. Would have loved to have been there. It was my senior's last track meet of his life. In fact, last athletic event of my life after these past 25 years of athletic events. Britt is going to "walk on" at UT...so we'll see. Had to be with my boy.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry about your brother and hope that he is finding his God in the midst of all his suffering! And you too!
Thanks again for the great update! I spent a little bit on Facebook this afternoon and it was a sweet time. Read Ang's notes about being curved in on ourselves, etc. Very good!