Do you need to break free?

Last Tuesday, the leader of the Women’s Study for Esther read this and she sent it out today in an e-mail I thought it was worth sharing…

Beth Moore writes in her book Praying God’s Word these words concerning pride…

 

“Pride is not the opposite of low self-esteem.  Pride is the opposite of humility.  We can have a serious pride problem that masquerades as low self-esteem.  Pride is self-absorption with how miserable we are or how wonderful we are.  We are wise to be on the constant lookout for pride in our lives…My name is PRIDE.  I am a cheater.  I cheat you of your God given-destiny because you demand your own way.  I cheat you of contentment because you ‘deserve better than this’. I cheat you of knowledge because you already know it all.  I cheat you of healing because you’re too full of me to forgive.  I cheat you of holiness because you refuse to admit when you’re wrong.  I cheat you of vision because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.  I cheat you of genuine friendship because nobody’s going to know the real you.  I cheat you of love because real romance demands sacrifice.  I cheat you of greatness in heaven because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.  I cheat you of God’s glory because I convince you to seek your own.  My name is PRIDE.  I am a cheater.  You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you.  Untrue.  I’m looking to make a fool of you.  God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry.  If you stick with me you’ll never know.”

Have you been Thrown?

Okay,  I need to continue blogging about Beth Moore – GET OUT OF THAT PIT.  I have made it goal to read a chapter a day until I am done with the book and of course I have picked out several books on my bookshelf that I haven’t bothered to read, but today was all about being, “thrown into a pit.”  She said you are thrown into a pit when you get into a pit when you are innocent and something happens that causes you to get into a pit.”  She used Genesis 37:23-25 as a reference when Joseph was thrown into the  pit by his brothers.  A pit is when  you get stuck, you can’t stand up, and you have no vision because of what someone has done to you.   I have been there.  I can remember staying in the mess also.  Beth made a point if someone else did it to you – you need to forgive that person.  I understand that – a few years ago I was in a pit and I went to a counselor and she got to the heart of the situation, of my hurt and that is the lack of forgiveness on my part and let me tell you it was not fun being me for about a week struggling with the lack of forgiveness in my heart.  I blamed them – IT’S ALL THEIR FAULT.  I love how she said that the only person who is hurting when you hold a grudge is you.  I was holding a grudge and it was only hurting me – deep down. (I could write another whole thing on forgiveness but that isn’t what this is about).

The second way we can get into a pit is self-blame.   I need to add some of Beth’s words because her words are better than mine -”Satan is a master at using our own insecurity against us.  He knows that deep in our hearts we’re so fragile and injured by life that his faintest whisper will talk us into feeling guilty even when we’re not.  Satan know the hardest person for us to forgive will always be ourself. Most people never do forgive themselves.   – Have you forgiven yourself for a wrong you committed and how did you finally forgive yourself, because to be honest I get angry at myself for some things I have done in the past?

And lastly It’s all God fault.  I have never said that – I might have said – “Why did God allow this to happen”.  I love how Beth Moore said in her latest study we can have a reversal of destiny.  This reversal of destiny happens we you finally understand that God wants to use your hurts – the rejection of peers, the words that were said to you.  At the end of this chapter she says this and it made me stop and pause -Would I be willing to hear those same I words I spoke to Keith?  YOu have the capacity to be a ten times neater person healed then you would have been just plain well.  Your wealth of experience makes you rich.  Spend it on hurt people.”  GOD CAN USE YOUR BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT AND HURT!  God can change the course of MY life and that is what I am praying that God uses all these situations and use them to further his kingdom.   He is EL ROI!!!   The God who sees!

At the end of the chapter she ended with this – “Beloved, let this one sink in deeply: if God allowed you to be thrown into a pit, you weren’t picked on; you were picked out.  God entrusted that suffering to you because he has faith in you.  Live up to it.  All the way up.

When I finished reading this chapter my heart was heavy.  “Lord, make me an instrument to reach those that you love.  Make me an instrument to those people who have the same experiences as I had.  Change the direction of my life.  Let me have a peripety in my life”

Are you a pit dweller?

Excuse me?  Are you a pit dweller?  No, I don’t mean stuck in a hole somewhere – I mean a spiritual pit, a mental pit.  Let me define it for you (all credit for this goes to Beth Moore – from Get Out of that Pit!):

1. Are you stuck????   Do you feel trapped??  Do you think you can’t get much lower and instead you do – Beth made a point that you can’t live at maintenance level in a pit  She says that we can’t get ourselves out of the pit.
2. Can you stand?  Beth – “If you and I are going to be victorious people we’ve got to stand with our town own two feet on solid ground…Drawing from the figurative application, we’ll define pit this way: a pit is an early grave that Satan’s digs for you in hopes he can bury you alive. Should you fall into it, make no mistake, HE CANNOT make you stay.  Ironically, neither will God make you leave. LIKE IT OR NOT, some things are simply up to us.
3. Do you have vision?  A pit is so poorly lit that things that seem so obvious to us and one time doesn’t seem like it during the time we are a pit dweller.     We lose hope – we feel so buried in our present state to feel passionate about a promised futre.  We are here with purpose – God didn’t create us to go through the motions – God meant us to be part of something bigger than we are, something vital.

I know all about pits I have been in one and it was a struggle to get out – but thanks to some awesome sisters in Christ I got out.  I stopped looking at my feet and see them sinking and sinking and sinking – I was thrown into a pit  when I was young due to some cruel things that was said to me by peers and my folks not realizing how hurt I was – I DEFINITELY was a pit dweller.  I loved the pit – it was the only thing I knew but two sisters came a long side me and loved me in two totally different ways – one challenged me to change and the other walked with me while I was getting out of the pit.    I got out of the pit when I realized there was hope – I didn’t have to hurt anymore – I could forgive and get out of the pit.  I had some tough cards to deal with but God brought me through it.  I am so thankful for the last few years and those women who walked with me.  I still need to stop being a pit dweller when tough cards come my way….

I will write more as I read Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore!

Girlfriends in God

I get a daily devotional in the e-mail everyday and I thought I would share this one it’s called Bailing on God. It’s by Mary Southerland who writes some of these devotionals (it’s called Girlfriends in God and you can find at crosswalk.com) Anyway here it is:

March 9, 2009
Bailing on God
Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust God from the bottom of your heart.” (The Message)

Friend to Friend
I absolutely love being a grandmother and wholeheartedly agree with the saying, “If I had known grandchildren were so wonderful, I would have had them first!” Our fifteen-month-old granddaughter, Lelia Kay, sparkles with joy and has an infectious laugh that instantly captures your heart and compels you to laugh along with her. Consequently, our son, Jered, is always looking for ways to make her laugh. On a recent visit, he proudly demonstrated one of the new “tricks” he had taught Lelia. I was horrified!

Jered came home from work, scooped up his squealing daughter in his arms and gave her a big hug. Lelia giggled, grabbed her daddy’s shirt in both hands and looked up at Jered, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. He looked over at me and said, “Watch, mom!” Jered tightened his hold on his daughter’s chubby little legs, and said, “Bail, Lelia!” Surely, I had heard him wrong. Nope! My precious grandbaby immediately fell backwards through the air, hands dangling loosely over her head, swinging her little body through her daddy’s legs, laughing hysterically. My stomach fell and my mouth flew open as I watched her repeat this terrifying toddler version of bungee jumping. Not once did Lelia seem to be afraid or even cautious as she totally abandoned herself to the security of her father’s arms and heart.

That picture of faith took on a whole new meaning as we replayed it over dinner. Jered said, “I have to be careful. Lelia will sometimes bail on me when I’m not expecting it.” (Yes! That statement did increase my prayer life.) I looked at Jered and like so many times over the years, marveled at his strength, thinking of the countless hours he has spent lifting weights, playing football and now building and remodeling homes. His massive arms and shoulders are a testimony of discipline and power. No wonder Lelia feels safe and secure in those arms.

I decided then and there that I want to be like Lelia. I want my faith in God to grow to the place where I can bail on God and totally abandon myself to my Father’s safe, strong arms, secure in the knowledge that He will catch me when I fall. I want to obey God without fear, trusting Him to be all I need. I want to depend on and experience God’s power and strength as I plunge into His plan for my life, knowing that He is aware of every step I take, that He monitors every breath I breathe and sees every tear I cry.

How about you? Are you ready to bail into the arms of God?

We will wait…

As I was watching the study tonight, It was all on waiting for the Lord.  It is tought to Wait on the Lord instead of waiting on a person or event.  I know it tough to wait but a point she made really struck me – sometimes we need to wait for the other person’s time.  God will prompt us not only when it is the right time for us but the other person as well.  It is tough – to wait – to be patient – it’s tough being a women when we have to balance between passion and people.  I thought of Lincoln Brewster’s song…Everlasting God (one of my very favorite songs):

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary

You’re the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

I am truly enjoying this study and it also ties into what my Life Group is studying in Hosea as well.  I am thankful for not only this Bible Study on Tuesday but the Life Group I am a part of on Monday nights. 

 

Tight Fist of Fear

“And if I perish, I perish” – Queen Esther.

How would you react if you got a message where they are going to wipe out your entire race and you need to approach the person who ordered it? Of course, I would be scared to death.  That is the challenge that Queen Esther had and after she fasted and prayed for three days she was willing to go to the King with this saying – “if I perish, I perish”.

Beth Moore opened my eyes to the fact that fear sometimes determines what we do and don’t for the Kingdom.  I know that is true in my life and fears such as rejection and I might fail pop up in my head.  This week I really realized this truth in my life.  Moore made some good points in her video.  There were two points that really captured my heart and my head.  Esther had a choice.  Esther had the choice whether or not to approach the King.  I have the choice to face my fear.  I have the choice – I can determine the course I go.  Moore said we don’t have to do the same old thing.  I think about my heart and my passion and what I would love to do yet I don’t step up because I fear the answer “NO”.  What a chicken I am!  Moore said we can protect ourselves right out of our calling.  I know the next step for me.  I also fear the answer “GO FOR IT”.  I fear failure.  I fear falling on my face especially when it comes to ministry.  So, I have some growth in this area to do!  I have to overcome myself in order to do what God had created my to do.  God is so incredibly patient and loving towards me.

The next point is awesome – Esther took the courage she was offered.  Jesus offered us courage.  The question I have to answer in my life is – will I take the courage or will be held in a tight fist of fear?  I remember the story that Mark 6 has and how Jesus said “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid”  If God really has called me to something – don’t you think he will make a way.

I pray that this lesson will change my life after all that is what scripture is suppose to do – change our life!