Become Rooted and Balanced in God's STEM
Space
Time
Energy
Money
What has it been like for you as you have been approached by temptations, trials, and troubles? Was it with an acknowledgement of God’s Joy, and a desire to endure them with patience?
Looking back over some of my own trying and specific trials, I’d have to say that initially my behavior was not very reflective of God’s Joy or His presence in my life, until I gained some new insight. As I looked at CHG #10 in relationship to the personal trials that I was facing, I realized that if I wanted to grow deeper in my communion with God and others, then I needed to recognize that when my feelings get all stirred up, especially with irritation, impulsiveness, frustration, defensiveness, and anger, I need to acknowledge that those feelings as red flags for me. In other words, they are a warning to stop! They are not just a warning to slow down or move forward with caution. If I ignore those red flag feelings, then I can become emotionally imbalanced and that effects how I handle the space, time, energy, and money that God has graciously given to me to use. If I choose to not heed those red flags, I run the risk of not modeling the patience and love that conveys God’s Joy in my life. I can become disrespectful for how I treat and use what is on loan to me, which includes everybody and everything. When I react rather than respond, which is CHG #11, I have a tendency to cut others off. I speak louder and I become more argumentative, abrupt, and impatient. When I recognize those red flags and stop to think rather than react, I am better prepared to experience the balance that comes from being patient and a willingness to endure, which means that I will be called to bear, stand, suffer, tolerate, sustain, or undergo, the temptation, trial, or trouble I face.
In my past, I often equated joy with how happy I was. What I have discovered, is that it is hard to be happy when you are sad or grieving. But, I can be joyful when I am sad or grieving. I can have Joy even when I do not feel happy.
What is Joy?
Joy = Rejoicing
Joy = Well being
Joy = The source or cause of my delight
Joy is what lives in me. It comes from within me.
Who is Joy?
Joy = Christ
What is Happy?
Happy = Luck
Happy = Chance Happenings
Happy is what exists outside of me. It comes from that which surrounds me.
It used to be that when I wanted to wish someone well, I would say, Good luck!” Now I say, “Blessings!” Life is not about some chance happening, it is purposeful, and blessings come from an intentional God, not some lucky charm. So whatever you are going through, peace or storms, highs or lows, jubilation or sorrow, count it all joy, because your joy is not by chance happenings. Your joy is secure in Christ. Philippians 4:4 says, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!”
When it comes to the symbolism that represents CHG #10, think of a long stemmed red rose, and its roots reaching deep into the ground. If you go back to the April 25, 2012 posting, you will see the rose diagram that I provided for you. I talked about the STEM being the acronym for space, time, energy, and money. This week, your SW is to think about yourself as that rose and to see how God uses its symbolism to speak to you about how you have grown in relationship to the seed you wanted to plant. If you need some reminding about that seed, go to your notes or journaling for the May 30, 2012 posting. Look at the SW and the one word you circled to be the seed you wanted to plant: healing, hope, love, or truth.
In addition, here is the Scripture that backs up CHG #10. “I am the Lord and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.” Malachi 3:6. We have talked about how God is constant and He is our anchor. We on the other hand are changing all the time. This week go to your Bible and look up Malachi 3:6 and reflect on the meaning that this Scripture has for you, and in the process, I pray you enjoy the journey and see the blessings.
July 24, 2013
July 4, 2013
Red, White, and Blue Wisdom
As we celebrate the birthday of our country, I pray
that you have a blessed and safe 4th of July. I was compelled to share some of our
forefather’s quotes that were in a 4th of July ad in the Fort Myers,
FL News Press, sponsored by Hobby Lobby, Hemispheres, and Mardel Stores. They
are so reflective of CHG #10.
George Washington – “It is the duty of all nations
to acknowledge the providence of God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His
benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor.”
John Adams – “…Our constitution was made only for a
moral and religious people…”
James Madison – “Before any man can be considered as
a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor
of the Universe.”
Thomas Jefferson – “And can the liberties of a
nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a
conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift of God?”
John Quincy Adams – “Is it not that in the chain of
human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the
birthday of the Savior?”
God – “If My people who are called by My name will
humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their
land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
July 3, 2013
Red Wednesday's Wisdom - CHG #10, Part Three
Become Rooted and Balanced in God's STEM
Space
Time
Energy
Money
What did you learn from your SW when you Googled the words “scripture count it all joy?” The first Scripture reference that came up for me was from the King James Bible. The King James Bible was one of the earliest Old English translations of the Bible and it is a challenge to read and comprehend. The second reference came from the New King James Version, which is much easier to follow and understand. And as I have said before, The Life Recovery Bible, which uses the New Living Translation, is what The Holy Spirit has put on my heart to use when teaching the clutter healing model because of its easier read and appeal to one’s heart, especially if you are not accustomed to reading the Bible.
The Scripture reference for counting it all joy comes from James1:2-3.
♥ (King James Version)
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
♥ (New King James Version)
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience
♥ (New Living Translation)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
Here is how I have highlighted and organized my thoughts as I have meditated on James 1:2-3 based on the above Bible translations:
1. As believers in Christ, which is what brethren or brothers and sisters are, we are to count all temptations, trials, or trouble as joy. This thought is certainly not a worldly view, but it is most assuredly God’s view for how we are to live in this earthly world. Having this kind of Godly perspective is what will help us to become rooted and balanced in God’s space, time, energy and money.
2. All temptations, trials, or trouble, are a testing of my faith. We talked about this faith testing when I presented CHG #9. Abraham was our example in learning how to focus and surrender control to God.
3. Why does my faith get tested? Because it produces the patience to endure.
This coming week, your SW is twofold:
♥ Ask the Holy Spirit to help you face your temptations, trials, and troubles with Joy, as you learn to patiently endure.
♥ Consider the difference between Joy and happiness.
Space
Time
Energy
Money
What did you learn from your SW when you Googled the words “scripture count it all joy?” The first Scripture reference that came up for me was from the King James Bible. The King James Bible was one of the earliest Old English translations of the Bible and it is a challenge to read and comprehend. The second reference came from the New King James Version, which is much easier to follow and understand. And as I have said before, The Life Recovery Bible, which uses the New Living Translation, is what The Holy Spirit has put on my heart to use when teaching the clutter healing model because of its easier read and appeal to one’s heart, especially if you are not accustomed to reading the Bible.
The Scripture reference for counting it all joy comes from James1:2-3.
♥ (King James Version)
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
♥ (New King James Version)
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience
♥ (New Living Translation)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
Here is how I have highlighted and organized my thoughts as I have meditated on James 1:2-3 based on the above Bible translations:
1. As believers in Christ, which is what brethren or brothers and sisters are, we are to count all temptations, trials, or trouble as joy. This thought is certainly not a worldly view, but it is most assuredly God’s view for how we are to live in this earthly world. Having this kind of Godly perspective is what will help us to become rooted and balanced in God’s space, time, energy and money.
2. All temptations, trials, or trouble, are a testing of my faith. We talked about this faith testing when I presented CHG #9. Abraham was our example in learning how to focus and surrender control to God.
3. Why does my faith get tested? Because it produces the patience to endure.
This coming week, your SW is twofold:
♥ Ask the Holy Spirit to help you face your temptations, trials, and troubles with Joy, as you learn to patiently endure.
♥ Consider the difference between Joy and happiness.
June 19, 2013
Red Wednesday's Wisdom - CHG #10, Part Two
Become Rooted and Balanced in God's STEM
Space
Time
Energy
Money
First of all, I want to honor the man who has been most significant in my life. Today is his 80th birthday, so I want to say, “Happy birthday, Daddy, and I pray that this upcoming year brings you a renewed strength and balance as you enter into a deeper relationship with our precious Heavenly Daddy. Our Father loves you so very much and He created you to be His gift to the world. Thank you, Lord, for my earthly Daddy and the love he has blessed us with.”
This past week your SW was designed to help you get clear on what has been causing you to depend on your self-wavering decisions and actions rather than asking God for His unchanging and grounded constancy and supportive direction. As you listened to the song, “Count it All Joy,” I asked you to identify in one sentence what the cause for a lack of joy could be in your life.
Every time I hear these words, “Count it all Joy,” I am taken back to the first and only time in my life when I felt like I had lost my joy. I had actually verbalized this feeling to my mother-in-law, after being separated from my husband who was her son. I will never forget how she responded, “Colleen, you will feel it again.” For more than a year, I lingered on her response of hope as I waited and wanted to believe in what she had said, even though I had no idea of how that would happen. But it did. The process was a slow and gradual one, but it did take place. It was the result of moving away from my wavering self dependence, and looking to the rock solid dependence of God, and more specifically, being open to God’s Son, Jesus, who I came into a relationship with over the next few months.
It was my relationship with Jesus, and His Word, that brought that feeling of joy back into my life. Up to that point, I did not comprehend that my feeling of joy had always been the result of God working in my life. I attributed joy to the people or circumstances that I wanted or that existed, but I discovered that joy has only one connection. Joy has no tie to people or circumstances that are welcomed or unwelcomed. I discovered through God’s Holy Spirit that Jesus is my only source of Joy, and I had been unaware of this Truth. Joy is not just a feeling. Joy is Jesus and His presence in my life at all times, no matter what I am facing. Now I am aware that my feeling of joy is because I know Joy! And because I now know this, it does not matter what I go through in this life, I can still feel Joy because I know Him. Jesus is the One I am rooted in and find my strength and balance in.
After posting last week’s blog, that introduced you to CHG #10, I read these words in my devotion the next day. It focused on Joy, and the word Joy was capitalized, because Joy is a person. Joy is a man and Joy is God. Joy is Jesus. And here is an example of the personal history and intimacy that we can have with Him. This devotion that focused on my journey with Joy was on the anniversary date of my divorce. Here is what God wanted me to hear in “Jesus Calling” for June 13th: “I am creating something new in you: a bubbling spring of Joy that spills into others’ lives. Do not mistake this Joy for your own or try to take credit for it in any way. Instead, watch in delight as My Spirit flows through you to bless others. Let yourself become a reservoir of the Spirit’s fruit. Enjoy My Presence, which permeates you with Love, Joy, and Peace.”
This week your SW is to Google the words “scripture count it all joy.” See what comes up for you and what you learn. We will talk about it next week. May you be blessed with Joy in this upcoming week.
Space
Time
Energy
Money
First of all, I want to honor the man who has been most significant in my life. Today is his 80th birthday, so I want to say, “Happy birthday, Daddy, and I pray that this upcoming year brings you a renewed strength and balance as you enter into a deeper relationship with our precious Heavenly Daddy. Our Father loves you so very much and He created you to be His gift to the world. Thank you, Lord, for my earthly Daddy and the love he has blessed us with.”
This past week your SW was designed to help you get clear on what has been causing you to depend on your self-wavering decisions and actions rather than asking God for His unchanging and grounded constancy and supportive direction. As you listened to the song, “Count it All Joy,” I asked you to identify in one sentence what the cause for a lack of joy could be in your life.
Every time I hear these words, “Count it all Joy,” I am taken back to the first and only time in my life when I felt like I had lost my joy. I had actually verbalized this feeling to my mother-in-law, after being separated from my husband who was her son. I will never forget how she responded, “Colleen, you will feel it again.” For more than a year, I lingered on her response of hope as I waited and wanted to believe in what she had said, even though I had no idea of how that would happen. But it did. The process was a slow and gradual one, but it did take place. It was the result of moving away from my wavering self dependence, and looking to the rock solid dependence of God, and more specifically, being open to God’s Son, Jesus, who I came into a relationship with over the next few months.
It was my relationship with Jesus, and His Word, that brought that feeling of joy back into my life. Up to that point, I did not comprehend that my feeling of joy had always been the result of God working in my life. I attributed joy to the people or circumstances that I wanted or that existed, but I discovered that joy has only one connection. Joy has no tie to people or circumstances that are welcomed or unwelcomed. I discovered through God’s Holy Spirit that Jesus is my only source of Joy, and I had been unaware of this Truth. Joy is not just a feeling. Joy is Jesus and His presence in my life at all times, no matter what I am facing. Now I am aware that my feeling of joy is because I know Joy! And because I now know this, it does not matter what I go through in this life, I can still feel Joy because I know Him. Jesus is the One I am rooted in and find my strength and balance in.
After posting last week’s blog, that introduced you to CHG #10, I read these words in my devotion the next day. It focused on Joy, and the word Joy was capitalized, because Joy is a person. Joy is a man and Joy is God. Joy is Jesus. And here is an example of the personal history and intimacy that we can have with Him. This devotion that focused on my journey with Joy was on the anniversary date of my divorce. Here is what God wanted me to hear in “Jesus Calling” for June 13th: “I am creating something new in you: a bubbling spring of Joy that spills into others’ lives. Do not mistake this Joy for your own or try to take credit for it in any way. Instead, watch in delight as My Spirit flows through you to bless others. Let yourself become a reservoir of the Spirit’s fruit. Enjoy My Presence, which permeates you with Love, Joy, and Peace.”
This week your SW is to Google the words “scripture count it all joy.” See what comes up for you and what you learn. We will talk about it next week. May you be blessed with Joy in this upcoming week.
June 12, 2013
Red Wednesday's Wisdom - CHG #10, Part One
Become Rooted and Balanced in God's STEM
Space
Time
Energy
Money
As you examine CHG #10, let’s see what this CHG implies as being the basic cause of clutter when this guideline is not applied.
♥My clutter builds up when I am not rooted or grounded in God being my support.
♥My clutter builds up when I am out of balance with God’s plan for me.
♥My clutter builds up when I do not see that my space, time, energy and money are on loan to me from God, and He is One Who owns it all.
Therefore, when I am rooted and balanced in God, and acknowledge that everything (space, time, energy, and money) belongs to Him, I lessen my clutter and this brings healing to me.
What does it mean to be rooted? To be rooted means to be anchored, nourished, nurtured, settled, and supported. Where can you find that support? You can find it in Christ. He is the One you can be rooted in.
What does it mean to be balanced? To be balanced means that you are in a state of equilibrium and harmony. Where can you find that equilibrium? You can find it in Christ. He is the One Who you can be in balance with .
The Scripture to support CHG #10 is from the Book of Malachi. The book is only three chapters long and it is the last book of the Old Testament. Malachi was a prophet, and his name means. “My Messenger,” The message for us today in Malachi 3:6 is the same message as it was for people living thousands of years ago, “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed.”
What do you think Malachi 3:6 implies as being the basic cause of our clutter when CHG #10 is not applied?
♥My clutter builds up when I think that I know more than God.
♥My clutter builds up when I act like I am the Creator and owner of all.
♥My clutter builds up when I go through life without believing what God says.
When we consistently choose to live according to our own self sufficiency, it will eventually lead us down a path of self destruction. Today I hope you will choose to be rooted in God, Who is constant, Who has no beginning or end, Who is Sovereign, Who is the same today as He was yesterday, tomorrow, and for all of eternity. The love, grace, and forgiveness that God has for us never changes, and we can always find security and balance in these promises, and every promise, He has ever made. God has been, and always will be, a Promise Keeper.
This coming week your SW is designed to help you get clear on what has been causing you to depend on your self-wavering decisions and actions rather than asking for God’s unchanging and grounded constancy, and supportive direction. As you listen to the following song, “Count it All Joy,” by BeBe and CeCe Winans, use it to help you identify, in one sentence, what is causing you to lack joy in the midst of what you are going through.
Space
Time
Energy
Money
As you examine CHG #10, let’s see what this CHG implies as being the basic cause of clutter when this guideline is not applied.
♥My clutter builds up when I am not rooted or grounded in God being my support.
♥My clutter builds up when I am out of balance with God’s plan for me.
♥My clutter builds up when I do not see that my space, time, energy and money are on loan to me from God, and He is One Who owns it all.
Therefore, when I am rooted and balanced in God, and acknowledge that everything (space, time, energy, and money) belongs to Him, I lessen my clutter and this brings healing to me.
What does it mean to be rooted? To be rooted means to be anchored, nourished, nurtured, settled, and supported. Where can you find that support? You can find it in Christ. He is the One you can be rooted in.
What does it mean to be balanced? To be balanced means that you are in a state of equilibrium and harmony. Where can you find that equilibrium? You can find it in Christ. He is the One Who you can be in balance with .
The Scripture to support CHG #10 is from the Book of Malachi. The book is only three chapters long and it is the last book of the Old Testament. Malachi was a prophet, and his name means. “My Messenger,” The message for us today in Malachi 3:6 is the same message as it was for people living thousands of years ago, “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed.”
What do you think Malachi 3:6 implies as being the basic cause of our clutter when CHG #10 is not applied?
♥My clutter builds up when I think that I know more than God.
♥My clutter builds up when I act like I am the Creator and owner of all.
♥My clutter builds up when I go through life without believing what God says.
When we consistently choose to live according to our own self sufficiency, it will eventually lead us down a path of self destruction. Today I hope you will choose to be rooted in God, Who is constant, Who has no beginning or end, Who is Sovereign, Who is the same today as He was yesterday, tomorrow, and for all of eternity. The love, grace, and forgiveness that God has for us never changes, and we can always find security and balance in these promises, and every promise, He has ever made. God has been, and always will be, a Promise Keeper.
This coming week your SW is designed to help you get clear on what has been causing you to depend on your self-wavering decisions and actions rather than asking for God’s unchanging and grounded constancy, and supportive direction. As you listen to the following song, “Count it All Joy,” by BeBe and CeCe Winans, use it to help you identify, in one sentence, what is causing you to lack joy in the midst of what you are going through.
June 5, 2013
Red Wednesday's Wisdom - CHG #9, Part Four
Focus
and Surrender My Life to God’s Control
In you
previous SW I suggested that you write down your definition for:
♥Focus
♥Surrender
♥Control
♥Faith
♥Obedience
♥Fear
♥Surrender
♥Control
♥Faith
♥Obedience
♥Fear
As we look at these words with
more depth, see how your SW answers from the CHG #9 Part Two, bring a deeper
understanding to healing your own clutter.
♥What
is focus?
Focus
= Attention
Focus
= Concentration
Focus
= No distraction
Focus
= Eye to eye contact
Without focus I get scattered in my thinking, my movements, my
direction, and my behavior, and this causes me to become overwhelmed. Abraham was focused. He kept his eyes on Father God. Isaac was focused. He kept his eyes on father Abraham and Father
God. Christ was focused. He always kept His eyes upward towards His
heavenly Father.
Focus
= Christ
The message from my devotional
time today really summed up what I have just shared with you. “When your focus
is firmly on Me (Christ), My Peace displaces all your fears and worries. Let trust and thankfulness stand guard, turning
back fear before it gains a
foothold.”
♥What
is Surrender?
Surrender
= Letting go
Surrender = Releasing
Surrender = Obedience
Surrender =
Discipline
Surrender =
Submission
Surrender
= Forgiveness
Surrender
= Delivery/Deliverance
Surrender
= Trust
Without surrender we will hold on to the pile up of “stuff,” dis-ease, disobedience, unforgiveness, slavery, and mistrust. Abraham
surrendered his son. Isaac surrendered
to Abraham, his father. God the Father
surrendered His Son, Jesus. And Jesus
surrendered to His Father.
Surrender
= Christ
♥What
is control?
Control = Authority
Control = Strength
Control
= Rule
Control
= Guide
Without a transference of control from my hands to God’s, I will lack the
supernatural strength, authority, ruling and guidance that only comes from Him. Abraham, Isaac, and Jesus were in control because
their focus was on God. And because of this focus,
they had learned to surrender their lives to His
control.
Control
= Christ
♥What
is Faith?
Faith = Confidence
Faith = Belief
Faith = Trust
Without Faith, a belief in
Christ, I simply exist, but with Him, I live! When I reflect on faith and
trust, I see them intricately intertwined with one another. And when I sort through this intertwining, I
recognize that faith is my belief system, my belief in Christ (the noun) and trust
is that faith in action (the verb).
Faith = Christ
♥What
is obedience?
Obedience = Surrender
Obedience =
Willingness
Obedience = Outcome
of listening
Here is what Christ said about
obedience:
1. John 14:15 “If
you love me obey my commandments.”
2. John 14:21 “Those
who obey me are the ones who love my commandments.”
3. John 14:23 “All
those who love me will do what I say.”
4. Matthew 5:17 “I
did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them.”
Do you see the one word that Christ consistently spoke
as He talked about obeying the commandments?
It is the word - love! Since God
is Love, our relationship with Him is essential to bringing love and order into
our lives. Ongoing disobedience, more
than anything else, will bring:
♥Desperation = Hopelessness
♥Devastation = Emptiness
♥Destruction = Destroyed
God = Love. And
choosing to love is a choice. Choosing God is a choice. Discipline and
obedience come out of love. Choosing to
be disciplined and obedient is a choice. God and His love for us came first. God with His law for us came second. To surrender
is to know true love. To surrender is to be
obedient because I love.
God Spoke to Abraham and God Speaks to Us.
When you choose to follow God, He will speak to you in very
personal ways. He will give you
instruction, and you will make a decision to follow Him or ignore Him. When you
love someone, you want to obey.
Disciple = Follower
Discipline = Instruction
Discipline = Self control
The word discipline comes from the word disciple. The disciples were followers of Jesus. They
listened to the instructions given by Jesus, and they became disciplined. The
Disciples started out as 12 and became 11.
One of them, Judas, chose to ignore the love of God, who came to earth
as the flesh and blood, Christ in his presence. We are also disciples learning
discipline through the instructions of God’s Word and choosing what we will do.
Obedience = Christ
♥What
is Fear?
Fear is the opposite of Faith
Fear = Intimidation
Fear = Timidity
Fear = Anxiety
Fear = Worry
Fear = Imaginary
Fear = Unreal
FEAR
is:
False
Expectations
Appearing
Real
Who is Fear?
Fear = A spirit
Fear = The enemy
Fear = Satan
Fear = 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit
of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self discipline.”
God’s Word tells us that we are
to fear the Lord, but this fear is not the spirit of fear.
Fear of the Lord = Respect of the
Lord
Fear of the Lord = Awe of the
Lord
Fear of the Lord = Proverbs 14:27 “Fear of the Lord is a life-giving
fountain: it offers escape from the snares of death.”
Fear of the Lord = Proverbs 19:23 “Fear of the Lord gives life, security,
protection from harm.”
A life without the Lord will be restless and lacking in
peace. It will be a life that is
ultimately rooted in fear.
As you review the four part postings
to CHG #9, I make this prayer request as you apply the content to this CHG in
your life. Please help us Lord, to do
what we do out of love and not out of our need to control. Help us to have a heart that is willing to
obey You, because of your love for us, and our love for You. And then we pray that our love for one
another will prove to the world that we are Your disciples.” John 14:33
May 22, 2013
Red Wednesday's Wisdom - CHG #9, Part Three
Focus and Surrender My Life to God’s Control
How challenging did you find the SW for CHG # 9? The surrender part of this guideline is what consistently gnaws at my heart. When I look at the 6 questions that this SW presented in light of the Scriptures that are about faith and obedience to God and my relationships, like the father/son relationship between Abraham and Isaac, I realize how much clutter I can still create when it comes to my personal relationships and acquaintances. Here is how I answered those questions with one word.
1. Who or what needs my focus? Mouth
My mouth is the “what” to this question, and it is in terms of what I speak, eat, or drink.
2. Who or what do I need to surrender? Mouth
The “what” in this question is just like the answer to my focus. It is my mouth, and I need to surrender it to God. My mouth can be disobedient to God’s plan in terms of what I choose to speak, eat, or drink. Feeding into those unhealthy choices can eventually have an adverse effect on my overall physical and spiritual health and it can bring emotional pain, not only to me, but to others as well. There are so many times when I think about the apostle Paul and identify with what he said in Romans 7:15, “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.”
3. Who or what are you needing to let God control rather than yourself? Mouth
This time, the “what” to this question relates to my mouth and particularly my words. Too often my words need to be more kind and gentle. When I hear my daughter so sweetly correcting my grandchildren to speak with more gentleness and kindness, I realize that her message is for me as well, and that it reflects what God’s Word tells me in Galatians 5:22-23, “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” 20 years ago I had a dear friend who helped me to identify the need to be gentler, and 20 years later I am still working on being gentler. As we have learned from CHG #5, change is a slow and gradual process, but I can see the many layers that God has been peeling away as our family slowly and gradually heals from our long term history of hurtful words.
4. What keeps you from having faith? Doubt
At this time in my life, I would have to say that the doubt is linked to discipline, particularly with my exercising and what I consume. Over the course of my life time, my discipline in these areas has been pretty unwavering, but as of lately, there has been less conviction. I feel like I am at a crossroads both physically and spiritually, and I know that it is closely connected to the past two years and the diagnosis of two rare cancers. Writing down these thoughts and feelings is so important because experience has taught me that when I do this the answers will come, even though they are not there for me right now. Once again, I find myself identifying with a man whose story is told in the Book of Mark. Open up your own Bibles and read Mark 8:14-29. In these verses, you find a father whose son was possessed by an evil spirit and the boy got healed by Jesus. The story is about faith, and some people’s lack of it. In Mark 8:23, the father makes this comment to Jesus, “I do believe, but help me with my doubt!”
5. What lacks obedience in your life? Mouth
From my answers to these questions, you can see that that I have used the same one word to answer four of the questions. My mouth is what I have been focusing on as I surrender it to God’s control. Being obedient to God’s personal plan regarding how I need to speak and what I need to avoid with respect to what I eat, will enhance my health, and help me to be more kind and gentle in what I say.
6. What are you fearful of? Disobedience
My disobedience is related to my mouth.
Disobedience = Sin
Sin = Clutter
As I think about disobedience being equal to sin, and sin equal to clutter, it is a good time to also remind myself that I will always be dealing with the issues of disobedience and sin until the day I die. Remember when I first introduced you to the concept of clutter? I said that clutter never goes away. We can though minimize it and we can lessen it, and thus experience healing; that is what I need to remember and hold on to as I focus and surrender control to God.
This week your SW is to write down your definition for:
♥Focus
♥Surrender
♥Control
♥Faith
♥Obedience
♥Fear
In closing, I pray Father, we come to you wanting to release our fears to You. Please replace those fears with the FAITH that only comes from believing in You and what Your Word tells us. Show us how to walk out in that faith by TRUSTING in You to meet our every need no matter how small or big it may be.
How challenging did you find the SW for CHG # 9? The surrender part of this guideline is what consistently gnaws at my heart. When I look at the 6 questions that this SW presented in light of the Scriptures that are about faith and obedience to God and my relationships, like the father/son relationship between Abraham and Isaac, I realize how much clutter I can still create when it comes to my personal relationships and acquaintances. Here is how I answered those questions with one word.
1. Who or what needs my focus? Mouth
My mouth is the “what” to this question, and it is in terms of what I speak, eat, or drink.
2. Who or what do I need to surrender? Mouth
The “what” in this question is just like the answer to my focus. It is my mouth, and I need to surrender it to God. My mouth can be disobedient to God’s plan in terms of what I choose to speak, eat, or drink. Feeding into those unhealthy choices can eventually have an adverse effect on my overall physical and spiritual health and it can bring emotional pain, not only to me, but to others as well. There are so many times when I think about the apostle Paul and identify with what he said in Romans 7:15, “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it.”
3. Who or what are you needing to let God control rather than yourself? Mouth
This time, the “what” to this question relates to my mouth and particularly my words. Too often my words need to be more kind and gentle. When I hear my daughter so sweetly correcting my grandchildren to speak with more gentleness and kindness, I realize that her message is for me as well, and that it reflects what God’s Word tells me in Galatians 5:22-23, “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” 20 years ago I had a dear friend who helped me to identify the need to be gentler, and 20 years later I am still working on being gentler. As we have learned from CHG #5, change is a slow and gradual process, but I can see the many layers that God has been peeling away as our family slowly and gradually heals from our long term history of hurtful words.
4. What keeps you from having faith? Doubt
At this time in my life, I would have to say that the doubt is linked to discipline, particularly with my exercising and what I consume. Over the course of my life time, my discipline in these areas has been pretty unwavering, but as of lately, there has been less conviction. I feel like I am at a crossroads both physically and spiritually, and I know that it is closely connected to the past two years and the diagnosis of two rare cancers. Writing down these thoughts and feelings is so important because experience has taught me that when I do this the answers will come, even though they are not there for me right now. Once again, I find myself identifying with a man whose story is told in the Book of Mark. Open up your own Bibles and read Mark 8:14-29. In these verses, you find a father whose son was possessed by an evil spirit and the boy got healed by Jesus. The story is about faith, and some people’s lack of it. In Mark 8:23, the father makes this comment to Jesus, “I do believe, but help me with my doubt!”
5. What lacks obedience in your life? Mouth
From my answers to these questions, you can see that that I have used the same one word to answer four of the questions. My mouth is what I have been focusing on as I surrender it to God’s control. Being obedient to God’s personal plan regarding how I need to speak and what I need to avoid with respect to what I eat, will enhance my health, and help me to be more kind and gentle in what I say.
6. What are you fearful of? Disobedience
My disobedience is related to my mouth.
Disobedience = Sin
Sin = Clutter
As I think about disobedience being equal to sin, and sin equal to clutter, it is a good time to also remind myself that I will always be dealing with the issues of disobedience and sin until the day I die. Remember when I first introduced you to the concept of clutter? I said that clutter never goes away. We can though minimize it and we can lessen it, and thus experience healing; that is what I need to remember and hold on to as I focus and surrender control to God.
This week your SW is to write down your definition for:
♥Focus
♥Surrender
♥Control
♥Faith
♥Obedience
♥Fear
In closing, I pray Father, we come to you wanting to release our fears to You. Please replace those fears with the FAITH that only comes from believing in You and what Your Word tells us. Show us how to walk out in that faith by TRUSTING in You to meet our every need no matter how small or big it may be.
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