http://www.theooze.com/articles/article.cfm?id=1804
While researching for a project I came across this article. It's well worth the read. A visit to the author's org site will be well worth your while. When there check out their "Prospectus" - it has some bookmarked features that will take you to some very interesting stuff.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Sunday, September 2, 2007
What God's been up to with me
I've been lead to a challenging place. It's interesting to see how events of the past are intersecting here. It is painful in a good way, like a strenuous workout. I've discovered more about who God made me to be and I've also discovered I'm often angry with Him for it. I'm not used to recognizing anger for what it is... a self protective shield. Always respecting my will, He has come gently when invited. He has been touching and healing many places in the garden of my heart where the enemy has sown tares among the wheat.
I recall a vision I had when I was a new Christian, has to be 20 years ago now: I was weeping, wounded, despairing and had a thick, heavy shield over my chest. His hand gently pulled it back and I resisted Him, He was persistent but always gentle, and finally I stopped resisting. He didn't take it off but only placed something in my heart underneath and let it settle back onto my chest. I often wondered what that was all about. I think I'm beginning to understand it now...
Recently He has asked me, "Can you trust Me?" I thought it an odd question at first. Of course I can, trust is a choice. I can choose to trust Him. If you can't trust God who can you trust?! But then I started thinking about it. There are many areas of my life where my decision to trust Him has not yet begun to grow and bear fruit... I'm beginning to discover what has been hindering this process. And I'm realizing there are places I am not yet consciously aware of where I'm believing a lie about Him. He wants to make those crooked places straight and the rough places smooth.
As these difficult circumstances plow through my life, the lies are unearthed like stones in the farmer's field... then I see how He has created the opportunity for me to be rid of the things that make me ineffective and unproductive in the knowledge of Him... yes, it's a lot like a strenuous workout.
Simultaneously, He has been teaching me more about hope and what it really is. I'm grateful because I wouldn't have had the strength to continue without it. Did you know that hope is the confident expectation of the goodness of God? That is why hope never disappoints us - because God is good! Our hope is secure, sure, because He never changes! Hope is not like a wish... it is real and tangible like faith and love are. It sounds so elementary when I type it but, I never really understood it like this before. Thank You for teaching me, Jesus.
Well, there you are. That's what God's been up to with me.
I recall a vision I had when I was a new Christian, has to be 20 years ago now: I was weeping, wounded, despairing and had a thick, heavy shield over my chest. His hand gently pulled it back and I resisted Him, He was persistent but always gentle, and finally I stopped resisting. He didn't take it off but only placed something in my heart underneath and let it settle back onto my chest. I often wondered what that was all about. I think I'm beginning to understand it now...
Recently He has asked me, "Can you trust Me?" I thought it an odd question at first. Of course I can, trust is a choice. I can choose to trust Him. If you can't trust God who can you trust?! But then I started thinking about it. There are many areas of my life where my decision to trust Him has not yet begun to grow and bear fruit... I'm beginning to discover what has been hindering this process. And I'm realizing there are places I am not yet consciously aware of where I'm believing a lie about Him. He wants to make those crooked places straight and the rough places smooth.
As these difficult circumstances plow through my life, the lies are unearthed like stones in the farmer's field... then I see how He has created the opportunity for me to be rid of the things that make me ineffective and unproductive in the knowledge of Him... yes, it's a lot like a strenuous workout.
Simultaneously, He has been teaching me more about hope and what it really is. I'm grateful because I wouldn't have had the strength to continue without it. Did you know that hope is the confident expectation of the goodness of God? That is why hope never disappoints us - because God is good! Our hope is secure, sure, because He never changes! Hope is not like a wish... it is real and tangible like faith and love are. It sounds so elementary when I type it but, I never really understood it like this before. Thank You for teaching me, Jesus.
Well, there you are. That's what God's been up to with me.
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