buildingbodies4christ

building on the foundation of Jesus Christ

Archive for the month “March, 2013”

27 Mar 2013

Pleasing God

A couple of weeks ago, I heard a sermon on longing for approval by Craig Groeshel. I didn’t think I had any issues in this area, but the more I thought about it the more I realized I was a people pleaser. I wanted my parent’s approval when I was growing up. I wanted my friends to like me and to fit into their circle. But what about now? Do I still want to please others? Yes, I care what others think of me. I even care if people read my posts or my newsletters. I want people to like me. Is this so wrong? Yes, it is.

The Pastor pointed out from Scripture (Proverbs 29:25), it’s a snare that actually leads people into idolatry. If we care more for others opinion than we do for God’s, then we are actually putting people ahead of God, which is idolatry. Oh boy. I wasn’t expecting that. People are fickle. Why would I try to please fickle people? Why would I seek another person’s favor when God’s favor is the best? It’s more important what God thinks about me than what other people think about me. If I am living like I should, which is pleasing to God then others will not like me.

Jesus is a divider. He didn’t come to make a peaceful world. He came to shake up the world. He brought peace, but most denied Him. They were not looking for peace. He separates love from hate. He separates light from dark. He took the old and made something new. He took the old covenant and made a new one. He took a promise from God and fulfilled it. If others did not like Jesus, then we will not be liked by others if we follow His teachings. His teachings were hard. Most of His followers left Him. Only a handful remained at the end of His life on earth. But who did remain, fulfilled their mission. They made Jesus known in their world. He was made known all the way to my heart.

I am left with the dilemma. Do I chose to follow Jesus or do I follow people? Who do I please? Who do I worship? Okay, it’s not much of a choice. I choose God. But if I choose God, then I need to carry the mission in my world. It’s going to be hard. That’s okay. Jesus died for me and that was hard on His part. Praise God – it’s all about Him! It’s time to be bold in the name of Jesus and quit playing it safe. I can’t please everybody, but I can please God!

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

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20 Mar 2013

Between the Rains

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about waiting patiently. It was a profound moment when God answered my ranting. Sitting still is hard. I have been studying the book of James for the last eight weeks with Beth Moore’s study called “James Mercy Triumphs.” Beth has been instrumental in my last few years of growth. She has the right teaching leadership that I can relate to. Her heart is so tuned to Jesus that it resonates with me. I want that kind of relationship with Jesus too. I know I can’t compare myself to her. I have my own relationship, but I want it to grow deeper still (yes, that’s a play on words – she has a teaching conference called Deeper Still)!

As I am writing this, I have just sat through one of the sessions in the James study. She spoke into the camera for a Holy Spirit moment that struck a chord so deep in me, I had to stop and praise God for it. She titled the session “Between the Rains.” She spoke about the times when we experience the dry seasons when God is silent. These are the times when we have to walk by faith and not by sight. I am in that season right now. I am looking for answers but none are found right now. She reminded the listeners that crops cannot grow at flood stage. The waters have to recede in order for the ground to be ripe for growing. It’s in the dry seasons of our lives when real growth happens. It’s all great when God is speaking and faith becomes sight. The mountain top experiences are wonderful, but that’s not where we live out our lives. We walk in the valleys.

When the season is dry and lonely, prayer becomes a necessity. We never walk through the valleys alone. It’s good to have reminders that God never leaves us or forsakes us. This is the promise I have been given many years ago. I have held on to it. Even when I don’t feel His presence, I hold to the promise – He’s here with me. Beth’s teaching on this particular morning, was spot on with what I needed to hear. The underlying message was on patience. God is all about the process to get us to the promise. We have to be faithful and remember He is faithful and trustworthy. He is a good God. He has the best in mind for us. Even when we pray for our hearts desire, we have to remember He will only give us our answer when it is in alignment with His will. Our process is about getting in alignment. This is the purpose of patience. He is doing a great work, and masterpieces always take time. Praise God for the process!

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. James 5:7, 10-11

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13 Mar 2013

He Missed It

I have just finished studying the Book of James through Beth Moore’s James Mercy Triumphs. I just love her teachings. One thing she pointed out and has stuck with me; James lived with Jesus. I know that’s understood, but really – HE LIVED WITH JESUS! He didn’t understand who his half brother was. He missed the Glory of God living with him – the “Shekinah” Glory – the abiding presence. Those of us who follow Christ, we too have the Glory of God abiding in us through the Holy Spirit. What a gift we have! But James insists we not miss this fellowship we have with the Holy Spirit. Beth commented in the study of James, there is nothing worth the risk of losing fellowship with the Shekinah Glory. She was commenting on the section of Scripture on how anger can lead us to break fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Any sin which is not confessed can break the fellowship.

I have also just finished reading a small book from Brother Lawrence called “The Practice of the Presence of God.” He was a French monk who lived in the 17th Century. He practiced his focus on God every day no matter what tasks he was involved in. It must have been easy in a monastery living in that century. I mean, he didn’t have the technology that could have distracted him. He didn’t have the fast paced life that we live today. He didn’t have the temptations we experience every day. Yet, I’m sure for his life, he had all the distractions he needed – since Satan was just as hard at work then as he is now.

I want to be able to practice the presence too. I want to experience all I can experience in this earthly existence. We will have an even greater life in the future fellowship after this existence. But I want to know what is to come, don’t you? I want to experience all that I am able in this time, in this place; to practice the presence of God. We will get the full effect in heaven, but we can experience heaven on earth by practicing now – practice makes perfect, right? To live fully aware of our great God; to live with His power working through us; the power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us! How great is God! How awesome is His Name, the great I AM! How awesome that He decided to send the Holy Spirit to us when we first believed so that we could have fellowship with Him now!

This just overwhelms me to know how awesome He truly is. That He consider our sinful nature and knew we couldn’t live the Christian life without a helper. He thought of it all. There is no detail that He hadn’t considered and had an answer for before the earth was formed with His spoken Word. Yes, I stand (or sit) in awe while I am writing these words. I am just overwhelmed to know the presence of God is available to me. I don’t want to miss it!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (ESV)

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06 Mar 2013

Waiting Patiently

One morning I was feeling a bit impatient. I was struggling in my waiting time. I asked God in my quiet time, “Why am I waiting?” “What am I waiting on?” I have been waiting for two years to find my purpose. Well, longer than that. I have been waiting for the last two years for the next step. I left my job two years ago in February. I thought the plan was set, and I was moving out in faith. But it didn’t go as planned. The leads fizzled out. The income stream dried up. I was questioning did I hear correctly? In the meantime, my body has done some great healing. My spirit has grown significantly. I am listening more intently than ever before. I have enjoyed the opportunity to write. I had made a comment to my Aunt one night as we were having dinner long before I quit my job. I said, “I just want to quit and write.” Well, that’s what I have been doing. The lesson – be careful what you say (or pray for)!

This year, I decided to get out an old classic to read during my quiet time. I had been given “Streams in the Desert” by my Mom for Christmas in 1981. I probably hadn’t read a word of it in at least twenty years or more. This year, I felt pulled toward it. I opened up the cover on January 1st and saw my Mom’s handwriting. She wrote “Denise, I hope this devotional book will mean as much to you through the years, as it has to me.”  How special is that? Well, this is the year that it comes to fruition. This is the year when God has placed the need to read it before me.

So how did God answer my quiet time rant on my impatience? “I do not believe that we have begun to understand the marvelous power there is in stillness. We are in such a hurry – we must be doing – so that we are in danger of not giving God a chance to work. You may depend upon it, God never says to us “Stand still,” or “Sit still,” or “Be still,” unless He is going to do something.” (February 5th devotional) Can this actually be the answer to my impatience? Reading further, “Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still! Nor deem these days – these waiting days – as ill! The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way, hath not forgotten thy great need today! And, if He waits, ‘tis sure He waits to prove to thee, His tender child, His heart’s deep love.” Okay, I will wait patiently, and let God do the work in me that needs to be done. God’s got this under control.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14

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