Radical Obedience

Chapter 6 of our on-line bible study: "What Happens When Women Say YES to GOD" by Lysa TerKeurst, hosted by Lelia.

Radical obedience is born out of delight, not duty" (pp.93). I completely get this statement now. If I had read this 4 years ago I don't think I would have. I have learned in my journey of life that loving God is not a duty. It is not about how many christian activities I am involved in but being involved in what God has called me to. It is not about having a faithful quiet time each morning at 5:15 but about my heart during that time and how much of me I am giving Him during not only that time but throughout the remainder of the day. My journey has grown from a duty for God to delighting in Him. Lamentations 3:22-24 reflects my heart, even though it was written thousands of years ago:

"The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him"

I have learned to seek Him in all things, the good and the bad. Seeking Him in everthing is no longer a duty but a delightful habit.



A situation happened last week and as I was praying and later reading during the "wait", a comment spoke to me from the pages of this book (I know God so put it tthere for me for that moment): "Of what manner of spirit am I?" (Having a Mary Spirit-Joanna Weaver). In this situation my husband and I were facing, we could seek retaliation, we could seek justice or we could seek to honor God and see His best for an outcome. I shared this statement with my husband and we both mellowed. The bad is not so bad because we decided to look at it from Gods perspective-a refining process, a moding of who we are in Him and we accepted it willing and with open arms. In the end, God will be honored and He will carry us though. It gives us joy, we are protected, we are being provided for and we are secure in it-because we walk with God in it (just like Lysa described in this chapter!).

There was a time in my life I wouldn't have reacted in this way. Nor am I perfect at this radical obedience but there is so much delight in doing it God's way. As Lysa wrote out this prayer in this chapter, I felt as if she stole the words from my heart:

"God, I love you and choose to accept the assignments You place before me with an attitude that reflects the truth that you live in me. I know I won't do this perfectly, and I admit my inability to do this in my strength. So, I say yes to You today. I say yes to Your desire to invade my natural flesh responses. I say yes to Your forgiveness when i mess up. I say yes to Your invitation to be obedient even when other paths seem more appealing. I say yes even as my lips desire to utter a thousand times over, 'I can't'. I say yes to loving you more." (pp.103)

I rest in the delight of walking with God-it was what I was design for. Though I have know God since childhood, He is more real to me today then He ever was. I wish I had figured this out earlier but now was the time, God's timing. I am scared to death of what is ahead of me. I hear His voice. I am unworthy by man's standards. Only in God's hands can I do above and beyond what I am capable of and I am willing-I say YES Lord. It involves the sacrifice of surrendering my ego, my pride, and my shame because I am no longer of those things. I am forgiven. Using my sufferings for God's glory may be painful but maybe one soul will avoid the same sins I have experienced, maybe one soul will come to know Christ. That is what it is all about.

"The stones that had caused me to stumble in life were the very ones that were also building my character and my destiny"

~Tracie Miles, Reinventing Your Rainbow

My mind has been transformed. I have a new soul and heart that loves God passionately. Radical obedience. I choose it, do you?

In His Graces~Pamela

He loved His own to His Fullest

Our associate pastor gave a most wonderful sermon this morning that really spoke to me. It came from that old familiar passage of John 13, verses 1-17 in which Jesus washes His disciples feet. We know the story well, we have heard it many times, maybe even taught it in our own classes, but this morning it was presented in a new way, and a new realization was revealed to me from God for my life. This whole story is surrounding the final hours of Jesus and what He left for His disciples, for us. It made me ask myself, what do I want to be remembered for? What do I want to leave from my life?

Jesus washing the feet of the disciples was not just about doing acts of service, it is about being like Him-"behave as I have behaved" (vs 15). We are to be like Him in mind, in spirit and in action. Beyond the act of washing their feet, Jesus was implying the need that we all are to be washed or cleansed by His blood in order to be filled with His spirit (vs. 8). And in an even bigger message, He demonstrated that "He loved His own to His fullest" (vs. 1). He loved US to His fullness. He was about to further demonstrate this to us with the cross of Calvary and His resurrection.

He loves us to His fullest. Did you really hear that? Shall I repeat it? He loves us to His fullest!! And oh how He demonstrates it in our everyday life. Sometimes we have to put on our spiritual glasses to see it but it is there, in the mundane task to the supernatural if we are so blessed. So I had to ask myself, when my end has come, what will others remember about me? What do I want my life to reflect to God as I stand, or more likely bow, before Him in eternity? I quickly jotted three things that came to my mind on the title page of my Bible (all the blank pages in my Bible are filled up with other spiritual incites, Scripture or significant statements for my life). This is what I wrote as a commitment to God this day...

They will remember me by:

1. She loved her God with all her heart, mind and soul (Matt. 22:37)

2. She loved her own to her fullest (John 3:1)

3. She lived in grace and overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of her testimony (Rev. 12:11)

I want to have "She loved her own to her fullest" put into a frame or "They loved their own to their fullest" etched on a wooden picture block to place in our home. It is my goal this week to behave as Christ-to love my own (the family and friends He has blessed me with) to my fullest.

I will need prayer. It will require me to love to my fullest when the girls decide to bicker, or when I come home to a messy kitchen from the after school pancake snacks that they have made. I will be called to love to my fullest when there are annoying habits to endure (like shoes left out, toilet paper rolls not replaced, just to name a few). I will be called to love to my fullest when I am needed to meet individual needs within my own busy schedule. I am sure it won't be easy, but I want to behave like Jesus behaved and to love, fully love!!

In His final hours He completed His journey and He loved us to His fullest.

To be like Him....

In his Graces~Pamela

PS-I posted actual pictures from my palm camera of the flowers I talked about in my last post. I think they are a form of a daisy called "glebionis segetum"...?

Seeing God in the Flowers...

My house is a two story brick colonial. It has a brick wall in front. This picture is of the house shortly after we bought it-the brick was in need if repair. This winter we had a brick man come and do just that. The most wonderful thing that he did was to remove the top off the center piece that looked like a dog house and make it a planter instead. During Easter I placed fake Easter Lillie's in it. It was so pretty. This spring I have again planted the inpatients in front of the structure (last year they grew so big and beautiful you could not see the brick wall behind them-strangers would stop by and inquire of them).

This spring I planted this new yellow flower in the planter. I didn't save the little card that came with them and I am regretting that. There are no yellow inpatients so I choose the center planter to hold a yellow flower as it symbolizes new beginnings, happiness and energy. I went to the nursery where I got the flowers this morning and they are out. I went to another nursery and they don't have them either. I love watching these yellow flowers as they have such life to them.

The flower itself resembles a daisy but has a lot more pedals. The pictures on the right was taken from my palm since my camera is broken beyond repair. Here is what is so unique about this flower: as night approaches you will see the pedals close in on itself and the stem holding the flower will "lay down" the flower. Then each morning as the sun rises, the reverse happens-the stem lifts the flower up to the sun and opens it's pedal up into full bloom.

Last night we had a storm move in. As I was driving home from church I noticed these flowers and pointed them out to my youngest daughter. The pedals were balled up and closed up so tight-tighter than I had ever seen. The stem was laying them down, except for one flower. Though it was balled up real tight, it stood up as if still reaching for the sun. My daughter was so tickled over this plant she ran out in the rain to look at it closer. I wasn't feeling as brave.

I though about this magnificent plant God has created and drew me to purchase last weekend. It wasn't by chance. There were some prettier plants but He had a plan to teach me through it. Is this plant not an example of our life, our Christan life? When the darkness come through a sin of bitterness, unforgiveness, envy, anger, impatience, just to name a few, are we not called to protect ourself? When the storms of life come our way through an illness, broken relationship, even death...have we not been instructed to protect ourself with God? 1 Thessalonians 5:8 states "But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation".

When the darkness comes...when the storms hit us...protect yourself in faith and love which comes from God. And like that one lonely plant I saw last night standing tall in the storm but balled up tight, we too are to stand out for God's kingdom, fully protected in His armor.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

~Ephesians 6:10-20

May you bloom beautifully this weekend for Christ! Blessings!

In His Graces~Pamela

I want to be a women who says YES to God!

What keeps us from saying YES to God? That's the title of chapter 5 in our blog Bible study hosted by Lelia using Lysa TerKeurst book "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God". It really is a phenomenal book-convicting, motivating, encouraging. But what does keep us from saying yes to God? What keeps you from saying yes to God?

There was so much in this chapter I am not sure what to go to first. Grace. I love that word. But Lysa stated it has two foes: acceptance & rejection. OUCH. So much grace is left inexperienced because people get lost in the need to be praised (acceptance) or the feeling that one is less than adequate , unworthy, incapable (rejection by self or by others). Here is the truth, pure and simple from this chapter:

"I am precious and accepted, no matter what.

No matter what choices I make,

His love is not based on my performance.

His love is based on His perfect surrender at the cross.

But, I must choose to accept this love

and walk this truth for it to make a difference

in how I journey through life."

Each time we feel life bringing us down...each time we feel the pains of rejection...each time we find our self longing for acceptance we need to remind ourselves that "only He (God) has the ability to fill me completely". AMEN! I have lived that! I have learned that! It is carries me through each time satan tries to bring me down! Ladies, repeat after me: "On God can fill me completely". It you repeat it enough, you will not only start to believe it but you will start to live in it's truth.

"Saying YES to God is a lot more about being than doing"

Bingo! We can serve on every church committee, teach all the Sunday school classes, serve in the AV booth, read our Bible every day but none of that will make the difference if we are not being a women who says YES to God. I quote Lysa from this chapter again:

"As long as my gaze is locked on His, I dance and He smile. The snickers and jeers of others fade away. Though I hear their razor sharp intentions, they are unable to pierce my heart and distract my focus. Even my own stumblings don't cause the same feelings of defeat. My steps so often betray the desire of my heart, but it is not my perfect performance that captures His attention. Rather, it is my complete dependence on Him that He notices. He then whispers. "Hold on to Me and what I say about you. For My words are the truth of who you are and the essence of what you were created to be."

I want to be a women who says YES to God more than ever! Thank you Lelia (http://leliachealey.blogspot.com/) for hosting this Bible study. Thank you Lysa (http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/) for writing this book!

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

~John 8:32

Blessings!

In His Graces~Pamela

Ants, Ants & More Ants

Sunday as I was planting some flowers and setting up our back patio, I put the grill cover back over the grill where it belonged. It had been lying over the deck railing for about a week. I think the grill had cooled off within that time, don't you? As I unfolded it and pulled it over, I open up the vinyl to a huge nest of ants. It's springs! Here was all these tiny busy little creatures all over this covering. I quickly went to the garage and got our handy dandy killing spray and attacked these poor creatures. Needless to say, the battle isn't over as I had thought.

This morning as I ventured down for my first cup of coffee guess what I found on my kitchen counter? Yelp! An ant. I conquered him and proceeded to have my quiet time. When I went back for my second cup of coffee guess what I saw again? Not just one ant but more ants than I cared to see!! The windows in our house are old and they are scheduled to be changed out in May but right now, my old kitchen window sits above the grill and it is apparent that I didn't win the battle of the ants on Sunday. Solomon must have had ants too...

Ants are creatures of little strength,

yet they store up their food in the summer;

Proverbs 30:25

As I fight my battle this morning with these creatures, I am reminded how easy and quickly other "unwanted" things enter into my life: sins like busyness, attitudes, selfishness. If I don't keep grounded in God's word, how easily they over take me. Satan is quick, constantly at work against us, and I have to make sure there are no areas of weakness and leaks which will allow him to enter in and consume me.

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.

Learn from their ways and become wise!

~Proverbs 6:6

On the positive note, I can look at these little unwanted creatures invading my home and seek to also be like them-committed to the task at hand: to love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind and soul. To work diligently at carrying on the ministry He has called me to which is to draw others to Him and His salvation. To be his busy servant!

In the end, I want the ants gone! Is it May yet? I want my new windows!!!

In His Graces~Pamela

PS:

This week I have 22 ten page scholarly papers to grade. I will probably be caught up in this for a few days but I want to remind you that I am so blessed when I visit each and very one of your post. Blessings to you all!!

A Sweet Aroma to God

Have you ever been to a conference or meeting, maybe you can just reference your congregation and thought..."I wish I had her hair"...I wish I had her speaking ability"..."I wish my husband was as godly as hers appears to be" or "I wish I smelled as good as her" and so on? I have to wonder if God views our "wishes" as dissatisfaction for the uniqueness in which He made us.

Man has created plenty of products to help us improve our looks. There are so many self-help books and conferences to make us better speakers, writers, wives, mothers, Christians. I have invested well in these with good results! So I am not condemning these things but I suppose the whole issue comes down to our heart in this matter. And what about the perfume industry? They have created more scents than we can wear in a life time. So, I want to linger here a bit and examine our hearts with this issue of fragrance. My scripture reading took me to 2 Corinthians 2 (NLT) today:

(14) But thank God! He has made us his captives

and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession.

Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere,

like a sweet perfume.

(15) Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.

But this fragrance is perceived differently

by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.

(16) To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom.

But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.

And who is adequate for such a task as this?

Do you hear the message here? With all the wishes we have in our life-look at them closely and ask yourself what motivates this wish-self improvement-Christ reflection-jealousy-insecurity-ungratefulness? What reflection do you see in your heart and in your relationship with Christ? In stead of wishing for better hair-thank God for having hair that is workable and changeable. Some women today are suffering through the drama of life with no hair. Instead of being envious of another's speaking ability, praise God for the opportunity you have to speak, even if it is just to your family and continually pray His words will come through you. Make it your goal to be used by God in your speech. Instead of wishing your husband was more like someone else-look closer and see what God has truly blessed you with. Be a compliment to him to bring our his better side and praise God you have him. Many women have lost their husbands and suffer through pain, loneliness, regrets, and "should-have-been" type moments. And instead of being so in tuned to the latest fragrance on the store shelf, examine your spiritual fragrance!!

What fragrance are you wearing today? Is it a sweet aroma to God? Does it draw others towards God or make them turn away from Him? Of all the things I have mention, probably this is the most important. Is your life a Christ-like fragrance being lifted up as a sweet aroma to God? And who is adequate for such a task as this? Can we ever be adequate enough for God? I have learned yes and isn't just amazing? We are adequate for Christ only when we seek His confidence in our effort to be a sweet spiritual aroma.

Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability)

of ourselves to form personal judgments

or to claim or count anything as coming from us,

but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God.
[It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient]

as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ],

not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code)

but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills,

but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive.

~2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (Amplified Bible)

If we are living in God's confidence, the thankfulness and praises for what He has provided you will be there. I challenge all of us this weekend to examine our hearts, our minds, and our spiritual cleanness as we seek God's confidence and live to be spiritually scented in the fragrance God is wanting from us!

Have a blessed weekend!

In His Graces~Pamela

Set Your Heart on Him

I have to admit, I wrote this yesterday anticipating Lelia would be wrapped up in her new granddaughter-can you blame her? Plus my schedule at the end of a semester is always overwhelming so blogging is slower at this time. But I love this Bible study!!!

So, we continue in Lelia's blog Bible study (http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/) from Lysa Terkeurst(http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/) book "What Happens When Women Say YES to God". We enter Chapter 4 and look at what it means for God to be Lord in our life. Everything Lelia mentioned on her blog was also highlighted as I read through the chapter and I really think Lysa summed it up well when she wrote "God must be Lord of all if He is our Lord at all" and she references us to 1 Peter 3:15:

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you

to give the reason for the hope that you have.

But do this with gentleness and respect..."

It is only by loving Christ and building on that love relationship that we can even begin to make Him Lord in our life. It involves a pursuit of Good's truth, His presence, His fullness in our life verses chasing after the emptiness the world has to offer us-temporary success, financial gain, popularity...and the list goes on. It's saying "I choose to love God no matter what I face". Pursuing that love relationship with God becomes your priority, your addiction, your life goal. And the result of this pursuit? PEACE! Resting in God, believing He is in charge and He has your best interest at heart-always.

Lysa talked about the perception we often hold of ourselves-the perception that we are not able to be a women that says YES to God. I mean, look at our past, look at the mistakes we have made, look at the labels other have given us. How could we ever be able to fully say Yes to God after all our failures? Barrowing the words from this chapter has become a prayer and testament for my own life:

"I am a women on a journey of learning how to make sure my reactions don't deny Christ presence in me. I am a women who says yes to God not because my emotions and reactions are perfect. No, I say yes to God because He is perfectly able to forgive me, love me, remind me, challenge me, and show me how to weather trials in ways that prove His Spirit resides in me. I remind myself often that people don't care to meet my Jesus until they meet the reality of Jesus in my Life"

The reality of Jesus in my life...what can be more powerful and meaningful? More than anything else I want others to see the grace I live by today. To experience the love and forgiveness I have come into. To know God like I do and more. It is a journey, a pilgrimage to being a women after God's own heart, molded by Him to resemble Him!

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage."

~Psalm 84:5

Set your hearts on Him!!

In His Graces~Pamela