Sunday, January 22, 2012

JUMP!

Romans 8:33 & 37

Hey Chickadees :)

I’ve been reminded of my childhood experiences on the merry-go-round the last few days. Honestly I never like the ride, but when I did venture to give it another chance to be fun, occasionally, I’d discover the precise moment to exit the spinning disc unscathed and without a face full of dirt! But unfortunately, most of the time, my involvement with ride went something like this… I just held on for dear life, stuck, never knowing for sure when to bolt! On really good days a friend would enter my dilemma and holler, "Ok on the count of 3 Jump!" Sure enough those words of advise provided the boost I needed to help me off that beastly ride.

I've been spinning on an emotional apparatus the last 36 hours; stuck on the merry-go-round of cynicism, despair and "what's the point?" Weak I know, but true nonetheless. And it came out of nowhere, fast and furious. It started spinning me faster and faster and I needed some help to "jump" off that mentality! I thank God He sent support...twice!

Follow me here... If I asked you what tactic Satan used on Eve to tempt her to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, I wonder what you'd say...My Bible study (written by my friend, so I felt she was admonishing me over lunch at Cracker Barrel) reminded me that Satan didn't physically force Eve to take the fruit. He started his trap by planting doubt... Oh MY STARS! Like turning on a light bulb, I realized that's exactly what Satan had thrown at me. I had started believing what I could see and how I felt instead of promises like "He who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" Phil 1:6. How about this one, "If God be for us, who can be against us? ...We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" Romans 8:33&37 There are so many more promises I could fill pages.

Maybe you have a specific verse you've been doubting lately...what is it? Let me be the friend to you that Stephanie was to me. Allow me to expose the Enemy in your life. He loves to make us doubt God's word. They say success breads success. The whole "Doubt God" thing has been working for him for a long time. JUMP my friend! He's a liar and a defeated foe. We're the victorious ones, not him! Remember that ;)

Then just to confirm what I heard in my Bible study, I received an email from my friend Trudy and it said, "I don't get discouraged because I know that the victory has already been won and that I am merely in the midst of skirmishes." You know, she's right! We've already won! Yippee!

I'd love to hear the scripture(s) your believing right now! Post them on Facebook or leave them in the comment section. I need to be reminded of His promises too!

Hope & Glory! To You ~ Love

Rebecca

tabforthesoul.blogspot.com

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

For Pete's Sake...

Disappointment With God is a book written by Phillip Yancy. During the writing of the book he found himself in the Chicago O' Hare Airport enduring a 5 hour flight delay on his way to attend a conference. The long delay and the late hour combined to create a melancholy mood. Next to him sat a wise, Godly woman headed to the same conference. During those long hours the two had plenty of time to rehash all of their childhood dysfunctions, the disappointments with the church, and their questions of faith.

Then for several minutes Phillip poured out his questions and frustrations about God... Because of the research he had done for his book, he felt burdened by other people's pain and sorrow. His mind rolled around trying to explain all the disappointments, the unanswered prayers. His new friend listened to him as he unpacked the questions of his heart. And then out of nowhere she asked a question that he says has stayed with him a long time. She asked, "Phillip. Phillip, do you ever just let God love you?"

I heard this story during one of Chuck Swindol's messages. It stopped me in my tracks. I've been trying so hard to get it all done and to do it all well; striving for something, but I don't even know for sure what! I too wear the burden of others heartaches and the wrongs of society. Suddenly I felt those words grasp my heart on both sides and force me to look up. I heard God say, "Rebecca! Rebecca, will you ever just let Me love you?"

Then it dawned on me. God's been trying to get my attention. He's been trying to love me. These unexpected blessings lately, it's been God saying, "Rebecca, for Pete's sake, will you just let Me love you?"

That is why He came, you know. Why else would He leave His dream job, His dream home, His best friends? He did it so we could be in relationship with Him. He is such a humble, sacrificial God! Let that wash over you today!

Jeremiah 31:3 "... I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

So I ask you..."Will you ever just let Him love you?"

Hope & Glory! To You ~ Love

Rebecca