Tag Archives: encouragement

Dusty Furniture

Christ's rest, Grace, Jesus Christ, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, , , , , , ,

 

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All furniture gets dusty at some point in time.

Do you dust your furniture and then have to turn around the next day and do it again?  Where does all that dust come from?  I go from one piece of furniture to another and I am amazed at the layers of dust I sometimes find.  How can the table I just dusted 15 minutes ago already have some dust on it and require yet another swipe?  Nah.

There was something I noticed though.  We continue to use the furniture even with the layers of dust.  We do not require that it be perfectly clean and dustless before we use it.  We never say, “Stop, don’t sit that drink on the table, it is too dirty and dusty!”  Nor do we comment, “This furniture is worthless now since it is soiled, let’s just throw it out!”  That would be silly!

And there is never, ever a time I say, “The side table should be completely and totally perfect before I will even think of using it.”  If that were the case, my house would be totally void of any furniture.

So, how is dusty furniture spiritual?

This illustration so reminds me of the redeeming love of God.  His grace and how He saves us.  Nothing more, nothing less. 

We may be soiled and layered with dust.  We may be a bit dirty.  We do not have to get all cleaned up before coming to Christ!  We do not have to be perfect to be used by Christ.  He delights in allowing us to be a part of His work all over the world. And if we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and salvation through Him, God sees us dust-free anyway…through grace!

Ephesians 2:8-9 ~”For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

There is nothing you have done, or will do that can make him love you any more of any less.  If you have made a mistake in the past, dust yourself off and get up again.  Don’t let the enemy convince you that you are too far gone to ever be used by God.  Don’t be deceived into believing that you are worthless because of your past, all lies.

One of my favorite teachers/authors is Brennan Manning, who passed away April 2013.( http://www.BrennanManning.com) His books spoke to my heart in volumes.  He put it this way:  “The Good News means we can stop lying to ourselves.  The sweet sound of amazing grace saves us from the necessity of self deception.  It keeps us from denying that though Christ was victorious, the battle with lust, greed, and pride still rages within us.  As a sinner who has been redeemed, I can acknowledge that I am often unloving, irritable, angry and resentful with those closest to me.  When I go to church I can leave my white hat at home and admit I failed.  God not only loves me as I am, but also knows me as I am.  Because of this I don’t need to apply spiritual cosmetics to make myself presentable to Him.  I can accept ownership of my poverty and powerlessness and neediness….Our huffing and puffing to impress God, our scrambling for brownie points, our thrashing about trying to fix ourselves while hiding our pettiness and wallowing is guilt are nauseating to God and a flat denial of the gospel of grace.” (Ragumuffin Gospel)

May we understand the Good News, the gospel of grace.  Christ makes us clean, not what we do, but what He has already done.

And why not check out your furniture right this very minute.  If it is dusty, I bet you use it anyway!! 

Blessings dear ones

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*NIV Bible, brennanmanning.com. THE RAGAMUFFIN GOSPEL, google image*

 

Worldwide Club Membership

Christ's rest, Freedom in Christ, Jesus Christ, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, , , , , , , ,

 

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What Happened??!

I think that I have thought of a problem that is worldwide.  It crosses every line there is to cross.  Disappointment.  True frustration and sadness. Have you ever been disappointed in someone that you thought you could trust?  Have you had someone treat you in a way that you never thought possible?  Have you done your very best, only to be yelled at by your boss?  How about your spouse raising his voice when he found out you forgot to pay the electric bill? Do you try and try to please everyone only to find out that you can’t; they just complain more!!….(Added bonus here…you aren’t supposed to try and please everyone…can’t happen).

If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions…Welcome.  You are now a member of the “International Disappointment Club”. Of course there is no such club, but don’t you feel there should be?  Membership dues are self explanatory!

Disappointment happens to everyone.  People disappoint each other.  It just goes with being human.  A couple of hours ago I was really disappointed by someone.  I have always went over and above the call of duty for this person, only to be hurt.  I cried.  I could have had an everloving fit and really bought in to the flesh pattern that was being exhibited.  But I chose to be quiet.  I was hurt and a bit ticked off!  Once I admitted to the Father that I felt this way…I waved the white flag…and good stuff came out of my mouth…instead of my flesh!!  Then once I quit talking on the phone…I cried. Don’t misunderstand, I don’t think that there is anything wrong with being honest with the person.  And I have done that…later…after I thought about what I would say in a loving way.

We have to make the choice to not allow the enemy to have a foot hold in our lives.  People are people and sometimes make mistakes.  Sometimes that make the same mistakes over and over. Some people will not change.  They choose NOT to change. That’s not my problem.  I can pray, love…but I cannot allow bitterness, anger and hurt to permeate my very soul.  Those feelings can fester and be like a cancer, eating away my joy!

Wait for it……Yep, I will disappoint people myself!!  Eggads, not me!  I don’t deliberately set out to do so, but I do disappoint people.  As one of my dearest friends says..”No expectations, no disappointments.”  I like that.  

The good news is simple.  We are loved by the ONE who will never disappoint or let you down. You might think He is letting you down, but He always has your best in mind.   

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

He is always there, He will never talk behind your back, yell at you for not paying a bill.  He won’t try to make you feel guilty about anything. Jesus will just love you where you are and offer hope to you when there appears to be no hope!

“And hope, does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” Romans 5:5

Now I am wondering if we should change the name of the club?  How about the “International HOPE Club”? Sounds cheesy, but I certainly like the sound of it better than the prior!

Be blessed dear ones~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

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HE’s not playing PeekaBoo!

Freedom in Christ, Jesus Christ, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, Who I am in Christ, , , , , , , , , ,

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PeekaBoo! Nope, God is not Hiding!

Why can’t I hear from God? I never know if it is Him talking to me. He’s a mystery, remember? How do I know His voice?

When my husband calls me on the phone, he does not have to identify himself to me. I recognize his voice immediately. Why? Because I spend time with him. I know his voice, and most of the time, after 34 years of marriage, can figure out what is on his mind! I believe that is how it is with the Father! We spend time with Him and His word and we begin to recognize His voice. He does not play “peekaboo, come find me.” He does not want it to be a mystery. He wants us to know Him.

Romans 16:25-27: “Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

Colossians 1:26-27 “I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

In the Old Testament, Christ had not been revealed. The mystery of Christ has been made know to us!Now there are certain “mysteries” I believe that are of the Father, because His ways are higher than our ways. But staying hidden away from us is not one of those mysteries. He reveals himself to us through many means. Once we recognize His voice, we see those ways.

Again, if we don’t know who we are in Christ, we won’t recognize His voice. I am going to further reference some of those things we think of ourselves. The more we learn and hide in our heart and choose to believe, the easier it will be to “hear” Him.

God always seems so far away…..I have been brought near God…..“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 2:13

My problems are too trivial for God…I have boldness and confident access to God…“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 2:13

I am so confused….His peace guards my heart and mind…..“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

I don’t understand Christ and have no wisdom when it comes to the Bible…..Christ in us is the mystery, wisdom, and our encouragement….“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God (namely Christ), in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3

I have no power and am constantly defeated and hurt….I have power in Christ and who I am….“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10

Dear ones, I feel it is of the utmost importance that we learn these things. Once we grasp the truth, we will be able to share our joy with others..even in the midst of these swirling circumstances of life. And, we will not have to solve a mystery…no peekaboo. Listen for His voice friends.

Blessings dear ones
IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

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