It makes my heart hurt when I see other people's pain. The worst pain comes from seeing a friend's character tainted by a jaded view on life and her worth as a woman.My first reaction is to be angry, and to tell her that she is not living or speaking like the Christian that she says she is. How can you say that you are a Christian and then show yourself to the world in a completely different light?? But that is addressing the surface - the problem of the moment.
Innocence is not just our actions, it is the condition of our hearts and minds. What makes a girl turn from a picture of innocent beauty into a virtual whore? (Oh how it hurts to use that name for someone I love!But there is no other way to say it without numbing the truth)Out of the mouth the heart speaks, so don't tell me that it is just "creativity". It is pain and desperation masked as passion.
I cannot claim complete innocence in my life, except through the blood of Jesus. I have been in that place where my hormones controlled me and found myself sinking into a dark, scary place where my only company was another heart searching for love in the wrong way. I can think back on those feelings and try to understand how I may have gotten to the same place as this girl. But it is like a dark, bottomless hole that sucks me in, and I was not freed from those chains to go back to them.
I want to make her see, to help her out of the pit she's digging for herself. But how can I help her out if she does not acknowledge that she is doing it? My words can only go so far.
Oh my God! Please Father, go into her heart, to the place I cannot reach her. Open her eyes to Your love for her so that she will find her pleasure in You! Heal her heart that has been broken so many times. Let the pain that causes her to find her value in sexuality and lust be washed away by Your blood. Hold her close and convince her of her worth. Help me oh Father to be an example of living in freedom. Use me in whatever way You want to help my precious sister. Thank you God.
Amen.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Honor
What is honor?
The way to live under people in authority, but not only the ones you agree with. Submission and obedience go hand in hand. Submission is the attitude, obedience is the act. Do you obey the law and complain about it? You are not giving honor. Do you promise to obey the law, and then go against it? You are not giving honor. Our best intentions are worthless if we do not act on them.
God says in His Word that He has appointed all authority on earth. Even the leaders that seem evil or unwise to us are appointed by Him for a purpose. God appointed Saul to be the king of Israel, and he ended up being bad news. He spent his latter years trying to kill David out of jealousy, who had once been like a son to him. He killed thousands of innocent people. But David refused to kill him, because he was anointed by God. No matter who your authority is, or how they act, it is your duty to honor them. This does not mean that if they tell you to kill someone, you should do it. If what they do does not line up with what the Bible directly says, then don't copy them! However this does not give you the freedom to talk behind their back to your coworkers, friends or family. Leave judgment up to God - it's His job not yours. When you complain about rules, criticize the way someone runs a business, dismiss your pastor's wisdom as arrogance (most likely because of your own arrogance), or tell your parents "Don't tell me what to do, you don't understand me", you are directing all those things at God.Because they are His chosen ones, they are His representatives. Whether you like it or not.
So, what now? What if your boss is the worst planner on the planet? What if your pastor's ministry decisions go against what you feel is right? What if your parents never encourage you and always put you down?
Wait on the Lord. They will receive their judgment, whatever that may be, when they meet Him. Pray for them.God will honor that. He hears us, and loves us so much that He does what He knows is best. He can do miracles after all.
The way to live under people in authority, but not only the ones you agree with. Submission and obedience go hand in hand. Submission is the attitude, obedience is the act. Do you obey the law and complain about it? You are not giving honor. Do you promise to obey the law, and then go against it? You are not giving honor. Our best intentions are worthless if we do not act on them.
God says in His Word that He has appointed all authority on earth. Even the leaders that seem evil or unwise to us are appointed by Him for a purpose. God appointed Saul to be the king of Israel, and he ended up being bad news. He spent his latter years trying to kill David out of jealousy, who had once been like a son to him. He killed thousands of innocent people. But David refused to kill him, because he was anointed by God. No matter who your authority is, or how they act, it is your duty to honor them. This does not mean that if they tell you to kill someone, you should do it. If what they do does not line up with what the Bible directly says, then don't copy them! However this does not give you the freedom to talk behind their back to your coworkers, friends or family. Leave judgment up to God - it's His job not yours. When you complain about rules, criticize the way someone runs a business, dismiss your pastor's wisdom as arrogance (most likely because of your own arrogance), or tell your parents "Don't tell me what to do, you don't understand me", you are directing all those things at God.Because they are His chosen ones, they are His representatives. Whether you like it or not.
So, what now? What if your boss is the worst planner on the planet? What if your pastor's ministry decisions go against what you feel is right? What if your parents never encourage you and always put you down?
Wait on the Lord. They will receive their judgment, whatever that may be, when they meet Him. Pray for them.God will honor that. He hears us, and loves us so much that He does what He knows is best. He can do miracles after all.
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