Susan's Blog: February 2015

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Pray Instead of Complain

When tempted to complain about a person or situation wouldn’t it be better if I chose to pray instead of complain?

Perhaps I should examine my heart to see what my complaining spirit reveals about me.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Moving Forward While Looking Back

It’s hard to move forward when I’m clinging to the past. It’s hard to look the future with hope when I’m focused on what’s behind me. It’s hard to be present, in the present, and respond rightly when I’m still wrestling with demons I refuse to let go of. It’s hard to trust God when all I’m thinking about is what went wrong, what was lost or what’s missing.

Surely, I wouldn’t try to drive my car forward while I was focused on what was behind me. Why would I try to live my life like that?

May I lay it all down at the foot of the cross. May the Jesus Christ show me how to forgive and be free.

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36 NASB

Thursday, February 19, 2015

God's Love

Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Psalm 36:5 NASB

Monday, February 16, 2015

Downton Abbey…What’s up?

One of my guilty pleasures is watching Downton Abbey. Last night I was having trouble staying focused because of some glaring changes I noticed in series 5, episode 7.

So what’s up?

Well...it sure seems like they were not filming that episode at Highclere Castle. My guess it was filmed on a set, not on site. The rooms were much smaller and not as grand.

Also…did anyone else notice a difference in the quality of the sound and picture. It seems like they went from film to video.

From the beginning Downton Abbey has been grand and beautiful. Last night…I found the changes, whatever they are, very distracting. Things weren’t looking so grand. What makes it more distracting is the change was in the middle of series 5, not at the beginning of the season.

I’ve done a Google search, but not seen anything mentioned about changes. If you have any insights…please let me know.

Monday, February 09, 2015

Fear is a Bully

Have you ever noticed what a bully fear is? It keeps me from stepping out in faith and trying something new. It makes me doubt my experience and abilities. It reminds me that “I’m not good enough” and never will be. It keeps my focus on the past and not the present, much less looking with hope toward the future. It make me doubt my ability to learn, grow and improve. It makes me hesitant to take a risk because I might fail and look really stupid. An unhealthy fear makes me doubt God.

Fear keeps the focus on me, not God. Seeing fear at work in a loved one is painful. The encouraging words I try to speak are not heard, they are drowned out by fear.

So how can I combat that bully fear? Beat down with the truth from God’s word. Truth about who God is and what He has promised in the Bible. Truth about who I am in Christ.

Defeating a bully make take time. Defeating fear is worth all the hard work and effort.

The fear that we should retain is a holy reverence and fear of God. That is a wise and prudent fear I want to retain.

What would life without being bullied by fear look like?

My Colors Will Be Clear

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight seeing, smooth knees, color-less dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, "chinchy" giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need position, promotions, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my destination is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few. My Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of the One that gave me life, drew the line in blood for me in the hour of my destiny.

I am one of Christ's remnant people. I belong to Him and none other. All I do to bring this life to another is done because of that blood covenant poured out for me.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. I must share will all that one more might hear and be drawn from the flaming darkness that longs to consume. Reach for another, touch but one more!

Until that moment...He will have no problem in recognizing me- my colors will be clear!!!

Not only are the words inspiring but so is the man behind them. The above letter was written by a Pastor in Africa who was undergoing severe persecution. On the eve of his execution he sat down and wrote the above note.

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