Archive for January, 2010

Sometimes I find it so easy to let my “used to be” (you know, the me without God) speak to who I am now.  I wallow in my shame, sadness and loss.  That’s not the greif that God desires for us or that Jesus made possible for us.  Again, that’s the old way and the old way leads to death.  Though I may still be alive, I might be better off dead if I live there, living a dead life.

No, God in all His mercy and love sent His Son to lift me out of the pit (and to add me to His team of lifters) so I would no longer have to live in that kind of greif.   In the new life I have greif that leads to life, that moves me forward in becoming who I am to be.

No regrets!

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death  2 Corinthians 7:10

I received the following in an email from my mother this morning . . .

The next time you feel like GOD can’t use YOU, just remember…

• Noah was a drunk
• Abraham was too old
• Isaac was a daydreamer
• Jacob was a liar
• Leah was ugly
• Joseph was abused
• Moses had a stuttering problem
• Gideon was afraid
• Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer
• Rahab was a prostitute
• Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
• David had an affair and was a murderer
• Elijah was suicidal
• Isaiah preached naked
• Jonah ran from God
• Naomi was a widow
• Job went bankrupt
• John the Baptist ate bugs
• Peter denied Christ
• The Disciples fell asleep while praying
• Martha worried about everything
• The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
• Zaccheus was too small
• Paul was too religious
• Timothy had an ulcer…AND
• Lazarus was dead!

When I really take a look at the examples of who God includes as major players in His story in scripture and throughout history I become more and more convinced that I have a part too!

In 2010 there are a few goals that I have – some are personal and some are God goals.  God has put on my heart and in my mind, “Prayer”.   He has been working on me for a while in this area . . . last year I listened to a series by John Eldredge & Ransomed Heart called “Hope of Prayer”, and I could feel the kindling start to smolder.   At the beginning of this year it feels like a gigantic pile of brush doused in gasoline so I’m going to drop the match on it and dig deeper, follow Him.

I am going to start with “attending” the “Hope of Prayer” seminar (via the mp3’s on my iPhone) and then journal my notes, thoughts, questions and revelations here.   I would love to hear your thoughts, experiences & insights.

If you would like to join me on this journey (or just have one of your own) you can get this “seminar” at the Daily Audio Bible Resource Page or at the Ramsomed Heart Website on CD (or as a download).

The other “goals” on my heart for this year are Grace, Health, Finances, resolution.

Happy New Year!!!   I pray this is an amazing year for you and the people who love you!

I think it’s gonna be a year of new . . .

New thoughts

New friends

New beginnings

Come on, it’s a whole new decade and God’s gonna do some amazing stuff!