March 12, 2013

Good morning all-

Well I think Spring is actually going to come.  In the  last week, I have seen rain and snow flurries. Our temperatures have gone from 55 to 19 and the wind has been come to horrific.  In other words, God is doing amazing things and we just have to see what's next.  I'm not going to complain about the rain or moisture because our ground and all living creatures need it!

My point in today's message is really to get you to think about what you idol.  Is it the weather, worry, love, possessions, money?  We can idol about anything.  As a matter of fact the United States idols a  lot and gives very little credit to God for anything.  Now don't get me wrong, there are those that are faithful and that thank God for everything they have but there's always that nagging little voice that says, "Are you sure He will provide?  Does He love me?  Why haven't you changed anything yet?"  You know the voice.  It wakes you up in the middle of the night because we have so much control over tomorrow.  Of course, I'm being sarcastic because we don't have any control and yet, we try so hard, which in essence is another idol.

Christ has been working on me from what I like to call A to Z.  It's really a whole body, mind and spirit workout and believe me it does have some pitfalls.  I hate when something ugly comes out and I have to repent.  Most of the time I do it with class but this last couple of weeks you would have thought I was a two year old.  I wanted to stomp my feet, scream and possibly just rant until I couldn't anymore.  Instead, I spent time by myself recounting the promises of God.  Praying without ceasing and reminding myself daily that Christ carried a cross for me, so whatever He has in store for me is better than that.

He also has shown me things that I idol and don't give up easy.  I am driven to perform, to take care of my family financially and rarely have I been lazy unless it was with housework. (I hate housework!) But like everything in life, I do it, with a grudge of course, but it gets done.  My family is a little different and it takes a Sargent to get them moving.  Some of that could be my fault, which is why I continue to push until they think I'm a nag.  Funny, because I'm nothing like my mom, who did a white glove test in each room.

You can't make people be something they aren't, right?  I tend to disagree.  We can't make people be what we want but God can.  He can mold us and show us what we idol and He can wheedle out of us our insecurities, falsehoods and idols.  He has the means and knowledge to bend us and stretch us and for those of us that call Him Father, He will.  I have been a party to being stretched but none as much as now.  In essence, I followed a path of strength, which became my idol.  I worshipped it just like some people worship being smart, or making money.  It's all in the same category, right?  Well, it has been flushed out of my soul this last week and I have surrendered.  Only God can change my heart, with a blessing from me of course, which I do freely.  For my goal in this life is not to be me, but to be like Him.

If you had asked me a couple weeks ago what my idol was, I would have said worry, which Christ has continued to work on and I have continued to surrender.  Two weeks ago, it all changed and became my health.  If I believe that Christ carried a cross for me, then I must believe that this life is not my own and the challenges that I face will only help me be a better servant to Him.  So, I once again died to myself and to my foolishness, thank goodness I didn't make a gold statue, and became a woman trusting in her God again.

I hope that in your daily walk with God, you examine things you idol.  It can be odd things, things you don't even recognize.  Ask Him to cleanse them from your heart so that you don't have to walk the journey that I have the last couple of weeks.  Surrendering quickly is the easiest way to see His glory!

May God love you today as I do and may He walk with you all of your days.  For those that are struggling, I'm praying and believe me, I understand.  Struggling is not bad as long as we learn and grow from it and of course, kneel at the foot of the cross.  For it is there we will find peace, prosperity and redemption.

1 John 5: 21 NKJV:

     Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen

1 Chronicles 16:26 NKJV:

    For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord make the heavens.

My prayer today:

O, Lord as we come before you today we cast out our idols to You.  We know that in our sins we must confess the things we hold higher than You.  I, like my sisters, are saddened by our weakness but You will make us strong as we see them, they are revealed, and we repent.  You are a merciful and just God and You carried a cross so that we would know Your love.  Help us to see our idols and to give them up to You.  I would never have thought that I would have made a health an idol, but I have.  Thank You for loving me enough to reveal it and for me to see You in every moment of the last couple of weeks.  Forgive me Lord for my unwillingness to see easily but thank You for pursuing me and cleansing my soul.  I don't deserve You but I'm so tremendously glad I have You.  You are my rock and it is You I will stand on.  Thank You for my sisters who love You too and that relinquish their idols at Your feet.  For You are a good and Holy Father.  May You bless Your people as they look for You! In Jesus name, AMEN

Until tomorrow...