How long has she been watching me?

October 22, 2007
Sufficient
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: God's Word says, "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Cor. 12:9). Just what does that mean?
It means that when I'm exhausted and think I can't possibly get everything done—His grace is sufficient for me.
When I'm having a hard time with the person who gets under my skin—His grace is sufficient for me.
When I'm tempted to let my frustration loose and speak harsh words—His grace is sufficient for me.
When I've given in to my lust for food for the umpteenth time in a day—His grace is sufficient for me.
When I don't know which direction to go or how to make a decision—His grace is sufficient for me.
What do you need God's grace for? Wayward children? An aching body? Loneliness? Hormones going haywire?
Whatever your story, His grace is sufficient for you. Ask Him for His resources to meet your need and His grace to help you endure.
With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

This transcript is taken from the nationally-syndicateddaily radio program Seeking Him with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

This email was sent by: Revive Our Hearts2727 Niles-Buchanan Road Buchanan, MI, 49107, USA

is silence golden?

Are you ever in a group of people and keep quiet because you think differently than everyone else? Do you keep quiet because you want them to like you, or because you do not want to offend them? If I am being absolutely honest, 99% of the time, it is because I do not want them to view me as different and have a reason to dislike me. Of course, then I wonder if there are others who share my viewpoint, but have also kept quiet for the same reason.
At what age does it no longer matter what people think? Is that a character trait that I will always have? Or does it come from being teased and left out as a child, and having no idea why they didn't like me?
I find myself doing this even with people I will never see again, or with people who do not matter to me. Then again, I have always tried to avoid conflict (except with my siblings!), so maybe that is what I am doing. But I guess even that goes back to wanting people to like me. One thing brought up in Sunday School this morning was about God asking, "Am I not enough?"
So, how do I change my focus from what others think to "what does God think"?
I do pray that someday I will be able to say, YES, GOD, YOU ARE ENOUGH!

A Woman After God's Own Heart #2

A Heart Abiding In God's Word

Elizabeth George begins this chapter by comparing Christians who do not spend time in the word to a plant with no roots. Just as a plant cannot live and thrive without a healthy root system, a Christian cannot thrive without being deeply rooted in God's Word.

She also says our Christian life should be like an iceberg. What other people see and our outward ministry to others should be only a fraction of our life. The greatest majority of an iceberg is under water, and the greatest majority of our walk should be time with God in His Word and prayer.

Here's how:
1. Develop the habit of drawing near to God. Only through routine, regular exposure to God's Word can you and I draw out the nutrition needed to grow hearts of faith. This is one of the hardest things for me, as I have a difficult time setting routines and good habits in all things. I appreciated this statement from Elizabeth, "I have to be firm with myself and aim for habitual, scheduled time with God whether I feel like it or not, whether it seems like the best use of my time or not." I so often let other, more urgent or seemingly more interesting things crowd out my time with God. We must say 'no' not only to things which are wrong and sinful, but to things pleasant, profitable, and good which would hinder and clog our grand duties and our chief work(C. A. Stoddards).
2. Design a personal time for drawing near to God. Consider when, where, and what aids are needed. Keep in mind: Something is better than nothing. Choose a time that works best for you, change it to fit your schedule if need be, but schedule it in on your calendar. Where is also important. Some women have made themselves a special little nook or desk. I know that I cannot do it on my bed or a soft chair, because I will fall asleep no matter what time of day it is. For me, the kitchen table works best, after my hubby is gone and before the kids are up. The aids include, of course, your Bible, highlighters, pens, notebook, sticky notes. You may also want tissues, a hymnal, praise music, study or devotional book, reference books. As you notice something you need, add it to your stash. You might keep this all in a basket or bag if you can't keep it all gathered in the place you use.
3. Dream of being a woman after God's heart! Motivation is key when it comes to nurturing a heart of devotion, and dreaming helps motivate us. Describe the woman you want to be spiritually in one year. What can you do to help that happen? Read through the Bible in a year, memorize a set number of verses, complete a Bible study, find a woman to mentor you. Dream on--and do it! Now describe the woman you want to be spiritually in ten years. Consider what your life will be like in then, more kids, a new career, a marriage, a grandmother? Whatever comes, you will need God to help you.
You determine some elements of the heart. You decide what you will or will not do, whether you will or will not grow, and the rate at which you will grow. You decide how deep you want your roots to go.

My favorite quote:
I exchange my weariness for His strength, my weakness for His power, my darkness for His light, my problems for His solutions, my burdens for His freedom, my frustrations for His peace, my turmoil for His calm, my hopes for His promises, my afflictions for His balm of comfort, my questions for His answers, my confusion for His knowledge, my doubt for His assurance, my nothingness for His awesomeness, the temporal for the eternal, and the impossible for the possible.
How can I consider letting my time with God slide when I look at it as giving up all of this?!

A Woman After God's Own Heart

I have begun reading this book by Elizabeth George after hearing it recommended by a few people.

A Heart Devoted to God:

I think all Christian women want a heart devoted to God, but what I like about this book is the HOW sections. Here are the author's thoughts on how to have a heart like this.

*Commit yourself to actively choose God and His ways in your decisions, words, thoughts, and responses. Before we move or react we need to stop and pray, "God, what would You have me do or think or say?" This obviously takes conscious effort and practice.

*Pay close attention to what is good, better, and best. Strive to make the best choices. She uses the example of driving alone, listening to a popular radio station. She made a good choice and changed to a classical station, then a better choice to listen to Christian CD's, then a better choice to listen to sermons, then to the best choice for her--using the time to memorize scripture.

*Commit yourself to God daily. Lay everything on God's altar, your life, your body, your health, your husband, your child(ren), your home, your possessions, etc. Make this an audible, daily prayer.

*Cultivate a "hot" heart. Revelation 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Am I lukewarm, indifferent to God? I must admit that quite often I am, as evidenced by the priorities in my life. But I do not want to be so! I want to be passionate about God, so that it is obvious to others and myself.

My favorite quote from this chapter is from Carole Mayhall: I do not want to be robbed of even one of God's riches by not taking time to let Him invade my life. By not listening to what He is telling me. By allowing the routine, pressing matters of my minutes to bankrupt me of time for the most exciting, fulfilling relationship in life.

A blog you need to read

I just came across a very interesting blog, Truth Observed, that will challenge the way you see the world. Dr. Del Tackett works for Focus on the Family on their Truth Project. Please check this out.
www.deltackett.com

Hide and Seek

I have been thinking about this since we discussed it in my Sunday School class. As Christians, we should be praying for, and helping each other. But, how can you do that when you have no idea what struggles others are facing? Everybody sits in church on Sunday with their mask firmly in place--"Everything is wonderful in my life and I am so happy to be here to learn about God in a nice, generic way". When actually almost everyone there is fighting a battle against Satan in some way. But we can't admit that because we may be judged. Not sincerely prayed for, but judged. I realize there are many people there who would actually have a genuine concern and love for the one who is struggling. But there are enough of the others there to prevent us from speaking out. The prayer requests are all for healing, or safety, or government, which is all certainly worthy of prayer. But we are not praying for each other! Why can't I request prayer for my struggle to eliminate the sins that entangle me, or the man behind me request prayer for his alcohol addiction, or the teenager who is being pressured by a boyfriend and our culture. We only find that kind of sharing of needs in small groups where the members have become confident that they can trust the others.
It is not just the church I attend now that I am talking about. I'm sure it is this way in just about every church you could find. And I know how devastating the judging and rumors can be. I've been in a church that was torn apart by that. And after being wounded it makes it even harder to share the problems you face.
Do I have a solution? No. I just wonder what impact Christians and the church would have on each other and the world if we truly shared and prayed with each other and left the gossip and judging at the door.
And, no, I am not brave enough to share my struggles.

UPDATE: This was in my e-mail this morning.
"It was so hard for me to learn to let my guard down. It was like I had this shell. I acted nice and polite, but people didn't know the real me."
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: I think that one of the reasons so many people live with chronic loneliness is that they're not willing to die. Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." Of course, He was talking about His own death and resurrection. But in these words, I think we can also learn something about our relationships.
If we're constantly trying to protect our pride, we're going to be lonely. When we hold tight to the hard, outer shell called self, no one can get close. But the true path to intimacy is humility. It means dying to our own reputation, our own rights, and our own ways of doing things.
Being willing to humble yourself will transform your relationships with others.
With Seeking Him, I'm Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS!

We need to contact our Senators and Representatives in Washington, to tell them not to vote for the Hate Crimes Law. The vote in the House of Representatives could be as soon as tomorrow (Wednesday), but will most likely be sometime this week. It is called the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act and is HR 1592. In the Senate it is S.1105. If passed this bill will give special protection to homsexuals, and can even be used against a pastor preaching that homosexuality is wrong.
We MUST let those who represent us know that we want this bill stopped!

For more information and an excellent column on this, visit Chuck Colsons website at www.breakpoint.org.

Focus on the Family also has information at www.citizenlink.com.

Please Call!