Out with the old

You can’t start something new until you stop the old.

• Habits
• Ideas
• Songs
• Books
• Motives
• Service to

While many may argue, I can read multiple books; I can do what I want and please God too; I can have good and bad habits. It’s difficult to fully make a change, to give your heart completely, until you are done with the old.

You can only give all and focus on one direction at a time. You will either move forward, be stagnant or reverse course. You can’t move in all 3 directions at once.

The scripture says “ANY” that belong to God will be a new creature. There is a crisis point, a defining moment when one becomes new. At this time, the old has to go. You can’t be half new and half old. It’s all or nothing. And it’s available to everyone!

Finding yourself at a loss as we close out a year. Start fresh. Start new. Not just for a moment, a day, a month… but all time.

God has the power to sustain your newness as you belong to him.

Seek him. He will be found. You too can have a new life in Christ.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May you he blessed and be a blessing this year.

Who am I?

5 Minute Thought

Who am I? That the Creator, the I AM, the Word, Love, Being, would be mindful of me?

Would want a deep, personal, intimate relationship with me?

How do I count as someone special?

One that has messed up countless times, has taken advantage of mercy, has failed…why me? Why does He care about me?

This I will never know. Only, that He does. He cares about me. About those things I care about. This is one of those times when faith is needed. And it is put into evidence in that he does all, to have that relationship.

I am but nothing, yet he thinks about me. He created me, knowing about my battles , weaknesses, strengths, stubbornness, desires, loves, the ins and outs of my heart and motives. He put the combination of me together. Wow! He must of thought this combo could do some good.

What gave I done with it? Have I lived to my full potential? Have I done all the good? Have I neglected to be a blessing? Am I allowing him to use me?

This time of year is often a time of reflection. I don’t want to, just out of form, but with a true sincerity of heart.

Search me. Try me. See if there be anything unlike You.

That I might be worthy of your affection.

Who am I? – Castibg Crowns

https://youtu.be/C53GgUJ6y-Y

A Psalm in Jonah 2

Last night, during Bible Study, we continued in Jonah, a deeper look into Chapter 2. In class, these scriptures were compared to a soul in sin. How lost and desperate they are for help. Their search for God, that spark of hope, the surrender to him and their deliverance.

But this wasn’t my experience. I made the decision at a young age and throughout time to serve God. I wasn’t bound and miserable in sin. I was 8 years old.

To me, this passage resembled a saint, overwhelmed by life, in the depths of grief, going through a valley, a time where you can’t feel God, a season of waiting, a trial of faith, CRYING out to God. Looking to him to him for help. Through the discussion and thought it struck me that, with slight alteration (removing the part about the fish’s belly and being spit up on dry land) it could be relocated to the Psalms. It reads:

Jonah 2: Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,

 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.

 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

 And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

I wonder if Jonah read the Psalms, if the words of David resonated with him as he searched his soul, as he desperately went before God, taking responsibility for his actions, and agreeing to follow through with his vow. His purpose of fulfilling God’s will for Nineveh.

Last week, out of the depths of my soul, I cried unto the Lord. I was overwhelmed and felt like I was drowning. I recognized that I could not continue on my own strength. I did not have that ability. Through a scripture, a reminder to rely on God’s strength, his help through the day, gave me something to hold on to. A hope that this is for a reason, that it won’t be forever, that his strength and grace are ALWAYS sufficient. 

Going Deeper

At the close of another Annual Fellowship Meeting, I think back on the services and reflect on the gold nuggets that I am taking away from it. I always look forward to this time of year, a time of reflection, a time for a deeper consecration, a renewing in my soul, a fresh touch of desire. But all of this is of no use, unless it is put into practice. It becomes an emotional experience of the past, just a good time, if the challenges aren’t accepted and pursued. This is my desire, that it not be just another great meeting, but that it be a stepping stone that draws me closer to God.

1. No relationship can survive with out forgiveness.
2. If you are not willing to constantly forgive, you will become bitter.
3. Do we want God to forgive us as we forgive others? There is a reason why he says to forgive others as he has forgiven us.
4. Unforgiveness incarcerates the victim with no effect on the offender.
5. Who art thou Lord? Daily ask who God is. The answer, I am Jesus, will meet every need, answer every question.
6. We need to have a for sure knowledge of who he is.
7. We need the Spirit – to kill the flesh, to pray when we can’t, to be a witness, to quicken the body. We NEED the Spirit.
8. He rescued me from what could have been my end. Being saved young and not having experienced the vast world of sin, my end could have been a mess, full of heartache and sorrow. He saved me from what could have been.
9. He is a faithful Father, and GREAT is his faithfulness to me.
10. Why should I feel discouraged? When I know that he watches me, just as he watches the sparrow.
11. We need to be willing to let the spotlight of God shine on us and not always shift the focus to someone else, he that is without sin cast the first stone.
12. Face your need.
13. Allow Christ to see your failure. Allow him into the intimate part of your heart, where your hurts are. He will take them and make something great.
14. Be willing to God with God to places you have never gone before. Go out into the deep.
15. Be concerned about stagnation. If you aren’t growing, moving up, experiencing more in salvation, if it is no longer a benefit to you, Be very concerned. Seek God.
16. Don’t bring up the past. Focusing on the past hurts, problems, divisions, will cause you to miss your blessing.
17. Don’t be afraid when your “child” is dead. Don’t listen to what others say, believe and ask Jesus into the intimate parts of your house, so he can bring healing to your need.
18. Jesus says, no matter what you have heard, I can do something with this impossible situation.
19. I’m still HOLDING ON.
20. When God draws the line, it is up to us to measure to it.
21. God wants to do good, are we willing to let him use us?
22. We need to be more intimate with God. You need intimacy with him in order to bring forth new converts.

A long list. A lot to remember. But changes don’t have to happen over night. We do what we have known to do. Take additional time in prayer and devotion. Be quick and willing to forgive the little slights each day. Open our mouth and let God fill it.

God help us, help me, to be your child. To hear AND obey.

Personal Theology Statement Project

The thought tonight in class was our Personal Theology Statement. What/who is God to you? Not what the Church thinks, not what the Bible says, but your very own personal study of God statement.

Salvation is a personal thing and in order to be successful we have to keep it personal. We can’t change our focus to what others are doing or how they think of us. We need only be concerned about the connection between us and God. With this connection sure, we can then be a conduit by which others can be helped.

So what is in a Personal Theology Statement (PTS).
1. Who is God to me?
2. What is God to me?
3. What am I willing to do for him?
4. Thanksgiving and Praise
These are just some of the points this statement might cover. It would also include his help in the most difficult times. It speaks of responsibility and promises made to him. It is fluid and relevant to your current condition with God. The longer one serves God, the deeper and more revealing their Personal Theology Statement is.

As I drove home from service and went on a walk with my dog, I meditated on my PTS. What is God to me? Who is he? What has he done? What am I willing to do for him? How is my gratitude? This is what came out as I began to write.

My God is…
Hope in the dark
Peace in the unknown
Joy in the daily tasks
The bearer of burdens
An unending supply of strength
All Loving.
He fills the voids were sorrow grows with hope.
Master Healer.
Worth of my confidence
Fulfiller of dreams,
He satisfies all needs.
Ever present.
Guides each step of my path and I carefully follow his lead.
From the depths of my being I seek him and he is always to be found.
When I don’t know why, he is the answer.
The praise of my soul rises to him.
In daily thanksgiving I see his beauty in the colors of the grass and the clouds across the sky.
He is wind.
A breath.
Life.
He is a rock when the waves rage.
Provides rest in the busy of life.
Proves peace is the perfect way.
God is worth waiting on.
I will wait without complaining and with joy for his light to move upon my path.
He overwhelms me, my fears, my desires
I choose to accept his way in contentment even when I can’t understand.
Beyond merciful when I have failed.
A Faithful friend.
Collector of tears, calming the storm of disappointment and loss, he gives grace and hope to go face the world and go another day.
My motivation.
My first thought when I wake, and the last as I finish my day.
He is my ALL.

I am sure this isn’t all and more will come in time. On my walk as I was listing off each thing God is to me and my promises to him tears of thankfulness and praise ran down my face. I was and am overwhelmed by the greatness of God.

What is your PTS? While it might be similar, and you might be able to relate, this isn’t your PTS. Take a minute. Think on this. Ask yourself “Who is God to me? What has he done? What will you do for him? Offer him Thanksgiving and praise.” Join in the Personal Theology Statement Project, share what God is to you. Maybe it will encourage someone to know this God in a personal way.