Jesus Others You
Sometimes I think I just won't write a blog for a few days, but then I feel like the Lord just fills me up with something to say, and I just can't hold it in:
But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord, or speak in His name, His word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones. I am worn out trying to hold it in. I can’t do it!
Jeremiah 20:9
Do you ever feel that way?? Maybe you think nobody listens to you anyway, or you're going thru something and you just decide to turn your back on the Lord because you think He's turned His back on you??? I used to be embarrassed to talk about God to other people...and now, His name comes up in most of my conversations!!! He is my reason for writing my blog, to share Him with all of you who are so special to come and read my thoughts. For some reason this has been a rough week for me. I told you all about being so convicted because of the Sunday school lesson and the pastor's messages last Sunday. When we are trying to live our best, and get as close to the Lord as we can....Satan steps it up a notch. That's what he did to me this week. I have been more tired than usual, didn't do one of my TLT lessons one day, and completely turned to food instead of the Lord....and have just felt a bit blah for the past couple of days.
While walking yesterday morning, I had thought my next blog would be about JOY...Jesus Others You. And, when I did my TLT lesson, this scripture was part of the lesson, so I know it was meant for me to write about JOY!! I felt like it was one of those "It's not odd, it's God" moments!!!
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad — for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
I Peter 4:12-13
Now...you might wonder why I would write about joy if I am feeling blah....my joy has nothing to do with my mood. The joy that I feel also has nothing to do with being "happy". I can still have joy and not be happy. To the non-Christian, this probably makes no sense. I really like acrostics, and I love the one for Joy...Jesus, Others, You. That is the order we're supposed to put the people in our lives. Put Jesus first...then, think about others...and put yourself last. Yes, you are important....I'm learning that if I'm important to God...important enough for Him to hear and answer my prayers...important enough for Him to have sent His son to die on the cross if I had been the only sinner...then, yes I am important. That is a hard lesson for me, because I've had a difficult time my entire life thinking that I wasn't worth much...don't ask me why...but we all have our hang-ups!!!
God let me know today that I am important to Him...and to others. My dear prayer partner sent me a very sweet e-mail letting me know that some things I was thinking and feeling were nothing but Satan...that God still loved me and forgives!!! Then...I got our mail out of the box and there was a card addressed to me...from a precious young lady I used to work with, and we've gotten back in touch in the past few months...telling me some of the sweetest things that I needed to hear...today. Now...you cannot tell me that God didn't prompt her to send me that card, knowing when it would arrive, and that I would need right at that time....oh, God is just so good!!! I told her that God had blessed me thru her. I feel the same way about my prayer partner. We have been prayer partners for going on 2 years....and we have prayed each other thru some difficult times, and seen prayers answered. I have shared things with her, and she me, that it would have been much more difficult to have done alone.
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
I am no Bible scholar...but...I like to think that what makes it the threefold cord is Jesus...my friend (others)...and me (you)....all 3 of us together can conquer whatever problem might come up....JOY!!!
I truly hope that all of you have JOY in your life!!!
Sometimes I think I just won't write a blog for a few days, but then I feel like the Lord just fills me up with something to say, and I just can't hold it in:
But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord, or speak in His name, His word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones. I am worn out trying to hold it in. I can’t do it!
Jeremiah 20:9
Do you ever feel that way?? Maybe you think nobody listens to you anyway, or you're going thru something and you just decide to turn your back on the Lord because you think He's turned His back on you??? I used to be embarrassed to talk about God to other people...and now, His name comes up in most of my conversations!!! He is my reason for writing my blog, to share Him with all of you who are so special to come and read my thoughts. For some reason this has been a rough week for me. I told you all about being so convicted because of the Sunday school lesson and the pastor's messages last Sunday. When we are trying to live our best, and get as close to the Lord as we can....Satan steps it up a notch. That's what he did to me this week. I have been more tired than usual, didn't do one of my TLT lessons one day, and completely turned to food instead of the Lord....and have just felt a bit blah for the past couple of days.
While walking yesterday morning, I had thought my next blog would be about JOY...Jesus Others You. And, when I did my TLT lesson, this scripture was part of the lesson, so I know it was meant for me to write about JOY!! I felt like it was one of those "It's not odd, it's God" moments!!!
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad — for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
I Peter 4:12-13
Now...you might wonder why I would write about joy if I am feeling blah....my joy has nothing to do with my mood. The joy that I feel also has nothing to do with being "happy". I can still have joy and not be happy. To the non-Christian, this probably makes no sense. I really like acrostics, and I love the one for Joy...Jesus, Others, You. That is the order we're supposed to put the people in our lives. Put Jesus first...then, think about others...and put yourself last. Yes, you are important....I'm learning that if I'm important to God...important enough for Him to hear and answer my prayers...important enough for Him to have sent His son to die on the cross if I had been the only sinner...then, yes I am important. That is a hard lesson for me, because I've had a difficult time my entire life thinking that I wasn't worth much...don't ask me why...but we all have our hang-ups!!!
God let me know today that I am important to Him...and to others. My dear prayer partner sent me a very sweet e-mail letting me know that some things I was thinking and feeling were nothing but Satan...that God still loved me and forgives!!! Then...I got our mail out of the box and there was a card addressed to me...from a precious young lady I used to work with, and we've gotten back in touch in the past few months...telling me some of the sweetest things that I needed to hear...today. Now...you cannot tell me that God didn't prompt her to send me that card, knowing when it would arrive, and that I would need right at that time....oh, God is just so good!!! I told her that God had blessed me thru her. I feel the same way about my prayer partner. We have been prayer partners for going on 2 years....and we have prayed each other thru some difficult times, and seen prayers answered. I have shared things with her, and she me, that it would have been much more difficult to have done alone.
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
I am no Bible scholar...but...I like to think that what makes it the threefold cord is Jesus...my friend (others)...and me (you)....all 3 of us together can conquer whatever problem might come up....JOY!!!
I truly hope that all of you have JOY in your life!!!
This entry really touched my heart. These last few weeks I have thought so much....why did you let this terrible thing happen to my baby? Sometimes I think he has forgotten us...I know this hard time will pass and we will be stronger because of it...but it is hard when you are going through it. I really enjoyed reading your blog, I can truelly see God working through you. May God bless you and your family
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