Travelling up the mountain,
Rerouting to avoid the obstacles
Climbing tenaciously
And suddenly, the top, spectacular.
Across the way another peak.
A journey down a steep decline
With caution
Into the valley dense, but lush
No clearing in sight
One foot in front of the other.
The valley, beautiful, a necessary encounter
To traverse to a another mountain experience
Every mountain, Every valley
The journey of life
Incredible.
GF01july2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Divine Botox
I want to encourage you in something to-day, and bring a fresh perspective to an old issue, contextualised from an except from "Crazy Love" by Francis Chang with my thoughts thrown in for your information revelation or reading.
Not to mention enlighten you to your everlasting supply of DIVINE BOTOX that awaits if your heed His word and follow His ways.
I tend to be the "stressing" rather than a worrier. No, really, I am, just ask anyone of my children, or my husband and they will tell you, "yep, she is a bit of a stress head". This is mainly due to my "confusion" as to why God is not intervening, why is this happeneing, what is the impact on me, my family etc.
I know what your thinking right about now. What the positive and uplifting, confident and always glass half full kinda gal that I am. How can she really be "stressed". AHHH .....hello..... we are not that different believe me.
What that follows changed my whole perception and was an AHA moment for me. Reading Francis Chan's publication "Crazy Love" challenged me greatly and specifically in the early pages on the following issue.
God knows the intensity and the seriousness with which I take the mantle He has placed on me, of raising my family, teaching and motivating, empowering women (and men) in Life in Him, and in writing and yes, a book eventually. He knows I am purposefully determined to accomplish His will, that is, in the context of what He has told me to do personally, and I stess about that, in not achieving the same.
*Please note here that I have come to realise all my failures are in reality the things that are going to be the vechicle to my success's accomplishing all in Him, its a failing forward thing, but that's another story altogether.
Anyhoo!, back to stess and worry ............. When I am consumed with what is going on, be it even consumed and stressed about doing His will wearing the mantle to bring Him glory, I am more focused on me, my issues , my this n that ...than I am on Him. Stressed and all the while trying to justify my stress because I can say "well what I am stressed about is really all about HIM." Come on now....!
WRONG
The word says this "Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!" phil4:4amp, and it does not leave it at that but it further it encourages us in v6 "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ("definite requests"), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
The psalms frame it like this "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart." ps37:4amp
That does not sound like stress to me !!
Francis Chan in his book " Crazy Love" (pg41) it says this "When I am consumed with my problems - I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's commands to Rejoice."
In other words, Francis Chan says, that I have the "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities (or issues and prblems if you like gf)
I love his interpretation of Worry and Stress as follows; (Crazy Love pg 42)
WORRY: implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough or loving enough to take care of what is happening in our lives.
STRESS: says that the things we are invovled in are important enoughto merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others and our tight grip on control.
WHOA - Ah yes indeed .....Its the stress thing for me and that having control.
These two behaviours, Francis Chan goes on to say; "communicate that it is ok not to trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional."
Is this souding at all familiar?
Both STRESS and WORRY reek of ARROGANCE Chan writes...and it sceams and declares we are forgetting we have been redeemed, forgiven, are alive on the planet for HIS glory, forget that we are heaven bound to never hurt again, that we are carved in the palm of his very hand and that in the context of GOD and his strength, our problems are but a "pffffft" i.e. small indeed, or miniscule in fact.
WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE......... really? When we forget so quickly.
We glimpse His Holyness, His Granduer, we sing and praise and worship and stand in awe of all He has done, and is to do, and yet are dumb enough to forget and at the first sign of a rocky boat or hint of turbulance we skip a breathe and discount HIM.
Worry and stress, as Francis Chan points out, is sin, and is not putting HIM where He belongs in our lives. FIRST.... So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God. 1cor10:31amp
Friends a holy and peaceful spirit will disarm the greatest of enemies .
I pray this has inpired you today as it did me. I thought stressingabout thigs of the KINGDOM context was ok....IT IS NOT. it all looks the same to God, stress and worry about carnal things or kingdom things ..He calls it like it is .....sin.
It does not matter what place you are in it is about bringing glory to HIM. stress and worry are arrogant and naive and reek not only of arrogance but of the stench and putridness of the enemy. I can see that clearer now.
So people of the Most High - when stress and worry come roaming around looking to devour. STAND and raise your SWORD Warrior daughters and sons, lift the WORD and rejoice, delight, gladden your hearts and minds in HIM.
He has got your back. He has you covered. HE is a big GOD, let Him sort it out.
Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. (eph4:27msg)
Whilst this verse actually talks about in your anger do not sin, I think it is also asking us to take heed of everything contrary to truth, like the sin of stress and worry , well they do fall into that catagory do they not?
Next time you fell stressed or are tempted to get your worry on (sometimes it takes others to show me that I am even stressed) dont yield, grant or allow the devil to lump this wrinkle causing and aging sin on you. Don't give permission to the ememy but Give GOD glory instead and he, the enemy will flee.
It is common knowledge in the Health idustry that being stress free and worryless will extend your lifeThat PEACE does in fact increase and assist in your heart coondition and hence, circulation and skin and extends your natural life ......
I say stress and worry free is like GOD's natural and ongoing everflowing botox.
Bless you my Friends and sisters (and brothers they need wrinkle free too) .............I pray your day and week is stress worry free, and that you will see a refreshing fill every area and crease of your lives and faces (hehe) as YOU shine for Him
The truth of Christ appears in all its beauty and power, when it appears in you as in Jesus
Rest in Him
Glenda
Not to mention enlighten you to your everlasting supply of DIVINE BOTOX that awaits if your heed His word and follow His ways.
I tend to be the "stressing" rather than a worrier. No, really, I am, just ask anyone of my children, or my husband and they will tell you, "yep, she is a bit of a stress head". This is mainly due to my "confusion" as to why God is not intervening, why is this happeneing, what is the impact on me, my family etc.
I know what your thinking right about now. What the positive and uplifting, confident and always glass half full kinda gal that I am. How can she really be "stressed". AHHH .....hello..... we are not that different believe me.
What that follows changed my whole perception and was an AHA moment for me. Reading Francis Chan's publication "Crazy Love" challenged me greatly and specifically in the early pages on the following issue.
God knows the intensity and the seriousness with which I take the mantle He has placed on me, of raising my family, teaching and motivating, empowering women (and men) in Life in Him, and in writing and yes, a book eventually. He knows I am purposefully determined to accomplish His will, that is, in the context of what He has told me to do personally, and I stess about that, in not achieving the same.
*Please note here that I have come to realise all my failures are in reality the things that are going to be the vechicle to my success's accomplishing all in Him, its a failing forward thing, but that's another story altogether.
Anyhoo!, back to stess and worry ............. When I am consumed with what is going on, be it even consumed and stressed about doing His will wearing the mantle to bring Him glory, I am more focused on me, my issues , my this n that ...than I am on Him. Stressed and all the while trying to justify my stress because I can say "well what I am stressed about is really all about HIM." Come on now....!
WRONG
The word says this "Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!" phil4:4amp, and it does not leave it at that but it further it encourages us in v6 "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ("definite requests"), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
The psalms frame it like this "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart." ps37:4amp
That does not sound like stress to me !!
Francis Chan in his book " Crazy Love" (pg41) it says this "When I am consumed with my problems - I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's commands to Rejoice."
In other words, Francis Chan says, that I have the "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities (or issues and prblems if you like gf)
I love his interpretation of Worry and Stress as follows; (Crazy Love pg 42)
WORRY: implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough or loving enough to take care of what is happening in our lives.
STRESS: says that the things we are invovled in are important enoughto merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others and our tight grip on control.
WHOA - Ah yes indeed .....Its the stress thing for me and that having control.
These two behaviours, Francis Chan goes on to say; "communicate that it is ok not to trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional."
Is this souding at all familiar?
Both STRESS and WORRY reek of ARROGANCE Chan writes...and it sceams and declares we are forgetting we have been redeemed, forgiven, are alive on the planet for HIS glory, forget that we are heaven bound to never hurt again, that we are carved in the palm of his very hand and that in the context of GOD and his strength, our problems are but a "pffffft" i.e. small indeed, or miniscule in fact.
WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE......... really? When we forget so quickly.
We glimpse His Holyness, His Granduer, we sing and praise and worship and stand in awe of all He has done, and is to do, and yet are dumb enough to forget and at the first sign of a rocky boat or hint of turbulance we skip a breathe and discount HIM.
Worry and stress, as Francis Chan points out, is sin, and is not putting HIM where He belongs in our lives. FIRST.... So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God. 1cor10:31amp
Friends a holy and peaceful spirit will disarm the greatest of enemies .
I pray this has inpired you today as it did me. I thought stressingabout thigs of the KINGDOM context was ok....IT IS NOT. it all looks the same to God, stress and worry about carnal things or kingdom things ..He calls it like it is .....sin.
It does not matter what place you are in it is about bringing glory to HIM. stress and worry are arrogant and naive and reek not only of arrogance but of the stench and putridness of the enemy. I can see that clearer now.
So people of the Most High - when stress and worry come roaming around looking to devour. STAND and raise your SWORD Warrior daughters and sons, lift the WORD and rejoice, delight, gladden your hearts and minds in HIM.
He has got your back. He has you covered. HE is a big GOD, let Him sort it out.
Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. (eph4:27msg)
Whilst this verse actually talks about in your anger do not sin, I think it is also asking us to take heed of everything contrary to truth, like the sin of stress and worry , well they do fall into that catagory do they not?
Next time you fell stressed or are tempted to get your worry on (sometimes it takes others to show me that I am even stressed) dont yield, grant or allow the devil to lump this wrinkle causing and aging sin on you. Don't give permission to the ememy but Give GOD glory instead and he, the enemy will flee.
I say stress and worry free is like GOD's natural and ongoing everflowing botox.
Bless you my Friends and sisters (and brothers they need wrinkle free too) .............I pray your day and week is stress worry free, and that you will see a refreshing fill every area and crease of your lives and faces (hehe) as YOU shine for Him
The truth of Christ appears in all its beauty and power, when it appears in you as in Jesus
Rest in Him
Glenda
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