This is just one line from Amy Charmichael's poem, "IF". It
is on the wall in our Sunday School class. I really needed to hear it.
"If I do not feel far more for the grieved Savior than for my worried self when troublesome things occur, then I know nothing of Calvary love."
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Bitterness
I was cleaning up a computer file today and came across this. I remember it was part of a study I did, but I can't remember when and where. Anyway, the Lord challenged me with this today.
Common Signs of Bitterness:
1. Gossip/Slander: In the process of complaining, we may gossip or slander that person. We may have nothing or very little good to say about that person.
2. Ungrateful/Complaining: Not grateful for this person. You may find yourself murmuring about them to others.
3. Judges motives: Whatever this person does you suspect negative motives in them. Even if they do something nice, you may think that there motives must be off.
4. Self-centered: When you find yourself spending a lot of time thinking about yourself and how this person affects you. Being absorbed with yourself and how this person has hurt you.
5. Excessive sorrow: Grief and hurt has crowded out any joy, peace, or love that you used to have. It has, in fact, filled up your heart. It may, at times, overwhelm you.
6. Vengeful: We may look for ways to avoid this person in order to “punish” them. We may try to give them a “cold shoulder” in a lot of different ways. We may pout in subtle ways. Or we may be less subtle and find ways to punish openly just to hurt them and pay them back for the hurt they have caused you.
7. Brooding: May brood over what has been done to you. You may find yourself waking in the morning thinking about what this person has done and you may fall asleep thinking on it as well.
8. Loss of joy: Lately, you may have little or no delight in your relationship with this person or with other people. You may even find that you have lost your delight in the Lord as well. Instead of God’s peace, your sin of bitterness may be taking over your heart. If you find yourself in depression, intense emotional pain or distress, please consider if maybe you are bitter toward someone.
9. Critical/Judgmental attitude: It is difficult for you to take the focus off what this person has done to you, therefore you no longer even see what you are doing wrong.
Common Signs of Bitterness:
1. Gossip/Slander: In the process of complaining, we may gossip or slander that person. We may have nothing or very little good to say about that person.
2. Ungrateful/Complaining: Not grateful for this person. You may find yourself murmuring about them to others.
3. Judges motives: Whatever this person does you suspect negative motives in them. Even if they do something nice, you may think that there motives must be off.
4. Self-centered: When you find yourself spending a lot of time thinking about yourself and how this person affects you. Being absorbed with yourself and how this person has hurt you.
5. Excessive sorrow: Grief and hurt has crowded out any joy, peace, or love that you used to have. It has, in fact, filled up your heart. It may, at times, overwhelm you.
6. Vengeful: We may look for ways to avoid this person in order to “punish” them. We may try to give them a “cold shoulder” in a lot of different ways. We may pout in subtle ways. Or we may be less subtle and find ways to punish openly just to hurt them and pay them back for the hurt they have caused you.
7. Brooding: May brood over what has been done to you. You may find yourself waking in the morning thinking about what this person has done and you may fall asleep thinking on it as well.
8. Loss of joy: Lately, you may have little or no delight in your relationship with this person or with other people. You may even find that you have lost your delight in the Lord as well. Instead of God’s peace, your sin of bitterness may be taking over your heart. If you find yourself in depression, intense emotional pain or distress, please consider if maybe you are bitter toward someone.
9. Critical/Judgmental attitude: It is difficult for you to take the focus off what this person has done to you, therefore you no longer even see what you are doing wrong.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
A Love-Hate Relationship?
I have oftened mused over the verse Luke 14:26. I kind get the gist of it, but I still have felt as though I am missing a piece in the puzzle.
Here is the verse:
26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple."
Have you ever wondered why God say we should "hate" anyone? I have. I get the point, I think. It's something about be willing to let go of any ties to follow Christ. By why did he use the word "hate"?
I am reading a book right now called, "Idols of the Heart" by Elyse Fitzpatrick. Well, it's very convicting to say the least. Anyway, she addresses this verse and I think maybe I understand what Jesus was saying a little bit better.
Here is a quote from her book:
"Consider the difference between Eli and Abraham's relationship with God. Abraham loved his son, but he loved God more. he worshiped God and was willing to do so even if it cost him the person dearest to his heart. Yes, Abraham loved his son, but his love seemed like hatred in comparison to the love he had for God. Eli would have said that he loved God and his sons, as well. But his actions proved that he had other loves, other gods."
So, as a parent I really can feel for both of these men. God asked a great deal from both. God wanted both to be willing to sacrifice their sons for their relationship with God. Abraham showed his love for God by "hating" his son. Eli showed that his relationship with his son and his family was of more value (maybe an idol?) than his relationship with God.
So, how will this translate over into my everyday life? Not just as a parent, but in general? Am I willing to obey God's commands at any cost?
I am amazed at the timing of reading this excerpt yesterday...right before I sat down to read it my friend shared something very similar with me. She really challenged me...she doesn't know she did. We were just "chatting" about some family stuff.
It got me wondering how often I let my kids or my husband or other people interrupt my time with God. It is real easy to neglect bible reading and prayer. But my kids seem like they have immediate needs...sometimes my husband does too. It just seems like it is easy to put God on "hold" and take care of more immediate needs. What I need to realize is my time with God should be my first and most immediate priority, it is my immediate need whether I see that or not.
It's always amazing to me when I feel depressed or out of sorts...kind of grumpy or sometimes struggling to handle a trial or pressures, how often it goes back to the fact I haven't been spending time with alone with the Lord. I usually am living on "fumes" and running pertnear empty when I find myself falling apart. I also find myself lacking thankfulness.
Di
Here is the verse:
26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple."
Have you ever wondered why God say we should "hate" anyone? I have. I get the point, I think. It's something about be willing to let go of any ties to follow Christ. By why did he use the word "hate"?
I am reading a book right now called, "Idols of the Heart" by Elyse Fitzpatrick. Well, it's very convicting to say the least. Anyway, she addresses this verse and I think maybe I understand what Jesus was saying a little bit better.
Here is a quote from her book:
"Consider the difference between Eli and Abraham's relationship with God. Abraham loved his son, but he loved God more. he worshiped God and was willing to do so even if it cost him the person dearest to his heart. Yes, Abraham loved his son, but his love seemed like hatred in comparison to the love he had for God. Eli would have said that he loved God and his sons, as well. But his actions proved that he had other loves, other gods."
So, as a parent I really can feel for both of these men. God asked a great deal from both. God wanted both to be willing to sacrifice their sons for their relationship with God. Abraham showed his love for God by "hating" his son. Eli showed that his relationship with his son and his family was of more value (maybe an idol?) than his relationship with God.
So, how will this translate over into my everyday life? Not just as a parent, but in general? Am I willing to obey God's commands at any cost?
I am amazed at the timing of reading this excerpt yesterday...right before I sat down to read it my friend shared something very similar with me. She really challenged me...she doesn't know she did. We were just "chatting" about some family stuff.
It got me wondering how often I let my kids or my husband or other people interrupt my time with God. It is real easy to neglect bible reading and prayer. But my kids seem like they have immediate needs...sometimes my husband does too. It just seems like it is easy to put God on "hold" and take care of more immediate needs. What I need to realize is my time with God should be my first and most immediate priority, it is my immediate need whether I see that or not.
It's always amazing to me when I feel depressed or out of sorts...kind of grumpy or sometimes struggling to handle a trial or pressures, how often it goes back to the fact I haven't been spending time with alone with the Lord. I usually am living on "fumes" and running pertnear empty when I find myself falling apart. I also find myself lacking thankfulness.
Di
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Contentment
I borrowed some quotes from an article by Dr. Robert Jones from the Biblical Counseling Journal. I really appreciated his insights. Just stood out to me. And I really need to hear anything about contentment anytime. :-)
“What is contentment? It is having a satisfied mind in any situation. It is finding inner satisfaction in God alone and in His provision for you. It is experiencing His peace and confidence in difficult times. It is consciously enjoying the fact that God is good, even when your circumstances are not.”
The answer, says Mr. Jones, is in the verses that come before Philippians 4:11 which he’s arranged into a helpful acronym, “PTO”:
-Pray (vv. 6-7) -Think godly thoughts (v. 8) -Obey God’s truth (v. 90)
These three simple steps offer a clear path out of discontent, regardless of whether my circumstances change or not. As Mr. Jones points out, “If you seek God’s face, renewing your mind with His truth and walking in His ways will produce inner peace amid circumstantial problems.”
“What is contentment? It is having a satisfied mind in any situation. It is finding inner satisfaction in God alone and in His provision for you. It is experiencing His peace and confidence in difficult times. It is consciously enjoying the fact that God is good, even when your circumstances are not.”
The answer, says Mr. Jones, is in the verses that come before Philippians 4:11 which he’s arranged into a helpful acronym, “PTO”:
-Pray (vv. 6-7) -Think godly thoughts (v. 8) -Obey God’s truth (v. 90)
These three simple steps offer a clear path out of discontent, regardless of whether my circumstances change or not. As Mr. Jones points out, “If you seek God’s face, renewing your mind with His truth and walking in His ways will produce inner peace amid circumstantial problems.”
Monday, August 13, 2007
Psychology
Psychology is basically the study of the mind, the way it works, and how it responds. No problem with that...except, psychology has its origins in man's understanding of the mind. What man sees. It doesn't start in scripture to see what God says about our minds. One might say, "well, we don't start in scripture to find information about the spleen or the liver." True. But, the spleen, the liver, etc are the material part of man. But after studying scripture I firmly believe that man has a spiritual side, which I believe the mind is part of. Sure, our mind can effected by the physical or material side of man. But the mind in and of itself is from the inner workings of a man's soul.
I am reading and reading stuff on psychology and have yet to discover a premis in psychology that says man is beyond material. In fact, what I am reading makes it sound like man is just some type of machine.
Here is what I am finding as the premis of the study of psychology:
~Man is either neutral or basically good.
~ Man's problems stem from his/her environment, pressures in his "material" mind, or man just hasn't learned to tap into his inner resources.
~Man should not feel guilt because there is no such thing as "bad" or "sin"--only ineffective behaviors and choices.
~Everything rests on man's subjective feelings. How a person feels about God, about himself, about relationships, even about "truth".
Okay, so here is my dilema today...how can this premis be integrated into Christianity? It appears to me that psychology and christianity not only have two different systems, but two different goals. Psychology seems to be in pursuit of the fulfillment and love of one's self. Christianity is in the pursuit of glorifying and loving God.
So, how can we have Christian Psychology? How can the two go together? They seem so diametrically opposed.
Yet, what I see, so many Christians embracing the philosphies of psychology. Running to Drs of Psychology and Psychiatry for medication to treat a spiritual problem. Why has this happened? And what is Psychology doing to the minds of believers? Is it making us more and more humanistic? Is it minimizing the power of God's Word and Prayer? Is it effecting our ability to believe in the sufficiency of scripture for all of our spiritual needs? Is it saying that man is no longer responsible for sin? Does it deny the depravity of man and his need for a Savior? Perhaps we are learning to be our own Saviors? Maybe we are beginning to call sin "ineffective behaviors" that can treated with medication.
What is happening to the church?
Quote from Dr. Ed Payne, publisher of the journal, "Biblical Reflections on Modern Medicine"
"Intergration implies a merging of things that can be merged. Take a field such as psychology, which is not only formed without biblical principles in mind, but is anti-God and Anti-Christian. It doesn't make sense----not even common sense that you can merge what is God's with what is rebellion against God."
So this quote got asking some questions, "Is the foundation of psychology really a rebellion against God?" If so, "How?"
First of all, as I stated above from my reading I found that psychology denies man's depravity or sin nature. Also, psychology pursues self instead of God. So, psychology appears to encourage man to idolize himself.
As Christians if we follow the sytems of psychology we will be guilty of encouraging idolatry. I mean, think about all the different techniques used to cope. This was a very convicting thought to me, because I know I have fallen into this several times. worst yet, I have used scripture to teach people how to develop better coping mechanisms. Like, if WE do it just right, WE can fix ourselves. In the process we leave out the need for Christ and the transforming power of the gospel. Maybe we have even developed our own gospel?
Hmmmm...I am feeling very challenged right now. This has really effected my thinking deeper than I had realized. IT's amazing how much of the world is in us. We have to be vigilant. We have to be like the Bereans. We have got to be in the word, constantly keeping the word at the forefront of our minds, comparing everything with scripture. We have got to be praying for wisdom. If we are not careful we will just be falling for every wind of doctrine. Easily swayed like a ship on the windy sea. Tossed to and fro...unstable in all our ways. Perhaps this explains the spiritual condition of the church today and its inablity to discern what is right or wrong.
~Di
I am reading and reading stuff on psychology and have yet to discover a premis in psychology that says man is beyond material. In fact, what I am reading makes it sound like man is just some type of machine.
Here is what I am finding as the premis of the study of psychology:
~Man is either neutral or basically good.
~ Man's problems stem from his/her environment, pressures in his "material" mind, or man just hasn't learned to tap into his inner resources.
~Man should not feel guilt because there is no such thing as "bad" or "sin"--only ineffective behaviors and choices.
~Everything rests on man's subjective feelings. How a person feels about God, about himself, about relationships, even about "truth".
Okay, so here is my dilema today...how can this premis be integrated into Christianity? It appears to me that psychology and christianity not only have two different systems, but two different goals. Psychology seems to be in pursuit of the fulfillment and love of one's self. Christianity is in the pursuit of glorifying and loving God.
So, how can we have Christian Psychology? How can the two go together? They seem so diametrically opposed.
Yet, what I see, so many Christians embracing the philosphies of psychology. Running to Drs of Psychology and Psychiatry for medication to treat a spiritual problem. Why has this happened? And what is Psychology doing to the minds of believers? Is it making us more and more humanistic? Is it minimizing the power of God's Word and Prayer? Is it effecting our ability to believe in the sufficiency of scripture for all of our spiritual needs? Is it saying that man is no longer responsible for sin? Does it deny the depravity of man and his need for a Savior? Perhaps we are learning to be our own Saviors? Maybe we are beginning to call sin "ineffective behaviors" that can treated with medication.
What is happening to the church?
Quote from Dr. Ed Payne, publisher of the journal, "Biblical Reflections on Modern Medicine"
"Intergration implies a merging of things that can be merged. Take a field such as psychology, which is not only formed without biblical principles in mind, but is anti-God and Anti-Christian. It doesn't make sense----not even common sense that you can merge what is God's with what is rebellion against God."
So this quote got asking some questions, "Is the foundation of psychology really a rebellion against God?" If so, "How?"
First of all, as I stated above from my reading I found that psychology denies man's depravity or sin nature. Also, psychology pursues self instead of God. So, psychology appears to encourage man to idolize himself.
As Christians if we follow the sytems of psychology we will be guilty of encouraging idolatry. I mean, think about all the different techniques used to cope. This was a very convicting thought to me, because I know I have fallen into this several times. worst yet, I have used scripture to teach people how to develop better coping mechanisms. Like, if WE do it just right, WE can fix ourselves. In the process we leave out the need for Christ and the transforming power of the gospel. Maybe we have even developed our own gospel?
Hmmmm...I am feeling very challenged right now. This has really effected my thinking deeper than I had realized. IT's amazing how much of the world is in us. We have to be vigilant. We have to be like the Bereans. We have got to be in the word, constantly keeping the word at the forefront of our minds, comparing everything with scripture. We have got to be praying for wisdom. If we are not careful we will just be falling for every wind of doctrine. Easily swayed like a ship on the windy sea. Tossed to and fro...unstable in all our ways. Perhaps this explains the spiritual condition of the church today and its inablity to discern what is right or wrong.
~Di
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Strangers
I was reading in I Peter this morning and came across this:
". . .live your lives as strangers here, in reverent fear." (1:17)
Been chewing on that all day. What does it mean to live as a stranger on the earth? Does it mean to live unattached? Does it mean if I am fearing God then I will live wisely? I will live separated from the world? Will I not let the world into my heart? Maybe it was my son and I were talking about this morning, not having a divided heart?
~D
". . .live your lives as strangers here, in reverent fear." (1:17)
Been chewing on that all day. What does it mean to live as a stranger on the earth? Does it mean to live unattached? Does it mean if I am fearing God then I will live wisely? I will live separated from the world? Will I not let the world into my heart? Maybe it was my son and I were talking about this morning, not having a divided heart?
~D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
