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October 27, 2015

The Voices in Our Heads

I was reading a book recently and also noticed in a movie I was watching how we ladies pass judgment on one another. We are all aware of these judgments so therefore the little voices in our own heads is sometimes ever present...whispering---sometimes screaming. Because of these noises in our heads, we then allow guilty feelings to overwhelm us, we worry about what others will think or say, we second guess our decisions all in trying to live up to what we think others think of us. 

When these voices come, we need to block them out and listen closer to the still small voice of the Lord. Maybe we even need to stop, step back and take a moment to regain ourselves. We need to remember that other ladies are not the ones whose standards we must live up to...it's God's first and foremost and then our husbands if we are married, and then our children. It's not our friends, our extended family, our neighbors, or even our fellow church members that should drive our decisions. I'm aware that all this is easier said than done but it is something we must strive to accomplish. 

Spend time reading your Bible, talking with the Lord and seeking guidance from Him about even the smallest decisions in your daily life. This will help you better block out the voices whispering and sometimes screaming in your head! Practice this anecdote and it will get easier each day! 

October 26, 2015

Striving But Not Arrived

Not sure how this post will go but I will be sharing my heart. This time of year is always somewhat melancholy for me and has been that way for years, even though fall is my favorite time of year. My heart has been heavy for several days because I have offended someone unintentionally (and I actually am not sure what I actually did or said -- only told that I had). I have apologized but the damage is already done and therefore I must reap the consequences. As a pastor's wife, you are always put on the spot. You must keep your composure no matter what is going on in your mind and heart. You must smile through heartache, criticism, extreme pressures of ministry life even when you want to cry or feel like yelling. You must handle yourself with as much grace and tact as you can muster and do your very best not to be offensive to others. Now, if someone doesn't like or gets upset about something I am teaching from the Bible (and I am teaching it correctly and in context) then I do not apologize for what God's Word says. I never have and don't ever intend to. The person offended needs to take it up with the Lord not me. However, if I allow my actions or most likely my tongue to offend in my daily life in dealing with others then I need to correct myself and self evaluate. I also need to apologize when I know I have hurt someone or made them upset. 

While I believe whole heartedly that a pastor and even his family is held to a higher standard (above reproach) and that they are to be an example, I do wish that church members, friends, community leaders and others would allow for mistakes. We are people too! We are prone to sin, saying things we shouldn't, not being as attentive as we should at times, being inconsiderate, selfish and the list could go on. We make mistakes too. Really, the thing to do is to come to the person who has offended you and try to work it out. It may just be there was a misunderstanding somewhere. Completely separating yourself from them without allowing them to even know that you offended them doesn't resolve anything. No one can apologize and make things right if they never know they have done someone wrong. 

The past few days of self reflection has reminded me in a big way that I have not yet arrived...I am still striving daily to live the life God wants me to live and be the Christ like person he wants. I fail sometimes to live up to the standard. ---especially that others want. I do not ever want to hurt or offend people around me..especially those I care about and those in the flock God has given to Bob and I. It grieves me to know when someone is upset with me even if we have had an argument and I was also upset and angry. I don't like conflict between me and others. 

Ok, so this post was somewhat strange and was sharing my heart but sometimes my blog is for my own therapy. I know I cannot dwell on my mistakes, I must forgive myself as I know God has and move on whether the other person forgives or not. All I can do is apologize and try to make it right. 

October 9, 2015

Don't Make God Break Your Leg

Since I just did a lesson about becoming like a sheep, I had the facts I have learned about sheep and shepherds rolling in my mind while preparing to teach. 

For those who don't know about things that shepherds do, here are some facts. They use their staff for different things. The curved end is to hook the sheep's neck and pull him back and the straight end is used to help the shepherd clear a path when necessary and to lean upon as he leads. If the shepherd has a stubborn sheep that will not stay with the flock, the shepherd breaks the leg of the sheep or lamb and then carries the sheep on his shoulders until the leg is healed. This serves two purposes...they no longer go astray and they become totally reliant on the shepherd. 

The depiction of Jesus as a shepherd is probably my favorite of him. When you know all the things about the sheep -shepherd relationship it makes for a beautiful picture of the Lord's care. 

This is not a lesson on all those things but I'm sure their will be a full post about that later. This is about how as Christians we stray from walking close to the Lord. We can become stubborn and do things in our own way and we can stop obeying the tugging from the Holy Spirit. When we do this enough, God in a sense breaks our leg to bring us back to relying on and obeying Him. He may literally break a bone, but more often he will chastise in another way. He will do something to get your attention that will bring you back to your prayer knees, your seeking of His will, and Bible reading. He is the Good Shepherd! That is His job! If you don't want your leg broke, stay near the shepherd and where He wants you! 

Just a quick devo to make you think about your walk. 

Becoming Like a Sheep - Lessons from the Farm Series

We are going to start by talking about the behaviors of sheep. Then we will look at each of the behaviors and see how we can apply them to our own lives as Christians.

- Gregarious - prefer to be with herd or to flock
- Followers - need leadership so they don't go astray (sheep are lead not driven like cattle)
- Timid - run from what frightens them or what will do harm
- Dependent - rely on the shepherd for their needs

I. Gregarious - Learn to flock
- sheep do this because they are very social and it is one of their only forms of defense (protects from predators) besides the shepherd (when they stay grouped up it is harder for their predators to get one)

Ps. 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Heb. 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
- We NEED Christian fellowship - it helps to build us up and encourage us
- It also helps to protect us against the world and sin - it is easier to stand in a crowd than alone

II. Followers - follow your leader whom ever it may be - husband, pastor, boss, or parent and Christ 

Eph. 5:22 - Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
- When we follow our husbands it is like we are doing it to the Lord

Heb. 13:17 - Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they must give an account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
- the pastor will someday give an account for how he watched for your soul and ran the church - there is a lot of responsibility on his shoulders!

Col. 3:20 - Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
- when kids are young they are to obey but when we are grown up we are still to honor them

Eph. 6:5 - Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 
- there is a command to obey your boss

John 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 
- if we are one of God's sheep, He knows us and we should know Him and His voice and follow - when the Holy Spirit is tugging at our hearts we should obey

III. Timid - Learn to run from harm - run from sin
- we need to practice running from temptations and evil influences that would only harm us

Prov. 4:14-15 - Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
- don't follow the wicked and partake in their ways

1 Cor. 6:18 - Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Eph. 5:11 - And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

2 Tim. 2:22 - Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

- flee or run from ungodly things, resist

IV. Docile - Learn to be peaceful and forgiving

Matt. 6:14 - For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
- when we forgive, God forgives

1 Thess 5:15 - See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Heb. 12:14 - Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

- we are commanded to not get revenge and to live peaceably

V. Dependent  - Learn to rely on Jesus

Ps. 34:9-10 - O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

- God loves us and wants to take care of our needs and give us good things!