Overcoming Envy

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

Thankfulness and gratefulness are essential keys to life. They are weapons that combat envy and covetousness, those dark emotions and desires that came from the devil himself. Envy creates focus on things that are not ours, but someone else's. Envy creates jealousy, fuels animosity and anger, and regardless of what is possessed or supplied to the envious it is never enough...envy is insatiable in its very nature. 

When we choose to thank God in all things, in spite of situations and circumstances that may be difficult, we exercise faith which by very definition is "things hoped for that are yet unseen " we please our Abba. Regardless of what difficulties may be in front of us or we are in the middle of,  the Word of God reminds us that we are not forgotten. We serve a mighty God who hears our praises and prayers and He is so good, even when current circumstances are difficult and uncomfortable. 

Give thanks to the Lord!

Fascinations 205

"Whatever fascinates us will guide us, so I pray that the only thing that will fascinate me is God and His marvelous glory."
~ AW Tozer

Fascination: A powerful attraction, something so overwhelming that everything else pales in comparison (my definition).
 I am fascinated, overwhelmed by the One who made me. Constantly fascinated by His love, His magnificence, and awestruck by Him.

"One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."
Psalm 27:4 NIV

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God."
Psalm 42:1 NIV

I want to see my Father's glory,  to be awash in the radiance of all that He is.
I want to be overtaken by God's radiance, ignited as a tinder-dry forest is set ablaze.
Staying fascinated though means setting my face like flint, focused on Him.
To be honest it's not always that easy for me though.
Storms do come.
I cannot bow to distractions and pressures of this life, regardless of their origins.
The trials that come are not meant to discourage or distract, but rather to draw,
keeping me face to face with Him.
I don't want preoccupation with media, electronics (even my beloved Apple devices), sports,etc. to interfere with my Magnificent Obsession.
Nothing else is worthy of my devotion, my fascination with Him.
If I sound to you like an incurable lovesick fanatic I'm more than okay with that.
Like Tozer, I pray that the only thing that will fascinate me is God Himself-and His marvelous glory.

Keep Digging 64

"Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.
So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” "
Genesis 26:17, 19-22 NIV

There are times in our lives when things go so wonderfully. The wells we have dug are flowing with refreshing water. Plans execute with perfection, our cups run over brimming with dreams fulfilled, a full hearts, and life abundant.
But when we are in times and  seasons of dryness, trudging through a desert as our enemies clog up our "wells" how do we respond?
This is not theoretical or rhetorical to me. For those of you who read me regularly you have probably noticed my posts have been fewer, less regular.  It seems as if sometimes my "wells" have been messed with-by the enemy who are always doing all he can to shut me down, cutting off the flow of joy, creativity, spiritual insight, and all the gifts and blessings that emanate from my Father.
The solution which was spoken over and into me as a brother prayed over me today: keep digging! Keep shoveling through adversity, discouragement, fear, and doubt as The Lord Himself takes me into new seasons and wide open places, Rechovot, where hope and faith are restored as fresh waters revive and replenish.
Keep digging!

Perfect Timing/ Faith or Experience 180

"We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to The Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think who the New Covenant says Jesus Christ is! and then think of the despicable meager ness of the miserable faith we exhibit by saying, " I haven't had this experience or that experience"! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims and provides- he can present us faultless before the throne of god, inexpressibly pure, absolutely righteous, and profoundly justified....How can anyone who is identified  with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief."
"Faith or Experience"
Oswald Chambers,
My Utmost For his Highest, November 13

Yesterday I did not get out of bed till 10:30.
To be honest I have had moody moments,
tough times of  roller coaster emotions as of late when selfish feelings have gotten the best of me.
But God's timing is always perfect for every reason.
Here is some of  the resulting prayer that I journaled:

"Father forgive me for allowing dryness and weariness to cover me instead of your glory, peace, and joy. There are times when I feel like disappointment and unfulfilled expectations overwhelm me and cause me to mope about like a spoiled child. Instead of rejoicing in your extravagant love, grace, and mercy, I've complained about small things. Forgive me when I've sat immobilized covered in the dust of doubts, fear, and faithlessness, even as you are before me, waiting for me to allow you to wash away these things. Help me, Lord, to step out out that sinking boat I've been sitting in, and walk where I didn't think possible because of thoughts that I was not gifted enough, holy enough, not worthy of your calling. Help me to hear your voice and embrace your words of love, tenderness, encouragement, affirmation, and grace."

Reminders 204

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"
Matthew 6:26, 27 NKJV

This week I received a reminder from my Father that no situation is unseen by Him, not even the smallest of needs. We have a 5 year old Civic that has metallic paint. It has 100,000+ miles on it, it has been a great car and to be sure my attention to taking good care has contributed to the great condition. In the last couple months though, I had noticed that the paint on the roof of the car has started to become chalky and faded rather suddenly. I wondered how this happened and begun to wonder if the previous owner had done  undisclosed, shoddy repair work. There was no record of it if this was the case, but it really bothered me. I began to think of how I was going to manage to get this refinished as money has been tight.
Two days ago I received a notice in the mail from Honda informing me of a factory defect in the paint finish of certain Civics - and ours was one of them! Next week the roof of the car is going to be repainted compliments of Honda, but really, compliments of a Father God who chose to do small thing to remind a son that He loves me and that He's totally got this handled-as well as every other need.

Prayer: Father forgive us for sometimes worrying and wondering about how our needs will be taken care of. Help us to jettison any poverty mentality clinging to us, and walk in our true identities as sons and daughters of the King of the Universe, AMEN.