hewalkswithme6.wordpress.com

Tag: mental-health

  • Really?

    Really?

    Does everything coming my way, especially terrible or difficult things, some just debilitating, come from God? or only good things come from God? I have heard “the steps of a good (I assume a saved individual clothed with the righteousness of Christ) man are ordered by the Lord”. This suggests to me that as a born again, bible thumping Christian my walk or life should be that of ease. No?

    Nice thought, but just that —- a thought. There are many examples of good men in the bible that disproves the fallacy that just because you have decided to be saved, join the Lord’s army, life becomes your eutopia. Christ is the ultimate example; He was led to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil; not something anyone would volunteer to do I’m sure.

    When I veer to the side of self-pity, I think about Paul. With Christ I usually tell myself He was the son of God, so yeah, he could go thru tough times, no big deal. After all Christ was God, I thought His divinity was a shroud about Him; His divinity shielded Him. (that is a topic for another time).

    But Paul, my go to, was as human as I am.; I can relate to him. It makes my perspective different. Instead of asking do things come from God, my thought turn to because of being in God. Paul seemed to have a life to ease and peace before being in the service of God. After his encounter with Christ and being born again, this man came into some horrendous situations. He was stoned, imprisoned for the majority of his life, beaten, as well as trialed contineously it seems. I look at Paul’s life and thank God for what in comparison are minor issues I face.

    You know we are told count the cost before getting into anything. Did I count the cost of becoming born again? Truthfully no. I thought, based on the teachings I was listening to, that leaving my life for the cross would unentangle me from the mess I was living in. I heard I could get wealthy, have a happy home, and just flow thru life. When this “dream life” did not realize (several years into being in Christ), I had to re-evaluate. What I would advise anyone seeking the reality of being saved is that one is entering into a war zone. It is a daily fight with an invisible enemy. You have to know how to manuever in this war torn zone; and that is by reading the word to fortify yourself so you do not become a casualty.

    Come to think of it, when Christ was tempted, the devil presented the very same things to Him that the preachers presented to me — food, world’s wealth, and devine protection from on high when i throw my self into folish dangerous situations.

    Yes I am ramblling again, thoughts of an older woman.

    Problem: self centeredness, what I can gain is focus

    Solution: be as Christ and the disciples; “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” How self-less they were by putting their lives in danger to make life available to others.

  • U distinct?

    U distinct?

    For those in life who find themselves meandering, faltering, falling even in this life—the why must be constant. Forever changing your persona to try and fit so you could enjoy life or at least walk it in peace.

    Could the base line, or at least the foundation needed be identifying your identity? When it is just you, alone— who are you?

    For the one naming the name of Christ the answer should be simple –“I have been crucified with Christ…” Feelings produced by trying to mirror this world and fit in no longer drive, thus you enter into the realm of “nevertheless I live; yet not I”. Have you died to self? Are your ambitions, desires, thoughts and goals relinquished? Have you now donned a new life with a new perspective? Can you say Christ now lives in you? Is the life you now live in your flesh you live by the faith of the Son of God?

    Years ago, there was a saying “what would Jesus do?” Does that ever cross your mind when you are doing what you are doing? Does you get that nagging annoying feeling telling you not to engage in what you are about to do, or even doing?

    Today it seems as if we name the name of Christ, and it ends there. Our identity is tied to this present world. We chase after the material things, and pleasures of this world to solidify our identity based on this world, fully agreeing and supporting the standards of this world. Our leaders in the church that we aspire to be like and assimilate constantly attribute their worldly possessions as evidence of being in the center of God’s will (no wonder the “sheep” have gone astray).

    Well I’m rambling now. But each day you arise, and that spirit of meandering, wondering deep inside who you are; what you are on this earth for— let it know you are secure in your identity. Let it know Christ resides in you — spirit, soul and body. The person the antag onist knew no longer exists. Resist that feeling (devil)and it will flee.

    Problem: not knowing who you are or whose you are.

    Solution: read a piece of freedom (Bible), familiarize yourself with it (bible content) , assimilate (copy) and walk in its ways. Your identity is firm. Are you perfect? No, just changed. New perspectives and goals.

  • Master change

    Master change

    We all know that in order to change anything, especially self, it starts with your thinking. A famous quote says “And be not conformed (behave according to socially, acceptable conventions or standards or to be similar in form, type; to agree to men’s standards) to this world: but be ye transformed (make a thorough or dramatic change) by the renewing of your mind...”

    I think of reactions to situations that we think are beyond our control. Those times we think “I can’t make it”! What does one do? In the Christian Walk one starts begging God to do something, usually not believing He will do something to stop the crazy. Panic sets in and it is downhill from there. How does this happen to a bible stomping, faith filled believer? Yet it happens more than we want to admit.

    Problem: the thought process, thus reacting instead of being pro-active.

    Solution: Fighting the good fight of faith. Meaning- remind yourself of who you are and whose you are. Find your word (sword) and find the scriptures dealing with that issue. You have changed your victim mantality to that of a fighter! Now affirmations begin. Speak the scriptures out loud— you want you and the situation, demonic spirits, and anyone else listening to hear these words. After all life and death are in the power of what you say. Flip the script on the situation. After all the example that inanimant objects listen and obey is when Christ spoke to the fig tree that it die starting with its roots. Later on when He and His disciples passed it again it was dead. Also remember that you were told as a believer if you spoke to the mountain and told it to be removed unto the sea that mountain would obey you without even a struggle.

    The point is change your mind on how you see things, and you can overcome your situation. It will take fighting because most times situations believe they are in charge. You have to take the power from your situation! Fight instead of thinking you are defeated just because the situation dares to chalenge you trusting that you will throw up your hands and let things happen.

  • 3 days and 3 nights

    3 days and 3 nights

    Just a nagging thought–Every year we celebrate Good Friday, the day that Jesus died on the cross, and Resurrection Sunday. Let’s take a look as to how this compares to scripture.

    Matthew states 12:40 states “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly: so, shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Luke 9:22 “For I tell you that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes (church leadership), and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Luke 24:7 “…The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

    I can see that Friday, Saturday and Sunday seem like three days, but no one counts days that way or do they? If I would say to you on Friday, call me in three days, you would not call me on Sunday, or would you? You would count Saturday, Sunday then call on Monday. True? Some have said the Friday to Sunday celebration stems from counting in the Jewish tradition. “The Jewish day starts at nightfall, and continues throughout the night and following day, until the next night. This is based on the first verses in the story of creation (in the book of Genesis), where it says “it was night, and it was day–day one (of creation)” states Rabbi David Sperling. In this case, Jesus’ body was taken by Joseph of Arimathaea that evening of the crucifixion as the centurion had confirmed his death. The counting of the day then would start here. Friday into Saturday evening is one day; Saturday evening to Sunday evening is the second day, Sunday evening to Monday evening would then be the third day.

    Now let us look to see what would agree with scripture. If we use the Jewish method of counting the days, we could count Wednesday evening into Thursday is the first day; Thursday evening to Friday evening is the second day; Friday evening to Saturday evening is the third day spent in the tomb with resurrection then occurring on Sunday morning. So really Christ died on a Wednesday to resurrect on a Sunday is more likely.

    What is the point or problem here? Tradition. We all follow it, as I am sure I am not the only one wondering how Friday to Sunday constitutes 3 days and 3 nights as the Bible reads. My observation of the 3-day count may seem minor; the important thing here is the changes made to the word of God and the church following without question or reason. Traditions generally come from interpretation of scripture but tend to contradict scripture when looked at closely. One could say the celebration of Friday to Sunday is no big deal and it harms no one. Sound the alarm! This is how one slowly moves from adhering to scripture to traditions of men that make the word of God of none effect; opening that door – listen to wrong teachings and accepting it because one thinks the deviation heard is no big deal. The enemy does not come with anything alarmingly or noticeably different; he just makes little tweaks that seem like no big deal.

    Solution: refuse to take in and follow what is not in scripture, no matter how small. Read your word with understanding, memorize verses to enable you to see error in what you hear or read from even your favorite pastor, the Holy Ghost will bring up that word in you to your remembrance. Be as the Bereans (Acts 17:11) who went from church meetings to their homes only to read their word for themselves to see if what they heard was really the word of God. When you do as they did, you will ensure health to your mind and a strong healthy relationship with your God.