Had an awesome worship experience at Mt. Ennon again. I don't know if I'm alone in this but I'm looking for strong, Biblical, relevant messages. I want to be fed good food!
So what's on my mind today?
Not letting your feelings control your feet.
Feelings are crazy. How I feel can change on a dime. Yesterday I was having a lovely conversation or debate if you will with on of my fellow Kennedy Queens and she got legitimately mad at me...out of no where in my opinion. I know why she was upset. I can't really understand it fully but I understood that it was a real problem for her.
For me, it was philosophical.
For her, it was everyday life.
What I love about her though is that she didn't let her feelings about how I approached the subject turn into an attack on me. Separating the disagreement from the person is so vital to good communication. Yesterday's message was actually about this. I'll write about that one day. I've got notes and everything!
Okay so that's not exactly where I wanted to go with the feelings conversation. So me and her, made a hard right in our conversation and delved into another topic....one that isn't philosophical for either of us. I was so surprised by some of her insights as well as her opinions. There are time I really wish I was more like her....especially in the "I'm a person, not just a brain" area. Anywho, I was struck by the fact that my feelings want me to do otherwise sometimes. And by otherwise I mean the change and stray and do all types of stuff. My feelings can be up, down, and to the left in a matter of minutes. What I love about having God in me is that He's steady. He's consistent. He's never changing. I can do all the feeling acrobatics I want but in the end, I'm going to let what He says to me control my feet. I've even talked to Him about wanting to do otherwise and He's very clearly said to me "You're not built that way. I know. I built you."
He keeps me safe.
Even when I want to do otherwise, He's right there telling me essentially "hey girl, that's going to hurt you. My plan is always for your good. Also, this conversation you're giving me...you don't mean it. I know you don't. You know you don't. Get back on assignment."
I've got to trust Him in this space. If God's will is what I'm after, I can't start chasing after feelings. That would be the definition of crazy. That's choosing to be outside His will....and that's a smooth never. I may be outside of it but I'll never knowingly leave it. Oh no...not me. What I love about God is that He also won't really let me be too far off. He's invested in this relationship ref. the cross!
Romans 16: 17
I appeal to you, brethren, to be on your guard concerning those who create dissensions and difficulties and cause divisions, in opposition to the doctrine (the teaching) which you have been taught. [I warn you to turn aside from them, to] avoid them.
Oh ok....so Jesus wants me to talk about conflict resolution now? Ok...cool. Let me find these sermon notes lol.
The scriptural reference was Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament. Let's rock some sermon lite! The first concept was the we've got to learn to address our issues without suppressing them. TALK! Don't be over here acting like you don't have a problem .If you have a problem, don't act like you don't. I'm not good at this with my parents. This is probably because I'm also an avoider with them. I just escape the issue rather than addressing it. My issues are usually met with "We're your parents. We don't care how you feel. WE can do/say whatever we want." Yea....that doesn't make for great conflict resolution. Pastor talked about how we should always be looking for a win-win solution. No one has to lose but sometimes that's not possible. I'll get to that in a second. The whole conflict in Obadiah is based on something silly but also based on the fact that there was no communication! Instead of putting pride aside, they kept up the conflict for centuries leading up to the text in Obadiah. That's insane!
We've got to keep talking. And if we don't agree, we don't. Everything ain't for everybody but you won't know that unless you ask. And once you know....you can go. That's what I'm getting from Paul. But you've got to know.
Romans 16:19
For while your loyalty and obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you well versed and wise as to what is good and innocent and guileless as to what is evil.
God doesn't just want a loyal and obedient servant. I can do what He asks without any actual relationship with Him. It would be difficult but its possible. What He wants in reality my heart. He wants me to not only follow but be wise. He wants me to follow because I want to not out of blind obedience. He wants me in this relationship, participating. It is my heartfelt prayer that I have a spirit of discernment. I so want to be wise. I want to be able to read situations and be quiet enough in myself to hear the Spirit's direction in them. The trick there is getting quiet. Sometimes I want to do it myself. Can I tell you that never ends well? Yea....quiet is what I'm working on right now.
The thing about the indwelling of the Spirit is that all I have to do is go right there and check it out. There's not elaborate process. Being close to Him in the way I am...this prayer walk, this devotional lets me be about 90 seconds away from actual worship. The closeness is insane. I can be completely transparent all the time because lets be serious...who am I fooling? Not God. I might be fooling myself but He's omnipotent. So yea....He wants deeper parts of me. More of my heart, more of my mind, more connection. Sometimes I wonder how there's space for more but there always is. Theres' always more.
Romans 16:24
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you all. Amen (so be it).
This is a definite part of my prayer life. Grace is such a profound concept to me. I'll never understand it but I surely do have it tattooed on my body. Why? Because its the only thing making a way for me. His grace, enduring and abounding, is so profound. A friend said "If you can conceive of it, His grace is bigger." <---TRUTH!
Romans 16:25
Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my Gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages,
He is my strength. I recently saw the rest of the verse that starts with "My grace is sufficient for you" which goes on to say "for my power is made perfect in your weakness." Let me talk to you for a minute about His power. There is now way I find myself doing the things I do of my own accord. Not possible. Its just not. I know me. Me alone ain't able. Me and Him together, doing this relationship thing....its the most amazing thing. It is by no means easy. I miss easy in fact. But what I love about what's He's doing is that its peaceful. He quiets my soul, He comforts my mind, He is my constant companion.
Romans 16:27
To [the] only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One)! Amen (so be it).
What did I tell y'all about a benediction! I love them. I love the language, the imagery, the reverence. I love what it says here....
"To the only wise God"
He's the only one y'all and I'm constantly seeking Him because I need that wisdom in a torrential downpour in my life. Lord, help me make good decisions that move forward your purpose in my life and when I'm not doing so, be gracious and merciful unto me, which is your character, making a way for me despite myself.
"Be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ"
I'm careful to make sure that its Him that's glorified not me. Its Him and me together but its mostly Him. I'm just trying to be in a position to be used. I want Him to be exalted above all things and if the life I'm leading reflects Him, then I've done what I was created to do.
"Amen"
Put a bow on that! That's done!
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