More from John Franklin (slightly re-arranged by Tawny)

I have wanted a good definition of this for years, I think I finally have one.

Walking with God:
Paying the price in time, prayer, and sacrifice to understand God's perspective of our life and work. Once understanding it, diligently setting about our Father's business. As we pour out our lives in rolled-up sleeves, sweat (tears!) and service for His purposes, we will feel God's power course through us. When this pattern of seeing as God sees and working with Him become a day-in, day-out lifestyle, the Bible calls it "walking with God."

In the book of Acts the entire church demonstrated this kind of relationship with God and consequently the power of God flowed through the whole church.

Doesn't that sound amazing??!

Question of the Day

What is gentleness?

Phil 4:4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I picked up "The Mind of Christ" by TW Hunt. He said the oposite of gentleness is hardness and the perversion of gentleness is being too soft.

Jesus was gentle. Always. But the whips in the temple and the "Get behind me, Satan" do not seem gentle. So it must be a state of heart. I need it. I also need the peace which transcends all understanding. I am so thankful that all we need comes directly through Him. If all we have is Jesus, we can be complete.

I love His people though, I don't want to ever be without them. Thankfully, He feels the same way. :)

Hidden and Secret

So, I am thinking about this "hidden life" thing more. If it applies to all believers, which of course it does, I don't need to be quite so "discerning" as I have been. Jesus will redeem all of us. He will heal all our diseases and complete our lack, remove any deceptions we still have and give us knowledge of Himself. We will all be complete and whole before Him and each other some day. Our weaknesses and blind spots won't last forever. So we don't need worry about those so much. They are temporary, earthly concerns. We can trust that someday, we will all finally "get it". (Usually the one thing I have learned that maybe you haven't yet, ignoring the 82 things that you know and I don't.) I find this relieving, because I don't have to be so concerned about people "getting it". I can love people more freely and trust God WILL fix them someday. Along with me.

I am not saying that there is never a time to encourage or correct a brother or sister in Christ. I am talking about all the stuff that isn't blatant enough for that but still can eat us alive.

On the other hand I do need confess and repent for my sin as God convicts me because Rom 2:16 says, "The day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life."

I so want my secret life to bring Him glory on that day. Help me, Lord!

Called to Love

We were talking Saturday in my prayer group about our callings. We all prayed about it together and now I am feeling "smote to the heart". God has been reminding me today that as a Christian, my greatest calling is to love. God and every person He puts in my life. I don't know if I have much business worrying about any other calling right now. Especially if it makes me forget about this first calling. And I can't do anything right or well for God if I haven't learned to love, at least a little, first. So, I guess until I have learned to love until it hurts and rejoice in Him while I am doing it, I needn't be so worried about any other role I will play in God's kingdom. Does anyone else have a hard time remembering it's all about love, or is it just me?

But do I love them well?

I am thinking not.

Some I neglect
Some I abuse

Many I misunderstand

I am more faithless than faithful.

I talk too much and I pray too little.

Thanks be to Jesus, our Lord.
He is our only hope.

And He is enough to make all of it right. Someday. In the meantime all we can do is our best, even though it is never good enough and thank Him for His mercy and faithfulness. Thank Him for His perfect ways and that He was good enough to teach us about forgiveness.

Thank you, Lord. Purify us, strengthen us, make us more like You. For the glory of Your Name.

I Love God's People!

Young ones
Old ones

Fat ones
Skinny ones

Sweet ones
Cranky ones

Men and Women
Boys and Girls
(Over the age of 12, anyway)

Have to work on loving the self-righteous, cocky ones.
Not very good at that.
Of course, sometimes that might be me....

Yikes!

I enjoyed our small group last night so much. It was our two year anniversary and we had dinner together and went over a survey about what all of us were wanting to get out of the group. We have been using a chronological Bible and been going through the Old Testament, but when we are done with David's life, we are going to jump over to Acts and start studying what it means to BE the church. To be God's people in this generation. I love studying straight scripture. I love hearing different people's thoughts and ideas. I love how we can spur one another on in this journey.

I hope all of you have a place like that....

The Ecstasy of Community

My sister read me a part of Paul Brand's book, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, yesterday because she knew I would like it. It says, "Just as the complete identity code of my body inheres in each individual cell, so also the reality of God permeates every cell in Christ's Body, linking us members with a true, organic bond. I sense that bond when I meet strangers in India or Africa or California who share my loyalty to the Head; instantly we become brothers and sisters, fellow cells in Christ's Body. I share the ecstasy of community in a universal Body that includes every man and woman in whom God resides." We were laughing that the word ecstasy is a very strong word. But outside of being in God's presence, I have never felt anything stronger or sweeter than truly connecting with another person, in Christ. Is there anything better on this earth than loving and being loved, in a pure and godly way, sharing each other's joy or pain? Are we all fully aware and partaking in that delight? How often do we miss out on that joy because we are too afraid to trust our connection? For a million different reasons. Oh, to be free enough of ourselves to love well and strong and true.......

Living Sacrifice?

I read Romans 12 again this morning and realized how much we NEED to be together. I am praying God will show me how to be more closely connected to His people. I feel like there is a ten foot pole between all of the different parts of the body. I assume that inhibits our effectiveness.

Romans 12 starts out with the verses about being a living sacrifice, pleasing and acceptable to God, which always launches me into thinking about diets and clear skin, I am sad to say. This morning, I realized the chapter starts out talking about us as individuals, and leads into us not thinking too highly of ourselves and then how we belong to each other and we should use our gifts and be devoted to one another. Hmm.... not self-focused! Is God showing us we need to give up our individual focus on our own bodies for the sake of His body? To offer up our bodies, not just to Him but also to His people? For Him to use for His people?

It seems to me like God's people are still so alone. Are we really sharing ourselves with one another? Are we really "doing life together", putting each other before ourselves? Do we really consider other believers as true family? Or are we all really out for ourselves and our physical families? Are we really any different from the world? Do we love any differently? Do I? I used to think I did, but I am starting to see, I haven't even started yet.

More Spirit Stuff

I was driving to work yesterday and I was thinking about something weird. I prayed about it, "Why have I been thinking about this so much lately Lord? It doesn't make any sense." I was remembering when I was in training in the Army. It was right after basic training when males and females had been separated from each other for weeks and it was just like this big "attraction fest". I realized that God was showing me very clearly a time in my life when I was "controlled by sin." (I thought I was a believer, but I wasn't really.) I still was capable of performing righteous acts but my heart was controlled by sin. Versus now, when I am still capable of sinning but my heart is controlled by the Spirit. As in, now, when I realize I did something that would hurt God or someone else I am truly sorry and don't want to do it again. Before, I was afraid to sin because I didn't want the consequences but all of my desires were for that sin. Hopefully that makes sense. Yay! I love it when God explains stuff to me. :)

Can We Hurt God?

James 4:1-5
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? (James is referring to the Holy Spirit, I checked to be sure)

I came across these verses again, when I was doing my Spirit search and I have been thinking about them off and on. I am not a theologian, so I may be wrong but here is what I came up with.

I wonder if God hates being ignored as much as we do??? Especially by people we love. Have you ever been in that situation? Where you really love someone and you can't tell if they care if you live or die? Well, they would probably go to your funeral, but by the next day, you suspect they would have forgotten all about you? And you want to rant and rave to get their attention, but you are too self-controlled and mature for that. :) (OK, I am being silly now...back to serious.)

This is what these verses say to me: As Christians we have all these ideas of right and wrong and some of us are willing to fight about them, saying we are doing it for God, when really, we are just wanting something. Something we could have, if we learn how to put God first and ask with pure motives. So we are distracted by our wants and the world. And then we can't figure out why we aren't happy. And God isn't happy with the situation either. Seems to me, anyway.

I like the thought of God being jealous because He wants my time and attention, so He can give me what I need and want instead of me scrounging for it and hurting others in the process.

Do you think God hates being ignored or do you think He is above that?

In the Spirit......

In case you can't tell, I am seriously pondering all this "Spirit" stuff. So, I did a search, including; of the Spirit, through the Spirit, with the Spirit, and some others I can't remember right now and guess where I hit the jackpot? In the Spirit. A lot of cool stuff seemed to happen when someone was "in the Spirit". In the beginning of his Revelation John said, "On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet... " John was whisked all around his Revelation "in the Spirit".

That makes me think of a different translation of Gal 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. It almost makes me wonder ~ if the Spirit inside of us, is lined up with whatever God is doing through His Spirit on earth, do we get to experience real God stuff? Does that make any sense? Kind of like the whole "Experiencing God" thing. If we are focused on Jesus and are seeking Him and trying to keep in step with what He is doing, we will be running strong, in the Spirit.

If we are living a little bit for God and mostly for ourselves, is that what keeps us from experiencing His power? Because we are not "keeping in step with Him". I think He will still save us, if we ask Him to, but will we miss out on doing His work here on this earth?

Following the Spirit

If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Gal 5:25

Spirit Filled Living......

What is it???? I have spent the last ten years asking God that question. He has taught me so much but I still feel like I am 40% spirit-controlled and 60% flesh-controlled in my daily life. I have been full of the Spirit and I have been controlled by the Spirit, sometimes I didn't even realize it until later, but I still don't know how to describe it. I don't know how I got there. By prayer, a lot of times, but not always. The one thing I know for sure is it always requires doing things His way and not mine.

I know some of the things living by the Spirit is not: It is not willpower, it is not beating ourselves until we bleed, it is not acting the martyr, or having a pretty, put-together life. I wasted too much time chasing after those things, thinking that is what God wanted me to do.

Another question I have asked God for years is,"Where is our power Lord?" Why are Christians so much like the world? Why don't we see the the things we see in the Book of Acts? Why are we so defeated by ourselves, whether we recognize it or not?"

He has shown me that His power only comes through His Spirit, and it is usually "faith expressing itself through love". It is not to wow us and make us to believe. It is to do His will. To further His kingdom. To show someone the love and power that He makes available to them. His power is ALWAYS about Him. Never about us.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject!

In His Name.......

You know how there are words and phrases we throw around all the time and don't really know how to live them out? Love, Faith, Hope, Joy, Walking in the Spirit, Abiding in Christ.....I have asked God to show me what these really mean, what they look like in action. Another one for me was, praying "In Jesus Name."

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

I think I had written "What does this really mean, Lord?" by all of these verses in my Bible. I don't know completely what it means but there is one thing I have learned that is really cool.

He trusts us enough to let us use His name. We come before the Father, and ask Him for something in Jesus Name. Imagine if the president of the United States trusted us enough to let us sign his name on something? Jesus has given us that power.

Obviously, in His mercy and wisdom, we don't get everything we ask for in His name. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3. My pleasure used to be my only concern and I couldn't figure out why He never answered my prayers. When I started to ask for things for His glory and kingdom, I was shocked at how quickly and powerfully He answered my prayers. Some things I am still waiting for, but I believe He is doing them. A lot of my selfish, glory~for~me prayers, He is still graciously ignoring. :)

More Thoughts on Authority

I wish I could communicate all that I am thinking without having to use words. I have been shown very clearly how two people can read the same thing and get completely different meanings out of what they read. It makes me nervous now that I have this blog and all! So I want to spell out a couple things:

0. I keep fluctuating between Church and family, hope you can follow me ok.

1. I am supposed to submit to the authority God has placed over me. Husband, Pastors, Government and my Heavenly King. The Bible says so.

2. I will always choose Jesus, if I have to choose. I think that is ok with Him.

3. I do believe sometimes we will have to choose.

4. That doesn't mean we need to get a divorce.

5. This list is getting a little silly.

6. As brothers and sisters in Christ we are all supposed to submit to each other. To put each other before ourselves. The Bible says so.

7. Do we do that? Sometimes, but it is not something Americans are good at. We can't even do it in our families very well.

8. But God is good, He can change anything.

Ok, check out this cool verse on authority:

God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. -Ephesians 1:22

Jesus is in authority for us. So cool.

I love, love, love, the church. I love Jesus. I want to be a blessing to His people. If I ever sound intolerant on this blog, I am probably being impatient. I get excited about stuff. Email me if I get out of control. I will be sorry and tell you so. Unless I think Jesus wants me to be excited and seemingly out of control. :)

Definition of Submission

I looked up the Greek definition of submission used in Eph. 5 and this is what I got: This word was a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".

If we love someone, man or woman, we want to help them. We want them to grow in knowing and loving our Lord. We want to share what we have with them, physically (as in food and clothes, of course) emotionally and spiritually. We are commanded in the Bible, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Phil 2:3-4) We are to die to ourselves and live for God and others. All of us, men and women.

I am not saying I love that way, but that is something we all should be striving for.

Men and women.

Together.

Living for God.

Ok, I think that is all I have to say about that for the moment.

I did change my last post about 82 times and may do it some more, so if you didn't agree with it, you may want to read it again and see if God has changed my mind yet or not. :)

One Woman's Ponderings on Submission (inspired by some books I am reading)

So here is something to discuss.....what is authority and submission? :)

I submit to God because I love and trust Him. I try to do what He wants, not what I want, because I trust He knows what is best and He loves me and I want to please Him and live the life He has planned for me.

With Jason....I pray God will move his heart in the direction He wants and I don't usually have to deal with it :) But when we do disagree...i.e. homeschooling, I thought I should, Jason said "No way, we are not even going to discuss this" and I said "Are you sure?" And he said "It is not an option." So I thought, "Alrighty then, guess I don't need to worry about that!" and it has worked out perfectly :) We have always given each other the freedom to be who we really are and don't usually have unmet expectations of one another. I love who he is, flaws and all and he seems to do the same for me. We are a team most of the time and both enjoy helping each other. We have different strengths and weaknesses and cover each other in those areas. If we disagree, sometimes we end up throwing things at each other and sometimes we calmly talk about it. If we are making a decision, he gets the final say after I have shared my view with him. He knows me better than anyone else does, except maybe my sister, and that is my favorite thing about our relationship. I share all that I am with him and he accepts it.

I have authority in ministry and as a mother and it is much harder to not abuse my authority as a mother. Because I am bigger than them and they need me a lot more. And it is much more constant and demanding. I have so many opportunities to either love them, or cause them pain.

In grown up land, we submit because we chose to, not because we have to. I don't have to submit to the Pastors, I could go to a different church or not at all. I submit to them because I love them and have learned to trust them. To trust that they are following God and seeking Him and want what is best for His people. (I should have trusted them to start with, but that was something I had to learn.) I want to be with them, so I submit to them. I will still ask them questions if I don't understand something though. To me, that is relationship, not rebellion.

People under me in ministry love me (hopefully)and may look up to me (very scary) and need my love to encourage them and help them be all that God has planned for them to be. So, I think of authority as responsibility to love. Not even to lead, (because that makes me focus on myself too much) but just to love and consider their needs before my own. And to provide what I can and protect them from harm. I wonder what most people think it is??? I really don't know....

And submitting is choosing to love too. To follow even when we aren't sure if it will turn out the way we want. As long as we are not sure they are wrong. If I am sure someone is wrong, I will not submit to their unrighteousness. I still need to love them and respect them but I do not believe I should submit to something that goes against God's Word, or His character, revealed to us by His Word. If my husband were to want me to do something I believe is wrong, I would not. Even if it is just us being selfish or uncaring about something. I would still love him and respect him if he did it, but I would not do it. And I believe he admires that about me.

Submission to God is easy to understand. He says it, I am supposed to do it. Period. Unless the Bible says something that some people say is absolute and some say is relative. Then I have to seek Him until He gives me the answer Himself. Submission to imperfect humans is more complicated. I get confused about the line between submitting and dishonesty. This is also where people tend to divide. I think if we submit but didn't want to and are resentful, that is not right, I find it dishonest. I also find it unloving (because of the resentment) which violates everything that Jesus taught.

From an authority standpoint, I would much rather be questioned and possibly saved from doing something wrong than just blindly followed, by my kids and people under me in ministry. I would also hate to have people resenting my authority instead of feeling loved and protected by it.

So the only way to submit (according to my convictions) is willingly or it doesn't count as righteousness. Self-righteousness, for sure, but is it righteous before God? And I don't believe we should ever choose man's authority over God's word.

So, what do you think??? :)

“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."
~Jesus (Luke 14:26)

What Does God Long For?

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings but you wouldn't let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.
Matthew 23:37-38

I have been wondering what God is longing for since my last post and this verse keeps coming to my mind. How many times has He tried to show me His love and I have rejected Him? What other things does He want for His children that we are ignoring? That we won't let Him give us?

Good, scary things.

Oh Father, let us fear you in a healthy way. Not in a selfish way. May we trust you enough to let you love us!

Vision

I was laying in bed last night and couldn't fall asleep and didn't have anything to daydream about. So I pray, "Lord, give me a vision, your people perish without vision, you know!" (He knew I was teasing Him) And then I thought, "For who?" Well for myself of course, isn't that usually my first priority? Then I actually thought, "That is boring, give me Your vision for the world" then I started laughing because aren't I something to ask for that! :)

In our small group we have read from Joshua to almost the end of 1 Samuel and it has been so cool for me to see how God orchestrated all of it. He was there, even if the people didn't see any supernatural evidence. And He had a plan for their generation. The people had to decide if they wanted to live out God's desires or their own. So that ended up being my prayer, "Lord, please give me a vision for what you are desiring for this generation". Now I have no idea if God will answer that prayer or not, it may be none of my business and I am fine with that too. I just want more to daydream and pray about. :)

What do you think He is up to in our generation?

How Christ Loves His Church

I LOVE how Jesus feels about the Church. God not only cares about us individually (He knows when we sit down and when we rise up, how many hairs are on our heads) but He also cares very much about the Church (all of His people joined together, all over this planet in way He orchestrates and sometimes only He understands). I love how He said “Saul why do you persecute ME”, not “my people” not even “my body” but ME.

And of course, He calls us His body. He couldn’t take us more personally. We have to believe He cares and He has the power to make His body what He wants it to be. I am not saying we shouldn't do our part to make a difference if He gives us a passion for something (we just have to be sure HE gave us the passion).

All this to say, we don’t have to worry about the Church, we just need to follow the Head. That’s what I think we need to learn to do better. Anyone who is part of the body needs to learn to recognize when we are being directed to do something.

Sometimes I think we are too busy watching each other and trying to figure it all out and we never learn to really follow Him.

I don’t know how follow Him like that yet, but it is my goal. In my personal life and in the Church. We shouldn’t be able to separate them.