Scripture for 1/10/15:
"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."-Matthew 10:26
"The Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places"-Habakkuk 3:19
"Cast all of your anxieties on Him because He cares for you"-1 Peter 5:7
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly"- Colossians 3:16
"For each man shall bear his own burden."-Galatians 6:5
"Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your soul"-Jeremiah 6:16
"I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."-Psalm 16:8
"The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him."-Nahum 1:7
"for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. "-2 Corinthians 4:18
"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."-Proverbs 16:24
"Jesus replied, 'You don't understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.'"-John 13:7
It's funny when God uses someone elses situation to teach you about yourself. Particularly when you think you are teaching them. As some of my oldest daughters students would say "Mrs. Elizabeth, God done schooled you". Yes. Yes, He did.
As I reread these scriptures I realized I needed to hear them far more than my child did. All of them. Let me rephrase that: The Lord knew I needed to hear them. That's probably one of my favorite things about my walk with Him. He knows when I need a check, when to reel me in, and when I need Him.
My hair is falling out in clumps. I have sores and bald patches. It's just hair. But hair defines some of us. People used to compliment me on my hair. If I was having a good hair day? Well, all was right in my world. Amen. Now I'm facing the decision of shaving my head, letting the diseased scalp heal, and getting a wig. I really don't want to do that. But I really may have too.
I was telling a dear friend last night that I know God never would have won my heart and my life had I not faced physical challenges. I know that He never would have caught my attention without having these difficulties and adversities. I'm so grateful for Him. But it sucks some days. Today's one of those days. And then I think of my friends Scott and Karen facing throat and brain cancer. I realize how immature I sound! Unappreciative of all God has blessed me with despite myself.
Back to my friend. If you don't have Godly counsel I highly recommend it. My friends response to my whining? "Giving thanks to God in the midst of harsh adversity, is truly the work of the Holy Spirit, super natural. Keep pressing in, asking The Lord to purify you in this process. Putting to death your earthly nature. Clothing yourself with His righteousness. As you continue to do so, think of it as God clothing you with His righteousness. Dressing you, Purifying You, His beautiful Bride. Preparing you to receive Him and meet Him face to face".
I can't even. Wow. Just wow. As Jesus prepares to die. To be stripped of His earthly garments. His earthly loves. His earthly comforts. As He prepares to hang on a cross for you and me? A literal sacrifice for us. Nails thru bone. We are still holding onto things that just simply don't matter. Or shouldn't matter in the big scheme of things. We should be preparing our souls for sanctification. Justification. Offering Him our whole lives perfectly dressed in righteousness. Baron of the flesh.
The more adversity we face? The more challenges we encounter? The more we are stripped bare? The more we need Him. Long for Him. Run to Him.
Whatever it is: health, addiction, self esteem, loneliness, anger, resentment, depression...leave it at the cross. Let Him strip it away. Peel it back. Expose the flesh so that He can heal it. Perfect it. Love it. Love You. Love me.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another"-Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
