Filtering Through Pain

One of the hardest things I’ve had to learn is how to filter my pain through truth instead of filtering truth through my pain.

See, as humans when we’re hurting we often let our pain color our perception of things, people, and actions around us.

We don’t do it on purpose.

It’s that the pain is there and present and in the forefront of our minds so we tend to lead with that and to perceive things from that perspective.

Whether we’ve been disrespected, lied to, betrayed, stolen from, or experienced any other kind of pain, we tend to see others’ actions as potential for that event to be happening again, even when it’s not.

We assume (sometimes without realizing it) that because a person from our past did us wrong this person will, too.

Unfortunately, when we’re expecting and looking for something we tend to see it, whether it’s there or not.

 

God calls us to a higher standard than that.

Instead of filtering our life experiences through our pain, He calls us to filter them through His Word and Truth.

Regardless of how we feel or what we have experienced, we have to put the truth of Scripture first and foremost in our minds and operate according to it and what it says.

 

That can be hard.

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Psalm 63:6

I often wake up at least twice a night.

I used to either get up, get a drink of water, and walk through the house wondering why I was awake, or else lie there and grumble to myself about being awake when all I wanted to do was sleep.

Then I came across Psalm 63:6:

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. (NIV)

I realized instead of being in a foul mood about being awake I could talk to the Lord about things on my mind, or pray about/review Scripture or sermons I’d recently heard..

As I began to do this, my attitude began to change.

I began to look forward to waking up in the middle of the night and having these quiet moments with the Lord.

My sleep began to improve.

i began to wake up more rested than before.

Best of all, I wake up with my mind more focused on the Lord than it has ever been.

 

What I thought was a problem and inconvenience turned into one of the sweetest and best parts of not just my day but my faith walk.

I still have times when I wake up grumpy because I’m awake in the middle of the night, but the moment I look to God and begin talking to Him, the bad mood leaves and peace washes over me.

I relax and feel so much better.

 

If you wake up in the middle of the night I hope you will try this and see how much it can improve your mood, your faith walk, and even your life.

Let me know how it goes.

 

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises .Psalm 119:148 (NIV)

 

I previously wrote a longer version of this post. You can find it here: Praying In the Night.

I wrote today’s post discussing it again because it is an important topic and it is good to occasionally have reminders.

 

 

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Rationalizing

Rationalize -to attempt to explain or justify one’s own, or another person’s, behavior or attitude with logical, plausible reasons, even if the reasons are not true or appropriate. -Google dictionary

 

Rationalizing – we’ve all done it.

We’ve explained things away – also called making excuses, for our bad or improper behavior.

We make up reasons and twist words and phrases to make it sound like what we are doing or thinking is okay, even though it isn’t.

It makes us feel better about ourselves and feel like maybe, just maybe, our choice is better when we already know it isn’t.

 

Someone else used this tactic – the enemy.

In the Garden of Eden, when the serpent tempted Eve with the fruit, she knew she wasn’t supposed to eat it.

The enemy, in the form of the serpent, didn’t say, “hey, eat this.”.

Instead, he was sly about it.

Yes, he did call into question whether God really said what Eve knew He said.

But, then he started talking and explaining why things wouldn’t turn out as bad as God had said they would.

He also explained why there were things to be gained by doing it; and why it was okay to do what she wanted instead of what God had said.

 

Unfortunately, Eve gave in to the temptation of the lies and believed him.

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Category: God, Life, Submission, Truth | LEAVE A COMMENT

Memorizing Scripture

We live in a society where Scripture (the Bible) is easily accessible.

There are several websites that have the entire Bible available to read and search.

Stores everywhere sell copies.

There are tons of Bible Study books, commentaries, and devotionals available.

We even have apps for our phone.

 

If it is so accessible, then why is it so important to memorize Scripture?

There are several reasons.

 

The Bible tells us to.

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

To hide something in our heart means to learn it in the deepest part of us so that it becomes part of who we are.

More than facts, it is deep knowledge on the most intimate level.

When we have Scripture in us, it shapes how and what we think and do.

If it is in us, the Holy Spirit can remind us of it when we need it, like when we are witnessing to someone or when we are dealing with a situation.

This helps us know what we should and shouldn’t do as we walk through our day so that we can live a life honoring to God.

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Category: God, Life, Obedience, Scripture Study | LEAVE A COMMENT

Idols

There are a lot of talent shows on t.v. these days.

Some even encourage you to try out and see if you’re the next Idol.

 

Did you get that?

Idol.

 

Throughout the Bible, God has shown His displeasure with idols in very clear ways.

In Exodus 20:3-6 God specifically says we are not to have any type of idol. We are not to make one in any shape. We are not to bow down to anything or to worship anything other than Him.

He goes on to tell us He is a jealous God and that He will severely punish those who make these choices.

 

God then shows He means this in Exodus 32.

In that passage we read about how angry God was the people had made a golden calf while they were waiting for Moses to return from visiting Mt. Sinai.

He responded by sending a plague on them as punishment (verse 35).

 

The subject of idols is also covered in the New Testament.

The book of 1 John closes with this warning –

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

 

in 1 Corinthians 10:14, Paul specifically tells us to flee from idolatry*.

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Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

 

When someone says something harsh to us we have a choice.

We can say something back to them just as harsh.

Or, we can cover over their harshness with a big dose of love.

 

When we answer softly and kindly it deflects their anger from us and preserves our peace.

If we answer harshly we are accepting their anger and embracing it as our own.

This causes us harm.

 

As Christians we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, setting the example and showing Christ’s love to others at every opportunity.

We can’t do that if we are embracing anger instead of kindness.

 

We don’t always know why someone is angry.

Sometimes their anger has nothing to do with us.

That doesn’t matter.

What matters is how we respond to them.

 

This world is full of anger and harshness.

Let’s be the ones to respond with kindness and love at every turn.

We might not be able to stop someone’s anger, but we can meet it with soft words and kindness.

In doing so, we begin to heal the hurts we see and to spread the love of the Father to those around us.

 

That’s a pretty great response.

 

 

 

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins .1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

 

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

 

 

 

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Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

 

I’ve always looked at this verse in light of how it helps me.

I’ve even quoted only half the verse, doing so from a selfish perspective.

 

I’ve often referred to this verse by saying, “if you’re feeling stressed or out of sorts go sit quietly with the Lord and He’ll calm you.”

While that’s true, it’s not quite the point of this verse.

You have to add in the second half of the verse to get the true meaning.

 

The point of this verse is that because He is God He will be exalted.

Because of this, we should be still/quiet, know/realize He is the Creator, and act accordingly.

 

Sitting before God is good and it does calm us.

But it only brings us peace if we do it with the right understanding of who He is and how far above us He really is.

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What Are You Seeking First?

When I was first learning to walk with the Lord, I struggled to maintain a good connection with Him.

Life and the things in it kept getting in the way.

Kids, work, laundry, even church commitments consumed me.

It wasn’t that I wasn’t trying.

I was.

It’s that there was just so much going on that I felt like I was drowning.

Then I saw this verse:

33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 NIV

It really got my attention, but it took a while for me to understand it.

 

I finally realized that I was seeking the kingdom, and the Father, second.

Yes I was praying and studying – a lot.

But I was cramming it into whatever spare time I had.

Reading a bit here and there.

 

Most of my prayers were, “:please help me to get to work on time,”, as I ran out the door, breakfast in one hand, a to-do list in the other.

I would pray and go over my church’s prayer list while washing dishes.

Even my quiet times were overshadowed by my long list of to-dos and the struggles of the day.

Then one day the Lord showed me it was because I was doing it backwards.

 

Instead of reaching out through all the pressures and demands of life to try to reach Him, I needed to set all of that down, step aside from them, and just get alone with God.

No agenda.

No prayer list.

Just one-on-one time with Him, sitting in His presence and soaking up His love.

Just the two of us, to get me back on the path.

 

Standing with Him as I looked at my life and began to focus on it from His perspective, I realized that I had things a bit askew.

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Sanctity of Human Life 2024

Monday, January 22nd is the National Sanctity of Human Life Day.

This date was chosen by then-President Ronald Reagan, who issued a Proclamation on January 13, 1984.

He chose January 22nd because that is the anniversary of when the Supreme Court legalized abortion in all 50 states. They had done so January 22, 1973.

Every year churches around the country use the third Sunday of January or the one nearest the 22nd as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.

On that day, the churches remember those lost to abortion, pray for women who have gotten abortions, and recommit to fighting against this unholy practice.

Please consider observing this important time, both in your church and in your personal life.

 

If you or someone you love is struggling with a pregnancy situation, please seek out a local pregnancy resource center. There are many all over the country who also value your baby’s life and can help you walk through the steps to find the help you need to carry the baby to term.

There are many online resources that can help you find all sorts of help as well as teach you how to take care of yourself and the baby both before and after it arrives.

There are also many loving couples out there who would love to adopt your newborn.

If you need help locating resources or just want to talk about your options please send me an email (click here.) I can email, text, zoom, skype, or talk on the phone at any time day or night. I am always here for you.

Please consider these options instead of ending the child’s life before it has had a chance to begin. You never know what kind of beautiful plans and blessings God has for you and that child.

Let him or her grow and show you just how beautiful life can be.

 

Please know that if you have participated in an abortion, I don’t judge you.

I know your heart is broken.

I want you to know that I see you, I love you, and I care.

I can’t imagine what you are feeling, but I can and will pray for you.

 

Resources to help you in this season:

Feminists For Life This pro-life group is focused on changing how society sees women so that women never have to make the decision to abort. They also provide emotional support to women who have experienced abortion.

Focus on the Family Resources Page A Christian ministry of Focus on the Family. It contains many links to various resources for both pregnant women and especially for those who have experienced abortion. Also contains a helpline so you can call and talk to someone.

Project Rachel – Hope after Abortion A Catholic organization that provides resources and support to those who’ve experienced abortion as well as those who love someone who has. Also provides pre-written prayers you can pray to help you heal.

Ramah International is a faith-based organization that seeks to help women heal from the trauma of abortion. Also contains resources for women struggling with the decision whether to maintain their pregnancy.

 

 

Category: Family, God, Life, Truth | LEAVE A COMMENT

Journaling

For several years now I’ve had the habit of journaling.

Typically, I do it first thing in the morning before I start my day.

I’ve found that writing before the world has a chance to distract me means that my truer, unguarded self comes out on the page.

 

Sometimes, I vent about people and events.

Sometimes I remind myself I need to buy milk.

Always. by the end of the second page I find God there.

As I’m listing my thoughts I begin to think about and then ask the Lord’s opinion on things.

I begin to become aware of where He’s working in my life and where I need to pray and ask Him to intervene and help me.

 

Some days I write 3 pages, some days I write 10.

Always, I make a point of laying aside all pretenses and focusing on being my true self, writing my real feelings.

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