What do you do?

We all go through times of difficulty where fretting and anxiousness are a temptation. What do you do? I know that the Christian life is about putting off the bad and putting on the good. Thats all good and well, but what does that mean, practically? If fretting is bad, than not fretting is good, (duh) but what do you do? How does one go about controlling your thoughts? Housework is good, but not particularly mind-challenging.
Watching TV is a distraction, but I don't think its a worthy one.

Another book I purchased in the US was "The prayer that changes everything" by Stormie Omartian. I have read several of her other books, and I though this was going to be a re-hash of the same. It was very good and the basic premise of her book is that praise is what changes everything. It honors God and it changes our outlook. This book is coming in the container that is on the ship as I write. Please pray that it will arrive with no problem and with as little as expense as possible.

I realize now what a sheltered life I had growing up. What a blessing! Children shouldn't have to deal with fretting. I shouldn't either, I should have enough faith. But how conceited of me to think that I should have nothing to learn! And next year, it's be something else! Praise the Lord! He thinks I am worth teaching!

BTW, the Oswald Chambers reading that I "randomly" chose yesterday was the July 4 reading. Check it out! If you dont have the book, its online.

Why I blog

I have to admit, I don't know. I love reading others' blogs. So many talented people! Frugal living, home management, parenting, Christian living, you name it. Now, I do all those things, but I am not an expert at any of it. I've been on the mission field since I was 11, but I'm not an expert at that either. In fact, when I read Jungle Mom, I feel totally inadequate as a missionary! We have no big bugs, snakes, piranhas, dugout canoes or huts.

I guess I blog because I need all of you, those I know, those I don't know. Those blogs I visit everyday and those I visit once in a while. You challenge me, encourage me, sometimes you outrage me! But at least I know that there are others like me, imperfect, who need to connect. You encourage me in the Lord. Thank you

Submission

This is a topic that comes up too often in my life because I realize that I am not submissive by nature.
Here are a few things that I have learned, and am still trying to practice.
Submission sometimes means that I don't give my opinion, not even with a sigh or a face. If DH wanted my opinion, he would have asked. I say this because I am so opinionated.

Submission is true submission only when I disagree. Otherwise, I'm not submitting, I'm agreeing. Its true submission when he's wrong. Ahh, there it is! the hardest thing in the world to do! This hit me like a ton of bricks!

Now, you can say that a woman has the right to make her opinions known.
Well, yes and no. I say, follow the Spirit's leading when and if you want to make your opinion known. If you have been prudent in the past, I'm sure your Dh will appreciate your imput. If you have been like me, once he learns that you can shut up, he likes it!

Of course this has been a hard lesson and a long process which I am still in.
Once I win this battle with self, I'll let you know how it went!

Self

Several great comments were made about my last post. Michelle said that she believed that the hardest part was dying to "self"
It just so happens that I was reading a book yesterday (no matter how insanely busy I am, I always find a few minutes to read) and I found this poem by Amy Carmichael

God, harden me against myself,
The coward with pathetic voice
Who craves for ease and rest and joy.
Myself, arch-traitor to myself,
My hollowest friend,
My deadliest foe,
My clog, whatever road I go.



Ouch.
Whenever I am feeling super-spiritual, I just have to read a little Amy Carmichael to cut me down to size.

Food for thought

Bro. Preston has this to say.
"If Satan cannot get you to deny a truth, he'll get you to go to seed on a truth"
Either way, you cease to be useful to the Lord's work.
How many times have we seen preachers and layfolk, moms and dads who will not deny truth, suddenly become inefectual beacause they've "gone to seed" on one truth or another?

Sliding into sin

Things are actually going good at Church. God is good, and I thank Him!

One interesting thing that is happening is that one of my dear young ladies is slowly falling into a sinful relationship with an unbeliever. The process has been going on for months now, and doesn't seem to be near any end, anytime soon. I've prayed, pleaded, scolded, cried to her and over her. The whole process is tiring. My husband has instructed me to back off. I watch her and grieve, but I must let the Holy Spirit work. I am grateful, however, because it has been a learning experience, at least for me.

I have been wondering just how someone who certainly knows better, can fall into unthinkable sin? The "surface" sin is a romantic involvement with an unbeliever. According to her, nothing except simple flirtation has occured between them, but other symptoms lead me to believe otherwise. I elaborate more on that later. Since we haven't been able to work through this particular situation, I have been forced to acknowledge every aspect of the "fall". Here is a small list of some issues we're trying to deal with that I believe to be a part of backsliding.

1. A feeling of superiority. This girl is very smart and capable. She knows a great deal about Scripture. Our Church is filled with mostly simple and often simple-minded people. This superiority complex has lead to the next point.
2. A slow distancing from other Christians even while attending Church faithfully. This young lady doesn't "mix" wellwith the people in the Church, although she used to.
3. A judgemental attitude. She is obvious in her displeasure at other Christians who have fallen.

My whole point in this post is that while I believe her when she says that nothing has happened yet, something has happened. At least in her mind.
I believe that she has had a relationship with this man in her mind, she has imagined what she thinks it would be like. She has all the symptoms of a woman "in love", and she is willing to forfeit all of her service to the Lord for this flirtation. That is why it is sooooooo important to bring every thought, EVERY THOUGHT into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (King James Version)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;


You see, sin is avoidable.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (King James Version)
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Most often, sin is stopped by nipping every little sinful thought in the bud. Most often, the easiest route of escape is learning to eliminate the very first hint of a sinful thought. Confessing sinful thoughts. Repenting of sinful thought. No matter how small, and thank God that they are still just small, small thoughts.

Just a thought.

Where are you?

It is so wonderful to see people come to the Lord. Even nicer is when you see them grow and start serving the Lord. Its wonderful to see the Lord's work and our own effort come to fruition.

One of the saddest and most dissapointing things is to see someone through whom God has worked, start to fade. We can see the warning signs. You try to warn them, you pray, but finally, the choice is theirs. Sad.

So, where are you today? Newly saved? Praise the Lord! What a precious time. Are you serving? Great! There is no place of great blessing.
Have you faded? Did you serve at one time, but now are on the sidelines?
Let me tell you, the sidelines stink. There is no action, no struggle, no growth. No chance to see the Glory of God in your life. Seems that most people who are on the sidelines eventually just fade away. They may still come to church, but there is no joy. We were meant for the battle, not the sidelines.

When I see people move on to the sidelines, my heart aches for them. So does God's.

Thanking Him for the thorns

Mrs. B posted a story about thanking God for the thorns. A real tear-jerker.
Anyway, it got me to thinking about a song that really touched my heart.
Here it is:

This Thorn
Twila Paris

Thank you for this torn embedded in my flesh
I can feel the mystery, my spirit is made fresh
You are sovereign still and forever wise
I can see the miracle opening my eyes
To a proud heart so quick to judge
Laying down crosses and carrying grudges
The veil has been torn
And I thank you for this thorn

Thank you for this thorn, fellowship of pain
Teaching me to know you more, never to complain
Thank You for this love planted in my side
Faithful, patient miracle opening my eyes
I never thought I'd say it without reservation
But I am truly grateful for this piercing revelation
Of a proud heart so quick to judge
Laying down crosses and carrying grudges
The veil has been tornAnd I thank you for this thorn

And if You chose to take it, I will praise You
ANd thank You for the healing in your name
But if it must remain, I thank You for Your rod
Evidence of Father-love for a child of God
I join you in sorrow
So much less than You have borne
And I thank you
Really I thank You
Lord I thank You
I thank You for this thorn

Faith

Isn't it interesting that the Bible says that the just shall live by faith, and not just be saved by faith? I mean, salvation is by grace through faith, but the faith doesn't end there. To live the Christian life requires daily faith.

Now, I believe that the faith is a gift from God. Am I using that faith? Right now God is requiring a great deal of faith from me. I can assume that He has given me all the faith I need, right now.

All I can say is that now I will have a lot more patience with those I considered "whiners".
I hate whining, and yet I find I've been doing a lot of it lately. I mentioned in a meme I did recently that I wished that I was more compassionate. I guess God took me seriously and decided I needed some fiery trials in order to have more compassion on others. Well, dear God, I am ready. Use me as you see fit. Help me to find a song and laughter even in trials and sorrow. Lord, increse my faith.

The things I gleaned from camp

Most of what I learned at camp, I didn't learn in the meetings, but during the times I was able to fellowship with our guest speaker and his wife. Pastor and Mrs Preston are dear friends and I learned quite a bit.
1. We were talking about Christian love. I remember this quote. "I will not let anything you do keep me from loving you"
2. Bro. P says, "If Satan cannot get you to deny a truth, he'll lead you to go to an extreme on a truth" For example, we were talking about the tragedy of Kent Hovind's conviction and sentence. Bro. Hovind is an excellent speaker about Creation. But he allowed himself to get carried away to an extreme on the issue of taxes and government. He thinks he's right, but what good does that do now? Now some people who might have listened to him speak on creation will probably think he is a nut now. I am afraid he has hurt the cause of Christ and creationism. Extremes are usually bad. Bro P's next favorite thing is....
3. Balance! Balance in the Christian life. I think of Randy Alcorn's the Grace-Truth paradox.

God bless you, my friends,
please pray that God would give me wisdom. I still haven't felt the "jolt" from Heaven!

Rhonda

Wisdom

I usually blog about things I feel confident about. I have strong opinions and my blog is a great outlet for them. I believe that much of the Christian life is pretty much straight forward. You know, do this, don't do that. Read the Word. Go to Church. Be kind. Forgive. Pray.

But sometimes there are some shady areas. I don't deal well with gray. Black and white I can handle, but no gray! I hate gray! So I've been asking wisdom from the Lord, who promised to give us the wisdom that we need. I keep waiting to get a jolt from the sky. I want that wisdom now! Oh yeah, and patience too! Pronto!

I guess I've graduated from the doing stage of Christianity to the being stage of Christianity. Its like going from kindergarten right into college. I feel out of place and unsure as to how to proceed.

Well, as soon as the promised wisdom kicks in, I'll share some of it!
R