Temptation

I've always wondered why Jesus did not rebuke Satan at the first temptation in the wilderness  Could He have? Of course, because later on Jesus had the authority to cast him out of many people. I think it may be because He knew this was His test to prepare Him for His ministry and His death. Since the Spirit led Him into the wilderness, Jesus must have known this was His proving ground, the opportunity chosen by God to prove Jesus's character, that He was who He said He was, to show Jesus that He could overcome the enemy here and one day on the Cross. I have the feeling Jesus was submitted to His Father so completely that He willingly put Himself in God's hands and would stay there and endure whatever until God released Him by sending Satan away  It says, "When the devil finished tempting Jesus..." (why was he finished? b/c he didn't get anywhere or b/c that was all God allowed?) "he left Him until the next opportunity came..." was that next opportunity in the garden before His crucifixion? (just like in the garden of Eden when he tempted Eve
!)

LGLO

Love others as I have loved you...John 14:12

... graciously
...unconditionally
...speaking truth in love
...use healing words
...offer forgiveness in the same measure as I have forgiven you
...be gentle, humble, kind to others even when they turn their backs on you - just as you've turned and walked away from Me and yet I have never left you or forsaken you...
...always responding like I do when you draw near to Me, not clinging or begging you to come but inviting you.
Follow My lead for My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Watch how I do it - learn the unforced rhythms of grace. Keep company with Me and you will love others as i have loved you, lavishly, extravagantly.

The way up is down in My Kingdom but the result is overflowing joy. You can never out give Me, for what you sow, you will reap... if you sow generosity, you will reap generosity... if you sow love, you will reap love. The measure with which you give out of love for Me, will be given back more than you could ever dream or imagine.

Father, I cannot love like this in my own strength, but as i rely on You, I can do as You wish from a heart overflowing with gratefulness for Your lavish love for me.  Thank You that you call me to love humbly and walk intimately with You. What a privilege  what a joy. May Your love for me and in me overflow onto all I encounter.

S eek God first above all else
I magine God-Jesus-Holy Spirit in a personal relationship with you. Talk AND Listen.
M editate on His Word: written in the Bible AND His personal words to just you.
P ractice His Presence: ask"Where did I see God in my day today?"
L ive in the Moment: Savor each moment, it's the only one you have.
E ucharisteo: Thankfulness always precedes the miracle.

Conflict Checklist

Does anybody else struggle with how to handle conflict? I found this great checklist in my journal from last year and needed the reminder. Maybe it will help you too?

Value the love that IS in your life instead of focusing on what’s missing

Set limits: this is not a good time to talk.

Say no without giving an excuse why not

Write down resentments daily to be come aware: see where I am the problem (haven’t said no, no boundary, haven’t detached) Take responsibility for my negative response.

If being treated unfairly, speak up asap

Wait to be asked to give advice, turn off autopilot

Don’t go into coaching mode automatically, ask for permission

Stop over giving and graciously accept when people give to you with a thank you and nothing more.

Go slowly with your yes, step away and think it through, don’t automatically go with my heart

Allow others to be responsible for their own behavior, don’t rescue or protect.

Develop assertiveness and objectivity

Don’t discount, brush off or explain why compliments were undeserved.

Confession is good for the soul....

Abba, Papa,

The times I have sinned and been prideful or not truly lived into Your truth are so numerous. I am ashamed. I try to find You more and more throughout my day and yet forget time and time again. My sins and short-comings present me with a list of debts that I cannot pay for their number is astronomical. But thank You, Jesus, for canceling out my certificate of debt, nailing it on the cross; Your blood stamping “paid in full, now and forever.”

Please continue to blot out in my life my corruptions and teach me to choose Your way over my own.

I do not want the lusting of my mind to rule me, I want Your rule in my heart, mind and soul because that is where true freedom lies.

Thank You for not answering all of the prayers I pray, in the way I want or in my timing because I have asked from wrong motives or without wisdom. Continue to say “no” to any wrongful prayers I pray but don’t let that keep me from praying. I want my prayers to align with Your desires, not just mine.

Purge me from every false desire, everything that in any way goes against You and Your rule.

I thank You for all Your wisdom and love toward me, even in Your acts of discipline, for Your refiner’s fire that purifies my gold by removing the dross, so You can see Your reflection in me.

The hardest trials are not the one’s You bring to me, for those are for my good and Your Glory, but the ones that came from within when I seek my own way.

If You would give me the choice between living in pleasure and keeping my sins or have them burnt away with trial, I choose sanctified affliction. I trust You not only know best but that Your intentions toward me are deeply good.

Deliver me from every evil habit that seems okay to me, everything that dims the brightness of Your grace in me, anything that keeps me from delighting in Your Presence with me and making You my “first thing.”

I bless You, Papa, for having an intense desire for me to live into the person You originally intended me to be.

I adore You…. as You wish…..

Written as a paraphrase of Confession and Petition from The Valley of Vision on 2/3/2012

Questioning God

During Advent I like to take time to think more deeply about the Christmas story. I'm sure when Mary thought more about what the angel told her about her son being on the throne of David and ruling Jacob's house, she envisioned a very different picture than what actually happened. God shared His true plans for Jesus and yet not the detailed picture of what that would be. I imagine she pictured a King ruling Israel, like King David... not her son tortured and hanging on a cross. 

How often do I picture God's plans for me differently than He does? Usually i think good plans involve good things: love, comfort, being "exalted", accepted, enough for all I need to be happy.  When things don't turn out that way, why do I question God instead of my picture of His plan?

Luke ^26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

Good morning!
You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.

^29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,
    be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give him
    the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—
    no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

What if . . .

If what you are thinking about yourself actually came true, always happened just because you thought that way, how would you change your thinking?
I found this question intriguing. Here are my answers....

1.  I live out of a God-economy, knowing as I obediently listen to where my Master wants me to use His resources, I respond with joy as I give to others, knowing His provision is always more than enough because He is generous and I cannot out give God! I desire to live giving.

2.  It is good to examine my sin, shadow side and shortcomings because God wants to meet me there, forgive me, show me His grace is sufficient for me and give me opportunities to grow through my confession and receive his gracious forgiveness.

3.  I am attached to God and God alone, not to my comfort, esteem, influence or security but desire to please God first and foremost over people or myself.

4.  I am letting God transform me by renewing my mind, setting new pathways, giving up the old, false self and living fully into my new true self.

5.  I live in the present moment focusing on His Presence, trusting that He'll be with me in the future, because He lives in me. Gods got it covered. When He reminds me "I've got this!" I relax. I desire to walk resting.

6. I live from a grateful heart, ware of the multitude of gifts He showers me with throughout my day and I thank Him along the way. This moment by moment awareness invites me to enjoy His Presence throughout my day. It also inspires me to live giving from a generous heart, sowing what I've reaped . . .

7.  I live past my fears of the unknown or new situations, believing it's an opportunity for growth. I like growth so I embrace the unknown with excitement  not fear. I allow myself to make mistakes without condemnation because that is to be expected as I am learning. I can learn from my mistakes as well.

8.  I let go of my expectations of others because they leave me with feelings of entitlement, where I expect my needs to be met by others (which is pride) and with feelings of disappointment when others do not meet my needs. I allow God to fulfill my desire and longings as He sees fit and in His perfect timing, knowing that His intentions for me are deeply good.