The God of Dry Places January 23, 2009
Posted by stevensc in Growth, Personal.Tags: Christian, depression, desert, discouragement, dry, God, Jesus, pain, spirit, spiritual, suicide, worry
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Feeling lost? Not sure what your next step is? Not sure where all of this is taking you? Then welcome to the desert. Many a man and woman have traveled here, yet never seem to pass each other.
It’s a place of loneliness, uncertainty, frustration, and helplessness. Welcome to the desert.
It’s hills echo with the cries of once strong leaders, confident personalities, and comfortable workers. All wonder the same things…”Will I ever get out of this?” “Where is God?” “What is He trying to show me?” “What does He want me to do?”
While I don’t have these answers for you, please remember that God has not left you in the desert alone. Isaiah 48:14-16 says:
14But Zion said,(A) “The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”
Take some time to read Job 29-42 and know that you are not alone. Stay strong in His might. The desert won’t last forever.
Why You Should Submit To Governing Authorities (Part 3) January 14, 2009
Posted by stevensc in Growth, Leadership, discipleship.Tags: achieve, addictions, authority, boss, complaining, discipline, gossip, habits, hangups, hurts, job, murmurring, parents, pastor, romans, spouse, submit
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5. Too much time has been wasted murmurring and complaining.
The children of Israel wandered for 40 years trying to get to a place that should only have taken them a few weeks to get to. Have you ever wondered how close you have been to getting the things you’ve strived hard for? Maybe you were just within arms’ reach and then because of complaining, you took yourself back a few steps.
Complaining about your job, your boss, your spouse, your parents, your pastor will never achieve anything. Much like the cartoon above, people will be relieved when you finally stop being so negative. The only ones who will be sorry when you tame your tongue are those who love to hear and spread all the gossip. And just so you know, if someone will listen to your gossip, they’ll also gossip about you!
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkeness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” Romans 13:11-13
6. Forcing yourself to submit will discipline the flesh to resist sinful lusts and desires.
I know that discipline isn’t a popular topic, but IT IS necessary. Some of us can’t ever overcome our addictions, our hurts, habits, and hangups because we can’t even control our own tongue. When you begin to control what comes out of your mouth, you tame the flesh into obeying your spirit, not your emotions.
Romans 13:14 says, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” When submitting to those in authority, realize that by doing so, you are being obedient to Jesus. When Jesus is King in your life, you will be able to fight off the lusts of the flesh!
Submitting to authority is not about strong vs. weak. It’s not about bold vs. timid. It’s about love vs. hate, obedience to God vs. disobedience. Begin to submit to the authorities in your life, and watch how God begins to move in your life!
