Weekend Reflections

As the end of the week is upon us, I usually take time to reflect on my week with the Lord. I thought I would share where I am at with you all. This week had me struggling with some depression over my physical progress in recuperating from my hernia surgery. I had wanted to be pain free by now, but am not. It caused me to really seek the Lord, and think about His picture of my life, not mine. I also found a Precept study I purchased years ago, and misplaced. I began that study, and found a lot of interesting tidbits in 1 Corinthians 12, as the study is on Spiritual Gifts. The most important thing I learned is that to love the Lord I must obey Him. Easier said than done. Again, it is more about my attitude than about my actions. If I turn my heart toward the Lord, and toward desiring to be in His will, that is more than half the battle. As temptations come and go, I am less inclined to give in to them due to my heart's desire being one of obedience. The hardest thing to wrap my head around is that my obedience proves my love for Him. Which means, as painful as this is to admit, if I disobey Him, I am acting unlovingly toward Him. I don't like that truth, but it is there, in His word. How was your week? How has God worked in your life? Share it with us. Hugs, Trish

Trish, the Lord has revealed something to me this week that has been really hard for me to accept as well. About this time last year I had stopped having my quiet time. I always told myself it was because we were busy or because of everything we were going through at the time and that when things calmed down, I would get back to it. Well, I finally (with much prodding by the HS in my heart) got back to my quiet times first thing in the mornings. The Lord revealed to me that I was blaming Him for all that we have been going through over the past year to year and a half. Anyway, I have sought His forgiveness for this. Please keep me in your prayers, I really need them. Also, my friend Brenda who had her thyroid removed over Christmas because of cancer found out one of the tumors they removed was stage 4. Please pray for her. She is a wonderful Christian lady who truly loves the lord and is also a foster mom. She truly loves those kids and wants nothing but the best for them. I pray you have a great weekend!! Love, Shel

Hi Shel, Good to see you in the forum. I will definitely pray for you, and your friend. I have struggled to be consistent in my devotions as well, and usually just blame busy-ness when in fact I have developed a hardened heart. That is when I am prime target for the enemy. Hang in there. God is good, ALL the time. Read Betsy's post to me. She talks about giving thanks in the darkness. Hugs, Trish

Good morning eveyone! Thanks for the insight, both of you.It was great to get on here this morning and find a word from the Lord waiting! I too, gave up my quiet time, and your word**** hard! maybe I was blaming the Lord as well, for financial setbacks, family crisis,,etc. You would think after walking with the Lord for over 40 years, I would be wise to the enemys devices, but sometimes he slips one up on me. I recently was going through something hard, and was trying to live that scripture,,"In everything give thanks.".I thanked HIm for the beautiful day, and was struck with a thought, I never thank Him for the nights. You know,,the dark times when I dont see any hope or help, the times when my heart is aching and my mind is reeling,,,real dark times. But I have come to realize that its the dark times that make the sun seem so much brighter when it finally comes out! And its the dark seemingly hopeless times that make me learn that He is faithful, and "underneath are the everlasting arms"..so they too, are a blessing. This is an insight that I would have missed, had I not had a "quiet time" with Him that day. So, when we miss those, and Im "preaching" to myself here,,we miss an opportunity to be blessed, always. Thanks again for the gentle nudge, Im gonna spend some quiet time with Him today, for sure! Cant wait to see what He has for me! Be blessed! Betsy

Betsy, I have a friend in Florida who has been through the wringer this past year. Yet, in all of what she and her husband have gone through, she has been able to give thanks to the Lord. She has breast cancer, and was unable to have it operated on, nor can she undergo chemo. Then, her husband developed blood clots and was dead in the ER and brought back to life. Since June, he has been in and out of the hospital with 8 surgeries, hemoraging, clots, infections, having had ribs taken out that were infected, you name it. He spent Christmas in the hospital. Every update she sends me has her praising the Lord for His goodness and provision. Me, I would be whining and complaining and just sitting on the pity pot. It is so hard for me to give thanks in the darkness. Thanks for reminding me of my need to do that right now. Hugs, Trish

Betsy, thank you so much for these words. They brought tears to my eyes because I haven't thanked him for the nights and I know I should. I love your sentence "I have come to realize that its the dark times that make the sun seem so much brighter when it finally comes out!" So true!! I'm so glad you found us! Love, Shel

I had a very similar issue recently with the issue of submission which is also very difficult but necessary in order to live the life Christ died to give us. When we submit to those God tells us to submit to we are also showing our love for Him. I was having a particularly rough time a few months ago and I asked God to show me what I was doing wrong. That's not a fun thing to do BTW, but it was very helpful in my walk. One of the things He spoke to me heart was that I was not submitting to authority in my local church. I thought I was, but I wasn't really. I have always had a difficult time with submission in many areas because of being abused from the ages of 6-18. I wasn't going to let anyone (let alone my husband, but I dare not tread into those waters here) control me because I equated that with the pain I had suffered. Then I believe the Lord spoke to me heart about the difference between control and submission-at least a difference that was important to me. When someone, like an abuser controls you, it is not your choice. You are forced to do what they say. When you submit, it is an act of Christian love on your part and you choose to allow them to control certain things but they do not really control you. It is always your choice not to submit. After I realized that I did not have to fear submission it became easier. I still struggle at times, but it is much better. Trish, I hope you feel better soon and I just sent prayers up for you. Love ya-Amy