Beyond Measure

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

The Conviction of Judgement

"Judge not, that ye not be judged." Matthew 7:1

This is one verse that is the most quoted on a day to day basis, by believers and those who have never even cracked the cover of a bible.

As humans, we tend to judge others. Many times, we are hardest on those who we love the most. Maybe its because we want so much for them to be as perfect in our eyes as they are in our hearts. Maybe its because we live in fear of their actions to reflect poorly on ourselves. Neither is an acceptable reason, as God's word warns us.

"  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Matthew 7:2

My heart has been extremely heavy with this very subject  as of late, being convicted once more last night with yet another family member. I had harshly judged a younger member of the family. seeing her as selfish. Now, years later, God gently opened my eyes to the situation leading up to the action I judged her for, and I was humbled to my core. I had no idea. All I knew in this moment was I was wrong.

This past spring, a similar situation happened with another family member that I was accusing of being selfish. When she told me what led to her behavior, it brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't imagine the pain that had the explanation catch in her throat. The conviction was real.

"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Matthew 7:3

Its amazing how God reveals things to you. I had been judgmental for years to another family member and the way he lived his life. I thought he was bitter, angry and lazy. Then I finally became well again after slowly declining over a number of years, and now look back on mt own actions while I was sick. They mirror his. The realization took my breath away. 

I had another close family member who had also been ill for longer than I realized until I realized the resentment I had secretly harbored against him was the same judgment I had given to the pervious mentioned person. 

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven". Luke 6:37

As humans, we still fall short of the glory of God every day, and being so hard on our families is something that inevitably falls into this category. But praise God we have been washed in the blood of forgiveness and our Heavenly father forgives our inequities.We need to apply this same forgiveness to those we judge, because we do not know the whole story. If you don't, God will reveal the truth to you eventually, so be ready for the conviction.

If you have anyone you have been judging, pray for God's revelation, intervention and grace. He wants you to have the peace that comes with a non-judgmental heart. He will gladly lead you to it if you only ask. 

Love and Prayers,

Pam

Friday, February 20, 2015

We Can Learn A Lot From A Tulip

Friday, February 13, 2015

Powerful

Raised in a Christian home, I was taught at a young age to pray. Pray at mealtime. Pray at bedtime. But, like a lot of young Christians, I had to grow closer to God and get deeper in His word to find prayer's hidden power.

You see Daniel demonstrate it in Daniel 6:10 -

Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.

You read any number of times that Moses prays to God, like in  Exodus 17: 4-6 - 

 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me.” ⁵ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. ⁶ Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

There are so many examples, but none are more profound on the heart than those that happen to you, and they do.

When you just sit and think about prayer, its the sweetest, most genuine conversation you will ever have in your life, with your creator. With the one who loves you more than any other. Ever. With the one, the only one, who can make anything happen. Its enough to take your breath away, such an amazing gift to have an unbreakable, an unifiable connection with our heavenly father. 

And yet, so many of us don't use this gift to its full extent. We only pray, as we were originally taught, at mealtime, at bedtime. We miss the opportunity for guidance, for comfort, all throughout every day, through every sleepless night. We miss the chance for private celebration, for grace, for healing. 

There was a time I wouldn't ask  for prayers from others. It was the same sort of pride you get all puffed up with over asking someone for help. Then, in a Sunday School class, I was the recipient of prayer over a medical scare and it was transforming. I felt the love of my classmates pour over me as I watched a miracle with my health take over my body. It was a breathtaking experience that I am forever grateful for. It was also when I truly realized that as I got on my knees for my friends and loved ones, I can humbly ask for intersession as well, for there is nothing sweeter than carrying another's burdens before the throne. 

The closer your walk becomes with the Lord, the more of these payers you will see fulfilled, in ways you could never imagine. Your heart will overflow from the power. Who else but our God could makes us stronger by bringing us to our knees? 


Mark 11:24  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Love and Prayers,

Pam

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Cuts Like A...Pair of Scissors?

It's been far too long. I'm hoping that won't happen again. I woke this morning with such a renewed spirit of the Lord in my heart I jut felt like shouting it from the rooftop. In suburban America at 6:50 in the morning, this is likely the more optimum choice.

I wanted to share the devotional I just got done reading and intertwine my thoughts and feelings in it if you don't mind.

Today's Scripture: Ephesians 4:22,24
^"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Sometimes we get the impression that the Christian life consists mainly of negative prohibitions. These are definitely an important part of our spiritual discipline, as attested by the fact that eight of the Ten Commandments are prohibitions. We need the prohibitions set forth not just in the Ten Commandments but in all the life-application sections of the New Testament. Indwelling sin needs the constant restraint of being denied its gratification. 

This is also how the world sees our views on most everything - that we come against widely accepted things in society and just hate those who are involved so much that we judge them to be horrible people and think they should be denied what others feel are their rights. Buts when it comes to ourselves and the toll it takes on us personally, well, read on...

The Christian life, however, should also be directed toward positive expressions of Christian character. All of Paul's ethical teaching is characterized by this twofold approach of putting off the old self and putting on the new self (as in Ephesians 4:21-24.)

One thing as Christians I feel like we allow other influences to make this an even more difficult experience. No one said this would be easy. Think of the pressure a single lump of coal must of through for some many years to become a bright and shiny diamond, or the unbearable heat that steel must be melted at in order to forge out impurities to become more pure and stronger. We have our on difficult journey that we each walk in order to get closer to our savior each day. How we handle ourselves with each step is being scrutinized by other believers and the lost alike. 

 I like to think of this twofold approach as represented by the two blades of a pair of scissors. A single scissors blade is useless as far as doing the job for which it was designed. The two blades must work in conjunction with each other to be effective. And we must work both at putting off the characteristics of our old selves and putting on the characteristics of the new selves. One without the other is not effective.

This is a brilliant comparison, don't you think? My biggest weakness here would be the struggle to synchronize the movements. Fortunately, this isn't something I have to figure out on my own. Jesus is here, holding my hand every step of the way. 

 Some believers seem to focus on putting off sinful practices but give little attention to what they are to put on. Too often their lives become hard and brittle and probably self-righteous, because they tend to equate godliness with a defined list of "don'ts." other believers tend to focus on putting on certain positive traits such as love, compassion, and kindness, but they can become careless in morality and ethics. We need the dual focus of "putting off" and "putting on" —each should receive equal attention from us.

This is a balancing act that thankfully doesn't have to be as difficult as me make it. As long as we rely on the power of prayer, immerse ourselves in God's holy word every day and keep our dialogue open with our Lord, our walk will become stronger, and the very harmony that we seek will shine like a beacon from us and will make it possible for Him to be seen in us by others. 

Let today be your first day. Snip- Snip!

Love and Prayers,

Pam

Text in boldface font is taken from today's Jerry Bridges Devotional, as seen here. Italics is my own opinions and thoughts as a growing child of Christ.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Mr. President, Have You Ever Read Proverbs 31?

“Sometimes, someone, usually mom, leaves the workplace to stay home with the kids, which then leaves her earning a lower wage for the rest of her life as a result. And that’s not a choice we want Americans to make,” Obama said.

There have been many things that I've not met eye to eye with when it comes to the current leadership in our country, but none has ever struck me so personally as the statement above. Because of this, I would like to respond, in a more personal way.

Mr. President, I would like to do a bible study with you this morning, in Proverbs 31. In case you are not familiar with the chapter, it is what most of us who leave the workplace to stay at home use to aspire to in our seemingly insignificant roles.

31:10

A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.

By providing her husband with the respect and comfort that only she can, he is free to work hard with less stress, able to be the provider that God intended him to be for his family.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.

 There is no economist on your staff that could out-pinch a penny from a frugal Mom. By working hard for her family, harder than she ever would in the corporate workplace, she keeps the economy flowing and the comfort coming to her loved ones, without a second thought to being laid off or her salary being cut.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.

Do these verses mean she has gone out to work and left her family behind? To the contrary, she draws her family closer by using her spiritual gifts from the Lord to create extra income for her family. all while being ever present when she is needed by them.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.

She has a heart like the God she serves, and willingly helps those less fortunate than she is. She denies no one, but works harder to make sure there is always enough to go around.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

She always finds a way to keep her family warm and safe, relying not on her own virtues, but in the promises that her God has given her, and there is no comfort like His. 

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.

 There is no wage on earth that will compare to those earned by her as she works from her heart to provide everything she can to those that mean the most to her.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

 No matter how hard she is working, there seems to always be this stigma that makes what she does seems so insignificant. I am just ever thankful that there are no insignificant people in my Savior's eyes.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,

    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

  Her job is so much more than a full time job, is it a career and lifestyle that she is blessed to have. It will earn her far more than a mere paycheck, She will be responsible for shaping the future citizens of our country, setting the tone for her husband's success in the workplace, and allowing the lost in her life to see Jesus shine each and every day.

It is my prayer each morning that I emulate the Proverbs 31 Woman, and now, that more young women growing up listen to their hearts and find this path as well, despite your belief that this is not the direction we want to take as a country, because I truly feel that if we don't, the country that was built on these values is quickly coming to an end.

Good day, Mr. President.

Love and Prayers,

Pam

Thursday, October 30, 2014

A Different Shade of Grey

Each and every day, the world around us is filled with depravity. As a child of God, we turn from it in our day to day encounters. But, how much do we tolerate in other areas, like our entertainment?

Back when I was growing up, the restrictions of what could be shown on television was held at a much higher level than today's standards. It seems like each season that passes the tolerance gets higher. Just because society has given in to such depravity doesn't mean that God's feelings and commands have become soft and changed.

He tells us in II Timothy 2:22: Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. There is no bend in His word or what He wants for us.

Sometimes its hard for us to turn away from things, even when you feel Him speaking to your heart. I've been watching Grey's Anatomy for a couple of years now, but enjoyed it so much that I watched all 10 seasons in just a few months. Of course, there is questionable story lines, from the constant promiscuity to the homosexual relationship featured between two of the characters.Of course I know by watching it, I am accepting it, but I continue to brush it off, since its not real, its just a television show, after all.

God turned his whisper to a louder voice a few weekends ago, when I came across and article about Shondra Rimes and how she responded to others saying that there is too much homosexuality in her other two shows by basically telling them that if they wanted to be hateful and even call those relationships wrong, then they can just quit watching her shows.

I was a bit stunned, but thought, it is not those individuals saying its wrong. Its not me saying its wrong, God did, in Leviticus 18:22.

It was just the push I needed to sit back and think, What kind of example am I sitting for my impressionable child by telling him to not watch certain shows or stay out of situations, and yet don't do the same?

I decided it was time to change the channel. Now, instead of afternoon episodes, I do housework or watch Little House on the Prairie. Thursday nights are now filled with a peace that wasn't in the house before. Is awesome. You can have it too - think about the things you watch, or the music you listen to. Is there something about the content that doesn't make your testimony shine? Pray to Him. He'll clear the grey for you.

Love and Prayers,

Pam

Friday, October 17, 2014

Its Not a Contest

Have you ever looked at a friend, loved one, church family member and thought:

"Wow, I wish I was as close to God as they are."
"Why don't I just get it like that?"
"I must be a heathen, look at how Godly they are compared to me."

I do. I especially do this as I watch my husband draw closer to God at this season of his life. It was bad the other night. I decided it was time time to take a step back.

First of all, we all grow in Christ at different rates and on different pathways. Just as we are born onto earth at different times, we are born into the Kingdom of God at different times. So many things influence our spiritual growth. We meed to realize that those feelings of jealousy toward another's walk with God is jealousy and nothing but sin.

The sooner we recognize this, the faster we are reminded of His words to us.  

1 John 1:8 - If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Admit your feelings for what they are, and ask to be forgiven.

Romans 3:8 - There is none righteous. Not even one.
Remember we all sin and fall short of God's glory. Remember that this person your are thinking about has saved by the same blood as you, and without the undeserving sacrifice of Jesus, they would be doomed for the same death that you would be.

Instead, fill your heart with joy. This person is your brother or sister in Christ, and we should rejoice with them.  Save your heartache for those who have yet to find the path to everlasting life and forgiveness. Don't forget, anytime you start hearing those questions in your mind about your walk with God, it's the enemy trying his best to bring you down. Keep God in the victory!

Love and Prayers,

Pam

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

Its Been Said Before...

...Many times, actually.

Our God is an awesome God. Its been said in song, in sermons. It cannot be said enough. There is nothing God cannot do, and there is nothing we can do without Him. He gives us love that we do not deserve, no matter how little love we give in return. He heals us from sickness, he perform miracles each and every day, some so subtle, yet so powerful. So many that we choose to overlook in the midst of our day to day existence, with our minds so filled with clutter that means nothing if you don't keep your eyes to Him.

I have a lot of growing to do. I have let so many things cloud my thoughts for so long that I have drifted further apart from my heavenly father, and want so desperately to get closer again. I thought that maybe this blog would be a good start.

I decided on the name Beyond Measure because it says it all.

God gave us his son, bringing him to earth to die on the cross in my place - MY place.  Who am I to deserve this? This is grace beyond measure.

God wants us to trust him in all ways. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. - Proverbs 3:5. Faith beyond measure.

The love God has for each of his children is so immense. Its absolutely endless. He calls for us to love Him and all others in the same way, even though we fall shamefully short each day. Love beyond measure.

May this journey touch others when they need to be touched.

Love & Prayers, 

Pam