It Hurts to be Helpless

I can relate to this because I have arranged my life in such a way as to avoid helplessness as much as possible. It hurts to be helpless. As in this passage from Isaiah:

"You went to Molech with olive oil and increased your perfumes. You sent your ambassadors far away; you descended to the grave itself! You were wearied by all your ways, but you would not say, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint" (Isa. 57:9-10).

Redeeming myself feels better than being helpless. The problem is it leads me to more dead ends and further self redemption. God is thwarting my efforts now to return me to Himself and I am broken in ways that hurt more than my original helplessness. In fact helpless is not broken. It is being constantly reliant on God for help.

I am a goal oriented-driven person and now that my dreams have been shattered, I have to mourn the loss of these things and become blank slate...an empty vessel.

in reference to: Is God Harassing You?  | The Counseling Solutions Group, Inc. (view on Google Sidewiki)

Living In ThePresent With The Future In Mind

What worked for me in my 20s and how I have operated since then no longer works for me here at age 45.  I am trying to live in the present tense, but asking myself, my family, my friends, and my mentors what is going to be important to me at age 55, 60, and 65...?  I don't want to get there and say "If only I had done X, Y, & Z."  I am suffering now because of not doing things differently from my 20s on up.  

So, what can I do now to prepare for those years? 

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Giving Your Life Away: Impacting The Next Generation

5 Principles:

1- Be A Disciple Yourself First
(John 15:5; Col 2:6-7)

2- Be With Them All The Time As Much As Possible
(1 Thes 2:8}

3- Pray for Them All The Time As Much As Possible
(John 17; Col 1:9-13; 4:12-13)

4- Teach Them God's Truth All The Time As Much As Possible
(2 Tim 2:2; Deut 6:4-9)

5- Treat Them and See Them As Life Long Friends
(Matt 28:20; John 14:17-18)


7 Practicals

1- Pray and Ask God to Give You A Man

2- Look for Someone F.A.T.
(Faithful, Available, Teachable)

3- Meet Regularly and Consistently

4-Fellowship, Doctrine, Vision
(make sure every meeting has these elements to give balance)

5- Have a Curriculum

6- Build Virtues into Your Relationship/Group Dynamic

7- Have Fun Together

[Thanks to Trent Gladstone for sharing these concepts at the Grace Community Church Men's Breakfast 7/10/2010]

YBH

I heard a new expression called YBH.  It means Yes, But How?

It is what I say to the Lord as I hear Him speak in my heart.  It has been awhile since I have written anything here.  It has been a confusing time with my life trial.  It has caused many questions and prayers to God about what the heck He is doing.  I was asking Him what to do?  Is this really what it seems?

The more the questions flowed the more I found myself not taking any action. It felt weird and uncomfortable.  I like to do something, but I have found the 'somethings' I have done to be miserable failures.  I guess I am learning to listen and let God work it out. 

I heard a little talk in between songs on WGTS about how we don't like to obey.  The speaker, whom I cannot remember the name of, said that one way to tell if it is God's will is that you won't want to do it.  God never gives us enough information and it is always extremely difficult to do.  I don't know about you, but I have said "Forget it, God.  I will make a plan."  Many times in my life this thought process took place subconsciously.  Then when I am backed into a dead end, God sends help [bless his Name], but I still have to do something I don't want to choose; something I know very little about, and is extremely difficult. 

So it is back to "Yes, But How?"  By My Spirit says the Lord.  My grace is sufficient for you. 

Desire, Part 1

I have been writing an entry on desire, but it is not finished.  This is from Ransomed Heart Ministries daily readings email.  Today's reading sums up what I am feeling.  I highly recommend the book Desire which it comes from.

Saints QB Drew Brees talks about Jesus

I read the article that interviewer Jill Ewert wrote for the FCA magazine Sharing The Victory STV.  I especially liked a quote in the article about Drew.  "What makes a man is the ability to sacrificially give expecting nothing in return, and what makes a leader is someone who is willing to die to self every day for the benefit of the team."  In fact, I joined Drew Brees' Facebook Fan page and wrote this on the wall:

Congrats on a great Super Bowl win. You and the team played one for the ages. Truly inspiring to fans everywhere. I just finished reading the article about you and your ministry in FCA's magazine STV. It motivates me as my family's QB to do what we can for God and others. Thanks.

Parent to Teen

"I may not know everything, but what I do know will save your life."  [Adapted from the song "I Know" by Mercy Me.]

Decisions, decisions, decisions, Part 2

When God makes a decision, He will provide a way for it to come about.  As I said in my post called My Month With Jesus [http://younglions77.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-month-with-jesus.html ] "Jesus just ran out the door and I'm following Him."  Now He said where we are going and I just stopped in my tracks.  I am looking at Him incredulously.  He says don't worry...I'll provide the way.  I, like Abraham, have no choice but to follow.  Unlike Abraham, I don't have the luxury of God speaking audibly but, He is speaking through my circumstances.  It is painfully obvious.  In providence, He had me pass by the destination already.  It is in my heart already. 

Now I pray that God will give me the strength to follow...to let Him provide as I force my feet to continue.  Actually, like  Tom Hanks character in "Cast Away" I have to get past the huge wave that has kept me here and it is fear. 

Decisions, decisions, decisions

If we are truly yielded to God, there is no decision to make.  We are to pray and ask Him what decision He has already made.  When things happen, either bad or good, we must trust that God has what's best for us in it.  All things work for the good of those who love Him.  Romans 8:28 God can't lie...trust Him fully.

My month with Jesus

This month I celebrated 28 years of walking with Jesus. It struck me I found myself referring to this time as a month. 4 'weeks' with each week being 7 years. In all of that time I am only just getting to know my Lord.

In fact, He came to me. He knocked on my door. I realize now that in all this time it is only a month in God's timing. In fact, He came in and communed with me and taught me wisdom. Like Eustace in C.S. Lewis' "The Dawn Treader" I have had to lie still while he cut me out of my dragon skin. He said "now that you are out of that thick old skin; come on, it is time to leave this place and all the skeletons that are in your closets. Follow me!" He ran out the door and I am running after Him. I have no idea what will happen, but we are out of here. Hallelujah!!!