by | Faith Lived Out
That’s what I used to think anyway. I grew up thinking that I could not be weak, nor could I show others that I was weak. That’s probably why I have worked so hard over the last couple years to get rid of that nasty pride word.
Weak people got walked on. Weak people were last. You have to be tough. That’s the only way to survive. Adding my new favorite word to the end of this sentence: malarkey.
I still struggle to accept weaknesses in myself. It’s gotten even harder lately. I wish I could say I’m passing with flying colors, but it’s been the complete opposite really.
We cannot conquer every weakness at once. It will do nothing but create stress, stress, and more stress. Not to mention
our flesh tends to take over in a big messy way. Saying these words to myself in hopes that message will sink in soon.
I am trying to let these words sink into my heart: That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10). I am trying.
NOTE TO SELF: God works through our weaknesses. Yes, yes, that’s true. Slowly but surely it will sink into my thick head.
Are you delighting in your weaknesses?
by | Faith Lived Out
Great! Thanks.
I usually have my blogs planned in advance, but it just didn’t work out that way this past week.
I wasn’t going to have a blog posted for today, but here it goes…I don’t have much to say. I do, however, have a question to ask.
Could you just pray for me?
Thank you. Your prayers are very much appreciated.
![Is Accountability Really Necessary?]()
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
The answer is simple: ABSOLUTELY!
King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, knew very well about the power of accountability.
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
I never understood until recent years how important accountability was. First of all, I didn’t want to admit I needed help. I could handle things just fine on my own. Welcome pride. I was 330 lbs. of mess, but I was handling things just fine.
Secondly, I didn’t want people to know my secrets. The moment I became accountable to someone they would know the real me, and that just couldn’t happen. Welcome shame.
And thirdly, I couldn’t let people get inside my heart to know the real me. What if they knew too much? What if they would leave? What if they would stop loving me? Welcome fear.
Can I just say I, without a doubt, I HATE fear, shame, and pride? They are not of God!
Lysa TerKeurst tells us in Made To Crave, there are three important reasons for having accountability.
- There is help to recover from failure.
- There is comfort and companionship in adverse conditions.
- There is help in defending against attacks. (Remember, “two can stand back-to-back and conquer.”)
I don’t know about you, but I know without a doubt that I must have accountability in my life. The moment I start to think I don’t, I quickly face the
reality that Satan is trying to fill my head with lies. Recently my eating was getting out of control and I was not happy with where I was heading. Food addiction has always been one of my biggest struggles, and the last place I want to be, or ever get close to again, is the 330 lb. sad soul that I once was. One of the ways I keep myself on track, is first and foremost, going to God with my problem. Then I make sure safe people in my life know of my struggles.
This last week in the midst of my struggle, I cried with a friend. I asked for prayer from three close friends I know without a doubt I can trust. Then, I started making a food log and sending it to them. They didn’t ask me to – I just did. Whether they read it or not isn’t as important to me as someone else simply knowing what’s happening. If I have someone to be accountable to, I am going to make wiser choices. And if those choices aren’t so wise I can trust those friends to call me out on it with love.
Be accountable. I promise it’s worth it. Swallow your pride. Toss the shame aside. Get rid of the fear. Be accountable.
Do you have someone in your life you can trust and be accountable to?
by | Faith Lived Out
I was visiting with a friend the other night and she had heard in a recent workshop that love is confrontational. I had some Holy Ghost goosebumps for a minute as I absorbed what she was telling me.
As she was processing the words with me, a sadness overcame her as she realized her family didn’t confront. They bury things, stop talking to each other, wait a few months for the dust to settle, then begin a new conversation over coffee as if nothing ever happened. I realized that I too have family just like that. As a matter of fact, I myself have taken part in being non confrontational, burying it, pretending to get over it, and pretending to move one.
That was until the Word of God got a hold of me, and the confrontational love of others was put in my face.
How do we confront with love? We go to our brother or sister. If they listen, great. If they don’t, you bring others along. If they still don’t listen, then the church becomes involved. See Matthew 18:15-17 for God’s rule book on the matter. As the words Confrontational Love were already on my mind yesterday, my pastor confirmed just how true it was.
During his sermon, I realized that I had once played a role in the rule book of Matthew 18. My sins were confronted by a friend, in love. She
confronted me because she loved me too much to let me stay where I was. However, I wouldn’t hear. Her next step? Showing up at my doorstep with three others who loved me as well to offer me help.
My sins weren’t swept under the rug. They weren’t buried and simply given time for the dust to settle. They were confronted. That’s love. Real love.
I encourage you today, as you read this, to think of someone you need to confront in love. Think of that situation you need to stop pretending didn’t happen, and face it. You are called to do so as a member of Christ’s body. Go and do!
Do you have a story of confrontational love to share?
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
Have you met my friend Jennifer yet? If not, you’re missing out. I’ve written about her a few times. She’s got a list of talents hidden under her Texas-sized hair. Friend. Mentor. Sister. Writer. Blogger. Social Media Guru. And now she’s adding speaker to that list.
She recently spoke some great truth to the women at Coffee Conversations, a monthly women’s ministry held at Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, Missouri.
Do you ever feel like you are not enough? Well, guess what? You’re not. The good news, however, is that is OKAY!
Sit back for the next 15 minutes and enjoy this truth from Jennifer. You’ll be glad you did.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlBC4CkvIFo]
How do you feel knowing we are not enough?
by | Faith Lived Out
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24
I’ve been reading over this verse a lot over the past week. First, I was skimming over it. Then I would slow down. Now it’s slowly sinking in. He (Jesus) put his body on a tree and died for me. Why? So that I could be righteous.
By his wounds I have been healed. What do you think about when you see that sentence? It’s not by a few scars that we have been healed. It’s not by a scrape on Jesus’ kneecap from a bike ride gone bad that we receive His healing. No, it’s because He allowed men to beat Him beyond recognition. He allowed them to place thorns on His head. He allowed them to hammer nails into His wrists and feet.
He took his last breath on a cross, while blood trickled down his face, and his own mother watched him suffer, knowing there was nothing she could do. And He did it so we could be healed and walk in righteousness. Wow! I’m still trying to grasp that. And not only that, but He did so knowing EVERY sin I would commit in my lifetime.
Do you believe He did that for you?
our flesh tends to take over in a big messy way. Saying these words to myself in hopes that message will sink in soon.
