Almost three years ago I became familiar with the words generational curse. A friend was praying with me as I was struggling with visions of my sexual abuse as a child. Not only was I abused, but so was my mother……..
….. continue reading here. I’m guest blogging for Lyn Smith today …..
Ok, so I’m trying to put myself in the shoes of Edison Pena for a moment. I’ve been trapped in a mine for 69 days. I’ve spent over two months with 33 men and I finally get freed. Of course I kiss the ground and praise God for my rescue.
My next move? I get invited to be on The David Letterman Show, where I impersonate the King of Rock n’ Roll. (Very impressive by the way.) Now at this point I would want to rest and just enjoy that I’m alive. Instead I become No. 7127 in the New York City Marathon. I didn’t keep myself busy training everyday 2,300 feet underground through muddy tunnels for nothing!
Seriously, I’m impressed with the guy. Instead of letting his mind wander with memories of uncertainty, he is continuing to live his life. Nothing is keeping him down. If only more of us looked at life like that.
Next time life delivers you something hard will you keep running the marathon or give up? I’m hoping I choose option #1.
One of my all time favorites songs is Aaron Shust’s, My Savior My God. Our worship band sings it at church and there’s just something about that song that has my hands in the air and a sweet comfort in my soul before the end.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt0WluTpFTg]
The first line, I am not skilled to understand, defines me. I don’t have what it takes to understand. I don’t have what it takes to do anything in this world. My strength is completely useless. Then along comes Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, giving His life so that I could be skilled to understand.
That He would leave His place on high and come for sinful man to die. He did that for me! He did that for you! You count it strange, so once did I before I knew my Savior. I still can’t wrap my mind around how I could be loved so much that God would send His son to die for me. And He didn’t just come live on the earth, preach the gospel and peacefully die in His sleep. No, He was brutally beaten and murdered!
I remember my pastor, Ted Cunningham, teaching out of Ephesians several months ago. The first time he told me I was a saint I laughed. Flashbacks of my very unchristian lifestyle popped into my mind. The title saint certainly did not belong in my vocabulary. But according to God’s Word it does. Not only are those in Christ Jesus called saints, but we have a glorious inheritance waiting for us as well.
Paul said to the Ephesians, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:18-19
The words of this song are so true: Your Savior loves. Your Savior lives. Your Savior’s ALWAYS there for You.
Taken from Stormie Omartian’s The Power of Praying…
In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul says, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Taken hold of what? What was the goal?
Paul Pressed on take hold of the greatness of knowing Christ. He pressed on to receive the righteousness that comes from God and by faith.
We too can receive that greatness. The righteousness that comes from faith in God belongs to us as well, but we have to reach out and grab of hold it. It doesn’t come free. We must consider everything a loss. And that’s where many people walk away. I have done it many times.
If I let go of all the worldly possessions that have kept me “safe”, only to have my faith left, then what will happen? WE GAIN CHRIST! Is there anything better?
This is our opportunity to all be runners. Not just runners, but marathon winners. Short, fat, tall, skinny, it doesn’t matter. We can all forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead. We can press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus!
What can you do to run a better race for the goal?
Today’s History Lesson…
What is your initial reaction when someone tells you that you’re not capable of doing something? Do you listen to them and walk off with a defeated feeling? Or do you hold your head up high and believe that you can do whatever God desires for you to do?
In 1918 Margaret Owen showed many people that she could do “the impossible”. Have you ever tried typing a letter on an antique typewriter? 170 words per minute is like a miracle. I have reached 95 wpm on a computer, but can’t imagine even getting close to that on an old typewriter. Amazing huh?
This story may be small in comparison, but what if Noah would have turned back when others laughed at him for building a boat when it had never rained?
What in your life are others telling you is impossible? What in your life are you saying is impossible?
Picture Jesus looking at you as he did in Matthew 19:26 and saying, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”