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Saturday, August 1, 2009

Spiritual Sundays




Romans 12

Living Sacrifices

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This scripture hit me this week in a whole new way~ but isn't that the way of the Lord! He will take His word and allow it to speak to you as HE so desires! There was a day this past week that I was struggling. I was REALLY missing being at home and just about everything was a struggle. Well, when I talked to my husband he was quick to jump into my "pity" party with me. *Let me just say right here this post is NOT against him AT ALL* It is about seeking GODS WILL. His~ good pleasing and perfect will.

I am the type of person & friend, who will tell you the truth. I have been told by some.....I tell it like it is. But I also in return want that same thing. Don't sugar coat it, don't try and make me "feel" good. Even if it's gonna hurt~ tell me. I know some personalities tend to go toward the negative, while others are positive and upbeat. I am married to a melancholy and He will be the first to tell you how the Lord has helped him to see things in a more positive way. He has learned to allow the Lord to help him NOT conform to the patterns of this world and to renew his mind. This example is alot of how I have viewed this scripture until this week.

While having my pity party~ there was something I knew before I made the phone call to my husband. I knew he would be completely on my side and jump in wholeheartedly with me. I also knew that this would be "no good" for me and would make things worse. You see, I needed him to encourage me to stay strong. I shared this with him and knew I needed to renew MY mind & to seek the LORD in this situation! Which I did!!! During my prayer time I didn't experience the release or the peace that I needed but I knew that I had surrendered and laid it all at the feet of Jesus. Early the next morning in the Word the first words I read were "Peace and JOY" and continued on to read Romans 5. The Lord was showing me to continue on, to continue to renew my mind and to have peace and joy!

You see, when we are having struggles our flesh wants to be stroked, or to be fed. Sometimes, this is done merely by people agreeing with you. (even if it is your sweet husband who is just trying to be there for you in the way he knows how sometimes) Surrounding yourself with "YES" people will not prove to be a good thing at all! God tell us where there is TRUTH, there is freedom. Sometimes the truth hurts but it will ALWAYS set you free if you allow it to. Conforming to the patterns of this world, will feed your flesh and be the easy path, while renewing your mind and allowing the Lord to speak truth into you will set you on the path to HIS will. HIS GOOD PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL!

for other Spiritual Sunday posts go here


17 comments:

rcubes

There are times when we succumb back to our old habits. It's hard since we are wired that way. But I'm so glad that we are reprogrammed with His system and if we allow Him to really work in us, we become more powerful to beat that old nature.

I am also a big work in progress and may the Lord continue to work in all of us. God bless. Love and blessings to you.

Andrea

Girl..pull yourself up (GOD told Job to "pull himself up" and I love that thought in light of what Job went through and what we all face)! You can do it! GOD will "never" leave you or forsake you. He is your rock and mighty fortress! Storming the heavens on your behalf for strength, comfort, and encouragement. May you feel HIS perfect peace envelope your entire being.
Much love and hugs, Andrea

Charlotte

This has been a hard thing for me to do. It's easier to sympathize with people than it is to tell them the truth. I tend to be more like your husband. It sounds to me like you were seeking wisdom and God showed it to you. He promised he would do that.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Heart2Heart

Loren,

I truly believe that a good dose of honesty regardless of how blunt it comes across is necessary. If all we needed to get through this world was people who would always be on our side and agree with us, what challenges would be out there for us to face??

I love your honesty and I love how you just put yourself out there for all of us to see. What I see is someone who is strong, a true warrior, but also tender and gentle on the inside. Just the way you need to be at this time.

If I haven't taken the time to thank you for stopping by and leaving me the most wonderful, encouraging and heartfelt comments, thank you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, because I truly count you as one of my dearest family members!

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Ziggy Stardust

That was comforting. I can be the queen of pity parties at times.

God bless you Anne

Mary

Hi Loren, When I really started to understand "you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" it was life changing. I remind myself that satan is the father of lies, and lies keep us in bondage. Lies also destroy relationships. With tact and love, truth should always be told. It's the only way to really show God's love. Thanks for sharing your heart. We all need to understand what it means to be set free by the truth.

Jeanne

We all need to be reminded to not wallow in self pity, but that is hard to do sometimes. Your post today is a reminder to forget to be sorry for ourselves when things are not so great. Give our self doubts to God. Let him carry us to happiness and the feeling that his love will help us through anything.

Thank you for your thoughts and reminders of how we need God to pull us up.

Blessings, Jeanne

SmilingSally

I'm a straight shooter, so come to me and I'll tell you the truth. On the other hand, if you seek God, you will find Him. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful Sunday.

Saleslady371

Oh, that old nature, it keeps rising up! We have to fight it, yes! I'm like your hubby; I hate to see people hurting. You two sound like a perfect match. Happy Sunday.

Love you lots,
Mary

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage

My husband would said anything to make me feel good at that time as well. It brings a smile to my facet that you found comfort in this scripture.
Ginger

Beth Herring

This post was chock full of many truths that spoke volumes to my heart! I just love how God takes each of us and allows us to be ministered to in so many different ways by each other. I am so glad that I have gotten to "know" you!

Lisa

Great post! I guess the key is having enough wisdom to know whether to encourage or confront.You can't be powerful AND pitiful.:)

Musings of A Minister

Good message. I am a melancholy like your husband but I am like you when it comes to "telling it like it is." What a mixture!I think that "telling it like it is" is partly because we are from Oklahoma. LOL Stay strong! Thanks for posting these good words.

Sue

Hi Loren,
You have given us so much meat today, and it has been the best!!! i so enjoyed this post, I am like you I believe in telling it straight up, no sugar coating. Great Post.
Blessings,
Sue

Andrea

Loren,

I encouraged a friend to start a blog. My hope is that it will help her work through life's difficulties. If you get a chance would you stop by and encourage and support her.

http://seaglassreflections.blogspot.com

Blessings, andrea

christy rose

Loren,
I think that I am so much like you, it is not funny! I, too, have been heard it said about me, "if you want to know the truth, go ask Christy." I do not want people to lie to me and I will not lie to them. I will speak gently and sweetly, but I will tell you what the truth is.
The truth is always good!!!! And always positive! Always!!! It may not seem like it at the time, but it will set you free!
My husband is a melancholy too. Naturally, he sees the negative in many situations also. He has had to learn to decipher Truth in the midst of circumstances and is still learning as he looks to the Lord to help me. He also is quick to jump on my band wagon if I vent any unpleasantness in my life to him, which I have only done a few times in our almost 20 year relationship because I know it is not good for either one of us. I hate pity parties! I try to never throw them and I never attend them. :) They are a sign of lonely misery that wants to remain miserable for awhile. Misery loves company. :) And, they only bring destruction.
I pray you are feeling better and allowing God to empower you to enjoy where you are at right now and look forward to what is ahead. Your honesty is so refreshing to me. I love it! Living in Truth is like throwing a true "Party"! It is much more fun!
I pray that you have a great week,
Christy

Ms.Daisy

I have often been told that I am very "blunt" but have learned over the years to "soften the blow" so to speak! One of my favorite verses is from Jeremiah, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." KJV
Loved your post for Spiritual Sunday. Thanks!

Be Blessed,
Jean

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