Do You Know Your ABC's?

THE ABC CONNECTION:  Anger---Bitterness---Control

My dog was sitting at my feet, while I was relaxing and enjoying a book.  Perfect picture, until he began looking at me and whimpering--trying to get my attention. Was it more food? I got up and checked his dish. It was full. Water dish?  Also full.  I walked to the door to let him out—he didn’t want to go out. I sat down and picked up my book again to continue reading. He came to my feet and continued to whimper. After a while I became angry inside—couldn’t figure out what he wanted. I COULDN’T CONTROL the situation and I became angry inside!

I began to think of other times I had been angered when encountering situations I COULD NOT CONTROL. Then I made the connection: I think I know what is right or best in a given situation. I push for my way or for my thoughts to be heard. I even pray that God will change a situation that I believe is wrong.  The pattern: unfavorable situation---I don’t get my way---the situation doesn’t change---I become angry inside. The anger is because I cannot CONTROL what I want or believe is best. I am not getting MY way!  When the anger is ‘nurtured’ it turns to bitterness.

We are warned many times to avoid anger that leads to bitterness.

Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:15

Do not sin in your anger Ephesians 4:26

Powerful! And scary! My anger can lead to bitterness, which is like a POISON! And it not only affects me, but it can affect others.

“Lord, please use anger to get my attention, when it first hits my heart and alerts me to the fact that it’s happening because I’m wanting to be in CONTROL of a situation, or something or someone. And Lord, enable me by your grace, to immediately give the matter to you so You are in full CONTROL of the situation; and thus guard my heart from anger that can become bitterness which in turn becomes malice. I know,  the longer I hold on to it the more bitter I will become. I don’t want that, Lord. Help me to slow down and trust You.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;  for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

I want to please You, Lord. I recognize that You are in control of all the circumstances of my life and I certainly don’t want others to be embittered because of my anger or bitterness.”

God has brought women across my path recently who have also recognized anger or bitterness in their lives.  I have shared these thoughts with them and they too, have been encouraged to turn loose of the anger and allow God to be the one in CONTROL of their lives rather than trying to control the circumstances and people around them. God is so very faithful to reveal truth to our hearts just when we need it.  We are responsible for responding to His Word and knowing our ABC’s to stop the connection:

Anger---Bitterness---Control

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,

along with all malice. Ephesians 4:31

Love The Lord with All Your Heart

I was recently thinking about Deuteronomy 6:5-9

 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your mind and heart and with your entire being and with all your might. And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be first in your own minds and hearts; then You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the minds and hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets [forehead bands] between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (AMP)

 
The phrase ‘love the Lord’ brought back a memory from when I was 10 years old. I was listening to a missionary in our Sunday school class tell a story which deeply touched my heart. When I began to cry, a teacher came to me and said, “ If you say ‘I love Jesus’, then you can be a Christian like the boy in the story.”

I went away very sad that day because I could not say that I loved Jesus-- because I did not know Him.

 
To really love the Lord we must KNOW HIM! And it occurred to me while thinking about this passage, that the keys to teaching our children to know Him are outlined in these verses. First, God’s Word has to be in our own hearts before we can teach it to our children. God reveals Himself in His Word. As we see truths about Him we teach them to our children in the everyday circumstances of life—

When you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up!

 
When you ‘sit in your house’ do you teach your children that God is your Provider?

—He is the One who provides money to buy the food we eat, the house that keeps us warm, the clothing we wear; all the things we need and enjoy.

—Do you talk about that with your children?

If you don’t direct their focus to God, they will grow-up thinking YOU are their provider.

Then they don’t learn to depend on The Lord their God as provider.

—Do you teach them James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change”

In knowing His Word, they will know Him, and love Him more as Provider

 When you ‘walk by the way’ or drive them in your car, do you teach them that God is the Creator?

—He is the One who provided knowledge to the men who developed the automobile and He is the creator of the fuel underground that we use to power the engine.

—He is the One who made the trees, the flowers, the birds, the animals, the sun, the moon, the stars…….

—Do you talk about those facts with your children?

—Do you diligently impress on their heart and minds the source of knowledge found in Job 38:36

“The Lord puts wisdom in the heart and gives understanding to the mind”

In knowing His Word, they will know Him, and love Him more as Creator

 
When you ‘lie down’ with them at bedtime do you teach them that God is their Protector?

—He is the One who protects us throughout the day.  When someone was driving carelessly on the highway and God prevented you from an accident do you talk about Him being your protector?   Teaching them to thank Him; or do you let them think it was Dad’s skill in driving that kept the family safe?

—Do you pray with them before they go to sleep;  teach them to pray His word so they know they are safe in Him?

—Do you teach them Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety”

In knowing His Word, they will know Him, and love Him more as Protector

 
When you ‘rise up’ in the morning, do you teach them that God is their all-in-all?

—He is the One we go to in the morning, to start our day in prayer.

—Do you teach them to go to the Lord throughout the day for their needs?

—Do you diligently impress upon them the importance of prayer as instructed in Psalm 5:3

  “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly”

In knowing His Word, they will know Him, and love Him more as All-in-All

 
—Do you love the Lord with all your heart and know Him?

—Do you live according to God’s Word?  Do you impress His commands on your heart?

—Do you memorize God’s Word and teach your children to do that, so they may know Him?

How can a young man keep his way pure?
   

By living according to your word.

With my whole heart I seek you let me not wander from your commandments!

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!

 
As I think back on that experience when I was 10, I am reminded of how very faithful God has been to teach me about Himself through the circumstances of my life and through His Word. He is truly all He promises to be!

I do know Him and love Him with all my heart!  I want to love Him more as He continues to reveal Himself to me.

 
When you pray with your children about needs in the family and see God provide, they learn to know and love Him When you are intentional in learning to look for God in all the circumstances of your life and share with your children —His life—His character— they begin to see Him, know Him and grow in their love for Him. They experience His power, His grace, His strength, His peace, His joy, His piHoHos Hi His His patience, His love and all that He is and they learn to love and trust Him as you do.  This is your responsibility; you are with them everyday.
 
—Do you “teach and impress God’s Word, diligently upon the minds and hearts of your children, when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up?”   So one day, they can say:

 “I love Jesus with all my heart, because I know Jesus”

Looking Back - Looking Ahead!

One of the common activities at the end of a year is to evaluate the year past and to look forward to the year ahead. I enjoy doing this each December—asking the Lord for ideas to keep my times with Him fresh and spiritually stimulating during the coming year. I find that if I do not have a plan I have a tendency to not approach my devotional times with Jesus with anticipation. Also, I look back in order to make changes in those activities that were not productive in my life over the past year—sort of a ‘spiritual house cleaning and redecorating’ experience—getting ready again to walk in joyful obedience to Jesus this coming year.

Yesterday, I read an article that was so encouraging to me in this evaluation process that I want to share some of it with you:

“There are two things that we must keep in mind when reading the commandments of Jesus. First, He was setting a standard that unregenerate man could never keep. The bar was set so high that no one would be able to reach His level of righteousness. Peter listened every day and knew well the teaching to love an enemy. The end result was cutting off a man’s ear! Often overlooked is one aspect of Christ’s teaching:  it reveals not only what man should do but what man cannot do. Second, Jesus did it all; He did what He taught, and He did it freely, naturally, consistently and without struggle. Therefore, He proved it could be done. Here is the secret to dealing with commands we cannot keep, commands that must be kept, and commands He kept easily. The solution is simple: we admit that we cannot; he moves and keeps them through us. It will be Christ in us living through us as though it is us, but it is not us. We do not aspire to be like Jesus; we gave that up. It is really Jesus living through us. Beautiful.!”(Mike Wells in My Weakness for His Strength)

I think we all have regrets of sinful choices, a lack of love toward someone, forgiveness that should have been extended toward someone who offended us; but the life of Jesus lived through us enables us to live in obedience to Him moment by moment. How encouraging is that! He knew all along that we could never live the Christian life. It is His life, not ours that brings victory and fulfillment. And the beauty of it all is that this is the way God intended it to be and that is why He sent His Son to BE our life—to live it for us—to be what we can never be without Him!

This has been a good reminder for me; and I hope it is for you! Here’s to a year of joy as you experience His Life in you and through you!  Col 1:27, “God’s plan is to make known His secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God.” TEV

An Early Christmas Gift

It was October 2^nd, I had finished the day’s work and was sitting on the patio reading and enjoying the Colorado sunshine on a fall day!  Being drawn to the beauty, I was having trouble concentrating on my book.  I felt I had to go up into the mountains—that God had something He wanted me to see. My husband and I had an errand to run so afterwards I suggested we drive up into the hills to see the fall colors.  It was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon—blue sky, warm sunshine, a gentle breeze.  Remembering, that just the day before, a woman asked me if I had been to South Cheyenne Canyon since our move back to Colorado? I had not; and suddenly I knew that is where I wanted to go.

It had been over 50 years since my last visit to the canyon, so the drive seemed like a brand new experience!  We wound our way around each sharp curve as the sun burst through the trees to reveal a new display of brilliant color.  It was breathtaking— vivid brick reds and golds; a blending of dark greens against rust and amber and bright reds and oranges! It was almost more than my eyes could take in!

I said to Him:  O, thank You Lord, for drawing me out here to see this spectacular display of Your creation! You do ‘give us all things to enjoy’

 ….put your hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment 1 Tim 3:17

 As we continued climbing higher into the mountains along the creek toward Helen Hunt Falls, we passed the entrance to Cutler Trail.  Memories flooded my mind of the times my friends and I would put a watermelon in the creek to chill while we hiked the trail, which overlooks Seven Falls. My heart called to Him: Lord, You give us the desires of our heart. Would You let me do that again sometime? You are so gracious to give me sight to see this glorious display of Your beauty. I’m so grateful that You called me out here today so You could delight my eyes with this brilliant array of color! You are so gracious!

I am reminded that not one of the pleasures God has brought into my life is essential, but they are provided by Him for my enjoyment—and designed to turn my heart to Him, my only true need.   Lord, you have done that today—thank You!

 

For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities---His eternal power

and divine nature---have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,

so that men are without excuse Romans1:20

 “Sometimes I lead you up a high mountain with only My hand to support you.

The higher you climb, the more spectacular the view becomes;

also the more keenly you sense your separation from the world with all its problems.

This frees you to experience exuberantly the joyous reality of My Presence.

Give yourself fully to these Glory-moments awash in dazzling Light.”

(Oct. 6—Jesus Calling—by Sarah Young)

My final prayer to Him that day:  Lord, continue to enable me to see EVERYTHING through Your eyes—EVERYTHING—the beautiful things as well as those that are difficult! I can find joy in all things.           

The heavens tell the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship Psalm 19:1

Thank You for that promise!

That day on October 2, God gave me an early Christmas gift with the fall colors!

 What will your Christmas gift be this December?

First, focus on the “reason for the season”  as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given……He will be called Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

But also, as you enter into the busy season of honoring His coming into “the world He created”, please slow down and open another gift, absorb the beauty around you.

sunrise to sunset, falling snow, falling rain, the desert with cactus,

the ocean with palm trees, farm fields with a blanket of snow,

frozen lakes, warm lakes, the mountains with evergreens, waterfalls, canyons,

the sun, the moon the stars, and so much more!

Enjoy His Christmas gifts to you!

His creation and the Prince of Peace are gifts that truly keep giving for a lifetime

 Let me know the gift the Lord gave you this December, and throughout the year.

I would enjoy hearing from you, please write to me at:

doty2plus6@hotmail.com

 

 

 

Stay in The Eye of The Hurricane

Today, my heart is filled with the joy of experiencing Jesus’ life and its refreshment as I reflect on the past several weeks. As I have shared with many who have prayed for us, it has been like a “peaceful whirlwind”.

 PEACEFUL because we knew God was indeed directing our decision to move to Colorado Springs, Colorado; to be closer to our daughter

 WHIRLWIND because our home in Kansas sold in eight days; we found a place in Colorado Springs; sold and gave away much of our “stuff” since we had to ‘downsize’ significantly; packed and moved in six weeks’ time!  It seems impossible that we have been here less than a month, but we are settled and enjoying our family and other guests who have come to visit.

To God be the glory!

I am reminded that as I “Trust in the Lord with all my heart, lean not on my own understanding and acknowledge Him in all my ways, He will make my path straight.”

Proverbs 3: 5-6

I believe this is part of what it means to ABIDE in Christ. We have no contribution to what He alone can do. He gets all the glory because He does all the work. We simply abide and respond to His promptings with an obedient heart. It’s really about His life being lived out in us and through us.

I was recently asked to give my thoughts on what it means to ‘Abide in Christ’ and how I would counsel another believer to ABIDE in Him. During that busy time, God provided a fresh encounter with Him as He taught me that ABIDING only required me to ‘rest’ or ‘trust’ or ‘release control’……… Abiding is a ‘moment by moment’ thing. I could be trusting one moment and anxious the next. But in that anxious moment I could release control and trust, and immediately experience His peace. Many times He sent able hands and bodies to help at just the right time. That happened often during those busy days and I feel blessed as I look back on them; God was indeed being my Teacher.  Instructing me on how to abide through this experience.

A passage that has impacted my thoughts about ABIDING was 2 Cor. 12:9-10

 “Therefore I will boast all Today, my heart is filled with the joy of experiencing Jesus’ life and its refreshment as I reflect on the past several weeks. As I have shared with many who have prayed for us, it has been like a “peaceful whirlwind”.

 PEACEFUL because we knew God was indeed directing our decision to move to Colorado Springs, Colorado; to be closer to our daughter

 WHIRLWIND because our home in Kansas sold in eight days; we found a place in Colorado Springs; sold and gave away much of our “stuff” since we had to ‘downsize’ significantly; packed and moved in six weeks’ time!  It seems impossible that we have been here less than a month, but we are settled and enjoying our family and other guests who have come to visit.

To God be the glory!
I am reminded that as I “Trust in the Lord with all my heart, lean not on my own understanding and acknowledge Him in all my ways, He will make my path straight.”

Proverbs 3: 5-6

I believe this is part of what it means to ABIDE in Christ. We have no contribution to what He alone can do. He gets all the glory because He does all the work. We simply abide and respond to His promptings with an obedient heart. It’s really about His life being lived out in us and through us.
I was recently asked to give my thoughts on what it means to ‘Abide in Christ’ and how I would counsel another believer to ABIDE in Him. During that busy time, God provided a fresh encounter with Him as He taught me that ABIDING only required me to ‘rest’ or ‘trust’ or ‘release control’……… Abiding is a ‘moment by moment’ thing. I could be trusting one moment
the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  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.”

 That little word DELIGHT caught my attention and I had to ask myself, do I delight in these things?

Delight in recognizing my weakness, really?

What about when someone insults me?

Or how about hardships (trials that go on for a long time)?

And persecutions (when I am personally ridiculed, or worse, for my faith)?

 

And what about difficulties (which come in many different disguises and some not so disguised)?

Do I DELIGHT in these?

Not always, but this I know:  When I do, I do it for Christ’s Sake, not for my own sake.   And as promised, I experience HIS POWER resting on me. Selfishness can have no part in Abiding—without Him I can do NOTHING!

John 15:11  ” I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”

 The truth of Eph 4:22-24 has also encouraged me, in light of what it means to Abide in Christ.

 “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.”

Again, when we abide in Christ we acknowledge the fact that we’ve abandoned our ‘old self’, adopted a completely new attitude, clothed in the new self—CHRIST’S life IN us, with His righteousness and holiness!

Sometimes our “whirlwind” may feel more like a “hurricane”.  In these moments, refrain from focusing on the wind and stay in the center with Jesus, abiding with Him. 

Remember by definition: “the eye of a hurricane is the region at the center of the storm, about which the winds rotate, but which itself is relatively calm”

 So when your circumstances feel like a whirlwind or tornado or hurricane.  Let Jesus make it a “peaceful” one as you ‘rest’, ‘trust’ and ‘release control’ allowing Him to live His life in you and through you. He will get all the glory, because He will be doing all the work!  

You will be abiding in Him amidst the storm if you choose to

stay in the eye of the hurricane, WITH HIM

 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” 

Galatians 2:20

 

Traveling

Are you thinking of traveling this summer?

   ~~If so, you must first choose a destination—then begin planning your trip

What is the budget?

Will you fly or drive?

~~If flying, you will need plane tickets; if driving, you need a map to determine how many miles you’ll   travel and the best route to take.

Will you plan stops along the way or drive straight through?  

Is the entire family available to go?  What about the dog; stay or go?  Use a kennel or ask a neighbor?

How many meals will be eaten out?  How much will you spend?

Will you pack a picnic basket and cooler, or eat at restaurants?

Where will you stay, and with whom?  And how many nights?

~~You must make reservations or contact friends and family to confirm availability

What will the weather be like?  What kind of clothing will be needed? How will we pack?

Will medications be needed? Do we have enough on hand or will we need to order from the pharmacy?

There are so many things to consider—so many decisions to make! And the list goes on and on!

And you can’t do it in the dark--

you need LIGHT!

It’s hard to write down a plan, make needed calls etc., without LIGHT.

ARE YOU TIRED YET???

There is a warning in the book of Proverbs about traveling:

“poverty will come upon you as one who travels.”

The result is two forms of poverty:  financial and spiritual

 From a practical standpoint if plans are not made and a budget not considered, traveling can bring us to financial poverty.

But let’s consider the Spiritual poverty that can happen when traveling!

·         Every day is different—

·         different location and activities

·         different schedule or routine

·         different people

When we are home we usually wake with the alarm clock, prepare for the day, eat on a regular schedule and progress through the daily routine. Does part of that routine include a time set aside to read God’s word and sit at Jesus feet and learn from Him? Remember that we mentioned needing LIGHT to make the travel plans? GOD IS LIGHT!

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”   1 John 1:5

We need that light on a daily basis when traveling, as well as at home with the predictable—somewhat daily routine!  So, my suggestion is: always plan to spend time with Jesus during your travel schedule. You live in His presence and can enjoy Him every moment—but take time to really listen to what He’s saying to you through His word—receive the LIGHT He promises to be in your life and promises to give —even while you are traveling. Plan intentionally, so neither financial poverty nor spiritual poverty will overtake you!

Have blessed travel times this summer!

I would love to hear from you!  Please send your comments or questions

dianne.doty@hotmail.com

God's Creativity

God’s Creativity

He is the God of all creativity! Praise Him! One step at a time!

Have you heard about the Parable of the Mule?

It is a picture of creativity in the midst of adverse circumstances:

An old mule fell into a well. The farmer found it but thought neither the well nor the mule were worth saving so he called friends to help him shovel dirt into the well to bury the mule and put it out of its misery. At first the mule was hysterical as the first shovel of dirt hit his back. As this continued, it occurred to the mule to shake it off and step up. This he did blow after blow. Shake it off and step up. No matter how painful the blows or distressing the situation seemed, the mule fought panic and just kept right on “shaking it off and stepping up”. You guessed it! It wasn’t long until the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of the well! What seemed like it would bury him alive,  actually blessed him…all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.  (author unknown)

The moral? If we respond to our problems with positive actions, refusing to panic, become bitter or wallow in self-pity; then God will use those adversities to our benefit and bless us!

But how do we do that when the trial is painful, overwhelming, consuming?  

Learn from the mule: Get active and do the right thing, one step at a time!

Philippians 4 are the “steps we can take”

Where to start:  

Verse 4 “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice” 

Facing a trial with THANKSGIVING, PRAISE and HOPE are excellent ways to “shake off the dirt of a trial”  Take the first step.

Take action and step up:

 Verse 6 “Be anxious for nothing , but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”   

As the trials of life pummel us, we have the option of being buried alive in our anxiety or to take “one step at a time”  by praising and praying.  Pouring out our requests before God……like David did, throughout the Psalms.  He was not shy to share his heartache, God was not shocked, and delivered  David from his sorrows.

Psalm 34:18–19“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all”

The result:  Verse 7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus”

God is triumphant when we experience His peace and step over the wall of our trial!

Shake off the dirt, step up and climb out of the ‘well’ in which we find ourselves…….ONE STEP AT A TIME. 

Be patient, the mule did not get out of the well with one step.  It was a process.  Sometimes a long and painful process……but because of the promises in God’s Word, He will help you:

 “He will deliver you out of them all”…..but you must take the first step,

“Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, again I say rejoice” 

James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds”

Our loving God “permits what He could prevent”.  He has prevented and protected us from so much; and we thank Him. However, there is something that takes more faith and a deeper trust—and that is to thank Him for what He has permitted. Rather than questioning, ‘How could a loving God allow this to happen?’ How could He allow our children to experience a failed marriage? What about children who are left behind when the parents are killed in a tragic accident? Can we thank Him and praise Him still? If we choose to see God in the midst of our circumstances, and remember His creativity in weaving trials, events and losses ---that He permitted--- to bring about our salvation; then we can fully trust God to bring about his purposes and plans through the things He allows to happen in our lives and in the lives of those we love. He is the God of wisdom and as we praise Him for what He, in His wisdom, has allowed; it becomes the first STEP toward acceptance. Peace will come to our hearts as we accept the fact that he has EVERYTHING under control! And His plan and purpose is well thought out by a very creative God who “works everything according to the purpose of His will.” (Eph. 1:11)

A quote I read some years ago says it best: “The pressure I feel…is but the squeeze of God’s hands on my life as He is shaping me.” (author unknown)

It is a reflection of Isaiah 64:8

 “You are our Father, we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.”

How secure I feel when my focus is on Him as my Potter and I am His clay! I know that He is fully trustworthy no matter what He permits or prevents in my life or the lives of my loved ones.

And when a trial comes……….TAKE THE FIRST STEP………..and rejoice in Him!

He is the God of all creativity! Praise Him! One step at a time!

I would love to hear from you!  Please send your comments or questions

dianne.doty@hotmail.com