Monday, August 15, 2011

His Limitless Love

Hello Everyone,

I recently did a guest post for His Handmaiden's blog titled: "His Limitless Love".  Please check it out!  =)  Comment away, & browse other posts by Sierra. 

Guest Post

Hope you all are having a blessed day so far!

Au Revoir...Until next time.
Blessings!  =)
Tiffani

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Praying For Compassion...

What boundless love,
What fathomless grace
You have shown us, O God of compassion!
Each day we live
An offering of praise
As we show to the world Your compassion
 
Keith & Kristyn Getty ~ Compassion Hymn
Album: Awaken the Dawn
 
I was logging out of my email a couple days ago...and on the homepage, they were displaying an article about a 20-million ape skull that had just been discovered.  Of course, I was curious what possible "evidence", they could be providing for such a ludicrous claim, so I clicked on the link.  Surprise, surprise...there was no evidence...no scientific formula as to how in the world they arrived at such a claim....NOTHING.  Which they can't of course, but they didn't even try to explain.  They take it for granted that our society will believe anything the media tells them.  The only intelligent--rather the only anything--an official scientist was quoted to have said was something about this being a great discovery....  I was absolutely disgusted!! 

I know I shouldn't read the comments...people say the most ignorant things sometimes...which makes me get riled up...  And these comments were no different.  One (the one that really got me) said, "I guess this proves that the world really isn't 6,000 years old, like some religious people like to believe." 

WELL!  I was this close to writing my own comment, something about those scientists showing me their actual proof of the age, and then I'd be able to have a conversation...or something 'smart' like that....  And besides the Holy Spirit, the only other thing that stopped me from writing just that in the heat of the moment, was reading another comment (a couple comments down below), that said almost that exact same thing.   Reading even farther down, I noticed at least 10 more comments from that same girl.  She was right on in everything she was saying, but no matter how logical her statements were....other people just kept challenging her.  Not just about science, but religion too.  I noticed about three different "conversations" going on. 

I was so close to anger about things that some people were saying about my Abba Father & my Savior.    (Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, ''there is no God'...")  My heart was pounding, my eyes most likely in little slits, my brows furrowed...

She ended up stopping writing anything more after a different man wrote that he agreed with everything this lady was saying, but said that this is what these people are believing at this moment, & nothing we personally can do, will change their minds. 

That was so wise...because no matter what "right" words we speak, we are not the ones who will change a persons heart.  The Lord allows people to have a veil over their eyes at times.  And He alone can remove that veil. 
2 Corinthians 3:16-18, "16Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."


That is not to say that, we shouldn't tell people the truth, & be a witness for Him...we must remember that no matter what we say, in the end it is only Him who created that can reveal the truth.  The Lord reminded me that I'm not the judge of those people.  (Matthew 7: 1-5) They still have a chance to repent.  That I'm not supposed to agree with them, but I'm also not supposed to ridicule them for their ignorance.  That He will still forgive them for what they said, when they repent. 

At that moment, I no longer felt anger, but sorrow for those people.  Because I know whenever they do repent they too will feel the guilt of what they spoke/wrote against Him.  I cannot even imagine the guilt I personally would feel...I don't want to!

Father, I pray for those who do not know You yet.  Who haven't experienced Your love.  I'm so sorry that I judged them....because I'm certainly not perfect and I have no right!  I praise You for the day when You do remove the veil from their eyes...  I rejoice in the day that will come when they will turn their hearts to You and You alone.  Please Holy Spirit, remind me the next time I start to judge someone else for not knowing the truth.  Pray through me for their salvation & let me have only love and compassion for them.  Jesus, teach me to mirror You, so that I can grow in You each an every day.  Father I ask this all in Your Son Jesus' name, Amen!

I hope you all are feeling His love & comfort as this week is coming to an end.  May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Au Revoir...Until next time.
Many Blessings!  =)
Tiffani

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Children of God...

Chorus: Children of God, sing your song and rejoice
For the love that He has given us all
Children of God, by the blood of His Son
We have been redeemed and we can be called
Children of God
Children of God

Bridge: We are the saints
We are the children
We've been redeemed
We've been forgiven
We are the sons and daughters of our God

Third Day ~ Children of God
Album: Move





Why is it that we as humans are so focused on ourselves all the time.  Maybe not all the time...but most of the time...  I find myself thinking about me, so often.  My problems, my dreams, my life.... 
NO!!!  It's NOT about me....  I live solely, because of my God, my Savior Christ Jesus, & my Helper who lives within me.  I called Him, mine, just now.... But that's is not how it is....  I live for Him, I am His alone, He is all that matters.  No matter how "big" my "problems" are, they are NOTHING compared to what the biggest problem is...my sin.  No matter how "big" I think my "sacrifices"are, they are NOTHING compared to the greatest sacrifice of all.  No matter how "important" I think my opportunities are...NOTHING is more important than living for my Savior. 

But why is it that we as humans are so forgetful of those facts?  Sin.  Our flesh. 

It makes me sad to realize that sometimes I need such a large wake-up call to realize when I'm starting to think about me too much.  I know I'm never going to be perfect, but I want to be.  I want to live like Jesus lived.  I strive to be like Him.  And when I fall short...I'm disappointed in myself.  Until I realize why I fell short....  I thought I could do things on my own.  Not consciously, but the result is still the same... 

Yet, the Lord is merciful.  He has given us the Helper.   He gives us subtle & not  so subtle reminders about Who is really important.  He gives us second chances again & again & again.  Sometimes I wonder, Why in the world does my Abba Father love me so much? 

But then I receive an answer.  Amazing & miraculous as it is!  Because I am His child first...& then He is my Abba Father...my Daddy.  The BEST Daddy! (John 1:12) With unconditional love that cannot even be described.   Mercy that abounds & follows me all the days of my life.  Love...God loves me!  He loves you!  He encourages us, He's our biggest cheerleader! 

Psalm 95:6-7, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. 7 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand." 

I am His sheep, & He is my Shepard.  I am to follow Him, for He knows the Way.  (John 14:6)

Daddy, I wish there was a better word than 'thank you'!!  Thank you doesn't come close to being enough.  Even if I praised You constantly, 24/7 for the rest of my life, You would still be worthy of infinity times more!! 
Please, Father, help me to daily surrender to You!  To let You lead me, without any "help" from me.  Please make it exceedingly clear when I'm speaking too much or not listening enough! 
Help me to always trust You, especially when the road gets rocky & I can't see the 'big picture'. 
Father I pray for those who are reading this right now.  That You will bless them abundantly!! That You will fill them with Your overwhelming peace, joy, & love. 
Father, You know our hearts...You know how much we long to serve You faithfully. 
Continue, please to teach us Your ways & how to better serve You & Your children. 
I ask this all in Your Son, Jesus' name. Amen!

You've just had a peek inside my mind.  My thoughts are all over the place.  And they move so fast...  I'm a girl...so that explains it.  =) 

I really do hope you are blessed by this.  The Lord has had this "topic" pressing on my heart for a while, & I think tonight...or rather this morning....He has let it all pour right out. 

One last thing before I go.  I love 1 John 3:1-3, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!  Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

Au Revoir...Until next time.
Many Blessings!  =)
Tiffani