Friday, April 16, 2010

Making It Public - Part 3

Today marks the final part for my three pronged blog on taking my faith out into the world. I hope you have enjoyed the previous two. My finally personal verse that I took with me upon leaving school was Philippians 4:13


I can do all things
Through Christ who strengthens me


Is that not a totally empowering concept? I can do ALL things. As I have pointed out in previous blogs I was an arrogant child. The concept that I could do anything was not new to me. I honestly believed that all I had to do was set my mind to it and I could achieve whatever I wanted. In a way I still do believe just that, one of my personal crosses I carry. Did you note how I conveniently forgot part of the verse?


Upon leaving school I rushed forward ready to take on the world. After all I could do anything! Anything that is except succeed, everytime I tried something I failed. I self imploded no one was out to get my I was just unable to stay on course. I became best at was surviving.


Everytime a challenge came my way I did not rejoice and accept God's support, no I worked hard to battle on, on my own. Oh I would usually complete the challenge but each success took a piece of me. My survival became my triumph there was no praise to God. There was no rejoicing no there was a smirk my battle cry became I did this all by myself. Each victory was hollow and each failure consumed me. Oh I could rationalize, I could even make myself a hero in the eyes of the world my trials had been legion, my survival an accomplishment. Of course it was my success not one single Glory to God. Forgetting or refusing to apply the entire verse is an eventual recipe for disaster. The verse is "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". It doesn't mean I am going to conquer the world, no it means when God shows His plans, no matter how hard, no matter how difficult it may seem, with God behind us, with the power of the Spirit flowing through us WE CAN DO ANYTHING! Conquer any crises, survive any trial and when we do it, it is not our glory no it is God's. The spotlight is removed from us and transferred to God. The glow that shines forth embraces us all

Over my adult life I have struggled and stumbled many times. I have gone without as often as I have had plenty. My life has been about feast as well as famine I have never quite managed that even keel, that nice balance, that sure and steady. Nope not me I am an all or nothing kind of girl. May I suggest if you have a choice choose a different way of living.

One of the most amazing things about God is He allows us our idiocy. He allows our struggles then when we finally admit we are lost without Him, He raises us up and uses those same struggles to bring Glory to Him. As a Child of God even our failures are God's triumphs.

As I prepared for this series I have written I went back and really read all of my verses. Went straight to the Bible and refrained from going from memory. I took the time to really do my research to make sure I do not take quotes out of context or misrepresent God's word. In doing so I was so amazed when I re-read this verse. I not only read the verse but the ones previous to it. Instead of just Phil 4:13 I think I should embrace verses 10-13


(10) I Rejoiced in the Lord greatly
that now at length you have
revived your concern for me. You
were indeed concerned for me
but you had no opportunity
(11) Not that I am speaking
of being in need for I
have learned in whatever
situation I am in to be content
(12) I know how to be brought low
and I know how to abound in any
and every circumstance
I have learned the secret of
facing plenty and hunger
abundance and need
(13) I can do all things through Him
who strengthens me.


WOW! Praise God for truly I have been blessed.
Looking back this almost 30 years I realized that I would choose these same three Bible verses to carry forth with me.. Oh I would hope I will do so with humility and grace. That I would take advantage of all the words God gives me through His book but I will always treasure these three verses.


For God so loved the world.
They that wait upon the Lord.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me


LUCKY LUCKY me, I am loved.

2 comments:

  1. Hey girlfriend, you found the core of how we should live. I don't think I could gotten this far if I did not use my faith in our father, Elokim Yahweh,and his son, Yashua. His Holy Spirit comforts me and guide when things get tough and when there is unbearable.

    Faith is key to our survival, sanity, and around well-being. God-Yah is love and he does loves us.

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  2. shauni,
    thank you for sharing your heart. i so relate to the battle for control, to our taking up responsibility and feeling we must forge on with our own resources...and the not remembering our sweet Lord who just waits for us to come out of our idiocy and into the sensible place of letting go and letting Him attentively care for and guide us. LOVED reading your story (and His!).

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