Sunday, May 26, 2013

What is a 'pet sin'?

It would be something you feed.  

The best way to think about it is a dog begging under the table.  Sometimes it does the cutest thing or whines and you give in and toss a scrap.  You know you shouldn't…it's not the best for him, but you do it because you feel it's showing him love.  But after awhile, the dog is overweight and this misguided show of affection has trained you both into a wicked cycle…the dog expects it now and you feel guilty if you don't give in.

It's that way with how our carnal man sides with demons & the sin.

It takes an 'overhaul' to get out of that rut.  

Do not despair, cycles do take some reprogramming, re-training and actively exercising and walking it out in conforming to Christ Jesus.  Even Paul attests:
"For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." Romans 7:15
Instead of believing the lie (looking at those begging eyes), you stand confidently and say 'No'… and side with the Word of truth.  If you fall, get back up and continue on.  Eventually, when the pet sin raises it's ugly head you will catch it sooner and sooner... you will go from walking 2 steps with it to immediately recognizing it's initial whimper and call it down.  And one day... you will confidently testify, minister and help others to be free in that area as well!

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What is the 'Unpardonable' Sin?

Matthew 12:31  “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven."

"Unpardonable" is attributing the things of God to be of satan.  We know this clearly because of the context of the scripture surrounding that passage.  In verses 22-28, Jesus had just healed a demon-possessed, blind and mute man, the crowds being amazed actually said,
“This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” (v.23)
Such talk has no reception amongst a proud 'know-it-all' Pharisee... after all, only THEY would recognize any 'Christ' first! 
"But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.” (v.24)
Some have feared that speaking the Lord's name in vain is such a sin, but in the context of the Word, we see that it's clearly rejecting the very heart of God.  Further on, Jesus teaches that,

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit." (v. 33)
Now there is a difference between just not understanding, or a burst of frustration and it thoughtlessly comes out and leads to an 'I'm sorry, Lord', repentance vs. actually knowing that it bears good fruit  and aligns with the Word of God and the person commits the unpardonable by damning these good things because of pride in a wrong doctrine…and that's what it essentially is…. people doing just what they did to Jesus who hurt their 'pride' and so they decided to vilify and kill Him instead of test and consider.  God can do nothing with a proud heart and it was satan's big crime…and so that's what this 'unpardonable' sin is really about.

God wants our hearts... He doesn't want lip-service... and He'll use the weakest or even strangest of circumstances to test if we really will check the fruit.  You've heard, "study to show thyself an approved workman...", well the ultimate test is "do we recognize Him"?  You can bet He's watching OUR fruit!

www.hearingGod.tv

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

"Owning Up" - Got Lemons?

Remember when David lusted after Bathsheba, had Uriah killed by putting him at the head of battle...and then the child he had with Bathsheba was prophesied to die (2Samuel 11-12)?

David still pleaded & repented in hopes to find mercy with God, but didn't work that time. He realized there were consequences for his actions. After the child died he puzzled others by dressing & eating instead of sackcloth & ashes, but he accepted that, that window had shut & there was no bringing the child back against the prophesied word.

So too, we make life altering/changing missteps and there is no way out but through. Like David, we admit the fault and cleanse ourselves and continue to seek God knowing, 
"that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28
...but the hard part is the walking it out.

Knowing God is Good

Imagine being David... he accepted full fault for why his child died and didn't blame God but honored Him and hoped for mercy.

Have you been complaining or been angry at God? Blaming others? Have you been going the other way into such condemnation that you're at a standstill, instead of receiving His forgiveness?

Patience and Acceptance

Ever considered 'Owning Up' and then asking, "God, what are you doing in all this?"  Remember, He promises to turn it around for our good, so we MUST trust Him!

Of course it's not fun at the moment, of course there is struggle, but we can learn a thing or two from the 'man after His own heart'(1Sa 13:14/Acts 13:22). 
Owning up to the 'mess' and making lemonade one way or another...even if it's in our shoe!


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Saturday, May 18, 2013

Marital Separation - Can it be Restored?

A gentleman recently contacted me about wanting to turn in the towel in his marriage that's been in separation for several months and any attempts to reconcile would lead to an argument.

This was my reply, along with other suggestions....

What are the real issues?  What has brought things on?  Finances, job, children, housing, transportation, in-laws, sickness….. just naming some of the biggest causes of marital stress. 

The blame game sucks…. 

 

So you own up to your faults and forgive hers?  Do you recognize her strengths/weaknesses?  If she has a 'hot button' do you purposefully push it so you can manhandle the arguments or can you stop yourself?  Those are other things to think on.  
 
Problems in marriage met with level-headed mediation is the way to go, with these kind of points:
'Let's define the problems as a couple without blaming each other'
'Are we working as a team or are we being selfish?'
'We can't change the past, so let's not live there in blame and guilt… '
'Can we sit and be brutally honest & transparent and share the fears, the pain, the anger over issues one time to get it off our chests, with out the other judging us, and then bury the hatchet and start brand new?'

Making amends starts first with ourselves in humility....

 

In a war it's better to surrender with a white flag then get slaughtered…& that's what it can become if we look at problems and blaming more than 'I'm sorry', and 'How can we make this work?'

History....

 

I know you can't 'see it' right now… especially since it's been several months & it can be disillusioning… but history is a great thing to open back up and 'remember'.

Remember the things that did click with you both… the places you enjoyed going together, mutual friends, common interests/music/movies etc.  Remember falling in love and making that commitment because it felt oh-so-right (in sickness, in health, for richer or poorer... that surrender to 'BE' together whatever life throws against you).

The grass always, ALWAYS, looks greener....

 

...on the other side of the fence, so invest in what you have WHILE you are seeking after God and purifying yourself and striving to be conformed to Christ.  Relationships are a #1 target of the enemy because,
 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 18:19

In unity and in Him... we destroy the enemy's kingdom, and marriage, (a reflection of our divine union with God), is one of the most powerful institutions on earth!

A Prophetic Hope....

Imagine meeting again but not being baited into an argument….  but looking at the big picture.  This is the kind of refinement I'm talking about.  Committing to change first, yourself.  Making your soul beautiful : )

Even if you are the only one 'trying', realizing that your mate may not BE where you are at spiritually... but you know you should be praying the Word, PROPHETICALLY, as a blessing, speaking life and everything good that the Lord wants for us and our relationships.  

God wants restoration and unity, and so when you align with that, this scripture has real power:
"So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."  Isaiah 55:11
Choose life, commit to conform and know the rest is His will be done.

www.hearingGod.tv

Monday, May 6, 2013

Spilt Milk

If you are a parent, it makes perfect sense to implore "Don't cry over spilt milk".... because you understand the monumental task in clean up.  (OMG.... and eggs too....my middle son, as a toddler had fun cracking an entire dozen on the floor! But let's not go there today, LOL.)


Anyhow...the milk went a-spill'in this morning...and luckily, on a rubber mat and splashed the chair legs under the kids table and not on the carpet.  The mat is textured & so I had to scrub milk out of the tiny valleys as my mind reminded me of the scripture:
"For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Luke 23:31
I agreed w/ the Lord and decided to make lemonade out of my morning lemon...
"Yes, I do believe this would look nice cleaned.... there are crumbs down here that I missed w/ the sweeper... this needs done anyhow."

Bad things happen but we will agree with the Word?:
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
I will choose to be 'above only, and never beneath'.
I will choose to align with the Word of Truth.
I will rise above my circumstances in Peace and see that He orders my steps... that I am part of a grand adventure.

If can ebb and flow in these seemingly unimportant events... how much more will I move when He needs me as an ambassador in really "big messes"; perhaps life and death ones (raising the dead ones!)?


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