The Truth Shall Set You Free

Before I went to Journey I read John 8:32, hoping to gain relief of the stresses in my life. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." I didn't understand this verse because I felt that I knew the truth, but it wasn't making me free. During the beginning of Journey to the Heart God showed me that the truth will only set me free if I believe it by faith and keep my eyes on it. Psalms 16:8-9 says, "I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope." During the first morning devotional we had together with our whole team I wrote, "Faith is the only way I can receive blessings. How can I receive anything of the Lord without faith? What is faith? It's believing in something we can't see or prove that it is real. Faith can be belief that God hears my prayer. Fullness is received by faith. Faith is simply (yet not so simple) believing in God. Close your eyes and believe everything God says, then trust Him. Choose to have faith in God." It's faith in the truth, not just having a common knowledge of the truth.

I really like Psalms 119:30 and it kind of became my theme verse throughout the whole week. "I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me." For example, it is possible for me to believe that God doesn't love me, and know Romans 8:38-39 by heart. You see, I know the truth that is spoken in these verses, but I am choosing to believe the lie that God doesn't love me. That's why Psalms 119:30 is so amazing! I have chosen the way of truth! Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angles, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, not things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." In those moments of doubt, I need to look to Christ and look to this verse and the many others that are in God's word and say to my soul, God does love me and there is nothing that can separate me from His abundant love! That's why it is so important to set God's word continually before our eyes. Not so we can point out sin in others lives, but so that when the devil throws lies at us we can bring that scripture to our memory and focus on the truth.

This is something that I've had to be reminded of over and over, because even two weeks after Journey I found myself discouraged and lacking the zeal that I previously had. I had gotten my focus onto myself and my heart issues, the whole time neglecting to have faith in the truth. Proverbs 19:9 tells us that "he that speaketh lies shall perish." I always thought that meant when the wicked lost sinners lied continually, his body would some day perish, whether it be in hell or by judgment on this earth. But now I see the verse in a new light. When I speak lies to my soul, my spiritual walk with God is damaged and my joy in loving God and others perishes. Therefore will I choose truth, and my soul is set free!

There is so much truth in God's Word that could change our lives if we would only read it and believe. Do you want freedom? Have faith in the truth!

May the Journey Continue!

I am back from Journey but with mixed emotions. I already miss the girls on my Journey and all the joyful people at IBLP Headquarters, but as I traveled home with my sisters and friend Katie, I was very conscious of everything that needs to be done. I have LOTS of books to read (and a list of many more to buy!),  I have so many things I want to teach my brother and sisters, and I want to be a shining light to the people I meet in every day living. But before I can do this, I have to steadily be filled with the Holy Spirit because one thing I learned last week is that I can't do anything without the Holy Spirit guiding me.  I can't pray unless I am praying through His spirit, and I can't understand the Word of God unless his Holy Spirit is guiding me.

Our first snowfall! Rebecca was not shy about throwing snow balls!

All week I was amazed at God's creation. During one of the morning sessions at the lodge you could hear the wind howl around the building and it reminded me of God's power and strength. In the other window you could see the snow dancing with the wind, which reminded me of his gentle and tender love. God's presence was so real!

My favorite part of the whole week were the two walks I took with God. Our there all alone, I was able to pour my heart out to God aloud and sing praises to Him and Him alone.

I will miss those times the most.

But this journey is not over. It's just the beginning!

Visit the Journey blog to see more!

Journey to the Heart

This Friday me and my two sisters, Bethany and Amy, along with a friend of ours, are leaving for the great Journey to the Heart. I would have posted about it before now, but I have been busy getting the prerequisites done. They asked that we watch the Basic Seminar and read two books that they sent us. I am very excited about the prerequisites because I see it as a way to prepare my heart and start getting sin out of my life now, so that when I get to Michigan I will be able to focus more on the sweet fellowship I long for. Just to have 12 days away from work will be such a blessing and opportunity to search the scriptures more than I am able to do now. My prayer is that I will be able to let go of everything going on at work and home, and just focus on meeting with God in this special place.

Please pray for us as we are there. We are expecting to see snow, so maybe you should also pray that we southern belles don't get pneumonia or hurt ourself in the slippery snow! ☺

Singleness Quote

"Don't try to do something about your singleness, do something with your singleness!"

~ Christianna Reed Mass

 

Wisdom and Honor

Recently God has shown me the difference between seeking wisdom, and crying after wisdom. It is the difference between knowing you need water and thirsting after water. I have never been one to drink a lot of water or anything. As a child mama would have to tell me to drink some water because I might go several hours without getting thirsty. Even as an adult I will often drink my coffee in the morning and neglect my need for water simply because I am not thirsty and I get so busy that I don't think to get something to drink. But those times that I am thirsty I don't hesitate to satisfy my desire and I usually drink 2 or 3 glasses as apposed to the 1 out of necessity. Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

For several months I have been seeking wisdom on how to honor the authorities over me, weather it be my parents, boss, or teachers. I have searched the scriptures diligently and tried to put my own reason to it, but I couldn't grasp the true meaning. Finally I cried out for wisdom, and patiently waited for God's answer . . . not mine. I didn't have to wait long. In that moment when I wasn't searching or expecting an answer, God reveled His truth to me in a way that I can only give the glory to God, for which I am very thankful for.

I can honor the authorities over me by acknowledging and respecting the fact that God is using that person to shape me, and if I respond in a righteous manner to that authority over me, I will be a better Christian as a result of it. Sometimes God uses ugly things in life to bring about beautiful results. Just look at the refining of silver. Would it be right for the silver to say to the fire, "Stop burning me! That hurts!" or to the silversmith, "Take me out! I've been in here long enough!" If it weren't for the fire the silver would never be beautiful. We are to see every person in our life (good and bad) just as David saw Abishai the son of Zeruiah who cursed the king. David declared, "It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day." David would not kill Abishai because he acknowledged that God may have sent him to afflict this curse upon him. (2 Samuel 16)

I may not understand this fully, but I can lift up my voice for understanding, and patiently wait.

"But if from thence thou shalt seek, the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him

with all thy heart and with all thy soul." Deuteronomy 4:29

Ramblings of a Piano Player

For a while now I have been stuggling with my piano practice, just not knowing where to go with it. I have discovered long ago that if I am going to stay active in my practice and keep up the creativity, then I have to keep myself inspired. I practice the most when I listen to instrumental music by CD or YouTube, as well as instructional videos online since I haven't taken lessons in years.

With every new instrumental CD I listen too, I feel that I am pushed to a new level. I haven't reached those levels, but I have something to aspire towards. The latest CD I've been listening to is Robert Staddon and Clayton Reedstorm's Inspiration on the Ivories. Since it is a duet I doubt I will be playing like them any time soon! I suppose Bethany and I will both have to practice hard! Robert and Clayton's style differs greatly from anything else I've ever heard in the way that it sounds more classical than it does Southern Gospel. The length of the songs is also something that I've never encountered before, one being 11 minutes long, but both of these things are interesting to me. Each hymn has a refreshing, pure sound to it, untarnished by the world's modern harmony. The CD and DVD are both great.

Since observing their style I am about to determine that it is a good idea to practice classical music. It isn't the first time I've seen the benefits of clasical music, but it was never enough to convience me to learn it. You see I am very goal oriented when it comes to the piano. Ever since I was eight years old I knew I wanted to play the piano and sing in church. That was my desire so I never put much thought or effort towards anything else. Sure, I can play Fur Elise and a Waltz or two, but besides that I am not at all familiar with classical music. My piano teacher was a pastor's wife with obviously the same idea, because other than a few Rag Time songs, I learned mostly hymns. Now I wish I had been more disciplined and taught myself.

In the mean time I have been practicing heavily in my finger exercise book . . . much to my family's dismay! (I don't know why they don't like hearing the same 6 notes played over and over in different octaves.) This is something else that was never stressed to me, most likely because my teacher never had a use for it in the playing that she did in her small country church. Of course, I am extremely grateful for my teacher because had I went to anyone else they may not have taught me the beloved hymns I wanted and needed to learn so badly. She gave a thorough knowledge of hymn playing in the congregational setting which has proved very rewarding over the years. I have seen students, from other teachers, that struggle in hymn playing, and I must say I would most definitely rather struggle with classical music than hymns. With that being said, it is still good to know both.

I finally feel like I know where I need to go with my piano practicing. Instead of trying to put together hymn medleys that are cluttered and not smooth, it would be in my better interest to focus on finger exercise (which has already improved my arpeggios and runs tremendously), and buckle down and learn some classical pieces.

So my word of encouragement is this: no matter what area you are looking to improve upon, keep looking and God will show you the direction you need to go.

My wish for you

Merry Christmas!

May we all seek Him with sincerity and diligence!