Lesson 10: Conclusion

 

Lesson 9: What is Your Life?

 

Lesson 8: Hand in Hand

 

Lesson 7: Wise Words/ Wise Living

 

Lesson 6: Living Faith

 

Lesson 5: The Sin of Favoritism

 

Lesson 4: Doers of the Word

Lesson 3: Wisdom in Trials

Lesson 2: Prayer in Trials

Lesson 2: Prayer in Trials

Lesson 1: Endurance in Trials

I hope you guys enjoy this short lesson from James 1:1-4! Thanks for watching!

Lesson 1 - Endurance in Trials

The Lord’s Prayer/It is Well

Giving God Hell

     I have spent the last several months in a very dark place. In that time, the enemy convinced me that no one wanted me & my family. But, more dangerously, I was convinced that God didn't want me. I have been saved for over 30 years now and have tried to consistently study God's Word for at least 20 years of that time. I KNEW the truth, but I was in a pit so dark, I didn't feel it at all. I kept in His Word every day. I listened to teaching & preaching, because I know there is power in the spoken Word. Much of the time, I talked back to what I was hearing, even audibly sometimes. For the first time in my life, I truly became skeptical of this whole God thing. I knew how I would counsel someone in my position...thought through all the things I would say, then told God, "Those are the right answers from your Word, and I would share them because I wouldn’t  wish these feelings on a snake, but we both know I'm not buyin' it anymore." I have cried more than I've ever cried in my life. If I cried over a song, it wasn't because it had blessed me, but because I missed believing its truth. I knew I didn't deserve anything from God, but I sure as heck believed my family did and that I had taken Him at His Word, and He wasn't holding up His end of the bargain. I told God how unfair He was. I told Him He said He was a very present help in trouble, but He didn't feel very present. And, I'll be completely honest - I cussed Him more than once. And I don't even cuss. All the hell I felt inside me, I gave God. And I felt justified in giving Him hell. It has been a terrible season...the hardest of my life.
     Night before last, I went to bed crying. That's been the norm for sometime, so I didn't even bother trying to fight it. I don't even think I prayed. I just cried. I wish I could tell you that, as in times past, I felt Him whisper, "Weep tonight...but joy is coming in the morning." But that wasn't the case. I woke up, plodded through my obligatory time in His Word...that grief still heavy on my chest...feeling like I had to make myself breathe in then breathe back out again. More than once throughout this, I have felt physical pain in my heart, and I have begun to understand why people self-harm. There is no pain like heart pain. Being raised in a "We don't smoke, & we don't chew, & we don't run with boys who do" (except half my family) church, for the first time in my 42 years, I began to understand why people turn to alcohol & substances for relief. I'm really surprised I didn't turn to that myself.
     I said all of that to say this - Even though I didn't believe joy was coming, it came. It required a lot of me when it showed up. There have been some hard conversations and admittance of my own wrong-doing, as a result. There has been necessary repentance along with laying down false guilt I obliged myself to carry....because I was so strong. (Extreme sarcasm!) Avoiding confrontation and asking for forgiveness always comes at a great price for believers. For me, it cost me the joy of knowing God loved me...knowing that when my mom laid her hands on me years ago and spoke Isaiah 43:1 & 2 over me, that I am called, I am chosen, and He is with me...that waters won't overflow me and fire will not burn me. Obedience in these areas has lifted a very heavy burden, and while I still have no clue what God is doing or where He is leading, I am moving on in forgiveness and the peace of His Spirit's Presence. I’ve been in this long enough to know that grief ebbs and flows - there will be more sadness over this season because it held great value. I know the grieving process isn’t over and that there will still be bad days, from time to time. But, today I am walking in freedom and I refuse to rob God of the praise He deserves for it.
      Yesterday morning, I asked the Lord if He was upset that I talked to Him that way. As clearly as I have ever heard Him speak to my heart, He said, "No...you've just finally learned how to really pray." God isn't waiting for us to impress Him with our lofty or rehearsed prayers. He isn’t proud when we masquerade as children of light. When the light has gone out, we need to fall at His feet and sometimes reach out to other believers. He is waiting for us to be honest about how we feel about all the heartbreak, anger, and loss He has allowed. We’ll usually find that we have some fessing up to do. Some repentance to seek. Some forgiveness to beg. Or maybe just some plain throwing up our hands in surrender to the fact that He is sovereign and is working in ways we will never understand, but can only accept. Maybe this sounds crazy to some who read it. Shoot, it may be crazy to everyone, but please, I beg you - if you're fighting hell, give it to God. You have it on the authority of His Word that He has been there, and He is the only one who can handle it.

Now

     The new year (and again about half way through a year) always finds me scrambling to find somewhere to scratch out my thoughts.  Rummaging through bookshelves, yesterday, I came across a notebook with three journal entries in it.  (That's usually how far I make it in my commitment to journal.  *shamefacedness*)  This was the first of those that I tore out to make better use of the notebook.  I thought I would post it here before I tossed it.

June 21, 2017

     Looking at the final psalm of ascent, today (Psalm 134) has prompted me to begin faithfully journaling my journey with my Savior.  It is befitting that these psalms would testify of a lifelong gradual overcoming of obstacles, then end in a call to praise the Lord "now."  My "now" is far from perfect, but it is blessed, and I choose to invite God into every aspect of my life by giving Him the worship He so deserves.  Thank you, Lord, for Clark.  I love his love for your Word most, I think.  His face, his eyes, holding his hand...every part of our lives together is a treasure.  I don't want to take one thing for granted or overlook one precious thing that will one day be past.  While we struggle in church ministry, I don't want to forget or fail to fully grasp that one day, I will perhaps sit in a service without him beside me or before me preaching and teaching Your Word that has changed and constantly directs his every desire.  I will feel so lonely if that ever happens..but I will know I am not alone.  Whatever the future holds...You will be there then, as You are here now.  I will praise you then, and I will praise You now.
     Right this minute, I'm in a comfy chair with my Avonlea and the kittens playing on the rug at my feet.  Clark is at the job You have given him, and Altar is upstairs sleeping.  I am blessed now.  And You are worthy now...and forever.  Help me to always see You in the now.  To look beyond the circumstances and immediate reactions to Your presence looming over it all, allowing and working in every single situation.  Let me look beyond it all, see You, and nobly face whatever comes with confident hope of Your abiding presence.  I love you, Jesus.