Refuge for a Single Mom

Everyone just wants something to believe in ~ don`t they?  Everyone needs somewhere to belong and feel safe!  This issue came up in conversation several times yesterday and I felt compelled to `investigate`.

History is repeating itself as I watch my teenage son, attempt to distinguish himself, find a place to belong and to be accepted.  It seems like mo matter how much we love our kids unconditionally; they continue to want for something more!  They need their friends to accept them . . . they need to be accepted by the opposite gender . . . they need their teacher`s approval . . . it`s endless!  *smile*

In reality, most adults are no different!  We need our bosses, co-workers, social groups, etc. to `like` us!

Do you remember when you were an unbeliever and you roamed around always empty?  No matter how many friends you had, how much money you made, how much you exercised ~ there was still something missing?

I distinctly remember hearing the religious icons talk about this!  They would consistently try to impress the need for God in our lives!  (I often chuckle at how silly it all sounded then!)  But it is SO real!

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Why is it that so many people deny the existence of God?  They refuse to believe that He loves them and is willing to forgive them of all their sins!

1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father`s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 “And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.  John 14:1-6

be•lieve

to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so

Why?  Why is it so hard for people to believe in God?

Is it a trust issue?  Do they not trust the Word of God?

It could be guilt!  Yes!  Guilt is good.  I mean it`s a huge struggle to forgive yourself!  If you are fortunate enough to forgive yourself and believe that God has forgiven you, there is always somebody in this world that is more than happy to remind you of what a failure you are!

Is it pride?  Maybe they`re too proud to admit they need anyone else ~ including God?

Doubt?  That`s another huge issue!  If we aren`t proud, we lack self-confidence to do very much of anything!

OH!  I know!  They`re having too much fun drinking themselves silly and doing so many drugs that their bodies are dying from the inside out!  Then there`s the premarital/extramarital sex with dozens of people they don`t know (or know anything about)!  OOH!  Gambling!  That`s a good one!  It`s a real rush to gamble your paycheck away and not be able to pay your bills!

You might wonder where all that came from!  Well, because I know!  First hand!  I was completely throwing my life away!

What changed all that?  Believing in something!  REALLY believing in God!  Completely and totally believing that He loves me ~ unconditionally!

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. I John 5:13-15

Praise God!


SPECIAL NOTE:Above I mentioned 5 different reasons why we might find it difficult to believe:  Trust Issues, Guilt, Pride, Doubt & Selfishness.  These are all huge pitfalls, especially for us single moms who often lack the Earthly support system we desperately need.  Shoot, I know a lot of married moms struggling with these same topics!  Next week, I want to research each topic individually and see if we can`t understand them a little better!

Best wishes for a weekend full of God`s love!

Labels: Believe, Doubt, Faith, Guilt, Pride, Selfishness, Trust

Wasn`t that the name of a movie?  With Clint Eastwood?  Isn`t he handsome?  He just becomes more distinguished with age!  Don`t `ya think?

Well, that kind of leads into my next thought which is the `Magic Eraser` by Mr. Clean.  *smile*  Have you ever used one of those things?  They are awesome!  They remove crayon, pencil and all sorts of things from your walls, the fridge, the stove ~ everywhere!

You know what`s really cool?  We all have the greatest `Magic Eraser` of all!  It`s the blood of Jesus Christ!  It washes away all of our sins!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  I John 1:9

But a lot of us continue to condemn ourselves anyway!  Why do we think that OUR sins are unforgivable?

Personally, I`ve been dealing with my own sense of condemnation.  It probably doesn`t even make sense to anyone else!

I have been spending a lot of time reading my Bible, learning and growing closer to God.  (I really enjoy it.)

The enemy constantly struggles to put a wedge between me and my salvation!  Some people might say that we give him too much credit.  Honestly, I don`t think that we give him enough!  He is a vengeful and spiteful creature!  He does NOT want anyone to find salvation, much less hold on to it!  And he certainly does NOT want people out there glorifying the Father!  He will resort to any means necessary to destroy us!

So, as I continue to study the Word of God I learn so much about sin.  I learn a lot about myself as well!  The enemy actually uses all this knowledge and continues to attack me.  I begin to feel guilty and condemned about sins from the past.    (He`s so desperate in his attacks against God`s people!)

“FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”  Hebrews 8:12

He WILL BE merciful!  He will remember our sins NO MORE!

If the King of Kings, Lord of Lords will remember our sins NO MORE, why on Earth are we hanging on to them?

These verses don`t say `some of our sins`!  They don`t say that He`ll forgive our sins sometimes or when He feels like it.  They say that He will cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness!

27 Then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of Your servants and Your people Israel, indeed, teach them the good way in which they should walk. And send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people for an inheritance. 28 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, if there is locust or grasshopper, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is, 29 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own pain, and spreading his hands toward this house, 30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men.  II Chronicles 6:27-30

He knows your heart!  He knows everything about you!  (He has since before you were born!)

Remember growing up, you may have waited until Mom or Dad was in a `good mood` to ask for something?  It`s nothing like that with God!

All you have to do is ask!

Go to our Heavenly Father and repent your sins!

YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN!

Labels: Condemnation, Forgiveness, Guilt

Today, I don`t really have a target or an idea.  I`m actually a little `off`.  I really have been for a while and I just can`t place it.

Things are going much better in general.  New doors are opening, new opportunities have presented.  I should be delirious.  I was even able to invest money into our business and pay some bills that have been `lingering` around unpaid!  Whoo Hoo!  *big smile*

If it makes any sense at all, I`m feeling a bit guilty.  We have struggled for so long and had to pinch so many pennies, that I feel guilty spending money.  I`m worried that we`ll `run out`!

Well, the fact of the matter is, that I`ve hoped for so long and `believed` for so long, I`m just taken aback that `better days` are here!  Perhaps I never really believed at all?

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  Hebrews 11:6

We are told to expect God`s supernatural power.

But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way. I Corinthians 12:31

"Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days-- You would not believe if you were told."  Habakkuk 1:5

Well, I`m still learning this!  He amazes me and surprises me ~ each and every day!  He is just so awesome and miraculous!

"Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard."  I Kings 10:7

Do you ever have one of those moments when you`ve come through a tough battle and you look back over all the events that took place and it dawns on you!  If all of those things hadn`t happened, you wouldn`t be where you are or who you are!

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.  Psalm 145:19

You realize, finally, or even again, that God really does know what He`s doing!  And often, we feel like idiots because we ever doubted!

Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.   Matthew 7:7

Praise God!

Labels: Believe, Condemnation, Doubt, Guilt

Well then. After all that venting, I feel the need to slow down a little bit and clarify some things. *smile*

There is a lot of `junk` in this world that can put us in the wrong mindset. In turn, the wrong mindset can keep you from the will of God and from all of the blessings that He has in store for you!

The thing here is, I`m not discussing the typical `junk`. A lot of things will keep you from being right with God. ie) Adultery, Blasphemy, Cursing, Etc.) We all know what most of these are ~ they`re in the 10 Commandments! Right?

There is so much `junk` in this world that the enemy disguises as typical human behavior that we fail, or forget to notice the damage it inflicts. We are just bombarded by it. Your neighbors, your parents, your ex-husband (your husband), your kids, your friends, the enemy can use any one of these people as tools to inflict this aggravation on you! (Does this make them bad? Absolutely not!) But what do you think causes your toddler to throw a temper tantrum in the line at the post office for no apparent reason? I could mention example after example where the enemy will use whatever means and whoever he can to work you over! Road Rage? Telemarketers? Collection Agencies?

When people put you down, or talk badly about you, manipulate you, verbally abuse you, discourage you, belittle you, they are sinning against you. (I`m not talking constructive criticism here!) Often times, this can be disguised as concern, neighborly assistance, or as we discussed yesterday, even a message from God.

NOTE: I do truly believe that some individuals have a direct pipeline to the Lord. I know that when serious circumstances arise, those are the people you request prayer from. They completely and totally believe in the salvation of Jesus Christ and they are truly anointed! But I also think that this is a special gift reserved for these folks! The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant. Psalm 25:14

In my life, I`ve heard a lot of things. I`ve been told a lot of things. And, unfortunately, I`ve believed a lot of things.

Here`s one: Have you ever had someone do something for you, and remind you of it years after? `. . . but remember that time in 1996 when I . . . ?` THAT my dears is a guilt trip. It is an attempt to guilt you or manipulate you into doing whatever follows. Sometimes it might be as simple as being their friend, which you`ve already concluded drains the life right out of you! These will be the people that are always borrowing, always needing, always, always, always. And surely, the one time they were able to help you out . . . you will be reminded of it for eternity. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Matthew 6:2 (Isn`t it awesome that Jesus isn`t like this? Could you imagine every time you made a mistake, hearing ` . . . but I died for you . . . ` So, therefore, I challenge this, if our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ does not remind us of the greatest gift of all, where in the world does ANYONE get off reminding you how they fixed your flat tire, or jump started your car?

Human beings driven by the flesh will pretty much say and do whatever it takes to get what they want out of you and out of life. It they hurt you, betray you or even destroy you, it is of no consequence to them. Thus they have repaid me evil for good And hatred for my love. Psalm 109:5

That may sound a little hopeless, but that really is the state of the world we live in.

You might ask, ` . . . then what in the world can I do about it?` Simple. Go to God! Run like your shoes are on fire! He is the truth, the light and the ONLY way! His promises are like money in the bank! He will not waver, He will not betray! The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. II Timothy 4:18

A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26 You have to be cautious, if necessary, build a few walls through the Word of God and arm yourself in knowledge. Yes, we need to be helpful, giving, loving, etc., however, we DO NOT have or need to be a door mat for anyone! They have landfills for garbage ladies! It doesn`t need dumped in your lap or worse yet ~ your mind!

Labels: Control, Deceit, Guilt, Manipulation