How the word "BUT" changed my life

Eight days left in our negativity fast, let's learn from the master encourager. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" It is hard for you to kick against the goads (something that pains as if by pricking)? And I said, "Who are you Lord? And the Lord said, " I am Jesus whom you are persecuting."BUT rise and stand to your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness to the things for which you have seen me and to those to which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles--to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." Acts 26: 14-18

Jesus is such an awesome encourager. I mean, He IS the Word made flesh, but in reading Acts and the story of Paul's conversion as told by himself to King Agrippa, I was suddenly reaquainted with the word BUT, and the power of it when spoken from the mouth of God. Paul was a horrible persecuter of the early believers of Christ. He threw them in prisom, chased them to foreign cities, and voted for their death by stoning. He made the naming of Jesus, a crime.
The Lord reminds Saul of this, as He reveals Himself to him on the road to Damascus. And the Lord said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." vs. 15. However, at this point the Lord uses the most powerful and significant word that He has spoken to any of us that have ever lived a life as an enemy of God.( Note: that would be......All of us *smile*)BUT rise stand to your feet for I have appeared to you for this purpose,". vs. 16. I am certain that Saul was relieved to hear these words. Jesus did not ignore the fact that Paul had sinned against Him, but despite Saul's very recent past, He willingly called Saul to a new life in Him. That word, BUT, followed by the Lord's purpose for Saul's (soon to be Paul's) life, changed his course . Now we owe to Paul, two-thirds of the New Testament and an example of faithful discipleship in Jesus.

BUT. As I approach my 16th spiritual birthday, I am thinking back on how that word has altered my life. I was an enemy of God, living for myself, a fornicator, a hater, selfish, a liar, a brawler , a curser, a drunkard, a glutton, unfaithful, un-loving..... the list could go on and on. BUT GOD. But He appeared to me for this purpose: to make me His daughter, a women of faith, a loving, supportive, and faithful wife, a gentle and nurturing mother, an encourager, a servant, a life-giver, a friend, a truth seeker, a truth speaker, gracious, loving, a woman that fears Him, a woman of peace.........the list could go on and on by His abundant grace. Praise be to God for His mercy and His love toward us. I am so very thankful that the Lord would look at my sins, call me to repentance, and by the power of His word speak life over me. How humbling to think that God would make my life to bring Him glory and cause others to know Him and to find their place among those that are sanctified by faith in Him. He is an awesome God!!!

How has the word BUT , spoken from the Lord's mouth, altered your life? I would love to hear how Christ has altered your direction, your purpose, your plans, your family tree. Please share.

30 Day Negativity Fast: Sweetness of the Lips

"The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increases learning." Proverbs 16:21

God's word has an answer for everything. Everything. Did I say everything? This is going to be short and sweet (pun intended).

Is there something, anything, that you have been trying to teach your child, that they just don't seem to be getting. Math facts, obedience, a basketball skill, diligence, how to clean the toilet correctly, respect, being a leader, making their bed, public speaking, confidence, how to ride a bike, etc. Is there anything you are trying to teach your children and they just don't seem to be getting it? If so, listen. God has the answer.

Have you checked your approach. Have you moved from excitement in teaching your child a new skill to frustration and discouragement? The Lord says, that "Sweetness of the lips increases learning". Be sweet. That's the Lord's wisdom. When you have taught that same math fact, 50 times. Be sweet. Speak words that will build them up and encourage them. When the bed is supposedly made and the floor supposedly swept. Correct, but be sweet. When you know that the Lord has placed within your child great potential, but they are not doing their part to live up to that potential, be sweet. Praise them for what they are doing.
Who would take the Lord at His word today? I challenge you to speak sweet words. I'd love to hear the testimonies of how the Lord honors His word and your obedience. Be sweet - today.

30 Day Negativity Fast: Overcoming the Flesh

Matthew 26: 41 "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Okay, I am not sure about all of you that have taken up the 30 Day Negativity Fast, but I have never found the above mentioned scripture to be so true. I am so much more aware of what is coming out of my mouth. I have mentioned in my blog before, that by nature, I tend to be pessimistic. The first thing I notice in a situation is the wrong and not the right. But even knowing that about myself, I have been a bit surprised at how quickly negative or death filled words slip out of my mouth.

With that being said, I thank God that there is always an answer in His word. He says to, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation." Every morning I know that if I am going to succeed at speaking words of life (Prov 18:21), planting trees of life in my children's hearts (Prov 15:4), speaking pleasant words that bring healing (Prov 16:24), speaking soft answers that turn away wrath (Prov 15:1), and if I will open my mouth with wisdom and have the law of kindness on my tongue (Prov 31: 26), I need the Lord's strength and encouragement. I need to watch for those same ol' situations that bring out the worst in me and stop and pray and ask the Lord to help me to respond differently. I need to stop frustration in it's tracks by asking the Lord for the wisdom I need to be a life-giver in the midst of my testing. Is it really that simple......yes! Over and over again accessing the Lord - that's what being an overcomer is.

The second part of the verse says, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." I am so glad that the Lord knows me. He did say in His word, that in the flesh dwells no good thing. So really, I should not be surprised when those negative and death filled words come to my mind and desire to roll right off my tongue. But the good news is that I do not live after the flesh any longer. As I was reminded this weekend by Kay Arthur: we live and walk by faith in the power of God working in us. We don't owe the flesh anything (Romans 8:12)!

So if any of y'all out there are like me and finding that you needed this fast a little more than you had thought, take heart. Know that your Father in heaven, knows what you have need of. He knows your frame. He made you. Be mindful of the times, situations, and people that tend to steal all your kind words away (smile) and pray. Ask God for wisdom. Ask Him for His strength to overcome the flesh and access the power of His spirit to become a life-giver! It is He that works in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure!!!