"Managing Your Emotions"~Review Week Four~STRIFE!

"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3: 13-18 KJV)

Ladies, I just want you to know that I am so loving loving Jesus with you. Last night's Bible study dealt with a tough subject, and was complete with every distraction the enemy could throw at us, right? But we made it through and I pray that the Holy Spirit will take His Word that went forth and plant it in the good ground of your sweet hearts. Let's review.

Are you angry with someone right now? Are you in strife with someone or a few someones, right now...today? Okay...now...picture that person(s) in your mind. Do you have it? Good...

Maybe you aren't quite sure. If that's the case, let's begin by examining exactly what "strife" is. Strife is defined in the dictionary as "a bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension, an act of contention." Synonyms for strife are: Fight. Struggle. Discord. "Discord" is a lack of agreement or harmony (between persons, things or ideas). Active quarreling or conflict resulting from discord among persons or factions. A state or condition marked by a lack of agreement or harmony. Quarreling, factions, antagonism. Struggling for victory or superiority. Got the picture? So...would you honestly admit that you are in strife with someone at this very moment?

Strife is as old as the days of Abraham. Genesis 13:7 says, "There was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot." But Abram knew the danger of strife. In verse 8, he quickly addresses the issue when he says, "Let there be no strife I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren." (The Hebrew meaning used here for "strife" was "quarrel or provocation.") Abram saw the danger and dealt with the strife aggressively. I am struck by his comment, "for we be brethren". Is the strife you have today, with your husband, your children, your family of origin or indeed with a "brethren" from the Body of Christ? My prayer today is that I may be able to show you the insidious nature and real danger of allowing that strife to stay in your life. I am going to use most of the Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible because the words are so rich.

You may think that the relationship difficulties you are experiencing don't really matter. That they are petty or unimportant. You may even be used to living in strife with someone all the time. Some folks, for some reason unknown to me, thrive on strife. If you think it's no big deal...you couldn't be more wrong! Do you remember the "Sta-Puf Marshmallow Man" from the movie "Ghostbusters"? He sure was cute when he came waddling down the middle of the street, wasn't he? He looked kind of cuddly and sweet. But do you remember how his facial expression changed suddenly to a look of pure evil? Do you remember when he exploded? There was marshmallow everywhere!! On everything! Well, that's a crude example of the effect of strife in your life. It seems harmless. It might even be a little fun to talk about someone, argue with them or harbor a little resentment in your heart. But watch out....quickly it can take on an evil expression and explode into something that will invade every area of your life and become very difficult to clean up. Strife is nothing to play around with, my dear friend!

So now that we know what strife is and what it looks like, let's see where it comes from. What are its roots? After doing a study of every verse in the Bible that contains the word "strife", I've come up with a few root causes that I'd like to share and ask that you honestly, before God, check out in your life.

Anger stirs up strife. Proverbs 15:18 says, "A wrathful (hot-tempered) man stirreth up strife, but he that is slow to anger (patient) appeaseth strife (calms a quarrel)." (KJV and NIV) Proverbs 16: 28 says, "A perverse man stirs up strife." Proverbs 29:22..."An angry man stirreth up strife." Proverbs 30: 33..."For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife." The words for "churning", "twisting" and "stirring" are all the same Hebrew word "mis" and mean "squeezing or wringing". The word is used only here in the Old Testament. Anger stirs up strife and acts against peace. Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the shoes of peace. Stomp around in your muddy boots of anger long enough and watch the strife take over your life!

Meddling in other peoples affairs stirs up strife. Proverbs 26: 17 says, "He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears." When you grab a dog by it's ears, you can expect to be bitten. Meddling will bite you and bring you strife that shouldn't have been there in the first place...mind your own business!

Gossip causes strife. Proverbs 26: 20 says, "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." Do you want to be a conduit for peace? Stop gossiping and talebearing. Stop talking about them, stop telling everybody what "so and so" did to you. Keep the confidences that others have shared with you. Ask God to put a guard over the door of your lips and don't gossip.

Loving to quarrel causes strife. I've never quite understood this one, but many people have shared with me that quarreling was a normal way of life for so long, that they don't know how to function any other way. But the Amplified Bible tells me that, "He who loves strife and is quarrelsome loves transgression (sin) and involves himself in guilt." (Proverbs 17:19a) Proverbs 20:3 says, "It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel." God isn't calling you a fool now, is He? No offense, but if you love a quarrel, I think He is! In the NIV, God says in Proverbs 26:21, "As charcoal is to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling (heating up) strife." 1 Timothy 6 tells us that if we are "following false doctrine and not agreeing with the sound instructions of Jesus Christ, we have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain." Can you see the tentacles of strife growing into dangerous places. The marshmallow oozing onto other areas of your life? Don't love a quarrel!

And just how do you prevent yourself from quarreling? First learn to overlook insults (see Proverbs 12:16). Drop potentially volatile issues (Proverbs 17: 14). Drive out the mocker. Proverbs 22:10 says, "Drive out the mocker and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. NIV)

Pride and greed stir up strife. Proverbs 28:25 says, "He that is of a proud (greedy NIV) heart stirreth up strife; but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat (will prosper NIV)." Don't be proud or greedy. Trust in God, not in yourself. Follow the example of the Savior. "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." (1 Peter 2: 23) After the last supper, a dispute arose among the disciples of Jesus over which one of them was the greatest. Can you smell the pride? Jesus told them that, "I am among you as one who serves." He told them to follow His example. Trust God. He will protect you. Don't make it worse by trying to gain the upper hand. Psalm 31:20 says, "Thou shalt hide them (those who fear You) in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man; thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." Let the other tongues wag. Commit yourself and the problem to God. Let go of pride and the greed of having to be on top. Humble yourself and let God exalt you. If nothing else, the Bible says, "Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife." (Proverbs 17: 1) I know from personal experience, that is the absolute truth.

Selfishness stirs up strife. In Philippians 2:3, the same word is used for selfish ambition as it is for strife in the King James. Paul tells us to do nothing out of selfish ambition, but in humility to consider others better than ourselves. We should look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others. Consider the other guy. You have no idea what may be going on in their life. In our main opening verse from James 3, we are told that where there is selfish ambition and envy, there you find disorder (confusion) and every evil practice.

Worldliness in our character produces strife. Romans 13:13 lists strife as one of the "deeds of darkness." Christ has called us out of darkness and into the marvelous light of His kingdom. 1 Corinthians 3:3 says, "You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling (strife) among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?" Are you acting like a blood bought, born again believer? Renew your attitude and actions in response to God's revelation of who you are in Him. Strife is listed in Galatians 5 as one of the acts of the sinful nature as opposed to living with the fruit of the Spirit characterizing your life. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) Does that describe your character?

I hope that you have stuck with me this far. I have seen the devastating effects of strife first hand in my family of origin and in the lives of so many others that I know and dearly love. Strife destroys marriages, close family relationships, ministries and even whole churches. The outcomes of strife are on our nightly news channels each and every day. Satan has been deceiving us for thousands of years regarding the importance of keeping strife out of our lives. It is the master tool of the master deceiver. It is destructive, cunning and devilish in nature. Proverbs 17:14 shows us the nature of strife. "The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles (from a crack in a dam); therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out." (AMP) It looks harmless at first. A little quarrel. A little disagreement. A little gossip. Hurt feelings. Before you know it, it's out of control and affecting every area of your life. It leads to hatred, bitterness and "bitter root[s] grow up and cause trouble and defile many." (Hebrews 12: 15) I implore you, my friend...run from strife. Run hard, run fast, run long....Avoid it like the plague! It is a plague and it will destroy you and eventually destroy those around you.

You can have all other areas of your life lined up in a godly manner, but if you have strife...well, let's see what God has to say in Isaiah 58:4. His people are fasting and praying and wondering why their prayers weren't being answered. God says, "Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high." Do you want God to hear your prayers? Get rid of strife! It is your biggest blessing blocker!!

If there is strife in your marriage, your home, your family, your ministry or your church, you can bet dollars to donuts, that area will fall apart if you don't get the strife out. Jesus said in Matthew 12:25, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." In every facet of your influence, "be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4: 2-3) Lovingly tolerate one another even when you have differences, "..being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." (Philippians 2:2) "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (James 1: 19)

Romans 12: 18 instructs us, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Don't worry about the other person. There is no condition. The Word says, "as far as it depends on YOU." We can't control other people or their responses. Do what God commands for you to do. Obey and leave the other person to Him. Hebrews 12:14 says, "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." If you are a peacemaker, God's blessings will flow to you.

Our natural tendencies cry out, "What's in it for me?!" Well, let's see:

"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (Psalm 34: 12-16) This must have been pretty important since Peter repeats these very words in his letter in 1 Peter 3: 10-12.

Psalm 133 says: "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (I believe the reference is especially to believers) It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." The oil symbolized the unity of the nation of Israel in worship under the consecrated priest, Aaron. When the oil flowed over Aaron's head and down his beard, it fell on his shoulders and the breastplate that he wore that had the names of all 12 tribes of Israel on it. The blessing didn't just fall on Aaron...it fell on the whole nation. When you choose by an act of your will to live in unity, your blessings will not only affect you, but will pour down on all those connected to you. You are not your own. Your actions affect others either in a positive or negative way.

A popular preacher asked her worship team to come on the platform and play a song of their choice. They all, of course, chose to play a different song because no instructions were given on what song to play. It goes without saying that the sound was horrible! There was no harmony. She then asked them to play, "Jesus Loves Me". It was sweet, soothing and wonderful. She says, "I made the point that disharmony is noise in God's ears, but living in harmony produces a sweet sound. The Lord appreciates our decision and sacrifice to live in agreement, and tells us to come together in agreement regarding a need and He will answer that prayer. There is power in agreement! There is weakness in strife!" (Joyce Meyer. Life Without Strife)

In closing (thanks for sticking with me!)...Hosea 4: 6 says, "my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." I have made it a point in my own life to study the subject of strife. I know the destructiveness it can have and I'm amazed at how much God has to say about it in His word. Maybe we just don't realize it. But that Sta-Puff Marshmallow Man may be about to explode in your life. Hopefully all of the Scriptures I've given you will help you to make a determined decision to get strife out. You now have the knowledge of Scripture. What will you do with it? This isn't Donna telling you..God's word is telling you. You now have the knowledge. It won't be easy. Satan is a deceiver. Other people will plaintively call you to get into strife with them. Take this week and look at these Scriptures for yourself. Let them transform your mind as you look at every conversation, every relationship, every issue that you face. Transform your mind...transform your life!

And finally:
"Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor." (James 3: 17-18 The Message)


Adapted from "Tuesdays with Jesus" #90, April 2007. Donna Schultz.

"There's Beauty In The Dying"

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a)

A few weeks ago I was sitting in my backyard watching the leaves just beginning to turn colors. Marveling at the awesomeness of God manifested in creation, a word was spoken to my spirit that said, “There is beauty in the dying.” In my mind I understood this to be the beauty of the changing, falling leaves as they die and signal the approaching winter. However these words have haunted me ever since. Again yesterday, sitting at the cider mill, sipping cider and eating donuts on a date with Chuck, I noticed those leaves and signs of fall once more. It was even more beautiful this time. Out in the country where the air was just crisp enough, smelling the apples, and hearing the rustling of the leaves on the ground, brought these words back to me. There is beauty in the dying.

Beauty and dying…seems like an oxymoron. If you think about it, not really…Look at a seed. Jesus said that “unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24). We all know what happens when we plant seeds in our backyard. With time and care we reap a harvest of beautiful plants and flowers. Dying seed yields beauty to behold!

When we receive the gift of Jesus Christ as Lord, dying is quite evident. We become new creations..the old has gone (died)…the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new is so much more beautiful than the old. Hence, the beauty in the death of our old self, making us alive to Christ, “I no longer liv(ing) but Christ liv(ing) in me” (Galatians 2:20).

Death in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, was beautiful because it brought God great glory. The deaths of Lazarus, the widow’s son, and Jairus’ daughter all provided Jesus the opportunity to raise them from the dead and bring His Father glory.

We can find immense beauty in the dying of Christians even today. In the process of dying, they are moving closer to Heaven. When they are gone from this world, they wake up to the face of Jesus, the most beautiful sight we will ever behold!

And let’s not forget the most beautiful death of all…that of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says that “Nature provides a parable of Jesus’ career. Apart from death his life stands in isolation, with no power of increase. Death is the key to spiritual fruitfulness”. Without the beauty of the death of Jesus, we would still be lost in our sin, hopeless and helpless and destined for eternal damnation. “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

We all think about the obvious things that need to die in our lives when we commit to Christ. Pride, selfishness, anger, hatred, lust, greed. But there are also many not so obvious things that will be beautiful as they die. About a year ago I prayed for the death of all of the empty things that I hold on to. I meant that prayer with all of my being and I can tell you girlfriend, be careful what you pray for! Think about all of the things in your life that hold no eternal, kingdom value. Look at what occupies your time, your thoughts, your money. Remember, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34). Let those useless, empty things die. Are you busy for God and not growing closer to God? Oswald Chambers said, “the one thing that is in greatest competition with living for God, is service to Him.” I’m not totally there yet but the beauty I’ve seen so far encourages me to keep going.

Let the status quo die. Don’t be content with your spiritual life the way it is. Tommy Tenney’s daily devotional asked, “Are you prepared to be “undignified” in the eyes of the spiritual elite? Are you willing to survive on starvation rations of one scant meal per week, or will you pay the cost to passionately pursue Him and enjoy the bounty of His presence more and more? That kind of desperation and brokenness can pull God from His hiding place. No wonder He said, “Seek My face.” God is just waiting to reveal His face to somebody who is desperate enough and bold enough to pull Him out of hiding.”

I don’t know about you but I’m tired of the status quo…tired of church as usual…tired of lukewarm Christianity. I want to be like the apostles in the book of Acts who were willing to suffer anything to spread the Gospel. I am so hungry for the presence of God in my life and I carry a burden for my Christian friends to feel His presence, to even desire to feel His presence. He has become my magnificent obsession! Is He yours? Let every other pursuit die! Go ahead, let it all go…let all of that old junk die!

Thomas F. Fisher said, “When the seed falls and dies, God is simply transforming you to the degree necessary to make you be an instrument of soul transformation.”

The leaves are changing color and falling from the trees. Soon it will be winter. The leaves of your life may be changing, falling and dying as well. Would you have it any other way? Sameness is boring, change is exhilarating! Winter is just around the corner. You may be feeling like it is winter in the very depths of your soul. But remember that God is faithful, and spring with all of its freshness and newness always arrives. There IS beauty in the dying!

(Adapted from "Tuesdays With Jesus", November, 2005)

"Managing Your Emotions"~~Week Three Review~~Abandonment

I have to tell you girls that studying, preparing for you, and teaching this study is doing me a world of good. These are Romans 12:2 moments, renewing our minds. And if this is even a word~~it's transformational! I just may get spell-checked on that one. Seriously though...looking at these real life issues and emotions according to the truth of the Word of God is a mind-renewing thang! God's Word truly doesn't return to Him void. It's accomplishing the purpose for which He sent it. At least it is in me, and I'm prayin', prayin', prayin' that it is doing the same for you. I hope that you're not just listening in class, but that you are truly taking the principles that we're learning and applying them in your every day life. Let's review last night's class.

At one time or another we ask God questions like, "Are you there? Do you even care"? You have moments where it seems that God has gone away on sabbatical, and left you to fend for yourself. It seems as if He's locked the doors and pulled the shades on the windows of Heaven, and He just doesn't hear you anymore. You feel forsaken, forgotten, desolate, alone and ABANDONED. We can find strength by looking to the Word of God for examples, warnings and encouragement during those times where we feel abandoned. (See 1 Corinthians 10:11)

Scripture tells us the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, David and Esther. We read about Peter, James, John and Paul. At one time or another we know that these folks felt alone, deserted and abandoned in their situations. They went through trials. At times they were totally confused, and unaware that God was with them through it all.

Drawing on our past lessons, we KNOW that we cannot live our lives by what things "feel" like. Our feelings cannot be the lead car on the train of our life, right? We must know, and believe truth. If you know the histories of all the people I mentioned above, you know that things weren't always what they seemed to be in their situations. God was there for each and every one of them. He's no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). If He was there in their crisis, He's in yours as well. If they weren't abandoned, you aren't abandoned.

How many times have you prayed for something, and God didn't answer quite the way you wanted Him to? But then, on the other side of your mountain, maybe even years later, the light goes on and you say, "Ahh, I see now. God knew what He was doing. He was there". Hindsight's always 20/20, but we have to believe, in the midst of our trouble, that God is present. He is there. He has a perfect plan, and He'll be there until the storm has passed, and beyond. If you trust your feelings, you'll lose heart, because you won't always "feel" His presence. But that doesn't mean that He's not there. Facts are facts. He has promised to NEVER leave you or forsake you. He's there. Right where you are.

We looked at three Scriptures that contained basically the same words:
Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:5 and Hebrews 13:5.

In the Old Testament passages, in the Hebrew, those words mean, "I won't drop you or ABANDON you". How exciting is that when our topic is ..abandonment? That's why I love God's Word! In the Greek used in Hebrews 13:5, the word "never", means "never under any circumstances ever, will I leave you". We may "feel" abandoned. But the truth is that we are NEVER, under any circumstances EVER, left or abandoned by God. We may be abandoned by a parent, a spouse, or a friend, but we are NEVER, under any circumstances EVER, left or abandoned by God. That's enough truth to call this lesson a wrap. But let's go further.

Read Genesis 28:10-22. Jacob was in trouble, running from his brother Esau. All he could see was his trouble. In that passage, Jacob admitted that he had no clue that God was in the place where he lay his head on those stones to rest. But God WAS there and He gave Jacob some great and precious promises. Jacob made a memorial out of his stone pillows to remind any future travelers that God was in that place. He named it Bethel, house of God. Because He realized that God was there, right with him, all the time.

We need to set up some memorials of our own to the Lord. Memorials of His faithfulness to us, so that the next time we're feeling alone and abandoned, we can look back at that memorial stone, and know that we are NEVER left alone. That memorial could be a list of all the times in your life that God has provided for you. All the times He's delivered you from harm. All of the prayers He's answered and especially all of those times you realized that He had been there all along. The next time discouragement or feelings of abandonment set in, get out that list, and encourage yourself in the Lord and in His faithfulness to you throughout the years. Remember that He's the same faithful God, yesterday, today and forevermore (Hebrews 13:8).

Read 1 Samuel 7: 10-13. I have an Ebenezer stone that I received last year sitting right outside my side door. Every time I see that stone, I purposefully remember, "Thus far has the Lord helped us". If I had a stone for every time God helped me, I'd have built a really tall wall. What I didn't tell you girls last night was that in the very place Israel got the victory over the Philistines, they had been defeated previously. The place of defeat became a place of victory! Just because you've been defeated before, don't give up! God is able to turn YOUR place of defeat into a place of victory for you!

God will NEVER let you down. You may not understand. You may think your plan is better. You may not be too keen on the timing of it all. But He will never disappoint you, harm you or abandon you. He says so in His Word. He is true and faithful to every single, solitary one of His promises. Don't wait to feel it. Believe it! And one day you'll be setting up another memorial to God because you'll be saying, "Surely He was in that place", wherever that place might be for you today. You'll look back and say, "I survived"! You WILL survive! You'll survive because you are not abandoned. God is there, full of grace and mercy. "Thus far the Lord has helped you". Right in the middle of your situation today say, "Surely the Lord is in this place". Because you know what? He is!

We walked with some folks in the Word who at one time felt just like we do. We looked at what they could teach us to apply in our own feelings of abandonment.

Review Psalm 22. Remember that it was written by David sometime around 900 B.C. The correlation to Jesus, nine centuries later, is amazing. Both David and Jesus cried out to God, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me"? Review verses 16 and 18 for parallels between David and Jesus. Psalm 22 is part prophecy, as it looks ahead to Jesus some 900 years in the future. But it's also a psalm of emotion that people have identified with throughout the centuries.

When Jesus spoke those words in Matthew 27: 46 and Mark 15: 34, the Greek literally meant, "for what reason did You ABANDON me"? Ever asked God that very same question? David was a man suffering and feeling abandoned by God. Jesus didn't merely feel abandoned. He WAS abandoned in a judicial sense. He was bearing the curse of sin, and God's full judgment on sin. He experienced the full horror of separation from God, who cannot look on sin. This is the answer to Jesus' question, "Why"? It was to die for sinners that Jesus had to experience this abandonment. God always has a plan and a purpose for what He does. Even in the death of His one and only Son. The bonus is that because Jesus felt those feelings of abandonment, our High Priest can sympathize with us! Hallelujah! He died forsaken so that WE would never be forsaken. Because of what Christ did on the Cross, we can claim those words in Hebrews 13:5 as our own, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you".

When we insist on believing that we've been abandoned and forgotten by God, I believe that we insult Christ and what He did on the Cross. He was abandoned and forsaken so that we would NEVER, under any circumstances EVER, be left or abandoned by God. No matter what! Add that to your list of all of the amazing things that Christ has done for you!

Look back at Psalm 22: 4-5. David has felt utterly forsaken. He cries out to God day and night and gets no answer. God seems so far away and silent. I believe that it is right here, in these verses that David starts to think that it's him. There must be something about him that is causing God to not hear him or answer him. He's thinking, "God...you did it for THEM, why not for ME?" Ever asked that question?

It's hard to sit by with any decorum while other people seem to be getting their blessings and all of their prayers answered. You naturally start to think it's you, don't you? David did. He says, "You delivered THEM, you saved THEM, THEY weren't disappointed by you. But me....I am a worm!" Do you ever think, "What have I done? I must have done something wrong for God to be ignoring my cries day and night". Anybody?

Nothing in this psalm indicates that God's distance was due to David's sin. At other points in his life it was clearly stated that he was suffering the repercussions and consequences of his sin. But in Psalm 22, there is not one word about David's sin or confession of sin. David actually acknowledges his faith in God, but he still finds no answer. We sometimes subscribe to the ancient doctrine of "divine retribution". If you're successful and wealthy, then God likes you. If your life is painful and difficult, you have hidden sin and are under God's judgment. Review John 9: 1-25 for an example. The Book of Job also reveals this widespread belief in the ancient world. We do go through times of divine discipline. No doubt about that. But never assume that you or anyone you know is going through troubles due to their sin.

I asked God why He would let us go through these silent times and through these times of feeling so abandoned. If He's told us that He'll never leave us or forsake us, why does He allow us to go through something that SO seems to contradict that truth? Here's what I believe He told me.

God wants to build our muscles of faith because of Hebrews 11:6. Faith pleases God. The muscles of our faith have to be exercised. We need resistance and load to work the muscles of our faith, just as resistance and load must be placed on muscle in the natural. When God seems silent and Heaven seems closed, that is the resistance and the load being put on the muscle of our faith to work it. Right there God is saying, "Will you believe me? Will you trust me? Will you trust me over your feelings, your experiences and your sensations that can lie to you"?

Spiritually dry times come to work and exercise the muscles of our faith. Will we keep on believing God even when we meet resistance from the enemy, from other people, from what we can see, or even from our own thoughts? If we can do that, if we can push against the resistance and the load, our faith muscles will grow stronger and stronger and next time...our muscle of faith will be better prepared to handle the load. Read 1 Peter 1: 6-7.

Times of silence and feelings of abandonment will test our staying power. We may start out trusting God, but as time goes on, and the answer doesn't come, we start to give in to our feelings that God just doesn't care. We turn from Him and start turning to other things to meet our need, give us our answer, or fix our problem. We stop waiting on God. Read Isaiah 30:15-18 and Isaiah 50: 10-11 to see how God feels about that!

We need to stand. We need to stand our ground. Grounded on the Word of God. And after we've done everything...stand. Review Ephesians 6: 10-17.

We may also go through the spiritual dry times and seeming abandonment times to examine ourselves. When it seems that the windows of heaven are closed, and God has gone away, what are we yearning for? Think on this honestly. Are you yearning for your answer? Or are you yearning for God? It seems like He's gone, and you just can't stand to be without Him! Is it the seeming absence of HIM that makes you cry out, or is it a longing for the gifts from His hand? God wants us to long for Him, not His gifts. He wants us to love Him and want Him more than life. When He feels a long way off, are you hungry and thirsty for HIM? Maybe God's waiting to hear you say, "I've got to have YOU! I don't even care anymore if you give me what I want. Just give me YOU. I can't stand not having YOU one more day"! What are you truly longing for? Is it Him? Or is it your answer? Tough stuff! Face yourself honestly in the mirror. It may be time for an attitude adjustment. Could that be what God's had in mind all along?

Go back to Psalm 22. Did you notice that something happened right in between the lines of verses 21 and 22? David's situation didn't change; David changed. All of a sudden David became confident that he had been heard. In the Hebrew text, the last part of verse 21 breaks off right in the middle of the prayer and states, "You have heard". Right there, David received a breakthrough. A change of mind and a change of heart. His whole perspective changed and for the rest of the psalm he would praise God for his future deliverance and he would turn his attention outward to other people. He now wanted to encourage other people to trust in God. He wanted to shout it out to the whole congregation and to the assembly of Israel, that they too could trust God. His perspective went from inward despair to outward praise and hope for himself and for others. Because God is faithful. David knew the fact and that fact changed his whole perspective. He let the fact lead the train. David decided, repeat... decided...it's always a choice...to leave the despair and feelings of abandonment in the caboose and to let the facts, the truth, lead him.

We finished last night's study looking at Psalm 77. The psalmist, Asaph, cried out to God in the night from a troubled spirit, searching his soul for an answer to his distress. He felt abandoned by God and he feared that the Lord had abandoned Israel forever. Read this psalm and be tender to the words of Asaph, as if they were your own.

God's path and God's way may be through the sea and through the mighty waters for you today. But God is there. Even though His footprints are not seen. That's truth, my sister! You are not abandoned. You are not forsaken. He has not left you, or dropped you. I don't know what else to tell you...that's the truth. He will never, under any circumstance ever, leave you. You may not see His footprints, but He's right there. Let these facts, these truths, lead your train this week. Do not believe the lies of the enemy. I cast down any feelings of abandonment among you, right now, in the name of Jesus.

If you are reading this and haven't joined us for Bible study, you are so welcome!! Remember girls that next Thursday is "Worship for Women, by Women". We'll begin at 7pm in the Sanctuary and have a glorious time of worshiping Christ with other sisters in the Lord. Bring a friend or two. Bring your moms, your aunts, your daughters. I am believing for a fresh anointing of the Spirit of God to be in that place as we enthrone Him on our praises! See you next week. I truly do love you!

"Managing Your Emotions" Week Two ~~~ JOY

Let me begin by telling you how it does something so good to my heart when I spend Thursday evenings with all of you. Looking out at your faces as you intently study the Word of God is awesome!! I get to observe nods of agreement, a few smiles, and one or two pair of eyes misty with tears. You are so precious...each and every one of you...and besides being an outright miracle, I am so honored that God would use ME to serve you!

So let's jump into our review of last night's material on JOY.

Philippians is often referred to as the book of joy. We focused on Philippians 4: 4, 11-13. Paul said that he had learned to be content in WHATEVER circumstances he was in. He had learned the SECRET of being content in any and every situation. We determined that because he knew the secret, he could experience the joy.

The source of overcoming, in-spite-of-my-circumstances joy is found in Psalm 16:11.
"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand". The KJV says it this way, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy". The kind of joy that we're looking for, the kind of joy that brings victorious living "in the midst of", is found in the presence of the Lord. When we "panah", we turn, face, and look at God and there is fullness of joy. We choose to look at God, not our trouble. Not our circumstances. Not what the "experts" say, or the "woe is me" folk's opinions. We can choose to purposefully place ourselves in the presence of the Lord, and apprehend us some joy!

Moses, the man of God knew the secret. In Psalm 90: 14, he wrote these words:
"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days".

David, the man after God's own heart knew the secret. Read the words that he wrote in Psalm 63: 3-7. Keep in mind that David wrote those words when he was right in the middle of a literal desert, running for his life from his son Absalom, and living in the wilderness.

Moses practiced the principle in the morning. David practiced it at night. From morning until night, and every moment in between, a life lived in the presence of the Lord is a joy-filled life. That's the secret! And we can choose to live like the rest of the world, or like a citizen of the Kingdom of God, characterized by "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost". (Romans 14:17)

Paul gives us a practical way to keep our joy, to avoid anxiety, and to be content in Philippians 4:8. According to those verses, what are we to stay our minds on?

Read the words of Psalm 126: 5-6. We determined that when we're commanded to sow in tears, we're being told to keep on doing the right thing even when the right thing isn't happening to us. To keep on doing the work of the Lord. To keep on advancing His kingdom. To keep on being a witness for the display of His splendor, even when we don't feel like it. Even if we're crying our eyes out. And if we do, we will reap, and return with songs of joy. Look at Galatians 6:9, for the New Testament equivalent of this principle.

When we're "going through" is the exact time to go out and sow. It's the exact time to go help someone else who's "going through". You will be a blessing to someone else and it will get your own mind off of your problems and yourself. Jesus illustrated this principle in Luke 6: 37-38. Measure out some blessing for someone else who's going through a rough time. What a joy it can be to be a blessing to another person. Sure beats wallowing in your misery! At least to me it does!

REMEMBER: The promises that God makes are not for happiness. Happiness and joy are two entirely different things. The pursuit of happiness is a vain and useless pursuit. God never promised us happiness. But He has promised us joy. (John 16: 20-24)

Happiness comes from seeing and feeling. Joy comes from what you know. Joy is not a feeling. Happiness comes and goes based on our circumstances. Joy is lasting and abiding. Happiness is fleeting, and comes from outward circumstances, producing a feeling within us. Joy comes from knowing truth.

James 1: 2-4: It is pure joy to KNOW that our trials, and the testing of our faith are producing something. "Count it all joy KNOWING". Your trial, your hard place, is developing something in you. It has a purpose. Because of that "knowing", you can experience joy right in the middle of the darn thing! You can count it all JOY! Work through those verses in James again. Ask yourself, "Knowing what"? What do I know my trial will produce? What does the word say? (Hint: James tells you in verse 4)

In this study, we're learning to find out what the Word says will come from our trials, and then attach ourselves to that truth. We attach ourselves to what we KNOW, not what we FEEL. And right there, right there sister, will be the secret to being filled with joy right in the midst of your situation. Attach your faith to the facts of the Word of God and your caboose will carry joy as its cargo!

Habukkak 3: 17-19 showed us that it is all a choice. Review those verses. Habukkak described a desperate situation. But he said that he would "rejoice in the Lord". He had to make a choice, and so do we.

We can find JOY by remembering God's faithfulness in the past and by encouraging our self in the Lord. Review what David did in a terrible situation in 1 Samuel 30:1-6. David remembered his "former joy". For an example of this we studied Psalm 42:1-5. The Psalmist recalled God's faithfulness to him in the past. I'll bet you have one or two things that you can personally recall! And if God did it then, He'll do it again. Remember Hebrews 13:8. Here's the Message translation of some of those verses in Psalm 42: "Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God--soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God. When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you". The secret to joy is to take our focus off of our circumstances, and ourselves, and to put it firmly upon God and His goodness. When we look at what He's done in the past, we're better able to trust Him for the future, because we come to believe that He is faithful and good.

We spent a lot of time in Psalm 33. Why don't you review that whole Psalm right now? We've already talked about focusing on God's work in the past. We now move to finding joy by looking for His plan in our present. We need to be on the look-out for God's plan in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in. Jesus practiced this principle. Read Hebrews 12:2. God has a good plan for your life. His plans stand firm forever. God is good. He never has evil plans. Quite the contrary. Review that old familiar verse in Jeremiah 29: 11. Know and believe that truth girlfriend, and joy will well up on the inside of you.

Joy can also be found in God's watchfulness in our lives. See Psalm 33: 13-15. God sees you. He cares for you. He knows all your concerns. He's never too busy for you. Review Psalm 18:35 and Psalm 113:5-6. God is not "above it all", but He is concerned with you and with what concerns you.

Remember to write down the first 10 things that come to your mind when you think about God. Now compare them to all of God's qualities referenced in Psalm 33. How does your list compare? Is your view accurate? Or is it tainted by circumstances or experiences with earthly fathers or other authority figures?

Last, you can find joy by anticipating God's mighty power for your future. Again, Psalm 33: 18,22 talk about God's unfailing love (hesed) for you. His covenant love for you. God will do every single thing that He's promised to do for you and He has the power to do it! He wants you to know that. Read Isaiah 50: 2-3 and Isaiah 54: 16-17. Your God is the God who stands up and the trees and mountains bow! He speaks and fierce oceans still. By just a rebuke, by just a word, He dries up the sea and turns rivers into deserts! Do you think you can trust His power in your situation? I say Yes!!!

What can all this knowledge, what can all this "knowing" mean to your personal life? What can it mean for your future? Everything! Find joy in your relationship with God. Unlike joy that is based on circumstances, joy found in God lasts forever. By remembering God's faithfulness and goodness from the past, looking for His plan and watchfulness in the present, and anticipating His power for your future, lasting joy can be found. Remember that Paul said we could find joy in whatever circumstance we're in? In every situation we can be assured that God is good and working on our behalf.

I pray today that God will restore to you the joy of His salvation. I pray that when you ask in His name you would receive a joy that no one can ever take away. Jesus promised that He would give you joy and that your joy would be complete. Receive the complete joy of Christ. The joy that He died to give you. Praise Him right now for the victory over your situation. Praise Him for finding His joy. You are a joyful woman. You are a strong woman because the joy of the Lord is your strength! God loves you with an unfailing, everlasting love. He is your Helper. He has been faithful to you in the past. He stoops down and cares about your present. He is so powerful and will do exceedingly, abundantly more than you could ever ask or think concerning your future. Sing for Joy, sweet sister and be glad all your days!

Looking forward to learning more of His life-giving Word with you next Thursday.

Love...Donna

"Managing Your Emotions" Week One!

Ladies! It was so amazingly cool to see all of you at Bible Study last night. I know that our Father was peering over the banister of Heaven and smiling at all of His precious daughters who took the time to come together and study His Word. It was good to see familiar faces and a whole lot of new ones. To you new girls...Welcome!! I hope to be able to get to know you better over the coming weeks.

So, I hope I didn't completely overwhelm you with all of those Scripture verses! I so want to be a contagious lover of God's Word to you. Nothing has brought me more freedom, restoration and down-right rescue from the pits like the Word of God, and I long for it to do the same for you. I hope that this coming week you will go back and review the Scripture verses and let the Holy Spirit do His work in your heart. So let's get started on some review of last nights' material and I pray that God will "open our eyes that we may see wonderful things in His law". (Psalm 119: 18)

The purpose of our introduction was to impress on the fact that it is vitally important to manage our emotions and never let them manage us. Emotions used in the wrong way can be devastatingly destructive to our relationships at home, at work, at church and perhaps even ruin our lives.

"You can't conquer what you don't confront"! The way to do that is to compare ourselves to the truth in the Word of God.
Hebrews 4: 12 (Amplified Bible) "For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart".

The big picture in getting our emotions under control is that Christ has called and commissioned us to our own spheres of influence and beyond. And we can only do this with the presence of Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28: 19-20; Mark 16: 15-20; Acts 1:8

Remember our diagram of a train? The first car is named "biblical facts", the second, "faith" and the caboose is "our feelings and emotions". We let "biblical facts" lead, followed by "faith", and our "feelings and emotions" will tag along, like a caboose. Emotions and feelings should never drive the train of your life. Emotions are meant to be followers, never leaders.

We CAN manage our emotions!
Deuteronomy 28: 47-48; John 14:1; John 16:33; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:13

Emotionalism says, "It can't be wrong when it feels so right". Stoicism sings, "Feelings, nothing more than feelings, trying to forget these feelings". One extreme indulges the emotions. The other extreme ignores them. There has to be a balance. It is necessary to have balanced emotions. It is necessary to have emotions like: Love (1 Peter 4:8; 1 Corinthians 16:22), Hope (Romans 12:12), Joy (Philippians 4:4), Sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10), Hate (Proverbs 8:13), Fear (Matthew 10: 28). There is a place for emotion in the life of a Christian woman!

Emotion must produce the proper fruit. Love bears fruit in obedience (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3); Hope bears fruit in patience (Romans 8: 24-25); Joy bears fruit in sacrifice (2 Corinthians 8: 2-5); Sorrow bears fruit in repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10); Hate bears fruit in rejecting error (Psalm 119: 127-128); Fear bears fruit in departing from evil (Proverbs 16:6). Scriptural, biblical emotions will produce good fruit in the life of the Christian woman!

Faith doesn't come from feelings or emotional experiences. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10: 17; Psalm 119:105; Acts 17:11)

Scripture is our guide. (2 Timothy 3: 13-17)
We will fall into error if we lack knowledge of the Scriptures. (Matthew 22:29; Romans 10: 1-2; Hosea 4:6)

Living by our emotions or according to "the flesh" means that we cater to the appetites and impulses of the carnal or fleshly nature. (Romans 8: 5-8; 1 Corinthians 3:3) To be "carnal" is to be "under the control of the animal appetites; to be governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God".

We are never carnal, worldly, or unspiritual because we HAVE emotions. We become carnal, worldly, and unspiritual when we are "under the control of" our impulses and emotions. Carnal mindedness leads to death. Death by the consequences of sin, physical death, death of relationships, blocked flow of our relationship with God. (James 4:1; Romans 8:8)

What kind of fruit we bear depends on what is leading us; whether we are we being led by our emotions (flesh), or by the Spirit of God? (Galatians 5:16-25)

Right thinking will change wrong actions. We conquer our old ways of thinking with new ways of thinking according to the Word of God. (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23)Walking in the Spirit, in the new way of thinking, according to the Word of God, will conquer the flesh and the emotions.

Remember: "Our feelings may be as uncertain and changing as the sea or shifting sand. God's facts, however, are as certain as the Rock of Ages Himself -- Jesus Christ...the same yesterday and today and forever".

Our key verse for this study is: Proverbs 28:26 (Amplified Bible)
"He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly wisdom shall be delivered".

There you have it. If you have any thoughts be sure to click on the comment link at the end of this post. Type your comment in the text box and follow the instructions. I would so like to hear from you and watch as you interact with one another. Be on the look-out this week for situations where you can make the all important choice to follow the Spirit,or follow your fleshly feelings and emotions. Keep your antennae up girls, because you have an enemy who would love to cut you off at the knees!

I am so honored to be on this journey with each one of you. See you next week!
Caboose!!