Thursday, February 23, 2012

Accept One Another - Day 2 Lent 2012

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
~Romans 15:7

I read this scripture and a big...huh...spilled from my mouth. Now I've heard a million or so times we are to love one another as Christ loves us, but love and accept...ouch! How do I accept another person when that individual (a brother or sister in Christ) drives me crazy and coaxes and extra amount of grace from my already empty well for them. I'm sure everyone reading this has already had at least one person pop into their mind...maybe even more then one.

Psssssssst...start praising God for that individual. Yes, praise God who made that person for a specific reason no matter how emotional they are ALL the time, no matter how much they like to talk, or how many times they think their idea is the best or the only way.

God loves them just as much as he loves you. After all, they too are part of God's creation. They too are fearfully and wonderfully made...unique...predestined by God himself. Yes, the bothersome brother or sister in Christ who unnerves you leaving your eyes permenantly stuck in the back of your brain was made by God for God...just like you!

Now that's something to think about!




Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Ash Wednesday...Lent Day One 2012

Today, Ash Wednesday, starts what is probably my favorite six weeks in the entire calendar year. It is a time of deep reflection, self examination, and overwhelming adoration for my King Jesus. So you ask,

"What am I giving up for Lent?"

I always give up soda...Diet Coke is my favorite. But I'm going to try, with the help of God, to give up asking for things for myself when I pray. Instead of requests on my behalf...I want to give back to my heavenly Father praise and adoration.

I have already been attempting this unselfish task for a couple of weeks. Let me tell you it is not as easy as one might think. The words "I" and "me" come quickly to my tongue. I found  myself reminded by the gentle nudges of the Spirit saying...

"No, no, no" followed by "Praise, praise, praise".

On my birthday earlier this week I was given a book from a very good friend. She had no idea I was practicing praise in my prayer time. The book she gave me..."The Power that Changes Everything" by Stormie Omartian. Guess what the prayer is that changes everything? Yep, you guessed...the prayer of praise! In this book Stormie discusses reasons to praise God and when praise is absolutely crucial for us.

Over these next six weeks of Lent, I am dedicating my blog to the praise of my Savior Jesus Christ. I hope to share inspiring scripture, quotes, and excerpts from, "The Prayer that Changes Everything" to motivate you to praise God like you never have before and grasp the power which is at your fingertips through the adoration of our Abba.