Learning To ‘Follow the Leader

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

 

When I was a young child, my siblings and I used to play games called "Follow the Leader" and "Simon Says." As leader, I had the upper hand and could get my siblings to do what I wanted!  (Clean the house, take out the trash, vacuum, and so on)  Otherwise I was stuck doing all the work myself..  Making a game out of some household chores was fun for them and me. Then of course, there was Simon Says.  It was always fun to make them do silly things; to trick them into doing an action that would cause them to loose.

 

 As the scripture says, we are led by the Holy Spirit, placed behind Him — just as children stay behind the leader as they play "Follow the Leader"!

 

When I think of the word led, I think of how I walk our dog, Tuffy.  When I attach her harness and begin our walk, I literally lead her with the leash.  Most times, she can be slightly pig headed wanting to lead me.  Then she gives in knowing that I am the leader. 

 

Scripture tells us we should be willing to let the Holy Spirit lead us in every part of our lives. We should be so surrendered to Him that wherever He tells us to go or whatever He tells us to do, we should simply be obedient and follow.  More times then not, I am like my dog, slightly pig headed, wanting to go my way.

 

There is an intense conflict, such as a struggle in a wrestling match or a struggle of the human will. The Holy Spirit wants to lead us, yet my human will does not like the idea of no leading. You see, it is our fleshly nature to want to go our own way, so when we choose to walk in the Spirit and let Him dictate our lives, His leadership over us creates a struggle between our will and our flesh.  Have you felt a struggle?

 

Man, I will tell you that growing up was a struggle for me.  I just love to do my own thing.  I could not wait until I was old enough to live on my own.  I disliked it when teachers nagged me into getting assignments finished on time. This list goes on…  Just for a moment, think of how many times our flesh has rebelled against exercise or a diet that we have imposed on ourselves. There is no doubt about it — the human will and the flesh are strong. These parts of us have a very difficult time surrendering control to someone else — and that includes the Holy Spirit!

 

As a youngster, I did not like to "Follow the Leader" but BE the leader.  I did not like being led by my sisters or brother, nor did I like being told what to do. I wanted to be in charge myself so I could call the shots as I saw them! Maybe that is how you have been feeling about your own life. However, as a child of God, you have to learn to stay in your place — behind the Holy Spirit, following His lead.

 

Maybe the scripture could be best said this way:

Following the leadership of the Holy Spirit is one of our privileges of being a child of God, although it might aggravate us to learn how to defer to Him and to really let Him be our Leader.

 

If we want to learn to live a Spirit-led life, there is no getting around it — we have to deal with our fleshly need to be top dog. The flesh wants control, so we must mortify or kill that animal and allow the Holy Spirit to have His way. The struggle may seem great, but it is the only way to live a supernatural Christian life!  Moreover, the benefits are eternal!

 

Make it your goal to learn how to discern the Holy Spirit's leading. Become His constant "shadow," watching to see what He is doing, where He is going, and how He is leading. Stay sensitive to Him so you can pick up His "nudge" in your heart. Then once you know what He wants you to do, just fall in step behind Him and "follow the Leader"!

 

 

 

Untangled from the World

 No man engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.  II Timothy 2:4

 

How do I know when I am becoming too materialistic?  How do I recognize when those natural possessions have become too important to me?

 

Entangled is to be caught up in or twisted in some type of vine.  Believe me it is not the grapevine of God.  Entangled to me means something woven tightly together so that one is inhibited from moving about freely.

 

Ok, so what about materialism? There is nothing wrong with owning nice things. In fact, God wants us to obtain nice things. But we are not to allow those material possessions to become so ingrained in our hearts they become the central focus of our lives.

 

Our souls, emotions, and desires are not to become so ensnared, entangled, and caught up in the things of the world that we become meshed together with them.  When someone thinks of me (Dianne), I hope they do not think of me and the car I drive or the clothes I wear or the house I live in as being part of me.  Likewise, I hope I do not think that those things make up myself.

 

How do you know if you've become materialistic? How do you know if natural possessions mean too much to you?

 

Well, I remember a few years back, Dick and I felt God wanted us to move to Florida --lock, stock and barrel.  We packed up our personal possessions, loaded a truck, and headed to our Florida home.  The most difficult decision for Dick to make was to let our Rhode Island home go.  It was the home we reared a family, other family members resided in Rhode Island , and so did long loved friends.  There were lots of tears,  joys, memorable moments in that home.  Could we let it all go?

 

Needless to say, we placed the house on the market and said, Lord, if it is your desire for us to move the house will sell.  This was a TEST.  Doors of ministry seemed to open up, opportunity seem to present itself as the Lord would bless this move.  The decision was made and plans began.  Then all doors closed and the house did not sell.  A big TEST… I believed we passed. 

 

There was another time when I invited a young Christian woman and her children over for some lunch.  During the cause of their visit, I was scurrying around the kitchen preparing lunch, talking, laughing and enjoying their company.  Her small children were just themselves, giggling and eating. Then an accident occurred.  A glass tipped over and smashed to the floor. At the same time, I proceeded to drop a very nice glass picture!  SMASH  *@#&*  WOW, what a sound.  I turned around and said," Woops, an accident!"  Her young child was startled; there was no cussing and no reprimanding.  It was an accident. 

 

I did not think much of it until she told me, "WOW,  you are great.  You did not even get upset.  That was an expensive vase and my child was very unruly causing an accident."  "It was just an accident, I replied, and no one got hurt from the broken glass..  The glass is replaceable." 

 

Could you give your treasured possession up if the Lord asked you to? Or have they become so woven into the very fabric of your life that you are now entangled in them? Only you and the Holy Spirit know the answers to these questions.

Do everything in your power to keep the temporal things of this world in the right perspective. Keep them in your hands, but out of your heart.

 

Believe me we are in a war!  It is a war with principalities and powers of demonic forces of this world!  If we are so caught up with things, satan will use the things of this world to bind us and hold us hostage so we will be hindered to carry out the mission the Lord has given us! 

 

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas of your life that need to be "untangled" and brought back into balance. Then, after He speaks to you, it is up to you to STAY untangled from those natural affairs of life!

You are A Millionaire

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Colossians 3:16

 

When I was a young adult I joined the Amway Business. We would go to meetings and the people there would get us to thinking and dreaming about what it would be like to be a Millionaire!

 

Needless to say we joined the business and proceeded to give the same dream sessions. Unfortunately it was not a get rich scheme; we had to work hard for the levels we achieved!

 

I loved to listen to people when they fantasized about paying off bills, purchasing a new house, cars, giving huge sums of money to people and organizations, and of course leaving their children and grandchildren the rest. Just think about it for a minute; what your supreme dream would be if you suddenly struck it rich!

 

If you can stretch beyond your most wildest dreams what could life be like? Well I want to tell you that you do not have to fantasize about being rich anymore! If you are a child of God, you have already struck it rich! You have been given a treasure that will make boundless wealth accessible to you for the rest of your life. You are a spiritual millionaire. However, for you to derive benefit from what God has provided, you have to learn how to tap into your Daddy God's treasure chest.

 

If we give the Word of God the right away in our lives and give it a warm reception and make it our own, it will enrich us spiritually. Therefore, the word of God can make us spiritual millionaires. The Word of God will come to us and those things the Father has for us will be drawn to us like a magnet.

 

If you open your heart and mind and let the Word penetrate deep within your soul, the world around you will swing open its doors and greet you with a grand reception. If you let the Word live in you in this manner it will produce much spiritual "fruit" in your life.

 

Colossians 3:6 tells us to allow the Word to dwell richly in wisdom; teaching and admonishing each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with GRACE in our hearts to the Lord.

 

These words describe people who are so full of the Word of God their entire being is affected. Their hearts are full of joy; their minds are flooded with wisdom and understanding, and their mouths are singing songs to the Lord. They are giving testimony on how "Great Thou Art". They have struck it RICH!

 

When we consume the Word of God in this way, it is at home within us it and producing the wisdom, gifts, and the power, we need for today. You become so rich with God that you automatically find yourself admonishing an encouraging others in their faith. When the Word enriches you, doors of opportunity swing open for you to witness, to prosper, and to easily flow in the things God has for people around you.

 

So if your are tired of striving with no results—if you are tired of feeling spiritually bankrupt and worn out with nothing to offer—stop right where you are. Do not take another step without making the decision to let God's Word play a more important role in your life.

 

As you do, the Word of God will enrich you with His wisdom and insight. It will put victory in your heart and a new message on your tongue. It will turn you into a spiritual millionaire. It will enrich your life so much that you will always have something spiritually to donate, to bequeath or to freely share with someone else! 

 

Does The Word Feel at Home in Your Life?

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly". (Colossians 3:16)

 

Years ago when Dick and I got ready to visit Florida, friends and family would call and encourage us to come down. They kept saying things like, "can't wait 'til you get here", "we will have a cookout, go out to dinner, or spend time together!" Then when the time came and we arrived, I called expecting great times to happen with us and them . More often than not---there were no such gatherings or meetings. Sometimes we did not see them at all.

There were occasions when we actually received invitations to family holiday parties. We would mix and mingle with friends and relatives, but felt out of place and not accepted. If I asked the family members a question, most times they pretended not to hear me.

 

Words cannot describe how uncomfortable I was in their presence! It seemed no one wanted our company and wished we were not there. I was so happy to move out of that predicament! I pledged I would never let myself be put in that kind of situation again. (In my case, this meant I had to grow up spiritually and see life through Christ's eyes.)

How about you? Have you ever been invited to be a guest in a home where people made you feel very unwelcome and unwanted?

I remember this happened when I was reading Colossians 3:16, where it says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." The chilly reception I felt caused me to look at my own heart and ask, What kind of reception have I given the Word in my life? I wanted to know:

 

• Have I given the Word the kind of reception He deserves, or have I ignored Him and given it the "cold shoulder"?
• Does the Word feel at home in my life, or does He feel unwanted?
• Have I rolled out the red carpet and given the Word a grand reception, making it clear that I love the Word and I am privileged to have it dwelling in my heart?

 

In Colossians 3:16, Paul tells us that the word of Christ should "dwell" in us richly. Dwell means to take up permanent residency in a home. The person is so at home and contented in the new location that he has chosen to make it his permanent dwelling place for the rest of his life.

 

So I hear the words Christ "dwell" in us. He is beckoning us to give God's Word such a grand, welcoming reception that it literally feels at home in us and therefore the Word, the living Word, Jesus comes to take up permanent residency!

Does the Word have this kind of place in your life? Does He really "dwell" in you richly? Does He feel at home and comfortable in your life? On the other hand, is the Living Word of God treated like a stranger only occasionally welcomed into your life as a visitor? Be honest!

 

Why not make today that day? The day the Living Word of God comes to take up permanent residency in your life.

 

Throw the door open, roll out the red carpet, and welcome the Word of God as a new, permanent resident in your heart! Let it make a difference in your life and as a result cause others to want to welcome the Guest also!

Can I just HATE?

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.  — Jude 1:23

 

I don't know about you, but I believe the word "hate" is a very strong word that should only rarely be used. When our children were young, Dick and I told our children not to use this word. Even if we strongly disliked something or someone, we never allowed ourselves or our children to use the word "hate" to describe our feeling. It was simply too harsh of an expression to describe how we felt about something or someone.  Besides, we talked about maybe the action or words of someone are wrong; yet the person is good.

 

But there is a proper time and place for hate! Jude 1:23 gives us an example of one of those times. It says, "Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

 

Hatred can turn to violence. So when Jude tells us to "hate" the garments spotted by the flesh, he isn't talking about a mere dislike of something; he is talking about a radical, violent aversion to something.  He did not say hate the person.

 

In Revelation 2:6 and 2:15, Jesus declares that He "hates" the deeds of the Nicolaitans. In Jesus' opinion, their deeds and teachings were repugnant, disgusting, revolting, repulsive, and nauseating. The Lord Jesus possessed a deep-seated aversion to their activities and found their deeds abhorrent.

 

"Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."  As I understand it, flesh is meaning our sinful nature.  There is no doubt about it. Jude is letting us know that we should have a strong aversion to sin — so strong that it allows absolutely no tolerance for sin in our lives or in the lives of other believers.

 

When we are in relationship with people we love dearly, it is our responsibility to approach them in love even when there is sin keeping them, and possibility us, away from the Lord Himself.  Hate the sin and love the sinner.  Thank God for that statement.  For where would I be if God hated me because of my sin?  We too are to cover each other in love and love others back to the cross. 

 

Our aversion to sin should be so fierce that Jude says we are to hate "...even the garment spotted by the flesh."

 

Remember, we can look good and smell good yet underneath it all there could be sin lurking.  So we can wear a mask of righteousness and that is not reality.  A new, clean robe (or happy face) may hide the truth that a person's undergarment is filthy — but this disguise doesn't alter the fact that he has a deeper problem to deal with!

Sin isn't just a superficial, outward problem. If we allow wrong attitudes and behavior to continue in our lives, this moral decay will eventually permeate deeper than the surface and penetrate even to the deepest, most hidden parts of our souls keeping us from the lover of our soul, Jesus.

 

The defilement may begin as an outward problem, the same way loose dirt can soil a man's outer garment. But if this filth is never dealt with, it will begin to work its way through every area of a person's life until he is completely defiled.

 

Don't let neglect be allowed. That filth can contaminate our entire life.  Therefore, don't just deal with superficial issues either, by hiding them, allow the Holy Spirit in so the deeper part of our lives can be infiltrated with the mercy, grace and love of the Father.

 

It is imperative we understand the consequences of sin and learn to hate even the smallest hint of its presence in our lives. If we don't deal with sin while it's still a small, superficial problem, it will become a much deeper problem — and much more difficult to deal with!

 

So before we do anything else today, ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to those areas of our lives needing attention and correction. He will lovingly point them out and either show us how to change or miraculously allow change to happen within us today!

 

Holy Spirit Love us all back to the Cross!  nailing our ugly sin, (hatred, jelously,violent nature...)  Setting us free in your love and grace!

A Spiritual Orphan!

 

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
— John 14:18

 

Have you ever felt isolated or alone in this world? If you have, just remember —you are never alone!  Have you ever been at a party and felt out of place, missplaced and alone? Imagine how alone the disciples felt when Jesus informed them that He would soon ascend to Heaven and leave them behind on the earth!

 

What do you think the disciples felt when Jesus told them this? They must have wondered, What will life be like without Jesus? How will we continue without the Master walking right alongside of us? But it was time for Jesus to ascend to the Father and to take His place as our Great High Priest.

 

It was natural for the disciples to feel sorrowful.  It is also natural for us to feel sorrow, when a loved one has passed on.  To the disciples, it must have seemed like the end of a great and exciting life with the Lord experiencing the power of God in the midst of them. Their lives had been filled with adventure, excitement, joy, victory, power, healings, and miracles.

 

Feelings of insecurity and uncertainty are normal emotions for any of us, not only the disciples. We all grow dependent upon the physical, visible presence of the ones we love —when I was young the thought of mom leaving this earth made me forsaken and abandoned.  Sometimes the thought of not being with my grandchildren makes me feel lost.  Greater still, life without my husband Dick would be almost unbearable for me!

 

In the midst of these fears, Jesus promised His disciples, "I will not leave you comfortless." (John 14:18).

 

Jesus was a spiritual father to the disciples. He knew they were completely reliant upon Him. They couldn't make it on their own in the world without Him. This is why He promised them, "I will not leave you like orphans."

 

Growing up, my natural father was not a very good role model nor was he fatherly or nurturing in any way.  When I gave my life to Christ, the Lord was faithful to supply a nurturing father figure to me.  I would say the first loving dad experience was with my first father in law, Stanley (he was a good companion and helper in my life)—then the Lord sent me my husband's dad, Warren.  He was the love of my life.  Warren was always kind, witty and loving to me in all aspects of my life. 

 

Now, I have John, our neighbor in Florida.  He adopted me soon after Charlie in 2004.  To me, he is always there with a kind word and eager to help.  John inspires me through his loving kindness and patience with me as we work together, always listening in love.

 

We have been discussing Luke on Tuesday nights, here in Florida.  Last night we read and discussed Prepare the Way…Make way for the Savior… (read Luke 3:4-6) 

 

Today I was finishing painting our great room.  I did the best I could and knew it was not yet the way John had told me to trim.   I knew I would call on him and he would make my crooked ways straight and those pitted high spots of the knock down perfect.  So when I finished I called on Papa John.  He came over and very kindly told me what a great job I did and preceded to climb the ladder and make my imperfect job perfect!  Praise God!  What an example showing me how God my Faher makes my crooked ways straight!

 

So in the natural God provides for us the people we need to experience His love and acceptance.  The Holy Spiit comes and provides for us the comfort and guidance we also need!  In a deeper and more profound way, the Holy Spirit comes to inspire us onward to the higher call in Christ.  Never leaving us alone.

 

This is John 14:18 accoring to Dianne:

 

"I will not leave you nor let you lag behind like orphans who have been deserted or oppressed by their parents, nor will I desert you like an unfaithful teacher who walks out on his students and leaves them with when they are rebellious or rude."

 

Jesus knew the disciples couldn't make it on their own in the world.. That is why He sent the Holy Spirit into the world to be their new Guardian and Teacher.

 

We cannot make it on our own either — but we don't have to, because Jesus did not abandon us! He did not desert us, walk out on us, or throw us away. When Jesus ascended to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to care for us, to guide us, and to teach us. Jesus did not leave us as orphans!

 

THINK ON THESE THINGS:
So I'm not alone! I'm not a spiritual orphan. Jesus has given me the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, counsel, and strengthen me in every situation of life!

 

 

You Are NEVER Alone

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.— Hebrews 12:1

At times you may have wondered, Has anyone else ever experienced the kinds of problems I've experienced, or am I out here all alone?

Who cares what Hebrews 11 says about the awesome predicaments people were in and how faith got them through.  All these Old Testament stories about struggling and waiting on God to see them through, baaa hum bug. 

So what, they had to challenge their faith.  Yeah, but they never gave up!  They endured great hardship before they received a victory!  That Got My Attention!

We are not alone,  "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).

Come on… the Bible is piled high with people who stood in faith and endured difficulties in order to do the will of God. We are surrounded on every side with powerful examples of people who were challenged in their faith, yet who held fast to the Word of God. And as a result, saw God's promises come to pass in their lives!

Just as well as our own….  May we become a witness to others so they can withstand and come through trials….May you inspire me to continue on may I inspire you to what God has for me.

You are not alone!

• Look at Noah and the fight he endured.
• Look at Abraham and the fight he endured.
• Look at Sarah and the fight she endured.
• Look at Jacob and the fight he endured.
• Look at Joseph and the fight he endured.
• Look at Moses and the fight he endured.
• Look at Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets and the fight they all endured.
  
  According to Hebrews 12:1, there are so many people who fit this description that they are literally all around you.. And don't think you can only look to the Bible for these godly examples.. If you look closely, you'll see that there are huge numbers of these "never-give-up" kind of people living on this earth right now as well. You are not alone in your walk of faith!
• Look at Dick and Dianne overcoming illness, financial struggles…..
• Look at Nancy overcoming life's trials
• Look at Paul and Brenda
• Look at Charlene overcoming a near fatal accident
• Look at Felice

Get the gist of what is happening… We are all living out the Biblical Principals and acquiring those promises He has for us.

Don't let stinking thinking or others tell you that you're the only one who has faced this kind of circumstance, because many have gone before you who have faced the same battles and won great victories. If you'll commit a few minutes of your time to read Hebrews 11, I believe you'll find that your battle isn't worse than the battles these saints fought and won. Reading these verses will encourage your heart!

Don't give up nor give into defeat.  Hard times will pass, and hard times are sure to come.  When all else fails….stand and stand you will firmly in and on the Word and you will see the Lord do mighty works in your life.  Remember you are not alone, for Christ Himself is carrying you through!