Sunflower Faith

Archive for March 10, 2009

10 Mar 2009

Prayer Request for a Friend

I heard from a friend of mine and she had a PET scan regarding a mass in her lung. She wrote,

The doctor’s office called and the PET Scan results are in. It still LOOKS like cancer, but we walk by FAITH, not by SIGHT. At least that’s my motto for today.

Isn’t that an awesome outlook to have!

Please keep my dear friend, Melly in your prayers as she waits to hear from her pulmonologist.

We talk offline and on, she texts me pretty much every other day if not more and, wow, she is a walking testament of faith and trust in our Heavenly Father.

Melly, love you girl and your faith and trust in our Heavenly Father.

She was with me in prayer and text when I was going through a personal scare regarding cancer and I am praying to our Heavenly Father, that He keeps her in love and comfort and sees her through this.

Sunflower Faith | No comments | Tags: prayer request

10 Mar 2009

"Christian Life"

Things had come up today, that caused un-necessary words to be said and with the use of emails, unfortunately, once a send button is submitted, it’s hard to take back words that are said or add words that should be said.

My heart is hurting because of someone, I had called a friend, and I wanted to address some things that had been troubling me for a few months and with one email, a flurry of emails were sent.

Is it true like it is said, that “The very first sign of a very good friend, not necessarily a true friend is that we are not worried about courtesies. You will call your friend at any hour and talk without any thought of time in your mind. Similarly, whenever you need support, you will call a very good friend and ask him/her to help you out. They expect the same from you.-Friendship, Who is a True Friend?”

It’s hard not to feel hurt when the intention was to share what was weighing on my heart and yet to get the reaction was unexpected and it really deeply hurt me.

Another important trait of such relations is that we are not much worried about exposing ourselves. We speak about everything in our mind without worrying about what our friends will think. We are sure that they will take our talk in the spirit it was made. We are unguarded and open with friends in our talk.A true friend is a little more than a very good friend. A true friend will support you even if it hurts his/her own interest.-Friendship, Who is a True Friend?”

I apologize to them, due to no intention of wanting to be offensive and ask for forgiveness, but it bothered me deeply the reaction.

Looking for understanding, I came across this article, “Good Friends Should Argue” by, Larry Lilly that said,

“”One of life’s most underestimated treasures is the rich friendship between those who care enough to argue. In my friendship with God, amidst the grace and mercy sometimes it’s the occasional rebuke that most reminds me that I am loved.”

True biblical friendship is not all syrupy sweet, nor saccharin laced, but it often has a little vinegar in the cup. The stinging rebuke of a friend is often a call from above to get your act together and thus be saved from some really humiliating consequences. Paul wanted to go one place, but his close friend, God, would not permit the trip. The principle is simple, “A true friend realizes the risk and takes it to help a friend with advice he may not want to hear.”

There is risk in that, not being God, we could be wrong, therefore we should NOT be ticked off when a friend does not take our advice. Hey, we can try, but we have to acknowledge that we are NOT God. And a friend, if we are right in our thoughtful warning to a friend, NEVER says, “I told you so.”

That we told our friend so is burning in his/her mind and heart and the dread of you pointing out your advice in the past is enough without you actually doing it.

Lillian Daniel points out the Jesus did NOT choose His friends from some perfect circle. Friends are NOT piston rings and therefore they are not perfect, and we, like Jesus must accept this, and furthermore we must accept that unlike Jesus, we have no mechanism wherewith we can make them perfect. God through Christ is working on that.

The scriptures are replete with references to God as our friend as He was to Abraham. Jesus takes it a step further and teaches that all who are his friends are to get with the program and take up His cross and follow.

The ultimate designation of Christ as our friend is given in Proverbs 18:24 “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” This thought is further expounded in Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

What to do when out of no intention to be offensive, but trying to be honest about what is laying in one’s heart, it’s receive with a reception that lays more doubts and hurtfulness than what was intended.

Make it more difficult, how does a Christian react or do?

There is not much to do at this point, but leave it to God now in prayer and hopes that it can be understand there was no ill intent or intent of offensiveness, and if the friendship is just not meant to be, it’s just not meant to be and can be handle, without a word of wars, but rather with peaceful acknoweledgement.

The minefield of friendship is difficult and wrought with blow-ups, but as Christians too, sometimes we have to take a step back and remember as well, the person on the other side, is human too.

They have things going on in their lives and and they have emotions too.

AllAboutGod.com defines true friendship as,

True friendship involves action: doing something for someone else while expecting nothing in return; sharing thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or negative criticism…..True friendship requires certain accountability factors. Real friends encourage one another and forgive one another where there has been an offense. Genuine friendship supports during times of struggle. Friends are dependable. In true friendship, unconditional love develops. We love our friends no matter what and we always want the best for our friends.

Despite asking for forgiveness and apologies, at this rate, not sure what else to do, except the ultimate, Give it to God now and trust Him.

If we sometimes offend a friend without meaning to, God’s Word offers a solution. It’s called forgiveness. There is no greater example than the love of God for us. It so great that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in order that our friendship with God might be restored. He did that in spite of the fact that we have offended Him deeply. We have disobeyed His commands, turned our backs on Him, and followed our own path. So the question remains: What type of friend do you want to be? True Christian friendship forgives.-AllaboutGod.com

I’m interested to hear your thoughts and advice.

Sunflower Faith | 2 comments | Tags: friendship

10 Mar 2009

"Christian Life" • General Musings

Begone Wallflower….or maybe not…

2 Timothy 1:7 (New International Version)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

I would love to be a lion, but I feel like a mouse.

I would love to be the center of a floor dancing, but I’m clinging to the wall as awallflower.

I want to roar…but I can barely manage a squeak.

Uhm…why me? What good am I Lord if I have two left feet?

I’m pretty shy and very introverted;Social situations terrify me, because I’m afraid of what to say or what people will think of me;Say a word to me and I’m a blubbering mess or I do the wrong things (or at least I think I do) and I say the wrong things to the point, I just want to hide in a corner.

As I listen to my pastor’s sermon, this past weekend, this verse just leaped out and burned in my mind and soul and all I could think is,”Uhm…not me; That’s not me. Can I go hide now?”, but no matter what…I’ve been thinking about this verse ALL day and ALL night that I felt compelled to just write about it.

Even now I second guess myself the reason why.We all feel that.

Second guessing.

Self-questioning.

Doubts.

Worries.

For me, trying to understand, what does God want with me and what use am I to Him when I feel like a nobody sometimes and even then, not really worth for Him being use.

“Really, Lord,” I ask Him,”Me? Seriously? What do I have to offer that is of any worth? I’m just a broken vessel.”

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:10 (KJV)

We all have had those moments;Even a devotional, I had read seem to drive it home,

“Many women are living in silent defeat, comparing themselves to other women who are living in secret defeat. I’m not a good mother. I’m not a good wife. I’m not a good Christian. I’m not a good witness. I’m not a good housekeeper. I’m not a good decorator. I’m not a good cook. I’m not a good …. Women are caught in a cycle of the “I’m not good enoughs.” One by one, the petals fall from the beautiful flower God created us to be. Like ticker tape, our fragmented pieces of confidence litter the streets like the Macy’s parade passing by. -From Girlfriends in God, Wednesday, January 28,2008″

It’s a challenge when dealing with situations like this as a Christian woman as to what to do?Hide?Squeak a little more softer?Where’s the bed covers…I think I’m going to dart under them.

No.The truth is…THAT is not the life that our Heavenly Father has for ALL of us.

2 Timothy 1:7 (New International Version)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Not really comforting words for someone who is quick to hide in the corner like me, but as I listen to the pastor word’s talking about the importance of getting out of the rafters and moving forward into the circle of fellowship with not only our brothers and sisters, but just everyone around us, it just really struck home, how I allow my walk with our Heavenly Father get stunted.

How is that a victory for our Heavenly Father there?

It’s not….is it.

I feel like I don’t have a voice or that it matters and even then, I allow myself to be limited by being afraid what other people will or rather, MIGHT, think and in the process, I’m stunting myself as well letting my Heavenly Father down, by NOT getting His word out to those who need them.

How are those who don’t know the word of God, know the Word of God, if we care more about what people will think of us or in some cases, get too wrapped up in what “WE” are thinking then stopping and thinking….wait…How is this (or not) helping someone who, through and in Jesus Christ, we can be used by Him, to reach….them?

We’re afraid to offend someone and maybe that next someone is someone who is hungry to know the word of God and we had that opportunity but missed it because the situation was not “safe” for us.

Or, maybe, like I feel sometimes, so terrified of being hurt, that we say nothing at all, and miss an opportunity by our Heavenly Father to use a situation or person, to maybe answer a prayer we have or a need we have?

I know when faced in situations like this, I’ve GOT to turn more to scripture.

Some scripture that I have looked up and felt is worth not only writing down on post it notes, highlight in my bible but MEMORIZE are the following:

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Psalm 55:22-Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Proverbs 3:25-26 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

I so long to feel more brave and less afraid; More extroverted and less shy.

That’s easier said and done, but if I am going to experience faith versus just proclaiming it, I owe it in humble obedience to our Heavenly Father to find ways to strive toward that and living that.

We always have a long way to go; It’s a journey.

Our Heavenly Father knows our heart though (Psalm 139:1-4) and if we are truly trusting of Him and honest with Him (Matthew 5:8; James 4:8) We are not in it alone.

And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. ~1 Corinthians 28:9

He’s there….Every step of the way.