Personal God

     As I considered what to post this week, I decided to post what I am currently working on. As I have dealt with issues the past few weeks, I went back to a writing from several years ago. I have found that there is a deeper meaning to a Personal God. When we allow God to deal with our hearts, he gives us a deeper understanding of who he is. I know as time goes on a Personal God will become deeper still. Journey with me as I share what a Personal God meant to my life then, and I share a much deeper understanding for today. God is not only my Personal God, but, he is yours also. Hard to grasp, that the creator of all, is concerned about my life and deals with me on a personal level as he does everyone. God will meet you where you are at, and take you where there is no pain or sorrow, but, peace, joy, and love and give you a life in eternity with him.

Yesterday I planned to post this, but,ran out of time. We went to the Sight and Sound Theater in Branson to see Joseph, with our youngest son and his dear friend Laurie. What an amazing show. I thought about this writing after the show, it fits so well. It was about forgiveness and our personal heart attitudes when we have been wronged or mistreated. How did we respond, did it bring glory to God?


                                                              Personal God


   One of the hardest things I had to learn was that God is a very Personal God.. When dealing with me concerning any situation, He is concerned with my response, actions, reactions, and my attitude. What was my behavior? That is what I must answer to Him for. In my humanity, I yell, "But I was the one hurt, I am the one that was done wrong. Deal with them, it is not my fault. I want justice, I'll be OK once You deal with them." But God looks into my heart and asks, "Did you glorify Me with your response? I'll deal with them, but in My time, not yours. At this moment, I am concerned about you." That is hard to grasp and most of the time does not seem fair. Yet, I can be comforted that He is concerned just about me. It is hard to take in that God is one on one with each of us, every moment of our lives, God is a Personal God.
   I was once approached after a support group meeting by a person who wanted to talk to me. They felt they could trust me and asked if I would help them find a sponsor. They shared with me a major behavioral issue, wanted to know if there was someone in the group that had medical training and would be willing to work the twelve-step program with them. I wanted to run from the room; I did not even want to talk to them. I just sat there stunned. Suddenly, the Lord spoke directly to my heart. I turned to see who else was in the room and had spoken. It was clear, He said, "Brenda, accept them as a person, not their behavioral problems. Their problems are My business not your."
     I was able to talk with them and knew someone that had medical training and would help them. They were grateful and were able to connect with a sponsor. I learned a major lesson from the Lord that day; I can accept anyone as a person, without accepting their problems or the sin they have committed. That is God's business. Those are two different issues. Their problems are none of my business. How I treat them is and that is what God will deal with, concerning me. Did my  response to them glorify God?
     My behavior, my attitude, and my response should always bring glory, honor, and praise to my Lord. The lost are looking to me for acceptance.They want me to acknowledge that they are a person too. Accept a person and let God deal with the sin and problems in their life.
     I wrote this several years ago and have worked on it from time to time. Thought I was finished, but the last few weeks, I have taken another look at my Person God. I saw a deeper reality.
     When my Lord and Savior was on earth as a human, God did not give Him a free pass, but expected Him to deal with life as I do. When it came to people calling Him names, it was His response to them that mattered most to God. How did He glorify his Father? Did He respond in anger and whine or accept with the grace of love and forgiveness, those that slandered His name and ministry? He showed grace in love and forgiveness for His enemies.
     Luke 2:49 And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?  KJB "Authorized Version" , Cambridge Edition
     How did Christ respond when accused of being evil? He showed grace in love and forgiveness. When He faced satan in the dessert for forty days, His Heavenly Father was more concerned with His response to satan, than He was of the lies satan was telling. Christ knew He must be about His Father's business.
     As our Lord and Savior was arrested, tried, beaten, and crucified on the cross, it was His response to those involved that mattered to God. Did He glorify His Heavenly Father? I think we would all respond, "YES" He glorified His Father.
     It is impossible for me to keep the Ten Commandments. Only Christ was able to do that. What I can do, respond to others with the grace of  love and forgiveness. It is in my response and actions I take towards others that God is most concerned about. That is where God can be glorified and honored. I can respond to evil with evil or hate with hate. I can become bitter, resentful, angry, and unforgiving, but it would not honor God or bring Him glory.
     Do I feel cheated when others get discounts and free passes, but I never do? God never promised me entitlements here on earth. My entitlements are awaiting in Heaven. So great is His gifts awaiting me that my minds cannot fathom what is to come.
    It is learning to respond to others with the grace of love and forgiveness, that God has poured into my life that shows I have His love in me.We are all sinners, some of us thankfully, recognize that and turned to God for forgiveness and seek a personal relationship with Him.
     To a degree I can obey the Ten Commandments. Some are easy or I think they are. What Christ had to deal with as a man, and what I must deal with is my heart attitude. Is It lined up with God? Do I show the same grace of love and forgiveness that my Heavenly Father has shown to me? Our Lord and Savior chose to follow His father, that is something I can do. Love my enemies and those that have hurt me, as my Savior taught me by example. I can have peace in my hearts and say, "It is well with my soul." God's grace will always take me deeper still if I will allow Him to work in my hearts. As I grow in the knowledge and wisdom of God, the Holy Spirit will grow stronger in my life.


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The Race

     Today I want to share about the race of life. Who is in control? Who are you following? We are in a race that ends when Christ returns for his own. We daily fight an enemy that only has destruction for us. Know who you follow and why. I continue my journey with my eyes on God, knowing I cannot face the trials of this life without him. Learn to know what it means to say, "It is well with my soul."  Run the race with God leading.



                                                                       The Race


     Satan had made a race out of life, to see how many lives he can destroy. Often we are told  to stand firm in our faith. Some will say, "I can't." They run from their problems, others deny they even have a problem. A few ill stand and hold onto God. Others stand firm, but, keep God at arms length. Many times we run ahead of  God looking for our own answers. We have little patience to wait on God. All we can see is destruction ahead, as we continue in the race that Satan is leading.
     Then, one day we hear, "Stand and know that I am God." Stand still /stand firm, doesn't sound much different. When you stand firm, as I have often done, we are rigid and stiff, almost in a stance of arrogance.  Grabbing at anything to help us stand. But, when we stand still, we are relaxed and at peace. We feel safe and unafraid. That is when God can step ahead of us and we can see Him working in and through our lives. The struggle to run the race is no longer a burden for us. God is the Victor and the race, we know he has already won.


     Ephesians 6:10-11 KJV
    Finelly, my brethern, be strong in the Lord,and in the power of his might. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.



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The Good and The Bad Alike

     As I thought about what to post today, I looked at the news. So much bad news is shared but little good news. It seems that the bad behavior and evil doers are rewarded. The Good and The Bad Alike, is what I've chosen to share. Whether we as Christians  like it or not, God does pour out his blessings on the good and the bad. Sometimes the bad people actually follow the principles of God better than a Christian does. I have to stop and ask, where do I stand, following Godly principles. I've got some work to do in my life. Go with me as I share why God blesses The Good and The Bad Alike.



                                                     The Good and The Bad Alike


     Often we see only the ugliness of this world and ask. "How could a loving God allow what is happening today?" The homeless number is growing larger everyday and so many are families. With much suffering and no place to lay the heads in safety. Yet, there are others with great riches, that they waste on the pleasures of life. Many of them will say, "I have nothing to spare!"
    People with sickness and pain, no doctor to see or even the means to pay for medications they need. Some have great beauty but use it to disgrace, full of arrogance and pride. A child goes unfed, another born with an addiction. Many are used to be thrown away for the sickness of sexual addiction. Sadly, to many times the guilty still walk free on the streets, seeking their next victim. Even worse, to many little ones never have a chance, their lives taken through abortion. Then someone asks in anger, "How could a loving God allow it to happen."
     God loves everyone of is! The good and the bad alike. He will not force us to accept and love him. We must surrender our will to him freely, whether we are homeless, wealthy, or in between.  The plain, those with great beauty, deserving or not, he loves each one. He knows every heartache and pain, every sin committed throughout the past generations and the generations to come. He is grieved and saddened because of what man has done with his free will, but still, he must allow man to have his own way. God gave each one of us a free will. the freedom to make our own choices. So often we will hear someone say, "I'll do it may way." We throw God away for the pleasure of today. We are born with a deep desire in our hearts to seek for God, but as we take charge of our free will, we ignore the calling God sends our way. The enemy of God is the one we to often seek and we serve. Sin and sickness will drive many to an early grave. Yet, we dare to ask, "How could a loving God allow it to happen."
     The blessings God pours out is often unseen. Blessings to the good and the bad alike, for there is no difference made. It is only those that have surrendered their lives to God, that has immeasurable blessings, grace, peace, and freedom. Each one of us, he seeks and beckons to share in his life. He alone holds the true freedom we all seek. A personal relationship in love is what God desires with each one of us.
    The good and the bad alike, we all fall short of deserving  the forgiveness and love of God, but his grace is always reaching out to the good and the bad alike. He will seek for each one until they take their dying breath. How could a loving God allow what has happened in this world, how could he allow anything else. He desires that not one of is should parish, but live eternally in heaven as his child.



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