thekingdomcomes's Xanga

Contentedness

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:02:53 GMT

We are always in different stages in life. We pass from one stretch of the journey into another one. From childhood to adulthood, from singleness to marriage, from marriage into parenthood. Then there are different stages even yet. Life is full of stages - we are all at different places along the journey. Are we content with where God has us?

In singleness there was the waiting and the need to be content with where God had me. And now as a married woman I find the need to be content where I am as a wife and without a baby in my arms. No matter what part of the journey I am there will always be the need to wait, to be content with where God has me.

The best way to really truly be content is if our identity is not in who we are, not in our position, job, vocation, status - but if our identity is in Christ.

If my identity is in being a wife - then my identity is not in Christ. If my identity was in being a mother - then my identity would not be in Christ.

I cannot be satisfied in life with the way others see me, with my status in any area of my life. Even when there is man's approval it is only fleeting. If I was to live for my own selfish goals - the joy would be fleeting. One cannot be satisfied with these things. The only way to be really content is to be satisfied in Christ, in who He is, in who I am in Him and in what He is calling me to do this very moment. And this is true and will be true all through out my life. It doesn't get easier once you are married, and I'm sure it doesn't get easier when one has kids.

If Christ is at the center of our lives and if we are secure and satisfied with who we are in Him - we can be satisfied with where we are along the journey.

"...For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." Philippians 4:11

Satisfied when money is tight.
Satisfied with our work
Satisfied with our callings
Satisfied with life
Satisfied in Christ

Thunder Storms

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:13:26 GMT

Bring out the Child in Me

Now this may surprise some - wouldn't I get tired of the rain in Oregon? Well yes. But you see normal Oregon rain is drizzly, gray, never-ending... just enough to be very annoying. That is mostly the winter months (extending into the Fall and Spring though). And it has been several days, (if not more than a week, which is a long time to us) since we've had rain at least that I can remember. This rain was different than our typical rain however. It was drenching, cooling the hills from what had been 79° humid day. Big cold droplets like mini water balloons soaking and cooling you off, falling rapidly and in great succession, with a blowing wind characteristic of a storm. This is the kind of rain I get childish about. It is to me like playing in God's own sprinkler. :) Yes this is the rain that brings my childish heart pure joy to dance in. It is one of the many facets of beauty that my Father has created for me to joy in as I rejoice in the Creator - the Sender of this spectacular thunder storm. And this one was especially perfect as most the day had been hot and muggy and the rain itself was so cold and drenching. Let me tell you of the beauty of this perfect thunderstorm.

It was a glorious thunderstorm, with big drenching rain drops, fast and furiously falling, and a wind, with a thundering accord, making this musical beauty called a "Thunder Storm". I ran out to enjoy the rain and my husband followed this crazy girl outside for a few minutes, as I just stretched out my arms lifted up my head and let the rain come pouring down on me. The cold felt so good. He eventually retreated to the back door, laughing at my enthusiasm to watch me as I proceeded to dance and do cartwheels in the rain, giddy with excitement. Dancing to the music of the rain. May I tell you of the beautiful music the rain made?

The rain hit the pine tree leaving a constant flow of drips from the end of pine needles, with beautiful beads of water at the end of each one as the music played on. The rain fell down on the truck splashing as it hit, made lots tin clatter on the shed roof, made a soft patter on the grass, a slightly louder pitter-patter on the gravel driveway, and a splish-splash on the road, making the most beautiful music. And I joined in the dance - of the trees and bushes and grass which were all moving with the wind from which swelled up a beautiful rushing sound as if they were all alive. Rumbling the very air and earth, echoing in the hills came the deep base of thunderclaps, like the cannons in Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture they joined the grand overture I heard all around me. And I listened and danced to the beauty around me soaking it all in - literally. :)

Eventually quite soaked I joined my husband just inside the door and watched and listened to the Overture, snuggling my wet head into his chest as he wrapped his arms around my wet frame to add some warmth. We watched the lightening light up the sky like fireworks, and the rain splash on the truck, and the droplets roll off the pine needles in quick succession - always leaving another drop hanging at the tip as if the droplets had never fallen. It was such a beautiful sight, and such beautiful music.

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling/mighty thunder,
Thy pow'r thru-out the universe displayed!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Love is

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:56:12 GMT

I recently had a discussion with someone on sacrifice in marriage. The ideals of this person is that everyone is an individual, adults and that a healthy marriage would never call for one to do anything they didn't feel like, or want to do. Even massaging a husband's sore muscles if one did not feel like doing it would be wrong in her moral mindset of a healthy "relationship". It was very amazing to me, I cannot imagine her world. That world seems lonely to me.

Every day there is constant self sacrifice in marriage. I found marriage to be a major eye opener into how selfish I as an individual can be.

What is love if there is no self sacrifice?

Self sacrifice is a beautiful thing. Not always easy - but very beautiful. And I propose that perhaps, there can be no love without dying to ones self, laying down of one's personal "rights" for another. It is part of the harmonious relationship of marriage. Yes it involves both parties giving of his/her own time, energy, and laying down his/her will. Sometimes it's as simple as my husband warming up the covers on my side of the bed while I take out my contacts (isn't that sweet?). Sometimes the self sacrifice is much greater like moving half way across the country, or all the way around the world if it comes to it.

Marriage is not a 50% contract, it's not a business relationship, or two adults living together autonomously for selfish reasons. That is not love. Love involves giving on one's self, giving up your personal rights. It is beautiful, one of the most, if not the most beautiful things on earth. Love is giving. Love is selfless. This is the beauty of love. Without this selflessness love is nothing, I don't think it can really exist (except for love of self).

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13

Oh ye of little faith

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:20:15 GMT

I was worried about money issues yesterday and got upset, over-analyzed things like I do. We had *just* enough to pay what was necessary but groceries were going to be tight again... Saturday when I got the mail another check came, one we knew was coming, but not when it would arrive.
And I was rebuked and had to apologize to my husband for the previous day. It was as if God was telling me how foolish I was to get so upset, and worried... When it was all in His hands. I can scrimp and be careful, and budget, and be as frugal as I can and that is good as a wife, but when money gets in the way of relationships it is not a good thing, and when I worry rather than trusting God. I felt as if He said "See Elizabeth, I already had this coming to you and you had nothing to worry about."

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34

Worry is definitely one of the weaknesses that perhaps especially women can have. I know I struggle with it far more than I wish to admit. We can worry ourselves sick, of things that may never happen and may even be far stretched, or thinks that are likely but either way worry is not what we are commanded to be as Christians, as women, or as men. God is faithful, and we are told not to be anxious, not to worry, but to trust our needs to God.

And we went grocery shopping for the week yesterday with a meals carefully planned out for the week, and splurged on a pizza for dinner in celebration of the check. Thank you God. :)

Father make me a woman of faith, not of worry, not driven by worry,or anxiety, but walking always in faith. You are my faithful Father.

Meditation

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:02:05 GMT

By Lois Cheney

I believe
that Meditation is a lost art.

They talk about meditation
in the Old Testament
some.

They talk about meditation
in the New Testament
a little.

They talk about meditation
in the present time
not at all.

Today,
we have all kinds of
other things
to do.

We sing and pray and listen
in God's house,
together.

We worship and fear and love
in God's house
together.

We think and talk and worry
in lots of houses
together.

We feel good and bad and so-so
in lots of houses
together.

I wonder, if he wanted to,
if he really, really
wanted to

Whether he could be heard what with all the
singing
and praying
and talking
and feeling good
and feeling bad
and feeling so-so.

I think God talks
in whispers,
in tiny
little
whispers,

And to hear a tiny
little whisper, you
must be very, very
silent.
and very, very
alone,
and open.

And that is what I believe
meditation
is.

And it is a lost art
And that makes
God
a lost art.

But, I believe
that somewhere
he whispers,
waiting for someone
to
meditate
and hear.

Lois Cheney - God Is No Fool. Abingdon Press 1969

Hearts to Apples

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:05:52 GMT

I've been making and canning apple sauce and apple pie (yum!) Enjoying the fall season.
Many wormy apples that were given to me. Well rather I picked them up, but they were given nevertheless. I was peeling and slicing more apples today. Sorting through my bag of apples that are left scrounging up for an apple pie for desert tonight.

This apple was very firm, not bruised or overripe feeling or like it was rotting from worms... I didn't even notice a worm hole - but as soon as I sliced into it after peeling it (no evidence there either) I discovered that it was quite riddled by a little worm. :( I couldn't even salvage a slice!

It got me to thinking about white washed tombs as Jesus talked about. Sometimes what looks perfect on the outside, doesn't mean that the inside is all clean, or isn't riddled with worm trails.

Are you whole or worm ridden? Sin eats away at us like the worm, and while we can maintain a facade of being "good" on the outside for a while, it won't hold up. And when the rubber meets the road, or the knife cuts to the heart - how good you look doesn't matter.

This is rather short - I have a pie to finish making. I hope to be blogging more.

almost a year

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:19:38 GMT

We've been married 11 months, and 11 days, it's been quite the adventure. And it is like another grade in God's school, some review, some new things, some things you *thought* you understood, and now realize you didn't, or maybe you did, but it was a on a different level being single. Marriage changes a lot. It is like another grade in God's school. You think you have things figured out, and then you don't, and it feels like you are learning everything over again, but different.

Marriage in no way makes one perfect, or more mature... in fact it seems to point out to you your need for growth, how childish and selfish you can be... and how much you don't know.

Good, Trustworthy and Faithful

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:56:50 GMT

Sometimes things I've written on this blog, God has brought me back to, reminding me of lessons past and present.

Good, Trustworthy, and Faithful
by thekingdomcomes

The night sets in and the darkness closes down around me.
I feel alone but yet I know I'm not for You, O Lord are with me.
To this promise I will cling, I will raise my voice and sing:
For You are Good,
You are Trustworthy,
You are always Faithful
I will not fear, for You are with me.

The storm has come and destroyed this lovely castle of my dreams
The ground gives way underneath my trembling feet, I start to fall
But You are guiding my steps, and I will not be cast down
For You are Good,
You are Trustworthy,
You are always Faithful
I will not be ashamed for You hold me.

To the God who has been and is and will forever more be:
You are the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob,
Your covenant You've kept faithful to all generations
For You are Good,
You are Trustworthy,
You are always Faithful
I will place my confidence in You.

The falling rain reminds me of Your Faithfulness, Oh Father.
Cleansing, Refreshing, Making the world anew.
Take my heart, my hands, my mind, cleanse my soul, pour out Your grace!
For You are Good,
You are Trustworthy,
You are always Faithful
I am made clean and whole in You.

I am weak, I am empty, I am helpless without You.
I need You Lord, to give me strength, and fill me with Your Spirit.
Dead to self, alive to God, I have nothing to offer.
For You are Good,
You are Trustworthy,
You are always Faithful
I am dead, that You may live in me.

O Lord, I pray You take me now: pour out Your Spirit upon me.
All my desires, all my dreams, all of my gifts and my ambitions;
Not my will but Thine, I'm Yours; I give you all of me:
For You are Good,
You are Trustworthy,
You are always Faithful
I hold nothing back, You gave all for me.

In the dawn a new hope rises: a new day, a new beginning.
A rainbow in the fog reminds me that Your promise is for ever
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and does not doubt:
For You are Good,
You are Trustworthy,
You are always Faithful
I will hope in the dawn of the coming day.

So here's another peek into one child's journey in the Kingdom.
A friend Abigail (asourceofjoy), has written music for the song -
She made a recording with her sisters and a friend here: - Good, Trustworthy, Faithful Song
Or down load the sheet music with words here - Sheet Music

Perfect Peace

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:34:19 GMT

"You will keep him in perfect peace,
      Whose mind is stayed on You,
      Because he trusts in You. "
Isaiah 26:3

Peace is not based on what is going on around me - but by abiding. It is not whether my circumstances are great, or whether they are stormy... but peace is when in the midst of a storm - HE is my focus.

"Trust in the LORD forever,
   for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock." vs 4

Peace is being anchored on the Rock.

May He be your vision and your focus and may your mind be stayed by and on the Rock of Jesus Christ.

Narnian Air

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 21:53:16 GMT

"I don't think Edmond would have had a chance if he had fought Trumpkin twenty-four hours earlier. But the air of Narnia had begun working upon him ever since they arrived on the island, ad all his old battles came back to him, and his arms and fingers remembered their old skill. He was King Edmond once more." Prince Caspian pg 100

Breathing the air of Narnia, a schoolboy became not just in title, but in strength, stature, ability; who he really was: a king of Narnia.

King (or queen), priestess, a warrior maiden matron,... However, I am none of these things, in strength, ability, stature,... if I am not breathing deeply of His presence. I am as much of a schoolgirl then as Edmond a schoolboy of England. If I am not living in His Presense, breathing and drinking of it, all is naught.

I fell flat on my face again, frustrated, and knew where I ought to be. I knew I was functioning in my own strength again rather than His grace. I knew without His grace I was powerless... I was so discouraged because I knew what was, I knew where I had been, and I knew - that though things might have looked alright on the outside I wasn't where I needed to BE. And it wasn't a matter of "doing"... But how to get back to where I needed to BE?

The old religious Liz would have worked harder, given into more religious zeal, tried to do more... In order to be what I thought I should be in the Kingdom, in order to be who I am told I am in Scripture...

I know what my identity is in Christ, I know who I am in Christ. I have seen Him do things, and I know the power of living in His presence. I know my identity in Christ and it is real.

But I cannot be there unless I am breathing in deeply of His Presence.

I can do all things through CHRIST who dwells in me.

But how can I minister if I am not breathing? If I am not breathing I am as good as dead. If I am not being filled with His presence, drinking Him in how can I be so filled as for Christ to be working through me. For if it truly is no longer I who lives, but Christ who dwells in me. I cannot walk in my own strength, in my own flesh, in my own "ability"... I must be breathing deeply of His presence or I have lost my strength. I need to be filled and being filled; in order for Christ to pour out of me to do His will in and through me.

Unless it is Christ in me, I run in vain. I fight as one who beats the air with his sword.

Unless it is Christ in me,...

I can pray in vain— for there is not the power of relationship in the words I speak
I fight in vain— for I have no power
I work in vain— what profit is in it?
I minister in vain— for it is then no longer real ministry
I live in vain— for what is life, apart from Abundant Life?

I have no ability to do the work of the Kingdom, if I am walking in my own strength.

Rather, I see now, that it is not who I am, but who Christ is, and who I am in Christ. And I cannot "do" something to become that. I need to be. Be in Him. Be in His Presence. Be breathing deeply of Him. So that I can be filled. So that Christ in me is who I am.

I won't even pretend to act as what I am not. If it is not flowing from my relationship, if it is not because I am breathing His presense - it is naught.

I again need to be breathing so deeply of Him, His presence so that I can be filled with Him and He may do through me all. For truly I can do nothing with out Christ, and I can do all through Christ in me.

Father just let me be in Your presence. Let me breath you in. May Your breath fill my lungs, and the oxygen of You give strength to my body. May it be nothing but You in me. I want to again drink of Your Life in all it's fullness and I want that Life, the relationship we had. I know I can't do it. I just want You, and nothing but You.