All is well.

An occurrence of several years ago saddened me each time I remembered it.  A lovely chain of events seemed to end in a pile of poo. 

I recently learned, however, the apparent pile of poo was a catalyst from which a wonderful event occurred.  I now feel honored to have been part of the process.  End from beginning, it was actually amazing!

This is how God works. End from beginning, all is well. (Read the story of Joseph, Genesis 37:1-Genesis 50:20)

I love this life!

 Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

"We have heard that God is with you."

Zechariah 8:23 (Amplified Bible) - "Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men out of all languages of the nations shall take hold of the robe of him who is a Jew, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."

God is with me.

I treasure our relationship.  

It is a covenant relationship

There are many more languages than there are nations.  Zechariah 8:23 specifies "ten men out of all languages of the nations" will want to go with the person who has covenant with God.  The lessons learned will be told in a language each hearer can understand.

With relationship comes influence.

Something to ponder.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

I've Been Circumcised

Philippians 3:3 (NKJV) -  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

God established circumcision of the flesh as a mark of covenant (alliance, friendship - a relationship of mutual benefit) with Him in Genesis 17.   

Moses tells the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:6 (NKJV) - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

I've been circumcised by God.   

I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Knowing the Heart

^{John 2:23-25 (Amplified Bible)}

But when He was in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, many believed in His name [identified themselves with His party] after seeing His signs (wonders, miracles) which He was doing.

But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all [men];

And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man [needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself knew what was in human nature. [He could read men’s hearts.]

According to Strong's Concordance, the word translated believed in verse 23 is the same as the word translated trust in verse 24.  People put their trust in Jesus because they saw His signs (doings).  Jesus did not put His trust in the people because he knew their hearts.

Simply seeing the good works of Jesus can draw me to Him, but what I see superficially doesn't change my heart.  I need to get to know him, to know His heart. 

When I receive Jesus and learn His heart, not just His works, my heart changes to become a heart Jesus can trust. 

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NKJV) reads, ^"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.   I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."

That's amazing.

I love this life!

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Reactions

Sometimes I will react in a way that leaves me amazed at the wonderful changes God has wrought in me.  Sometimes...I react as the child I was.  

Oftentimes the childish reaction is so practiced, I don't even notice it doesn't line up with who I have become.  

Holy Spirit, point those old reactions out to me.  I know I have been set free from my past. 

"So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free." (John 8:36 Amplified)

I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

True Life

I've been thinking about the viewpoint that all of life, end from beginning is in the process of occurring now (see my recent post, "Now").

As a child of God, because of the completeness of Jesus' salvation, my purity is now, my freedom from sin is now, my righteousness is now.  There may be process and growth involved in living out these truths, but they are true now nonetheless.  

Jesus has given me what He purchased with his life and death.  He kept the commandments - did not sin; end from beginning it's part of His gift to me. I have been grafted into His vine.  His life flows through me.

I don't currently understand the fullness of His gift, but I am no longer who I was.  Though I may make mistakes, sin is not my lifestyle.  Though I may get frustrated with people, hate is not my lifestyle. 

I thank God for this gift of true life.

I love this life! 

Copyright 2012   Leah Lambert Smith

Note - This post came from meditating on 1 John 3.

Contentment

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV)

My current state of contentment was hard won.  Dying to the angst that was my way of life felt as if I was literally dying.  Major surgeries, often with no anesthesia, occurred as my old ways were replaced with new ways.  

I encourage others to let go of their expectations of life and people, and expect God to bring about His exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (see Ephesians3:20).  I don't think to tell them the process may feel like dying.  My current joy so wonderfully eclipses the misery.  

The process is worth it.  I let go of those expectations of my spouse, my children, my friends...  I proceeded through the disappointment that my hopes may never occur, allowing room for the greater to occur.   

Godliness with contentment truly is great gain.

I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Judging You Judges Me

Judging a person does not define who he or she is, it defines who I am.

I'm thinking about this statement today in regards to the people who are closest to me.  It could be a sibling, child or friend, but I'll use my husband (since he's the closest by far) as my example.

If I judge him as unloving, it says I'm wanting love in a way I don't feel I'm receiving it.  If I judge him as selfish, again, I have some unmet wants I'd like to have fulfilled.  If I judge him as disrespectful, I probably have an area of deficiency in my own self-respect.

I cannot change anyone else, but I can deal with the things that concern me.  I can especially deal with them because I have a divine relationship with my God who said He would provide all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

 

I feel free and brave.

I love this life!

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Peace

I don't like drama in relationships. 

That's why our relationship isn't between you and me, it is between God and me.  I ask Him about it.  That way, I have no regrets.  If I suspect you might not be happy with me, I don't run to you to fix it.  I go to God.  I ask Him for wisdom regarding what I should do - if anything - and cast the care of our relationship onto Him.  

It's my desire to have relationship with you in His love.  

Peace.

I love this life!

Copyright 2012   Leah Lambert Smith

Beloved, Let Us Love

1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV):
7) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Verse 7 reads that everyone who loves meets two requirements:
1. They are born of God
2. They know God.

Verse 8 reads that he who does not love meets one requirement:
1. He does not know God.

It’s interesting to notice that you can be born of God and not know God. That is, you can be born of God and not love.

When I saw this years ago, it gave me hope. I believed I was born of God, but seemed to be a failure at living out His love. I had a lot of anger and, frankly, hate. If love is the hallmark of Christianity, the attitudes and behavior of those labeled “Christian” can often be disappointing to themselves and others. 

Love is a fruit of the Spirit, a product of growth.* Romans 5:5 reads that “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” The love is completely there, but begins in seed form. Its fullness (fruit) comes through growth in the knowledge of God. I must allow myself time to know God just as a farmer must allow seed to grow.

James 1:4 reads, “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” We all have different growth rates at different times. My process of growth is uniquely played out between God and me.

Beloved, let us love one another…as well as we each know how…today.

* Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 

Also check out my blog post, True Love, at http://shiyrahthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/05/true-love.html for more on this subject.

Copyright 2012 Leah Lambert Smith

Vision Renewal

I’ve been performing a little check up from the neck up (my mother’s phrase).  

I’m noticing how I spend my time, asking – Does this support my life’s vision?  One, or five, or ten years ago, would I have seen myself doing this today?

Here is what I’m reviewing:
      - My core values, which say who I am.
      - My mission, which speaks of my purpose that comes out  of those core values.
      - My vision, which is what I see myself doing to carry out that mission. 
      - My vision should be supported by a plan with goals.

This process has been enlightening.  I’ve reminded myself of God’s unique call on my life. Some of my activities are fine, but some things I’m doing don’t support my mission at all. 

For example, there are things I’m doing to fulfill an old vision that I’ve realized doesn’t fit me anymore.  My test is – Can I see myself doing this in the future?  Seasons of life change and my vision has changed with them.

I’ve also noticed I’m supporting the visions of others.  That’s fine; we should all support one another, as long as their vision doesn’t go against my mission and doesn’t supersede my vision.  A simple way to think of it is that I, my calling, should be the star of my own life; it’s what I am best equipped to do.  If my calling were to be to support others in their visions, then I should star at that, but I should not try to accomplish the vision of someone else.

The result of this checkup is that I’m letting go of some things and picking up others.  I’m also looking to create synergy with those who have a mission similar to mine. My sense of purpose and hope are renewed.

I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith 

Abundantly Above All

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)    Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 

I've been asking God for His exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ask or think.  I reasoned that anything else I could ask, since I could ask or think it, it had to be too small.  I wanted to live in the fullness of God.

I have received a revelation. 

I already have (drumroll) --- God!

He is the power that works in me. 

How much more exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ask or think could I get?  Right here, at this moment, I have all.

I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Spirit, Breath, Wind

I learned in chemistry class one day that the largest part of anything is space. At least that's how I interpreted what was being taught.  There is space between the nucleus, electrons, etc.  As the structure of atoms and how they join together was being taught, I thought of the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2 tells of a mighty rushing wind entering the room where the disciples were filled with the Spirit of God. Looking in my concordance, I saw that wind and spirit are from the same root word meaning breath.  I imagined the Holy Spirit blowing through each person filling every bit of space with His life.

The Spirit, breath, wind of God has filled my world.

I love this life!

Copyright 2012   Leah Lambert Smith

Valuing The Lost

Luke 15:4, 6  NKJV  (from the parable of the lost sheep)

v. 4 -What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

v. 6 - And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!"

Luke 15:8-9  NKJV (from the parable of the lost coin)

v. 8 - Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

v. 9 - And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!"

Luke 15:24, 32  NKJV (from the parable of the lost son)

v. 24 - " for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." And they began to be merry. 

v. 32 - "It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found."

Luke 15 is all about the value of the lost. Tax collectors and sinners had drawn near to Jesus so they could hear Him. The Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” They didn't value the lost. Jesus then gives 3 examples of the joy people have when that which was lost is found - the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.  

The fact that I call something lost implies that it has value to me.  I don't lament that trash is lost, but I will lament if something I consider valuable is lost in the trash.

Luke 19:10 reads - for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.  

The value Jesus gave the lost was His life.

Reference – I heard my pastor preach that seeking something lost implies that it has great value.  When I read Luke 15 today, I was reminded of his sermon.

 

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Don't Kill Yourself

I tended to be an analytical, critical thinker.  When focused on my life, that kind of thinking would exacerbate the negative.  Pondering my future, I would project that negativity forward...  It was depressing.  I saw no reason to walk into a future with no hope.

I've crossed paths with a lot of critical thinkers lately.  Given the opportunity, I encourage them to never project their perceived present into their future.  Life changes too quickly and easily. 

I prefer to expect the wonders of life to come my way.  Honestly, they often do.

I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Don't Be Like That Child

Keep your eyes upon Me; keep your ears tuned to what I say.
Don't be like that child.  The child that goes on a field trip with his class.  He remains aware of his classmates so that he doesn't feel left behind, but he daydreams and lets his eyes wander all around.  While the rest of the class pays attention to the leader by keeping their eyes upon the leader and keeping their ears tuned to what the leader says, this child doesn't see or hear.  
This child's mother will ask him tonight, "Did you go on the field trip today?"  The child will answer, "Yes, I did."  However, the child has deceived himself.  He was not there for the purpose of the trip.  He was only geographically present.
Don't be like that child.  Keep your eyes upon Me; keep your ears tuned to what I say.
   
This word the Lord gave me years ago keeps coming to my remembrance.  I can get so busy and distracted, but that's not the purpose of this trip.  The purpose is to keep my eyes upon my God and to keep my ears tuned to what He is saying.  

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

 

Lift Your Voices

In a course about the physics of music I learned about each individual's unique voiceprint. Even the best impersonators cannot fool science. The lesson reminded me of an occurence (a God-vision?) which happened many years before. 

It was late at night and I couldn't sleep for the sheer joy of my blessings. I was beside the greatest husband ever. My amazing toddler was asleep in the adjoining room. A precious about-to-be-born child wriggled within me. I was silently singing worship songs and telling God of my thankfulness and joy. 

Suddenly, my body rose from the bed, went up into heaven and - plop! I was standing on a circular riser in a spot which I knew had been designated just for me. The risers went up as far as I could see and went down to a bright light. All around me were various creatures, angels and people praising God together. I couldn't understand what they were singing, but the song I was singing fit right in. 

Overwhelmed by the sights and sounds, my singing wavered.  Until, in the midst of the bright light, God turned his head to the right and said, 

"Do you hear that voice? That's my daughter, Leah. Isn't she beautiful?"

I couldn't believe it! He noticed when my voice joined the throng!

I threw my shoulders back and lifted my head!  I sang as loud and strong as I could!  My God was paying attention to my voice!

I love this life!!! 

Copyright 2012 Leah Lambert Smith

Do I Melt?

My husband's voice melts me.  

I just realized that the voice of God isn't melting me as often as it should.  I hear my friend, my counselor, my king...I'm not hearing my lover.  I have to change that!  

I must protect time and energy to love Him - to sing to Him and dream of Him.  I should always see Jesus as the lover of my soul, as my betrothed.  He died out of love for me.  He lives out of love for me.  I must open my eyes and ears to stay aware of His Love.  End from beginning, that's who He is and this passion is the basis of our relationship.

I should continually experience every blessing of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

I love this life! 

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Hope?

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

Could this scripture be telling me to protect my heart by placing my hope carefully?  Is this a warning to keep me from placing my hope in circumstances, people, etc.?

I will place my hope in the most high God.

I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Needs - Met!

I questioned God regarding a lack I had once felt.  He said I'd forgotten about the lack because He'd been taking care of it.  

I often revisit this insight into the character and love of my Father.  He doesn't always blatantly meet my need.  Sometimes He so gently meets it, I'm unaware of the change. 

It reminded me of a TV show highlighting the tasks servants perform for guests of England's queen.  Their work was generally done behind the scenes.  The guests were often unaware of what was being done because their needs were  anticipated and met before being discerned.

I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Matthew 22:36-40 (Amplified Bible):

³⁶ Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light—which are heavy?]

³⁷ And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).

³⁸ This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.

³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.

⁴⁰ These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

Love God first, then love those around you.  That is how I understood the above Bible verses for most of my life.  However, verse 39 reads to love your neighbor as yourself.  That is, I have a level of love for myself and I should not love my neighbor at a lower level.

That was news to me.  I thought Christianity taught that I was to value myself below that of my neighbor.   However, God doesn't love or value me below anyone else.  He loves us all the same.

I may choose to set another ahead of me, but that is my choice; it doesn’t devalue me.  Service to others is a high calling.  Jesus was a beautiful example of a servant-king, and He would do only what He saw His father do. He set high value on his purpose and did not do things just because some religious idea said that he should.

My life and relationships have become much healthier since I began loving my neighbor as I love myself.   

I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

 6-24-12   Just saw this tweet from a preacher, "J.O.Y.= JESUS first... OTHERS second, YOURSELF last. "  I see what this is trying to say, but God does not put me last.  I agree with Him.

Overcoming Anger

The knot of anger in my gut was incessant.  I overcame it by asking myself this question:

What are you afraid of?

Anger is based in fear.  Naming the fear turns it from some dark, heavy, uncontainable fog into something I can manage.  Comparing the power of the fear to the power of God, who banishes fear - the anger dissipates.

What are you afraid of?

Sometimes I've argued with the question.  I’d explain that I wasn’t afraid of anything.  The problem wasn’t with me but was with a person or situation.  No, the question remains appropriate.  Anger abides within one’s own soul.  I’ve always discovered a fear as the root of my anger. 

What are you afraid of?

I rarely get angry any more.  If I do, I deal with it quickly by asking the magic question.  God's power is always greater.  The anger ebbs away.  Peace is restored.

By the way, the times I struggled to name the fear, I’d ask God for wisdom.  He always enlightened me.

 I love this life.

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Answers, please.

Job 42:1-6 (The Message):

 Job answered God: "I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything.
   Nothing and no one can upset your plans. 
You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water,
   ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?'
I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,
   made small talk about wonders way over my head.
You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking.
   Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.'
I admit I once lived by rumors of you;
   now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!
I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise!
   I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor." 

I try to remember the lessons of Job when I approach God frustrated by my lack of understanding.  I can rest in God's faithfulness regardless of my questions.  Peace says the answers will come or the questions will leave.  Either way is fine.  In God, end from beginning, all is well.

It took some time for me to learn that.  My craving to understand would resist God's peace.  The revelation I seek will come eventually.  The truths of God are not hidden from me but for me.  Job 42:5 in the Amplified version of the Bible reads (Job speaking to God), " I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You."  It's a humbling honor to see the God of love and peace.  Confusion and misunderstanding melt away.

I love this life

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith 
 

I Love This Life.

I love this life.

My life is always changing for the better.  Differences between the life I used to have and the one I live now are profound.  My foundation is the wonder of God. 

To believe or not believe in God wasn’t a complicated decision for me.  I came to a fork in the path and chose this way because it seemed low-risk.  I had nothing to lose, everything to gain (thank you, Jesus).  The more I walked forward, the more committed I became.  I began to know God.  I began to realize that He loves me.  I learned about salvation, righteousness, grace…words that before meant nothing to me.  I learned about the Holy Spirit.  He’s now my teacher and dearest friend.  He’s witty and fun.  He’s also an amazing counselor, always ready to talk.

I love this life.

The changes have not all been easy, but I’m grateful I committed to this path.  Many more opportunities for growth and change and love lie ahead.

I say it all the time -

                              I   love   this   life!

Copyright 2012   Leah Lambert Smith

The Dump

What should I do when someone dumps negativity on me?

        1) Never respond to a negative with a negative.

        2) For those focused on the negative, remind them
            who they are - the beloved of God.

I'm not to judge the dumps.  I'm not to carry them.  I'm to encourage my friend to look up with me.  The negative is minimized when the glorious is maximized. 

If I ever dump on you, please remind me who I am.

I love this life.

Copyright 2012
Leah Lambert Smith

Walls

Hurts in my past left me trusting no one.  I labored over my protective walls adding to their thickness, berating myself when new hurts broke through.  As my walls thickened my life within withered.  In my attempt to survive, I was meticulously creating my tomb. 

But God is life.  He had started a good work in me and He brings His work to completion.  He is the author and finisher of my faith.  I simply had to allow God to do His thing.

Simply?

I had worked hard building my walls.  I felt exposed and vulnerable when letting them go. 

But God is my protection and living freely is divine. 

I love this life!

Copyright 2012
Leah Lambert Smith

Marriage issues?

Ephesians 5:33:
However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]. (Amplified version)

Ephesians 5:33 encourages love and respect.  This gives great insight into maintaining healthy marriages.  Marriages can thrive regardless of the problems they endure as long as the man continues to love his wife and the woman continues to respect her husband.  

For example, a wife is suffering with a debilitating disease.  This is a problem affecting the whole family.  However, it is not a marriage problem unless her husband wavers in his love for her.  A man who is the sole provider for his family loses his job.  This is not a marriage problem unless his wife loses respect for him.

Showering a woman with love is a challenge for most men and consistently respecting a man is a challenge for most women.  Such are the joys of marriage!  It takes diligence to stay aware and provide these needs for your spouse.  

As I practice respecting my husband, it becomes more natural and joyful.  My eyes are now open to how much he deserves my respect.  I am humbled and honored to be married to this great man.

I love this life!

Copyright 2012 
Leah Lambert Smith

I Forgive.

I did not understand forgiveness.  What was I to do with deep emotions of betrayal and anger?

Pastors would preach that forgiveness is an act of my will and if I didn’t forgive others, God wouldn’t forgive me (see Matthew 6:14-15).  In my mind, I’d make a decision to forgive but my heart knew I was still full of bitterness.  My anger increased at the thought that I, the victim of wrongdoing, now deserved God’s unforgiveness!?!  It made no sense!

Until, one day I heard a different teaching on forgiveness.  The idea was to think in terms of forgiving a debt.  The pastor had us ask the question –
                         What does this person owe me?  

It dawned on me that the only thing the unforgiven in my life could owe me was an apology.  I laughed at the absurdity.  There was nothing the unforgiven could do that would undo the harm done to me.  This huge weight I’d carried of anger and bitterness, and the only payment I could receive was an apology.  

I could forgive that debt.  The dark cloud that was so heavy upon me for years shriveled to the size of a gnat which I flicked away.  I learned what forgiveness feels like – FREEDOM!

Knowing truths such as these two scriptures also help me to forgive:

        “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NKJV).

        “The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:10 NKJV)

What good could anyone owe me that has not already been provided through God?

Just to be clear, forgiveness doesn’t mean that I have to trust the ones I’ve forgiven.  This is a good time to ask God for wisdom.  Healthy boundaries are necessary; forgive and forget might not be wise.  However, God’s love covers a multitude of sin and thinks the best of people.  God has miraculously healed my wounds and l hope He has also brought about changes in the lives of those I struggled to forgive. 

So…
Forgiveness:

        Ask – What does this person owe me?  

        Put a name on that debt.  

        Let it go.  Trust God that all your needs are met.
        Walk forth in love.

I love this life!

Copyright 2012 Leah Lambert Smith

*Matthew 6:14-15  (NKJV)      “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Copyright 2012 Leah Lambert Smith

The Secret Place

There are many layers of revelation one can glean from a Bible passage.  This is a layer of revelation from Psalm 91.

 A man was in a public place and didn’t want to bring attention to himself by speaking out loud, so he was silently rebuking Satan.  In the middle of his rebuke, he heard the Holy Spirit.

          Who are you talking to?

          Lord, you see what’s going on here.  I am rebuking Satan.

         You know, he can’t hear you in here.

It dawned on the man that only God is all-knowing.  Satan can’t read his thoughts, so of course he couldn’t hear the rebuke.  The Holy Spirit spoke again.

         I’m the only one who can hear you in here.  This is the secret place of the Most High God.

When I heard this story, I immediately talked to God about it.  It made sense and witnessed to my spirit, but I had never thought of it that way.  I read Psalm 91 in light of our inner thoughts being a secret place to dwell with God.  Wow!

If you’re interested, here’s a link to the Amplified Version of Psalm 91:  

 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2091&version=AMP

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

   

Beloved, Let Us Love

1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV):  
7) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Verse 7 reads that everyone who loves meets two requirements:
     1.  They are born of God
     2.  They know God.

Verse 8 reads that he who does not love meets one requirement:
     1.  He does not know God.

It's interesting to notice that you can be born of God and not know God.  That is, you can be born of God and not love.
 
When I saw this years ago, it gave me hope.  I believed I was born of God, but seemed to be a failure at living out His love.  I had a lot of anger and, frankly, hate.  If love is the hallmark of Christianity, the attitudes and behavior of those labeled "Christian" can often be disappointing to themselves and others.

Love is a fruit of the Spirit, a product of growth.*  It's a process.  Getting to know God is a process.  Naturally speaking, we don't expect great knowledge from newborn babies.  We expect them to grow and learn.  Romans 5:5 reads that "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost."  The love is there, but in seed form.  Its fullness (fruit) comes through growth in the knowledge of God.  

I had to allow myself time to get to know God.  I have patience with myself and others now.  We all have different growth rates at different times.  My process of growth is uniquely played out between God and me.  It is amazing and humbling to know that God wants me to have an intimate knowledge of His love.

Beloved, let us love one another...as well as we each know how...today.

* Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)    ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 

 

6/7/12 - For further understanding, check out my blog post, True Love, at  http://shiyrahthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/05/true-love.html

 

Copyright 2012  Leah Lambert Smith

Do what He's Blessing

It wasn’t my idea to write this blog.  While praying about teaching a class, the idea to write mini-lessons as blog posts dropped into my spirit.  I thought I would write, have others edit.  I wouldn’t have a timeline so my efforts would make it to the blog when they were finally well-written. That was my plan.

As I started writing, the Holy Spirit gave me His plan.  I was to post often and immediately – just put the ideas out there. So what if the wording and grammar were rough, I could fix it later if at all. My ego was not allowed to be involved in this blog.  I was not to include other people’s stories in my posts.  I wasn’t to teach and certainly not preach.  I was to briefly relate stories of revelatory moments I had experienced. I wasn’t even to comment on my revelations. The Holy Spirit, knowing the needs of each person reading, would do that.

So recently I hit the Publish button imagining the type person who could benefit from reading the post. In a moment of misplaced piety, I asked, “Lord, please bless this blog post…” He interrupted me with, 

“Don’t ask Me to bless what you do;
      ask to do what I’m blessing.”

(Have I mentioned that I LOVE THIS LIFE!)

Walking on Air

I was fighting fear.

I’d had a plan, a vision. I was confident all was moving forward. 

Until, it wasn’t.

A voice in my head was saying none of it was real.  The voice declared that I was walking on air, soon to have a major fall.  It said everyone would see my destruction and walk away.  

“You’re walking on air!” was repeated continually.  

I was expected at a friend’s house that evening, but wanted to crawl in a hole instead.  Rallying my remaining strength (fighting fear is exhausting) I resolved to visit my friend.  

I suppose driving distracted my dark thoughts just enough to allow a tiny ray of hope.  A picture of Peter walking on water flashed in my mind.  Peter fell only when he focused on the circumstances around him.*

Hope flooded my soul.  Peter was walking on the solidity of Jesus’ word, “Come.”  The very thing that would have drowned him had to support him because of Jesus' word and Peter's belief in it.  He had faith in Jesus’ proven authority.  So did I!

The plan I’d had was God given.  Even if the substance I was walking on appeared to everyone else to be air, I knew that I was strutting on solid rock.  Others were welcome to watch and wonder.  My eyes were focused on God alone.

I do walk on air, far above fear!

I love this life.

* Matthew 14:25-30 (CEV)
25 A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples. 
26 When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.
27 At once, Jesus said to them, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter replied, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.
30 But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Know Thyself

"If you were raised with people who were powerful but didn't allow or encourage you to be powerful, you may have become an adult not knowing who you are."

Upon first read, that idea sounded a little weird to me.  How do you not know who you are?

Well, that unknowing person was me. 

To be an acceptable person, I thought I had to care about everyone else - what they thought, what they wanted.  Focusing on others' thoughts and wants gave them too much sway over my thoughts and wants.  With popular opinion being so inconsistent, I was a mess. 

I finally started making thoughtful decisions concerning my own life.  There's so much less drama when I'm not reactionary and trying to please everyone.  My actions are determined by core value decisions I've made.  For example, rather than simply trying to please others, I have core values that I will respect and love them.  

  

I have to be the star of my own life, not a bit player.

As my decisions are based on who I know I am, what I do does not come with regret.  That's huge!

I love this life!

Truth?

A leader I respected was accused of wrongdoing.

I asked, "Lord, is that true?"

I clearly heard His answer, "No." 

Shortly thereafter, the leader confessed to the accusations made against him.


Truth was once explained to me like this:

    Put a pencil on the table. 

I put a pencil on the table.

    Is it true that the pencil is on the table?

I answered, "Yes it's true, the pencil is on the table"

    Knock the pencil off the table. 

I knocked the pencil to the floor.

    It couldn't have been true that the pencil was on the table
    because truth doesn't change. 
    It may have been a fact that the pencil was on the table.  Facts
    can change.
    Truth never changes.


I was reminded of this explanation of truth when I asked God again about the man I respected.  I knew I had heard the Lord say the accusations weren't true, yet the man had confessed!  

The Lord explained,  

"If the accusations about this man were truth, he would have no opportunity for change." 

Restraint?

I asked a young man today:  

Do you know that as a man it is your responsibility to protect a woman from having sex with you outside of marriage?  

Is it such an old idea that men are to protect women?  That men are looking for dragons to kill and women are looking to be rescued? When I was younger, I would have scoffed at that idea.  Like I needed a man.  It irritated me that typically, a man was physically stronger than I and could possibly kill a dragon more easily.  However, I could deal with any dragons myself, my awesome female powers trumping that of testosterone.

But what if...

What might a woman think of a man who protected her from having sex with him outside of marriage? She could think he's crazy and not have anything to do with him.  Or, she could be intrigued.  It could foster trust between them.  It could make her feel that he had her best interests at heart.  If she saw that the rest of his character was at that level, she could feel secure.  She would probably feel that he valued her highly.  

These are things a man wants his bride to feel.  When times get tough in the marriage, she can remember that the character of her husband was a huge reason she wanted to marry him.  She might be more prone to think that staying with such a man is worth the seasons of struggle.

Can current actions be restrained for long term rewards?

It doesn't take age to exercise that level of wisdom.  The wisdom of God is available for all who ask.

Purposeful Parenting

My kids are leaders and visionaries.  They amaze me.

I received a couple of mandates from God about how to raise my children.  A little purposeful parenting yields awesome results.  I do wish I had been mindful of it in more areas of their lives; so much time seemed to be spent simply surviving. 

However, my husband and I were the ones gifted with these children. God's anointing to raise each unique child is part of the gift.

God's grace is super-sufficient.  He is the author and finisher  of my (His) children's faith (Heb. 12:2).  He has begun a good work in each of them and will bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6)...

 

And I am grateful.

I love this life.

Copyright 2013  Leah Lambert Smith