I need not ponder and wonder and worry about things. I can ask the Holy Spirit.
For example, earlier today distant voices were accusing me of failure. Maybe I am detached. Maybe my emotional growth is stunted. Does anyone really know how to love…
…
Hush voices, I know how to love. God’s love has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a reads:
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Looking back over my walk with God, I see significant growth in the qualities listed in these verses.
Again, I need not ponder and wonder and worry about things. I can ask the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t speak in innuendos, He speaks truth in love.
I love this life!
Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Learning in a Way That's Uniquely Me
I wanted to be a chemist. I'm constantly curious; I love the process of questioning, experimenting, learning...
I didn't become a chemist, but I'm realizing that I apply the same motivation to learning about God. When I hear of some new aspect of God that I haven't experienced, my faith responds. I determine to see how it works. I practice (experiment with) living it out in my life through faith. I experience my beliefs.
For example, if I see myself seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), how can that work out experientially in my life? If I'm to do what I see the Father do (John 5:19), how do I live a lifestyle of seeing what God does and doing it?
I love the process of learning these things.
I love this life!
Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith
I didn't become a chemist, but I'm realizing that I apply the same motivation to learning about God. When I hear of some new aspect of God that I haven't experienced, my faith responds. I determine to see how it works. I practice (experiment with) living it out in my life through faith. I experience my beliefs.
For example, if I see myself seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), how can that work out experientially in my life? If I'm to do what I see the Father do (John 5:19), how do I live a lifestyle of seeing what God does and doing it?
I love the process of learning these things.
I love this life!
Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith
No Throw-Aways
God is the giver of life. Every person is formed and fashioned out of his love (Psalm 139).
One day when I was irritated with people in general, I realized that out of respect for God, I should be respecting each person with whom I come in contact. Out of respect for God's love and honor for people, I should love and honor people. People needn't deserve my respect, my love. It's my choice to give out of my covenant relationship with God.
In Luke 15, Jesus tells 3 stories about the value of the lost. A man searching for a lost sheep, a woman searching for a lost coin and a father waiting for his lost son to return. Each story was a picture of God's desire for us to rejoice with Him when the lost is found. The stories show great value attributed to the lost.
The ultimate value placed on the lost was the life of Jesus.
I must value them accordingly.
There are no throw-away people.
One day when I was irritated with people in general, I realized that out of respect for God, I should be respecting each person with whom I come in contact. Out of respect for God's love and honor for people, I should love and honor people. People needn't deserve my respect, my love. It's my choice to give out of my covenant relationship with God.
In Luke 15, Jesus tells 3 stories about the value of the lost. A man searching for a lost sheep, a woman searching for a lost coin and a father waiting for his lost son to return. Each story was a picture of God's desire for us to rejoice with Him when the lost is found. The stories show great value attributed to the lost.
Luke 19:10 reads, "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
The ultimate value placed on the lost was the life of Jesus.
I must value them accordingly.
There are no throw-away people.
Copyright 2012 Leah Lambert Smith
Friday, May 31, 2013
The Prophetic Life
I'm learning about the prophetic life.
I know that God speaks to us according to John 10. His followers (sheep) have listening ears to hear God, and can share what is heard with others. I'm learning to ask God questions about people and how I can cooperate with Him to share His love with each one. I'm learning to ask questions about what's happening in the spirit realm. As different situations arise, how should I pray? How should I speak? What should I do?
It's opening a whole new aspect of living in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I love this life!
Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith
I know that God speaks to us according to John 10. His followers (sheep) have listening ears to hear God, and can share what is heard with others. I'm learning to ask God questions about people and how I can cooperate with Him to share His love with each one. I'm learning to ask questions about what's happening in the spirit realm. As different situations arise, how should I pray? How should I speak? What should I do?
It's opening a whole new aspect of living in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I love this life!
Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
What About Me
Would the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, follow my thoughts and speech with an Amen? That is, could He agree with them?
I've been noticing what I think and say about myself.
Even if I have never heard any person say anything positive about me, my God is always speaking love over me. Always.
He speaks that I am in Him, all beautiful, all gracious. He has given me the freedom to express my individuality and my unique expressions surprise and delight Him The ways I choose to reveal the glory He has placed within me make Him smile. I am dear to Him; He just loves me!
And yet, what do I think and say about myself?
My thoughts and words about me are changing to be in agreement with God's thoughts and words.
I love this life.
Copyright 2013, Leah Lambert Smith
I've been noticing what I think and say about myself.
Even if I have never heard any person say anything positive about me, my God is always speaking love over me. Always.
He speaks that I am in Him, all beautiful, all gracious. He has given me the freedom to express my individuality and my unique expressions surprise and delight Him The ways I choose to reveal the glory He has placed within me make Him smile. I am dear to Him; He just loves me!
And yet, what do I think and say about myself?
My thoughts and words about me are changing to be in agreement with God's thoughts and words.
I love this life.
Copyright 2013, Leah Lambert Smith
Friday, April 12, 2013
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
I have known fear. I lived with the knot in my gut for years.*
I hadn't really thought about my heart being troubled.
According to Strong's Concordance, the word heart (G2588) in John 14:27 means the thoughts or feelings (mind).
Let not your heart be troubled.
The words Let and trouble are both G5015, meaning of uncertain affinity, to stir or agitate. Affinity is an attraction, a natural liking. So both Let and trouble mean an uncertain liking. Agitate means to disturb, to move to and fro, as uncertainty can move one's thinking back and forth, pro and con.
So, Let not your heart be troubled could read - Agitate not your thoughts or feelings to be agitated. Maybe once I start the agitation, it continues on its own? I can relate to that.
I've recently found that though I felt fear in my gut, trouble I feel in my upper back with tightness across my shoulders. I've been feeling that tightness a lot lately. Why am I agitated? Of what am I uncertain?
Here is another opportunity to grow, to practice peace.**
I know of what I am certain. I am thoroughly loved. My God has prepared my way. End from beginning, all is well. I can rest peacefully in the faithfulness of God.
I love this life.
* Read Overcoming Anger .
**Read Practice Makes Peaceful.
Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith
Note - John uses this same word (G5015) in reference to Jesus' spirit being troubled in John 11:33, John 12:27 and John 13:2.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
I have known fear. I lived with the knot in my gut for years.*
I hadn't really thought about my heart being troubled.
According to Strong's Concordance, the word heart (G2588) in John 14:27 means the thoughts or feelings (mind).
Let not your heart be troubled.
The words Let and trouble are both G5015, meaning of uncertain affinity, to stir or agitate. Affinity is an attraction, a natural liking. So both Let and trouble mean an uncertain liking. Agitate means to disturb, to move to and fro, as uncertainty can move one's thinking back and forth, pro and con.
So, Let not your heart be troubled could read - Agitate not your thoughts or feelings to be agitated. Maybe once I start the agitation, it continues on its own? I can relate to that.
I've recently found that though I felt fear in my gut, trouble I feel in my upper back with tightness across my shoulders. I've been feeling that tightness a lot lately. Why am I agitated? Of what am I uncertain?
Here is another opportunity to grow, to practice peace.**
I know of what I am certain. I am thoroughly loved. My God has prepared my way. End from beginning, all is well. I can rest peacefully in the faithfulness of God.
I love this life.
* Read Overcoming Anger .
**Read Practice Makes Peaceful.
Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith
Note - John uses this same word (G5015) in reference to Jesus' spirit being troubled in John 11:33, John 12:27 and John 13:2.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Make the Decision
The best you can think of people is that they unconditionally love you. I wrote about it here.
So…that voice that wonders – Do they love me? That voice that accuses – If they loved me they wouldn’t… That voice that declares – Nobody loves me. Make the decision and these voices are mute.
I’ve made my decision. My husband loves me. My children love me. My parents love me. My in-laws love me. My friends love me…
Generally speaking, people love me.
It is my decision to have that viewpoint – they love me.
The decision not only frees me from negative thoughts; it creates positive thoughts.
I love this life!
Copyright 2013 Leah Lambert Smith
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