The other day, I was wondering why my faith on certain subjects had deteriorated; things I had previously believed for and stepped out into.  It was a bummer because some of the things made my lifestyle more fun and dangerous.  

I found that the problem was that as much as I have a list of good testimonies that encourage faith, I had a list of bad testimonies about how God, seemingly, dropped the ball.  Whew! it was really great going over them, and getting His perspective on what happened; realizing that there are some things God doesn't lower the standard on just because you are lazy.  Like, trying to claim only one side of a promise... i.e. "draw near to God and He will draw near to you."  Gotta do my part on things!  

NOW for a song...  "just keep doing your best... and pray that it's blessed... and Jesus takes care of the rest, Oh- the Lord- said that- He'll take care of the rest..."

Yay, Epiphany!

I am very happy now; previously I was quite discouraged.  

Have you ever bought a gift for someone and it was a really good gift that you knew that they would love?  Do you remember how badly you wanted them to open it?  ... How the anticipation was too much to wait for, so much so that you would give them the gift a week before their birthday?

- THAT is the way God feels toward you when He makes you a promise!  "Do not fear little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom"-luke 12:32

 

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us..." -2 peter 3:9

It's only because of His wisdom and mercy that He waits patiently, because when your faith is tested, you gain patience, and patience will help you in every other way.  He wants you to keep the present and to grow, and not have the present hurt you in the long run.

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." -james 1:2-4

Yay!  I now have hope, instead of doubt.  And my faith is now founded on who I know Him to be... Loving, kind, patient, and in no way cruel, or ignorant of His children's requests.

thank you jesus!

Another delightful devotional

The Habit of Enjoying Adversity

. . . that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body —2 Corinthians 4:10

We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that "the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of "myself" that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, "Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this." Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.

You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30 ). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to "supply all your need" ( Philippians 4:19 ).

Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you.  ~~~~

_Oswald Chambers_My Utmost for His Highest_http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php_

~∂~~∂~<@ Ohh how I enjoy mindsets that allow me to be happy in any circumstance! ©>~ƒ~~

Today's "My Utmost for His Highest" Daily devotional by Oswald Chambers

" A spiritually-minded person will never come to you with the demand— 'Believe this and that'; a spiritually-minded person will demand that you align your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals (see John 5:39-40  ). We are called to present liberty for the conscience of others, not to bring them liberty for their thoughts and opinions. And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty— the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.

Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty— the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.

Don’t get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you— with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, 'Go . . . and make disciples. . ."' ( Matthew 28:19  ), not, 'Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions.'  "

-- the last part was gud stuf.  I never thought about that, making people disciples of Jesus.