If I've said it once, I've said it a million times....I am amazed at God's work that is done through Beth Moore. We have one more session left and the second to last was just as great as the others. Lots of fantastic discussion, but I am just going to mention a few things and then go on about one thing in particular.
An excerpt from The Queen and I:
"When, because of your faith, your life too becomes perceptibly different; when your reactions are quite opposite to what the situation seems to call for and your activities can no longer be explained in terms of your personality; that is when your neighborhood will sit up and take notice. In the eyes of the world, it is not our relationship with Jesus Christ that counts; it is our resemblance to Him!"
I pray that the Holy Spirit shines through me so that others search out Jesus Christ. Oh, the work and molding that needs to be done!
Isaiah 49:16
"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me."
He holds us so tightly by Him that we are engraved in His hands.
I have often thought about going out into the world and helping people; telling them all about Jesus and the sense of love, joy, security, and calm loving Him brings to my life. (Not that there aren't a million times a day I have to have Him remind me of those things too.)
How wonderful would that be? I often think about how I hope to one day touch someone like my "mentors" have here in KY.
With those thoughts though, I think about someone looking right back at me after witnessing to them and having them tell me something to the effect of: "Well, of course you believe in Jesus. You have a wonderful life."
I had a wonderful childhood, my parents have been married for 36 years, my grandparents close to 60, have great siblings, grew up out in the country, was able to go to college, married a fabulous man, 3 strong and healthy children, job security, food on the table, insurance, camping trips, etc. etc. I believe the greatest struggle my family ever got through had God's hands all over it. Maybe not at the time because I was young, but I remember lying in bed at night praying.
So where am I going with all of this? Beth Moore posed a question during Monday night's session.
"Am I strong or just spoiled?"
She had just put all of those rambling thoughts into 6 words!
Oh, I want to be strong for my Jesus. I want to be patient. I want to be faithful.
He has blessed me.
I hope that if I were called upon to be strong, that I would do it and not cower and crumble.
Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.