Let's Wrestle

2007-03-30T12:50:00.000-05:00

Prayer – Communication with God
People who love each other talk to each other. What they think and feel, they express. The deeper the intimacy, the deeper the communication. As believers, prayers is the language of our relationship with God. Because he is spirit, we do not always use words: thoughts, feelings- even groans are part of our interaction (Psalm 38:8-9; Romans 8:26)
As we grow close to him, we also hear back from Him – authoritatively through scripture and personally through inner promptings and leadings. As we deepen our prayer life, the confidence, humility and love we find with God spills over into all of life….Bill Hybels

2007-03-30T12:04:00.000-05:00

The use of scripture is transformational, not informational - as we come to know it more, we aren't satisfied until we come to know Him well.

Bill Hybels

2007-03-27T10:05:00.000-05:00

Knowing me better than I know myself, God expects failure from me. I am more sinful that I ever imagined - and also more loved by God....P. Yancey

2007-03-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Leo Tolstoy

2007-03-20T09:24:00.000-05:00

I have a confession to make: I only study deeply because the Bible is the only thing I trust in life. My life is as messy as anyone else’s – I have family troubles, job issues, financial needs and emotional challenges that could probably use some therapy. I struggle with sins just as much as anyone. I am not “there” yet, wherever that might be. I cling to the scriptures and try to point people to them because I’ve tried a lot of other things, and the scriptures are singularly reliable. I’m too afraid to trust anything else. …Scott Birkhead

2007-03-19T12:58:00.000-05:00

“It is better to listen in order to understand than to listen in order to reply”

2007-03-16T10:10:00.001-05:00

The trouble with nearly everybody who prays is that he says "Amen" and runs away before God has a chance to reply. Listening to God is far more important than giving Him your ideas.-- Frank Laubach

2007-03-15T10:32:00.001-05:00

"Truth, no matter how powerful, never forces itself upon us." Anonymous

2007-03-14T11:32:00.001-05:00

What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing; it also depends on what sort of person you are…..C. S. Lewis

2007-03-13T10:29:00.000-05:00

To quarrel with God is to pay God the supreme compliment: it is to take God seriously. It is to say that God matters enough to be worth some anger. To be indifferent to God is to pay God the supreme insult. It is to say that nothing of consequence is at stake. - Robert McAfee Brown, in his book, Elie Wiesel Messenger To All Humanity

2007-03-12T16:09:00.000-05:00

"The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is because they have a common enemy." ---Unknown

I don't necessarily believe this quote but it sure is a great segue to my bragging about my Grandkids....check them out......

2007-03-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light. ~ Mary Gardiner Brainard

(would I really…??? all this wrestling maybe......I hope so….I pray so…)

2007-03-08T11:30:00.001-06:00

God never forces himself upon us or works in us beyond what we are willing to allow him to do. If we do not grow in love, it is not because his love for us is limited, but because we set limits to what his love can do in us— Thomas Green, When the Well Runs Dry

2007-03-07T08:50:00.000-06:00

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.......

Oswald Chambers: God's revelation of Himself to me is determined by my character, not by God's character. "'Tis because I am mean, Thy ways so oft look mean to me."

Take out mean and replace with how you see Him......

2007-03-06T11:34:00.001-06:00

What is one thing you would want God to tell you??

2007-03-05T08:59:00.001-06:00

If you could ask God one question....what would it be??

DOUBLE CRAP

2007-03-02T10:00:00.001-06:00

Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and bring Him nearer to our own image. -- A. W. Tozer

2007-03-01T09:13:00.000-06:00

THE GOSPEL message says: "You don't live in a mechanistic world ruled by necessity; you don't live in a random world ruled by chance; you live in a world ruled by the God of Exodus and Easter. He will do things in you that neither you nor your friends would have supposed possible. …"EUGENE H. PETERSON, Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work

2007-02-28T08:28:00.001-06:00

"Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the realization that there is something more important than fear."

2007-02-27T09:14:00.001-06:00

"Give thanks for sorrow that teaches you pity; for pain that teaches you courage - and give exceeding thanks for the mystery which remains a mystery still - the veil that hides you from the infinite, which makes it possible for you to believe in what you cannot see." --Robert Nathan

2007-02-26T10:59:00.001-06:00

"'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.'"--The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

2007-02-23T11:25:00.001-06:00

We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the Divine guidance of God through childlike people who were foolish enough to trust God's wisdom and the supernatural equipment of God....Oswald Chambers

crap

2007-02-22T12:01:00.001-06:00

Obedience, pure and simple, opens up a pathway for the work of God.
- David Stevens

2007-02-21T10:24:00.000-06:00

"He swiftly uncovers my tendency to use 'questioning' as a way to avert obeying."...UPRISING

2007-02-20T16:34:00.001-06:00

How strange that we should ordinarily feel compelled to hide our wounds when we are all wounded! Community requires the ability to expose our wounds and weaknesses to our fellow creatures. It also requires the ability to be affected by the wounds of others... But even more important is the love that arises among us when we share, both ways, our woundedness....... ~ M. Scott Peck, A Different Drum

2007-02-16T09:00:00.001-06:00

My words this morning are lost in tears….
Not tears of sadness or joy…..just a softness that keeps me leaking.

I desire strength and find myself beyond weak.
I desire wisdom and simplicity is the best I can muster.

I find myself completely lost in freedom…….

2007-02-13T12:19:00.000-06:00

When did it happen and how can I make it stay….

When did I realize I wanted You more than to be safe and how can I make sure I don’t change my mind??

When did being soft become a good thing??
Am I really soft??

When did I, why did I, do I really love You more than I love myself??

The questions that come inthequiet
The tears that come with a depth of feeling for a being I cannot see nor touch
So much today that keeps me with my head in Your hands PROTECTED….

2007-02-05T12:24:00.000-06:00

BruceD...very kindly asks how I am.....pretty good I guess for someone who wants to follow Jesus but just fights THAT same decision at every turn.

2007-01-31T10:42:00.000-06:00

Praying for others
Praying for me

Praying for direction
Praying to HEAR
Praying for obedience to go in whatever direction

Praying…..a day of humble….fearful yet bold prayers….

2007-01-26T10:09:00.000-06:00

Why can't I live like this lamb....with my head in Your hands...trusting.

Because in my head if I've got my head in Your hands my backside is totally unprotected.

2007-01-25T11:29:00.000-06:00

I am so scared Father

The desire to flee ~ to escape~ must be stared down.

The desire to stay at your chest is it You or just me hiding?

Vulnerability

Trusting YOUR protection

waiting

Humble, honest replies

A sheep nothing more and nothing less

A sheep PROTECTED by the shepherd...

2007-01-24T11:18:00.000-06:00

I am so frightened of being found out and yet yearning for there to be something worth finding.

The living in vulnerability with humble honesty, is hard. The sin I live in most and of course that seeds all the rest of sin in my life is 'self-protecting'.

Listen

2007-01-23T11:33:00.000-06:00

in the silence is YOU
in the gray and dismal is YOU
in the loneliness is YOU
in the chaos is YOU
inthequiet is YOU
in the din is YOU
in the void is YOU
in EVERYTHING is YOU

2007-01-22T15:01:00.000-06:00

So I read about people who go to church and about those who don't.....if they both love Jesus how are they THAT different??

2007-01-09T14:30:00.000-06:00

Luke 9: 23-27 (msg) Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God."

Genesis 24: 21 Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the LORD had made his journey successful or not.

Luke 8:22-25

2007-01-08T09:01:00.000-06:00

Jesus Stills the Sea
Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out.
23But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger.
24They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.
25And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"

2007-01-05T11:18:00.000-06:00

I am scared and lonely...full of doubts
Like a ship in ruthless seas I am drowning.

I see You at the shoreline waving me in ~ Guiding me ~ Pulling me HOME

I want to throw away my oars to cower in the bottom of the boat and yet everything in me keeps rowing and bailing and battling to stay afloat.

Am I to simply drop them, the oars, and watch them sink or float away??
Can I put them safely in the bottom of the boat....in case???

To STOP fighting and wrestling..
To not cower in the bottom....but with my eyes on the shore...count on Your protection.....

2006-12-07T09:43:00.000-06:00

I sit and read opinions...and JUDGE them....
Fearful of course tto share my own....because then I would be judged as badly, as harshly as I judge
I read about addictions and know my own to be just as bad but perhaps less understood....and good Lord I MUST be understood.

You see my addiction won’t allow me to share my opinion.
Who knows what others might think
So I sit and read opinions….and judge them to be JUDGEMENTS.
I am such a hypocrite.

The ones who criticize the holidays….I could join in as well.
Commercialism rules……busyness pervades……
And what if……what if it’s all about those not knowing…..the holes…the gaping wounds that never heal because they don’t know???

Now in the ‘knowing’ , those of us that KNOW….we criticize…
In the ‘knowing’ we judge…..when in the ‘knowing’ He says LOVE…because ...because most simply ‘don’t know?’ and they THEY are HIS LOST SHEEP….

What does that even look like, you know…to live in the KNOWING…..
How do you ….

I KNOW that all I am to do is LOVE
And don’t

I know that the addictions to approval and affirmation drive me when I am to be driven by LOVE

Emergent
Missional
Denominational
Non-denominational
Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal…..…….on and on and on

Where are the Christ Followers? Those who follow Him…those who love indiscriminately? Are they sprinkled in each division? Are they separated by wounds and hard hearts…..Are they alive in Christ and striving? Are they dead to sin and humbly waiting? Waiting for what? Why so many looking to LEAD and leaving none to follow?
Hey I’m admitting ….confessing….looking to be challenged and broke…..I want to be a Christ Follower but all I look for is men or women to lead me…when You are right here saying……follow ME…..Love others all others as better than yourself…..humbly serve….

So what now fellow seekers…..do you criticize? Do you judge? Who do you follow?

2006-12-06T09:48:00.000-06:00

Somedays like this and truly I understand the feelings, the pain, the confusion and yet there are other days, other moments where you just KNOW you're captured....

Captured ------Natalie Grant

It must mean something

When I close my eyes

Visions of You come to me and flood my mind

It must mean something

When my heart is true

All that I can think about is You

(Chorus)Everywhere I go You find me

Even when I run

I'm captured I'm captured in You

Everywhere Your love surrounds me

I cannot escape I'm captured

I'm captured in You

It must mean something

When I'm standing still

Yours is the only voice I wanna hear

It must mean something

That I've come this far

Lifting up my hands and offering my heart

Everywhere I go You find me

Even when I run I'm captured

I'm captured in You

Everywhere Your love surrounds me

I cannot escape

I'm captured I'm captured

You are the sky

You are the sea

You are the air I wanna breathe

You're everywhere

Your love lasts forever

And if I fall You won't let go

You hold me when I can't hold on anymore

You reach out and rescue me

Everywhere I go You find me

Even when I run I'm captured

I'm captured in You

Everywhere Your love surrounds me

I cannot escapeI'm captured

I'm captured

2006-11-16T09:26:00.000-06:00

I think today I’m lonely….a place I frequent and yet WHY?
I have an amazing Husband….following Christ with his whole heart
Children, each of them on journey’s rich and dangerous…
Grandchildren beautiful and healthy and smart….living with parents seeking Christ.

I have a church that led me…exposed me…modeled to me a journey to desiring full devotion to God…..dependency on Christ….
Is that the ‘terrible news’ I hear some label the gospel??
That we must be devoted…we must become dependent…
When everything around us has challenged us to BE MORE, DO MORE….WANT MORE….

In the loneliness I sense You nearest…..and yet it is lonely and I try TRY harder and harder to NOT BE LONELY….but it IS IN THE LONELINESS that I sense You nearest….

2006-11-14T12:16:00.000-06:00

I would love to know what people thought and tell them what I think…
But what I ‘think’ would happen is when we all have different thoughts we would argue.

I would love to just have our own journey’s…..
To simply love without needing to be loved….

I would think that is what He intended….
Why then do we make it so hard?

I would love to walk around forgiven but then aren’t we called to forgive…

It’s a journey for a reason I guess…..
We don’t ‘get it’ all at once…
A new heart from a heart of stone….is gonna take some breaking down.
He is such a Master…
His ways so much better than ours
And yet we FIGHT Him every step and He never ever quits…..

This is interesting....

2006-11-13T14:59:00.000-06:00

The blogosphere is scary......
And I am part of the fear....

To live 'naked' means no matter what I think I look like others get to judge what they see....

To live 'naked' means to not care what 'they' think..

To live 'naked' means I am comfortable enough in my own skin, my own relationship w/Christ that I am just NAKED in my beliefs....

Living naked takes GUTS.......

2006-11-10T09:10:00.000-06:00

So much anger and judgement in and of the world and when you see Christian blasting Christian what does that show??

What and where does opinion stop and judgement begin??

2006-10-17T11:20:00.000-05:00

Where does your truth come from?
Do you believe something because someone else says so?
What is your process of coming to believe or disbelieve something?

2006-10-09T15:31:00.000-05:00

Who would you like to see in a debate?

2006-10-05T11:15:00.000-05:00

So you go to some sites and they are dissin on the Christians and others are dissin on the Atheists….others are preaching TRUTH and let’s face it it’s their or their spin on the TRUTH (and I am including myself here...I'm not God I don't know anything for absolute certain...I think I do, thus my spin on TRUTH) ……..others are asking questions……

The blogosphere is full of people and their opinions…..does the anonymity make it easier to share??

Where are we supposed to get our truth??? Where do you get yours??

Funny Stuff

2006-10-04T15:47:00.000-05:00

What do you think??

2006-10-03T11:48:00.000-05:00

‘They honestly have forgiven’ Meanwhile, Rita Rose, a local nurse and midwife who delivered several children in the Amish community, told NBC’s Ann Curry that the mother of a 13-year-old girl who died has forgiven Roberts.
“She holds no ill will toward the shooter. She’s very forgiving. Christ forgave us, and we in turn forgive, and they honestly have forgiven,” she said. “Even last night, there was no anger toward the shooter.”
Rose described the teenage girl, who she did not identify, as “just beginning to blossom; she was very sweet.”
She added that the tragedy would likely strengthen the religious beliefs held by the Amish community, despite talk from outsiders that the lack of a phone or other modern amenities might have averted or cut short the tragedy.
“There’s two things that happen to your faith,” she said. “Either you let it go and get bitter, or you grow stronger — and we’ll grow stronger.”

2006-10-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

A cool post with many questions to wrestle with.

Check him out.

2006-10-02T11:22:00.000-05:00

If and when you have questions or need advice who or what do you turn to???

2006-09-29T11:16:00.000-05:00

So tell me.....what annoys you more a conservative Christian full of evangelistic fire or someone poking you with a sharp stick??

2006-09-28T11:54:00.000-05:00

What are the things that guide your life??
Where did they come from or how did you develop them?

2006-09-27T10:12:00.000-05:00

So how can we know there is a God??

2006-09-26T11:12:00.000-05:00

What do you think about the Bible?

Have you ever read it?

What does this question do inside of you?

2006-09-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

So I’ve started this site about seeking…..
Waiting for someone to find….it and perhaps ME…..

Wanting them to find HIM……

But still and all I am about ME….You know that don’t You???

Do you ever want to know for sure that God is real or do you already KNOW it??

2006-09-22T15:13:00.000-05:00

Carl Sandburg wrote:"I cried over beautiful things knowing that nothing beautiful lasts"

What beautiful thing have you cried about... other then a romantic/marital relationship?

2006-09-21T12:40:00.000-05:00

"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers." -James Thurber

What are some of your questions?

Me??
Why did you create us?

2006-09-20T08:47:00.000-05:00

"We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man. C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity

CS Lewis the author of the Chronicles of Narnia and a great thinker. I have come to appreciate where he takes me and wondered about you? What does this quote stir up in you? Are you on the right road? What does taking an about turn look like in your life?

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. I spent 40 years WANTING and seemingly never getting what I wanted or getting where I wanted to get. Now though I still WANT I am not driven by THAT want anymore....or so it seems....how about you??

2006-09-19T08:58:00.000-05:00

What do you think when you read this??

To quarrel with God is to pay God the supreme compliment: it is to take God seriously. It is to say that God matters enough to be worth some anger. To be indifferent to God is to pay God the supreme insult. It is to say that nothing of consequence is at stake. - Robert McAfee Brown, in his book, Elie Wiesel Messenger To All Humanity