The Word: Part Two

There will be a test….
Remember hearing that in high school or college? Ugg. I hated that. Can’t we learn this stuff without being tested on it too? It seemed to take the fun out of learning. No, it didn’t work that way in class and it doesn’t work that way in life. We need to expect the test. (BM) Or rather testSSSS, right? Oh yes.

One of the first scriptures Beth gave us under this point is 1 Corinthians 10:13. This is a verse I wrote on my heart years ago, probably because it was a part of some Bible study. I had not really pondered on this verse until a few months ago at my ladies group. It was almost like it came flooding back to me that night. It has since come up several times in the last few months. If you aren’t familiar with the verse, here it is. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

God does not tempt us. Temptation comes from satan to make us fall. Trials come from God to make us stand. (BM) Yet even in satan’s temptation our God still doesn’t end it there. No, He provides an escape door. He provides a way out. He provides an alternative. He provides they way to stand up to the temptation.

We will have tests and trials. He is testing us to prove the Word TRUE! The Word is not laying idle in us. We need to wait for it to come to pass and proven to be true. (BM) Waiting is hard but we must put it to the extreme use.

Ephesians 3:17 …rooted and established in love. We must know that we know that we know that God loves us. I’d guess if asked we’d all say “yes, I know God loves me.” Several have told me lately that God loves me and this has been my reactions also. “Yeah, I know.” It seemed to make a larger impact with the words Beth spoke and with the emphasis of truly knowing that we know. When going through a crisis you must know that you know that you know that He lavishly loves you. (BM) Lavishly loves us. These words still ring reinforcement and strength in me. It is easy in crisis, pain, and trials to think He’s forgotten us. He must not love me that much.

Take root below and bear fruit above. 2 Kings 19:30 The “root” is to know that you know that you know that God loves us and has not forgotten us in our time of suffering.

We’ve heard it many times that in exactly the times we need God the most, we feel Him the least. Isn’t that the truth. I’ve never understood why that is. However, Beth continued to say because worrying is over powering us. (BM) I never put worry into the equation to see it is the reason for our disconnect feeling. We can’t get a Word over it because worrying is chocking us. Anxiety chokes the Word right out of us!!!! (BM)

Wow. That seems to be opposite of our goal of keeping His Word hidden in our heart. Yet, we have the “power” to keep it hidden or choke it out. Our decision to worry or not worry gives power to whether the Word is hidden in our heart or to choke it out.

That gives us even more motivation to conquer the worry and anxiety because it is stealing the Word from our heart and choking it from us. Thus the reason our all-knowing God told us not to be anxious. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

The enemy watches us not bowing down to God when we are anxious. (BM)

He will birth our passion THROUGH our pain. (BM) Through our pain, not going around it, not escaping it, not removing it, but THROUGH it. Passion from pain. Wow. I just love those words. I know those three words bring so many promises of God’s to us. We cannot understand His ways and we never will on this side of Heaven. Only the Almighty One can bring such beautiful and glorious passion from such horrific pain and tragedy.

These words, passion from pain, remind me of Romans 8:28. In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

He makes beauty from ashes.
He makes passion from pain.

Every one of our lives has purpose, a destiny set aside for you before the foundation of the world. (BM) Wow, what vastness this shows of God. Thousands of years ago He set out MY purpose in this world from 19_ _ until (?) when He calls me home.

We need to change our perspective of what we go through!!! (BM) Oh how very true this is. Perspective is SO much of the battle. It is very hard to have a God-perspective because we are not God. But with His help God will enlarge our human perspective into something closer to His perspective. We will never fully achieve and perfect our perspective. It’s been amazing that slowly but surely, God has even changed my perspective. He is allowing me to step out of my disaster and see it from a glimpse of His perspective and what He can accomplish through me, through this disaster, and through the birthing of my passion. It is only through the grace of God that we can step out of our tragedy (and tragedies they are) and see the purpose and passion He is birthing. That is just awesome to know so much good is coming from so much bad. For me, my 'disaster' still hurts very deeply but it’s like a warm fuzzy blanket on a cold day. God is wrapping is arms around my pain and comforting my broken heart. I must continue to still go through the pain but His loving arms through purpose and passion bring such comfort to me.

Beth continues to say God doesn’t have us to through the tests just for us. It’s not about us. Then why? To be able to minister and testify after the disaster. (BM) Again wow. Minister after the disaster. I know the I’ve already ministered and testified to God’s greatness through my disaster. It’s been a slow progress and I can only hope my ministering and testifying are much more than I even know. I know my ministry and testimony will just continue to grow and grow through this journey and the revelations God brings me.

Remember this…
Satan’s plan is to lose our effectiveness not our salvation! (BM)
We know the enemy cannot take our salvation, that is between God and His believer. Remember, he can only tempt us in our lives but he does not make our decisions for us. Rather, satan knows he has no power over our salvation but he can influence our effectiveness for God’s Kingdom. He can tempt us to not pray and be in God’s Word daily. He can tempt us with using our time for our selfish desires instead of Kingdom purposes. He can tempt us to not attend church, Sunday School, or fellowship with other believers. He can tempt us to not tithe our firsts to God. He can tempt us to not serve in the church and our community. He can tempt us to not share God’s love with others. He can only tempt us. But if we fall into his temptation, we can become less effective in our walk to minister to others and testify for His greatness.
Birthing Passion Through Pain,

If anyone would like a full copy of all my notes, I'd gladly email them to you. Leave me a comment with your email. It's about six pages (double spaced.)