Fringes Of His Ways

Job 26:7-14...  He stretches out the north over empty space. And hangs the world on nothing. He wraps up the waters in His clouds. And the clouds does not brust under them.  He obscures the face of the full moon. And spreads His clouds over it.  He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters. At the boundrary of light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble.  And are amazed at His rebuke. He quieted the sea with His power. And by His understaning He shattered Rahab. By His breathe the heavens are cleared. His hand has pierced the fleeing serpent. Behold these are the fringes of His ways.  And how faint a word we hear of Him. But His mightly thunder, who can understand.

Several years ago we went through a major series of dramatic events.   During this time I park myself in Job 26:7-14 and God begin the process of healing my disappointed heart.  You see I had my eyes on man and God said, "enough my child."  There are times in our walk with God He wants us to see the fringes of His ways.    Nicole Mullens penned the word from Job 26 and sang these beautiful words..

MY REDEEMER LIVES
Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning
Who told the ocean you can only come this far
Who showed the moon where to hide till evening
Whose words alone can catch a falling star

Well I know my Redeemer lives, I know my Redeemer lives
Let all  creation testify, that this life within me cries
I know my Redeemer lives

This very same God that spins things in orbit
He runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken
They conquered death to bring me victory

That the payment for my sin was the precious life he gave
Now He’s alive and there’s an empty grave
And I know my Redeemer, He lives, I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify, let this  life within me cries,

If you have time..stop and soak in the power of Nicole C. Mullen singing: My Redeemer Lives  Whatever you are worried about will drift away as the words fill you.  Blessings.
 http://www.youtube.com/embed/9p4GbPYQA

Self Control or Controlling Self?

 

                                           A person without self-control is like a house
                                              with its doors and windows knocked out.
                                                          Proverbs 25:28 (MSG)

  I have read that scripture many times but until I looked at this picture did not realize the depths of how a lack of self control could produce such devastation.  Somewhere in the life of this house it was left to ruin.  It is easy to let things go as they age...an older building usually takes more care then a new one.  My thoughts go to: Gal 5: 22  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control:  against such things there is no law.  I have to wonder if self control is what all the rest of the fruits of the Spirit hinge on.  Without self control none of the fruits of the Spirits will ever be evidence in my life and I  would become like that house. 

When  my faith was brand spanking new, I was so eager  to work at scriptures such as Gal. 5:22.  First, God gave me  a whole new vocabuary.  Within a few months I was convicted about my smoking...it bothered me that a little skinny paper tube with tobacco in it could make me dig through the trash to find a half smoked cigerette.  After a  battle of withdrawals I finally laid them down.  Have never picked them again, praise God for His help.  It was then I realize this one fruit, self control, could bring the rest of the fruit to a harvest.  Trust me it did  not happen over night but slowly God begin to replace my wanting to please  myself to pleasing Him.

Now that I am older in the Lord it is easier to use my age as an excuse to not exercise self control or control of self.  This thought sometimes runs through my mind, I am a mature Christian I can watch or read this and not be affected.  With lots of spiritual battles under my belt you would think it would make the battle easier...not so.  Oh I know more scripture then I did when my faith was new but it's easy to fall back on all those experiences for motivation to over come the flesh.  Below are  some of the things I still  battle.

1. What comes out of my mouth...   Pro. 13:13 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. 

2. My reactions to hurts... Oh do I ever need self control on this one or my temper will tear others down like the house in the picture.  Pro. 19:11 If you're sensible, you'll control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it's a great virture to ignore it. 

3. My schedule. ..The first word speaks volume...for when it's "MY" schedule instead of the Lords I will be frustrated.  Ephesian 5:15-16 Live life with a due sense of responsibility . Make the best use of my time. 

4. My money...there I go again calling it "MY MONEY" ...Proverbs 20:21 A wise man or woman saves for the future, but the foolish man or woman spends what he or she gets.  There is so much out there to bring temptation to buy, buy, buy. 

5. My health...This one really gets to me...Pro. 23:3 If you have a  big appetitie, restrain yourself...control self's love of Taco Bell.

There are many thing we cannot control, the weather so it will not rain on our parade,  and the tides from going in and out among many other things.  God does not require that we control things that are beyond us.  When we try it turns into worry.  Some things we just need to accept and work our way through.   Our biggest disappointments come when we try to control people, especially our own children we have reared from birth.    Our children need for us to understand the truths of the Word on a lack of self control so we do not pass onto them a "victim" mentality. 

Proverbs 16:32 shows a more positive side of self-control: "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." Here Solomon uses an entirely different word for "rule," but the sense of self-control remains. A comparison of the two proverbs reveals the great importance of self-control as both an offensive and defensive attribute.  Self control defeats the enemy, the world and the flesh

                                  God help me to live like a victor and 
                                         not a victim.   

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