A friend called me and told me that I just "had to go" to this display at the Second Baptist Church. We are both Pentecostal but she had gone with a friend who attends there and said it was amazing. I was not far from there. I was alone and so I decided to go. I am so glad that I did.
It was called the Passion Week Experience or Stations of the Cross.
Click here to watch a clip about it from their website:
http://bcove.me/h23yyigf
The experience was unforgettable. At the self-guided tour, there were eight areas displaying items associated with the events surrounding the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus. You are asked to walk up and observe each item. If you wish, you may touch, pick up or even smell any of the items. Everyone was so polite and provided me with a printed guide which described each display to help you reflect on each element’s relevance to the story of Good Friday and how its truth can make an impact on your life today.
There was such a reverance, a peace that I felt the moment I walked in. I first came to the water basins where the priest had to wash their hands before entering. I was hesitant at first about participating because I was only a visitor to this church, but the people at each display were so kind and inviting. I put my hands out and the lady at the basin poured cool water over my hands. The moment the water touched my hands, I burst out in tears that I did not even realize were at the surface. I had been struggling with some issues in my life that week and it was like a dam broke inside me and the tears just began to overflow onto my face. It felt like every sin had been washed off of my hands as the water poured over my hands and down into the basin below. I felt like a heavy load had been lifted off of me. It was incredible.
From there on I could not stop crying as I walked to each display. I tasted the last supper, sat in the Garden of Gethsemane, smelled the spices, touched each of the thirty pieces of silver, felt the crown of thorns and spikes and imagined the pain. There was dramatic music playing in the background with the distant sound of a hammer hitting nail which you found out at the end was an opportunity to physically nail your burdens and sins to a large cross. By the time I reached the cross and make the long walk down the altar to where the cross was laid, my knees were trembling. I wrote down the burdens I had been been carrying on a piece of paper they provided, picked up a hammer and nail and nailed them to the cross. I felt bad for hitting the nail so hard, because I knew that is what they did to Jesus, unmercifully inflicting pain on his body. But I knew that is what he came, to away take all our burdens, our sins, and our failures. By the time my paper was firmly nailed to the cross I could not contain my spirit and I began speaking in tongues as the spirit gave the utterance. Although I was not loud, there was a young man there at the display and I am certain he heard me. But he did not seem offended. He smiled when I shook his hand thanked him for what they were doing.
I walked away .... touched and very thankful for the experience.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Gossip - Feathers in the Wind
There is a 19th century folktale about a young fellow who went about town slandering the town’s wise man. One day, he went to the wise man’s home and asked for forgiveness. The wise man, realizing that this man had not internalized the gravity of his transgressions, told him that he would forgive him on one condition: that he go home, take a feather pillow from his house, cut it up, and scatter the feathers to the wind. After he had done so, he should then return to the wise man’s house.
Though puzzled by this strange request, the young man was happy to be let off with so easy a penance. He quickly cut up the pillow, scattered the feathers, and returned to the house.
“Am I now forgiven?” he asked.
“Just one more thing,” the wise man said. “Go now and gather up all the feathers.”
“But that’s impossible. The wind has already scattered them.”
“Precisely,” he answered. “And though you may truly wish to correct the evil you have done, it is as impossible to repair the damage done by your words as it is to recover the feathers. Your words are out there in the marketplace, spreading hate, even as we speak.”
I had heard of this parable years ago and I thought at the time what a good illustration. But it never rang more true until I actually experienced it myself. It was a very disappointing and shameful moment of self-discovery.
Gossip is like a fired bullet. Once you hear the sound, you can’t take it back. And it is not just what we say about someone to others, but think about what that person is thinking about you when they hear you gossip. What does that say about your character to them?
The choice regarding how we speak about or to someone is ours. Choose your words wisely. You can never take them back.
Though puzzled by this strange request, the young man was happy to be let off with so easy a penance. He quickly cut up the pillow, scattered the feathers, and returned to the house.
“Am I now forgiven?” he asked.
“Just one more thing,” the wise man said. “Go now and gather up all the feathers.”
“But that’s impossible. The wind has already scattered them.”
“Precisely,” he answered. “And though you may truly wish to correct the evil you have done, it is as impossible to repair the damage done by your words as it is to recover the feathers. Your words are out there in the marketplace, spreading hate, even as we speak.”
I had heard of this parable years ago and I thought at the time what a good illustration. But it never rang more true until I actually experienced it myself. It was a very disappointing and shameful moment of self-discovery.
Gossip is like a fired bullet. Once you hear the sound, you can’t take it back. And it is not just what we say about someone to others, but think about what that person is thinking about you when they hear you gossip. What does that say about your character to them?
The choice regarding how we speak about or to someone is ours. Choose your words wisely. You can never take them back.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Jealousy - As Cruel As The Grave
"Son, jealousy is a cruel as the grave." A friend of mine told me that he heard his father say that many times when he was growing up. He did not realize his father was actually quoting a scripture in the Bible until later in life when he became a minister.
For love is strong as death, jealousy is as cruel as the grave; coals thereof are coals of fire; which hath a most vehement flame. (Song of Solomen 8:6)
For love is strong as death, jealousy is as cruel as the grave; coals thereof are coals of fire; which hath a most vehement flame. (Song of Solomen 8:6)
Like my friend's father, I experienced the cruel grip of jealousy in my own life:
I remember exactly where I was standing the day my pastor asked me if I would consider being a secretary for the church. It was such an honor to be asked......I also remember the day it ended.
I walked into the church office to put away the offering on a Sunday morning and someone else was sitting at my desk, unfolding the dollar bills from the offering plates. I still recall the sadness, anger and despair that consumed me, for it meant only one thing.... I had been replaced.
There were other changes being made that I was not aware of. After years of service, I felt left out.
I could not get past the hurt. It consumed me until I became jealous and bitter.
Being bitter is like drinking poison hoping the other person would die. All the while you are slowly killing yourself on the inside.
Jealousy can cause more damage to a relationship than any thing I have ever experienced. I began spending less time in prayer and more time talking to others. That is when we get into trouble with God.
Have you ever seen a dog that has been hurt? Even the most gentle of dogs will growl and even try to bite it's owner if he tries to touch the injured area. I was injured so deeply that the slightest reference to it caused pain. Instead of allowing God to heal me, I developed such a rotten attitude that all of heaven could smell the stench. All the hurt, disappointment and bitterness that I had inside came surfacing to the top, like a pot boiling over on a stovetop. I found fault in everything at the church, poisonous venom spewing out of my mouth.
I realized how low I had sunk when I blabbed to my new friend a piece of gossip I had heard about someone else. I knew in my spirit that I was somehow crossing a line. But I was driven by the jealousy and bitterness that had taken hold of me.
Jealousy and envy will make your life hell on Earth. Jealousy hurts people around us, especially those we say we love the most. During this time, I was unkind to some of the sweetest, kindest people I know, just because I was jealous of them. I thought they were getting something I deserved. The Devil is "the ACCUSER of the BRETHREN" (Revelation 12:10), and when you're in a jealous spirit, the Devil whispers his lies against others in your ears and plays upon your selfishness and fears.
It isn't easy to slay a monster.
I had to pray desperately and to ask the Lord to deliver me from this negative, fearful spirit. I finally had to confess it to two of my closest friends and asked them to help me pray about it and to rebuke me when any signs started showing in my attitude. Then I was able to ask one of the individuals I had so badly offended to forgive me. In doing so, an even stronger relationship was formed.
Speaking about it helped me own up to it, address it and caused me to be more able to identify it when it tried to come back. "Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another. RESIST the Devil (resist his thoughts) and he will FLEE from you!"--James 5:16; 4:7.
The time to attack this monster is when it first rears its ugly head. Now, when I see the first sign of jealousy rising up, I will not give in to it. I will force my thoughts to think about something else, not dwell on the thing that is causing the jealousy and pray for God to replace that void in my heart that the enemy is trying to fill will His love.
Genuine love, mercy, forgiveness, openness and understanding have salvaged many a relationship that would have otherwise been destroyed by jealousy and pride.
When jealousy is removed, your life will become full of peace instead of pieces. Where God's love dwells, there is no room for jealousy.
There are many times I come back and read this post. Fighting jealousy is a constant battle. But it is a war that I intend to win.
I remember exactly where I was standing the day my pastor asked me if I would consider being a secretary for the church. It was such an honor to be asked......I also remember the day it ended.
I walked into the church office to put away the offering on a Sunday morning and someone else was sitting at my desk, unfolding the dollar bills from the offering plates. I still recall the sadness, anger and despair that consumed me, for it meant only one thing.... I had been replaced.
There were other changes being made that I was not aware of. After years of service, I felt left out.
I could not get past the hurt. It consumed me until I became jealous and bitter.
Being bitter is like drinking poison hoping the other person would die. All the while you are slowly killing yourself on the inside.
Jealousy can cause more damage to a relationship than any thing I have ever experienced. I began spending less time in prayer and more time talking to others. That is when we get into trouble with God.
Hurting people hurt people.
Have you ever seen a dog that has been hurt? Even the most gentle of dogs will growl and even try to bite it's owner if he tries to touch the injured area. I was injured so deeply that the slightest reference to it caused pain. Instead of allowing God to heal me, I developed such a rotten attitude that all of heaven could smell the stench. All the hurt, disappointment and bitterness that I had inside came surfacing to the top, like a pot boiling over on a stovetop. I found fault in everything at the church, poisonous venom spewing out of my mouth.
I realized how low I had sunk when I blabbed to my new friend a piece of gossip I had heard about someone else. I knew in my spirit that I was somehow crossing a line. But I was driven by the jealousy and bitterness that had taken hold of me.
Jealousy is the fear of losing something that you believe to be already be yours.
Jealousy and envy will make your life hell on Earth. Jealousy hurts people around us, especially those we say we love the most. During this time, I was unkind to some of the sweetest, kindest people I know, just because I was jealous of them. I thought they were getting something I deserved. The Devil is "the ACCUSER of the BRETHREN" (Revelation 12:10), and when you're in a jealous spirit, the Devil whispers his lies against others in your ears and plays upon your selfishness and fears.
It isn't easy to slay a monster.
I had to pray desperately and to ask the Lord to deliver me from this negative, fearful spirit. I finally had to confess it to two of my closest friends and asked them to help me pray about it and to rebuke me when any signs started showing in my attitude. Then I was able to ask one of the individuals I had so badly offended to forgive me. In doing so, an even stronger relationship was formed.
Speaking about it helped me own up to it, address it and caused me to be more able to identify it when it tried to come back. "Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another. RESIST the Devil (resist his thoughts) and he will FLEE from you!"--James 5:16; 4:7.
The time to attack this monster is when it first rears its ugly head. Now, when I see the first sign of jealousy rising up, I will not give in to it. I will force my thoughts to think about something else, not dwell on the thing that is causing the jealousy and pray for God to replace that void in my heart that the enemy is trying to fill will His love.
Genuine love, mercy, forgiveness, openness and understanding have salvaged many a relationship that would have otherwise been destroyed by jealousy and pride.
Jealousy really boils down to selfishness, pride and possessiveness.
When jealousy is removed, your life will become full of peace instead of pieces. Where God's love dwells, there is no room for jealousy.
There are many times I come back and read this post. Fighting jealousy is a constant battle. But it is a war that I intend to win.
Caution: Human Beings at Work
We know we are not perfect. So, why do we expect others to be?
You, therefore, must be perfect (growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity) as your father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48.
Perfection involves growing. Getting along with people, loving them, keeping peace and staying out of anger is something we have to continue to work at.
We make mistakes and we grow from them.
John 2: 24 Jesus for his part, did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all men (human nature).
Do not entrust every detail in your life to everyone. We don't know what causes people to act or react the way they do to some things. We don't know what childhood pain or adult disappointment they have suffered. We must be careful who we allow into our hearts and into our lives.
You, therefore, must be perfect (growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity) as your father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48.
Perfection involves growing. Getting along with people, loving them, keeping peace and staying out of anger is something we have to continue to work at.
We make mistakes and we grow from them.
John 2: 24 Jesus for his part, did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all men (human nature).
Do not entrust every detail in your life to everyone. We don't know what causes people to act or react the way they do to some things. We don't know what childhood pain or adult disappointment they have suffered. We must be careful who we allow into our hearts and into our lives.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Overcoming our Addiction to Temptation
Hello, my name is Paula. And I need to overcome an addiction - to temptation.
Have you ever been in a
situation where you knew to do the
right thing but you wind up doing the wrong thing? Everything in your mind said, “no, no, no,
don’t do it? But in your heart, you said, “why not?”
Temptation is defined as the desire to perform an
action that one may enjoy immediately or in the short term but will probably
later regret for various reasons. – Wikipedia
Satan is a powerful drug dealer and master
con-artist. The only way to put a drug dealer out of business is to stop buying
what he is selling. And he is only
selling what we want. If we did not want
it, we would not be tempted to buy it.
He is presenting something to people that they want so badly that they
are willing to sin to get. He will provide the perfect opportunity, the perfect
setting, to appeal to your own desire. A con-artist can only sell, deceive, or entice us only
when we are needy or greedy. We cannot
be enticed if we are content. The bible
says Godliness with contentment is great
gain. (I Timothy 6:6).
Temptation is only a
temptation because you like what is being offered. James 1:14 says every man is tempted,(lured into a trap)
when he is drawn away (by the attraction ) of his own lust (desiring something in
the wrong way), and enticed.
Satan became masterful because he has studied human beings since the garden of Eden. He slithered around in the garden, found out what Eve’s weakness was, and at a moment when she was alone, he tempted her with a lie, that she would not die. We will all someday die, but sometimes the death we experience when we succumb to temptation is not a natural death, but a death of a relationship, trust or our character.
How do you know you when you are being tempted?
When what you want or in what you thinking about doing, you are willing to compromise obedience to God and compromise love for others to have it. Or it leads you to a position where other people will not see the very character of God in you, but they will see the opposite.
Satan became masterful because he has studied human beings since the garden of Eden. He slithered around in the garden, found out what Eve’s weakness was, and at a moment when she was alone, he tempted her with a lie, that she would not die. We will all someday die, but sometimes the death we experience when we succumb to temptation is not a natural death, but a death of a relationship, trust or our character.
How do you know you when you are being tempted?
When what you want or in what you thinking about doing, you are willing to compromise obedience to God and compromise love for others to have it. Or it leads you to a position where other people will not see the very character of God in you, but they will see the opposite.
Anything that becomes more important than loving God or loving others, you are being tempted with those desires. That is the heart of temptation. When Satan draws you away, it is NEVER in a way that is pleasing to God. It is always in a way to lead you to dishonor God and to dishonor people.
I have treated people poorly because I was not being given what I wanted or what I thought I deserved. We feel justified. When we have these desires then we have not yet accepted God’s will for us. The real enemy is not your spouse, your parents, your co-worker or the friend who hurt you. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
God will use others to unfold some of the worst things about ourselves. We may think they are the ones with the problem, but they are not the ones causing the pain. They are just revealing the character of our heart. Faithful are the wounds of a friend but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. – Proverbs 27:6.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Mastering Failure
"We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success. We often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery." (Samuel Smiles)
Have you ever been at a place in life where you think the only success you have been is successful in being a failure? I have come to the conclusion that I must be what I have heard some people called, "visual learners", because they learn better through what they see. I seem to learn better by doing, and unfortunately many time, I have done the wrong thing.
You cannot pass through this life without failing in some area, whether it be in a bad financial decision, letting a friend down, not fulfilling a promise... the list could go on. The important thing is that we learn something and take it with us on our journey. Failure is a temporary detour, not a dead end.
Genesis 4:6 states, "Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not what is right, sin is crouching at the door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." If Cain would have just did the right thing and fixed his mistake God would have honored his sacrifice. But Cain was determined to do it his way. We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result. We must correct what we have done and do not make that mistake again. If we do make it again, correct it again, until we have mastered it.
The moment you realize you failed is very painful and becomes very personal. Blaming yourself in such situations brings to the surface the thoughts that you felt you were better than that. You verbally beat yourself up, or attack the other person, even if it is just in your mind, to help you feel less bad about yourself. These negative reactions prevents you from both learning from them, and moving beyond them. If you really were responsible for a failure, because of bad decision, or inconsiderate behavior, you can use it as an opportunity to determine just what in your behavior may seriously need to be worked on.
One of the greatest challenges for me is to forgive myself. If you can't stop reeling after a failure or rejection, it may be the high opinion of ourself is being humbled. As my daughter often says, "It's not all about you." The reason pencils have erasers on one end is that all of us make mistakes. Remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes and it will no longer have as much control over how you see yourself. Our shame is self-inflicted. That power resides solely within yourself.
We must see failure for what it really is, a temporary setback, or detour. But delay is not defeat. It may mean the death of a dream, or the end of a relationship, but it does not mean there is no other choice, or another opportunity, even if we can't see it at the moment. In fact, failure can even be seen as a partial success, since it's "succeeded" in eliminating something that you thought was a good thing. It just wasn't.
"There are no failures-just experiences and your reactions to them." (Tom Krause)
Have you ever been at a place in life where you think the only success you have been is successful in being a failure? I have come to the conclusion that I must be what I have heard some people called, "visual learners", because they learn better through what they see. I seem to learn better by doing, and unfortunately many time, I have done the wrong thing.
You cannot pass through this life without failing in some area, whether it be in a bad financial decision, letting a friend down, not fulfilling a promise... the list could go on. The important thing is that we learn something and take it with us on our journey. Failure is a temporary detour, not a dead end.
Genesis 4:6 states, "Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not what is right, sin is crouching at the door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." If Cain would have just did the right thing and fixed his mistake God would have honored his sacrifice. But Cain was determined to do it his way. We cannot continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result. We must correct what we have done and do not make that mistake again. If we do make it again, correct it again, until we have mastered it.
The moment you realize you failed is very painful and becomes very personal. Blaming yourself in such situations brings to the surface the thoughts that you felt you were better than that. You verbally beat yourself up, or attack the other person, even if it is just in your mind, to help you feel less bad about yourself. These negative reactions prevents you from both learning from them, and moving beyond them. If you really were responsible for a failure, because of bad decision, or inconsiderate behavior, you can use it as an opportunity to determine just what in your behavior may seriously need to be worked on.
One of the greatest challenges for me is to forgive myself. If you can't stop reeling after a failure or rejection, it may be the high opinion of ourself is being humbled. As my daughter often says, "It's not all about you." The reason pencils have erasers on one end is that all of us make mistakes. Remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes and it will no longer have as much control over how you see yourself. Our shame is self-inflicted. That power resides solely within yourself.
We must see failure for what it really is, a temporary setback, or detour. But delay is not defeat. It may mean the death of a dream, or the end of a relationship, but it does not mean there is no other choice, or another opportunity, even if we can't see it at the moment. In fact, failure can even be seen as a partial success, since it's "succeeded" in eliminating something that you thought was a good thing. It just wasn't.
"There are no failures-just experiences and your reactions to them." (Tom Krause)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sticks and Stones - Words Do Hurt
I can hear the chant of a child as he tries to be so convincing to someone who had just spoken hurtful remarks about him, "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me." All the while, inside his heart, the pain from those words, still so fresh in his mind, hurts far more than if his offender had thrown bricks.
The fact is that words can hurt for longer and much worse than sticks and stones ever could. The broken bones heal, but words can ruin a peron's life and the lives of others.
The power of our words is enormous, and they also show the condition of our heart.
My mother always said, "if you dont have anything to say, dont say anything at all"
You would think being a grandmother myself, I would know this and apply it every day. But sometimes I fail and I have to be reminded. So, I did some reading and made some notes to remind me.
OUR WORDS ARE POWERFUL
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21) Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles. (Proverbs 21:23)
Ephesians 4:15, 25, 29 15) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. 25) Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 29) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
OUR WORDS ARE A MIRROR OF OUR HEARTS
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.(Luke 6:45)
OUR WORDS CAN HEAL
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body. (Proverbs 16:24)
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
If you have been hurt by words, I pray for you today. I pray for healing of your mind, for your broken spirit, and for the pain that is in your heart. I pray for peace and a renewed confidence. Though you are weary and exhausted, I ask for strength and courage. Most of all, I pray that God upon high will bring restoration to the relationship that has been severed by thoughtless, spiteful words. May the peace that passes all understanding, be with you today and always.
The fact is that words can hurt for longer and much worse than sticks and stones ever could. The broken bones heal, but words can ruin a peron's life and the lives of others.
The power of our words is enormous, and they also show the condition of our heart.
My mother always said, "if you dont have anything to say, dont say anything at all"
You would think being a grandmother myself, I would know this and apply it every day. But sometimes I fail and I have to be reminded. So, I did some reading and made some notes to remind me.
OUR WORDS ARE POWERFUL
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21) Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles. (Proverbs 21:23)
Ephesians 4:15, 25, 29 15) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. 25) Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 29) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
OUR WORDS ARE A MIRROR OF OUR HEARTS
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.(Luke 6:45)
OUR WORDS CAN HEAL
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body. (Proverbs 16:24)
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
If you have been hurt by words, I pray for you today. I pray for healing of your mind, for your broken spirit, and for the pain that is in your heart. I pray for peace and a renewed confidence. Though you are weary and exhausted, I ask for strength and courage. Most of all, I pray that God upon high will bring restoration to the relationship that has been severed by thoughtless, spiteful words. May the peace that passes all understanding, be with you today and always.
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