Friday, August 12, 2011

When God Intercedes

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary intercede means to intervene between two parties with a view to reconciling differences: Mediate. I understood what the word meant before reading the definition but once I read it after a situation, it meant so much more.

My church home, Macedonia Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO, is going through the series Experiencing God: Your Church Experiencing God Together by Henry T. Blackaby and Melvin D. Blackaby. I have learned so much about myself and corporate body worship through this series. In the lesson titled 'The Church in the Kingdom', there was a question that just really made me pause and think about ME. The question is, How does your lifestyle reflect your reaction to Jesus Title? The answers to choose from are: (1) I protest Jesus' kingship over my life; (2) I question Jesus' kingship over my life; (3) I ignore Jesus' kingship over my life; or (4) I accept Jesus' kingship over my life. Well of course I immediately went to the last one, I accept His kingship over my life. Then I was immediately convicted. I was reminded of what had just happened the day before and then I realized that I am really protesting Jesus' kingship over my life. It is a disappointing feeling knowing that you are actually protesting the Lord. You may wonder how can a believer protest God? It is very easy to do so.

I am struggling with sin.....yes I said it. There are things in my life that I would like to overcome. So, each day I pray to the Lord for strength that I make it through the day without having to face my struggles. Well, yesterday I completely threw that prayer out the window and was ready to give in. At that moment, I was protesting Jesus' kingship over my life. Instead of doing what God wants me to do, I was prepared and ready to do the opposite. I had set the plan in motion and was ready to execute....but God. God had something else better for me, He interceded for me and kept me. Later that night when I realized what had happened, I couldn't do anything but praise Him and thank Him for what He did. I took my eye off of Him and wanted to go down my own path of destruction and had the nerve to tell God that I just can't do this. I am not strong enough for this. He showed me that where I am weak, He is strong. What a Mighty God! If God wouldn't have interceded......hmm, I don't even want to think about it.

Jesus interceded for you and I, by giving up His life. He came between two parties, mankind and God, so that we can be reconciled with the Father. During those moments where you feel like giving up and telling God that you're not strong enough, allow Jesus to intercede for you. He is our strength.

Be Blessed!!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Encouragement from the past

We are often told in life to not look back and just keep looking forward. Yes, this is good advice but what is pushing me forward? I can only know by looking back.....sometimes. Today I decided to take a look at my past....I thought about my life, decision making, and even read some of my previous blogs. By just taking a brief moment and doing that gave me encouragement to keep pushing forward. I was reminded of my growth, I was reminded of my blessings, and most of all I was reminded that God is always with me. Now you're probably thinking, "Kish..you should know that God is always with you". Yes, I know that. But just like we don't pay attention to every breath that we take or every blink that we make, that is how easy we can take our mind off of God and the inevitable. So I say to you, take a look back....and always be encouraged!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Promises

Promises. Many are made, many are broken. As parents, we often promise our children many things. When we make those promises, we intend to see it through. There are times when circumstances will not allow us to follow through and then we carry the burden of guilt because we feel that we have failed in some way. I tend to find myself in this situation A LOT! I often wonder if my children will lose faith in me. I find myself at a point to where I am learning not to use the word "promise" and now use the phrase "I will try/ do my best to.....". Should things really have to be this way? I honestly don't have an answer for that. As I am dealing with this issue, I can't do anything but thank God for His promises and that He has and will follow through. I am constantly reminded of Hebrews 13:5, that God will never leave me and never will He forsake  me (I chose to make it personal). My hope is that I don't burden my children with failed promises and that when they hear the word "promise" that they don't cringe or become faithless. I will do my best to show them as though there are times that I may fail, there is One who will never fail and that He will follow through on all of His promises.

Be Blessed