Holiness and Wholeness

Lord, I’m learning to trust You
in a new way. I’m realizing that
the salvation You provided is not
only for my soul, but for my body.
I’m seeing the results of Your
redemption in being free of several
health challenges I was facing. So
far, however, some remain. I trust
You for this process and growth in
faith. My greatest concern is to
please You and let You have Your
perfect will in being made not only
well, but holy.

I am so pleased that you are seeking Me. You do well to seek not only My benefits, but My purifying presence. It is always My plan to make My people holy. I spoke of it many times, and it is a major part of My total purpose in the cross and resurrection. Forgiveness is yours, of course, but sanctification is higher and brings you closer to My heart. It requires intimate communion for you to be purified and made whole. The intimacy that results from your search is as great a prize as the result of wholeness in body and soul.
It is so important that you seek spiritual wholeness even more than physical health. I died to provide both for you and am glorified as each is made evident in your life. Do not hide what I do. Do not be afraid to both declare what I have done and be honest about the process you are still experiencing. My reputation is My responsibility, not yours.
Let Me have My way with your time and interests. Hold every moment that you may spend in My presence as precious. Listen to My voice. I am with you always, but you must be aware of Me to commune with Me. Allow no mindless distraction to steal the very treasure that I died for…fellowship with you. You must engage your mind in your work and daily living, but I am to be the home of your in-between moments, your down time, your spare time, your free time, and all those minutes and hours you think belong to you. They are Mine. You lose so much when you waste them and let them slip away.
Following My lead will bring us a level of intimacy that will result in a holy life lived moment by moment drawing on Me for that holiness, wholeness, strength, and health that will glorify Me. You are Mine, and I am yours. We are woven together in a way that cannot be undone, but can be strengthened and made ever deeper throughout life and eternity as you believe the words I have spoken to you. I keep every one of My promises as you lean hard on Me. Learn what I have said and dare to trust that I am true to My word.

Memorial Day Weekend

Jon is taking some extra days off over this Memorial Day weekend, and I'm taking off Tuesday as well. So far this weekend I worked on Saturday morning, we worked at my mom's house Saturday afternoon, and we kept Tre and Tru overnight Saturday night. Tabbi came over today for church then they all went home later this afternoon. I've done some cleaning, laundry, and saw my mom for a little while. Tomorrow we'll take off as soon as Jon as willing to go to see Greg, Megan, and Oz for a while then head over to see Jon, Kelli, Bria, and Emmy overnight. We'll spend Tuesday there so we can go to Bria's softball game in the afternoon and head home that night. Busy, busy, busy!!! Jon's working away in the garage tonight.

Thought for the day

I'm still wrestling with health and wholeness issues. My acid reflux is gone entirely, and I'm doing just fine without any Singulair. I need some blood work anyway, so I'll get my blood pressure and thyroid checked as well. However, I'm still not sure how I'm going to get along without an nsaid. One day well, next day not, next day in between. Lord, teach me. Help my unbelief. I trust You.

A Challenge

Thought for the day

I've been challenged lately along a particular line of thinking. I was reading a book entitled "Divine Healing" and Andrew Murray points out that the salvation Christ offers us is not for our souls only, but for our bodies as well. It makes me think about all the things that we commonly consider as benefits of our salvation...peace, comfort, wisdom, strength, healing, joy, right standing with God, and so on. But what exactly was God's intent and purpose in saving us?? The Bible teaches that we are to become the righteousness of God in Christ. We are to be holy as He is holy. Now I'm not advocating a performance theology, but the question is put to me... Do I want what Jesus died to provide for me? That's easy to answer in terms of joy, peace, wholeness, comfort, forgiveness, and so on...sign me up!!!
But if He died and rose again that I may be holy, is that what I want? Do I want Him to have His way and put His finger on ANY and ALL areas of my life? Or do I only want holiness up to the level of my comfort and I'll settle for forgiveness for the rest??? Do I have the right to dictate what parts of Christ's salvation I want and will accept and submit to? Do I want only the parts that feel good and make me comfortable, or do I want Him to have His way (which, of course, will be the most blessed state for me as well)?
I'm certainly in no way pointing fingers at anyone, but I think we could all benefit from asking ourselves these questions. What parts and pieces of our personality, temperament, and preferences do we hang on to and feel we have a right to? Those are likely the very things that Christ would free us from in order to make us holy. Are we willing?

End of the World???

It's Saturday, May 21 and, according to someone the rapture is supposed to happen today. Which, of course, means that it won't. However, it was the last day for Logan. She ran off a couple of times last Monday, and we think she may have been hit on the road. She came back stiff as usual, but has gotten worse all week. Poor girl couldn't even get up from lying on the floor by herself and stay on her feet. It was impossible for her to get up or down steps by herself and even turning a corner meant stopping to adjust or falling down. She was panting hard constantly which also is an indication of being in pain. She's been too good a dog to let that continue. So we said goodbye...that was a tough one. We all have only great memories of her which is as it should be.