The "Re" of God

Yes, God is a “re”doer of everything in our lives, when we open our hearts in full surrender to Him. God …

– redeems

– – removes

– – renews

– – restores

– – refills

– – refreshes

– – revives

This is not just a one-time thing God does, but, something He continues to do as we return to Him each day, He responds with the same, supernatural resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead. (Romans 8:11)!

How do we get all the “re” of God?

Repent, receive, and remember.

REPENT: So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return to God, that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19*

RECEIVE:
Receive His forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. Change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38*

REMEMBER:
Remember all that God has forgiven you of, provided for you, and brought you through. Great is His faithfulness!
Even through pain, suffering, loss, and grief, remember God’s goodness, mercy, and blessings. “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I said to myself, “the Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him.” Lamentations 3:21-25

Repent, receive, and remember – only God can redeem us from our sin, renew our strength by His Spirit, and resurrect us from death to life abundantly and eternally!

A Prayer of Thanks: Thank You, Lord, for Your amazing love, grace and forgiveness in my life. Thank You for redeeming my life, removing my guilt and shame, renewing my mind and strength, restoring my soul, refilling me with Your Spirit, refreshing me as I wait in Your presence, and reviving my passion to live for You every day of my life. Thank You for being a good, good Father. Amen.

*Amplified Bible See also Psalm 23 and 103 for all the reminders of God’s redemption in our lives. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though He may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus (John 11:25)

About the Author: Jennifer Morrow has been involved in the ministries of intercession and worship dance for over 20 years. She is the founder of Restoration Arts Dance, and is blessed with the privilege and joy of teaching dance at a Christ centered, non-profit studio. She loves studying and teaching The Word, helping others experience God's presence through worship and His Word, writing and speaking. Jennifer and her husband, David, have been married 33 years and are members of Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL, where they both serve on the Dream Team through prayer, production, and leading small groups. They have 2 adult children, Jordan and Kristen. Jennifer blogs @ www.ponderit.org as a writer in training!
You can read more about her personally on this blog as well.
Contact Jennifer @ restorationartsdance@gmail.com
Twitter & Instagram @jenniferdmorrow

To Forgive or Not to Forgive

Have you ever felt your husband was beyond forgiving? Have you wept bitterly at night and no one heard you as your body throbbed in pain?

Being married to someone suffering from chronic pain is difficult. I oftentimes feel terrible that God foisted chronic pain upon my husband. He did not sign up to marry a wife with an illness. In the beginning, my husband had a hard time adjusting with my ill state.

I still remember when we brought my daughter home from the hospitable after spending ten weeks on bedrest. I contracted MRSA, a resistant staph infection, on my eyelid while in the hospital for pre-term labor. After I gave birth, I contracted it again and could not stand as a result of the bedrest and the pain.

I wept bitterly in bed while taking care of my daughter, as my husband took time off work to ready our new home for our family. I remember one day my little one had a huge accident, and I just broke down and needed help. I called my husband desperately asking him for support. I took care of her all day and had no strength as my body shouted in pain. I remember when he screamed at me to take care of the situation, while I begged in tears. He never helped me that day. He did not understand my pain; after all, his desire to create a new home from the fixer-upper home we bought was a noble feat.

The Process of Forgiveness

Even though it was not easy to forgive, Jesus instructed me to do so when he said “for if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then you Father will not forgive your transgressions. (Matthew 6:14-15.)

I had to forgive my husband because Jesus wanted me to absolve him. I had my transgressions too, and I desired Him to forgive me. I also wanted the Lord to heal our marriage. Marriage is the practice field of forgiveness.

I forgave in love and refrained from punishing my spouse. Even though it hurt more than I thought it would, I erased the past transgressions from my mind by “taking every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5.) It creeped slowly into my mind again, but I batted it away with Scripture; I would be “patient and kind…not arrogant or rude.” I would not insist on my way; nor would I rejoice at wrongdoing because ^“love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8.)

Though it took some time, I moved on. We were “kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also” forgave us. (Ephesians 4:32.) When my soul began to rebel, I plead for the power of the Spirit and to God for help because it was just too hard.

Freedom

Once I let go and forgave with God’s help, the dark dungeon of bondage melted away. Satan and my flesh may have screamed, but the ugly unforgiving heart took residence elsewhere. It was no longer in my heart. The heavens sang for my freedom from sin. I no longer gripped onto “bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor” in my heart. (Ephesians 4:31.) I was free!

I could feel God near me again. Forgiving my spouse brought Him closer to me with a peace surpassing all understanding.

Jesus showed me how to forgive when he hung with the weight of sin on his back. He was spat upon, beaten, and hated and yet He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34.) Jesus is and always will be my example. I aimed to be like Him by “work[ing] out my salvation with fear and trembling” with the knowledge of the beautiful grace He bestowed on me. (Philippians 2:12.)

Jesus purchased my freedom—so I might forgive my husband now and in the future.

A Moment of Reflection:

The Lord walks besides you as you forgive and obtain freedom. I myself have found victory by:

1)    Confronting the Hurt

When another injures our hearts, we cannot ignore the pain. If we deny our pain, it will bury deep inside your soul, and bitterness can crush our spirit. Admitting you are hurting, but still want to be free is the key to deliverance from the pain.

2)    Believing God Will Heal

By praying alone and with others, God can release the hurt.  Once the Lord sees an eager heart, He will cover you with His pinions so you might recover.

3)    Giving Yourself Grace to Heal

Time will erase all wounds, but you must give yourself grace to heal from the hurt. Grief is a process and God wants us to allow the healing process to clean our hearts.

4)    Praying for a Clean Heart

Praying to God to remove the desire for revenge is essential in the recovery process. Only God can take control of the situation of wrong experienced against you. He knew in advance this situation would transpire, and he will also be the one to care for your heart and your spouse’s heart. (Romans 12:19.)

About the Author: Sylvia Ronnau is a wife, mother to a peppy five year old girl, appellate attorney, and writer.  She also suffers from chronic pain and felt the Lord was calling her to write about chronic pain marriages when she discovered that 80 percent of marriages fail when one spouse in the marriage suffers from chronic pain/illness.

You can follow her blog at matthew196.wordpress.com. You can follow her on Twitter at @SylviaRonnau or Facebook as well. She is available to speak on the topic—as she wants people to have the tools to strengthen their chronic pain marriage and is offering a free month of speaking at church events and retreats, organization and ministry meetings, women’s bible studies, among other locations.

God Uses Unlikely People

"C'mon Noah, let's crawl through the fish tunnel!" I said brightly, wiggling the large opening of the spandex fish-shaped tunnel in my hands.

Noah would have none of it. He pouted and limped to the other side of the room.

I have worked as an occupational therapist for 28 years, and Noah wasn't the first child who refused to do what I asked. He just said "no" more frequently than the others. So when the sulky 4 year old refused to participate in my "fun activity", I quelled my own exasperation and tried a little harder.

"Look Noah!" I said, putting my head into the opening of the tunnel and looking through the plastic eye of the "fish". Noah turned and smiled, walking toward me.

Encouraged that I had finally engaged my little student, I pressed my face into the spandex of the tunnel and made funny faces. Noah began to laugh loudly and then…whack! Ow! I felt sudden sharp pain from the tip of my nose all the way back into my head. Noah had lifted his stronger hand and hit me hard, right in the nose!

It smarted! Feeling slightly dazed, I ended the tunnel activity and directed Noah to something else, still rubbing my throbbing nose. Wow, that little kid packed a punch! I didn't realize how much of a punch until later that day, when the throbbing led to a headache, nausea, and a trip to the emergency room.

It was incredibly embarrassing to tell the emergency room staff that I had symptoms of a concussion after being hit in the nose by a 4 year old. They chuckled but they took care of me and, fortunately, the tests all showed that I was fine. My brain had just been "shaken up". As the doctor reviewed my CT scan, he told me some other news.

"Oh, by the way, did you know that you have a couple of thyroid nodules?"

Thyroid nodules? No, I had no idea. What were thyroid nodules?

"You should have those checked out," he said.

Well, the couple of thyroid nodules turned into a 5 month ordeal of diagnosing and removing a multi-nodular goiter from my neck. It was not pleasant and took a lot longer than I thought it should have, but it's gone now and I am feeling much better. What would it have turned into if that trip to the emergency room hadn't happened? I credit God with that one: God used an unlikely person, Noah the 4 year old, to alert me to a serious problem with my own health.

God uses the most unlikely people to reach out to us. We might feel really uplifted after that inspirational Sunday sermon, but God doesn't stop reaching out to us after church is over. Every day God shows up in the people around us. That frazzled check-out girl at the grocery store or your elderly neighbor who stops to chat at the mailbox. How about your co-worker who tells you to "have a great day" at the end of every email? Then there's your teenage daughter who repeatedly announces that she's not so sure Jesus was real. Even the jerk who pulled out in front of you at the intersection and then had the nerve to throw a rude gesture your way! Now there's an unlikely person. Would God really use him?

Yes, God would. In fact, God may be reaching out to you through all these people, giving you opportunities to serve and to be served. A kind word from you might turn that check-out girl's day from dreary to bright. Your chat at the mailbox might be the highlight of your neighbor's lonely hours. Your co-worker may really mean it when she says "have a great day" and she might be willing to talk about that big problem of yours over lunch. Your teenage daughter just wants someone to assure her that Jesus is real and to show her why. God shapes all of these interactions. He even sent that guy who cut you off to remind you to apologize to your husband for being rude to him the other day. God is present no matter where you are, touching your life through others and their lives through you. 

So as you carry on with your busy day pay attention to those around you and consider how God is reaching out to you. He may not have a 4 year old hit you in the nose, but he may send an unlikely person your way who will have just as much of an impact. The smallest interaction could lead to the biggest change in your life. That is how God reaches out to all of us.

About the Author:

Janet Meydam is a freelance writer who specializes in health care related topics. She is also an occupational therapist with 28 years of experience in a variety of settings. Janet has been blessed to see God's reflection in the many people she has treated over the years. She and her husband Tim live in Wisconsin.

It's FREE! and It's AMAZING!

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE free stuff.  I started couponing a couple of years ago and get so excited on those shopping trips when I get items for free. It makes going to the grocery store so much fun. But I realized something, even though I may get my items for free, eventually I will run out and need to purchase more. Now, there are times when I get them for very little money and even times when I may get them for free again, but in either case I have to go back to the store for another transaction.

But I’m so glad that‘s not the case with God’s grace! God decided in His infinite wisdom to give us the free gift of grace at the moment we believed in His son Jesus and His finished work on the cross.  It never runs out and the transaction never has to be repeated for us to enjoy the benefits. Scripture tells us that “where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more”. In spite of our mess up’s we still get to experience grace. In spite of our shortcomings we are still recipients of unmerited favor. Despite our sins God continues to extend to us His amazing grace. Recognizing this should prompt us to love Him more fervently, honor Him more intently, and serve Him more diligently.  The song writer put it best:

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I'm found.
Was blind but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Then when we first begun.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I'm found.
Was blind, but now I see

Praise God today for His amazing grace and live your life in appreciation of what it took for Him to extend that grace to you…The death of His Son Jesus!

A Victory Parade for Jesus

I had the opportunity to attend the Denver Broncos Super Bowl victory parade a few months ago.  Now let me be clear for the record, I am an avid Dallas Cowboys fan! However, I can appreciate another team having a great game or season and I am honest enough to say that my team is shall we say, “Championship Challenged” for the time being. So, I decided to attend the parade.

I must admit, it was a grand event. Estimates from the City of Denver were that over 1million people came out to cheer on their team and see their favorite sons, Peyton Manning, Von Miller, and the rest of their teammates.  The city went all out to plan an event for their Super Bowl Champions.  My son and I set out from my daughter’s apartment and as soon as we hit the street, there were people decked out in their Bronco’s gear literally coming from every direction. I overheard people discussing how they called in sick for the day so they could attend the parade. There were school aged children waving Broncos banners. Obviously they had been allowed to skip school for the day.  Some were on their lunch break.  Some drove in from the outlying suburbs and walked for blocks just to get a spot along the parade route in hopes of getting a glimpse of their favorite player.  Others came spilling out of downtown apartments, lofts, and office buildings. Everyone had one goal that day…cheer on their team. There were literally people everywhere.

My son and I were able to find a great spot along the route with an incredible view. My husband opted to go skiing; he's a die hard Alabama Crimson Tide fan...enough said. But as I stood there in the midst of a sea of orange and blue, I couldn’t help but wonder, "What if there was a victory parade for Jesus?" Would He attract the same type of crowd as the Super Bowl Champions? Would people come from everywhere by any means necessary to cheer Him on and get a glimpse as He passed by?  They did during His lifetime.

Everywhere Jesus went he was followed by what the gospel writers call “a great multitude.” They were awestruck by his teachings. They were amazed by the power He displayed and they wanted to hear from Him. Would we do the same?

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with cheering on your favorite sports team or supporting your favorite entertainer.  But do you praise the one who died for you with the same vigor and enthusiasm?  Do people know you’re a part of His team?  Does your clothing represent you’re on His team?  Do people know from your conversation that you’re following Him?

Let us not keep Jesus hidden in the four walls of our homes or our places of worship. He is much too good for that. Let’s Celebrate Jesus today and everyday!

Have You Become Spiritually Complacent?

I’d like to share a thought with you from a wonderful sister I had the pleasure of meeting some time ago.  It has to do with spiritual complacency.  Janice Pender writes the following in her devotional book Deeper Roots:

“Spiritual complacency is a sin: it is a careless and lazy attitude towards the word of God and the things of God.  Oh sure, we can go to church, listen to the Bible being taught, and lift up the name of Jesus in song, but what is really going on in our hearts? Are we truly hearing His words with a desire to do them?”

She compares the blank stares and slothful responses parents sometimes get from their children when told to do something with our responses or lack thereof when God speaks to us.

I wonder today if we have become spiritually complacent in our response to God’s word.  I wonder if we see God’s word as a suggestion we can follow when it’s convenient or in line with what we want to do. Or do we view it as absolute truth that is to be followed despite or personal feelings?  I challenge and encourage us this week to honestly evaluate our responses to the messages we hear week in and week out.  I challenge and encourage us to ask for forgiveness for those times we have been spiritually complacent.  I challenge and encourage us to give God our very best, because after all, He gave His very best for us....His only son Jesus Christ!

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;  for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.  But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22-25 NASB)

WELCOME!

I am so excited that you have found your way to "Strength for Your Journey," the official blog of For His Glory Ministries.  I am thrilled to share with you the ministry that God has entrusted to me…For HIS Glory! I cannot express how humbled I am to be used by the God of the universe to teach His word to women everywhere. 

For HIS Glory Ministries is committed to affecting change in the lives of women by:

·        Sharing with women the transforming power of a personal relationship with God through faith in His son Jesus Christ.

·         Encouraging women through bible studies, devotions, online tools and other resources to increase their faith in God. 

·         Challenging women to actively walk out their faith in obedience to God and service to His people.

In simple terms, this ministry exists to share the truth of God’s word with His daughters, so that souls are saved and lives are forever changed. This blog is designed to provide encouragement, direction, support, and truth. 

I invite you to visit our website at www.fhgmin.org for more information on the ministry and the work that is being done to share God's word with women everywhere.

In His Service and For HIS Glory,
Katherine B. Barner