SweetSurrender

Thanks, Bondman for the Ruts thread. It came in a timely manner. I have pm'd a few with the following message tonight and I copied it and will paste it here so you will get a feel for how God has led me to listen, even If didn't understand that was what He was showing me.

In an earlier thread, Bo shared some of Andrew Murray's wisdom with us. It is from part of his message that struck me about what I was doing right:

To this end, let your first act in your devotion be a setting yourself still before God. In prayer, or worship, everything depends upon God taking the chief place. I must bow quietly before Him in humble faith and adoration, speaking thus within my heart: “God is. God is near. God is love, longing to communicate Himself to me. God the Almighty One, Who worketh all in all, is even now waiting to work in me, and make Himself known.” Take time, till you know God is very near.

Recently, I have been practicing this quietness just because I am going through a bit of stress and weariness from Norm's deep depression. For the last 8 mos., he has been a bit hard to live with because of this change in his medication.

But, my point is that, because of this and probably lack of sleep, I have just been kneeling by my bed in the morning and in silence, just being still before God and letting Him build up my strength for the day. It initially began just as a deep weariness and not being able to pray much. I'd just be still and sit and let Him give me what I figured He knew I must need. It has been humbling. I didn't care if I was doing the right thing. Just that I had nothing to give and needed His "medication" administered to me.

Then, when I read Andrew Murry's inspiring words above, it put into focus for me that I was doing the right thing. I was just waiting on the Lord to speak peace to me.

It spoke peace to my hungry, weary soul, as He does in my need. And then your thread confirmed to me that my time to rely on His strength is here, now. And it is a blessing to be able to share with all of you these needs until we get through it. Bonnie

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Bondman

Bondman

PRACTICAL NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY

MESSAGE #39


DIE TO OUR DESIRES, AWAKE TO HIS!


TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Luke 9
23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Just what did Jesus mean by: "Take up your cross daily and follow me." Convention has led us to express 'taking up the cross' something like this: "Oh, we all have our crosses to bear!" NO WE DON'T!! What taking up your cross REALLY means is: willing to die. The cross meant and means nothing else but death. That's what it meant for Jesus, that's what it means for us. I have to daily die to myself: to all that I want, to all that I feel, to the whole of my life, and all of ME!


DENY YOURSELF

That's why He said that I must DENY MYSELF by DAILY taking up my cross, unto death, and following Him.

Guys, do you see how serious this is? He started with: "If anyone would come after Me." That is, if you would dare to call yourself CHRISTIAN, then this is nothing less than a call unto death to yourself! Thus my life for ME is over. Gone for ever! Finished! Dead! JESUS is now the One in charge. I've given over the reins of all of my life to the Lord. That's why I use the nickname 'Bondman' = 'bond-slave to Jesus', cos now He is my Master. I now live solely to serve my wonderful Master! Like He Himself said in the Garden, "Not My will, Father, but Yours be done." That's exactly it - for every part of my life, it has to be HIS will for me, every day!


LOSE YOUR LIFE

And have a look at the CONTRAST Jesus paints in these powerful words:

Matthew 10
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Please note "for My sake". And what does "loses his life for My sake" mean? - same as taking up the cross; same as denying myself!

More contrasts:

Ephesians 2
5a Even when we were dead in and by our sins, He made us alive in Christ.

Wow, so we USED to be DEAD, but He brought us to LIFE! Now that we HAVE this life, He's calling us to GIVE IT BACK TO HIM, to 'lose' it, not be keeping it for ourselves, but freely giving it up to JESUS - because of our LOVE for Him! Some here will remember how I've said that the NT has numbers of contradictions, or rather apparent contradictions, where we need to really concentrate hard to understand what God is REALLY saying to us!

So... lose your life for Jesus' sake, and you will gain it! Does that work for you like it does for me? Because... keep hold of it - and you will lose it. Not good, hey!


NEVER QUIT!

Finally there's a WARNING about our Christian walk when we've given up ALL to follow Jesus:

Luke 9
62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."


TODAY IS THE DAY

So if ya gonna do it, THEN DO IT!! And never quit! You can take it from me that you'll NEVER regret it. Submit to the Lord Jesus as Lord over all of your life, right now. Then you'll be able to easily choose... to take up your cross and die daily to yourself. Don't put it off. There's absolutely NO time for messing around with this! Now is the time for YOU to take Jesus as your LORD, as well as your Saviour!!

Much love in Jesus!

- BM, with his Lady

SweetSurrender

Thanx Bondman! My simple heart did 'get' it. I enjoyed reading what your name meant - Bondman. That's cool.

I went to a Bible study tonight at church and 2 verses were shared that were very good. I wanted to share them with ya'all:

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

That tells me that you prove to yourself what the perfect will of God is for your life by renewing it so you will not fall into the hands of the world and it's lusts.

Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

So we know that if we keep our minds renewed and kept on Him, He will keep up in perfect peace. How awsome is that?!

Have a good morning. I'm going to bed now! zzz

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Faithwoman

Hey all!

Just a quick note .. God is awesome!

I traveled yestereday to my new town.. Got to see the house the hospital is providing for me.. Let me correct that.. the house the Lord is providing for me.. It is an older home and is just adorable! It is within walking distance of my job.. It is great! Got to spend some time with my new boss. had a great evening! Drove back this AM and just getting ready to hop off to work.. to do the Lord's work! .. 8 more days at my old job and off to the journey the Lord has me going on!

Awesome morning.. I will catch up with posts later

Hugs
Robin

Bondman

Robin, great to hear you starting to get settled in!

Hon, there's nothing 'simple' about your heart, per se! I'm just thrilled at how you respond to what God is teaching you and wanting to teach you.

Keep movin' on like you are. Praying for hubby and you.

- BM

forgivenWretch

forgivenWretch

forgivenWretch

Faithwoman

Thanks Wayne for the uplifting messages.

Robin