Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Shelly Says ~ "We're Off To See the King!"


The wonderful King of the Universe!

How often do you remind yourself that, as a Christian, you're on a journey from earth into eternity?

Psalm 84:5 says, "Happy are the people whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage."

Are you happy? Is your heart set on pilgrimage?

As a child, I once heard that heaven has streets of gold. I think that's in a song I heard at an early age. As that image came to mind this morning when I read Psalm 84:5, I thought about how our journey together is much like the movie The Wizard of Oz. In the movie, Dorothy and her new friends are companions on a journey seeking that which is lost by gravitating toward The Great Wizard of Oz: We are companions on a journey seeking that which is lost by gravitating towards The One who died for the lost.

Do you feel like you've lost your mind? Have you lost heart in areas of your life formerly fueled with passion? Have you lost courage in the face of fear? Have you lost your way and are looking for the road that leads home?

Then let's keep up the pace! We're off to see the King of the Universe and He will restore us. He will make us whole again. He promises transformation by the renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2). He promises that we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13). He promises us that He will be with us and we do not have to be afraid (Deuteronomy 31:6). He promises to be our Tower of Refuge and strength... a shelter no matter our circumstances... our home base (Isaiah 4:6).

I could sing of His love forever!

Your former life may have seemed like a black and white nightmare: But when you became a Christian, I hope you felt like your world became alive with living color for the first time. I can just see you setting your cute ruby red slippers (or comfy flip-flops if such is the case) on that first gold brick and beginning a journey to see your Saviour. {smile}

Have there been many trials and tribulations along the way? Have you made new friends and learned of their plights as well? It's all par for the journey, dear friend. It's called life on Earth. Thank God for friends!

The good news is, our life doesn't end here. Christ died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! O' Happy Day!

What grabbed your attention today in the reading of Chapter 1? How did you answer your study questions? I am excited to hear from you today. Don't forget to Stop, Drop and Pray today. Add your requests as well.

Keep your eye on the prize, Sweet Princess of the One True High King and watch out for flying monkeys!

7 comments:

  1. Are you relieved that I didn't talk as much in this post? ; )
    I hope your time today was well spent.

    The biggest thing that captured me today in the reading was the list of "lures to captivity." I never thought of them like lures before... just sins. Pride, idolatry, unbelief, legalism... these are things that lead us into the land of captivity. I like to believe that we don't get there with one sinful act; however, the repeated acts become strongholds in our lives. Those strongholds lead to captivity.

    It's also interesting to "see ourselves in the Bible." Although circumstances were very different back then, the people in the Bible (namely those kings at the moment) deal with the same traps we do today.

    I better get going... I have some examining to do... to evaluate, more closely, how pride rears its ugly head in my life.

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  2. Cute! Now I know why I was always so scared by the wicked witch of the west!

    I may have to go out and buy the book so I can join in more of the discussion!

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  3. I agree with you Shelly. Those things that become strongholds... I am praying that this study will help me search myself and get into position for God to remove them. I know I can't do it...

    Thank you for leading this study. I am excited to be able to participate.

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  4. You're so welcome, Sunshine! I am praying with and for you. With God, all things are possible and I KNOW that it's possible for Him to remove your strongholds.

    I know you can do it... with God's help ; ) He equipped you with "will" when He created your very soul (mind, will, emotions). Make up your mind to give Him access and search you (see Psalm 139)... Let Him do the work gently within you... then stand back and watch Him rescue you (see Exodus 14:13 NLT).

    Please keep me informed of your progress. It's so exciting and encouraging to see fellow companions break free!

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  5. Tammy... please do ! The more, the merrier!!! : )

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  6. Question 3 of chapter 2.. Just like the Isrealites being freed from Egypt, we just don't know what to do with "freedom". They had hardly started their freedom walk, and they started complaining, even going so far as wishing they were back under pharoah because they did not like the conditons they were having to endure for "freedom." I believe the same thing happens today-God does not want us to suffer abuse, drug addiction,etc. but freedom scares us more. God loves us so much, he cares about our freedom from any bondage. It hurts Him when His children hurt.so we CRY OUT TO THE LORD and ask for courage to face the unknown

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  7. I think freedom scares us more than captivity. Captivity, we know: Freedom is unknown to us.

    Fear of the unknown keeps us from doing SO MUCH in life.

    People, in general, are afraid of change.

    I encourage all of you to step out of your comfort zone in the name of Jesus!

    If you need some inspiration, like I do, in this area... listen to Nichole Nordeman's song, "Brave"

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