Wanna share in God's glory?

Has God ever seemed like a mean person to you? He has to me. Growing up I always believed thatGod would punish me if I did something wrong. I always believed he was just up there waiting for me to mess up so he could come down on me and say, "yep, you should have listened, I told you so."

Having this misconception of God has caused me some damage in my life. Some of that damage is when I find out truth about God, it causes me to say, "This is too good to be true!"

One of those truths that I've had a hard time believing because it DOES SOUND too good to be true is what this blog willbe about.

I recently read a book called, Keepers of the Seed by Sandy Hathaway

She says that God wants us to be His glory on the earth. She also defines His glory as meaning "simply to show thetrue nature, character, and attributes of someone (God)."

I'm going to check this out for myself.

Is that really possible that God wants me to share in his glory? Is it really possible that there is a time and place on this earth that I will share in his glory?

In Romans 8:17 it states, and since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

First question: What is glory?

Answer: According to dictionary.com it means many things including very great praise, honor, fame, admiration, resplendent beauty, or magnificence, prosperity, state of absolute greatness, contentment, gratification. Feel free to check itout for yourself just click on this link: glory.

Second question: Do I want it?

Answer: Of course I do. Don't you?

Next question: How do I get it?

Answer......

Chain of Events

God knew me before I was created, he planted within me desires, desires that were intended to draw me into a relationship withhim, therefore he chose me before I was born, the desire he gave me was to go to him and wanting to go to him, he gave me right standing with himself, through Jesus Christ, and because I have right standing, he gave me his glory!

Check out this picture of the sun before your read any further. Let's pretend that God is the sun. I know that he's not but let's imagine that he is. Any area within the circle surrounding the sun would be considered a part of the sun's glory.

In 1st John 1: 5 it states, "....God is light and there is no darkness in him at all. v 7. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his son, cleanses us from all sin."

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

So, If God is the sun and because of Jesus Christ we have right standing with God, then we are standing within the realm of God's glory. We can have fellowship with God because of Jesus Christ. Which means if we areclose enough to God to fellowship with Him, then we are close enough to be within the circle or haloor anti corona, whatever it is you wanna call it.

So, I'm in fellowship with God and because of that I'm already sharing his glory. Notice in the picture you don't have to be too far away from the sun to get a piece of the glory.

Forth question: Howdo I bring glory to God on this earth?

Answer: Fellowship with God, hear his voice, obey, be who God created you to be!

I don't know about you but once I've figured out how much God loves me and wants to share his glory with me, I'd like to return a little something to him. The bible also says that people or we can give or bring glory to God. How does that work?

God, show me. I do not get it. How can I bring glory to you when I'm getting my glory from you. You are the light and because of you I'm able to shine or share in your glory. How can I, as human, bring glory to you?

Within 24 hours after I prayed the prayer of, Dear God, please show me how I bring glory to you. I need a visual. Please help me understand. He showed up in the most unexpected place. I am a teacher. I use an overhead projector. During class as students were working independently, I had my overhead projector on waitingfor them to finish up so we could move on. I looked down at the overhead projector glass and saw an anticorona. An anticorona is defined as "a luminous edging around the shadow of an observer or the point where his or her shadow would fall, as thrown by the sun upon a cloud or fog bank."

When I first saw this definition it was under the definition of the word glory. I had to search for an image of this and here is what I found.

What this reminded me of was something that my husband and myself have seen a couple of times in the clouds. Never understood what it was until now. What we would see is a very small section of the outer part of thisanticorona in the sky. It wouldn't be the color of a rainbow but an orangish, redish, yellowish section of light in the cloud. We would always ask, "where is that coming from?"

Back to my overhead projector. I saw, just like in the sky, a smigid of an anticorona and asked the question again, "where is that coming from?" which in return led me to look at the center of the glass where the light was bright and shinning and that's when it hit me. How we bring glory to God is when he causes us to share in his glory then we reflect it right back to him.

When we are at our best, being who God created us to be, fully human but fully fellowshipping with our heavenly father, we can't help but shine. When we shine, people ask, "where is that coming from?" The answer, of course, is from our creator! Our creator shines so therefore we do too! How we shine as humans is in many different forms.

All I know is that I want to share in God's glory so I can bring him glory but I also want the definition of glory too. I'm not about to admit that I just wanna do it for God cause that would be considered lying and I'm trying not to lie today!

Some people are really good at serving others. They are very good at doing for others and not expecting anything in return. God, has given them this gift. It doesn't burn them out to do it and people look at them and wonder how they can be so selfless. If this is you, this is how you bring glory to God.

Some people are really good at entertaining people. They shine on stage and it just comes natural to them. God, has given them this gift. If this is you, this is how you bring glory to God.

Some people are really good at writing. They can organize their thoughts well on paper. They write when they are inspired. God, has given them this gift. If this is you, this is how you bring glory to God.

In what ways are you brining glory to God and how are you sharing in God's glory?

Dear Heavenly Father,

I am able to bask in your glory because of your son Jesus Christ. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to share in your glory and to also give glory back to you. Please help me to know who I am as your child and help me to bring you glory in all that I do.

Amen

Living Loved and Freely,

Elizabeth

"Dog gone good lovin'"

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

I don't know who came up with that quote but it's a good one and it's a true one.

Have you ever been around a dog that has been abused by humans? You put out your hand to pet him, he cowers. You tell him to come to you, he turns away. You try to coax him with food, he whines. All he does for the first couple of days is just sit in the corner and watches your every move. He's just waiting to be hurt by you even though you're not the one who beat him.

After a couple of days pass and the dog has watched you relentlessly put food out for him, call him, and attempt to play with him, the dog decides to trust you just a little because the pain in his stomach is stronger then the will to not trust you. Plus, he's been around you the past couple of days and you seem harmless. You put food out and he gives you this look of fear as he slowly approaches the food bowl. Once he gets there and starts to eat, he is constantly turning back to look at you to make sure you are not going to punish him for eating.

After about a week or so, the dog will actually walk towards you with head down so you can pet him, although he still won't trust you enough to come when you call his name because before when he heard his name, he was being beaten or harshly spoken to. Finally, after a couple of weeks the dog will sit in your lap, sleep with you, wag his tail when you call his name and feel free enough in your home to pee on your carpet, knowing full well your love for him will keep him from being punished too harshly for his bad behavior.

Now, let's take this dog and turn him into human and turn his new owner into God.

You, in this lifetime, have been hurt. You've been beaten, raped, molested, cheated on, abandoned, or some other incredulous act that has not been viewed as a form of love by any means of human reasoning.

You've heard that there is a God. You sense there is more to life than what you see. But, you can't get past your hurt to believe there is a God, especially a God of love.

God, like the new owner of the dog, is putting food out for you, he is calling you by name and he is wanting to comfort you but you, like the dog, are too afraid because of past hurts to trust him. Not only trust him but trust his love for you.

So, how do you get to know God's love for you? How do you even begin to trust his love?

You do like the dog. Eventually, your starvation for truth and your starvation for a deeper satisfaction in this life will draw you to the food. Which could be church or his word. As you start to "partake" of his word you still will look behind you to make sure that punishment or hurtful things are not coming your way. When you see things are getting better, you will start to listen when God calls your name. You will find comfort in his arms. You will learn to trust his voice and obey him because you trust his love for you.

Of course, this trusting of his love doesn't come over night, just like it didn't come for the dog overnight either. It takes time and lots of it.

I'm speaking from experience. I've been the dog. I've been the one to not trust because I didn't understand or know God's love for me. I'm still not 100% living in his love for me but I'm learning to hear his voice when he calls, go to him and trust that he just wants to comfort me, bring me satisfaction and let me sit in his lap and rest. The more I go to him when he calls, the more I'm learning to trust his love for me. As I learn to trust his love, I learn to follow his leading. I want to be lead by someone who loves me and knows what's best for me.

Some people don't understand why people won't obey God. I truly believe it's because they don't understand or get God's love for them. I don't know about you but I'm not going to follow someone I don't trust. I'm not going to follow someone that I don't know loves me. How about you?

So, why would God let something bad happen to me in the first place? I don't have the answer for that. I wish I did. I do know this. The person that beat or hurt the dog was a mean person. I'm just thankful for the new owner who wanted to take the dog and love it, feed it and take care of it. My God is just that. I truly believe if you will just begin the process of trusting just enough to get a small bite to eat, you won't be disappointed.

I want you to know that God loves me, I can trust him and God loves you and you can trust him. Just give him a chance, just go to him and you will see!

God cares and he loves and once you figure that out, you will care how much he knows and that is the beginning of life!

Dear God, please let everyone who reads this begin to trust you and your love for them. I pray that from your glorious, unlimited resources that you will empower them with inner strength through your Spirit so that Christ will make his home in their hearts as they trust you. That their roots will grow down into your love and keep them strong. And may they have the power to understand, as all your people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep your love is for them. May they experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then they will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from knowing you (Ephesians 3:16-19)! Thank you so much for your love for me and everyone. In Jesus name, Amen.

Living Loved,

Elizabeth

P.S. You know how once the dog gets comfortable with the new owner he feels free to pee on the carpet because he knows he won't get into trouble. Try not to do this, it will become a temptation to pee on the carpet because God's love for you is unfailing!

37th Chapter and Snow

So, yesterday morning when I sat down with my first cup of coffee I felt a still small voice tell me to read Psalm 37.

So, I opened up my bible and flipping backwards to get there I stopped by Psalms 91. Very awesome chapter in the Bible! I read a little bit and then continued flipping to Psalms 37 which reads;

My heart pounds as I think of this. It trembles within me. Listen carefully to the thunder of God's voice as it rolls from his mouth. It rolls across the heavens, and his lightening flashes in every direction. Then comes the roaring of the thunder--the tremendous voice of his majesty. He does not restrain it when he speaks. God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We can't even imagine the greatness of his power.

He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power.

Vs: 13: He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show his unfailing love.

Now, for those of you who are Bible scholars and you are saying, "That's not in Psalms." Just stick with me for a moment!

My husband is a lover of the weather. He loves to tell me what the weather is going to do in the mornings. This morning was an exciting morning for him. "Elizabeth, there's a good chance it's going to snow today!"

So, imagine my surprise as I read in my bible about how God directs the snow to fall on the earth.

Now, for those of you who live anywhere it snows ALL the time and are "just sick of it"-- for us in Florida-- we hardly ever get to see it. Matter of fact, I think the last time it snowed in this part of Florida would have been in 1989!

Well, I went on with my day. I teach school and it was an early release day so we, as teachers, got to leave at 2:00p.m. I called my husband, who was at work and was supposed to leave his job at 5:00p.m., and asked if he could leave a little early.

He did. He got home at 3:15.

At 3:30, Dianna, my 20 year old, called us from Marianna, not too far, and said it was snowing. So, we loaded up the family and headed that way.

Watch this video for the rest of the story.

Oh, one more thing, I said I was on my way to Psalms 37 right?? Well, I THOUGHT that I was! I actually never did read Psalms 37 that day. I read it the next day and realized I was reading Job 37 the day before. Psalms 37 is something entirely different but I guess God lead me to the right page afterall! So the above scripture comes out of Job 37. Very relevant! Happy Valentines Day from God!

Living Loved,

Elizabeth

If I could touch you...

If I could touch you

what would you feel like?

Would you feel smooth and soft

like a petal on a rose

or rough and rigid

like a mountain stone?

Would it warm me so

to be in your arms

like my skin feels

after a day in the sun?

Would you feel like a tear

running down my face

or like the wind through my hair

as I'm running a race?

Would you feel cool and soft

like the sand outside

or warm and fuzzy

like the chair inside?

Would you feel like the coat

on the sheeps' back

or like my grandsons skin

after he's had a bath?

Would your touch feel

like grandpa's strong hand

from a long days work

from tilling the land?

Or like my grandmothers kiss

on top of my nose

that I wipe off

with the sleeve of my clothes?

Would you feel like the leather

that covers your word

that I touch and feel

when I feel inspired?

Or maybe your touch

is what I feel

as I turn the pages

of an inspiring tale?

Is it the feather pillow

that holds my head

as I rest at night

in my wonderful bed?

Is your touch my husband's breath,

as he holds me near?

Or the soft, silky feel

of my daughter's hair?

I wanted so deeply

to feel your touch

As I wrote this poem

I realized much!

That you touch me alot

throughout my day

In the way I need

in your own special way!

The Ten what??

So, I'm sitting here this morning wanting to pray the prayer that says, "Dear God, thank you for this day. Please help me to do your will today instead of mine. Amen"

First thought that comes to mind after this prayer,

"Why do I feel like God is going to command me to do something I DON'T want to do."

Why do I have this view of God? Is this how God is? I'm not really sure. I do NOT understand. Then my mind just keeps going.....I do NOT understand God. I do NOT understand Jesus. I do NOT understand the Holy Spirit.

I've heard many things, read many things about God. What is the TRUTH? I need a SOLID FOUNDATION to stand on. This could be an UNDERstatement!

NOTE: (For those of you reading this that feel like you know me. Yes, I've attended church for most of my life and I've had a relationship with Jesus Christ for quite sometime but that doesn't mean that I'm exempt from being deceived. Matter of fact, I think this makes me more susceptible to being deceived. Why wouldn't the master of lies want to keep me confused about the goodness of God!)

For quite sometime now when I have a question about God in my attempt to get to know him better, before I open my Bible I say a little prayer, "God, help me understand where I'm confused. I want to know you better."

I was thinking about the passage in Romans about Jesus dying for us while we were still yet sinners. Romans 5:8. So, I, led by the Holy Spirit, decided to read the recap at the beginning of Romans that the translators of my Bible wrote. It says, "Like a skilled lawyer....Paul established a SOLID FRAMEWORK for UNDERSTANDING the broad scope of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

God is so cool. He listens and he responds!

I feel led here to make sure you caught the connection in what I was feeling this a.m. and what God showed me I needed to read. I needed a SOLID FOUNDATION of UNDERSTANDING!!!

So, I guess this may be Part One of my Solid Foundation of Understanding according to God using the apostle Paul in the book of Romans!

Dear God, help me to see and understand what you need me to see and understand at this point in my walk with you. Help me to know you more and help me to know how much you love me just the way I am.

• Romans 2:4b Intention behind God's kindness=to turn me from sin.
• Romans 3:29b Intention behind God's law=show me how sinful I am
• Romans 3:22 Intention behind God's son=make me perfect in God's sight

Romans 3:28 We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. (I'm going to put all scripture in red)

Can we forget about the law?

Apostle Paul says, "only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law"

What the heck does that mean? "God, I don't understand this, show me."

Romans 3:31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does that mean that we can FORGET about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Purpose of the law=show me I need a Savior.

Faith=believing that Jesus Christ came and died for me.

This is my rewritten version.....

Only when we believe in Jesus Christ do we truly fulfill the purpose of the law, which is to realize we need a savior!

If we forget about the law, we forget we need a Savior! The thankfulness for having a savior will start to disappear.

I don't know about you but I need to be reminded every day that if it was not for Jesus Christ I would be accountable to the law and I would be punished.

So, what I believe God wants me to do today: Print off the ten commandments and put them up in my family room.

Why? Not to obey them. NO ONE can obey these. Just try for one day! I heard someone once say that any form of living under the standard of the ten commandments is subhuman behavior. Well, I guess everyone is considered subhuman if that is the case! (Oh and by the way, I'd much rather be subhuman and need Jesus Christ then be human and not need him!)

My reason to display the ten commandments is so that I can be reminded that each and every day I WILL fail at trying to keep these laws and that I DO need a savior and that through God's love and kindness for me and you he gave us Jesus Christ!

One more thing, I have not felt joy this week. I've been run down with a head cold. I keep hearing there is joy in Jesus Christ. This week has been a week where I have definitely asked, "Where the heck is the joy?" Here is my joy, "Oh, what JOY for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what JOY for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin." Romans 4:7-8.

Back to God's will for me today. I believe he wanted me to rest in his love for me. Rest in the fact that there is nothing I can do today that will keep him from loving me. Rest in the fact that I am free from the law because of His love for me!

New title in the Bennett household for the Ten Commandments:

"The Ten Reasons to Thank God for Jesus Christ!"

Living Loved,

Elizabeth

P.S. Feel free to join me in posting these in your home as a reminder of what Jesus Christ did for you! Just click on the link and you can print your own copy of the Ten Commandments.