We reflect on this past week when my daughter-in-law's father, Mr. Clemente, left this earth suddenly and unexpectedly at the young age of 58. Though death is a reality for all of us, we are somehow never prepared for such a shocking moment in time.
Death brings life into perspective. We long remember all the wonderful memories of our lost ones. Mr. Clemente's family summarized his life as a man who loved and valued his family more than anything ~ and he did! For all his accomplishments, love of family was the utmost.
Death causes us to reflect for a moment. Many times we see how precious and short life really is on earth and we promise to accomplish or change something in our lives, just like we do on New Year's Eve. But then life's reality moves on and no matter how painful our loss we lose sight of that moment and we get caught up in the details, work and emotions of life. And the reflection is lost and change often does not happen.
During Mr. Clemente's funeral my son read from Ecclesiastes 3:1-2: "There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die..." As I reflected on that scripture and read further into Ecclesiastes, I noticed the author ended the book with "Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad."
The Bible lists the ten commandments in Deuteronomy 5, which begins with loving/worshiping our God with all our heart, mind and soul "not worshiping any other god besides Him" and then in John 13:34, Jesus said "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
So, when we reflect on the death of a loved one, what really matters in life? The new job/title, the new car or house? The hurt feelings of what he/she said? Hanging on to anger or bitterness because we're right and they are wrong? OR, is it cherishing each moment we have on this earth as if it is the last and following God's commands ~ to love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind and to love one another? Because when we keep our focus on Him we are able to live at peace and be pleasing to our Maker. And like the scripture read at Mr. Clemente's funeral, 2 Timothy 4, Paul says ... "As for me, ... I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing."
While we live our lives today, I encourage us all to remember the precious reality and focus on what really matters at the end!
Resource: 1 Corinthians 13 (LOVE described)
If you interested in life/spiritual coaching please visit my website and contact me: www.fromtheheartlifecoach.com.
God's love and blessings!
From the Heart, Christian Life Coach
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Hearing God's Still Small Voice
Recently a woman contacted me through my website. I quickly realized she was not interested in buying coaching time, but instead she had questions. And, come to find out she is a 16 year old with profound questions.
Her most recent question: "...I am really still kind of struggling with hearing God when I pray. I pray to him and in my mind I feel that I am just talking to myslef. How can I know what God wants me to know if I can't hear him?"
So, I sought God's guidance on how to answer this profound question that many a book have been written about. And, maybe my answer appears to be a book :-) But, I decided to share it because many of you have asked yourself that question. And, maybe you have other ideas of how I can better answer a 16 year old. Please comment or e-mail me at michelle@fromtheheartlifecoach.com. Meanwhile, here is what I offered her:
What a powerful question ... do you realize that almost every Christian struggles with that question from time to time? :-) BUT what is important for you to know is that when you pray, GOD HEARS YOU! Even if you feel as if you're talking to yourself. So, I will attempt to answer your question based on what the Bible says. But, please be patient to read through the whole thing,o.k.? I tried answering in steps.
1. Romans 10:9 says "If you CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH that Jesus is Lord and BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." So, first before you can hear from God, you need to be saved. (that was obvious, but I just needed to say it :-)
2. When Jesus died on the cross, rose again, and ascended into heaven, he sent us His Spirit to live within us. The book of John talks a lot about the Spirit of God. But here is one of the scriptures that defines what the Spirit is to us. John 14:16-17 says "And I [Jesus] will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (COUNSELOR, HELPER, INTERCESSOR, ADVOCATE, STRENGTHENER, AND STANDBY), that He may remain with you forever--The Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you." So, WOW, we have a helper that lives within us (not like an alien movie character, but the Spirit of God who prompts us, "speaks" to us.)
3. So, if you are saved and you have the Spirit of God in you, how do we "hear" Him? Well, most people do not generally HEAR (like an audible voice). Hearing is also NOT an emotion or a feeling. In fact, the question I generally ask is: am I hearing from God or am I hearing from Satan who will put ideas/thoughts in me that are intended to deceive and trick me!
4. The best way to begin knowing that you are hearing from God is knowing that what you sense in your spirit matches up with God's Word and His character. So, how do you know His Word and His character? Well, that requires reading the Bible and asking God to reveal truth to you. Do you have a Bible? If you don't, you can always look things up on www.gateway.com and you can pick whatever translation of the Bible is easiest for you to understand. You can look up keywords or actual books of the Bible ... it's a great resource. When you read the Bible, ask God to reveal truth to you and to open your eyes of understanding!!
5. "Hearing" from God requires quiet time with God because remember the Spirit of God lives within you, so you need quiet time to get in touch with Him. A friend of mine says that "the 'voice of God' in our spirit is more of a joyful assurance, a tenderness, a peace. It is warm and loving at all times, and we just know that we know, that we know because it is so gentle. James 3:17 says "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace, loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere." Wisdom comes from the Spirit of God within us.
6. Generally, when you make decisions based on God's Word there will be a sense of peace within you, NOT confusion or unrest, because that is NOT from God. Some people put their hands near their heart or belly when they talk about the Spirit. I believe that is because our minds play tricks on us. Kind of like a cartoon where the devil is on one shoulder and an angel on the other. But,the Spirit of God that speaks to us - prompts us, nudges us, gives us an idea, that ultimately is a good answer, direction or understanding.
7. So, what is God's character? God's character is LOVE. In the Message version of the Bible is defines Love, which is important to know because if what you are "hearing" contradicts this, you are probably NOT hearing from God. So, let's look at the list from 1Corinthians 13:
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
So, if you're hearing something that tells you to do opposite what LOVE would do, you need to stop and ask God again because it is probably not from Him.
8. So .... I've been really long winded and I've barely touched the surface of the topic. BUT, I'll say it again ..GOD HEARS YOU even if you feel as if you're talking to yourself ... just be still and listen. He will direct you to truth. Psalms 46:10 says "Be still, and know that I am God."
Blessings to ALL.
Michelle
From the Heart, Christian Life Coach
www.fromtheheartlifecoach.com
Her most recent question: "...I am really still kind of struggling with hearing God when I pray. I pray to him and in my mind I feel that I am just talking to myslef. How can I know what God wants me to know if I can't hear him?"
So, I sought God's guidance on how to answer this profound question that many a book have been written about. And, maybe my answer appears to be a book :-) But, I decided to share it because many of you have asked yourself that question. And, maybe you have other ideas of how I can better answer a 16 year old. Please comment or e-mail me at michelle@fromtheheartlifecoach.com. Meanwhile, here is what I offered her:
What a powerful question ... do you realize that almost every Christian struggles with that question from time to time? :-) BUT what is important for you to know is that when you pray, GOD HEARS YOU! Even if you feel as if you're talking to yourself. So, I will attempt to answer your question based on what the Bible says. But, please be patient to read through the whole thing,o.k.? I tried answering in steps.
1. Romans 10:9 says "If you CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH that Jesus is Lord and BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." So, first before you can hear from God, you need to be saved. (that was obvious, but I just needed to say it :-)
2. When Jesus died on the cross, rose again, and ascended into heaven, he sent us His Spirit to live within us. The book of John talks a lot about the Spirit of God. But here is one of the scriptures that defines what the Spirit is to us. John 14:16-17 says "And I [Jesus] will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (COUNSELOR, HELPER, INTERCESSOR, ADVOCATE, STRENGTHENER, AND STANDBY), that He may remain with you forever--The Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you." So, WOW, we have a helper that lives within us (not like an alien movie character, but the Spirit of God who prompts us, "speaks" to us.)
3. So, if you are saved and you have the Spirit of God in you, how do we "hear" Him? Well, most people do not generally HEAR (like an audible voice). Hearing is also NOT an emotion or a feeling. In fact, the question I generally ask is: am I hearing from God or am I hearing from Satan who will put ideas/thoughts in me that are intended to deceive and trick me!
4. The best way to begin knowing that you are hearing from God is knowing that what you sense in your spirit matches up with God's Word and His character. So, how do you know His Word and His character? Well, that requires reading the Bible and asking God to reveal truth to you. Do you have a Bible? If you don't, you can always look things up on www.gateway.com and you can pick whatever translation of the Bible is easiest for you to understand. You can look up keywords or actual books of the Bible ... it's a great resource. When you read the Bible, ask God to reveal truth to you and to open your eyes of understanding!!
5. "Hearing" from God requires quiet time with God because remember the Spirit of God lives within you, so you need quiet time to get in touch with Him. A friend of mine says that "the 'voice of God' in our spirit is more of a joyful assurance, a tenderness, a peace. It is warm and loving at all times, and we just know that we know, that we know because it is so gentle. James 3:17 says "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace, loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere." Wisdom comes from the Spirit of God within us.
6. Generally, when you make decisions based on God's Word there will be a sense of peace within you, NOT confusion or unrest, because that is NOT from God. Some people put their hands near their heart or belly when they talk about the Spirit. I believe that is because our minds play tricks on us. Kind of like a cartoon where the devil is on one shoulder and an angel on the other. But,the Spirit of God that speaks to us - prompts us, nudges us, gives us an idea, that ultimately is a good answer, direction or understanding.
7. So, what is God's character? God's character is LOVE. In the Message version of the Bible is defines Love, which is important to know because if what you are "hearing" contradicts this, you are probably NOT hearing from God. So, let's look at the list from 1Corinthians 13:
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
So, if you're hearing something that tells you to do opposite what LOVE would do, you need to stop and ask God again because it is probably not from Him.
8. So .... I've been really long winded and I've barely touched the surface of the topic. BUT, I'll say it again ..GOD HEARS YOU even if you feel as if you're talking to yourself ... just be still and listen. He will direct you to truth. Psalms 46:10 says "Be still, and know that I am God."
Blessings to ALL.
Michelle
From the Heart, Christian Life Coach
www.fromtheheartlifecoach.com
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Light Hearted and Joyful
As I awoke to the birds chirping this morning, I thought about their light heartedness, their joyfulness ~ their lack of worry! It made me think of the scripture in Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”
Events of the world such as rising fuel costs, jobs loss, violence, weather changes, etc. can cause us to worry! BUT the scripture is full of God’s promises for those who believe. Matthew 6 continues to say “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
My husband and I have really been leaning on those scriptures for the last couple years and the testimonies we now have are incredible! Every time we reached a point where we couldn’t figure out how something would be paid or resolved, God has proven Himself faithful in our lives!!
So, I encourage you! As it says in Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
If you would like spiritual or personal life coaching, please contact me at http://www.fromtheheartlifecoach.com
God's love to YOU!
Events of the world such as rising fuel costs, jobs loss, violence, weather changes, etc. can cause us to worry! BUT the scripture is full of God’s promises for those who believe. Matthew 6 continues to say “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."
My husband and I have really been leaning on those scriptures for the last couple years and the testimonies we now have are incredible! Every time we reached a point where we couldn’t figure out how something would be paid or resolved, God has proven Himself faithful in our lives!!
So, I encourage you! As it says in Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
If you would like spiritual or personal life coaching, please contact me at http://www.fromtheheartlifecoach.com
God's love to YOU!
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