SelahV Today by hariette petersen

SOME CORN JUST DON'T POP

No matter what the other kernels do, some kernels just won't pop.  The heat is turned up and it never changes its form.  It refuses to conform to the rest of the group.  Others explode and become soft puffs of palatable snacks.  They overflow the pot and are passed around in bowls to be enjoyed by the crowds.  The other is rejected and left at the bottom of the bowl.  I wonder if it bothers that piece of corn to remain true to his form.

If Christians were popcorn kernels, would they be the ones to pop?  Or would they be the ones that refused to change no matter how much heat they face?

"Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to the external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renuewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].  Romans l2:2

[copyrighted, 2009, SelahVToday, hariette petersen]

PUSHED, PRESSURED, COERCED

Ever feel like this?  Ever feel pressured?  To do something you don't want to do?

When I was younger I had occasion to feel pressured by my peers.  But age has its benefits.  The older I get the easier it is to say, "Nope, not interested."  Just because the latest fashions are throw-backs to the 70's and everyone else is wearing those wacky prints and shirts that look like maternity smocks, I don't have to.  And I won't.  Just because the First Lady goes sleeveless, doesn't mean I must bare it all in the dead of winter.  And I won't.  Just because rack upon rack of shoes are nothing but pointed toed spiked heels, I don't have to buy them.  And I won't.

Today, culture demands we change our ways--reject our Spirit-nature, shed the morals of propriety, and follow them into the lake of tolerance, political correctness, and social acceptabilty.  Our government legislates and ignores what constituents clearly say is not acceptable for our society.  The liberal judges, the screaming media, the expensive lawyers keep pushing their agendas through the crowd of resistance and into the sea of indifference.  But the majority of people are not bowing down.  Or are they?

No, we are not jumping off the bridge because everyone else is doing it. But people are discouraged.  They are weary with the battery of laws being passed that legalize what God abhors.  As more and more of our society changes before our eyes, we will face greater challenges than we've ever known.  We will face the challenges against all we stand for biblically, morally, and mentally.  All the greater need to "Love the Lord with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength and all your soul, and your neighbor as yourself."  

Don't let the bullies strong-arm you into jumping into a pool you know is not worth swimming in.  Do not grow weary.  Keep running the race.  Set your eyes upon the prize before you.  The finish will be worth the run.    selahV

[copyrighted, 2009, SelahV Today, hariette petersen]

"THROUGH LIFE OR DEATH"...is there confidence?

Every day we waken to uncertainty.  We do not know what will unfold upon our day.  We may have plans, schedules and itineraries--but circumstances can change in an instant.  Never is that so true as when death takes one of our loved ones, or a health emergency interrupts our day.

I know people who've left restaurants in the midst of waiting on their Mother's Day dinners because a policeman calls and says a child was killed.  I know people who've left cruises and vacations in Hawaii because a child is in a horrendous accident.  I know ministers who've canceled speaking engagements and baseball teams who've canceled games.  Circumstances alter cases.  Hurricanes.  Tornadoes.  Earthquakes.  Fires.  All are catastrophic events that can totally change priorities.  Yet, not all cases are altered by tragedy.  Plans and schedules are interrupted every day by the unexpected.  And when they are, we each react in ways consistent to our personality, character and, often, our faith.

We are living in dire times.  We do not know if the man next door we've known for years is one who is stable or one who is teetering on the edge of mass murder.  We do not know if the restaurant we frequent will be the scene of a robbery.  Nor do we know when we send our children off to school or college if they will become victims of a teacher's abuse or random act of violence.

We can live in fear or in peace.  We are either ready to meet the day or we are not.  As Christians, God is working out our faith on a daily basis.  We are being strengthened by trials of various sorts.  As we meet the tests He gives, He builds in us strength, perseverance and diligence.  The closer we get to our Lord, the more we know He will keep us in the worst of circumstances.  Knowing this gives us the faith to stand, the will to walk, and the peace to rest in crisis.

We don't always meet the tests with the grace and faith we'd like.  We sometimes fail in exhibiting the self-control, the kindness, the goodness of the Spirit.  In those times, the Lord is steadfast to hold us in His hand of care, of protection, of love.   In those times I am reminded that I am His.  That Jesus is the Redeemer of my soul.  He is the Rock on which I stand.  And He will not let me slip or fall without sufficient grace to meet my need.  I know this.  I have experienced this.  And God promises this in His Word.  If I should forget this for even a moment, His Spirit reminds me the moment I falter.

"This is in keeping with my own eager desire and persistent expectation and hope, that I shall not disgrace myself nor be put to shame in anything; but that with the utmost freedom of speech and unfailing courage, now as always heretofore, Christ will be magnified and get glory and praise in this body of mine and be boldly exalted in my person, whether through life or through death."  Philippians 1:20

We meet fear with the courage of God.  We meet the unexpected by the continual hope in God.  We meet the failure by the grace of God.  He gains the glory by our willingness to yield the pride of our hearts to the humility of His authority over us.  We gain everything by the rest we have in trusting His sovereign will.  We know that death is our gain, not our loss.  Because we know this, we are able to meet each day with confidence, and do all things through Christ Who strengthens us--"through life or death".  selahV

[copyrighted, 2009, SelahVToday, hariette petersen]

SEEMS LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY...

...that Ryan and I sat in the swing set in his backyard.  He didn't want me to go home to Kentucky.  He was only 6 years old.  He told me I could stay and live in one of his dad's "working houses" (a.k.a. redo constructions).  He said his preacher grampa could "work for his dad".  Several years passed before that actually became a reality.  Now Ryan is going to a prom and graduating from high school and preparing for college.  What a difference a few years make.  How time flies.  I'm sure some of you remember that just a year ago in Ryan's Junior year, he had a motorcycle accident and broke his neck and back.  Thank God for your prayers and His healing grace that made tonight possible.

<== Younger brother, Jordy was impressed with his brother's choice of young Christian ladies.  He even gave him a hug and said, "Have a good time, tonite!"  Ryan wasn't quite sure if he should trust his offering of good will.  I don't blame him, just ten minutes before Ryan and his date arrived, Jordy had tried on a pair of those weird dentures that expose gums and rotting teeth.  He planned to shake her hand and flash his fake smile.  He thought better of it, but his dad got a big kick out of the thought and was egging him on.  Brothers.  They really do love one another.

Little sisters got into the shots, too.  When Ryan walked in with Rachel, two-year-old Kinsey took a deep breath and said, "she's pretty."  And we all agreed.

The girls did their usual shy act and hid behind a column in the livingroom for the first ten minutes.  Kinsey ventured up to Rachel and tapped her pretty satin dress a few times.

I took photos and promised to send some to Bethany and Ryan's other grandma.  It's the least I could do.  But I thought this written piece was in order.  Ryan's education and spiritual growth is his priority.  And I suppose he's doing fairly well since he is tenth in his graduating class out of 179 seniors.  I'm excited for him tonite; I'm proud of him every day.  I pray they have a good time tonite.  I pray that the students who go to proms all over the country in the next few weeks will be safe and grow up to fulfill the purpose God has for their lives.

My grandchildren are growing up.  Before I know it those little girls standing knee-high to their big brother, will be donning dresses and curling tresses.  Life is indeed a vapor.  Breathe in and enjoy its fragrance.  I am.  selahV    

ANOTHER WEBSITE LAUNCH

That unbelievable Tony Kummer, the aggregator master, is dividing and multiplying again.  He's out to connect the entire Christian world, he is.  He's launching another blog called My Christian Blogs. And he's looking for BLOG-WRITERS to link-up and gather at his river of WEBSITES with a Christian world-view.  If you want to get in on the ground floor and participate in all kinds of Summer GIVE-AWAYS, go HERE and READ ALL ABOUT IT.  If I know Tony, and I do, this will help promote your writing to the world in need of a Christian message.  Plus Tony likes to market his sites with big bucks gift certificates to book stores and stuff.

"Ten.  Nine.  Eight.  Seven."  It won't be long.  Get in on the launch reservations today.  Go check it out.  "Six.  Five. Four"....selahV

FOREWARNED

Yesterday I was driving south on I-44 enroute to see my granddaughters for lunch in Texas.  At one particular overpass, in the center of the grassy divide, a black and white police car hid from people headed north .  Obviously a speed trap. I checked my cruise and was happy that it was set on the speed limit.  I didn't brake.  I checked my rearview and saw a black truck behind me.  As we drove along I noticed every time we came upon an oncoming vehicle, the driver behind me would flash his headlights.  Well, most everyone knows that a quick light-flash is "code" for traffic to slow down, speed trap ahead.  This went on for about 5 miles.  I had mixed feelings as I saw the flashing lights.  I know it was a warning.  I know the driver didn't want the folks to get caught speeding.  But I wondered.

Is this ethical?  Would you do this?  Wonder what would happen if we all went around flashing our headlights from low to high.  Think more folks would slow down out of fear of a speed trap ahead?  Even if there isn't one, it could cause folks to think, reset the cruise, or pay closer attention to their foot pressure.

This incident gave me pause to reflect as I drove on.  The Lord has given us His Word to warn us of traps ahead.  They are the ones Satan sets to catch us, to tempt us, to entice us, to bring us down.  "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105.  God gives us all we need to protect us from entanglements in life.  As Christians He empowers us with His own Spirit to check our spirits--or flash His Light--to let us know to beware of impending problems should we decide to keep the course we are on.  Slow down, don't fall into temptation.  Be vigilant.  Put on the whole armor of God.  Has God been trying to slow you down lately?  Is there an area in your life in which you're moving too fast?  Are you pushing the pedal a bit harder than necessary to reach your goal?  Is impatience a problem?  Perhaps He is helping you develop more self-control.  selahV

[copyrighted, 2009, SelahVToday, hariette petersen]

FEELING ALONE...LOST AND DISCOURAGED

Something is missing.  You have everything in the world to make you happy.  But you aren't.  You have a great family, the job of your dreams, a beautiful home, lots of friends.  But something is missing; there's got to be more than this.  OR...

You have nothing, have lost everything, the job, the home, the family, the friends.  You have reached the end of your rope with life--the difficulties, broken relationships, betrayals.  Still, you believe there is just something else you need in your life, something you can't quite name.  You know it is something that can make things better.  You search for this something in all the places the world offers and discover emptiness, temporal pleasures, and lies.  You think there is no hope.  You are wrong.

I have lived in both places.  With and without.  I had everything a person could want.  The American dream.  Yet something was missing.  I searched to no avail.  I even went to churches.  I couldn't find the missing piece.  I made some horrible decisions.  I reached the end of my rope.  Life was a disaster.  I was a disaster.  Then people came into my life that led me to hear about a Person who changed my entire life.  His name is Jesus.  I heard the old story of Him coming to earth to live a sinless life to die upon a cross to save me from my sin.  All my searches for power, success, self-worth, status, value, love--they came up empty.  There was no contentment, no peace, no joy.

"Are you a Christian?"  a pastor asked as he visited me in a hospital.  I squirmed inside; I recalled the day I was seven and was baptized.  I remembered all the things I'd done in my life that were not pleasing to the God I'd learned about as a child.  "I'm not living like one."  We both had the answer.  I wasn't a Christian.  A month later, I stood knowing I needed Jesus who died just for me because He loved me.  I understood a forgiveness I could not comprehend.  He suffered and died on a cross to pay the price for the world's sin.  For my family.  For my friends.  For me, Hariette Petersen.  I wanted that forgiveness.  I wanted the joy I saw on other Christians' faces.  I wanted the peace others displayed in the midst of all their trials and difficulties.  I wanted the hope of eternal life and the security of owning it.  I told this to God.  I thanked Him for sending His son to take away my sin.  I no longer wanted to live unto myself.  My ways were worthless, meaningless.  In my heart, I knew I would not ever be the same.  I knew I was different from the inside out.  It was like walking toward a knock at the door and when I got to the door it opened unto me.  And I walked into the grace of God and never was the same again.  Desires changed.  Habits were broken.  Hunger for His Word could not be satisfied.  I was a new person.  I no longer thought the same way.  I saw things from some other perspective outside myself.  I learned it was God's.

I look back on the woman who met Jesus that day in January and wonder how she could have lived the way she did.  Yet, I understand that it was because she did not know Jesus.  Her life was to live for herself--and unknowingly, for the devil himself.  She'd lived a life deceived by all that glittered but was not gold.  She'd sought love in all the wrong places and never found it anywhere.  Then Jesus poured out Himself to her, and I became the me I am today.  Loving God.  Knowing that Jesus will keep me in this world and in eternity with Him when I die.  I will not receive the punishment I deserve for all my godlessness.  Jesus re-created me in His righteousness and He sits in Heaven interceding on my behalf, telling the Father that I am His and covered in His blood.  Nothing can change that, I've been sealed by His Spirit.

And I do not understand all the mystery of how God does what He does, nor how He loves me when I do not feel loveable.  I do not understand how He moved me from death to life, from sin to holiness.  But His written Word tells me He does it.  And I am ever grateful for the knowledge of His promises and surety of His grace.  Faith is definitely the victory, that overcomes the world.  Thank you, Jesus.  selahV

OTHER POSTS YOU MAY FIND ENCOURAGING:

BECAUSE OF THIS

COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOUR WORLD EXPLODES

WEAKNESS IS A PAIN

I BELIEVE

If you read this today and are searching, feel free to email me.  Maybe I can help.  [email protected]

HOW MUCH LONGER, LORD?

Ever wonder?  Ever want to cry out to God, "How much longer must I wait?"  How much longer will it be?

Wars.  Kidnappings.  Murderous rampages.  Innocent babies being shot and killed.  Precious children raped and abused.  Total disdain and rebuke of God's name.  Mockery, ridicule and rejection.  Our country, our states, our cities and towns battle injustice, perversion--without an end in sight.  Christians proclaim Your name; we strive to live out the gospel as You instruct in Your Word.  But as we stand, we are hated, scorned and rejected.  Not only by those who do not know You, but even by those who claim they do.  How much longer, Lord?

"For the vision is set for an appointed time and is hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint.  Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day." Habbakuk 2:3.

"Wait earnestly."  Sometimes it is so very hard.  "It will surely come." Sometimes it's hard to believe it.  Do not grow weary my brothers and sisters.  Do not grow weary.  "For the vision is set for an appointed time and hastens to the end fulfillment."  Keep the vision of victory that Christ has won--He will not deceive or disappoint us.  Wait with the vision of faith that God will pour out His Spirit.  Praise His holy name.  Rest in His grace.  Our times are in His hands.  Glory and mercy is Yours, oh God, our Father.  selahV

[copyrighted, 2009, SelahVToday, hariette petersen]

WHEN YOU NEED TO PRAY, AND CAN'T

Every day presents itself with a different set of problems than the day before.  Many days we find ourselves wondering if we could just go back to yesterday when the problem wasn't as bad as we thought it was at the time.  Sometimes we look at today and think how in the world can I face this tomorrow?  For the unbeliever this can be far more daunting than for the believer.  A believer has Jesus.  A believer has the full and complete benefits of Christ living within.  A believer is empowered to face the difficult.  We have the knowledge that God is in control and nothing can separate us from His love.  Not even our weariness, our despair, our discouragement.

God remains steadfast.  He gives wisdom when we lack.  He pours out grace where none is deserved.  God is never surprised or caught off guard by the trials that come our way.  He already knows what we need before we need it.  He is our provider, our refuge, our strength.  And for those whose minds are stayed upon Him, there is peace.  Not peace as the world gives, but peace that passes all understanding.  Even when our spirit is depleted, our heart is broken, our energy is spent, our mind is void of creative ideas, God is able to do all things through Christ who strenghthens us.  He has His Spirit within us to pray for us.

We learn a great deal about the power of God when we need to pray and can't.  It's in those times we find abiding in Him is all we can do and all we need to do to meet the moment at hand.  We find ourselves walking where we thought we could not stand, and going where we thought we could not walk.  And we know, we truly know, it is of God.

"Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.  How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!" Psalm 139:16,17. selahV 

WHEN IT SEEMS INSURMOUNTABLE...

when your hope is fading.

When your strength is gone. 

And your heart is broken.

When it seems impossible, we must ask ourselves...

 ...Is our mountain too high for God?  Is our valley too low?

Is our river too wide or our ocean too deep? 

Do we think that we can see and God cannot?  selahV

JESUS SAID...

"The sheep that are My own

hear

and are listening

to My voice; and I know them,

and they

follow Me. " John 10:27

Do you hear?  Are you listening?  To His voice, or to others?  Are you following Him?  Or the winds of doctrine, the changing culture, the whims and desires of your own ways?  

He will come after you, you know?  He will not let you wander off alone.  He will bring you home.  No matter where He finds you.  And He will carry you until you can stand, and listen, and follow Him when you hear His voice.  selahV

I HAVEN'T READ "THE SHACK", AND THIS IS WHY...

The first time I even heard about THE SHACK, was a few months ago when I was sitting in Atlanta Bread Company waiting for a friend to join me for lunch.  I noticed a woman reading it as she slowly dipped her spoon into the bread-bowl of chili she'd ordered.  With extremely amazing mental disconnectedness, she held the book a few inches from her face and moved that chili-laden spoon to her lips as if she weren't reading a book.  Her eyes never left the pages in front of her.  I thought to myself, "Hmmmn, that must be some book."

Then I began to read a few reviews on it from various folks.  None of them were complimentary even though they admitted it was the rage in Christian circles.  I was asked if I'd read it the other day by a person I admired greatly.  I told her, "Nope.  And I don't plan to."  Having read several reviews from folks I trust, I figure it's not worth even going to the library to check it out, let alone purchasing.

Why would I want to dump garbage into my mind when I can read the Psalms, the Gospels, and the finest non-fiction Christian writers in the world who have overcome powerful tragedies, and unspeakable horrors through the power of Jesus Christ and God the Father?  Why would Christians want to read junk when they could read the Living Word?  Why would they even read me, for that matter?  I don't really know why folks read that bunk and then dance in the streets to proclaim it when they'd be ashamed of holding a Bible in one hand and eating a bowl of chili with the other in a public restaurant.  But I finally found a person who says best what I've been thinking is the reasoning behind its popularity.  And I'm grateful I found her critique of it today in a blog from the SBCVoices listings.  selahV

[Another Christian's Review]

TEAPARTY THOUGHTS...

Lots of my friends went to THE April 15th TeaParty, or sent their teabags via a friend who did attend.  I'd planned to take my little granddaughter to give her a civics lesson.  She woke up sick and so we didn't go.  I weighed the thought of going or writing about going, and opted for the latter when I couldn't take my little Haylee Jae.  I'm such a woose.  With my back problems limiting the amount of time I can stand without excruciating pain (or taking medication), I didn't really want to subject myself to the agony of standing for the esctasy of protesting.

I talked to a friend of mine in Duncan and cracked up when he gently chastised me with the question, "Have you heard of the new invention called lawn chairs?"  When all my pathetic excuses are knocked out of the ball park, I'm left holding the bag.  A tea bag I didn't take to the TeaParty.  So this is my attempt at redemption for my friends who took the time to go and stand to voice their belief that the government is going too far with spending their hard-earned taxdollars on stupid stuff like researching why pigs stink, and protecting rodents in San Francisco.

My Duncan bud, took along a flagstand and displayed the American flag, the Oklahoma state flag, and the Christian flag.  He said it was quite a sight to watch them unfurled and blowing in the Oklahoma breeze as he sat in his great invention--"the lawn chair".  Someone asked him why he was there.  He said he was "standing against tyranny" (uh, I think he was sitting against it).  He also said "Barney Franks was a national disgrace".  Me?  I was sitting at Atlanta Bread Company waiting for a friend from Lawton to join me for lunch after she'd gone to the TeaParty and dropped off her teabags in protest.  For every friend I know that went to the TeaParty, I know twenty who didn't but who applaud those who did.

As I sat sipping my mild-blend Arabic coffee from Atlanta Bread Company, I overheard conversations addressing the TeaParty and how great it was that others were taking that stand.  Complete strangers.  Businessmen, moms, students. I heard one conversation trail off and discuss the Congressman who is trying to get folks to support his bill for a tenth amendment to the constitution that would ensure parents rights to raise their children as they have the right to raise them.  Seems the current aministration wants America to sign on to some United Nations resolution that dictates how folks around the world are allowed to do this or not allowed to do that.  Hence, the introduction of a Constitutional Amendment push.  He simply wants to cut off the legs of that U.N. resolution's power over our own country's constitutional rights.

When my step-mama was switching my legs for disobedience with a fresh-cut beechnut twig, I think I might have been on board with that U.N. resolution.  However, having raised a couple of kids through adolescence (and never used that discipline technique), and having witnessed the discipline it takes for my daughter to raise my five grandchildren, I've come to appreciate the rights a parent has to correct and raise a child as they see best.  If moms want to stay home and teach their own children, they ought to be able to do that.  If parents want to take their children to church and teach them about God and faith in Jesus, then the government has no right to interfere.  And if it takes amendments to ensure that, and TeaParties to bring attention to that, then I guess I can safely say, that is change I can vote for and pain I can stand for the next time a TeaParty comes to town.  selahV

[FOR SCOTT'S PHOTOS OF THE TEAPARTY, GO HERE]

WORTH THE LINK? DON'T MISS THIS ONE!

Ever had a friend or family member who needed encouragement?  Ever had someone ask you to pray for them and you wanted some kind of devotional message you could share but just didn't know what to send them?  You want something that can plant a seed of hope, inspiration, encouragement.  Well, I've got just the thing for you.  It's non-threatening and variety-packed.  Read on:

I've linked to many folks from my blogs over the past couple of years.  Rarely have I ever asked for anyone to link me to their sites (I've begged a few times).  Today I not only ask you to post this link in your blogrolls, but also to visit it and see what Tony Kummer of SBCVoices is offering for our Christian convenience today.  Not only does he deliver a bevy of phenomenal devotional greats, he offers an opportunity for bloggers to win $400 in books via a gift certificate for simply linking this great directory in your blogroll.

I am honored to be among the writers for Devotional Christian.  You can find my devotionals listed under Christian Devotionals of the groups.   I feel rather like a guppie in the fish tank of exotic fish, nevertheless, I believe God is expanding my writing ministry with this site. 

"Devotional Christian" is a baby site (that Tony launched just a month ago).  It is sure to be a great one to recommend to your email list of friends and family without being the least bit pushy about your faith.  In it are multiple devotionals that inspire and encourage people in all areas of faith and spiritual growth.  From Billy Graham clips, to writings of Oswald Chambers, A.W. Tozer and Adrian Rogers--you are sure to find something that will touch your heart.  Check it out.    selahV 

BREAK THROUGH TO VICTORY

Just when I think I've got a handle on my Morning Glory invasion, I find it sprouting in the most unpredictable of places.  Who would have thought it could grow in the center of my concrete patio?  Somehow it had found a crack to enter.  What makes this stuff so smart, so hardy, so determined to take over my life?  What makes it so annoying?  I have to wonder.  I've spent a good deal of time struggling to rid myself of it's twisting, rapid-growing vines from my flowerbeds.  Last year I gave up on the rosebeds and it literally choked the life out of every bud that tried to blossom.  I am determined to reclaim the area. 

Ever had a situation in your life where you find you must battle to maintain some kind of normalcy?  Day in and day out, you're faced with its challenge.  Do you find yourself flailing, weary and doubting?  It may appear as though the enemy has won at these times.  In fact, the enemy may think he has won.  It's these times you feel you must pull out all stops and confront the enemy with a greater resolve than you have ever mustered?  You dig deep inside and know you will not be defeated.  Faith finds its way into your heart and spirit in a way you cannot explain.  It's then you discover the strain is gone; the struggle has ceased.  Why?  Because.

Because, you are not alone. 

As a Christian, you do not face any situation without God's complete power, strength, peace and wisdom.  Any obstacle that comes your way, any trial that's introduced, you will overcome.  You will find a way--in Him, through Him, with Him, and for Him.  You'll do this because His glory is worth any struggle, pain or inconvenience you may encounter.  Indeed, He is worthy of that extra mile or the slap on the other cheek.  Isn't He?  selahV

[copyrighted, 4/2009, SelahVToday, hariette petersen]

   

WHEN THE ANSWER IS NOT CLEAR

Ever needed some advice?  You've done all you know to do, and searched out answers but find yourself against a brick wall, wondering which way to turn.  Ever been troubled with a situation and been so close to it that you just cannot see if your actions line up with God's mind?  I have.  I prayed over it.  I searched scripture.  I prayed some more.  I cried out to God and did not trust my thoughts on a resolution.  When this occurs, I usually seek out a friend.  Not just a casual friend.  I seek out a person who can be trusted; a person I know is honest.  I want someone who doesn't mince words, one who will pray with me and pray for the situation.  I want someone who, unlike me, can step outside the turmoil and the emotion and counsel me with clarity and wisdom from God.

"Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart." Proverbs 27:9

When a friend's counsel cuts through the confusion and unwinds the threads of heartache, anger, frustration and unrest, peace and order takes over.  Understanding prevails.  And even though the situation doesn't change, I change for the situation.  My mind is able to set itself upon a solution and my heart is able to rest in God's grace to get me through it.  Sometimes I just need affirmation; I just need to know that what I see in God's Word is what He intends for me to see.  I need validation; I need to know my actions are not simply self-serving, that my thoughts are pure.  Then after I've received a word of knowledge and counsel from a friend, I pray some more.  For ultimately, all I want is what my Lord wants.  I want to deal with people with the same grace I've received from Him.  I want to stand strong in His righteousness without being pious or condemning.  I want to rest in His peace without warring in my soul.  I want to know what to avoid so I do not fall into temptation.  I want to bring honor to His name by practicing His love.

How about you?  What do you do when you find yourself backed against a wall and facing another?  selahV

MONDAY MOURNING

It's Monday morning.  And today I think of all that did not occur yesterday in the house of the Lord.  I think of all the lost who were not there.  I think of all the lost who were there and were not saved.  I think of all the saved who were and were not praying.  I think of myself and my weak, powerless prayers.  This is why I entitled my post, Monday Mourning.  I mourn the loss of powerful preaching of the gospel throughout the world.  I mourn the loss of altars filled with bodies kneeling and crying out to God to save their lost friends and loved ones.  

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

Let's just cut to the chase.  How much has your prayer availed recently?  Can you point to an answer to an effectual prayer?  Can you recall a time you have fervently, deeply and commitedly prayed for God to act in another's life?  the life of your church?

I must confess.  I need to pray more.  I need to think less of what I want to see happen.  I need to pray more specifically.  I need to read Scripture with greater intent to see God's answer, and less to see an answer to some debater's question.  I need to call on God and look more to Him for change.  I need to think less of man and his ability to change the direction of our country, our systems, our churches.  God is answering the prayers of the righteous man--the effectual fervent cry.  In spite of our disgruntled, disjointed attempts at pointing out our brothers' faults, and correcting our brothers' flaws and inadequacies, God is working.  He is Sovereign. 

I need more of Christ in me.  I need Jesus to be Jesus in me.  I need less of what I think and more of what God thinks.  I need less of what you think and less of what man thinks and more of what my Savior thinks.  You need less of what I think and more of what God thinks.  I need His correction and direction.

I need to spend more time with Him, praying that His mind be in me and in others around me.  How about you?  selahV 

DISCERNMENT...DEVINED, DEFINED, REFINED

I truly believe the indwelling Spirit of God reveals to us the spirit of love, of truth, of integrity in another.  I believe He also reveals the deceit.  Sometimes we do not want to accept the possibility that someone whom we think is upright could be less than we assume.  Because we place people on pedestals, we can miss the inner voice of the Holy Spirit warning us to take heed.  It's called discernment.  It's a gift of the Holy Spirit.

Some Christians are far more discerning than others.  It is not because they are smarter, older, or more popular.  It is because the Divine has refined their insights.  He has given them an edge that others do not possess.  It does not mean that others are less worthy, less of a Christian, or less faithful.  It simply means the Lord has given His gift as He pleases and to whom He pleases.  He entrusts this gift to those whom He knows will take care in its use.

A person gifted with discernment recognizes the guile in another's heart, words and actions.  Very often they also have the gift of exhortation.  They are able to cut through the maze of explanations, excuses and rhetoric.  It's not because they are brilliant, nor because they are more learned; it's because God wants to use them in the body of Christ to guide, to encourage, nurture, disciple and warn.

Discernment distinguishes between sincerity and insincerity.  It recognizes evil and godly.  It easily sees the flaws in another's walk with God.  If misused, discernment develops a critical spirit.  If not protected in the grace of God, it condemns, criticizes and judges.  Unless discernment is used wisely, with the intent of building up and edifying, it can do more harm than good.  Therefore, a person with discernment must walk carefully.

"If we are not heedful and pay no attention to the way the Spirit of God works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites.  We see where other people are failing, and then we take our discernment and turn it into comments of ridicule and criticism, instead of turning it into intercession on their behalf.  God reveals this truth about others to us not through the sharpness of our minds but through the direct penetration of His Spirit.  If we are not attentive, we will be completely unaware of the source of the discernment God has given us, becoming critical of others and forgetting that God says, "...he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death."  1 John 5:16.   Be careful that you don't become a hypocrite by spending all your time trying to get others right with God before you worship Him yourself.

One of the most subtle and illusive burdens God ever places on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning others.  He gives us discernment so that we may accept the responsibility for those souls before Him and form the mind of Christ about them."  Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Knowing this, we are compelled to caution.  We must develop a spirit filled with grace, mercy and goodness.  We must yield our view of others in light of God's view.  We must tread very softly upon another's pathway.  We must constantly compare our thoughts to the thoughts of God.  We must examine ourselves continually in His presence, in light of His Word.  We must extend more grace, more patience, more kindness, more mercy than we'd ever expect to receive in order to use our gift in the midst of His children.  We must be willing to forgive others who wrong us and whom we see harming others.  We must be quick to pray and slow to admonish, lest we become the greater offender.

Do you know someone with the gift of discernment?  Do you heed their words or reject them?  Do you use your gift of discernment to build up or tear down?  Encourage or discourage? 

Any thoughts to add?  selahV

[copyrighted, 2009, selahvtoday, hariette petersen]

TO WRITE OR NOT TO WRITE...my last post?

It's not an April Fool's Day joke.  I'm serious.  It's become a burning question in my mind, lately.

I've been thinking that I should just shut down this blog.   Even though I have managed somehow to accumulate a fairly strong readership, I am not all that sure that the whole world has need of my voice.

With all the mounting internet threats, I really don't feel safe anymore.  I've heard of stories where when you click on a certain site from somone who has left an url, that the second that site opens up, you have just opened the door for someone to enter your computer and gather any and all information you have stored in it.  They can add a magnet of a worm to be able to see your every keystroke.  I don't know quite how it's done, but there is software available to do that.

With the threat of computer viruses, destruction is commonplace. Even today, April Fool's Day, we have been warned of a virus being launched to worm its way into every computer it can.  Microsoft is actually offering a 250,000-dollar reward to anyone who can tell them how to destroy its capabilities. 

With the belief of many who think even a personal email should be viewed as public information the moment the button "send" is pushed, I am no longer as trusting as I once was.  That bothers me more than anything.  I do not like feeling like I should constantly be "watching my back", for fear private conversations could be placed in a book or given to the world with the "click" of a "mouse".  I do not want to be the next "fool" who trusted amiss. 

Just last week I googled my name.  And lo and behold, in the midst of all the posts that showed links to my site, was a private email I'd sent to someone.  How can google do that?  I have a password protected server.  Yet Google can somehow grab my email from somewhere--my computer?  another's computer?  cyberspace?--and then place it on a search engine's results page.  How can this be?  To my knowledge, I haven't given Google permission to grab my emails.  Nor have I given AOL permission to share them.  Yet, there it was in black and white...on my monitor screen.  They said it was only for my viewing, but people, come on.  If they can do that with an email, they can do that with anything in my computer.

With privacy being breached each and every day, I'm not so naive to believe there are not people who are devious enough to destroy a person's reputation and impugn another's character by simply buying software that can invade their lives.  It wouldn't surprise me at all (now that I've seen a private email lifted from my files and appear in a Google search of my name), to learn that someone knows every detail of my life.  From medical conversations to chatting about the weather and incontinence.  All of which has been taken straight from cyber-space.  Not a good feeling to comtemplate, is it?

So folks, I am thinking.  I am praying.  Is this worth it?  selahV