The Inner Struggle for Truth

What is truth?

My friend tells me one thing, my mentor tells me something else, an acquaintance tells me yet a different story.

My mind races all over the place trying to discern the truth from the 3 different sources.

Meanwhile my inner voice begins to question every decision I make.

"How do you know which one is telling you the truth? If you believe the wrong person many lives could be adversely affected. What do you mean you aren't smart enough to know when someone is lying to you. You should be able to tell the truth from a lie. You're letting yourself be used. If you can't tell the difference between the truth and a lie then how do you expect God to use you to minister to others? How do expect to raise your children to know the truth? Oh God why can't you beat me upside the head with the truth! Where are you God?"

And on & on it goes...

These are the inner thoughts I have been battling over the last several months. It hasn't been fun. One minute I am confident of what the truth is and the next minute the negative inner thoughts are taking me into a tailspin. And when that happens I become anxious, stressed, worried, snappy & easily become "Unglued" with my kids & husband.

But God led me to a truth during my quiet time several weeks ago that helped calm those negative inner thoughts.

"But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because NO LIE COMES FROM THE TRUTH." 1 John 2:20,21

John reminded me that God gave me the Holy Spirit so that I would know the truth. Jesus is the TRUTH and NO LIE COMES FROM GOD! 

"I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit - just as it has taught you, remain in him." 1 John 2: 26,27

John reminds me to be on guard for those who will try to lead me astray. I am to remember that God's word is NEVER counterfeit!

As I studied these passages I was challenged to ask myself...

Do I truly live & believe that I have an anointing from God, which is the Holy Spirit, & that God is the complete truth & that NO LIE COMES FROM GOD? Do I examine what others say against the truth of God in order to recognize the counterfeit?

I love Chapter 10 Negative Inside Chatter from Unglued! It couldn't have come at a better time. Lysa shares on page 144

"We are to think about, ponder, and park our minds on constructive thoughts, not destructive thoughts. Thoughts that build us up, not tear us down. Thoughts that breathe life into us, not suck life from us. Thoughts that lead to peace, not anxiety."

 
 Oh how true that is!!!

God is my teacher! He is THE TRUTH! I am to stay close to God through prayer & studying HIS WORD & HE WILL REVEAL THE TRUTH!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all  understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4 :6-9

When I stay close to God through prayer His peace which transcends ALL understanding will guard my heart AND my mind in Christ and GOD'S PEACE WILL BE WITH ME.

Dear Heavenly Father, You are Truth! You sent your Truth to us in the form of your Son Jesus & you gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us to that Truth. Thank you that you are always true and never counterfeit. Lord may we rest in you, rest in your truth. May we park our minds on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable so that we will know your peace. In your Holy Name I pray Amen.

I'm linking today with Melissa Taylor's Online Bible Study of Unglued by Lysa TerKuerst.
 

In His Calm,

Mary

I've been silent for a little while.

I've needed silence.

For so long my world has been crazy busy, running from one place to the next rushing to get it "all" done. To be honest, I don't know how I was able to get everything accomplished ~somehow I managed but not without sacrifice.

The problem is... I was unaware of that sacrifice.  I was unaware that the rushing around to finish my to-do list, the staying up late to finish projects, the giving up myself to minister to my husband & family & friends was taking its toll on me. I've spent hours, days, weeks, months worrying, praying, giving, loving, planning ~ sacrificing.

The sacrificing has been for good, worthy reasons. Every bit of it I would do over again.

I don't regret the years I have spent planning & praying for Just Give Me Jesus with an incredible group of women. ~ I would do it again in a heartbeat!

I don't regret the hours I have spent talking & praying with my husband over some difficult issues at work. ~ Each moment brought us closer together as a couple.

I don't regret running my kids around to their various activities. ~ I love watching them experience something new.

I don't regret meeting up with a friend who needs a shoulder to cry on. ~ When I take time to love on a friend I am sharing God's love with them.

But, in all of that I forgot to minister to myself. I spent time in God's word but, I forgot to slow down & soak in the quiet moments.

It has taken a diagnosis of a health issue that is caused by stress to make me realize I need to slow down.

Rest in the quiet moments.

Rest in the arms of my Lord, my Healer, my Comforter, my Sustainer.

As I have spent time quietly, alone with Him He has revealed His Truth in marvelous ways.

He has revealed His Perfect Peace and His Amazing Glory.

So, while you are busy today running around marking off your to-do list, ministering to friends, caring for children ~ remember to take time for yourself.

Sit. Rest. in the quietness of God.

Be Still and Know He Is God!

In my quiet moments I will continue to pray for God's direction for The Calm of His Presence, in the meantime I will continue to pop in with ways God is working in my life.

How may I pray for you?

In His Calm,

Mary

Thankful Thursday ~ Even though it's not Thursday...

Have you noticed lately my Thankful Thursday posts haven't been on Thursday? 

Life's been crazy & hectic around here... but all in a good way. 

I'm finishing up my involvement with the Just Give Me Jesus revival with Anne Graham Lotz and AnGeL Ministries. As I am going through the follow-up Bible Study the Vision of His Glory I am praying for God's direction for my blog ~ The Calm of His Presence and the next direction He wants to lead me. 

I am also trying to settle back into some sort of routine here at home, with my children and with my husband. 

In the mean time I will continue to post a couple of times a week, it just may not always be on Monday or Thursday as it was in the past. 

As I pray for God to open the eyes of my heart so that I may see Him and His direction for my life is there a way I can be praying for you? I would consider it an honor to pray for you.

Continuing to count the Joy Dare #901 - #913

• "God who is Lord of the gentle breeze is Lord of the rough and tumble. He is the King of the Jungle." ~ Steven Curtis Chapman
• God opening the eyes of my heart to see Him high & lifted up
• family reunions that reunite loved ones
• carriage rides
• southern comfort food
• little cousins running around
• perfect weather on a fall Saturday filled with family & football
• worshiping my God & Savior
• catching up on the laundry
• the excitement of catching a moth on a Monday morning when we are already late for school
• living in the moment with my kids
• cheering on the Gamecocks while snuggled on the couch as a family
• sharing whispers with God before crawling out of my warm bed

Taking the Joy Dare of counting 1000 gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience 

 

In His Calm,

Mary

Labels

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“As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by (humans) but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ . . . you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

1 Peter 2:4-5,9

Labels. We all have them. We are all known for something. Some labels are given to us by others; some labels we give ourselves and other labels are given to us by God.

My husband & I have talked a lot lately about what we are known for. We are all known for something whether we know it or not, carrying around labels that are both good and bad.

Others may label us as argumentative, hotheaded, weak, uncaring or kind, generous, faithful, honest. While we may label ourselves as unorganized, shy, insecure, unglued or loving, welcoming, strong, light-hearted.

In chapter 3 of Unglued Lysa TerKeurst shares with us that,

“...labels start out as little threads of self-dissatisfaction but ultimately weave together into a straitjacket of self-condemnation…trapped inside these straitjacket struggles was a girl dying to break free from all the self-defeating labels. Some prisons don’t require bars to keep people locked inside. All it takes is their perception that they belong there. A soul who believes she can’t leave…doesn’t.”

That is where God comes in.  

He shatters the negative perception and labels I place on myself.

I love the truth Lysa shared with us,

“It is beautiful when the Master chisels.”

“God is calling us out – out of darkness, out from those places we thought would never get better, out of being stuck.”

He takes me through difficult & sometimes almost unbearable times in my life to break through the rough “stone” and reveal the beautiful “spiritual house” he knows that I am.

His labels for me are far more beautiful than I or anyone else can imagine, “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, … you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…” 1 Peter 2:5,9

When I become discouraged I remember that there were people who labeled Jesus as crazy, a lunatic, and a liar.

But God labeled Jesus as the Breath of Life, Salvation’s Choice, Prince of Peace, Fire from Heaven, Glorious Treasure, God Head Trinity, Mediator & Faithful Pastor.

When I keep my eyes & heart focused on God & how He sees me I can overcome any negative labels that I or anyone else may place on me.

I'm linking today with Melissa Taylor's Online Bible Study of Unglued by Lysa TerKuerst.
 

In His Calm,
Mary

Thankful Thursday ~ God's Calming Presence

"One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."

Psalm 27:4

 

There are mornings when the only thing I want to do is to pull the covers up over my head and not crawl out from under the warmth of the comforter that shelters me from the cool of the night. 

Those are mornings when I know the world will come rushing in fast & furious the minute my feet hit the carpet. I hit snooze on my alarm begging it to be wrong, to please give me a few more hours. Maybe then when I wake life won't be so crazy & hard.

But it's not wrong. It is morning and whether I like it or not the craziness of the day awaits. 

Then, just as I am beginning to grumble & complain in my mind, God pricks my heart and says, 

 

"Mary, won't you please start your day off with me? I'm here! Take these few moments in the dark, quiet of the morning ~ before kids start grumbling about breakfast, before your schedule gets thrown off before you walk out the door, before the hard moments of the day hit ~ give me your heart & mind & I will give you My Calming Presence. I will walk through the day with you. I will show you My Beauty in the good & bad moments. I will shelter you. Come near to Me and I will come near to you (James 4:8)"

Oh how I love it when God taps on my heart and reminds me of His Presence! When I start my day off with Him I will see the beauty in the day no matter what I face!

Have you given your day to Him? Are you seeking Him and dwelling in His house, in His Presence all the days of your life? Gaze upon His Beauty and He will come near to you.

 

 

Continuing the Joy Dare #876 - #900

• protection of health
• "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26
• safe travels for Anne Graham Lotz, the AnGeL Ministries team, Babbie Mason, Sheila Bailey & Fernando Orgtega
• God's Calming Presence when the world is crashing down
• an arena turned into a sanctuary
• 1500 volunteers
• 180 lives laid before The Cross
• 43 countries & locations in every state in the union viewing the Just Give Me Jesus simlucast
• watching as thousands of lives are changed for Christ while God is meeting me right where I needed to be met
• divine appointments
• keeping my eyes focused on The Cross
• going into a weekend completely deflated - ending the weekend filled to overflowing with God's strength
• digging deep into God's Word
• listening & watching for God's Truth
• "When God has given you truth & you don't respond He doesn't give you anymore truth." Anne Graham Lotz
• renewal through quiet time with God
• God slowing me down with an illness in order to force me to rest
• fun times for Daddy & the kids
• restful nights in the midst of craziness
• foggy mornings
• calmly working through a school issue with my daughter
• the ugly-beautiful of kids bedrooms that are disasters
• mentoring from some amazing Godly women
• candlelit dinner date at home with my husband
• white roses on my rosebush

Taking the Joy Dare of counting 1000 gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience 

 

In His Calm,

Mary