I Don't Wanna Be A Peacemaker!

A few months ago, rather than having my eldest son attend his regular Sunday School class, he sat in the sanctuary with us to hear our pastor's message.  We felt it was a good time to expose our son to the adult message to see if he had enough spiritual understanding for it.

The teaching that day was on the Beatitudes, more specifically the 'peacemakers'. 

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."  Matthew 5:9

After the service, my husband asked our son if he understood the message and he said, "yes" and he also proceeded to tell us that he liked being in the sanctuary rather than his class.  Well , we will give that some thought.

Shortly after church, we headed to our car and as my two boys climbed in the backseat, my eldest (the one who just came out of the service where he heard about peacemakers, started to argue and fight with his younger brother!) my husband gently said to my boy, "Peacemaker".  

My boys' growling response, "I don't wanna be a peacemaker!"

I could not help but laugh hysterically. 

Here's why: my son spoke his heart and he spoke it openly and unashamedly.  After I laughed at him I could see the look of conviction along with embarrassment on his face.  I realized in that moment that my actions could hinder him from wanting to share his heart with me again.  My laughter came across as if I were mocking him, but in reality, I WAS COMPLETELY IDENTIFYING WITH HIM. 

"I do not want to be a peacemaker either", I said to him.  I told him that it is hard for me to be a peacemaker but it is pleasing to Jesus if I do.  I continued to tell him that he just openly said how many adults feel, but they do not express it to others.  I thanked him for sharing his heart and told him there was nothing wrong with the way he felt. 

"Living the 'Narrow Path' is hard to do", I said.

Under his breathe he said, "I am a warrior".  A smile came over my face and I laughed again.  "I am a warrior too, my son", I replied. 

Just like the impetuous Peter, who cut off the servants ear, we can relate to Peter's personality. 

"Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear." John 18:10 

I would imagine Peter had to learn to be a 'peacemaker' and  it was not natural for him either, however, I am sure he did the best he could to please the Lord to live peacefully with all men. 

I told my son that a warrior for the Lord is also a 'peacemaker' because we are showing love to others.  As soldiers in the Lord's army we can help build the Kingdom of God if we exercise restraint and self-control and extend graciousness, mercy, and love to others.  Yes, it is hard to do because we are denying our flesh. 

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. " Galatians 5:16  

Perhaps my boy is not quite ready for such a hard lesson and he is still better off to be ministered at his level!  I know the message is hard for me as well.  Lord, help me to walk in the Spirit so I do not satisfy my flesh.

Being a peacemaker is hard, but it is pleasing to the Lord.

Dying to Self...Is It Worth It?

Die to self. We hear this message over and over as Christians, but actually doing it is something all together very challenging. Last month I was reading in the book of Ezekiel, and as I read verse after verse and chapter after chapter, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor man based on all that God had asked of him. The Lord wanted Ezekiel to do some pretty tough things for Him and I couldn’t help but wonder if I were in that situation would I be as obedient and faithful to God as Ezekiel was? Would I die to myself like that?

Let me give you a brief summary of Ezekiel’s story.

He was carried off with the Jewish exiles to Babylon, and while there, he became a prophet of God. The message that he spoke was one of coming judgment for those still in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, though, his preaching was not well received by the Jews that were with him in captivity. 39 out of the 48 chapters of this book, Ezekiel warned of the coming wrath from the Lord. Destruction, disaster and doom were going to take place because of the peoples’ idolatry, wickedness and rebellion. It was a fun read. (sarcasm noted)

Now, we all have trials and at times, life can become very problematic, tiresome, and downright painful but after I finished reading this book, I thought to myself, “I have no trials and what God asks of me is nothing compared to what He had asked of Ezekiel.”

Read the following portions of Scripture and you will see for yourself some of the shocking things that Ezekiel went through. I am sure after you read it, you won’t think your life is so hard either!

"Stand up, son of man," said the voice. "I want to speak with you." The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words. "Son of man," he said, "I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says! 'And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels—at least they will know they have had a prophet among them. "Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don't be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won't listen, for they are completely rebellious! Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you." Ezekiel 2:1-8

"The voice said to me, "Son of man, eat what I am giving you—eat this scroll! Then go and give its message to the people of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. "Fill your stomach with this," he said. And when I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth." Ezekiel 3:1-3

Now, I don’t know about you, but that is not a very encouraging ministry to be a part of!

Think about it for a moment. God is telling you to go speak with His people, but by the way, they are not going to listen to you. They will threaten you and treat you harshly. Hmmm, I doubt that there would be a long line of people waiting to sign up to serve in that church ministry!

Let’s keep reading about our good man, Zeke.

"Son of man, go to the people of Israel and give them my messages. I am not sending you to a foreign people whose language you cannot understand. No, I am not sending you to people with strange and difficult speech. If I did, they would listen! But the people of Israel won't listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn. But look, I have made you as obstinate and hard-hearted as they are. I have made your forehead as hard as the hardest rock! So don't be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are rebels." Ezekiel 3:4-9 Then go to your people in exile and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says!' Do this whether they listen to you or not." Ezekiel 3:11

Just envision for a moment you're walking into a room filled with people like that and you have to give them a message of repentance! Generally, a message of repentance will not produce people who will like you. I am sure you would not walk out with many new friends, but rather lots of enemies!

God used the obstinate, Ezekiel to give a difficult, hard-to-swallow message to other stubborn people. For all of us that are hard-headed….God has a great plan for us as well! Since I am included in this list, I prefer to use a much nicer word like 'tenacious' instead. (smile) Maybe you're not like this, but you have a kid who is. Keep praying for them to be used by the Lord. God created them in a certain way just for His pleasure and purpose. He gave me one too! (smile)

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Let’s continue with our obstinate prophet’s story.

Prepare and eat this food as you would barley cakes. While all the people are watching, bake it over a fire using dried human dung as fuel and then eat the bread. Then the LORD said, "This is how Israel will eat defiled bread in the Gentile lands to which I will banish them!" Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, must I be defiled by using human dung? For I have never been defiled before. From the time I was a child until now I have never eaten any animal that died of sickness or was killed by other animals. I have never eaten any meat forbidden by the law." "All right," the LORD said. "You may bake your bread with cow dung instead of human dung." Ezekiel 4:12-15

Sounds delicious doesn’t it?

When you read this, you can’t help but be thankful for the food you have in your pantry. As Ezekiel is cooking his food over dung, it is kinda hard to complain that you can’t afford to go out to dinner?

If you want your life to get easier, change your perspective.

Now here’s the part of Ezekiel’s story that broke my heart.

"Son of man, with one blow I will take away your dearest treasure. Yet you must not show any sorrow at her death. Do not weep; let there be no tears. Groan silently, but let there be no wailing at her grave. Do not uncover your head or take off your sandals. Do not perform the usual rituals of mourning or accept any food brought to you by consoling friends." So I proclaimed this to the people the next morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did everything I had been told to do." Ezekiel 24:16-18

This portion of the Scriptures was difficult for me to read.

Ezekiel had already endured so much persecution and physical hardship (which I did not recount in this post) and I could not help but wonder why God would take away his wife and then have him not mourn about it. Poor guy!

Yet, here you have in Ezekiel 24:18,

"The next morning I did everything I had been told to do."

Bottom line: Ezekiel was obedient to the Lord regardless of what God had called him to do, regardless of what the Lord took him through, and regardless of what the Lord took away from him.

What a beautiful example of a God-fearing man. Ezekiel was more concerned about satisfying the Spirit rather than his flesh. He died to self. We can all learn a lesson from him.

Keep reading... the story gets better.

“During the twenty-fifth year of our captivity—fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem—the LORD took hold of me. In a vision from God he took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain. From there I could see toward the south what appeared to be a city. As he brought me nearer, I saw a man whose face shone like bronze standing beside a gateway entrance. He was holding in his hand a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod. He said to me, "Son of man, watch and listen. Pay close attention to everything I show you. You have been brought here so I can show you many things. Then you will return to the people of Israel and tell them everything you have seen." Ezekiel 40:1-4

God gave Ezekiel a vision of the new temple area along with the rooms for the priests, the altar, the division of land, etc. Imagine if you received a vision like that from the Lord.

Now here comes the best part of the story. My heart beats fast just reading this passage!

"After this, the man brought me back around to the east gateway. Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel appeared from the east. The sound of his coming was like the roar of rushing waters, and the whole landscape shone with his glory. This vision was just like the others I had seen, first by the Kebar River and then when he came to destroy Jerusalem. I fell face down on the ground. And the glory of the LORD came into the Temple through the east gateway. Then the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and the glory of the LORD filled the Temple. And I heard someone speaking to me from within the Temple, while the man who had been measuring stood beside me. The LORD said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place where I will rest my feet. I will live here forever among the people of Israel. They and their kings will not defile my holy name any longer by their adulterous worship of other gods or by honoring the relics of their kings who have died." Ezekiel 43:1-7

Oh, to see the glory of the Lord! Wow, to be Ezekiel, what an honor for him. Yes, he did go through some horrendous stuff….stuff I don’t care to go through, yet, look at what the Lord entrusted him with? Can you see how Ezekiel continually died to himself and how the Lord blessed him? I do hope so!

We all want to be used in a nice, easy and uplifting way but sometimes that is not a part of God’s plan.
· Sometimes we are called to minister to rebellious and obstinate people; maybe even to those in our own family.
· Sometimes we are asked to endure a difficult life filled with persecutions and hardships.
· Sometimes we have to eat things that don’t taste very good (those that are on special diets for health reasons know what I am talking about!)
· Or for those who have endured the greatest of grief and sorrow because they have lost a loved one way too soon.

God has entrusted you with a great message; a message of Hope. I am sure He is either taking you through something very difficult or He is asking you to do something that you don't want to do, either way He wants you to DIE TO SELF. When you do that, not only do you bring Him glory, but in His timing, He reveals to you His glory as well. It is beautiful and it is worth all our pain and suffering.

Now don't think for one minute that I am always dying to myself...because I am not. I am a work in progress and I need to learn to daily lay down my life for Christ. In the meantime, I hoping to indulge myself in a bowl of ice cream tonight!

God ALWAYS has a wonderful plan for His children...we just need to remember that we are not here on earth to build our kingdom, but we are here to build His Kingdom.

Dying to self is worth it because we show others our hope in Christ; which is a way His glory is revealed.

Be Anxious for Nothing

Anxious was the word that described me the day I heard the news that we had to move again.  The day when the Bank told us we needed to move out of our house that was foreclosed upon.

First, let me take you back to the day of July 11, 2011, when our home was sold back to the Bank.  I had prayed that morning for Not My Will, But Yours Be Done knowing full well that my life was in the Lord’s hands (which is the best place for it to be but yet a scary place because I had no control over the situation).  As I heard the news that our house did in fact sell that day, the Lord brought a friend to my mind. 

“You need to call your friend”, was the Lord’s prompt to my spirit.  Seeing how this friend of ours was a male friend I told my husband he should call his buddy.  Now this friend of ours owns a home that my husband sold to him well over 10 years ago but this man had recently married and bought a new home with his bride.  I wasn’t even certain if our friend even still owned his old home or if he was renting it or what the situation was.  All I knew was the Lord prompting me to have my husband give our friend a call.

A few days later the Bank’s agent shows up and tells us about our property being sold and so forth.  She tells us to just stay put because the Bank is so back logged and we could end up staying in our home for several months.  Okay great, I thought.  As soon as I was done speaking with her and shut the door, again, the Lord prompts my spirit and says, “You should call your friend.”

My husband gets home from his day of work and I share with him all that has taken place and I tell him again what the Lord has put on my heart about him calling our friend.  He takes it all in.

We wait to hear more news from the Bank.  In our minds we are thinking that we will be in our home for several months based on what the agent shared with us, yet, less than a week later we get a voice mail message telling us that the Bank is going to offer us a relocation package (cash to move out of our property if we are out in 30 days).

Jesus parted the Red Sea in my life.

The money sounded great, but the 30 days seemed impossible along with having the money upfront for the first month’s rent and a deposit to rent a place.  We didn’t have the cash for it and our credit was a huge obstacle where most would not rent to us.  We needed to make a decision.  I became anxious. 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6,7

I cried out to my God, my Father, my Savior and my closest friend in my time of need.  I brought my petitions before the Lord and laid them at His feet.

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Hebrews 4:16

As I was trying to Sleep in the Boat with Jesus during my storm, the following morning on July 20^th, sisters in Christ lifted up my situation to the Lord in prayer.

“Call on me in prayer and I will show you great and mysterious things that you do not know about.” Jeremiah 33:3

I will show you great and mysterious things….I just love that!

Here was my prayer to my God.

Lord, where ever you send me, I will do my best to be content. No matter the size of the home and the location.  I will submit to Your will because You know what is best for us.

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”  1 Timothy 6:6-8

And because you are my Dad, I know you want to know the desires of my heart so here they are:

• ·      I’d like a house with extremely low rent.


• ·     I’d like a house in a safe neighborhood, and in case you are asking, I’d like it to be on a cul-de-sac.


• ·     I’d like a 3 bedroom so we have a room for the bride and groom, a room for my boys and a room for an office for my Beloved.


• ·     I’d like 2 bathrooms because I’m tired of cleaning 3.


• ·     I’d like a clean and well-maintained home.


• ·     2 car garage, so my Beloved can store all of his tools so he can continue to make a living.


• ·     Indoor laundry, so I don’t have to deal with sawdust and metal shavings getting all over the clothes.


• ·      I’d like the house small so I don’t have to manage and clean a lot.


• ·     Oh and by the way, I would love to have a nice pretty yard with a pool.

This was a tall order and unrealistic wish list but I knew my God could move mountains. So I prayed.  (It doesn't hurt to ask!)

The rental homes that we could afford were 2 bedroom homes in undesirable areas.  According to all of the properties that I had searched, this dream home did not exist in our price range.  But it did exist in God’s!  Remember, the verse, “Call on me in prayer and I will show you great and mysterious things”?

Here’s God’s great and mysterious things that He did on our behalf.

That same day as sisters in Christ lifted me up in prayer, my Beloved calls his friend.  His friend informs him that he is renting his home but he is not renewing the current tenants lease because they are not maintaining the property very well; the owner likes to keep his home very nice. (smile)  The tenants will be getting out of the property at the end of September. If we were willing to mow the lawn and clean the pool instead of him paying for those expenses, the amount of rent would come to…yep, you guessed it- the EXACT amount that I had in mind and prayed for.

Here’s more great things about the house:

It has 3 bedrooms

2 baths

2 car garage

On a cul-de-sac

Indoor laundry

Nice neighborhood

With a pretty yard and a pool

On top of all the wonderful attributes of the home, the owner knows us and he knows our entire situation.  Our credit score is not an issue with him.  That’s the exact list that I had prayed for.  The Lord truly does great and mysterious things. 

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."  Hebrews 11:6

So my Beloved negotiated with the Bank to allow us 45 days before we needed to move out, which will be Sept. 3^rd and our move in date at the rental home is October 1^st, so for a month our closest and dearest friends have graciously opened their home to us so we can live with them until we move again.

 “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

At the beginning of this journey I asked you in an earlier post titled, Are Trials Really Good for Us? if you wanted to join me as we watch God together show us His hand of faithfulness as He performs miracles in this situation.  Did you see Him show up in all of this?  Did you see Him part the Red Sea in my life the way He parted the Red Sea in the life of the Israelites?  I pray you did and I do hope your faith in Christ has been strengthened as a result of what I have testified.

Yes, I became anxious and fearful as I cried out to the Lord, but His Word is clear.  Be anxious about nothing!  Although we become anxious in our trials, we never need to be.  Boldly bring your requests to God.  Even when you don’t understand or you can’t figure out how things will work out, He will give you the peace that surpasses your understanding.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28 

He continually does miracles in my life and He will do the same in your life as well.  Keep seeking Him because You will find Him.

Are You a Courageous Woman?

Recently, my family and I were given tickets to the movie, Courageous.  Not knowing much about the film other than the fact that it was made by the same folks who produced Facing the Giants and Fireproof, I was really looking forward to seeing it.

After watching this wonderful, phenomenal, God-fearing, and biblically accurate (according to a man's biblical role in life, that is) show, I was shocked and ever-so touched by how well the movie turned out! The writers and producers presented a VERY powerful message as the story line portrayed how men should act as God-fearing fathers, protectors and leaders of their families.

I am sure every woman that walked out of the theater was thankful that her husband, son, father, brother, or any other male by her side, saw that movie.  It was such a strong, God-breathed message on film that I have a hard time thinking the men that saw that show were not challenged to rise to the occasion  in some sort of way.  If you have seen the movie, then you know what I am talking about.

Now, I have the privilege to be married to a man that has walked with his Savior for over 40 years now.  (He gave his heart to Christ when he was just a boy at age 7 and has faithfully followed Him since.)  By the way, after 13 years of marriage, I do not feel worthy to be his wife.  When I met him, I would refer to him as my 'Solomon' and I was his Shulamite woman.  And still to this day, I sign his cards to 'My Solomon', From, Your Shulamite.  I believe I got the better end of the deal in our marriage.  hehe!

Anyways, my point being is this.  My man does his best to follow the Lord and he faithfully tries to be the God-fearing husband and father that is laid out in the Scriptures.  Of course he fails and sins just like the rest of us.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23

Here's my point:  Even though my husband follows Christ to the best of his ability, the movie still brought a conviction to his heart knowing that he could do better in his role as a husband and father. 

Anyways, we left the theater that day and my husband said the message of the movie could make a huge impact on the men in this world and I wholeheartedly agreed.

But then I made this statement,

The sad thing is, I do not believe producers would ever make this kind of movie to encourage women to be God-fearing wives and mothers.

I went on to say,

"I just couldn't see many women lining up to buy a movie ticket in order to learn how to submit, respect, and honor their husbands, nor could I see many women wanting to know how to better serve and instruct their children!  It just wouldn't happen in our society."

I wondered how many women already knew the story line of Courageous and they either manipulated, nagged, or dragged their husband to see that film in hopes that their man would be a better husband or father as a result of the show?  How many women walked out of the theater disappointed that her husband was not a man of God like the ones portrayed on the screen?

Imagine for a moment if someone produced a movie to encourage women to be better wives or mothers.  How many men would like to take their wives to go see it?  I am sure A LOT!  How many women would be angry that their husbands took them to see that movie?

Of course all of this is speculation but our society today is so feminine dominate and it is constantly beating down men and emasculating them.

My spirit was grieved just thinking about how the movie of Courageous probably wouldn't be reversed for women because it wouldn't be received.

The biblical role of womanhood is so misunderstood, frowned upon and demoralized by those in and out of the church today.  Btw, it is usually a woman who has an issue with biblical womanhood and not a man, (not always the case, but usually.)  Note:  before I came to Christ, I WAS ONE OF THOSE WOMEN!

So I had this thought.  If I couldn't see a movie made for us, how about it if God-fearing women made their own Courageous Resolution on paper?

A Resolution that stood for what the Bible had to say about our role as wives and mothers.

Could we make an impact through the blogosphere and social media letting other women know it is okay (and wonderful, I might add) to live out a life according to God's Word?

Well I don't know how much of an impact can be made, but I have made up my mind to do something about it!

Here is A Woman's Courageous Resolution that I have made just for the above purpose!

Post it, share it, reprint it, frame it.  LIVE IT!

This is where I stand!  Will you stand with me?

I WILL diligently pursue Christ with my whole heart.

I WILL submit to my husband as the leader of my home, knowing that it is God who has appointed him as my headship.

I WILL diligently give my husband honor and respect.

I WILL be a helpmate to my husband, coming alongside of him as he leads our family for Christ.

I WILL share my heart with my husband so he can learn to dwell with me with understanding, rather than shout my words like a contentious woman or stuff my feelings and allow bitterness to grow in our marriage.

I WILL be faithful to my husband both physically and emotionally.

I WILL diligently serve my husband and my children with a loving and kind heart.

I WILL train up my children in the ways of the LORD as I nurture and instruct them.

I WILL seek to be content and have a cheerful heart as I keep our home.

I WILL be mindful of how much time I spend doing other activities or ministries that may hinder me from serving my family first.

I WILL forgive others who have hurt me and restore the relationship of those that I have offended.

As Christ has poured out His life for me, I WILL seek to pour out my life for Christ as I pour into the lives of my husband and children.

A woman who fears the LORD shall be praised.  

Proverbs 31:30

Let's take the stand together,

I am linked up with

Bringing Up My Broken Past

Chronic ill health.  Broken Relationships.  Persecutions.  Lawsuit.  IRS Audit.  Foreclosured home.  Poor Credit.   Despair.  Inward denial of Christ.

This has been my past as I have walked with Christ.

Life has not been easy.

But to His name be the glory.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  Romans 12:1

Yes, there is pain in the offering of our lives.

But He carries our burdens and He has taken on our scars.  In fact, if you look at Him close enough, you will find your scars on His hands.

He wants my broken past to come up once again, for all to see.

Digging up the past to be used for His glory

Here's what has happened.  Since I have moved my blog over to this new site, many of my past posts did not transfer over with the recent move.  So I will be adding them here one by one.  God has a great plan in all of this I know!

For the next several days I will be re-publishing posts that many people have already read.  If that is you, perhaps you know of someone who could relate to some or all of my story or maybe you know someone who just needs to be encouraged in their journey of following Christ.  I ask that you pass along the posts to them in hopes that the Holy Spirit may touch their lives.

Other readers who are new to The Alabaster Jar will have the opportunity to read more about my struggles, my failings, and times when I was gripping and clinging to Christ.  Hopefully what I share with you will draw you closer to Christ knowing you are not alone in your own pain and struggles.

Present yourselves, yes even with all of your scars, as a living sacrifice to the One with the scarred, stretched hands.

Live a poured out life for the Master,

The Sting of a Christian Woman

Since you are reading this post, I could betcha a dollar that you too, have felt the sting by another Christian woman.  Boy, the knife sure goes down deep in the heart on that one!

Let's read, what I will refer to as, The Stinging Sisters List, shall we?

• Betrayed


• Criticized


• Condemned


• Talked about behind your back- and I don't mean they were praying for you either; most likely they were talking some smack about you and it was gossip and/or slander!
  


• Lied to


• Stole from


• How about this one:  flirted with your man! I am so not okay with that one, in fact, my fists might even come out swinging!  Woman, you better back up before you get hurt!


• Hindered you in the ministry that God has called you to- this one saddens my spirit deeply.  Sometimes to follow the Lord's leading it takes a GREAT amount of faith to get out of the boat and walk on water to Jesus.  He has called you to do something that you do not feel qualified nor equipped to do and now a Sister in Christ has stumbled you from following the Lord in ministry.  Satan LOVES this one...actually, he loves all of the above.

I am sure you can add to, The Stinging Sisters List, but you get my point.

Confession time:  because I don't think I can write a post without being completely honest and real with you.  As I looked back through The List, unfortunately over the years as I was growing in Christ (and still growing), you could find my name written down in several of those sections.  Ouch!

"...for the accuser of our brethren, (Satan) who accused them (believers) before our God day and night, has been cast down."  Revelation 12:10 (my emphasis)

I don't know about you, but the last thing I want in my heart is tear down another Sister in Christ.  Satan does not need any more help in that department and I don't want to be aligned with him.

So, why do we do it?  Why do we tear down another woman?  I pondered that question for quite some time and here were some of my thoughts:

• Insecurity


• Fear


• Doubt


• Guilt


• Control


• Pride


• Competition
  

All of the above actions happen when we are in the flesh and not in the Spirit.  They all have to do with 'self'.  We are often taught in this world to have self-confidence and be self-reliant.  (By the way, there is nothing wrong with feeling like you can make your own breakfast...that's not the type of self-confidence and self-reliance I am referring to!)  It is when those attributes lead to self-centeredness and you become self-absorbed.  As God's daughters we should seek to have God's-confidence and become God-reliant rather than self.

When we take our eyes off of us (self) and we put it on the Lord, then we will not see our Sisters in Christ as a threat to us, we won't feel insecure nor will we have fear or doubt about who we are in Christ.  When our eyes are fixed on Him, then we can encourage our Sisters rather than belittle them, criticize, condemn, and compete with them.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Philippians 2:3,4 

I'd like to pretend I never read those verses, except for the part where it says someone should look out for my interests! 

I have only scratched the surface with this topic and I want to share more about how to handle the hurt and get over the pain, so look for future posts!

Live a poured out life for the Master,

What is Your Alabaster Jar?

Night after night I would find myself up until 2 or 3 in the morning as I would pour over this site either designing it or learning the ropes in order to utilize it.  My eyes would burn from staring at this screen for so many hours.  I would become frustrated and I would wake up the next morning exhausted only to do it all over again.

Let me be completely honest with you as I share my thoughts on this recent process.

"Why am I bothering to do this?" 

"Why am I spending so much time and effort to work on this blog site?" 

"Does anyone read it?"

I knew all the answers to those questions but what I was really saying to myself was this:

Is this on-line, writing ministry worth my time, sacrifice and (recent headache as I have moved my blog over to Wordpress?) 

After all, I can not see who I minister to.  Let that thought sink in.  There are no hugs to give.  No dinners to serve.  No one to laugh or cry with.  No facial expressions to gauge and no words to hear (unless of course you have left me a comment.)  It certainly feels like a one-sided relationship, yet, God calls it ministry.

However, it leaves me wondering...Is there anyone out there in cyberspace land taking in anything that is written here?  If there is,  is anyone encouraged by what I write when I spend hours doing so?  Is anyone closer to the Lord or have a stronger faith because of what I have shared?  I believe I know those answers as well. (smile) Thanks friends for your sweet comments!

But the wicked enemy was wanting to tear me down and through all those discouraging and self-centered thoughts, God spoke to my heart yet again. 

Daughter, are you willing to pour your life out for Me?  Yes, Lord, was my reply.

Then write for Me.  Pour out your life like the very costly fragrant oil in The Alabaster Jar that you have found in the Scriptures.

So here I sit, typing, and convicted yet again!

Below I have shared a passage of Scripture from several of the Gospels referring to an immoral woman and her Alabaster Jar.  Join me as we dig deeper and learn what Jesus has to say to us and our own Alabaster Jars.

When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume.  Luke 7:37

A woman came to Him having an alabaster jar of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste? "For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor." But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.  Matthew 26:7, 10

"I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love."  Luke 7:47

A few things to notice about this passage...

• She was an immoral woman.


• What she had was costly.


• She poured it out on Christ.


• She was criticized for doing it. (By the disciples I might add!)


• She had many sins and yet Christ had forgiven her.


• She showed the Lord much love as a result of her forgiveness.

(There is more to her story, and I encourage you to open the Scriptures and read more about this precious woman when you have the time because I am sure it will make an impact on your life like it has on mine.)

So I ask you today, what is your Alabaster Jar?  What is it that is very costly to you?  And are you willing to give it up for Christ knowing that you have done a good work for Him?

Is it...

1. Your time?


2. Your rights?


3. Your resources?


4. Your ideals?


5. Your dreams?


6. Yourself?


7. All of the above?

Here are some examples.

• What if you served your husband, submitted to him and respected him even when he didn't deserve it nor appreciated it (and you did it with a loving heart)?  Would you still pour your life out for Christ?


• What if you served your children day in and day out yet you never heard a thank you from them?  Would you still pour your life out for Christ?


• What if you cleaned your house from top to bottom only to have it messed up again within minutes? Would you still pour your life out for Christ?


• What if you ministered in Jesus' name only to have people criticize and condemn you for it?  (Hmmm, kind of like the disciples in the above passage.) Would you still pour your life out for Christ?


• What if God called you into an area of ministry that you felt outside your comfort zone?  Would you still pour your life out for Christ?


• Or perhaps God has called you to minister to someone you will never see and you will never experience the fruits of your labor? (smile)  Would you still pour your life out for Christ?

Tough ideas.  Aren't they?

Here is what I found to be so miraculous about this 'poured out' concept.

As I have poured out my life for Christ, He in turn, has poured Himself into me.

I can honestly tell you that all the hours that I have poured out into this computer, for the sake of lifting Christ up for all to see, has been worth it.  Jesus, my precious Savior, is worthy to receive every ounce of costly, fragrant oil that is in my Alabaster Jar.

Is He worth yours as well?

On a different note: As you can see, the new site of The Alabaster Jar is up and working.  Praise the Lord.  That is a miracle in itself because I am the one doing all of this stuff.  That's not to say I didn't have any problems with this, because of course I did!  I lost my entire blog over at Blogger (good thing I backed it up) and I lost this one as well, so I had to recreate it all over again.  I guess the Lord felt I needed an additional tutorial when it comes to this technical stuff!

This site is still missing some items and features, but I am able to write to you so that is what really matters.  So let me tell you what's going on around here.

First, I know blogging brings a sense of community through all of the comments that a post receives, yet, the comments from my Blogger site for some reason did not transfer over.  (That's okay, because I have hidden all that you have shared in my heart.)  However, not having comments does affect which posts are popular and so forth.  So in essence, at this time, I can't list the 'Popular Posts' like I did before because according to the computer, there are no popular posts! I also can not keep track of how many people visit this site yet, nor can I keep track of which posts women are drawn to.  So I am basically ministering blindly!  Any feedback that you give me would be appreciated until I can figure out how to add the statistics to this site!  Thanks friend.

Second, I am unable to redirect you from my old site, (www.joleneengle.blogspot.com) to the new site, (www.joleneengle.org).   That's how I lost my blog before so I am not going to try that again!  Also, if you are a blogger and have added The Alabaster Jar's button to your site, can you please replace my old button with the new one?  Thanks a million!

Third, if you have subscribed to this site through the Google Friend Connect or you are a Facebook friend of The Alabaster Jar, the Lord has parted the Red Technical Sea and you made it over here!

And last, but not least, if you have subscribed via email or through an RSS feed/reader, I am currently at the mercy of Feedburner waiting for them to transfer you over to my new site.  I won't be holding my breath on that one, nor should you, so you just might want to re-subscribe here!

Thanks for your patience and understanding.  I realize that those who come to this site are coming for the Word and not for the design of it. (smile.)

Live a poured out life for the Master,

I am linked up with:



http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/