Saturday, September 5, 2009

People Pleasing vs. Running with Fellowship...

A lazy, raining Saturday morning with a long weekend in focus is somehow freeing. It could also be because we have 3 of the 8 kids gone..LOL I don't feel the pressure to accomplish one thing after another like I usually do on the weekends. So the thought of sorting our closets I figure clothes can wait another day. I am loving this!

Since I feel a little freedom I decided to dig into Gods word instead of waiting for afternoon naps or late evening moments. I started a Bible Study with my college daughter and niece this summer. "Becoming a Woman of Freedom" by Cynthia Heald. It has been an amazing time as we dig into Gods word as women and not as mom/daughter or aunt/niece. This is their time to really look at Gods word and see what they believe. It is all too soon and they will be out on their own without mom and dad keeping a watchful eye.

We encourage our children when they are younger to follow the Lord (and they do) but when you raise obedient children they see their walk with the Lord where they are following Him and yet still focused on what mom and dad desire. We realized we needed to help her transform from being dependant upon mom and dad to sitting at the feet of Jesus. Until they can own their faith and make it their own, they are functioning in law. It makes the desires of us or the Lord burdens (law). But the moment it clicks with them, that this is their choice, they are living in freedom and grace with our Lord.

We see our oldest....standing boldly for Christ. Our strong willed daughter who if you said sit would stand or say run she walked, you name it whatever we said, it was simply known she would PUSH. This is the type of child you are either laughing or crying in the midst of raising them. I see now the many tears that kept me looking to God have now turned to laughter as we watch her freely walk with HIM! No greater joy for Barry and I to see!

This week we are focused on laying aside pleasing people:
running with the fellowship.
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?
Or am I trying to please men?
If I were still trying to please men,
I would not be a servant of Christ."
Galations 1:10
I am ending with Cynthia's thoughts....
Our completeness in Christ enables us to be an integral part of the body of believers so that we can exhort, encourage, and serve one another. We do not withdraw from people because Christ is our sufficiency; rather,
His sufficiency thrusts us out in confidence to risk intimacy with others.

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