define: Delight: di-ˈlīt

New location, new focus

bretta — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:29:26 +0000

I have begun to blog again, but you will find me in a different location: http://becomingthirtyone.wordpress.com/. Please pay me a visit!

A Thorn For God’s Glory

bretta — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:43:46 +0000

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10

In the above passage, Paul is referring to “thorn” in his flesh. Paul writes that this thorn was placed there by Satan so that Paul did not become to conceited. We are not told what this thorn is and frankly I think it’s because it is not important. Some feel it was a physical deformity, others a spiritual struggle. I am thankful that Paul remained vague in his description, because now his experience can be applied to all who read his words.

I too have a thorn, I think all believers do. In the past I have let this thorn influence my behavior. Recently I have been trying to allow God to be glorified through it, instead of my witness being weakened by it. Twice in the past week I have been given an oppurtunity to reaffirm my dedication to giving this issue over to the Lord. While sitting through a time of worship with my family and friends that other day I was allowing the “messenger of Satan” to whisper in my eye. The words were full of lies, but I began to believe them. I let them influence my worship. Then we began to sing a song by Aaron Shust. The chorus was just the words that I needed to hear.

The reason we’re here and the reason we sing
is to thank You oh God and give praise to the King
we lift up our hands and we lift up our eyes and sing
You are holy
The reason we’re here and the reason we sing
is to thank You oh God and give praise to the King
we lift up our hands and we lift up our minds
and we pray that all we do would bring glory to You

These words reminded me what my purpose is: I am here to glorify God, even with my thorn He will be glorified. I may ask for God to remove this thorn. However if He does not, then in my weakness He will be glorified all the more. He has a plan to use my weakness for His glory and to further His kingdom. I praise God for this and will try to rest that even when I struggle, I can hand my thorn over to Him and He who wore thorns on His head in my place knows the pain and can comfort me like no one else.

First Love

bretta — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:46:40 +0000

In my devotional reading the other day Oswald Chambers words were both conviction and encouraging. The passage was based on Revelation 2:4, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had first.”

Is my self Christ-centered or self-centered? When I am in difficult circumstances, does the disposition in me make me say, “Why should this happen to me?” That disposition was never in the Lord Jesus Christ. Whenever his consciousness was revealed, it was his Father’s honor that occupied him, not his own honor. My self is a human edition for God to be glorified in. ”

Just today, I allowed my selfish flesh to once again control my behavior toward others. I experienced “difficult circumstances” and instead of allowing God to be glorified through it, I demanded my rights. The “First Love” that John was referring to in Revelation 2:4 was the churches love for Christ. When I allow my flesh to guide my actions, I too am forgetting my first love and my behavior is not pleasing to God.

Chambers writes that the “mind of Christ showed itself in his actions and in his speech, and our mind is shown in our speech and in our actions.” In Philippians 2:5 Paul states that believers should “have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” We are to have the minds of Christ and this should show in our actions and speech. Just as James wrote when he said that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2: 17). My actions and words are the “works” that makes my faith alive. These works are the proof that I have not abandoned my first love.

When this “first love” is in its rightful place, Chambers states that “I can love my neighbor as God has loved me.” His words that follow this statement remind me how much God has done for me and how deep His love is for humankind.

How has God loved me? God has loved me to the end of all my sinfulness, the end of all my self-will, all my selfishness, all my stiff-neckedness, all my pride, all my self-interest; now he says – “love one another, just as I have loved you” (John 13:34). I am to show to my fellowmen the same love that God showed to me. That is Christianity in a practical working order.”

So even when people act in ways that frustrate, annoy, anger, or in any other manner that causes my flesh to lash out, I need to resist this and be loving. Easier said then done and in my own strength it is impossible. But God promises to help and I will trust in Him, knowing that through it He will be glorified.

A New Viewpoint

bretta — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 04:31:37 +0000

“Delight yourself in the Lord,

and He shall give you the desires of you heart.

Commit your way to the Lord,

trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,

and your justice as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.”

Psalm 37:4-7a

This is a verse that I often think of as my “theme” verse, or motto verse for my life. But lately I have been wondering, do I really know what it means? Do I really understand what this verse is all about? As these thoughts entered my head, I quickly pushed them aside. Of coarse, I thought, I know what it’s saying; it’s the verse that my blog’s title is based on, my sisters and I have refered to it over and over again and I have made it a foundational verse that I tried to live by. But the thought keep creeping back into my mind, like a song that get stuck in your head and the harder you try to not sing it the harder it is to get rid of.

Ok, I give up, what am I missing? What am I not understanding in a verse I know so well?

For the first time I notice something. I had always focused on the promise in the verse. “He shall give you the desires of you heart.” This is what I wanted, the wanted all my “desires” to be met. I forgot about the first part: “Delight yourself in the Lord.” Although I titled my blog, “Delight,” with my attitude it might have been more appropriately titled “Desires.” I wanted God to fulfill the desires that I had, the fleshly, human desires of a young, American woman. How far must these be for from the godly desires that I would have and should have processed if I had been truly “delighting” myself in the Lord? What changes would have occurred, what heartache would I have missed?

I feel like this happens far to often when I read the great and wonderful promised that God gives us in the Bible. I forget my part in the promise.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight”

Proverbs 3:5-6

I want the “straight” paths, but forget the “trust” part.

“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

The soaring, running unwearied and walking without fainting all sound amazing. But what about the “trust in the Lord?”

These three verses are just a few of the many promises that I have always clung to in times of need. But during those times, was I really “delighting” and “trusting” in the Lord? Because I am a very practical person, I want to know what ”delighting” and “trusting” really looks like. Over the next few days, weeks, months, maybe years I will exploring this idea. I hope that each day I learn more about these concepts and that they will become less abstract and more real to me. I want to experience the promises; but more importantly I now desire to first experience this delight and trust in a Father that is so worthy of both.

It’s a Wonderful -more like joyfully awesome, but sometimes painfully confusing – Life

bretta — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 04:01:34 +0000

The movie “It a Wonderful Life” is such a good story. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it. I love how George goes through life, learning lessons and impacting lives, but he believes his life has no meaning. How often is this how we feel? I know I have wondered what the purpose of my life is. George was given a magical chance to see how the world would have been like if he had not existed. In the real, ”un-hollywood” world, this does not happen. Instead I must rely on the promises of God that state that I am special and He will use me for his glory. Matthew 6:26 reminds us of the value that we have in God’s eyes, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”

Since it’s been so long since I have written I feel like an update is in order. How had God been working in this “joyfully awesome” life of mine? For those who have followed my writings in the past, you know that this blog is more like a journal; capturing my thoughts and emotions as I progress through this thing called “life.” For those reading for the first time, you’ll soon find that out.

What has the past eight months been like since my last post. The title of this post says it all. It has been a crazy eight months. In May, I moved back from South Carolina, after living there for five months. I feel God used that time as a training and refocusing time. Those months were spend learning more of God and my relationship to Him to strengthened beyond anything I could have ever expected. Once back home, I spent the summer trying to find my place and where God wanted me to go next. I knew that God was calling me to His service and in a special way.

This calling brought me to Lynchburg Virginia, of all places. I spent the August through December in Virginia, studying professional counseling at Liberty University. Another time of growth was before me there. Like when I lived in South Carolina, I struggled with homesickness, getting lost in a new location and expirenced the blessing meeting amazing brothers and sisters in Christ. I also began my first semester of graduate school. It was challenging, exciting, overwhelming, and amazing!

Now I am back home. This is a story in itself. Before Thanksgiving I felt that God wanted me to be home for the spring semester, but then was called in for an interview for a Graduate Assistant position. This position would have paid for most of my school and giving me some spending money. So I began to believe I was maybe supposed to stay in Lynchburg. But on Monday of this week, I was informed that I did not get the position. So after a few days of shock and a little more than a little disappointment, I believe that for some reason, known only to God at this time, I am to be home for this semester. I will be taking classes online and working to save money. As the Lord reminds us in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” He knew before the beginning of time, where I would be this semester and where I will be in the years to come. I can leave me hope in Him and His plans.

That’s the update on this life that is being planned out by the Master Planner. He is making a “wonderful life” for me to look back on and give Him all the glory for. C S Lewis once wrote that “a glimpse of the next three feet of the road is more important and useful then a view of the horizon.” I will leave the horizon to the Lord, and learn to be content with this “three feet view.”

Glory to God

bretta — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:33:52 +0000

A year ago I began, at the suggestion of my older sister, this blog. As I think back over this year, I am amazed at all the God has taught me. Some of these lessons I have shared through this blog, others, personally with family and friends. Some of the more painful ones I have stored in my heart and trust the someday God will reveal His purpose for those hard times. At the beginning of the year, I blogged often. It was a connection to my family back home while I was away for the first time. During the summer, there was post written here and there. Once I moved to Virginia, life took a turn and blogging didn’t seem to fit into the picture.

My life has once again turned a corner and I hope to begin to share the lessons that God is teaching me in this blog. I will also try to bring humor, stories and photos of my world for others to enjoy. God is faithful and His faithfulness in the small and large aspects of our lives is amazing to witness. This blog will be another tool to share His faithfulness with the world.

One song that was sung often at the church I attended in Lynchburg, Va was titled “Glory to God.” The chorus stated: “Take my life and let it be…all for you and for your glory…take my life and let it be yours.” My life here on earth has the solo purpose of bringing glory to God, I want to be used by Him for His glory. I pray that those who read will be blessed and God will be glorified.

Sleep, a Spiritual Discipline???

bretta — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:21:18 +0000

One of the MANY books that I have been required to read this semester (there is no more choices in reading, although some of the books are really good, so I will not complain too much…smile) is on the subject of spiritual disciplines, The Life You’ve Always Wanted. In one of the beginning chapters, the author, John Ortberg, is giving on overview on the topic. There was one section that I really found to be enlightened. In this section he was explaining how we are supposed to know what disciplines to practice. He says that we need to look at in reverse. First, we need to know what “it means to live in the kingdom of God.” Then he writes that we need to find out what barriers are keeping us from living this way and what practices will then help us to “overcome these barriers.” The example he gave was so practical and yet I had never really considered it in the light that he spoke of it.

For instance, we know that we are called to be loving. One thing I discovered when I spent a day trying to live in a loving fashion is that love requires an enormous amount of energy. And I was just too tired to give it. So I realized that –as unspiritual as it sounds–if I was serious about becoming a more loving person, I was going to have to get more sleep….

I was surprised to find that the Bible has much to say about…sleep. Sleep is a gift from God: “I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.”

It is an act of trust: I am reminded when I go to sleep that the world is in God’s hands, not mine. The world will get along very well even though I am not awake to try and control things. At the appropriate time, my eyes will open and I will receive the gift of wakefulness again. “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.”

Have you ever tried to pray when you are lacking sleep? Before Elijah was to spend a prolonged time in solitude and prayer at Mount Horeb, the angel of the Lord had him take not one, but two long naps. Contrast that with the disciples at Gethsemane, who could not pray because they kept falling asleep. Sleep is a gift from God. “It is in vain that you rise early and go to late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives sleep to His beloved.” The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Orterg

These words really got me thinking. I want to make sure that I am well rested and ready to serve the Lord in any way the He chooses. I don’t want to be like the disciples who were too tired to do what the Lord asked of them. I am trying to plan my days better so that I can use my time more wisely and be able to get the sleep that I need. This still might not sound “super spiritual,” but Jesus was a Man of the common things as well. I am reminded of the time when He rose the girl from the dead and immediately told the others to get her something to eat. Jesus cares that are physical needs are meet, because when they are we can be so much more effective for Him. I can be more loving and patient when I am not tired and irritable. I can be a better ambassador, when I get my 40-winks : )

Speaking of sleep, it’s getting late and I don’t want to be hypocritical. Tomorrow is another day, I want to face it rested and ready.

When the Storms Rage

bretta — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 01:31:14 +0000

So I felt like coming down to Lynchburg was God’s will for my life. But still without a job has cause the Devil to shoot fiery darts of doubt in my mind. But, as Jesus promised “the peace the passes all understanding” has come to me through the God inspired words of Oswald Chambers.

“And [Jesus] saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.” Mark 6:48

The obedience of the disciples led them into the greatest trouble they had known. Jesus did not go with them, a storm came, and they were at their wits’ end–”the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land” (Mark 6:47). They thought they were going straight to the other side: Jesus knew they would face a storm in the center of the lake.”

This is the key, Jesus knows all, so the twist and turns of life that can through us into a panic, are no surprise to Him. The disciples entered the boat, looking to the other side as the goal of the journey. But this is not what Jesus had in mind. He had another goal and lesson to teach them. In the mists of the storm, He brought about growth and stretched their faith.

My situation is similar, I can down here with a goal, a job. But Jesus’ goal is different. He has another plan for the lessons that He wants me to learn. I will grow more in this time of waiting, them if I were to have gotten a job immediately. So, I am thankful that He cares enough to cause growth in my life.

The last part of the devotional was a great encouragement:

What men call the process, God calls the end. If you can stay in the midst of the turmoil unperplexed and calm because you see Jesus, that is God’s purpose in your life; not that you may be able to say, “I have done this and that and now it’s all right.” God’s purpose for you is that you depend on him and his power now; that you see him walking on the waves –no shore in sight, no success, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because you see him.”

So, with no job in sight, I can have peace because Jesus is there. He knows where I am, and has me exactly where He wants me. That’s a fact of faith that I can rest in. The below song, Sometimes He Calms the Storm, by Scott Krippayne speaks to this calming in the midst of the storms of life.

Leaning on Him

bretta — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:23:13 +0000

A new chapter has begun in my life. I am now living in Lynchburg Va, attending Liberty University for my Master’s in Professional Counseling. I wish that I could report that all is great and I am enjoying my time here, without a care in the world. But, as with much of life there is hardship, doubt and trials. Although I know this is right where God wants me, I still feel anxious about many things. Satan is so very cunning in his dealings with us. He knows where are weak spots are in our armor and he attacks them with all his might.

With my background in business, I am a numbers person. I love to figure out budgets and how much I need to make and how much I can spend. I also have had the comfort of having a lot in savings for quite some time. But I think God is testing me, He wants me to rely completely on Him as my Provider and not on my own understandings (Proverbs 3:5-6). He is once again asking me, “do you trust Me?” In my heart I want to say “yes, Lord.” But the devil, keeps whispering thoughts of doubt in my head.

Satan keeps throwing his “flaming darts” at my shield of faith, attacking my insecurities of the whole financial issues. Dart 1: The job, I came down to Virginia with my Mom on Wednesday and began the job search almost immediately. Things were looking very promising, but now I still have not had a firm offer and the bank accounts are getting very low (not to mention that I have no money for next semester). Dart 2: the dresscode, Liberty has a dresscode policy requiring students to dress in a professional manner for classes. This was a shock to me. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a t-shirt and jeans/sweatpants kind of person. Therefore, that is what my closet is full of and this morning I discovered that the few dress clothes that I do have do not fit me anymore. I now will need to buy new clothes to have enough for classes. Dart 3: the camera, this dart hurts the most. Before leaving for VA, my camera ended up getting wet when I tripped in a whole while walking in the surf of the ocean. Although, it barely got wet, it would not turn on. So before leaving I left my camera at a repair shop. Today I heard back that my camera is not able to be fixed. Now, I am without a camera and no means to buy another one.

Satan did have fun with me today. I admit, I was overwhelmed and allowed doubt and anger to enter my mind. This is not fair, I thought, why must it be so hard? But as the evening goes, on I keep trying to focus on promises of the Bible that offer hope and assurance.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13

“I have set the LORD always before me, because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8

These are just a few, there are so many more. I must always remember that He cares for me and when I am in His will, I will strengthened and victorious. I must also remember all the ways that He has already taken care of me. My classes seem amazing (we begin each one with prayer, what a change from Westfield State), I love my room and the house is really nice, I am learning my way around the city (with the help of the GPS my Mom bought me), my room mates seem really nice and so far we are getting along well, there are many activities and church services to attend…the list could go on.

Satan wants me to focus on the unresolved areas, but instead I need to focus on the ways that God is taking care of me now. I can trust that He will provide me with a job, and if He wants me to continue next semester, with the money for that. I want to please Him with a faith and trust that will also set an example to others around me. Jesus said it best when He said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

Window to my Heart

bretta — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:54:04 +0000

My emotions are one of the ways my heart expresses what I crave, treasure and serve. If I live for your affection and you reject me, emotions of sadness and anger will infuse my life. If I treasure personal achievement and succeed, I will be happy, though I may not have joy and my happiness may be fleeting. If we want to know what people really want, we have to learn about their emotional life. Happiness is the result of getting what our heart craves. Discouragement is the emotional result of my heart when the thing I live for moves farther away from me. My heart is filled with fear when I suddenly lose what I am convinced I need. In short, emotions reflect what we worship. They reveal what has captured our hearts.” (p. 196) ~ from Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul David Tripp.

When I read this passage I began to think: what do my emotions reveal about my heart? More and more over these past few weeks, I would have to admit, although it pains me to, that if someone were to look at my emotional responses to people, events and situations around me, it would not reveal a heart that belongs to Someone higher than myself. My reactions are more based on my desires and wants, not on the ones that Jesus would have me value.I have become, once again, short-tempered and opinionated. I thought that I had conquered this short-coming. But just having this thought is where I began to go wrong. I can not conquer anything on my own. I have to give it over to Jesus and allow His Spirit to work in me and then I must work out what He is working inside of me. I desire that others see that Jesus has “captured” my heart and I live to worship Him. But I have to realize that I can not do this on my own, because when I try to, I am putting myself back on the throne of my heart, saying to Jesus “thanks for saving me, but I can take it from here.”

Oswald Chambers put it best when he wrote about Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Chambers wrote: “This is the first principle in the kingdom of God. The underlying foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is poverty, not possessions; not making decisions for Jesus, but having such a sense of absolute fertility that we finally admit, “Lord, I cannot even begin to do it.” Then Jesus says, “Blessed are you…” This is the doorway to the kingdom, and yet it takes us so long to believe that we are actually poor! The knowledge of our own poverty is what brings us to the proper place where Jesus Christ accomplishes His work.” (Utmost for His Highest).

Tripp claims that, “[d]iscouragement is the emotional result of my heart when the thing I live for moves farther away from me” (p. 196). From personal experience and watching others, I agree with this. If I lived for the praise of other people, if it is not present, I feel discouraged. If I live for excitement and new experiences, when they do not happen, I am discouraged. If I live for human friendship and love, if it is absent for a season, I am discouraged. But, I must always remember that if I live for Christ, and feel discouraged it is not because Jesus has moved away from me, but because I have moved away from Him. ”For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39.

Reading the passage by Tripp at first, discouraged me. I became disappointed in what the “windows to me heart,” i.e. my emotions, were revealing to others. But when this happens I must remember to once again turn my heart toward Him and allow His love to give me courage and the proper emotional response to any situation I am faced with. He has promised to give me that strength and will never give up on, even such a stubborn sinners as myself…Thank you for that, Lord!