Sunday, December 22, 2013

In a Pressure Cooker

                                                 by Sharon Manning




Before I had a crock pot or even a cast iron skillet, my pressure cooker was my pan of choice.  It cooked fast through pressure and had a rocker on top that allowed steam to release if the pressure got too high. Still you had to be really careful not to let it overheat or it could explode.  Then you had to be sure to cool the cooker sufficiently (often by running cold water over the lid) before opening or you could be badly burnt by the release of the steam from the cooker.  And I have had a few blow on me.

Problems, fears and anger can build up pressure within us in the same way it built up in my pressure cooker.  They too are dangerous.   I have found only one way that really takes the pressure off me is to vent.  That is right, I let the steam off by releasing those thoughts and fears to JESUS 2 Corinthians 10:5 and then thanking HIM.

I thank HIM not because it makes sense but simply because HE tells me to.

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of GOD in Christ JESUS concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18

Note: the verse says give thanks, not feel thanks.

Over 40 years ago, I was struggling badly with compounded problems and a stranger challenged me to try for 1 week to stop every time I got upset and to give GOD thanks as an experiment.  I did and it really worked.   It changed my life.

Recently, compounded serious situations arose.  One thing on top of another and one involved- who was under the load- was seriously struggling with the weight and hopelessness of it all.  Then we prayed, releasing it to GOD and thanking HIM… immediately I saw the pressure lift off of her, I saw a calmness- the very peace of GOD come over her, just like HE promises.

Philippians 4:6 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. 

How can we thank GOD in everything?  Well, I have found I thank HIM for different things at different times.  I began, 40+ years ago by thanking HIM for a hurtful situation. Some may say that is not right but I think I was led to do so for GOD used that situation years later to help another just like scripture says 2 Corinthians 1:4

Here are some other things  I thank HIM for: I thank HIM that I have access to come and talk to HIM and for my salvation.  I thank GOD because HE is there for me Hebrews 13:5 ; I thank HIM because cares & even tells me to come vent Matthew 11:28; I thank HIM because HE understands & feels with me & will help cope Hebrews 4:15,16; I  thank HIM because HE is actively conspiring to use whatever my situation is along with other things for an end result of good in conforming me to the image of JESUS Romans 8:28,29;I thank HIM because HE is achieving for me through the problems  I thank HIM because the situation is temporary 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; I thank HIM for HIS promises & that they all have a guarantee- HIS faithfulness ; I thank HIM cause HE is my Provider;  I thank HIM for HIS gifts of faith, and grace all things that pertain to life and godliness; I thank HIM for enabling me 2 Peter 1:1-4 I thank HIM for knowing what HE is doing and for loving me. Zephaniah 3:17 I thank HIM that HE has a plan & is in control.  And as Bill and Sharon Olson,  dear friends says, I thank HIM for what HE has done and what HE is doing and will do in the situation.

Even after all this time knowing the way and seeing it work over and over and over again, still it is not always a natural reaction for me to give thanks when troubles come.  For the enemies taunts me.  At those times I must make a deliberate choice to turn to GOD and let my requests be made known with the weapon of thanksgiving…  when I do, HIS peace always envelopes me!



Sunday, November 10, 2013

There Is a Difference

                                               by Sharon Manning


Slowly working through Acts—in 4:36,37  I saw Barnabus (not his real name but an alias- a nickname given Joses by the apostles because he was such a comfort to others.)  Nudged by GOD, Barnabus did what GOD showed him to do- he sold some land and laid the $ at the apostles feet for them to use for the needs of others. 
But in the next verses (5:1-3) we see a couple who saw what Barnabus did and the attention he got and wanting so nuch to be noticed and admiredthey followed his lead and sold some land.  Putting aside part of the $ for a rainy day (not quite able to trust GOD to meet their needs) they laid the rest of the $ at the feet of the apostles but pretended that it was the total sum received for their land.  In this they sinned by lying to the Holy Spirit and since this was the infant Church that had to be taught the need for purity even before performance—our GOD, the GOD of truth took  immediate action in judgment- to set an example for these new believers of the need for truth.
There are many things seen here but what hit me this time around was the total opposite reasons for action in Barnabus and Ananias.  Both men did the same thing- sold a piece of land but their motives were so different.  Barnabus did what GOD wanted and told him to do. Now to be fair, Ananias may have also wanted to meet the needs around him but his lie nullified the good and showed another underlying  motive- that of wanting to be noticed and admired.




I was convicted as I thought on this for GOD brought to my awareness  an episode- a reaction within me that showed that sometimes I act to be accepted by man.
I Samuel 16:7  Man looks on the outward appearance but GOD looks on the heart.   
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, YOU know all things and in this I praise YOU.  Thank YOU for YOUR faithfulness to me to expose this underlying sin in my heart.  Forgive me and set me free.  YOU know that I really want to do YOUR will, to act when YOU nudge me and speak only what YOU tell me to say.  Help me, LORD, according to YOUR promise that YOU who calls me will also do it.  I ask in the name of JESUS.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

A Disquieting Dream

                                                   by Sharon Manning

I had a disquieting dream last night and I still remember it, which is weird for me.  So when I took my predawn walk this morning I was taking to the LORD concerning my dream for in my dream I had a grudging attitude that I didn't like.  And although the details were not precise, certain elements in it mirrored past circumstances.  So I asked the LORD to enable me to forgive what I thought I had already forgiven and went on to say “LORD, It is YOUR love I need to flow from me, please spread it around in my heart just like YOUR word says.  Don't let any bitterness remain for I want to reflect YOUR character in all I do.”

I was walking East at that time, so I could see the 1st colors of breaking dawn, but felt a need to look back to my house (West).  As I did, I saw the Moon: it was round and golden and perfectly beautiful… so beautiful in fact that I turned around and walked West so I could watch it as it went down over the mountains.

I smiled when I 1st saw it for I understood immediately that the nudge to turn around was from the Holy SPIRIT to give me an illustration that GOD would favor me and do as HE said if (condition) I would just look to HIM.   Why did I think that?

Well, the Moon has no light of its own it only reflects the light of the sun.  Yet its prominence in the sky and its regular cycle of phases have, since ancient times, made the Moon an important cultural influence on language, calendars, art and mythology.  In actuality the Moon’s gravitational influence produces the ocean tides and the minute lengthening of the day.  So that although it has no light of its own it gives off light in increasing measure and has a great influence.

You and I are like the Moon, we have no light of our own (though sometimes man, like the devil before him, foolishly thinks he does.)  But although we do not generate light, we can reflect the light of our GOD and Savior who is the Light of the world by letting HIM shine through us by our obedience to HIM.  As we stand in HIS light, we can have a great gravitational influence on things surrounding us.  So lets look to the SON and reflect HIS glory…

Have you noticed that it won’t hurt you to look directly at the moon no matter how brightly it shines; whereas to look directly at the sun will blind you?  Hmmmm I wonder  could it be that perhaps that is one reason why GOD has chosen HIS children (those who believe in JESUS John 1:12) to be HIS witnesses by their lives as well as their words.  For the scripture says no man shall see GOD and live.


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