What is on my mind now is testing this to see if it works...I hope so!
Melissa

Keeping The Old Man Down

Sometimes it's hard to stay ahead of the past.

I have had a couple of weeks here lately where I really started feeling alot like Job...each day, something else seemed to go wrong...and each time something went wrong, I tried my best to stay focused on Jesus. I'll admit it, I'm human...I lost my temper, I cried...and when all of that failed, I prayed. Now THAT was the key!

I've posted things here and on my website about my struggles...and how God has had to knock me down on my face in order for me to be able to look up at Him. I've had to deal with anger issues, self-centeredness, pride, and dependence on others rather than on God. And for the last 6 months, I have felt closer to Him than I ever have before. So now, when life's struggles seem to be ganging up on me all at one time, the "old man" (or should I say "old woman") wants to rear her ugly head again. But this time it's not me that's bringing it up.

Sometimes I wonder why, as Christians, we see God change hearts...but we still want to hold someone in their past. Someone did that to me this week, and it brought back a world of hurt in my heart. And it made me think of a song by Brian Free and Assurance called "Keeping The Old Man Down":

I'm my own worst enemy, when I remember back to what I used to be; and despite the love I've found, sometimes it's hard to keep the old man down; it's not because I want to be who I used to be, it's because people keep reminding me

Chorus: But what people can't forget He won't remember; And when they come along and keep fanning the embers; I'll hold my head up high and just remember what I've found; as I keep on keeping the old man down

Some folks try in their own way to help me change; but they don't realize, that all my "want-to's" He has rearranged; it's true I know I have a long long way to go; if He's forgiven yesterday, why won't they let it go?

Bridge: If it's true when He says we're covered in His love; then why won't they let my past, stay under the blood?

Chorus: But what people can't forget He won't remember; and when they come along and keep fanning the embers; I'll hold my head up high and just remember what I've found; as I keep on keeping the old man down.

In the new year, I encourage each one of you to be an encourager - be a Barnabas to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember their struggles so that you can know how far God has brought them and how He has healed their hearts - I know He's healed mine. And the sin of the past was paid for on the Cross and is covered under His blood. If you do see someone struggle, be the brother or sister that helps pick them up....don't be the one that tosses the rock that knocks them down. Love each other....stay away from negativity...let God be the one to make the changes....and most of all, keep your eyes on the Cross - all of our sin was paid for there....and Jesus is alive today! God wants to grow us to be more like His Son...and He can't do that if we stay burdened with the past. Don't forget where you came from, but don't let it keep you from letting Him take you to where He wants you to be going.

Stay safe...take care...and live for Him!

Be God's,

Melissa

Happy Birthday Jesus!

This is from an email I sent out a couple of years ago...

Those of you who know me pretty well know I have been fascinated with the story of Jim Elliot and the missionaries that were martyred on Jan. 8, 1956 while trying to bring the Gospel to the Auca Indians. There have been several books written by Elisabeth Elliot about this, and I highly recommend that you read them (Through the Gates of Splendor, The Shadow of the Almighty, The Journals of Jim Elliot, The Savage My Kinsman).

I just finished reading "The Shadow of the Almighty" again, and it was amazing how fresh my heart was to the message...especially here at Christmas. And it makes me even more burdened for the lost...a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how comfortable we are, and if we really know what it means to sacrifice. Think about this for a minute:

"We cuddle around the Lord's table as though it were the last coal of God's altar, and warm our hands, thinking that it will appease the wrath of the indignant Christ when He charges us with the unmet , unchallenged, untaught generation of heathen now doing their Christmas shopping. It makes me boil when I think of the power we profess and the utter impotency of our action. Believers who know one-tenth as much as we do are doing one hundred times more for God, with His blessing and our criticism. Oh, if I could write it, preach it, say it, paint it, anything at all, if only God's power would become known among us!" Jim Elliot

How comfortable are we in our world? Are we challenged to go out and minister to the lost? Or do we think someone else will do it? If we don't, we will surely answer to Christ, who we claim to love, for those souls lost because we did not speak. We're afraid to speak, to witness, for fear of offending someone, when lives are laid down every day for the Gospel...

The following quote is framed in my office, and it is one to meditate on:

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

We cannot keep our lives...we must give them so that we can bring others to know the Father that we know.

Jim Elliot followed his Savior all the way...and in witnessing to those lost, he lost his life. And in sacrificing his life, he opened a path for others to win the Aucas to Christ. And he gained Heaven and He saw the One he loved more than life face to face! I'm challenged, folks...do I want to stay stagnant and complacent, or do I want to follow my Savior all the way?

Remember the lost this Christmas...what are they really celebrating? What are you celebrating?