A Moment with God Newsletter Archives |
Newsletter for July 2007 Let Go and Let God: What does that exactly mean? I have heard others say it so easily as though that was all to it. "Let go and let God... that's all you have to do." So easily said but not easily done. Is it an act of faith? Or is it more then that... yes, it's much more then that. Remember Hebrews 11:1... Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is believing you have it before you get it. Its standing on something way before it takes place and becomes manifested in the now. But letting go and letting God is much deeper; it's a trust factor that takes a deeper self awareness within us. Its easy to say "I trust God"... then it is to do. Trust is the fundamental element in "let go and let God", without it, it is futile. Trusting God and letting go takes time and strength. It turns our insides out and the struggle of trust begins. And within the back of our mind there is that lurking voice, which haunts us and stands by ready to ambush our every attempt. Trusting God takes strength and courage; it takes us into the battlefield of the mind where we have to discipline our thoughts and our fears. Trusting God requires us to take new steps unto a new road. Steps that lead us to a stronger relationship with God, by giving Him what little trust we already have. By allowing Him to take that little trust that we have, and allowing Him to increase it as time goes on. Most of us don't readily trust easily, especially when life has beaten some of us so hard. Like a betrayal, abuse, disloyalty and even unintentional hurts by others. Life could sometimes throw a hard punch, and trust isn't an easy thing to establish with others and even with God. Sometimes there are some Christians that tend to hurt others because they think that they know better then anyone else, when they don't. Then there are also those in leadership positions who tend hurt others the most. Those are the Christians and leaders that most people look up to as symbols and representatives of God's love and trust. They represent God's compassion and understanding, yet they falter. I must interject here... Not all leaders are ignorant and self-centered, no one is perfect and we all have our faults. But even the bible shows us what leaders should be like and where they should stand... Hebrews 13: 7...Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. (being careful, thinking about it, giving thoughtful attention to, love, understanding, truth and compassion.) They are even held to a higher accountability by God. Just because their in leadership doesn't mean that their right and know what they are doing... If their treatment of others doesn't go according to the word of God then they are misguided and filled with ignorance and are not trustworthy. Because as a leader, love must abound or they have nothing... As Paul tell's us in 1 Corinthians 13:2 ...And if I have a prophet's power, and have knowledge of all secret things; and if I have faith, by which mountains may be moved from their place, but have not love, I am nothing. My point is that as Christians learning to trust God we have to heal from those who have hurt us and misused our trust, and that even when others have hurt us, God won't But hearing this won't make much of a difference, because we think that if those that represent God can hurt us and lose our trust, then how can God who we do not see be trusted? This isn't as simple as I want it to be, but we must remember that God isn't a man. God is our higher power, our creator and our God and we can't assume or put God in a little box. Keep these verses in mind... Isa 55:8, 9... For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher then the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts than your thoughts. So, letting go and letting God takes baby steps; and as we intrust Him with the little things and we see the outcome of our trust in Him, we will learn to trust Him with the bigger things. Trust is a struggle between our doubts and fears and it does take standing on faith and saying... "I will trust you even when I'm not feeling it." It takes fighting our thoughts and the influences of the enemy. Even when were afraid to trust and to believe we must take a stand and say as in Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. We were never told in the word that this walk was going to be easy, it isn't! It takes work, faith, prayer and trust in God to stay on this path. Remember what Jesus said... Matthew 28: 20 ...lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Also remember 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; for greater is He who is in you then he that is in the world. So start taking those baby steps in trusting God! He loves us and stands with us and wants what's best for us. We have to let go of our doubts and fears, and hand it over to God as we walk day to day, step by step believing that God will see us through, believing that He will show us that we can trust Him with whatever we give Him. God Bless You All: Keren Valentin Minister of the Word |
Newsletter for August 2007 Where Did The Love Go? Somehow love has seem to lessen among Christians today, it seems that everyone has become self-centered and self-absorbed. Hypocrisy has taken a new form and in the process many hearts have been broken and many have turned away. Through the years I have seen many lost souls who have wondered through the church and turn away, because of words and actions given by those who profess to be Christians, including leaders. I must interject... Not all Christians or leaders are this way! There are many good and loving Christians in churches today who truly love and care for others, and I thank God for them. But right now I'm talking about those who profess to be Christian, but within their hearts they are not... yes they do try but for some reason they don't seem to get it. Somewhere within their hearts they have an open door where the enemy can get into and they don't even realize it because their afraid to search their own hearts. I understand and know that no one is perfect but as Christians we have to somehow find that love within our hearts to do as God has asked us. "Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest what is evil. Cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9) As I go online into many chat-rooms the most common reasons for people not to go to church is the fact that they see too much hypocrisy; and I feel there pain because I to have gone through this as I'm sure many of you have. I understand why they turned away, yet they are new to the body of Christ and don't know how to handle the situation. Like I said in the last newsletter, we are the representatives of God and His love, compassion and understanding. When this isn't done in sincerity of heart it shows and those who do it really don't think that it shows. That's why we have to search our hearts and humble ourselves before God, so God could show us those areas that we need to work on with him. Being a believer all my life I have gone through many changes within the church, seen many things and felt many things; and sad to say there is a lack of sincerity within the body and that breaks my heart and I'm sure it breaks God's heart. As Christians we have to show love and compassion in all sincerity; and yes I do understand that we go through many things throughout the day or the week, but that doesn't give us the right to hurt others or act as though we have it all put together and pretend that we are holier then thou. That's why we have the throne of God, to go before the father and place all our pain, frustrations, anger, saddens and situations before him, to leave all that the day or week has brought. To ask him to fill us with love, peace, compassion and understanding. Taking our eyes off of ourselves and putting them on him instead of taking it out on others. "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7) If we truly know God we will love others, because God is love and when we are born of his spirit he dwells within us. He alone shows us how to love, to care and to be compassionate with others, but we have to seek him in prayer and through the word. "Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another." (Romans 14:19) As loving Christians we also must pray for those who hurt us and hurt others, we must take it to God and allow him to work out those things within them. We must also forgive those who have hurt us and allow God to sooth our hearts and not allow it to become cold. They are human and humans make mistakes, but when it goes on, then it's time to move back and keep away and leave it to God, because you also have to protect your heart and allow yourself to be kind without being insincere. We mustn't allow the enemy to use this against us, we must keep looking to God and not to man. I also understand that at times most people don't want to deal with the hypocrisy, but we can't keep away from the house of God en-definitely. God wants us to learn, to grow and to spend time with each other. He wants us to go and worship in song and praise... and we must! Sometimes those who seem to not get it, are those who will help us grow and become stronger in our walk. We have to keep our eyes on God and trust God with everything. There are times that I take breaks from the church to collect my thoughts and set my heart, and find my peace. But that doesn't mean that I stop seeking God or praying. One thing is to stay away from church for a bit, another is to stay away from God... and we can't allow ourselves to stay away from God for too long. Remember that the church is you and I, not a building with walls, if your having a hard time going back to church (the building)... pray and ask God to give you the strength to go back and to help you through if that's what you desire. You can also get a few friends together and have a bible study and worship time in your house like it was done in bible times. God is wherever you seek him and worship him. Don't Give Up! Above all I must say that whatever pain has been caused to you or to me, the one thing that I do know, is that God is faithful and he will go on being faithful. I urge that even when others hurt you and make you feel less then within the church, don't, don't let go of God! God is a loving father and a God who cares for us and knows our heart, and a God who gives us comfort when others don't know how. "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work." (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) God Bless You All: Keren Valentin Minister of the Word |
The Desert April/May 2008 There are times in our lives when we walk through a desert where we feel alone and in deep despair. The desert is a painful place to be in, and our hearts become sadden and our hope seems far beyond our reach. These are the hardest times in our lives and in our Christian walk with God. We lose sight of who we are with him and where we stand. We feel forsaken and disregarded wondering where or when it will end. The pain that overtakes us is deep and filled with negativity as not felt before. We struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel; wondering when will it end and wonder how much longer must we be in this desert which only brings sadness and pain. As I, recently walked through my own desert I was lost and in pain not knowing when it would pass. I spend the last two weeks in the hospital trying to sort my life and wondering if I would find my place. As I stood in the hospital I couldn't help but to take my eyes off of me as I observed others. The pain I saw and felt from others was deep and filled with anguish, the sad part was that most of those women also believed in God and Christ as their savor. The illnesses that they lived with were deep and life challenging. Their hearts were broken and their minds shattered not knowing why. As I looked and listened to their stories I could no longer keep my eyes on my self and go on with my self-centeredness. The pain that ran through those women was heart-breaking and I felt every bit of their pain. As an empathic person I could no longer bear their pain and I wondered within myself and asked God if he felt what I felt and the answer was yes. His heart goes out to those who are in pain and to those who don't know the why of it all. His mercy is great and his heart is filled with much compassion and love for those who suffer deeply. We may not understand it all or know the reasons why God has allowed such pain and mental illness in others, but I assure you that it isn't God's fault. He's not standing their planting illness on people or brewing up catastrophes to hurt the lives of his children. We must remember that when sin came into the world it corrupted everything, from our atoms to our gene structure. Sin is a deep destructive force that has made its way into our lives through one man. We can't blame God for things we don't fully know of or understand; God is the one with the whole picture, we only have a part of it. This is where our faith comes in, where we... even in the desert have to hold onto faith believing that God will bring us through. Believing that even when it hurts so deeply, and when we don't know what to do or where we're going... that God will guide us to where we have to be. That he will see us through no matter what we are feeling, or what the situation looks like. Faith isn't an easy task and it takes a will to want to believe no matter what the circumstances are. It's a choice of mind and will, it's believing and even wanting to believe that sees us through. God takes what little faith we have and works with it; allowing it to grow as we go on trusting and believing even when all seems hopeless in the moment. The desert is a place where we grow and learn to hold onto God; a place where our faith is built and our awareness of self becomes stronger as well as who we are in Christ. As I allowed myself to stand back and see others my heart was deeply sadden for them. I could no longer look at myself but instead I looked to those who needed the comfort of God. I was once again filled with the vision of the house of restoration for hurting women. They became my spiritual daughters within my heart and I prayed for them, with them and still do. I asked God to show me which way to go, and how to begin the posses of establishing what he has called me to do. Sometimes we have to take our eyes of ourselves and look at others and the lives that need God's love. We have to look towards God and allow him to guide us through. There is always a reason for everything and even when we don't understand what's going on, God is in control and sees the whole picture. Have faith... baby steps, and believe that he will show you the way and guide you to where you need to be no matter what's taking place in your life at the moment. As for me right now, I have to trust in God and allow him to guide me and to help me focus in the present and towards the future. Though my life has been filled with much pain and my heart has been wounded, I to must remember that God is my only hope, my only way, even when there seems to be no way, I will keep my faith and allow it to grow. So trust God, keep the faith and keep your eyes on him. God Bless You Keren Valentin Minister of the Word |
