All Things...Not Just the Fun Stuff

 

Romans 8:28 "and we know all things work together for the good for those who love YHWH and are called according to His purpose." Not just the lovely, the yummy, and the fun things, ALL things. This includes the painful, the ugly, the shameful, and the yucky things too. 

Romans 8:28 has been my go-to verse for any and every difficulty I experience. Yah is going to do His part for He is entirely faithful. The question is, will I do my part? What is my part? Get honest, self reflect and look at it. First off, I made a lame attempt to not offend a friend by compromising the standard I was committed to. In doing this I pleased no one. I offended the person I was trying not to offend and I offended Yah, I also disappointed my husband. He expected me to protect our home and I dropped the ball. Second, where do I need to seek forgiveness ? I asked for forgiveness from the offended person in a way where she was not put on the spot. Third: forgive others and myself. 

Forgiving, you'd think I'd be proficient at that by now. Yet it is always a challenge. I begin by making a verbal proclamation that I choose to forgive. Then comes the working it out. Pray for the ones I want to forgive, just something simple, "Yah bless this person. You started a good work in them, and You are faithful to bring it to completion". I usually battle with negative thoughts during the process. I need to catch that quickly, take those thoughts captive and redirect my focus, back to prayer. "Yah bless this person". I fully expect extra challenges at this point. For instance other people reporting what's being said about me behind my back. I assume they mean well, but that's not helpful. Just adds to what I need to forgive. What people say about me behind my back is none of my business. I'd prefer to keep it that way. It's a cycle, proclaim forgiveness, pray, redirect thoughts as needed, repeat. It can be overwhelming, especially when there's multiple people and multiple offenses. 

What if someone purposely caused strife? What if they had an opportunity to be a hero and avert the damage, yet chose not to? Then they take no responsibility? Well, no difference. Forgiving is still the way forward. Yah is going to use it all. ALL things. It doesn't harm me to shoulder the blame, as a matter of fact, it will strengthen my character. Perhaps that person is doing me a favor whether they intended to or not. ALL things. My circle is smaller, but apparently it should have been all along. I learned a difficult lesson. ALL things. I will not compromise the instructions of Yah to appease anyone anymore. Another lesson learned, ALL things. Not everyone deserves my trust, but I don't need to trust everyone, only Yah, and He is faithful. 

All things work together for the good for those who love YHWH and are called according to His purpose. His purpose is to make me like Yahusha. Thank you Yah for all things. 

A work in progress

Teresa

Dear Seeker

Dear Seeker:

Welcome to the faith and your journey to The Kingdom. Be ready for a wild ride. Yahuah accepts you just as you are, but He promises not to leave you that way. He is going to make you like Yahusha. He will rid you of the baggage you brought with you. This world sure piles it on. He will tear from you the things you once cherished, those things that put distance between you and Him, and replace those things with peace, contentment, obedience, joy everlasting and deep abiding love. 

This is not an easy journey, not for the weak. They will not make it to the end. There will be sorrow, persecution, pain and a myriad of difficulties. You see, you will need to die to yourself and desire to live for Him. Yep, this is a selfless journey. If your need to be special, to shine on your own, isn't something you can put down, then I suggest you exit the path now. All of your unique qualities were given to you to serve Him, not yourself. 

He is the refiner, He puts us thru the fire to refine us to pure gold. Sounds painful, and it is. But the results of the purification process is beautiful. To become the individual He created you to be, to be able to accomplish the work for which He designed you is a level of satisfaction you have to experience to believe. But if you're looking for a "feel good" experience, just move along. This walk isn't for you. A superficial faith will disappoint you, the churches are filled with it. 

Have I thoroughly frightened you? Good. You see there is a war being waged. If you're going to be beside me in battle, I want to know you've got the chops. An untested soldier is a gamble. Let the Father change you, let Him develop His character in you, let Him give you life abundantly.  If you are not willing to be remade into His image, then run away as fast as you can. You are not Kingdom material. This is not a social club, go to a Sunday-go-to-meeting church. You can find what your itching ears want to hear in any one of them on any given Sunday. I've just never had a stomach for shallow, superficial, and the disingenuous. A faith that requires nothing of you is just that... shallow, superficial and feckless. I challenge you to go deeper, that's the path to your full potential, to be the person He created you to be. Seek first the Kingdom of Yah, and everything else will be added unto you. 

Hope to see you in the battle and the Kingdom.

His Servant, Teresa