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What Soothes Your Soul?

May 10, 2015 by pattiburris

soothe the soul

1 Samuel 16:23

Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

When Saul was tormented by the evil spirit, David would soothe Saul’s soul by playing his lyre. The evil spirit would leave him. When I am tormented by the evil one and I am dodging the arrows of a sin filled world, I soothe my soul by writing. I either write for myself and pour my heart out to God in a personal journal or I share my life lessons here. God soothes my soul through His Word. It never fails that God will use the Bible to tell me what I need to hear, exactly when I need to hear it. God also speaks to me through music. God uses the words of christian music to heal the wounds of my heart. God soothes my soul through answered prayer. When I pour out my heart to God, either verbally or in writing, I know that He is faithful to listen and answer as He sees fit. I trust that His ways are higher than mine and He has my best interest at heart.

What soothes your soul? When the day seems filled with chaos and the evil one is knocking at your door, what brings you peace? God brought David into Saul’s life to soothe Saul’s soul, what has God brought into your life that He uses to soothe your soul? Or are you using the things of this world to bring you comfort and peace?

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Our heavenly Father wants us to have peace. He wants us to have a peace that we can only find in Him. A heavenly peace that surpasses all understanding. God is the giver of peace. He is the only one that can soothe our souls on a permanent basis. If you are looking to the world to soothe your soul, either through drugs, alcohol, another person or some other earthly way, I urge you to seek the Giver of Peace right now. If it isn’t God that soothes your soul than you are looking in the wrong place.

So, what soothes your soul? If it isn’t God then I am challenging you right now to give Him a chance to bring you a heavenly peace that only He can bring. Our time is short and you deserve to be free of the things that Satan uses to steal our peace. Seek God and allow Him to soothe your soul.

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You Are Loved

May 5, 2015 by pattiburris

You are loved

Don’t believe the lies of Satan when he tries to tell you that you are not good enough, that you will never succeed. When you believe those lies, eventually you start to internalize every little word of advice and even constructive criticism as a failure on your part…this leads to low self esteem and kicking yourself for every little thing you do wrong…no one is perfect…we all make mistakes…we all mess up and forget things…remember who you are in God! You are a one of a kind chosen child of the King and He does not want you beating yourself up over stupid stuff…if you need to change something, make the change and let it go…God loves you for who you are and believe me He knows that we are imperfect…

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The Thorn In The Flesh

May 5, 2015 by pattiburris

thorn in the flesh

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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. 10 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.

No one really knows what the thorn in Paul’s flesh was. It doesn’t really matter what it was. What we do know is that, it was a messenger from Satan, sent to torment him and keep him from becoming conceited. God refused to remove the the thorn in Paul’s flesh. I have wondered if Paul had an arrogant personality and God used this thorn to remind him of who was in control.

Poverty has been the thorn in my side for 22 years now. I have prayed for God to pour out financial blessings on me and my children, but He does not. That isn’t to say that He doesn’t provide. He absolutely does provide! Vehicles break down, but I get to work and the kids get to where they need to be. We have a roof over our heads and food on the table. It is hard to struggle paycheck to paycheck, but I know that my survival completely depends on God. I understand that God wants me to experience true Holy Spirit given joy in my life regardless of how much money I have in my bank account. God wants me to look to Him for fulfillment and not material possessions. God wants me to trust Him to provide for my needs instead of trying to provide for myself without Him. Only in depending on Jehovah Jireh alone does my relationship with Him grow in intimacy. Only in trusting God alone is my relationship with Him taken to the next level. It is not always easy and there are times when I want to scream at the unfairness of it all. Why should millions of people have to suffer in poverty when there are many many people who hoard their wealth, refusing to share with those in need. I will admit that even after 22 years I am still learning to be content with my circumstances. I am a work in progress!

What is the thorn in your flesh? Have you cried out to God to remove it? What is the lesson that God might be wanting to teach you by not removing it? Will you allow God to work in your heart and draw you closer to Him?

In a journal or other safe place I urge you to have a conversation with God and open your heart to what God is trying to show you. Let it all out. Don’t be afraid to open up your heart to God. He can handle it. God has not placed this thorn in your flesh to punish you, but to mold you and to draw you closer to Him. Stop fighting it and find out what it is God wants you to know.

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Priorities In The Church: Part 2

March 22, 2015 by pattiburris

skid row

1 John 3:17

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

Proverbs 21:13

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out and not be answered.

Proverbs 28:27

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
    but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

Proverbs 22:9

9 The generous will themselves be blessed,
    for they share their food with the poor.

I can’t think of anyone, outside of Jesus, who exemplifies Christianity better than Mother Teresa. She was a modern role model of self sacrifice and she lived what she taught. One of her main priorities was to make sure that her Missionaries of Charity lived as the poorest of the poor. Each Sister has 2 habits, a bed mat, a pair of sandals and a pail that she uses to wash up. When the Missionaries of Charity receive a donation, that donation goes to helping the poor. It never goes to benefit the Sisters in any way.

Mother Teresa lived and breathed giving generously. She did not care what others thought of her. She only cared about obeying God and God poured out His favor and blessing upon her. Did she live in a mansion, drive a fancy car or wear fancy clothes? No, she didn’t need to. She felt joy in being the hands and feet of Jesus to the poorest of the poor. This was success to her. Her ministry flourished and continues to prosper even after her death, because the Missionaries of Charity continue to live in obedience to God.

Personally, I choose to live as Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity. I don’t need to live in a mansion, drive a fancy car or have the latest in modern technology, when I know that there are millions of people who are living with much less than I do have.

I would like to see Creflo Dollar sell all of his possessions and donate the money to the Missionaries of Charity. Will it ever happen? With God ALL things are possible!

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Priorities In The Church: Part 1

March 21, 2015 by pattiburris

G650

Pastor Creflo Dollar asks his megachurch for donations to buy $65 million private jet.

James 5:1-6

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

Proverbs 23:4-5

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
    do not trust your own cleverness.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
    for they will surely sprout wings
    and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Matthew 19:24

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Let me start off by saying that I don’t believe that God intended every one to live in poverty. I believe that His intention was for us to live as the early Christians and share what we have with those in need. I don’t believe that buying a $65 million dollar luxury jet is in line with God’s word. There are churches all over the United States that send aid to other countries using ministries that are already set up for that purpose. There are pastors and missionaries that travel to spread the Gospel and they don’t need a $65 million dollar jet to get them to where they are going.

This is an outlandish misuse of funds and I feel sorry for those people who are being taken advantage of. This is my opinion. God does not want us to hoard our riches. He wants us to share what we have. Unfortunately, we will always have the mega-rich and the poorest of the poor. It isn’t right and it isn’t necessary. What really bothers me about Creflo Dollar is that he thinks it is okay to hoard his riches. I’m not saying that he doesn’t do any good, but until he sells off some of his fancy cars and house, gives it to those in need and starts living like the early Christians, I will never be convinced that he is doing anything more than selling a gospel that is opposite of God’s word.

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Make Me An Instrument

March 9, 2015 by pattiburris

St. Francis

The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

                             -St. Francis of Assisi

Life can be stressful. Life can be full of disappointments and tragedy. It is what we do when hardships come that will make us or break us. We have a choice; will we wallow in self-pity or will we become an instrument of peace? We pray for God to reveal our purpose, it is often in these hard times that our purpose is revealed. Use your circumstances to reach out to others that are going through the same thing.

You are never alone in what you are going through. Reach out in love to someone who needs some encouragement. God loves you, my friend.

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Peace

January 23, 2015 by pattiburris

peace 1

In this world of chaos and turmoil, it is hard to find that peace that Jesus talks about. I am struggling to find peace myself. I thought with this post, I would let the words of the Bible speak for themselves and add some peaceful images to help you soak in the peace of Jesus before you go on with your life.

peace 2                           peace 3

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

peace 4                               peace 5

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

peace 6                        peace 7

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

peace 8                               peace 9

Numbers 6:25-26

25 the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

peace 10                                   peace 11

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

peace 12                             peace 13

peace 14                          peace 15

My prayer for each of you is that you will find the peace that sometimes alludes us. Focus on the Peacemaker, Jesus. The world is a place of trouble and tragedy, but Jesus came so that we may have peace and have it abundantly.

Go in peace, my friend!

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Solitude

January 15, 2015 by pattiburris

solitude

Mark 1:35

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Luke 5:16

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 6:12

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Matthew 14:13

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.

John 6:15

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

There are many times when I know that I should seek solitude, but the busyness of my daily life gets in the way of my spending alone time with God. When I don’t make the time to seek God’s face, I feel disconnected from Him and nothing seems to go right. I end up feeling miserable. Our heavenly Father wants to spend alone time with us. We need to make this a priority.

Below, I have given 5 scenarios in which we need to seek alone time with God:

1. To deal with the demands of daily life– In the rush of getting things done, don’t forget to take time out for God. Set aside a time to feel the Father’s presence and make sure you stay connected to the Vine (Jesus, John 15:5).

2. To seek God’s purpose for your life– If you are unsure of what your God-given life purpose is, spend time alone with God. If you seek God’s will for you through prayer and Bible study, He will guide you.

3. To make difficult decisions– Before Jesus chose the 12 disciples, He withdrew to a solitary place to seek God’s will (Luke 6:12-13). We, also need to seek God’s will before we make any decisions. What we want or think is best, may not be what God wants or thinks is best. We need to seek His will when it comes to decisions that we need to make.

4. When feeling the weight of the world– There are times in our lives when the enemy will use the stress, anxiety and worry of life to keep us from feeling the peace of God. It is in those times when we need to get alone with God and really let Him minister to our weary souls. Take time to feel the peace of His presence.

5. To stay connected to The Vine– I have already said that Jesus is the Vine. When we spend alone time with God, we are also, sitting at the feet of Jesus. Just take time to sit and feel the love, comfort and peace of Jesus. Sit in silent worship and praise of the Holy One. Play some soft worship music. I love the Gregorian chants. Simply sit, with your eyes closed…listen to the soft music and focus on the presence of Jesus.

If Jesus took time to seek solitude and alone time with God, then it must be pretty important. Set a time when you can be alone with God to study the Bible, pray, and simply sit in His presence. We will never be able to deal with all that life throws at us on our own. We need to seek the face of God and keep as close to Him as we possibly can.

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Making Disciples

January 13, 2015 by pattiburris

Making Disciples

 

 

I have visited churches where the pastor will give a Hell-fire and brimstone sermon and then give an invitation for baptism. Not surprisingly, there have been 20 to 30 being baptized on those days. Did they really accept Jesus into their hearts? Did they really understand the meaning of following Jesus and the implication of baptism? Or were they scared into baptism to fill a quota?

I have seen church leaders that only care about the numbers: how many members their church has, how many baptisms they do every week, how many converts they have every week and how big their buildings are. The one thing that has bothered me, is the fact that once these baptisms are over, these people are left to struggle on their own. They go back to their lives and are left to find out for themselves what following Jesus really means. Most will give up and not darken the doorway of a church again. This has to change! Church leaders need to wake up and follow the example of Jesus, making disciples.

Jesus was all about building relationships. When Jesus called the disciples, He made the commitment to spend time teaching them, making sure that they were ready to be sent out on their own when the time came. Jesus was with the disciples 24/7 while training them to be disciples. Their training was the most important thing. He knew that in order for them to succeed in proclaiming the gospel He needed to build a relationship with each one and spend the time training them. He invested His time and resources in training these men.

Are we, as church leaders and Christians taking the time to disciple new converts? Are we willing to sacrifice our time and resources to invest in someones life, making sure that they really understand what it means to follow Jesus? Are we willing to follow through, even if it takes years before someone is ready to fly solo? If we want to follow the example of Jesus, we better be ready. We better be willing.

America has become the largest mission field in the world. Our churches are failing in the most basic of Christian principles: making disciples. We, as Christians, are failing this beautiful, awesome country because we refuse to invest in the lives of those around us. We are failing our country because we refuse to make disciples. There is an URGENCY!!! This is a call to ACTION!!!

GO OUT AND MAKE DISCIPLES!!! Right now and right where you are!!!

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My Father’s Wisdom

January 13, 2015 by pattiburris

wisdom

 

 

When my kids were young, I often thought how easy parenting would be when they grew up. My daughters are now 21, 20 and 18 and I now know that parenting gets much tougher when your children grow into adults and start dealing with adult problems. It gets tougher when, as a parent, you give them advice and it goes unheeded. You sit back and watch them suffer the consequences of their decisions, wishing that they would have listened to your wise advice before rushing head first into a difficult situation.

 

It never ceases to amaze me, how God can use my experiences in parenting my own children to give me glimpses of His character. How many times has my heavenly Father tried to warn me about a course of action that I was hell bent on taking? How many times has the Holy Spirit said, “this isn’t the best thing for you”? I understand now that He must have sat watching me suffer the consequences of my decisions. He must have been heart-broken knowing that I could have been saved this suffering, if I would have listened to His advice. I know that I am heart-broken knowing that this child that I love could have been spared this heartache had she listened to us, her parents.

God gives us free-will and sometimes we have to learn things the hard way. Sometimes we have to take the tough road in order to know for ourselves that it isn’t going to work the way we want it to. It is never easy, watching your child suffer. It is even harder when it is an adult problem and there isn’t anything you can do, but watch and pray.

Dearest heavenly Father,

I am so sorry for not listening to you. I am so sorry for not heeding your advice, when you tried to save me from the consequences of my own decisions. I know now. I get it. I see how hard it must be for you to watch me suffer when I didn’t have to. Help me to use this life lesson in the future. Help me to listen to you before I rush head first into a difficult situation. I love you, Jesus.   Amen.

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