It's strange how my life today looks wildly different from the way it was in the beginning of my Christian walk. My spiritual life cooled after being burned by a fellow Christian a few years back. Then, unthinkable challenges, such as adultery and divorce, came my way. I became someone far different from the bible believing, Jesus freak I thought I was.
Recently, I opened my bible and read verses I hadn't read in years. I hardly recognized myself. I felt so far off from God and it made me afraid, very afraid. Suddenly, I was in a crisis. A crisis that left me with only two options. The first, completely turn my life upside down and take drastic, tragic measures to make my life look more godly, or never, ever open that book again!
I decided, in a moment of panic, I couldn't live up to God's instruction. I decided I need to live in the world. I needed to be a casual believer-believing, but not searching God's word for more, or seeking God deeper. Because when I search for more, or I seek deeper, I only see my horrid state. Sadly, I was, for the moment, misled by a successful tactic used on much of the world.
When I read my bible that day, I used the verses I read to condemn myself. I let the verses tell me God is too strict, harshly expecting me to be perfect, to live perfectly. This is wrong. I should have allowed his words to convict me.
I took the map God gave me (my bible) and when the map showed I needed to be in one place (righteous), but because I was in another (unrighteous), I wanted to rip up the map (my bible), fall to my face, curse, and doom myself because I wasn't on target. Imagine I did this. I would have been doomed, but by my own making. What if, or when, I decide to pick myself up? How will I find the right road when all I have is a ripped up map?
I misread God's intentions for giving me this map. I thought for a moment it told me I am damned, worthless, useless. Yet God's map was for direction, for conviction, to convince me of my misdirection, so I could make my way to the place he wants me to be.
God hands us the map, points, and says lovingly, "Look at where you are compared to where you should be, where I want to get you to. Now ease your way there. And by the way, here, I'll walk with you and help you along your way. You know I have told you no matter where you go, how you get there, regardless of how far off the path you wander...I will never, ever leave you!" (see Hebrews 13:5)
This is what the LORD says- he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." - Isaiah 43:16, 18 and 19
Tiffany Twist is the author of two books, TIFFANY TWISTED: exposed, unraveled, rewritten (June 2004 by Expert Publishing Inc.) and SOME DANCE: Hey Bartender, I'll take a decade of marriage on the rocks, a therapist straight up, and a fantasy guy with a twist (April 2005 by et al Publishing)
Tiffany has filmed for E! Television and Style Network's top rated "Diary of an Affair" to air in April 2005 and has currently been contacted by producers from both Oprah and Dr. Phil.
For more info visit http://www.tiffanytwist.com
recurring cleaning service Wilmette ..It's human nature to point a finger when we think... Read More
It has long been surmised that emotional trauma can lead... Read More
One cannot read the account of Benhadad and Hazael in... Read More
The truth revealed as we read about Hazael also reminds... Read More
The deeper beauty of spring is its process. In winter's... Read More
We, the human species, stand on the threshold of a... Read More
"Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for... Read More
David understood the aguish only those who have chosen to... Read More
There once was a man who wanted to teach himself... Read More
You are a Creative Worker:God carries on creative work through... Read More
When the Tsunami struck Asia and East Africa on December... Read More
We are all here on this plane, thinking to ourselves... Read More
There is a concept in Jewish mystical thought known as... Read More
Realisation and repeated memorization of the true knowledge is the... Read More
ADDICTION: - There are numerous obsessions and addictions which prevent... Read More
In Corrogue I am seeking the source of inner beauty.This... Read More
The human body is surely a miracle of God's creation.... Read More
A lot of times when I am reading people on... Read More
Who is the more spiritual person? The woman out on... Read More
What we think is what we are. Our lives are... Read More
Recently, I received a frantic midnight call from one of... Read More
Being critical of Buddhism isn't easy.Buddhism is the most likable... Read More
Ephesians 4:4-6 indicates that Christians ought to practice one single... Read More
It is important and necessary that we regularly spend time... Read More
Picture this state of existence in your mind by closing... Read More
reliable maid service Morton Grove ..I have, in my opinion, the world's perfect job. Just... Read More
"Spirit is beyond the void of space. This realm, beyond... Read More
As we proceed further into the 21st century there is... Read More
Sounds like a tall order doesn't it? But I think... Read More
If we are honest with ourselves, we would have to... Read More
"Self-Actualization" is the process of making our self "actual." Our... Read More
There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve ourselves either outwardly... Read More
Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, "Thou shalt love the... Read More
It would be nice if the planet - like so... Read More
Being critical of Buddhism isn't easy.Buddhism is the most likable... Read More
At the start of your dream journey, one of the... Read More
Several years ago after I presented a workshop entitled "Spirituality... Read More
Mother Nature has this uncanny tendency to turn upon herself... Read More
I want to share with you something that happened to... Read More
In this series I would like to take you through... Read More
An angel can be your best friend. Angels have been... Read More
Hello, My name is Mellody Davis and here is my... Read More
Everybody knows that if you stick your hand in a... Read More
Echo was a flea-bitten gray horse, with brown speckles everywhere,... Read More
Most forms of psychotherapy I know either tries to help... Read More
Believe it or not most astral Attacks are not caused... Read More
Now, we all know that we shouldn't be lead by... Read More
Most of life can be said to be bad, or... Read More
Shamanism is an ancient form of mysticism. Although... Read More
In the last 2 weeks or so, I have been... Read More
Spirituality |