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
elite cleaning services Des Plaines ..If you've been on a conscious spiritual journey for any... Read More
Have you ever experienced a traumatic event? I'm sure the... Read More
Almost every spiritual and religious teaching exhorts its followers to... Read More
In Corrogue it is frosty.The ramp into our "acre of... Read More
1. How can anyone receive direct communication from Divine Source,... Read More
I have held numerous teleconference workshops where I help individuals... Read More
Spiritual stuff is a hard sell Roy and one of... Read More
There's nothing new about "the new age" except the attitude... Read More
1. Identify a woman who is "like minded," who has... Read More
I believe in a phenomenon I have been known to... Read More
The Mind in an Advanced Thought System:The center of our... Read More
Angels are making their presence felt everywhere. Once I started... Read More
Are you facing some challenges in your life right now?... Read More
"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the... Read More
What type of person grabs your attention and motivates you?... Read More
Freedom....The cherished goal of humanity throughout its history.No society has... Read More
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ... Read More
Many look outside of themselves for an experience of the... Read More
Echo was a flea-bitten gray horse, with brown speckles everywhere,... Read More
I very often see rants, complaints, wishes and dreams that... Read More
INTRODUCTIONSpiritual affirmations are positive, statements of intention, that facilitate manifestation.... Read More
The Bible tells us that we need to be led... Read More
'Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in a day?... Read More
The concept of integrity has arisen often in discussions of... Read More
(Channeled)Roy-when does the end of physical life come? Is it... Read More
eco-friendly cleaning service Buffalo Grove ..THE KABBALAH OF PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION: TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT"In the... Read More
Second Isaiah, so called because his book of prophecy was... Read More
Talking about your "soul" and the deeper things in life... Read More
As we walk along our paths in life, we will... Read More
There is no incident in the life of Moses which... Read More
Each of us has far more potential to serve the... Read More
Who is the more spiritual person? The woman out on... Read More
Many people are awakening today to the idea that the... Read More
As a child growing up, whenever I was worried about... Read More
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken... Read More
Sometimes, in traveling a path, we discover a short-cut, and... Read More
Judgement; What does this mean? The encyclopedia definition is, "The... Read More
It was said that Caesar Augustus one night consulted his... Read More
Although your creative ability and talent is something that God... Read More
Prayer. It's the foundation of a Christian mom's life. Why?... Read More
Freedom....The cherished goal of humanity throughout its history.No society has... Read More
The fastest way to raise your frequency is to do... Read More
In Habakkuk, the prophet cries out in a lament complaint... Read More
One of the things I have had to deal with... Read More
Why do we have an Ego?Almost all spiritual guides say... Read More
"Let me take you down to a town called Paradise."Van... Read More
As I sit here and ponder my existence my heart... Read More
In one forum, one participant posted this query:I think quite... Read More
Because of the bright lights behind me, the golf balls... Read More
Rose Ann Schwab is an internationally and world renowned professional... Read More
Spirituality |