A hall mark that you could be limping into your destiny is frustration. Either it seems so close , or it appears impossibly far away. So, what do we do? We try to help G-d out a bit, usually with disastrous results!
Laban & Jacob had already agreed the the spotted , striped & black lambs would be Jacob's wages from Laban, so, why would Jacob place striped , spotted branches where the sheep would see them? (Gen.31:41) Jacob was helping G-d out!!!! You see , it was commonly believed that whatever sheep & goats saw at the time of breeding would influence the color of the young. Jacob was trying to rapidly increase his wealth: trying to speed up the Promised Blessingof G-d because he was frustrated and wanted to quickly get away from Laban and back to the place of his ancestors.Leaving Laban was SO close and yet seemed SO far away!!!
When you feel yourself becoming frustrated, do you behave as Jacob did ?Do you openly handle problems and ask G-d's help or do you avoid His Revealed Will and try to help G-d?
This happened to me just last week !I prayed and asked G-d to make a way for me in a long standing frustrating situation. Suddenly,a sliver of an opening that I KNEW had to be a Move of G-d!!!!What did I do ? Instead of trusting G-d for His Promise, I planned to "dramatize " things a bit!! Happily, I caught myself and repented before I actually did resort to scheming and conniving .Happily , G-d quickly forgave me and worked it out just as He had planned.
How many times have you seen this happen in your life or how have you been able to identify this behavior in another experience? Were there disastrous results or was there repentance and forgiveness? Please post your comments- Be encouraged, Pastor Norma
Monday, June 21, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
So, What 's Keeping You?
We are still in Week #1 of our discussion . A question was : when G-d says its time to go , what should be your response. In other words , how do you leave a situation : ministry , workplace, personal relationship, etc. that is no longer beneficial to your experience.
Gen 31: 3 - G-d said to Jacob " go back to your relatives in the land of your ancestors and I will bless You."
Gen. 31: 4 - Jacob call his wives out to the fields for a family meeting and creates an attitude of dissention between the daughters and their father,Laban. " He treats us like foreigners and has even cheated us out of the bride price that should be ours" (Gen .31:14-16) Rachel even stole the household items from Laban , although Jacob did not know it. (Gen 31:19) . The family left secretly while Laban was away shearing his sheep.(Gen.31:19-20) Later on the story line , Laban catches up with Jacob and questions Jacob as to why he left without allowing Laban to say goodbye to his daughters and grandchildren.
This is an example of how you do not want to leave : in anger or with a feeling of entitlement so bitterly strong that you or your group feels the need to steal or engage in some other sinful behavior: Lying , gossiping , creating dissention , belittling the purposes, or, waiting around for an opportunity to be vengeful. Before these things can kick in , Our Proactive Father will step in and direct you. When He does , trust Him no matter how difficult or strange what He tells you to do may appear.
So, what is keeping you? When you know that G-d has told you to go and He will bless you- why are you still waiting around?
As a Counselor, I am always amazed at the reasons people express when I ask "why are you still in this place or that situation?" It always boils down to one thing- the way people believe that others see them is what governs their response: " this is MY HOUSE" or " No body is chasing me out of MY ministry, what would that look like if I just let that happen?" " What will people think if I just let her disrespect me like that ?" This is a form of narcissism that leads us away from G-d 's Voice and into a wilderness . How can He bless you if He can not direct you?
When G-d tells you to go and He will bless you, and you know that it is His Voice you heard and not just your anger or your entitlement speaking,be mindful of how you leave . Don't slink away in secrecy- that gives more importance to what or who you are leaving than you are giving to G-d. Be upfront and celebratory about what you are doing. What would you rather see : people waving and blessing you as you go , or people celebrating because you are gone?
On your way to your destiny, realize that G-d has already charted your path . You will have to walk it.Just don't be surprised if He changes your walk.
Please , feel free to ask questions , add comments and share your destiny experiences here. Be Encouraged , Pastor Norma
Gen 31: 3 - G-d said to Jacob " go back to your relatives in the land of your ancestors and I will bless You."
Gen. 31: 4 - Jacob call his wives out to the fields for a family meeting and creates an attitude of dissention between the daughters and their father,Laban. " He treats us like foreigners and has even cheated us out of the bride price that should be ours" (Gen .31:14-16) Rachel even stole the household items from Laban , although Jacob did not know it. (Gen 31:19) . The family left secretly while Laban was away shearing his sheep.(Gen.31:19-20) Later on the story line , Laban catches up with Jacob and questions Jacob as to why he left without allowing Laban to say goodbye to his daughters and grandchildren.
This is an example of how you do not want to leave : in anger or with a feeling of entitlement so bitterly strong that you or your group feels the need to steal or engage in some other sinful behavior: Lying , gossiping , creating dissention , belittling the purposes, or, waiting around for an opportunity to be vengeful. Before these things can kick in , Our Proactive Father will step in and direct you. When He does , trust Him no matter how difficult or strange what He tells you to do may appear.
So, what is keeping you? When you know that G-d has told you to go and He will bless you- why are you still waiting around?
As a Counselor, I am always amazed at the reasons people express when I ask "why are you still in this place or that situation?" It always boils down to one thing- the way people believe that others see them is what governs their response: " this is MY HOUSE" or " No body is chasing me out of MY ministry, what would that look like if I just let that happen?" " What will people think if I just let her disrespect me like that ?" This is a form of narcissism that leads us away from G-d 's Voice and into a wilderness . How can He bless you if He can not direct you?
When G-d tells you to go and He will bless you, and you know that it is His Voice you heard and not just your anger or your entitlement speaking,be mindful of how you leave . Don't slink away in secrecy- that gives more importance to what or who you are leaving than you are giving to G-d. Be upfront and celebratory about what you are doing. What would you rather see : people waving and blessing you as you go , or people celebrating because you are gone?
On your way to your destiny, realize that G-d has already charted your path . You will have to walk it.Just don't be surprised if He changes your walk.
Please , feel free to ask questions , add comments and share your destiny experiences here. Be Encouraged , Pastor Norma
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Our BTR CLIMB on June 12 focused on a portion of the life of Jacob, the 3rd Jewish and Christian Patriarch On his way to his destiny , Jacob had an all night wrestling match with G-d that caused him to walk with a limp for the rest of his life. Although Jacob has 11 sons, 2 wives , countless wealth, his destiny was not complete.He still had a LOT of living to do, but Jacob did not even know it!!! I'll bet he thought his sons and his wealth were all that was destined for him- until that night on the banks of the Jabbok River when his name chaged from Jacob to Israel.This part of jacob's Story can be found in Genesis Chapters 31 & 32. For the next few days, lets look at Jacob's FOOTSTEPS and see how this Biblical Wisdom applies to us.
5 Signs That You May Be Limping Into Your Destiny
1. Gen. 31:11-13- G-d tells you its time
In Jacob's case , he wanted to establish his own household. Laban had been a difficult and deceptive father-in-law, even more treacherous than Jacob had been in the past.Treachery may not play a part in your reasons for starting out , but when G-d tells you to go and He will bless you , what should be your response? Do you realize that even though it may seem difficult or even impossible for you to do what He says, G-d has already charted your course because He knows what he has planned for you even when you don't? This is one of the most intriguing things about G-d Ordained Destiny: you may be increasing in power so much that you can not be contained in your present surroundings, and you've got to go!!! You may think you are the least , but because G-d has His Hand upon your life , you are actually on your way to becoming much more than you could ever expect .
Jacob surely could not have thought he had any win at all in Laban's house among Laban's many sons , who probably laughed at the way Jacob had been exploited . . .
Does any of this ring a bell with you about your destiny? Can you share some experiences you may have had or are having about the path your are on? Could you be about to limp or even strut into your destiny?
5 Signs That You May Be Limping Into Your Destiny
1. Gen. 31:11-13- G-d tells you its time
In Jacob's case , he wanted to establish his own household. Laban had been a difficult and deceptive father-in-law, even more treacherous than Jacob had been in the past.Treachery may not play a part in your reasons for starting out , but when G-d tells you to go and He will bless you , what should be your response? Do you realize that even though it may seem difficult or even impossible for you to do what He says, G-d has already charted your course because He knows what he has planned for you even when you don't? This is one of the most intriguing things about G-d Ordained Destiny: you may be increasing in power so much that you can not be contained in your present surroundings, and you've got to go!!! You may think you are the least , but because G-d has His Hand upon your life , you are actually on your way to becoming much more than you could ever expect .
Jacob surely could not have thought he had any win at all in Laban's house among Laban's many sons , who probably laughed at the way Jacob had been exploited . . .
Does any of this ring a bell with you about your destiny? Can you share some experiences you may have had or are having about the path your are on? Could you be about to limp or even strut into your destiny?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Get Ready For Something New And Exciting!!!!!!!!!
Very shortly we will be launching our monthly newsletter - The Climb. In addition to valuable health and finance updates, The CLIMB will be a great way for our audience to interact with our Live Internet Talk Show- A Higher Place. Subscribers to THE CLIMB will have advance and detailed notice of the show information, the chance to enter contests and win prizes, and of course by following this blog , our susbscribers will be able to participate in the show discussions by adding their comments and getting answers to what questions they may have about the guests , the TORCHBEARER , or the MOUNTAIN.
We beleive THE CLIMB is going to be a great addition to our already informative & challenging Biblical Counseling Ministry, and we are convinced you will think so , too. To subscribe , just leave an e-mail address so that we can reach you. Be encouraged! Pastor Norma
We beleive THE CLIMB is going to be a great addition to our already informative & challenging Biblical Counseling Ministry, and we are convinced you will think so , too. To subscribe , just leave an e-mail address so that we can reach you. Be encouraged! Pastor Norma
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