Friday, February 4, 2011

I'm in Love and Not Ashamed

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes..." (Romans 1:16)

Recently, I was in effect told, that I speak too much of God by a very dear Christian friend and that he was agitated by my conversation. I love him dearly, but as I dwelled on it today, I got agitated myself. But then, I suppose some people can get tired of listening to a man or woman in love who continually shares examples or incidents spawning from the love relationship. At any rate, the proceeding declarations are what ensued as a result of the loving chastisement from my friend.



Declaration:  I will love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my
                      strength. (Deut. 6:5)

Declaration: I will impress his commands on my heart and on my children.
                     I will talk about his commands when I sit at home and when I walk along the road,
                     when I lie down and when I get up.
                     I will tie them as symbols on my hands and bind them on my forehead.
                     I will write them on the door frames of my homes and on my gates.
                                                                                                       (Deut. 6:6-9)

"For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matt. 12:55
Declaration: I will saturate my mind, myself with the Word and with the presence of the Lord.
                     I will not let anyone shut me up, because man does not live by bread alone but by
                     every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. He is my bread, my source of
                     sustenance.

I am not a preacher, I am not an evangelist, I am not a prophet, I am not an apostle. However, I am a child of the Living God, saved by his grace and eternally grateful. I am a teacher, I am a discipler, I am a herald. I am in love and will speak of this love and this good news every chance I get. If this offends you, you need not engage me in conversation - I won't be offended. :-)

Declaration: I am a light on a hill that cannot be hidden.
                     I am the salt of the earth.
                     If my light is a bit too bright or my salt a little too heavy,
                     then yes, you may need to distance yourself from me
                     because my light will not be dimmed, nor my salt be thinned.

As the blind men on the side of the road cried out to Jesus as he passed by in Luke 7:37, 38, "O Son of David, have mercy on us," and the crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, they shouted even louder.
Declaration: So too, I will shout louder.
       
As the women who poured out their precious perfume onto the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with their hair. 
Declaration: So too, I will bow my head to the ground in humility and love and worship the King of  Kings and the Lord of Lords.

I will not be keep quiet. He is real and has done too much for me. The world needs to know he is real and personal. My testimony will not be silenced. I'm a woman in love and not ashamed.

God bless you!

8 comments:

  1. Hi Beverly -

    You go, lady warrior of GOD. I wholly support your choice to frequently proclaim about the gospel of the kingdom of Almighty GOD. I love that you used the Word of our Lord to back you up in support. That is the MASTER source plan - the infallible Word of GOD!

    We are commanded to love others but we are mandated to love GOD above all else. He is worthy of His place in our hearts. No other is sovereign, Almighty, and Master over everything. All power belongs to GOD. He is the only true and living GOD and no man comes to the Father but by JESUS Christ. The Acts 5:29 - KJV says, "...We ought to obey God rather than men."

    You are confident that you are NOT alone, warrior sister. GOD is on your side and He has other warriors who shout and proclaim with you the Words of our Father.

    His Word tells us, "Draw nigh to GOD and He will draw nigh to you..."

    Glory hallelujah!!!

    Prayer:

    Father, I pray for the many deceived souls who don't realize the fullness of Your love, forgiveness and mercy. Please save them and have them washed in the pure and precious blood of JESUS. Deliver them from the schemes of Satan, in JESUS' name.

    Father, people shout and yell at sports games, at clubs, and in public places we hear cursing, profanity and unkind words aplenty. We, Your people, refuse to fade into the background. No, we will shout and proclaim You in wise godly ways but shout, we shall.

    To every thing there is a season - a season to whisper about You, a season to talk loudly about You, a season to sing about You, a season to weep about You,... Whatever, the season, dear Lord, let us be about Your business as You lead.

    Thank you, Lord - Amen

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  2. Hello,Sister!
    My friend Sharon told me about your blog and I just want to encourage you give you a "woop-woop" for the LORD.
    We should ALL be so bold!

    "For he himself is our PEACE, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with it's commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their HOSTILITY!"
    Ephesians 2:14-16

    Love & Peace to you~

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  3. Beverly - As if we don't have enough persecution from the outside, huh? I am so saddened by this person's unkind and unnecessary remark. I find it interesting that they were "agitated" by your conversation. I'm wondering if the Spirit was doing a little "stirring up"?? (Will pray for this person's heart...)

    It's a wonderful thing to be in love with the Lord - to find pleasure in His presence, and a fullness and joy when we talk about Him. I myself can't "shut up" either! Who can keep silent about Someone who saved your life - for eternity??

    We've got your back, Beverly. Keep proclaiming the Word of the Lord - in courage and boldness. We're joining you in a heavenly SHOUT of praise!

    GOD BLESS!

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  4. Praise the Lord Sisters! Thank you for your encouragement. I think the Lord was just doing a stirring up in him and he didn't recognize it. I'm glad he did share it with me because most people probably wouldn't have. They'd have just said it under their breath or behind my back. He is a very good friend and felt the freedom to express himself as I often do with him as well.

    But it just made me think of how many believers out there are sitting on their witness/testimony due to the climate their in or focus and of those who are afraid or ashamed to speak up. God is certainly doing a "stirring." I pray that we have the courage to shake one another and be in prayer for one another.

    Love you guys!

    Beverly

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  5. Hi Beverly,

    I'm so happy to see you blogging again. We all missed you! Love this post! Yes, sing the Lord's praises as much as you want. I feel compassion and a little sadness for your friend, because he doesn't have that intimate relationship with God that you do. Perhaps deep down he wishes he had, and to hear you speak of the Lord and how he works in your life makes him feel uneasy and maybe even convicted or inadequate. Pray for your friend and gush about the Lord with those close to you who have an intimate relationship with Him.

    God Bless,
    Judy

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  6. Amen, I can stop falling in love with Jesus myself. He has been good to me:)

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  7. Best post I've read today and I've read several. Love...don't you wish you could match His love. I wish I had that ability.

    It's wonderful having you for a sister in the Lord. We'll meet at the judgment and walk through the gates together.

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  8. Thanks Covnitkepr1! It's great having a brother like you in the Lord as well.

    I don't think I can ever match his love, but I will die or be raised trying to show him my gratefulness for his love.:-)

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