A wretch like me

This is my only outlet to share besides bible study and customers at work for right now so I have to share something from this morning.

For the past few days I have been thinking about these verses regarding where I would be without the Lord:
Psalm 124
1 If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say-

2 if the LORD had not been on our side
when men attacked us,

3 when their anger flared against us,
they would have swallowed us alive;

Then this morning I opened my bible study to the same verses. I love the Lord for re-enforcing what was in my heart. Anyway, I got up out of my prayer time this morning just crying thinking about where I would be without him. With my past I was headed for some major lonely roads and destruction. Rod and I were just sitting here talking about how awful our lives would be if Jesus had not reached down from on High and saved us from the waters that were overtaking us. My dearest friend Jessica and I were on the phone talking yesterday about how the Israelites were delivered out of Egypt (the land of slavery) and how God led them yet they gave into fear and did not trust in His provision and longed to go back to Egypt. God was taking them to a better place but when things got tough they wanted to return to what was familiar. Sometimes our slavery can become what is so normal to us that it is where we are comfortable and at least we know what to expect. There is a better way. Christ died for us to be made free not shackled to sin's slavery. So they forgot the back braking slavery they were subjected to and thought it better to go back. I have blogged on this before but that is so like us. We look back on past relationships or places where we were in bondage and it is like we can totally be deceived and forget all of the hardship and chains and long to go back. That is the danger of constantly measuring our circumstances and trusting in our sight instead of having faith. One of the prayers of mine even this week is that God would make me cringe and become sick when I dare think Egypt is better (metaphorically speaking) I don't want to be deceived. The enemy wants to take us back to our Egypt's. He wants us to quit going on with God. We have a very real enemy that wants to destroy us. He wants us to wander around in the wilderness, doubting God and giving into idolatry. Our battle is not against flesh and blood. Listen he hates you and me he wants to destroy our families, our testimony, and he wants to bring reproach on the name of God. If you have been in a land of slavery it is going to take work and time with the Lord to be free from the mindset that has been ingrained in you and me. For a long time now I have had to seriously bathe myself in the word day and night and constantly arm myself with scripture. It has been my freedom, that is the only thing I know that works is to constantly be invaded with truth even when the truth hurts. As far as us fighting the good fight I think about the conquest of Canaan. Joshua was to lead the people into the promised land in a holy war but God would not just give the land to them without them setting foot on it. They had to march on every part that he would give them. Our victories are going to come with marching on with God and trampling down the high places in the power of the Spirit that have been resurrected in our own lives. One thing that the Lord keeps impressing on my heart is this almost as if He is saying: "Jenny, I will not force your hand at obedience. I have a promised land for you to operate in and bare fruit. There is much blessing in this land flowing with the milk and honey of my presence...but you must cooperate. You have a choice. You are not a puppet and I will not force you. You choose...either live for yourself now or believe me. I will be on your side or you go your own way and set yourself up in opposition to me. Which do you want?"

And I believe these words are just as applicable to us today as they were to the Israelites. One more thing before I close...if the Lord had not been on your side...where would you be? Think about it. I pray that it will cause you to praise!

Oh Lord You are our life and the length of our days. Let us hold fast to You. You are everything Lord.

Deuteronomy 30:11-20

The Offer of Life or Death

11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.