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Insights by Valleta Lanier
Articles:
WANDERING IN GUILT | Author Unknown Guilt is a debilitating disease. It weighs down countless thousands, sending them to psychiatric wards, hospital beds and graves each year. Tragically, guilt is seldom diagnosed as the real culprit.
Among the suffering masses of guilt-ridden people in this world are outstanding numbers of Christian men and women. Somewhere - lost in these masses - I wandered! Day and night I wandered - carrying weights I had labeled, "If only I had....", and "Bring up a child in the way...." My mind raged with "Why, why, whys." An intelligent, good-hearted, sweet and handsome son had left us, and his Lord, for a life of sin.
At times I put the weights away. I had faith, and I prayed. I believed God's Word and relied on it for strength and courage.
But I still found the handles of those weights wearing thin from picking them up and putting them down again. Each time I picked them up, the guilt feelings multiplied and overwhelmed me.
I wasn't much good to anyone anymore. Many of our son's activities I kept hidden because of what others would think of me. "Well she should have..." "I knew it was coming..."
While the other children cried, "We're here too", my mind struggled, quizzed and bent under the continual beatings of "Ifs" and "Whys." We even made a move - looking for a "better environment."
After several years of "weights up - weights down" syndrome, I heard a statement that helped me put those weights down and leave them down for longer periods of time. For honesty's sake, I readily admit I still pick up those weights now and then, but I don't carry them very long anymore.
Here's how it happened... During some of the blackest months of my life, I was invited to attend a lectureship in Ontario. I had no intention of going. I felt secure in my own world, and after all, I needed time to bask in my misery.
As I look back, I believe the Spirit within me was prodding my spirit, with a degree of urgency, to attend this lectureship. While there I heard many edifying lectures by wonderful men of God. However, one lecturer in particular opened the door of my ram shackled heart and walked right in.
To my great sorrow, I don't remember his name. After this lecture, I didn't hesitate one minute - I walked up on the podium and asked, "Do you believe when a child goes wrong, it is the fault of the parents?" This elderly gentleman, gently wrinkled and very white-headed, looked at me with compassion and asked, "Who were Adam and Eve's parents?"
My mind scanned the scene of the fall of man as this gentleman, time worn and full of wisdom, continued. "You see, Adam and Eve lived in the perfect environment. They had the perfect parent - God. Yet, they chose to sin."
By the time he finished the sentence, others were reaching for his hand to congratulate him on his lecture. Tears streaked my face as I turned and walked away, never to see this man again.
At that moment, I felt nothing more powerful had ever been said to me! Even now, each time I relate this statement to others, I am awed anew at what it means to all of us who suffer pangs of guilt because of our children's actions.
God requires that we teach and train our children in His ways. We must do this in the very best way we know how. But always remember: "Who were Adam and Eve's parents?"
AMBUSH THE ENEMY | Message by Gary Lanier, Edited by Valleta Lanier The enemy of God wants to stop you. He will stop at nothing to keep you from fulfilling your calling from the Father. 1Peter 5:8 says... Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. He truly is like a lion, and he is seeking to devour you!
My husband/pastor, Gary Lanier shared a message called AMBUSH THE ENEMY, from the book of Joshua. He used an acronym, which he is famous for (HA!). This simple acronym will help you remember how to stay on the ALERT: A - Arise in your Authority L - Listen, Learn & Locate E - Execute from Your Location R - Receive the Reward T - Testify of His Goodness
A - Arise in your Authority In Joshua 7:10 God told Joshua ..."Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?" I believe we stand with our faces to the ground, when God has set us free! So, let me encourage you to "ARISE" and know that God has a great plan for you, and He has a GREAT PLAN for accomplishing it! He went on, in Joshua 8:1 & 2, to say "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged..." Have you ever noticed how much God says this! I think, many times, we are like Joshua. Our circumstances around us seem so much bigger than God. Perhaps if we would look up, instead of down, we would not be afraid or discouraged! L - Listen, Learn & Locate God told Joshua in 8:3 & 4, "Listen carefully..." God is speaking to you today, whatever you situation. It is His plan that He wants to accomplish in you, so He is responsible for the guidance. But, we must listen! I know many of you have heard me share the W - O - R - D - S acronym about how God speaks today... He will speak through His written WORD, through OTHERS, through REVELATION, through DREAMS AND VISIONS, and through your SITUATION or CIRCUMSTANCE. But, you must listen. If you don't believe God can speak to you today, you won't be able to hear Him. But, I believe He is speaking. Let me encourage you to LISTEN! When Joshua heard, then he could LEARN and LOCATE himself in a position to be blessed by God! (8: 4 - 13). E - Execute from Your Location Wherever you are, right now, you are in the right place to begin! God has you right where He wants you! Or... maybe not! If not, He is telling you where to go! So, just get there, and BEGIN! Do exactly what He tells you to do! Having trouble hearing? Just get in a quiet place, and ask Him to YELL! HA! Trust me, He will not be silent, unless that is what He is saying to you. Then He will tell you, "It's a silent time!" Whatever God says, just do that! Execute it exactly as He tells you to. I spent two years, recently, just waiting! I had lots of work I was doing, but I was really in a "holding pattern", while God was getting things ready for me! So, I executed a "waiting" pattern, while God got everything ready! Once you ARISE, LISTEN, LEARN, and LOCATE... then it is time to EXECUTE! That's what Joshua did in 8:14 - 23. R - Receive the Reward God had a reward for Joshua and all of Israel (8:24 - 27), and He has so many rewards for you. God is good at giving rewards! I just want to encourage you to start today, and the rewards will come. T - Testify of His Goodness The whole purpose for everything we do as God's Children is to tell everyone about His goodness! God told Joshua, in 1:7, that He was going to exalt him so that all would know that God was with him. He brought great fame to Joshua (6:27), and Joshua testified of God's goodness! God is not opposed to fame. He simply wants us to use it to bring Him glory. I know that is your heart. It is such a joy, to serve in the Kingdom with servants that are continually testifying of His goodness!
So, how do we AMBUSH THE ENEMY? Stay on our A - L - E - R - T!
©Copyright 2007 by Gary Lanier. All rights reserved.
CREATIVE BLESSINGS... | By Valleta Lanier Each of you are in a "different" walk in your ministry... some are just beginning, some have been serving for many years, and some of you are right in the middle! Some of you are singers, many are worship leaders, some are writers, some are speakers and teachers, and some are producers and publishers. You carry with you the vision of the Lord in many different ways. He has entrusted you with many creative ideas, that will change the world. He has uniquely equipped you for the tasks that lay before you. On every turn, the enemy of God seeks to stop you. I want to encourage you, with the following verses, to let the creative blessings flow, while He fills you full of peace and power.
Psalm
89:15 LISTEN TO THE JOYFUL CREATIVE SOUND WITHIN YOU!
Psalm
45:1 FOR ALL WRITERS!
Psalm
68:4 FOR ALL SINGERS AND WORSHIP LEADERS!
Psalm
77:6 FOR ALL WRITERS, SINGERS, AND WORSHIP LEADERS!
Psalm
96:1 FOR ALL WORSHIP LEADERS, WRITERS, AND SINGERS!
Psalm
108:1 FOR ALL WORSHIP LEADERS AND SINGERS!
Psalm
127:1 FOR ALL PUBLISHERS, PRODUCERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND PASTORS!
Psalm
134:1 FOR EVERYONE THAT WORKS LONG HOURS, LATE INTO THE NIGHT!
May you continue to experience His abundance!
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