Hello to all I love. This is Chalma. I have been invited to share what the Lord teaches me for Sunset Road Baptist Church's web site and I am sending what He teaches me to others that I love.
I am on a journey to understand how to become a "Godly Woman". I invite you to join me on this journey and learn with me.
Many of you are aware that I have spinal rheumatoid arthritis. I stayed in constant agony and was sent to Duke for help. I was told at that time that this disease was no longer responding to medicine for pain and the slowing down of the disease. (Please forgive me if it seems that I am going around my elbow to get to my thumb.) It's important though for you to see the extent that my Lord had to go to in order to knock me down that I looked up to see many spiritual needs in my life.
I was sent to the Charlotte Pain Center in hopes that they may use their knowledge to calm down my pain. This past week, I was given nine shots at one time in hopes of calming the pain that rages up and down my spine to go throughout my joints. I asked if soon I maybe able to function enough to do some of the things I used to do and be able to minister to others at least sometimes. I was informed that my body would only get worse. I needed to accept the fact that I would never be free from pain.
I am so glad that the background which woke me up is finally shared. Yes, I have become quite the crier. The tears just seem to come and I cannot stop. I was taught not to cry. It showed weakness in a person. I thank Steve Bass for teaching me tears are a gift from heaven and many times God can use them to minister to others. Well, God gave a lot of these to me. As I cried going home, the Lord shook me and reminded me that my greatest desire had always been to be a Godly woman. The bible emphasizes many times the importance of women becoming Godly and an example of certain things He wants them to practice, that the younger women maybe taught early and look forward to being an example themselves.
I made such a terrible, terrible mistake. As I spent much time teaching others, I would always ask the Lord what those I was teaching at the time would need and He used me through the Holy Spirit and the word of God to minister to them.
This is all good, as long as you don't become too busy to listen to what the Lord is trying to teach YOU PERSONALLY. This was one of my big sins that Satan blinded me to.
Goodness! Here I am "an elderly" woman, I prefer "Senior Citizen" because of the discounts you maybe given.
I had to pray first for forgiveness of ignoring my own spiritual needs.
A "Godly Woman"... I want to know all that means. I asked God to please teach me through the word and other means. If I am to be "Godly"... I feel that word means to show both all Godly ways and characteristics.
Here is where I must stop... I have to learn all I can about God. If I ask each of you "Who is God?" many answers would be given. He is many things and reveals Himself to us to meet our present needs.
Jesus left only two commandments. Matthew 22:37-39 "seems easy enough":
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
The second commandment cannot be done until we have fulfilled the first commandment.
I thought I did this. No, no... I have to understand my God first and then as I learn more about Him, He will His kind of love He is talking about in both commandments so they can be obeyed.
So... here I am, back again, to my desire to be a Godly woman. WOW! What a circle!
God, will you please teach me who you are by any means you choose. I lack the love of God that I beg you to give me. Thank you Lord! - Chalma.
God, as I asked, put into my hand an audio tape that I had listened to a long time ago. The name of the tape is "Cries of the Heart" by Ravi Zacharias (When All Seems Wrong)
Every word I say is his. He starts by this sentence "Bringing God near when He feels so far".
Five descriptions of God are shared for all who hear, to learn and to keep in their hearts:
- Take comfort in the fact that the battle is not yours, but His.
- Draw comfort that God is in history.
- Remember that He is the God who was, who is and who will be the same as yesterday.
- God is sovereign over history. We are to study and proclaim the Lord's death in the past and look forward to His physical presence at any second!
- God moves in mighty and loving ways in all of our situations, to give unique and surprising opportunities to witness for our Lord.
Whew! Well, that is enough for me to learn and hide in my heart and in my spirit for right now. Thank you Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit!
May the Light and Love of God be with us all.
Chalma
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