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| Irresistible |
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| Irresistible: 1. that cannot be resisted; 2. too strong to be withstood
Sometimes I find God irresistible, and I don’t mean that in a good way. I’m talking about when I’m trying to resist Him and can’t, even though I want to. You know how it goes: He calls you to something, a task or relationship or job or ministry or whatever, that you just don’t want to do. I, with my ridiculous independent streak and stubbornness, start to resist Him. Eventually I give in, and usually not so gracefully. “Fine! Have it Your way!” And even along the way, I’m still trying to resist where He’s leading me. I was thinking about this recently and wrote the following: You put this Yoke Upon me And I fight it. When I Struggle against it, It chafes. When I Run ahead, (to get it over with more quickly), Or Dig in my heels, (to let You know I don’t like it), It makes for a Difficult, Bumpy Journey. When I Pull away, I end up Getting hurt. When I just Walk beside You, At Your Pace, On Your Path, (not mine), We Actually get Somewhere, You and I, Side by side, Together. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and My load is light. Matthew 11:29-30 |
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| Beautiful picture of how we so often struggle against what's best for us!! Thanks Jen, great illustration. ~mike |
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Gene |
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October 25, 2007 at 11:58am |
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Great imagery, Jen. I love your blog. It reminds me of something.
Ever try pushing a wheelbarrow up hill? There is an easy way to do it and a hard way. The easy way means going up at angles to the slope and takes time but ultimately gets to the top without much grunting and groaning. The hard way is straight up to the top! It involved tremendous effort, potential tipping and usually gets hands chafed and splintered.
Why can't we learn that lesson and take the path that God leads us instead of trying on our own to push straight up - because we think we know better?
Thanks!
* * * * * * DG |
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I often imagine Ananias (Acts 9). God sent him to pray for Paul. Paul was a terrorist to christians of that day, and Ananias kind of didn't want to go (9:13,14). But he went. What happened? Romans 11:29 has the answer, and it says "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable". So... why resist? Eventually we will have to comply, maybe not so gracefully (I've been there lol). The best part is that not only the calling is irrevocable. So are the gifts! Thanks Jen. Here's a star for you. God bless you. |
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Deb |
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October 25, 2007 at 12:50pm |
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| I know I am often fighting God on the things He wants me to do. We have to take the long way around sometimes, when it would be so much easier if we just did what He asked from the start! Good blog. |
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Jen, good word Gene, you make a very pointed illustration too. God bless |
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Jen-
Good blog. I understand what it means to fight your calling. For me it was not because of who God is, but who I am. I thought that I was not good enough to do what He is calling me to do. However, that was mocking God and stating that He created a failure (which is not true!). So I had to let my heart's desire be to please Him, and if that means going through trials and tribulations...so be it! Anything for my King. |
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Glenn |
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October 25, 2007 at 1:36pm |
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Hey Jen,
great poem and great lesson.
peace
glenn |
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Jen, What a great lesson to share! I can just hear you saying "Fine! Have it your way!"
One thing I will tell you...that kind of attitude does not come from a lukewarm person, but from one that is passionate...and when God does get ahold of that type of person it is truly a beautiful thing. |
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Jen, this is the attitude of all children.... everywhere... 1. I don't wanna 2. Why? 3. I can't.
4. You didn't tell ( any name) to do it.....
Yes, most times this is our attitude as children of God.... until and unless we mature.
Good thinking.
Pastor Aminata |
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| Hehe...that's what I often tell people I did with the Lord; He kept placing Christians in my life til I felt cornered, and I just "threw in the towel" and was like, "Fine, Lord, you can have my life then!" lol You made me think of this....we all do this to some degree, but you and i sound like we have a bit of the same personality traits in us! |
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Preach it, girl!!
You are speaking the TRUTH! How often have I struggled with the Lord, then finally said "whatever," let Him have His way, and He blessed the whole thing. We are a stiffnecked people, aren't we!
Thanks for this! |
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Jen |
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October 25, 2007 at 4:39pm |
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Mike - that's part of what makes the resisting worse: you know that He is doing what's best for you, you just don't want to go along with it. Can't claim ignorance! Jack - The account of Samuel is one of my favorites, and I've always admired Eli for being willing to take what he had coming to him. Gene - give me a full wheelbarrow and I can barely manage it on level ground! I love God's paths...eventually. Elmer - I love that the calling of God is irrevocable! The gifts are the icing on the cake, aren't they? |
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JayKTX |
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October 25, 2007 at 6:11pm |
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| Excellent! Thanks for your transparency. If we're honest, the rest of us can relate. |
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Jen |
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October 25, 2007 at 6:26pm |
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Deb - I don't know if it would be easier, but definitely more expedient! :-) Thanks, Mark! Consumed - I don't usually fight Him on the big things, it's the stupid, little things that trip me up. Sometimes I'm being contrary without realizing I'm doing it. Thanks for reading, Glenn. Blessings to you! d.c. - I'm wondering what kind of image I've got going here if you can here me saying that!? :-) |
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Gene |
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October 25, 2007 at 6:56pm |
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Jen,
Who said anything about a full wheelbarrow? He said His load is light.
But, if you want, you can give me a ride in it. lol |
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Jen |
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October 25, 2007 at 7:15pm |
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Pastor Aminata - Maturation is quite the process, isn't it? You get a handle on one thing and in another area immaturity pops up. Lara - I figure God knew what He was getting when He chose me. The flip side of stubbornness is perseverance, so it can be a good personality trait if used positively, eh? Soozanne - What I don't like is that even when I say "whatever", it doesn't take much for me to have a crummy attitude about it again. :-( JayKTX - I would assume everyone can relate, ya know? I would think that everyone has that "something" that if God were to say, "But I want you to do this", we would balk. Hey, Dennis! :-) Gene - I was thinking of it being full of all the extra stuff we insist on taking with us on these journeys. :-O |
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Gene |
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October 25, 2007 at 7:42pm |
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too true!
* * * * * * DG |
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Ahh, you mean this Dennis!
Are you daring me to comment?
Well.......
I was reading the poem, and the blog, and kinda wondering why it is that, some days, God just doesn't kill me and start over again with someone who will follow a little bit easier. Now really, He could so easily find someone else who could do what He wants easier and probably better. You know, I whine, I complain, I try to do the things I think are important, and I try to always do what brings me the least pain and the most acknowledgement. But then, thatis the way I look at things from inside my self centered personhood. I don't see that the overcoming of my selfishness can bring Him both glory and honor. I don't see that those things of brokeness and failure can be used to overcome sin death and the devil. I don't see that those things I struggle with are His plan of reedemption and healing and hope in my life, and in those who see my overcome and then know that they can overcome. Sis, keep on overcoming, let us see His glory rise up out of the ashes of your stubborness. I mean really, let us see Him at work perfecting you, making you into a truely spotless bride! I want to see what happens when you don;t just walk with Him at your side, I want to see what happens when you dance with Him. What happens when you are so overcome with His presence that you fall on your face at His feet and weep. Then I want to see you sing of His glory in the presence of the heavenly hosts ! Come on Sis, I dare you ! I dare all of you !!! |
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John |
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October 26, 2007 at 1:44pm |
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You have always had a way with words! God Bless.
John |
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Jen |
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October 26, 2007 at 3:54pm |
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Arlene - Sort those bottles and papers! Faithfulness in the little stuff is the key! Dennis - My whole Christian walk could be summed up: Jen keeps working on getting out of the way so that others will see that Jesus is the only way. (And I make it into "work" a lot of the times!) The more I die to self, the more room there is for Him to be visible. John - Thanks, friend! |
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Kathy |
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October 26, 2007 at 4:47pm |
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| Jen, I love this! |
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Jen |
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October 26, 2007 at 5:53pm |
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| Thanks, Kathy! Good to see your smiling face! :-) |
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Denise |
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October 26, 2007 at 10:54pm |
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| Beautiful Jen, Thanks |
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Jen |
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October 27, 2007 at 1:27am |
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| Thanks for reading, Denise! Blessings to you! |
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Sue |
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October 27, 2007 at 1:32am |
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| There's those codes again :) |
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| Thanks Jen for the reminder! |
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Jen |
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October 31, 2007 at 8:03pm |
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Sue - I'm seeing the codes, too. They don't show up for me when I'm on my own computer, but I'm on someone else's (out of town) and, yup, there they are. And, yup, I don't remember how to get rid of them!
Pastor Tim - Thanks for stopping by!
Jackie - Glad you liked it! :-)
Thanks, M.H.! |
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Jen |
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November 01, 2007 at 11:31am |
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| Dave - We all go through this at times, don't we? :-) |
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JessIAm |
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November 05, 2007 at 4:25pm |
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You know how it goes: He calls you to something, a task or relationship or job or ministry or whatever, that you just don’t want to do. Oh, Jen. I think of Jonah. God has a fish for each of us! Not that I'm any different. God's had to use some pretty big Fish on me. OK, let's all hum the theme to Jaws.... |
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Jen |
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November 06, 2007 at 4:57pm |
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Honey - As much as I fight it at times, ultimately I'd rather go where He leads than trot off on my own. Jess - Dude, I've always had a sympathetic spot for Jonah. I'm not much into seafood either... |
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JessIAm |
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November 06, 2007 at 4:59pm |
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I'm not much into seafood either... I'm praying for you Jen. |
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| Better than Jonah (nice name for a band), he was seafood seafood. I guess he was literaly into seafood...... |
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JessIAm |
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November 06, 2007 at 6:07pm |
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| Ha! Is "Better Than Jonah" a real band? My brother always wanted to start a band called High Octane. |
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Jen |
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November 06, 2007 at 6:44pm |
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Dennis - It is a good band name. My sons like to come up with new band names, although they stick with the one they've got: Broadband Shortwave (nonsensical, isn't it?). Previous band names of theirs: Rusty Guns, Houses, Pink Fuzzy, Western Union (not country music), and Toast. Their alternate band name, (kind of like an alternate ego, Dr. Jekyll kind-of-thing): Karaoke Vomit Horse. literaly into seafood. Very punny! I love a good/bad pun! :-) Jess - Is your brother in a band? |
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JessIAm |
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November 06, 2007 at 6:49pm |
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| He was. It was called Sneaker Wave. They were a surf punk instrumental band. He leads worship now. |
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Jen |
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November 06, 2007 at 6:53pm |
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I like some punk. I like some Ska, but that's pretty old school anymore, I think. The guys are indy rock, which I enjoy a lot. Regan (son-in-law) used to lead worship with my daughter Sharayah. Stopped about a year ago for a break. Son, Max, plays on the worship team: electric guitar and bass, sometimes keyboard and sometimes drums. Son, Ryan, used to play drums and guitar on the worship team. Sharayah used to lead the youth worship team at a previous church we went to; Max and Ryan were on that team, too. Regan did the same when he was in youth group back in the day. Oldest son Chris isn't as musically gifted as his siblings, although he can plan some guitar, so he is on the sound crew at church. I like the name SneakerWave. |
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JessIAm |
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November 06, 2007 at 6:57pm |
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Quite the musical family you have there Jen =D I play piano, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, and chanter (the bagpipe without the bag). I can't figure out a sound board to save my life. I know a lot of musicians at Church, but not many sound board people who know what they are doing. I think Chris definately has an important place in worship. |
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Jen |
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November 06, 2007 at 7:06pm |
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Max wants to learn to play the saxophone; he's messed around with it some. Right now he is teaching himself to play the cello. Both he and Ryan (and Regan, for that matter) sometimes are the sound guy for other bands that play here in town. Max likes to go downtown to the Great Northern Hotel and play their grand piano. He played at Chris and Bridget's wedding. Just made it up as he went along. Musical talent like that amazes me, as I can't even play a kazoo without making the dog howl. I like to say I sacrificed my musical talent and just had God pass it on to my kids. :-) |
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| I Loved your Blog God Bless Doyle Crowe |
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Jen |
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November 07, 2007 at 11:41pm |
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| Thanks, Doyle! |
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Procyon |
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December 28, 2007 at 11:55am |
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I like your poem, Irresistible, based on Matt 11.29,30. How very true of the Christian life! And how long it takes before we learn to walk step-by-step with the Lord!
But one thing I know: a lot of my problems in resisting God come from a lack of prayer and my neglecting to spend time with the Lord.
This reminds me! I'm going to put one of my Prato poems on my blog. |
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LorenDP |
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December 28, 2007 at 11:59am |
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Funny how these older posts get bumped at just the right time. I need to go through and read all your old posts when I'm on vacation next week Jen. Your insights are always such a blessing.
in reading your thoughts/poems in this post I got to thinking about a new little puppy who is learning to walk on a leash for the first time. They always like to try and pull away or get to running away on their own. It isn't until they realize that they have to walk where we are walking that the journey gets easy. |
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Jen |
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December 28, 2007 at 12:30pm |
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You are right, Procyon, that time spent with God will soften the heart towards obedience and increase the wisdom to bring understanding into His ways and why He is worth obeying. What kind words, Loren! Any big plans for vacation time? I love your puppy analogy; very true! Some days, the "collar" alone chafes me, and that's before the leash is even attached! :-) |
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When I was a kid I would get spanked a lot. I would often resist and wiggle and protest, but it only made it worse as I got hit on my hands, my stomach, my legs everywhere but on my behind. It was not because my Mom and Dad wanted to hit me wherever, but it was because I always moved around so much that I made it hard on myself. As I have grown up, I see the Lord saying so many times to me.."we can do this the hard way or the easy way." "We can do this your way or you can do it My way." He lets me choose the hard way and my own way only to wind up frustrated and coming back to him broken and exasperated. OK Lord, reluctantly I will do it your way. As I was reading your blog I thought about Jonah. Jonah could have just gone on to Niveah and got it over with, but instead he ran and even after he went to Nivevah he refused to enjoy what God had for him. So many times I think I am like Jonah, always missing the blessing God has for me, because like I was as a child am always moving, complaining and protesting. I am learning when I do that it only makes it worse for me.
Thank you for sharing & God Bless. |
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Jen |
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April 16, 2008 at 11:52pm |
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| Hey, Brother Todd! Thanks for reading and commenting! :-) |
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