Codependency was the preferred psychological catch-word of choice for many in the nineties. A generation discovered that they were too dependent on any number of things.

While the issue of being dependent on drugs or alcohol was a problem being addressed through the 12-step program, something new was springing up in the psychological arena.

People were codependent on other people, on spending money, on their jobs, on success, on anything that seemed an integral part of their happiness … or their perceived happiness.

Family was a big codependent topic. Parents were codependent on children and children were codependent on parents. It all seemed like a vicious circle.

And then even in the religious sector … there was a desire to become codependent on God. Remember the phrase, God is my co-pilot.

I wonder how many look back on that decade at all the money spent on books and therapy and wonder, was it worth it? While they may no longer identify themselves as being co-dependent, what replaced that?

Did a sense of “It’s all about me,” surface then? And in an effort to find a sense of peace within ourselves, did we pass on that selfish attitude. Me first – I’ve got to take care of me before I can be of any good or benefit to anyone else.

What if all of it were stripped away? All the things we find comfort in? What then?

For too many Christians, I think, we struggle valiantly to do what we feel God leading us to do. We seek His will and struggle to walk in it. But what if what God wants from us is too hard. What if it hurts too much? Do we listen to our feelings, thinking that God wouldn’t have us deliberately do something that causes us pain?

If we are mature Christians, we understand that pain will come in our lives through losses and disappointments. And during those times we know God will sustain us. Many have already lived through some of the darkest moments of the soul and found God there.

But what if we have to choose something that causes pain? What if our choice leaves us totally alone. Jesus says, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me …”, Matthew 10:37. It goes without sa
ying that anyone loving anything more than Christ is not worthy of Him. Jesus adds in verse 37, "And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worth of Me."

Too often we associate the hard choices with those in some kind of ministry or mission field. Unfortunately, we have blinded ourselves to the truth. Comfortable Christianity isn’t Christianity at all. Not when it’s become a lifestyle.

We must search ourselves, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and seek to know – truly know – if we are in the Father’s will. Or are we blindly taking the wide gate? Are we avoiding the narrow gate of sacrifice?

Codependence is no longer an issue and with Christ, it never was an issue. It only works one way … total dependency.


Blessings, Francine

Loving God and Loving God

Loving God and loving God are both verb and adjective phrases, both separate and yet intertwined.

If we understand that the Creator is a loving God, then we will love Him. And yet, the more we love Him, the more we come to see a supernatural loving Father. As one grows, so does the other.

It’s been on my heart to share the names of God. These are written throughout the Bible, many times over. Each shows a character of the Creator of the universe.

If we can begin to understand the myriad of traits He has, we begin to see that loving Him and loving Him can become both the center and circumference of our lives. Everything begins with Him and ends with Him -- Alpha and Omega.

  • Elohim, God - Mighty God or supreme God with reference to God’s faithfulness, The Creator, Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 10:17
  • Yahweh, LORD (all caps) - Self-existent or Eternal One, speaks of His holiness, justice, and hatred of sin, The One who exists because of who He is, I AM THAT I AM, Psalm 110:1
  • Adoni, Lord - Master or owner of all things, Genesis 15:1-2, Psalm 8:1, 6-9
  • El Shaddai, Almighty God - Strength, life-giver, the all-bountiful supplier of all blessings, The All-Sufficient One, Genesis 17:1-8
  • El Elyon - God who sits above all others as King of the universe, The God Most High, Genesis 14:18,14:20
  • El Gibbon - Mighty God, The God Who Can Do Anything, Isaiah 9:6-7
  • El-Roi - The God Who sees, Genesis 16:13, Psalm 139:7-12
  • Jehovah - The Self-Existent One, Genesis 2:4, Exodus 3:14-15
  • Jehovah-Jireh - God who will provide all of your needs, The Lord Will Provide, Genesis 22: 1-19
  • Jehovah-Sabaoth - God of heaven’s armies, Lord of Hosts, Psalm 24:10, 1 Samuel 17:42-47
  • Jehovah-Shalom - God who can give you peace, The Lord is Peace, Judges 6:24, Isaiah 48:18
  • Jehovah-Rapha - God who restores, strengthens, and heals you, The Lord Who Heals, Exodus 15:22-27, Psalm 147:3, Psalm 103:1-3
  • Jehovah-Nissi - God the One you can follow as your authority, The Lord is My Banner, Exodus 17:15, Deuteronomy 20:3,4
  • Jehovah-Tsidkenu - God the One who thinks and acts in a way that is just, right, and good, The Lord Our Righteousness, Jeremiah 23:6
  • Jehovah-Raah - The Lord my Shepherd, Psalm 23
  • Jehovah-Shammah - God who is present at all times, The Lord is There, Ezekiel 48:35, Psalm 73:25-28
  • Jehovah M’Kaddesh - God who brings you to the place of separation from sin and dedication to God, The Lord Who Sanctifies, Leviticus 20:7-8
Blessings, Francine
 
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