Thursday, September 25, 2008

who do you follow? what do you know?

Everyone follows someone. Some follow their own internal sense of light, others follow their Imams or their Guru or their Rabbi or some other kind of Spiritual leader who claims to have the answer and be the way and the truth.
As for me, I'm a follower of Jesus and I'm not shy about it nor am I shy about living on purpose, wanting to leave a legacy that matters and living this life as if it were a training ground for the next.
To me, this life is about character over convenience and it's about overcoming hard life obstacles (and not becoming bitter) and it's about making shame work for you rather than coming under it.
To me, this life is about dealing with anger, hurt, expectations, learning to love people and become a better and wiser woman from it. To me it's about living with the grid of a personal, unique life purpose that God's given every human being.
To me, this life is about me - daily, picking up my cross, denying myself and following Him who I trust is the Truth.
I think about getting reward on That Day and I think about what it means to store up treasures there.

Here's what else I think:

The Ultimate Purpose for Living – John 17:3 & Romans 8:29 - 31
Many people often go through live without ever thinking that they will give an account of their lives one day. That Day is known as the Bema Seat or the Judgment Seat of Reward. It’s the day where the “whole” of our life—and the motives will be revealed. We will answer for what we did with our life. The Apostle Paul was passionate about it. He lived his life and did what he did—all in light of That Day. Read 2 Corinthians 5:7—11.

Understanding and Living with the End in Mind—The Bema Seat
Many precious people have no clue about the Bema Seat or what the Judgment Seat of Christ is all about.

Erwin Lutzer’s book Your Eternal Reward gives a clear explanation. He says . . . the purpose of the judgment seat of Christ is to properly evaluate us, to grade us so that our position in the coming kingdom is made clear. This life is really like a college-entrance exam that helps us know where we will be slotted in the kingdom of the coming King. To quote Hughes again, this judgment is ‘not a declaration of gloom, but an assessment of worth, with the assignment of rewards to those who because of their faithfulness deserve them and a loss or withholding of rewards in the case of those who do not deserve them.

More from Your Eternal Reward . . .
First, keep in mind that this life is training for the next. We are to be learning the rules of the kingdom; we are apprentices for something better. God’s purpose is to mature us in faithfulness and service so that we will be a credit to Him on earth and a companion for Christ in heaven.

Second, every day we live is either a loss or a gain so far as our future judgment is concerned. How we live today will help determine the words we hear from Christ tomorrow. Remember, the person we are today will determine the rewards we receive in the future.

Third, rewards are not based on results or size of ministry. Some of us have had more widespread influence than others. Many who have served in mission fields can claim but few converts after lives of hardship and intense personal cost. Others are called to vocations in factories, farms, and within the home; some serve for many years, others for a few. We will not be rewarded by a scale that asks for the number of souls saved, the number of sermons preached, or the number of books written. Comparisons with someone else will be off-limits.

Nor will be rewarded for the length of time we serve. New believers can also receive (Jesus) Christ’s approval. We will be judged on the basis of our loyalty to Christ with the time, talents, and treasures that were at our disposal. In other words, we are judged for the opportunities that were given to us, be they few or many, great or small. All believers have the potential to be generously rewarded.”

To some who perhaps did not expect to be rewarded but were diligent about their calling, Peter wrote, “As long as you practice these things, you will never stumble, for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” 2 Peter 1:11-11b Others who did not live diligently, those who cared little about whether they were pleasing the Lord or not, will experience “shame at His coming” (1 John 2:28).” (end of quotes)

Besides being a wife, mom and nana, I teach women how to be better women (wives, moms, women), create sanctuary, be centered and leave a legacy that matters. Below, I've listed some of the truths from the Bible that I believe in and teach women:


1 Corinthians 9:24-27

1 Corinthians 3: 10-15

2 Corinthians 5: 1—15

Romans 2:16

Ecclesiastes 12:14

1 John 4:13—18

What kind of legacy will you leave? How do you show love to othersHow will you now then live your life differently—in light of That Day? Will you have regret or reward? What's your standing in light of forever?

Here's A Few Things That God Rewards
Faithfulness is tested in hard, tough moments in addition to faithfulness the following acts of service and attitudes of love will also be rewarded
Being persecuted for righteousness sake—Matthew 5:11—12; Luke 6:23
Cheerfully giving $ to the Lord—Matthew 6:20—21
Loving your enemies—Luke 6:35
Being faithful at your job (in and out of the home) - Colossians 3:22-24
Supporting ministries—Mark 10:40
Doing good—Ephesians 6:7—8
Witnessing about Jesus—1 Corinthians 9:16—17
Leading someone to salvation—Proverbs 11:30
Diligently seeking God—Hebrews 11:6
Praying—Matthew 6:6
Fasting—Matthew 6:17– 18
Budgeting $ wisely—Luke 16: 11—12
Faithfully serving the Lord in ministry—Luke 19:17; 1 Corinthians 15:58
Helping others—Luke 6:35
Being a godly spouse and parent—1 Peter 3:1—7
Submitting with respect to unreasonable employers—1 Peter 2: 18—20
Having a servants attitude—Mark 10:43—45
Helping the poor—Proverbs 19:17
Caring for widows and orphans—James 1:27

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4 comments:

Deb Burton said...

Wow, you put a lot of work into this post. I proudly stand with you as a sister Christian. Jesus is my everything, but especially the Author of grace who loved me enough to accept the burden of my sin so I could spend eternity with Him in paradise. Could it possibly get any better?

Lylah Ledner said...

woohooo! thanks! His Name is the sweetest one I know.

blessings..lylah

Unknown said...

You know, this is why connection is important. We spend time doing so many things that, one day, won't matter much. It's good to get together, in whatever form, to remind each other of the truth of the Word of God. You do this for others so well and we are blessed. I'd like to say that I follow the Lord every day, but I do value honesty after all. Honestly, some days it feels like I've got such a long way to go while at the end of other days, I reflect and am happy with the things that I have placed importance on. Many of the things you mentioned are my daily life while others seem far away. But my heart? My intent? It's good everyday and THAT God can work with. I know that when I partner with God, He will be faithful to complete the work that he has started in my innermost being...where He lives.

Lylah Ledner said...

Thanks Mandy Woman. partnership in completion of His good work.

love u.