We speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:7
About a year and a half ago, I picked up a book that challenged me to read the Bible cover to cover in a year. So, now it's been a year and about 4 months and I've made it to 1 Corinthians, but I'm OK with that. The Women's Ministry Leader in our church once said that she tried to read the Bible in a year, but God allowed her to understand that it was for His glory and His predestined reason that she would not reach her goal, but that it would take her longer. He wanted her to really study certain scriptures and not just read them and move on to make her goal. I'm not sure if that's God's reasoning for why it's taken me so long, but nevertheless, here I am reading about the secret things of God and there is an area in my life where I need His light to shine.
I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for me. I also believe that He's revealed bits and pieces of His plan to me. However, I'm a firm believer that God doesn't reveal everything to us before we even begin the journey, or even while we are in the midst of it. I think He does that--keeps certain things hidden--for two reasons: 1) He wants us to act on faith without having the answers and 2) If we know what might happen to us or what we will have to endure, we might not follow where God wants to lead us.
The Bible tells us "faith without works is dead," (James 2:20). It is not enough to believe God, for "even the demons believe--and tremble!" (James 2:19). You must put your money where your mouth is, so-to-speak. If you are out of work, simply sitting on your couch, believing that God will provide for you is not the same as believing that He will open the right door for you as you actively go out and look for work. There must be some kind of action behind our words or our beliefs or what credit is it to God? If you have been saved and set free by God and yet you continue to act in all the same ways as you did before, then who will ever know what God did for you and how is that faith? The Bible says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed..." (Romans 12:2). We must be "do-ers" of God's Word and not believers-only.
Now, while we are walking by faith, I believe that God will reveal the next step that we need to take, but may not reveal the next five steps. Or, He may reveal step 10, just to encourage us to keep going, but He won't reveal steps 2-9. I really think God does this to both encourage us, but also to protect us. Our human minds are fragile and if we know that we might encounter pain beforehand, we may never take the next step, even if we know that in the end, it will all be worth it. It's like grandparents, before a young couple is about to be married, telling of their hardships. The elder couple can describe it, but the young couple will have to endure their own hardships to truly appreciate, in the end, what a wonderful marriage they have. Third Day's song, "Mountain of God," says, "After all that I've been through / Now I realize the truth / That I must go through the valley / To stand upon the mountain of God," (Wherever You Are, 2005). It says after. it's only after we've endured the pain, can we appreciate the reason and the blessing. It's hard to appreciate it beforehand and it's especially hard to appreciate it during. But after we've gone through, how much sweeter is step 10 than step 1?
At the beginning of this blog, I said that there was an area of my life that I needed revealed to me. It's an area that I'm really unsure about and I need God to shine His light on it to reveal to me if this is in His Will for my life. I'm going to pray for me; I hope you will pray for you.
Lord, I don't know what I desire, or if I even desire it. But the one thing I do is desire Your will and Your way for my life. Show me what that is. Reveal to me that part of it. Lord, you have a secret wisdom. Let there be light on this area, that I may know your desires for my life, and act in faith, accordingly. Lord, you know this whole topic--this area--scares me, but I also know that if I don't ask you, then I may be missing out on my "step 10" and I don't want to stop at "step 3" because I was afraid of something I couldn't see. Please reveal to me your desire, so that I know which way to turn. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Channels Through the Sun-Scorched Land
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings ~ Isaiah 58:11-12
"A conduit is a channel through which things...move from one point to another...You are designed to be a free-flowing channel for Jesus Christ Himself," (The Word for You Today, 26, Nov. 2009).
Who's been a conduit for you? I'm sure this question instantly brings to mind a handful of specific people for different reasons. It's the same for me. Some were a part of my life for a season, only, and others are still a part of my daily life. The scripture above talks about a "sun-scorched land." All of the people who were conduits in my life were in my life while I was going through my own sun-scorched land. Some of those times were longer than others and some times were more difficult than others. The one thing that all of the conduits in my life have in common is that they all stuck through the sun-scorched times and helped to develop within me my own "well-watered garden."
I have already, in previous posts talked about my period of depression. I had one such friend who I would call constantly because I was so lost, I couldn't feel God's love for me anymore. She became that free-flowing channel for me. She had scriptures taped up on the cupboards at her house. She would pull down different ones for me and I would tape them up on our bathroom mirror. At the end of those months, when I was finally free from that deadly pit, she was the one I looked to, but she wouldn't let me stop there. She always turned me toward Jesus and said that it was Him all along. Donna Partow, in her book Standing Firm, talks about the example that my friend was to me: "God will strengthen you and make you like a well-watered garden...you'll be an agent of security and peace, a haven of rest for the weary...people will come to you in their time of crisis. You, in turn can point them to the only One who can guide them through the sun-scorched land," (31). That's what my friend did. Every time I would call or run to her, she would lead me back to God's Word and to His promises. And it was God's Word and His promises that I stood on to get me through, but I also needed her...to point me in the right direction. If she hadn't shown me the way, I don't know if I ever would have made it out.
If there are people in you life who have been "conduits" and "change-agents" for you, make sure to tell them. They'll probably still point you back to God, because it is from Him where their strength flows, but they still need to be appreciated, just the same.
"A conduit is a channel through which things...move from one point to another...You are designed to be a free-flowing channel for Jesus Christ Himself," (The Word for You Today, 26, Nov. 2009).
Who's been a conduit for you? I'm sure this question instantly brings to mind a handful of specific people for different reasons. It's the same for me. Some were a part of my life for a season, only, and others are still a part of my daily life. The scripture above talks about a "sun-scorched land." All of the people who were conduits in my life were in my life while I was going through my own sun-scorched land. Some of those times were longer than others and some times were more difficult than others. The one thing that all of the conduits in my life have in common is that they all stuck through the sun-scorched times and helped to develop within me my own "well-watered garden."
I have already, in previous posts talked about my period of depression. I had one such friend who I would call constantly because I was so lost, I couldn't feel God's love for me anymore. She became that free-flowing channel for me. She had scriptures taped up on the cupboards at her house. She would pull down different ones for me and I would tape them up on our bathroom mirror. At the end of those months, when I was finally free from that deadly pit, she was the one I looked to, but she wouldn't let me stop there. She always turned me toward Jesus and said that it was Him all along. Donna Partow, in her book Standing Firm, talks about the example that my friend was to me: "God will strengthen you and make you like a well-watered garden...you'll be an agent of security and peace, a haven of rest for the weary...people will come to you in their time of crisis. You, in turn can point them to the only One who can guide them through the sun-scorched land," (31). That's what my friend did. Every time I would call or run to her, she would lead me back to God's Word and to His promises. And it was God's Word and His promises that I stood on to get me through, but I also needed her...to point me in the right direction. If she hadn't shown me the way, I don't know if I ever would have made it out.
If there are people in you life who have been "conduits" and "change-agents" for you, make sure to tell them. They'll probably still point you back to God, because it is from Him where their strength flows, but they still need to be appreciated, just the same.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Convictions
One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. ~ Romans 14:2
Ever since the time I was little, we would always sneak snacks into the movie theatres, even though all of them said you weren't supposed to. My mom or my grandma would empty out their purses just enough that we could sneak in candy bars. I think as I got older, my friends and I got more daring and would sneak in soda. Although, soda got really hard, because those around you could hear you when you opened it--the cans, especially, but the bottles, too.
At any rate, I think it was two summers ago when the movie Fireproof hit the theatres and we invited a couple from our small group to go to the movies with us. When we were getting ready to go to the movies, I don't remember if it was me or my husband or both at the same time, but we agreed not to take snacks to the movies. It felt "wrong" to do so. I wasn't sure why, all of a sudden, it felt "wrong" to sneak snacks in, especially after becoming so "good" at it. So I did what I always did when I had a "spiritual" question, I called my friend.
My friend had been a stronger, longer leader than me, so I always felt good about asking her opinion on things. So, I called her up and explained the situation and asked if it was wrong and had it been "wrong" all those years before. She told me that what I was experiencing was "conviction". She said that the Holy Spirit was using this experience to let me know not to do that at this particular time. She couldn't tell me whether or not I would ever again feel not guilty about sneaking food into the theatres. She made it clear, though, that if the Holy Spirit was convicting me to not do it at this time, I shouldn't do it.
She also said that the conviction may not even be for me. She said it was possible that I was feeling convicted to not do it and by not doing so would benefit the other couple. She said it was possible, for example, that if the other couple saw us smuggle in snacks, it would distract them and what ever message they were supposed to get from the movie would be lost because they'd been thinking about our actions of sneaking in snacks the entire time.
Paul talks about this very thing in Romans 14. He says, "Nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean," (14). This would be the conviction part. If the Holy Spirit tells you not to do something, it becomes "unclean," (defiled or unholy; continuing to do this action becomes an act of disobedience). Paul also says, "If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died," (Romans 14:15). This is the part that my friend was talking about. She said that it was possible that my actions would so distress my friends, that it would distract them from whatever God was trying to do in their lives.
I didn't know this passage of scripture at the time that this happened two summers ago. It's possible I'd heard it talked about in a sermon and hi-lighted the passage, but I didn't know it to the point where when my friend was talking about this very thing I would have recognized her thoughts as being from the Bible. I just believed she had wisdom and knew she hadn't steered me wrong before and that's why I went to her for advice. I'm always amazed by the people and things that God will use to teach us about His truths.
Ever since the time I was little, we would always sneak snacks into the movie theatres, even though all of them said you weren't supposed to. My mom or my grandma would empty out their purses just enough that we could sneak in candy bars. I think as I got older, my friends and I got more daring and would sneak in soda. Although, soda got really hard, because those around you could hear you when you opened it--the cans, especially, but the bottles, too.
At any rate, I think it was two summers ago when the movie Fireproof hit the theatres and we invited a couple from our small group to go to the movies with us. When we were getting ready to go to the movies, I don't remember if it was me or my husband or both at the same time, but we agreed not to take snacks to the movies. It felt "wrong" to do so. I wasn't sure why, all of a sudden, it felt "wrong" to sneak snacks in, especially after becoming so "good" at it. So I did what I always did when I had a "spiritual" question, I called my friend.
My friend had been a stronger, longer leader than me, so I always felt good about asking her opinion on things. So, I called her up and explained the situation and asked if it was wrong and had it been "wrong" all those years before. She told me that what I was experiencing was "conviction". She said that the Holy Spirit was using this experience to let me know not to do that at this particular time. She couldn't tell me whether or not I would ever again feel not guilty about sneaking food into the theatres. She made it clear, though, that if the Holy Spirit was convicting me to not do it at this time, I shouldn't do it.
She also said that the conviction may not even be for me. She said it was possible that I was feeling convicted to not do it and by not doing so would benefit the other couple. She said it was possible, for example, that if the other couple saw us smuggle in snacks, it would distract them and what ever message they were supposed to get from the movie would be lost because they'd been thinking about our actions of sneaking in snacks the entire time.
Paul talks about this very thing in Romans 14. He says, "Nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean," (14). This would be the conviction part. If the Holy Spirit tells you not to do something, it becomes "unclean," (defiled or unholy; continuing to do this action becomes an act of disobedience). Paul also says, "If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died," (Romans 14:15). This is the part that my friend was talking about. She said that it was possible that my actions would so distress my friends, that it would distract them from whatever God was trying to do in their lives.
I didn't know this passage of scripture at the time that this happened two summers ago. It's possible I'd heard it talked about in a sermon and hi-lighted the passage, but I didn't know it to the point where when my friend was talking about this very thing I would have recognized her thoughts as being from the Bible. I just believed she had wisdom and knew she hadn't steered me wrong before and that's why I went to her for advice. I'm always amazed by the people and things that God will use to teach us about His truths.
Monday, November 23, 2009
that day
On my part, I would like to have warm, positive feelings toward him again, (Chapman, Gary, The Five Love Languages, 166).
I still remember the day I prayed that prayer. It was in October, on a Sunday, 2006. Our church was holding baptisms out at Coquina Beach. We were told that we could ask the Holy Spirit for anything we wanted and He would fill up that void in our lives. I knew instantly what I wanted. I hadn't been able to achieve it on my own.
I walked down the sandy shore and out among the waves to the pastor who would baptize me. He talked to me briefly about the baptism I was about to receive. Then he asked me the all important question: "If you could ask the Holy Spirit for just one thing, what would it be?" I knew right away and I cried when I said, "I want to love my husband again. I want to respect him and have a marriage that lasts." My pastor prayed for and with me and then he baptized me in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
When I came up out of the water, I knew that I was different...that my life would never be the same...all because of that day when I prayed.
I still remember the day I prayed that prayer. It was in October, on a Sunday, 2006. Our church was holding baptisms out at Coquina Beach. We were told that we could ask the Holy Spirit for anything we wanted and He would fill up that void in our lives. I knew instantly what I wanted. I hadn't been able to achieve it on my own.
I walked down the sandy shore and out among the waves to the pastor who would baptize me. He talked to me briefly about the baptism I was about to receive. Then he asked me the all important question: "If you could ask the Holy Spirit for just one thing, what would it be?" I knew right away and I cried when I said, "I want to love my husband again. I want to respect him and have a marriage that lasts." My pastor prayed for and with me and then he baptized me in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
When I came up out of the water, I knew that I was different...that my life would never be the same...all because of that day when I prayed.
Friday, November 20, 2009
On the Road to Damascus
Have you ever been caught off guard? You were living your life, the way you saw fit, but then something happened and the Lord revealed to you that you weren't going the way He intended? I think that's exactly what happened to Paul.
In Acts 9, we see the story of Paul (previously known as Saul) unfold. Saul had obtained written permission to go to Damascus and seize as prisoner anyone who was part of "the Way". "As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him," (Acts 9:1-3). While we'll soon learn that the flash from heaven was God, I like to think of the flash as Paul's "light bulb moment." I'm sure you've had at least one and seen them in cartoons; it's that point where "the light" goes off in your brain and you have an "ah-ha" moment. It's usually at that point that cartoon characters will reach up and click off the light bulb that's floating just above their heads. This was Paul's light bulb moment and in his moment, God revealed to Paul "the vision from heaven" of what he was appointed to do, (Acts 26:19). Paul's light bulb moment was all about receiving a vision from heaven.
I believe that God has a light bulb moment and visions from heaven for each of us. If it were not true, God would not have talked about it in His Word. "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint," (Proverbs 29:18). That's what a lot of people seem to do. They are on their own "road to Damascus," going for their own reasons: to live big, live it up, make a lot of money, take great vacations, and retire some place comfortable. What if God wanted your life to be more than a fast food commercial, in which the theme song for your life was, "I did it my way"? What if He wanted it to be greater and worth more? He's able to do it. Ephesians 3:20 says, "To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine," (emphasis mine). This verse says we won't even be able to measure how much greater it will be if we turn it over and follow His plan.
So, where do we begin? We begin where Paul began: on the road to Damascus. The place where you start is right where you are today. God doesn't want to change who you are, He wants to change your heart. He wants you to leave your fleshy desires behind, pick up the vision He has prepared for you, and follow Him.
What's the first step? Dare to dream. Again, Proverbs 29:18 said, "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint." If you're going to plan to go somewhere, you have to have an idea about what it will look like when you've "arrived." That's what an architect does before he picks up the first piece of wood or has someone move the first handful of dirt. He lays out his blueprint. "You are the architect and building contractor of your future. Use your thoughts as an architect uses a blueprint. Think about every detail. An architect not only thinks about all the rooms in a house but also the types of windows, the size of the closets, the location of the outlets, and so on. Nothing is too insignificant. Think big and think detailed," (Trimm, Cindy, Commanding Your Morning, 29)!
I'm scared to think about my dreams; what if they're not God's dreams for my life? That's what I said to one of my best friends a couple of years ago. She encouraged me, through my tears, to confess my dreams to God and to leave them in His hands. She said that if my dreams weren't His dreams, He'd change the desires of my heart to match His, if I'd only let Him. It's gut-wrenching and scary to let go of your dreams. When it's what you've held onto for forever, it's hard to imagine that you could want anything else, or even that the "something else" could be even better than you've ever dreamed.
How could I even dare to think that what I imagine will actually come true? God did it. I once heard Dennis Rainy say, "the Bible is a blueprint for life," (Understanding and Honoring Your Wife, FamilyLife Today). He's right. If God did not want us to do it, or model what He did, I don't think He would have included it in His Word. If Dennis is right and the Bible is a blueprint for our lives, then we should follow the examples of what God did and is doing. For example, we should follow God's lead as it says in Romans 4:17, "God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were." That's what having a vision in your mind before having an example in your life is all about it. As one pastor at my church said, "Dance in advance, baby. Dance in advance." You've got to believe you have received it and walk it out. If that's what God does, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't.
After I've got it in my head, then what? Write it down and run with it! "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald [or so that whoever reads it] may run with it," (Habakkuk 2:2). Take your vision, take your dream, and run with it. Don't ever look back to see what somebody else is doing or to wonder why the rest of the world isn't keeping pace with you. Just keep running ahead "toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you] heavenward in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 3:14). God is a creative God, if you'll look around, you'll have to agree. God has designed something amazing for your life. Take some time, dream about it, get a picture of it in your mind's eye, write it down, and then go full force after it.
In Acts 9, we see the story of Paul (previously known as Saul) unfold. Saul had obtained written permission to go to Damascus and seize as prisoner anyone who was part of "the Way". "As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him," (Acts 9:1-3). While we'll soon learn that the flash from heaven was God, I like to think of the flash as Paul's "light bulb moment." I'm sure you've had at least one and seen them in cartoons; it's that point where "the light" goes off in your brain and you have an "ah-ha" moment. It's usually at that point that cartoon characters will reach up and click off the light bulb that's floating just above their heads. This was Paul's light bulb moment and in his moment, God revealed to Paul "the vision from heaven" of what he was appointed to do, (Acts 26:19). Paul's light bulb moment was all about receiving a vision from heaven.
I believe that God has a light bulb moment and visions from heaven for each of us. If it were not true, God would not have talked about it in His Word. "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint," (Proverbs 29:18). That's what a lot of people seem to do. They are on their own "road to Damascus," going for their own reasons: to live big, live it up, make a lot of money, take great vacations, and retire some place comfortable. What if God wanted your life to be more than a fast food commercial, in which the theme song for your life was, "I did it my way"? What if He wanted it to be greater and worth more? He's able to do it. Ephesians 3:20 says, "To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine," (emphasis mine). This verse says we won't even be able to measure how much greater it will be if we turn it over and follow His plan.
So, where do we begin? We begin where Paul began: on the road to Damascus. The place where you start is right where you are today. God doesn't want to change who you are, He wants to change your heart. He wants you to leave your fleshy desires behind, pick up the vision He has prepared for you, and follow Him.
What's the first step? Dare to dream. Again, Proverbs 29:18 said, "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint." If you're going to plan to go somewhere, you have to have an idea about what it will look like when you've "arrived." That's what an architect does before he picks up the first piece of wood or has someone move the first handful of dirt. He lays out his blueprint. "You are the architect and building contractor of your future. Use your thoughts as an architect uses a blueprint. Think about every detail. An architect not only thinks about all the rooms in a house but also the types of windows, the size of the closets, the location of the outlets, and so on. Nothing is too insignificant. Think big and think detailed," (Trimm, Cindy, Commanding Your Morning, 29)!
I'm scared to think about my dreams; what if they're not God's dreams for my life? That's what I said to one of my best friends a couple of years ago. She encouraged me, through my tears, to confess my dreams to God and to leave them in His hands. She said that if my dreams weren't His dreams, He'd change the desires of my heart to match His, if I'd only let Him. It's gut-wrenching and scary to let go of your dreams. When it's what you've held onto for forever, it's hard to imagine that you could want anything else, or even that the "something else" could be even better than you've ever dreamed.
How could I even dare to think that what I imagine will actually come true? God did it. I once heard Dennis Rainy say, "the Bible is a blueprint for life," (Understanding and Honoring Your Wife, FamilyLife Today). He's right. If God did not want us to do it, or model what He did, I don't think He would have included it in His Word. If Dennis is right and the Bible is a blueprint for our lives, then we should follow the examples of what God did and is doing. For example, we should follow God's lead as it says in Romans 4:17, "God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were." That's what having a vision in your mind before having an example in your life is all about it. As one pastor at my church said, "Dance in advance, baby. Dance in advance." You've got to believe you have received it and walk it out. If that's what God does, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't.
After I've got it in my head, then what? Write it down and run with it! "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald [or so that whoever reads it] may run with it," (Habakkuk 2:2). Take your vision, take your dream, and run with it. Don't ever look back to see what somebody else is doing or to wonder why the rest of the world isn't keeping pace with you. Just keep running ahead "toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you] heavenward in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 3:14). God is a creative God, if you'll look around, you'll have to agree. God has designed something amazing for your life. Take some time, dream about it, get a picture of it in your mind's eye, write it down, and then go full force after it.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
God's Promises and Nothing Less
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. ~ Jeremiah 33:3
That's what prayer is, what it does. It allows you to form a bond, a relationship, with the One who has the answers to everything. I was taught once that if there's something you want to know more about or do better, then you need to find people who are "in the know" and ask them about it. For example, if you want to have a better handle on your finances, then you should talk to people who are not in debt and are doing well. Just talking to someone who "appears" to be well of, but us under a mountain of debt will get you nowhere. Another example is for your marriage. If you and your spouse want to learn how to have a better marriage, hang out with couples you see who are doing it right, who seem to possess the qualities and traits you would like for your marriage.
When someone says, "I prayed and still don't have the answers," refer them to Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." These verbs: ask, seek, and knock, are not just one time action words; they are verbs of continuous motion. We are to ask and keep on asking; we are to seek and keep on seeking; and we are to knock and keep on knocking. And we need to keep doing it until we have received everything that God has for us.
Almost three years ago, one of the pastors at our church gave a sermon called, "God's Rest." In his message, the pastor said, "whatever the bottom of the ladder is that you're gonna stay at is all you're gonna get from God," (Anderson, Alex 11/26/06). In other words, if you received a promise in your heart from God, but you give up before you have received the fullness of that promise or that vision, then that is where you will stay. If, however, you keep pushing and keep seeking and keep knocking on the doors of heaven, if you keep going after it, you will receive His promises.
One example comes from Genesis 32:25-29. Jacob had done some deceitful things, including stealing his brother's birth rite. Esau, Jacob's brother, called a meeting for the two of them and on the way there, Jacob stopped the night before they were to meet. That night, Jacob wrestled with a man all night. Even though the man demanded that Jacob let him go, Jacob said he would not until the man blessed him, which he did and gave him the name Israel, because he "struggled with God and with man" and overcame. When we go after something, sometimes God will "wrestle" with us to see how determined we are to receive it. It seems the bigger the blessing, the more we need to keep asking and keep seeking and keep knocking in order that we may receive the fullness of it.
A couple who was about to be married received a word from God that He would create a ministry through their marriage. Well, this couple wasn't married for very long before struggle after struggle after struggle beat upon their marriage like a relentless storm crashing waves upon the sand trying to break up the beach. In the middle of one such storm, the wife cried out to God, "You promised me that we would have a marriage ministry! I don't understand why this is happening! You promised me, and I will have nothing less!" That girl didn't settle--still hasn't. A few years later, God revealed to her that if she and her husband were to carry His message, they must first survive the mess. Today, the couple is impacting people for Jesus through different ministries at the church they attend. And while they are sharing God's message, they continuously ask, seek, and knock to ensure they will have the fullness of what God promised them.
You can have that, too, if you do not lose heart, if you do not give up, if you do not quit fighting. With everything in you, till there is nothing left, do not stop searching and seeking and calling out to God. Because it is then that He will reveal to you "great and unsearchable things you do not know."
That's what prayer is, what it does. It allows you to form a bond, a relationship, with the One who has the answers to everything. I was taught once that if there's something you want to know more about or do better, then you need to find people who are "in the know" and ask them about it. For example, if you want to have a better handle on your finances, then you should talk to people who are not in debt and are doing well. Just talking to someone who "appears" to be well of, but us under a mountain of debt will get you nowhere. Another example is for your marriage. If you and your spouse want to learn how to have a better marriage, hang out with couples you see who are doing it right, who seem to possess the qualities and traits you would like for your marriage.
When someone says, "I prayed and still don't have the answers," refer them to Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." These verbs: ask, seek, and knock, are not just one time action words; they are verbs of continuous motion. We are to ask and keep on asking; we are to seek and keep on seeking; and we are to knock and keep on knocking. And we need to keep doing it until we have received everything that God has for us.
Almost three years ago, one of the pastors at our church gave a sermon called, "God's Rest." In his message, the pastor said, "whatever the bottom of the ladder is that you're gonna stay at is all you're gonna get from God," (Anderson, Alex 11/26/06). In other words, if you received a promise in your heart from God, but you give up before you have received the fullness of that promise or that vision, then that is where you will stay. If, however, you keep pushing and keep seeking and keep knocking on the doors of heaven, if you keep going after it, you will receive His promises.
One example comes from Genesis 32:25-29. Jacob had done some deceitful things, including stealing his brother's birth rite. Esau, Jacob's brother, called a meeting for the two of them and on the way there, Jacob stopped the night before they were to meet. That night, Jacob wrestled with a man all night. Even though the man demanded that Jacob let him go, Jacob said he would not until the man blessed him, which he did and gave him the name Israel, because he "struggled with God and with man" and overcame. When we go after something, sometimes God will "wrestle" with us to see how determined we are to receive it. It seems the bigger the blessing, the more we need to keep asking and keep seeking and keep knocking in order that we may receive the fullness of it.
A couple who was about to be married received a word from God that He would create a ministry through their marriage. Well, this couple wasn't married for very long before struggle after struggle after struggle beat upon their marriage like a relentless storm crashing waves upon the sand trying to break up the beach. In the middle of one such storm, the wife cried out to God, "You promised me that we would have a marriage ministry! I don't understand why this is happening! You promised me, and I will have nothing less!" That girl didn't settle--still hasn't. A few years later, God revealed to her that if she and her husband were to carry His message, they must first survive the mess. Today, the couple is impacting people for Jesus through different ministries at the church they attend. And while they are sharing God's message, they continuously ask, seek, and knock to ensure they will have the fullness of what God promised them.
You can have that, too, if you do not lose heart, if you do not give up, if you do not quit fighting. With everything in you, till there is nothing left, do not stop searching and seeking and calling out to God. Because it is then that He will reveal to you "great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Friday, November 13, 2009
Worthy
We are His portion and He is our prize...
Ever since I heard that line from the song "How He Loves," by David Crowder*Band, I've been running it through my mind. "We are His portion," what does that mean? Dictionary.com defines "portion" as "the part of the whole allotted to or belonging to a person." That sounds similar to the definition for sanctify. "Sanctify" means to "set apart for sacred use," (Standing Firm, Partow, 137). We are His portion...we are the part who God has set apart for His sacred use, His divine purposes. In Romans, Paul talks about who we are in relation to God: "Because those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. and by him we cry, 'Abba, Father,'" (8:14-15). We cry out to our heavenly Father, because that is what He is, our Father. He adopted us through the most expensive adoption ever and claimed us as His own (see Luke 23). In Romans 8, Paul continues to describe what this adoption means for us: "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, the we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory," (16-17). Did you catch that? We are brothers and sisters, co-heirs and equals, with Christ. We are God's adopted kids and He loves us so much! If God is the King and we are His kids, then that makes us princes and princesses.
So why, then, do we not walk upright and proud, like we know who we are to our mighty King? I think it's because there is sin in the world and we allow lies from the devil to steal our true identity from us. In God's eyes, we are all like Superman, but I think we've believed the world's lie that we are only clumsy Clark Kent. We don't feel worthy enough to take on our true identity, so we have allowed ourselves to be conformed to the identity that the world says that we are. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind," (Romans 12:2). That is not a request; it is a command. We must change what we believe and take on our true identities, the one that God gave us.
God designed and created us long before we were born. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb," (Psalm 139:13). "Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered," (Matthew 10:30). "I have summoned you by name; you are mine," (Isaiah 43:1). Long before we were born, God knew how He wanted to design and create us. He birthed in us exactly what He would need to accomplish His will in this world. And through His adoption of us, we are co-heirs with Christ and "...we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Romans 8:37-39).
We are God's kids. In our church, we say, "God loves you, but I'm His favorite." God sent His only Son to dies as a sacrifice so that He could adopt us, so we are His favorite. You don't need to feel unworthy any longer. God has made us worthy through the sacrifice of His Son, "it is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption," (1 Corinthians 1:30). Through Christ Jesus, we are the very definition of worthy. We are His righteous, worthy, portion.
Ever since I heard that line from the song "How He Loves," by David Crowder*Band, I've been running it through my mind. "We are His portion," what does that mean? Dictionary.com defines "portion" as "the part of the whole allotted to or belonging to a person." That sounds similar to the definition for sanctify. "Sanctify" means to "set apart for sacred use," (Standing Firm, Partow, 137). We are His portion...we are the part who God has set apart for His sacred use, His divine purposes. In Romans, Paul talks about who we are in relation to God: "Because those who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. and by him we cry, 'Abba, Father,'" (8:14-15). We cry out to our heavenly Father, because that is what He is, our Father. He adopted us through the most expensive adoption ever and claimed us as His own (see Luke 23). In Romans 8, Paul continues to describe what this adoption means for us: "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, the we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory," (16-17). Did you catch that? We are brothers and sisters, co-heirs and equals, with Christ. We are God's adopted kids and He loves us so much! If God is the King and we are His kids, then that makes us princes and princesses.
So why, then, do we not walk upright and proud, like we know who we are to our mighty King? I think it's because there is sin in the world and we allow lies from the devil to steal our true identity from us. In God's eyes, we are all like Superman, but I think we've believed the world's lie that we are only clumsy Clark Kent. We don't feel worthy enough to take on our true identity, so we have allowed ourselves to be conformed to the identity that the world says that we are. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind," (Romans 12:2). That is not a request; it is a command. We must change what we believe and take on our true identities, the one that God gave us.
God designed and created us long before we were born. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb," (Psalm 139:13). "Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered," (Matthew 10:30). "I have summoned you by name; you are mine," (Isaiah 43:1). Long before we were born, God knew how He wanted to design and create us. He birthed in us exactly what He would need to accomplish His will in this world. And through His adoption of us, we are co-heirs with Christ and "...we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Romans 8:37-39).
We are God's kids. In our church, we say, "God loves you, but I'm His favorite." God sent His only Son to dies as a sacrifice so that He could adopt us, so we are His favorite. You don't need to feel unworthy any longer. God has made us worthy through the sacrifice of His Son, "it is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption," (1 Corinthians 1:30). Through Christ Jesus, we are the very definition of worthy. We are His righteous, worthy, portion.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Are You Afraid of Success?
Have you heard that before? Maybe somebody asked you? I always thought success was something everyone wanted and could more easily understand the fear of failure. Most often, the fear of failure causes one to give up before they start to avoid failing. The fear of success includes many things, one of which makes the person fearful that they will have no happiness upon achieving their accomplishments.
The Israelites in the Old Testament lost out on the Promise Land because of their fear of success. They had been promised this land for so long; it was promised to their forefathers. It's possible that when they were so close, they seized up and couldn't go on because they didn't know how to handle such a feat. Instead of celebrating and rushing in to take what was theirs, they stopped to examine the people inhabiting their land and decided to let fear overtake them. Out of that fear, they said, "All the people we saw are of great size...We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them," (Numbers 13:32-33). At this point, there is nothing in the Bible to indicate that anyone in the land had seen those who were sent to scout it out. That means, their fear told them, "You are less than, and they will know it as soon as they see you. Stop now before you get killed." Because of their fear, they began to grumble and gripe. Have you ever been a part of a "gripe fest"? That's where all the people around you have a gripe about something and they begin to grumble about it and to "fit in," you join in. The Israelites did just that. They said, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?" (Numbers 14:2-3).
Out of everyone who was among the Israelite camp, why were Joshua and Caleb the only ones to enter the Promise Land? It was because they had learned how to take captive their thoughts and control their tongues and they said, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into the land...and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people in the land, because we will swallow them up," (Numbers 14:7-9).
Ever heard of a "but God" moment before? I was listening to the radio a few years ago, not even sure who the announcers were talking about, but some speaker was coming into town and they were playing a clip from his show. And even though I didn't pay enough attention to determine who the speaker was, what he said really stuck with me. He said that at the end of every problem, perhaps when you are at your wit's end, add the phrase, "But God." The word "but" negates everything that came before it. Think about that for a moment. If God (and there's really no "if" about it) is the creator of everything, everything, and the ruler of the universe, wouldn't you want Him to have the last say on everything in your life? Take your marriage, for example. Let's say you and your spouse are in a fight, "but God..." and the possibilities are endless. How about this: You're not sure if your son is still following after Christ like he did when he was a child, "but God..." and you can trust in that. Your friend is sick, and the doctors don't know what the outcome will be, "but God..." and you know it's in the right hands. What was that song you sang when you were little... "He's got the whole world in His hands..."
So back to Caleb & Joshua. Why were they able to say, "Their protection is gone...Do not be afraid of them"? I think they were wiser than many of the others. I think they had a "but God" moment. They saw God as being bigger than one who would lead the way for a while, but then leave them once they arrived at "the destination," like some kind of tour guide. For them, God was "IT." They knew He was everything and that with Him there was nothing to fear.
Are you afraid of failure? Of success? Don't be. Add God to your every situation. That may sound easier said than done, but isn't that what faith is? Isn't faith adding God to your every situation and then just believing? "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," (Hebrews 11:1). Instead of living by or out of fear, try living by faith and see how the things that you've hoped for will develop, and see what kind of "but God" moment you might have...
The Israelites in the Old Testament lost out on the Promise Land because of their fear of success. They had been promised this land for so long; it was promised to their forefathers. It's possible that when they were so close, they seized up and couldn't go on because they didn't know how to handle such a feat. Instead of celebrating and rushing in to take what was theirs, they stopped to examine the people inhabiting their land and decided to let fear overtake them. Out of that fear, they said, "All the people we saw are of great size...We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them," (Numbers 13:32-33). At this point, there is nothing in the Bible to indicate that anyone in the land had seen those who were sent to scout it out. That means, their fear told them, "You are less than, and they will know it as soon as they see you. Stop now before you get killed." Because of their fear, they began to grumble and gripe. Have you ever been a part of a "gripe fest"? That's where all the people around you have a gripe about something and they begin to grumble about it and to "fit in," you join in. The Israelites did just that. They said, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?" (Numbers 14:2-3).
Out of everyone who was among the Israelite camp, why were Joshua and Caleb the only ones to enter the Promise Land? It was because they had learned how to take captive their thoughts and control their tongues and they said, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into the land...and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people in the land, because we will swallow them up," (Numbers 14:7-9).
Ever heard of a "but God" moment before? I was listening to the radio a few years ago, not even sure who the announcers were talking about, but some speaker was coming into town and they were playing a clip from his show. And even though I didn't pay enough attention to determine who the speaker was, what he said really stuck with me. He said that at the end of every problem, perhaps when you are at your wit's end, add the phrase, "But God." The word "but" negates everything that came before it. Think about that for a moment. If God (and there's really no "if" about it) is the creator of everything, everything, and the ruler of the universe, wouldn't you want Him to have the last say on everything in your life? Take your marriage, for example. Let's say you and your spouse are in a fight, "but God..." and the possibilities are endless. How about this: You're not sure if your son is still following after Christ like he did when he was a child, "but God..." and you can trust in that. Your friend is sick, and the doctors don't know what the outcome will be, "but God..." and you know it's in the right hands. What was that song you sang when you were little... "He's got the whole world in His hands..."
So back to Caleb & Joshua. Why were they able to say, "Their protection is gone...Do not be afraid of them"? I think they were wiser than many of the others. I think they had a "but God" moment. They saw God as being bigger than one who would lead the way for a while, but then leave them once they arrived at "the destination," like some kind of tour guide. For them, God was "IT." They knew He was everything and that with Him there was nothing to fear.
Are you afraid of failure? Of success? Don't be. Add God to your every situation. That may sound easier said than done, but isn't that what faith is? Isn't faith adding God to your every situation and then just believing? "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," (Hebrews 11:1). Instead of living by or out of fear, try living by faith and see how the things that you've hoped for will develop, and see what kind of "but God" moment you might have...
On Behalf of Our Husbands
If you're married, like I am, then you'll appreciate what I'm about to say. There are times in life, but especially in marriage, when the one you love the most is the one who frustrates you the most--occassionally causes you the most anxiety. This is not an attack on men, because I'm sure all husbands will have the same thought about their wives at some point or another. This is the cool part: The reason they frustrate us the most is because God designed them that way. No, He didn't design our men simply to frustrate us. God designed men to be men and not women. Here's why there's frustration or anxiety: we (the wives) can't make them do what we say--all the nagging in the world won't get us anywhere--or what we think they should do, or what we think they should desire to do for themselves.
The reading in today's The Word for You Today said, "Your anxiety is being caused by your thoughts and self-talk, not your partner or circumstances...Factor God in; He's the changer of hearts and minds. Lean on Him and He will lessen your anxiety and increase your peace and confidence!" (40). Look with me, at what Dictionary.com says about anxiety, "distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune," (italics mine). The other day I talked briefly about what fear is: False Evidence Appearing Real. Let's break this down: If anxiety, which is fear, causes distress or uneasiness in your mind and fear is false evidence appearing real, then the real battle is won or lost in your mind. Whether you are aware of it, or not, we're at war and our battle is in the spiritual realm.
Three questions I'm sure you're asking: 1) Who are we fighting with? Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our fight is not against people we can see with human eyes, but our fight is against "authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." That's some scary stuff! That's more scary than all the horror flicks, combined. 2) What do we do in this battle? "We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ," (2 Cor. 10:5). What does that mean? It means that our enemy, the devil, who has only come to the earth to "steal and kill and destory," has been hard at work feeding you lies of various degrees and you need to know the Bible well enough to be able to recognize them as lies, (Jn 10:10). 3) How do we win? Are you ready for this? This is really cool! We need to take our Christ-given power and authority and destroy the devil. What do I mean "power and authority"? Let me show you. God has given us power of attorney, that is, He has given us the power to act in His name. God gave power of attorney to Christ and Christ gave power of attorney to us, (see God's Plan for Man by Finis Dake, 393-404). In Matthew 16:19, Jesus teaches us specifically how this works: I will give you the keys of the kingsdom of heaven; what ever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and what ever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. The Greek word for "keys" means to "denote power and authority of various kinds." Jesus has given us the power to bind Satan and to "loose" or release the power of the Holy Spirit. When the verse says it will be done on earth as it is in heaven, it means the heavenly or spiritual realm.
What does all of that mean for us in reference to husbands and wives? It means that if there is something attacking our husbands, like sickness or depression, we have been given the authority to bind it up and send it packing back to the pits of hell. Two key things to remember when you are binding Satan: 1) always send him to the pits of hell; you don't want him releasing what you bound on someone else & 2) always fill up the void (see Matthew 12:43-45).
Let's pray for our husbands:
Lord, thank you that you have reminded me and have given me this authority. Satan, I speak directly to you: you have no power over my huband! You have no right to him. He is a child of God and he is protected by the blood of Jesus. My God has given me the keys of the kingdom of heaven and what ever is bound on earth is bound in heaven and what ever is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven. So Satan, I bind you up and I spit you out--with all of your demons--and send you back to the pits of hell. And angels of heaven and Holy Spirit, I loose you to come down and fill up my husband. Fill up every nook, cranny, crevis, void, hole, every spot that Satan or his legion might try to fill up. I pray right now, in Jesus' name, that if they ever do come back, that they will find it filled up. Thank you, Father God, that you have given us this authority through your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in His name that I pray, Amen.
The reading in today's The Word for You Today said, "Your anxiety is being caused by your thoughts and self-talk, not your partner or circumstances...Factor God in; He's the changer of hearts and minds. Lean on Him and He will lessen your anxiety and increase your peace and confidence!" (40). Look with me, at what Dictionary.com says about anxiety, "distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune," (italics mine). The other day I talked briefly about what fear is: False Evidence Appearing Real. Let's break this down: If anxiety, which is fear, causes distress or uneasiness in your mind and fear is false evidence appearing real, then the real battle is won or lost in your mind. Whether you are aware of it, or not, we're at war and our battle is in the spiritual realm.
Three questions I'm sure you're asking: 1) Who are we fighting with? Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our fight is not against people we can see with human eyes, but our fight is against "authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." That's some scary stuff! That's more scary than all the horror flicks, combined. 2) What do we do in this battle? "We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ," (2 Cor. 10:5). What does that mean? It means that our enemy, the devil, who has only come to the earth to "steal and kill and destory," has been hard at work feeding you lies of various degrees and you need to know the Bible well enough to be able to recognize them as lies, (Jn 10:10). 3) How do we win? Are you ready for this? This is really cool! We need to take our Christ-given power and authority and destroy the devil. What do I mean "power and authority"? Let me show you. God has given us power of attorney, that is, He has given us the power to act in His name. God gave power of attorney to Christ and Christ gave power of attorney to us, (see God's Plan for Man by Finis Dake, 393-404). In Matthew 16:19, Jesus teaches us specifically how this works: I will give you the keys of the kingsdom of heaven; what ever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and what ever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. The Greek word for "keys" means to "denote power and authority of various kinds." Jesus has given us the power to bind Satan and to "loose" or release the power of the Holy Spirit. When the verse says it will be done on earth as it is in heaven, it means the heavenly or spiritual realm.
What does all of that mean for us in reference to husbands and wives? It means that if there is something attacking our husbands, like sickness or depression, we have been given the authority to bind it up and send it packing back to the pits of hell. Two key things to remember when you are binding Satan: 1) always send him to the pits of hell; you don't want him releasing what you bound on someone else & 2) always fill up the void (see Matthew 12:43-45).
Let's pray for our husbands:
Lord, thank you that you have reminded me and have given me this authority. Satan, I speak directly to you: you have no power over my huband! You have no right to him. He is a child of God and he is protected by the blood of Jesus. My God has given me the keys of the kingdom of heaven and what ever is bound on earth is bound in heaven and what ever is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven. So Satan, I bind you up and I spit you out--with all of your demons--and send you back to the pits of hell. And angels of heaven and Holy Spirit, I loose you to come down and fill up my husband. Fill up every nook, cranny, crevis, void, hole, every spot that Satan or his legion might try to fill up. I pray right now, in Jesus' name, that if they ever do come back, that they will find it filled up. Thank you, Father God, that you have given us this authority through your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in His name that I pray, Amen.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Acknowledging Every Good Thing
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon 6
Being a redhead--I mean a natural redhead--is a very unique thing. it requires a certain kind of personality that in-a-box redheads don't have. Different doctors have told me that being a redhead means I'll have certain "differences" from those with brown or even blond hair. For example, I have very fair skin and pretty much need to bathe in sunscreen before going outside. I have more sensitivities to medication, lower tolerance to pain, and for surgery, need more anesthesia.
More unique than just being a redhead is that I also have hazel eyes. Growing up, there were very few dolls or cartoon characters that had red hair and green eyes. The Little Mermaid has blue eyes, as did most of the dolls we would see. It almost became a game to my mom; she would buy any doll she would see that had red hair and green eyes. Having red hair and hazel eyes, I was even different from my immediate family. Neither set of grandparents, or my parents, or my brother have red hair and hazel eyes. A couple of them have blue and the rest have brown.
There were many times as a child that I didn't want to have red hair, mostly because kids will tease what's different. My mom will tell you that her perception of "red hair" was more like a bright orange. So, the entire time she was pregnant, she prayed that I would not have red hair. I guess God had other plans. Because I was a last-minute C-section, my mom didn't get to see me right away. She said the doctors first told her that I had red hair. But she said when she saw me, she thought I was the most beautiful baby. She said I was like a little doll.
Do you ever just giggle when you look back over a thing and realize that God was there and it was His plan the whole time? I giggle more when I realize all my fretting and "chasing my tail" didn't do me one ounce of good. All the prayers that my mom lifted up to God weren't according to His perfect plan so God gave me red hair anyway. The verse in Philemon 6 says that every good thing that is in me is for Christ's sake. For His purposes, I was born the way that I am. For His plans, I was given the gift of writing...which I always say, but really believe is something written by God and written down by me. For His desires, I was designed this way. Psalm 139:13 says, You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Everything about me, whether I currently like that part of me or not, God knew that it needed to be there, and so shaped me in such a way--knit me together--so that when He was finished, that thing that He desired, the part that He created would be a part of me. For Christ, I was designed; by God, I was made. Thank you, God, for every part of me. For every good part comes from You.
Being a redhead--I mean a natural redhead--is a very unique thing. it requires a certain kind of personality that in-a-box redheads don't have. Different doctors have told me that being a redhead means I'll have certain "differences" from those with brown or even blond hair. For example, I have very fair skin and pretty much need to bathe in sunscreen before going outside. I have more sensitivities to medication, lower tolerance to pain, and for surgery, need more anesthesia.
More unique than just being a redhead is that I also have hazel eyes. Growing up, there were very few dolls or cartoon characters that had red hair and green eyes. The Little Mermaid has blue eyes, as did most of the dolls we would see. It almost became a game to my mom; she would buy any doll she would see that had red hair and green eyes. Having red hair and hazel eyes, I was even different from my immediate family. Neither set of grandparents, or my parents, or my brother have red hair and hazel eyes. A couple of them have blue and the rest have brown.
There were many times as a child that I didn't want to have red hair, mostly because kids will tease what's different. My mom will tell you that her perception of "red hair" was more like a bright orange. So, the entire time she was pregnant, she prayed that I would not have red hair. I guess God had other plans. Because I was a last-minute C-section, my mom didn't get to see me right away. She said the doctors first told her that I had red hair. But she said when she saw me, she thought I was the most beautiful baby. She said I was like a little doll.
Do you ever just giggle when you look back over a thing and realize that God was there and it was His plan the whole time? I giggle more when I realize all my fretting and "chasing my tail" didn't do me one ounce of good. All the prayers that my mom lifted up to God weren't according to His perfect plan so God gave me red hair anyway. The verse in Philemon 6 says that every good thing that is in me is for Christ's sake. For His purposes, I was born the way that I am. For His plans, I was given the gift of writing...which I always say, but really believe is something written by God and written down by me. For His desires, I was designed this way. Psalm 139:13 says, You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Everything about me, whether I currently like that part of me or not, God knew that it needed to be there, and so shaped me in such a way--knit me together--so that when He was finished, that thing that He desired, the part that He created would be a part of me. For Christ, I was designed; by God, I was made. Thank you, God, for every part of me. For every good part comes from You.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Not Just for Christmas Time
"Christmas time is here," or so goes the opening line of A Charlie Brown Christmas, my favorite Christmas show. I was watching clips from that movie the other night as I was doing research for a project for a friend of mine. I stopped and watched one of the last scenes. It was the scene where they were working on the Christmas play and, in a fit of frustration, Charlie Brown cried out, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" His friend said, "Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about." His friend, Linus, then told the story of the birth of Jesus, as depicted in the Book of Luke. When he finished, Linus said, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." At hearing what Linus had to say, Charlie Brown was satisfied, content even, and took his Christmas tree and went home.
Television networks only show that movie right before Christmas day. But I think the message is something we need to remember all year long. The underlying message is that it's not about presents, but rather it's about presence. There's a song that's popular on the radio right now called How He Loves, by David Crowder*Band, off their new album "Church Music." The opening lyrics of this song are, "He is jealous for me." That's a very revealing statement about our God. It tells me that He is more interested in the time I spend with Him than the time I spend doing things for Him. It's not that God wants me to stop serving Him or serving His body of believers. But He wants me to make sure that I'm spending just as much, if not more, time with Him as I am doing works for Him. On top of which, I don't want to get to heaven and have a resume filled with all the things I did for Him and have Him look at me and say, "I knew you not." Can you imagine how devastating that would be?
Last year, I lead a small group based on the book Standing Firm, by Donna Partow. In one of the chapters, Donna describes a woman going on a date with a handsome, young suitor. She described the scene as the couple sitting in a restaurant and the young man content with staring into the woman's eyes. The silence, however, makes the young woman nervous, so she finds anything and everything she can to fill up the silence. The author said that at the end of the evening, the young man went home and cried, because he was unable to share his love for her with all the chaos around them. The author said that God is the young suitor, who longs to tell us how much we mean to Him, but He won't do it amid all the chaos we put in our lives, (95). I find my life so ironic at times. I find that I learn the most about my God and hear the most from Him when I take the time to spend time alone with Him, and yet sometimes it seems the hardest thing for me to do. I'm fortunate that He will speak to me when I am crazy busy, but I know that I hear so much more when I dedicate time, more than 5 minutes, to reading His Word and listening for His voice.
In the beginning, He would speak to me, over me. What I mean is that the first time I know that I ever heard from God, I had been calling out to Him, over and over, "I want to hear from You. Let me hear Your voice." Over and over, that was what I said. So finally, He had to speak over me and He said, "Be quiet." I told this story to a few other people and they said, "Oh, you mean 'Be still and know that I am God.'" But that's not what He said. Maybe you can argue that it's the same thing, but for me, God was very straight and to the point. He said, "Be quiet." I often giggle about that time. Because for me, it was so profound, those two words, and at the same time, so simple. But God will do that. He'll take something that is so obvious and yet so foreign to our personalities to make His point. Take the story of Martha & Mary, for example.
I believe, even though the Bible says that they are two sisters, both Martha & Mary are two different personalities that each person has: the servant and the student. The Book of Luke tells the story of Martha & Mary. As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he had to say. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her," (Luke 10:38-42). The Lord said that Mary, the student, who sat at His feet, hanging on His every word, was the one who chose what was better. I can't show love through my actions until I have learned about love through spending time my God. There is a song we sang at First Wednesday that describes what I hear as Mary's, the other sister's, song. I want this to be my song, too.
Television networks only show that movie right before Christmas day. But I think the message is something we need to remember all year long. The underlying message is that it's not about presents, but rather it's about presence. There's a song that's popular on the radio right now called How He Loves, by David Crowder*Band, off their new album "Church Music." The opening lyrics of this song are, "He is jealous for me." That's a very revealing statement about our God. It tells me that He is more interested in the time I spend with Him than the time I spend doing things for Him. It's not that God wants me to stop serving Him or serving His body of believers. But He wants me to make sure that I'm spending just as much, if not more, time with Him as I am doing works for Him. On top of which, I don't want to get to heaven and have a resume filled with all the things I did for Him and have Him look at me and say, "I knew you not." Can you imagine how devastating that would be?
Last year, I lead a small group based on the book Standing Firm, by Donna Partow. In one of the chapters, Donna describes a woman going on a date with a handsome, young suitor. She described the scene as the couple sitting in a restaurant and the young man content with staring into the woman's eyes. The silence, however, makes the young woman nervous, so she finds anything and everything she can to fill up the silence. The author said that at the end of the evening, the young man went home and cried, because he was unable to share his love for her with all the chaos around them. The author said that God is the young suitor, who longs to tell us how much we mean to Him, but He won't do it amid all the chaos we put in our lives, (95). I find my life so ironic at times. I find that I learn the most about my God and hear the most from Him when I take the time to spend time alone with Him, and yet sometimes it seems the hardest thing for me to do. I'm fortunate that He will speak to me when I am crazy busy, but I know that I hear so much more when I dedicate time, more than 5 minutes, to reading His Word and listening for His voice.
In the beginning, He would speak to me, over me. What I mean is that the first time I know that I ever heard from God, I had been calling out to Him, over and over, "I want to hear from You. Let me hear Your voice." Over and over, that was what I said. So finally, He had to speak over me and He said, "Be quiet." I told this story to a few other people and they said, "Oh, you mean 'Be still and know that I am God.'" But that's not what He said. Maybe you can argue that it's the same thing, but for me, God was very straight and to the point. He said, "Be quiet." I often giggle about that time. Because for me, it was so profound, those two words, and at the same time, so simple. But God will do that. He'll take something that is so obvious and yet so foreign to our personalities to make His point. Take the story of Martha & Mary, for example.
I believe, even though the Bible says that they are two sisters, both Martha & Mary are two different personalities that each person has: the servant and the student. The Book of Luke tells the story of Martha & Mary. As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he had to say. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her," (Luke 10:38-42). The Lord said that Mary, the student, who sat at His feet, hanging on His every word, was the one who chose what was better. I can't show love through my actions until I have learned about love through spending time my God. There is a song we sang at First Wednesday that describes what I hear as Mary's, the other sister's, song. I want this to be my song, too.
The more I seek you, the more I find you.
The more I find you, the more I love you.
I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hands,
lay back against you and breath, feel your heart beat.
This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.
I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
He Restores My Soul
Matthew 13:11-12 "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
"As long as information remains a secret, hidden in obscurity, no on can prosper from it, no matter how powerful the secret or how might the person. But that person to whom it is made known, no matter who, will have access to abundance; to whom it is not revealed, even that which this person has shall be taken away," (Commanding Your Morning, Cindy Trimm, 11).
That's like my Psalm 23 experience. I grew up in a Christian home and I knew my mom loved God. She had pictures hanging in the house, many with scriptures written on them. There was one I remember specifically, because it was hanging outside my bedroom door. It was a picture with two little kids--cartoon kids, similarly looking to Precious Moments kids--and written in the background was Psalm 23. I grew up with that scripture ever before me.
A few years after I had moved out and was married, I was in a deep, dark pit of depression. I remember a good, solid month, if not two, when I questioned the love of everyone, including my God. I was really, really struggling.
The "chemical" reason for what was happening was simple: I had decided that I wasn't depressed anymore and, with the help of my doctor, weaned myself off of the anti-depressants I had been on for the past 16 years. And even though I had worked with my doctor to come off the medications slowly, my body still went through withdrawal. The real battle, however, wasn't about chemicals. The real battle was about my mind and it would be decided in the spiritual realm.
The day I declared victory over depression was the day the devil began to mount an attack against me. After reading Joyce Meyer's book, Battlefield of the Mind, I learned that not only was depression an attack of the devil, but it was something that I didn't have to continue to live with. I asked a close friend and the Women's Ministry Leader at our church to pray over me and I made the decision to believe that I had been set free.
The devil waited for about two weeks after I took my last pill before striking; it was just enough time for me to think that my body wasn't going to have any problems or side effects from no longer being on the medications. While I don't remember "the day" when the attack came, I know it hit hard. There were days of calling other Christian women for reassurance and then calling them back ten seconds after hanging up the phone, because I needed more reassurance. There were nights, what seemed like endless nights, of sobbing in my bed and feeling so alone, even though my husband was next to me. (Thanks for hanging in there, babe! Love you!)
I tell you all this to paint for you a picture, so that you'll understand the stark difference between the pit of darkness I was in and the bright, sunny summer's day I was about to step into.
One night, when I couldn't sleep, I pulled out our Study Bible and began reading scriptures on eagles. Since it was a Study Bible, there were notes on the bottom of the pages and cross-references in the margins. I followed one cross-reference to another and another and another, until I reached Psalm 23.
Psalm 23:3 was where God revealed an amazing truth and His promise to me: He restores my soul. Those four simple words changed everything. After reading those words, I cried happy tears, because I knew the end of this tunnel and my way out of this pit were in sight. I wasn't out of all the darkness yet, but I had hope and a promise from God. I knew that I was on my way out.
When I "got out," which was within two to three weeks after that night, I still clung to that promise as my shield and sword against the devil. And anytime since, when the devil has tried to attack me again in that area, I open up my mouth and say, "He restores my soul."
"As long as information remains a secret, hidden in obscurity, no on can prosper from it, no matter how powerful the secret or how might the person. But that person to whom it is made known, no matter who, will have access to abundance; to whom it is not revealed, even that which this person has shall be taken away," (Commanding Your Morning, Cindy Trimm, 11).
That's like my Psalm 23 experience. I grew up in a Christian home and I knew my mom loved God. She had pictures hanging in the house, many with scriptures written on them. There was one I remember specifically, because it was hanging outside my bedroom door. It was a picture with two little kids--cartoon kids, similarly looking to Precious Moments kids--and written in the background was Psalm 23. I grew up with that scripture ever before me.
A few years after I had moved out and was married, I was in a deep, dark pit of depression. I remember a good, solid month, if not two, when I questioned the love of everyone, including my God. I was really, really struggling.
The "chemical" reason for what was happening was simple: I had decided that I wasn't depressed anymore and, with the help of my doctor, weaned myself off of the anti-depressants I had been on for the past 16 years. And even though I had worked with my doctor to come off the medications slowly, my body still went through withdrawal. The real battle, however, wasn't about chemicals. The real battle was about my mind and it would be decided in the spiritual realm.
The day I declared victory over depression was the day the devil began to mount an attack against me. After reading Joyce Meyer's book, Battlefield of the Mind, I learned that not only was depression an attack of the devil, but it was something that I didn't have to continue to live with. I asked a close friend and the Women's Ministry Leader at our church to pray over me and I made the decision to believe that I had been set free.
The devil waited for about two weeks after I took my last pill before striking; it was just enough time for me to think that my body wasn't going to have any problems or side effects from no longer being on the medications. While I don't remember "the day" when the attack came, I know it hit hard. There were days of calling other Christian women for reassurance and then calling them back ten seconds after hanging up the phone, because I needed more reassurance. There were nights, what seemed like endless nights, of sobbing in my bed and feeling so alone, even though my husband was next to me. (Thanks for hanging in there, babe! Love you!)
I tell you all this to paint for you a picture, so that you'll understand the stark difference between the pit of darkness I was in and the bright, sunny summer's day I was about to step into.
One night, when I couldn't sleep, I pulled out our Study Bible and began reading scriptures on eagles. Since it was a Study Bible, there were notes on the bottom of the pages and cross-references in the margins. I followed one cross-reference to another and another and another, until I reached Psalm 23.
Psalm 23:3 was where God revealed an amazing truth and His promise to me: He restores my soul. Those four simple words changed everything. After reading those words, I cried happy tears, because I knew the end of this tunnel and my way out of this pit were in sight. I wasn't out of all the darkness yet, but I had hope and a promise from God. I knew that I was on my way out.
When I "got out," which was within two to three weeks after that night, I still clung to that promise as my shield and sword against the devil. And anytime since, when the devil has tried to attack me again in that area, I open up my mouth and say, "He restores my soul."
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Let There be Light
The first words out of God's mouth were, "Let there be light," (Genesis 1:3). Why? He could have said, "Let everything be created," or, "Let's take care of the heavnly things and the earthly things and everything in between." Why did he start with, "Let there be light"? It certainly wasn't because God couldn't see in the dark. It probably wasn't because He was afraid of the dark. Why, then, were those God's first words? It's because, as Cindy Trimm in her book, Commanding the Morning, writes, "Light illuminates," (9). Why do kids have night lights? Why do you turn on the lights in your house when it's dark? Why are there streetlights in neighborhoods? It's because light illuminates. Light casts out many things, including darkness.
Darkness--the unseen, the unknown--causes anxiety and fear in many people. Why are they afraid? It's because they can't see it with human eyes and so it makes it harder for the human brain to comprehend that it will be OK. A pastor once said that fear is false evidence appearing real. If that's all fear is, then why is it so powerful? Why can it control the mind and paralyze the body without any proof of reality? Well, if light illuminates, then darkness conceals and somewhere in the back of our minds, we know that. That "knowing" or "un-knowing," as the case may be, is what produces the anxiety within us.
It could be that the reason God's first words were, "Let there be light," was to be a model to us. If we are believers and followers of God, then it stands to reason that we will follow what He modeled for us. the next time you're afraid and you're walking in a dark place, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually, speak to your situation and command as God did, "Let there be light."
Darkness--the unseen, the unknown--causes anxiety and fear in many people. Why are they afraid? It's because they can't see it with human eyes and so it makes it harder for the human brain to comprehend that it will be OK. A pastor once said that fear is false evidence appearing real. If that's all fear is, then why is it so powerful? Why can it control the mind and paralyze the body without any proof of reality? Well, if light illuminates, then darkness conceals and somewhere in the back of our minds, we know that. That "knowing" or "un-knowing," as the case may be, is what produces the anxiety within us.
It could be that the reason God's first words were, "Let there be light," was to be a model to us. If we are believers and followers of God, then it stands to reason that we will follow what He modeled for us. the next time you're afraid and you're walking in a dark place, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually, speak to your situation and command as God did, "Let there be light."
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Everything We Need
2 Peter 1:3-4 [God] has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us...He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desire.
God has given us the tools we need to participate--to be a part of, to interact with, to function--in the spiritual realm, in God's presence with the Holy Spirit--so that we may escape the corruption int he world. I think God is using these scriptures to say to us: My child, my precious child, who I have chosen from all the earth, why do you keep living and frustrating yourself the way you do day in and day out? I have given you everything, every-thing, you need for your life on this earth--your human, temporal life--and for your time after earth--your time in eternity. I have given you all of these tools in your tool box. Open the box and strap on your tools, and begin to live outside of the pain and corruption of this fallen world and live in peace--in the peace you find in me.
We open up God's tool box and we find a flashlight--the Holy Spirit--to guide us along the path. sometimes the path is dark and we will not be able to see the way with our human eyes. We can only take one step at a time because that's all the light we are given sometimes. But that's ok, God only requires us to go one step at a time. This tool also has the unique function of a map and directions--most flashlights don't have that. The map tool shows our final destination--heaven--but not all the stops we'll have to make in between--such as marriage, new job, etc. The directions tool is cool, because it keeps us on our current path and if we listen to it, it will help us from deviating from the course. It says: turn left here, turn right now, keep moving forward.
We also find, in the toolbox, a hammer and a nail--Jesus--because sometimes you have to hang up reminders as to why you are on this journey and that you are not making it alone. These tools are also useful in breaking down walls. This isn't just any hand-held hammer, this is a power-tool hammer. This has some mighty force behind it to break down walls and other barriers that we have around our hearts and in our minds.
The last tool in the box is something out of the ordinary. The last tool is a coffee pot--time before our Lord. Why a coffee pot? The coffee pot does two things: it's the catalyst of the energy that gets you going everyday, and it's the reminder that if you don't have it, you will struggle to make it. Sure, there are plenty of people who go through everyday with out their morning "cup of coffee," but are they really enjoying their day? How many days in a row can they go on like that and still have peace? Do they have peace? It doesn't take much to get your daily dose of God's peace and wisdom. You can get in that morning cup of coffee.
God says He has given us everything we need to partake in fellowship with Him. I encourage you to open your toolbox and enjoy that time.
God has given us the tools we need to participate--to be a part of, to interact with, to function--in the spiritual realm, in God's presence with the Holy Spirit--so that we may escape the corruption int he world. I think God is using these scriptures to say to us: My child, my precious child, who I have chosen from all the earth, why do you keep living and frustrating yourself the way you do day in and day out? I have given you everything, every-thing, you need for your life on this earth--your human, temporal life--and for your time after earth--your time in eternity. I have given you all of these tools in your tool box. Open the box and strap on your tools, and begin to live outside of the pain and corruption of this fallen world and live in peace--in the peace you find in me.
We open up God's tool box and we find a flashlight--the Holy Spirit--to guide us along the path. sometimes the path is dark and we will not be able to see the way with our human eyes. We can only take one step at a time because that's all the light we are given sometimes. But that's ok, God only requires us to go one step at a time. This tool also has the unique function of a map and directions--most flashlights don't have that. The map tool shows our final destination--heaven--but not all the stops we'll have to make in between--such as marriage, new job, etc. The directions tool is cool, because it keeps us on our current path and if we listen to it, it will help us from deviating from the course. It says: turn left here, turn right now, keep moving forward.
We also find, in the toolbox, a hammer and a nail--Jesus--because sometimes you have to hang up reminders as to why you are on this journey and that you are not making it alone. These tools are also useful in breaking down walls. This isn't just any hand-held hammer, this is a power-tool hammer. This has some mighty force behind it to break down walls and other barriers that we have around our hearts and in our minds.
The last tool in the box is something out of the ordinary. The last tool is a coffee pot--time before our Lord. Why a coffee pot? The coffee pot does two things: it's the catalyst of the energy that gets you going everyday, and it's the reminder that if you don't have it, you will struggle to make it. Sure, there are plenty of people who go through everyday with out their morning "cup of coffee," but are they really enjoying their day? How many days in a row can they go on like that and still have peace? Do they have peace? It doesn't take much to get your daily dose of God's peace and wisdom. You can get in that morning cup of coffee.
God says He has given us everything we need to partake in fellowship with Him. I encourage you to open your toolbox and enjoy that time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)