Look Now

But Abram said, "O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me..." ~ Genesis 15:2

Judah Smith spoke at the 2008 Hillsong Conference. One of the things he pointed out was our response to God. In Genesis, before getting to chapter 15, God had already made a promise to Abram, giving him and his descendants all the land he could see in all directions. Chapter 15 starts out by saying, "After this." After the things that God had promised and shown to Abram, after all that, Abram still said to God, "You haven't given me what I wanted, how I wanted, when I wanted it, in the package I wanted it...So what can you do for me."

Abram's statement seems like a pretty dangerous coming from one made from dirt to the Creator of the universe and all that is in it. But isn't that what we all do? Don't we look at our circumstances, forgetting everything that God did for us in the past years, months, weeks, days, and hours, seeing only what is ahead of us, we complain and whine. And when we do, God says to us, as He said to Abram, "Do not be afraid...I am your shield, your very great reward," (v 1). But to Him we answer sarcastically, "Great. Goody...so what." In his teaching, Judah Smith says that often, we can't see beyond our circumstances because we are looking at heaven from our earthly perspective. He said we need to look at earth from a heavenly perspective. Think about it this way: Can an ant see as far and wide as an elephant sees? No. If the ant is given the same perspective as the elephant, could he see it then? Yes. And we can, too. Far too often, we look at the world through our flesh and blood human eyes. If we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, we no longer have to look at the world that way. If we will but ask the Holy Spirit to help us see things through God's eyes, from His perspective, I bet we'd complain less, pray more, love more, have more compassion, and be much more effective. Why? Because once the ant has the elephant's perspective, he won't go back to taking the long way around, following the crowd, standing in line whining and complaining about his opinion of what's fair. Instead, he'll take the smartest route to get the desired result.

That's exactly what God did with Abram. He took him outside of his ant perspective, and gave him the vast view from the top of the elephant. "Then He brought him outside and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.' And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants be,'" (Genesis 15:5). Sometimes we have to be pulled "outside," outside our circumstances, outside our field of vision, if we are to grab hold of the things that God wants to do in our lives. Where in your life is God saying to you, "Do not be afraid; I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward; look now and see everything that I want to give you as a blessing"?

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, amen. ~ Ephesians 3:20-21

Fit us for heaven

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

Away in a Manger is such a pretty Christmas Carroll. My favorite line is "And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there." The word, "fit," means "to adjust or make conform; to be adapted or suitable for; to prepare; to be be of the right size or shape for; to put with precise placement or adjustment; to provide, furnish, equip." Think about that, the Lord of all the nations, the Lord of all creation, will make us perfectly ready for heaven so that we may live eternally with Him there.

I love Christmas! I love Jesus! Happy Birthday, Jesus! And Merry Christmas to all!

Strength for the Work

They were all trying to frighten us... ~ Nehemiah 6:9

Upon hearing the current condition of his people, the Israelites, Nehemiah wept and prayed and fasted for them. For the Lord had given Nehemiah a burden in his heart for them. And out of this burden grew his desire to protect them by having the wall of Jerusalem rebuilt around them. So, Nehemiah prayed that the Lord would be with him and give him favor before the king. Because of the Lord's favor, the king granted Nehemiah all his requests, (see Nehemiah 1-2). However, "when Samballat the Horonite and Tobian the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites," (Nehemiah 2:10).

Have you ever noticed that when you have a dream, desire, or passion there are many who will try to stop you? Last night, we were watching the Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life. I thought about the character George and the defeat and frustration he felt every time he felt his dreams weren't coming true. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it's all a matter of perspective. Before his run-in with Clarence, the angel, George was miserable and thought his only way out of his mess was to kill himself in hopes that his life insurance policy would help to support his family and business. But after realizing what life would be like if he'd never been born, George realized how many wonderful treasures he had in his life.

That's what dreamers have: perspective. But that's also what the enemy wants to steal. He wants us to stop thinking about the vision and the dream and the purpose for our God-given mission and start thinking about all the problems and what-ifs. Nehemiah's enemies were the same. They threatened him and tried to distract him and said nasty things about him. If Nehemiah had thought about all the things his enemies were saying about him, he might have quit. But instead, he said, "They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, 'Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.' But I prayed, 'Now strengthen my hands,'" (Nehemiah 6:9). We need to keep that mentality and that prayer close to our hearts and ever on our lips, "Lord, strengthen my hands for the work you have called me to. Be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Help me to keep going and if I ever feel like quitting, remind me to keep going. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen."

So the wall was completed...When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this had been done with the help of our God. ~ Nehemiah 6:15-16

Any Thoughts?

Think about what you're thinking about! ~ Joyce Meyer

On a cold day, do you ever find yourself thinking about soup. Oh, how glorious soup would taste on a cold day; the warm broth going down your throat, warming you inside and out. In fact, the more you think about it, the more you're determined to have it. But how will you get it? Will you go to a restaurant and spend money you don't have? Will you borrow money from a friend, only to have to pay them back? Oh, now that you've set your heart and taste buds on soup, nothing will taste as glorious as that soup you've been dreaming about for the past 5 - 10 minutes. What will you do if you can't have that soup? Who will you be mad at? Who will you blame?

Does any of this sound familiar? What about at your job? Does your boss ever say one thing, only to change his or her mind later? Does it seem all too unfair to you? What about at home? Have you asked your spouse time and time again to help with the chores--to at least rinse the dishes before putting them in the sink? Why are you always the one getting dumped on? Even in volunteering, it seems to you that you are the only one who ever steps up, goes the extra mile, gives the extra hand, and is expected to do it every time...Right?

Are you sure about that? Are you 100% sure that soup is the only thing that will satisfy you, that your boss is trying to jip you, that your family doesn't consider your needs, that those you volunteer with and for are trying to dump on you? Those are dangerous thoughts to have. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." If all of your thoughts are consumed with being mad at the world because you can't have your soup, then sooner or later you will lash out at someone because you didn't get what you thought you had coming to you, what you thought you deserved. But there's also a flip side to that: if you turn your thoughts, even ever so slightly, your whole attitude and demeanour will change. Think about your thoughts as a pattern of numbers. If you take 3 to the fourth power, the end result is 81. But, if you take 4 to the fourth power, the end result is 256. As you can see, a small change in your life can make a big difference. So ask yourself, "What am I thinking about?"

But because you say so

But because you say so, I will... ~ Luke 5:5

Picture this: You are working at your job or career--which is the same thing your father did before you and his father before him--when a man you don't know walks up to you and offers his advice. How would you take it? Most people wouldn't. Some might smile and nod, but not take the advice. Others might yell at him for offering the advice. So what would you do? Let's look at the story of Simon Peter, the fisherman. He and his men had been working all night, to no avail, and were tired. Jesus entered the scene, taught a little bit to all who were in earshot, and then offered this advice to Peter, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch," (Luke 5:4).

At this juncture, Peter had two choices; he could either take the advice or decline it. Now, Peter and his men were tired, but having heard Jesus teach, he could probably sense that there was more to this man, even if he couldn't explain it. So at Jesus' request, Peter replied, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets," (v 5).

We are all faced with situations we can't handle or do anything about. They are times that leave us tired and worn out. And just before we've completely given up, Jesus says to us, "Follow where I lead. Listen to what I say." When we hear Him speak to us like that, we have to make a choice: Listen and follow, Go my own way. When we listen and follow, we are giving Him our obedience and then the final results are His responsibility. It seems so simple: follow and obey, but when it comes down to it, you feel so torn. You're torn because these are what all the medical tests say; all the experts are saying the same thing; it doesn't make logical financial sense to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit; the checkbook is black and white... But Jesus said, "Follow me." The Bible spells it out like this: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well," (Matthew 6:33). If we listen and obey, if we follow God, there is no limit to what He can do in our lives!

When they had [let down their nets], they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. ~ Luke 5:6-7

Teaching

If you extract the precious from the worthless you will become my spokesman. ~ Jeremiah 15:19

This has become one of my key verses. It reminds me that it's not your past that makes you significant or unique, but what you do with it. Many people have suffered things, but only a few have come forward to make a difference in the lives of others because of it. Some have done it through career choices, some through better parenting, some through sharing their testimony. My mom's favorite verse is Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." My mom was another person who was determined to make a difference in someone else's life because of what she had seen, what she had experienced. My mom is a hero to so many because she didn't let the worthless events of her past keep her down. Instead, she extracted the key points that would help her grow and then dumped the rest.

Last night, my husband and I were preparing for a teaching we will give this coming Monday. It's a subject that's taboo to discuss in many settings. We were talking abut how we would present it and he asked me if I would give my testimony. I hadn't thought about it until that moment that this would be the first time I would share my testimony with people I don't really know. At the time when we volunteered to do this teaching, the group was a lot smaller and we had walked closely with the majority of the people for two years or more. Now, however, the group is much larger and there are quite a few people I don't know. But this morning, the Holy Spirit whispered, "extract the precious from the worthless." This is an opportunity, not to shine a light on all the ways the enemy targets and attacks our marriages and lives, but to give all the glory to God, because it is only with His help and His strength that we can even be able to have a testimony to share.

Thank you, Father God, for this opportunity to give hope to somebody who might be in the midst, to share Your wisdom with those who might be on the verge, and to share Your love with everyone there, because we all need it. Lord, give us clarity of thought and speech as we give our this teaching, in hopes that it might change, encourage, or inspire even just one life. Lord it's all for Your glory that I go. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

If God is for us, who can be against us? ... I am convinced that...[nothing] in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:31, 38, 39

Dry Bones

He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O, Sovereign Lord, you alone know." ~ Ezekiel 37:3

Imagine this: God is walking you through a valley filled with bones, bones that have been sitting there so long, they are now dry and brittle. That is the scene from which this scripture comes. When God walks with us through a situation, through circumstances, through life, He sees the world very differently than we do. Ezekiel looked at the scene and said, "These guy were once live soldiers, but now they are nothing but bones waiting to turn to dust." That's often times the way we look at circumstances, at people. We see their past or their present and we make a judgement call: little hope or maybe even no hope for them at all.

Fortunately for all of us, God sees with bigger eyes than that. He sees our situation and says, "Time and space mean nothing to Me. For Me, there is no past, present, or future. For Me the time is now." Because God can see all of that, and knows all of that, He does not lose heart; He does not give up. And neither should we, because if He lives in us, than He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world, (1 John 4:4). We need to remember that it may not be in our power, but all things are possible through Christ Jesus, (Matthew 19:26).

Where are the dry bones in your life that need God to breathe on them? Perhaps it's your marriage where communication and intimacy have grown so cold that they might as well be dead. Perhaps it's with your children who have stopped talking to you, trusting you, and respecting you and they act as if you don't exist. Perhaps it's another family member who is estranged. Maybe they said or did something, maybe you did, either way the relationship has grown cold.

But the Lord is asking us, "Can this dead relationship live? Can you believe in Me and trust Me enough to put your faith and hope in Me?" Remember, this is our God, "who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were," (Romans 4:17). With that in mind, will you trust Him? Will you believe that He will do as He says?

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them: they came to life and stood up on their feet ~ Ezekiel 37:10

Well-Watered Garden

You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.~ Isaiah 58:11

There's something really amazing that happens when one person takes their time and loves on you the way that Christ loves on you. It does amazing things inside of you: it melts hearts of stone, it breaks down walls and barriers, it heals wounds, it begins the process of forgiveness, it helps us grow, and best of all, it gets us to draw closer to God because inevitably we want what they've got!

When you are Jesus to someone else, the Bible says you will be to that other person a safe-haven, a well-watered garden, a place of comfort and rest. But even more than that, the Bible says, "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame," (Isaiah 58:11). When we give away what we need, such as encouragement and love, or when we give out of our abundance, then God says He will fill us up with the things that we need. It's the law of sowing and reaping. When you bless someone else, God fills you up with that and so much more! The point isn't to give, looking for what you will receive, but to be the blessing--to be Jesus to someone who needs Him--and to know that God will always give you the things that you need.

When you've been Jesus to someone else, "you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer or Streets with Dwellings," (Isaiah 58:12). Who's been Jesus to you? Who needs you to be Jesus to them?

Change It Up!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. ~ Psalm 150:6

Yesterday morning, I was trying to spend my usual time with God, but I was really struggling. I didn't know what to study. I didn't know what to read. I couldn't concentrate when I was praying. I was just having a really hard time. Part of the issue was that I was upset and so I struggled to keep my focus. I told God that I didn't know what to do. He said to me, "Spend some time in worship with me."

Years ago, when I first tried to spend daily time with God, I didn't know how to do it. A wonderful woman gave me a formula, for lack of a better term, that helped me to stay on track. It was 5 minutes of praying, 5 minutes of thanking God, 5 minutes of reading, & 5 minutes of writing in my journal. At the time, I didn't know how I was going to do all that for 20 minutes, but it all worked out.

I've still been following the same formula, just longer lengths of time. But yesterday, for what ever reason, I just couldn't do it. Then, when God spoke to me, I said, "OK." I quietly turned on our stereo in the living room (as it was still early) and I spent an hour just worshiping God. I felt so free and so full of joy when I was done and I realized the scripture is true: When we praise God, the chains that are meant to keep us bound up fall off of us and bind our enemy, (see Psalm 149:6-9). The enemy could no longer keep me down and keep me bound up, because I was too filled with God's joy and His peace!

Maybe something in your walk with God has become "routine." Perhaps you need a "change up", a fresh new way to worship your God and King. If you've been feeling dry and not filled up after your time spent with Him, try spending some time a different way. God doesn't want that time to be just a part of your daily routine. He wants that time to be something we look forward to, because He's always looking forward to spending time with us.

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people ~ Psalm 149:3-4

Whom Shall I Fear?

The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? ~ Psalm 27:1

The Bible tells us that the name of the Lord is above all names, (Philippians 2:9). Now that is Truth, but do we believe it? In 365 different verses, the Bible tells us, "Do not fear". Why? Because God knew that as humans, one of our first reactions to things would be fear and/or anxiety. But God doesn't want that for our lives; He wants more, much more.

The scripture above teaches us four important things about God:
1) The Lord is my light. Throughout the course of our lifetimes, we will enter many places of darkness, in our minds, hearts, and emotions. This verse is a reminder that the Lord goes with us through them all. He is the light onto our path, even if it's just one step at a time.
2) The Lord is my salvation. The scripture doesn't just mean that he redeems me from an eternity in hell, although there is that, too. Salvation, here, means deliverance, safety, victory. In times of trouble and times of need, I can call upon the Lord and He will come to my aid, He will deliver me, keep me safe, and bring victory into my life and my situation.
3) The Lord is my stronghold. A stronghold is a place of safety and protection. Remember the story of the house built on the rock vs. the house built on the sand, (see Matthew 7)? Storms came upon both situations, but the house built on the rock was the one that survived. Why? Because a rock--The Rock--is a firm foundation, not shifting like sand, but solid. It provides safety, protection, a harbor from rising waters. The Lord is that rock, and the Rock is our stronghold against the the things that mean to destroy us.
4) There is no one I need to fear. "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name," (Philippians 2:9). The name of the Lord is above every name. How many names? Every single last one--all. In Greek, the word, "all" means all. In every situation and every circumstance, the Lord is the over-comer, the victor, the One who rises above them all. When the Lord calls us to cast all our anxieties upon Him, He means all.

Cast all your anxiety upon Him because He cares for you. ~1 Peter 5:7

Raising to be Warriors

For waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers. ~ Proverbs 24:6

Every little boy, from the time he is small until he is tall, knows he is a warrior. It is in the games they play and how they play them. Each one wants to be the biggest, fastest, tallest, toughest, hardest, roughest, winner! Whether through Transformers or race cars or dirt, each one plays their side to win. When a boy grows to be a man, he carries that spirit with him, that warrior-winner spirit. But as a man in an adult world, there are many more rules and restraints; much more clutter and confusion. How can he possibly win the battle he was born to fight?

1) He needs guidance. "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it," (Proverbs 22:6). When a child is born, he knows nothing. Through guidance, wisdom, and example, he will learn. Of the three, your example as a parent or guardian is the one he'll remember and carry with him, more so than the others. If your example falls in step with your guidance and wisdom, he will carry those with him, as well. Be honest, be straight forward. Teach him with love, teach him with tenderness, but also, teach him with Truth.

2) He needs advisers. If your guidance has been solid, he may turn to you for advice. But even if he doesn't, pray that the Lord would surround him with godly counsel and that his heart would be open to the Word of the Lord. "Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust," (Psalms 40:4). If he makes the Lord his hope, his center, his confidence, his trust, who can come against him? Who can make him fall?

Pastor Chis Hodges said, "We must win the war in the spiritual." That is done through fasting and prayer and listening and trusting and obeying. Long before these boys ever become great men of God, there was someone praying them through. As a parent, a relative, a friend, a community--don't you want to know it was you?

Let's pray:
Father, thank you for all the boys you have raised and will raise to be leaders of this community-leaders for your glory, Lord. Father, I pray that no matter what every man has been taught, that you would surround him with godly counsel and that he would give ear to your word and follow your instructions. Lord, I pray for a hedge of protection around them and your steadfast love and guidance to come round about them. Help them to be godly leaders in every area of their lives: at work, at home with their families, and in the community. Thank you, Lord, for raising up little boys to be warriors and victors in your kingdom. It is in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

God's Masterpiece

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
My sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!

Jesus paid it all! All to Him I owe... Not because He demands it as rent or anything. I owe it because after He paid it all, after He set me free--and not just a little free, but completely free--how could I not want to give Him my all, everything that's in me? He died for me and with everything that's in me, I will live for Him! And when I live for Him with everything, the Bible says I am "a letter from Christ...written..with the Spirit of the Living God...on the tablets of human hearts," (2 Corinthians 3:3). Ephesians 2:10 says that I am God's workmanship. The Greek word for workmanship is poema, which is where our word "poem" comes from. I am God's poem. I am God's work of art. I am God's masterpiece.

Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead. Jesus!

Thank you, Lord for paying it all, without hesitation or reservation. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to love you and to be your love letter to the world. I love you, Lord!

Strength for Her Tasks

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. ~ Proverbs 31:17

At first glance, the Proverbs 31 woman may be intimidating and overwhelming for most women. I think the greatest thing someone told me about "her" is that the Proverbs 31 woman is not all of those things all at once, but throughout the course of her life; it's over the course of seasons that she does the different tasks listed. There are many verses that describe her, but the two that stand out to me are verse 17, "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks," and verse 26, "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Neither verse speaks about her humanity, but rather, about the Spirit living inside of her. With wisdom and faithful instruction, she speaks. That doesn't doesn't come naturally, and it can't really be learned without the help of the Holy Spirit.

All women can become a Proverbs 31 woman and be worthy of the praise that is described, but only if she has the right tools. The best way to achieve that is to ask God who gives generously. If we are to become this woman, we need to do two things: 1) Pray. Ask God to surround you and your husband with godly couples who you can learn from and give the freedom or right to speak into your lives in the areas in which you need instruction and/or encouragement. 2) Obey. Obedience is the key. We can hear all greatest instruction from both God and man, but until we follow, it won't do us any good. Verse 17 says that her arms are strong for her tasks, that is because she sets about the tasks that the Lord has called her to do, and as she obeys His call, He strengthens her.

A Proverbs 31 woman is not an example to intimidate us, but to lead us and guide us throughout the course of our lives. If there is an area in your life that you need more help from God, ask Him and He promises to fill you in that area.

Preparation

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with the sword and sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me...So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. ~ 1 Samuel 17:45-46, 50

There are many things in this world that come against us with the purpose to destroy us. The question of how we will deal with these forces is answered in two ways. 1) What has our "training" been like? "Train even your weaklings to be warriors," (Joel 3:10). All of us are trained for the things God has in store for us. It may not be equal to the formal education or parenting that others have received. But God does not follow man's rules for "training." In fact, when we are first introduced to David, who would later become king, his own father disregards him as one who tends sheep (see 1 Samuel 16:11). But God said, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart," (1 Samuel 16:7). Through shepherding, God had been training David for the things He would call Him to do later. For example, David had to keep a watchful eye out for many predators, and when the did come, he had to physically fight them off. He also had to know how to tend, feed, and care for the many in his flock. Even if it wasn't as glamorous as some, David still received all the training he would need to take the next step when God called him.
2) Who is fighting for us and with us? In 1 Samuel 17, David said tot he army of giants that he was not afraid of them because he knew he wasn't fighting alone. He said, "I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel," (v 45). When we fight the things that are against God and against His will for our lives, we do not fight alone. God never wanted us to feel helpless in the face of battle, so He described in detail our weapons of warfare (see Ephesians 6:10-20).

The bottom line is that when God calls you, He prepares, trains, and equips you and He never sends you out alone. Know that whatever you are facing, whatever you may be fighting, God is with you. Always.

The Lord himself goes before you and he will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. ~ Deuteronomy 31:8

Yet this I Call to Mind

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope ~ Lamentations 3:21

When we're down, things aren't going our way, or we're under attack--specifically in our health, our finances, or our families--it's easier to become consumed by thoughts of how life will let you down and keep you there. But we've got to remember what Ephesians 6:12 tells us: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood...but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." We're not fighting with bill collectors, parents, in-laws, spouses, co-workers, etc. We are fighting the enemy. But it's ok, because Jesus has already given us the victory and to win this battle, we must pray and fast and remember. We must call to our remembrance all the things that God has already done and won for us. He's loved us, saved us, and rescued us more than once. When we're in life's pits, we need to remember all He has done for us.

We have a choice. We are able to choose to think on the positive or the negative; we can choose to remember God's promises or life's let downs. In making the choice to remember the things of God, it is in that where we can hope, as the scripture says.

So practice today, and in the days to come. When your boss gets on your nerves and things aren't panning out the way you think they should, practice remembering God's promises. Hang them up in your home, your office, wherever you will see them, breathe in His life-giving presence, and find peace in a God who loves you.

See

Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men." ~ Joshua 6:1-2

I was in my car the other day when I heard on of Jayar's daughters telling a story on the JoyFM, and I thought to myself, "When did we stop telling amazing stories with giants and princesses and magical lands? When did we become too 'grown-up'?" I, personally, am a huge fan of happy endings. If it ends poorly or has a sad ending, the whole movie was a waste, to me. I prefer larger-than-life, too-good-to-be-true stories. I believe God does, too, but He likes to be the author, making them all happen.

In the scripture above, we read that Jericho was so shut up that no one went in and no one came out; there was not the slightest weakness to be found. But that doesn't matter to God; for He is a God of bigger ideas and better endings. Given the scene, God simply said to Joshua, "See." He said, "Know, look, realize, become aware; I have done this thing for you. Can you see it in your mind's eye? Can you live it in your heart? Can you taste the victory, yet?" To some degree, God calls all of us to "see," for we serve an invisible God; one who is not discovered, realized, or known with our five senses. It is only by faith that we can see and know God.

I once heard someone say, "If you can dream it, you can do it." The Bible goes a step further, and says that God "calls things that are not as though they were," (Romans 4:17). That day, standing before the walls of Jericho, God said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands." He didn't say, "I will;" He said, "I have."

What is your Jericho? What do you need to "see" God deliver into your hands? Is it a debt that seems insurmountable? Is it a conflict in your marriage or with your kids? Is it a weight or health issue? It is an addiction? Whatever it is, God does not say, "Your problem is too big for Me." No, He says, "See, I have given you this thing. I have delivered it into your hands." Our job is not to worry about how God will get it done, but to see and know and envision that it is done. Our job is to call it done, to claim it done, to see it done.

Lord, thank you that you have delivered this thing into our hands. Help us today to envision what that looks, feels, tastes like. Help us to experience it as done. I thank you, Father, that it is already done in our lives. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Cement

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. ~ Romans 10:17

When you hear a word or promise or truth from God what do you do next? That next step can make all the difference in the world. The Bible tells us that if "you confess with your mouth...and believe in your heart..." it will be cemented as truth in your life, (see Romans 10:9-10). The word "confession" means to declare it and when we declare it, we own it (dictionary.com). This is why it is so important to confess, or to speak, only that which is God's Truth and will for your life. If we start to confess or speak lies, then we will begin to own them and they will become our reality.

Confession is much like using cement. Now, the dictionary says that cement is "used as a building material...used especially...for making things adhere...[to] bind or unite." So, if what I speak out of my mouth is going to bind itself to me, I should probably think before I speak. When you hear or read about God's truth or God's will for your life, speak those things out of your mouth--confess them--and they will become united with you. The flip side, however, means that when you hear a lie, don't speak it out of your mouth so that it won't become bonded or united with you.

Consider this: cement is "used as a building material," (dictionary.com). If confessing is like using cement, then what you speak out of your mouth is going to build physical results into your life. For example, you can determine the condition of your mind through what you speak: "I have the mind of Christ," (1 Corinthians 2:16); "No weapon formed against me shall prosper," (Isaiah 54:17); "I am more than a conqueror" (Romans 8:37); "I am the head and not the tail, above and not beneath," (Deuteronomy 28:13); "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength," (Philippians 4:13). When you speak out these truths over your life, then you start to hear them, and then you start to believe them, and then you start to act on them. That is why the Bible says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." When you speak, you build up your faith--the things you know and believe in. When you speak, you begin to listen to (or to hear) what you are saying. When you start to hear it, then you start to believe it. Once you get one truth down, the next truth becomes easier to believe, and to believe for your own life.

So ask yourself, "What things am I cementing into my life?" The answer will change your world!

Stand in the River

Go and stand in the river. ~ Joshua 3:8

Have you ever been told to do something by God that made you quirk an eyebrow? One thing I've learned about God is that He likes to do things in such a way that make people stand up and notice and know that it was Him. When God was speaking to Joshua, all the tribes of Israel were camped on one side of the Jordan waiting to finally enter the Promise Land. The barrier that stood between them and victory was the Jordan River, which the Bible tells us was at flood stage, (v. 15). Now it was the priests, the Levites, whom God told Joshua should enter the river first, while carrying the ark of the covenant.

Now, imagine you are one of the Levites, whom Joshua said must enter the rushing waters first, all the while carrying the ark of the covenant. I imagine that their response may have been, "Just so we're clear, you want us to walk out into that rushing water, which is going to be waist deep and stand in the middle, all the while carrying the ark?" Now carrying the ark was not like carrying groceries. The ark of the covenant was designed and built in such a way that it could not be lifted if even one Levite was not there to carry it; and all the Levites who carried the ark were aware that they all had to work together to carry it. The concern would be that if even one man was swept away by the rushing waters, then the others would fall and fail to carry the ark.

Between us and victory is sometimes one last test, one last challenge, one last something, because the devil is trying to put up every block in our paths to keep us from victory. But what the devil doesn't realize is that what he intends to harm us, God can turn around for our good and His glory, (see Romans 8:28). These men were all standing, staring at the river that threatened to rush over them. When we are facing situations that threaten to rush over us, we need to remember two promises from God: 1) He is with you. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you," (Isaiah 43:2). 2) He will cause the enemy to flee. "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will put him to flight," (Isaiah 59:19a). It almost sounds like the introduction to a superhero: Never fear, God is here! God is the only superhero we need.

The Levites trusted that if God told Joshua that they were to go and stand in the river, that He would protect them. They knew that God would watch over them and take care of them, even if there was still rushing water when they entered the river. God makes that same promise to us. He says that where He has called us to go, He will protect us and keep us safe.

Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from up stream stopped flowing...The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of God stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by...on dry ground. ~ Joshua 3:15-17

God is Love

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 1:6

Be confident, be assured, be encouraged, be of good cheer, be at peace, be steadfast, be holding on to this truth! God is He, the God of the universe, who created everything--the sun, the moon, and the stars--all in perfect alignment and balance, who created the elephants, the ants, and you. He is with you, He is in you, He is all around you. He will never leave you. He will never forget you. He will never let you go. He is love. As they say about love, "it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails," (1 Corinthians 13:7-8). The God who knows everything and is always everywhere is with you and He loves you. He is always protecting you--sending His angels to surround you. He always trusts you; even when you fall, He is encouraging you to get back up and go again. He is hope, which is why you can hope. He always perseveres: He is always seeking after you, nothing can stop Him, no matter what. God is love and love never fails. This is the "He" we mean. He--before you were born--on the day that He decided upon you--long before your parents were even a glimmer in your grandparents' dreams. Even then He was working on you. And it is He who began a good work in you and He is faithful. For He is love and love never fails and He will never fail. He will never fail to finish what He started in you. He is the God of many things. Most importantly, He is the God who loves you.

He's Got Us

You hem me in--behind and before; ~ Psalm 139:5

My favorite poem has always been Footprints. It tells the story of God walking through life with the speaker and how there were always two sets of footprints in the sand--one belonging to the speaker and one to the Lord. But then the speaker was disturbed to discover that during the harshest and most painful times in life, there was only one set of footprints in the sand. The speaker felt very hurt and abandoned. But the Lord said, When you saw only one set of prints, it was then that I carried you." The Lord promised to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

In Psalm 23, David (the author) talks about how the Lord never leaves him, but rather leads him: "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters...He guides me in paths of righteousness," (vv 2-3). Even in the scary, hard, and painful times, as David recounts walking "through the valley of the shadow of death," he knows that he's not alone. He says, "I will fear no evil for you [God] are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me," (vv 4). The shepherd's rod is used for protection, but it's also the mark of authority. The shepherd's staff is his source of support. So we have God's protection, His authority, and His support with us at all times. That is why David said, "they comfort me."

When you reflect on the hard times of your life--or if you are walking through one of those hard times now--what do you see? The facts may be that we see only one set of foot prints in the sand. They truth is those prints belong to the Lord, because He's carrying us through. God's got us completely surrounded, we're hemmed in, and protected on all sides.

Secrets

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. ~ Proverbs 25:2

Before His death on the cross, Jesus told His disciples that He would be going to be with the Father, but they shouldn't fret because when He left, He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them. We talk about the Holy Spirit now, and we have some kind of understanding of who He is. The disciples, however, had no idea and the thought of Jesus--their teacher--leaving them was horrifying. I'm sure they thought to themselves, "How will we know what we need to know? What is this ghost, this spirit that He says He will send to us?" But to ease and comfort their minds, Jesus said, "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears...He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you," (John 16:13-15). The disciples had gotten used to Jesus telling parables--stories, hidden things--to any who would listen, but then reveal the truth, the secret things, to His disciples when they were alone. Jesus was trying to convey to His disciples that they would still get the same teachings in the truth, the only difference would be that Jesus would not physically be there to speak into their ears, but that the Holy Spirit would speak straight into their hearts.

The Bible tells us, "The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to him," (Psalms 25:14). The Lord shares His secrets with those who "fear" him, who trust him, who spend time with him, who are in awe of him. Today, if you've invited Him into your heart, Christ has sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of us, to speak to us, to share secret and hidden things with us. These things aren't broadcast to everyone, but they are only for us, for those who seek Him out.

It was only when Jesus was alone with His disciples that He would reveal the truth, the secret things. The same is true for us now. It is when we are alone with God, in our secret place--perhaps in the spare bedroom, the couch, a closet--that He will speak to us. He speaks intimately and lovingly to us. He teaches us. He shares things--secret things--with us. If you're spending this time, write down what He reveals to you, so you can reflect on it later. If you are not spending this quality, alone time with your Savior, just think of what you're missing. It's never too late to start. Just think about all the hidden mysteries He will reveal to you.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. ~ Jeremiah 33:3

Love

Love...is not self-seeking...keeps no records of wrongs...It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

This verse says that it's not about me and what I can (or should) receive, but what I can give. And so I write this as a wife to my husband, in hopes that all spouses will seek to give this perfect Love.

Not Self-Seeking: Lord, teach me to put my husband's needs first in line. Help me to remember that I have been called to serve my husband, to respect him, and to honor him. Help me to learn about his needs, his dreams, his desires and to seek to help him fulfill those.

No Records of Wrongs: Lord, help me to view my husband through today's eyes. Help me to put the things of the past in the past. Help me not to jump to the conclusion that his actions are based on anything but the man he is today. And Lord, if I do keep any records, let them be only of his accomplishments and growth.

Always Protects: Lord, it is my honor to cover my husband in prayer for protection, and to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, so that I may give my husband wise counsel in all things. Lord, help me to always protect my husband.

Always Trusts: Lord, help me to make my decisions and my conclusions out of trust and truth and not out of fear. Help me to listen to the voice of Truth--the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Always Hopes: Lord, help me to remember that there is always hope--no matter what, there is always hope. As Your Word says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," (Hebrews 11:1). Because hope turns into faith and faith into actions, let there always be hope.

Always Perseveres: Father, they say when the going gets tough, the tough get going--they persevere. Help me to persevere in all areas, not just a few. "Consider it pure joy, my [sisters] when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything," (James 1:2-4).

Lord, help me to love like that! Love never fails. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:8

It's All About Me

Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left...Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. ~ Isaiah 54:2-4

Am I the cause of my current situation? Why don't I have more, give more, live more? Why am I stuck in a $10, $15, $50 per hour job? What holds me back? What keeps me locked in this place?

The answer, I discovered, was simple. The answer is me. God says, "[You] enlarge the place of your tent, [you] stretch your tent curtains wide, [you] do not hold back; [you] lengthen your cords, [you] strengthen your stakes...[you] do not be afraid...[you] do not fear disgrace." God says it's all about and up to you. God has provided it all, but I have to be the one to take the initiative to go after it. I can't wait for it to be done for me; I can't blame someone else. I need to trust God and go for it.

So what holds me back? I think it comes down to what Joyce Meyer refers to as "stinkin' thinkin'." God knew we would struggle with this and that is why He tells us to take our every thought captive, (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). What does that look like? How do you do that?
1) Get familiar with God's Word. If we're not reading, studying, and thinking about God's Word, how will we know if something is found in His Word?
2) Get familiar with God's voice. When you're praying and spending alone time with God, are you doing all the talking, or are you listening, too? Practice listening to God's voice; He's always talking to us, but are we listening?
3) Visualize taking your thoughts captive. Imagine every thought as a piece of paper. When one tries to enter your mind, grab hold of it. Examine it. This is where knowing God's Word and His voice come in handy. As you examine the thought, ask yourself, "Does this sound like something God has said in His Word or has spoken to me?" If so, then allow the thought. If not, throw the paper (thought) down and stomp on it!

So how does this help me to enlarge the place of my tent? Studying God's Word is a double blessing: it teaches you what not to allow and fills your mind with good stuff. As you go deeper and deeper into God's Word, you begin to believe that His promises are true...even for you...even for today! As you begin to believe, you can begin to open up to all that God has for you and when He calls you to enlarge the place of your tent, you will, without question, simply because He said so.

Lord, I pray that you would help us all to fill our minds with your words--help it to be unmistakable and unforgettable, always at the forefront of our minds. Father, I pray that as we study your word, that we would be doubly blessed: that you would both fill our minds and build up our defenses against the enemy's attacks. We know that he comes only to take from us, but you have promised us abundant life. Lord, I pray that all (including me) who read this today would put it into practice, that we'd be filled with your word and we'd begin to enlarge our borders, that we'd begin to see beyond what our physical eyes can see. Lord, I pray these things in Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Precious

Therefore, thus says the Lord, "If you return, then I will restore you--Before Me you will stand. And if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman. ~Jeremiah 15:19)

There are times in all of our lives that don't make sense, whether it's a disease, a child's wild behavior, a parent's lack of presence, the death of a baby, etc. When those things happen to us, what do we do? Sometimes, we ask why, but we may never get an answer--one we can work out in our heads--this side of heaven. So what do we do?
1) Return to God. Often times, we blame God and turn our backs on Him. Our first step, always, is to come back to Him.
2) Allow Him to restore you. No matter what has happened to you, no matter who was to blame--if there is someone to blame--allow God to wash away the pain and bitterness you've been carrying around in your heart. Allow Him to weed it out and give you a new heart.
3) Know your position--Stand before God. You are God's kid, that makes you a prince or a princess in the Kingdom of Heaven. Stand tall and be proud, as a person of royalty. Allow God to restore you to your position before Him.
4) Extract the precious. Look at the situation and determine if there is anything that can be learned from it. Is there anything to be gained out of the painful situation? Whatever can be taken, gained, or gleaned, keep those parts--then pitch the rest. Don't hang on to them, just pitch them!
5) Become God's spokesperson. Don't waste what you went through; console others, love them, share with them, stand with them. When you've been through something painful or traumatic, you want to be surrounded by people who truly love you--who really understand. Be God's light in someone else's darkness...be God's spokesperson.

Training

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5:1

I've heard it said that it takes 21 days to break an old habit and an additional 21 days to form a new one. That's a total of 42 days or 6 weeks. When you're trying to form a new habit--eating right, exercising, taking better care of your body, trusting God, being transparent, trusting and/or listening to your spouse--6 weeks can feel like an eternity. But, from the benefits side, it's worth it.

God knows that when He created us, we were made from clay, which is why He says in His Word, "Stand firm," because He knows that when we are so close, many will give up and then will have to start over again later. If God knows we are weak, why must we endure such a lengthy retraining? It is because God needs warriors. Joel 3:10, "Train even your weaklings to be warriors." God needs us to follow Him, without question, so He uses these times as a training ground. He needs people who will stick with it, who won't quit on Him. He is raising up warriors.

I know you're thinking, "You just don't understand my situation, you just don't understand my pain." Probably not, but God does and He's with you every step of the way as your coach. He's calling out to you, "Come on, one more step, one more, one more! Keep going, it's almost over, it's almost done! You're almost there, you've almost got it! Keep going, don't quit, don't quit, don't quit!" God knows what you are going through, He knows what you're facing, but He's allowing it because He needs something from you: He needs warriors. He needs us in the field to be His hands and feet to walk with others who need Him, too. This is your training ground, don't quit. It's not even about the rewards in heaven--and they are promised to us as rewards. It's about the day when your training will be over and God will call out to you, "Your training is done. Now get on your feet and walk!"

Train even your weaklings to be warriors...And now, O Lord, call out your warriors! ~ Joel 3:10-11

Uniquely His

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others. ~ 1 Peter 4:10

Have you ever seen somebody and thought, "I wish I could be like that person," or had what they had or could do what they could do? But God said that we are all important in our own roles and He made us to be individuals, serving and praising the way He created us. For example, I kind of tripped over my gifts from God in college. I was going to be a Marine Biologist because I was fascinated with the way sharks eat. My mom tried to point out that this field was going to be more than just sight-seeing and shark-watching, but I didn't listen. After my first year in college--when I had failed my science classes--I decided Marine Biology wasn't the thing for me. So, somebody said, "What about physical therapy? You'd be good at that. They make great money." So I took some more science classes and added a few math classes. But, unfortunately, I didn't do well in those either. But what I realized was that I was excelling in all my writing classes, and I was enjoying them. So I changed my major to English so I could write papers and poetry and short stories.

The point isn't what God didn't create me to be, but that He created me to be uniquely me. He created me to fulfill a specific purpose that He had set aside for me. That's what the Bible is talking about in 1 Corinthians 12, when it's describing the many parts of the body. "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though its parts are many, they form one body," (vv 12). God created some to be singers, some to prayer warriors, some to be teachers, some to be small group leaders, some to be counselors, some to work all the technology that churches need, some to do the financing, some to be elders, some to be ministry leaders, some to be pastors, some to be creative writers, and so on. We may all be serving in different areas, in different ways, "But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be," (vv 18). Just think what life would be like if we all tried to sing, all the time...especially for those like me who aren't sure if we ever hit a key. Or think of what the equipment would look like if we all tried to run the technology or the smoothie machines. But God didn't make us to be the same. He made us all to be uniquely His, that the parts of His body, "should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it," (vv 25-26).

We are all a part of God's one body. We are all God's kids. We are all uniquely His.

That the Lord Promised Me

"Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day." ~ Joshua 14:12

Do you remember your wedding vows, the ones that said, "to have and to hold, in good times and bad, for as long as we both shall live,"? Your vows were promises to each other and to God. You were promising that when the going gets tough, you weren't going to walk out, but rather, you were in it for life and would stand up and fight to fulfill your vows. When we are married, God makes promises to us, too. He promises that He has a plan and a purpose for your marriage and if you will only walk with Him and do as He asks, He will fulfill every one of those promises. Now, if you don't know what those promises are, you need to ask God and He'll show you. Once you've received those promises, you must be committed to them. You must be determined to fight for them and often times, they aren't overnight promises.

Consider Caleb. Caleb and Joshua were two of 10 spies who were sent to check out the promise land. When they returned, Caleb and Joshua said that while there were dangers, they knew that God would be faithful to protect them and they could enjoy the land. The other spies had lost sight of the promise of God's protection and saw only the dangers and unfortunately, majority ruled and no one entered in at that time. However, because of their trust, God made promises to both Caleb and Joshua. To Caleb, God promised he'd live at least till 85 years of age and that he'd inherit Hebron the hill country. Caleb was 45 when God made those promises--plenty of time for Caleb to give up and lose heart and doubt.

But Caleb did not doubt and he did not lose heart. Instead, he said, "Now then, just as the Lord promised me, he has kept me alive forty-five years...So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I'm still as strong today...I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day," (Joshua 14:10-12). Caleb knew that God would never forget or take back His promises and because of that Caleb had no fear to stand up and say, "Now give me what was promised to me."

We need to be like Caleb in our marriages. We need to stand up to every authority, person, and any other opposition that holds itself against our marriage. We need to say, "God promised and is faithful and I refuse to give up. I know that God will do as He promised." We need to not fall into the trap of laziness and stop nurturing our marriage, for just as a baby will die without nourishment, so will our marriage. We need to be determined that we will not give up and we will not quit fighting for this blessing for this gift that God has given us. We need to have a Caleb-strong marriage.

Father God, I pray that every person reading this would have the resolve to hang on to their marriage--no matter the state their marriage is in today. Lord, I pray right now that you would come upon every marriage and give them encouragement, help them to know that they are not alone and they don't have to fight alone anymore. Help them to know that, if they ask, you will give them the vision for their marriage and send them fellow believers to surround them and keep them on that track. Lord, I thank you for the blessing of marriage and I pray that you would teach us how to always keep it Holy. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

With All His Energy

To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works within me. ~ Colossians 1:29

Have you ever been given a task, an assignment, a job, a purpose, and you looked at it and thought, "There's no way. There is just no way I could do that." I have to imagine that's what every "hero" of the Bible thought when they first heard their assignment. Consider Moses, who was assigned the task of delivering the Israelites from the powerful Egyptian Pharaoh, who told God that he couldn't and the people wouldn't believe God sent him, (see Exodus 3-4). Review the story of Ester, who was asked to approach the King to save the Israelites; she said she couldn't do anything or her life would be over, (see Ester 4). These are two "greats" in the Bible. Why? Were they the best dressed? Were they the smartest? No, what set them apart was their willingness to obey God's call.

In Colossians, Paul, who had been given the task to preach the Word of God to the ends of the earth, said, "To this end, I labor." He's going from town to town, village to village, to speak with as many people as will hear and receive the words God has given him to proclaim. But he was only one man; how could he do the huge task the Lord had assigned him? By not doing it on his own, in his own power or strength. Look at what he says, "To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works within me." The "his" he's referring to is Christ's power. We need to follow Paul's example and approach the tasks that God has assigned to us with the resolve that it is not by my power or my strength, but Christ who is at work within me.

If God has called you, then He will strengthen you, He will give you the tools, people, knowledge, wisdom, finances, everything you need. If God has called you, what are you waiting for?

Redecorated

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ~ Colossians 3:9-10

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul talks about who we are, who we have become because of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross. In verse 17 he says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." But how can that be? I still look the same, may act the same, I haven't changed into a horse or a puppy. If I don't see a change, how can Paul say that I am something else? When Paul said that we were a new creation, he wasn't referring to our outer image, but what happens to us on the inside. The Book of Genesis explains how God created Adam to show that we are body, soul, and spirit. When sin entered the world, our body (our flesh)--the part that lives "for me"--took over. But, when we accepted Christ into our hearts and lives and His Spirit dwells--lives, sets up camp, makes it His own residence, redecorates--within us, we are changed from the inside out and that is what Paul is talking about.

Let me give you an example, my husband and I have adopted new eating habits. We're starting to eat better, healthier. We are allowed one cheat day per week and on those cheat days, the "cheat foods" aren't as satisfying as they used to be. They don't taste as good as they used to, they don't sit well anymore, it's just not as fun to "cheat" all the time. When God's Holy Spirit comes and lives within us and He "redecorates,"--cleaning up the cobwebs, throwing out old curtains, stripping the wall paper, pitching old junk, etc.--even when we return to the things that used to be "fun" and the things that used to "satisfy" us, they're not fun and fulfilling anymore. That's because we've been changed from the inside out, and now we have a craving for the things of our new self. We desire to go to church and hear the message, to fellowship with other believers, to read God's Word. That is because we are no longer the old self, trapped in a sinful man. Instead, we are a new creation, we have God's Holy Spirit living inside of us. He has broken all the chains and we have been set free!

Now that we realize that the Holy Spirit is living inside of us, removing the old selfish nature--He did some spring cleaning and threw out everything--and filling us with His nature, His self, we don't have to believe a lie anymore. The Bible says that the devil has come to lie to us (John 10:10) and he has spun a really good one. He has convinced a whole slew of people that we will always be sinners, always be fallen, never be the righteousness of Christ. But if the Holy Spirit has redecorated you from the inside out, how can that be? If God, through the Holy Spirit, is living inside of you, then what is keeping you from living in God's fullness? What is keeping me?

PRAYER

Prayer is a Powerful Resource Against Your Enemy's Reign.

Did you know that since sin entered the world through the sin of Adam, that Satan has been known as the prince of this world? He is the fallen angel and he prowls around the earth, like a roaring lion, looking for someone he may devour, (1 Peter 5:8). The Bible tells us that his desire, his purpose, is "to kill and to steal and to destroy" us, God's kids, (John 10:10). But God has given us weapons with which we can wage war against our enemy. One of those weapons is prayer. Prayer is powerful. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our battle is not against humans and will not be fought with traditional weapons, such as guns and bombs. Instead, we must use the weapons God gave us to fight this war in the heavenly realms; we must pray. Our prayers activate God's angels--His troops--who fight on our behalf against Satan's army.

You may never see the physical fruits of your labor of love--prayer--as you pray for the protection over your loved ones. But just think, as they are protected and blessed, isn't it better to know that you're praying and they're protected instead of leaving them vulnerable to attacks that are certain?

Shake It Off!

Over the weekend, I actually heard my pastor say that we need to be stubborn mules! Now, before you start to question my pastor, let me explain. He told the story of a man who owned a donkey that fell into a deep hole. The hole was so deep that he could barely see the animal. With regret in his heart, he decided to bury the animal, for he knew not how to get him out of the hole. So he got a shovel and began to shovel dirt onto the animal. After an hour, the man peered into the hole to see how much more he had to go and was surprised at what he found. Not only was the animal not covered up, but he had started to rise. This was a stubborn mule! Every time the man would throw dirt on the animal's back, he would shake it off, stamp it into the ground, and stand on it. Our pastor said we need to be stubborn mules! When life dumps dirt, gossip, stress, worry, whatever on our backs, we need to shake it off, stomp it to the ground and stand on it.

We need to get to the place where we realize that life is less about our circumstances and more about our attitudes. It's less about what's "fair" or "unfair," and more about our response to the things that come our way. Jesus told His disciples that very thing when He said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world," (John 16:33). Jesus warned His disciples that life wouldn't always be fair, but in those times they could have peace and joy when they remembered that it's not about what problem is staring us down, but who lives inside of us that counts. When Jesus is inside of us, peace and joy can be ours if we determine to shake off the bad and stand on it.

On the Hills

Will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills...? ~ Matthew 18:12

People who read the parable of the lost sheep tend to think one of two things: 1) I was the one whom God came and found. After Jesus trained up His disciples, He sent them out into the world to find those who were yet to be found. The Lord is always seeking after us, even when we are not seeking after Him. He is wooing us to His heart, to His love. 2) Why would God leave the ninety-nine--why would God leave me? Aren't I as important as 'the one'? This second group feel hurt and abandoned. They are not reading the full verse; they think it reads: "Will he not leave the 99 and go to look for the one that wandered off?" But when they read it this way, they miss the most important part: God left the ninety-nine on the hills.

The phrase, "on the hills" or "on the mountains," is referring to a safe place. God has taken the ninety-nine to safety, to a protected area where they are not readily accessible to predators. He has raised up His kids and raised up protection around them. Once He knows they are safe, then He will leave them--even send them out--to go find His lost sheep. God takes great care with each one of His children. He does not ignore one to take care of another, but rather takes care of each one's individual needs. God is the Shepherd and we are His sheep and He is raising us up so that we can take care of each other and He can go out--and He can send us out--to find His lost sheep.

Lord, thank you that when I was once lost, you came and found me. I pray that we wouldn't feel abandoned, but we'd always know we are protected by you, because you have placed us high on your hill, high on your mountain. Thank you for being with us, Lord. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

In Our Own Eyes

We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes... ~ Numbers 13:33

From our point of view, we tend to judge ourselves--our lives, bodies, actions, etc.--harsher than anyone else. For example, I have many female friends, all of whom are beautiful. But only a small handful will even accept the compliment that she is beautiful and I don't know how many of those believe that she is beautiful. These women--these beautiful, amazing women--view themselves as less than God created them, as less than He sees them.

I've heard it said that our perception determines our reality. Our perception may not be the truth, but it's still the reality we live in. Consider this visual experiment. Standing in your house, how far can you see? Think about the distance and everything in your field of vision. Now, walk outside your front door. Now what do you see? How much more can you see than inside your home? Can you still see the same amount of details? Now, (in your mind) climb to the highest point of your roof. How much more can you see there than you saw standing outside your front door or inside your house? Now multiply that by infinity and that's what God sees. But since God is omnipresent--everywhere at the same time--He sees the world at large and all the details of you, all at the same time.

We need to stop looking at ourselves, our lives, our circumstances with our own eyes. As we saw from that experiment, we can't capture all the details and see the full distance, but God can. Whatever you're facing--whether it's yourself in the mirror or uncertain, cloudy circumstances or even giants--ask the Lord to help you see with His perception, His field of vision, His point of view.

With the Flock

Most wounds result from living with the flock. So the shepherd regularly inspects his sheep because he doesn't want today's wounds to become tomorrow's infection ~ Word for You Today, 25 Aug, 2010

There are definitely benefits to living "with the flock:" warmth, love, relationships, protection, encouragement, etc. But because you live so closely with others who are flawed, just like you, it's more likely that someone will step on your toes, butt heads with you, or cut you without even knowing it. When these things happen, we need to remember two things: 1) No one is perfect and eventually wounds will happen. Since sin entered the world (with the exception of Christ), there has never been a perfect person. To think otherwise is set ourselves or others up for failure. Eventually, the person or people you thought perfect will injure you in some way.

2) We need to determine if the relationship is worth saving. Since God never intended us to be alone, then He intended us to be in community with others, (Genesis 2:18). When wounds are inflicted, we need to decide if this relationship is worth working through the pain of rebuilding. Regardless of our decision, however, we are commanded to forgive others, even if the relationship is not restored, (Matthew 6:14). If someone steps on your toe, is the relationship over? What if you get cut and the wound is deep, is it worth rebuilding and restarting? Only you can make that decision. But, before you make a decision to go it alone, just remember all the benefits and comforts you enjoy as a part of the community--protection, knowing someone's got your back--will not be available to you in solitude or isolation.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three stands is not quickly broken. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

It's Never a Reason

It's only money!

Who says that? That was said by a person who was not following along the path they were called and were, instead, living for themselves. The story in yesterday's Word for You Today tells of a business man who was so comfortable with his money and with his way of life, that when God called him, he didn't go; he didn't follow the path God chose for him. That resulted in his never feeling satisfied, always feeling empty, hollow, inside. He did finally turn to what God had called him to do, but now he says that he feels as though it's just a race against the clock and he's running out of time. "It's only money! It's never a reason not to follow Christ. It's never a reason not to do the thing He has called you to do."

What has God called you to do? Perhaps it's writing a book, being a school teacher, starting a business, having a child, being a counselor, being a pastor, planting a church, being a doctor or a nurse. Whatever God has called you to, you need not worry about the things you will "give up" for Him. For the Bible tells us, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life," (Matthew 19:29). When you begin to follow what the Lord has called you to, the feeling in the pit of your stomach--the one that's been telling you that there's something missing--goes away, because you're fulfilling God's plan for your life.

It's scary, facing the unknown, but ask the Lord to show you the way:
Lord, I want to live my life for you, Jesus. I don't want to mess up what you want to do in my life. Show me what you want me to do--cast the vision in my Spirit so strongly that I can't ignore it anymore. Then, Father, send people to help encourage me and to help me take that next step. Lord, I confess that I'm nervous, but with you as the Lord of my life, what can stop me? What can knock me down? As your Word says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:1). Thank you, Jesus, for not sending me on this journey alone, but for always being by my side. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Training Ground

Train even your weaklings to be warriors. ~ Joel 3:10

The first years of marriage are hard work and looking back on it, I understand why. You've got two independent thinkers who now need to be retrained and shaped so that they will fit into one new mold. When you're married, you're constantly at war. What many couples fail to realize is that the battle is not with or against your spouse. Instead, you need to stand side-by-side or back-to-back with your spouse and fight the enemy, together with Christ, as a united front.

In Ephesians 6:10-12, Paul reminds us that we are a united front in Christ and it's not humans--your spouse or other people--we are fighting against. Rather, we are at war "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Paul totally understood that people can't make us and they can't break us--our enemy is the devil. But, if we are a united front in Christ, then that's all we need.

And while the first years of marriage may be difficult, I believe that's our training ground. We view it as pain and think it's our "breaking ground." However, each warrior must be broken of his or her own "independent" thinking and "retrained" to think and work as a united front. So all the while we think we are being broken, that is the time we are really being trained for battle, trained for war. It is in those training years--and the length of time is different for every couple--that the couple will either "resolve" and determine to hang on, no matter what, or they will "dissolve" and quit, usually just before break-through.

If you're going through a tough time in your marriage, if you're thinking of quitting, let me encourage you to press forward and determine to be a united front with your spouse--not against. For it was Jesus, Himself, who said, "I have overcome the world," (John 16:33). If we are in Him and He is in us, then what can overcome us? God is looking for warriors and putting them through training everyday. It is only after we have united from our training that we cry out, "And now, O Lord, call out your warriors!" (Joel 3:11)

Aware

And all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory. And I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me... ~ David Crowder Band

Often times, we are so very aware of our problems--our "afflictions"-- that we almost have to trip over the realization that they're no longer there...

I remember after Brad's heart surgery how tough it was. His doctors said that it would take a full year for him to recover. I was the only one working and not making very much money. After almost a year, even though Brad had returned to work by then, we realized we just weren't making it, so Brad's mom was kind enough to let us stay with her for a bit. I remember one day, when I was talking to my mom on the phone. I said, "I don't know what it is, but I just can't stop eating. I'm not hungry and there's plenty of food, but I just can't get myself to stop eating everything in sight." What my mom said really helped me. She said, "Your body--your mind--has been in 'survival' mode for so long, that it doesn't know how to stop. When you were by yourself and struggling, your body was determined to keep you alive...and it hasn't caught up to the fact that you're not going to run out of food and starve to death. You need to retrain your mind, so that it knows you'll be ok." I wasn't overweight; I wasn't even really gaining weight, but I just couldn't stop eating and it was freaking me out.

I spent a lot of time after that praying, and my mom prayed. And I started to spend quiet time with God...not everyday, but some. And God helped me. He helped me to retrain my mind. Thank God my mom knows Jesus and has the Holy Spirit inside of her so she'd know what to tell me--words that I would hear. My mind was in a cycle and I needed someone to say, "STOP"! My mind had to "trip" over the fact that God had taken care of us and I didn't have to anymore. Looking back on it, I never had to take care of us, because God always did, but my mind never knew it.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:2

THIS MUCH, and even more

For we are His portion and He is our prize...Oh, how He loves us, oh. ~ David Crowder Band

God didn't create "super beings." There aren't little "Supermen" and "Wonderwomen" running around on Earth. God didn't create us to be robots, unable to think for ourselves or having no feelings or emotions on things. No, God created us just as we are. Now, originally, we were all without sin, but we all had souls--mind, will, and emotion. And even though we now have sin, God loves us just the same, even when we fall. It breaks His heart so much when we do fall, because He loves us so. That's why He sent His Son. "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life," John 3:16.

Jesus came, not to punish us, but to love us. We are His portion--we are all He needs or wants. We are everything to Him. He is God, so He could have left us and created something else, if He wanted. But He loves us so much that He promised to never leave or forsake us, (see Deuteronomy 31:6).

When I was little, my mom taught me how much Jesus loves me. She would ask, "How much does Jesus love you?" Then she would stretch out my arms as far as they would reach and say, "He loves you <---THIS---> much and even more!" Years later, I heard a preacher say that Jesus loved us so much that He stretched out His arms and died for us, nailing our sins, and everything that separated us from God, to the cross. My mom was right! Jesus loves me <---THIS---> much and even more! Thanks Mom, for always trying to show me how much Jesus loves me.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

Lord's Mighty Power

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ~ Ephesians 6:10

We've heard it said before, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood." But how do we deal with that when we see another human in our face about some matter? How do we see beyond the "ugliness" and into the pain? There are two things we must do. 1) Ask the Lord for discernment and enlightenment of our eyes. "Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance," (Ecclesiastes 8:1). The Book of James tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him," (1:5). When God opens our eyes to see things as He sees them, we are less likely to judge some one's actions because we can see straight to the pain that's in their heart.

2) Be dressed for success. "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes," (Ephesians 6:10-11). This passage tells us not to worry about fighting anything or anyone on our own, because the Lord is already strong and we can rest in the power that He has. But to "dress for success," we must prepare our attire. For example, when you see news clips about soldiers in foreign lands, you never see them dressed as if they are going to a pool party. That's because they're dressed for success; they're dressed for war. And that's exactly how we need to dress.

Our enemy is not the person who is in our face all the time. Our enemy is the devil and he will use as many tricks and schemes as he can muster to get people to hurt you. He does this because that is who he is, as the Bible tells us, "The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy," (John 10:10). He doesn't want you to have the joy and the peace and the rest the God has promised you. He wants to win and he will use whatever or whomever he can to make that happen. But we have something better. We have Jesus who said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," (John 10:10). He also promised us that while the devil will be up to his schemes and tricks, we can take comfort in Jesus, who said, "I have overcome the world," (John 16:33). Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Qualified

I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. ~ Ephesians 3:8 (Message)



Have you ever come upon a situation that you needed to speak to: a girlfriend thinking of leaving her spouse, a buddy fallen into drugs, a friend thinking of quitting on life...? But what qualifies us? What gives us the right to speak into people's lives--people we know, people we care about, people we love? If I've gone through something you and you haven't, am I more qualified or are you? If I've done things in my past and you haven't, am I less qualified than you? No!



Neither is less and neither is more qualified than the other. Because it's not about us--it's never been about us and it will never be about us. Look at what Paul says in Ephesians 3:7-8: This is my life: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure it had nothing to do with any natural abilities, (Message). Paul is credited with authoring most of the New Testament, and yet he writes, "I was the least qualified..."



If Paul was the "least" qualified, then what makes one qualified? Is it years of study? Time spent on Earth (age)? Is it the number of degrees you've got hanging up on your wall? None of that matters, really. Look at what Paul says makes us qualified, "God saw to it that I was equipped..." It's not "us," there's nothing carnal or physical or emotional or mental that qualifies us. It is God alone and, moreover, it is Christ in us. This is what Jesus says in John 15, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit...You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last," (vv 5, 16; NIV). Long, long before our great grandparents were born, God chose us and appointed us; which automatically qualifies us. Now, we have a choice to make in this. If you read more of John 15, you'll see that anyone who does not remain in Christ will be "disqualfied," because we can do nothing apart from Christ, (v 5-6).



If it is Christ alone who qualfies, and you remain in Christ, then you are qualfied. I am qualified. And I don't have to worry about "messing up," for just as Paul said: God handles all the details, and He sees to it that I am equipped. He equips us through the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us and tells us what we are to say--we need only listen and obey. You are equipped; you are qualified; God will take care of all the details. As you remain in Christ and He remains in you, that qualifies you. You are qualified.

Call the Plumber

It seems as though a lot of people I know are having "plumbing problems." I've heard it said that the Holy Spirit lives in our gut--like when we get a gut feeling about something, it's the Holy Spirit talking to us. Our gut is our core and our core is in the middle area of our bodies. If the enemy can attack us there--with gastric problems, crohn's, colitis, endometriosis, constipation, intimacy issues, whatever--then perhaps we'll stop focusing on what the Holy Spirit has to say and redirect our thoughts to our every day, busy to-do lists. Listen, when you're in some kind of physical pain, it's hard to focus. What's worse is when you have a lot of things going on that demand your focus, you must choose which thing or things you will focus on. The devil knows this and that is why he sets out to attack us. He's determined to get our focus off of God and onto other things.

But God has an answer for us. He says we are to praise Him with our mouths and carry the double-edged sword--which is His Word--in our hearts and lives, (Psalm 149:6). You may ask, "What good does singing and scripture-reading do?" Let me tell you, our God is not a dead God. He's alive! His Word is alive! It speaks to His kids; it guides their paths; it directs their steps.

If you're in a place or in a time and you are having "plumbing problems," don't turn to the yellow pages; call the One who can help you. Stand to your feet and dance for your King. Kneel before His Throne and praise His Name. Get going and get God! He is the only one who has the "tools" to help you.

Lord, thank you that you are the Ultimate Plumber and Fixer of our problem areas. Thank you for removing the clogs, branches, and build-ups in our lives. Lord, we love you and we praise you and we thank you. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

Into Practice

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ~ Matthew 7:24

How often do we go to church, or sit through a Bible study or small group, and think to ourselves, "Wow! This is a great message. I really need to take this in and study it." During the meeting, you may even take notes furiously, but then later, you never make or take the time to go back to your notes, go back and meditate on what you heard. That's what Jesus wants--He wants us to "mull it over," to "chew on it a bit." If you went to Sunday School or Children's Church, growing up, you may have memorized a scripture or two. That's great, for the Bible says that His Word will never return to God empty-handed--without producing God's intended purpose, (Isaiah 55:11). But, wouldn't it be even better if, instead of just memorizing scripture for the sake of memorizing, we actually thought about it, took it in, studied it?

I remember when I took my Psych class in college. The professor said that after every test, we were not allowed to do a "brain flush," because we'd need all the information we'd learned for the final. I'm pretty certain after the class was over, I "flushed" most of it. That professor was telling us what Jesus is telling us: don't forget what you've learned as soon as you've gained a short-term prize for it, or as soon as you hear it.

We need to drink in the Word of God as if it were life to us--because it is. When you go to church, when you hear a message, when you're in a group study, take notes and then take the time later to dive into what God is really saying about any topic. That's how we get to know Him better, by understanding what He's truly saying to us.

Lord, I thank you, that Your Word is alive and teaches us something new every day. Lord, I pray that as people read your Word that something would stick to them, or stick out to them and they'd desire to dig deeper until they grasped the fullness of Your glory, Lord. I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

My Prayer

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ~ John 17:15-17


My prayer... Just as we pray, today, in Jesus' name, for our family and our friends, Jesus prayed to God, His Father, for His friends. Jesus did that for two reasons: 1) to be a model for us. A lot of psychological definitions use the phrase, "learned behavior." Our parents, grandparents, and the community with which we surround ourselves all become models to us. We watch and learn from them, whether subconsciously or on purpose. That is why it is vital that we spend daily time in God's Word and have our own personal relationship with Jesus. If we never spend time with Him--through reading of the Word and quiet time--we will never get to know Him and it will be hard to imitate what he has already modeled for us.


2) To demonstrate His love for us. Jesus asked that we'd be protected while we walk on this earth. He knew we had much to do and much to learn and nothing would get accomplished if we were whisked away straight to paradise. For though we may be happier there, it's not about us, but about the "lost sheep," (see Luke 15:1-7). Jesus' love was not just for those who loved Him. Jesus' love is for all and His greatest desire is that all would come to know Him in a personal way. That is why Jesus left "us" in this world--that is why we are still here now. He asks His Father to protect us and leaves us here until the Father's appointed time, that as many as possible of the ones He loves will come home to live with Him in eternity.


What we do with our time is our choice, but we are here for a purpose much larger than ourselves. Lord, I pray that you would continue to protect us, as we are still in this world. Lord, you have sanctified us and set us apart for your special purposes. Father, I pray that you would reveal our individual purposes to us--lay that burden on our hearts. Give us a love for the ones you love. And, Lord, thank you for always teaching us and showing us what to do. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Fragrance

But thanks be to God who...through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14

Have you ever walked past a bakery and smelled warm, baking bread or sweet cinnamon rolls? In fact, even right now, you can smell it and taste it, though not with your nose or your mouth, but with your mind. You might even be planning where you will go to get them after you've finished reading this. The Bible says that once we've accepted Christ into our hearts and lives, and we are covered by the blood of Jesus, we give off an aroma. This aroma is not smelled by other humans through their physical noses, but by their spirits. For it is not your flesh that is giving off the aroma, but the Spirit of Him who lives inside you.

The Bible tells us that everything that is done here on earth, in the physical realm, is done in heaven, in the spiritual realm, (see Matthew 6:10, 16:19). It is other spirits who smell the aroma of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us. In 2 Corinthians, Paul goes on to say that to those who are being saved, we smell of the death in Christ that we share. And to those not of Christ, we smell of life, (2:15-16). Spirits that are not of Christ are drawn to us but at the same time hate us because they hate Christ who is in us. As Paul says in Galatians, "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other," (5:17).

The Bible says that there is nothing new under the sun. All of this is happening today and all of this has happened before, (Ecclesiastes 1:9). 2 Chronicles tells the story of Solomon and his "aroma." Once night, God appeared to Solomon and said, "As for you, if you walk before me as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to rule over Israel,'" (7:17-18). Solomon did as the Lord said and the Lord blessed him greatly. Because of all the blessings being poured out on Solomon and the Israelites, people in lands near and far began talking about this people being blessed by their God. And, as still happens, as people continued to spread the word, others started to disbelieve what they'd heard and still others doubted and said it was a lie. That pattern continued until someone decided they must "check it out."

That's exactly what the Queen of Sheba did. She packed up her caravan and, drawn by the rumor of an "aroma," she traveled far to see for herself King Solomon & his kingdom. She went to discredit him; she went to "expose" him. The Bible says, "She came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions," and upon her arrival, she "talked with him about all she had on her mind," (2 Chronicles 9:1). But the Spirit of the Lord is more powerful than any other spirits. The Spirit of the Lord is not fake, it's not false, and it does not lie. Therefore, at the end of their discussion, the queen of Sheba "was overwhelmed," (2 Chronicles 9:4). She told Solomon, "'The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half of the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have exceeded the report I heard...Praise be to the Lord your God who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne to rule for the Lord your God," (2 Chronicles 9:5-6,8).

Because Solomon had followed all the Lord called him to do, when someone came to prove the Lord false, she was drawn in and fell in love with the Lord.
"But thanks be to God who...through us spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."