Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands... ~ Isaiah 49:15-16
Standing in an auditorium, with the lights low and every head bowed and every eye closed, should a pastor ask, "Is there someone in here who has been hurt? Perhaps you were hurt by your parents, grandparents, relatives, siblings, spouse, friend. Are there any in here who have a void, a hole in their heart, who need the love of Jesus to come in and fill it up? If that's you, raise your hand." To that question, hands would go up all over the place. It would be the majority, if not all hands.
And why, you ask? Because we live in a fallen world where hurting people tend to hurt other people, instead of to help others and in turn, help themselves. The saying, "Misery loves company," was probably spoken by someone who witnessed it, who experienced it first hand. So in this fallen land, what hope have we? None, if we are determined to stand on our own. But those whose trust is in the Lord have a new hope and an eternal promise. They have the love of a Father who promises, "I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you in the palms of my hands." And do you know why He took such care in creating us, and in carving us in the palms of His hands? It is because He loves us with an everlasting love and He dotes on us daily. We are His prize and His bride and He wanted to have us with Him, always.
If you are feeling alone, abandoned, mistreated, abused, you don't have to go it alone any longer, wondering why this person who swore to love you has treated you like rubbish. When you're feeling lost and alone, you don't have to look down any longer. Look up! He's waiting for you to turn to Him so that He can wipe away your tears. He wants to hold you and comfort you and kiss you. He loves you--all of us--so much!
Lord, you say in your Word that when the righteous cry out, you hear them and deliver them from their troubles, that you are close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit, (see Psalm 34:17-22). Lord, today I pray that you would do as you say in your word: that you would deliver those who need relief, that you would draw close to those who need comfort, and that you would lift up those who are crushed and downtrodden. Father, we all need a Savior and we are all seeking one--even those who have never met you. Lord, I pray that those who are seeking you would be found by you today and that those who are without hope would find hope eternal in you. Lord, as the song says, you are the lover of my soul and I have full confidence that you will never let me go. Thank you Lord Jesus, for all these wonderful gifts. It is in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Don't Go It Alone
[Elijah] went a day's journey into the desert....and prayed that he might die, "I have had enough, Lord," he said. ~ 1 Kings 19:4
I remember a couple of years ago, we were going through the pits. There's a saying, "If life is a bowl full of cherries, why am I always in the pits?" That's how I felt. With being fairly young, I'd often heard, "You're too young to have this much stress." Or, "You're too young to have these problems." Whether we were too young or not, we were having them. The devil doesn't discriminate age, position, or sex--he attacks them all. And we were under attack. I've been thinking a lot, recently, about 1 Kings 19 and Elijah's interaction with the Lord. I remember often times thinking or saying, "I'm done. I've had enough. I don't want to play this game anymore." In fact, often times I would tell God (and others), all my husband and I have left of our wedding vows are: for better, for richer, and for healthy. I figured by then, we had already lived through: for worse, for poorer, and in sickness.
Looking back on it, do you know what got me through? It was God and the prayers of others. It wasn't my strength, because, while I was determined, I was still weak. I received great strength and a fresh measure of endurance when my girlfriends would tell me that they were praying me through, lifting me up daily. They weren't telling me to boast or brag, it was to encourage me. They were surrounding me, and us, with a hedge of protection with their prayers. I have one dear, sweet friend who has a card for every person she prays for and I know that when I'm going through something else, or need her to join me in praying over a certain topic, I can call her up and she'll write it on my card and keep praying. In fact, she so inspired me, I started my own set of cards.
That's what we all need. We need people to join with us, to rally around us, and to see it through with us. God didn't call any of us to go it alone, but to join with others and to go through life as part of a community. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body, (1 Corinthians 12:12). That's us, the church, Christ's bride. We are a unit--the church--but we are many individual people with unique purposes, joined together for the common purpose of Christ and building each other up in Him. If this is who we are and what we are called for, how is it that some are very much like Elijah, who walked out into the desert that he might die? It's because he was all alone.
1 Kings 19:3 says he isolated himself by leaving his servant in town and went off by himself. One, by himself, is very vulnerable. One is not able to warm himself, pull himself out of a deep ditch, carry himself if he is injured, or defend himself very well if under attack, (see Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). For accountability, love, comfort, and encouragement, God made both man and woman, Jesus sent his disciples out in twos, and we are called to be many parts of one body, (see Genesis 2:21-23; Matthew 10; 1 Corinthians 12).
The devil loves to isolate us, but God has called us to be joined together. If you've found that you are walking through life and you are all alone, you don't have to be, help is close by: phone a friend, join a small group, seek out the love of the Lord and His kids. We'd love to love you, we're just waiting for the opportunity. Don't wander through the desert alone, waiting to die. Find someone to go through this valley with you, to lift you up, to encourage you.
Lord, I pray that if any are walking through the desert alone today, that they would be compelled to call even just one person to walk with them, to help them carry this burden that has caused them to be isolated. Lord, a multitude of people does not make one feel loved, but rather close personal relationships. So Lord, I pray that you would send one person to be in relationship with those who are trying to go it alone, and that those who are alone would seek it out. I pray that they would be united in friendship and united in their love for you. Lord, thank you, that you have given us friends who love us so much! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
I remember a couple of years ago, we were going through the pits. There's a saying, "If life is a bowl full of cherries, why am I always in the pits?" That's how I felt. With being fairly young, I'd often heard, "You're too young to have this much stress." Or, "You're too young to have these problems." Whether we were too young or not, we were having them. The devil doesn't discriminate age, position, or sex--he attacks them all. And we were under attack. I've been thinking a lot, recently, about 1 Kings 19 and Elijah's interaction with the Lord. I remember often times thinking or saying, "I'm done. I've had enough. I don't want to play this game anymore." In fact, often times I would tell God (and others), all my husband and I have left of our wedding vows are: for better, for richer, and for healthy. I figured by then, we had already lived through: for worse, for poorer, and in sickness.
Looking back on it, do you know what got me through? It was God and the prayers of others. It wasn't my strength, because, while I was determined, I was still weak. I received great strength and a fresh measure of endurance when my girlfriends would tell me that they were praying me through, lifting me up daily. They weren't telling me to boast or brag, it was to encourage me. They were surrounding me, and us, with a hedge of protection with their prayers. I have one dear, sweet friend who has a card for every person she prays for and I know that when I'm going through something else, or need her to join me in praying over a certain topic, I can call her up and she'll write it on my card and keep praying. In fact, she so inspired me, I started my own set of cards.
That's what we all need. We need people to join with us, to rally around us, and to see it through with us. God didn't call any of us to go it alone, but to join with others and to go through life as part of a community. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body, (1 Corinthians 12:12). That's us, the church, Christ's bride. We are a unit--the church--but we are many individual people with unique purposes, joined together for the common purpose of Christ and building each other up in Him. If this is who we are and what we are called for, how is it that some are very much like Elijah, who walked out into the desert that he might die? It's because he was all alone.
1 Kings 19:3 says he isolated himself by leaving his servant in town and went off by himself. One, by himself, is very vulnerable. One is not able to warm himself, pull himself out of a deep ditch, carry himself if he is injured, or defend himself very well if under attack, (see Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). For accountability, love, comfort, and encouragement, God made both man and woman, Jesus sent his disciples out in twos, and we are called to be many parts of one body, (see Genesis 2:21-23; Matthew 10; 1 Corinthians 12).
The devil loves to isolate us, but God has called us to be joined together. If you've found that you are walking through life and you are all alone, you don't have to be, help is close by: phone a friend, join a small group, seek out the love of the Lord and His kids. We'd love to love you, we're just waiting for the opportunity. Don't wander through the desert alone, waiting to die. Find someone to go through this valley with you, to lift you up, to encourage you.
Lord, I pray that if any are walking through the desert alone today, that they would be compelled to call even just one person to walk with them, to help them carry this burden that has caused them to be isolated. Lord, a multitude of people does not make one feel loved, but rather close personal relationships. So Lord, I pray that you would send one person to be in relationship with those who are trying to go it alone, and that those who are alone would seek it out. I pray that they would be united in friendship and united in their love for you. Lord, thank you, that you have given us friends who love us so much! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Red Light, Green Light
By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. ~ Exodus 13:21-22
When you were a kid, or now that you have kids, did you ever play "Red light/Green light?" The point was to get to the person yelling "red light" or "green light." The rules said you could only move when the caller yelled "green light," and as soon as they yelled "red light," you had to stop. The Holy Spirit is like that. Pastor Larry Stockstill was a guest speaker at our church the other night and he spoke on the seven branches of the Holy Spirit. He said that the fourth branch was "counsel" and that it is intended to give us clear direction. In essence, if we ask the Lord if we should proceed in any area, the Holy Spirit is our "caller," giving us a crystal clear "red light" or "green light."
Now I've experienced times when the Lord gives me a clear red or green light immediately. But other times, I have to wait. Sometimes the Lord is building my patience and my trust, to test my obedience, so He allows me to wait on an answer. I heard somebody once say that patience is the ability to have a good attitude while waiting. Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." The Bible is full of stories about people who made requests of the Lord. It's also filled with stories of people who waited and didn't wait. The ones who waited were rewarded and kept safe; those who didn't faced things they wouldn't have otherwise had to have faced.
What have you asked God for? What decision are you trying to make? Do you feel like you have an idea, but haven't received that crystal clear answer yet Don't move! Wait until the Lord gives you that crystal clear "yes, green light, proceed," or "no, red light, stop". He will. Just like He stayed with the Israelites as either a pillar of cloud or a pillar of fire, protecting them as they followed His guidance, He will cover you. But, we are commanded to "wait for the Lord."
When you were a kid, or now that you have kids, did you ever play "Red light/Green light?" The point was to get to the person yelling "red light" or "green light." The rules said you could only move when the caller yelled "green light," and as soon as they yelled "red light," you had to stop. The Holy Spirit is like that. Pastor Larry Stockstill was a guest speaker at our church the other night and he spoke on the seven branches of the Holy Spirit. He said that the fourth branch was "counsel" and that it is intended to give us clear direction. In essence, if we ask the Lord if we should proceed in any area, the Holy Spirit is our "caller," giving us a crystal clear "red light" or "green light."
Now I've experienced times when the Lord gives me a clear red or green light immediately. But other times, I have to wait. Sometimes the Lord is building my patience and my trust, to test my obedience, so He allows me to wait on an answer. I heard somebody once say that patience is the ability to have a good attitude while waiting. Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." The Bible is full of stories about people who made requests of the Lord. It's also filled with stories of people who waited and didn't wait. The ones who waited were rewarded and kept safe; those who didn't faced things they wouldn't have otherwise had to have faced.
What have you asked God for? What decision are you trying to make? Do you feel like you have an idea, but haven't received that crystal clear answer yet Don't move! Wait until the Lord gives you that crystal clear "yes, green light, proceed," or "no, red light, stop". He will. Just like He stayed with the Israelites as either a pillar of cloud or a pillar of fire, protecting them as they followed His guidance, He will cover you. But, we are commanded to "wait for the Lord."
Friday, April 16, 2010
Someone Else's Servant
I was thinking about this over the last few days. I think we all fall into this, in one form or another. We think we know what's best for somebody else: he should exercise more, she should eat better, she dresses too flashy, he doesn't go to church, they don't go to small group, they don't baptize "right," you should be dressed to the "nines" for church, you don't use the right version of the Bible, and so on and so forth. If we haven't said one of these things, it's been similar. We've all done it, usually with the best intentions. We know that we don't have it all together, but if they could just "get it together" in the areas where we've got it together, the world would be a better place. Of course, that wouldn't even satisfy us, we'd just find something else to poke at.
Paul writes, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand," (Romans 14:4). Ouch! Who am I to judge another one of God's kids? Judging with the best of intentions is still judging. The Bible is clear: my job is to invite, to love on, to encourage, to lift up. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to do the rest. I had a friend once tell me, "It's our job to go catch the fish. It's the job of the Holy Spirit to clean them." We "catch" people through love, encouragement, and invitations, not with put-downs and our noses in the air. Men are made of dust; women of man's rib. What are dust and rib to judge what God has called beautiful?
Let's pray:
Lord, forgive me. I know that too many times I've looked at another of your beautiful sons and daughters and wondered why they weren't doing it "like me" or "like my church." Father, forgive me my foolish pride. As far as the world is concerned, I am nothing but rib. You have called me beautiful, as You have called all Your children beautiful. I'm sorry that I called them less. Lord, give me your eyes to see them as you see them. Give me your heart to love them as you love them. And Lord, give me the wisdom to know how to love them. Thank you, Father, for seeing me as more than rib and dust, and I thank you all the more for loving me as I am. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Paul writes, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand," (Romans 14:4). Ouch! Who am I to judge another one of God's kids? Judging with the best of intentions is still judging. The Bible is clear: my job is to invite, to love on, to encourage, to lift up. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to do the rest. I had a friend once tell me, "It's our job to go catch the fish. It's the job of the Holy Spirit to clean them." We "catch" people through love, encouragement, and invitations, not with put-downs and our noses in the air. Men are made of dust; women of man's rib. What are dust and rib to judge what God has called beautiful?
Let's pray:
Lord, forgive me. I know that too many times I've looked at another of your beautiful sons and daughters and wondered why they weren't doing it "like me" or "like my church." Father, forgive me my foolish pride. As far as the world is concerned, I am nothing but rib. You have called me beautiful, as You have called all Your children beautiful. I'm sorry that I called them less. Lord, give me your eyes to see them as you see them. Give me your heart to love them as you love them. And Lord, give me the wisdom to know how to love them. Thank you, Father, for seeing me as more than rib and dust, and I thank you all the more for loving me as I am. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Not Against Flesh & Blood
Since the first time I heard her, I've been a fan of Joyce Meyer. Her words are life giving and funny and, more often than not, I feel compelled to action because of her words. God has anointed her mouth to speak His words to His people--although she'll be the first to admit that her mouth has also gotten her in a lot of trouble. In our small group at work, we are studying words and the power in words. As a woman, God has blessed me with a lot of words that I feel compelled to use up every day. However, how I use them up, what I choose to say, is my choice.
One of the things we did yesterday in group was to read our favorite scripture and give a brief explanation as to why. Now, my favorite scripture has always been John 16:33, In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. It gives me encouragement when things happen, because it is Christ who lives in me who has already overcome the world, so I need not fear. That has always been my favorite verse, but I'm really starting to "get to know" (as the Spirit brings this to my remembrance) Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood..." That means that I am not fighting with my friends, my parents, my siblings, or any other human. My real fight is with the enemy. It's hard to remember that when its flesh and blood speaking the words that pierce your heart, but it's the truth. The worst part is that you can't control someone else...but you can and are responsible for controlling you. I've heard Joyce Meyer say, "I'm not Holy Spirit Jr., and I don't want the position." It's not my responsibility to control, convict, or condemn anybody else. I am only responsible for me.
Someone once said that the best way to defeat the devil is to praise the Lord and pray for God's kids. If you're feeling hurt in your heart over the words that someone spoke, let this be your prayer, as it is also becoming mine: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you, (Psalm 51:10-12). And when the Lord has restored our hearts, we can sing and dance and say: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs...Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name, (Psalm 100:1-2, 4).
One of the things we did yesterday in group was to read our favorite scripture and give a brief explanation as to why. Now, my favorite scripture has always been John 16:33, In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. It gives me encouragement when things happen, because it is Christ who lives in me who has already overcome the world, so I need not fear. That has always been my favorite verse, but I'm really starting to "get to know" (as the Spirit brings this to my remembrance) Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood..." That means that I am not fighting with my friends, my parents, my siblings, or any other human. My real fight is with the enemy. It's hard to remember that when its flesh and blood speaking the words that pierce your heart, but it's the truth. The worst part is that you can't control someone else...but you can and are responsible for controlling you. I've heard Joyce Meyer say, "I'm not Holy Spirit Jr., and I don't want the position." It's not my responsibility to control, convict, or condemn anybody else. I am only responsible for me.
Someone once said that the best way to defeat the devil is to praise the Lord and pray for God's kids. If you're feeling hurt in your heart over the words that someone spoke, let this be your prayer, as it is also becoming mine: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you, (Psalm 51:10-12). And when the Lord has restored our hearts, we can sing and dance and say: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs...Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name, (Psalm 100:1-2, 4).
Monday, April 12, 2010
Push Through
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it ~ Hebrews 4:16.
Our dog, Peyton, has a routine he follows every morning. He goes out, he gets fed, he burps, and then he stands at the door to the office where I'm spending time with God. He'll stand there and breathe heavily and wait for me to notice him. When I do, I tell him to "push through," push the door open and come one in. Peyton then comes, gets 30 seconds of love, and then is content to lay down or leave the room.
God wants us to be like that. He wants us to come boldly to His throne. Sometimes, we have to push through people, circumstances, or other obstacles, but He always wants us to come. If you have a request for the Lord, if you need His grace and mercy, then He beckons you today, "Push through whatever is blocking you, and come to me." He is our heavenly Father, and more than anything, He loves to spend time with us. Push through to spend time with Him, today.
Our dog, Peyton, has a routine he follows every morning. He goes out, he gets fed, he burps, and then he stands at the door to the office where I'm spending time with God. He'll stand there and breathe heavily and wait for me to notice him. When I do, I tell him to "push through," push the door open and come one in. Peyton then comes, gets 30 seconds of love, and then is content to lay down or leave the room.
God wants us to be like that. He wants us to come boldly to His throne. Sometimes, we have to push through people, circumstances, or other obstacles, but He always wants us to come. If you have a request for the Lord, if you need His grace and mercy, then He beckons you today, "Push through whatever is blocking you, and come to me." He is our heavenly Father, and more than anything, He loves to spend time with us. Push through to spend time with Him, today.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
When I am Weak
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world ~ John 16:33
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I [my flesh] am weak, than I [Christ's power in me] am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever 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 [perfect, finished] and complete [in all parts], not lacking anything. ~ James 1:2-4
[All kinds of trials] have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and my result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ~ 1 Peter 1:7
When God has called us for His purposes and gives us a vision, a test is always certain to come. At first glance, most people--myself included--would think Paul was off his rocker when he said, "Consider it pure joy" when your world falls apart and you're on shaky ground. We've all been there: in the midst of the muck and the yuck. Paul, as you may know, is 100% human, and probably when he was in the middle--especially the first few times--he considered it muck, too. It was when he looked back on it and saw that Christ's power was with him and in him and on him, that he was able to say, "Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly."
A lot of people are going through a lot of things right now--"Christ follower" and "non-Christ follower" alike. We're all facing some kind of hurt, hang up, or heart ache. However, if we will realize that when Christ's power--the power of the Holy Spirit--is in us (and He's there if we've invited Him in), then we can do all things, endure all things, and conquer all things. It is not we--not our flesh, our human bodies, not our human minds--who are doing it, but Christ's mighty power that lives inside of us.
If you are going through something--anything--today and you feel weak, I encourage you to pray this prayer: Lord, I don't have strength in me and I can't do it on my own. But Lord, You have strength, and You have might, and You have power--power that raised Christ from the dead. Lord, I pray that you would fill me with a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit today, that I may walk in Your strength, Your boldness, and Your might. Lord, I don't want to do it on my own anymore, but I want to partner with You, so that, as it says in Your word, "Christ's power may rest on me," and we will finish this thing to completeness. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you have promised to see this through with me and I will never be alone. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I [my flesh] am weak, than I [Christ's power in me] am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever 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 [perfect, finished] and complete [in all parts], not lacking anything. ~ James 1:2-4
[All kinds of trials] have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and my result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ~ 1 Peter 1:7
When God has called us for His purposes and gives us a vision, a test is always certain to come. At first glance, most people--myself included--would think Paul was off his rocker when he said, "Consider it pure joy" when your world falls apart and you're on shaky ground. We've all been there: in the midst of the muck and the yuck. Paul, as you may know, is 100% human, and probably when he was in the middle--especially the first few times--he considered it muck, too. It was when he looked back on it and saw that Christ's power was with him and in him and on him, that he was able to say, "Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly."
A lot of people are going through a lot of things right now--"Christ follower" and "non-Christ follower" alike. We're all facing some kind of hurt, hang up, or heart ache. However, if we will realize that when Christ's power--the power of the Holy Spirit--is in us (and He's there if we've invited Him in), then we can do all things, endure all things, and conquer all things. It is not we--not our flesh, our human bodies, not our human minds--who are doing it, but Christ's mighty power that lives inside of us.
If you are going through something--anything--today and you feel weak, I encourage you to pray this prayer: Lord, I don't have strength in me and I can't do it on my own. But Lord, You have strength, and You have might, and You have power--power that raised Christ from the dead. Lord, I pray that you would fill me with a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit today, that I may walk in Your strength, Your boldness, and Your might. Lord, I don't want to do it on my own anymore, but I want to partner with You, so that, as it says in Your word, "Christ's power may rest on me," and we will finish this thing to completeness. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you have promised to see this through with me and I will never be alone. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Friend
I no longer call you servants...instead, I have called you friends ~ John 15:15
Think about your friends, the people you know and who know you. What makes you friends? Chances are, it's your relationship--the time you've taken to spend with each other and get to know one another. God is very much like that. He wants to know and be known by us. Have we taken the time to get to know Him?
Think about this statement: Rest is the result of a decision to believe God.
Let that linger a moment. Pastor Alex Anderson said that rest is the result of a decision to believe God. We won't have rest until we can believe God--believe what He can and will do in our lives, believe that He loves us with an everlasting love, believe that He will never leave nor forsake us. We won't believe God until we trust God. We won't trust God until we know Him, intimately. And we will never know God until we spend time with Him.
If you're feeling dry, poured out, and restless, let me encourage you, refreshing is available to those who seek to know God. He is the only one who can fill you the way you need to be filled, and satisfy your dry places. Call out to your God, your Father, you Friend, ask Him to come and fellowship with you today.
Think about your friends, the people you know and who know you. What makes you friends? Chances are, it's your relationship--the time you've taken to spend with each other and get to know one another. God is very much like that. He wants to know and be known by us. Have we taken the time to get to know Him?
Think about this statement: Rest is the result of a decision to believe God.
Let that linger a moment. Pastor Alex Anderson said that rest is the result of a decision to believe God. We won't have rest until we can believe God--believe what He can and will do in our lives, believe that He loves us with an everlasting love, believe that He will never leave nor forsake us. We won't believe God until we trust God. We won't trust God until we know Him, intimately. And we will never know God until we spend time with Him.
If you're feeling dry, poured out, and restless, let me encourage you, refreshing is available to those who seek to know God. He is the only one who can fill you the way you need to be filled, and satisfy your dry places. Call out to your God, your Father, you Friend, ask Him to come and fellowship with you today.
Monday, April 5, 2010
One More
Matthew 17:20 says, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed..." but what does that mean? Pastor Randy Bezet said, "Heaven is full of answers to prayers for people who gave up too soon." In his testimony about trying to find funding for our new church home so we could reach more people for Christ, Pastor Randy spoke about how every bank was turning us down for a loan. He felt frustrated and ready to give in. But then God spoke to him and said that if he was going to give up, that he didn't belong being our pastor. Pastor Randy said that he told God that he didn't have much faith left, but he had enough faith to try one more time. That one more time was all it took.
The Lord doesn't expect us to complete anything on our own. But if we will take one more step, pray one more prayer, dream one more dream, try one more time, if we will do it once more, then our time, our answer, our promise is right around the corner. 1 Peter 3:6 says, "Like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham...You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." You may be on the edge and feel as though you can't go on, but do you have faith enough to try once more and leave the rest up to God? Give God your best and leave the results up to Him, that's all He's ever asked us to do anyway.
The Lord doesn't expect us to complete anything on our own. But if we will take one more step, pray one more prayer, dream one more dream, try one more time, if we will do it once more, then our time, our answer, our promise is right around the corner. 1 Peter 3:6 says, "Like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham...You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." You may be on the edge and feel as though you can't go on, but do you have faith enough to try once more and leave the rest up to God? Give God your best and leave the results up to Him, that's all He's ever asked us to do anyway.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
What's in a Name?
Shakespeare made famous the line, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," (Romeo & Juliet, II, ii, 1-2). However, the Bible says, "A good name is more desirable than great riches," (Proverbs 22:1). So, who is right? Is a chair still a chair, even if we call it a doorbell? Is a girl the same girl, even if we call her something else? The Lord said, "I have called you by name, you are mine," (Isaiah 43:1). The Lord is telling us three important things here: He called us, He called us specifically by name, we belong to Him.
The first thing we need to understand is that when the Lord said that we are His, it's both a term of endearment, as well as possession. If you are a parent, you will more readily understand the Lord's position: when your child does something good, you are proud; when your child does not do good, you feel pain and possibly anger, depending upon what it was. The Lord is the same with us. He is our heavenly Father, our eternal parent, and we are His kids. Our heavenly Father loves us with an everlasting love that we can neither earn, nor diminish, no matter how we act, (Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 8:38). The Lord said, "you are Mine." That should give you a sense of peace. Your heavenly Father loves you, He wants what's best for you, and He's wanting to move you onto the path that He created for you, if you'll only let Him.
The second thing the Lord said when He called us, He used a specific name. The word name here is from the Hebrew word, "shem," which means, "reputation, fame, glory," (blueletterbible.org). In today's society, we understand all about reputation. If someone has a good reputation, you want to do business with them, associate with them, be near them, etc. If someone's reputation has been tarnished, whether by their own actions or anther's accusations, others withdraw from them and that person may never be able to rebuild his reputation. Your reputation, your "name," is very important, both to you and to the Lord. For this very reason, the Lord was known to change a person's name. He changed Jacob, the deceiver to Israel, which means God prevails or God's soldier, (see Genesis 32:28). He also changed Abram and Sari to Abraham and Sarah when God gave Abraham the promise that he would be the father of many nations, (see Genesis 17:5). Our names are important. They define us and tell others about us.
The third thing the Lord said is that He called us. This word called is from the Hebrew word, "qara," which means, "to summon, proclaim, be chosen," (blueletterbible.org). The Lord has called us by our name, our purpose, by the purpose for which He destined us. When the Lord speaks your name over you, you begin to transform into who He desires you to be. In some instances, the Lord changed a person's name. In others, He simply spoke out the name to bring life to His desires for that person. He did this with Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector, until Jesus spoke out his name, which means "pure," (see Luke 19:2). The Lord did the same with Paul (a.k.a. Saul), who was previously the greatest persecutor of the Lord's disciples, (see Acts 9). But when the Lord called out his name, Paul rose up and began to do the Lord's work, preaching the gospel throughout the world.
The Lord calls His beloved forward to do His will. He did this with many throughout the Bible. He did it then, He's done it today, and He'll do it tomorrow. The Lord is calling forth His kids; He's called me, and He's calling you. What has the Lord spoken over you? Perhaps it is your birth name; perhaps it is the name He has chosen for you, for His purposes. What has the Lord called you? Who is He calling you to be, and what will you answer in response?
The first thing we need to understand is that when the Lord said that we are His, it's both a term of endearment, as well as possession. If you are a parent, you will more readily understand the Lord's position: when your child does something good, you are proud; when your child does not do good, you feel pain and possibly anger, depending upon what it was. The Lord is the same with us. He is our heavenly Father, our eternal parent, and we are His kids. Our heavenly Father loves us with an everlasting love that we can neither earn, nor diminish, no matter how we act, (Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 8:38). The Lord said, "you are Mine." That should give you a sense of peace. Your heavenly Father loves you, He wants what's best for you, and He's wanting to move you onto the path that He created for you, if you'll only let Him.
The second thing the Lord said when He called us, He used a specific name. The word name here is from the Hebrew word, "shem," which means, "reputation, fame, glory," (blueletterbible.org). In today's society, we understand all about reputation. If someone has a good reputation, you want to do business with them, associate with them, be near them, etc. If someone's reputation has been tarnished, whether by their own actions or anther's accusations, others withdraw from them and that person may never be able to rebuild his reputation. Your reputation, your "name," is very important, both to you and to the Lord. For this very reason, the Lord was known to change a person's name. He changed Jacob, the deceiver to Israel, which means God prevails or God's soldier, (see Genesis 32:28). He also changed Abram and Sari to Abraham and Sarah when God gave Abraham the promise that he would be the father of many nations, (see Genesis 17:5). Our names are important. They define us and tell others about us.
The third thing the Lord said is that He called us. This word called is from the Hebrew word, "qara," which means, "to summon, proclaim, be chosen," (blueletterbible.org). The Lord has called us by our name, our purpose, by the purpose for which He destined us. When the Lord speaks your name over you, you begin to transform into who He desires you to be. In some instances, the Lord changed a person's name. In others, He simply spoke out the name to bring life to His desires for that person. He did this with Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector, until Jesus spoke out his name, which means "pure," (see Luke 19:2). The Lord did the same with Paul (a.k.a. Saul), who was previously the greatest persecutor of the Lord's disciples, (see Acts 9). But when the Lord called out his name, Paul rose up and began to do the Lord's work, preaching the gospel throughout the world.
The Lord calls His beloved forward to do His will. He did this with many throughout the Bible. He did it then, He's done it today, and He'll do it tomorrow. The Lord is calling forth His kids; He's called me, and He's calling you. What has the Lord spoken over you? Perhaps it is your birth name; perhaps it is the name He has chosen for you, for His purposes. What has the Lord called you? Who is He calling you to be, and what will you answer in response?
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