Don't Get Caught Sleeping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndb7kein1Es

God, Turn it Around ~ feat. Jon Reddick | Church of the City

 

If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ~ Mark 13:36 NIVUK

 

Lately, I’ve been feeling an urgency, a pressing, from Holy Spirit for God’s people. This urgency includes sharing Jesus with those who don’t yet know Him, covering our kids—those in our sphere of influence—and praying for the protection of their identity in Christ, and more recently, it also includes waking up the sleeping church.

 

While researching, I was led to Mark 13:33-37, in which Jesus tells His to keep watch, because no one knows the day or hours of the return of the Son of Man. Jesus said, “It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch,” (v. 34 NKJV). Bible commentator David Guzik said Jesus left us three things: (1) His house—His Church; (2) His authority; (3) His work—work assigned to each servant to complete, not doing the work of others, but each completing his own task.

 

A sleeping servant, therefore, has not been caring for or protecting his Master’s house from thieves or looters. He’s failed to act in the authority left to him, and he hasn’t completed his assigned tasks. Not only does a sleeping servant miss out on the promotions and blessings of a watchful servant, but he’s left knowing he failed his Master.

 

The image of the sleeping servant vs. the watchful servant reminded me of something I heard our leadership say at our previous church. It was classified as a “mega church” and when it was quickly growing, someone said that though the front door was wide-open, the back door was also cracked. This “watchful servant” didn’t want others to “fall asleep,” thinking that just because their numbers were growing each week that their work was done. He noted that there was a disconnect in their mission if people were sneaking out the back door.

 

The same is true regarding our marriages, children, and families. We can’t afford to assume that once they are saved, or once they are strong, that our work is done. We can’t get lazy and fall asleep. There’s too much at stake! The enemy is patient and he’s watching, waiting for you to nod off so that he can slip in and steal your treasures. Because he’s cunning and deceptive, he’ll slowly pull them from you. Maybe he’ll start with stealing their respect for you, destroying a bit of your authority. As you continue to drift off to sleep, He’ll weasel into their thoughts and get them to question their identity, value, and worth. A few more naps are all it’ll take for him to steal all your treasure—the people you love—and get you to wonder, “How did that happen?"

 

Church, friends, don’t get caught sleeping. Jesus said, “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:37 NIVUK).

©Heather Potts 2022

It's Not Over

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVHrkYBEgFM

God’s Not Done With You ~ Tauren Wells

 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. ~ Ephesians 6:12 AMP

 

Have you ever been so focused on all the chaos right in front of you that you forgot about the bigger picture? That was what was going on with me this morning. I was so caught up in the craziness of things going on with some friends, that I was crying—truly grieving for them. But God, in His graciousness, spoke to me. Amid tears, Holy Spirit reminded me that God’s not done writing their story. Holy Spirit took it a step further and reminded me that this is a battle for souls and lives, and the devil is out for blood!

 

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy… ~ John 10:10 NKJV

 

The devil is out to destroy my friends’ lives and their walk with God. And he’ll gladly steal my joy and peace if I’ll let him. If I’ll let him. If I let the devil… If I choose to hand over my peace and joy, trading for his despair and hopelessness, then I will certainly be too weak for battle. That’s the devil’s goal: to make God’s warriors too weak for battle. His plan is to distract us from our true purpose. He’ll use whatever he can: money, fame, pleasure, pain, grief, anger, whatever it takes to turn your head. Like a scary movie, he’s hoping you’ll turn your eyes away from the scene, so he can take control, leaving you powerless to stop him.

 

But God’s got a battle plan, and He’s including you!

 

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. ~ Ephesians 6:10 AMPC

 

Your part is to (1) Put on your spiritual armor. (2) Remember who you’re fighting against. (3) Stand firm. It sounds simple until the fierce winds blow, the enemy roars, and his weapons are drawn. That’s about the time most people turn tail and run. In general, people don’t like messy. We don’t like things that take great effort for long periods of time. We like short and sweet, preferably with a bow.

 

But you are not a coward. You are God’s warrior who has been given strength from God to stand firm. God’s charge to us is to stand firm in His strength and power. It might be a long battle. It might get uglier before it gets better. It will likely cost you time and effort. But you’re not alone, and you’re not expected to fight in your own strength. Today, don’t give up hope! Lean in to God, draw your strength from Him, and stand firm against the devil!

©Heather Potts 2022

Legacy of Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U6OcIaa5jo

Your Nature ~ The Belonging Co. Featuring Kari Jobe

 

Then he said to them, “… Stay here and keep watch with me.” ~ Matthew 26:38 NIV

 

I have been thinking a lot, lately, about the legacy of my grandfather, Lyle Hayes. Most people wouldn’t recognize his name. While most of his grandchildren—and possibly even great-grandchildren—remember him as a quiet, gentle man who loved to sneak his sweets, (and then share them with us), I also know another side of him.

 

As an adult, my grandpa told me that he prayed for me every day, just as he prayed for all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Most of the time I thanked him but didn’t really think about it. But in later years, after seeing some of the fruit of his labor—at least 3 relationships restored, physical health restored, mental and emotional health restored, strong marriages, jobs found, etc.—I was in awe of his labor of love.

 

I don’t know when he started praying for his family. I never thought to ask. Regardless, the power that one man’s prayers had in so many lives was more than he could imagine. Whether he prayed at church or home, I know he knew that Jesus was praying with him.

 

In Matthew 26:36-46, Jesus takes the disciples with Him to Gethsemane and asks them to keep watch with Him, (v. 38). Later, Jesus told them to, “Watch and pray,” (v. 41). According to Bible commentator David Guzik, Jesus told them to watch and pray, because they needed to combine spiritual power with their physical action to be effective, (Blueletterbible.org). Guzik also suggested that many spiritual battles are fought and won long before we see the crisis.

 

Looking back at his life, my grandpa was always a fighter. Physically, he fought as a bombardier in World War II, serving and protecting his country and family. Through his prayers—a soldier for Christ—he has fought and won many spiritual battles on behalf of his loved ones. I’m proud of his service in the military. I am forever thankful for the decades he fought as a soldier for Christ.

 

Jesus calls us all to keep watch with Him, to watch and pray. Though we don’t know the battles up ahead, we’d like to have the victory even before the crisis arrives. Today, I implore you, do not leave to chance the protection of your family. Keep watch with Jesus, watch and pray!

©Heather Potts 2022

Known and Loved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVVlMQved8k

You Know Me ~ Steffany Gretzinger

 

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.

~ Psalm 139:1 NIVUK

 

What do athletic socks, a fake plant, and a watermelon have in common? They were all birthday gifts given by women who know me. They know what I need, can handle, and enjoy. Gifts are fun to receive. Some gifts will make you laugh, some will bring you delight, and some will touch a tender spot in your heart, as you realize how well you are known and loved.

 

David, the youngest and smallest son of Jesse, expressed his awe of God in the Psalms. Though David may have been overlooked by his earthly family, his heavenly Father knew and loved him completely:

You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
 You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
 Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely, (Psalm 139:2-4)

You are familiar—intimately acquainted—with all my ways… David felt safe in the hands of his God who knew him: his praise and doubts, his rejoicing and rejections, his good deeds and mistakes, his wins and his faults. The Lord knew all these things, and still loved him.

 

We all long to be known, and loved, like that. The same Lord who knew and loved David, knows and loves you. Our Father knows, loves, honors, cares for, created, designed, corrects, disciplines, and teaches us in a personal way. He knows your past and is fully aware of the things you’ve endured and had to overcome; He’s seen your future and knows the preparation you still require to be victorious; He was with you yesterday, He’s journeying with you now, and still, He loves you. You, dear child, are fully known and fully loved.

©Heather Potts 2022

Feeling Dry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjNZf878ISQ

Oh My Soul ~ Casting Crowns

 

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Saviour and my God.

~ Psalm 43:5 NIV

 

Have you ever had a good day, but then suddenly, for no apparent reason, you felt sad, like to the point of tears? We’d had a good day, but suddenly, I felt like crying and couldn’t explain why. I did try to explain it: maybe I’m overtired; maybe it’s because I’m a girl; perhaps it’s hormones. Who knows? I certainly didn’t.

 

After everyone had gone to bed, I sat down with my Bible and journal and flipped to Psalm 43:5 and began writing the verse. As I began to write, God did a beautiful thing for me; two things, actually. The first, was that He washed His peace over me, and I no longer felt anxious or sad. The second, was that He allowed my eyes to drift into the next column and see where I had previously underlined Psalm 42:2:

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?

That was the answer to my emotional tizzy: my soul was needing to meet with God.

 

Due to several things, I had an immensely hard time waking up this morning, which left my quiet-time choppy (at best), as I juggled the girls' needs, instead of keeping my “date” with Jesus. And I (clearly) needed that time. I needed to allow God time to hold me, Holy Spirit to speak to me, and Jesus to lead me. But because I didn’t take the time at the start, something in my day left me feeling dry…until I sat and met with God. It’s an amazing and beautiful thing what entering His presence does for you.

 

If, throughout the course of your day, you find yourself feeling dry, take the advice given in Psalm 42:5-8, (MSG):

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God.

When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
    everything I know of you,

. . .
Then God promises to love me all day,
    sing songs all through the night!
    My life is God’s prayer.

©Heather Potts 2022

We Want to Belong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li40gJTeBts

God So Loved ~ We the Kingdom

 

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ~ 1 Peter 2:10 NIV

 

I feel like each time I go to the store, I see more people with dyed hair. Some with salon-quality, but others look like they grabbed a can of spray paint on their way to the store. It’s as an interesting trend, the next wave of people trying to “fit in”.

 

Someone I know is making some unhealthy choices, looking to be accepted. When I asked God how to pray for her, He said to pray for her identity. Holy Spirit gave me several verses:

She is a child of God ~ John 1:12

Her old self was crucified with Christ; she is no longer a slave to sin ~ Romans 6:6

She was created in the image of God ~ Genesis 1:27

She is a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, called out of darkness and into His wonderful light ~ 1 Peter 2:9

She now belongs to God ~ 1 Peter 2:10

 

The last verse, declaring that she now belongs to God, is something we all want. One of my jobs at school is to help in the lunchroom. Stand in there just once and you will see it: all the kids stand around and wait for their friends to join them. No one wants to be left out; everyone wants to belong.

 

Rainbow-colored hair will eventually fade, just as every other fad has over the years, but the longing to belong will remain. God created us for a relationship with Him, but our sin kept us separated, so He sent Jesus to provide the way. Once, you were not a people—you couldn’t come close to God. But now you are the people of God—part of the fold, brought close, adopted, accepted, loved, a child of God. Now you belong; you belong to God.

©Heather Potts 2022

Worthy Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjPKfQ7fMoM

I Choose to Worship ~ Rend Collective

 

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ~ Ephesians 4:1 NIV

 

I’m so grateful God moved us here when He did. It gave our girls the opportunity to meet my grandpa, Lyle Hayes, before he passed away. When Savannah was in Kindergarten, I took her to visit my grandpa on Memorial Day. She was, then, old enough to grasp some of what Memorial Day is and why we celebrate it. While we were visiting, she asked to explore his house. My grandpa had an older home with many rooms. In the office was a war memorial display case, which housed a model plane, the same kind of bomber on which my grandpa fought. It also housed many medals and other memorial items that belonged to both my grandpa, as well as his brother, Clayton. 

 

Just about every time I went to visit Grandpa Hayes, he'd tell me stories of his time in the service, especially his training in Florida, but rarely did he talk about Clayton. Shortly after my grandpa died, we found a newspaper article about my great-uncle, Pfc. Clayton Hayes, and how he helped a mom and her son carry belongings back to their war-ravaged home in Normandy. The article was from June 3, 1944. At the end of the war, many men came home as war heroes. Unfortunately, Clayton Hayes, died as one, in September 1944, during Operation Market Garden in Holland.

 

This Memorial Day, please take a moment to remember the fallen heroes and pray for their families. Please also pray for those who are currently serving in the military. Before the day is out, take a moment and thank those you know who have served and fought to keep us safe and free. And finally, ask God to give you the strength and courage to live a life worthy of both their sacrifice, and of the Lord's calling on your life. 

 

Who do you know and want to thank on this Memorial Day? 

 

http://normandie44.canalblog.com/archives/2012/01/14/23241133.html

Article on Pfc. Clayton Hayes, and the others in his troop.

©Heather Potts 2022