Ask Questions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG347euXoTM

A Christmas Alleluia ~ Chris Tomlin (feat. Lauren Daigle, Leslie Jordan)

 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of Shaddai.

~ Psalm 91:1a NIV

 

We visited my grandpa and his girlfriend this past summer in Waukesha. When we got to her house, the first thing my children asked was if they could explore her house. How simple and natural for a child to want to explore? "Can I look around? Can I see what’s out there? Can I discover what I don’t know?"

 

Years ago, I attended an Excel class. My boss sent me on a mission: to find the answers to five different things. When the instructor asked us what we wanted to learn, a few of us gave our laundry list of things. One woman, however, gave the correct answer. She said, "I want to know what I don't know." 

 

That's the correct answer in studying the Bible, too. "I want to know You more," the song sings. "Let me seek Your face," the verse says. "I want to dwell in Your house, forever, that I may look upon Your glory and seek Your face." We're called to dwell, to abide. How can we do that if we're not spending time seeking, searching, and asking questions? 

 

I actually wrote this a few days ago, but hadn’t shared it, yet. This morning, as I tried to sit down and share, my phone was a constant explosion of texts. Our school is on a 2-hour weather delay. But since many of us haven’t experienced that at school, we had questions about when to go where.

 

My prayer for us, both today and during this season, is that we will ask questions: What does it mean to dwell? Who is Shaddai? What do things mean, and why do I need to know them? The Bible says we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven as little children. Little children ask questions, they seek, they want to know, and they want to learn. I pray we’ll enter this season with questions, and with a desire to learn more about the One Who sent His Son.

©Heather Potts 2022

Undeserved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91hHw1YPqxE

Communion ~ (feat. Steffany Gretzinger & Brandon Lake) Maverick City

 

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23 NIV

 

As I stood before the Table, this was the first time I’d had a hard time approaching and partaking. As I stood there, staring at the Elements, I heard Holy Spirit say, “You are under the impression that you’ve ever deserved this. It’s always been undeserved.” The word undeserved hung in the air. It wrapped all around me and sat on me. But it wasn’t heavy. Quite the contrary, it was entirely freeing.

 

un·de·served. Un- meaning, “not,” and -ed indicating past tense, left only deserve. What I discovered helped me understand why it was so freeing. De- is a preposition, meaning, “from…out of,” and finally, serve comes from Middle English, Old French, and Latin, all words being equivalent to “slave,” (dictionary.com). Undeserved, therefore, is not-from-slavery. It can’t be earned. That’s what makes it grace.

 

Though I was welcome at the Lord’s Table, as His Bride, from the first time I put my faith and trust in Him, it was 15 years ago that I heard Him call me there. In 2007, I was suffering from pain, and it wasn’t getting better. One morning at church, I received prayer for healing. During the prayer, Holy Spirit spoke to me about receiving healing from the Lord’s Table. He said, “When you take the Bread, see My flesh bonding with your flesh, healing your flesh. When you take the Cup, see My blood flowing through your blood, washing away every sickness and disease.” It’s been 15 years, and His words have never left me. Though I am not always good at utilizing this beautiful and precious gift, I’ve never, before, hesitated to eat at His Table.

 

Prior to now, any pain or sickness I’d experienced was something that happened to me, not due to my own stupidity. And that’s how the devil got me. It was easier to believe the lie that previous times of healing were “deserved” because they weren’t my own fault. This time, however, I didn’t deserve healing, nor to even ask for it, because I’d made a dumb choice. That’s when the Lord stepped in and called me back to His Table. Standing there, staring at the Elements, a few words from the Lord, and everything changed.

 

It's not deserved. It can’t be earned. And that is what makes it grace.

©Heather Potts 2022

What's Worth $200 Million?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ykr17QALNY

All He Says I Am ~ Cody Carnes

 

A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman—who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. ~ Proverbs 31:10 AMPC

 

What could you get with roughly $200 million?

 

Here are some options:

·         25,000 sq. ft. mansion ($100 million)

·         "Portrait of the Artist Without Beard" by Vincent Van Gogh ($98.5 million)

·         High-tech 3D roller coaster ($105 million)

·         28 commercial wind turbines ($98 million)

·         13 miles of interstate highway in Florida ($100 million)

·         Hire Tom Cruise for a movie – or for the same amount, hire Chris Hemsworth, Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, and Brad Pitt ($100 million)

 

What did Jesus purchase? My Savannah. Except He paid much more and said she was worth every bit!

 

Proverbs 31:10 says, “A…virtuous woman…is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls,” (AMPC). The going rate for 1 pure carat of rubies is at least $1,000. If I had the same weight in rubies as Savannah weighs in pounds, they would be worth about $200 million. But Proverbs 31:10 emphasizes that we far more valuable than rubies or pearls. Not only are we far more valuable, but God has been thinking about us…since forever!

 

Seriously!

 

2 Timothy 1:9 says, “[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us… [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of… His own purpose and grace… which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],” (AMPC). Ephesians 1:4 further emphasizes this, “Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world…” (AMPC). Did you catch that? God was thinking about you eternal ages ago! I can’t fathom that and Google can’t explain it.

 

Knowing this, why do we—my girls and I included—still doubt our worth? Why do words, spoken by someone other than God still sting? Because we’ve believed lies.

 

It’s time to tell the lies, “No!” It’s time for them to go!

 

When we know—fully believe in our core-being—who you are in Christ, then the words of co-workers, family members, kids on the playground, or lies from your enemy won’t sting. Then, you can boldly say, I am: A Child of the King, Loved, Beautiful, Victorious, Joyful, Transformed, Favored, More than a Conqueror, More Valuable than Rubies, and so much more!

©Heather Potts 2022

For You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAIdo707Sac&list=RDHAIdo707Sac&start_radio=1

Freedom Reigns ~ Jesus Culture

 

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV

 

What did Jesus die for, for you?

 

You may say, "My salvation, of course." And that's true, He did, but He came for so much more. He came that you might have life and have it to the fullest. He came to break chains. He came to set captive free. He came to give sight to the blind. He came to overcome the world.

 

My mom and I attended women's event on Friday night. The keynote speaker was discussing the woman at the well and the shame she cared about her. Now, not everyone has known shame the way the woman did. My story certainly isn't hers. But that doesn't mean that the devil hasn't worked hard to put his shame on me. Just as I'm certain he has worked hard to put his shame on you. Perhaps you're still walking around wearing shame like a cloak.

 

The thing about wearing a cloak is that it feels so heavy when you're wearing it. It might be easily put on, but it's not easy to wear, nor does it feel easy to remove. Shame isn't meant to define your actions, but rather your identity. It says, "Who you are it's bad."

 

I think I will always ruin for the day that Jesus spoke to me about the cloak of shame I had to allow the devil to put on me. Gently, He approached me, and softly He whispered, "But I died for that, so you don't have to wear a shame like a cloak, anymore."

 

There's freedom in Jesus. He came to give us freedom! From our sins, from our past, from our future, from shame, from addictions, from defeat, from death, from spiritual blindness, and from the devil's hold on us. He came to give us freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is the spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." Make the choice, today, and cast off that cloak of shame. Walk boldly in the freedom that the Lord has given to you!

 

What did Jesus die for, for you?

©Heather Potts 2022

Keep Standing pt. 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gs3fg_WsEg&list=RD_Gs3fg_WsEg&start_radio=1

Dancing in the Minefields ~ Andrew Peterson

 

Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” ~ Matthew 15:25 NKJV

 

I am equally blessed and amazed that God has walked us through 18 years of marriage. I remember when I wasn’t sure that we’d survive the first 5 years. Neither the world nor our church set us up for success. Though our church wasn’t purposefully setting us up for failure, our premarital counseling went something like this, “You want to get married? Great!” There was no talk about covenant or roles or anything. We were left to figure it out on our own, which caused us both to fail, a lot! Thankfully, God walked us through many seasons—both painful valleys and refreshing mountain-top victories. It’s been in the hard seasons, especially, that we’ve had to rely on Jesus and the covenant promise we made with Him.

 

We really struggled in the infant/toddler years of our marriage. One day, as I was walking and praying, I literally cried out to God, “I will have nothing less than Your very best for me and this marriage!” Was I bold in saying it? Yes! Was I off-base in expecting it from God? No!

 

Matthew 15:22-28 tells the story of a woman who did the same thing. At first, Jesus didn’t respond to the woman’s request to heal her daughter. He even called the woman a dog, (v.26). But even that didn’t cause her to quit. In fact, it was her faith and perseverance that caused Jesus to respond to her. The woman refused to quit! She refused to accept anything less than healing for her daughter and she knew that Jesus could do it. Because of her perseverance Jesus said, “’Woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was cured from that moment,” (v.28). Even now, I am encouraged and humbled to pray with the woman’s boldness.

 

Sadly, over the past 15 years, the divorce rate has remained at about 50%, with most divorces happening either within the first 10 years, or years later, when the adults become empty-nesters. Remember, it’s not the length of our marriage or having children living at home that determines the success of our marriage. It’s our determination to stand, and keep standing, on our vows.

 

Whether your marriage is in a good, solid season, or has hit some dips and valleys, I encourage you to pray for your marriage and refuse to quit until Jesus answers you. Lord, protect our marriages. Keep us bold in praying for our marriages and families. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2022

Keep Standing pt.1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXbRa5Nm6mM

I Speak Jesus ~ Passion

 

When the sun had gone down and a [thick] darkness had come on, behold, a smoking oven and a flaming torch passed between those pieces. ~ Genesis 15:17 AMPC

 

My dad’s parents were married for over 60 years and my mom’s parents were married for over 50 years before either of the grandmothers passed away. Not many marriages last that long. Why? Did “their generation” do it better? No. It’s not about their age, as people from their generation have also gotten divorced. The difference-maker is God.

 

Alistair Begg, pastor and voice behind the Truth for Life radio program, taught in his sermon series, “I Take You,” that taking seriously your covenant promise is the platform upon which your marriage will stand, because it’s a promise with God. He briefly shared the purpose and weight of the covenant, as described in Genesis 15:9-19. He said the purpose behind cutting the animals in half, setting them apart, and having all parties walk between the pieces is to show what will happen if you break the vows:

“May I be torn in half if I don’t fulfill my covenantal obligation to you. That’s why the Hebrew doesn’t speak about making a covenant. It speaks about cutting a covenant,” (https://www.truthforlife.org/broadcasts/2022/07/01/i-take-you-part-2-of-2--/).

In Genesis 15, we see that God made this vow with Abram. God put His own reputation on the line knowing that He would never—could never—break this covenant.

 

Cutting a covenant sounds bleak and dark, not light and happy. But cutting a covenant—standing on your vows, fulfilling your promises—is serious business. While some seasons in life and marriage are easier and more joyful, others are hard and painful. When push comes to shove and life is hard and harder still, on what will your marriage stand? It won’t be the 200+ likes of your wedding pictures, or the memories of the honeymoon. It’ll stand on the covenant promise and the vows you made.

 

If your marriage is in a light and happy season, I am glad for you! But if you find yourself in a battle for your marriage, just remember to keep standing. God never promised that life would be easy, but He promised to be with us.

 

When the day is long and the battle is hard,

                Keep standing.

When the fight is painful and your energy’s depleted,

                Keep standing.

When you’ve spent everything and there’s nothing left,

                Keep standing.

Keep standing!

Keep standing!

Keep standing!

 

I don’t know how things will look when the dust settles, but I do know the God who promised to be faithful. Keep standing on God’s promises, on the covenant, and on the vows you made and see how God will move.

Keep standing.

©Heather Potts 2022

Unworthiness, Pride, and Reputation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeL9mKnd38g

Worthy of My Song (Worthy of It All) ~ Phil Wickham & Chandler Moore

 

When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. ~ Hebrew 6:17-18 MSG

 

Recently, I realized I’ve been battling the lie of unworthiness. Though I know my promises, (I am a child of God, forgiven, called by name, etc.), I sometimes struggle to walk in the empowerment of them. On most days, I am fine. But when the enemy challenges my worthiness in my calling—like now, when I’ve been called to lead a women’s Bible study—I more easily question, “Who am I?” Ironically, the other side of that coin is pride. Because if I am worthy and I can do it, then the common denominator is I, which is a very dangerous place. And though I am realizing this, it’s not a new battle; not even for me.

 

I have always loved writing, even when I was younger—before we had a home computer. As I grew older and as my relationship with God grew, I wanted Him to use my writing. Then, one day, God said He would, and He called me to start writing for Him. Suddenly, I was afraid and felt unworthy of the calling. “Who am I to share with others? They won’t want to read what I write. I am nobody important. Who am I?” Then God shared His most profound promise with me, one that has shaped how I write, lead small groups, and even pray. He said, “It’s not about you. It’s not your reputation on the line; it’s Mine!”

 

Sometime after that, Lisa Bevere was a guest speaker at our church. I didn’t know who she was at the time. I’d never heard of her. If I remember correctly, her message was on our calling in Christ. I realized God was speaking to me when she read this portion of scripture, “When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it all the way, putting his own reputation on the line,” (Hebrews 6:13 MSG). In that moment, in that auditorium, God confirmed His promise to me, that it's not about me. It’s wonderful, because if it’s not about me, then it can be all about Him, which should be the point and focus of all that we do.

 

The Bible says that God has a purpose and plan for each of our lives. Don’t let the devil intimidate you with fear and get you to back down from your calling. For one, you’ll miss out on the blessings God has for you in obedience. And for two, not following through makes it all about you and no longer about God.

 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord… It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ~ Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

©Heather Potts 2022