I love a Saturday full of Bible study!!! Today was fabulous! I have moved from one stack of books and Bibles to another today...complete with my favorite ink pens and red wax pencils. If I try to read one more thing out loud to my husband he has threatened to strangle me!!!
Today's studies have been interesting because they all overlapped. Here is a kind of outline for what I worked on today: morning prayers and Bible reading (the Book of Jeremiah at the moment), a Sunday School lesson from Philippians Ch. 2, a training union lesson on the Book of Daniel with substudies from Genesis and Revelation. I just could not be any more content! Well, my studies kept hot-lapping each other. Jeremiah continues to prophesy repentance prior to total destruction. Daniel continues to prophesy repentance prior to total destruction. Genesis layed out Nimrod and the first world-ruled (world...not God) order - Babylon. Revelation depicts the final fall of the world-ruled empire - Babylon. Then there is Paul writing from prison in Rome (Babylon!!!) encouraging his fellow Christians to be Christ-like in attitude and filled with joy as a result!
My mind is blown! I need a soap box...oh yeah...the Portico is my soap box. Christians, we are to be counter-cultural. We are not to blend in with this world. We are not to compromise and find a way to straddle the fence. Contrary to what Oprah says...it is NOT all roads warm and fuzzy lead somewhere warm and fuzzy.
God did not take on the form of the king of the world. He didn't even take the form of someone wealthy, or affluent, or popular. He became a baby in the most common of places to the most common of people who were only made extraordinary by their obedience to God!!! He came as Christ to serve. He did NOT have to do that. Yet, He did to show us as much of His characteristics as is possible for man to emulate!!! We just have to choose to follow His example. You/we didn't choose a lot of our circumstances thus far, but we certainly have chosen our attitudes every day...all the way. Do you have the attitude of Christ or the attitude of our society? They are most certainly polar opposites.
Christ lived to love, to serve others, to sacrifice to the point of death. We don't even fully support our missionaries anymore! We are living in times where politics, one world order, and governments are front-line, 24/7, center of attention topics. Christians, it is time (well passed time which is why we are where we are) to be counter-cultural. The loss of your retirement plans did not end your life. If your child is like mine and got less this year, he's probably better for it. If healthcare gets sacked, we still serve and are faithful to the Great Physician.
Here is what has my attention. I don't want one penny of my taxes going to abortion. I don't want to be told where I can and can't pray. Christian radio has just as much, if not more, right to be aired than anything else. I can help someone in need without being featured in the paper. I can forgive. I can continue to love. I'm not here for the attention of others. I am here to please and glorify God.
As my day continues to spin, QVC (which I love and use) is running the captions "It's All About Me," which is exactly the title of Babylonian thinking in my Daniel study. Hhhhmmmm.
It better start being all about Him. I don't know about you,but I like the idea of living life to the fullest. Give me love, friends (true friends), security, hope. Thank you, God. You give me those things every day. Oh...my favorite...grace! How in the world and why in the world do people still pass on grace?
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
A Lesson and a Gift
This post will be a little scattered because it should have been two different posts. I haven't been able to get to the Portico when I needed to over the past week or so...too busy; too, too busy! Who knows what didn't make it to the Portico because my brain shifted gears before thoughts were captured by my post-it notes. The inside of my purse is lined with post-its! I will try to be better about regular posts...for selfish reasons...it is one of my favorite things to do.
The Lesson - My training union class is doing Beth Moore's study on the Book of Daniel. I love her studies on books of the Bible because you REALLY know the book when you are finished with the lesson. In her last video segment, she made a statement that rocked my heart, soul, and mind. I get rocked so often it is a wonder I don't stagger when I walk. Anyway, she was discussing being sealed. When you receive Jesus Christ in your heart and are filled with the Holy Spirit you become sealed. Meaning the Evil Onc cannot get in. He can try to trip you up from the outside world, but scripture says he CANNOT be in and/or control your thoughts and emotions. It didn't dawn on me immediately. I have heard, talked, and discussed this scriptural fact before. However, later God turned the lights in my head on high-beam. Holy revelation!!!! The Evil One doesn't know what I am thinking! Do you get how huge that is? If I am thinking and sinning in my thoughts (which I do A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT) that stinking serpent doesn't know it!!! He only knows it when I speak it or put my sin into action. Then he can jump into action and try to trip me up in the world. Do you see how important it is not to vent and not to lose your witness? It is not just about me being a stumbling block for someone else. It is also about me not tipping off the one who wants me to fail. He can only hear and see what is on the outside. I almost cried over the relief of this fact. It is painful enough that my Savior knows my sins...sees the daily failures in my mind and heart. What a relief to know the Evil One doesn't know it if I don't show it!!!! In recent days, I can assure you I have become much quieter and calmer. At first, it was intentional but it is becoming holy habit!!!
The Gift - I had the strongest urge (which I have come to know as God) to go to Christmas Eve mass this year. I have been a proclaimed Southern Baptist for about 3 or 4 years, but prior to that was Catholic. I mean born Catholic, Catholic school educated, plaid uniforms, and weekly mass Catholic. I haven't been to mass in 6 or 7 years. Yesterday, I just started having this desire to go. I knew my dad would be there, and I didn't want him to be by himself. So I thought it would be a nice Christmas present for him if I surprised him by showing up. I must confess I was pretty apprehensive about going. I knew it would bring back a flood of wonderful memories, and I wondered if I would feel the presence of God in a more powerful way. I can't really explain to you why I thought that other than the fact there is something very moving in a mass.
I was flooded by emotions. Nothing had changed in the cathedral itself. I remembered every responsive reading, prayer, and psalm and loved being a part. I loved being there with and for my dad. It was obvious it meant a lot to him. While I did feel close to the Lord, I didn't feel Him any more or less than I do at my home church. For some reason, maybe affirmation, I was tickled to death to experience that. I also heard the most powerful homily (sermon) by the priest on salvation I may have ever heard. I wanted to stand in the pew and shout amen! That would have been different in mass! The priest laid it out there...a beautiful explanation of you and I being reconciled to Him by accepting Christ into our hearts. I was dumbfounded. Was this homily the first time I ever heard the plan of salvation in mass, or was it always here and I didn't hear it? I'm still very curious about the whole thing. I felt like the whole experience was a gift from God. Here was the gift: I took my Bible with me. If you have never been to a mass, all the readings come from the Bible. Yes, the same Bible used by Southern Baptists. However, most Catholics don't carry their Bible, highlight it, study it. That was my gift from God this year: to see how much I love my Bible. I needed it in my hands. I opened it and read the readings from its pages. I will return to a church on Sunday where I will study it for Sunday School, read from it during the sermon, study again the Book of Daniel in training union. Next week (thank you K.S), I will be part of Bible drill for the first time in my life. I can hardly wait! I love the Word of God. There cannot be too much exposure to it!
Praise God. Worship Him. For His love, study His Word.
The Lesson - My training union class is doing Beth Moore's study on the Book of Daniel. I love her studies on books of the Bible because you REALLY know the book when you are finished with the lesson. In her last video segment, she made a statement that rocked my heart, soul, and mind. I get rocked so often it is a wonder I don't stagger when I walk. Anyway, she was discussing being sealed. When you receive Jesus Christ in your heart and are filled with the Holy Spirit you become sealed. Meaning the Evil Onc cannot get in. He can try to trip you up from the outside world, but scripture says he CANNOT be in and/or control your thoughts and emotions. It didn't dawn on me immediately. I have heard, talked, and discussed this scriptural fact before. However, later God turned the lights in my head on high-beam. Holy revelation!!!! The Evil One doesn't know what I am thinking! Do you get how huge that is? If I am thinking and sinning in my thoughts (which I do A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT) that stinking serpent doesn't know it!!! He only knows it when I speak it or put my sin into action. Then he can jump into action and try to trip me up in the world. Do you see how important it is not to vent and not to lose your witness? It is not just about me being a stumbling block for someone else. It is also about me not tipping off the one who wants me to fail. He can only hear and see what is on the outside. I almost cried over the relief of this fact. It is painful enough that my Savior knows my sins...sees the daily failures in my mind and heart. What a relief to know the Evil One doesn't know it if I don't show it!!!! In recent days, I can assure you I have become much quieter and calmer. At first, it was intentional but it is becoming holy habit!!!
The Gift - I had the strongest urge (which I have come to know as God) to go to Christmas Eve mass this year. I have been a proclaimed Southern Baptist for about 3 or 4 years, but prior to that was Catholic. I mean born Catholic, Catholic school educated, plaid uniforms, and weekly mass Catholic. I haven't been to mass in 6 or 7 years. Yesterday, I just started having this desire to go. I knew my dad would be there, and I didn't want him to be by himself. So I thought it would be a nice Christmas present for him if I surprised him by showing up. I must confess I was pretty apprehensive about going. I knew it would bring back a flood of wonderful memories, and I wondered if I would feel the presence of God in a more powerful way. I can't really explain to you why I thought that other than the fact there is something very moving in a mass.
I was flooded by emotions. Nothing had changed in the cathedral itself. I remembered every responsive reading, prayer, and psalm and loved being a part. I loved being there with and for my dad. It was obvious it meant a lot to him. While I did feel close to the Lord, I didn't feel Him any more or less than I do at my home church. For some reason, maybe affirmation, I was tickled to death to experience that. I also heard the most powerful homily (sermon) by the priest on salvation I may have ever heard. I wanted to stand in the pew and shout amen! That would have been different in mass! The priest laid it out there...a beautiful explanation of you and I being reconciled to Him by accepting Christ into our hearts. I was dumbfounded. Was this homily the first time I ever heard the plan of salvation in mass, or was it always here and I didn't hear it? I'm still very curious about the whole thing. I felt like the whole experience was a gift from God. Here was the gift: I took my Bible with me. If you have never been to a mass, all the readings come from the Bible. Yes, the same Bible used by Southern Baptists. However, most Catholics don't carry their Bible, highlight it, study it. That was my gift from God this year: to see how much I love my Bible. I needed it in my hands. I opened it and read the readings from its pages. I will return to a church on Sunday where I will study it for Sunday School, read from it during the sermon, study again the Book of Daniel in training union. Next week (thank you K.S), I will be part of Bible drill for the first time in my life. I can hardly wait! I love the Word of God. There cannot be too much exposure to it!
Praise God. Worship Him. For His love, study His Word.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
To Please Him
Sovereign, All Mighty, All Knowing, the Alpha and Omega. He knew when He created creation what would be. He could have altered His story. He could have scrapped it all together. Yet He didn't. Knowing full well what would come of the world, people, and His people not only did He allow us to exist...He offered His son as a way to salvation...as a choice. He knew man would fall and fail time and time again. Yet every second since the birth of Christ there has existed the choice to stop falling and start living.
In studying for Sunday School, it dawned on me that God knows my whole life...the big picture. So why even fool with me? Because I delight Him. You delight Him. Every act of obedience, every prayer, every praise, every motion of love delights Jehovah Father. The thought of me delighting the Ancient of Days blows my mind. Yet, I know with the strongest conviction that fact is true. I feel in the core of my soul the Spirit speak and affirm God's delight in me sometimes.
For example, right now I bet God is beaming. I could be in an inappropriate chat room talking to someone I should not be. You could be hanging out on websites you shouldn't be. We're not though. We are right here on Solomon's Portico with a delighting, beaming, loving God. He knows my story and yours. He knows the hairs on our heads (for which this crazy weather is reeking havoc). But there are moments He delights and says way to go...that is exactly what I wanted you to do.
I just want to please Him. I want to delight Him. Every time I am tired, ill, and cranky I have an opportunity to not do what I feel, but do what will please the Lord. Every time God calls me, there is an opportunity to not focus on me, but focus on Him. Tomorrow is Monday. If there is a day of the week meant for battling crabbiness it is Monday! Do things tomorrow to delight Your heavenly Father. Let it be a day about Him...for Him.
In studying for Sunday School, it dawned on me that God knows my whole life...the big picture. So why even fool with me? Because I delight Him. You delight Him. Every act of obedience, every prayer, every praise, every motion of love delights Jehovah Father. The thought of me delighting the Ancient of Days blows my mind. Yet, I know with the strongest conviction that fact is true. I feel in the core of my soul the Spirit speak and affirm God's delight in me sometimes.
For example, right now I bet God is beaming. I could be in an inappropriate chat room talking to someone I should not be. You could be hanging out on websites you shouldn't be. We're not though. We are right here on Solomon's Portico with a delighting, beaming, loving God. He knows my story and yours. He knows the hairs on our heads (for which this crazy weather is reeking havoc). But there are moments He delights and says way to go...that is exactly what I wanted you to do.
I just want to please Him. I want to delight Him. Every time I am tired, ill, and cranky I have an opportunity to not do what I feel, but do what will please the Lord. Every time God calls me, there is an opportunity to not focus on me, but focus on Him. Tomorrow is Monday. If there is a day of the week meant for battling crabbiness it is Monday! Do things tomorrow to delight Your heavenly Father. Let it be a day about Him...for Him.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Frazzled!!!
If I cook one more crockpot of meatballs, I'm going to stab someone with a toothpick! I may even break the toothpick in half and then stab someone! Since becoming a Christian, I have promised myself every year that I would enjoy the Christmas season. If anyone should be enjoying Christmas, it is the Christians. In fact, if you are not a Christian, next week should be just any other seek. So, don't stay home from work.
Sorry, that is a blog for another day.
Truly, I do not like what we refer to as the "holiday season" - the period from Thanksgiving to New Year. We live in a country that is not thankful for what our founding fathers did and is trying to remove God from the planet. Why in the world do we run around for six weeks being thankful and worshipping things we can't afford to buy? Does anyone else see anything wrong here?
Anyway, when I became a Christian, I decided I would enjoy, celebrate, embrace Christmas since it is in recognition of the birth of my Savior. For six years, I have made it about this far before snapping. I was again on the verge of snapping - tired enough to cry and irritable enough to throw off the armor of God and go at it with someone.
A Travis Cottrell song has saved my sanity and my soul this year. I am currently listening to it over and over when in my car. Yesterday morning, I really listened to the words of the song and the affect was like a mild sedative. As the words sunk in, I just relaxed, retreated into the presence of Jehovah, and chilled out in His embrace.
Let me share the words of the chorus with you:
Search me know me
Try me and see
Every worthless affection hidden in me
All I'm asking for is that You'd cleanse me Lord
Create in me a heart that's pure
Conquer the power of secret shame
Come wash away the guilty stain of all my sin
Clothe me in robes of righteousness
Cover my nakedness with grace
All of my life before You now I humbly bring
Just typing the words brings tears to my eyes. You know what is powerful and works in those words? God is active not me. God is at work. God is moving. I just humbly come to Him, but He is the doer.
I listen to those words, and I shift to autopilot. I think I'll just coast along in the passenger seat for awhile!
Sorry, that is a blog for another day.
Truly, I do not like what we refer to as the "holiday season" - the period from Thanksgiving to New Year. We live in a country that is not thankful for what our founding fathers did and is trying to remove God from the planet. Why in the world do we run around for six weeks being thankful and worshipping things we can't afford to buy? Does anyone else see anything wrong here?
Anyway, when I became a Christian, I decided I would enjoy, celebrate, embrace Christmas since it is in recognition of the birth of my Savior. For six years, I have made it about this far before snapping. I was again on the verge of snapping - tired enough to cry and irritable enough to throw off the armor of God and go at it with someone.
A Travis Cottrell song has saved my sanity and my soul this year. I am currently listening to it over and over when in my car. Yesterday morning, I really listened to the words of the song and the affect was like a mild sedative. As the words sunk in, I just relaxed, retreated into the presence of Jehovah, and chilled out in His embrace.
Let me share the words of the chorus with you:
Search me know me
Try me and see
Every worthless affection hidden in me
All I'm asking for is that You'd cleanse me Lord
Create in me a heart that's pure
Conquer the power of secret shame
Come wash away the guilty stain of all my sin
Clothe me in robes of righteousness
Cover my nakedness with grace
All of my life before You now I humbly bring
Just typing the words brings tears to my eyes. You know what is powerful and works in those words? God is active not me. God is at work. God is moving. I just humbly come to Him, but He is the doer.
I listen to those words, and I shift to autopilot. I think I'll just coast along in the passenger seat for awhile!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Struggles or Spiritual Shortcomings
Yesterday morning, as I was journaling and praying, God revealed to me a struggle is actually a spiritual shortcoming. What does that mean? When I struggle with an idea, situation, person, I am not being obedient somewhere along the way. Either I am not being obedient, or I am lacking in faith. Maybe I struggle even being around a certain person. Maybe there is a certain person who cannot stand to be around me. In that case, there must be an issue of unforgiveness or lack of love. I'm not talking about getting on each other's nerves here. That is just plain irritation. I'm talking about hate, anger, resentment. Those are struggles. If I have truly forgiven the person, maybe I have not been obedient in what God intended on me doing with that person. Maybe He doesn't want me around that person, or maybe He doesn't just want me around the person, but to witness to the person. Have you ever noticed how much we hang around each other yet do not witness to one another?
The struggle doesn't have to be a person. It can be a lifestyle. Again, I'm not talking about compromising on sin here. There are some lifestyles that are sin. Period. God has clearly and SIMPLY laid out in His Word what He expects and accepts and what He doesn't. I'm talking about whether or not you are struggling to maintain your witness. You can oppose sin and show the light of Christ. Doesn't God?
In addition to being disobedient, sometimes I just don't have faith. I don't really think God will heal that person. I don't really believe God will deliver that family from financial disaster. I don't really believe God will restore that marriage that looks like something off a soap opera. I generally and usually believe God can do anything. However, if I am being honest, there are moments of doubt or even hypocrisy. I say I believe, but do I live as I believe?
When we lack faith and are disobedient, we see ourselves struggling...that feeling of unrest. It is a spiritual shortcoming. We are not allowing God to work through us completely. We haven't surrendered completely in order to receive the grace to do what we are not capable of doing...love, forgive, shine as the light of Christ's love.
I read the coolest verse I have ever read this weekend in Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
That verse is exactly what I want to do 24/7. I want to consume the word of God, lick the spoon, turn up the bowl. I want to eat it, breathe it, and live it. I will struggle. We all will, but from my struggles will come spiritual growth. I will move forward toward the prize. I have been called, and I will live to glorify God's name.
Perfect? No way...not even close. Christian? All the way!
The struggle doesn't have to be a person. It can be a lifestyle. Again, I'm not talking about compromising on sin here. There are some lifestyles that are sin. Period. God has clearly and SIMPLY laid out in His Word what He expects and accepts and what He doesn't. I'm talking about whether or not you are struggling to maintain your witness. You can oppose sin and show the light of Christ. Doesn't God?
In addition to being disobedient, sometimes I just don't have faith. I don't really think God will heal that person. I don't really believe God will deliver that family from financial disaster. I don't really believe God will restore that marriage that looks like something off a soap opera. I generally and usually believe God can do anything. However, if I am being honest, there are moments of doubt or even hypocrisy. I say I believe, but do I live as I believe?
When we lack faith and are disobedient, we see ourselves struggling...that feeling of unrest. It is a spiritual shortcoming. We are not allowing God to work through us completely. We haven't surrendered completely in order to receive the grace to do what we are not capable of doing...love, forgive, shine as the light of Christ's love.
I read the coolest verse I have ever read this weekend in Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
That verse is exactly what I want to do 24/7. I want to consume the word of God, lick the spoon, turn up the bowl. I want to eat it, breathe it, and live it. I will struggle. We all will, but from my struggles will come spiritual growth. I will move forward toward the prize. I have been called, and I will live to glorify God's name.
Perfect? No way...not even close. Christian? All the way!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Ruined by Christmas Pageants
Whether you go to church at least three times a week or have never darkened the door, you have seen the manger scene depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. Maybe you saw the real deal with live sheep, cows, and humans. Maybe you have seen the life-like forms in plastic. Maybe you have seen the tiny, shelf-sized figurines. One way or another, I believe everyone in the U.S. has seen the nativity scene.
So, what do you see? Jesus and Mary are by the makeshift cradle. Baby Jesus is in the makeshift cradle. The shepherds and wise men are making their visit to the King of Kings. Animals are everywhere. Well, let's just stop right here. Have I missed anything? Did I describe it accurately?
Here is the problem. Those wise men were NOT at the birth of the baby Jesus. Nor were they there a day or two later. Think about it. They came from afar and probably by camel, but certainly not American Airlines. Those wise men did not see Jesus until he was between the ages of 1 and 2!!! Now, this clarification does not shake my faith. It does not question my salvation. It does/has put something unbiblical in my head as fact though. I don't want that. I've got the Good Book. I want my thoughts and images to be based on what is in it!!!
Now, I realize you can't have a nativity, play, skit, drama that lasts 1 to 2 years. It requires some editing for the sake of time. For the love, at some point have a child walk across stage with a poster reading - ONE TO TWO YEARS LATER... Replace that plastic, baby Jesus with a toddler and carry on with the show. We need pageants, plays, movies, dramas. They help us picture some things our minds can't quite picture. Let's be accurate though!
Start asking people who visited baby Jesus in the manger. I bet you'll be surprised by who and how many include the wise men. I did until yesterday!!!
So, what do you see? Jesus and Mary are by the makeshift cradle. Baby Jesus is in the makeshift cradle. The shepherds and wise men are making their visit to the King of Kings. Animals are everywhere. Well, let's just stop right here. Have I missed anything? Did I describe it accurately?
Here is the problem. Those wise men were NOT at the birth of the baby Jesus. Nor were they there a day or two later. Think about it. They came from afar and probably by camel, but certainly not American Airlines. Those wise men did not see Jesus until he was between the ages of 1 and 2!!! Now, this clarification does not shake my faith. It does not question my salvation. It does/has put something unbiblical in my head as fact though. I don't want that. I've got the Good Book. I want my thoughts and images to be based on what is in it!!!
Now, I realize you can't have a nativity, play, skit, drama that lasts 1 to 2 years. It requires some editing for the sake of time. For the love, at some point have a child walk across stage with a poster reading - ONE TO TWO YEARS LATER... Replace that plastic, baby Jesus with a toddler and carry on with the show. We need pageants, plays, movies, dramas. They help us picture some things our minds can't quite picture. Let's be accurate though!
Start asking people who visited baby Jesus in the manger. I bet you'll be surprised by who and how many include the wise men. I did until yesterday!!!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Spiritually ADD
At times, I have spiritual attention deficit disorder. Can you relate? You are so distracted, worried, or hurried you realize hours have gone by and you haven't prayed or praised the Holy of Holy? For some, it may be days even. I have learned to tell when the spiritual ADD has kicked in. I can tell as soon as my eyes open. If I wake up feeling things, all is well. However, if I wake up thinking instead of feeling...look out!
You know what I mean. Instead of your first thoughts being praise of our Lord, you are running through a mental check list in your head: I need to go here. I need to call so-and-so. I have a meeting. I hope I don't have to speak to so-and-so. When my mind is racing, I find it more difficult to praise and/or pray. In addition, I am more easily distracted. Humans by nature are distracted. I think of the movie, Up. In the movie, the dogs will be mid-sentence and shout, "Squirrel." Some days that is me. I am mid-prayer, and my mind shouts, "Year-end inventory today." Another example is being mid-praise. When we are praising God, we are not just with the Highest High. We are on the highest high. Mid-praise I will realize my mind has switched to matrix argument (having an entire argument with someone in your head).
There is a cure for Spiritual ADD...the Holy Spirit! This morning I could tell I was like a plate of Waffle House hash browns: scattered, covered, chunked! My mind was all over the place. I struggled through morning prayer time. I couldn't focus to journal. It took forever to fill up a page...let alone my usual three! Driving to work I thought, "Lord, I don't want to spend a day struggling to be with You." That's when it hit me. Hello??? Ask for help! I stopped then and specifically prayed for God to get me focused, settled, back behind His lead. I want you to know it worked. After a few minutes of praying, I settled right down. Why wouldn't I? Praying to be aware of His presence is definitely in His will. I get that one answered immediately with a big, "Aaaaawww."
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Jude 20-21 Isn't that good?
You know what I mean. Instead of your first thoughts being praise of our Lord, you are running through a mental check list in your head: I need to go here. I need to call so-and-so. I have a meeting. I hope I don't have to speak to so-and-so. When my mind is racing, I find it more difficult to praise and/or pray. In addition, I am more easily distracted. Humans by nature are distracted. I think of the movie, Up. In the movie, the dogs will be mid-sentence and shout, "Squirrel." Some days that is me. I am mid-prayer, and my mind shouts, "Year-end inventory today." Another example is being mid-praise. When we are praising God, we are not just with the Highest High. We are on the highest high. Mid-praise I will realize my mind has switched to matrix argument (having an entire argument with someone in your head).
There is a cure for Spiritual ADD...the Holy Spirit! This morning I could tell I was like a plate of Waffle House hash browns: scattered, covered, chunked! My mind was all over the place. I struggled through morning prayer time. I couldn't focus to journal. It took forever to fill up a page...let alone my usual three! Driving to work I thought, "Lord, I don't want to spend a day struggling to be with You." That's when it hit me. Hello??? Ask for help! I stopped then and specifically prayed for God to get me focused, settled, back behind His lead. I want you to know it worked. After a few minutes of praying, I settled right down. Why wouldn't I? Praying to be aware of His presence is definitely in His will. I get that one answered immediately with a big, "Aaaaawww."
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Jude 20-21 Isn't that good?
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Keeping Vigil
I had a conversation last night with my WMU director. She is working on promoting this year's Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at our church. For those of you like me and may have never heard of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering - it is a fundraiser for international missions. This year's theme is Who's Missing Whose Mission? Isn't that good...doesn't it make you stop and think?
My director was talking about how we keep vigil for people who are missing...lost. We bring flowers, light candles, sing, pray for safe return. We should do those things. My mind automatically thinks of missing children when I think of vigils...the wait for his/her return.
What are we doing for our spiritually lost? They are the ones missing Jesus' mission, my mission, every Christian's mission. Are we holding vigil...praying...expectantly waiting for their admittance into the body of Christ? What am I doing? I can think of name after name of those who should have been on the pew next to me in worship service this morning or name after name of those who should have been in worship services somewhere. It is the Sabbath after all.
Have I forgotten the power of prayer? Have I never fully understood its power and potential?
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among who I am foremost of all. 1 Timothy 1:15
I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no Savior besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; so you are My witnesses, declares the Lord, and I am God. Isaiah 43:11-12
I have been saved. I am His witness. Let the vigil for the lost carry on through me and through you. Who's missing............ Who's praying?
My director was talking about how we keep vigil for people who are missing...lost. We bring flowers, light candles, sing, pray for safe return. We should do those things. My mind automatically thinks of missing children when I think of vigils...the wait for his/her return.
What are we doing for our spiritually lost? They are the ones missing Jesus' mission, my mission, every Christian's mission. Are we holding vigil...praying...expectantly waiting for their admittance into the body of Christ? What am I doing? I can think of name after name of those who should have been on the pew next to me in worship service this morning or name after name of those who should have been in worship services somewhere. It is the Sabbath after all.
Have I forgotten the power of prayer? Have I never fully understood its power and potential?
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among who I am foremost of all. 1 Timothy 1:15
I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no Savior besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; so you are My witnesses, declares the Lord, and I am God. Isaiah 43:11-12
I have been saved. I am His witness. Let the vigil for the lost carry on through me and through you. Who's missing............ Who's praying?
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Jesus Is Enough
I used to think my life would lead to one defining, huge moment that glorified God: Jonah and the whale, David and Goliath, Paul on the road to Damascus. Later, I realized it is not about one defining moment but a daily walk with the Lord. Oh, but just this week I have realized it is not even the daily walk. It is about the every second surrender.
Before I get into this post, let me make something clear: I love my safety, my stuff, and my schedule. If you alter any of those three things for my family or myself, I am liable to tailspin. However, that tailspin must lead back to the Feet of Mercy. See, in order to surrender you must be truly broken. Sometimes that includes pain. Sometimes it comes in revelation. Sometimes it comes as both. In order to be broken, Jesus Christ must be enough. In good times and in bad times, I must know, that I know, that I know I am O.K. because Christ is in me and with me and for me.
There used to be times when I thought the world was against me. There have often been times I thought no one understood me. There have even been times when I was on top of the world and untouchable...as good as it gets.
It is not about the circumstances or their changing in time. Christ is there, and He is really all I need. I may lose my spouse, my son, my home, my job, my family, my friends. However, I can never lose my relationship with Jesus. That should not just be a scriptural fact. It should not just be a sermon point. It should be my comfort, my strength, my resolve, my peace.
Is your world spinning out of control? Are you dying on the inside but have painted on a smile? He is there for you. He is waiting for your invitation. It isn't His invitation. It is yours. Maybe you've already invited Him in. Is He enough, or is He just an addition to your stuff? Is your faith secure as long as everything on your checklist is O.K.? I'm not saying you have to be suffering or going through a difficult time to relate to this concept. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Our security should be FELT in both extremes. Whether you are experiencing a high or your lowest low, your heart should be saying, "Jesus is enough. He is truly the only thing I need. He is sufficient. His grace is sufficient."
Our God is amazing and loving beyond what I can fathom. Although He is enough, He still looks to bless, and bless, and bless.
In an earlier post, I told you about receiving e-mails from God (don't panic...read the earlier post). Well, I received another one this week...a big one! I was antagonized by someone this week. I don't like to be antagonized because it draws ungodly responses from me. I prayed throughout the day, "What do I do? What should I do? What would you have me do?" No joke - the next day I received an on-line devotion that instructed Christians to stop asking God what we should do and start asking, "God, how can I glorify You in this situation?" I was stunned! Not only was there truth and wisdom in the question that gave me an immediate answer as to how to respond to this situation, but I almost hit the reply button to tell God thank you!
Oh, He is enough. He is way more than enough!
Before I get into this post, let me make something clear: I love my safety, my stuff, and my schedule. If you alter any of those three things for my family or myself, I am liable to tailspin. However, that tailspin must lead back to the Feet of Mercy. See, in order to surrender you must be truly broken. Sometimes that includes pain. Sometimes it comes in revelation. Sometimes it comes as both. In order to be broken, Jesus Christ must be enough. In good times and in bad times, I must know, that I know, that I know I am O.K. because Christ is in me and with me and for me.
There used to be times when I thought the world was against me. There have often been times I thought no one understood me. There have even been times when I was on top of the world and untouchable...as good as it gets.
It is not about the circumstances or their changing in time. Christ is there, and He is really all I need. I may lose my spouse, my son, my home, my job, my family, my friends. However, I can never lose my relationship with Jesus. That should not just be a scriptural fact. It should not just be a sermon point. It should be my comfort, my strength, my resolve, my peace.
Is your world spinning out of control? Are you dying on the inside but have painted on a smile? He is there for you. He is waiting for your invitation. It isn't His invitation. It is yours. Maybe you've already invited Him in. Is He enough, or is He just an addition to your stuff? Is your faith secure as long as everything on your checklist is O.K.? I'm not saying you have to be suffering or going through a difficult time to relate to this concept. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Our security should be FELT in both extremes. Whether you are experiencing a high or your lowest low, your heart should be saying, "Jesus is enough. He is truly the only thing I need. He is sufficient. His grace is sufficient."
Our God is amazing and loving beyond what I can fathom. Although He is enough, He still looks to bless, and bless, and bless.
In an earlier post, I told you about receiving e-mails from God (don't panic...read the earlier post). Well, I received another one this week...a big one! I was antagonized by someone this week. I don't like to be antagonized because it draws ungodly responses from me. I prayed throughout the day, "What do I do? What should I do? What would you have me do?" No joke - the next day I received an on-line devotion that instructed Christians to stop asking God what we should do and start asking, "God, how can I glorify You in this situation?" I was stunned! Not only was there truth and wisdom in the question that gave me an immediate answer as to how to respond to this situation, but I almost hit the reply button to tell God thank you!
Oh, He is enough. He is way more than enough!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Earthquake or Earth Shattering?
Sometimes things that seem so simple are my biggest struggle. For example, scripture says there are some people and some relationships you are to avoid, stay away from, sometimes run from. Scripture also says the greatest command is to love...even your enemies. So, how do you love when you have to end a relationship? How do you witness to that person whose lifestyle is more immoral than you can imagine? Oh sure, in your mind you say sin is sin. I am no better. However, love is a state of doing not just a state of being.
So, how do you bridge this gap? My pastor, who I firmly believe has been put on this earth to keep me grounded in the Word of God and nowhere else, made closing comments recently at the end of a song service that tilted the planet...my planet anyway. He was speaking of scripture that tells us to remove sin from our lives and to stay away from those who don't remove sin from their lives. He went on to say there are just some people you cannot be friends with. I immediately thought...here we go...how can you love your enemy and not be friends with someone?
Then he said it, and the light came on...literally! You may not be able to be friends with someone, but you do not change your witness. As Christians, the light of Christ should shine through us at all times, in all circumstances, with all people. You may not be able to befriend everyone, but you must be a witness for Christ to everyone!!!
Wow! Do you get that? Does that changes things for you in a dramatic way? It certainly does for me. Some people don't want friendship from me. Some I can't maintain a friendship with because they just will not work to remove sin from their lives...at least letting it be a work in progress. BUT I can, should, must, will remain a witness for Christ to that person!
Friend....witness...not necessarily the same thing!!! Wow! I love it when scripture finally sinks into my brain cells! Whew!
So, how do you bridge this gap? My pastor, who I firmly believe has been put on this earth to keep me grounded in the Word of God and nowhere else, made closing comments recently at the end of a song service that tilted the planet...my planet anyway. He was speaking of scripture that tells us to remove sin from our lives and to stay away from those who don't remove sin from their lives. He went on to say there are just some people you cannot be friends with. I immediately thought...here we go...how can you love your enemy and not be friends with someone?
Then he said it, and the light came on...literally! You may not be able to be friends with someone, but you do not change your witness. As Christians, the light of Christ should shine through us at all times, in all circumstances, with all people. You may not be able to befriend everyone, but you must be a witness for Christ to everyone!!!
Wow! Do you get that? Does that changes things for you in a dramatic way? It certainly does for me. Some people don't want friendship from me. Some I can't maintain a friendship with because they just will not work to remove sin from their lives...at least letting it be a work in progress. BUT I can, should, must, will remain a witness for Christ to that person!
Friend....witness...not necessarily the same thing!!! Wow! I love it when scripture finally sinks into my brain cells! Whew!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Is It the Nightly News or Scripture?
I have recently read the following books in the Bible: Esther, Daniel, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. I started Jeremiah yesterday morning. Some of the readings were for training union classes. Others were part of my morning prayer time - a chapter a morning. Ecclesiastes was just because I wanted to...a little quality time with Solomon!
The more I read from the Old Testament, the more confused I got about what I was reading. Let me explain, because this issue has nothing to do with comprehending what is on the written page, but everything to do with whether I'm reading in the past or present tense. Am I reading history, or am I watching the nightly news?
The Old Testament is full of the rise and fall of power. The struggle for knowledge and power is as old as the garden of Eden. There have been Godly rulers, ungodly rulers, indifferent rulers, and just plain crazy rulers. You can easily find quests for one world empires and wars that have raged for hundreds of years. Wars? One world order? Sound familiar? Probably because you were just reading the ticker running across the screen of Fox News!
So, we find ourselves in very familiar territory from God's standpoint. He has seen this shift from God to self time and time again. Our country's quest to seek self long ago surpassed our desire to please God. We spend too much. We watch too much. We talk too much (well I do). We turn our backs on those in need. We refuse to forgive. As a result, we are in trouble. We think we've lost common sense, basic principles, freedom. We lost God. Well, actually we refused Him.
Scripture does not just testify to the rise and fall of empires. It also testifies to a loving God...a God who is mighty to save (just like the song says). He loves us, longs for our return, waits to bless His prodigals, and is covering the faithful with His grace...even now...even today.
Do you need reassurance? Go to the Word of God. You can find yourself, your family, your church (I hope we're not lukewarm!), your culture. The Word of God is alive, real, and as tangible as the tickers that run across your news feeds!
The more I read from the Old Testament, the more confused I got about what I was reading. Let me explain, because this issue has nothing to do with comprehending what is on the written page, but everything to do with whether I'm reading in the past or present tense. Am I reading history, or am I watching the nightly news?
The Old Testament is full of the rise and fall of power. The struggle for knowledge and power is as old as the garden of Eden. There have been Godly rulers, ungodly rulers, indifferent rulers, and just plain crazy rulers. You can easily find quests for one world empires and wars that have raged for hundreds of years. Wars? One world order? Sound familiar? Probably because you were just reading the ticker running across the screen of Fox News!
So, we find ourselves in very familiar territory from God's standpoint. He has seen this shift from God to self time and time again. Our country's quest to seek self long ago surpassed our desire to please God. We spend too much. We watch too much. We talk too much (well I do). We turn our backs on those in need. We refuse to forgive. As a result, we are in trouble. We think we've lost common sense, basic principles, freedom. We lost God. Well, actually we refused Him.
Scripture does not just testify to the rise and fall of empires. It also testifies to a loving God...a God who is mighty to save (just like the song says). He loves us, longs for our return, waits to bless His prodigals, and is covering the faithful with His grace...even now...even today.
Do you need reassurance? Go to the Word of God. You can find yourself, your family, your church (I hope we're not lukewarm!), your culture. The Word of God is alive, real, and as tangible as the tickers that run across your news feeds!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
The Good and the Bad
Have you ever tried to make a decision about something and listed the pros and cons? There are usually two sides to every situation...as is with my conversion to Christianity. On the down side, it took me a long, long time to even understand what the words "be saved" meant. It took even longer for me to acquire salvation by asking to receive it. That long period of time meant a lot of time in the world. I have plenty of baggage. Another drawback is that I don't have years of church experience to fall back on in certain situations. When VBS rolls around, I am as excited as the kids. I've only been to three! My greatest regret, even more than all my suitcases of sin (bad description; I do not carry it around; I certainly used to though) is that I never had the chance to be a Bible driller. If I'm being honest with you, and I am, I'm big on being open, I can't name the books of the Bible. I bet I can't quote 10 verses from memory. In fact, I bet I can't quote five. I know where the table of contents page is in my Bible, and I use it! Some of you may be gasping for air. How can she not know these things and teach Sunday School??????? I didn't say I'm not working on it...
Now, a positive thing that came from my later in life conversion was that when I got it - oh, I got it! I am the most seeking searcher of saving grace on the planet! I almost hyperventilate when I do my morning (absolutely every morning) Bible reading. Every word triggers some kind of response from me whether it is encouragement, instruction, or the frequent, "Hey, I'm not talking about them. I'm talking to you." Another great thing is I am probably pretty far from burn-out. Some of you have been doing VBS for 20 years and may be experiencing a little "just going through the motions."
I'm telling you all of this pro and cons mess to share with you something very exciting that happened this week. A con became a pro, and I am so excited and so encouraged! I had a few bad days this week as is normal on this wonderful planet. One particular night, I was almost (almost I said) reduced to tears. Anyway, I finally went to bed and fell asleep. After sleeping for awhile my husband came to bed and as he rolled over said, "Don't forget about Jeremiah." Now people, I was sound asleep, but came through the fog just a little bit and said out loud, "I know the plans I have for you..."
I was so excited I couldn't go back to sleep!!! From a near coma, I quoted part of a Bible verse!!! Now, if you are a Bible driller (oh how I envy you) from back in the day, you are shaking your head at the monitor thinking, "How in the world can she not know Jeremiah 29:11?" I mean I didn't quote the whole thing, and I am so excited!!!
I'm writing this post to encourage you. Wherever you are in the Word of God, go farther. If you know it from cover to cover, do something deeper with the knowledge you have. If you've only carried it and never read it, pick a book. Read a chapter a day..just a chapter. Wherever you are in the Word of God, go farther. It is alive. God breathed life into it for the purpose of changing us, sustaining us, encouraging us, comforting us, instructing us. Don't look to the world to be filled. It hasn't filled you yet has it?
Now, a positive thing that came from my later in life conversion was that when I got it - oh, I got it! I am the most seeking searcher of saving grace on the planet! I almost hyperventilate when I do my morning (absolutely every morning) Bible reading. Every word triggers some kind of response from me whether it is encouragement, instruction, or the frequent, "Hey, I'm not talking about them. I'm talking to you." Another great thing is I am probably pretty far from burn-out. Some of you have been doing VBS for 20 years and may be experiencing a little "just going through the motions."
I'm telling you all of this pro and cons mess to share with you something very exciting that happened this week. A con became a pro, and I am so excited and so encouraged! I had a few bad days this week as is normal on this wonderful planet. One particular night, I was almost (almost I said) reduced to tears. Anyway, I finally went to bed and fell asleep. After sleeping for awhile my husband came to bed and as he rolled over said, "Don't forget about Jeremiah." Now people, I was sound asleep, but came through the fog just a little bit and said out loud, "I know the plans I have for you..."
I was so excited I couldn't go back to sleep!!! From a near coma, I quoted part of a Bible verse!!! Now, if you are a Bible driller (oh how I envy you) from back in the day, you are shaking your head at the monitor thinking, "How in the world can she not know Jeremiah 29:11?" I mean I didn't quote the whole thing, and I am so excited!!!
I'm writing this post to encourage you. Wherever you are in the Word of God, go farther. If you know it from cover to cover, do something deeper with the knowledge you have. If you've only carried it and never read it, pick a book. Read a chapter a day..just a chapter. Wherever you are in the Word of God, go farther. It is alive. God breathed life into it for the purpose of changing us, sustaining us, encouraging us, comforting us, instructing us. Don't look to the world to be filled. It hasn't filled you yet has it?
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Emails From God
The Great I Am, Holy of Holies, Mighty to Save, Lord loves to email. Let me explain what the Amazing Almighty has done this week via www. On Sunday night when I last posted, I knew I was taking a big risk...almost a dare. In fact, once I typed Rise Up I was tempted for a second to delete the whole thing. I sucked up some divine courage, hit publish, and lost the entire post. No kidding...it just disappeared. Well, I could have taken that as a sign I shouldn't post, but I am not wired that way...I took at as someone/something (you know who) was trying to block a message of encouragement. So, I retyped to the best of my recall and hit publish again.
Well, of course once I threw something out there like loving to the extreme...even the ones who mean to do you harm (whether intentionally or unintentionally)...well, of course I was going to be given opportunity to practice what I had preached. I would love to tell you I rose to the occasion like Mary Poppins filled up with the Holy Spirit, but oh that was so not the case. Spoon full of sugar my you know what (only Mary Poppins fans will get that), I wanted to stab someone with a letter opener.
Now I seek the Lord, but I will tell you in all honesty I am definitely a work in progress. I truly believe because I actively try, God actively helps me, and a lot of times He does it through email..sometimes texts, calls, and visits, but mostly email.
Now don't log off here. I don't mean Adonai has a google account. What I mean, of course, is He uses you to speak to me and me to speak to you. I need all the encouragement I can get most days. So for the love (literally), please be obedient to the urge to check on someone!
Now, back to my emails. I was definitely in a tailspin on Monday and Tuesday. By Tuesday I had gotten off my knees and was reaching for my letter opener...just in case the opportunity presented :) That's when the emails started pouring in, and they were so direct and dead on to my struggle, well I knew the Lord was rescuing me once again.
First, a sweet friend sent me an ecard. Now, I had never received an ecard from this particular friend, and she is probably the one who needs encouragement right now due to some major life transitions. However, there she was sending me a card about being delivered from the storms of life. I had chills reading it! Next, came one of my online daily devotions which was titled: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances. The next online devotion (when I say next I literally mean I closed one and opened this one): 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ... for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. The final email contained this central message: Matthew 5:44 I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute.
Now, I believe with all my heart, soul, and mind our heavenly Father looked down on me this week and saw that not only was I struggling with my own challenge to others, I was in real danger of taking matters in my own hands and totally blowing it. I received every one of those emails I just mentioned like it was a life line! People, don't blow off a kind word from someone. Don't disregard a phone call or email or text that just comes out of the blue to check on you or encourage you. Sometimes, we forget how truly in our midst He is and that He uses us to glorify Him. I mean it was why we were created after all, but we cannot do it without Him!
It is so easy to love some people, but so, so, so hard to love those who mean to do us harm. Jesus Christ himself called us to that kind of love. He died over that kind of love. We can love like that, but only with God's grace. Grace is not just a word found over and over again in scripture. It isn't just the words to a great hymn. Grace is fuel. It is power to do what we are called to do as Christians, but just can't.
Struggling? Invite more of God in. Hand it to Him. Let Him have it.
Well, of course once I threw something out there like loving to the extreme...even the ones who mean to do you harm (whether intentionally or unintentionally)...well, of course I was going to be given opportunity to practice what I had preached. I would love to tell you I rose to the occasion like Mary Poppins filled up with the Holy Spirit, but oh that was so not the case. Spoon full of sugar my you know what (only Mary Poppins fans will get that), I wanted to stab someone with a letter opener.
Now I seek the Lord, but I will tell you in all honesty I am definitely a work in progress. I truly believe because I actively try, God actively helps me, and a lot of times He does it through email..sometimes texts, calls, and visits, but mostly email.
Now don't log off here. I don't mean Adonai has a google account. What I mean, of course, is He uses you to speak to me and me to speak to you. I need all the encouragement I can get most days. So for the love (literally), please be obedient to the urge to check on someone!
Now, back to my emails. I was definitely in a tailspin on Monday and Tuesday. By Tuesday I had gotten off my knees and was reaching for my letter opener...just in case the opportunity presented :) That's when the emails started pouring in, and they were so direct and dead on to my struggle, well I knew the Lord was rescuing me once again.
First, a sweet friend sent me an ecard. Now, I had never received an ecard from this particular friend, and she is probably the one who needs encouragement right now due to some major life transitions. However, there she was sending me a card about being delivered from the storms of life. I had chills reading it! Next, came one of my online daily devotions which was titled: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances. The next online devotion (when I say next I literally mean I closed one and opened this one): 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ... for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. The final email contained this central message: Matthew 5:44 I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute.
Now, I believe with all my heart, soul, and mind our heavenly Father looked down on me this week and saw that not only was I struggling with my own challenge to others, I was in real danger of taking matters in my own hands and totally blowing it. I received every one of those emails I just mentioned like it was a life line! People, don't blow off a kind word from someone. Don't disregard a phone call or email or text that just comes out of the blue to check on you or encourage you. Sometimes, we forget how truly in our midst He is and that He uses us to glorify Him. I mean it was why we were created after all, but we cannot do it without Him!
It is so easy to love some people, but so, so, so hard to love those who mean to do us harm. Jesus Christ himself called us to that kind of love. He died over that kind of love. We can love like that, but only with God's grace. Grace is not just a word found over and over again in scripture. It isn't just the words to a great hymn. Grace is fuel. It is power to do what we are called to do as Christians, but just can't.
Struggling? Invite more of God in. Hand it to Him. Let Him have it.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Rise Up
This post was proceeded by my watching the session 5 video of Beth Moore's study of the Book of Daniel. The central theme to this study was the fact there are articles consecrated by God..things that were designated as holy. The New Testament doctrine takes this point further defining Christians as holy, consecrated, blessed, set aside by the Holy for holy.
As I thought about these things, truth began to spread through me and take hold. I am holy? I have been set aside for divine purposes? I have been consecrated by God himself? But I've done terrible things, and I have certainly never done anything spectacular. I'm not this...I'm not that. But, I am a child of God. I do make that claim. Well, with that claim comes the blessings of being consecrated by God.
Christians, it is time we lay claim to our blessings. We are living in bad times, but these are our times. We weren't alive 100 years ago, and chances are we will not be alive 100 years from now. We are alive now, and this now is a failing democracy and crashing economy. Our freedoms are slipping through our fingers before we feel it, let alone grab it.
Our culture has blinded us to holy. We will arrange an entire day around a T.V. show. We will break prior commitments to attend a sporting event. We will spend money we don't have to buy bigger homes, faster cars, and jeans that don't fit. As we blindly search for what will make us happy, extremists are taking over our country.
Extremists...isn't that just the word of the decade? Well, Christians, I say we take that word back. We are holy, consecrated, and set aside to do the things of God. What are the things of God? What does our Bible refer to as the greatest command? LOVE. We need to be loving to the extreme...not loving out of convenience or loving to suit a purpose. We need to be loving as much as God equips us to love. Notice, I did NOT say love as much as we can love. Loving to the extreme is the love of God. We are not capable of such alone.
For example, tomorrow on the highway, someone will cut me off or slow me down. Now, when this pleasant driving event occurs, I can give my fellow driver a finger salute (which is what I will want to do). I can also attach my front end to his bumper and follow him all the way home (which I did once in my pre-Jesus days). On the other hand, I can slow down and give him some room. I can even ask God to protect him and bless him. If you know my driving history, you will know this reaction would definitely be loving to the extreme.
Tomorrow at work someone will irritate me. Actually, a few people will probably irritate me (I am NOT referring to my co-workers; in case you are reading :) ). I can become angry, vent my frustrations, and plan my counter attack. I can also let things roll right off my back. I can choose not to be offended. I can be kind and compassionate to every person in every situation. Again, I cannot do this on my own. This kind of loving extremism is God alone.
It is Thanksgiving week...a time for families to come together...maybe good...maybe not so good. Do you have a family member you have had a falling out with? Is there a relationship that has been damaged and not repaired? You can continue telling yourself you were right, and they were wrong. You can continue withholding love. You're not being hateful...right? Sure, but you aren't being loving either. Why don't you ask for God's grace and take the steps to repair that relationship...not necessarily because you want to but because you are holy, consecrated, set aside to commit such acts of love.
Christians, it is time we take this world back over. I don't know if we have become too complacent, too afraid (which is a sign of weak faith), or we're just totally paralyzed by an overwhelming sense of not knowing what to do. Maybe we are waiting for a sermon on the mount type event. Maybe we are waiting for the second coming. Sitting on the pew and waiting is just not enough. Showing up at church and pretending to be good is just not going to do it this time. We have a holy calling. I have a holy calling. I am not going to wait until I'm in Africa feeding starving children. I am not going to wait until I'm teaching in underground churches in the Middle East. I am not going to wait until I have opened a free health clinic for HIV/Aids patients. Chances are none of these things are my calling. My calling may be to love EVERY single person I come in contact with EVERY single moment of EVERY single day.
You think love is too simple a solution? You think love cannot conquer this world, during these times? My friends, we are here for such a time as this...to love! Not enough? There is nothing else.
God has given us an opportunity to be holy. Bless His heart. He even lets us choose.
As I thought about these things, truth began to spread through me and take hold. I am holy? I have been set aside for divine purposes? I have been consecrated by God himself? But I've done terrible things, and I have certainly never done anything spectacular. I'm not this...I'm not that. But, I am a child of God. I do make that claim. Well, with that claim comes the blessings of being consecrated by God.
Christians, it is time we lay claim to our blessings. We are living in bad times, but these are our times. We weren't alive 100 years ago, and chances are we will not be alive 100 years from now. We are alive now, and this now is a failing democracy and crashing economy. Our freedoms are slipping through our fingers before we feel it, let alone grab it.
Our culture has blinded us to holy. We will arrange an entire day around a T.V. show. We will break prior commitments to attend a sporting event. We will spend money we don't have to buy bigger homes, faster cars, and jeans that don't fit. As we blindly search for what will make us happy, extremists are taking over our country.
Extremists...isn't that just the word of the decade? Well, Christians, I say we take that word back. We are holy, consecrated, and set aside to do the things of God. What are the things of God? What does our Bible refer to as the greatest command? LOVE. We need to be loving to the extreme...not loving out of convenience or loving to suit a purpose. We need to be loving as much as God equips us to love. Notice, I did NOT say love as much as we can love. Loving to the extreme is the love of God. We are not capable of such alone.
For example, tomorrow on the highway, someone will cut me off or slow me down. Now, when this pleasant driving event occurs, I can give my fellow driver a finger salute (which is what I will want to do). I can also attach my front end to his bumper and follow him all the way home (which I did once in my pre-Jesus days). On the other hand, I can slow down and give him some room. I can even ask God to protect him and bless him. If you know my driving history, you will know this reaction would definitely be loving to the extreme.
Tomorrow at work someone will irritate me. Actually, a few people will probably irritate me (I am NOT referring to my co-workers; in case you are reading :) ). I can become angry, vent my frustrations, and plan my counter attack. I can also let things roll right off my back. I can choose not to be offended. I can be kind and compassionate to every person in every situation. Again, I cannot do this on my own. This kind of loving extremism is God alone.
It is Thanksgiving week...a time for families to come together...maybe good...maybe not so good. Do you have a family member you have had a falling out with? Is there a relationship that has been damaged and not repaired? You can continue telling yourself you were right, and they were wrong. You can continue withholding love. You're not being hateful...right? Sure, but you aren't being loving either. Why don't you ask for God's grace and take the steps to repair that relationship...not necessarily because you want to but because you are holy, consecrated, set aside to commit such acts of love.
Christians, it is time we take this world back over. I don't know if we have become too complacent, too afraid (which is a sign of weak faith), or we're just totally paralyzed by an overwhelming sense of not knowing what to do. Maybe we are waiting for a sermon on the mount type event. Maybe we are waiting for the second coming. Sitting on the pew and waiting is just not enough. Showing up at church and pretending to be good is just not going to do it this time. We have a holy calling. I have a holy calling. I am not going to wait until I'm in Africa feeding starving children. I am not going to wait until I'm teaching in underground churches in the Middle East. I am not going to wait until I have opened a free health clinic for HIV/Aids patients. Chances are none of these things are my calling. My calling may be to love EVERY single person I come in contact with EVERY single moment of EVERY single day.
You think love is too simple a solution? You think love cannot conquer this world, during these times? My friends, we are here for such a time as this...to love! Not enough? There is nothing else.
God has given us an opportunity to be holy. Bless His heart. He even lets us choose.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Oh, He is working!
You may read this post and think I've lost my mind. I have this somewhat annoying quality of thinking that when I figure something out (or God shoves it right in front of me) I need to share it with absolutely everyone. I have thought many a time I had stumbled upon some key to understanding, only to have my husband inform me that not only is that concept in scripture, but it is a verse memorized by many for 2000 years. He is truly so patient with me (most of the time).
So here is the revelation I had today: When my desires change, God, the Potter, is doing a little remodeling with His clay - which is me. I'm also seeing that sometimes He wants me to walk away from something only to return to it later. During these times, I think He is replacing addictions with a means of glorifying Him. I have a very addictive personality with a strong streak of OCD. I like pattern, routine, and I don't like it to change. Well, for the past few months, my schedule has been more scrambled than the hash browns at Waffle House. I have also suddenly stopped wanting to do some of the things I usually obsess over...I mean suddenly...like I have been doing a particular activity for 15 years and all of a sudden I just stopped.
God is teaching me to fully rely on Him! Now, keep in mind I prayerfully asked Him to do this. I didn't connect the dots until today though. I thought maybe I was going through some type of mid-mid life crisis. Nope! God is mixing it up so I can practice what I preach. I think He has said, "Heather, honey, you are so worried about everyone else. Let's check out your spiritual walk for awhile." Ouch! I need it though. I don't want to fake it. I don't want to be someone who says the right churchy things, but acts like a fool. I truly want an authentic relationship with the Holy One!
Let me give you an example. I have been off Facebook for about 6 days. I think that is right. I am not saying Facebook is bad. I am saying; however, I was bad with Facebook. I would check statuses when I could have been doing something productive or something to glorify God. I don't mean 2 or 3 times a day either. I also looked at certain profiles just to see what people were saying...expecting to find something offensive. Worst of all, I found myself checking my husband's page frequently just to see if there was anyone he was talking to that I didn't want him talking to (he doesn't know this...so maybe he won't read this post). I found myself feeling very negative, critical, and suspicious. Please don't misunderstand. Some of you use FB to communicate with friends and family you would not otherwise be in contact with. I've also seen it used to rapidly spread requests for prayer. I was the problem. If I know something is going to lead to a multitude of sins, then I need to stay away from it!
Now here is the epiphany part. It wasn't that I decided to stop using FB. I didn't feel super convicted and make a decision to walk away (which is typically what I would do... I, I, I, I). This time I just didn't want to look at it anymore. Literally, in an instant the DESIRE to check statuses was gone. I believe with all my heart God is working something out in me. Let me tell you something else. My Blackberry typically lights up like a Christmas tree with messages, notifications, requests to join groups... In 6 days, I have received ONE message. No kidding.
FB is just one of a few things I am experiencing like that right now. I am very excited about God changing my want to's and don't want to's. He is slowing me down, changing my circumstances to practice what I profess, pruning areas that increase my temptation to sin.
Father God, thank You for loving me...let alone taking the time to change me. I want the desires of my heart to be Your desires. Please help me know Your will!
So here is the revelation I had today: When my desires change, God, the Potter, is doing a little remodeling with His clay - which is me. I'm also seeing that sometimes He wants me to walk away from something only to return to it later. During these times, I think He is replacing addictions with a means of glorifying Him. I have a very addictive personality with a strong streak of OCD. I like pattern, routine, and I don't like it to change. Well, for the past few months, my schedule has been more scrambled than the hash browns at Waffle House. I have also suddenly stopped wanting to do some of the things I usually obsess over...I mean suddenly...like I have been doing a particular activity for 15 years and all of a sudden I just stopped.
God is teaching me to fully rely on Him! Now, keep in mind I prayerfully asked Him to do this. I didn't connect the dots until today though. I thought maybe I was going through some type of mid-mid life crisis. Nope! God is mixing it up so I can practice what I preach. I think He has said, "Heather, honey, you are so worried about everyone else. Let's check out your spiritual walk for awhile." Ouch! I need it though. I don't want to fake it. I don't want to be someone who says the right churchy things, but acts like a fool. I truly want an authentic relationship with the Holy One!
Let me give you an example. I have been off Facebook for about 6 days. I think that is right. I am not saying Facebook is bad. I am saying; however, I was bad with Facebook. I would check statuses when I could have been doing something productive or something to glorify God. I don't mean 2 or 3 times a day either. I also looked at certain profiles just to see what people were saying...expecting to find something offensive. Worst of all, I found myself checking my husband's page frequently just to see if there was anyone he was talking to that I didn't want him talking to (he doesn't know this...so maybe he won't read this post). I found myself feeling very negative, critical, and suspicious. Please don't misunderstand. Some of you use FB to communicate with friends and family you would not otherwise be in contact with. I've also seen it used to rapidly spread requests for prayer. I was the problem. If I know something is going to lead to a multitude of sins, then I need to stay away from it!
Now here is the epiphany part. It wasn't that I decided to stop using FB. I didn't feel super convicted and make a decision to walk away (which is typically what I would do... I, I, I, I). This time I just didn't want to look at it anymore. Literally, in an instant the DESIRE to check statuses was gone. I believe with all my heart God is working something out in me. Let me tell you something else. My Blackberry typically lights up like a Christmas tree with messages, notifications, requests to join groups... In 6 days, I have received ONE message. No kidding.
FB is just one of a few things I am experiencing like that right now. I am very excited about God changing my want to's and don't want to's. He is slowing me down, changing my circumstances to practice what I profess, pruning areas that increase my temptation to sin.
Father God, thank You for loving me...let alone taking the time to change me. I want the desires of my heart to be Your desires. Please help me know Your will!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Deliverances
Psalm 68:19-20
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation.
God is to us a God of deliverances;
And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.
When I read this passage, 3 words jumped off the page: daily, deliverances, escapes. Sometimes, actually a lot of the time, when I think about deliverance I think about the moment of salvation. The evening I prayed to receive God, to have Him, to house Him, to be filled with Him, I was delivered from spending eternity in hell. Although the most important deliverance, that was not the only deliverance. Note the above passage uses the plural form of escapes and deliverances, as well as the word daily.
I CAN be delivered over and over again of circumstances, habits, negative feelings. God is the creator. He is also the deliverer. My problem is I'm not asking for deliverance. I get to the end of each day and start making a list of the things I am not going to do or repeat. Ironically, my list looks the same almost every day. It looks something like - Tomorrow I will not talk about anyone. I will not be irritated by other people's bad attitudes. I will not discuss every emotion I have.
I am filled with lots and lots of imperfections. I do think I have a top two though: I am easily offended, and I like to talk. Not only am I easily irritated and quick to anger, I like to tell people about it. I should have been an ESPN commentator. I'm all about a play-by-play. Scripture warns us not to be easily angered and not to have loose lips. Well, speed limit signs warn us not to drive fast, and I ignore those too.
Because my pressure cooker mouth and emotions lead to sin: gossip (Oh honey, if you make me mad, I'm telling someone about it), self-centeredness, an attitude of entitlement...I feel convicted. Now I praise God I feel convicted. I want to feel bad that I sin. Sometimes, when we are distant from God and distant from His Word, we don't even feel bad about the sin in our lives. Because I do feel convicted though, at the end of the day, I start my lists of things I won't mess up tomorrow. Tomorrow comes and guess what...I do those same things over again.
Here is my problem: me. I'm focusing daily on what I am going to do and not do. Psalm 68:20 tells me God is the God of my deliverances. I shouldn't have a to do list. I should have a prayer. God, please take away my pride, my Superman size of self, my need to be treated fairly. Ancient of Days, please take away the chip on my shoulder. Holy of holies, please take away the desire I have to vent (I love to vent). Savior, help me abide in You, rest in You, want You. Do we get that we can ask God to help us want Him? Sometimes we want us. We want our stuff. We want our routine. Sometimes we need God to put a shot of desire for holy in our hearts.
My problem is I'm not asking for, let alone claiming, the deliverances God has for me daily. He knows me. He created me. He watches me and is with me. As a result, He definitely knows what sin, situations, people, attitude, and conditions I need to be delivered from. The wonderful thing is that I'm in a relationship with the Savior. It's a two way street. He saved me, but He waited for me to ask. He will deliver me, but He is waiting for me to ask.
Holy Father, I want and need my daily deliverances. Help me. Guard my heart and especially my mind from sin. Take away my desire, well almost my need, to tell every thought in my head. Replace the hostility in my heart (not only am I easily angered, I like to be angry...don't shake your head...it gives me energy). Lord, change my desires so what I want is what You want and what I feel is Your will, Your way. Oh, that's it....Lord, have Your way with me. Fill me up. Deliver me...5 times, 500 times, 5,000 times!
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation.
God is to us a God of deliverances;
And to God the Lord belong escapes from death.
When I read this passage, 3 words jumped off the page: daily, deliverances, escapes. Sometimes, actually a lot of the time, when I think about deliverance I think about the moment of salvation. The evening I prayed to receive God, to have Him, to house Him, to be filled with Him, I was delivered from spending eternity in hell. Although the most important deliverance, that was not the only deliverance. Note the above passage uses the plural form of escapes and deliverances, as well as the word daily.
I CAN be delivered over and over again of circumstances, habits, negative feelings. God is the creator. He is also the deliverer. My problem is I'm not asking for deliverance. I get to the end of each day and start making a list of the things I am not going to do or repeat. Ironically, my list looks the same almost every day. It looks something like - Tomorrow I will not talk about anyone. I will not be irritated by other people's bad attitudes. I will not discuss every emotion I have.
I am filled with lots and lots of imperfections. I do think I have a top two though: I am easily offended, and I like to talk. Not only am I easily irritated and quick to anger, I like to tell people about it. I should have been an ESPN commentator. I'm all about a play-by-play. Scripture warns us not to be easily angered and not to have loose lips. Well, speed limit signs warn us not to drive fast, and I ignore those too.
Because my pressure cooker mouth and emotions lead to sin: gossip (Oh honey, if you make me mad, I'm telling someone about it), self-centeredness, an attitude of entitlement...I feel convicted. Now I praise God I feel convicted. I want to feel bad that I sin. Sometimes, when we are distant from God and distant from His Word, we don't even feel bad about the sin in our lives. Because I do feel convicted though, at the end of the day, I start my lists of things I won't mess up tomorrow. Tomorrow comes and guess what...I do those same things over again.
Here is my problem: me. I'm focusing daily on what I am going to do and not do. Psalm 68:20 tells me God is the God of my deliverances. I shouldn't have a to do list. I should have a prayer. God, please take away my pride, my Superman size of self, my need to be treated fairly. Ancient of Days, please take away the chip on my shoulder. Holy of holies, please take away the desire I have to vent (I love to vent). Savior, help me abide in You, rest in You, want You. Do we get that we can ask God to help us want Him? Sometimes we want us. We want our stuff. We want our routine. Sometimes we need God to put a shot of desire for holy in our hearts.
My problem is I'm not asking for, let alone claiming, the deliverances God has for me daily. He knows me. He created me. He watches me and is with me. As a result, He definitely knows what sin, situations, people, attitude, and conditions I need to be delivered from. The wonderful thing is that I'm in a relationship with the Savior. It's a two way street. He saved me, but He waited for me to ask. He will deliver me, but He is waiting for me to ask.
Holy Father, I want and need my daily deliverances. Help me. Guard my heart and especially my mind from sin. Take away my desire, well almost my need, to tell every thought in my head. Replace the hostility in my heart (not only am I easily angered, I like to be angry...don't shake your head...it gives me energy). Lord, change my desires so what I want is what You want and what I feel is Your will, Your way. Oh, that's it....Lord, have Your way with me. Fill me up. Deliver me...5 times, 500 times, 5,000 times!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Religion vs. Relationship
Religion is a combination of your love language and your worship organizer. Think about it. Whether you worship God (I pray you do), Budda, Allah, a Hindu god monkey, a tree...whatever/whoever you worship is expressed through your religion. Your religion is your language because it determines how you pray and how you praise. Are you on your knees, are you all about silent reverance, do you raise your hands and sing loud enough to reach the heavens? Do you rock, sway, sit, stand? Do you hold hands, or is there no physical contact? Your religion is your expresssion.
It is also your organizer. It dictates where, when, and with whom you worship. Do you find yourself in church twice a year (Christmas and Easter), once a week, twice a week, three times a week, or daily mass? Are you involved in fundraisers to support missionaries? Do you spend a day a month in a soup kitchen? Is there a designated time for prayer group?
All the above things are good and necessary as long as your religion determines the where and how and not your eternity. It is your PERSONAL relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that determines whether you will spend forever with Him. Your religion is just how you love on Him.
Here is where I think the breakdown occurs between religion and relationship. Many, many religions acknowledge Jesus Christ. Some even go so far as to declare He is the Son of God. Many religions focus on Jesus' life. We know the Gospel. We believe the Gospel. We know the story of Jesus' birth. We are familiar with the miracles. We are painfully aware of the crucifiction. We even rejoice in the resurrection story.
So far so good for many of us. Lots and lots of us know Jesus' story. We even believe it. So what's the problem? Where is the gap between knowing His story and being saved? The gap can be summed up this way: YOU KNOW THE STORY OF JESUS. NOW, HAVE YOU PRAYERFULLY AND SPECIFICALLY ASKED GOD TO FILL YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE STORY?
Do you see what I am getting at? Lots of us get Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Being saved/getting saved/having a personal relationship with God is the next step. It is acknowledging AND ASKING for God to come into you, as made possible through the Holy Spirit...literally!!!
Don't you think it is ironic so many of us will say yes to Jesus being the son of God, dying, being raised, but then we doubt whether we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. We can grasp the Gospel totally, but when it comes to that part about the people in the upper room, and the flames over their heads, and their being filled with the Holy Spirit our mind starts to check out a little bit. Maybe this is not your experience. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see people rejecting Jesus as much as I do them doubting anything to do with the Holy Spirit.
Oh, that is what is so sad. That was my hang up for 30 years. I totally got Jesus, but I totally did not get that through prayer the next step was to say, "God, I believe You. I believe Your Word. Now, come into me through Your Holy Spirit." For me, this prayer and my lack of understanding how literal it was was the breakdown between religion and relationship.
Have your religion. Love it. Promote it. Learn from it, and be encouraged through it. However, don't expect to be saved by it. If your religion does not promote Bible study, in fact if your religion does not have the Bible in your own hands, how are you going to be exposed to inviting in the Holy Spirit and then living through the grace of God glorifying Him in all you do? Maybe you will stumble upon it. Maybe you will hear a song, sermon, testimony that turns the light on for you. If you are in the Word of God, you greatly increase your chances of running to the Father instead of stumbling upon Him.
Our focus should not be about bashing other religions. Our focus should be showing others/telling others we have been filled with the Holy Spirit. We are new creations. We are centered on Christ's example. We live, breathe, act by the by the grace of God. We have been saved...simply because we believed it was possible and asked to receive it.
It is also your organizer. It dictates where, when, and with whom you worship. Do you find yourself in church twice a year (Christmas and Easter), once a week, twice a week, three times a week, or daily mass? Are you involved in fundraisers to support missionaries? Do you spend a day a month in a soup kitchen? Is there a designated time for prayer group?
All the above things are good and necessary as long as your religion determines the where and how and not your eternity. It is your PERSONAL relationship with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that determines whether you will spend forever with Him. Your religion is just how you love on Him.
Here is where I think the breakdown occurs between religion and relationship. Many, many religions acknowledge Jesus Christ. Some even go so far as to declare He is the Son of God. Many religions focus on Jesus' life. We know the Gospel. We believe the Gospel. We know the story of Jesus' birth. We are familiar with the miracles. We are painfully aware of the crucifiction. We even rejoice in the resurrection story.
So far so good for many of us. Lots and lots of us know Jesus' story. We even believe it. So what's the problem? Where is the gap between knowing His story and being saved? The gap can be summed up this way: YOU KNOW THE STORY OF JESUS. NOW, HAVE YOU PRAYERFULLY AND SPECIFICALLY ASKED GOD TO FILL YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE STORY?
Do you see what I am getting at? Lots of us get Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Being saved/getting saved/having a personal relationship with God is the next step. It is acknowledging AND ASKING for God to come into you, as made possible through the Holy Spirit...literally!!!
Don't you think it is ironic so many of us will say yes to Jesus being the son of God, dying, being raised, but then we doubt whether we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. We can grasp the Gospel totally, but when it comes to that part about the people in the upper room, and the flames over their heads, and their being filled with the Holy Spirit our mind starts to check out a little bit. Maybe this is not your experience. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see people rejecting Jesus as much as I do them doubting anything to do with the Holy Spirit.
Oh, that is what is so sad. That was my hang up for 30 years. I totally got Jesus, but I totally did not get that through prayer the next step was to say, "God, I believe You. I believe Your Word. Now, come into me through Your Holy Spirit." For me, this prayer and my lack of understanding how literal it was was the breakdown between religion and relationship.
Have your religion. Love it. Promote it. Learn from it, and be encouraged through it. However, don't expect to be saved by it. If your religion does not promote Bible study, in fact if your religion does not have the Bible in your own hands, how are you going to be exposed to inviting in the Holy Spirit and then living through the grace of God glorifying Him in all you do? Maybe you will stumble upon it. Maybe you will hear a song, sermon, testimony that turns the light on for you. If you are in the Word of God, you greatly increase your chances of running to the Father instead of stumbling upon Him.
Our focus should not be about bashing other religions. Our focus should be showing others/telling others we have been filled with the Holy Spirit. We are new creations. We are centered on Christ's example. We live, breathe, act by the by the grace of God. We have been saved...simply because we believed it was possible and asked to receive it.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
I've Been Tasered
Have you ever been tasered by Bible study? You know...you are reading and discussing along and then...WHAM...Truth smacks you upside the head like people in V8 commercials. Well, that just happened to me. In my training union class (PTL for training union and Sunday School), we are doing Beth Moore's study on the Book of Daniel. As I recently heard another lady say, "Beth Moore just speaks my language." Anyway, right there on week 4, day 3, page 81 came the moment.
In Daniel Ch. 4, King Nebuchadnezzar has had a second dream for which he calls Daniel to interpret. King Neb. calls Daniel by the name of Neb's god, Belteshazzar, yet says Daniel is filled with the Holy God. At this point, Moore asks, "Do you know someone who just does not get it? If so, how does that make you feel?" Well those two questions landed me standing in my bed hollering (it wasn't screaming or yelling. it was a definite holler), "Yes, yes I know someone who just does NOT get it, and I am F-R-U-S-T-R-A-T-E-D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Oh, my heart was racing in anticipation. I have been very frustrated (could you tell) over this situation for awhile, and I knew I was about to receive some wisdom.
I mean, come on. King Neb had seen three men thrown into a blazing furnace, dance around with a fourth man, and the three come out not even smelling like smoke! King Neb. had praised God after that event. I would hope we all would at that point. Yet, here he is in Ch. 4 of Daniel differentiating between his god and Daniel's Holy God.
Yes, this same situation is one of my major frustrations right now. I get IT. Why doesn't he/she get IT? I walk the walk, talk the talk. All you have to do is watch me, and then you'll get IT too. Right? I mean I work hard at showing you. Can ya'll just feel my face hit the concrete floor as I take the fall of pride?
Here is Moore's little nugget of wisdom: You might get IT, but you cannot force IT in someone else. Someone else getting IT takes "God the Father to ordain it. Jesus to open it. The Holy Spirit to infuse IT. By the way she asks, "Wasn't there a time when you didn't get IT?"
She says we should pray for these people who don't get IT...not just pray, but specifically pray Luke 24:25 ...that He open their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Tasered!!! I mean I could feel the tttttzzzz of the current as it brought me to an all-system shut down. After a few seconds of not even breathing, I could slowly feel the warm, comforting, all most drug-like feel of Truth working its way through me...healing me, settling me, rearranging me...slowly but profoundly.
I didn't get IT for 30 years. How dare I be so impatient and hard against others who are still struggling (oh what a struggle) to get IT.
I started praying last night that God would let me loose and set me free from some things. Low and behold He did. I mean He really did. God, I am so sorry that I require You to use taser guns to get my attention. Maybe one day I'll just read your Word and get IT myself on the first pass. In the meantime, tase me, shake me...get the cow prod...whatever IT takes!!!
In Daniel Ch. 4, King Nebuchadnezzar has had a second dream for which he calls Daniel to interpret. King Neb. calls Daniel by the name of Neb's god, Belteshazzar, yet says Daniel is filled with the Holy God. At this point, Moore asks, "Do you know someone who just does not get it? If so, how does that make you feel?" Well those two questions landed me standing in my bed hollering (it wasn't screaming or yelling. it was a definite holler), "Yes, yes I know someone who just does NOT get it, and I am F-R-U-S-T-R-A-T-E-D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Oh, my heart was racing in anticipation. I have been very frustrated (could you tell) over this situation for awhile, and I knew I was about to receive some wisdom.
I mean, come on. King Neb had seen three men thrown into a blazing furnace, dance around with a fourth man, and the three come out not even smelling like smoke! King Neb. had praised God after that event. I would hope we all would at that point. Yet, here he is in Ch. 4 of Daniel differentiating between his god and Daniel's Holy God.
Yes, this same situation is one of my major frustrations right now. I get IT. Why doesn't he/she get IT? I walk the walk, talk the talk. All you have to do is watch me, and then you'll get IT too. Right? I mean I work hard at showing you. Can ya'll just feel my face hit the concrete floor as I take the fall of pride?
Here is Moore's little nugget of wisdom: You might get IT, but you cannot force IT in someone else. Someone else getting IT takes "God the Father to ordain it. Jesus to open it. The Holy Spirit to infuse IT. By the way she asks, "Wasn't there a time when you didn't get IT?"
She says we should pray for these people who don't get IT...not just pray, but specifically pray Luke 24:25 ...that He open their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Tasered!!! I mean I could feel the tttttzzzz of the current as it brought me to an all-system shut down. After a few seconds of not even breathing, I could slowly feel the warm, comforting, all most drug-like feel of Truth working its way through me...healing me, settling me, rearranging me...slowly but profoundly.
I didn't get IT for 30 years. How dare I be so impatient and hard against others who are still struggling (oh what a struggle) to get IT.
I started praying last night that God would let me loose and set me free from some things. Low and behold He did. I mean He really did. God, I am so sorry that I require You to use taser guns to get my attention. Maybe one day I'll just read your Word and get IT myself on the first pass. In the meantime, tase me, shake me...get the cow prod...whatever IT takes!!!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Small, Subtle, Little Things
I believe God speaks to me in very, very, very subtle ways. Even though I know that, I spend most of the time looking for gigantic God signs...like parting the sea, and talking through burning bushes. While I'm walking in circles, just waiting for these big signs from God, I'm missing the subtle moments where He displays profound things. Bless His heart, I know He shakes His head at me. I can almost hear Him say, "Girl, I've emailed you three times this morning!"
Let me share a few of the subtle things God has done in my life this week. On Tuesday, I was not having the greatest of days. It wasn't terrible. It just wasn't fabulous either. Do you just have days when you don't feel it? Well, I do, and it never fails for evil to pop up on those days. My sin trunk pops wide open and displays all its....well stuff. Since I spent my teenage and young adult years without Christ, I found myself centered on the alternative...the world...not a pretty thing. I have been places and done things God never intended, and although forgiven, I am certainly scarred. So, on occasion, on a day like Tuesday, my mind will start to run re-runs. I shouldn't have run it the first time...let alone battle the re-run. In these moments, I've learned to just start praising God. I call out every name and attribute for God I can think of, and sure enough, His grace fills me up. However, for some reason, on some days like Tuesday, I watch re-runs for too long before I start praising Him.
So here is my subtle moment from GOD: Tuesday night I was helping my son make an election poster for school. He is running for chaplain of a school club today. I suggested we put a verse at the bottom. Without hesitation, my child said, Let's do Romans 3:23...for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
I'm telling ya'll the hair on my arms stood on end. I could hear God saying, "All, not some, not you, not those people over there, ALL." The truth is we ALL have our sin trunks that want to pop open and re-hash from time to time. God's Word tells us we all fell short, but He loves us anyway. That in itself is enough for me to want to live for Him forever.
Another subtle moment: This morning I read Proverbs 17 and verse 9 just really spoke to me. Then I dropped down to my commentary which said (paraphrased)...it is when we become more like Christ we can forget things that have been done against us. HOLY COW!!! Now, I can forgive you all day long. I struggle with forgetting what happened. Anybody relate here? When I read that commentary I was like...WHEW...no wonder I can't forget. I need some more Jesus in me. Doesn't that make such perfect sense?
Another subtle moment: I noticed this week I have almost filled the pages of my very first prayer journal. I started to make mental notes of going to the store this weekend to get volume no. 2. I want you to know last night when I got to church, a dear, dear friend walked up and handed me a brown paper bag stuffed with pink tissue paper. You will never guess what was inside...yep, a new journal!!! No, it is not my birthday, and I don't have a secret pal!
Thank You God for your subtle yet continual messages. Lord, I know You are subtle with me because you want me to slow down. When I rush, I am in control, and I need the Father, Son, and Spirit to be in control. That's it. I need You! I have had more than enough of me. Thank You for this day...just this day...not tomorrow...not next week... just now.
Ya'll it's about the moments. We should surrender moments. The word surrender brings to mind - surrender to the cross and surrender to ministry. Those are big moments. What about the little moments of surrender? You know, when You obey God and forgive, love, praise. Moments are surrendered to Him when you stop worrying about your job and surrender to God's will and control in your life. Some of us got saved, and we haven't surrendered yet. I've surrendered to Christ 342 times just this morning :)
Don't overlook the subtle. Don't forget to surrender. He already parted the sea. He already endured the cross. Now, let Him just have His way with you!!!
Let me share a few of the subtle things God has done in my life this week. On Tuesday, I was not having the greatest of days. It wasn't terrible. It just wasn't fabulous either. Do you just have days when you don't feel it? Well, I do, and it never fails for evil to pop up on those days. My sin trunk pops wide open and displays all its....well stuff. Since I spent my teenage and young adult years without Christ, I found myself centered on the alternative...the world...not a pretty thing. I have been places and done things God never intended, and although forgiven, I am certainly scarred. So, on occasion, on a day like Tuesday, my mind will start to run re-runs. I shouldn't have run it the first time...let alone battle the re-run. In these moments, I've learned to just start praising God. I call out every name and attribute for God I can think of, and sure enough, His grace fills me up. However, for some reason, on some days like Tuesday, I watch re-runs for too long before I start praising Him.
So here is my subtle moment from GOD: Tuesday night I was helping my son make an election poster for school. He is running for chaplain of a school club today. I suggested we put a verse at the bottom. Without hesitation, my child said, Let's do Romans 3:23...for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
I'm telling ya'll the hair on my arms stood on end. I could hear God saying, "All, not some, not you, not those people over there, ALL." The truth is we ALL have our sin trunks that want to pop open and re-hash from time to time. God's Word tells us we all fell short, but He loves us anyway. That in itself is enough for me to want to live for Him forever.
Another subtle moment: This morning I read Proverbs 17 and verse 9 just really spoke to me. Then I dropped down to my commentary which said (paraphrased)...it is when we become more like Christ we can forget things that have been done against us. HOLY COW!!! Now, I can forgive you all day long. I struggle with forgetting what happened. Anybody relate here? When I read that commentary I was like...WHEW...no wonder I can't forget. I need some more Jesus in me. Doesn't that make such perfect sense?
Another subtle moment: I noticed this week I have almost filled the pages of my very first prayer journal. I started to make mental notes of going to the store this weekend to get volume no. 2. I want you to know last night when I got to church, a dear, dear friend walked up and handed me a brown paper bag stuffed with pink tissue paper. You will never guess what was inside...yep, a new journal!!! No, it is not my birthday, and I don't have a secret pal!
Thank You God for your subtle yet continual messages. Lord, I know You are subtle with me because you want me to slow down. When I rush, I am in control, and I need the Father, Son, and Spirit to be in control. That's it. I need You! I have had more than enough of me. Thank You for this day...just this day...not tomorrow...not next week... just now.
Ya'll it's about the moments. We should surrender moments. The word surrender brings to mind - surrender to the cross and surrender to ministry. Those are big moments. What about the little moments of surrender? You know, when You obey God and forgive, love, praise. Moments are surrendered to Him when you stop worrying about your job and surrender to God's will and control in your life. Some of us got saved, and we haven't surrendered yet. I've surrendered to Christ 342 times just this morning :)
Don't overlook the subtle. Don't forget to surrender. He already parted the sea. He already endured the cross. Now, let Him just have His way with you!!!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Soul vs. Spirit
Sometimes, well a lot of times, I need things spelled out. Things that most people get immediately, I have late in life epiphanies over. For example, your soul is your mind and emotions and THE SPIRIT is what/who was sent by God to abide us to God.
Think about that...surely some of you are like me and have to let that sink in a little. I tend to get carried away by my emotions (if my husband is reading this post he is LOL). It would, in all honesty has been, very possible that I thought the Spirit was leading me when it was my soul. I have often made decisions based on how I felt. However, as I am truly learning more about the nature of God and how He works, I've realized He has not been an emotional response but a quiet resolve in my life personally.
There is quite a difference in being totally excited and giddy over something and just knowing that you know that you know. When God is speaking to me, whether calling or correcting, it is an expression that is calm, quiet, firm, and unwavering (notice I didn't say voice...it's a heart thing for me not an ear thing). For example, there are people in my life I have forgiven and who have forgiven me. Now, we really didn't want to forgive. We wanted to roll on the floor and give new meaning to UFC cage fight. Our souls screamed, "FIGHT." Yet, there was a quiet expression that said, "forgive." But...but....but... Yet the response was simply, "Forgive."
Now, here was my opportunity to be led by the Spirit. If you read my first post, you know I haven't been a Christian long, so hearing the words "being led by the Spirit" sounded a little mysterious to me. Yet, I and maybe a lot of us, pretended we knew exactly what this meant and professed to live accordingly.
I'll let you in on a little secret, for those of you who are a little slower on the take like me. Being led by the Spirit means......OBEY! Obey His commandments. Obey His calm voice of resolve. You want to abide in Him, be protected by the strong tower, great I AM, Prince of Peace? Obey His commands. Not sure what they are? That's O.K. not only did He give us the Bible...PTL...He put cheat sheets in the back. No kidding!!!! I praise God for fourth grade when we learned how to use the table of contents, glossary, and index.
If your soul has quieted the Spirit, look up words like anger, frustrate, hurt. See how the Word ministers to your soul, heals, and restores the Spirit to its rightful place...coaching you, leading you, calling you.
Think about that...surely some of you are like me and have to let that sink in a little. I tend to get carried away by my emotions (if my husband is reading this post he is LOL). It would, in all honesty has been, very possible that I thought the Spirit was leading me when it was my soul. I have often made decisions based on how I felt. However, as I am truly learning more about the nature of God and how He works, I've realized He has not been an emotional response but a quiet resolve in my life personally.
There is quite a difference in being totally excited and giddy over something and just knowing that you know that you know. When God is speaking to me, whether calling or correcting, it is an expression that is calm, quiet, firm, and unwavering (notice I didn't say voice...it's a heart thing for me not an ear thing). For example, there are people in my life I have forgiven and who have forgiven me. Now, we really didn't want to forgive. We wanted to roll on the floor and give new meaning to UFC cage fight. Our souls screamed, "FIGHT." Yet, there was a quiet expression that said, "forgive." But...but....but... Yet the response was simply, "Forgive."
Now, here was my opportunity to be led by the Spirit. If you read my first post, you know I haven't been a Christian long, so hearing the words "being led by the Spirit" sounded a little mysterious to me. Yet, I and maybe a lot of us, pretended we knew exactly what this meant and professed to live accordingly.
I'll let you in on a little secret, for those of you who are a little slower on the take like me. Being led by the Spirit means......OBEY! Obey His commandments. Obey His calm voice of resolve. You want to abide in Him, be protected by the strong tower, great I AM, Prince of Peace? Obey His commands. Not sure what they are? That's O.K. not only did He give us the Bible...PTL...He put cheat sheets in the back. No kidding!!!! I praise God for fourth grade when we learned how to use the table of contents, glossary, and index.
If your soul has quieted the Spirit, look up words like anger, frustrate, hurt. See how the Word ministers to your soul, heals, and restores the Spirit to its rightful place...coaching you, leading you, calling you.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
In Love With the Word of God
By way of introduction, I have been a Christian for approximately 6 years. Although I have a long way to go in acquiring the knowledge of those who have been Christians for a longer period of time, my passion for God, His Son, His Spirit, and His Word is deep and rich and intensifies daily.
This blog is the result of encouragement, a challenge, almost a dare from my pastor's wife to begin each day reading from God's Word and praying via a journal. I am NOT a morning person. So, I put off doing what she suggested for a long time. However, she persisted, and I committed, and nothing will ever be the same. Bible passages absolutely blow my mind. When I read scripture, it is present day to me. Every line jumps off the page and applies to my current situations or of those of people around me. The funny thing is, although I love to read, I could never really get into the Bible before I was saved by the grace of God through His son Jesus Christ. I am truly a testament to the Word being alive.
In October, I found myself in a time of some personal, painful experiences. It also happened (of course it didn't...it was God) I was reading from Psalms each morning. So in a time of hurt, I found myself beginning each day praising God. There really is no high like the Most High. If you ever feel sad, mad, worried, start praising God and just see what happens.
In November I have found myself to be in Proverbs. I have fallen head over heals in love with Solomon (my husband is aware of this :) ) He, Solomon, is so...well, wise. He is cut and dry, tells it like it is, everything he says sounds like a bumper sticker. So here I am on the brink of Hurricane Ida and healthcare reform, and Proverbs is ministering to me like crazy! People, we are truly about to be tested like never before. We say we want to fully rely on God. Well, I think we are about to have the opportunity to do just that!
The more time I spend in God's Word, the more obedient to it I want to become. The more obedient I am, the more filled with His grace I am. There is nothing, I mean nothing, like being saved and filled with God's grace. I love to react to a situation knowing good and well I am not capable of doing the things I am...loving the unlovable, forgiving those I want to punch, caring for others when I had planned to do something just for me. In those moments, I know I am receiving a divine intervention. Praise God He intervenes for I am a mess without Him!
Well, this intro was long, and I tend to ramble. I hope you come back to Solomon's Portico. We will hang out on the porch, talk about what God's Word is doing in our lives, love on God, and let Him love on us. I bet our heavenly Father will pull up an old rocking chair and visit with us!!!
This blog is the result of encouragement, a challenge, almost a dare from my pastor's wife to begin each day reading from God's Word and praying via a journal. I am NOT a morning person. So, I put off doing what she suggested for a long time. However, she persisted, and I committed, and nothing will ever be the same. Bible passages absolutely blow my mind. When I read scripture, it is present day to me. Every line jumps off the page and applies to my current situations or of those of people around me. The funny thing is, although I love to read, I could never really get into the Bible before I was saved by the grace of God through His son Jesus Christ. I am truly a testament to the Word being alive.
In October, I found myself in a time of some personal, painful experiences. It also happened (of course it didn't...it was God) I was reading from Psalms each morning. So in a time of hurt, I found myself beginning each day praising God. There really is no high like the Most High. If you ever feel sad, mad, worried, start praising God and just see what happens.
In November I have found myself to be in Proverbs. I have fallen head over heals in love with Solomon (my husband is aware of this :) ) He, Solomon, is so...well, wise. He is cut and dry, tells it like it is, everything he says sounds like a bumper sticker. So here I am on the brink of Hurricane Ida and healthcare reform, and Proverbs is ministering to me like crazy! People, we are truly about to be tested like never before. We say we want to fully rely on God. Well, I think we are about to have the opportunity to do just that!
The more time I spend in God's Word, the more obedient to it I want to become. The more obedient I am, the more filled with His grace I am. There is nothing, I mean nothing, like being saved and filled with God's grace. I love to react to a situation knowing good and well I am not capable of doing the things I am...loving the unlovable, forgiving those I want to punch, caring for others when I had planned to do something just for me. In those moments, I know I am receiving a divine intervention. Praise God He intervenes for I am a mess without Him!
Well, this intro was long, and I tend to ramble. I hope you come back to Solomon's Portico. We will hang out on the porch, talk about what God's Word is doing in our lives, love on God, and let Him love on us. I bet our heavenly Father will pull up an old rocking chair and visit with us!!!
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