Violent Batterings

“We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard…But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” Acts 27:18, 22

I don’t know about you but I know my present storm presents lots of ‘violent battering’. Frustration, exhaustion, uncertainty and helplessness are a few of the batterings associated with caring for the dreaded disease of Alzheimer’s. Each day brings a new set of challenges with fresh concerns. There are many of you out there with much greater storms than the one I am experiencing, but nonetheless, it is my storm.

Did you notice that as the battering grew in intensity, the inhabitants of the ship began throwing cargo overboard? We live our lives instilling a certain way of response to our situations that generally work for all circumstances. When a storm arises we quickly realize that many things we have relied on in the past no longer work. They are neither essential in our present life nor are they beneficial. In an effort to solve the problems of our adversity we throw everything we know at the storm. The more we search for resolution in our suffering the less control we seem to have. We look up one day and ask God, how did I get here? More importantly, HOW DO I GET OUT? We finally surrender and throw own wisdom and agenda overboard.

Once we surrender our adversity to God and realize that He controls the storm we experience His peace, His serenity and His blessings through our sacrifice. “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him!” Mark 4:41

Notice the last line that Paul implores to the participants in the adversity…only the ship will be destroyed. The ship represents the vessel of adversity to accomplish God’s purpose for the higher good. God is controlling everything according to His plan and His timing.

We may feel lost in the storm but we are never lost to the storm.

At the Mercy of the Storm

“After a day of drifting at the mercy of the storm, they began to throw the cargo overboard…When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved…Land was nearby but they could not recognize it.” Acts 27:18, 20, 39

Paul was on his way to Rome to face Caesar and to stand trial for his life. Paul was being transported by ship as a prisoner when a violent northeaster moved in. (“a wind of hurricane force…swept down from the island” v- 14.) Paul, who had astonishing faith and hope in Christ, even gave up all hope of being rescued. He looked into his storm, saw the odds based on past experiences and reconciled that they would die. He even had the promise from God that Paul would witness to both Jews and Gentiles in Rome but still wavered in his faith.

My commentary, The Believer’s Bible Commentary, states: “For many days they were tossed about helplessly without sight of sun or stars, and thus without the ability to take bearings and find out where they were. Hope of survival was finally given up.” P. 1662

As we face our devastating and exhausting storms we too can ‘give up all hope of being saved.’ It is so tempting to be blinded by the stinging rain in our eyes, and lose our bearings in the darkness. When we face situations outside of our control we also feel that we are at the mercy of our circumstances being tossed around helplessly and aimlessly. Just as Paul had those feelings we also experience those feelings. It is our human nature to fear, to question and to experience helplessness.

The good news is the same news that Paul had after he was visited by an angel of the Lord. “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul…God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you’…So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” Acts 27: 23-26

Text states that they couldn’t even recognize the land but Paul knew that they must experience more uncertainty to be rescued. His uncertainty of his fate was replaced with the certainty of his faith. We must be anchored in our storms to Christ and His promises. “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5

Don’t pull up anchor just because you don’t recognize your land. God uses our adversity to run aground and rescue us.

No Escape

“The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.” Acts 26:26

This was a statement Paul made to Festus while explaining why the Jews were calling for his death. The king of whom he spoke was King Agrippa who was a fellow believer in a Messiah to come. The difference between the king and Paul was that the king believed in a coming Messiah while Paul witnessed the Messiah had already come.

The Jews had an amazing knowledge and belief of God sending a Messiah but they didn’t recognize the actual event. They were still waiting on the very transforming experience that had already happened. Paul was desperately appealing to the fact that the king was aware of the prophesy, but unaware of the fulfillment.

How many times have we been promised something by God only to miss the fulfillment? We determine what the fulfillment looks like and do not even recognize it when it arrives. I love the passage above as it relates to our King. He is familiar with all things that concern our lives and nothing escapes his notice. There is no corner for which we can hide and no circumstance that He cannot bring to fulfillment.

He has paid the price for each of us to speak freely to Him. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16. Our Savior has come and will help us in every situation not matter what you are facing or which corner you are hiding.

He was and He is and He will always be…

The Price of Pride

“On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man.’ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.” Acts 12:21

King Herod had set up the situation wherein he played god over the food supply for Tyre and Sidon. These were two little areas that we have not heard much of but will never forget after this story. They chanted how wonderful King Herod was when he resolved the very dilemma that he had created. People are always looking for a hero in undeserved places as in the case of the king. Can you only imagine standing and chanting at the feet of your hero only to watch him immediately be struck down? Commentary states that he was struck down with a disease that was extremely painful and very nasty. I will not go into the details of the disease but it is worth the research to see the extent of God’s hatred towards pride.

God will not allow pride in His people for any length of time. Just as Herod was ‘eaten by worms’ our pride will eventually eat us up and kill us. No royal robe or self-righteous throne can protect us from the disease of pride. The Bible goes on and on about God’s feelings on pride. God will always keep His promises both good and bad.

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov. 16:18
“And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” Daniel 4:37b
"The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Prov. 16:5
How much clearer can God be on this subject? I want the other promise from God:

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

For Even When I...

“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure…Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us…” 2 Co. 1:8-10

Yesterday was not a pretty sight regarding my heart and attitude. We are heading into our third month of caregiving for my father-in-law who suffers with Alzheimer’s. Suffice it to say that yesterday I was ‘far beyond my ability to endure and in my heart I felt the sentence of death.’ I must be honest and report that over the past week I hadn’t given my best to God in the early mornings as previously. I had begun to rely on myself through the daily routine in caregiving that God set up a few months ago making a tough situation easier. I believe that God allowed me to experience the frustrations, helplessness and resentment yesterday that He has been holding back from me. I was reminded yesterday that I am enduring because of what He is supplying.

As I sat on the front porch crying and venting (so glad I live in the middle of the woods without neighbors) I could actually feel my depleted strength draining out allowing room for the strength of Christ to flow in. I was reminded of the difference of being in dire need and receiving all I need. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I can do everything through him who gives me strength…For even when I…you sent me aid again and again when I was in need…I am amply supplied, now that I have received…” Phil 4:12-19

For even when I…

All of us can fill in the blank with any situation and can be assured through the promise of Christ that we can do all things through Him. He will come to our aid again and again and supply us with the perfect recipe for victory. We will receive…

Growing Up Jiminy

“I speak the truth in Christ – I am not lying, my conscience confirms in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 9:1

Growing up, Pinocchio was one of my most beloved films not because of the mischievous wooden boy but because of his little sidekick, Jiminy Cricket. I loved that little cricket who seemed to have Pinocchio’s best interest at heart. He followed him everywhere supporting, encouraging and warning him about possible dangers. He even implored that he ‘let his conscience be his guide.’ Sound familiar?

It is written that God gave us the Spirit of truth (John 14:17) to guide us into all of the truth and will only speak what He hears from God on our behalf (John 16:13). Certain truths will be revealed and confirmed with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit acts in two-fold through our conscience. He confirms a clear conscience and convicts a guilty conscience by the level of peace for which we experience in any situation. If we cannot obtain peace with some issue then chances are we are at odds with our conscience. If we can obtain peace within a decision it is most likely the Holy Spirit confirming our clear conscience.

The closer we get to Christ the louder the Holy Spirit speaks the heart and mind of God. While it may become easier to discern right from wrong the key is our obedience to act upon that discernment. If there is a decision that one must make the Holy Spirit will confirm or convict regarding that decision.

When aligned with the will of God, our conscience becomes a wonderful and valuable indicator of the path for which we should take in any decision. Once our ‘conscience confirms in the Holy Spirit’ we will experience ‘the peace of God that transcends all understanding.’ (Phil 4:7)

Whitewashed Tombs

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is desolate.” Matthew 23:27, 28, 37-38

In Matthew 23 Jesus is speaking to the crowds referring to their teachers and leaders. He listed seven woes that primarily dealt with the heart of those leading others. Jesus was speaking on the hypocrisy of externalism. The teachers cared more about the outward view of righteousness and morality then the inward view of living the life aligned with righteousness. While they exhorted their ‘servants’ to live righteous and moral lives their hearts were full of self-indulgence.

“Tombs were whitewashed so that Jewish people would not inadvertently touch them and thus be ceremonially defiled. Jesus likened the scribes and Pharisees to whitewashed tombs, which looked clean on the outside but were full of corruption inside.” Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1290.

It is the desire of Christ for us to live our lives outwardly and inwardly in complete alignment and sincerity. Our actions will either validate our words or reveal them to be empty and contradictory.

If we are living our lives as whitewashed tombs we are empty and lifeless. We care more about the clean image of our lives than the rich fruit for which our actions can yield. We all have longed for something in our lives to fulfill, complete and restore. Christ is no different as He longs for relationship with each of us. He is always calling but we don’t always respond. He sits in our house waiting on our time with Him and longing to protect us. Through the sacrifice of Christ, He has washed our lives clean giving us a chance for new and righteous living.

It is not only His desire for us but His expectation of us.

Reminders

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:26-27

When we accepted Christ as Savior we were given the gift of His Spirit, the Counselor, at that very moment.

Many years ago I went to a counselor trying to cope with the daily suffering of my daughter’s addiction and how it impacted my life. Through months of counseling I developed a process of listening and questioning the counselor to better understand what skills I could develop to navigate through my problems. Through this relationship I was given valuable truths and provisions to apply to all circumstances.

Our Counselor within is so much more than the world’s counselor. The Holy Spirit has been given the information of how we operate before we even show up for our appointment. Instead of time being spent trying to get to know us we spend time trying to get to know God through the Holy Spirit. Much like my earthly counselor years ago the Holy Spirit reminds us of things we have been taught through past experiences that can apply to present experiences.

Our peace will never come from the world as it shifts and changes. Our peace can only come from the appointments with our Counselor who knows our past, present and future.

Don’t be late for your appointment – your peace depends upon it.

Run In Such a Way...

“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible…To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do this for the sake of the gospel…Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training…but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Cor. 9:19, 22-25

Paul suffered many trials, beatings and persecution living his life for Christ. He knew the importance of using every experience as an example of sold out living to advance the gospel and the Kingdom of God.

A few weeks ago my daughter and son-in-law miscarried later in her pregnancy. While trying to comfort her she looked at me with tear filled eyes and told me that she didn’t mind using her previous life of addition and substance abuse to testify and witness for God but she didn’t want this present testimony. She felt it was too painful, too sacred and too personal. She, of course, has already turned her tragedy into a testimony as God is already healing her heart. She said she knew intellectually this was God’s will but she was beginning to feel it spiritually in heart.

We will be called through circumstances that God orchestrates to become weak and experience the pain so that we can minister to others in pain. We can never have a legitimate ministry without being slaves to our testimonies whatever they may be. We must run the race of bringing all to Christ and the family of Christ. We must train and be trained through our circumstances and flex our spiritual muscle as an example to bring others through their circumstances. We all will run the race of life but only some will run towards the goal leading others.

Run in such a way for sure…

Heads Lowered

Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Mark 10:21-22

This was the response Jesus gave to the rich young man when he asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life. Upon Jesus’ response, the man walked away saddened and defeated because he knew he was unwilling to surrender his wealth. He didn’t have the faith to trust that anything could be attained by surrendering everything in his life.

How many of us have walked away from our time with God knowing what we have been convicted to surrender through the Holy Spirit's urging? 'Jesus looked at him and loved' the passage states. Through the love of Jesus as the verse states He revealed the one thing this man was required to do. Christ does the same thing for us through our time with Him. He will reveal whatever is holding us back from receiving the full measure of fellowship with Him. Whatever we hold onto too tightly God will ask for our surrender.

The priority we place in our lives over our relationship with God will be the very thing He peels one finger back at a time opening our tight grip. What we are surrendering is never really the issue but rather the act of surrendering and the heart of the surrender.

God will ask to receive in full what hurts us to give in part.

Great Are His Purposes!

“O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.” Jer. 32:18b-19a

God created His son for the purpose of saving the rest of the family – those of us who accept God as Father, Christ as Son and Savior, and the Holy Spirit as the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Just as God created Jesus with a purpose He created each of us with a specific purpose. As a child, Jesus recognized His spiritual Father and the importance of discerning His will and fulfilling His higher purpose. Through this daily pursuit Jesus discovered the purpose for His own life as God prepared in advance for Him to fulfill. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good words, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph. 2:10

What if Jesus had chosen His own agenda for His life? He was created with the same free will just as we were. What if Jesus had taken His eyes off of the prize for a moment and detoured from God’s will? God knew in advance the heart of His son and assigned this purpose with the wisdom that Jesus would be able to carry it through to fulfillment. God predetermines the same for each of us as He will not plan something for any of us to accomplish in which He doesn’t thoroughly equip us. If we are led to accomplish something in the name of God we must trust and believe that we have the tools necessary to be victorious.

Don’t miss your higher calling – someone’s life could depend on it!

Meager Morsels

“Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food…’I don’t have any bread – only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son that we may eat it – and die’…She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food everyday for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.” 1 Kings 17:9, 12, 15

This is a beautiful story that validates the life-giving ways of our Savior who provides the needs for His children through obedience and partnership. Elijah, a prophet of God was told to go to this widow and request her to feed him. Her response was something I am sure he wasn’t prepared to hear. This poor widow had conceded to death for both herself and her son. She went out to gather provisions to make their last meal and had accepted their fate of death. When Elijah heard this it would have been tempting to question if he really heard God say to take this widow’s food. Both people had heard from God on this matter and both were obedient in His instruction. Through their obedience, death passed over the widow and her son while God’s servant was given the continual provisions required in his work ‘everyday’ as the passage reports.

I love applying Scripture to my life and this story’s application is obvious for me. As my father began declining in his last month of cancer my father-in-law was put in a nursing home to spend the remainder of his life. God led my husband and me to bring him to live with us. Being depleted of physical and emotional strength from my dad’s situation it was tough to imagine having enough strength to give to my father-in-law. My earthly body was saying, ’I don’t have any bread – only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug.’ I was tired and exhausted but God sent His assurance that if I took him in ‘the jar of flour would not be used up and the jug of oil would not run dry.' I would have every provision required to care for my father-in-law during this season of his life. That is exactly what has occurred as God gives me fresh baked bread every morning to face the day. His daily provision is both consistent and plentiful.

God expects us to give out of sacrifice whether that offering is financial, physical or emotional. Just like the widow we are to give not from excess but from the sacred.

When we give of ourselves like the widow God will turn what we see as death to life.

Valley of Trouble

“Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.” Hosea 2:14-15

Many times God will lead us into a season of darkness to attune our ears to His message meant only for us. He may remove something of value to us in an effort to balance out the importance we place on that priority in our life. Many times He leads us into the very place we need the most refining where He meets us. For me it was setting boundaries in service and caregiving. These areas seem selfless but can sometimes be selfish in motive. The feelings I got from serving others were motivation sometimes more than the glory God would receive from my service.

God got my attention of setting boundaries by leading me into a valley of achor (trouble) wherein the needs were too many and too great for me to handle. I ended up at the base of burn out at which point my ears were attuned to hear the tender teachings of God. Through His tender words He told me that I was to partner with Him in service and not to own the experience trying to be savior. Once I learned this lesson He led me out of the valley through the door of hope. This door opened up into a new life that offered the privilege of being chosen for some service and passed over for others.

We are spiritually wise to discern our level of service to God through His leadings and urgings. Our ministries are only as successful as the breath that God breathes into them.

Who Are You?

“One day, the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and I know Paul but who are you?’ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” Acts 19:15-16

I must admit that I find some of the stories in the Bible wonderfully bizarre such as this one. Let face it…we serve a wonderfully mysterious and complex God. This is a story about a group of men who were trying to exorcise demons out of a man in the name of Jesus. The problem was that they were acting upon the name of Jesus in name only to accomplish their own gain. The evil spirits even failed to recognize these men as supporters of Christ having the possessed man attack and bloody these frauds.

Although this is a strange story it is still applicable today in our world. We only have to remember the PTL Ministry and Jim Bakker. What began as a ministry based on the love and commitment for God took an unholy detour at the intersection of greed and gross power. At some point I am sure Satan did not even recognize some of the players in this corrupt ministry. The consequences of using the Lord’s name for private gain caught up with them and they too were ‘run out of the house naked and bleeding’.

Let us pursue a life where Satan is well aware of who we are and the part in which we play in God’s kingdom. He basically was saying I don’t know you as a threat to me. You play an insignificant role in God’s kingdom.

May we never give him the opportunity to say, ‘Who are you?’

The Watering Hole

”So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own purpose.” 1 Co 3:7-8

Throughout the Bible there are examples where the people of God wanted to take on responsibility in some spiritual fashion but God closed the door. The importance of discerning God’s will for our lives is paramount in doing the work of the Lord. In Acts we are told that the Holy Spirit led Paul to move on in his ministry instead of staying around in Ephesus which opened the door for another great preacher, Apollos. (Acts 18:20) In the Old Testament, David told God he wanted to build a temple for God but he was told no. God wanted David’s son Solomon to build the temple. (1 Chron 28:5-7)

At my dad’s funeral service his minister spoke of Daddy’s desire to develop a ministry within the church to encourage new believers in their walk with Christ. As he lay the groundwork with the minister Daddy began to decline quickly. He told the minister that this ministry would have to be put off…for a little while. My dad died a few months later. The morning after his funeral God began working in my heart and over the next four days gave me 5 essential principles for this ministry which I passed along to his minister. It will be the church who implements this new ministry although my dad felt led to plant the seed.

God uses each of us to the extent He purposes for our lives. Not only does this allow others to participate in the partnership of Christ but it also keeps us from trying to take credit for our work. There have been many times in church where certain individuals will take on anything and everything in the name of God. While passion to serve God is always good motivation we must make sure our service is the will of God.

It is just as important to know when our ministry in one realm is over and when a new ministry should begin.

What Is Our Life?

“When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. But as he left, he promised, ‘I will come back if it is God’s will.’” Acts 18:20

Paul was at the top of his game and had earned the respect of the Jews at the synagogue in Ephesus. They wanted him to stay there and spend more time with them as they received his messages about Jesus Christ. It would have been extremely tempting for him to stay at a place where he was wanted, respected and admired, especially if he was accomplishing this in the name of Christ. Paul recognized that to remain for whatever reason would be going against the will of God. He was to leave and continue his missionary travels at God’s urging, not mans.

We can learn a lot regarding the obedience of Paul and his commitment to God’s will. Times in my past I have allowed myself to stick around and listen to people give me credit for something God was accomplishing through me. Sitting around enjoying the accolades of man is not what God has in mind for any of us. It is only through God that anything in our lives are accomplished.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, supports this obedience in attitude of committing everything to God’s will. “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there… Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15.

We have a brief time on earth and then we are wisped away with the importance on our lives being the impact we made for the Kingdom of God. The things we determined for our life will disappear and count for nothing in Heaven but the things determined by God will remain worthy of our calling.

What is our life, indeed?

Tentmaking

“Because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.” Acts 18:3

Before Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus he lived a very privileged life. Saul had everything according to the world’s standards – power, prestige, respect and wealth but Christ had other plans for his future. When Saul was confronted by Christ Saul was stopped in his tracks. He traded his former life in for Jesus Christ and literally turned away from his old life and took hold of a new life in Christ. Saul, later renamed Paul, became a tentmaker with no frills and no thrills in his trade, other than a means to the end of supporting a higher calling.

It is doubtful that many of us will ever be asked to completely turn away from everything we know in our lives and become a missionary in many parts of the world. Christ does meet us on our own road as we follow the path we determine. If our path doesn’t align with the path He has chosen for us the light will also be shown to reveal the purpose for our lives.

We are all called to become tentmakers in our own journeys. Constructing a life that stands up to the elements of the world will require the enduring fabric of Christ instead of the flimsy materials of the world. Our tents must be made with the hands of God instead of the hands of man to ensure durability against the storms. As we near the end of our lives our tents become mere shells of a greater home. “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2 Co 5:1

What kind of tent are your making?

Perfecting Holiness

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Co 7:1

The promise for which Paul was speaking was the promise that God will be a Father to us and we will be His sons and daughters. In light of this promise we cannot come to Him without pursuing a pure heart out of reverence and respect for who He is and the holiness for which He is made.

The definition for contaminate is to pollute, taint, and infect. Usually contamination begins in one small section and quickly spreads when avoided or neglected. This will become the condition of our heart if we do not take appropriate steps in locating the pollutants and removing it immediately.

Some common and widely accepted contaminates are bitterness, anger, resentment and tearing others down. I have been as guilty of this as another but the closer I get to God the more He reveals the infected areas that need healing. Perfecting holiness is turning away from everything that does not exemplify Christ and making our appeal to the world of His love for all who love Him. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” Co 5:20

Father, please help me to perfect instead of infect through my relationship with your Son, Jesus Christ. In Your Holy Name, Amen.

The Everlasting Way

“What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.” Isaiah 46:11

Could the Bible be anymore clear than this one little verse anchored firmly in Isaiah? Because God loves us and desires us to choose Him for intimate fellowship He created us with His permissive will. Permissive will is the will that we possess to make both good and bad decisions. Just like with our own children, they can choose to step out of our will and operate on their own understanding.

The choice to detour from God’s will doesn’t affect the purpose for which God created each of us. His will is going to always be realized with or without our participation. The string of events which lead up to the fulfillment of His plan may be altered based on our decisions but the will of our Creator will be realized.

Thankfully, God is a patient God extending love to all His children allowing them time to come around to His plan and purpose. One of the most powerful prayers is one of my husband’s whose prayer includes that God be merciful when dealing with his sins. Many times we have unconfessed sins not recognizing them and how they affect our lives. Through asking God to reveal both His plan and any obstacle that stands in the way we create a more open flow between our heart and the heart of God. “Search me, O God, and know my heart…See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24.

Allowing God to lead us in the everlasting way is surrendering our way to God.

Altar Inscriptions

“For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown, I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands…and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:23-28

Paul could have been speaking directly to me four years ago. I grew up attending church every time the doors opened at the instruction of my parents. I was consistently in ‘temples built by hands’ but altars could also be found in the temple of my heart with the same inscription… TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. God determined in 2006 that He would make a grand appearance in my life in such a way I couldn’t deny His presence. The times and places set for me were family illnesses on three fronts. Through the adversities of sickness I had to seek God and reach out for comfort, guidance and His provisions.

Although I found God in an intimate way through these experiences the irony is that He was never far away. He lived in and through me years ago as I attended church after church throughout the course of my life. The difference then was that I confined Him to temples built by hands instead of temples built in hearts. I am much more comfortable living and moving around in Him as He determines in my life.

The inscription on the altar in my heart now reads: TO AN UNWAVERING GOD WHOM I KNOW AND SERVE.

Standing Our Ground

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25

Paul and Silas had been stripped, beaten and imprisoned during one of their missionary travels. At the height of their darkness they lifted prayers and hymns of praise in their suffering. They realized that one of the most precious worship experiences is the lifting up of a sacrifice of praise in intense suffering. It is a fragrant offering so precious to God that moves His heart.

When my sister was diagnosed with Bile Duct Cancer I remember being in car going to her house on her birthday. I had to face the fact that this could be her final earthly birthday that we would share together. My heart was broken as I traveled in the car to her home and knew I needed to pull myself together. One look on my face would tell the entire story on her special day. Through my sobs I began to pray and praise God for everything He had provided. I began singing to the Christian songs on the radio not because I felt the peace the words were offering but because I believed the words were true. As I praised Him aloud and sang through tears I eventually felt the ‘peace of God which transcends understanding’ (Phil 4:7)

In my cell of sadness and despair God anchored my peace on His holy ground, not the earthly ground of circumstances. “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.” Hebrews 10:32

The contest was great but through the power of Christ I was able to stand my ground in the great contest of despair and sadness. In our greatest hour of need, there will be people listening to our testimonies and our responses just as the prisoners witnessed Paul and Silas.

Praise to God is paramount in our relationship with Him apart from our circumstances. It is easy to praise God and sing to Him in the calm but when the praise is lifted through a broken heart it becomes a sacrifice offering being offered on holy ground.

So stand your ground fellow believer whether you are on shaky ground or stable ground for they both provide a solid foundation.

Without Limit...

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” John 16:13-14

Three months ago my youngest daughter Caroline made the decision to transfer back to Charlotte and attend UNC-C. I was very excited at the thought of having her close to me again since we are extremely close. She was accepted into UNCC and we began setting up her life close to the college. About one month ago I noticed that she was not herself and seemed to be distracted and anxious. She confided that she had been battling depression for the past month and seemed to find it difficult to feel any joy in her life.

This past week I received an email from her explaining that she felt she was getting ready to make a huge mistake in her life and wanted to consider staying at Appalachian State. After talking through the circumstances it was clear that in her heart she wanted to stay at App. Since that decision she has felt consistent confirmation and peace. I believe she has been struggling with the will of God, and finally the guidance of the Holy Spirit prevailed.

We are meant to pursue God’s will over our own will which guarantees peace. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27. Many times we experience unnecessary depression, anxiety and discord in our lives when attempting to make a decision without surrendering to God’s will and the Holy Spirit. We have full access to the mind and heart of God through His Spirit. “For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.” John 3:34.

When anxiety and chaos rule your heart open your ‘spiritual ears’ and listen to the leadings of the Holy Spirit. You will find unwavering peace in a decision if it is the will of God and He promises us He will reveal His will through His spirit.

Wearing The Mark

“And you were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…” Eph 1:13

One of the speakers at Daddy’s funeral was a man who had grown up with Daddy. They both were sons of a minister and faced a lot of the same childhood experiences. For years, my dad worked in the moving business quoting, orchestrating and handling the moves for many people and many businesses. This particular speaker had employed the company for which Daddy worked to pack his possessions and move him to another location. Daddy would always bring stickers and place them on every item in an effort to keep up with them and better identify their intended location. The speaker told of turning over a piece of furniture years later and seeing that sticker on the bottom. He related that sticker to Daddy leaving his mark on everyone who knew him. He stated that his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren carry that wonderful mark through his influence. He implored us at the end to ‘where his mark well’. I was so touched at that analogy and feel honored to carry his mark.

There is another mark that we carry no matter in which family we are born. It is the mark of Christ through the crucifixion and resurrection. He places His nail-scarred hands on each of His children and marks each of us as co-heirs in an awesome inheritance. He placed His sticker on our lives by indwelling us with the Holy Spirit. This ‘sticker’ shows everyone to whom we belong and how we bear His mark.

Thankfully this inheritance can never be taken away from us as it is the irrevocable trust from our Father. The Lamb was slain so we could live.

Wear His mark well.

Starve the Flesh

“In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:26, 29-32

This is one of the toughest things we are called to accomplish. Anytime our emotions are involved it seems that this passage is thrown out of the window. We walk around armed with past experiences, past wounds and future fears as the heat of life is turned up through our circumstances. We become little teapots heating up needing a place for the whistle to blow, feeling justified in our words and actions.

There are several essentials that are absolutes in this passage. The first is that our anger is not a sin but our response could lead to sinful actions. The most important aspect of unconfessed anger is that is leaves an open door for Satan to waltz in and lead the dance. Another aspect is the result that comes from our sinful response to anger. Our negative emotions turned into words or actions grieve the Spirit of God. There was nothing more heart wrenching for me than to know that I had caused sadness or grief to my parents through my actions when I was a little girl. To grieve God’s spirit is to choose satisfying our flesh over the Spirit of God. “On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, ‘Does this offend you...The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” John 6:60-63.

God knows we are unable to handle uncontrolled emotions on our own so He placed within us a heating element that keeps the temperature from rising. His own Spirit dwells within our hearts so that we can apply Luke 1:37 to every situation. “For nothing is impossible with God.”