“Therefore I will block her path with thorn bushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them…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 a Valley of Anchor a door of hope… In that day, declares the LORD, you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master’… I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion…in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.’” Hosea 2:6-7; 14-16; 19-20.
God considered Himself in a marriage with Israel, His chosen people. Many times in the Bible the unfaithfulness of Israel towards God is compared with a wife becoming an adulteress to her husband. Israel had chosen to follow the many gods of the land instead of the one God of Creation. She (Israel) had found herself chasing the gods to satisfy her greed, emptiness, loneliness and discontent.
When we have departed from our vows with God we will never find contentment and satisfaction in life. We, too, will chase after things demanding their faithfulness to us and their responsibility in making us happy. We will come against broken wall after broken wall and will experience a life of ‘thorn bushes instead of rose bushes.’ God will only allow us to chase after the things of this world for so long. ‘But God, ever loving, is determined to frustrate Israel’s wicked passions: When she reaches a point of despair, she will then go back to God, her husband…Here the purpose of God’s punishment is revealed; its purpose is not to destroy but to deliver, not to drive away but to draw back…God will give her a new chance, a new start.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 1221.
When we turn our hearts back to God, instead of feeling like we are trapped in a ‘bad spiritual marriage,’ we will rediscover our true love in Christ. We will go from being mastered by religion to being intimate in our spiritual fellowship with God. We will go from slave to bride once God has reminded us of His love through His tenderness in the wilderness. We will renew our wedding vows with the source of the only true Love of our lives.
‘Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready…Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ Rev. 19:7, 9.
We are all invited…
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Stations in Life
“Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, ‘Wherever you turn, they will attack us.’ Therefore, I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points… at the exposed places…each of the builders wore his sword by his side as he worked.” Nehemiah 4:12-13, 18.
In reading this passage this morning my heart swelled with gratitude and humility in realizing that God stationed my grandmother at some of the lowest points of my life. I had a less than stellar faith throughout my adulthood. When my walls came crashing down during my daughter’s drug use my lack of faith was completed exposed. I felt spiritually naked as I constantly lived in fear, doubt and hopelessness. Faithfully, God placed a few spiritual giants around me, armed and dangerous in faith, such as my parents and grandmother who stood by my side, and prayed for my family constantly.
In rebuilding my emotional walls, I finally knew the importance of building with a new architect and a more anchored foundation. My anchor was cast and my faith was stabilized through daily prayer and Bible Study. The more time I spent in the Word the more alive my faith became.
We are told in Ephesians 6:17 to ‘…take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ To ‘take’ is to carry or transport something from one place to another. Through my time with God, He transported His message of love and hope. He carried my faith from my intellect to the inner chambers of my heart. He strapped His sword to my side and it never leaves me.
Through my trials He has now stationed me in GriefShare to serve alongside those who walls have been torn down, and find themselves at some of the lowest points in their lives. Their emotions are raw and their hearts are totally exposed but each night we meet I see God’s message of love and hope taking root. I thank God that at this point in my life I have been stationed in His army to help rebuild the lives of the heartbroken. I am well aware that there will be future times when I am the one who needs someone carrying the emotional load… ‘but I will wear my sword by my side as I work.’
In reading this passage this morning my heart swelled with gratitude and humility in realizing that God stationed my grandmother at some of the lowest points of my life. I had a less than stellar faith throughout my adulthood. When my walls came crashing down during my daughter’s drug use my lack of faith was completed exposed. I felt spiritually naked as I constantly lived in fear, doubt and hopelessness. Faithfully, God placed a few spiritual giants around me, armed and dangerous in faith, such as my parents and grandmother who stood by my side, and prayed for my family constantly.
In rebuilding my emotional walls, I finally knew the importance of building with a new architect and a more anchored foundation. My anchor was cast and my faith was stabilized through daily prayer and Bible Study. The more time I spent in the Word the more alive my faith became.
We are told in Ephesians 6:17 to ‘…take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ To ‘take’ is to carry or transport something from one place to another. Through my time with God, He transported His message of love and hope. He carried my faith from my intellect to the inner chambers of my heart. He strapped His sword to my side and it never leaves me.
Through my trials He has now stationed me in GriefShare to serve alongside those who walls have been torn down, and find themselves at some of the lowest points in their lives. Their emotions are raw and their hearts are totally exposed but each night we meet I see God’s message of love and hope taking root. I thank God that at this point in my life I have been stationed in His army to help rebuild the lives of the heartbroken. I am well aware that there will be future times when I am the one who needs someone carrying the emotional load… ‘but I will wear my sword by my side as I work.’
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Removing the Rubble
“Meanwhile, the people of Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Nehemiah 4:10
The year was 1989 and the devastation was at the hands of Hurricane Hugo. We live in the middle of six acres, full of pine trees, oaks and cedars. Through the night the wind violently whistled as we heard the breaking of trees outside our window. As the light fought to appear in the eerie and damp morning of gray skies, our heart and spirit failed at the devastation of the storm. Our driveway, which is a half-mile long, was littered with tree after tree, not to mention the broken trees that were twisted into each other on both sides of the drive. We lost close to 500 trees that night. For some reason I felt the need to go to the top of the hill and examine the damage. In order to get to the top I climbed over tree after tree across the drive until the count was up to 62. When I got to the top I looked over the horizon and was simply overwhelmed at the work that lay before us. Where beauty used to be displayed was utter chaos and destruction. The rubble left behind was mind blowing and seemed impossible that it would ever be disposed of and the beauty of the land returned. One thing I knew for sure…for order and beauty to return there had to be a lot of debris removing efforts.
As many of us have experienced, the death of a loved one can be more powerful than anything nature has to offer. We get that phone call and suddenly our lives are twisted and broken just like the trees. The debris lays scattered along the pathways we must travel. Devastation and despair is our traveling companion and it is a journey that must be traveled. We climb over emotion after emotion to try to get our breath and get back to a point in life where we can see the horizon again.
God will not leave us alone to remove the rubble, but will kneel with us. He will place His healing hands around each emotion and remove it. Our pathways of debris will be washed away through our tears as God heals our hearts. Whether our devastation is the death of a loved one or other discouraging circumstances, we must trust that removing the rubble is a certainty. Beauty will reveal itself as the rubble is removed, piece by piece.
You may be depleted by your storm, but you can be certain that after the storm, the clouds will disappear, the rubble will be removed and the Son will beam again.
'So we rebuilt the wall...for the people worked with all their heart.' Neh. 4:6
The year was 1989 and the devastation was at the hands of Hurricane Hugo. We live in the middle of six acres, full of pine trees, oaks and cedars. Through the night the wind violently whistled as we heard the breaking of trees outside our window. As the light fought to appear in the eerie and damp morning of gray skies, our heart and spirit failed at the devastation of the storm. Our driveway, which is a half-mile long, was littered with tree after tree, not to mention the broken trees that were twisted into each other on both sides of the drive. We lost close to 500 trees that night. For some reason I felt the need to go to the top of the hill and examine the damage. In order to get to the top I climbed over tree after tree across the drive until the count was up to 62. When I got to the top I looked over the horizon and was simply overwhelmed at the work that lay before us. Where beauty used to be displayed was utter chaos and destruction. The rubble left behind was mind blowing and seemed impossible that it would ever be disposed of and the beauty of the land returned. One thing I knew for sure…for order and beauty to return there had to be a lot of debris removing efforts.
As many of us have experienced, the death of a loved one can be more powerful than anything nature has to offer. We get that phone call and suddenly our lives are twisted and broken just like the trees. The debris lays scattered along the pathways we must travel. Devastation and despair is our traveling companion and it is a journey that must be traveled. We climb over emotion after emotion to try to get our breath and get back to a point in life where we can see the horizon again.
God will not leave us alone to remove the rubble, but will kneel with us. He will place His healing hands around each emotion and remove it. Our pathways of debris will be washed away through our tears as God heals our hearts. Whether our devastation is the death of a loved one or other discouraging circumstances, we must trust that removing the rubble is a certainty. Beauty will reveal itself as the rubble is removed, piece by piece.
You may be depleted by your storm, but you can be certain that after the storm, the clouds will disappear, the rubble will be removed and the Son will beam again.
'So we rebuilt the wall...for the people worked with all their heart.' Neh. 4:6
Friday, February 24, 2012
Posting Guards
“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” Nehemiah 4:8-9.
When the opposing leaders of their surrounding regions saw that God’s chosen were successfully rebuilding the wall they became incensed and plotted to overcome Jerusalem. What did Nehemiah do? We are not surprised to find him on his knees since that has been the power behind the project since Neh. 1:1.
We have an enemy who surrounds us and looks on our attempts in building walls for God with contempt and anger. Every nail we pound, every bolt we insert and every bar we secure in the gates and walls of God’s kingdom sends Satan into a tantrum. While he has many weapons in his arsenal, we have the crushing weapon of access to God through prayer. In every endeavor for God we have been assigned to that place to work for Him. We only have to go to Him in prayer and ask for His protection against the opposition. God will guard us but His word imparts our responsibilities in guarding ourselves.
1 Timothy 6:20 instructs us to ‘Guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and opposing ideas.’
Proverbs 4:13 instructs us to ‘Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.’
Proverbs 4:23 instructs us ‘Above all else, guard your heart.’
Our confidence can be complete when we implement these three verses as purpose, guidance and attitude. We all have an area in which God has entrusted us for His work. We all have guidance from God regarding the manner in which we are to follow Him in His work. Above all else, we must allow our hearts to remain humble, grateful and committed in His work. Our attitude has feet and it will take us wherever it wants to go. God expects us to complete the work for which He has called us. ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord…Remember my chains. Grace be to you.’ Col 4:17-18. Paul understood the power of this process in guarding what God had given him to complete, in staying committed to the revelations of God, and always guarding the attitude of his heart.
While Paul was bound by chains, we have a Savior who was bound by ropes on the cross. Because of Jesus Christ guarding and staying committed to the work that had been entrusted to Him, His chains bought our freedom. He completed the work and we are recipients of the grace that was bought for us.
When the opposing leaders of their surrounding regions saw that God’s chosen were successfully rebuilding the wall they became incensed and plotted to overcome Jerusalem. What did Nehemiah do? We are not surprised to find him on his knees since that has been the power behind the project since Neh. 1:1.
We have an enemy who surrounds us and looks on our attempts in building walls for God with contempt and anger. Every nail we pound, every bolt we insert and every bar we secure in the gates and walls of God’s kingdom sends Satan into a tantrum. While he has many weapons in his arsenal, we have the crushing weapon of access to God through prayer. In every endeavor for God we have been assigned to that place to work for Him. We only have to go to Him in prayer and ask for His protection against the opposition. God will guard us but His word imparts our responsibilities in guarding ourselves.
1 Timothy 6:20 instructs us to ‘Guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and opposing ideas.’
Proverbs 4:13 instructs us to ‘Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.’
Proverbs 4:23 instructs us ‘Above all else, guard your heart.’
Our confidence can be complete when we implement these three verses as purpose, guidance and attitude. We all have an area in which God has entrusted us for His work. We all have guidance from God regarding the manner in which we are to follow Him in His work. Above all else, we must allow our hearts to remain humble, grateful and committed in His work. Our attitude has feet and it will take us wherever it wants to go. God expects us to complete the work for which He has called us. ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord…Remember my chains. Grace be to you.’ Col 4:17-18. Paul understood the power of this process in guarding what God had given him to complete, in staying committed to the revelations of God, and always guarding the attitude of his heart.
While Paul was bound by chains, we have a Savior who was bound by ropes on the cross. Because of Jesus Christ guarding and staying committed to the work that had been entrusted to Him, His chains bought our freedom. He completed the work and we are recipients of the grace that was bought for us.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Gates That Never Break
“They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.” Nehemiah 3
Throughout the third chapter, the concentration on where they began the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem is obvious. Jerusalem would eventually be fortified with walls but the crucial work began with accesses into the city, the gates. Jerusalem had many gates which led into and out of the city. Securing the gates first was crucial as they marked entry points where the enemy’s assaults were always concentrated. Houses were built both around these gates and into the walls which supported these gates. ‘Nehemiah assigned sections of the wall to those whose houses were located in that section; thus they had a greater interest in performing their work well.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 757.
As the Body of Christ we have a part in building the church and protecting what it stands for in our culture. The enemy has entered into the region, torn down the walls and has too much access, too many gates. Just as the wall around Jerusalem, we all have a part in rebuilding the wall around Christianity. God gave us this awesome responsibility in His word. ‘Now you are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.’ 1 Co. 12:27.
We are called to work on our spiritual gates as it is the access Satan has into our mind and hearts. What are we allowing into our hearts and minds through the gates of television or inappropriate conversation? What hinges of bitterness or selfishness are rusting and losing strength in our attempts to protect the Body of Christ? What access are we giving the enemy who is lingering around the gates for the perfect opportunity?
Through our adversities God is trying to fortify our gates and strengthen our testimonies. In the time of Nehemiah, he gave each man the gate closest to his home to repair and monitor. The gate that God assigned me is a grief ministry, and He uses my past suffering for others to rebuild their hearts which are in disrepair. In this ministry I am surrounded by torn down hearts and broken dreams. He has used my daughter who has overcome addiction to sponsor and encourage other women to rebuild their walls of dignity and a life of sobriety.
It doesn’t matter what our adversity has been, God will use it as access for others. ‘All these different people were working together with one purpose in mind: to rebuild the wall. So it is among Christians. Our one overriding purpose is to build up the church of Christ and to make disciples of all nations. And Christ has assigned to each of us our own ‘section of the wall.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 757.
We will all suffer outside the gate until we enter the Gates of Heaven. Even Jesus knew what it was like to suffer outside the gate. 'And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gates to make the people holy through his own blood...Let us, then, go to him...For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that has to come.' Hebrews 13:1
Throughout the third chapter, the concentration on where they began the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem is obvious. Jerusalem would eventually be fortified with walls but the crucial work began with accesses into the city, the gates. Jerusalem had many gates which led into and out of the city. Securing the gates first was crucial as they marked entry points where the enemy’s assaults were always concentrated. Houses were built both around these gates and into the walls which supported these gates. ‘Nehemiah assigned sections of the wall to those whose houses were located in that section; thus they had a greater interest in performing their work well.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 757.
As the Body of Christ we have a part in building the church and protecting what it stands for in our culture. The enemy has entered into the region, torn down the walls and has too much access, too many gates. Just as the wall around Jerusalem, we all have a part in rebuilding the wall around Christianity. God gave us this awesome responsibility in His word. ‘Now you are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.’ 1 Co. 12:27.
We are called to work on our spiritual gates as it is the access Satan has into our mind and hearts. What are we allowing into our hearts and minds through the gates of television or inappropriate conversation? What hinges of bitterness or selfishness are rusting and losing strength in our attempts to protect the Body of Christ? What access are we giving the enemy who is lingering around the gates for the perfect opportunity?
Through our adversities God is trying to fortify our gates and strengthen our testimonies. In the time of Nehemiah, he gave each man the gate closest to his home to repair and monitor. The gate that God assigned me is a grief ministry, and He uses my past suffering for others to rebuild their hearts which are in disrepair. In this ministry I am surrounded by torn down hearts and broken dreams. He has used my daughter who has overcome addiction to sponsor and encourage other women to rebuild their walls of dignity and a life of sobriety.
It doesn’t matter what our adversity has been, God will use it as access for others. ‘All these different people were working together with one purpose in mind: to rebuild the wall. So it is among Christians. Our one overriding purpose is to build up the church of Christ and to make disciples of all nations. And Christ has assigned to each of us our own ‘section of the wall.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 757.
We will all suffer outside the gate until we enter the Gates of Heaven. Even Jesus knew what it was like to suffer outside the gate. 'And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gates to make the people holy through his own blood...Let us, then, go to him...For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that has to come.' Hebrews 13:1
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Living Among the Ruins
“Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the walls…’ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king said to me.” Nehemiah 2:17-18
After Nehemiah had surveyed the landscape of Jerusalem, he spoke up to the men who were with him. These were the leaders and residents of Jerusalem who had evidently become complacent and reconciled that they were going to live among the ruins. Their eyes no longer looked upon the needs of the land with sorrow, disgust or worse…passion. They had built their lives around the acceptance of a less than meaningful environment. Their city was supposed to be seen as the joy of the entire earth, the city of the King, the visible throne seat of God’s temple. Where had their joy gone? At what point was their passion replaced with numbness and their attention to God’s temple ignored? Thankfully Nehemiah, who was not living among them, was obedient to God’s call. He not only supported the cause but he passionately got involved with the cause. He could have just written a check or sent a group of contractors with the blue print, but God led his heart to passion which always prompts action, self-sacrifice but amazing joy and purpose.
Who among us lacks passion and purpose in life? Who among us has no spiritual country in which to serve? Who among us has accepted to live among the ruins of their burnt out hearts? 1 Co. 3:16-17 states, ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you…for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.’
The thing that brought about change, restoration and joy to God’s city and temple was a call to action. God’s temple will be rebuilt when we take notice of the work that is out there to rebuild, both in community and in our hearts. God has given us the means and resources to rebuild broken lives and extinguished passions. When we follow God in active service He will restore the broken and burnt out places in our own lives and hearts, His temple.
Our world, both nationally and internationally, provide enough poverty, brokenness and sadness for the Body of Christ to actively serve until the Second Coming. God intends for each of us to serve actively and passionately, with our checkbooks and our hands. Let us answer the call of the people of God’s city as they did in Nehemiah. ‘Let us start rebuilding…The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, [those opposed to taking action] you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’ Nehemiah 2:20.
Let each one of us pray for God to impassion our hearts with what impassions His heart. May we recognize the areas of rebuilding for others instead of living among the ruins so that we may have a share in the great city of God.
After Nehemiah had surveyed the landscape of Jerusalem, he spoke up to the men who were with him. These were the leaders and residents of Jerusalem who had evidently become complacent and reconciled that they were going to live among the ruins. Their eyes no longer looked upon the needs of the land with sorrow, disgust or worse…passion. They had built their lives around the acceptance of a less than meaningful environment. Their city was supposed to be seen as the joy of the entire earth, the city of the King, the visible throne seat of God’s temple. Where had their joy gone? At what point was their passion replaced with numbness and their attention to God’s temple ignored? Thankfully Nehemiah, who was not living among them, was obedient to God’s call. He not only supported the cause but he passionately got involved with the cause. He could have just written a check or sent a group of contractors with the blue print, but God led his heart to passion which always prompts action, self-sacrifice but amazing joy and purpose.
Who among us lacks passion and purpose in life? Who among us has no spiritual country in which to serve? Who among us has accepted to live among the ruins of their burnt out hearts? 1 Co. 3:16-17 states, ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you…for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.’
The thing that brought about change, restoration and joy to God’s city and temple was a call to action. God’s temple will be rebuilt when we take notice of the work that is out there to rebuild, both in community and in our hearts. God has given us the means and resources to rebuild broken lives and extinguished passions. When we follow God in active service He will restore the broken and burnt out places in our own lives and hearts, His temple.
Our world, both nationally and internationally, provide enough poverty, brokenness and sadness for the Body of Christ to actively serve until the Second Coming. God intends for each of us to serve actively and passionately, with our checkbooks and our hands. Let us answer the call of the people of God’s city as they did in Nehemiah. ‘Let us start rebuilding…The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, [those opposed to taking action] you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’ Nehemiah 2:20.
Let each one of us pray for God to impassion our hearts with what impassions His heart. May we recognize the areas of rebuilding for others instead of living among the ruins so that we may have a share in the great city of God.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Acceptable Gifts
“My father had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord…Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple… ‘…there is no God like you – you who keep your covenant of love…who continue wholeheartedly in your way.’ ‘You have kept your promise…with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it – as it is today.’” 1Kings 8:17, 19, 23-24.
King David had a plan and was determined for God to have a physical temple. He had in his heart that his next work project would be to build a temple for the Name of the Lord. God confirmed through David’s prophet, Nathan, that while this was a good endeavor it wasn’t the work plan God had for David. God had His own reasons why David would not carry through with the desire of his heart but He did allow David’s son to carry out the plan. His son, Solomon was well aware of his dad’s desire and what God had told him. Although it must have stung David’s heart that his work plans didn’t match God’s plans, David was known as a man who had a heart for God. David’s heart was Spirit-purposed instead of flesh-purposed. ‘When David longed to build God a dwelling place for His Name, God reshaped the vision and fulfilled the promise by His own power.’ Nehemiah, p. 31.
I know in my own personal desires, I felt that God was leading me to write books. It was according to His will and plan for me to write one, but He then led me into another work plan. My writing is more of a day to day application than days spent in the process of publishing and book signings. Getting the message of a deeper fellowship with God was in my heart but He had a better way to accomplish spreading this message. I have struggled with letting go of what I had in my heart and accepting what means in which I am to operate.
Because David was looking onto the spiritual landscape through God’s desires he was able to respond with complete joy and gratitude. There is one thing that will move us from our desire to the desire of God as Paul wrote about in 2 Co. 8:1-12…grace. ‘…we want you to know about the grace that God has given…but they gave themselves first to the Lord…And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable.’
I know personally that anytime I give myself to the Lord first, He will reshape the vision in my heart and give me the grace to accept it. Many times, I have prayed for a willing heart to accept the things that disappoint me and reshape the visions that are deep in my heart.
‘…with your mouth you have promised it and with your hands you will fulfill it – as it is today.’
King David had a plan and was determined for God to have a physical temple. He had in his heart that his next work project would be to build a temple for the Name of the Lord. God confirmed through David’s prophet, Nathan, that while this was a good endeavor it wasn’t the work plan God had for David. God had His own reasons why David would not carry through with the desire of his heart but He did allow David’s son to carry out the plan. His son, Solomon was well aware of his dad’s desire and what God had told him. Although it must have stung David’s heart that his work plans didn’t match God’s plans, David was known as a man who had a heart for God. David’s heart was Spirit-purposed instead of flesh-purposed. ‘When David longed to build God a dwelling place for His Name, God reshaped the vision and fulfilled the promise by His own power.’ Nehemiah, p. 31.
I know in my own personal desires, I felt that God was leading me to write books. It was according to His will and plan for me to write one, but He then led me into another work plan. My writing is more of a day to day application than days spent in the process of publishing and book signings. Getting the message of a deeper fellowship with God was in my heart but He had a better way to accomplish spreading this message. I have struggled with letting go of what I had in my heart and accepting what means in which I am to operate.
Because David was looking onto the spiritual landscape through God’s desires he was able to respond with complete joy and gratitude. There is one thing that will move us from our desire to the desire of God as Paul wrote about in 2 Co. 8:1-12…grace. ‘…we want you to know about the grace that God has given…but they gave themselves first to the Lord…And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable.’
I know personally that anytime I give myself to the Lord first, He will reshape the vision in my heart and give me the grace to accept it. Many times, I have prayed for a willing heart to accept the things that disappoint me and reshape the visions that are deep in my heart.
‘…with your mouth you have promised it and with your hands you will fulfill it – as it is today.’
Monday, February 20, 2012
Very Much Disturbed!
“And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests… ‘And may I have a letter…to the keeper of the king’s forest’…The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. …they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.” Nehemiah 2:8-10.
Once Nehemiah had learned of the continued destruction of the walls of Jerusalem and the suffering of his people, he began fasting and praying with a broken heart. Through his tears and with passion, he asked God for both his forgiveness and the forgiveness of their people. He reminded God of past instructions with Moses regarding the Israelites, and future promises for those who turned their hearts back to Him. These prayers and fasts continued for four months until God opened an opportunity with His perfect timing. When Nehemiah approached the king, at God’s leading, he was not only given everything he requested but the king gave him more than he asked. He gave him an extra level of protection as he made his way back to Jerusalem. He was to pass through two regions where the leaders of those regions spent their focus jockeying for political power and influence. They were not happy that they had to grant passage to someone who might threaten their regions.
Where do I begin to draw application in a passage with so many Christian truths? Let’s begin with Nehemiah’s prayer. Once he felt compassion for a certain group of people, his first reaction was focus and faithfulness to approach God. He didn’t run off with a half-baked plan before sitting before the Lord. Scripture tells us that it was four months before God gave him the proper opportunity. His prayers not only focused on the suffering of others but began with his own need of repentance. God cannot use us effectively in our ministries until we become clean before Him. ‘…he was aware that he too needed pardoning…we have a tendency to measure everyone else’s ‘bigger’ sin against our far lesser sin…When we do this we set ourselves up for believing that other people need God’s grace and forgiveness much more than we do.’ Nehemiah – A heart that can break, p. 20. We see him giving God all the credit and glory as he states that everything was accomplished because he was operating in God’s grace and favor in his endeavor.
We must use this approach in our spiritual lives as we live to have eternal significance on earth in God’s kingdom. We must sit before the Lord with our passions and ministries, allowing Him complete license to move in and out of His ministries. We must confess our sins to clean our hearts in preparation for our ministries. Part of this confession must be a humbling of our hearts and a sincere attitude of gratitude with the place that God has assigned us. We must be attuned to His timing to not miss those windows of opportunity to move at His request. With all of these principles in place we are guaranteed to receive more than what we request. We are guaranteed success and provision in moving through our ministries. We can move with certainty that the enemy, who lives and moves within our regions, will be very much disturbed that we have come to promote the welfare of those who Christ Jesus loves!
Satan knows that we have been given a sealed note of passage through the King’s forest to pave the way to respond to the suffering people of God. Oh, he will be very much disturbed!
Once Nehemiah had learned of the continued destruction of the walls of Jerusalem and the suffering of his people, he began fasting and praying with a broken heart. Through his tears and with passion, he asked God for both his forgiveness and the forgiveness of their people. He reminded God of past instructions with Moses regarding the Israelites, and future promises for those who turned their hearts back to Him. These prayers and fasts continued for four months until God opened an opportunity with His perfect timing. When Nehemiah approached the king, at God’s leading, he was not only given everything he requested but the king gave him more than he asked. He gave him an extra level of protection as he made his way back to Jerusalem. He was to pass through two regions where the leaders of those regions spent their focus jockeying for political power and influence. They were not happy that they had to grant passage to someone who might threaten their regions.
Where do I begin to draw application in a passage with so many Christian truths? Let’s begin with Nehemiah’s prayer. Once he felt compassion for a certain group of people, his first reaction was focus and faithfulness to approach God. He didn’t run off with a half-baked plan before sitting before the Lord. Scripture tells us that it was four months before God gave him the proper opportunity. His prayers not only focused on the suffering of others but began with his own need of repentance. God cannot use us effectively in our ministries until we become clean before Him. ‘…he was aware that he too needed pardoning…we have a tendency to measure everyone else’s ‘bigger’ sin against our far lesser sin…When we do this we set ourselves up for believing that other people need God’s grace and forgiveness much more than we do.’ Nehemiah – A heart that can break, p. 20. We see him giving God all the credit and glory as he states that everything was accomplished because he was operating in God’s grace and favor in his endeavor.
We must use this approach in our spiritual lives as we live to have eternal significance on earth in God’s kingdom. We must sit before the Lord with our passions and ministries, allowing Him complete license to move in and out of His ministries. We must confess our sins to clean our hearts in preparation for our ministries. Part of this confession must be a humbling of our hearts and a sincere attitude of gratitude with the place that God has assigned us. We must be attuned to His timing to not miss those windows of opportunity to move at His request. With all of these principles in place we are guaranteed to receive more than what we request. We are guaranteed success and provision in moving through our ministries. We can move with certainty that the enemy, who lives and moves within our regions, will be very much disturbed that we have come to promote the welfare of those who Christ Jesus loves!
Satan knows that we have been given a sealed note of passage through the King’s forest to pave the way to respond to the suffering people of God. Oh, he will be very much disturbed!
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Radiant Face of Security
“…we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” Hebrews 6:18-20.
I am presently teaching a Bible Study on insecurity of which most of us suffer in one way or another. My battle cry of insecurity has always been ‘I am not smart enough,’ which is why God has me teaching this study blindly. I cannot wrap my mind around this larger than life topic, and it appears that I am going to be totally dependent on God for this endeavor. It seems that just in the nick of time God shows me what security looks like. He displays it so prominently I am humbled by its presence and aware of how far I have to go.
Yesterday, I received an email from an amazing woman and friend who shared a personal story with me regarding action stemming from her compassion for a woman she met. The subject of her compassion was a young woman who journeyed through cancer at a very early age. My friend describes her encounter with the woman who lives Hebrews 6:18-20. She wrote: ‘She is tall, communicates with confidence, walks tall, holds her head up, smiles and speaks very well. She has no teeth on the left side of her mouth. However, her skin is beautiful. At the restaurant, people around us would stare at her, and I felt the critical stares. I am sure she gets this all the time...so later in the week, I asked our mutual friend of her past cancer. I was told that her cancer was a mass inside the left side of her head. She had 4 surgeries at M. D. Anderson in Houston, including chemo and radiation. She has had transplants of tissue from her legs to the inside of her mouth. There is NO PLACE to connect teeth, or re-build to the inside of her mouth. The cheek on the outside of her face looks beautiful with no scars. But the interior of her mouth has no way to attach anything. She is able to eat food on the right side, for which she is thankful. My compassion got the best of me and I sent our mutual friend to tell her I wanted to do a fundraiser to pay for additional surgery. She said this: "Oh, there is no way....and it's ok. I am so thankful that the surgeon was able to save my eye and face! I can live without teeth on one side!" So young...leads a youth worship at her home church, sings beautifully, majoring in Culinary Arts and babysits to earn spending money. So, compassion got the best of me only to learn how strong this beautiful young girl is, and how weak I was to feel pain for her for what she obviously has already overcome.’
In reading this it was as if I heard a foreign language, one for which I needed an interpreter. I had to process the depth of this woman’s security. I closed my eyes and wanted to picture the radiant smile on the face of a woman who reflects glory. I had to picture the woman who believes that she is who God says she is – the daughter of a King… a woman who has access to the inner sanctuary with Christ. She is a woman anchored in God’s opinion of her resting in the security of His approval and acceptance.
How we would have missed out on the beautiful face of security had my friend not reached out in compassion. Compassion brings blessings back to us as we become the rescued in our efforts to rescue others.
‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…behind the curtain…with Jesus…’
I am presently teaching a Bible Study on insecurity of which most of us suffer in one way or another. My battle cry of insecurity has always been ‘I am not smart enough,’ which is why God has me teaching this study blindly. I cannot wrap my mind around this larger than life topic, and it appears that I am going to be totally dependent on God for this endeavor. It seems that just in the nick of time God shows me what security looks like. He displays it so prominently I am humbled by its presence and aware of how far I have to go.
Yesterday, I received an email from an amazing woman and friend who shared a personal story with me regarding action stemming from her compassion for a woman she met. The subject of her compassion was a young woman who journeyed through cancer at a very early age. My friend describes her encounter with the woman who lives Hebrews 6:18-20. She wrote: ‘She is tall, communicates with confidence, walks tall, holds her head up, smiles and speaks very well. She has no teeth on the left side of her mouth. However, her skin is beautiful. At the restaurant, people around us would stare at her, and I felt the critical stares. I am sure she gets this all the time...so later in the week, I asked our mutual friend of her past cancer. I was told that her cancer was a mass inside the left side of her head. She had 4 surgeries at M. D. Anderson in Houston, including chemo and radiation. She has had transplants of tissue from her legs to the inside of her mouth. There is NO PLACE to connect teeth, or re-build to the inside of her mouth. The cheek on the outside of her face looks beautiful with no scars. But the interior of her mouth has no way to attach anything. She is able to eat food on the right side, for which she is thankful. My compassion got the best of me and I sent our mutual friend to tell her I wanted to do a fundraiser to pay for additional surgery. She said this: "Oh, there is no way....and it's ok. I am so thankful that the surgeon was able to save my eye and face! I can live without teeth on one side!" So young...leads a youth worship at her home church, sings beautifully, majoring in Culinary Arts and babysits to earn spending money. So, compassion got the best of me only to learn how strong this beautiful young girl is, and how weak I was to feel pain for her for what she obviously has already overcome.’
In reading this it was as if I heard a foreign language, one for which I needed an interpreter. I had to process the depth of this woman’s security. I closed my eyes and wanted to picture the radiant smile on the face of a woman who reflects glory. I had to picture the woman who believes that she is who God says she is – the daughter of a King… a woman who has access to the inner sanctuary with Christ. She is a woman anchored in God’s opinion of her resting in the security of His approval and acceptance.
How we would have missed out on the beautiful face of security had my friend not reached out in compassion. Compassion brings blessings back to us as we become the rescued in our efforts to rescue others.
‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…behind the curtain…with Jesus…’
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Compassion's Gate
“Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.” Psalm 119:76. "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning…he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.” Lam 3:22-23, 32.
These two men understood how to receive compassion. It was clear that the road to and from compassion was through the gate of God’s law, LOVE. The One who loves us deeply lavishes His compassion upon us because of that love, one being a product of the other.
A few years ago my daughter’s boyfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident devastating her heart. Because of the great love that we had developed between us through the years my compassion for her was unending. It never mattered how many talks had to be repeated, or how many tears had to be shed the sustaining anchor of my compassion for her was my overarching love for her. How less of a parent I am as I am measured to our Father…oh, how He must love us! The more we live for His law of love the more impact we will make for His kingdom through His flow of compassion into our lives. His compassion spills over into our hearts and the more we love, our compassion overflows to a hurting world.
This world provides such a numbing effect to our surroundings with its counterfeit and empty definition of love. We hear horrifying and heart breaking stories and for a moment we are touched, our heart is moved and we relate. But within the hour we have turned our hearts and focus to the dead things of this world. Our compassion must be put into action. We must turn our pity into priority. We must give to others poor in spirit what God has given to us. We must be courageous and pray the prayer of our author in Psalms:
“Let your compassion come to me that I may live”…Break our hearts for what breaks Your heart so we may live in love and not walk around dead in spirit.
These two men understood how to receive compassion. It was clear that the road to and from compassion was through the gate of God’s law, LOVE. The One who loves us deeply lavishes His compassion upon us because of that love, one being a product of the other.
A few years ago my daughter’s boyfriend was killed in a motorcycle accident devastating her heart. Because of the great love that we had developed between us through the years my compassion for her was unending. It never mattered how many talks had to be repeated, or how many tears had to be shed the sustaining anchor of my compassion for her was my overarching love for her. How less of a parent I am as I am measured to our Father…oh, how He must love us! The more we live for His law of love the more impact we will make for His kingdom through His flow of compassion into our lives. His compassion spills over into our hearts and the more we love, our compassion overflows to a hurting world.
This world provides such a numbing effect to our surroundings with its counterfeit and empty definition of love. We hear horrifying and heart breaking stories and for a moment we are touched, our heart is moved and we relate. But within the hour we have turned our hearts and focus to the dead things of this world. Our compassion must be put into action. We must turn our pity into priority. We must give to others poor in spirit what God has given to us. We must be courageous and pray the prayer of our author in Psalms:
“Let your compassion come to me that I may live”…Break our hearts for what breaks Your heart so we may live in love and not walk around dead in spirit.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Break Our Hearts
“In the month…while I was in the citadel of Susa…one of my brothers came…and I questioned them. They said to me, ‘Those…are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall…is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:1-4.
Have I ‘tripped over’ a precious book of the Bible! Before going to purchase a new Bible Study, I always pray to God for guidance in this purchase and a study that He feels I need. I am getting ready to begin a new session of GriefShare. I am well aware that I require fresh compassion in this endeavor. Like every study, God has divinely chosen yet another one specifically needed by my heart. In working with grief and adversity, it is very easy to get accustomed to the pain of others. I hear and witness so much suffering that the enemy tries to harden my heart and muffle my spirit. Well God will have none of it this morning!
In the beginning of the study of Nehemiah, I am reminded of the parallels in the opening of this story with our lives. He is the cupbearer of the king (very prestigious position) and is on holiday in the winter resort of Susa. He is surrounded no doubt with every luxury afforded and is definitely removed from the suffering of others. When his brother and some other men come to visit, he inquires about Jerusalem. The report they gave broke his heart for those far away.
How many times do we sit in our comfortable homes and community and actually inquire beyond ourselves? When do we purposely go out of our way to have the spiritual vision of those poor in spirit? When was the last time your heart was broken for someone other than your circle that prompted you to take action?
To have a heart like God, we must be willing to ask God to break our heart for the things for which His heart breaks. We must be willing to ask to be a part of the reconciliation of the pain of others instead of the comfort of our own lives. So many people right here in our communities have broken lives and burnt out hope.
We must sit down in prayer, weep for others instead of just for ourselves, and ask God for an action plan. We must be prepared to leave our comfortable ‘resorts’ and engage in the suffering of others. Jesus did this and we are to live a life exemplified by Him.
Lord, we are afraid to pray this prayer but give us courage to approach you with the request to break our heart for the things that break Yours. Amen
Have I ‘tripped over’ a precious book of the Bible! Before going to purchase a new Bible Study, I always pray to God for guidance in this purchase and a study that He feels I need. I am getting ready to begin a new session of GriefShare. I am well aware that I require fresh compassion in this endeavor. Like every study, God has divinely chosen yet another one specifically needed by my heart. In working with grief and adversity, it is very easy to get accustomed to the pain of others. I hear and witness so much suffering that the enemy tries to harden my heart and muffle my spirit. Well God will have none of it this morning!
In the beginning of the study of Nehemiah, I am reminded of the parallels in the opening of this story with our lives. He is the cupbearer of the king (very prestigious position) and is on holiday in the winter resort of Susa. He is surrounded no doubt with every luxury afforded and is definitely removed from the suffering of others. When his brother and some other men come to visit, he inquires about Jerusalem. The report they gave broke his heart for those far away.
How many times do we sit in our comfortable homes and community and actually inquire beyond ourselves? When do we purposely go out of our way to have the spiritual vision of those poor in spirit? When was the last time your heart was broken for someone other than your circle that prompted you to take action?
To have a heart like God, we must be willing to ask God to break our heart for the things for which His heart breaks. We must be willing to ask to be a part of the reconciliation of the pain of others instead of the comfort of our own lives. So many people right here in our communities have broken lives and burnt out hope.
We must sit down in prayer, weep for others instead of just for ourselves, and ask God for an action plan. We must be prepared to leave our comfortable ‘resorts’ and engage in the suffering of others. Jesus did this and we are to live a life exemplified by Him.
Lord, we are afraid to pray this prayer but give us courage to approach you with the request to break our heart for the things that break Yours. Amen
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Empty Jars
“He sat wearily by the well…it was about the sixth hour {noon}…Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.’” John 4:6,13.
When my daughter was entrenched in her lifestyle of drugs, my goal for each day was to operate within my life incognito, anonymous and isolated. Her life was a very public journey in a small community which triggered every insecurity I had ever thought about having in my life. I would not only choose certain times to go in public, but I would drive outside of the community to accomplish most simple errands. My heart was shot and so was my insecurity.
I hear of another woman who went out of her way and community to meet her daily needs. She ran her errands where she knew she would not be met with rejection, judgmentalness, and the condescending eyes of her peers. She was the Samaritan woman at the well who ‘bumped into Jesus.’ ‘Two facts were unusual about the woman’s actions: (1) she could have gone to a closer well (scholars have identified wells that were closer to Sychar); (2) women generally drew water later in the day, when the temperature was cooler. This woman, whose reputation seems to have been well known in the small town, probably chose the well farther away from home and went at an unusual time.’ Life Application Study Bible, p. 388.
Now I’m confused…is he talking about me or the woman at the well…or maybe he is talking about you. We all carry empty jars within our hearts that we constantly seek refilling. When our insecurities deplete us we place our jars on the shoulders of others expecting them to fill us up. We go out of our way to find unsustaining water from so many different sources. While it might temporarily quench our thirst our parched hearts will return to dehydration.
We can only look towards the Living Waters to fill us up with God’s truth of who we are. We are not defined by our circumstances nor are we defined by the sum of what we have done. He does not remind us of our flaws and weaknesses but promises to use us beyond our insecurities. The Samaritan woman had been married four times before and was presently with another man. What does this tell me? She carried her empty heart to five different sources who were not equipped to sustain, fill up and make her whole. Each unfulfilled experience was met with deeper insecurity and deeper hopelessness. If we are searching for others to fill us up we will go further and further away from the only genuine source of Water. When we lay our insecurities at the base of the Living Well we can lay our empty jars down and hold our heads up high.
…and when we lift our face to Jesus we take our focus off of our emptiness.
When my daughter was entrenched in her lifestyle of drugs, my goal for each day was to operate within my life incognito, anonymous and isolated. Her life was a very public journey in a small community which triggered every insecurity I had ever thought about having in my life. I would not only choose certain times to go in public, but I would drive outside of the community to accomplish most simple errands. My heart was shot and so was my insecurity.
I hear of another woman who went out of her way and community to meet her daily needs. She ran her errands where she knew she would not be met with rejection, judgmentalness, and the condescending eyes of her peers. She was the Samaritan woman at the well who ‘bumped into Jesus.’ ‘Two facts were unusual about the woman’s actions: (1) she could have gone to a closer well (scholars have identified wells that were closer to Sychar); (2) women generally drew water later in the day, when the temperature was cooler. This woman, whose reputation seems to have been well known in the small town, probably chose the well farther away from home and went at an unusual time.’ Life Application Study Bible, p. 388.
Now I’m confused…is he talking about me or the woman at the well…or maybe he is talking about you. We all carry empty jars within our hearts that we constantly seek refilling. When our insecurities deplete us we place our jars on the shoulders of others expecting them to fill us up. We go out of our way to find unsustaining water from so many different sources. While it might temporarily quench our thirst our parched hearts will return to dehydration.
We can only look towards the Living Waters to fill us up with God’s truth of who we are. We are not defined by our circumstances nor are we defined by the sum of what we have done. He does not remind us of our flaws and weaknesses but promises to use us beyond our insecurities. The Samaritan woman had been married four times before and was presently with another man. What does this tell me? She carried her empty heart to five different sources who were not equipped to sustain, fill up and make her whole. Each unfulfilled experience was met with deeper insecurity and deeper hopelessness. If we are searching for others to fill us up we will go further and further away from the only genuine source of Water. When we lay our insecurities at the base of the Living Well we can lay our empty jars down and hold our heads up high.
…and when we lift our face to Jesus we take our focus off of our emptiness.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Divine Seedlings
“What you sow does not come to life until it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something. But God gives it a body as He has determined and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.” 1 Cor. 15:36-37.
What you sow does not come to life until it dies…
Christ Jesus came into this world as a seed. Jesus died to Himself very early in His life and allowed God to grow the plant according to God’s purpose. His plant was the reconciliation of sin for mankind. We must die to ourselves and our own agenda so that what is gathered will be the true and pure harvest God intended.
When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed…
Being human Jesus could not see the final plant but He trusted the Gardner to provide Him with the spiritual nutrients to water and fertilize as He walked the earth. We cannot see the big picture of how we are affecting the lives of others but our plants all have one common goal – to further the ministry of Christ and bring everyone to God’s garden.
But God gives it a body as He has determined…
As Jesus hung lifeless on the cross everything appeared as if the plant has died. The plant had only died back for the season. After three days the plant broke open with beauty and everlasting life. God alone determines the manner and outcome of our ministries ensuring the divine purpose for which they were created. When our lives feel as if there is no life God is working on a beautiful emergence of growth.
And to each kind of seed he gives its own body.
Through our pursuit of God’s will for our lives, each of us has a ministry that is a unique plant with a life given by God. As with Christ, His life began as a seed only to flourish into the beautiful life giving plant it now is. There is a spot in God’s garden where the soil is rich, the water is life and the blooms are eternal. We must plant our seed and allow God to grow the beautiful plant in each of us to which He has given life.
As Mary gave birth to the seed of the world – little Jesus – we are given birth to the will of God, must tend to the holiness of His indwelling and create a temple of purity and obedience for which He can reside.
May each of us celebrate the fact that we all carry the seed of Christ in us as He grows both His children and their ministries.
What you sow does not come to life until it dies…
Christ Jesus came into this world as a seed. Jesus died to Himself very early in His life and allowed God to grow the plant according to God’s purpose. His plant was the reconciliation of sin for mankind. We must die to ourselves and our own agenda so that what is gathered will be the true and pure harvest God intended.
When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed…
Being human Jesus could not see the final plant but He trusted the Gardner to provide Him with the spiritual nutrients to water and fertilize as He walked the earth. We cannot see the big picture of how we are affecting the lives of others but our plants all have one common goal – to further the ministry of Christ and bring everyone to God’s garden.
But God gives it a body as He has determined…
As Jesus hung lifeless on the cross everything appeared as if the plant has died. The plant had only died back for the season. After three days the plant broke open with beauty and everlasting life. God alone determines the manner and outcome of our ministries ensuring the divine purpose for which they were created. When our lives feel as if there is no life God is working on a beautiful emergence of growth.
And to each kind of seed he gives its own body.
Through our pursuit of God’s will for our lives, each of us has a ministry that is a unique plant with a life given by God. As with Christ, His life began as a seed only to flourish into the beautiful life giving plant it now is. There is a spot in God’s garden where the soil is rich, the water is life and the blooms are eternal. We must plant our seed and allow God to grow the beautiful plant in each of us to which He has given life.
As Mary gave birth to the seed of the world – little Jesus – we are given birth to the will of God, must tend to the holiness of His indwelling and create a temple of purity and obedience for which He can reside.
May each of us celebrate the fact that we all carry the seed of Christ in us as He grows both His children and their ministries.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Life's Bouquets
"He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." Ps. 126:5-6
I posted the picture of the beautiful pink flowers next to this blog to show the physical proof of this spiritual principle. When my sister, Beth was battling cancer I remember sitting next to her as she planted the seeds that produced this beautiful bouquet. I cannot begin to imagine what was racing through her mind as her small hands massaged the gentle soil. Maybe somewhere deep in her soul was the acceptance that no matter what we experience, life will continue in beauty and purpose…and that the work of our hands will bless others in the future. I hope her heart was anchored in peace that the beauty she had experienced on earth was but a mere foreshadowing of what was to come. Beth never got to see this beautiful bunch of flowers but the heavenly bouquet she must have been presented in Heaven must have been glorious.
The principle of sowing seed during our darkest hour is a Christian principle that I have seen personally work for the healing of broken hearts. In Griefshare, every Sunday night seeds of compassion and love are planted among the group. Our tears water the soil of our hearts and healing takes root. Just as bouquets are formed under ground with seeds first, the ground warms up, the gentle healing rains fall and the buds of healing peek out as if asking permission to open to experience new growth.
In our darkest trials we must go against our natural instincts to pull up anchor, retreat and recoil. We must brace with grace and plant seeds for a future harvest. Others are depending on us to show us the better way to go, the higher path of living and healing. Our joy will return to us through the reaching out to others. Life is meant to live forward which requires planting, watering, waiting and gathering.
I love this statement from a devotional that I read this morning. ‘Rather than sit back and allow self-pity and discouragement to consume us, we should plant seed during this time. Reach out to a person who needs a friend. Invest in the life of another. See where you can be a blessing to someone. Give of yourself. If you find yourself in a difficult place today, see where you can sow some seed. Soon you will be reaping songs of joy.’ Prime Time With God, Os Hillman.
Beth planted for the sake of future beauty without the guarantee of gathering. She lived life moving forward and we are the benefactors of the work of her hands. If we sow in the winter, we will produce for ourselves and others a beautiful bouquet like Beth’s.
I posted the picture of the beautiful pink flowers next to this blog to show the physical proof of this spiritual principle. When my sister, Beth was battling cancer I remember sitting next to her as she planted the seeds that produced this beautiful bouquet. I cannot begin to imagine what was racing through her mind as her small hands massaged the gentle soil. Maybe somewhere deep in her soul was the acceptance that no matter what we experience, life will continue in beauty and purpose…and that the work of our hands will bless others in the future. I hope her heart was anchored in peace that the beauty she had experienced on earth was but a mere foreshadowing of what was to come. Beth never got to see this beautiful bunch of flowers but the heavenly bouquet she must have been presented in Heaven must have been glorious.
The principle of sowing seed during our darkest hour is a Christian principle that I have seen personally work for the healing of broken hearts. In Griefshare, every Sunday night seeds of compassion and love are planted among the group. Our tears water the soil of our hearts and healing takes root. Just as bouquets are formed under ground with seeds first, the ground warms up, the gentle healing rains fall and the buds of healing peek out as if asking permission to open to experience new growth.
In our darkest trials we must go against our natural instincts to pull up anchor, retreat and recoil. We must brace with grace and plant seeds for a future harvest. Others are depending on us to show us the better way to go, the higher path of living and healing. Our joy will return to us through the reaching out to others. Life is meant to live forward which requires planting, watering, waiting and gathering.
I love this statement from a devotional that I read this morning. ‘Rather than sit back and allow self-pity and discouragement to consume us, we should plant seed during this time. Reach out to a person who needs a friend. Invest in the life of another. See where you can be a blessing to someone. Give of yourself. If you find yourself in a difficult place today, see where you can sow some seed. Soon you will be reaping songs of joy.’ Prime Time With God, Os Hillman.
Beth planted for the sake of future beauty without the guarantee of gathering. She lived life moving forward and we are the benefactors of the work of her hands. If we sow in the winter, we will produce for ourselves and others a beautiful bouquet like Beth’s.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Worry Warts
“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Matthew 6:27.
We have all done it and we will all continue to do it as long as we have breath. We worry about this or that, him or her, when or what. Jesus walked under the shadow of His death every day, in every town and came face to face daily with His inevitable reality. He was credible in this question as He exhorted the audience to focus on the Kingdom of God instead of things that God has already settled. He walked out His faith in complete belief that God was His sustainer and provider of everything.
Yet, we have made worrying our favorite past time. We worry when we don’t get our way, we worry when we do get our way, and insanely enough, I have even known people who worry about peaceful times. We have all heard the statement…waiting for the other shoe to drop. When we view life through the latter type of worry, it becomes a self fulfilling prophesy. We settle up front that we will live our lives watching for and anticipating the trials opposed to enjoying and being grateful for the blessings of today. Worry stands in line for the fearful future instead of claiming today's blessed realities.
My commentary states, ‘Daily we face new challenges, concerns, problems, and choices. Will we worry or will we pray? Worry may damage our health, cause the object of our worry to consume our thoughts, disrupt our productivity, negatively affect the way we treat others, and reduce our ability to trust God…It accomplishes nothing…We only add to today’s burdens when we worry about the future. All the anxieties about tomorrow will not change the outcome. We must trust God for today without worrying about tomorrow.’ Life Application New Testament Commentary, p. 34.
Why do we live our lives anticipating the negative instead of claiming a life in Christ in the positive? Who taught us our spiritual math? The spiritual math is simple: our worrying cannot add anything to our lives but certainly subtracts from our lives. Will our lives be the sum of great moments in Christ or will we live our lives in the negative? James, the half-brother of Jesus, echoed this in 4:1. 'Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
Today's worrying will not change one thing regarding tomorrow’s reality. By setting our focus on God and His Kingdom, it changes our priorities from ourselves and our gaze becomes focused on things of eternal significance.
We have all done it and we will all continue to do it as long as we have breath. We worry about this or that, him or her, when or what. Jesus walked under the shadow of His death every day, in every town and came face to face daily with His inevitable reality. He was credible in this question as He exhorted the audience to focus on the Kingdom of God instead of things that God has already settled. He walked out His faith in complete belief that God was His sustainer and provider of everything.
Yet, we have made worrying our favorite past time. We worry when we don’t get our way, we worry when we do get our way, and insanely enough, I have even known people who worry about peaceful times. We have all heard the statement…waiting for the other shoe to drop. When we view life through the latter type of worry, it becomes a self fulfilling prophesy. We settle up front that we will live our lives watching for and anticipating the trials opposed to enjoying and being grateful for the blessings of today. Worry stands in line for the fearful future instead of claiming today's blessed realities.
My commentary states, ‘Daily we face new challenges, concerns, problems, and choices. Will we worry or will we pray? Worry may damage our health, cause the object of our worry to consume our thoughts, disrupt our productivity, negatively affect the way we treat others, and reduce our ability to trust God…It accomplishes nothing…We only add to today’s burdens when we worry about the future. All the anxieties about tomorrow will not change the outcome. We must trust God for today without worrying about tomorrow.’ Life Application New Testament Commentary, p. 34.
Why do we live our lives anticipating the negative instead of claiming a life in Christ in the positive? Who taught us our spiritual math? The spiritual math is simple: our worrying cannot add anything to our lives but certainly subtracts from our lives. Will our lives be the sum of great moments in Christ or will we live our lives in the negative? James, the half-brother of Jesus, echoed this in 4:1. 'Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
Today's worrying will not change one thing regarding tomorrow’s reality. By setting our focus on God and His Kingdom, it changes our priorities from ourselves and our gaze becomes focused on things of eternal significance.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Now Choose Life!
“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so you will have to ask, ‘Who will ascend…to get it or proclaim it..?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it..?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction…But if your heart turns away…and if you are drawn to bow down to other gods and worship them…you will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life…” Deut. 30:11-20.
I would give anything to be one of those people sitting along the hillside as Moses beautifully spoke this message. This is one of the final speeches in the life of Moses right before he died. He and the Israelites had been through so much together and had learned first-hand about the character and faithfulness of the great I AM. Moses had been the mouthpiece of God and had served as one of the most faithful servants throughout time. But goodbyes are always difficult and Moses knew this one would be no different. He was burdened to make sure that his audience knew that the time had come for their blessings and fulfilled promises. They found themselves on the border of their promised land. Would they recognize what would be the manner in which God would fulfill their wildest dreams? Or would they bow down to fear and worship their own agenda? Would they look at the horizon and fail to act because of their own inability to see the plan and trust the process?
God assigns us our own borders between life and death, blessings and curses. We look to others or to circumstances to find solutions in our trials when really everything we need we possess through Christ. Christ dwells within us and beckons us through the Holy Spirit to choose a life of hope and faith instead of a life of anxiety and joyless living. We always think that joyful living is out there ‘in the heavens and across the sea.’ We chase this illusive ghost which constantly slips through our fingers like a vapor. We must turn our hearts back to Jesus and embrace His assignment in life. We must choose spiritual life instead of spiritual death to receive His blessings in both this life and the eternal life.
In every situation that I face, I must ask myself ‘Am I choosing life or am I choosing death? Will I receive the spiritual blessings of peace and hope or the earthly curses of fear and unbelief? Oh Father, help our unbelief! In You, we have chosen life for our eternal security now help us choose life for our earthly existence. In Your name, Amen.'
I would give anything to be one of those people sitting along the hillside as Moses beautifully spoke this message. This is one of the final speeches in the life of Moses right before he died. He and the Israelites had been through so much together and had learned first-hand about the character and faithfulness of the great I AM. Moses had been the mouthpiece of God and had served as one of the most faithful servants throughout time. But goodbyes are always difficult and Moses knew this one would be no different. He was burdened to make sure that his audience knew that the time had come for their blessings and fulfilled promises. They found themselves on the border of their promised land. Would they recognize what would be the manner in which God would fulfill their wildest dreams? Or would they bow down to fear and worship their own agenda? Would they look at the horizon and fail to act because of their own inability to see the plan and trust the process?
God assigns us our own borders between life and death, blessings and curses. We look to others or to circumstances to find solutions in our trials when really everything we need we possess through Christ. Christ dwells within us and beckons us through the Holy Spirit to choose a life of hope and faith instead of a life of anxiety and joyless living. We always think that joyful living is out there ‘in the heavens and across the sea.’ We chase this illusive ghost which constantly slips through our fingers like a vapor. We must turn our hearts back to Jesus and embrace His assignment in life. We must choose spiritual life instead of spiritual death to receive His blessings in both this life and the eternal life.
In every situation that I face, I must ask myself ‘Am I choosing life or am I choosing death? Will I receive the spiritual blessings of peace and hope or the earthly curses of fear and unbelief? Oh Father, help our unbelief! In You, we have chosen life for our eternal security now help us choose life for our earthly existence. In Your name, Amen.'
Monday, February 6, 2012
The Gift of Rain
“But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. You set a boundary they cannot cross; He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all…He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work... The trees of the LORD are well watered.” Psalm 104:7-16
There will be times in our lives when we are experiencing the blessings and the highs of life…mountaintop living. This season of living is when we find ourselves at peace, scanning the horizon with a bird’s eye view and liking what we see. At other times, we are assigned to the valley without a proper view of the blessings in our lives. All we can see are the things before us that cause obstructions and distortions of what are lives really offer. We forget the benefits of being the children of a Father who forgives, provides, redeems and loves. We temporarily forget that in one breath from His mouth, He redirects water and assigns the thunder a certain place on earth. God understood that we would need to be reminded of his blessings, favor and sovereignty.
God is well aware of our short-term memory as we walk this earth over the mountains and through the woods. He reminds us through His word that He will send the rains no matter if we are on top or in the gap of the ravines of life. Both seasons of mountaintop living or valley dwelling are watered with His drenching rain. They both quench the thirsty, they nourish the hungry and sustain many with the good fruit that is ripened through our experiences.
Our experiences do not occur in a vacuum only affecting us, but rather offer benefits to others who are searching for spiritual nourishment. We can remind ourselves of what we have never had, presently lack, or fear we may never possess. Or we can remind ourselves that God has assigned us to this season and offers the same benefits come what may. ‘Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives…and heals…who redeems…and crowns…who satisfies the desires…’ Psalm 103:2-5. Whatever assigned season for which we find ourselves should provide for others. Are we doing our part in quenching the thirst of others? Are we sharing the compassion for which we have been shown to those who need compassion? Are we sharing the 'good fruit' with those who need spiritual nourishment? We should never forget and always be humbled by the greatness of the Creator. We should live our lives in awe of His power and take our cue from the earth and the mountains.
‘May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works – he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.’ Psalm 103:31-32.
There will be times in our lives when we are experiencing the blessings and the highs of life…mountaintop living. This season of living is when we find ourselves at peace, scanning the horizon with a bird’s eye view and liking what we see. At other times, we are assigned to the valley without a proper view of the blessings in our lives. All we can see are the things before us that cause obstructions and distortions of what are lives really offer. We forget the benefits of being the children of a Father who forgives, provides, redeems and loves. We temporarily forget that in one breath from His mouth, He redirects water and assigns the thunder a certain place on earth. God understood that we would need to be reminded of his blessings, favor and sovereignty.
God is well aware of our short-term memory as we walk this earth over the mountains and through the woods. He reminds us through His word that He will send the rains no matter if we are on top or in the gap of the ravines of life. Both seasons of mountaintop living or valley dwelling are watered with His drenching rain. They both quench the thirsty, they nourish the hungry and sustain many with the good fruit that is ripened through our experiences.
Our experiences do not occur in a vacuum only affecting us, but rather offer benefits to others who are searching for spiritual nourishment. We can remind ourselves of what we have never had, presently lack, or fear we may never possess. Or we can remind ourselves that God has assigned us to this season and offers the same benefits come what may. ‘Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives…and heals…who redeems…and crowns…who satisfies the desires…’ Psalm 103:2-5. Whatever assigned season for which we find ourselves should provide for others. Are we doing our part in quenching the thirst of others? Are we sharing the compassion for which we have been shown to those who need compassion? Are we sharing the 'good fruit' with those who need spiritual nourishment? We should never forget and always be humbled by the greatness of the Creator. We should live our lives in awe of His power and take our cue from the earth and the mountains.
‘May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works – he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.’ Psalm 103:31-32.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
IT IS DONE!
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said …” Matthew 4:1-3
It is important to state that although Jesus was led by the Spirit into His wilderness for the testing of His faith, He was not tempted by God. My commentary states that since the beginning of time God has tested the faith of His children, giving Satan a window to tempt us in our faith. ‘Satan tempts us in order to make us fall; God tests us in order to confirm our faith or prove our commitment to God.’ p. 39. With that being said, let us return to the wilderness to draw application to our lives. The second important note is that Jesus did not use any supernatural powers to fend off the evil one. He faced Satan toe to toe in the power of God instead of the strength of man. We are told that Jesus didn’t eat for forty days and was hungry when Satan came to him.
Who is hungry and weary in their wilderness? What sealed child of God is facing their circumstances with a depleted heart and empty strength? Once we are a child of God Satan can neither ‘snatch us from our Father’s hand’ (John 10:28), nor can he possess us, since we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. ‘Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.’ 2 Co. 1:21-22. Satan can only frustrate us and topple our faith in God, not our security in God. Like with Jesus, Satan comes to us at our weariest to rob us of our faith and confirm to God that we are not ready for our blessings. Since the beginning of time, Satan has convinced us that what God has promised is neither believable nor our reality. Gen. 3:1 states that Satan said to Eve, ‘Did God really say…? And she took the bait!
What bait are you taking today instead of believing God for His promises and faithfulness? Why do we give Satan such a stronghold in our beliefs? Satan has proven to be against us in every circumstance, and God has proven to be for us, and yet we doubt, worry and live our lives in anguish over things to come. We have to learn to not take the bait of Satan so that we can be successful in our times of testing. God is going to bless us according to our faith so may we all pray to God for the ability to stand toe to toe with Satan in our times of testing.
When Satan says ‘Did God really say…?’ may we respond with ‘It is done!’
It is important to state that although Jesus was led by the Spirit into His wilderness for the testing of His faith, He was not tempted by God. My commentary states that since the beginning of time God has tested the faith of His children, giving Satan a window to tempt us in our faith. ‘Satan tempts us in order to make us fall; God tests us in order to confirm our faith or prove our commitment to God.’ p. 39. With that being said, let us return to the wilderness to draw application to our lives. The second important note is that Jesus did not use any supernatural powers to fend off the evil one. He faced Satan toe to toe in the power of God instead of the strength of man. We are told that Jesus didn’t eat for forty days and was hungry when Satan came to him.
Who is hungry and weary in their wilderness? What sealed child of God is facing their circumstances with a depleted heart and empty strength? Once we are a child of God Satan can neither ‘snatch us from our Father’s hand’ (John 10:28), nor can he possess us, since we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. ‘Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.’ 2 Co. 1:21-22. Satan can only frustrate us and topple our faith in God, not our security in God. Like with Jesus, Satan comes to us at our weariest to rob us of our faith and confirm to God that we are not ready for our blessings. Since the beginning of time, Satan has convinced us that what God has promised is neither believable nor our reality. Gen. 3:1 states that Satan said to Eve, ‘Did God really say…? And she took the bait!
What bait are you taking today instead of believing God for His promises and faithfulness? Why do we give Satan such a stronghold in our beliefs? Satan has proven to be against us in every circumstance, and God has proven to be for us, and yet we doubt, worry and live our lives in anguish over things to come. We have to learn to not take the bait of Satan so that we can be successful in our times of testing. God is going to bless us according to our faith so may we all pray to God for the ability to stand toe to toe with Satan in our times of testing.
When Satan says ‘Did God really say…?’ may we respond with ‘It is done!’
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