Joy Trumps Happiness

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4)

Until recently, I have failed to understand the true definition of Biblical joy of which this passage speaks. My entire life I searched for joy in my emotions and circumstances. It was an allusive ghost I chased through the streets of my situations. I could only see shadows of the reflection of joy, and could never seem to catch it. I even prayed for those I love to experience joy in their lives. I have been so blessed to understand the true definition which makes this beautiful passage ring more truth in my heart and in my faith.

‘Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things’ Choose Joy – Because Happiness isn’t Enough, Kay Warren. Joy was never meant to be based on our circumstances, rather it is an overflow of our faith. Happiness is an emotion we feel resulting from an experience wherein the event has the feet. Joy is a developed grace of the Spirit, giving us the ability to walk out our faith in tough and challenging circumstances. I love the way my commentary describes what James is really stating. ‘Don’t rebel! Don’t faint! Rejoice! These problems are not enemies, bent on destroying you. They are friends which have come to aid you to develop Christian character’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 2218.

I am blessed to know while happiness is a temporary and fleeting stop on the road to Heaven, joy has the ability to permanently steady our walk of faith no matter what we must endure. Happiness fails to have the feet to consistently make the journey, but joy can be your traveling companion from now to eternity.

Joy trumps happiness!

Digging Holes

 “The man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money” Matthew 25:18.

In the parable of the tenants we meet a man whose biggest accomplishment was his lack of accomplishment.  The only action recorded by this steward was digging a hole and burying what his master entrusted to him.  The other two stewards took their talents and worked towards the good of the master’s investment.  They didn’t question what they were given, but rather focused on how it could be multiplied.

Everyone has the opportunity to increase the value of the Master’s kingdom with what they have been given.  Some of us have been given the experience of grief so that we may increase our gift of compassion and comfort to others.  Some of us find ourselves in medically challenging seasons with the opportunities to display the Master’s sustaining grace and provisions.  Many times circumstances cause us to dig a hole and bury the experience, thereby walking away from any opportunity to grow God’s kingdom.

God never wastes our adversities and will always provide blessings for others if we are willing to share the journey.  Many ministries have been born out of suffering through our testimonies of God’s grace and faithfulness in our storms.   The focus of our experience is properly using what God has entrusted to us.  ‘In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life…guard what has been entrusted to your care…Grace be with you’ 1 Tim 6:19-21.

When adversity finds its way into our journey, we cannot dig a hole but must use it to invest in the value of God’s kingdom.

Our Spiritual Dash

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them…After a long time the master of those returned and settled accounts with them”  Matthew 25:14, 19.

When my aunt died her children included in her funeral a beautiful poem called The Dash.  This poem urged us to consider the way we live our life in between our birth and death.  It is a reminder that we have been given only so many days, and it is up to us as to the manner in which we will live each of them.

Jesus was the original author of this idea in the parable of the tenants.  He told of a master who went on a journey leaving his servants entrusted with his property.  The parable goes on to report the individual contribution made by each servant during the master’s absence.  They all had the same opportunity – to grow the master’s treasure – however, the yield was different for each of them.  When the master returned there was accountability for each servant as it related to his participation, devotion and commitment. 

We all have a spiritual dash that will record the things that God entrusted to each of us, and how effective we were in investing our time and resources.  Did we share our spiritual strengths in deeds, encouragement and kindness?  Did sharing our testimonies assist in multiplying the souls in the kingdom of heaven?  Did we bury opportunities to share and comfort others in the name of our Master?  My Bible’s commentary beautifully supported these thoughts.  ‘Being ready for Christ’s coming involves more than playing it safe and doing little or nothing.  It demands the kind of devoted service in Christ’s kingdom that produces results’ p. 1506.

God has equipped each of us with everything that He has entrusted us with.  It is up to us whether we will live the kind of spiritual dash that we were created to live.  “His divine power has given us everything we need… so that through them you may participate in the divine nature…For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness… knowledge… self-control…perseverance…godliness…brotherly kindness…love.” 2 Peter 1:3-8.

The Word doesn’t state for us to make efforts on Sunday to accomplish this, but rather to make every effort…always.  This means that our dash should be filled with the work of kingdom of Heaven every day…and in every way. 

Strangers to Satan

“You are always righteous, O LORD…Yet I would speak with you about your justice: …Why does the way of the wicked prosper?  Why do all the faithless live at ease?” Jeremiah 12:1.

Whether in words or in attitude we have all requested an audience with God regarding His justice as Jeremiah did.  We question why our co-worker gets away with unethical behavior moving ahead in the company.  We demand answers from God in the case of the woman who slanders and judges another as she grows in status and image.  We even wonder why some Christians seem to get an Advance to Go card through life while we seem to always end up with the Go Directly to Jail card.  I would like to meet these questions with my own question:  ‘How much of a threat are you to the enemy?’

In a devotional I read yesterday, the author stated that before the Israelites crossed over into the Promised Land they only fought 2 battles.  Once they crossed over, they faced 39 battles which were all won successfully because they relied on God.  We were all created for purpose in the kingdom of God.  Our promised land is that place where we realize God’s purpose for our lives…the place of ministry that will impact God’s kingdom.   Our battles arise when the forces of evil report to their leader, Satan, that someone in North Carolina…South Carolina …internationally… anywhere is threatening their work.  They discuss attacks in which the threat may be disarmed and made weaker.  They plot their plans to discredit, disorient and distract in the lives of those whose faith can and will do damage.  They even bid one Christian against the other, using us as weapons against our brother and sister in Christ.  We should ask the Lord every morning:  How might I be a threat to the enemy today?  What can I do through faith that will ruin the devil’s day and frustrate his plans?

When we are a threat to the enemy’s kingdom and an asset to God’s, we will wage war daily being equipped with the full armor of God.  We will experience spiritual success against Satan even though the journey is tough.  Our lives will impact heaven with every challenge and stand of faith we make. 

Don’t be a stranger to the enemy... He should know your name and your game all too well!

Living the Single Life

“But whatever was to my profit I consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things” Phil 3:7-8.

I am extremely fortunate to have had an awesome childhood.  I always felt the love of my parents along with a large extended family.  Apart from the normal girlfriend drama, I was part of a group of girls whom I adore to this day.  I made my plans based on my own desires and enjoyed coming and going as I pleased.  A profitable life for sure… But, in June of 1985 I gave it all up to gain a husband, who also gave up the single life.  Through laying down our individually focused lives, we gained a life of partnership, equality and devotion to each other.   Through our loss of the single life, we definitely gained in our shared life. 

This is an earthly version of the spiritual life when we leave behind our flesh way of living.  In the past, I sought certain attributes to build an image.  I pursued things for the physical profit and didn’t pay attention to the spiritual.  I placed my confidence in the wisdom the world provides instead of God’s wisdom.  I certainly knew of God, but sadly didn’t know God.  It wasn’t until I gave up my life as a single person, spiritually speaking, and married into the life of Christ.  When I walked away from the single life, that is having a focus on just me, I began experiencing the greatness of Jesus.  Just as I came to know and adore Bruce through shared experiences, I have come to really know God as my Lord and Savior. 

Looking back in my spiritual life, I will never forget what it was like to be single for it draws a defining line in the sand.  I am so grateful for the surpassing knowledge I have of Christ and am excited for future intimacy.  Christ knows all about having to lose everything to gain it all. 

Losing our single life to Christ will ensure the gain we were created to receive.

Searching for Sharks Teeth

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.  When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” Matthew 13:44.

When our children were little they adored searching for sharks teeth at the beach.  Many days over the years have been combing through sand, adjusting eyes to the ground and watching them chase seagulls.  These images and memories warm my heart as I think back to those days of yesteryear.  After many failed treasure hunts my husband finally got the idea to purchase some sharks teeth and toss them out in areas of the beach where they were searching.  The joy of their discoveries was matched by our joy of watching them discover the prize.

My heart is warmed this morning as I picture our Father tossing the treasures of the kingdom in areas He knows we will search.  He tenderly places His love and compassion in people with whom we come in contact.  He methodically and intentionally plants His grace in the mounds of circumstances that we will experience.  We are surrounding by His touches and our lives are scattered with His blessings.  When we turn to Him and find the full measure of God we will only be interested in the treasures of the kingdom of heaven.   We will be sold out for God and will stroll along our journey searching for the plantings of the Lord. 

I can just see the delight and joy on the face of God as He anticipates our discoveries of His blessings.  I can only imagine His smile as we experience the wonders of His plan.  His joy is complete as we accept His offerings for our lives with joy and commitment. 

But we must walk that stretch of beach…we must stroll among His word…we must develop a heart for the hidden treasures of God.  He is lovingly and delightfully watching… planning… arranging ...just waiting for our eyes to discover the prize.

‘Set your hearts on things above…Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things’ Col. 3:1-2.  ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus’ Hebrews 12:2.

Small Beginnings

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his fields.  Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches” Matthew 13:32.

In an attempt to explain the meaning of the kingdom, Jesus referred to a mustard seed, with which His audience was familiar.   No doubt they knew exactly how tiny this seed was, and could picture the grand tree which it could become.  We all need reminding that big things coming from small beginnings.

It is easy to forget how the small things we do in our Christian walk provide blessings for others.  The woman who teaches Sunday School to children plants a small seed in their hearts for an adult faith later on.  A man stops on his busy day and listens to the problems of a stranger seated next to him, encouraging the stranger’s heart while sharing his faith.  Some of my most cherished memories are of older people, who impacted my faith through humble displays of kindness as a child.  They were unaware that they planted a seed when they gave me a hug for nothing.  They had no idea their compassion on the loneliest of days took root so that I may later have compassion to others. 

God calls all of us to plant a seed in small and unnoticed ways.  ‘We believe that to truly engage in the kingdom work of Jesus Christ we need to immediately have some highly visible, numerically significant, widely recognized impact.  That is simply not true.  Expanding the kingdom of heaven takes place in the small.’ Subversive Kingdom, p. 112.  I used to be guilty of this belief when God called me put in place ELM in 2008.  He led me to plant the tiniest of seed with no visible growth.  He didn’t show me some grandiose destination where He would take ELM, but rather kept me dropping a seed in the ground day by day, post by post.  Only when I awake in heaven will I see the impact ELM made.  The point is not to see the size of the tree behind us, but the next empty spot to plant before us.

Your daily walk is of extreme importance and is critical to the kingdom.   You are the one chosen to plant certain seeds in certain places…it is your calling…it is your destiny…it is your mustard seed.

Just a Cracker

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Matthew 13:33.

Many years ago when I was a young bride, my mother-in-law would make yeast rolls to serve alongside the meal.  Determined to learn how to make these, I learned the active ingredient was yeast, which was the magic of the bread.   I was so surprised to see how tiny these micro-seeds were when I opened the little envelope.  After I soaked the yeast in hot water it was mixed into the dry dough creating a dough ball.  I pounded the dough down and was required to wait over night for the dough to expand.  The next morning I punched the air out of the dough which occurred through the night and waited again.  At the proper time, when the yeast had done its work, the expanded dough ball was divided into many smaller portions.  The aroma of the yeast bread as it cooks is an aroma that is distinct among all other breads.  The end product was determined by pressure and patience – so is our faith.

Just like the yeast the active ingredient in our faith is pressure and patience.  My Bible Study states, ‘The funny thing about yeast is that when left in an environment of dough, it actually becomes so entrenched – hidden – inside it, that it changes the very composition of the dough.  With yeast you can have a wonderful basket of bread…But, without yeast all you have is a cracker.’ Subversive Kingdom, p. 110.  We all were created with the opportunity to be molded and expanded into something beautiful.  It is only when we are saturated with the pressures of life that our faith is activated and begins to rise.  This faith is tested through challenging circumstances that may beat us down but will not keep us down.  As we wait on God to work in our dark times our faith is expanding and creating a life that will count for something…a life that will be divided into many blessings for others.  We will be hidden in Christ just as the yeast was hidden in the dough.  Our lives will be an amazing aroma as we offer our lives and service to God.

‘For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’ Colossians 3:3.  ‘For we are to God the aroma of Christ…’ 2 Co. 2:15.

Why the Weeds?

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field?  Where then did the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this’ he replied.  The servants asked, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’  ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling up the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest…At that time…First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matthew 13:27-30.

This passage really sent an arrow to my heart this morning.  Those servants had such hopes for the field, and saw such promise for the yield only to be discouraged at the sight of weeds.  Their hearts sunk for they had seen the good that their master had sown.  It didn’t make sense that there would be weeds in the field.  They had told themselves a million times that if they did everything right they could avoid the weeds.  They never anticipated that an enemy would enter and purposely create devastation.  To add insult to injury, they had a plan to remove the weeds but the master allowed the weeds to remain.  His rationale was logical but the servants still feared and questioned the outcome.

When evil overtook my daughter’s life with drugs, weeds were planted through the night.  I didn’t see the craftiness of the planting and was shocked when the reality broke through.  I ran to God on so many occasions questioning Him, ‘God, aren’t you a good sower?  Why am I going through this pain?  Why are you allowing this?’  Instead of allowing my faith to grow alongside my circumstances, I responded in fear and watched the weed grow instead of the wheat.  My fear choked out any and all spiritual growth that could have come in for the harvest.  Thankfully the Sower kept planting and called me to join Him in the field.  We knelt together and I watched how perfectly things grew in Him.  I didn’t even notice that weeds were being sown again… In 2008 our reality was grueling…my sister’s bile duct cancer…my dad’s prostate cancer…my father-in-law’s Alzheimer’s;  so many weeds, but so much wheat and yield to be seen.  Because my focus had been on God this time there was much growth in my faith.   I could see the blessings that were presented along with the pain through the Body of Christ.  He allowed the adversity to remain so that my faith might grow, and be a testimony to His message for others.  At the proper time, He removed my adversities and the harvest was awesome.  He burned up the fleshly things I had been allowing to rule in my heart.

How many times have we questioned why God has allowed our circumstances to take root in our lives?  God allows adversity to grow alongside our faith.  We must not take matters into our own hands when dealing with adversity, but be patient and confident in the growing process.  ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’ Gal 6:9.

Although the master did not send the adversity for the servants He allowed the adversity to remain in the field for the benefit of the harvest.  Our adversities can be treacherous and life altering on many levels, but we must go through the winter protected by His covering to reap the blessings of the spring. 

Watering the Weeds

“Jesus told another parable:  ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.’” Matthew 13:24-25.

Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven through parables as He tried to explain the mysteries of God.  With this region being an agrarian society they would have related to farming analogies.  As hard as they worked, it wouldn’t have taken much to understand the frustration and damage accomplished of someone planting weeds in their field.  Notice that the enemy came at night while they were sleeping.

We are told in John 10:10 that we have that same enemy among us. ‘The thief comes only to kill and steal and destroy.’  Satan is a coward who knows the power of his opponent, our mighty and powerful God.  His only motivation is destruction and he lays in wait until adversity comes and deceitfully crawls into our circumstances, planting weeds.  His crafty lies begin to take root in our field of faith and the doubts grow among the truths.  One weed breaks through the soil… ‘God has abandoned you,’…another weed towers over the good crop… ‘How can God be a loving God since He has allowed this?’  The weed of bitterness and fear takes over the field and chokes out the good yield. 

It is imperative that we are the watchmen of God’s field and protect our piece of the land.  We must be alert and aware in our challenging circumstances, not allowing Satan to replace our crop of peace and faith with the weed of doubt.  Any doubt he plants we must remove with the help of the Holy Spirit.  We cannot fall asleep and allow this crafty coward entrance into our faith.  We consider the fact that the enemy did not stick around but went away after the seed was planted.  He was aware that time and circumstances would create a vulnerable environment for the weeds to grow.  We must be diligent in recognizing what is growing in our heart before it breaks through the soil. 

We cannot be a people who water the weeds but rather a people who water our faith.

But Only God

“Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task.  I planted the seed, Apollo watered it, but God made it grow.  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 labor” 1 Co. 3:5-8.

Last year during one of my Griefshare sessions I encountered a young lady in her early twenties who had lost her best friend in an automobile accident.  She attended the first six sessions and participated in the support group on every level.  Griefshare is a faith-based curriculum using God as the foundation for our healing in overcoming grief.  It was during the seventh session that she turned to me and shared that she was unable to relate to anything regarding God.  As a matter of fact she informed the group that she really didn’t believe in God.  After that session she never returned.  I know that what occurred in her heart was this passage played out in reality.

God’s field is wide and long, offering us many opportunities to participate with the Creator in sowing the seed of His message.  I believe week after week she sat there as the seed penetrated and her heart was becoming more pliable and richer.  I believe her grief was being replaced with the message of reconciliation between this girl and God.  Her grief had dug a deep hole in her heart, exposing emptiness in her life, and Griefshare dropped a little seed.  Through each session, the participants would water her heart with the love and comfort of God.  God poured His living water through each person who tenderly shared their pain with her. 

There was no doubt in my mind that she didn’t return because she felt the seed taking root and breaking through the soil.  We all know that new God-growth can be scary and intimidating.  It challenges the thinking around which we have centered our lives.  It calls us to overturn every thought and view it from a different angle.  It requires life changes when we are clamoring for stability.  Griefshare planted the seed, the participants watered it and God will grow her faith in both His timing and manner. 

‘…but only God, who makes things grow…’

He Still Scatters...

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed…some fell on rocky places…the soil was shallow…and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other fell on good soil, where it produced a good crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was shown.” Matthew 13:3-9.


As we are introduced to this farmer we observe that he was intentional and deliberate in finding places to scatter. We are told of the different soils upon which the seed fell so it is clear that the farmer went into different places to sow. He did not stand still and throw out the seed but moved among the different areas of his land. He moved in places that were made up of less than desirable conditions…and yet he scattered.

Over the course of my life my heart received God’s precious message with shallow soil. It was a soil that I had not enriched with the proper spiritual nutrients. Later in life when the thorns of adversity took root, there He was again…scattering… trying to sow His word in my heart. His comfort and peace did not take root for my fears and doubts choked it out. Finally in 2006 my heart was ready to receive the seed and faithfully He came…and He scattered…He broke up the cracked and arid soil of my heart. He tilled it with His gentle touch and watered it with His word. He made the condition of my heart good soil that would take root of His message so that I could become a sower of His word.

‘So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow… you are God’s field…’ 1 Cor. 3:7, 9. We are told that when the condition of our heart is spiritually healthy His word takes root. The crop that our lives will yield will serve many as we spread the message to others. We scatter what we have been given and God is responsible for growing others into sowers. As the farmer exemplified, we are not just to scatter where the soil is good but must reach out to all people. It is not for us to judge to whom we are to scatter but to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is there no matter how unfavorable you feel the condition of your heart is. Christ digs His nail-scarred hands deep in His pocket and pulls out a sweet fistful of seeds…He comes to you where you are… and He scatters.

God will never run out of seed and will continue to find ways to take root in your heart. Prepare your heart to receive the seed that grows into a life of abundance and blessings.

Bizzaro World

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33.

One of the funniest episodes of Seinfeld years ago was when George decided that his life would be better if he would simply do the opposite of what his mind told him.  Once he went against his normal thinking, everything always ended up to his benefit.  He called this new found thinking Bizarro World but quickly found it was a way of life that he was unable to sustain.

Are you aware that Jesus spoke more about the kingdom of God than any other topic?  In Matthew alone He referred to the kingdom over 80 times.  He even placed it right in the middle of the Lord’s Prayer as the meat of our spiritual life (Matthew 6:9-13).  Jesus understood that living with a kingdom-driven agenda meant to zig when the world said to zag…to refrain when the world said to act…to die to self when the world said it is all about self. 

What does our life look like when we are operating with a kingdom-driven agenda?  We consider the needs of others over ourselves.  We pursue God’s responses instead of our own emotional responses when those wound us.  We pray for those who ridicule and slander us.  In the face of adversity we choose to worship instead of worry, to give instead of to take.  When living a kingdom-driven agenda our priorities stack up against the things that are important to God.  ‘The truth is that whatever worries us is probably a good gauge of our priorities.  That is to say, if we spend time and energy worrying about something, chances are we are holding that thing in fairly high esteem. ..The promise from Jesus is that if we have kingdom priorities, then we really don’t have to worry about anything else.  God will provide in all other areas.’ Subversive Kingdom, p. 29-30.   

Unlike George, in our new found thinking, we have a Father who will help us sustain that new way of living.  We must be kingdom-driven in all aspects of our life such as work, family, friendships, community and in our church.  When every aspect is bent towards the cross, we find ourselves in need or want of nothing. 

After all, we are citizens of another world… “Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world…But now my kingdom is from another place’” John 18:36.

A Beachful of Nets

“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’  At once, they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:19-20.

The day was nothing special…it was a day like every other.  They had responsibilities to carry out in their day to day life.  We cannot be sure of their to-do list but we can be sure it was clear and well defined, all being centered around their livelihood, fishing.   I can’t help but to think that, as enthusiastic as they were (‘they left their nets at once’), their minds had to be racing.  ‘How will we live?  What does He mean by fishers of men?  Where will we go?  At what point we will know more?’  They immediately responded to His invitation, but more in theory than reality.  They spent the next three years following, observing and learning from the One who had called them, getting only glimpses of what was up ahead.  With each day came question after question for Jesus who was always there to clarify, teach and comfort.  They were still questioning even up to his death, never really understanding the full body of the ministry to come.

Every child of God was ushered into the world with a kingdom purpose and the ability to accomplish this purpose through following Jesus.  There seems to be a random selection for the proper time for which we are called.   This is not the case as God sees where we are in our life and what is up ahead.  Once the call is made on our lives, it is the beginning of our walk with Jesus along the countryside following, observing and learning.  He leads us into the lows of darkness to witness His light.  He leads us to the highs of our joy to view the blessings.  What began as a call to the disciples eventually ended in their deaths through painful and difficult situations.  But, the precious kingdom work that was accomplished was the birth of the church that we are blessed with today.  Our lives are a living and breathing call from God to continue this spiritual legacy. 

No doubt the call on your life has been a difficult one, one full of pain and suffering.   God has asked you to follow Him into sorrow through the loss of a loved one.  The Father has asked you to lay down your net and follow Him into a medical crisis.  He is requiring something of you that is only a glimpse and requires great faith to get there. 

We must lay down our nets when He calls us, instead of dragging our nets of fears and doubts which will only hinder our walk.   Around every corner we see those amazing stories of faith that builds our own faith.  ‘Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders…and so easily entangles….run with perseverance the race marked out before us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus….’  Hebrews 12:1-2.

The call on your life is not random and senseless.  It is the call marked out specifically for you to accomplish something critical in the kingdom… hand chosen by God through His faith in you to endure…persevere… and to overcome.  Our lives are being blessed by God on earth in ways we cannot see, only to be matched one day in heaven.  God never wastes one second of our pain and receives our acts of faith during the dark times as an offering.

Whatever God has called you to is met with the ability to endure and overcome through Him alone…just lay down your net and follow Him.

A Kingdom Not of this World

“The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is;’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21.

The kingdom of God was not only unrecognized during the times of the past but continues to be an allusive concept even today.  When we think of His kingdom many times the images of heaven with its future reality is where we believe God resides.  With Jesus came the kingdom and its power.  We are to exemplify His walk on earth until heaven is our reality.

‘In His ministry, Jesus taught the kingdom of God, but He also provided a glimpse inside the nature and power of the Kingdom in His compassionate acts of healing.  Jesus testified to the hope and power of the fullness of the kingdom and to the reality of its presence in the world through Him…It means that part of seeing the kingdom of God is sharing about the kingdom and showing the reality of the kingdom at work each day’ Subversive Kingdom, Ed Stetzer, p. 22.

In the time of Jesus, they were looking for the kingdom to be geographical and of political and military might.  They were scanning the horizon for a leader to set up his kingdom right there among them…and He did…and they missed it.  The phrase ‘within you’ is more accurately translated as among you.  He explained to them that the Kingdom was near but it was a spiritual kingdom…not of this world (John 18:36).  It was kingdom that no one could point out but one that could only be personally experienced (Luke 17:21).

I have personally experienced His kingdom as I look into the eyes of an addict as she walks away from her slavery of drugs.  I have caught many glimpses of God’s kingdom through my dad’s fearless journey of cancer.  I have been carried by the Kingdom of God through my valleys and my mountaintops.  We must recognize the Kingdom as it relates to our mission on this earth.  We must not be committed in our opinions in what God should look like, how He should perform or how His kingdom should function.  We don’t want to miss Him like our predecessors.   The Son of the living God with all the glory of His kingdom walked with them and talked with them.  The power of heaven came down with its King…the same King that now indwells each of us. 

‘They saw, heard and touched God in the flesh, yet did not recognize Him.’ Subversive Kingdom, p. 17.

Walking With a Limp

“…he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled…The sun rose above him…and he was limping because of his hip” Genesis 32:25, 31.

I remember hearing years ago never trust a Christian without a limp.  As my Bible Study comes to a close this morning I understand this statement with more clarity.  Faith Limps is a study that reveals a great God in a broken world.  It is a study that challenges our mentality that we are to experience an easy walk on earth.  It is a focus on the spiritual picture instead of our own picture. 

When we determine that we want more of God and less of ourselves we enter a journey where the terrain gets rocky and the path gets tougher.  The path winds into the valley and onto the mountain, the winds fiercely blow and eventually calm.  The fires burn hot but the yield creates beautiful pottery.  When we intend on growing with Him and in Him we move from skipping through life to limping in life.  Jacob wrestled with God in an effort to hang on to his own abilities and agenda.  He was relentless in surrendering but God was relentless in love.  God had to overcome and break Jacob in order to bless him.

When we go through heartbreak and challenging circumstances, it is our wrestle with God.  We wrestle with questions about God’s justice, His love and His character.  We wrestle with doubts about our future and our faith.  We wrestle with ourselves in an attempt to force an outcome in our favor or right a wrong.  When I look back at the way I would take credit for my service in the name of God it makes me realize how spiritually sick I was.  God broke me down and overcame my prideful motivation and insecurities leaving me with a painful limp…memories of whom I was and never wish to be again.  My limp reminds me that everything I do must be to the glory of God…that every step I take must be at His direction and initiation.  I must lean on His word like a cane and take intentional and focused baby steps not to fall.  My limp reminds me to speak of His grace and mercy to those whom I meet along the journey.  But mostly, my limp reminds me of my own frailties compared to His power and might.  I can only hope that while my limp is not perfect it is a testimony to God’s glory that speaks on its own.  ‘And our limps and wounds will remind us that in any circumstance He is ultimately, divinely, lovingly, and abidingly able.’ Faith Limps, Michael Kelley – p. 157.

May each of you walk with a limp!

Wrestling Matches

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak…‘What is your name?’…” Gen 32:24-26.

I love to watch Gator Boys on television at night.  It fascinates me how once the alligator has been isolated the process seems to be identical – they mess with him until he is completely worn out…nothing left of his own will…he has come to the end of his own strength. 

Jacob had lived up to his name which meant deceiver, liar and manipulator.  He had preyed on others and had swindled them out of blessings.  God determined that it was time for Jacob to be broken and wrestled away from his sinful character.  Jacob lived his life in a self-preservation mode depending on his own resources and abilities.  Like the alligator his time of intimidation and manipulation was coming to an end, but he wouldn’t go down without a fight.  The wrestling match went on until morning until God made him acknowledge who he was.  For the Hebrews, a name was the essence of the person’s identity.  With this question (what is your name?), God made him face up to the way he had been living.  Jacob had to examine and own up to his own defective character.

We all have a name that we have given ourselves operating through our lives.   My former name was seeker…seeker of approval, seeker of glory, seeker of credit, seeker of acceptance.  Seeking was my mantra and was the motivation of all my actions.  While it fed my insecurities it never nourished my spirit…my spiritual stomach continuously growled for more.  Finally, God set up circumstances wherein He wrestled with me, wore me down and brought me to the end of myself.  I held on tightly to my best laid plan, not wanting to release it…it was all I had known.  But that day in the loft, spirit to spirit, He stared into my life and asked me my name.  He held up a mirror and I was brought to terms with pride and brokenness.  He brought me to the realization that He had a better life for me than the one I had built for myself.  ‘Even in moments of crisis when we know there is nothing we can do to help ourselves, we’re still hell-bent on our self-preservation…Even though we may acknowledge that God’s way is best, we nevertheless hold with white knuckles to our own ability to fix things’ Faith Limps, p. 153.

We will wrestle with God until we surrender whatever we are ‘white-knuckling.’  God will pin us down when we calculate things in our own abilities.  When we attempt to impose our own will over His will, we will find ourselves on our backs. 

In reflecting on that year, I known that the wrestling match was more about love than punishment…freedom in place of captivity…trading in a broken name for a perfect name.  My name is the same name that you can bear…loved.  What is no longer working in your life that needs to be surrendered to God? What name defines you but no longer serves you? Pray that God will reveal the things that need to be given up to experience complete freedom and love in Him.

The Problem with Pacifiers...

“For he thought, ‘I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.  So Jacob’s gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp’” Gen. 32:20.

For Jacob, it was time to pay the piper…no mother to do his bidding against his twin…no uncle to run to for protection.  In true Jacob form, he had tricked his brother out of his inheritance and blessing, and manipulated wealth within his uncle’s family.   Then one day, the Lord said ‘Enough is enough…return to the land of your father.’  All that remained was facing his brother of whom he had taken advantage, and had stolen his birthright and blessing.  Esau had determined that after he had grieved the death of their father he would find Jacob and kill him.  So Jacob hatched a scheme of offering material wealth and ill motivated blessings to Esau to receive his grace and forgiveness.

In considering this story I cannot help but to draw a parallel between my heart and the heart of Jacob.  In a lifelong attempt to please people and gain their approval, my pacifier was service and my motivation was fear.  Because we live in a selfish world, this seemed to work for a while.  As I would perform for others I would receive their approval.  As long as I sought their good over my own the boat would not rock.  I ran from relationship to relationship pacifying people with ill motivated service just as Jacob tried to pacify his brother.  The thing about pacifiers is that they are nothing more than people pleasers without permanence.  They temporarily accomplish the goal of buying time but never really accomplish anything of substance. 

This way of thinking bled over into my relationship with Christ.  I believed the more I served the more He would approve of me, as if I could perform my way into His heart.  Much like the gifts sent to pacify his brother, I allowed my service to go ahead of my fellowship with God.  My goal was approval while His goal was intimacy.  Throughout 2011 He taught me that His approval came to me through one way – the sacrifice on the cross of His Son…end of story…no comma’s…just a period.  Now my service is from the overflow of His love instead of the overflow of some fear.   There is a song that includes a line which is His message to me that gives me freedom. 

"Then You look at this prisoner and say to me 'Child, stop fighting a fight it's already been won"' Big Daddy Weave, Redeemed.

Whatever pacifier you are depending on for future comfort comes at not only a price but one that has already been paid.  Don't look towards temporary calculations in search of permament blessings.  He is already at the place you are striving to end up.

Stewards or Hoarders?

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the same comfort we ourselves have received from God” 2 Co. 1:3-4.

This is a Christian principle that is a call to duty.  It is an exchange between the Body of Christ that flows freely in and out as we walk through this life on earth.  We cannot know the comfort of God without pain and suffering.   We cannot feel compassion for others without the experience of needing compassion.  In Griefshare I hear people explain the difference in their responses before their experience of grief and afterwards.  Before their own loss, they respond to the news of someone else’s loss through the intellect, sending cards…lifting a prayer…moving on.  Once they have experienced their own loss, news of a loss stirs up compassion and sorrow.  Their head processes the news but their hearts process the emotions and they reach out in comfort. 

We are to be stewards of our experiences instead of hoarders of them.   We were intended to pass along everything good given to us through our suffering such as wisdom, compassion, and encouragement to name a few.  To withhold true compassion from others is to go against God’s principle.  We are to be conduits of God’s grace, mercy, compassion and comfort instead of withholding the benefits of what we received.  I have known those who attempt to hide their pain and suffering becoming ineffective in the Kingdom.  Their pride withholds what is to be extended to others. 

‘Stewards are caretakers; they’re those entrusted with a resource in order to responsibly make the most of it…The same expectation applies to our experiences …we’re expected to be responsible caregivers of what God has done in and through us.  We’re to make the most of the story He has given us to live’ Faith Limps, p. 127.

Are you a steward of your circumstances or a hoarder?

The Shortest Distance

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter…So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.” Exodus 13:17-18.

The Israelites had suffered as slaves under Egyptian rule for many years, being brick makers without much pay and cruel leadership.   Under the command and guidance of God, Moses led these slaves out of Egypt and into the wilderness.  They were finally liberated and marched out of their slavery with hope and confidence.  They had been called and chosen by the one true God and believed they were prepared for anything they would face.  The Bible states that they left Egypt feeling as if they were seasoned warriors instead of rescued slaves.  They esteemed themselves as ready for battle as they carried bows, spears and slings.  But God knew the reality of who they were – freed people with little knowledge, a lack of experience and undeveloped faith.  This was the reason God did not lead them on the shortest path – the path that would have only taken two weeks to arrive in the promised land.  God knew that they were not prepared for the fight that was most probable on the short path.  He took them the long way around to teach them who He was and to build them into the people He wanted them to be.

God isn’t as interested in the shortest distance to His goal for our lives, but rather the best path.  This was exemplified in the life of my daughter last year.  She had worked for two years getting the prerequisites for nursing school and had accomplished both academic success and favor with the Dean of Nursing.  Then everything came to a screeching halt the day she was to begin her clinicals in a nursing home.  Something in her past when she was on drugs was revealed and they regretfully asked her to resign from the nursing program.  Her heart was broken and her dreams devastated.  She had worked so hard and with such success she just knew she was ready to claim her promised land, but God didn’t take her on the shortest route.  Through the wilderness she and God traveled, some days battling anger and other days despair.  Through the next six months God revealed things about Himself to her and built her faith and dependency on Him.  She eventfully surrendered her hurts to God and allowed Him full access to her dreams.  The doors swung open and step by step she walked through each opening.  He has led her right back to the doorstep from which she was asked to walk away – Nursing School in North Carolina opposed to another state.  Her promised land is still in view but what she has learned by God leading her around the desert road is a faith that wouldn’t have been developed on the short path.

I am certain that God positions our circumstances according to our faith.  He will not allow us to march into situations with spears, bows and slings when they require something much greater.  We all are waiting on something…something that dominates our prayers…something that we will deem as a miracle.  Just like the Israelites, if you are not getting where you want to be fast enough, thank God instead of questioning Him for His wisdom and knowledge is so much greater than ours.  If we are asking for something that is not in His will for our lives, He will change the desire of our hearts.  He won’t leave us in our heartbreak but will move us towards His purpose for our lives.

‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD, ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’ Isaiah 55:8-9.

Being Redeemed

“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 Anchor a door of hope” Hosea 2:14-15.  “Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away” Isaiah 35:5.

There is no way to avoid pain and suffering on this side of Heaven.  Because of sin, death and devastation were ushered in as its companion.  God’s answer to despair is hope and redemption.  He has already provided Christ as the redeeming means for our salvation and eternal life.  I am speaking more in terms of redeeming our lives on the other side of loss and suffering.  We all will experience the wilderness at some point in our lives, finding ourselves in challenging circumstances and painful situations. 

I have witnessed first-hand God seeing one of His children approaching the Valley of Anchor and taking her by the hand.  He saw the breaking of her heart and dared not leave her alone, as her mother-in-law crossed over to heaven.  He tenderly spoke life into her heart as her daughter drifted out of this life.  He carried her through her grief and loneliness as she said goodbye to her lifelong soul mate…all of this in 16 months.  A woman whose valley offered reason to give up hope…to retreat and isolate…to turn away from her Savior…her name is Mother.

A few months ago we were all on our girl’s weekend trip and Mother walked into the townhome with light in her eyes and joy in her smile.  When I commented on this, she stated that she felt happy once again.  I saw something in her that day that only the healing grace of God can provide…redemption.  Not the kind of redemption that is the result of retrieving what was lost.  It was an acceptance and confidence that God was still gracious, loving and healing in spite of her loss.    The definition of redemption is ‘deliverance and rescue, release and liberation.’  Redemption is not getting back everything we have lost, but allowing God to faithfully rebuild the shattered pieces of our lives that lay broken on the ground around us.   It is trusting God that our losses on earth are our loved ones redeeming grace in Heaven…they have exchanged their earthly lives for a life that endures forever…lives that will be reunited with us in the future.

Through the redemptive work of a redeeming God, He will walk us through the Valley of Anchor (trouble, weeping) and through the door of hope out of our darkness.  He will kneel with us picking up the pieces of our lives and creating new joy and gladness.  Everything will be returned, restored and eternally redeemed when He calls us home.  So hold on, lean on your faith and look to Him so His joy and gladness can be your companion.