Stepping Over the Side

“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.  On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us…” 2 Co. 1:10-11.

I write with such a heavy heart this morning as a dear family whom I love in my community was hit with a capsizing diagnosis on the sea of life.  This is near and dear to my heart as it reminds me of the day when we didn’t see our own storm coming. 

We all navigate through life fixing our eyes on the horizon and the destination.  The sea is calm and we take for granted the scenery as we smoothly glide past the simple and beautiful moments in our lives.  Then one day, we get that phone call, we are called into that office, spouses do not come home, our worst fear is realized…the boat bounces on the fearful circumstances and we can hardly stand against the winds that have blown in.

Well not this family for they have been calling on the Master their entire lives.  With this storm, they hold hands and together step over the side of the boat, focusing their attention on Him.  They recall times in the past when God has delivered them from other storms.  Their eyes look upward to Him but their knees go downward, and they faithfully look towards the future realizing that the God who has saved is still the God who will save.   They stand shoulder to shoulder in the Body and will receive the comfort for which God will send.  They will not allow fear to steer their course but will maneuver their journey with Deuteronomy 31:6 as their helm, with God being their Helmsman.

‘Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified…for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’

I would like for everyone to please lift this family in daily prayer and may we pattern our lives with the other strong Christians like this family who have gone before us.

Faith looks backwards in remembrance,
Faith looks upward in circumstances,
Faith looks forward in hope.

Loaves of Humility

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught…But many…ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ‘Send the people away…’ ‘You give them something to eat’…Then Jesus directed them…and gave…to the disciples…to set before the people.” Mark 6:30-41.

This exchange between the disciples and Jesus always makes me smile because it reminds me so much of myself.  Obviously, the disciples adored Jesus but no matter how close they got to him their human nature occasionally got the best of them.  Their achievements and service to him were many times underscored by the rising up of their flesh.  Basically in our story above they served for Him, reported to Him, demanded of Him, were humbled by Him and were used through Him to advance their original message of hope and salvation.  Does any of this sound familiar? 

I only have to look as far as my service to God to see this ancient story played out in present times.  In facilitating Griefshare, the emotional toil can be exhausting to say the least.  I love that God called me to this ministry for I have been spiritually connected to some amazing people.  Before the last session I was ‘reminding’ God how many sessions I had led. (…and they gathered around Jesus and reported all they had done…)  I knew people were already signing up for the next session in an effort to find relief from their pain.  (…many ran on foot and got there ahead of them…)  I had decided that I needed a break from Griefshare and was probably going to tell my minister I was pulling back.  (…send the people away…)  God made it extremely clear through two different circumstances that I would be returning to Griefshare.  (…You give them something to eat...)  Much like the disciples who had to serve loaves of humility when they realized that Jesus commanded their service, I knew that I would carry my little 'loaves' into the church for another session.  Like always, I was immensely blessed by this most recent session with some amazing women.

God will always determine our ministries and the length of time for which we will serve.  When He places people in our path we must remember that His will must be done.  What if the disciples huffed off at the command of Jesus?  They would have missed the miracle of the moment.  In that same vein, I am constantly amazed in Griefshare at the way God feeds those suffering from grief.  They come in hungry and leave fed; they come in thirsty and experience the Living Water.

When God directs our service, He gives the required provisions, and miracles are experienced.

Sly as a Fox

“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in faith…” 1 Peter 5:8.

The other day I glanced out of the window only to discover this emaciated fox lingering around my front walkway.  In addition to being skinny he had lost most of his hair, not to mention the fact that he was walking around in broad daylight.  I knew not to go outside because this fox was most likely rabid and dangerous for me to be around.  My husband told me to call animal control and order a trap to be set.

This morning I couldn’t help but to draw analogies between the devil and this sick fox.  I came up with some simple but essential truths regarding our protection from Satan.  First and foremost, like the fox, we must acknowledge that he is out there lingering in our lives.  Secondly, we must understand that he is dangerous and looking for ways to harm us.  Thirdly, we must take steps to protect ourselves by keeping our distance, and getting in the Word to trap him in his own traps.  Lastly, we can take confidence that we are placing our spiritual health in the hands of God.

The devil can present himself in the darkness of the subtleties or in broad daylight.  Either way, if we are protecting ourselves with the Word of God we can be assured that we are safe.  Satan only gets the power that we wield to him.  He cannot gain our souls once we are a child of God but he can steal our peace and joy.

So, be self-controlled and alert…

Kidnapped By Emotions

“The flesh gives birth to the flesh, and the Spirit gives birth to the spirit.” John 3:3

 Working backwards we can usually trace our attitudes and emotions to one of two things:  Is my attitude rooted in the flesh or in the Spirit?  Once we are saved through Christ, we are guaranteed eternal life and our salvation is secure.  But, I am speaking more of our walk on earth as Christians.

Jesus spoke many times of the kingdom of God being on earth as it is in heaven.  The kingdom of God can be experienced in our everyday lives if we walk in the Spirit and completely trust Him for everything.  We will have freedom from despair and joy in our circumstances only when we believe wholeheartedly in His sovereignty over our lives.  ‘Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit is there is freedom.’  What does this belief in His sovereignty look like in everyday life?  It is trusting that He loves us and does everything for us out of this love.  It is believing that His knowledge and wisdom is greater than our own.  It is surrendering our own rights and entitlements through our humility and gratitude for what He surrendered and endured for us.  It is the recognition and acceptance of the circumstances for which we find ourselves.  Above all, it is the wholeness of heart, mind, soul and spirit coming together in reverence to the One who masters over us in holiness and perfection.

When the flesh masters over us it is like we are kidnapped by our emotions, dragging us away from our peace and enticing us to believe the worst in any given situation.  The flesh beckons us to feel, to feed, to grow and birth multiple emotions of despair.  ‘…but each one is tempted when, by his own…desire [the flesh] he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.’ James 1:13

God’s desire is for us to experience His kingdom on earth alongside of Him which is why He placed His Holy Spirit in each of us.  We cannot serve two masters and must make a decision of faith - Who will we serve and what will we nourish, the flesh or the Spirit?

We will enter into the Spirit when we exit out of the flesh.  This daily prayer will be answered by the One who is able and willing.

Polishing Silver

“Blind Pharisee!  First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will be clean.” Matthew 23:26.

I am very careful with what I watch leading into nighttime so it will not impact my sleep.   The other night while I was watching a show of dancing and entertainment a disturbing situation arose.  Every time the show broke for a commercial there was a preview of the late night news showing a minister ranting and raving, spewing so much hate against certain groups that I finally cut the television off.  It grieved my heart to know that those who don’t know God would measure a Christian by this man’s hatred of others.   This is supposedly a man of God, one whom has been called to demonstrate the love of God and lead others to Him.  On the outside he polishes, cleans and maintains his outward appearance of a Christian leader, but on the inside he serves hatred. 

 How can the spiritually sick see the love of Christ when hypocrisy and prejudice is running rampant all in the name of the Lord?  Much like the Pharisees in the days of Jesus, some alienate and isolate people instead of inviting and extending the grace for which Christ gives to all groups of people.  We are all sinners needing the grace and forgiveness of God.  We have all been given the responsibility to minister to others showing the dark world that there is a better way to live – the way of God’s love. 

We will be judged by the same measuring stick that we used to judge others.  We will be given mercy by the amount of mercy that we extended to others while on earth.   ‘Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment!’ James 2:12-13. 

What good is it when we spend our time polishing the silver for appearance but not offering the fork?  We may not be as blatant and vocal as this minister but we should all look inward, allowing God to reveal any hypocrisy and contradiction to love that may be hiding in our heart.  We will serve to others the contents of our spiritual cup.  'For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.' Matthew 12:34.

Expecting a Delivery

“Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”  Rev. 3:20 NIV

It used to be that when the FedEx truck would deliver something it didn’t matter where I was in the house, I would hear his knock.  He knew to rap loudly so that I would hear him and open the door.  But as routes have become numerous and work days longer he now walks up the steps, lays down the package, and with one knuckle gives a quick and soft tap.  He doesn’t wait long before he turns and leaves.  Unless I am looking and listening for him, I will miss him. 

One of God’s deepest desires is to intimately fellowship with everyone.  He never intended on just ‘leaving the package on the porch.’  We were created for relationship, not just to exist.  If I want all of the beautiful packages He is trying to deliver in my life, I must be intentional and passionate about spending time with Him.  I must be expectant in seeing Him, tune my ears to hear Him and be in position to receive Him.  If I do these things, I will neither miss Him nor the blessings He is trying to deliver. 

Unlike the FedEx guy, Christ lingers…He keeps knocking until we hear…He will make Himself known to us.  Some know He is knocking but hide behind the curtains until He temporary leaves.  Some don’t want to miss Him but are just not looking for Him.  Some are waiting at the window anticipating His arrival, not wanting to miss the chance to invite Him in.  The amazing message is that Christ will continue to pursue all of us so that He can deliver His best, His all and the full measure of Himself.

Will you let Him in and experience life at its fullest in this temporal existence?

Casting Nets

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17.

When Jesus called his first disciples He gave them the vision for His purpose for their lives – not the plan.  He gave them a glimpse of the destination although they had no idea of what the journey would hold.  They didn’t determine their own plan based on their individual experiences and agendas.  Scripture records that they immediately put down their nets and followed Jesus.  After spending three years with the Teacher it would be the very strengths they laid down that God would use to accomplish His kingdom purpose.

We have all been given spiritual gifts that were ordained before our births.  They are like beautiful gloves that lay flat until we invite God intimately in our lives.  At the point that we are ready to allow Him to lead, He slips His hands into these gifts and begins using us for His purposes.  Our gifts will be used by God in their purest form when He initiates our service.

After the death of Jesus, Peter must have been grieved in his soul as he remembered that initial call from a Teacher like no other.  As he returned to his nets, no doubt he was hoping to emotionally reconnect with the wonderful memories and hopes of a happier time.  He tried to fill his nets in his own talents, but realized that without Jesus nothing would ever be the same.  “‘I am going to fish’…but that night they caught nothing.”  John 21:3-6.  That initial vision must have felt so far away as he pulled up empty nets, empty dreams…with an empty heart.

And then as he laid the empty net in the boat, raising his eyes to the shoreline there he saw Jesus!  The originator of the vision!  At this point, the Savior slipped His hands into the gloves and said, “‘Throw your net on the right side…and you will find…’  When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number.” John 21:6.

Our calling is based on Jesus calling us into His vision, not us calling Him into our goals.  When God initiates and slips on the gloves that were perfectly made to fit us, we will accomplish His plans.  He will tell us where to cast, when to cast and how to cast.  He is the originator of our gifts and holds the plan of the journey to the destination.

So look and listen for the call of Christ and then cast those nets!

Among the Branches

“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not…So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way… ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ Luke 19:3-5.

He was not a tall man and most likely was a dishonest man. He was a tax collector in Jericho and no doubt had double taxed the residents, creating financial burden. He was known as a sinner among the people. ‘All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”’ Luke 19:7. This was the third visit of Jesus as He and His entourage approached Jericho. Zacchaeus had most likely heard the stories of this man and was curious to put a face with those stories. Very aware of his ‘shortcomings’ he ran up ahead of the crowd, shimmied up a tree and inched his way onto a branch. He made the mistake of thinking in order to see Jesus he must elevate himself.

We will be able to meet Jesus on His terms when we settle in our mind once and for all that we will never do enough or be enough to earn His love. Notice that after all of the striving to position himself above the others, Zacchaeus was told by Jesus to immediately come down. The terms were clear. In order for Jesus to fellowship with this man it wouldn’t be in some distant situation for which Zacchaeus arranged, but rather on Jesus’ terms.

God isn’t interested in a distant relationship with His children. He wants more than a sighting from a branch here and there. He wants us to climb down immediately to our knees and fellowship with Him. He sees us where we are and invites Himself into our homes. He finds us in our shortcomings and shows us a way out of them.

If we wait until we get a better view or become a better person before we approach Jesus we will miss the passing of the Lord. We cannot truly fellowship with Him until we realize that the only branch that will support us is the branch that is connected to the one true Vine.

'I am the vine; you are the branches...Apart from me you can do nothing.' John 15:5.

Whose Land Is It?

“The LORD appeared to Abraham…he hurried…to meet them and bowed low to the ground…Let me get you something…Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf…While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.” Gen. 18:1-8

When Abraham recognized his visitors as the LORD and His messengers, he was tripping over himself to serve them.  It is written that no time elapsed before this recognition was met with service.  Not only did Abraham immediately bring them water for their dusty feet, and food for their hungry stomachs but he did it all in reverence.  He rushed to them and bowed immediately upon recognition.  He did not leave them once they were served but stood close by in case they needed something.

So many times we demand to be served by God instead of the other way around.  We expect Him to ‘stand under the tree’ and be active in our lives when we need something.   We walk through our days focusing on ourselves and own needs instead of standing under the tree of the Kingdom preparing for service.  Once Christ becomes a central focus in our lives we too should hurry towards Him in deep reverence and service.  We must set our sight on the work in His kingdom, and always watch for His initiation of the needs of His people.

As we stand under His tree waiting for His initiation, we become recognized as His disciples… learning, teaching and serving.  We will become the fruit of the tree for which we live by.  “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit…Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” Matthew 7:17-18.

Are you actively watching and serving God in His land or are you waiting on God to serve you in your land?

She's Got Issues!

“Who touched my clothes?” Mark 5:30

 This story is about a woman who had experienced great issues for many years.  She was physically depleted, financially drained and publicly ostracized.  She knew to whom she needed to turn.  The stories were famous and His power was clear – if she could only get near to Jesus her issues would be dealt with and healed.  She methodically burrowed herself in the crowd and pushed into it until she had made her way up to the Savior.  She inconspicuously and without fanfare reached her weak little hand out and simply touched the hem of Jesus.  He immediately stopped and asked this important question above.

I have lived the majority of my adult life with issues much like this woman.  I turned in my own strength and wisdom trying to fix my problems.  I spent money on things that brought me no happiness, only making matters worse.  I went through things that made me feel publicly ashamed and embarrassed, some issues being self-imposed, while other people imposed them upon me.

In 2006, I pushed through the crowded issues of my life and reached out for Jesus.  Like the woman with issues, I knew He could heal me if I simply chose to get close enough.  When I finally reached out to touch Christ, He immediately took hold of me and asked, ‘Who touched my hem?  Who called upon my power?’ ‘It is me Lord, Brenda.  I am sick of my issues and drained of my own attempts for a better life.’  Christ already knew who called upon His name and asked for healing.  But Christ is about much more than establishing our testimonies – He is about establishing our relationship with Him.

No matter what your issues are this morning or how long you have lived under them, you are only one reach away if you will simply push through the crowded thoughts of your mind.  He will stop and meet your gaze and begin the most intimate fellowship with you that you have ever experienced.  You will never be alone no matter what issue may arise.

Loving Vertically

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." - Psalm 126:5

There is nothing more difficult than being in the midst of our pain and someone needs something from us.  Whether it is our mercy, forgiveness, compassion or simply time spent in their pain, it depletes strengths that we don’t have to give.  This is the way of the Lord however, as He guarantees that as we reach out to others, He reaches down to us. 

We access His grace, mercy and compassion as we give it away which is why there is an endless supply.  God would not require something of His children that we were incapable of giving.  God knows that as we live outside of ourselves it frees up the flow of God’s provision for every situation.  He chose us to be His hands, mouth and feet to accomplish great things in His name.  This choosing was not because He needed us to do His bidding, but because He wanted us to participate in His divine nature.  The more participation we experience with Him we more know and love Him.

No matter what our pain is we are called to a higher level of living and to plant God’s hands deeply in the lives of others.  When vertical love is present first and foremost (earth to heaven), then we access what is required to love horizontally (our heart to the heart of others).

In my estimation this forms the cross.

Life In The Cocoon

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.  Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come!”  2 Co. 5:16-17.

‘Did you know that as a butterfly is being transformed in the cocoon, the entire process is breaking down their former body?  Much of the body breaks itself down into imaginal cells, which put themselves back together into a new shape.  According to research at Georgetown University, the caterpillars and butterflies that emerge may remember some of their lives as caterpillars [source: Blackiston]. When caterpillars in the study were conditioned to avoid specific smells, they remembered to keep away from those scents as adults.’

We can learn great things from the butterflies that emerge.  They begin crawling around as caterpillars with no view, discontent with the limits of their lives.  They voluntarily begin spinning the silk which turns into their protection during their transformation.  They hope for a new beginning and are willing to go through the work in the darkness of their cocoons to emerge a new creation.  The beauty and new heights for which they soar are worth all of the striving and toiling in the darkness.  They trust the process and surrender to the transformation. 

As Christians, we must surrender to the transforming work of Christ in our lives if we are to be a new creation and have a new shape - a Christ shape.  This life is going to spin hardship and difficulties, but the only way to emerge from the darkness is to be reshaped, renewed and transformed by our experiences.  That is why many times God will allow us to be in the darkness without His intervention.    ‘For your sake, I am glad I wasn’t there…so that you may believe.’ John 11:15.  While He gives us His protection, He will not rush our transformation.

Like the caterpillars, we must avoid the things of our former lives which both distracted and limited us.  God will take us to new heights with emerging faith if we will trust Him in the cocoon.  May we only remember our former lives in terms of avoiding those things that kept us living less than the beautiful child God created us to be.

Spiritual To-Do Lists

“I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  This is the command:  Love each other.” John 15:15-17.

I am the mother of three children and enjoy intimate fellowship with each in different ways.  While each relationship is vastly different they all have one anchoring characteristic – intimate fellowship shared between each one. 

As they were growing up, if my time spent with them had been primarily on the busy work of cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring and other domestic duties our relationships would have fallen flat.  I did not have children simply to share a to-do list with them.  I chose to have children to fellowship and enjoy time with them.  Through our fellowship I became aware of who we were together and how we uniquely love each other.  We exchanged the contents of our hearts and learned intimate details of each other’s life through time we spent together.

This is the type of relationship for which God has called each of us.  His primary desire for our lives was never to serve Him for He can speak things and make them happen.  He does not need us to accomplish anything.  His primary desire for each of us is fellowship, relationship and intimacy.  It is only when we invest intimate time with God that He considers us in relationship with Him, whereby His revelations are made known through this shared fellowship.  We were never created to be spectators of the divine nature of God, but rather partakers of His divine nature.

 
Our service to God must be an overflow of our relationship to God instead of it being a to do list in the name of God.

Could Not He...?

“But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’”  John 11:37

I remember a few Sundays after my sister died of cancer I was sitting in church preparing for the worship service.  I was trying to get my spirit positioned to praise God although my heart was broken.  On the video monitor was a story of a woman who had all but been given a death sentence, due to the extreme levels of cancer throughout her body.  The doctors had decided to do one last series of testing the morning of her surgery, only to discover that her cancer was no longer there.  The impact of the story was supposed to be a celebration of God’s great miracles, but instead tears found a resting place on my cheeks. 

I never formed the words on my lips but in my spirit I asked the same question the mourners of Lazarus’ time asked each other.  ‘He could have, so why didn’t He?  He has so many times before, but why not this time?’  As soon as my spirit formed these thoughts, I felt the tender impression of God say, ‘I healed your daughter’s illness of addiction in the earthly realm, and you have her.  Now I have chosen to heal your sister’s illness in the spiritual realm so she can be with Me.’ I did not feel any judgment on God’s part for my question, but simply love from a Father who understands our pain. 

God promises our complete healing, but doesn’t promise it will be in the manner we desire.  Our faith tells us He can, and our hearts hope that He does.  In every session of Griefshare I see those with a faith that knows He could have…but a heart that sees He didn’t.  The challenge is to realign our sight with a spiritual focus so that we can see the reality of answered prayers. 

Whether you have experienced an actual death of a loved one, or grieving an unmet expectation or a dashed dream, please know this morning that God keeps His promises of healing, liberating and delivering.  When we surrender our own agenda and lean into His love, His purposes and His healing of heart, He will eventually turn our questions into our testimonies.

Our faith will voice the statement, “He who has is He who will!”

Search and Rescue

“…tell him:  ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.  Before our eyes the LORD set miraculous signs and wonders…But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath…’”  Deut. 6:21

She was 22 and had made choices that led her down a dark path of destruction and drugs.  She had reached out to God so many times she no longer felt she had the right.  She had made promises to the only One who could save her, only to fall into darkness again.  She was gripped by the enemy and had neither the strength nor the ability to break free.  This is not a TV movie or one to be seen on the big screen, but rather the life of my little girl.  But eight years ago on Mother’s Day she told the enemy, ‘No more!’  She committed herself in mind, body and spirit to break free from her slavery.  She knew she couldn’t accomplish this on her own and turned to the only One who had the ability for a miracle – her Father, who was in Heaven, hallowed was His name!  When turning her face to Him, she accessed the power of God who came down to earth and brought her out from there and gave her life in our land once more. 

There are others enslaved in our family who are waiting for the prison doors to open.  Our faith tells us ‘when, not if’ and we bank our lives on it.  We only have to remember our past to be at peace in our present and have hope for our future.  To look forward in faith is to look backwards in remembrance.

We must look in our rear view mirror and recognize the amazing ways for which God has delivered us from past trials.  This remembrance will remind us of the sustaining grace and power of a Savior that never fails to save.  Upon our recollection of His mighty acts and wondrous ways in our lives, we must tell others our wonderful stories of deliverance.  Our testimonies must have a voice to keep our hearts focused on our faith and to encourage others in their walk.

May we never be too busy nor too proud to tell everyone who will listen to our great stories of search and rescue by our great God.

Meaningless Striving

“I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children…through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life…By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food…” Gen 3:17, 19. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat and find enjoyment?” Eccl 2:22-25.

It all began when sin replaced perfection through free will. Because God could not tolerate sin, the fall of man put into motion a curse which we all live under. For women it is the pain of childbirth, and for men it is the burden of work until death brings them home. For me personally, I realize the heavy burden in considering the lives of my children. The physical births were easy in comparison with the mental and emotional toil motherhood has placed upon me over the years. I see the same burden in my husband as he toils and strives in a business to which God led him. We have both suffered many sleepless nights and so many of our efforts in both arenas have been meaningless. Once our dependency became more on God and less on ourselves, we were able to experience more peace and satisfaction in our souls, apart from all of our striving.

Ecclesiastes tells us that we will have these burdens all the days of our lives, but we can be encouraged that God is the giver of all things, and in Him we must lay down our heavy burdens. For each time we choose to lean on Him and give Him full access to our lives, He provides us with His peace, strength and satisfaction. Apart from seeking God, trusting Him, and surrendering our lives we will live under the heavy burdens of the original curses of mankind.

God never intended on us abiding in our own strength in our heavy burdens, but leaning into Him as the original Creator of all good and perfect things from Him. ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.’ James 1:17.

Ambassadorships

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.” 2 Co 5:20 – 2 Co 6:1.

The summer between my son’s eighth and ninth grade he traveled to thirteen countries as a student ambassador with a group of other teens.  Leading up to that trip there were meetings for logistical purposes, but also meetings to explain and train them as to the meaning of being a student ambassador for our country.  They were going to be representing the United States so a certain standard had to be presented to them as an example.  One of the principles shared was one that taught them that while in that country their rights were few as visitors.  They had to embrace the fact that they were simply visitors allowing the character of the US to be revealed in their actions.

Because the flawless perfect Lamb climbed up on that cross we are reconciled to God.  Jesus Christ died to His own rights, agenda and entitlements so that we could approach God in purity and righteousness.  Because the cross stands empty, we have been given a voice by receiving Christ as our Savior.  We have died to our own spiritual country and have been given a standard to show the character of Christ in a fallen world.  We are no longer residents of a flesh society but citizens in the society of Christ.  ‘…you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.’ Eph 2:19.

Just as the student ambassadors operated as one body showing their character, we too are called upon to operate as one voice in our ambassadorship in Christ.  We cannot receive God’s grace in vain, meaning we cannot accept the gift of reconciliation and still live for self.  By accepting a citizenship in one country we lose all rights in the other country.  We cannot be residents of both.

To which country are you a resident?

The One He Loves

“Now a man named Lazarus was sick.  So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick.’” John 11:1, 3

The book of Luke lends an entire chapter on a family in Bethany with two deeply spiritual sisters, Mary and Martha.  Luke gives voice in rich detail of the extravagant worship of Mary and the unselfish service of Martha.  These sisters loved Jesus and lived their lives with a strong focus on His ministry.  In the book of John, just one chapter later, we are introduced to their brother Lazarus whom Luke never mentioned.  Was it because Lazarus was a silent follower of Jesus?  Was the brother less than spiritually active, or did he have a quiet faith even stronger than his sisters?  The Bible stays silent on the life of Lazarus leaving us less than impressed with any contribution prior to his resurrection.  We will never know the extent of his contributions, but what is evident in Scripture is that Jesus loved Lazarus regardless of any service or worship. 

I have shared many times through my writing that my inner battle has been fought with faulty armor.   I wore a helmet of false perceptions of who God was and how He deals with His children.   In a nutshell, I believed that God’s love was withheld or received as a result of my performance. 

I was so blessed by an experience with a man whom I met through Griefshare after he lost his wife of 60 years.  He stated that he had not been in church in over 70 years, although he believed in God.  Throughout the time we spent together I was amazed by his attention to grief and the work he was investing to navigate through his pain.  His healing is obvious and God is lavishing His grace and comfort upon him.  My friend had not served God over the course of his life like other brothers and sisters in Christ.  He was neither known for his extravagant faith, nor was he commended for any church service.  But, this man was sick in heart and the Lord loves His children, apart from our lip or hand service. 

Our Father’s love is not based on our performance, but based on His original love.  ‘We love because he first loved us.’ 1 John 4:19.  Just like Lazarus, when my friend needed God he called out and God was there. 

The Lord's Battle

“Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him…‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ ‘Neither,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.’” Joshua 5:13-14.

This was certainly a humbling moment for our fearless leader.  He had been led by God to miraculously cross over the Jordan and take the city of Jericho.  No doubt, his confidence was high and his heart was impassioned for the call.  As he approached his goal he looked up ahead and saw a man with a drawn sword whom he failed to recognize.  He posed the question of allegiance and received an answer that made him drop to his knees, realizing this was a messenger from God.

At first glance I wondered why the messenger from God stated that he was neither on their side nor the enemy’s side.  My commentary explained that both Joshua and Israel needed a reminder that God was not fighting alongside either opponent but that this was His battle, His plan, His agenda and His initiation.  It was as if the messenger slightly turned Joshua’s binocular lens into focus to reveal the sharp truth of God’s reality.  This was not to be Joshua’s battle, and it would certainly not be his victory.

When we begin to determine our own abilities for our future, God will send us messages that will put into focus the reality of His leadership.  Our lives should be surrendered to the commander Who leads and is already up ahead of us with a drawn sword.  His sword is the Word and His message will be revealed through getting into His word. 

When we see our efforts in life aligning with His agenda, we realize that everything experienced is a requirement for His victory.

When Fear Emerges

“Here is this man performing many miraculous signs.  If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” John 11:47b-48.

Fear is a powerful motivator.  As we see above, earthly power and position is never fully attained because it is rooted in the insecurity of losing it.  The chief priests and Pharisees of Jesus’ day could see the reality of losing their effectiveness, influence and control among the people.  Instead of feeling the gratitude for the blessings of their people they felt the fear of losing the respect of their people.  Their fear was their motivation while faith was the motivation of Jesus. 

So I ask you this morning, which will you choose?  Although you see the hand of God all around you, does your fear cloud your faith, causing you to manipulate and calculate a plan to alter the direction God is moving? 

There is another who tries to alter God’s plan by infiltrating and dominating – Satan.  He lays in wait knowing that our fear will resurface, and takes his place on stage in our minds when fear emerges.  He knows the effectiveness of our testimonies and the transforming work of those who are sharing their miraculous stories.  Just as the fearful leaders in the time of Jesus plotted, Satan will plot to murder our Lazarus stories.  ‘So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.’ John 12:10.

Does your life reflect a walk that encourages others to go over to Jesus?  Are you experiencing a fear motivated faith instead of experiencing a faith motivated life?  One is death to our testimony and one is life to our witness.  We must choose life if we are to spread the knowledge of Christ through our faith.

‘But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him…To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.  And who is equal to such a task?’ 2 Co. 2:14-16.

Who indeed?

Entanglements

“Let us throw off…the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance…” Hebrews
12:1

Yesterday we considered the things of the flesh that may hinder or be barriers in our walk, preventing the success of our call.  Today we will look more intently at the word entangle.  The New International Version speaks of this term as the experience of being surrounded by and attacked from every side.  (Lazarus Awakening, p. 179) 

During our earthly walk we unfortunately have a walking companion who is not one we would choose…our own fleshly mind.  As we walk, we try to rehearse new thinking, new attitudes and new behaviors but our moral weak spots seem to surround and attack us from every side.  We trip over the old fears that have been so prevalent in our lives.  Our pride and judgment seem to forever be wrapped around our ankles making us sluggish in our faith. 

 
We know the faith and hope in Christ for which we want as our race companion, but yet we only know it with our head instead of our heart.  We recognize the faith in others that we want for ourselves, and act like it is out of reach.   Three steps forward and two steps back is still faith moving forward.  We cannot drop out of the race when perfecting our faith but must give respect to the progress we are making.  Paul speaks of this in Romans 7:15, ‘I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.’

We all have been there and we will all be there again – allowing our past attitudes and behavior to entangle our thinking.  But with each intentional casting off of the old thoughts, we will develop a faith that will stand fast.

‘…stand fast…in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.’ Gal. 5:1