Just An Old Fashioned Love Song

“Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs…It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Co 13:4-7.

This is a passage all too familiar to have fresh impact every time it is read. We enjoy hearing it at weddings, we sit comfortably in church and receive the message, but do we live it out? Do these beautiful words reside on paper or do we truly pursue real love…superior love…love only obtained through a God-centered love? Sometimes when a passage with this much depth can be read with little emotion behind it, I will put its meaning in my own words. I will consider what it looks like in real time…real life…real people. It brings the lifeless ink into breathing actions.

This morning I decided to think about love in my own way with the circumstances I might face today. I am loving well when I am being patient and kind with the people whom I surround myself today. I will win at love today when I look at what you have that I don’t and not hold it against you. Loving today will mean I will avoid taking credit for something or bragging. When I love I will not see you as inferior but as my equal sibling in Christ. Loving well is recognizing that you are vulnerable to weakness and sin just as I am, not holding things against you. I will love today if I pray for the Holy Spirit to readjust and resettle my emotions so you can receive my best. I will love those well if I approach them with an attitude like Jesus…not what they can do for me but what I can do for them. I will love if I frame love’s benefit being for the other person. I will love today by trusting that words said to me are sincere instead of doubting motives. I will love today by having hope that all relationships can be reconciled. Love will help me bear and endure all circumstances I may encounter.

This is superior love that God calls us to pursue. Everything I listed can only be done through prayer and petition. God is all of these things, and will graciously give us the abilities to live out loud the love He has. Our love will be more than ink on paper…it will be demonstrated through our actions and attitudes.

“You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Co 3:3

Daisy By Another Name

“But now, said the LORD, who created you…And he who formed you… ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine.’” Isaiah 43:1-2.

When I was in 1st grade I suddenly decided I wanted to be called Daisy. I remember asking my mom to call me that, along with my principal and teacher. They all tried to remember but more times than not Daisy was forgotten. I can even remember creating this art project during that time. It was an unfinished oval piece of wood a little smaller than a football. I took my Elmer’s Glue and squeezed the glue around the edge of the wood, also writing the name Daisy with the glue in the middle. On a piece of newspaper, I covered the artwork with a ton of glitter. As I picked up the project the majority of glitter fell off only to expose the sparkly edge and the name Daisy. I was so proud of that, and even carried it around with me. The problem was that nobody would remember to call me Daisy. I was trying to change my name, and I was the only one who seemed to care. I can still close my eyes and see my little hands laying it down on the counter at the grocery store. It was beautiful and sparkled so much. I just knew the cashier would notice and call me Daisy. But all I got was a smile from her. I just wanted someone…anyone to call me Daisy.

As I grew up I found myself still wanting others to call me something different than how I saw myself. I wanted someone to call me popular…cool…accepted…smart…invited. But time after time, those pursuits once again came up empty. It wasn’t until 2006 when God began an identity campaign to reveal who He said I was created to be. He showed me false identities that no longer would work for my life. He held up a mirror which reflected His Son, giving me the courage to lower the mask I had put on. He exposed flaws and loved me in spite of them. He accepted warts and all, and still does. Daily, He whispers that I am enough because He is more than enough. He redefined my life as it relates to His life. He continues to show me how loved I am… how invited into His presence I am…how equipped in Him I am…how redeemed I am.

We have been called by name by our Father to be the person He designed us to be…not the person we create to hide behind. The journey can be rough but the destination is to be who He formed with His very hands. The discovery is a beautiful, chaotic, messy little project but with His touch our lives will glitter and sparkle the way He intended.

I still have days when I want to be called something else, but God is teaching me to embrace my true identity in Him. I am His masterpiece and so are you! God says, ‘You’re my poem. You are my masterpiece. I don’t want you copying somebody else. I’ve put gifts in you – heart, abilities, personality, and experiences – I want you to use them.” (Rick Warren) 

May we all walk out our beautiful poems that God wrote for each of us.

Who Are We?

“But Moses asked God, ‘Who am I that I should go…and that I should bring…” Exodus 3:11.

This exchange occurred while Moses was in the wilderness doing his job of shepherding. Who knows if he felt satisfaction and contentment in his life. We are not told, but we are told that he paid attention to what God was asking of him. No doubt, the call seemed daunting and the job seemed impossible. Since God loves all people all of us will find ourselves in the desert questioning our own abilities. I have asked this same question in so many seasons of my own life. Who was I who had to be a single mom for a period of time? Who was I who was called to endure 8 years of a child’s drug use? Who was I to care for loved ones with terminal illnesses? Who was I who facilitated griefshare when I had not even had time to grieve? Who was I who had to take a stand for Jesus in trembling fear? Who am I and who are you?

We are the ones who will conquer these fears as God equips us in the wilderness. We are the ones who will allow God’s strength to pick up where our strength ends. We are the ones who will run with endurance as God protects and builds us up. We are the ones who will testify to new pregnancies, new marriages, new jobs, new wholeness and new health. We are the ones who will birth new ministries out of past suffering. We are the ones who are strongest in the Spirit when we are weakest in the flesh. We are the ones who will lay down addictions, pick up courage in new callings, believe in promises and take God as His word in every promise. We are the people and representatives of God, and He is our deliverer and hope.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37.

From Garden to Garden

“Father!  All things are possible for you.  Take this cup away from me.  Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:36.

It is easy to see the life of Jesus as a 33-year journey of a man who became Savior.  That is a story tied up with a bow that was handed to each of us as a gift.  But when we drill down and see Him as one of the Trinity who was present before the beginning of time it brings an overwhelming discovery.  Although our finite minds can’t really wrap around the Trinity, we must remember that Jesus was an active part of creation.  He has always been a part of the Trinity.  “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness’” Genesis 1:26. 

This means that the Trinity was in the Garden of Eden walking in the coolness of the day.  This means that as Jesus looked forward from the Garden of Eden, He must have seen Himself kneeling and pleading in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He must have seen that Heaven would have to briefly look away for the salvation of you and me.  And yet…He left the perfection of a life with His Father and stepped down into a world who would hate Him.  His calm life on earth quickly became a chaotic, beautiful, terrifying, and life-giving ministry like no other.  Even knowing His purpose and seeing His inevitable future He still knelt on a prayer of deliverance.  He still asked for God to bring about the purpose through a different scenario.  This prayer of suffering and pleading was framed with God’s will being at the forefront.  Jesus taught us that we are always invited to approach God with any request.  Jesus knew that God's love for Him would not be shaken by asking for something less painful.

We all have cups of suffering in our journey back home.  We each go from garden to garden like Jesus did…from the perfect and safe womb of our moms to the perfect and safe arms of God one day.  The in between is what we think will kill us…the different circumstances that flow in and out of our cups.  Because Jesus said yes in the Garden, we can say yes to our difficult situations.  Because Jesus said yes to obedience we can say yes when God asks us to endure painful times.  We must take God at His word when He says we will never be alone and His grace will always be sufficient when we lean on Him. 

Whatever you are experiencing today don’t lose sight that you are relentlessly loved, continuously watched over and being carried by the same Trinity that created all things that exist.  As we live in the tension of traveling from one garden to the next garden, may we exemplify the life of Jesus and claim every promise of comfort as He did. This morning let us remind ourselves of a shepherd who penned one of the most beautiful prayers that still has the power today to transform us.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You annoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodnes and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."  Psalm 23

He Knows...

“And God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant…and God saw the Israelites; and God knew.” Exodus 2:24-25.

What on earth was happening to grab God’s attention in every way? His children were being brutally treated. They had been oppressed by the Egyptians for over 400 years – generation after generation. It’s all they had ever heard from their families and all they had ever experienced. Over and over they cried out to the Lord for Him to do something…to do anything. And then just like that, God arose from His throne in His perfect timing and began the execution of His plan. He heard them…He remembered them…He saw them…He knew the time had come. Little did they know what laid before them. All they knew was what they were experiencing. They never got accustomed to suffering and neither do we.

We all have those slave drivers that seem to steal our joy and disrupt our peace. Medical challenges master over some of us, while emotional challenges master over others. Some of us are beaten down daily by life, while others search aimlessly for purpose. There is homelessness, loneliness, and bitterness to name a few. We have relational dilemmas… financial dilemmas…spiritual dilemmas. What do we do with all of this? Where do we take our broken dreams and frustrated unanswered prayers?

We lift them to the same God that the Israelites did a few thousand years ago. God hears that you don’t feel good. God remembers what you’ve been through. God sees how you are being treated. God knows the perfect plan to rescue you and bring you into a good land, because He is a good Father. We don’t know the plans God has for us, but we can be certain that there is a plan, there is power to execute His plan and there is a day when He rises from His throne to bring it on. He will hear our pleas, remember our dreams, see our pain and know right when to reach out and delivery us. He knows your test results...He knows your emptiness...He knows your brokenness...He knows your bank account...He knows your road back to wholeness.  For He knows...

“‘For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the LORD. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11.

A Mouthful of Sand

“How long will I store up anxious concerns within me?” Psalm 13:2

This morning in my Bible study the author reminded me of a scene from Three Amigos. The three men are in the desert, thirsty and hot. They each take out their canteen in preparation for satisfying their thirst. One finds only 2 drops in his canteen while the other experiences total refreshment with a full canteen. The one in the middle raises his canteen to his mouth only to ingest a mouthful of sand. All three men were experiencing the desert in different ways.

I began considering the different seasons in our lives and what pours from our canteens. There have certainly been times when I had a full canteen and enjoyed the calm waters. There have been times when my canteen had enough to satisfy but my heart longed for more. Then there have certainly been times when my drink was a mouthful of sand. Those times when life was tough to swallow, and it seemed everyone around me had a full canteen. What do we do with those times when we must ingest and digest something that lacks satisfaction and contentment? What do we do when the canteen is full of loneliness… joblessness…anxieties…hopelessness?

We cry out to the Lord who is in control of all things and all circumstances. We trust that He is near when we feel He’s far away. We trust that He is love when we feel that He is uncaring. We thank Him for past blessings when we fail to see present blessings. We live like we’ve received His promises when we don’t see any signs of their fulfillment. We walk by faith and not by sight as Jesus did. We pour out our lives into others when our canteens are almost empty. We confidently accept that whatever is depleted God will replenish; whatever is stolen, God will replace; whatever is destroyed, God will rebuild; whatever is killed, God will resurrect. Our circumstances will not hold power over us, and we will be overcomers in Christ. We will bear our crosses as we wait on our crowns. When we focus on God instead of our situation, we will store up treasures in Heaven instead of storing up anxieties.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life...And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life...your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:19-30.

Worth It All

“Did God really say…?” Genesis 3:1b

These deceitful words have been whispered in every heart since the beginning of time. Not one human has ever lived a life separated from this lie from Satan. He knows these 4 words have worked on every person from Eden to now. It worked then and it still works. Satan knows that he has his work cut out for him to make us question God’s existence. But to make us question God’s goodness and character seems to resonate in the heart of mankind. ‘That is what sin does: it lies. It promises to be shiny and colorful and inflated with excitement forever. It promises to be worth it. Sin tells us that God wants to keep the good stuff from us, that what we want matters more than what He has for us… Daily, hourly, even moment-to-moment, we believe the lie that God’s law is holding us back, that we know better.’ She Reads Truth Bible, p. 11.

Those words…it promises to be worth it. As I glance backwards in my own life I ask myself, 'What didn’t hold up to the promise of being worth it? What things did I twist to fit my own agenda, saying God really didn't say that? Did God really say that I must forgive her? Did God really say that I must tell my husband everything I purchased? Did God really say that I am valuable and His daughter when I felt so unworthy? Did God really say He would never leave me? Did He really say He would forgive me for that season?

I am so thankful for redemption…for forgiveness…for restoration. I want to tell you this morning that God’s promises are worth it! Going through my daughter’s drug season was worth finding out that God’s faithfulness is true. It was worth coming clean about my spending when God told me to. I now have deeper intimacy with my husband. It was worth standing up for Jesus against most others’ opinion. He delivered me from a life of empty pursuit of the approval of others. I promise it will be worth it! Whatever He says to you and whatever He brings to you…it will be worth it! It will be worth saying no to that drug or drink while battling addiction. It will be worth it to forgive that person and show grace instead of bitterness. It will be worth it to accept what God has allow into our lives. It will all be worth it if we truly trust Him for His love and character.

Our Golden Ring

“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” Rev 1:7

Well I must say that yesterday’s eclipse exceeded all of my expectations. No doubt I will never see the likes of that again. Just the realization that so many eyes across our country were keenly focused on the sky...waiting and searching…squinting to make out the first image of the moon. A few times I had my sight on the sun but the clouds rolled in making the sun disappear. But the childlike excitement that I had as the moon marched slowly across the sun’s face is simple unexplainable. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, we were left with a gorgeous bright diamond ring image. Bruce was so amazed by my reaction of the ring he even said, ‘You know you can’t keep that diamond ring, right?’

Well I am here to say that we all have an ever-increasing Glory who is permanently ours, and someday we will close our eyes to this world. We will awaken to the glorious reality of Heaven, and as we look upon our new home we will see the Son without glasses. There will be no clouds that move in to blur our view. Our experience will be eternal instead of a few seconds according to where we are. We will have daily fellowship aligned perfectly with God and Christ.

But until that day when my life aligns with God’s ordained days for me, I can still view the Trinity on earth. I can see God in my adversity even on the darkest day. I can try to exemplify Christ by being kind, peaceful and encouraging to others. I can have discernment and wisdom as the Spirit lives within every believer. We can have a daily eclipse if we live our lives sharply focused on the things above, spiritual things. May each of us focus today as we did yesterday to see that beautiful golden ring called the Trinity.

‘Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.” Col 3:1.

Total Eclipse of the Heart

“For you have died to yourselves and your lives are hidden with The Messiah in God.” Col 3:3.

Well there is certainly much ado about the something…the total eclipse. It even has its own name…The Great American Eclipse of 2017. I wanted to understand it at its simplest meaning. The definition I found is that a solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets between Earth and the sun, and the moon casts a shadow over Earth. Although it doesn’t occur frequently it is all about alignment and perfect timing it seems. It is generating tons of excitement from coast to coast. It is a phenomenon that seems to bring everyone together today if only for a few moments as we all look up with our dark glasses to see the halo.

In a country so divided with hate and division, I wish that we all could focus on our own alignment…The Great American Trinity of 2017. I wish we would position our hearts to align with Christ’s heart who aligns with the heart of God. Yesterday in church our pastor said, ‘If you want to know God, get to know Jesus. He is the fulfillment of God’s mind and heart.’ In other words, Christ aligned His life with God and because of His sacrifice we are invited to align our lives with His. It is our personal spiritual eclipse that will impact our world…laying down our lives and becoming hidden in the life of Christ. When others peer at our lives they no longer see us, but see Christ in us. They see a shadow of Him being cast over every aspect of our lives, reflecting God’s heart.

I’m very excited about the eclipse today, but for me it is one more demonstration of the power of the Creator. It is not the phenomenon but the product of the One who is. Today, may we all discover new ways to align with the heart of God and Jesus.

Feels Like

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge...For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:4, 11.

I don’t remember an August where the humidity has been so high as this year. I try to walk 5 miles each day in the morning before the day gets at its most uncomfortable. Yesterday as I walked my weather app reported that while the temperature was 87, the ‘FeelsLike’ was actually 101. With every step, it felt 101, and with every breath I certainly believed 101 was my reality…but it wasn’t…my reality was that the real temperature was 87. Once I allowed my mind to convince myself that it was 101 my walk was much tougher.

How many times in life do we experience our circumstances with FeelsLike responses? For me, when my dad died it ‘felt like’ I would never feel joy again…but I did. For me, when my child became dependent on drugs I ‘felt like’ she wouldn’t live through it…but she did. When I look at my present situation I ‘feel like’ there will never be work again…but I know God has a plan for our provision. For you, it may be that your ‘Feels Like’ is that you will never find a partner…you will. For another, you may ‘feel like’ your circumstances will never change…they will. There are some promised unanswered prayers that to me ‘feel like’ will NEVER be answered…but they will because God said so.

God is reality and He knows what is up ahead. He sees us walking out our lives, responding and reacting to our ‘Feels Like’ temperature in our circumstances. If we act like it is 101 then our body will respond as if it is. We will feel like the temperature of our situation is suffocating us…overwhelming us…keeping us off balance. But if we believe God for all that He promises and focus on His faithfulness we can our liveswith more ease and comfort…one breath of 87 degrees at a time.

Phony Wizards

“God did this so that… we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary…” Hebrews 6:19-20.

The Wizard of Oz will always be one of my favorite movies of all times.  One of my favorite scenes is when Dorothy and company tentatively approach the curtain.  They all have deep desires for their lives that they hope the Wizard will grant.  They have heard the stories of the great and powerful Oz, and have come in expectation of certain things.  The journey there was hopeful and encouraging as they discussed the good that will come out of the pursuit.  Of course, the hope that was at the end of the yellow brick road was a false hope…no real wizard…no real gain.

We as Christians also have a hope that will hold firm and secure in Christ.  But many times, like Dorothy we approach our own false anchors thinking it will deliver.  For me, one of my false anchors was the belief that if I pleased everyone then I would be happy…FALSE.  Another one is that if I bought this purchase or that purchase then I would be content…FALSE.  One of the biggest falsehoods was that the closer I got to God the easier life would become…FALSE.  I expose these not to show my disappointment in things but to better understand things that don’t fit into my life anymore. 

When we think of hope we must default to the anchor Who holds firm and secure.  When we are heartbroken we have to reach for the Anchor of comfort.  When we have been hurt we must reach for the Anchor of forgiveness.  When we are anxious because of our circumstances we must trust in the Anchor of peace.  We must enter into the sacred places with God withholding nothing…the inner sanctuary…where God will replace those false anchors with His unchangeable, immovable and unstoppable faithfulness.  ‘In our broken worship, we tie our hope to false anchors – people or things that don’t have the strength to save us…Let God use the seasons of pain, struggle, and uncertainty to expose the false anchors.’ Steadfast Love, Lauren Chandler, p. 19. 

Adversity will continue to expose my false anchors and whatever is not of God will become unstable.  Adversity proves every time that the only true thing of which to take hold is Christ…He alone is our Anchor.  God has set our hope in Jesus before us but will we take hold of Him?

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12.

Re-enactment or Recovery?

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8.

The other morning when I was walking I noticed two signs, one in front of the other. One was promoting and inviting certain people to witness a re-enactment of the Civil War. The sign right behind it was an invitation for all to come to a Recovery in Christ meeting. I couldn’t help but consider these invitations as representations of our lives – our flesh and our spirit. The quickest way to do the opposite of this verse is to turn on the television. Our country represents the counterview of how God commands us to think and act. The news media continues to re-enact ever little detail that supports their agenda. It truly makes me sick and I have very little tolerance for the news today on every side. I seldom feel good about being affiliated with any party because they are parties of re-enactment. Parties who want to point out at every turn not only new details but old details as well. Parties who won’t allow dead to remain dead and fresh starts to give new life.

In drilling this down, I know for myself there have been times when I wanted to recover from seasons of hurt. I wanted Christ to take away my resentment and bitterness. But instead I re-enacted it in my heart holding back that little piece that God wishes to heal. Sometimes I re-enact how I am chained as a victim while others are walking in freedom. When God wants me to depart from my battlefield I sometimes drag dead bodies with me. What do you re-enact that is putting a barrier between you and God? What dead bodies are you dragging around with you? What can you do to recovery in Christ instead of circling the same wars you’ve already battled?

Our greatest battlefield is the battlefield of our minds. Our verse gives us the remedy to choose what is better. When our minds start to post a sign of re-enactment we must measure it against this verse. Am I thinking noble thoughts as Christ did? Am I acting in a pure way exemplified by Jesus? Do my actions and words resemble the lovely and admirable person of Jesus? Am I praising God for who He is and how He continues to invite us because of His great love for us, healing and recovering us from past wounds? These are things to consider when we run into battle.

Oncoming Traffic

“All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].” 1 Co 10:23

I can’t tell you how many times while crossing the designated area below cars ignore the warning sign. It is state law that at this crossing pedestrians always have the right-of-way. And yet, there have been times that had I not looked up I could have experienced a painful situation. It doesn’t matter that it is lawful that drivers should yield for me. It is a snap decision on the part of the walker and the driver what outcome will happen. Will the correct person yield? Will the walker exert their right-of-way even when it isn’t beneficial to their health?

Daily we face the same decisions in our spiritual life. Someone has wounded us emotionally, and we must make the decision of whether to walk out mercy and forgiveness or yield to the temptation of bitterness. We exercise our right-of-way to judge another when their beliefs are different than ours instead of sharing our testimony. Instead of denying ourselves and our rights we carry our entitlement flag into the streets.

Our example of denying ourselves...bearing our cross…waiting on our crown…comes in the person of Christ Jesus. If anyone had the right-of-way in this world it was Jesus. He was and is legitimately the Son of God and was entitled to have authority over everything and everyone while on earth. But Jesus understood that His position and purpose was rooted and established in His Father. He did not come to earth to flex His authority, rather He walked this earth yielding to things He had to endure. He yielded to the hatred and ridicule of many…He had the right-of-way of come down off the cross and yet He chose to yield…to do what was profitable and edifying to man. He denied Himself over and over daily and put aside His own frustrations and fears to pull us in to His lasting kingdom. Jesus rarely took the right-of-way but gave us an example of how to yield to others for their benefit.

We can yield to others by putting them first. We can yield to others by offering a listening ear. We can yield to others by sharing our resources with them. We can yield to those who have hurt us deeply by showing them grace when they don’t deserve it. Yielding to others will not come naturally, so we must look up before we cross. We must keep our eyes on God and use our spiritual discernment when considering our on

coming traffic.

A Plate of Frogs

“This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you refuse…I will send a plague of frogs on your whole country…They will come up into your place and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses…and on your people…The frogs will come up on you and your people and all your officials.” Exodus 8:1-4.

One of the stories of the Bible that is most applicable to us today is the rescue of God’s people. They were enslaved in Egypt and were under the brutal hands of slave drivers. They knew their lives were not their own and freedom from their pain seemed impossible. Month after month, year after year, they cried out to God to rescue and delivery them. God being faithful to His word, and loving to His children answered their prayers. But not the way they originally dreamed. It never dawned on me until a few days ago, that the 10 plagues God sent that played a huge part in their delivery wasn’t just experienced by Egypt. The Israelites also experienced the first 3 plagues. The second plague was the infestation of frogs overtaking the land. Can you imagine praying for something so fervently and desperately only to experience hardship after hardship? God’s way is seldom the way we would choose when anticipating His intervention in our lives. Most times we will have to experience great times of testing to get to our answered prayers.

We all have unanswered prayers…dreams awaiting God’s fulfillment. Some of us are praying for relief from our medical struggles. Some are dreaming of a day when our circumstances will finally be different. Many are praying for those estranged relationships to be reconciled while others are praying for God to send work. We all have many challenges that need God’s touch…a plate of frogs that we must ingest. My father-in-law use to say that if you must eat a plate of frogs, don’t look at them for too long. We must focus on where our challenges will take us according to God’s plan. Our challenges and pain have feet that move us from flesh to spirit…spiritual toddler to mature believer…earthly wanderings to spiritual significance. We must keep our eyes on Jesus throughout our journey of adversity and understand that we must experience tough times to receive our dreams. You can be confident that whatever is on your plate this morning God has a perfect plan. God is not careless or random with the details of your situation. He is using every single frog on your plate to accomplish His beautiful purpose for your life. Just don’t focus on your circumstances too long lest you grow warts!

“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.

Casting Our Nets

“As Jesus was walking…He saw two brothers…They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow Me’, Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:19.

Yesterday on the pier I watched this man for 30 minutes mesmerized by how many times He threw that net out. He never allowed it stay in the water more than 2 minutes. I remembered saying to myself that he should leave it in the water longer. But it is his net and his cast, not mine. I cannot count all of the many ways as an adult I have cast out my net only to pull back the empty realities of life. Impatience for something different and emptiness for many things were my companions for so long. Oh sure, I might have caught a fish or two in my attempt which gave me fleeting happiness. But that is all I reeled in…a temporary fix…a purchase that didn’t deliver…a relationship that didn’t hold up under adversity…smelly fish! But then, there are beautiful things that God placed in my net in spite of my casting. I discovered a loving marriage…a faithful family…treasured children.

But in February of 2006, God climbed up on that rail and cast His net for me wide and far. He took me places that I have never been before and following Him was and still is a thrill. It has been incredible… life altering…heart transforming…chaotic…heartbreaking…joyful…terrorizing…thrilling. My life before following Him was cast after cast pulling back empty nets. Now I allow Him to cast the net, and the yield is both plentiful and beautiful.

It is God’s desire for each of us to cast nets in our waters of influence. He has given us all a circle of friends and family for all of us to impact. Some of those fish in our nets will be difficult to handle but all of those in our nets are ordained to be there by God. When we follow Him, He will show us the most loving way to handle our catches. It is only through His character can we see what He sees about people and circumstances.

We are to be faithful in whatever God calls us to experience with whomever He places in our lives. So, cast your nets far and wide and watch what God can do with the yield.

The Sweetest Prayer Ever Prayed

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message…May they also be in us so that the world may believe…so that they may be brought to complete unity… Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory…I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:20-26.

When my dad was in the last weeks of his life I remember spending the night. I brought a monitor from home that I had for my grandchildren. I awakened early the next morning and was doing my devotionals when I began hearing some whispering in the monitor. I leaned my head in and attuned my ears to try to understand what I was hearing. It was Daddy praying for me and Bruce. He was lifting us up in labored whispers asking God to give us strength as we cared for Bruce’s dad with Alzheimer’s. Daddy was well aware his days were limited and the transition was coming. I sat there glued to the monitor listening to every sweet detail between my father and our Father. The only sweeter prayer than this was the one in our morning passage.

Did you ever stop and really soak in this passage? Jesus was near the end of His life with this being one of His final prayers on earth. Jesus fully understood that the purpose for which He was born was close to fulfillment. But what strikes my heart chords is the powerful detail that on that sacred day and in that sacred prayer He was praying for you and me. We had not even been born and He was covering us in complete prayer. He was lifting every future believer up to God right before He walked out the most horrific season in history. There is a song that sums this up, ‘While He was on the cross, I was on His mind.’ Jesus was praying for our testimonies to show His message to an unbelieving world. His prayer was for you and me to be brought into complete unity through His death. He was getting ready to earn the authority to call us His own. Through Him sending His spirit He prayed for us to know God better and to experience the glory with Him. This passage allows us to lean our heads in, and quietly hear the sweetest prayer ever lifted. And as if that wasn’t enough the Holy Spirit was sent to dwell deep within us and continuously lifts our needs, heart cries and desires up to Heaven.

The Holy Spirit is the way our unanswered prayers get fresh expression. The Holy Spirit prays in new ways for old things for you and me. Don’t ever think the details of your life are too little for the Spirit. Just as we pray for certain details in the lives of our family, so does the Holy Spirit. There is never a time when our names are not being lifted before God.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit HIMSELF intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27.

Dolphin Watching

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20.

This is most likely a picture of something to you, but to me this is a picture of nothing.  The reason why is because minutes earlier there were 3 dolphins frolicking in the water together.  I was walking across a bridge as part of my morning exercise and glanced down to discover this early morning play.  I watched for a minute or so and decided to take a picture.  Once I had my camera pulled up on my phone this is all I saw.   Nothing…I stood there for what seemed like an eternity only to see nothing.  I watched the water like waiting for a pot to boil, and still the surface was not broken again.  There I stood watching and waiting in vain…no dolphins…no sighting…no image. 

Like you, I have had times in my life when I was watching my circumstances waiting for resolution to break through the surface of my life.  A time where it seemed forever ago when life was smooth and days were not laced with sadness and worry.  Like me, centuries ago there were 3 soldiers who stood outside the grave also waiting and watching.  Three men given the responsibility to ensure Jesus was still entombed, and His body not stolen.  No doubt, they never took their eyes off the rock…the horizon…the circumstances.  And yet, ‘dolphins broke through the surface’ at God’s command and Christ was raised from the dead.  They had watched the stone in vain…the resurrection came from within the darkness.  The image was forever captured in Holy Writ and in the hearts of men.  When God robbed the grave, the men realized that their watch was futile.  Keeping their eyes on the circumstances was worthless and nothing was gained from their focus. 

I still have some dolphins that I am waiting to see, and an image in my mind that my camera will someday capture.  It will be a beautiful picture of an answered prayer for which I have been waiting…watching…longing for.  I’m sure that you have dreams to come true, and prayers to be answered.  Dreams for a spouse, dreams for a child, dreams for a job.  Prayers for healing, prayers for relationships, prayers for relief, prayers for comfort.  The list goes on and on, and our Father knows what we need and desire even before we know.  God is going about His business for us, so we should go about our business for Him.  We can neither watch for things that are out of our control, nor demand our will over them.  We must just keep walking, and keep our eyes on Him.  

One day I am confident that I will glance into the water and not see 3 dolphins but 300 dolphins!  I will look in hindsight and see the thousands of prayers answered from a Father who has planned everything for our lives before we lived out one day.  Keep on believing…keep on walking…keep on living!

Seasonal Fruit

“…If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5.

Last week I went to the farmers market to get some fresh produce to take on our family vacation. There is one stand that has the most amazing tomatoes. They are the best in the market because they have the same sweetness and juiciness that my parents’ garden had when I was very young. I also picked up a few avocados to use as a topper in tortilla soup. As I prepared that meal, the moment the blade slid through the tomato, its juices flowed on the cutting board. As I turned my attention to the avocado I could barely get the same knife through the inside. The skin was like that of an alligator and the inside was hard as a rock. To say it wasn’t quite ripe is certainly an understatement. I was so disappointed in my plans for that soup. I tried to rush a fruit that wasn’t yet ready to experience.

In life, there are different seasons. Seasons where we are free to pick the fruit because the ripeness is perfect. There are seasons where the fruit still hangs on the tree tempting us to pluck it, wash it, and prepare it. When our flesh is weak we grab that fruit prematurely taking matters into our own hands. We massage that situation, and gnaw on it until we cannot any longer. The fruit did not satisfy…it did not nourish…it was hard and tasteless. When God has orchestrated the details of our lives and they align with His timing the fruit will be ripe. He will show us when it time to pick the fruit and enjoy its benefits. We cannot rush our circumstances any more than we can rush the ripening process of fruit. ‘In all of this, remember, bearing fruit takes time. Fruit doesn’t just pop up overnight. Fruit comes in seasons. Just because we don’t see tangible fruit in an area of our lives right now doesn’t mean that God isn’t working. Our job is to abide. Remain. Let’s keep doing that and watch to see how God might work in our lives.” Finding I Am, Lysa TerKeurst, p. 146.

“This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be my disciples.” John 15:8.

Final Words

“My command is this: ‘Love…as I have loved you.” John 15:12.

L O V E – It is one of the most overused but underapplied word in the world in my opinion. The love of which Jesus speaks in this command is not a love of pizza, or a love of sports, or a love of anything we can attain on our own. It is a call to love in spite of ourselves, in spite of our circumstances, and in spite of our heartbreaks. It is a directive to pattern our hearts after Jesus. These passages were a few of the last words of Jesus. He knew His time was near and His death was imminent. He knew that time was shortening and the words were few so they had to be powerful.

I remember this same scene playing out in my own life as I was the one to hear last words. As Daddy laid there at Hospice with his earthly life ebbing away I knew any moment could be his last. I remember we had all been there that day surrounding him. To be a part of 3 generations circling him in love and support was quite a surreal experience. As the world hustled and bustled outside of these walls, our world was focused on last moments…last words…last touches...last times. As I was leaving, I heard the whisper of true L O V E. I saw his beautiful eyes of brown gaze into mine as He pushed out the words ‘Brenda, I love you.’ Those were his parting words to me…That was his desire for me…he loved me so I was to love others with the same love I had been shown.

I read many years ago that love is for the benefit of the other person. That is what Jesus did. He gave up His life so that we could live and love forever. He shared His most vulnerable moments of despair in the Garden. He showed us forgiveness from the cross. If we are to love as He loved us what does that look like? It is the love that chooses to forgive when others do us wrong. It is the love that requires us to sometimes deny our own desires. It is the love to stand up for Jesus in a world that sits down for everything. ‘If my only view of love is what it will give me, love from others will fail me every time. It’s not that love fails. It’s that other people were never meant to be god […not my spouse…not my children…not my grandchildren…not my parents…not my siblings…not my friends]. God’s love never fails. Love isn’t what I have the opportunity to get from this world. Love is what I have the opportunity to give. Loving others is one of the keys to feeling love.’ Finding I Am, Lysa TerKeurst, p. 149.

God’s love is the kind of love my dad gave me – a love that benefited me. They were words God formed from Daddy's mouth to give to me at the end. Through the LOVE of what Jesus did for all of us, we will be able to hear our loved ones say again, 'I love you!' Doesn't get any sweeter than that. That is certainly love that delivers!

Always About Jesus

"The Lord says, ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’” Isaiah 29:13

When my grandson Carson was 5 years old, he was attending our Sunday School and church. I went to pick him up from his class so we can return home. I got him seat belted in the car and away we went. On the way home, I asked him if he enjoyed his class and he said that it was good. I asked him what it was about, and I’ll never forget his words. He said, ‘Emmy, it was about Jesus! It’s always going to be about Jesus!’

Oh, to have a heart that exclaims ‘It’s always about Jesus!’ But some days it is honestly more about my kingdom come. Some days it is about judging someone near and dear to me. Some days it is about resurrecting the hurt someone inflicted upon me. And some days it’s about wallowing in my lazy flesh instead of maturing my spirit. Lysa TerKeurst stated a beautiful sentiment in her video from Finding I Am. She states that, ‘Jesus doesn’t want to be explained away. He wants to be invited in.’ I started thinking about that statement. Explaining about Jesus is head knowledge, but experiencing Jesus is heart knowledge. I don’t remember a time without the head knowledge of Jesus, but I do remember many times where I lacked heart knowledge. I had given my life to Jesus but not my heart. Giving my heart to Him was denying what I wanted and following Him through obedience. Giving my heart to Him was setting aside the first part of my day to study His word and fellowship through prayer. Giving my heart to Him was not holding on to things others had done to me. Giving my heart to Him was bringing His kingdom down, not continuing to walk in mine. I feel like I have been stripped of so many old sorry attitudes. He is rebuilding old identities in which I had allowed to define me. I’m learning that my spiritual maturity develops through my faults and failures just as much as my small spiritual victories.

So, I will not despair over my past failures and present flaws for they are His classroom where I will delve more deeply into knowing Him. I will try my best to avoid the distractions that crowd in on my time with Him. I pray my heart displays the same thing on my lips and my life shows the desire for Jesus. Like Carson, when someone asks me about my day I want my life to show that ‘it will always be about Jesus!’ I pose the question this morning to you like I did to myself. ‘Have I given my heart to Jesus? Have I gotten to the place where it always needs to be about Jesus?’

Martha approached Jesus in great frustration. Her sister, Mary had chosen to spend time with Him instead of helping her in the kitchen. Jesus understood that Mary had chosen the better way. She had a heart that showed ‘It would always be about Jesus.’

“…but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary had chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10:42.

Finishing Grace

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.”  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”  John 19:30.

I can’t help but to see this scene from the standpoint of a mother.  The greatest finish ever in history was the very thing that was the most devastating for Mary.  We know that Mary was visited by an angel who prophesied that she would carry the son of God.  She knew she was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  She knew that His name was to be Jesus.  But, I hope she didn’t know as she laid Him in the manger, she would eventually watch Him be laid in the grave.   I hope she didn’t know that as He was surrounded by loved ones as a teen that He would be completely abandoned by almost everyone.  I hope she didn’t know that her son would one day die a brutal death for the sins of the world.  I hope she didn’t know as she watched Him play among the trees as a boy that He would one-day hang on a tree as a man.  I hope she didn’t know…

As parents, we have such great dreams for our children, our lives, and our families.  We walk out each day with assumptions and expectations.  We assume that life will go as we planned and dreamed of as young adults. We expect the good and usually don’t see the bad coming, and for that we thank God.  It is the gracious and compassionate providence of God that we don’t see before we must, and we don’t know before it’s necessary.

For me, I’m glad I didn’t know I was going to turn my back on a marriage that I had vowed to God to uphold.  I’m glad I didn’t know that I was going to live under the fear of death for a child who left home at 15.  I’m glad I didn’t know that I would break my husband’s heart and trust by secretly mounting debt against our family.  I’m glad I didn’t know that I would have to make a choice that could have alienated me against someone I adore.  I’m glad I didn’t know that I would watch my dad take hold of Christ’s arm as I was holding onto his.  I’m glad I didn’t know that I would help my brother-in-law walk my sister home to heaven when she was 43.    

These are the things that prove God’s love for me.  He has brought finishing grace to all of these situations just as He did with Christ.  God never begins anything in our lives without a finishing plan.  Our pain will always be comforted by His peace, our mourning will eventually be replaced with His joy, and what seems finished on earth will begin again in Heaven.  For this Lord, I say thank you for finishing grace.

“There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” Phil 1:6 (MSG)

A Caring Savior

“…Jesus was troubled in spirit… ‘Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me…Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me…I am going there to prepare a place for you…” John 13:21, 38 and John 14:1-3.

I am so thankful for all of the many research hours that authors of Bible studies put in for our benefit. I can’t tell you how many times I have read this particular passage and failed to mine the gem. In this passage Jesus had just washed their feet. He was serving them in His final hours leading up to the most horrific day of His life. He modeled selfless servanthood and humility as they had just been quarrelling over who was the greatest. I can see this scene in my mind playing out.

The disciples must have been getting louder and louder pointing out the things they had done…taking credit for the Spirit’s work. Then quietly and subtly Jesus slipped away and filled a bowl with water. He tucked in His tunic and rested the palms of His soon to be nail scarred hands on His most devoted friends who would soon abandon Him. Realizing this Jesus became ‘grieved’ in His spirit that one will betray Him while another would not stand up for His name. He had lived out His ministry being rejected and ridiculed, but this pain was worse than any other. This pain came at the hands of those who claimed to love Him most. But just as quickly as we give Jesus permission to be angry…hurt…bitter, He gives them something instead. He gives them compassion and encouragement. He shows them truth that might hurt…their failure…but He follows up with love and remedy. When Jesus tells them to not have a troubled heart, the translation means to be unwavering in their determination. ‘Jesus had every right to focus on Himself for what was ahead, yet He chose to continue to provide teaching and comfort to those closest to Him. What a caring Savior.’ Finding I Am, Lysa TerKeurst, p. 122.

We live in a world where people abandon people…family betrays family…friends disappoint friends…people jockey for greatness. I believe that Jesus gave us this story to show a stark comparison of the flesh verses the Spirit. The flesh takes while the Spirit gives. The flesh demands while the Spirit complies. Jesus who was the greatest laid down His life for mankind who is the weakest. He modeled that when we are walking out our most difficult journeys, we are still to serve. When we are grieved in our Spirit we are to still show our compassion for others. When we are crumbling in our circumstances we are to remain unwavering in our determination to trust in God. We are to model humility and forgiveness even when our hurts are justified. I cannot imagine how the disciples felt seeing those hands stretched out on the cross when the day before they were wrapped around their feet in love.

Jesus goes up ahead to prepare a place where we might learn and love…a place where He has already orchestrated things we need to experience to grow…a place where He will be at the end of our difficult seasons…a place where He still washes feet, encourages hearts and reveals Himself to us.

Harvest of Hope

“Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe…” John 12:37.

It amazes me that a group of people who dedicated their lives to studying…breathing in and out… ingesting and digesting the prophesies of the Old Testament still didn’t recognize Jesus as the awaited Messiah and Savior. They witnessed miracle upon miracle performed by this man. Jesus fulfilled every prophesy right before the Pharisees’ eyes and still they kept their eyes beyond the Lamb instead of on the Lamb.

It is so tempting for me to judge…to want to shake them by the shoulders…highlight each fulfillment in the Bible until my arm is tired. But then I realize that sometimes I can be just as blind. I saw God deliver my daughter from the clutches of drugs, and I still struggle to believe that He can and will perform a miracle in an unanswered prayer. I saw God restore work for me and Bruce beyond imagination a few years ago, yet my heart grows faint wondering if work will ever come again.

We all become like the Pharisees on any given day, but let us put our gaze back on the Lamb. He is still the One who walks with us. He is still the One who will never leave us. He is still the One who walks on water and raises the dead. He will be the One to fulfill His promises to us, and He will be the One to walk with us through the tough valleys. The one thing that always re-settles my heart when I doubt is to look up in my rear-view mirror and see what is behind me. Through remembering the times when He showed up big, I refocus on how big He is. Through gratitude of past blessings, I can believe that there will be future ones.

When you are feeling discouraged and weary from ‘believing…yet not seeing,’ fix your eyes on past mercies and grace which God has given you. ‘You may be living under a promise of God but not yet see the fruit of that promise. You may be praying for something that has not happened yet and maybe even see no hope of it ever coming to pass. Though we may not understand, we must trust God’s timing is perfect.’ Finding I Am, Lysa Terkeurst, p. 116. In remembering His past workings hope and peace will be our harvest.

“Let us not become weary…for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Gal 6:9