The Backdrop of Eternity

“Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Co 4:16-18.

Have you ever noticed that while you are in the middle of a season of suffering it seems like forever?  I clearly remember a time in my life when this was the case.  My sister was diagnosed with cancer and lived 11 months.  As a family, we took turns being there for her on days when our brother-in-law had to travel with work.  The day to day was grueling for Beth which made it also grueling for us to watch.  The journey was long in emotions and heartbreak, but short in duration in comparison to the long view of life. During that time, we set up a CaringBridge website which was a daily update of our journey.  We would post the happenings and others would post amazing encouragements.  There is no doubt that ministry happened on that website.  People would comfort us, suffer with us, celebrate with us and eventually they mourned with us.  When I look back at the impact that experience and sharing had on the lives of others I know that Jesus was revealed.  I am confident that lives were changed, and hearts were renewed in Christ.  Heaven will one day reveal the eternal significance that experience had and that the pain was full of purpose.  Perspective can only come when we are on the other side of the valley looking back.  I have said a million times that I cannot believe that experience was only 11 months.  During that time, it seemed like forever, but looking backwards I can see the glory of God and how it continues to illuminate years later.

That is what Paul is speaking of when he says our light and momentary troubles.  It is not that those times are easy and free of pain.  However, in the light of eternity where everything is restored, and every heart is reconnected the experience seems to fade into yesterday. ‘When it comes to pain we experience, we may not always consider how it will ultimately minister to others.  Most of the time, we are just trying to make it through.  But Paul wanted his suffering to bring life to others.’ All Things New, p. 62. Some of the greatest work is done when our suffering impacts the lives of others with our testimonies.  We cannot keep quiet about the way Jesus carries us through and delivers us from despair and weakness.  ‘If we’re going to walk through the valley, it’s a blessing to know it will count for God’s kingdom and His people.’  All Things New, Kelly Minter, p. 62.  I hope that if you are walking through a season of suffering that you will be encouraged that your pain is not void of purpose.  I pray that you will share in your suffering with others allowing them to comfort you.  I know that when we speak courage and comfort into our own circumstances we speak courage and comfort into the lives of others. Faith has the feet to keep us moving through the valley.

“I believed; therefore I have spoken.  With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us…” 2 Co 4:13-14.

Ambushed by Hope

“You do not have to fight this battle.  Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.  He is with you…Do not be afraid or discouraged.” 2 Ch 20:17

This morning was a day just like any other day.  I awoke, grabbed my coffee, plugged in my Airpods and began listening to my Christian music through Pandora.  This normally gets me positioned in a spirit of worship before my prayers and Bible study.  This morning followed the routine until I got to a part in my Bible study which led me to the above verse.  I knew it sounded familiar but as I turned the pages it was as if I had turned down a road that led to a cemetery.  This was the verse that God continued to take me to a few years ago when I was waiting for a promise to be fulfilled.  It was a time when there was no doubt in my mind that I was about to receive a decade old promise.  I had staked my life on it…I had based my faith on it…I had claimed the completion of it.  But tears came in place of celebration and a headstone was erected in my heart instead of a testimony on my lips.  I have a new Bible, and this page is eerily void of marks and highlights on this verse.  When I discovered to which verse God was taking me I closed my eyes, began to cry and relived it over again.  I was struck by the grief of an unfulfilled dream.  But then something amazing happened…I was ambushed by hope!

I wonder if this has ever happened to you?  Have you prayed so hard and so long for something that you truly feel is God’s will?  Have you claimed verses, sang those songs of delivery just waiting to see the salvation of the Lord?  This verse again entreats me to continue to position myself…to continue to be still…to continue being courageous to believe and encouraged to receive.  He is with us in our hurts and our hopes.  He breathes life into heart places where we have laid our dreams to rest.  He resurrects the things He has promised us to remind us of His faithfulness.  He does all the heavy lifting, so we can just rest in Him, believe in His promises and praise Him for His faithfulness. 

Be careful out there today…you just might get ambushed by hope!

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5

Our Finisher

“‘I am Ruth, your servant,’ she replied. ‘Take me under your wing, for you are a redeemer.’ Naomi said, ‘My daughter, wait until you find out how things go, for he won’t rest unless he resolves this…’” Ruth 3:
9b, 18.

Every time I read this part of Ruth I share butterflies with her and I even know the outcome. I can’t help but to consider how vulnerable she must have felt in approaching this man who could very well be her family’s redeemer. He was the one who could join them in their lives bringing blessings, joy and comfort like they hadn’t experienced in a very long time. She approached him in courage, submission and hope in the dark of the night. When he realized she was at his feet, he whispered ‘Who are you?’ She quietly uttered the words, ‘I am Ruth, your servant…take me under your wing.’ Did her voice quiver? Was her request strong and confident? Was she thankful that it was dark, and she couldn’t see his expression? Did her words trail off as the request drifted from her lips? We are not told, but we are told that he responded to her with beautiful words. ‘Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say…Yes, it is true that I am a…redeemer, but…’ Ruth 3:11-12. That dreaded word that NO ONE desires to hear…BUT. Boaz knew that there were matters that had to be taken care of before he could honor her request. He wanted to give her what she asked, but he knew things had to be done in an orderly and timely fashion. Naomi fully understood the things that needed to be orchestrated before the request could be honored, and the dream fulfilled. She encouraged her to wait…to eagerly watch…to believe that Boaz would not rest until he resolved things.

Neither will our Redeemer! We tentatively approach Him in our prayers asking things of Him that only He can give. ‘Lord, bless me with a child…a medical healing…a partner to love…a job to bring me purpose…’ our requests go on and on. Just like Ruth we stand up from our knees and return to our lives. Just like Ruth we spend lots of time waiting…watching…hoping. Days turn into weeks which turn into months and years. There are signs of encouragement but no resolution. There are tender moments in our prayer time but nothing on the horizon. We must tell ourselves what Naomi imparted to Ruth. ‘I cannot wait until I see what God is doing in these circumstances! He is orchestrating things better than I could have ever imagined! He will not rest until this is resolved and He will determine the when, how and who will bring about His perfect plan in this season.’

And one beautiful unimaginable day, He will show up and show out! Keep asking, keep waiting and watching and above all keep believing that the One who is able will complete what He started. He is the Finisher of all things!

“Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him to be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20.

Dressing for Beauty

“Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes…notice the place where he is…uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do.” Ruth 3:3-4

When I met Bruce, I was an insecure young woman of 24 years of age. I met him through Human Resources at Duke Power when I decided to transfer from Lancaster, SC to Charlotte, NC. He was involved with these transfers, and his office was the department who handled the interviews. Within a month I had a job that happened to be around the corner from his office. Over the next month or so, my feelings for him began to form and each morning I prepared myself to look my best. It was an exciting time, a time that I still think back and relive. Thirty-four years later the love is still going strong, but the perfume has been replaced with lotion and my best clothes are reserved for special occasions.

There is another Love for whom we prepare ourselves as Christians. It is our God who is love…perfect love. We must wash ourselves in His word daily, cleansing our hearts and minds. We must put on the perfumed oil, the lovely fragrance of the Holy Spirit who dwells deep in our hearts. We must wear our best clothes when we approach Him, our robes of righteousness. Every day we should look for Him and His activity that surrounds us. By uncovering His footsteps and following His lead we can lie down at His feet when He urges us to ‘Be still and know.’ We lie down at His feet in worship and surrender as He provides everything required for this life.

This is how we prepare our time with the One we love. When we come to Him in intimate fellowship, He will explain what we should do…when we should act …where we must go. I love this beautiful passage as it relates to our Redeemer who has our entire lives planned out. Through spending time in the Word, prayer and meditation He gives us everything we need.

So wash…put on the oil…wear your best clothes!

"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments..." Rev 3:5

Loving to the End

"Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” John 13:1

One of the most amazing examples of loving to the end was Jesus at the Last Supper the night before He would lay down His life. He and the disciples had all gathered together in the Upper Room. The Bible records that Jesus was fully aware that the devil had entered the heart of Judas. Later that evening Judas would betray Jesus, setting in motion the end of Jesus’ life. So what incredible loving gestures did Jesus show to the one who would hand Him over to His death? Kindness…Generosity…LOVE. I can’t imagine the emotions of Judas sitting there as Jesus poured water on his feet, drying them with His outer garment. Did Judas look away, so he would't have to look Him in the eyes? He was so undeserving of the lavish generosity of Jesus. He received the benefits from Jesus, but withheld the loyalty to Jesus. Aren't we just like Judas in some ways? We are called to do as Christ did, not to do as we feel like doing like Judas.

My Bible study calls this emotional generosity. “Emotional generosity is the hardest form of generosity there is to give. It’s incredibly easy for me to write a check or donate an item, but what about not giving people what I think they deserve for how they have treated me?” A Woman Who Doesn’t Quit, Nicki Koziarz, p. 117.

How is emotional generosity walked out in your life and in mine? It is responding with a Jesus heart instead of a Brenda heart, and giving grace where grace is undeserved. It is being generous with our time for a hurting soul, when our calendar is full. It is forgiving someone even when they haven’t asked for forgiveness. It is serving another when we have nothing to gain. It is turning the other cheek when someone has wounded us instead of turning on them. Just as God gave Jesus ‘His own,’ God has given us our own circle of influence. Are we loving them to the end? Are we washing their feet regardless of what is in their heart for us? Only through the love of Christ can we access this type of generosity and the ability to love others well. When we withhold our own emotional generosity we forfeit receiving it from God. Today, may we live in the radical generosity of Christ and give people what we think they don't deserve.

‘Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure – pressed down, shaken together, and running over – will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.’ Luke 6:38

Reunions in the Clouds

“Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom’…‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said to them” Matthew 20:20-22.

John and James’ mother watched her sons walk away from the lucrative family business, a fishing business that their father had built. The parents had wonderful plans for their boys, but Jesus had other plans. The boys were offered everything financially, but they chose to walk with the one who offered something different. There was something about Him, something for which they were willing to leave everything. As the fame of Jesus grew so did their mother’s desire for them to have a place beside Jesus. She knelt and asked for His favor on their lives. She asked for them to be exalted in the highest place…next to Jesus. Jesus replied that to grant this prayer would be something she would never want to live out…for it would be too painful for her…it would mean their deaths.

One of the most heart-wrenching prayers I have ever prayed was for my daughter when she was in the depths of her dark journey. The darkness that accompanies that walk is like none other and is almost a tangible item. I had watched her living a tortured life for many years with no relief in sight. I remember after years of exhaustion, fear and surrender I got on my knees and asked Jesus to grant her deliverance and freedom…even if it meant taking her home to heaven. I knew that what He could offer her there was greater than anything that could be offered here. Thankfully, Jesus said ‘Brenda, you don’t know what you are asking.’ He devised a way to deliver her here on earth and gave her a life with deep meaning and testimony. She is indeed a miracle and I thank God for her each day, along with the gratitude that He did not answer that prayer. Since then, I have walked alongside parents who live each day with the other reality…the reality that their child now sits to the right and left of Jesus…the reality that they walk this life with a temporary absence of their baby. The pain they experience is one I cannot imagine, but what I do witness is the sustaining and enabling grace of a God who has their hearts in His hand until they see each other again. I see the holy ground on which God called them and that sacred thread of comfort between the parents. I see a nod and a glance met between each of them as their pain speaks a private language…one that we cannot speak…one that we would never wish to learn.

I am confident that God has in reserve private gardens where beautiful reunions take place between parent and child. I can imagine that the Lord will give them immediate knowledge of every moment they were apart as if their history together never stopped. There will be unending walks and amazing talks that no break in time can diminish. God has a special place for those young ones who went ahead to Heaven early…that place is to the right and left of Jesus. That place is a place where the children await the reunion with the ones who knew them first…their mother and their daddy. When that guaranteed and beautiful reunion takes place, it will be like nothing earth could ever offer in their time together. God bless these amazing parents who walk in this pain but still love Jesus. God bless every moment they must be separated and may they be given a double portion of Heaven for their surrender. And when these parents step into Heaven they will finally move from their night to Heavens eternal day.

“We who are still alive will be caught up together with them [believing loved ones who are in the presence of the Lord] in the clouds to meet the Lord…” 1 Thessalonians 4:17

When Harps Go Silent

“By the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps… ‘How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?’ Psalm 137:2.

Life was sweet as the Israelites spent their days in continual worship in Jerusalem. They built their lives surrounding the temple of God with the freedom and luxury to remain near His dwelling place. But then one day they hear chaos in the distance…they can feel the shift in their circumstances…they can sense danger and despair all around them. The Babylonians attacked their happy lives, destroyed what they knew best, and kidnapped them to a foreign land. As they found themselves by the rivers in their new land they wept bitterly and longed for the city that was left behind. The harps they used to play to display their joy stayed silent. Their confidence and security were also kidnapped along with their physical bodies.

Who of us finds ourselves in a foreign land this morning? Whose heart is longing for last week before that relationship changed…last month before the doctor’s visit…last year before that job was taken away…before we had to lay our loved ones to rest? Where did the security go? Where is the music of our hearts that played out like a beautiful synchronized symphony? Remembering Zion…tough thoughts…bewitching memories. While we walked out our Zion…those calm and secure times…we didn’t even know to fear losing it. But now, our harps are silent for it has become difficult to sing.

But blessedly, we have a Father who will sing when our sad hearts cannot. ‘For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.’ Zephaniah 3:17. 'He will turn our weeping to comfort if we commit our sadness to Him. ‘He who goes out weeping…will return with songs of joy.’ Psalm 126:6. We must remember that we are in a foreign land in more ways than just our circumstances. We can never get comfortable on earth for life provides the backdrop for us to be kidnapped by our circumstances. They attack our comfort and security and hold our hearts and minds hostage. We cannot give into the despair but must continue to sing songs of the faithfulness of God in these kidnapped times. The thing about foreign lands is that they are never our home. God will return us to calm times…sweet times…secure and joyful times again. ‘When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy…The LORD has done great things…and we are filled with joy.’ Psalm 126:1-3.

So, don’t hang up your harps…our Great God will deliver you out of your captivity and the joy of the Lord will return.

Slice of Heaven

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

Around our house we love making homemade pizzas with fresh dough and lots of toppings. Many times, we have our daughter and boyfriend over because they too love homemade pizzas. In anticipation of their arrival, earlier in the day I do all the prep work dicing the toppings to smother the pizza. I don’t want to waste our time together with things that can be done ahead of time. My daughter knows that by the time they get to our house, the counter-top is filled with the toppings and the prep work has already been done. All that is left to be done is to load up the pizza, put it in the oven and enjoy the delicious slices.

Our verse this morning explains the same beautiful principle in our relationship with God. He has gone before us and has done all the heavy lifting in our walk with Him. He prepares things for us to experience that are chopped full of toppings for our lives. He has prepared fresh dough for our foundation by giving us His word. He determines where and when we should serve, and it is up to us to walk it out…add our toppings…offer our slice of service to the world. Never for a moment does God expect us 'to dice and slice…to flour and knead...to preheat the oven. He prepares the base of our service and we along with others enjoy the slices. Occasionally, we might bite into hot peppers, but we have also been equipped ahead of time for those toppings.

As you awake this morning, take time with God, choose your toppings for the day and smell the aromatic baking of the Bread. Our offering to the world will be tasty and fresh once we have spent time with the One who prepared our day for us while we were sleeping.

“This I recall to my mind; therefore, I have hope. The LORD’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassion never fails. They are fresh every morning; Great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:20-22.

Writing in Pajamas

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

I don’t know if I am more amused or embarrassed about what I am getting ready to share. This morning I was continuing my study on Ruth and noticed that our above verse was the ‘Quit Quitting’ verse for the day. The author wrote that she began writing little blogs as a volunteer for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Before I could even stop myself, I thought well I could do that! I could send in writings as a volunteer. Not even 30 seconds passed when God gave me a verse which humbled me…dismounted me from the tall horse on which I climbed up. The verse was swift and surely from God. ‘Listen, my daughter. Don’t go and gather grain in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close…’ Ruth 2:8. I immediately felt humbled and amused, because here I sit with last night’s make-up on, hair strewn all over my head, and jammies that probably should have been retired a while back. Yes, that is what Proverbs 31 Ministries needs. No, I will just stay in my own field until God calls me to the activity in the field where He has assigned my service. In due time, He will show me the plans He has for me…not the plans for author Nicki Koziarz…but little Brenda Emmons.

God’s mighty hand is also lifting you up in some area of service. He has been preparing you for great things in an area of your life to bless you. The fastest way to miss the blessings in God’s field is to jump over into the field of another’s calling. God has called every one of His children to do great things through His spirit. He has beautiful offerings for us around every corner if we will stay in our own field. Many times, our ‘due time’ is longer than we wish to wait, and more work that we ever imagined in getting there. There is heart work… there is head work, but mostly there is beautiful fellowship along the way with the One who wants to lift us up. We must all keep our eyes on our own field, so that one day the mighty hand of God will reveal the most amazing yield we could ever imagine.

Humbly yours,

“He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field…” 1 Co 3:9

Bundles of Stalks

When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his young men, ‘Let her gather grain among the bundles…Pull out some stalks from the bundles for her and leave them for her to gather.’” Ruth 2:15

Ruth continued to display the character of a woman who refused to give up. She was not looking for a man to marry, rather looking for a provision for her family. She didn’t insert herself among the appointed harvesters, but instead she did the back-breaking work of bending over and picking up their leftovers. Boaz in his tenderness instructed the harvesters to intentionally pull some stalks from their bundles so Ruth could gather some grain to take home. What a loving person! Her part was to simply bend over and gather the smaller amounts of the harvest. ‘Ruth just kept picking up what was in front of her…She didn’t care what it looked like. Each step was a step of provision, and this became her process to reach the promise God would have for her. It was her small beginning that would one day lead to something huge. She would learn to be faithful here, so God could take her there.’ A Woman Who Doesn’t Quit, p. 75

So, I began wondering what stalks God is instructing His angels to pull out of their bundles, so we can experience the small blessings. The stalk of courage as a woman joins a Bible Study for the first time. The stalk of self-discipline for the person who has decided to be accountability for their spending. The stalk of partial employment which could lead to a satisfied career. The stalk of trust as the family is asked to pull up stakes and move to another city. These stalks are precious, but we must take the time to gather them. We will never receive our larger endings without investing time in our smaller beginnings. God wants to bless us where we are with each step we take in the fields where He has assigned us. Do the small things…the mundane things…the little things and you will find yourself living in the field of unparalleled blessings.

‘Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.’ Zechariah 4:10.

Graduating Class of ?

When I was a senior in High School graduation was quickly approaching. Our teacher informed us that we would get a numerical listing of our academic position in the graduating class. I remember being anxious about my position in a class of approximately 400 students. When I saw my listing, I remember thinking that I was thankful for where my GPA rested. But upon further consideration the reality seeped in that I could have done better…I could have studied more…I could have worked up to my potential. I realized that I was standing at a moment in time that was the culmination of my high school decisions. Nothing could be added, and nothing could be taken away. The day was quickly approaching, and my position in the class was determined.

Thankfully, in the spiritual world our position in Christ doesn’t depend on our performance or intelligence. Because He went before us, and perfectly lived His life we are assured a Graduation Day like no other. When the Headmaster calls us to our day we will walk across a bridge into glory instead of a stage into an auditorium. We will approach our day in equal position since Jesus did the work. We will be adorned with crowns and holy garments instead of a cap and gown. We will be handed the keys to the kingdom instead of a blank diploma. I wonder who will be in my graduating class when the day comes? Who will I walk arm in arm with to receive the glory of God? Only the Father knows when we have reached that goal of going home. It will not matter whether we ever walked across a stage on earth. What will matter is that because Christ did everything right, we gain access to everything. Beth was in the Class of 2009, and Daddy was in the Class of 2010.

Heaven is the great equalizer for all of us. There will be no more comparing…no more jockeying for those top spots. No more feelings of not being good enough. We will each be rewarded for the contributions in the Kingdom that we made on earth. The Bible states that while God doesn’t have favorites, every one of us as believers are favored, chosen and fully loved. It will be a beautiful day when I exchange my cap and gown for crowns and linen. The Headmaster’s banquet hall will be filled with spiritual valedictorians. But for now, I must be heaven-minded, focusing on the things that impact the lives of others. When we shift our gaze from the futile offerings of the world to the future glory of heaven, we gain perspective of what is important in the now.

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

Harvest of Hope

“Ruth…asked Naomi, ‘Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?’” Ruth 2:2

Apparently, it has been a rough ride for Ruth as she has tried to settle into her new life…new community…new surroundings. We are not told how long these two women have been back, but we are told that they returned to Bethlehem at the beginning of the harvest season. Ruth no doubt had awakened each morning to Naomi’s despair and bitterness. Ruth had her own grief to work through, but she powered through her pain and decided it was time to do something different…anything different. So, she asked permission to go to work! She understood the importance of purpose and pushing through stagnant times. She was satisfied with gathering the less than perfect grain and understood that work of some kind is better than nothing. She’s ready to feel the hope of the harvest…new beginnings…fresh hope…a change from the every day. ‘It’s like she knows if she doesn’t start to put some movement in her life she’s going to fall into the cycle of defeat…Harvest always signifies a time of new life after a long dead winter.’ A Woman Who Doesn’t Quit, p. 58.

A long dead winter…I’ll bet that I’m not the only one who can describe their recent past with these words. For over two years I’ve been waiting for God to reveal ‘with whom I can find favor’. I’ve been watching the spiritual horizon, but the clouds have been thick, and the view obstructed. But seasons don’t fail us, and the spring is coming ushering in a harvest of fresh hope. As the petals of discouragement fall to the ground to make way for new life, my heart anticipates new purpose with the thoughts of new beginnings. Discouragement tells us that the best is behind us, but the thought of harvest time stirs the passion in our hearts to hope again. It dares us to move into new areas and expect great things. Hope looks forward in excitement, while discouragement keeps recalling the long dead winter.

God gave us a spirit of hope for the future, promise in the provision and will guide us to our harvest. Like Ruth, we must keep our eyes open for opportunities that God is orchestrating. We must watch for His activity and join Him where He leads. He will be faithful to complete everything that He begins. The harvest is coming…watch for it!

“Look, I tell you: open your eyes and notice that the fields are already ripe for the harvest.” John 4:35

Defined or Refined?

“‘Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,’ she answered, ‘for the Almighty has made me very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has opposed me, and the Almighty afflicted me?’” Ruth 1:20-21

Where on earth do we begin with this passage? How on earth did Naomi get to point where her circumstances defined her resulting in a name change? How did a woman of faith in Bethlehem find herself as a woman of hopelessness and bitterness in Moab? Her name change defined the journey of her heart. Naomi meant ‘pleasant’ and Mara meant ‘bitter.’ We know that her family moved away from the land of God because of a famine. We know that for a decade she and her family lived in the forbidden city of Moab where life was abundant. Then tragedy struck her family, and in her abundant life came another famine…the famine of her heart. Death came and not only stole her family members but stole her entire identity. She became defined by her circumstances…she invited us to call her Mara.

In certain seasons of my own life, I have allowed myself to be defined by my circumstances. My name changes have come in times where I felt like a failure as a mother. There have been times in my marriage when I felt like a failure. I have looked towards the circumstances of others and have felt the ugliness of bitterness. When we are operating out of any lack our perspective on everything else changes. We measure life against our losses instead of our gains. We count the days of our lack instead of recognizing the days of our blessings. We secretly hold in our hearts the knowledge that God could have…should have…but didn’t. We gradually distance ourselves from God, moving into a new territory that isn’t beneficial. The further we move away from God the less gratitude we will feel. Our identity in Christ will move from victorious to victim, joy to bitterness, and one day we openly call ourselves ‘Mara.’

When we can allow our circumstances and heartbreaks to refine us instead of defining us, God will fully heal the heart. When we walk out life with an eternal perspective, we arm ourselves against getting stuck in our bitterness. This life is temporal and so is the pain that accompanies it. God is the anchor of hope that there is a better life up ahead, a life free from sickness, sadness and sin. We all must make that journey, but prayerfully our tough times can make us instead of breaking us. ‘It’s about letting the hard things make us strong. As we get rid of bitterness day by day, moment by moment, we will stack these refining days – the days we didn’t quit - and one day look back and realize we, too, are wearing the title: I finished strong.’ A Woman Who Doesn’t Quit, Nicki Koziarz, p. 55.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Co 3:19

A View From Heaven

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

Have you ever had a dream that seemed like more than a dream when you awoke? And the clouds of your mind had to clear to realize it was only a dream? Nine months after Daddy died I found myself feeling like I wasn’t really providing any purpose. It was a time of insecurity and a time of searching for meaning of my walk on earth. I went to bed with an empty heart but experienced something through the night that I've never forgotten. In the dream my dad had appeared to me at work and asked me to go with him, so he could tell me some things. Once I took his hand, I realized that we were moving forward in a realm of space above earth but below Heaven. We were moving forward by no effort of our own, and his message to me was a string of Scripture from different parts of the Bible. One of the verses from his sweet mouth was the verse above. One of the reasons I was feeling insecure was because the only thing I was doing was blogging on the internet. At the time, I was caring in my home for my father-in-law who had Alzheimer's so my time was limited. My audience was invisible, and so was the fruit of the service. Daddy encouraged me that every single thing we do on earth affects heaven…not later…but in that moment. He said that I wouldn’t believe what heaven was like, and that every painful thing he experienced on earth was worth it because of the glory he was experiencing. Every time I hear this verse I picture my Daddy’s face and the joy he had in his eyes during that dream. The peace and comfort that I experienced as I awoke rooted in my heart that night. Now I know that every single act of kindness that we do on earth has an effect above. When we bless…Heaven is blessed… when we pray…the saints of Heaven also pray…when we love, love in heaven is activated.

Like you, life has most likely been tough but when we consider the glory that will be ours once we lose our life here to gain our life there, it will seem like nothing compares. We will walk in the glory of God as His glory will be revealed in our bodies. I’ll take that dream any day, and for every tough challenge I will remember that nothing is random, and no act of worship is futile. I cannot even imagine the view from Heaven as they witness our worship. Does it prompt their worship? Does it encourage them to cast their crowns at the feet of the Lamb? What if it was more than a dream? What if it was a call for the revival of my heart? Whatever it was…it was encouraging…it was anchoring…it was lasting. We fail to know what is happening above as we are focused on our temporary. I pray that each of us will measure our temporary pain against the permanent gain we will receive as we cross over into that beautiful realm of heaven. Through God’s power we are invested with His spirit to act on His behalf. May our lives on earth prompt movement in heaven and our fruit be plentiful.

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19

A Community of One

"No…my life is much too bitter for you to share...” Ruth 1:13

Grief of any kind is a strange companion.  One person might look to others to fill in the heartbreaking gaps, while another person might push others away.  Neither way is right or wrong, it’s just how our grief manifests in each of our lives.  I learned years ago that grief is as unique as the people it strikes, and to fully heal is to fully grieve.  Much like Naomi, I remember a time in my life when I was scared to death of losing a child.  It was an 8-year span and a time like no other.  R[ding the emotional roller-coaster left me wearied, depleted and empty.  I grieved the health of my child…grieved her absence from our home…grieved broken dreams that I had for her.  I eventually learned that the details of my circumstances changed so quickly that I lacked the emotional stamina to keep my family and friends up to date.  I eventually wrote a letter to all of them stating that I was just too burdened to talk about things.  I pleaded for distance, which they hesitantly respected.  As far as I could see, their horizons were full of hope and joy, while mine was full of pain and heartbreak.  I remember that time as having a Naomi heart…a broken heart without the desire to be in community any longer.

But God never meant for anyone to experience life alone, especially in grief.  There are certainly times when we need to withdraw to allow God to heal our hearts.  But also, it is important to know that God has surrounded us with a divinely-appointment community.  A beautiful encampment of people who walks with us, before us and behind us.  They hold our hands as we face empty tomorrows, and they speak the beautiful memories that will hold our hearts forever.  They are the heart prints of God during times when we are overcome with sadness.

God has used so many precious people in my life over the years to encourage me, comfort me and experience His enduring grace.  Through the beauty of community horizons seem brighter, hearts seem a little warmer and hope points to the eternal.  Community takes courage, a grateful heart and an open spirit.

“Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper.”  Gen 2:18.

Shedding the Shadow

“He pleaded earnestly with him, ‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live…’ Jesus went with him… He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around…” Mark 5:23-24, 41-42

There are few things more frightening than watching the demons of addiction invade, lure, demand and destroy in the heart and mind of a person. I’ve known and loved amazing people who have walked and are still walking this journey. I read something haunting that my daughter posted about addiction. ‘It is a stone wall that stands to keep you in and the rest out. It is a shadow that always lurks behind you, waiting to strike.’ If you have never been up close and personal to this disease one might be tempted to judge. When one judges those suffering souls, they are judging nothing more than a shadow…an empty version of a person…one who needs relief from the demons within. Its hard to understand who breaks through that stone wall, and who is broken by it.

Yesterday Jesus took a wearied beautiful soul, placed His healing hands on her body, took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’ As she closed her eyes to this broken dark world, she opened her eyes to her new home. A home where demons don’t lurk…a home where she immediately was healthy and whole…a home where there is only Light...a home where stone walls have been replaced with beautiful open gates. At the sound of His voice no doubt she felt more alive than ever in this life. She is now free to dance in the fields of grace and will never again look over her shoulder to determine where the shadow is hiding. She is walking around the beautiful gardens discovering truth over lies and realizing once and for all who she was created to be. While our hearts are broken, her heart has been set free. And while we taste the bitter fare of grief, she is tasting the feast of Heaven. She was instrumental in taking others by the hand at the beginning of their lives of sobriety, and now she has been taken by the hand of the Ultimate Healer.

Join me in lifting this family up, along with those blessed people that her life touched along her journey Home.

"Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength." 1 Co 15:43

Scandalous Guilt

They all condemned him as deserving death.” Mark 14:64

When Jesus was walking on this earth thousands of years ago, a group of people were vehemently determined to find guilt in Him…guilt of anything because they feared His popularity among the region would cause an uprising. They were frightened that He would become king, so they accused and condemned Him for blasphemy after His admission of being the Son of God. They orchestrated the perfect ‘trap’ in which to ensnare this man named Jesus. Little did they understand that the guilty charge against Him was the plan all along. Jesus allowed Himself to be our guilty verdict, so we could walk in blameless freedom.

We only need to trace the calendar to 2018 to see that there are still people who wish to prove the guilt of Jesus. They call Him guilty of claiming to be the only way…they call Him guilty of not being progressive enough…they call Him guilty of looking the other way on injustices…they call Him guilty of withholding good things from His children...they call Him guilty for not being there like He claims.

I too wish to claim this morning that Jesus is guilty alright. He is guilty of losing His life, so we can gain our life. He is guilty of scandalous grace when dealing with each one of us. He is without apology guilty of loving us beyond our understanding and talking about us to God as they plan out our lives. He is guilty of unmatched mercy and unparalleled kindness to us when we don’t deserve it. I can only pray that He deems me guilty over the course of my life.  I want to be guilty of loving others when they have done nothing to deserve it. I want to be guilty of claiming position as a daughter of God. I want to be guilty of scandalous grace to those in need, and unselfish love as extended to me by Jesus.  I am still innocent on many counts, but hopeful that I can be guilty of all these things and more the closer I walk with Jesus.

When I stand before the Judge one day I can only pray I hear those beautiful words, ‘Guilty as charged!’

Living Without a King

"During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land. A man left Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons to stay in the territory of Moab for a while.” Ruth 1:1

This is a family whose story made it into the Bible, and what a story of application it is for us. This family was a very devout family who loved God and walked with Him. But they eventually found themselves in a provisional dilemma…a famine came across the entire region that left them starving. What we must understand about the temperature of this season is what triggered the famine. We only need to turn one page back to the last verse of the preceding Book of Judges. The last line of Judges states, ‘In those days there was no king…everyone did whatever seemed right to them.’ The Bible makes a crystal-clear observation as we close the door on Judges and open the door to Ruth…without a king people do whatever they want which will always lead to a provisional crisis.

Oh, how this speaks to me this morning as I consider ‘those days’ in my own life when I was acting without a King. I was spending money that I didn’t have, searching for things that would make me feel better, and building my own kingdom of deceit. Those were days when I crowned myself king and did whatever I wanted. What followed was a famine like no other…a time I was so hungry for normalcy again…a time that seemed empty of resolution and full of shame. When we operate in our own desires, we move away from the provision of God. The closer that we move back to Him, the more fully He will provide for us. No doubt that in Moab they found plenty of food…plenty of enjoyment…plenty of options. But then life happens, and things change. One famine led to another and our story takes a pivot. In God’s kingdom, you can’t outrun a famine.

Famines are meant to create a hunger for something we lack in our lives. Like the family in our story, their famine prompted movement to find the provision they so lacked. The husband and sons died while in the land of Moab, and the mother, Naomi made the courageous decision to return to her original home. As tough as the decision was, the famine had lifted, and she could fill both her stomach and her heart at the place from where she had come.

God is the only one who can fill our hunger with good things that nourish and fuel our walk with Him. When we allow Him to be King of our lives, famines will be fewer and provisions will be greater. God uses our lack to draw us back to His heart, and provides us with everything we need spiritually, physically and emotionally. If you find yourself in a place of need today, ask God to reveal His heart on your circumstances and to move you into His land of provision. And with that beautiful invitation He will always take His place back on the throne of our lives. I have never regretted letting Him wear the crown!

Putting Away our Swords

“At that, Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword away!  Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?” John 18:11

Years ago, I used to facilitate GriefShare, a support group driven by a video and a daily emotional and spiritual workbook for the journey.  There was one constant struggle some of the precious members of that group…some had feelings of fault and guilt, while others had feelings of blame.  I know with my own grief there have been times when I questioned ‘what if we had done this or what if we had done that?’  Would the outcome be any different?  Would my sister or my dad still be living out their lives?  In grief, there can be feelings or blame towards another, or feelings of guilt towards ourselves.  Both attitudes are swinging the sword…

Jesus gave us a beautiful example of accepting God’s will when things look dire.  He understood completely that anything and everything that entered His life, was filtered through God’s hands.  He had complete confidence that God would reconcile everything He was getting ready to lose.  He knew that Peter’s attempt to intervene would be futile, because He knew the will of His Father was soon to be fulfilled.  He also understood that His residency was not on earth, and this was the plan to usher Him right back into His Father’s home.  He would finally be home…He would never again be an only child.  Because He drank from the cup given to Him, we will drink with our loved ones again one day.  The plan has always been to leave this world and join the Kingdom Family.

So many times, we fall on own sword in our challenging circumstances.  We live out regrets over which we never had control.  We blame ourselves for something that was God’s will all along.  We swing our swords at doctors, clinics, family members all the while losing sight that God is in total control.  We forget that God loves our loved ones more than we ever could.  We must put our swords away, and trust God for His plan for not only our lives but the lives of those around us.  We will all be asked to drink from the cup that God has given us, but that is not the end.  The cup is just the vessel to grow us into the likeness of our Brother, and to use us to bring people along, and to deliver right into the arms of Jesus.