"It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way - a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" Mark 1:2-3.
Talk about a hero - this passage was speaking of John the Baptist. He was the forerunner to Christ to point everyone to the Messiah. While he ushered this point of time in he was not your typical hero. He was a "wild and wooly" desert dweller who dressed in camel haired vest and never shaved. He lived in the wild and ate locusts and honey. He did not conform to the world of that time nor did he fear the Law. He used whatever circumstance he faced to further his goal of pointing to the Lord's coming. He rolled himself out as a red carpet preparing the way for the King. Everyday he aligned himself with one purpose - the purpose of predicting the coming of Christ and getting the hearts of men prepared to receive the new way - the Christian way.
Whether we are in the desert or on the mountaintop what kind of red carpet are we rolling out? Does our carpet end at the door of the malls, the bars or the altar? We should always be voices calling to point to the Lord. We have a responsibility to use our experiences and point to Him to introduce our Savior and encourage others to reach out and grab the King's golden ring!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Recognizing God's Voice
"When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice" John 10:4.
As a mother of three and grandmother of three, this verse holds such an endearing place in my heart. A parent's voice is recognized by the loving and continual communication of love between parent and child. This is exemplified in a baby when its mother enters the room and she begins speaking. From early on in the life of a baby they learn to recognize, depend and respond to its parents' voices. How many times have we held someone else's child only to have them strain to find their mother as she speaks? There is a comfortable and secure awareness on the part of the child that now all is alright since they have heard the soothing and loving voice of the one they recognize as mother or daddy. They even begin to cry in an effort to find themselves back in the arms of their parent.
Our Father desires for us to have this instant recognition of His voice. It is only through our efforts and pursuit of "knowing His voice" that we may recognize and enjoy the security and awareness that our loving Father desires to protect, nurture and guide us through our lives. Knowing His voice involves reading and meditating on His word, continual communion with Him during the day, both believing and anticipating that He is going to speak to us.
What steps can you take to position yourself daily to "recognize His voice"?
A big part of “knowing His voice” is recognizing His presence!
As a mother of three and grandmother of three, this verse holds such an endearing place in my heart. A parent's voice is recognized by the loving and continual communication of love between parent and child. This is exemplified in a baby when its mother enters the room and she begins speaking. From early on in the life of a baby they learn to recognize, depend and respond to its parents' voices. How many times have we held someone else's child only to have them strain to find their mother as she speaks? There is a comfortable and secure awareness on the part of the child that now all is alright since they have heard the soothing and loving voice of the one they recognize as mother or daddy. They even begin to cry in an effort to find themselves back in the arms of their parent.
Our Father desires for us to have this instant recognition of His voice. It is only through our efforts and pursuit of "knowing His voice" that we may recognize and enjoy the security and awareness that our loving Father desires to protect, nurture and guide us through our lives. Knowing His voice involves reading and meditating on His word, continual communion with Him during the day, both believing and anticipating that He is going to speak to us.
What steps can you take to position yourself daily to "recognize His voice"?
A big part of “knowing His voice” is recognizing His presence!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Saturday School
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.
I was so blessed by this morning's Bible Study. I am using a book from Max Lucado called Cast of Characters for my morning devotions. Today's study was on the beloved disciple John during the weekend of the crucifixion of Jesus. Max was writing of the tradegy John experienced on Friday of losing a beloved friend and teacher to a brutal death. He explained how John didn't know of the impending resurrection on Sunday but simply lingered on Saturday because he wasn't ready to leave Jesus. He wanted to remain close to Him. Of course, tragedy turned to triumph on Sunday and Max leaves us with life application question?
"John chose to linger. And because he lingered on Saturday, he was around on Sunday to see the miracle. When you are somewhere between yesterday's tragedy and tomorrow's triumph, what do you do? Do you leave God--or do you linger near him?" Max Lucado, Cast of Characters, p. 90.
In pondering this question, I went back to my "Saturday season" when my daughter was in the depths of drug addiction for over 8 years. My Saturday didn't occur until I crucified my fears and chaos to God and decided to wait patiently on Him. I placed my out of control emotions behind the sealed stone and allowed Christ to carry my cross at year 6. My Saturday was another 2 years of waiting on Him to resurrect something...anything. Then on Mother's Day almost five years ago the sealed stone was moved and my daughter's life was resurrected. He was bringing her home and she has been clean and sober for 5 years on May 14! My "Saturday season" was definately one of "lingering near Him" and the triumph was worth the wait.
I am presently in another Saturday season with my Dad's cancer but I know that when that sealed tomb is open there will be triumph following tradegy.
What Saturday season are you in?
I was so blessed by this morning's Bible Study. I am using a book from Max Lucado called Cast of Characters for my morning devotions. Today's study was on the beloved disciple John during the weekend of the crucifixion of Jesus. Max was writing of the tradegy John experienced on Friday of losing a beloved friend and teacher to a brutal death. He explained how John didn't know of the impending resurrection on Sunday but simply lingered on Saturday because he wasn't ready to leave Jesus. He wanted to remain close to Him. Of course, tragedy turned to triumph on Sunday and Max leaves us with life application question?
"John chose to linger. And because he lingered on Saturday, he was around on Sunday to see the miracle. When you are somewhere between yesterday's tragedy and tomorrow's triumph, what do you do? Do you leave God--or do you linger near him?" Max Lucado, Cast of Characters, p. 90.
In pondering this question, I went back to my "Saturday season" when my daughter was in the depths of drug addiction for over 8 years. My Saturday didn't occur until I crucified my fears and chaos to God and decided to wait patiently on Him. I placed my out of control emotions behind the sealed stone and allowed Christ to carry my cross at year 6. My Saturday was another 2 years of waiting on Him to resurrect something...anything. Then on Mother's Day almost five years ago the sealed stone was moved and my daughter's life was resurrected. He was bringing her home and she has been clean and sober for 5 years on May 14! My "Saturday season" was definately one of "lingering near Him" and the triumph was worth the wait.
I am presently in another Saturday season with my Dad's cancer but I know that when that sealed tomb is open there will be triumph following tradegy.
What Saturday season are you in?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
What's In Your Closet
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14
When choosing an outfit for a special occasion, we try on many combinations. We go to great lengths to make sure what we step out of our closet wearing shows our best foot forward. Our goal for clothing ourselves is to choose something which both flatters and feeds into our confidence.
Spiritually speaking, we sometimes shop from the wholesale garment rack. This rack, compliments of Satan, tempts us to choose the garments of pain, anger, resentment and bitterness. The garment of love never hangs on this rack for love takes time, patience, gentleness and forgiveness. Love will always cost more and will never be attained through cheap imitations.
Your garments are based on the choices that make you up as a person. The wonderful things about clothes is you can always discard the old and put on the new. The clothing of love comes at a price that we do not have to pay. It has already been paid and His name is Christ.
When choosing an outfit for a special occasion, we try on many combinations. We go to great lengths to make sure what we step out of our closet wearing shows our best foot forward. Our goal for clothing ourselves is to choose something which both flatters and feeds into our confidence.
Spiritually speaking, we sometimes shop from the wholesale garment rack. This rack, compliments of Satan, tempts us to choose the garments of pain, anger, resentment and bitterness. The garment of love never hangs on this rack for love takes time, patience, gentleness and forgiveness. Love will always cost more and will never be attained through cheap imitations.
Your garments are based on the choices that make you up as a person. The wonderful things about clothes is you can always discard the old and put on the new. The clothing of love comes at a price that we do not have to pay. It has already been paid and His name is Christ.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Outstanding Debt
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8
Last night I came downstairs when I started feeling what I call "fleeting grief". It is grief that crashes over me but quickly recedes back into the endless water. I am one of those who love facebook and wrote on the status line that I was missing my sister, whom just arrived in Heaven three weeks ago. I went back to bed and received a pretty good night's sleep. After my morning devotions this morning I pulled up my facebook only to find ten responses of loving, encouraging and praying people in Christ.
I was overwhelmed and humbled, but not surprised, to find that on a Friday night so many people took the time to love me, encourage me and pray for me. This is the continuing debt that the Bible speaks of. It is a debt that Christ will never finish paying. It is a debt that is continuously paid with change from the heart, mind and spirit. It is a God debt that will never be paid off thanks to the unending and unfailing love of Love Himself.
I pray that you are surrounded with these same debtors as you are their debtors in Christ.
Last night I came downstairs when I started feeling what I call "fleeting grief". It is grief that crashes over me but quickly recedes back into the endless water. I am one of those who love facebook and wrote on the status line that I was missing my sister, whom just arrived in Heaven three weeks ago. I went back to bed and received a pretty good night's sleep. After my morning devotions this morning I pulled up my facebook only to find ten responses of loving, encouraging and praying people in Christ.
I was overwhelmed and humbled, but not surprised, to find that on a Friday night so many people took the time to love me, encourage me and pray for me. This is the continuing debt that the Bible speaks of. It is a debt that Christ will never finish paying. It is a debt that is continuously paid with change from the heart, mind and spirit. It is a God debt that will never be paid off thanks to the unending and unfailing love of Love Himself.
I pray that you are surrounded with these same debtors as you are their debtors in Christ.
Friday, April 3, 2009
The Bridge to Somewhere Perfect
"Let us, therefore, make every effort to do what leads up to peace and to mutual edification." Romans 14:19.
During the election we heard so much about the "bridge to nowhere" we were tempted to put it on our desired vacation list. This path was one of the most well-known places in the world but not for a valued reason. It was a path exemplified to show waste, no value, misrepresented efforts and self-edification. The word "edification" means to build up or strengthen, especially in morals or religion.
This exhortation commands that in every effort we make peace and strength our desired destination in one walk - the walk in Christ. Christ is our bridge towards peace and edification. With every effort we must align our minds and our footsteps to follow the path led by Christ. If we are following the Bridge we cannot go anywhere but where the Bridge is funneled on the other side. Christ is peace and to walk in Him it will always lead to perfect peace and mutual edification - the strengthening and building up of His body, the Church - the Bridge to somewhere Perfect.
During the election we heard so much about the "bridge to nowhere" we were tempted to put it on our desired vacation list. This path was one of the most well-known places in the world but not for a valued reason. It was a path exemplified to show waste, no value, misrepresented efforts and self-edification. The word "edification" means to build up or strengthen, especially in morals or religion.
This exhortation commands that in every effort we make peace and strength our desired destination in one walk - the walk in Christ. Christ is our bridge towards peace and edification. With every effort we must align our minds and our footsteps to follow the path led by Christ. If we are following the Bridge we cannot go anywhere but where the Bridge is funneled on the other side. Christ is peace and to walk in Him it will always lead to perfect peace and mutual edification - the strengthening and building up of His body, the Church - the Bridge to somewhere Perfect.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Delighting in the Lord
"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
To delight in someone is to find joy in their presence, to welcome their unique qualities and to express pleasure in their company. Women of Faith Study Bible-p.894.
The disciples whom Jesus pursued first responded resoundingly with delight. They followed, served, learned and taught as a result of spending time with Jesus and "delighting in Him". Their journey was earthly but our spiritual journey with Him can offer us this same delight.
We walk with Him and experience miracles. We pray with and to Him to receive peace and comfort. We watch Him has He performs wonderous works in the lives of others. We go to the mountain with Him and kneel together. We walk with Him on the water when the storms become too rough.
This approachable character of Christ is just as accessible for us when we delight in Him as He was for the disciples thousands of years ago.
Delight in the Lord and you will experience the desires of your heart as He placed them in you.
To delight in someone is to find joy in their presence, to welcome their unique qualities and to express pleasure in their company. Women of Faith Study Bible-p.894.
The disciples whom Jesus pursued first responded resoundingly with delight. They followed, served, learned and taught as a result of spending time with Jesus and "delighting in Him". Their journey was earthly but our spiritual journey with Him can offer us this same delight.
We walk with Him and experience miracles. We pray with and to Him to receive peace and comfort. We watch Him has He performs wonderous works in the lives of others. We go to the mountain with Him and kneel together. We walk with Him on the water when the storms become too rough.
This approachable character of Christ is just as accessible for us when we delight in Him as He was for the disciples thousands of years ago.
Delight in the Lord and you will experience the desires of your heart as He placed them in you.
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