Mark 5:21-42
I am task oriented. There I said it! I am so task oriented that I am ashamed to admit I place menial tasks on my “to do” list just so I can quickly check them off. I pride myself on efficiency, and I do not allow anyone to slow me down! And… I am NOT like Jesus! Jesus never once allowed tasks and “to do’s” to drive his day. Our great Savior allowed His Father’s love for mankind to flow through Him and direct His steps.
In the story of Jairus’ daughter, we see Jesus on the way to do a great miracle for a prominent man. However, in route He was touched. Just a momentary touch that stopped Him in His tracks. He scanned the crowd, saw the need and ministered to the woman without regard to the task at hand. It took a few minutes, but it changed a woman’s life.
How many times am I so consumed with the task at hand that I either ignore or don’t even notice the little touches of others along the way? How many times am I so eager to get out of the grocery store that I don’t notice the cashier who is obviously having a bad day? How many times am I asked throughout the day “How are you doing?” without ever asking that person back? How quickly do I rush out a door without noticing the person behind me whom I could help by holding the door open? How quickly do I rush my children through “teachable” moments just so we are not late to Bible Study?!
In this story, two people were healed that day: the hemorrhaging woman and Jairus’ daughter. Jesus was able to redeem the “lost time” spent helping that woman by still accomplishing an even greater miracle than just healing– but resurrecting a dead life! Do I believe that Jesus is powerful enough to redeem my time, when I commit these “touchable” moments to Him?
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves” (Phil 2:3). Time to call it what it is… selfish ambition and vain conceit. It is time to put the list down and put the love of Christ on (Col 3:12-14).
Showing posts with label Humility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humility. Show all posts
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Holy Spirit Backfire!
Psalm 4:4-5 (Click on reference to read text)
I am ashamed to say I was lying awake in bed at 3am trying my hardest to come up with the best way to "zing" my husband... deliver the perfect sentence to convey enough conviction, guilt, and meanness to cause him to change a decision. I knew it wasn't right, but I was convinced that the Holy Spirit needed a little bit of help to manipulate my husband into doing what I wanted him to do. After two hours of rehearsing the perfect sentence, I was trying to go back to sleep. Since I was awake I started praying for those the Lord brought to mind, and Psalm 4 popped into my head. My mother has always taught me to read any Scripture the Lord brings to mind, so I reached over and grabbed my Bible. This is what I read:
"In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD."
It was I who got "zinged!" I was about to sin in my anger, I was not going to be silent and I was even lying in my bed! I immediately knew what I needed to do: "be silent... and trust in the Lord." Instead of trying to come up with a way to manipulate my husband into agreeing with me, I decided to trust the Lord and allow Him to work in the heart of my husband or in my heart... whichever one needed to be changed.
Please tell me I am not the only one! Have you ever had a situation where you were trying to play the Holy Spirit and change people instead of allowing the Lord to do His work? The Bible says, "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise" (Prov 10:19). The Bible also tells us to trust in the Lord and HE will make your righteousness shine like the dawn and the justice of your cause like the noonday sun (Ps 37:4-6).
The Holy Spirit doesn't need our help. Let's lay down our need to control, our need to get our own way, and just be silent and trust in Him.
I am ashamed to say I was lying awake in bed at 3am trying my hardest to come up with the best way to "zing" my husband... deliver the perfect sentence to convey enough conviction, guilt, and meanness to cause him to change a decision. I knew it wasn't right, but I was convinced that the Holy Spirit needed a little bit of help to manipulate my husband into doing what I wanted him to do. After two hours of rehearsing the perfect sentence, I was trying to go back to sleep. Since I was awake I started praying for those the Lord brought to mind, and Psalm 4 popped into my head. My mother has always taught me to read any Scripture the Lord brings to mind, so I reached over and grabbed my Bible. This is what I read:
"In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD."
It was I who got "zinged!" I was about to sin in my anger, I was not going to be silent and I was even lying in my bed! I immediately knew what I needed to do: "be silent... and trust in the Lord." Instead of trying to come up with a way to manipulate my husband into agreeing with me, I decided to trust the Lord and allow Him to work in the heart of my husband or in my heart... whichever one needed to be changed.
Please tell me I am not the only one! Have you ever had a situation where you were trying to play the Holy Spirit and change people instead of allowing the Lord to do His work? The Bible says, "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise" (Prov 10:19). The Bible also tells us to trust in the Lord and HE will make your righteousness shine like the dawn and the justice of your cause like the noonday sun (Ps 37:4-6).
The Holy Spirit doesn't need our help. Let's lay down our need to control, our need to get our own way, and just be silent and trust in Him.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The TimeTable of My Savior...
Exodus 2:11-15, 3 and 4 (Click on reference to read text)
Have you ever tried to serve the Lord, only to have it backfire and land you in the "desert"? Welcome to Moses's life.
Many times we have great ideas to further the Kingdom of God. We rush ahead, sure that this idea was divinely inspired, but instead of the planned outcome, we find our self in the desert. The natural response would be to become bitter, angry, disillusioned and disappointed. However, we must remember that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and the desert may be just the place he needs us.
The desert taught Moses to stop and listen. "When the Lord saw that he (Moses) turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" and he said, "Here I am" (vs. 3:4). Moses learned to recognize and heed the voice of God. Instead of charging ahead and making his own plans he listened to what God had to say. We too must learn this lesson. God does not need us in order to see his purpose accomplished, but he desires to use us for His glory. We must seek His voice to find out how He wants us to glorify Him.
Second, the desert taught Moses to fear the Lord. In verse 6 we find Moses hiding his face, afraid to look at God. Proverbs tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One brings understanding (9:10). Just as we desire our children to not cower in fear of us, but to respect us enough to trust that what we say is right and should be followed, we too should have a healthy fear of the Lord. His Word is full of wisdom and direction. We need to approach every decision we make in light of a healthy reverence of the Lord. If it is not for His glory, then it is not for our good!
Third, the desert taught Moses humility. We find Moses arguing with God saying, "who am I that I should go?"(vs. 3:11). Instead of rushing in and taking the bull by the horns, he is questioning to see if God got it right! Later we read that Moses was the most humble man on the face of the Earth (Numbers 12:3). What changed? 40 years in the desert. Instead of bemoaning your circumstances we need to ask God what He wants to teach us through them. Find out the lesson He wants you to learn. We know that in all things God will work for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Believe that promise and start being obedient to the Lord where He places you now. Who knows, He may be preparing you to bring deliverance!
Fourth, the desert taught Moses true confidence. Chapter 3 and 4 of Exodus finds God telling Moses exactly how it is all going to go down. He doesn't send Moses in unprepared. He even warns him that Pharaoh is not going to let go easily. However, we see a wonderful thing: "No time is spent convincing Moses of what he can do, but much time is spent explaining to Moses what God can do. The strength of Moses is never considered... the strength of Moses is not the issue, the strength of God is" (Max Lucado). Moses learns that "we can do all things through Him who gives us strength (Phil 4:13), "that when we are weak we are actually strong" (2 Cor 12:10), that God in fact uses the weak things of this world to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:27). Human weakness always opens the door for God's power to shine through. Moses learned that confidence is not found in his abilities, but in God's!
There are a lot of other lessons he learned here, but you get the point. The desert is not always as dry as it first appears. Know that even though you may find yourself here, you are not alone. Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you wherever you may go (Joshua 1:9). Start praising God for his presence, for His wisdom in bringing you hear, and open your ears to what He might be telling you. Listen to his command, "Remove your sandals from your feet" (be still and know that He is God) "For the place on which you are standing is holy ground."
Have you ever tried to serve the Lord, only to have it backfire and land you in the "desert"? Welcome to Moses's life.
Many times we have great ideas to further the Kingdom of God. We rush ahead, sure that this idea was divinely inspired, but instead of the planned outcome, we find our self in the desert. The natural response would be to become bitter, angry, disillusioned and disappointed. However, we must remember that God's ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and the desert may be just the place he needs us.
The desert taught Moses to stop and listen. "When the Lord saw that he (Moses) turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" and he said, "Here I am" (vs. 3:4). Moses learned to recognize and heed the voice of God. Instead of charging ahead and making his own plans he listened to what God had to say. We too must learn this lesson. God does not need us in order to see his purpose accomplished, but he desires to use us for His glory. We must seek His voice to find out how He wants us to glorify Him.
Second, the desert taught Moses to fear the Lord. In verse 6 we find Moses hiding his face, afraid to look at God. Proverbs tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One brings understanding (9:10). Just as we desire our children to not cower in fear of us, but to respect us enough to trust that what we say is right and should be followed, we too should have a healthy fear of the Lord. His Word is full of wisdom and direction. We need to approach every decision we make in light of a healthy reverence of the Lord. If it is not for His glory, then it is not for our good!
Third, the desert taught Moses humility. We find Moses arguing with God saying, "who am I that I should go?"(vs. 3:11). Instead of rushing in and taking the bull by the horns, he is questioning to see if God got it right! Later we read that Moses was the most humble man on the face of the Earth (Numbers 12:3). What changed? 40 years in the desert. Instead of bemoaning your circumstances we need to ask God what He wants to teach us through them. Find out the lesson He wants you to learn. We know that in all things God will work for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Believe that promise and start being obedient to the Lord where He places you now. Who knows, He may be preparing you to bring deliverance!
Fourth, the desert taught Moses true confidence. Chapter 3 and 4 of Exodus finds God telling Moses exactly how it is all going to go down. He doesn't send Moses in unprepared. He even warns him that Pharaoh is not going to let go easily. However, we see a wonderful thing: "No time is spent convincing Moses of what he can do, but much time is spent explaining to Moses what God can do. The strength of Moses is never considered... the strength of Moses is not the issue, the strength of God is" (Max Lucado). Moses learns that "we can do all things through Him who gives us strength (Phil 4:13), "that when we are weak we are actually strong" (2 Cor 12:10), that God in fact uses the weak things of this world to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:27). Human weakness always opens the door for God's power to shine through. Moses learned that confidence is not found in his abilities, but in God's!
There are a lot of other lessons he learned here, but you get the point. The desert is not always as dry as it first appears. Know that even though you may find yourself here, you are not alone. Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you wherever you may go (Joshua 1:9). Start praising God for his presence, for His wisdom in bringing you hear, and open your ears to what He might be telling you. Listen to his command, "Remove your sandals from your feet" (be still and know that He is God) "For the place on which you are standing is holy ground."
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Jesus is Alive...
Mark 16:1-7 (Click on reference to read text)
"Jesus is Alive!" These were the precious words of my two year old the other day. Talk about making a Mama's heart soar! The greatest act the world has ever known, the crux of our entire faith, the one point in history that changed things forever... Jesus is alive! Yet, as Hebrews tells us, the Word of God is living and active (Heb 4:12), and as I have been reading this story often recently, the Lord has really challenged me in new ways.
In the very beginning of this chapter, we see these dedicated women going to a tomb (vs.1). I can just picture them huddled together, talking in low whispers, doing what they knew they needed to do, walking to a place that seemed like the last step of a failed mission. This was not the way it was supposed to turn out. The Messiah was supposed to come and set them free from Roman oppressions. However, even though things did not turn out exactly like they thought, they did not turn their back on Jesus. They showed Him the honor He deserved. As we think about these women, we must ask our self, "do we have a tendency to turn our back on God when things don't look like we want them to?" Do we walk towards Christ during these times, or turn away?
Second we see that these women had correct priorities. They came as soon as possible... "very early on the first day of the week" (vs.2). They did not delay in honoring Christ. They did not stall until they got the dishes done, laundry washed, children fed... they went first thing. Where is God in our priorities? Is He the first thing to be neglected?
Third, these women teach us to come to Christ before we have it all figured out. They were walking to the tomb and they didn't know how everything was going to fall into place. As they were walking, they were asking each other, "who will roll away the stone for us?"(vs.3). So many times I want to wait until everything is lined up perfectly. Every detail is hashed out and prepared for. Every scenario has a plan and solution. However, these women obeyed and honored God, and then trusted Him with the details, and guess what? He came through! When they got to the tomb they saw the stone rolled away (vs. 4)! Do we give God the opportunity to roll away the stones in our path? If we never take the first step in obedience, we can never see His hand provide the way!
This leads us to our fourth lesson... when God provides the way, go for it! We don't see them hesitate at the tomb, email all their friends about the options and if they should go for it, and they don't have a prayer meeting. They knew they were supposed to be with Christ, they were walking in obedience to Him, so when He made a way they went on in (vs.5) looking for their Savior (vs.6). When we know God is calling us to something, do we obey or hesitate? If God calls you, He will equip you and provide the way.
Lastly we see the sweet hand of our wonderful Savior. The angel told them where to find their Jesus (vs.7). God wants those looking for Him to find Him. God tells us in Proverbs 8:17, "I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me." Jeremiah 29:13 says, "you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." God does not hide himself from those seeking Him. However, we must search for Him in such a way to find him... with our whole heart. Go where He is, even if it seems like a monumental task. These women weren't seeking God's hand, what He could do for Him, they were just seeking Him, His presence, in order to bring Him honor and respect.
Did these women know that 2,000 years later another seeker of the Savior would read about this walk to a graveyard and contemplate their courage, their faith, and their perseverance? No, I am sure that didn't even cross their minds. They were just seeking out the man that offered everything, even though they didn't understand, they knew they had to be near Him. May I have that same desire, that same drive, that same need that calls me to His side.
"Jesus is Alive!" These were the precious words of my two year old the other day. Talk about making a Mama's heart soar! The greatest act the world has ever known, the crux of our entire faith, the one point in history that changed things forever... Jesus is alive! Yet, as Hebrews tells us, the Word of God is living and active (Heb 4:12), and as I have been reading this story often recently, the Lord has really challenged me in new ways.
In the very beginning of this chapter, we see these dedicated women going to a tomb (vs.1). I can just picture them huddled together, talking in low whispers, doing what they knew they needed to do, walking to a place that seemed like the last step of a failed mission. This was not the way it was supposed to turn out. The Messiah was supposed to come and set them free from Roman oppressions. However, even though things did not turn out exactly like they thought, they did not turn their back on Jesus. They showed Him the honor He deserved. As we think about these women, we must ask our self, "do we have a tendency to turn our back on God when things don't look like we want them to?" Do we walk towards Christ during these times, or turn away?
Second we see that these women had correct priorities. They came as soon as possible... "very early on the first day of the week" (vs.2). They did not delay in honoring Christ. They did not stall until they got the dishes done, laundry washed, children fed... they went first thing. Where is God in our priorities? Is He the first thing to be neglected?
Third, these women teach us to come to Christ before we have it all figured out. They were walking to the tomb and they didn't know how everything was going to fall into place. As they were walking, they were asking each other, "who will roll away the stone for us?"(vs.3). So many times I want to wait until everything is lined up perfectly. Every detail is hashed out and prepared for. Every scenario has a plan and solution. However, these women obeyed and honored God, and then trusted Him with the details, and guess what? He came through! When they got to the tomb they saw the stone rolled away (vs. 4)! Do we give God the opportunity to roll away the stones in our path? If we never take the first step in obedience, we can never see His hand provide the way!
This leads us to our fourth lesson... when God provides the way, go for it! We don't see them hesitate at the tomb, email all their friends about the options and if they should go for it, and they don't have a prayer meeting. They knew they were supposed to be with Christ, they were walking in obedience to Him, so when He made a way they went on in (vs.5) looking for their Savior (vs.6). When we know God is calling us to something, do we obey or hesitate? If God calls you, He will equip you and provide the way.
Lastly we see the sweet hand of our wonderful Savior. The angel told them where to find their Jesus (vs.7). God wants those looking for Him to find Him. God tells us in Proverbs 8:17, "I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me." Jeremiah 29:13 says, "you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." God does not hide himself from those seeking Him. However, we must search for Him in such a way to find him... with our whole heart. Go where He is, even if it seems like a monumental task. These women weren't seeking God's hand, what He could do for Him, they were just seeking Him, His presence, in order to bring Him honor and respect.
Did these women know that 2,000 years later another seeker of the Savior would read about this walk to a graveyard and contemplate their courage, their faith, and their perseverance? No, I am sure that didn't even cross their minds. They were just seeking out the man that offered everything, even though they didn't understand, they knew they had to be near Him. May I have that same desire, that same drive, that same need that calls me to His side.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Are You Empty?
2 Kings 4:1-7 - Click on reference to read... Please take a moment to read the Scripture. My words are simply that, but God's are living and active (Hebrews 4:12)
God promises in His Word that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6). However, there are times in our life that we are so weighted down and troubled we cannot imagine getting through. Although He promises that He will never leave us, God also promises, "in this world you will have trouble," BUT don't forget the rest, "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
This God-fearing widow found herself in dire need. Her life, and the lives of her children, were at stake! Instead of running to worldly solutions, she ran to God! God was willing to bless her in the midst of her troubles... to the point of OVERFLOWING! He took what she already had (vs. 2) and brought deliverance! However, it was her responsibility to provide empty jars. As many empty jars as she provided, God was willing to fill!
So many times, the amount of blessing we receive depends upon the amount of emptiness we present to God. We may obey him half-heartily... maybe only gathering the jars closest to us that require no extra cleaning out or searching. Maybe we are scared to ask others around us for help. Maybe we are too scared to be totally empty and vulnerable before the Lord. Yet any of these excuses would limit the work and power of God in our life. Elisha commanded, "Don't ask for just a few" (vs. 3). It is only when we are empty before the Lord, taking out all of ourselves and presenting it before God, that He can deliver us from ourselves and fill us with His spirit to the point of overflowing!
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