Ezra 7:6-10, 27
Even though Ezra was an exile in the land of Babylon, he was devoted to studying and obeying God's Word. When God called Ezra to go back to Jerusalem, in God's perfect timing, he was already prepared and he faithfully responded. Ezra found what we will find in similar circumstances: when we know and obey God's word, when we prepare and faithfully respond when God calls us, then nothing will hinder God's will from coming to pass. The best part... when we do it God's way, God gets ALL the glory!
In college I felt a strong calling upon the Lord to teach His Word. I even went forward one Sunday night at church for a "call to ministry". Several of the pastors at my home church told me that they were not surprised, but were actually waiting for God to reveal that call to me. However, as time passed and I became a wife and mother, that calling seemed to go on the back burner to my life circumstances. With babies at home, teaching was impossible! I was just trying to have time to have a personal quiet time with the Lord!
However, when my oldest daughter was 6 months old, I felt like God telling me to be faithful where I was then! I began to write devotionals on this blog. I knew I wanted to teach His Words, so as He revealed nuggets of Himself to me, I would simply write them here for "safe-keeping".
This spring, the Lord allowed me to witness, like Ezra, the gracious movement to walk in His will in His perfect timing. In a two month period, all of a sudden, I was asked to write two devotionals for the Women's ministry at my church and speak at two events. My personal life was crazy at the time. My oldest was/is super emotional as she prepares to go off to Kindergarten and my husband's work life was chaos. I was so blessed by the opportunity to finally speak His Words to others, but personally was struggling to find the time! However, because I was faithful to prepare for the "one day" I would teach HisWord, I was able to use two devotionals I had already written a year prior. In God's timing, the devotionals were shared.
All this to say... If God has placed a calling on your life and you have a restless spirit right now because you don't see how it is possible to do that call today... pray and seek where you can be faithful to start preparing today. David had a passion to build the Lord a temple, however the Lord gave that calling to Solomon. David did not begrudge God's decision, but spent time preparing and collecting supplies so that Solomon could do a great job in God's timing!
Always be prepared! God waste nothing when we give everything to Him!
Showing posts with label Obedience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obedience. Show all posts
Friday, May 31, 2013
Saturday, November 12, 2011
He Calls Me by Name...
Acts 10:1-8 (click on reference to read text)
I read this passage this morning and it brought me to tears. I am Cornelius. I am a Gentile that doesn't always understand exactly who God is, how He works, or who He came to save... yet the great God calls me by name as I call out to Him! WOW!
First, in Cornelius, we see God honors a searching heart. Cornelius prayed to God continually (vs 2). When we want to receive a Word from the Lord, when we need a touch of encouragement, or when we are wondering which way to go, what do we do about it? Do we call our friends, read Inspirational Non Fiction to seek advice, or simply try harder? If we want to hear from God we must be willing to be in communion with God. Just like Cornelius, when you are calling out to God, He calls you by name (vs 3)! Don't expect God to speak to you if you don't speak to Him.
Secondly, in Cornelius, we see God honors an honest heart. Cornelius was not a Jew, but He knew their God was the One True God. He prayed and gave offerings, even when he didn't fully understand or was fully accepted. Yet God knew the condition of His heart, and He "rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). God knows your heart. He knows your motives. He knows if you are truly seeking His face, and when you are, then rest knowing He is seeking you too (vs 3-4)!
Finally, in Cornelius, we see God honors an obedient heart. The Lord gave Cornelius detailed instructions on what he was to do next. God wanted to reveal Himself to Cornelius, but He also wanted to do a work in Peter's life as well (Acts 10). God will answer prayers that are crying out to know Him more. However, sometimes He will use others to accomplish that purpose in your life. God was working in two people's lives that day: Cornelius and Peter. We must be willing to accept God's answer to prayer even when it comes through means we might not normally expect. Obey what God is asking you to do and trust the results to him!
I love the story of Cornelius, because this is my spiritual legacy. I am a Gentile with no inheritance to the promised land, but whom God had mercy on and adopted into His family, allowing me too to call Him "Abba Father" (Romans 8:14-16). When I earnestly seek Him and call out to Him, He will call me by name. When I seek His will with a pure heart, even if I don't fully understand, He will teach me what to do. When I obey Him immediately, He will show me the next step in my walk with Him. Thank you Jesus, that your salvation is for me too (Acts 28:28), may my heart honor and please you.
I read this passage this morning and it brought me to tears. I am Cornelius. I am a Gentile that doesn't always understand exactly who God is, how He works, or who He came to save... yet the great God calls me by name as I call out to Him! WOW!
First, in Cornelius, we see God honors a searching heart. Cornelius prayed to God continually (vs 2). When we want to receive a Word from the Lord, when we need a touch of encouragement, or when we are wondering which way to go, what do we do about it? Do we call our friends, read Inspirational Non Fiction to seek advice, or simply try harder? If we want to hear from God we must be willing to be in communion with God. Just like Cornelius, when you are calling out to God, He calls you by name (vs 3)! Don't expect God to speak to you if you don't speak to Him.
Secondly, in Cornelius, we see God honors an honest heart. Cornelius was not a Jew, but He knew their God was the One True God. He prayed and gave offerings, even when he didn't fully understand or was fully accepted. Yet God knew the condition of His heart, and He "rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). God knows your heart. He knows your motives. He knows if you are truly seeking His face, and when you are, then rest knowing He is seeking you too (vs 3-4)!
Finally, in Cornelius, we see God honors an obedient heart. The Lord gave Cornelius detailed instructions on what he was to do next. God wanted to reveal Himself to Cornelius, but He also wanted to do a work in Peter's life as well (Acts 10). God will answer prayers that are crying out to know Him more. However, sometimes He will use others to accomplish that purpose in your life. God was working in two people's lives that day: Cornelius and Peter. We must be willing to accept God's answer to prayer even when it comes through means we might not normally expect. Obey what God is asking you to do and trust the results to him!
I love the story of Cornelius, because this is my spiritual legacy. I am a Gentile with no inheritance to the promised land, but whom God had mercy on and adopted into His family, allowing me too to call Him "Abba Father" (Romans 8:14-16). When I earnestly seek Him and call out to Him, He will call me by name. When I seek His will with a pure heart, even if I don't fully understand, He will teach me what to do. When I obey Him immediately, He will show me the next step in my walk with Him. Thank you Jesus, that your salvation is for me too (Acts 28:28), may my heart honor and please you.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Staying the Course... Do You Even Know the Course?
Acts 20:18-24 (Please click on reference to read text)
When I read the book of Acts, I look at the lives of Peter, Paul, Luke, Timothy, Silas, Lydia and wonder how did they keep their focus? How did they make their lives count for Christ so that 2000 years later I even know their names? How did the distractions of life not make them falter? I daily fight the battle of figuring out how to be a good steward of my time, knowing when to say yes and when to say no, or even identifying what is the most important. Then I read Acts 20:24, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God," and suddenly life became a lot more clear.
In order to "Stay the Course" we must first ask ourselves, "Do I know God's calling on my life?" This is not the time to spout the Christian/Piper answer "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." That is all well and good, but I am asking, what is God's call on your life? Can you name specific things you know He has asked you to do, to be, to take care of, etc. so that you can glorify Him? When I sat down and prayerfully asked myself this question I truly waited on God's reply. He gave me three very specific things that I know He has asked me to do. You must start here. Paul KNEW! Paul knew why God had put him on the earth. He was to "testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." Go ahead and ask. Wait for His answer. Write it down!
Secondly, after knowing God's call on our specific life, we must ask ourselves what are we doing about it? How are you "finishing the course" as Paul put it in Acts 20:24. Look at each thing you know God has asked you to do, to be, to take care of... remember what God has asked of you, not the church, not your friends, but God. In each of these areas, where do you stand and how do you measure up?
Finally, we must ask our self the hardest question of all, am I choosing to love my life more than following Him? In each of the areas I identified, I saw major areas in which I was falling short. In each of those areas there was one common theme as to why... selfishness. There were things I wanted to do, things I wanted to pursue, things I thought were good and important, but that were impeding the work God was wanting to do in my life and through my life. Without fail every time I had an attitude breakdown or fell short, it was because I "considered my life more dear to myself" than finishing the course.
The "Founding Fathers" of the church had jobs, had families, had commitment and responsibilities, yet they lived lives that counted for the only thing that lasts forever. We can too. We have the same promise of the Holy Spirit and power to obey. Do you have a clear focus of what God is calling you to do? How are you doing in those areas? If things come up that are not aligned in what God is calling you to... time to say No! Let's stay the course and when we come to the end of our life may we be able to say with Paul, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus."
When I read the book of Acts, I look at the lives of Peter, Paul, Luke, Timothy, Silas, Lydia and wonder how did they keep their focus? How did they make their lives count for Christ so that 2000 years later I even know their names? How did the distractions of life not make them falter? I daily fight the battle of figuring out how to be a good steward of my time, knowing when to say yes and when to say no, or even identifying what is the most important. Then I read Acts 20:24, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God," and suddenly life became a lot more clear.
In order to "Stay the Course" we must first ask ourselves, "Do I know God's calling on my life?" This is not the time to spout the Christian/Piper answer "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." That is all well and good, but I am asking, what is God's call on your life? Can you name specific things you know He has asked you to do, to be, to take care of, etc. so that you can glorify Him? When I sat down and prayerfully asked myself this question I truly waited on God's reply. He gave me three very specific things that I know He has asked me to do. You must start here. Paul KNEW! Paul knew why God had put him on the earth. He was to "testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." Go ahead and ask. Wait for His answer. Write it down!
Secondly, after knowing God's call on our specific life, we must ask ourselves what are we doing about it? How are you "finishing the course" as Paul put it in Acts 20:24. Look at each thing you know God has asked you to do, to be, to take care of... remember what God has asked of you, not the church, not your friends, but God. In each of these areas, where do you stand and how do you measure up?
Finally, we must ask our self the hardest question of all, am I choosing to love my life more than following Him? In each of the areas I identified, I saw major areas in which I was falling short. In each of those areas there was one common theme as to why... selfishness. There were things I wanted to do, things I wanted to pursue, things I thought were good and important, but that were impeding the work God was wanting to do in my life and through my life. Without fail every time I had an attitude breakdown or fell short, it was because I "considered my life more dear to myself" than finishing the course.
The "Founding Fathers" of the church had jobs, had families, had commitment and responsibilities, yet they lived lives that counted for the only thing that lasts forever. We can too. We have the same promise of the Holy Spirit and power to obey. Do you have a clear focus of what God is calling you to do? How are you doing in those areas? If things come up that are not aligned in what God is calling you to... time to say No! Let's stay the course and when we come to the end of our life may we be able to say with Paul, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus."
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Afraid to Look...
Acts 3:1-10 (Click on reference to read text)
I like to look the other way. There I said it! I was faced in a situation yesterday where I knew someone was in need. Somehow, even before I knew all the details, I knew it would require sacrifice, laying aside my selfishness and I would need to give.... my time, my energy, my emotions, etc. And I wanted to not just look away, I wanted to run away as fast as possible. However, deep down I knew God was calling me, and after literal tears and reciting all the justifications for why I should not have to get involved, I obeyed.
Peter was also faced with a great need. On his way to church to pray, he passed a man who was lame and who begged for a living. It would have been easy to look away, to justify that action by reciting all the things he was doing right for the Lord (he was on his way to church!) but instead, the Scripture tells us that Peter "fixed his gaze on him" (vs. 4). He was intentional and he was not afraid to see the pain in others around him. He was not inconvenienced by the needs of others.
Secondly, after fixing his gaze on the needy man, he offered his hand. "Seizing him by the right hand, [Peter] raised him up" (vs.7). He was healed! God used Peter to give this man the use of his legs for the first time! If we want the power of God displayed in our life, we must fix our gaze on the needs of those around us and lend them our hands! God does not use onlookers! God uses those who are unafraid to get dirty and be the literal hands and feet of Christ.
Lastly, because Peter looked and responded, this man began giving glory to God and created interest of God's miracles amongst those witnessing God's power (vs. 8 and 10). What greater calling is there in this world that to bring Glory to our Great God?
Dr. T.S. Laniak states, "we need to know personally that our true home is in Heaven and that this earth is simply a place where we promote God's interests." When we get comfortable and feeling at home here and now, it becomes hard to gaze at anything but ourselves.
I don't know what God's plans are for me and this road I am about to walk. I feel incapable of fulfilling what He has asked me to do. I do know that His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9) and that He has giving me everything I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:4-8). I don't know the future, and to be honest I am a little scared, but I do know the next step God is asking me to take and that He has promised that He is with me and that I don't need to be afraid. Time to start looking and start lending a hand.
I like to look the other way. There I said it! I was faced in a situation yesterday where I knew someone was in need. Somehow, even before I knew all the details, I knew it would require sacrifice, laying aside my selfishness and I would need to give.... my time, my energy, my emotions, etc. And I wanted to not just look away, I wanted to run away as fast as possible. However, deep down I knew God was calling me, and after literal tears and reciting all the justifications for why I should not have to get involved, I obeyed.
Peter was also faced with a great need. On his way to church to pray, he passed a man who was lame and who begged for a living. It would have been easy to look away, to justify that action by reciting all the things he was doing right for the Lord (he was on his way to church!) but instead, the Scripture tells us that Peter "fixed his gaze on him" (vs. 4). He was intentional and he was not afraid to see the pain in others around him. He was not inconvenienced by the needs of others.
Secondly, after fixing his gaze on the needy man, he offered his hand. "Seizing him by the right hand, [Peter] raised him up" (vs.7). He was healed! God used Peter to give this man the use of his legs for the first time! If we want the power of God displayed in our life, we must fix our gaze on the needs of those around us and lend them our hands! God does not use onlookers! God uses those who are unafraid to get dirty and be the literal hands and feet of Christ.
Lastly, because Peter looked and responded, this man began giving glory to God and created interest of God's miracles amongst those witnessing God's power (vs. 8 and 10). What greater calling is there in this world that to bring Glory to our Great God?
Dr. T.S. Laniak states, "we need to know personally that our true home is in Heaven and that this earth is simply a place where we promote God's interests." When we get comfortable and feeling at home here and now, it becomes hard to gaze at anything but ourselves.
I don't know what God's plans are for me and this road I am about to walk. I feel incapable of fulfilling what He has asked me to do. I do know that His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9) and that He has giving me everything I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:4-8). I don't know the future, and to be honest I am a little scared, but I do know the next step God is asking me to take and that He has promised that He is with me and that I don't need to be afraid. Time to start looking and start lending a hand.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Argh... Nineveh!
Jonah 2:9-3:3 (Click on reference to read text)
We are all familiar with the story of Jonah. But did you know that the big fish did not spit Jonah up at Nineveh? Once he committed to obey God, he still had to walk a three days journey to Nineveh. This simple revelation has changed my life.
I realize that I can have a very Americanized view of obedience. We almost have a sense of entitlement that when we decide to step out in faith and obey God: it should be easy, it should be comfortable and we should receive great blessing from God because of it.
How quickly we forget Moses, who obeyed God by marching back into Egypt and cursing the family that raised him until they decided to let the Israelites go. Paul who obeyed God by preaching the Gospel to the known world, but spent more time in prison and getting beat up than actually doing sermons in the countryside! Finally, Jesus, the ultimate picture of obedience. He placed himself upon the cross and died so that we can have reconciliation with God. The cross was not comfortable and it certainly was not easy, but I am so glad that Christ obeyed.
When you make the decision to obey God, it often means that you will be stretched beyond your comfort zone, you may have to go to a place you don't want to go and talk with people you don't want to talk to. Most likely He will ask you to do something that is beyond your mental, physical or spiritual abilities, but He is not asking you to do it alone. Just like with Moses, He is the great "I AM" in your life, just like with Paul and Jesus, the Heavenly Father is right there with you. Remember what Paul proclaimed, "That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12:10).
Are you a three days walk from your Nineveh? Put on your walking shoes and get going!
We are all familiar with the story of Jonah. But did you know that the big fish did not spit Jonah up at Nineveh? Once he committed to obey God, he still had to walk a three days journey to Nineveh. This simple revelation has changed my life.
I realize that I can have a very Americanized view of obedience. We almost have a sense of entitlement that when we decide to step out in faith and obey God: it should be easy, it should be comfortable and we should receive great blessing from God because of it.
How quickly we forget Moses, who obeyed God by marching back into Egypt and cursing the family that raised him until they decided to let the Israelites go. Paul who obeyed God by preaching the Gospel to the known world, but spent more time in prison and getting beat up than actually doing sermons in the countryside! Finally, Jesus, the ultimate picture of obedience. He placed himself upon the cross and died so that we can have reconciliation with God. The cross was not comfortable and it certainly was not easy, but I am so glad that Christ obeyed.
When you make the decision to obey God, it often means that you will be stretched beyond your comfort zone, you may have to go to a place you don't want to go and talk with people you don't want to talk to. Most likely He will ask you to do something that is beyond your mental, physical or spiritual abilities, but He is not asking you to do it alone. Just like with Moses, He is the great "I AM" in your life, just like with Paul and Jesus, the Heavenly Father is right there with you. Remember what Paul proclaimed, "That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12:10).
Are you a three days walk from your Nineveh? Put on your walking shoes and get going!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
God Really Does Equip the Called...
Matthew 28:16-20 (click on reference to read text)
If you would have peeked inside my living room window on Thursday afternoon, you would have thought I had lost it. I was lying on the floor, face down and in tears. I had a rough couple of weeks and was slowly reaching a breaking point. God had called me to something and I was failing miserably. I was confident in the call, but not in the called (myself)! Then I read Matthew 28. Guess what? I was reminded it is not all up to me!
The calling the Lord had given the disciples was enormous. Big enough that without God it would have failed within the first year! They were to go and make disciples of all nations! However, the key lies in verse 19. "Baptize them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." It was not up to the disciples, they just had to be obedient. The success of the work was all up to God!
The work that God has called you to is not riding on your shoulders either. He has given us specific promises in His Word regarding this truth. First, that God's power will bring to fruition what He has called us to (2 Thes 1:11-12). Second, He will give us the strength to carry out His will and the words to say (1 Peter 4:11). Third, He has given us everything we need for a godly life (2 Peter 1:3)!
It does not matter if your calling is being a missionary to an unreached people group, a minister, a business owner or a mother. Whatever He has called you to, He will equip you. After seeking my Father's face and listening to His Word, I got up from my living room floor and knew that I was no longer walking alone. I had the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit on my side, and they were going to be victorious!
If you would have peeked inside my living room window on Thursday afternoon, you would have thought I had lost it. I was lying on the floor, face down and in tears. I had a rough couple of weeks and was slowly reaching a breaking point. God had called me to something and I was failing miserably. I was confident in the call, but not in the called (myself)! Then I read Matthew 28. Guess what? I was reminded it is not all up to me!
The calling the Lord had given the disciples was enormous. Big enough that without God it would have failed within the first year! They were to go and make disciples of all nations! However, the key lies in verse 19. "Baptize them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." It was not up to the disciples, they just had to be obedient. The success of the work was all up to God!
The work that God has called you to is not riding on your shoulders either. He has given us specific promises in His Word regarding this truth. First, that God's power will bring to fruition what He has called us to (2 Thes 1:11-12). Second, He will give us the strength to carry out His will and the words to say (1 Peter 4:11). Third, He has given us everything we need for a godly life (2 Peter 1:3)!
It does not matter if your calling is being a missionary to an unreached people group, a minister, a business owner or a mother. Whatever He has called you to, He will equip you. After seeking my Father's face and listening to His Word, I got up from my living room floor and knew that I was no longer walking alone. I had the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit on my side, and they were going to be victorious!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Allowing Me to Fall...
Luke 15:11-24 (Click on reference to read text)
My daughter was on the patio of my husband's store when all of a sudden, she started running straight towards the parking lot and a moving car. I yelled for her to freeze, but she kept running, completely oblivious to the danger. As I took off after her, I watched as she tripped and fell flat on her face a few feet from the road. She was hurt, but she was alive. I was never so glad to watch my daughter fall. I explained to her, "Jesus loves you so much, He let you fall. You were running straight into danger, and although it hurt to fall, it hurt a lot less than running into a car. We need to thank Jesus for your fall." As I prayed with my little girl, I too began to thank Jesus for the times in my life He let me fall to save me from even greater danger.
The prodigal son is a story we are all familiar with, yet it is also something that each of us can relate to. How many of us have wanted to go our own way and do what we want to do? We may have been more subtle in our rebellion, but we have all chosen to do life in our own way. Our rebellion could be a calendar out of control and being too busy, making work your number one priority, or trusting in a relationship and not in the Lord. He may yell for us to freeze. Send us warning signs, but sometimes He must make us fall. It could be health problems that force us to slow down, job loss, or the end of a relationship. It may hurt at the time. Your heart may be broken, you may be confused, or you may feel abandoned. However, if you really take a close look, you may just see the Lord directing your steps to much better, and safer, places.
The most amazing thing about our Heavenly Father is that when we fall, we can run back to Him. Just like the father of the prodigal son, He is watching and as soon as I turn towards home, He runs to me and and embraces me. He is ready to run to you too. In what ways are you being rebellious and doing life your own way? Stop justifying your actions, and run home. He is waiting with arms open wide!
For further reading: Psalm 103:12, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 3:1, Proverbs 15:16, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 3:1-26
My daughter was on the patio of my husband's store when all of a sudden, she started running straight towards the parking lot and a moving car. I yelled for her to freeze, but she kept running, completely oblivious to the danger. As I took off after her, I watched as she tripped and fell flat on her face a few feet from the road. She was hurt, but she was alive. I was never so glad to watch my daughter fall. I explained to her, "Jesus loves you so much, He let you fall. You were running straight into danger, and although it hurt to fall, it hurt a lot less than running into a car. We need to thank Jesus for your fall." As I prayed with my little girl, I too began to thank Jesus for the times in my life He let me fall to save me from even greater danger.
The prodigal son is a story we are all familiar with, yet it is also something that each of us can relate to. How many of us have wanted to go our own way and do what we want to do? We may have been more subtle in our rebellion, but we have all chosen to do life in our own way. Our rebellion could be a calendar out of control and being too busy, making work your number one priority, or trusting in a relationship and not in the Lord. He may yell for us to freeze. Send us warning signs, but sometimes He must make us fall. It could be health problems that force us to slow down, job loss, or the end of a relationship. It may hurt at the time. Your heart may be broken, you may be confused, or you may feel abandoned. However, if you really take a close look, you may just see the Lord directing your steps to much better, and safer, places.
The most amazing thing about our Heavenly Father is that when we fall, we can run back to Him. Just like the father of the prodigal son, He is watching and as soon as I turn towards home, He runs to me and and embraces me. He is ready to run to you too. In what ways are you being rebellious and doing life your own way? Stop justifying your actions, and run home. He is waiting with arms open wide!
For further reading: Psalm 103:12, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 3:1, Proverbs 15:16, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 3:1-26
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tuning Into Him...
Revelation 9:1-21 (Click on reference to read text)
This passage is heavy. Can you imagine the headlines during this time period? I know they would not say, "Attention all Believers: You are currently living in Revelations 9. Take heart, God is in control!" This sounds silly, but it is true. Prophecy coming to pass will never be portrayed with a Biblical World View in the media. This is why it is important to train our eyes and ears to recognize the hand of God in every situation, world-wide or personal.
Through the limits he places on His judgement, believers can read this chapter and see the overwhelming gracious hand of God. Instead of seeing the agony of allowing people to be tortured for five months, we see the mercy of God in giving them more time to repent! Instead of looking at the 1/3 of mankind that is killed, we see the grace in God allowing 2/3 of mankind to survive even in their extreme rebellion! No matter how bad it gets on Earth, we know that is nothing compared to the agony and eternity of Hell.
In order to run the race marked out for us as believers, we must believe and live by the truth that God is gracious and good no matter what the circumstances around us look like. That one truth of who God is must permeate our belief system so deeply that nothing we see, hear, or feel could change it. Through this chapter in Revelation, we begin to understand that it is not "how can a loving God allow people to suffer," but "how long-suffering and loving God is that He will go to extreme measures to cause people to turn to Him!"
God will take extreme measures in our life as well. As Christians, we too can be rebellious within individual circumstances. If we take a close look at our life during our own times of judgement, we can see the grace and mercy of God within those situations. Often times, upon close examinations, we discover that we have placed ourself in a bad situation that will bring us ruin or have allowed habits to form in our life that will ultimately hurt ourselves or those around us that we love. God loves us too much to leave us! He cares more about eternity than our present comfort, and will go to extreme measures, if need be, to bring us back to Him! Are there any areas in your life that you need to repent of? How will you respond: like the men in vs. 6 will you long for the end/death of the circumstance or will you return to the Lord?
Take a close look at your circumstances. Train your eyes to look for and see the hand of God in your life. Just as we can see the ultimate control and sovereignty of God through every verse of Revelation 9, he is sovereign and in control of your life now. It is only when we practice and train our eyes to see the movements of His hands, will we recognize His character no matter how the circumstances look around us. He is in control. He is sovereign. He is gracious and He is good.
"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... put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phil 4:8-9
This passage is heavy. Can you imagine the headlines during this time period? I know they would not say, "Attention all Believers: You are currently living in Revelations 9. Take heart, God is in control!" This sounds silly, but it is true. Prophecy coming to pass will never be portrayed with a Biblical World View in the media. This is why it is important to train our eyes and ears to recognize the hand of God in every situation, world-wide or personal.
Through the limits he places on His judgement, believers can read this chapter and see the overwhelming gracious hand of God. Instead of seeing the agony of allowing people to be tortured for five months, we see the mercy of God in giving them more time to repent! Instead of looking at the 1/3 of mankind that is killed, we see the grace in God allowing 2/3 of mankind to survive even in their extreme rebellion! No matter how bad it gets on Earth, we know that is nothing compared to the agony and eternity of Hell.
In order to run the race marked out for us as believers, we must believe and live by the truth that God is gracious and good no matter what the circumstances around us look like. That one truth of who God is must permeate our belief system so deeply that nothing we see, hear, or feel could change it. Through this chapter in Revelation, we begin to understand that it is not "how can a loving God allow people to suffer," but "how long-suffering and loving God is that He will go to extreme measures to cause people to turn to Him!"
God will take extreme measures in our life as well. As Christians, we too can be rebellious within individual circumstances. If we take a close look at our life during our own times of judgement, we can see the grace and mercy of God within those situations. Often times, upon close examinations, we discover that we have placed ourself in a bad situation that will bring us ruin or have allowed habits to form in our life that will ultimately hurt ourselves or those around us that we love. God loves us too much to leave us! He cares more about eternity than our present comfort, and will go to extreme measures, if need be, to bring us back to Him! Are there any areas in your life that you need to repent of? How will you respond: like the men in vs. 6 will you long for the end/death of the circumstance or will you return to the Lord?
Take a close look at your circumstances. Train your eyes to look for and see the hand of God in your life. Just as we can see the ultimate control and sovereignty of God through every verse of Revelation 9, he is sovereign and in control of your life now. It is only when we practice and train our eyes to see the movements of His hands, will we recognize His character no matter how the circumstances look around us. He is in control. He is sovereign. He is gracious and He is good.
"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... put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phil 4:8-9
Monday, January 10, 2011
The Daily Grind...
Luke 2:41-50
Mary and Joseph had been given a message and vision from the Lord. They were charged with raising the very Son of God. This purpose and calling turned their life upside down. They experienced a virgin birth, received numerous visits from angels, shepherds, wise men, and prophets appeared to them praising the Savior of the World, and they spent the first few years of Jesus's life in Egypt hiding out. It seems like it would be impossible to forget who they were raising, impossible to lose sight of their calling, yet we find they did. Before we become to judgemental... I would wager that we have found ourselves in the same boat as well.
Mary and Joseph were doing the "right" thing. They followed the law and made the trek to Jerusalem every year for the Passover. They were fulfilling the letter of the law. Yet they lost sight of Jesus and His passions. When they finally found Him they did not understand what Jesus meant by having to be in His Father's house.
I would wager that somewhere along the 12 years of Jesus's life, Mary started to get comfortable. They were back home from Egypt, making a living through carpentry, raising children, and following the "law" by travelling to the temple every year with the rest of their family. The angel's voices may have grown more and more silent with each passing year, the gifts from the wise men pushed back into a corner somewhere collecting dust, the great calling on their life a memory. They did not understand why Jesus HAD to be in the temple.
I am not at all being critical of Mary and Joseph. Life can be tough. Trying to make a living, trying to raise your children in a way pleasing to the Lord, trying to take care of all the daily tasks that need to be completed. We all seem to slip into believing the way to please God is to do the right things and try to follow His commandments. I cringed when I read this story, because I see myself in Mary's shoes.
God has given us all a purpose, and so many times we forget about it in the day in and day out living. Do you know what God has called you to do? Are you still hearing His voice and direction in your life? When is the last time that you drew near to the Father's house just to be in His presence? These are questions I am asking myself.
Lord, protect me from being so busy being the wife, mother, house keeper, teacher, etc. that I lose sight of how you want me to spend my days. Please help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and never lose sight that He came to die for our sins, for the sins of my neighbors, and not just to help me along life's way. May my ears and heart be sensitive to you!
Mary and Joseph had been given a message and vision from the Lord. They were charged with raising the very Son of God. This purpose and calling turned their life upside down. They experienced a virgin birth, received numerous visits from angels, shepherds, wise men, and prophets appeared to them praising the Savior of the World, and they spent the first few years of Jesus's life in Egypt hiding out. It seems like it would be impossible to forget who they were raising, impossible to lose sight of their calling, yet we find they did. Before we become to judgemental... I would wager that we have found ourselves in the same boat as well.
Mary and Joseph were doing the "right" thing. They followed the law and made the trek to Jerusalem every year for the Passover. They were fulfilling the letter of the law. Yet they lost sight of Jesus and His passions. When they finally found Him they did not understand what Jesus meant by having to be in His Father's house.
I would wager that somewhere along the 12 years of Jesus's life, Mary started to get comfortable. They were back home from Egypt, making a living through carpentry, raising children, and following the "law" by travelling to the temple every year with the rest of their family. The angel's voices may have grown more and more silent with each passing year, the gifts from the wise men pushed back into a corner somewhere collecting dust, the great calling on their life a memory. They did not understand why Jesus HAD to be in the temple.
I am not at all being critical of Mary and Joseph. Life can be tough. Trying to make a living, trying to raise your children in a way pleasing to the Lord, trying to take care of all the daily tasks that need to be completed. We all seem to slip into believing the way to please God is to do the right things and try to follow His commandments. I cringed when I read this story, because I see myself in Mary's shoes.
God has given us all a purpose, and so many times we forget about it in the day in and day out living. Do you know what God has called you to do? Are you still hearing His voice and direction in your life? When is the last time that you drew near to the Father's house just to be in His presence? These are questions I am asking myself.
Lord, protect me from being so busy being the wife, mother, house keeper, teacher, etc. that I lose sight of how you want me to spend my days. Please help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and never lose sight that He came to die for our sins, for the sins of my neighbors, and not just to help me along life's way. May my ears and heart be sensitive to you!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Grace to Sin...
Matthew 18:23-35 (Please click on reference to read text).
We Christians love to throw around the word Grace. It is clear why. Grace is the entire crux of our Christian faith. It is what sets Christianity apart from every other world religion that teaches "self-salvation" through good works. We accurately realize that there is nothing inherently good about us that could lead to our salvation. In fact, one of the first verses we probably memorize is Ephesians 2:8, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." However, do we ever use His grace as our excuse?
This story immediately makes our religious and moral fibers indignant. How dare the man receive such unmerited mercy and grace only to use it against another for a much smaller crime?! Many of us would be more than happy to execute judgement on such a harsh and unfeeling man. However, Hebrews 4:12 tells us that "the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword... able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." If we allow His Word to pierce our hearts, we would be ashamed to realize that just as this man was so little affected by the grace shown him, we do the same to our Lord.
How many times have you not shared the Gospel with someone, knowing in the back of your mind that God would forgive you? How many times have you spoken harshly with your family because you knew that you were "covered by the blood of Christ"? How many times have you slept in and not gotten up to be with the Lord, putting Him first, because you know that He will be there whenever you get around to it?
These are tough questions! These are the questions I have been asking myself over and over this past week. You see Grace is not free! It was freely given to us, but it was not free. It cost the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ HIS LIFE! The cost was great. Grace is not free. We must begin to stop looking at the Grace of God from a "freely given" stand point and more from a "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all" (Ro 8:1-4, 32).
Getting up at 6 am to spend time with the Lord becomes a lot easier in light of the fact that Jesus died on the cross for me! Dying to yourself, not claiming your rights, and speaking with love to your family becomes a lot easier when compared to the cross. Sharing Christ with that divine appointment becomes a lot easier in light of the cross. When we accurately picture God's grace, we will respond through a lifestyle of worship and obedience!
Where do you stand? Will you commit today to not use grace as an excuse to keep sinning (Ro 6:1-2)? Will you begin today to no longer focus on the free gift of His grace to us, but on what that free gift cost our Savior?
Praise the Lord: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19). Thank you for the cross, Lord. May I never forget the cost!
We Christians love to throw around the word Grace. It is clear why. Grace is the entire crux of our Christian faith. It is what sets Christianity apart from every other world religion that teaches "self-salvation" through good works. We accurately realize that there is nothing inherently good about us that could lead to our salvation. In fact, one of the first verses we probably memorize is Ephesians 2:8, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." However, do we ever use His grace as our excuse?
This story immediately makes our religious and moral fibers indignant. How dare the man receive such unmerited mercy and grace only to use it against another for a much smaller crime?! Many of us would be more than happy to execute judgement on such a harsh and unfeeling man. However, Hebrews 4:12 tells us that "the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword... able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." If we allow His Word to pierce our hearts, we would be ashamed to realize that just as this man was so little affected by the grace shown him, we do the same to our Lord.
How many times have you not shared the Gospel with someone, knowing in the back of your mind that God would forgive you? How many times have you spoken harshly with your family because you knew that you were "covered by the blood of Christ"? How many times have you slept in and not gotten up to be with the Lord, putting Him first, because you know that He will be there whenever you get around to it?
These are tough questions! These are the questions I have been asking myself over and over this past week. You see Grace is not free! It was freely given to us, but it was not free. It cost the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ HIS LIFE! The cost was great. Grace is not free. We must begin to stop looking at the Grace of God from a "freely given" stand point and more from a "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all" (Ro 8:1-4, 32).
Getting up at 6 am to spend time with the Lord becomes a lot easier in light of the fact that Jesus died on the cross for me! Dying to yourself, not claiming your rights, and speaking with love to your family becomes a lot easier when compared to the cross. Sharing Christ with that divine appointment becomes a lot easier in light of the cross. When we accurately picture God's grace, we will respond through a lifestyle of worship and obedience!
Where do you stand? Will you commit today to not use grace as an excuse to keep sinning (Ro 6:1-2)? Will you begin today to no longer focus on the free gift of His grace to us, but on what that free gift cost our Savior?
Praise the Lord: "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19). Thank you for the cross, Lord. May I never forget the cost!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
An Alarm Clock from Christ..
Isaiah 55:8-13 (Click on reference to read text)
I am not a morning person. I praise the Lord that my husband and daughter are not either, but then my son entered into our family. From day one he has always woke up at 5 am. It was like clockwork and it was killing me! After a year of his schedule I was praying to the Lord for his mercy to rain down on my household. I needed a good nights rest. I needed to have my sleep to be the best mother possible! (You can tell you are desperate when you start giving God all the "holy" reasons you need him to answer your prayers!) Then in that still small voice, I heard, "What if I want you to get up?"
We learn in this passage that God's ways and thoughts are so much higher than our ways and that He has a purpose in all things. Psalms 119:91 states that "all things serve you (God)." That includes our circumstances! Nothing ever takes the Lord by surprise, but instead He takes everything and uses it for His glory and out ultimate good (Ro 8:28). He has a purpose in everything.
When trials come our way, no matter how big and overwhelming or small and wearing, if we give God control and seek his higher plan, we will see results that we could have never imagined. He promises in his word that in every rain shower in our life He will pour out his blessing. "As the rain and snow come down from Heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seeds for the sower and bread for the eater, so will My word be which goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it" (Is 55).
Well, long story short... once I started getting up to spend time with the Lord, surprise surprise, my son started sleeping in most days. Half the week I have to wake him up! God knew that He needed to be this drastic to get me out of bed... it only took me a year to listen! What circumstances in your life are wearing you down? What situations are you begging for the Lord to remove? Have you asked for his perspective? I know it seems scary. I would have told you that to ask me to set my alarm for 6 a.m. you might as well have asked me to climb Everest with the kids hanging on to my legs! However, now this early morning time is my favorite part of my day. I promise though, that once you accept God's perspective and plan, He will provide the means and way for you to accomplish it. Remember, it is for your good! Maybe you will be wise enough to not let it continue for a year before you obey!
"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed." Isaiah 55: 12-13
I am not a morning person. I praise the Lord that my husband and daughter are not either, but then my son entered into our family. From day one he has always woke up at 5 am. It was like clockwork and it was killing me! After a year of his schedule I was praying to the Lord for his mercy to rain down on my household. I needed a good nights rest. I needed to have my sleep to be the best mother possible! (You can tell you are desperate when you start giving God all the "holy" reasons you need him to answer your prayers!) Then in that still small voice, I heard, "What if I want you to get up?"
We learn in this passage that God's ways and thoughts are so much higher than our ways and that He has a purpose in all things. Psalms 119:91 states that "all things serve you (God)." That includes our circumstances! Nothing ever takes the Lord by surprise, but instead He takes everything and uses it for His glory and out ultimate good (Ro 8:28). He has a purpose in everything.
When trials come our way, no matter how big and overwhelming or small and wearing, if we give God control and seek his higher plan, we will see results that we could have never imagined. He promises in his word that in every rain shower in our life He will pour out his blessing. "As the rain and snow come down from Heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seeds for the sower and bread for the eater, so will My word be which goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it" (Is 55).
Well, long story short... once I started getting up to spend time with the Lord, surprise surprise, my son started sleeping in most days. Half the week I have to wake him up! God knew that He needed to be this drastic to get me out of bed... it only took me a year to listen! What circumstances in your life are wearing you down? What situations are you begging for the Lord to remove? Have you asked for his perspective? I know it seems scary. I would have told you that to ask me to set my alarm for 6 a.m. you might as well have asked me to climb Everest with the kids hanging on to my legs! However, now this early morning time is my favorite part of my day. I promise though, that once you accept God's perspective and plan, He will provide the means and way for you to accomplish it. Remember, it is for your good! Maybe you will be wise enough to not let it continue for a year before you obey!
"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed." Isaiah 55: 12-13
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Hanging Out with the Sheep and Loving it!
1 Samuel 17:12-19, 32-37
David... a man used of God? In hindsight we would all answer a resounding yes! If we were discussing King David, we would still all answer yes, but what about David the shepherd boy?
While all his brother's were off fighting a war to defend God's chosen nation/people against the enemy, he found himself playing his harp to a bunch of sheep in the wilderness. I wonder how many times he questioned God, "Am I really the one that Prophet Samuel anointed to be King? If so, why am I here with the sheep?" Maybe David didn't ever question God, but I know I would have if I was in his shoes.
A heart that is passionately in love with Jesus longs to do impossible things in the name of Christ. We long to have great purpose, to magnify the name of Christ, and most often we long for that NOW! We desire to follow His will for our life and have a hard time accepting it when it looks like our greatest purpose is "watching the sheep." Maybe your sheep field is being a stay at home mom to children resisting potty training, testing authority, and asking 1.5 trillion questions every day. Maybe your sheep field is a lonely house putting the pieces back together after an unforeseen tragedy. Maybe your sheep field is an office filled with people who you feel could care less about integrity, or you for that matter. However, there is one common denominator... it is YOUR sheep field. As much as you might not want to admit it, you may just be exactly where God wants you to be.
Which leads us to ask... well what now? How could I possibly honor God and bring Him glory where I am at? Let's see what David did. David did his job to the utmost of his ability. When lions and bears threatened his flock, he fought back with a vengeance. He obviously was spending his long days in the field with the Lord, because he was intimately acquainted with His God. He gave the Lord all the glory for his courage and deliverance.
David didn't realize it, but God was using the sheep field and the trials that came along with it, in order to prepare him for that moment that he needed to be ready to glorify God and save God's people. If he was not obedient in the field, not seeking the Father's face while with the sheep, he probably would never have had the courage or ability to kill Goliath in such a God honoring and creative way.
God doesn't look at our circumstances in the same way we do. He sees more than the past five minutes. He knows the next 50 years. His timetable is perfect. We must choose to honor him where we are today.
Are you discouraged? Do you feel like the Lord anointed you for a task, and instead of fulfilling it you are out to pasture? Don't give up. As David himself wrote:
"Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, and the justice of your cause like the noon day sun... Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him... Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing... Those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land... The Lord knows the days of the blameless and their inheritance forever... The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand." (Psalm 37)
David... a man used of God? In hindsight we would all answer a resounding yes! If we were discussing King David, we would still all answer yes, but what about David the shepherd boy?
While all his brother's were off fighting a war to defend God's chosen nation/people against the enemy, he found himself playing his harp to a bunch of sheep in the wilderness. I wonder how many times he questioned God, "Am I really the one that Prophet Samuel anointed to be King? If so, why am I here with the sheep?" Maybe David didn't ever question God, but I know I would have if I was in his shoes.
A heart that is passionately in love with Jesus longs to do impossible things in the name of Christ. We long to have great purpose, to magnify the name of Christ, and most often we long for that NOW! We desire to follow His will for our life and have a hard time accepting it when it looks like our greatest purpose is "watching the sheep." Maybe your sheep field is being a stay at home mom to children resisting potty training, testing authority, and asking 1.5 trillion questions every day. Maybe your sheep field is a lonely house putting the pieces back together after an unforeseen tragedy. Maybe your sheep field is an office filled with people who you feel could care less about integrity, or you for that matter. However, there is one common denominator... it is YOUR sheep field. As much as you might not want to admit it, you may just be exactly where God wants you to be.
Which leads us to ask... well what now? How could I possibly honor God and bring Him glory where I am at? Let's see what David did. David did his job to the utmost of his ability. When lions and bears threatened his flock, he fought back with a vengeance. He obviously was spending his long days in the field with the Lord, because he was intimately acquainted with His God. He gave the Lord all the glory for his courage and deliverance.
David didn't realize it, but God was using the sheep field and the trials that came along with it, in order to prepare him for that moment that he needed to be ready to glorify God and save God's people. If he was not obedient in the field, not seeking the Father's face while with the sheep, he probably would never have had the courage or ability to kill Goliath in such a God honoring and creative way.
God doesn't look at our circumstances in the same way we do. He sees more than the past five minutes. He knows the next 50 years. His timetable is perfect. We must choose to honor him where we are today.
Are you discouraged? Do you feel like the Lord anointed you for a task, and instead of fulfilling it you are out to pasture? Don't give up. As David himself wrote:
"Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, and the justice of your cause like the noon day sun... Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him... Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing... Those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land... The Lord knows the days of the blameless and their inheritance forever... The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand." (Psalm 37)
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
A Little Oil in the Hands of God...
1 Kings 17:1-16 (Click on reference to read text)
Paul, Peter, Stephen, Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Timothy... all great names of men and women who were used by God in mighty ways. I don't think any of us would question whether their life was a waste. We would all say that they fulfilled the great purpose of God and lived a life pleasing to Him. However, that often leads us to ask, what about me? God has not used me to plant churches all over the world, stand up and preach to thousands, save a nation, etc. I am just a girl from the South, raising two kids, helping my husband, and trying to plant His Word in my home. Will I ever measure up? Why don't we ask that same question to a little widow that was just trying to keep her child from starving.
The widow of Zarephath was literally doing all she could to simply keep her child and herself alive. That is all we know of her, until Elijah shows up at her door. He didn't ask her to face the prophets of Baal or try to talk some sense into Queen Jezebel. No, he asked her for a piece of bread and some water. However, he asked her for all she had. She replies to Elijah, "As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar... that I may prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die" (vs. 12). We then see her "go and do according to the word of Elijah"(vs.15).
Her purpose, feed the man of God. Help him so that he could continue on His way. Was God pleased with her? YES! We try so hard to invent these mighty schemes to serve the Lord. We justify our purpose with measurements of human standard (amount of people who came, number of converts, etc). However, God is not asking us for our ideas of what it means to serve Him. God is asking us to obey his voice when He calls. Like the widow, our obedience could directly influence what God wants to do in someone elses's life. Just as God used what the little widow had to further His purpose, He can use the little you have to do the same.
The neat thing about our Heavenly Father is that when we walk in His will, He will provide. Verse 16 tells us that her little bowl of flour "was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah." Through this miracle and her obedience she received more than the blessing of food for herself and her child. She learned that day that trusting obedience to God and His Word leads to life. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, she too learned that bread sustains life but doesn't guarantee life, only God can do that. That lesson is priceless.
She may have just been a little widow that gave a loaf of bread, but her life was not a waste. A life of obedience is never a waste. Maybe God wants to use you or me in a way that we could not even imagine. Maybe one day I will have the opportunity to speak to thousands, go throughout the world and preach the good news, or maybe I will feed those who are already preaching and pray for those who are already serving. I do know one thing, God wants me to use what I have for Him. He wants me to obey Him in everything... Even if it means giving a loaf of bread.
Paul, Peter, Stephen, Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Timothy... all great names of men and women who were used by God in mighty ways. I don't think any of us would question whether their life was a waste. We would all say that they fulfilled the great purpose of God and lived a life pleasing to Him. However, that often leads us to ask, what about me? God has not used me to plant churches all over the world, stand up and preach to thousands, save a nation, etc. I am just a girl from the South, raising two kids, helping my husband, and trying to plant His Word in my home. Will I ever measure up? Why don't we ask that same question to a little widow that was just trying to keep her child from starving.
The widow of Zarephath was literally doing all she could to simply keep her child and herself alive. That is all we know of her, until Elijah shows up at her door. He didn't ask her to face the prophets of Baal or try to talk some sense into Queen Jezebel. No, he asked her for a piece of bread and some water. However, he asked her for all she had. She replies to Elijah, "As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar... that I may prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die" (vs. 12). We then see her "go and do according to the word of Elijah"(vs.15).
Her purpose, feed the man of God. Help him so that he could continue on His way. Was God pleased with her? YES! We try so hard to invent these mighty schemes to serve the Lord. We justify our purpose with measurements of human standard (amount of people who came, number of converts, etc). However, God is not asking us for our ideas of what it means to serve Him. God is asking us to obey his voice when He calls. Like the widow, our obedience could directly influence what God wants to do in someone elses's life. Just as God used what the little widow had to further His purpose, He can use the little you have to do the same.
The neat thing about our Heavenly Father is that when we walk in His will, He will provide. Verse 16 tells us that her little bowl of flour "was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah." Through this miracle and her obedience she received more than the blessing of food for herself and her child. She learned that day that trusting obedience to God and His Word leads to life. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, she too learned that bread sustains life but doesn't guarantee life, only God can do that. That lesson is priceless.
She may have just been a little widow that gave a loaf of bread, but her life was not a waste. A life of obedience is never a waste. Maybe God wants to use you or me in a way that we could not even imagine. Maybe one day I will have the opportunity to speak to thousands, go throughout the world and preach the good news, or maybe I will feed those who are already preaching and pray for those who are already serving. I do know one thing, God wants me to use what I have for Him. He wants me to obey Him in everything... Even if it means giving a loaf of bread.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Guess What? You Win!
Colossians 3:1-17 (Click on reference to read text)
You know that race you are running in right now? Guess what? You are going to win! That is the power of Christ in your life, that is the promise found in the Word... it is time to claim the victory.
Paul writes to the believers, "Since you have been raised with Christ..." (vs.1). I stopped here because it is time we lay hold of what the words are saying. You have already been raised! You are no longer dead, you have the power and victory of the Resurrection in your life from the moment that you chose to accept Christ as your Savior.
Instead of living in victory, putting on the full armor of God and going to war against Satan on behalf of your family, church and community, so many Christians are cowering in fear. We find ourselves often immobilized by the unknown, by the future, by fears that we cannot control. Satan has caused us to breeze right over the first few words of this chapter. WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN RAISED! According to the Word of God, we can "overwhelmingly conquer" tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and sword (Romans 8:35-37). According to the Word of God "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Believe in the power of God at work in your life, you have already been raised with Christ!
Once we embrace this victorious truth, we can begin to act in a manner worthy of the Gospel we have received (Phil 1:27). Paul continues to exhort us to set our hearts and minds on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set our minds on things above, not on the things that are on earth (vs.1 continued). We know from Jesus that the things of the earth are all temporary, can be taken away, or eventually will perish, but the Heavenly things will last for all eternity (Matthew 6:19-20).
Now the magic question, how? How do I live in victory, how do I build things for eternity? It is as simple as getting dressed. We are to put off the old (anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, immorality, impurity, evil desires and greed) (vs. 5-8) and put on the new self (vs. 10). As you get dressed each morning pray verse 12 to God and "clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." If someone needs forgiveness, then forgive (vs.13). If someone needs love and kindness, show the love of Christ (vs.14). If you are stressed and worried about life in general, put on the peace of Christ (vs. 15). If you are confused and unsure of how to handle a situation, let the Word of Christ that dwells in you be your guide (vs. 16). If these things were not hard enough, Paul sums it all up in verse 17: "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
A race is not run by sitting on the sidelines and thinking about the course. You cannot win in life by doing this either. The victorious Christian life is putting on Christ and taking small little steps for His kingdom. You can be victorious by winning the little battles in your life everyday. What ways is He asking for your obedience? Is it to turn off the tv or computer and spend time with him? Is it to get out of the car and go talk to your neighbor instead of just shutting the garage door behind you? Is it to be patient and kind to the cashier who is struggling even though you have screaming kids with you? Is it to greet your children with a smile and express delight, even when you are hoping to have a few moments to yourself? Is it to praise God for the blessings you have been given in those moments you want to complain? There are 100 different ways to bring glory to God today and to have victory. You have already been raised, you have the power... it is time to walk it out!
You know that race you are running in right now? Guess what? You are going to win! That is the power of Christ in your life, that is the promise found in the Word... it is time to claim the victory.
Paul writes to the believers, "Since you have been raised with Christ..." (vs.1). I stopped here because it is time we lay hold of what the words are saying. You have already been raised! You are no longer dead, you have the power and victory of the Resurrection in your life from the moment that you chose to accept Christ as your Savior.
Instead of living in victory, putting on the full armor of God and going to war against Satan on behalf of your family, church and community, so many Christians are cowering in fear. We find ourselves often immobilized by the unknown, by the future, by fears that we cannot control. Satan has caused us to breeze right over the first few words of this chapter. WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN RAISED! According to the Word of God, we can "overwhelmingly conquer" tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and sword (Romans 8:35-37). According to the Word of God "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Believe in the power of God at work in your life, you have already been raised with Christ!
Once we embrace this victorious truth, we can begin to act in a manner worthy of the Gospel we have received (Phil 1:27). Paul continues to exhort us to set our hearts and minds on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set our minds on things above, not on the things that are on earth (vs.1 continued). We know from Jesus that the things of the earth are all temporary, can be taken away, or eventually will perish, but the Heavenly things will last for all eternity (Matthew 6:19-20).
Now the magic question, how? How do I live in victory, how do I build things for eternity? It is as simple as getting dressed. We are to put off the old (anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, immorality, impurity, evil desires and greed) (vs. 5-8) and put on the new self (vs. 10). As you get dressed each morning pray verse 12 to God and "clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." If someone needs forgiveness, then forgive (vs.13). If someone needs love and kindness, show the love of Christ (vs.14). If you are stressed and worried about life in general, put on the peace of Christ (vs. 15). If you are confused and unsure of how to handle a situation, let the Word of Christ that dwells in you be your guide (vs. 16). If these things were not hard enough, Paul sums it all up in verse 17: "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
A race is not run by sitting on the sidelines and thinking about the course. You cannot win in life by doing this either. The victorious Christian life is putting on Christ and taking small little steps for His kingdom. You can be victorious by winning the little battles in your life everyday. What ways is He asking for your obedience? Is it to turn off the tv or computer and spend time with him? Is it to get out of the car and go talk to your neighbor instead of just shutting the garage door behind you? Is it to be patient and kind to the cashier who is struggling even though you have screaming kids with you? Is it to greet your children with a smile and express delight, even when you are hoping to have a few moments to yourself? Is it to praise God for the blessings you have been given in those moments you want to complain? There are 100 different ways to bring glory to God today and to have victory. You have already been raised, you have the power... it is time to walk it out!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Show a Little Love...
Matthew 10:24-39 (Click on Reference to read text - focus on vs. 37-38)
I recently watched John Piper commenting on his book, "Don't Waste Your Life." He made a comment that has impacted me greatly (this is probably not word for word, but the basic gist): "Love is not helping people feel good about themselves, love is showing a dying soul the life giving beauty of the glory of God so that they forget about themselves."
We as a church are great at not making people feel bad about themselves. We try to show the world the "love of Christ" and dance around the Gospel so that we don't offend anyone. We want people to feel good about themselves so that they can feel good about Jesus too. Satan has used this watered down philosophy so much in our life, in my life, that I forget about God. I forget about eternity. I care more about a person's present comfort and world view, then where they spend eternity. This is not showing the love of Christ.
In the Bible we see countless examples of the Biblical view of love: "See how great a love the Father has lavished on us, that we might become children of God" (1 John 3:1), "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the atonement for our sins" (1 John 4:10), nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:32-39), Love is patient, kind, not jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take in account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails (1 Cor 13:4-8).
The Biblical view of love is complete self sacrifice. That God gave everything so that we may be reconciled to Him. That without His love we would spend eternity away from our Heavenly Father. Satan wants us to believe and act upon the idea that it is not loving to preach the Gospel straight. That the Gospel is too narrow, to restricted, that since it does not allow all permissive behaviors, it is hateful and unkind. However, we know differently. We know that God gave everything so that we can be reconciled to Him, that the permissive behaviors the world likes to lift up are harmful, destroy the body and the soul. We know that true self worth can only be found in the lasting identity of being a child of God. We know that true peace can only be found in the eternal hope of His kingdom.
John implores the church, "do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God lives for ever" (1 John 2:15-17). Don't give in to the lies of Satan regarding the definition of love. We know that Satan is a deceiver and a liar, that love is not found in him but that he is out to kill, to steal and to destroy life (John 10:10, John 8:44). Love your lost family, your lost friends, people who cross your path with the love of Christ and share the Good News! Aren't you glad that someone loved you enough to make you feel a little uncomfortable at first, but with the end result of eternal salvation?
It is not our job to make people feel good about themselves. Anything we do is only temporary. It is our job to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and to be God's witnesses "both in Jerusalem (your city), and in all Judea and Samaria (your country), and even to the remotest parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Who does God want you to love today?
I recently watched John Piper commenting on his book, "Don't Waste Your Life." He made a comment that has impacted me greatly (this is probably not word for word, but the basic gist): "Love is not helping people feel good about themselves, love is showing a dying soul the life giving beauty of the glory of God so that they forget about themselves."
We as a church are great at not making people feel bad about themselves. We try to show the world the "love of Christ" and dance around the Gospel so that we don't offend anyone. We want people to feel good about themselves so that they can feel good about Jesus too. Satan has used this watered down philosophy so much in our life, in my life, that I forget about God. I forget about eternity. I care more about a person's present comfort and world view, then where they spend eternity. This is not showing the love of Christ.
In the Bible we see countless examples of the Biblical view of love: "See how great a love the Father has lavished on us, that we might become children of God" (1 John 3:1), "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the atonement for our sins" (1 John 4:10), nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:32-39), Love is patient, kind, not jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take in account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails (1 Cor 13:4-8).
The Biblical view of love is complete self sacrifice. That God gave everything so that we may be reconciled to Him. That without His love we would spend eternity away from our Heavenly Father. Satan wants us to believe and act upon the idea that it is not loving to preach the Gospel straight. That the Gospel is too narrow, to restricted, that since it does not allow all permissive behaviors, it is hateful and unkind. However, we know differently. We know that God gave everything so that we can be reconciled to Him, that the permissive behaviors the world likes to lift up are harmful, destroy the body and the soul. We know that true self worth can only be found in the lasting identity of being a child of God. We know that true peace can only be found in the eternal hope of His kingdom.
John implores the church, "do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God lives for ever" (1 John 2:15-17). Don't give in to the lies of Satan regarding the definition of love. We know that Satan is a deceiver and a liar, that love is not found in him but that he is out to kill, to steal and to destroy life (John 10:10, John 8:44). Love your lost family, your lost friends, people who cross your path with the love of Christ and share the Good News! Aren't you glad that someone loved you enough to make you feel a little uncomfortable at first, but with the end result of eternal salvation?
It is not our job to make people feel good about themselves. Anything we do is only temporary. It is our job to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and to be God's witnesses "both in Jerusalem (your city), and in all Judea and Samaria (your country), and even to the remotest parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Who does God want you to love today?
Monday, June 7, 2010
Just a Little Balance Please!
(A post that is just about being real... no real devotional... just honesty.)
I am selfish. There. I said it. I know I am not alone, but that doesn't matter. Jesus commands me to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but to always consider others as more important than myself (Phil 2:3 f). It was time I listened and time I got my priorities correct.
All of this came to a head about two weeks ago. A month before I had started an extreme exercise program. The commitment was 6 days a week, at least an hour a day. The only time I had to do it was while the kids were napping, which was when I usually did my quiet time. So then my quiet time got pushed to right before bed (you can imagine how productive that time was!). After exercising, I was wiped out and had little energy to keep up with the house, play with the kids, take care of my husband, stay up on errands, etc. I was doing nothing well. In fact I found myself getting angry and defensive about not getting more help from others. I wasn't even losing the weight I was hoping for. I was incredibly discouraged, not because of the weight, but because I was watching the breakdown of the relationships I care about the most.
I am not a quitter, I loved the exercise, but how could I justify putting everything second to that program? I made a hard decision. I cut back. Instead of working out 6 days a week, I now work out 3 days a week. I am doing the same program but it is just taking me twice as long. Guess what, I am now losing weight, my kids are getting my attention and we are playing together, I am keeping the house clean, my husband gets a hot meal on the table, and I NEVER replace working out with my quiet time. It is all about priorities.
Ecclesiastes 3 talks about the different seasons of life. In every season there are times we are going to be called to certain things. I know that this season of my life is to be the best mom to my preschool children that I can be. To love them unconditionally, give them the attention and instruction they deserve. If I am so busy with other things that I am not able to be the consistent parent I need to be, something is wrong. I need to love my husband well by respecting him and caring for him. To love him as the Bible commands: to demonstrate to the world that how I love him is how we should love the Lord (wow, that is convicting!)(Eph 5:22-33).
It is hard putting off something that we want to do for the good of those around us and for my own spiritual health. I know that anything that causes me to be to busy to spend time with the Lord is an idol and NOT from Him (even good things, even some Godly things). God is looking at my heart. Was losing weight and being physically fit worth the sacrifice I was asking my family to make? Easy answer, no.
My Dad passed away suddenly almost 6 months ago. It was completely unexpected. It happened to him, it could happen to me, to those I love around me. What if it did? Would the way I am living my life now, managing my time now, cause me to have regrets? Would I feel guilty and convicted of wasted time and a wasted life?
Anyway, I know this post is completely random. Not super deep and not the usual explication of Scripture, but this is real. This is what I am going through, this is what the Lord is teaching me. Time will come that I will have the time to serve in a particular ministry, work out at my leisure, lay in a hammock and read to my hearts content... but now I know where the Lord is convicting me. I know where I need to change, and if you are being honest with yourself, you know the areas in your life that need to change too. The time is now. It is time to listen and obey. Trust that the Lord will handle the details and let go.
As I sang to my precious toddler tonight, "Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey."
I am selfish. There. I said it. I know I am not alone, but that doesn't matter. Jesus commands me to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but to always consider others as more important than myself (Phil 2:3 f). It was time I listened and time I got my priorities correct.
All of this came to a head about two weeks ago. A month before I had started an extreme exercise program. The commitment was 6 days a week, at least an hour a day. The only time I had to do it was while the kids were napping, which was when I usually did my quiet time. So then my quiet time got pushed to right before bed (you can imagine how productive that time was!). After exercising, I was wiped out and had little energy to keep up with the house, play with the kids, take care of my husband, stay up on errands, etc. I was doing nothing well. In fact I found myself getting angry and defensive about not getting more help from others. I wasn't even losing the weight I was hoping for. I was incredibly discouraged, not because of the weight, but because I was watching the breakdown of the relationships I care about the most.
I am not a quitter, I loved the exercise, but how could I justify putting everything second to that program? I made a hard decision. I cut back. Instead of working out 6 days a week, I now work out 3 days a week. I am doing the same program but it is just taking me twice as long. Guess what, I am now losing weight, my kids are getting my attention and we are playing together, I am keeping the house clean, my husband gets a hot meal on the table, and I NEVER replace working out with my quiet time. It is all about priorities.
Ecclesiastes 3 talks about the different seasons of life. In every season there are times we are going to be called to certain things. I know that this season of my life is to be the best mom to my preschool children that I can be. To love them unconditionally, give them the attention and instruction they deserve. If I am so busy with other things that I am not able to be the consistent parent I need to be, something is wrong. I need to love my husband well by respecting him and caring for him. To love him as the Bible commands: to demonstrate to the world that how I love him is how we should love the Lord (wow, that is convicting!)(Eph 5:22-33).
It is hard putting off something that we want to do for the good of those around us and for my own spiritual health. I know that anything that causes me to be to busy to spend time with the Lord is an idol and NOT from Him (even good things, even some Godly things). God is looking at my heart. Was losing weight and being physically fit worth the sacrifice I was asking my family to make? Easy answer, no.
My Dad passed away suddenly almost 6 months ago. It was completely unexpected. It happened to him, it could happen to me, to those I love around me. What if it did? Would the way I am living my life now, managing my time now, cause me to have regrets? Would I feel guilty and convicted of wasted time and a wasted life?
Anyway, I know this post is completely random. Not super deep and not the usual explication of Scripture, but this is real. This is what I am going through, this is what the Lord is teaching me. Time will come that I will have the time to serve in a particular ministry, work out at my leisure, lay in a hammock and read to my hearts content... but now I know where the Lord is convicting me. I know where I need to change, and if you are being honest with yourself, you know the areas in your life that need to change too. The time is now. It is time to listen and obey. Trust that the Lord will handle the details and let go.
As I sang to my precious toddler tonight, "Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey."
Sunday, March 28, 2010
God's Timetable or Yours?
Acts 28:11-20 and Philippians 1:12-14 (Click on reference to read the text)
Paul desired to preach the Gospel above all else. He wanted to live a passionate, meaningful life for the Lord. He was one of those that prayed, “Use me extravagantly for your Kingdom, or take me home.” And, as a result, I don’t know of many Christians whose influence can rival that of Paul.
All of this said, Paul spent a huge majority of his time in prison. From a worldly viewpoint, if I was Paul, I would be praying and questioning the will of the Father, wondering if God was still in control. In his limited knowledge of what was best, as Paul often wrote especially in the book of Romans, his main objective was go to different groups of people and preach the Gospel. That was the chief desire of Paul in order to be most impactful for Christ.
But as Isaiah 55 talks about, God’s ways are so much higher than our ways, and God’s thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts. Paul wanted to see the nations come to know Christ, and he figured the best way was to preach. However, I am glad that Paul’s plans were foiled by something as carnal as prison. You see, Paul was thinking small. You may laugh at that statement, because Paul was thinking about saving the entire world, but he was thinking small. You see God wanted to save the generations of the world.
If Paul got his way of what he believed was best, many people IN HIS TIME truly would have come to know the Lord, the churches would have been built, and God’s name would be glorified. However, God wanted the nations for ALL TIME!!! So instead of letting Paul preach continuously and without hindrance, God placed him in prison so He would have to write. And what did he do? He wrote a lot of the New Testament so that you and I may know the Lord better, may grow in Christian wisdom and knowledge, and may serve the Lord more effectively. If God would have allowed Paul to preach all the time, you and I may not have had a lot of the New Testament to read about our Father. In this way, Paul is preaching for all time, not just his time.
Do you feel like you have been robbed of an incredible opportunity for the Kingdom? Are you questioning God's method and direction for your life? I understand how hard it is to pursue Christ and His will only to be turned around 180 degrees. It is heart breaking, gut wrenching, and soul suffocating, but don't fall into Satan's trap. Don't stop believing that God is on the throne, running the show, that His plan is perfect. He is sovereign. Be faithful where you are, who knows, God may use you beyond your wildest imagination and reach!
Paul desired to preach the Gospel above all else. He wanted to live a passionate, meaningful life for the Lord. He was one of those that prayed, “Use me extravagantly for your Kingdom, or take me home.” And, as a result, I don’t know of many Christians whose influence can rival that of Paul.
All of this said, Paul spent a huge majority of his time in prison. From a worldly viewpoint, if I was Paul, I would be praying and questioning the will of the Father, wondering if God was still in control. In his limited knowledge of what was best, as Paul often wrote especially in the book of Romans, his main objective was go to different groups of people and preach the Gospel. That was the chief desire of Paul in order to be most impactful for Christ.
But as Isaiah 55 talks about, God’s ways are so much higher than our ways, and God’s thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts. Paul wanted to see the nations come to know Christ, and he figured the best way was to preach. However, I am glad that Paul’s plans were foiled by something as carnal as prison. You see, Paul was thinking small. You may laugh at that statement, because Paul was thinking about saving the entire world, but he was thinking small. You see God wanted to save the generations of the world.
If Paul got his way of what he believed was best, many people IN HIS TIME truly would have come to know the Lord, the churches would have been built, and God’s name would be glorified. However, God wanted the nations for ALL TIME!!! So instead of letting Paul preach continuously and without hindrance, God placed him in prison so He would have to write. And what did he do? He wrote a lot of the New Testament so that you and I may know the Lord better, may grow in Christian wisdom and knowledge, and may serve the Lord more effectively. If God would have allowed Paul to preach all the time, you and I may not have had a lot of the New Testament to read about our Father. In this way, Paul is preaching for all time, not just his time.
Do you feel like you have been robbed of an incredible opportunity for the Kingdom? Are you questioning God's method and direction for your life? I understand how hard it is to pursue Christ and His will only to be turned around 180 degrees. It is heart breaking, gut wrenching, and soul suffocating, but don't fall into Satan's trap. Don't stop believing that God is on the throne, running the show, that His plan is perfect. He is sovereign. Be faithful where you are, who knows, God may use you beyond your wildest imagination and reach!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
While You Wait
Numbers 9:15-23 (Click on reference to read text)
There are times in all of our lives where we see the deliverance of the Lord. We are removed from bondage and slavery, but instead of the promised land, we find ourselves wandering around in the desert. Maybe, it is because of a sin in our lives (like the unbelieving Israelites - Hebrews 3:15-19 ) or maybe it is because God needs to mold us and grow us before we can take the promised land. Whatever the reason, we can rest knowing that, not only is He in the desert with us, but He is leading us where He desires us to go.
The Lord made His will clear to Israel by the movement of the cloud and the fire. Moses did not doubt God's directions, no matter how long the cloud lingered in one spot. Moses worked on God's time table, not his own. God's presence never left Israel stranded. They did not always know where they were going or even when they were going, but God's presence remained constant (vs.15).
When we seek the Lord's direction, sometimes He does not always answer right away. I know it is hard, but sometimes God has us camped out in places for a long time. Sometimes it seems like we should be moving, but God keeps us stationary. It is in these times that we must trust the Lord and His timing. Many times throughout this passage it says, "At the Lord's command, they would either go or stay" (vs. 18f). Notice it does not say, "when it seemed best to them, when they got desperate," or "when they got impatient/restless" they moved on. They responded at the Lord's command.
There is one key that we must always remember... whether by day or night, the Israelites were always ready to move (vs. 21). They waited on the Lord, but in a constant state of readiness to follow God whenever He moved. We may be camped out in the desert instead of dwelling in the promised land, but we must seek God faithfully while we are there. We must spend time in His Word, praying, learning the sound of His voice, learning the "feel" of His presence, so when He is ready to move us on, we will know, listen and obey.
While baking away in the desert, don't lose heart... "Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14
There are times in all of our lives where we see the deliverance of the Lord. We are removed from bondage and slavery, but instead of the promised land, we find ourselves wandering around in the desert. Maybe, it is because of a sin in our lives (like the unbelieving Israelites - Hebrews 3:15-19 ) or maybe it is because God needs to mold us and grow us before we can take the promised land. Whatever the reason, we can rest knowing that, not only is He in the desert with us, but He is leading us where He desires us to go.
The Lord made His will clear to Israel by the movement of the cloud and the fire. Moses did not doubt God's directions, no matter how long the cloud lingered in one spot. Moses worked on God's time table, not his own. God's presence never left Israel stranded. They did not always know where they were going or even when they were going, but God's presence remained constant (vs.15).
When we seek the Lord's direction, sometimes He does not always answer right away. I know it is hard, but sometimes God has us camped out in places for a long time. Sometimes it seems like we should be moving, but God keeps us stationary. It is in these times that we must trust the Lord and His timing. Many times throughout this passage it says, "At the Lord's command, they would either go or stay" (vs. 18f). Notice it does not say, "when it seemed best to them, when they got desperate," or "when they got impatient/restless" they moved on. They responded at the Lord's command.
There is one key that we must always remember... whether by day or night, the Israelites were always ready to move (vs. 21). They waited on the Lord, but in a constant state of readiness to follow God whenever He moved. We may be camped out in the desert instead of dwelling in the promised land, but we must seek God faithfully while we are there. We must spend time in His Word, praying, learning the sound of His voice, learning the "feel" of His presence, so when He is ready to move us on, we will know, listen and obey.
While baking away in the desert, don't lose heart... "Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14
Sunday, September 27, 2009
To the Brim...
John 2:1-11 (Click reference to read text)
The beginning of John capture 2 describes Jesus' first miracle, changing water into wine. I have always read this story with little more than a passing interest... hey I was raised Baptist and wine was a major no-no! However, recently the Lord really taught me some things that I would like to share.
The jars that Jesus used were designated for ceremonial washings (vs. 6). Often God uses people and things in unconventional ways for His glory. We must learn not to place restraints on God and put Him in a box. How many times do we miss out on His blessing/abundance because we try to tell the Lord how He can and should use us, our talents, our home, or our loved ones? Do I make everything available for His use... even things that I feel would be better used somewhere/somehow different?
Next, we see the servants filling the jars to the brim (vs. 7). This truth is key in our Christian walk. We must learn to be obedient to the brim! We need to obey with enthusiasm. We need to have a "to the brim" mentality! How much abundance have we missed out on because we obeyed most of the way, or gave mostly our best?
However, not only do we need to obey fully, but we also need to just do what the Lord tells us to. Even the simple things. Jesus told the servants to take some of the water to their master, and they did so (vs. 8). This command probably made no sense, because for all the servants knew they were about to take some water to their boss. They didn't know it was wine yet. We must never hesitate in obeying God just because we don't fully understand what He is going to do. We need to obey even if we think it might affect us negatively or risk embarrassment!
Basically, it all boils down to this: If the servants would have argued, "You can't use these! They are made for something else! They only have one use!" they would have never seen the miraculous hand of God. Or if they would not have filled the jars to the brim, they would have limited the overflow of Christ. SO many times we limit God in our life... either because of excuses or by not putting forth a "to the brim" kind of effort. Let's see the hand of God. As you can read, there was no step-by-step plan in making this miracle happen. The servants could not take the Glory, only God could! Let Him take control, take the Glory, and Bless!
The beginning of John capture 2 describes Jesus' first miracle, changing water into wine. I have always read this story with little more than a passing interest... hey I was raised Baptist and wine was a major no-no! However, recently the Lord really taught me some things that I would like to share.
The jars that Jesus used were designated for ceremonial washings (vs. 6). Often God uses people and things in unconventional ways for His glory. We must learn not to place restraints on God and put Him in a box. How many times do we miss out on His blessing/abundance because we try to tell the Lord how He can and should use us, our talents, our home, or our loved ones? Do I make everything available for His use... even things that I feel would be better used somewhere/somehow different?
Next, we see the servants filling the jars to the brim (vs. 7). This truth is key in our Christian walk. We must learn to be obedient to the brim! We need to obey with enthusiasm. We need to have a "to the brim" mentality! How much abundance have we missed out on because we obeyed most of the way, or gave mostly our best?
However, not only do we need to obey fully, but we also need to just do what the Lord tells us to. Even the simple things. Jesus told the servants to take some of the water to their master, and they did so (vs. 8). This command probably made no sense, because for all the servants knew they were about to take some water to their boss. They didn't know it was wine yet. We must never hesitate in obeying God just because we don't fully understand what He is going to do. We need to obey even if we think it might affect us negatively or risk embarrassment!
Basically, it all boils down to this: If the servants would have argued, "You can't use these! They are made for something else! They only have one use!" they would have never seen the miraculous hand of God. Or if they would not have filled the jars to the brim, they would have limited the overflow of Christ. SO many times we limit God in our life... either because of excuses or by not putting forth a "to the brim" kind of effort. Let's see the hand of God. As you can read, there was no step-by-step plan in making this miracle happen. The servants could not take the Glory, only God could! Let Him take control, take the Glory, and Bless!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Fire...
Daniel 3:1-27 (Click on reference to read Scripture)
If you are like me, you have read this story 100 times, taught it to various children about 300 times, and seen a cartoon depicting this story many times as well. However, as God's Word is Living and Active (Hebrews 4:12), this story took on a new meaning to me this week.
We all pray for deliverance. We want to be delivered from trying times, health issues, trying people, etc, and we often get frustrated when we don't see the Lord coming through. As we read about the lives of these three men, I wondered what they were thinking. They were so bold, truly believing that the Lord could save them, but EVEN IF HE DOES NOT (vs. 18), they were still going to trust the Lord and act in obedience.
It would have been perfectly within the Lord's power to keep them from having to go into the fiery furnace... but that did not happen. They were bound and thrown in. However, the most amazing thing happened... not only did they survive, but they were able to WALK with Jesus, IN the fire, and when they came out... THE SMELL OF FIRE WAS NOT UPON THEM (vs. 27).
It would have been a miracle to survive, but to not even smell like fire... that is above and beyond. Yes, God could have kept them from the fire, but what blessings would these brave men have been robbed of? They would not have literally walked with God, they would not have seen the overwhelming faithfulness of God so much that they did not even smell like smoke.
So I ask myself this... am I willing to go through the fire in order to see the Glory of God? Am I going to get mad and blame God for not keeping me from the furnace, or am I going to trust that He will meet me there and give me His peace that surpasses all human understanding? Do I have an "even if He does not" mentality?
Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you."
If you are like me, you have read this story 100 times, taught it to various children about 300 times, and seen a cartoon depicting this story many times as well. However, as God's Word is Living and Active (Hebrews 4:12), this story took on a new meaning to me this week.
We all pray for deliverance. We want to be delivered from trying times, health issues, trying people, etc, and we often get frustrated when we don't see the Lord coming through. As we read about the lives of these three men, I wondered what they were thinking. They were so bold, truly believing that the Lord could save them, but EVEN IF HE DOES NOT (vs. 18), they were still going to trust the Lord and act in obedience.
It would have been perfectly within the Lord's power to keep them from having to go into the fiery furnace... but that did not happen. They were bound and thrown in. However, the most amazing thing happened... not only did they survive, but they were able to WALK with Jesus, IN the fire, and when they came out... THE SMELL OF FIRE WAS NOT UPON THEM (vs. 27).
It would have been a miracle to survive, but to not even smell like fire... that is above and beyond. Yes, God could have kept them from the fire, but what blessings would these brave men have been robbed of? They would not have literally walked with God, they would not have seen the overwhelming faithfulness of God so much that they did not even smell like smoke.
So I ask myself this... am I willing to go through the fire in order to see the Glory of God? Am I going to get mad and blame God for not keeping me from the furnace, or am I going to trust that He will meet me there and give me His peace that surpasses all human understanding? Do I have an "even if He does not" mentality?
Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you."
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