Focal Verse: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
After a busy weekend with working, church activities, and other responsibilities, I looked forward to this afternoon when I got home from church. It was my first chance all weekend to take a breath. Drew would take his usual 2-hour nap, and I could study for my Wednesday night Mom's class and relax.
Except it didn't turn out that way. Drew refused to take a nap, and in the middle of the day I had an allergy attack. Since my husband is working nights and was asleep in our house, I couldn't get any relief from my sneezing, stuffiness, and itchy eyes. I was simply exhausted and was becoming very irritable.
When Matt finally woke up, I vented to him about how exhausted I was. Looking back, he was very gracious considering he has been the one working the 12-hour night shift. He shared with me - in the most loving way - that he thought I had overcommitted myself, namely at church. And because I was so overwhelmed, I was snappy at my son and irritable altogether. I could see where he was coming from, but I told him that I felt that God had led me to minister through each activity I was a part of.
As I was thinking about how nice it would be to leave church after I finished the class I was teaching -- just so I could get a break before I begin my workweek tomorrow -- God whispered, "Jill, I didn't ask you to do all this in your own strength. I am the strength you need."
Encouraged, I headed to church. My spirit was strengthened by the message and I went home with an energy I haven't felt all weekend.
I was amazed at how easy it was to default to doing everything in my own strength, without realizing that it's just not possible. I've always heard it said, "When God calls, he always equips." Tonight I learned a new dimension of God's call: When God calls, he calls us to that which is impossible to do in our own strength, so we'll never forget that we must depend on him.
You see, it's not about what I can do for God. It's about what he - and only he - can do through me.
Silence
Focal Verse: "After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:12)"
My husband Matt was working the night shift, and I had just put Drew to bed. I started washing some leftover dishes when it started to drive me crazy.
Silence.
I wanted to turn the TV on simply for some noise, but I had decided that this night the TV was staying off. Then I was about to turn on some new [Christian] songs I downloaded on itunes, but that may have woken Drew up. And of course, my ipod and headphones were in the car. So there I was left with what was driving me crazy. Silence.
At our Mom to Mom class last night, one of the moms mentioned how every time her family is home the TV comes on, sometimes just for noise. I could definitely relate because our house is the same way. I've become so accustomed to the TV lulling in the background that when it's not on, it feels like something is missing. I'm the same way in the car. I've always got to have music on. It just doesn't feel right to have the audio system in the "off" mode.
So tonight when I was washing dishes, I decided I would make the best of the silence that was driving me crazy. I started praying for someone who had been on my heart all day. God started impressing on my heart how I should start handling some things a little better. I started praying for every person God put on my heart. I started giving my worries to God and praying about them.
What had been a miserable silence turned into a heart dialogue with God. Just in a matter of minutes, I had new perspectives on many of my worries, and God gave me a peace about things I had been burdened about all day. I was able to lift up prayer requests from last night's Mom to Mom group that I may not have remembered otherwise. All in just a matter of minutes while washing dishes.
I wonder how many of those moments do I miss because I just can't stand silence. How many times would God love to talk to me, but he can't get through?
Of course I'm not going to go chunk my TV in the garbage, but I am going to rethink when I push the "on" button. If I can start weaning myself off of the need for noise, I might just hear more of God's voice through the silence.
My husband Matt was working the night shift, and I had just put Drew to bed. I started washing some leftover dishes when it started to drive me crazy.
Silence.
I wanted to turn the TV on simply for some noise, but I had decided that this night the TV was staying off. Then I was about to turn on some new [Christian] songs I downloaded on itunes, but that may have woken Drew up. And of course, my ipod and headphones were in the car. So there I was left with what was driving me crazy. Silence.
At our Mom to Mom class last night, one of the moms mentioned how every time her family is home the TV comes on, sometimes just for noise. I could definitely relate because our house is the same way. I've become so accustomed to the TV lulling in the background that when it's not on, it feels like something is missing. I'm the same way in the car. I've always got to have music on. It just doesn't feel right to have the audio system in the "off" mode.
So tonight when I was washing dishes, I decided I would make the best of the silence that was driving me crazy. I started praying for someone who had been on my heart all day. God started impressing on my heart how I should start handling some things a little better. I started praying for every person God put on my heart. I started giving my worries to God and praying about them.
What had been a miserable silence turned into a heart dialogue with God. Just in a matter of minutes, I had new perspectives on many of my worries, and God gave me a peace about things I had been burdened about all day. I was able to lift up prayer requests from last night's Mom to Mom group that I may not have remembered otherwise. All in just a matter of minutes while washing dishes.
I wonder how many of those moments do I miss because I just can't stand silence. How many times would God love to talk to me, but he can't get through?
Of course I'm not going to go chunk my TV in the garbage, but I am going to rethink when I push the "on" button. If I can start weaning myself off of the need for noise, I might just hear more of God's voice through the silence.
Dedaddy
Focal Verse: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinithians 4:18)On Tuesday I lost my Dedaddy. I'm not sure how I started calling him that as a little girl, but I did. And because I was one of the oldest grandchildren, all of the other grandchildren called him Dedaddy, too.
He was one of the most loving, giving men I've ever met. He worked hard his whole life to provide for his family. He fell in love with my grandmother, 14 years his junior, and treated her three sons as his own. But he also wanted his own child, so he and Mema had my dad's baby brother.
My memories of Dedaddy and Mema are as heart-warming as most children's memories would be of grandparents. I always looked forward to visiting them. Though they lived a modest life, their home was full of love.
But five years ago, my Mema passed away during a risky but necessary surgery. I'll never forget his grief when the surgeon told us. His heart was broken, and he was never the same. These past five years were miserable for him, and sadly, he succumbed to deep depression. Most recently, he realized that his cancer had likely returned, and he had had enough. On Tuesday he took his own life.
It has been difficult to accept. Last night as I lay in bed, my mind started flashing to memories of Dedaddy and Mema like scenes of a movie. Scene 1: Mema picking peas from her garden and showing me, just a little girl, how to shell them. Scene 2: Dedaddy grilling fish and hush puppies in the back yard on a summer evening. Scene 3: All the grandchildren playing with our Christmas presents in the back yard. Scene 4: Dedaddy giving me a kiss as I arrive at their house and saying, "Hi, Sugar!" And then Scene 5: Dedaddy so full of grief that he took his own life in the same backyard where we shared so many good memories.
And then it hit me. It doesn't matter how many good memories you make if you don't have a hope for life after death.
All of those wonderful memories seem so futile now. As Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, says in Ecclesiastes 1:2, ""Meaningless! Meaningless!"says the Teacher."Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."
Tonight, my husband and son and I went out to the house we are building. The frame just got up and we were able to walk through what would be the rooms of our future home. Excitement poured through me. As Drew ran through the house, I pictured him growing up in it. I envisioned another child someday in his or her own room. I thought of Christmases being spent around the fireplace. The promise of the family memories we would make in our new home was overwhelming.
Yet even these things will pass away. All that matters is if we have hope for eternity. Where there will never be a tear. Where there will never be depression, despair, or hopelessness. Where there will never be sickness, disease, or disability. Where we will never again be hindered by our sinful nature. Where we will be the perfect individuals God had intended us to be when he created us. Where we will have fellowship with those we love without fear of losing them. Where we will be in the presence of the Savior who loved us so much he couldn't bear to spend eternity apart from us.
I just hope with all of my heart that even in Dedaddy's despair, he found that hope and cried out to God, even if it was in those final moments.
Because I really want to see him again.
The Not-So-Warm-and-Fuzzy Voice
Focal verse: "As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion" (Hebrews 3:15)
I am proud to have a mom who was a wonderful teacher of elementary students for over 3 decades. Being a teacher's daughter, I learned many things growing up, but there is one thing in particular I recall. My mom talked about how sometimes some children misbehave in order to gain attention. Even if it's negative attention, it's still attention. While that has always baffled me to some degree, I'm seeing something similar in myself in regard to my relationship with God. It's not that I misbehave to get his attention, but instead that the "negative attention" from God I do get ends up being a blessing.
I can't say enough about the book and Bible study by Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God. My relationship with God has grown in a new depth thanks to the Holy Spirit's inspiring of this study. Most of what I've learned so far has been the warm and fuzzy feelings you would associate with having the God of the universe speaking directly to you. But I've also learned that even when God speaks to me when it's something I don't necessarily want to hear, I'm still thankful that he chose to speak.
For example, one day I was about to mumble something about someone's actions that irritated me. Don't say it, Jill; you wouldn't want that said about you. Obviously, that was not necessarily what I wanted to hear because I really wanted to vent. And another time I was seething with anger. Grace has been given to you; exercise grace with others. Again, not what I wanted to hear.
In both instances, I felt, deep down, thankful that God spoke those words to me. It wasn't because of what the words were. It was because he chose to speak to me! And I knew that his motives for speaking these things weren't simply because he is holy and wants me to be holy. I knew that it also stemmed from love. He loves me so much he wants me to be conformed to his Son. And he wants me to live free from the anger that seethed in me. He wants me to live free from the irritation that would have ultimately escalated had I vented the way I wanted.
Yet when he speaks, he demands obedience. As I obeyed his voice in these instances, I could feel his presence and his activity in changing me. Right before my eyes, in these small but significant instances, I was watching me become a little less and him become a little more.
So when it comes to me and God, I'm happy for a little negative attention, as long as I am still hearing his voice.
I am proud to have a mom who was a wonderful teacher of elementary students for over 3 decades. Being a teacher's daughter, I learned many things growing up, but there is one thing in particular I recall. My mom talked about how sometimes some children misbehave in order to gain attention. Even if it's negative attention, it's still attention. While that has always baffled me to some degree, I'm seeing something similar in myself in regard to my relationship with God. It's not that I misbehave to get his attention, but instead that the "negative attention" from God I do get ends up being a blessing.
I can't say enough about the book and Bible study by Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God. My relationship with God has grown in a new depth thanks to the Holy Spirit's inspiring of this study. Most of what I've learned so far has been the warm and fuzzy feelings you would associate with having the God of the universe speaking directly to you. But I've also learned that even when God speaks to me when it's something I don't necessarily want to hear, I'm still thankful that he chose to speak.
For example, one day I was about to mumble something about someone's actions that irritated me. Don't say it, Jill; you wouldn't want that said about you. Obviously, that was not necessarily what I wanted to hear because I really wanted to vent. And another time I was seething with anger. Grace has been given to you; exercise grace with others. Again, not what I wanted to hear.
In both instances, I felt, deep down, thankful that God spoke those words to me. It wasn't because of what the words were. It was because he chose to speak to me! And I knew that his motives for speaking these things weren't simply because he is holy and wants me to be holy. I knew that it also stemmed from love. He loves me so much he wants me to be conformed to his Son. And he wants me to live free from the anger that seethed in me. He wants me to live free from the irritation that would have ultimately escalated had I vented the way I wanted.
Yet when he speaks, he demands obedience. As I obeyed his voice in these instances, I could feel his presence and his activity in changing me. Right before my eyes, in these small but significant instances, I was watching me become a little less and him become a little more.
So when it comes to me and God, I'm happy for a little negative attention, as long as I am still hearing his voice.
Battling the Enemy
Focal Verse: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).
When I was in high school, my family's whole life revolved around basketball. My dad was the girls' basketball coach, and I was the starting point guard. Needless to say, basketball wasn't another activity. It was a passion.
When our team had a big game coming up against an opponent we had never played before, Dad and I would go "scout" this team as they played another team. We would learn what type of offense they used against different types of defenses. We learned what defenses they used. We learned their successful plays and their most threatening players. We discovered what they were good at and where their weak points were. By learning these things, we could prepare accordingly and mount our best offense and defense against the team. That way, when we played them, we were prepared and weren't caught off guard.
Somewhere in my Christian walk, I was told that sometimes we focus too much on our opponent, Satan, and the enemy's power than we do focusing on Christ and his power inside of us. Although this statement does have some truth, I took it to the extreme. For most of my Christian life, I completely ignored the power of the enemy and his influence in my life. I guess I thought if I ignored it then it didn't exist.
Oh how wrong I was. Thankfully God opened my eyes to the real presence of the enemy. God showed me where the enemy was alive and active in my life. What a disheartening realization, but thankfully, a necessary one. I learned that the enemy knew exactly which cards to play. He knew my weaknesses. He knew what pushed my buttons. He knew what to do to render me ineffective in my Christian walk. He knew how to distract me. Oh how I was such an easy target.
Armed with this newfound revelation, I became more aware of places I needed to be on guard. Specifically, I began to really pray about our Mom's group at church. I have been leading this group for a year and a half, and a couple of weeks ago we started a new study. The first night we had a record number with more and more moms coming. I could see God's hand working in lives of each of us. Yet I knew where God was working, the enemy couldn't be too far behind.
I started praying that God would govern my mouth as I taught. How easy would it have been for one careless word to slip my mouth that could offend someone? I started praying that the other girls' words would be kind to one another so each one would feel included. I prayed about everything within our group I could think of that might threaten the work God was doing.
But obviously I hadn't scouted my opponent because within the group was not where he chose to strike. He chose to strike at the leader in her home. How crafty. Create strife in my home and how can I be focused on leading this group to be more godly moms? You see, last weekend, my husband and I were bickering at every turn. At one point I opened my mouth one too many times and it led to hurt and coldness, but thankfully only for awhile.
I didn't need to be told twice that my struggle is not with flesh and blood. The enemy knows what I can do (or not do) that gets my husband riled up. He knows that Matt has a hard time fighting the temptation to let me know about it. And the enemy also knows how that makes me feel, and on goes the cycle.
Thankfully I was able to stop the cycle by realizing that my struggle wasn't against Matt. My heart softened and I started to see his point of view. As my heart softened, so did his. And we were fine... until the enemy chose to attack us again. But this time I was ready.
What I've learned is ignoring the enemy doesn't mean he isn't there. In my opinion, we're either (1) under attack and are with Christ's help defending against it, (2) under attack and don't realize it, and we're being defeated time and again, or (3) we're not being attacked because we're not a threat to the enemy.
It's not a fun feeling knowing that if I live my life for God, my whole life will be a battle, against the enemy or the sinful nature within me. But thankfully, I have the One who has already won the war on my side, fighting along with me.
When I was in high school, my family's whole life revolved around basketball. My dad was the girls' basketball coach, and I was the starting point guard. Needless to say, basketball wasn't another activity. It was a passion.
When our team had a big game coming up against an opponent we had never played before, Dad and I would go "scout" this team as they played another team. We would learn what type of offense they used against different types of defenses. We learned what defenses they used. We learned their successful plays and their most threatening players. We discovered what they were good at and where their weak points were. By learning these things, we could prepare accordingly and mount our best offense and defense against the team. That way, when we played them, we were prepared and weren't caught off guard.
Somewhere in my Christian walk, I was told that sometimes we focus too much on our opponent, Satan, and the enemy's power than we do focusing on Christ and his power inside of us. Although this statement does have some truth, I took it to the extreme. For most of my Christian life, I completely ignored the power of the enemy and his influence in my life. I guess I thought if I ignored it then it didn't exist.
Oh how wrong I was. Thankfully God opened my eyes to the real presence of the enemy. God showed me where the enemy was alive and active in my life. What a disheartening realization, but thankfully, a necessary one. I learned that the enemy knew exactly which cards to play. He knew my weaknesses. He knew what pushed my buttons. He knew what to do to render me ineffective in my Christian walk. He knew how to distract me. Oh how I was such an easy target.
Armed with this newfound revelation, I became more aware of places I needed to be on guard. Specifically, I began to really pray about our Mom's group at church. I have been leading this group for a year and a half, and a couple of weeks ago we started a new study. The first night we had a record number with more and more moms coming. I could see God's hand working in lives of each of us. Yet I knew where God was working, the enemy couldn't be too far behind.
I started praying that God would govern my mouth as I taught. How easy would it have been for one careless word to slip my mouth that could offend someone? I started praying that the other girls' words would be kind to one another so each one would feel included. I prayed about everything within our group I could think of that might threaten the work God was doing.
But obviously I hadn't scouted my opponent because within the group was not where he chose to strike. He chose to strike at the leader in her home. How crafty. Create strife in my home and how can I be focused on leading this group to be more godly moms? You see, last weekend, my husband and I were bickering at every turn. At one point I opened my mouth one too many times and it led to hurt and coldness, but thankfully only for awhile.
I didn't need to be told twice that my struggle is not with flesh and blood. The enemy knows what I can do (or not do) that gets my husband riled up. He knows that Matt has a hard time fighting the temptation to let me know about it. And the enemy also knows how that makes me feel, and on goes the cycle.
Thankfully I was able to stop the cycle by realizing that my struggle wasn't against Matt. My heart softened and I started to see his point of view. As my heart softened, so did his. And we were fine... until the enemy chose to attack us again. But this time I was ready.
What I've learned is ignoring the enemy doesn't mean he isn't there. In my opinion, we're either (1) under attack and are with Christ's help defending against it, (2) under attack and don't realize it, and we're being defeated time and again, or (3) we're not being attacked because we're not a threat to the enemy.
It's not a fun feeling knowing that if I live my life for God, my whole life will be a battle, against the enemy or the sinful nature within me. But thankfully, I have the One who has already won the war on my side, fighting along with me.
Death to the Overachiever
Focal Verse: "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30).
The verse above is one of those verses in the Bible that gets us all warm and fuzzy inside. It's the kind of verse we like to memorize and take to heart.
Yet this verse has been one that I've never really experienced. Yes, I knew what it said, but I can recall reading it time and time again, thinking, "I just don't get it." It wasn't until recently when I realized the reason why I knew this verse in my head but not in my heart.
In my almost 18-year Christian walk, I have tried to "do" and "be" everything I thought was expected. When I used my gifts to serve the Lord, or if someone told me I was a blessing in one way or another, I cheered for myself. I had succeeded. On the opposite side, when I was hit with a sinful area I couldn't figure out how to master, I failed. Without realizing it, I was trying to "work" my way to approval from God. An overachiever, I subconsciously planned on "mastering" this Christianity thing once and for all. I struggled with sermons that talked about confessing sin, because I would realize I hadn't confessed of anything in such a long time. Surely I wasn't perfect, but for the life of me, I couldn't think of anything I had done wrong lately. I tried to "do" everything right. Though I knew I was saved by faith, I was living my Christianity by works.
And let me tell you, works wasn't working.
Then God hit me with an amazing revelation: there is nothing good in me. Now, to an overachiever like myself, this could have been a fatal blow. But instead, it brought freedom like none other. Once I realized that there is nothing good in me of myself, I realized that everything good in me is from God. What a relief! Any good I ever hope to be cannot come from myself but from God and His Spirit's work alone.
This revelation brought an amazing new light to the following verse: "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom" (James 2:12). How can the law give freedom? With all the rules and regulations and the impossible expectations, how could we possibly gain freedom through the law? Because there is no possible way to live up to the law! The FREEDOM is that Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection covered my inability to ever be good enough. The freedom is that the only way I am to ever be all God has for me to be is to recognize that he IS the good in me. Only by dying to myself and allowing him to live in me will I ever please him.
Now the dying to myself isn't so easy sometimes. But at least I'm not trying achieve the impossible anymore. Once I let go of my ambitions to do it all myself, I can be free to let the Holy Spirit do his perfect work in me.
The verse above is one of those verses in the Bible that gets us all warm and fuzzy inside. It's the kind of verse we like to memorize and take to heart.
Yet this verse has been one that I've never really experienced. Yes, I knew what it said, but I can recall reading it time and time again, thinking, "I just don't get it." It wasn't until recently when I realized the reason why I knew this verse in my head but not in my heart.
In my almost 18-year Christian walk, I have tried to "do" and "be" everything I thought was expected. When I used my gifts to serve the Lord, or if someone told me I was a blessing in one way or another, I cheered for myself. I had succeeded. On the opposite side, when I was hit with a sinful area I couldn't figure out how to master, I failed. Without realizing it, I was trying to "work" my way to approval from God. An overachiever, I subconsciously planned on "mastering" this Christianity thing once and for all. I struggled with sermons that talked about confessing sin, because I would realize I hadn't confessed of anything in such a long time. Surely I wasn't perfect, but for the life of me, I couldn't think of anything I had done wrong lately. I tried to "do" everything right. Though I knew I was saved by faith, I was living my Christianity by works.
And let me tell you, works wasn't working.
Then God hit me with an amazing revelation: there is nothing good in me. Now, to an overachiever like myself, this could have been a fatal blow. But instead, it brought freedom like none other. Once I realized that there is nothing good in me of myself, I realized that everything good in me is from God. What a relief! Any good I ever hope to be cannot come from myself but from God and His Spirit's work alone.
This revelation brought an amazing new light to the following verse: "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom" (James 2:12). How can the law give freedom? With all the rules and regulations and the impossible expectations, how could we possibly gain freedom through the law? Because there is no possible way to live up to the law! The FREEDOM is that Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection covered my inability to ever be good enough. The freedom is that the only way I am to ever be all God has for me to be is to recognize that he IS the good in me. Only by dying to myself and allowing him to live in me will I ever please him.
Now the dying to myself isn't so easy sometimes. But at least I'm not trying achieve the impossible anymore. Once I let go of my ambitions to do it all myself, I can be free to let the Holy Spirit do his perfect work in me.
Counterfeit Comfort
Focal Verses: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters...Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare" (Isaiah 55:1a, 2)
While some people eat for comfort, I drink for comfort. No, not alcohol; my drinks of choice are coffee, diet coke, and sweet tea. In particular, I've found myself in the last few months getting a 32-ounce diet coke during my workday to "comfort" me as I work a long day. What used to be a once-a-week treat turned into an almost every day necessity.
Also a couple of months ago, I found myself feeling very fatigued at work. In the afternoon I was simply run down. Some days I felt like I was battling an illness I was so tired. My husband even jokingly asked if he could declare the lemon law on me because I felt bad all the time.
Sick of feeling sick, I decided to try something. After noticing I was feeling my worst after a string of those "diet coke days," I decided I was going to switch to water. Starting on a Monday, I had a large 32-ounce ice water both in the morning and afternoon. I even added some lemon because I read somewhere that lemon is loaded with vitamin C. That could only be good right?
The difference was immediate. That Monday I was full of energy - even for a Monday! And that whole week I felt like I was back to normal again. It couldn't be that simple, right? Just exchange my diet coke for refreshing ice water?
How often do we do the same thing with our spiritual lives? How often do we try to fill the thirst in our lives with a counterfeit drink?
One of my counterfeit drinks was TV. I had at least one show to watch every night. Every day I looked forward to the show that was on that night. With those shows I could escape my reality and live in another world. They were my comfort. Yet when they were over, I was as empty as I was before, until the next night. Since I have replaced most of my sacred TV shows to other activities in the evenings - ones that are beneficial - I don't even miss it. Sure, my husband and I still indulge in a couple of our favorites, but they are treats for me, not what I depend on for my comfort.
Another counterfeit could be our friends, even Christian friends. If we are leaning on our friends or family with issues we haven't even taken to God, we are expecting them - maybe not consciously - to fill that role of God in our lives. God has used my precious friends in so many ways in my life. But he has at times also taken away their availability to me when he knew I was depending on them too much. He wants us to come to him with all of our thoughts, feelings, dilemmas, and worries. Then, if he chooses to use our friends to speak to us, great! But he is the Wonderful Counselor who needs to be the first one we turn to. And if he chooses to speak to us through our friends, that's just icing on the cake!
Still another counterfeit could be our busyness. As long as we're on the go, doing something, planning something, having something to look forward to, we feel validated. We don't have time to realize our soul is empty. This has been a struggle of mine for as long as I can remember. I'll share what I wrote along these lines in my journal at the end of my Senior year of high school: "It is right now that I feel hopeless; I have a lack of purpose. Throughout the school year I've always had something to look forward to...But now all of that is over." If we are always looking forward to the next thing, that is a sure clue that we're leaning on the wrong thing. If all of our activities and responsibilities were stripped from us, would we find an empty void in our hearts? If so, then we aren't gaining our sustenance from God's Living Water.
These are just a few of my struggles, but I'm sure that we all have our unique counterfeit comforts that we turn to from time to time. It's difficult sometimes to recognize them but if we examine our hearts and pray that God will reveal them to us, we can resist leaning on our counterfeit comfort and instead turn to our God's all-fulfilling comfort.
And once we do that, we open the door to God's living water. The one that will make us never thirst again.
While some people eat for comfort, I drink for comfort. No, not alcohol; my drinks of choice are coffee, diet coke, and sweet tea. In particular, I've found myself in the last few months getting a 32-ounce diet coke during my workday to "comfort" me as I work a long day. What used to be a once-a-week treat turned into an almost every day necessity.
Also a couple of months ago, I found myself feeling very fatigued at work. In the afternoon I was simply run down. Some days I felt like I was battling an illness I was so tired. My husband even jokingly asked if he could declare the lemon law on me because I felt bad all the time.
Sick of feeling sick, I decided to try something. After noticing I was feeling my worst after a string of those "diet coke days," I decided I was going to switch to water. Starting on a Monday, I had a large 32-ounce ice water both in the morning and afternoon. I even added some lemon because I read somewhere that lemon is loaded with vitamin C. That could only be good right?
The difference was immediate. That Monday I was full of energy - even for a Monday! And that whole week I felt like I was back to normal again. It couldn't be that simple, right? Just exchange my diet coke for refreshing ice water?
How often do we do the same thing with our spiritual lives? How often do we try to fill the thirst in our lives with a counterfeit drink?
One of my counterfeit drinks was TV. I had at least one show to watch every night. Every day I looked forward to the show that was on that night. With those shows I could escape my reality and live in another world. They were my comfort. Yet when they were over, I was as empty as I was before, until the next night. Since I have replaced most of my sacred TV shows to other activities in the evenings - ones that are beneficial - I don't even miss it. Sure, my husband and I still indulge in a couple of our favorites, but they are treats for me, not what I depend on for my comfort.
Another counterfeit could be our friends, even Christian friends. If we are leaning on our friends or family with issues we haven't even taken to God, we are expecting them - maybe not consciously - to fill that role of God in our lives. God has used my precious friends in so many ways in my life. But he has at times also taken away their availability to me when he knew I was depending on them too much. He wants us to come to him with all of our thoughts, feelings, dilemmas, and worries. Then, if he chooses to use our friends to speak to us, great! But he is the Wonderful Counselor who needs to be the first one we turn to. And if he chooses to speak to us through our friends, that's just icing on the cake!
Still another counterfeit could be our busyness. As long as we're on the go, doing something, planning something, having something to look forward to, we feel validated. We don't have time to realize our soul is empty. This has been a struggle of mine for as long as I can remember. I'll share what I wrote along these lines in my journal at the end of my Senior year of high school: "It is right now that I feel hopeless; I have a lack of purpose. Throughout the school year I've always had something to look forward to...But now all of that is over." If we are always looking forward to the next thing, that is a sure clue that we're leaning on the wrong thing. If all of our activities and responsibilities were stripped from us, would we find an empty void in our hearts? If so, then we aren't gaining our sustenance from God's Living Water.
These are just a few of my struggles, but I'm sure that we all have our unique counterfeit comforts that we turn to from time to time. It's difficult sometimes to recognize them but if we examine our hearts and pray that God will reveal them to us, we can resist leaning on our counterfeit comfort and instead turn to our God's all-fulfilling comfort.
And once we do that, we open the door to God's living water. The one that will make us never thirst again.
My Center
Focal Verse: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33).
Sitting down momentarily in my recliner this Sunday afternoon, I started thinking what I needed to do next. Having surprisingly gotten all my housework done, I was about to tackle another thing on my to-do list.
But my two-year-old son Drew was sitting on the bed playing with puzzles, wanting me to come play with him. Conflicted, my heart won out and I crawled up in the bed next to him and we enjoyed the Sunday afternoon together.
Lately, I have been feeling much anxiety regarding to the things I have to do and how I am supposed to do it all. I don't get home from work until after 6:00 every night. Then comes cooking dinner, cleaning up, housework, and hopefully squeezing in some quality time with Drew before it's time to give him a bath and put him to bed. The next thing I know, it's 9:00 and I still haven't studied for my Wednesday night mom's class or my upcoming Sunday night discipleship training class...or discussion questions for my Sunday School class...or writing on this blog...or writing thank-you notes...the list seems never ending. And not to mention, I also haven't spent any quality time with my husband yet.
My life has seemed like one big whirlwind lately. So much to do - so much I WANT to do - yet so little time to squeeze it in.
I recall a metaphor used by Joanna Weaver in her book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, where she talked about her each of her responsibilities representing a hula hoop, and her challenge was to balance them all and not drop one. How to do it? She said she had to find her "center." Once she found her center, she could balance all her responsibilities. Now, it's easy to think our "center" is Christ, and it is. But I think finding our center goes beyond that. If I look at everything in my life demanding my attention, I don't know how I could put one above another. My role as a wife, my role as a mother, and my role in the ministries God has called me to, each demand their place.
I wasn't sure how I was going to be and do everything needed (and remain sane at that!), so today I started praying, "God, show me how to find my center."
Thankfully, God revealed my first step in the precious eyes of my toddler. While I was trying to decide which task to tackle next today, I couldn't even consider anything but spending my time with Drew. It was through this that God showed me that my priority needs to be to my family, and he will provide time for my other responsibilities.
I know I'm not the only one who struggles with this. I certainly believe we can "do" too much and sometimes need to reconsider what we commit to. But when we're doing everything that we feel called to do - and nothing more - yet we still feel overwhelmed, it's time to find our center.
The oft-quoted passage Philippians 4:13 is true here. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I need to realize that if God has called me, he will equip me. And isn't it just like God to give us a God-sized task so we won't rely on our own abilities to do it? Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12,"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,' ... For when I am weak, then I am strong" (v. 9a and 10b).
I think one of God's purposes for all of my responsibilities is that I will realize I can't do it all on my own strength. It is only through him and his power that I can find my center.
Sitting down momentarily in my recliner this Sunday afternoon, I started thinking what I needed to do next. Having surprisingly gotten all my housework done, I was about to tackle another thing on my to-do list.
But my two-year-old son Drew was sitting on the bed playing with puzzles, wanting me to come play with him. Conflicted, my heart won out and I crawled up in the bed next to him and we enjoyed the Sunday afternoon together.
Lately, I have been feeling much anxiety regarding to the things I have to do and how I am supposed to do it all. I don't get home from work until after 6:00 every night. Then comes cooking dinner, cleaning up, housework, and hopefully squeezing in some quality time with Drew before it's time to give him a bath and put him to bed. The next thing I know, it's 9:00 and I still haven't studied for my Wednesday night mom's class or my upcoming Sunday night discipleship training class...or discussion questions for my Sunday School class...or writing on this blog...or writing thank-you notes...the list seems never ending. And not to mention, I also haven't spent any quality time with my husband yet.
My life has seemed like one big whirlwind lately. So much to do - so much I WANT to do - yet so little time to squeeze it in.
I recall a metaphor used by Joanna Weaver in her book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, where she talked about her each of her responsibilities representing a hula hoop, and her challenge was to balance them all and not drop one. How to do it? She said she had to find her "center." Once she found her center, she could balance all her responsibilities. Now, it's easy to think our "center" is Christ, and it is. But I think finding our center goes beyond that. If I look at everything in my life demanding my attention, I don't know how I could put one above another. My role as a wife, my role as a mother, and my role in the ministries God has called me to, each demand their place.
I wasn't sure how I was going to be and do everything needed (and remain sane at that!), so today I started praying, "God, show me how to find my center."
Thankfully, God revealed my first step in the precious eyes of my toddler. While I was trying to decide which task to tackle next today, I couldn't even consider anything but spending my time with Drew. It was through this that God showed me that my priority needs to be to my family, and he will provide time for my other responsibilities.
I know I'm not the only one who struggles with this. I certainly believe we can "do" too much and sometimes need to reconsider what we commit to. But when we're doing everything that we feel called to do - and nothing more - yet we still feel overwhelmed, it's time to find our center.
The oft-quoted passage Philippians 4:13 is true here. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I need to realize that if God has called me, he will equip me. And isn't it just like God to give us a God-sized task so we won't rely on our own abilities to do it? Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12,"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,' ... For when I am weak, then I am strong" (v. 9a and 10b).
I think one of God's purposes for all of my responsibilities is that I will realize I can't do it all on my own strength. It is only through him and his power that I can find my center.
Flesh Woman
Focal Verses: "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25a)
Sometimes spiritual growth can be joyous. Sometimes it can be painful. For the past few weeks since writing my blog “Repetition,” I have gone through a growth of the latter kind.
Little did I know that when God laid upon my heart the song, “Empty Me,” he was preparing for something well beyond the scope of the example listed in the “I Get It” blog. I am taking a risk of being transparent in this post in hopes that through my experiences, God may touch you as he did me, albeit the hard way.
Through my prayer of “empty me,” God didn’t spare my feelings when he pointed out some areas in my life that need his transformation. However, in my flawed self, I had quite a bit of trouble with these realizations.
You see, I’ve come to realize that my view of myself isn’t rooted where it should be. Instead of realizing my value because of God’s love for me and his Son’s sacrifice for me, I vary from extreme to extreme. If I feel like I’ve got everything under control and I’m being a “good girl,” I feel on top of the world. But point out a flaw in me, and I fall into a downward spiral. I wonder how in the world have my friends stuck around this long? How has my family put up with me--and even more inconceivably--loved me? And for heaven's sake, who am I to think that I am in any position to be teaching a Bible study?
It’s inconceivable for me to think that God can use me if I have any areas of sin or weakness lurking under the surface. Whereas some people perhaps shy away from any kind of leadership position in the church or ministry for this same reason, I started questioning everything I’ve been doing in that capacity. In either case, it all boils down to one thought. I’m not good enough.
Alas, nothing could be more true. I’m NOT good enough. God doesn’t expect me to be good enough in my own strength. That’s why he gave me his Son to redeem me and his Holy Spirit to convict and change me.
As I was seeking answers to my struggles these past few weeks, God reached down and touched me in only a way that He can. This time he did it through the book Having a Mary Spirit. After thoroughly enjoying Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver, I asked my sister-in-law for that author’s next book for my birthday. Only God knew what perfect timing that book would be.
God gently reminded me that there are two forces at work inside me. Paul sums it up in the verses following his famous tongue-twister passage in Romans 7: “I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (Romans 7:21-23).
I had to realize that no matter how hard I try, I am always going to have, as Weaver puts it, “Flesh Woman” contending for her place in my heart. And what God wants me to do about that is to first of all recognize her. Turning a blind eye to her presence in my life isn’t the way to become more like Christ. I must recognize her and with the power of Christ fight against her. And if I lose a battle, I confess and repent and move on. I can’t get stuck in the wrongful thinking that just because Flesh Woman is part of my life, that doesn’t mean that she IS my life.
I’m still struggling with many of the areas God has revealed to me. But instead of wallowing in hopeless despair, I can now see myself the way God sees me: completely unworthy, yet completely valuable to him.
I was putting Drew to sleep one night, and it was as if God whispered in my ear, “Do you see how much you love Drew? Is it because of anything he has done? No, you love him because he’s your son. Do you love him any less when he misbehaves? Of course not. And aren’t you proud of him when he does what is right? That’s how I am with you. I love you unconditionally, and I’m proud of you when you choose my way. But your weaknesses don’t make me love you less.”
Thankfully, God understands that our sanctification (being made holy) isn’t an overnight deal. It’s a process. We can rest assured in Philippians 1:6: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Sometimes spiritual growth can be joyous. Sometimes it can be painful. For the past few weeks since writing my blog “Repetition,” I have gone through a growth of the latter kind.
Little did I know that when God laid upon my heart the song, “Empty Me,” he was preparing for something well beyond the scope of the example listed in the “I Get It” blog. I am taking a risk of being transparent in this post in hopes that through my experiences, God may touch you as he did me, albeit the hard way.
Through my prayer of “empty me,” God didn’t spare my feelings when he pointed out some areas in my life that need his transformation. However, in my flawed self, I had quite a bit of trouble with these realizations.
You see, I’ve come to realize that my view of myself isn’t rooted where it should be. Instead of realizing my value because of God’s love for me and his Son’s sacrifice for me, I vary from extreme to extreme. If I feel like I’ve got everything under control and I’m being a “good girl,” I feel on top of the world. But point out a flaw in me, and I fall into a downward spiral. I wonder how in the world have my friends stuck around this long? How has my family put up with me--and even more inconceivably--loved me? And for heaven's sake, who am I to think that I am in any position to be teaching a Bible study?
It’s inconceivable for me to think that God can use me if I have any areas of sin or weakness lurking under the surface. Whereas some people perhaps shy away from any kind of leadership position in the church or ministry for this same reason, I started questioning everything I’ve been doing in that capacity. In either case, it all boils down to one thought. I’m not good enough.
Alas, nothing could be more true. I’m NOT good enough. God doesn’t expect me to be good enough in my own strength. That’s why he gave me his Son to redeem me and his Holy Spirit to convict and change me.
As I was seeking answers to my struggles these past few weeks, God reached down and touched me in only a way that He can. This time he did it through the book Having a Mary Spirit. After thoroughly enjoying Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver, I asked my sister-in-law for that author’s next book for my birthday. Only God knew what perfect timing that book would be.
God gently reminded me that there are two forces at work inside me. Paul sums it up in the verses following his famous tongue-twister passage in Romans 7: “I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (Romans 7:21-23).
I had to realize that no matter how hard I try, I am always going to have, as Weaver puts it, “Flesh Woman” contending for her place in my heart. And what God wants me to do about that is to first of all recognize her. Turning a blind eye to her presence in my life isn’t the way to become more like Christ. I must recognize her and with the power of Christ fight against her. And if I lose a battle, I confess and repent and move on. I can’t get stuck in the wrongful thinking that just because Flesh Woman is part of my life, that doesn’t mean that she IS my life.
I’m still struggling with many of the areas God has revealed to me. But instead of wallowing in hopeless despair, I can now see myself the way God sees me: completely unworthy, yet completely valuable to him.
I was putting Drew to sleep one night, and it was as if God whispered in my ear, “Do you see how much you love Drew? Is it because of anything he has done? No, you love him because he’s your son. Do you love him any less when he misbehaves? Of course not. And aren’t you proud of him when he does what is right? That’s how I am with you. I love you unconditionally, and I’m proud of you when you choose my way. But your weaknesses don’t make me love you less.”
Thankfully, God understands that our sanctification (being made holy) isn’t an overnight deal. It’s a process. We can rest assured in Philippians 1:6: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Repetition
Focal Verse: "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27)
In my six-year career since graduating college, my positions have always included marketing. From my first job as an advertising sales rep at the local newspaper to my current job in charge of online, email, and direct mail marketing, my aim has been knowing how to communicate a message to a particular audience.
One main premise in marketing is repetition. I learned in an advertising conference that it takes 3 direct mail messages for the recipient to engage. Even at the newspaper, businesses were encouraged to invest in repetition even if it meant smaller ads more frequently.
You can even see this in everyday life. How many times have you seen the first commercial for a new TV fall series and thought nothing of it, but the fourth or fifth time, your interest is piqued enough to watch the pilot episode? How many times have you decided to buy that new product only after seeing it advertised repetitively?
What I've noticed recently is that God is in the repetition business as well. It seems everywhere I turn recently, God has been showing me how he longs to speak to me. If you read my posts recently, you may be experiencing a little deja vu right now. But that's okay. If God cares enough to be repetitious with me to prove a point, I think it's okay for me to do the same with this blog.
One reason it has been several days since I've posted is because I have been struggling with something in particular. It is a personal issue for which I've been seeking God's direction. After several days and after getting even more desperate for an answer, I got on my knees and begged God to shine a light on my soul and show me if there were any offensive way in my thinking in regard to this issue (Psalm 139:23). I begged him to simply show me what direction he wanted me to go. Although he didn't speak right then, I trusted that he would in his time.
That night, I was reading in Ecclesiastes and a group of verses spoke to my heart. Although the author, Solomon, was talking about something completely different, God used these verses to speak directly to my situation. The particular verse that spoke to me was Ecclesiastes 8:6: "For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him." I was comforted that through this verse God was showing me that he understood my heart and what I was battling. Yet in the same verse, he spoke, telling me to wait on him, that there is a proper time for that in which I hope.
Through many of the circumstances about which I've written on this blog and others which I haven't, God has made his point to me. He desires to speak to us. He doesn't want the only message we hear from him to be the one from the pulpit. He wants to initiate a passionate relationship with us through one-on-one conversing. He wants to build his relationship with us. Through that relationship, he wants to comfort us in our sorrows. He wants to direct us in our life decisions. He wants to fill our deepest longings. He wants to show us his glory.
Yes, this blog may seem repetitive at the moment, but if you read through the book of Jeremiah for example, you'll see that God makes a point to be repetitive when he wants to speak to us.
I pray that we will continue to listen, because he is ready to speak.
In my six-year career since graduating college, my positions have always included marketing. From my first job as an advertising sales rep at the local newspaper to my current job in charge of online, email, and direct mail marketing, my aim has been knowing how to communicate a message to a particular audience.
One main premise in marketing is repetition. I learned in an advertising conference that it takes 3 direct mail messages for the recipient to engage. Even at the newspaper, businesses were encouraged to invest in repetition even if it meant smaller ads more frequently.
You can even see this in everyday life. How many times have you seen the first commercial for a new TV fall series and thought nothing of it, but the fourth or fifth time, your interest is piqued enough to watch the pilot episode? How many times have you decided to buy that new product only after seeing it advertised repetitively?
What I've noticed recently is that God is in the repetition business as well. It seems everywhere I turn recently, God has been showing me how he longs to speak to me. If you read my posts recently, you may be experiencing a little deja vu right now. But that's okay. If God cares enough to be repetitious with me to prove a point, I think it's okay for me to do the same with this blog.
One reason it has been several days since I've posted is because I have been struggling with something in particular. It is a personal issue for which I've been seeking God's direction. After several days and after getting even more desperate for an answer, I got on my knees and begged God to shine a light on my soul and show me if there were any offensive way in my thinking in regard to this issue (Psalm 139:23). I begged him to simply show me what direction he wanted me to go. Although he didn't speak right then, I trusted that he would in his time.
That night, I was reading in Ecclesiastes and a group of verses spoke to my heart. Although the author, Solomon, was talking about something completely different, God used these verses to speak directly to my situation. The particular verse that spoke to me was Ecclesiastes 8:6: "For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him." I was comforted that through this verse God was showing me that he understood my heart and what I was battling. Yet in the same verse, he spoke, telling me to wait on him, that there is a proper time for that in which I hope.
Through many of the circumstances about which I've written on this blog and others which I haven't, God has made his point to me. He desires to speak to us. He doesn't want the only message we hear from him to be the one from the pulpit. He wants to initiate a passionate relationship with us through one-on-one conversing. He wants to build his relationship with us. Through that relationship, he wants to comfort us in our sorrows. He wants to direct us in our life decisions. He wants to fill our deepest longings. He wants to show us his glory.
Yes, this blog may seem repetitive at the moment, but if you read through the book of Jeremiah for example, you'll see that God makes a point to be repetitive when he wants to speak to us.
I pray that we will continue to listen, because he is ready to speak.
I Get It
Focal Verse: "For God does speak—now one way, now another— though man may not perceive it" (Job 33:14).
Okay, Father, I get it. That was my conversation with God on the way to work this morning. Listening to K-love on my 7-minute commute, the song by Chris Sligh, Empty Me, came on. Now this doesn't seem unusual, except Empty Me has been coming on quite a bit lately when I'm in the car. But not just on K-love. It seems every time I change the station to the Spirit channel on my satellite radio this particular song comes on as well.
But the frequency of this song coming on both radio stations I listen to may not have been that significant either. What got my attention was when I was in my quiet time this morning, the song popped in my mind. I remember taking note of why God would bring this particular song to my mind. And then, during my morning commute, there it was again. Okay, Father, I get it.
Now this song wasn't one of those that hit me like an arrow at a target (as compared to what I wrote about in the Miracle of the Moment blog). The lyrics were meaningful but didn't seem to have any special significance in my life at the moment. Or so I thought. I decided I would look up the lyrics and pray about what God was saying to me. With that thought, I went on to work this morning.
And then when I went to lunch, I realized how God can mix persistence with a sense of humor. Yep, on my lunch break there it was again. Chuckling, I prayed, Okay God I really get it! You are preparing to tell me something. Show me what it is.
Later this afternoon, a situation occurred where I was able to look back and see one way God wanted to speak to me through this song. The chorus "Empty me of the selfishness inside, every vain ambition and the poison of my pride" revealed an area of pride of which I wasn't aware.
I am so thankful that when God speaks, his voice is persistent. When he wants to make a point, he'll make every effort. It's his job to speak. It's our job to anticipate his voice and to listen.
Sometimes we may initially pass off occurrences like this as mere coincidence. But if we are open to God's voice and attentive to it, he might just have something to say to us individually. Even though God's lesson to me wasn't easy to hear, I was overjoyed that he took the time to speak to me.
I look forward to more of those Okay, I get it moments with my Savior. And I'm convinced that he does, too.
Enjoy the song Empty Me performed by Chris Sligh below the lyrics. Apparently he was on American Idol? I had no idea until I looked him up on youtube! :)
Lyrics: I've had just enough of the spotlight when it burns bright To see how it gets in the blood. And I've tasted my share of the sweet life and the wild ride And found a little is not quite enough. I know how I can stray And how fast my heart could change. Empty me of the selfishness inside Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride And any foolish thing my heart holds to Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with you. I've seen just enough of the quick buys of the best lies To know how prodigals can be drawn away. I know how I can stray And how fast my heart could change. Cause everything is a lesser thing Compared to you, compared to you. Cause everything is a lesser thing compared to you. So, I surrender all!
Okay, Father, I get it. That was my conversation with God on the way to work this morning. Listening to K-love on my 7-minute commute, the song by Chris Sligh, Empty Me, came on. Now this doesn't seem unusual, except Empty Me has been coming on quite a bit lately when I'm in the car. But not just on K-love. It seems every time I change the station to the Spirit channel on my satellite radio this particular song comes on as well.
But the frequency of this song coming on both radio stations I listen to may not have been that significant either. What got my attention was when I was in my quiet time this morning, the song popped in my mind. I remember taking note of why God would bring this particular song to my mind. And then, during my morning commute, there it was again. Okay, Father, I get it.
Now this song wasn't one of those that hit me like an arrow at a target (as compared to what I wrote about in the Miracle of the Moment blog). The lyrics were meaningful but didn't seem to have any special significance in my life at the moment. Or so I thought. I decided I would look up the lyrics and pray about what God was saying to me. With that thought, I went on to work this morning.
And then when I went to lunch, I realized how God can mix persistence with a sense of humor. Yep, on my lunch break there it was again. Chuckling, I prayed, Okay God I really get it! You are preparing to tell me something. Show me what it is.
Later this afternoon, a situation occurred where I was able to look back and see one way God wanted to speak to me through this song. The chorus "Empty me of the selfishness inside, every vain ambition and the poison of my pride" revealed an area of pride of which I wasn't aware.
I am so thankful that when God speaks, his voice is persistent. When he wants to make a point, he'll make every effort. It's his job to speak. It's our job to anticipate his voice and to listen.
Sometimes we may initially pass off occurrences like this as mere coincidence. But if we are open to God's voice and attentive to it, he might just have something to say to us individually. Even though God's lesson to me wasn't easy to hear, I was overjoyed that he took the time to speak to me.
I look forward to more of those Okay, I get it moments with my Savior. And I'm convinced that he does, too.
Enjoy the song Empty Me performed by Chris Sligh below the lyrics. Apparently he was on American Idol? I had no idea until I looked him up on youtube! :)
Lyrics: I've had just enough of the spotlight when it burns bright To see how it gets in the blood. And I've tasted my share of the sweet life and the wild ride And found a little is not quite enough. I know how I can stray And how fast my heart could change. Empty me of the selfishness inside Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride And any foolish thing my heart holds to Lord empty me of me so I can be filled with you. I've seen just enough of the quick buys of the best lies To know how prodigals can be drawn away. I know how I can stray And how fast my heart could change. Cause everything is a lesser thing Compared to you, compared to you. Cause everything is a lesser thing compared to you. So, I surrender all!
Completely Trustworthy
Focal Verse: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
Drew and I were walking toward the entrance of Hobby Lobby today, planning to buy the final supplies for Drew's second birthday party, which is in less than a month. As I was pushing him in the stroller, my mind flashed back to almost two years ago, when Drew was two weeks old. I was pushing him in that same stroller, although then he was lying asleep in the infant carrier part of the stroller instead of sitting up facing forward like he did today.
I remember that day like it was yesterday. Drew was calm and softly sleeping. I was able to somewhat live the dream that I had had months before when I chose this particular stroller combination. When I picked out the exact one I wanted online, I was full of excitement and anticipation. I couldn't wait to stroll my baby calmly and quietly wherever I wanted to go. Everyone would "ooh" and "aah" and how precious he would be and I would be the giddy mommy, like it seemed every other new mommy was. Fast forward a few months to that day in Hobby Lobby two years ago. Drew wasn't the calm and quiet baby I expected. Even as I was shopping in Hobby Lobby, I bided my time until he would wake up, because since it seemed he was either sleeping, eating, or crying, when he awoke, I knew I had to have an exit strategy. This wasn't what I expected.
Throw in postpartum hormones, and those first few weeks of Drew's life were the most difficult weeks I had ever experienced in that point of my life. I remember sobbing on my bed one night, asking God why in the world did he answer my prayer for a child. What was he thinking? I was a horrible mom, and frankly, I wanted my old life back. I was so thankful when I discovered that I was pregnant and that God answered my prayer for Drew, but after he was born, I wondered why God hadn't vetoed this request.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)
Thankfully in the midst of my depression, I had enough faith to know that God didn't make a mistake. He knew exactly what he was doing, and if that were the case, then surely this whole mommy thing would get better.
And of course, it did. One amazing thing about God is that we can completely trust him. He knows what he's doing. He has a purpose when he speaks. He has a purpose for his silence. He has a purpose when he answers our prayers. He has a purpose when he says "no" or "wait."
He is completely trustworthy even when we think he may have made a mistake. He is completely trustworthy even when we think he must have forgotten about us. He is completely trustworthy even when we don't understand.
God is completely trustworthy. Drew and I are living proof. :)
God Speaks
Focal Verse: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
My heart has had a yearning for ministry for as long as I can remember. I vividly recall an experience when I was at a church camp, where I excitedly told my camp counselor - who had also led me to Christ a few years before - that I wanted to "save people." She quickly pointed out the err of my words of choice, but my excitement was obvious. That desire has never left me, and I always felt that God would bring me into ministry in his time and in his way.
That desire has not only been stirred in past months, but it has turned into a passion that at times I can barely contain. As I have been praying and contemplating the possibilties - and the possible barriers - I realized that I have to get serious about listening to God's voice and the direction he has planned for me. So, I felt led to buy Priscilla Shirer's book Discerning the Voice of God. Although I have learned so many things that I've already applied to my prayer life, one chapter in particular spoke to me. It was about God using His word to speak to us.
In this day in age, I don't think we expect to hear God speak. Perhaps that's why he doesn't - or perhaps why we don't hear when he does. And although God speaks in different ways - through prayer, Bible study, circumstances, other believers, etc., I lean toward believing that his Word is his preferred method. Why? Because, even in prayer, sometimes it can be hard to distinguish God's voice from our own thoughts. Circumstances don't always point the way we think they do (I learned that first-hand this year but that's for another blog). And believers can give wrong advice (remember Job's friends?). In these methods, what we think we heard from God must be tested against His inerrant Word.
So how are we supposed to hear God speak through his Word - or test what we think we heard from God with his Word - if we don't know his Word?
Today my mom and I were at lunch and started talking about this. She is a children's leader in our church as she has been since I was a little girl. I was talking about how thankful I am that I grew up with Scripture memory as part of our church lessons. Every Wednesday at GA's we would learn a new Scripture. In Acteens we were expected to memorize Scripture verses and passages. In Bible Drill we memorized the books of the Bible and learned how to locate them. Most of the Scriptures I have memorized today came from my youth. I am so thankful that I had leaders in my home church who cared enough to teach and require Scripture memory.
Priscilla Shirer writes, "When a Scripture comes to mind 'out of nowhere,' that speaks to the specific problem I'm facing, I'm learning not to dismiss it as mere coincidence. Instead, I trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in me to reveal more about God and what my actions should be" (Discerning the Voice of God, p. 68).
When I was having trouble at work with my boss and some of his actions, I grew very frustrated. Then God brought to mind Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
It is an amazing thing when God uses his Word to speak to us in our individual circumstance. But we need to know his Word before God can bring it up in our mind.
Scripture memory can be just like it sounds: going over a verse again and again until it's etched on your heart. This is easier than you think. I put verses on my bathroom mirror and practice them in the morning.
But knowing Scripture can also mean just spending time reading God's Word. God has brought passages to my mind that I may not have specifically memorized, but I knew enough about the idea of the Scripture that I knew what he was saying. And, thanks to the Internet, if I can recall a phrase, I can type it into http://www.biblegateway.com/ and easily locate the passage.
If I have learned anything in seeking God's voice, it's that God WANTS to speak to us! He wants to blow our socks off with those "Wow! He spoke to ME" moments. Sometimes we wish we could be in the Old Testament when God spoke audibly or appeared in signs like the burning bush, but we have to remember that God only spoke to prophets and certain people. Now God's Holy Spirit indwells every believer, and if we will listen, he wants to speak to each and every one of us. And the first place to start is in the Scripture he provided for us.
My heart has had a yearning for ministry for as long as I can remember. I vividly recall an experience when I was at a church camp, where I excitedly told my camp counselor - who had also led me to Christ a few years before - that I wanted to "save people." She quickly pointed out the err of my words of choice, but my excitement was obvious. That desire has never left me, and I always felt that God would bring me into ministry in his time and in his way.
That desire has not only been stirred in past months, but it has turned into a passion that at times I can barely contain. As I have been praying and contemplating the possibilties - and the possible barriers - I realized that I have to get serious about listening to God's voice and the direction he has planned for me. So, I felt led to buy Priscilla Shirer's book Discerning the Voice of God. Although I have learned so many things that I've already applied to my prayer life, one chapter in particular spoke to me. It was about God using His word to speak to us.
In this day in age, I don't think we expect to hear God speak. Perhaps that's why he doesn't - or perhaps why we don't hear when he does. And although God speaks in different ways - through prayer, Bible study, circumstances, other believers, etc., I lean toward believing that his Word is his preferred method. Why? Because, even in prayer, sometimes it can be hard to distinguish God's voice from our own thoughts. Circumstances don't always point the way we think they do (I learned that first-hand this year but that's for another blog). And believers can give wrong advice (remember Job's friends?). In these methods, what we think we heard from God must be tested against His inerrant Word.
So how are we supposed to hear God speak through his Word - or test what we think we heard from God with his Word - if we don't know his Word?
Today my mom and I were at lunch and started talking about this. She is a children's leader in our church as she has been since I was a little girl. I was talking about how thankful I am that I grew up with Scripture memory as part of our church lessons. Every Wednesday at GA's we would learn a new Scripture. In Acteens we were expected to memorize Scripture verses and passages. In Bible Drill we memorized the books of the Bible and learned how to locate them. Most of the Scriptures I have memorized today came from my youth. I am so thankful that I had leaders in my home church who cared enough to teach and require Scripture memory.
Priscilla Shirer writes, "When a Scripture comes to mind 'out of nowhere,' that speaks to the specific problem I'm facing, I'm learning not to dismiss it as mere coincidence. Instead, I trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in me to reveal more about God and what my actions should be" (Discerning the Voice of God, p. 68).
When I was having trouble at work with my boss and some of his actions, I grew very frustrated. Then God brought to mind Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
It is an amazing thing when God uses his Word to speak to us in our individual circumstance. But we need to know his Word before God can bring it up in our mind.
Scripture memory can be just like it sounds: going over a verse again and again until it's etched on your heart. This is easier than you think. I put verses on my bathroom mirror and practice them in the morning.
But knowing Scripture can also mean just spending time reading God's Word. God has brought passages to my mind that I may not have specifically memorized, but I knew enough about the idea of the Scripture that I knew what he was saying. And, thanks to the Internet, if I can recall a phrase, I can type it into http://www.biblegateway.com/ and easily locate the passage.
If I have learned anything in seeking God's voice, it's that God WANTS to speak to us! He wants to blow our socks off with those "Wow! He spoke to ME" moments. Sometimes we wish we could be in the Old Testament when God spoke audibly or appeared in signs like the burning bush, but we have to remember that God only spoke to prophets and certain people. Now God's Holy Spirit indwells every believer, and if we will listen, he wants to speak to each and every one of us. And the first place to start is in the Scripture he provided for us.
The Heart of Music
Focal Verse: "'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is constructive." (1 Corinthians 10:23)
I was listening to K-love this morning on the way to work, as I normally do, and MercyMe happened to be live in the studio. Right as I was about to arrive at work, they sang one of their hits, "So Long Self." I love that song and listened to it so much when I was pregnant that I was sure Drew would come out of the womb with the lyrics memorized (or else he could have been traumatized by his Mom singing along with MercyMe the line that says "there's no room for two so you are going to have to move"). As I was listening to the song, I was reminded of how much Christian music has meant in my Christian life over the last two decades.
As I was pondering this, I recalled the number of conversations lately I've had, discussing whether it is "okay" for us as Christians to listen to mainstream music.
Now before I continue with that thought, I have to admit that in my much-younger years, I was a big fan of Paula Abdul, M.C. Hammer, and Vanilla Ice. I sang "Cold Hearted Snake" way before I had any idea what I was singing. But when I was around middle school, I was introduced to some Christian music that blazed the trail to the contemporary Christian music we have today - specifically D.C. Talk, Carman, and Steven Curtis Chapman. Even now when I hear some of the Christian songs of the 90s, I remember how this music really helped me stay focused in my impressionable teen years. I can't count the number of songs that God has used to make a profound impact on my life.
So back to my original discussion. Is it "okay" for Christians to listen to mainstream music? When I get into these discussions, I try to point out that it's not always a matter of whether it's "permissible," but whether it is "beneficial."
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23: "'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is constructive." I can't count the number of times when the Holy Spirit has brought a truth to my mind through a song that I didn't realize I knew. Many Christian songs are based on Bible verses or even have Bible verses in the lyrics, so in essence listening to some types of Christian music aids us in memorizing Scripture. I also look at my mindset. As I listen to uplifting, encouraging music, it keeps my focus on God and the things of God, and it helps me have the right attitude and perspective in other areas of my life.
I'm definitely not critizing all mainstream songs. After all, some of my favorite songs were songs I shared with my dad - "Centerfield" and "We didn't start the fire" to name a couple. And where would we be without songs like "Butterfly Kisses?" But we must be vigilant. I think when we listen to a mainstream song, a good rule of thumb is if we're having to rationalize how it won't affect us, that should be our cue that maybe we should turn the station.
Consider another verse that is well worth memorizing. This verse provides a measuring stick for all kinds of thoughts and behaviors, but it can definitely be applied to the music we listen to: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).
The thing that most people don't understand about Christian music is that it has come a long way since classic hymns and southern gospel. You can find just about any genre of music you enjoy in the realm of Christian music. Even mainstream movies like The Transporter and The Chronicles of Narnia are using songs from artists like TobyMac and Jeremy Camp, respectively. That tells you that even the secular movies are seeing that the style line between Christian and secular music is less defined. The difference between the two is the message and the "beneficial" effect it will have on our lives.
One other thing. As I was listening to MercyMe this morning, I couldn't help but feel a bond with this band I have never met. It's a Christian bond that even through the airwaves, I felt that I wasn't alone. Listening to Christian music gives me that extra encouragement I need in the midst of a secular workplace.
So, if everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial, will we make a conscious effort to choose the beneficial?
I was listening to K-love this morning on the way to work, as I normally do, and MercyMe happened to be live in the studio. Right as I was about to arrive at work, they sang one of their hits, "So Long Self." I love that song and listened to it so much when I was pregnant that I was sure Drew would come out of the womb with the lyrics memorized (or else he could have been traumatized by his Mom singing along with MercyMe the line that says "there's no room for two so you are going to have to move"). As I was listening to the song, I was reminded of how much Christian music has meant in my Christian life over the last two decades.
As I was pondering this, I recalled the number of conversations lately I've had, discussing whether it is "okay" for us as Christians to listen to mainstream music.
Now before I continue with that thought, I have to admit that in my much-younger years, I was a big fan of Paula Abdul, M.C. Hammer, and Vanilla Ice. I sang "Cold Hearted Snake" way before I had any idea what I was singing. But when I was around middle school, I was introduced to some Christian music that blazed the trail to the contemporary Christian music we have today - specifically D.C. Talk, Carman, and Steven Curtis Chapman. Even now when I hear some of the Christian songs of the 90s, I remember how this music really helped me stay focused in my impressionable teen years. I can't count the number of songs that God has used to make a profound impact on my life.
So back to my original discussion. Is it "okay" for Christians to listen to mainstream music? When I get into these discussions, I try to point out that it's not always a matter of whether it's "permissible," but whether it is "beneficial."
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23: "'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is constructive." I can't count the number of times when the Holy Spirit has brought a truth to my mind through a song that I didn't realize I knew. Many Christian songs are based on Bible verses or even have Bible verses in the lyrics, so in essence listening to some types of Christian music aids us in memorizing Scripture. I also look at my mindset. As I listen to uplifting, encouraging music, it keeps my focus on God and the things of God, and it helps me have the right attitude and perspective in other areas of my life.
I'm definitely not critizing all mainstream songs. After all, some of my favorite songs were songs I shared with my dad - "Centerfield" and "We didn't start the fire" to name a couple. And where would we be without songs like "Butterfly Kisses?" But we must be vigilant. I think when we listen to a mainstream song, a good rule of thumb is if we're having to rationalize how it won't affect us, that should be our cue that maybe we should turn the station.
Consider another verse that is well worth memorizing. This verse provides a measuring stick for all kinds of thoughts and behaviors, but it can definitely be applied to the music we listen to: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).
The thing that most people don't understand about Christian music is that it has come a long way since classic hymns and southern gospel. You can find just about any genre of music you enjoy in the realm of Christian music. Even mainstream movies like The Transporter and The Chronicles of Narnia are using songs from artists like TobyMac and Jeremy Camp, respectively. That tells you that even the secular movies are seeing that the style line between Christian and secular music is less defined. The difference between the two is the message and the "beneficial" effect it will have on our lives.
One other thing. As I was listening to MercyMe this morning, I couldn't help but feel a bond with this band I have never met. It's a Christian bond that even through the airwaves, I felt that I wasn't alone. Listening to Christian music gives me that extra encouragement I need in the midst of a secular workplace.
So, if everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial, will we make a conscious effort to choose the beneficial?
Cleaning the Gunk
Focal Verses: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-34).
My husband Matt and I will celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary in a little over a month. We each finished college, started our first jobs, bought our first home, adopted 5 pets, traveled together, and eventually welcomed our almost-2-year-old son. We've had ours ups and downs, and overall, it has been a wonderful seven years.
A few weeks ago, while waiting on a meeting at work, I was looking at my diamond engagement ring, reminiscing on the first few days that I wore it. It was so shiny then, reflective of young love and anticipation of the years to come. But as I looked at this ring that has been on my finger for almost eight years, I noticed how the diamond in the center wasn't shining, and neither were the small diamonds on each side and on the wedding band. I couldn't recall how long it had been since I had cleaned my ring. I wear it everywhere and only take it off when absolutely necessary (which is almost never). I got so accustomed to the ring on my finger that I hadn't even noticed that it had lost its shine and sparkle long ago.
So one night, I did what I had read somewhere - I brushed the ring with an old toothbrush and non-gel toothpaste. (If you laugh, you must try it first-it works!) I couldn't believe how much my ring sparkled! It looked like it was brand new and I was sure it would blind someone if they got too close.
My pride was short-lived, when the next day waiting for another meeting at work, I started looking at my ring again. I happened to look on the underside of my shiny diamond, where the prongs were, only to notice "gunk." There was no telling how many months - or years - of dirt was on this part of the diamond that I didn't scrub. I was determined to go back and get my toothbrush and toothpaste and work on this hidden area much harder. But do you know what I found? I couldn't remove this gunk myself. I don't know if it was too encrusted or if the bristles just wouldn't reach. Irritated, I realized that I would have to take it to a jeweler to restore the shine even in the less obvious places.
In the same way, sometimes I can go a long time without acknowledging or confessing sin, and over time, that unconfessed sin starts to cloud the brightness of the Light of Christ within. I don't even realize how dirty I am until I come to Christ for cleansing.
I also started to realize that there are probably parts of me that I don't even realize are dirty. I can look (and feel) bright and shiny on the outside and yet part of me is encrusted with sin that I may not even be aware of. And no matter how hard I scrub to be clean, unless God reveals that sin to me, I may never see it. Others might. But it also might be so entrenched and hidden that no one else sees it either.
That's why David said at the end of Psalm 139: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." These verses indicate that it is very possible we may have sin we are unaware of. Some sin may be so entrenched that it began in childhood and we assume it's part of our personality. Other sin could be the product of denial when the Holy Spirit convicts us, and just like a callous, we're so accustomed to it, and it is part of our way of life.
If we wholeheartedly pray these words of David in Psalm 139, God will show us if there is an area of our lives that only He can bring to light - and cleanse. When we are cleansed, the light of Christ will shine through us.
I think of those verses now every time I look at my engagement ring. It's a good reminder to pray for God to reveal any gunk that might be in my life. Now if I can just find the time to get to a jeweler.
My husband Matt and I will celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary in a little over a month. We each finished college, started our first jobs, bought our first home, adopted 5 pets, traveled together, and eventually welcomed our almost-2-year-old son. We've had ours ups and downs, and overall, it has been a wonderful seven years.
A few weeks ago, while waiting on a meeting at work, I was looking at my diamond engagement ring, reminiscing on the first few days that I wore it. It was so shiny then, reflective of young love and anticipation of the years to come. But as I looked at this ring that has been on my finger for almost eight years, I noticed how the diamond in the center wasn't shining, and neither were the small diamonds on each side and on the wedding band. I couldn't recall how long it had been since I had cleaned my ring. I wear it everywhere and only take it off when absolutely necessary (which is almost never). I got so accustomed to the ring on my finger that I hadn't even noticed that it had lost its shine and sparkle long ago.
So one night, I did what I had read somewhere - I brushed the ring with an old toothbrush and non-gel toothpaste. (If you laugh, you must try it first-it works!) I couldn't believe how much my ring sparkled! It looked like it was brand new and I was sure it would blind someone if they got too close.
My pride was short-lived, when the next day waiting for another meeting at work, I started looking at my ring again. I happened to look on the underside of my shiny diamond, where the prongs were, only to notice "gunk." There was no telling how many months - or years - of dirt was on this part of the diamond that I didn't scrub. I was determined to go back and get my toothbrush and toothpaste and work on this hidden area much harder. But do you know what I found? I couldn't remove this gunk myself. I don't know if it was too encrusted or if the bristles just wouldn't reach. Irritated, I realized that I would have to take it to a jeweler to restore the shine even in the less obvious places.
In the same way, sometimes I can go a long time without acknowledging or confessing sin, and over time, that unconfessed sin starts to cloud the brightness of the Light of Christ within. I don't even realize how dirty I am until I come to Christ for cleansing.
I also started to realize that there are probably parts of me that I don't even realize are dirty. I can look (and feel) bright and shiny on the outside and yet part of me is encrusted with sin that I may not even be aware of. And no matter how hard I scrub to be clean, unless God reveals that sin to me, I may never see it. Others might. But it also might be so entrenched and hidden that no one else sees it either.
That's why David said at the end of Psalm 139: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." These verses indicate that it is very possible we may have sin we are unaware of. Some sin may be so entrenched that it began in childhood and we assume it's part of our personality. Other sin could be the product of denial when the Holy Spirit convicts us, and just like a callous, we're so accustomed to it, and it is part of our way of life.
If we wholeheartedly pray these words of David in Psalm 139, God will show us if there is an area of our lives that only He can bring to light - and cleanse. When we are cleansed, the light of Christ will shine through us.
I think of those verses now every time I look at my engagement ring. It's a good reminder to pray for God to reveal any gunk that might be in my life. Now if I can just find the time to get to a jeweler.
Every Opportunity
Focal Verse: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15b)
She was leaning against the counter, obviously very upset. As she let out her frustration to us, she ran her fingers through her bouncy brown hair. A pretty woman, probably in her 30s, the wear of traveling showed on her like I'm sure it did us.
She, my mother-in-law, and I were in the Chicago airport at 11:30 p.m., mistakenly sent there by the airline on our way to Orlando. We, along with six other people, had just been told that our flight to Orlando had left an hour ago, and the St. Louis airport had made a mistake sending us here. So, they were going to put us up in a hotel and help us get a flight to Orlando the next morning.
I could tell that this woman was about to air her frustration to the airline employee across the counter, even though none of this was this airline employee's fault and she handled the situation in such a way that only a fellow worker in customer service could appreciate. I was determined to handle the situation calmly, probably in an effort to protect this airline employee from this woman's anger. It seemed to work; this lady calmed herself and even later asked us how we were able to stay so calm in the situation.
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15b)
That was my opportunity. No, I didn't feel led to share Jesus at that moment, but I did sense that God was telling me to talk more to her; after all, we would be traveling to the same hotel and would get opportunities to talk. Yet I failed. We waited for a long time together for our shuttle to the hotel, but I just didn't pursue more conversation. I can list the reasons but none of them compare with what I knew I needed to do. When we were in our hotel room, I decided I was going to try to find her and talk to her more the next morning because we would be on the same flight. I was hopeful. But then at the last minute, our flight got changed and I never saw this lady again.
How many of us cringe when we hear the word, "Evangelism?" What thoughts and feelings does it evoke? Perhaps we think of evangelistic training techniques, such as Win Our World (W.O.W.), apologetics, or the Roman Road. We may think of knocking on someone's door we've never met, trying to share with them Jesus. For most of us, "evangelism" evokes an insecurity, maybe even fear, within us, that moves us to shy away from it. If we've ever done a spiritual gift class where "evangelism" was one of the gifts mentioned, we reason that evangelism isn't my gift, so I don't have to worry about it.
But true evangelism goes beyond cold visits and boot camp-like training. Sure, the training techniques can be helpful, and Scripture memory is useful, but true evangelism isn't encompassed in a method. It stems from being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and making the most of an opportunity that he brings our way.
When I was planning to talk to this lady the next morning, I had no fear as I would have, had I been knocking on a stranger's door. I simply intended to talk to her, asking God to give opportunities in everyday conversation. The one thing I've learned about God is if we care to take the time to pray for opportunities to talk to people about him, he will answer. One time in my workplace, I started praying for one of my employees, that I might get to talk with her about Christ. It was amazing that while I was praying for this, how many religious conversations came about. I did get a chance to talk with her and with others in my office. Yet I notice when I get too bogged down in daily life and don't pray for these opportunities, they simply don't come as often.
I feel like we need to stop evading evangelism like the plague. Evangelism in its essence is simply talking to others about the hope we have in Christ. It's not as hard as it sounds, for God promises us that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say: "for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say" (Luke 12:12). Also consider the words of Paul: "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19).
One other thing to remember. It's not about us! Jesus said the only way someone will come to faith in him is through the Holy Spirit: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44a). God does the work. We only provide the vessel.
Yet our vessel must be willing to make the most of every opportunity that God brings our way.
She was leaning against the counter, obviously very upset. As she let out her frustration to us, she ran her fingers through her bouncy brown hair. A pretty woman, probably in her 30s, the wear of traveling showed on her like I'm sure it did us.
She, my mother-in-law, and I were in the Chicago airport at 11:30 p.m., mistakenly sent there by the airline on our way to Orlando. We, along with six other people, had just been told that our flight to Orlando had left an hour ago, and the St. Louis airport had made a mistake sending us here. So, they were going to put us up in a hotel and help us get a flight to Orlando the next morning.
I could tell that this woman was about to air her frustration to the airline employee across the counter, even though none of this was this airline employee's fault and she handled the situation in such a way that only a fellow worker in customer service could appreciate. I was determined to handle the situation calmly, probably in an effort to protect this airline employee from this woman's anger. It seemed to work; this lady calmed herself and even later asked us how we were able to stay so calm in the situation.
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15b)
That was my opportunity. No, I didn't feel led to share Jesus at that moment, but I did sense that God was telling me to talk more to her; after all, we would be traveling to the same hotel and would get opportunities to talk. Yet I failed. We waited for a long time together for our shuttle to the hotel, but I just didn't pursue more conversation. I can list the reasons but none of them compare with what I knew I needed to do. When we were in our hotel room, I decided I was going to try to find her and talk to her more the next morning because we would be on the same flight. I was hopeful. But then at the last minute, our flight got changed and I never saw this lady again.
How many of us cringe when we hear the word, "Evangelism?" What thoughts and feelings does it evoke? Perhaps we think of evangelistic training techniques, such as Win Our World (W.O.W.), apologetics, or the Roman Road. We may think of knocking on someone's door we've never met, trying to share with them Jesus. For most of us, "evangelism" evokes an insecurity, maybe even fear, within us, that moves us to shy away from it. If we've ever done a spiritual gift class where "evangelism" was one of the gifts mentioned, we reason that evangelism isn't my gift, so I don't have to worry about it.
But true evangelism goes beyond cold visits and boot camp-like training. Sure, the training techniques can be helpful, and Scripture memory is useful, but true evangelism isn't encompassed in a method. It stems from being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and making the most of an opportunity that he brings our way.
When I was planning to talk to this lady the next morning, I had no fear as I would have, had I been knocking on a stranger's door. I simply intended to talk to her, asking God to give opportunities in everyday conversation. The one thing I've learned about God is if we care to take the time to pray for opportunities to talk to people about him, he will answer. One time in my workplace, I started praying for one of my employees, that I might get to talk with her about Christ. It was amazing that while I was praying for this, how many religious conversations came about. I did get a chance to talk with her and with others in my office. Yet I notice when I get too bogged down in daily life and don't pray for these opportunities, they simply don't come as often.
I feel like we need to stop evading evangelism like the plague. Evangelism in its essence is simply talking to others about the hope we have in Christ. It's not as hard as it sounds, for God promises us that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say: "for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say" (Luke 12:12). Also consider the words of Paul: "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19).
One other thing to remember. It's not about us! Jesus said the only way someone will come to faith in him is through the Holy Spirit: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44a). God does the work. We only provide the vessel.
Yet our vessel must be willing to make the most of every opportunity that God brings our way.
Decisions, Decisions
Focal Verse: "During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD" (2 Samuel 21:1b).
My husband paced across the hotel room in Mansfield, Texas, going back and forth between a big decision we had to make. After having been laid off in January from the company he worked with for the last 3 years, he landed his dream job at a company in Jacksonville, Arkansas. It was over an hour commute, but it was worth it for him. Then the unexpected came. The corporate office decided to close down the Arkansas branch, and as it turned out, Matt could either take the layoff or move to their Texas branch, over 6 hours away.
We decided to drive to Texas and visit the area, trying to seek God and his will concerning this dilemma. It was tough. We didn't want to move away from our entire family, but we wanted to be yielded to God's plan for our lives. Still, the decision wasn't easy. We didn't get that "feeling" that one way or another was right. Ultimately, we decided not to move and trust God with the rest. We believed that if Texas was where we were supposed to be, God would have made it crystal clear to us.
Some decisions are tough. But some are not. As I was studying the book of Ruth for our Mom's class this week, I stumbled upon a very real truth about some decisions in the very first verse: "In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man (Elimilech) from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab" (Ruth 1:1).
My first instinct was to think that God may have used this famine to move Elimilech's family to Moab, so his future daughter-in-law Ruth would eventually come to Israel, marry Boaz, have a child, and ultimately become an ancestor in the line of Jesus Christ. However, after further study, I realized that this wasn't the case. I'm afraid too often we can look at a good result and attribute the entire process to God's divine plan, when in reality, God has used yet another case of our bad decision to create something of beauty. Now, that's something to praise God about...that centuries before Romans 8:28 was penned, God was busy acting it out in the lives of people in the Old Testament.
Back to Elimilech. There was famine in the land. He was afraid for his wife Naomi and two sons, so he decided to move to Moab for "a while." While his instinct to provide for his family can be admired, his decision lacked concern for the will of God. Elimilech made his decision without considering what God had said about such matters. In Deuteronomy 23:3, God had specified that no Moabite may enter into the assembly of the Lord. This was said because of the sin and idolatry of the Moabities; according to Numbers 25:1-3, the Moabite women had turned the Israelite men to idolatry. In Deuteronomy 7:3, the Israelites were commanded not to intermarry with people of the pagan nations. Again, this was because of their idolatry and because God knew that they would lead his people astray.
Elimilech didn't seek the counsel of the Lord before he made his decision to take his wife and his sons go to Moab. If he had, he would have been able to see that God's law forbade the intermarrying with pagan people, and by moving there, he would be exposing his sons to the temptation of the Moabite women.
It's easy to overlook this simple decision Elimilech made. After all, his decision brought about the great story of Ruth, whose actions are an example to us all. Yet we forget that before Ruth made the journey with her mother-in-law Naomi to Israel, to follow her God, Elimilech died, and his sons died at a premature age, childless. Naomi returned to Israel a widow who had lost her two sons and had little hope. It was God in his sovereignty, who used a bad decision to bring out a glorious result. He worked in spite of Elimilech's decision, not because of it.
Contrast our focal verse today, where a 3-year famine occured in Israel. Unlike Elimilech, who simply made a decision without regard to the Lord, David sought the face of the Lord.
When we are faced with a decision, the first thing we should do is follow in David's example and seek the Lord. In doing that, we should test our options agains the word of God. God will never call us to something that blatantly goes against his word. We should also ask God to reveal our motives. Perhaps the decision isn't wrong in and of itself, but perhaps our motivation is contrary to the pure and dedicated life he calls us to.
The bottom line is that some decisions are easy when we test them against the word of God.
And what about the others? I'm still working on that. Stay tuned. :)
My husband paced across the hotel room in Mansfield, Texas, going back and forth between a big decision we had to make. After having been laid off in January from the company he worked with for the last 3 years, he landed his dream job at a company in Jacksonville, Arkansas. It was over an hour commute, but it was worth it for him. Then the unexpected came. The corporate office decided to close down the Arkansas branch, and as it turned out, Matt could either take the layoff or move to their Texas branch, over 6 hours away.
We decided to drive to Texas and visit the area, trying to seek God and his will concerning this dilemma. It was tough. We didn't want to move away from our entire family, but we wanted to be yielded to God's plan for our lives. Still, the decision wasn't easy. We didn't get that "feeling" that one way or another was right. Ultimately, we decided not to move and trust God with the rest. We believed that if Texas was where we were supposed to be, God would have made it crystal clear to us.
Some decisions are tough. But some are not. As I was studying the book of Ruth for our Mom's class this week, I stumbled upon a very real truth about some decisions in the very first verse: "In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man (Elimilech) from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab" (Ruth 1:1).
My first instinct was to think that God may have used this famine to move Elimilech's family to Moab, so his future daughter-in-law Ruth would eventually come to Israel, marry Boaz, have a child, and ultimately become an ancestor in the line of Jesus Christ. However, after further study, I realized that this wasn't the case. I'm afraid too often we can look at a good result and attribute the entire process to God's divine plan, when in reality, God has used yet another case of our bad decision to create something of beauty. Now, that's something to praise God about...that centuries before Romans 8:28 was penned, God was busy acting it out in the lives of people in the Old Testament.
Back to Elimilech. There was famine in the land. He was afraid for his wife Naomi and two sons, so he decided to move to Moab for "a while." While his instinct to provide for his family can be admired, his decision lacked concern for the will of God. Elimilech made his decision without considering what God had said about such matters. In Deuteronomy 23:3, God had specified that no Moabite may enter into the assembly of the Lord. This was said because of the sin and idolatry of the Moabities; according to Numbers 25:1-3, the Moabite women had turned the Israelite men to idolatry. In Deuteronomy 7:3, the Israelites were commanded not to intermarry with people of the pagan nations. Again, this was because of their idolatry and because God knew that they would lead his people astray.
Elimilech didn't seek the counsel of the Lord before he made his decision to take his wife and his sons go to Moab. If he had, he would have been able to see that God's law forbade the intermarrying with pagan people, and by moving there, he would be exposing his sons to the temptation of the Moabite women.
It's easy to overlook this simple decision Elimilech made. After all, his decision brought about the great story of Ruth, whose actions are an example to us all. Yet we forget that before Ruth made the journey with her mother-in-law Naomi to Israel, to follow her God, Elimilech died, and his sons died at a premature age, childless. Naomi returned to Israel a widow who had lost her two sons and had little hope. It was God in his sovereignty, who used a bad decision to bring out a glorious result. He worked in spite of Elimilech's decision, not because of it.
Contrast our focal verse today, where a 3-year famine occured in Israel. Unlike Elimilech, who simply made a decision without regard to the Lord, David sought the face of the Lord.
When we are faced with a decision, the first thing we should do is follow in David's example and seek the Lord. In doing that, we should test our options agains the word of God. God will never call us to something that blatantly goes against his word. We should also ask God to reveal our motives. Perhaps the decision isn't wrong in and of itself, but perhaps our motivation is contrary to the pure and dedicated life he calls us to.
The bottom line is that some decisions are easy when we test them against the word of God.
And what about the others? I'm still working on that. Stay tuned. :)
A Living Sacrifice
Focal Verses: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2).
I'm learning a lot about faith these days. It seems like life has thrown us nothing but one disappointment after another over the last year, and some days, I just wonder when there will be some relief. Hope. Restoration.
I'd like to say that I've been the one who has been the family cheerleader, the one with the positive outlook, reminding everyone else that God has a greater purpose for our travails. Deep down, even though I have to cheer on myself at times, I believe it. I have clung to the hope that God wouldn't let us go through all of this if there weren't a greater purpose. And deep down, my hope has been that in the end, we'll be able to see God weaving every circumstance together for the good, and alas, we'll have our happily ever after.
As you can imagine, this outlook can be a little tiring. Sometimes I've grown weary and have wondered how long my strength is going to last. Is there a limit to my faith? It has been a little frightening. Yet today as I was thinking about everything that has happened, and the hope I have that surely some glimmer of hope is bound to come soon, God whispered a new perspective into my ear. The thought crossed my mind, What if there is no magical answer, no final solution? What if there is no happily ever after? What if God is calling us to live in this adversity indefinitely?
I let my mind ponder on this, and as I did, God brought to mind the chorus of a song by Jeremy Camp, "What it Means." I'll include the song below, but here are the lyrics to the chorus:
Show me what it means, To live my life a sacrifice, If only I would realize how much It took to pay the price, I know I’d always give, Everything to you.
It is hard for me to put into words what the Holy Spirit gently reminded me. But it basically came down to this: God doesn't owe me a happy ending. If he wants me to live my life - even the rest of my earthly days if necessary - in adversity, so be it. He gave his all to me in giving his Son, and the least I can do is offer him my life. I think I've gotten myself so programmed to believing in this happy ending that he would provide, that my faith has been in his ability to provide it rather than trusting that he is all I need.
Perhaps God hasn't provided the solution to our adversities yet because he wants me to become completely dependent on him. That doesn't make God insensitive or uncaring. It is actually the opposite. He cares enough to allow me to go through these things because he knows that anything I cling to in this world is rubbish anyway. He hates seeing me hurt, but he knows if by going through these trials, I can become less dependent on the things of this world - even GOOD things - then I will find my complete joy in him.
Now, that's not to say that I have given up on my happy ending. But I realized that this happy ending, even though I believed it was going to come from God, should not have been the source of my hope. Job says it all to well in Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
My hope should come in offering myself as a living sacrifice, so I can live in a way as to worship the God who gave his all for me. Any other blessings that he provides is just "gravy."
Who knows, maybe this is the "secret" of contentment Paul was talking about in Philippians 4:12: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
I'm learning a lot about faith these days. It seems like life has thrown us nothing but one disappointment after another over the last year, and some days, I just wonder when there will be some relief. Hope. Restoration.
I'd like to say that I've been the one who has been the family cheerleader, the one with the positive outlook, reminding everyone else that God has a greater purpose for our travails. Deep down, even though I have to cheer on myself at times, I believe it. I have clung to the hope that God wouldn't let us go through all of this if there weren't a greater purpose. And deep down, my hope has been that in the end, we'll be able to see God weaving every circumstance together for the good, and alas, we'll have our happily ever after.
As you can imagine, this outlook can be a little tiring. Sometimes I've grown weary and have wondered how long my strength is going to last. Is there a limit to my faith? It has been a little frightening. Yet today as I was thinking about everything that has happened, and the hope I have that surely some glimmer of hope is bound to come soon, God whispered a new perspective into my ear. The thought crossed my mind, What if there is no magical answer, no final solution? What if there is no happily ever after? What if God is calling us to live in this adversity indefinitely?
I let my mind ponder on this, and as I did, God brought to mind the chorus of a song by Jeremy Camp, "What it Means." I'll include the song below, but here are the lyrics to the chorus:
Show me what it means, To live my life a sacrifice, If only I would realize how much It took to pay the price, I know I’d always give, Everything to you.
It is hard for me to put into words what the Holy Spirit gently reminded me. But it basically came down to this: God doesn't owe me a happy ending. If he wants me to live my life - even the rest of my earthly days if necessary - in adversity, so be it. He gave his all to me in giving his Son, and the least I can do is offer him my life. I think I've gotten myself so programmed to believing in this happy ending that he would provide, that my faith has been in his ability to provide it rather than trusting that he is all I need.
Perhaps God hasn't provided the solution to our adversities yet because he wants me to become completely dependent on him. That doesn't make God insensitive or uncaring. It is actually the opposite. He cares enough to allow me to go through these things because he knows that anything I cling to in this world is rubbish anyway. He hates seeing me hurt, but he knows if by going through these trials, I can become less dependent on the things of this world - even GOOD things - then I will find my complete joy in him.
Now, that's not to say that I have given up on my happy ending. But I realized that this happy ending, even though I believed it was going to come from God, should not have been the source of my hope. Job says it all to well in Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
My hope should come in offering myself as a living sacrifice, so I can live in a way as to worship the God who gave his all for me. Any other blessings that he provides is just "gravy."
Who knows, maybe this is the "secret" of contentment Paul was talking about in Philippians 4:12: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
How Did I Get Here?
Focal Verses: "From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD" (Genesis 13:3-4)
How did I get here? No, I'm not talking about how I felt last week when our airline mistakenly sent us to Chicago when we were headed to Orlando. I'm actually talking about how, one day, I can feel like God and I are walking joyfully side by side, and then another day, I realize he isn't as close as I remembered him being.
As disturbing as this can be, I'm afraid it's quite common. It is in my own life, anyway. It can happen for a number of reasons. The most obvious one is sin. If we're walking closely with God, allowing sin - unconfessed - in our lives, most definitely will create a space between us and our fellowship with God.
Another culprit in separating us from the closeness of God is not spending time with him. We can allow the busyness of life get in the way of our precious time with him, and the next thing we know, we aren't enjoying that intimacy with him that we did. Of course, that in itself can lead to our weakness to resist sin.
When we have one of those "How did I get here" moments, we have an excellent example in Scripture how we can get back to that closeness with God. Right after God called Abram (Abraham) and Abram set out to Canaan as God commanded, he built an altar between Bethel and Ai and called on the name of the Lord.
Then the Scripture says that Abram went to Egypt because there was a famine. Abram, because he was afraid, lied to Pharaoh and the Egyptians and said Sarai was his sister so as to protect himself. Of course it is easy to wonder what happened to Abram's great faith that we see only a few verses before. (But like Abram, we can - and do - trip up just as easily.) Shortly after, God intervened and Abram was sent away from Egypt. I'm sure Abram's faith was shaken, so what did he do? Look back at our focal verses for today. He went back to the last place he experienced the Lord, the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier.
Before I get to the point here, I want to point out the same lesson from another patriarch, Abraham's grandson Jacob. After Jacob fled from Esau, God appeared to him in a dream at Bethel, where he restated his promise to build a nation through him. (Genesis 28) In the course of time, Jacob married Leah and Rachel and had his children, and God told Jacob to go back to Canaan. During this trip, his daughter Dinah was raped, and his sons Levi and Simeon avenged her rape by killing every male in the city. After such tragedy and violence, you have to know that Jacob was questioning God's decision to use his family line. Yet God is faithful even when our circumstances seem uncontrollable. Genesis 35:1 says, "Then God said to Jacob, 'Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.'"
In both of these cases, you can see that the place we need to go when we feel estranged from God is to the place where we last encountered him.
Maybe it wasn't too long ago for you. Just a matter of days. What changed in that short time? Did sin creep in? Did you let other things crowd out your time with God?
Maybe it has been years. Maybe it was at a church camp in youth group or a small-group Bible study in college. What was different in your life then than now? Were you seeking God wholeheartedly then and now you are keeping a few corners of your heart just to yourself?
Maybe it has been since your surrendered your life to Christ and have yet to launch your exciting relationship with your Savior. I would encourage you, if this is the case, to get involved in a small group or seek out a trusted Christian mentor, where you can be discipled.
Or maybe you have no idea what it's like to be "close" to God. If this is the case, perhaps you have never come to the point in your life where you realize your need for Jesus and ask him to forgive you of your sins. Maybe you have never fully committed your life to him. I'm afraid many in our churches and even in our society believe everything we're supposed to believe, but never make a personal commitment to Christ. Romans 10:9-10 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." If this describes you, please don't hesitate to seek out someone who can help you in your decision to commit to Christ. Feel free to even email me.
The bottom line is that God made us for a relationship with him. A living, walking, active relationship with him. And when we find ourselves out of close fellowship with him, the first thing we need to do is go back to the last time we encountered Him.
How did I get here? No, I'm not talking about how I felt last week when our airline mistakenly sent us to Chicago when we were headed to Orlando. I'm actually talking about how, one day, I can feel like God and I are walking joyfully side by side, and then another day, I realize he isn't as close as I remembered him being.
As disturbing as this can be, I'm afraid it's quite common. It is in my own life, anyway. It can happen for a number of reasons. The most obvious one is sin. If we're walking closely with God, allowing sin - unconfessed - in our lives, most definitely will create a space between us and our fellowship with God.
Another culprit in separating us from the closeness of God is not spending time with him. We can allow the busyness of life get in the way of our precious time with him, and the next thing we know, we aren't enjoying that intimacy with him that we did. Of course, that in itself can lead to our weakness to resist sin.
When we have one of those "How did I get here" moments, we have an excellent example in Scripture how we can get back to that closeness with God. Right after God called Abram (Abraham) and Abram set out to Canaan as God commanded, he built an altar between Bethel and Ai and called on the name of the Lord.
Then the Scripture says that Abram went to Egypt because there was a famine. Abram, because he was afraid, lied to Pharaoh and the Egyptians and said Sarai was his sister so as to protect himself. Of course it is easy to wonder what happened to Abram's great faith that we see only a few verses before. (But like Abram, we can - and do - trip up just as easily.) Shortly after, God intervened and Abram was sent away from Egypt. I'm sure Abram's faith was shaken, so what did he do? Look back at our focal verses for today. He went back to the last place he experienced the Lord, the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier.
Before I get to the point here, I want to point out the same lesson from another patriarch, Abraham's grandson Jacob. After Jacob fled from Esau, God appeared to him in a dream at Bethel, where he restated his promise to build a nation through him. (Genesis 28) In the course of time, Jacob married Leah and Rachel and had his children, and God told Jacob to go back to Canaan. During this trip, his daughter Dinah was raped, and his sons Levi and Simeon avenged her rape by killing every male in the city. After such tragedy and violence, you have to know that Jacob was questioning God's decision to use his family line. Yet God is faithful even when our circumstances seem uncontrollable. Genesis 35:1 says, "Then God said to Jacob, 'Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.'"
In both of these cases, you can see that the place we need to go when we feel estranged from God is to the place where we last encountered him.
Maybe it wasn't too long ago for you. Just a matter of days. What changed in that short time? Did sin creep in? Did you let other things crowd out your time with God?
Maybe it has been years. Maybe it was at a church camp in youth group or a small-group Bible study in college. What was different in your life then than now? Were you seeking God wholeheartedly then and now you are keeping a few corners of your heart just to yourself?
Maybe it has been since your surrendered your life to Christ and have yet to launch your exciting relationship with your Savior. I would encourage you, if this is the case, to get involved in a small group or seek out a trusted Christian mentor, where you can be discipled.
Or maybe you have no idea what it's like to be "close" to God. If this is the case, perhaps you have never come to the point in your life where you realize your need for Jesus and ask him to forgive you of your sins. Maybe you have never fully committed your life to him. I'm afraid many in our churches and even in our society believe everything we're supposed to believe, but never make a personal commitment to Christ. Romans 10:9-10 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." If this describes you, please don't hesitate to seek out someone who can help you in your decision to commit to Christ. Feel free to even email me.
The bottom line is that God made us for a relationship with him. A living, walking, active relationship with him. And when we find ourselves out of close fellowship with him, the first thing we need to do is go back to the last time we encountered Him.
A Different Spirit
As you probably know if you've read my mother-in-law's blog (http://sonshineshaven.blogspot.com/), life has been rather busy in the last week. I'm still recuperating from our trip to Florida for her step-dad's funeral service. I appreciate those who have been checking in and since I haven't had time to write anything in the last week, I wanted to post something I wrote on June 21, 2005. At that time my husband and I were planning our first child. Drew was conceived that December, and this verse has remained my "life verse" for Drew. I pray this verse over him frequently, and I encourage you if you have a child to pick out a verse that is special to you to pray it over your child, young or old, as well.
Focal Verse: "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it." Numbers 14:24
Picture a lecture from a very angry father. His children had collectively shamed the family name. They turned their back on him and grumbled against him. He is fed up with them and is letting them know it.
In this chapter of Numbers, Israel is getting a lecture. God is in the midst of telling Moses that his generation of Israel would not see the Promised Land. God was not happy with his people. He had performed miracles to rescue them from their bondage and slavery in Egypt, and here they were grumbling and complaining. Not only that, they were sinning against God. And only because Moses petitioned God, did He not destroy them completely. If you read this chapter, you're sense the anger in the lecture.
Then comes verse 24. Calmness. Pride.
God didn't forget Caleb. He remembered his faithfulness. God didn't overlook him with the rest of his "brothers." In fact, while the rest of his generation would not see the Promised Land, God made an exception with Caleb.
Oh, that God would look at me that way! That I may be of a "different spirit" and please God the way Caleb pleased God! My desire is that I will please God where he can say, "Because my servant Jill has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring her into [her Promised Land], and her descendants will inherit it."
I believe God has a spiritual Promised Land for New Testament believers. This is a place where we are at peace, serving God, loving God, and walking with God. I believe it's God's desire that we live in that Promised Land, just as he desired for Israel to live in their Promised Land.
Don't overlook the end of the verse. God has not blessed me with children yet, but I want my children to know God above all else. And the promise of this verse is that if God sees my spirit is a spirit of serving him, my descendants will be able to enter into their own Promised Land with God as well!
Oh, that I may have a different spirit!
Focal Verse: "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it." Numbers 14:24
Picture a lecture from a very angry father. His children had collectively shamed the family name. They turned their back on him and grumbled against him. He is fed up with them and is letting them know it.
In this chapter of Numbers, Israel is getting a lecture. God is in the midst of telling Moses that his generation of Israel would not see the Promised Land. God was not happy with his people. He had performed miracles to rescue them from their bondage and slavery in Egypt, and here they were grumbling and complaining. Not only that, they were sinning against God. And only because Moses petitioned God, did He not destroy them completely. If you read this chapter, you're sense the anger in the lecture.
Then comes verse 24. Calmness. Pride.
God didn't forget Caleb. He remembered his faithfulness. God didn't overlook him with the rest of his "brothers." In fact, while the rest of his generation would not see the Promised Land, God made an exception with Caleb.
Oh, that God would look at me that way! That I may be of a "different spirit" and please God the way Caleb pleased God! My desire is that I will please God where he can say, "Because my servant Jill has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring her into [her Promised Land], and her descendants will inherit it."
I believe God has a spiritual Promised Land for New Testament believers. This is a place where we are at peace, serving God, loving God, and walking with God. I believe it's God's desire that we live in that Promised Land, just as he desired for Israel to live in their Promised Land.
Don't overlook the end of the verse. God has not blessed me with children yet, but I want my children to know God above all else. And the promise of this verse is that if God sees my spirit is a spirit of serving him, my descendants will be able to enter into their own Promised Land with God as well!
Oh, that I may have a different spirit!
Pray Without Ceasing (Real Life)
Focal Verse: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV)
I remember reading this verse in high school and thinking, "Well, how in the world is that possible?" Pray without ceasing or pray continually as the NIV states it. Reading it over and over I still couldn't figure out why God would put such an impossible command in the Bible. So I put it aside in my mind figuring I'd learn how to do that another day.
I recall such explanations as, "It means to continually have the mindset of God in your everyday life." Okay. That was a little more believable, but still a bit out of touch with my reality. I even recall in my young adult years, having my quiet time in the morning, fully intending to conversate with God at various times during the day, and laying my head on the pillow at night feeling that God was by my side all day long. Yet in reality, I found myself laying my head on my pillow wondering where my good intentions went. I wondered how in the world I had managed to leave God at the same place I met him that morning.
You can probably relate. And, like me, you have the best of intentions but just can't seem to grasp how to put that verse into practice. Now, I'll warn you, I don't have the secret code. I don't have a guaranteed method. But I have made progress and hopefully my experience will help you.
My progress has been born out of adversity, I must admit. If you've read my other posts, you know my family has been in some turbulent times in past months. My seeking to have God a part of my whole day has come out of desperation. I simply couldn't make it through each day without seeking him more than just in the morning. I'll warn you. If all is well in your life, this may be a little difficult. When we're not facing trials, it's easy to depend on ourselves and not see a need for a daily relationship with God. But the need is there all the same.
Having a set-aside time alone with God every day is vital. What kind of relationship could we have with a spouse or any other close friend only speaking to them once a week, if then? It certainly wouldn't be a thriving one. So the first thing to do is set aside a time to spend with the Father. It doesn't have to be a long time. Many people start at just 5-10 minutes. I choose the morning. It's the one time of day that I am free of distraction. I make my coffee and start my time with God. It's just like any close relationship. Back when we were in college and were roommates, my friend Tiffany and I used to cherish our "coffee talks." I would make cappuccino back then (sometimes bake cookies), we'd sit together, and talk. Even today when either of us needs some "girl time," one of us suggests coffee. It's our catalyst to an intimate conversation between friends. In the same way, I look forward to my "coffee talk" with God each morning. My routine is to have some sort of Bible study. Sometimes I do a Beth Moore study. Right now I'm reading Women of the Bible. Sometimes I put the study guides down and just read a book of the Bible chapter by chapter. The key for me is variety. I change things every so often to keep myself fresh. I ask God to speak to me through His Word. Then, I pray about what he might bring to my heart. I pray for my family. I pray for him to be with me during my work day. I confess any known sin. If he has brought a verse to my heart, I pray that verse. There's no scientific formula. The main thing is being sensitive to God's leading in this time. The last thing I want to do is make my quiet time another thing on my "to-do" list to check off. When I start leaving my quiet time the same way I began it - unmoved - I start examining my heart. Is my mind distracted? Do I need a change in my routine? What is keeping me from a lively conversation with God?
I choose the morning because it's best for me. Morning may not be best for you. You might be more focused after the kids go to bed at night. The only time you might have is on your lunch break. Maybe it's on your commute to work and you can listen to a Bible study on CD or MP3. (Isn't technology great?)
Now, these other ideas I'm going to suggest are simply what has helped me to stay in more consistent communion with God. Pray about these ideas as well as others that work for you.
Scripture Memory. It seems like a pastime, but Scripture memory is as important as ever. I've found the easiest way for me to memorize Scripture is to put it on my mirror for me to go over as I'm getting ready in the morning. When we memorize Scripture, we're essentially acquiring weapons in our daily battle. The Holy Spirit is amazing. He'll bring that Scripture to your mind just when you need it.
Inspirational Music. Listening to inspirational music on my commute to work helps me to stay in the mindset in which I need to be. If I'm listening to a Christian radio station, God has a way of "playing" the songs that I need most. In addition to my commute, I am also able to listen to Christian music at my computer at work. This keeps Christian songs in the background while I'm doing my daily tasks.
Be Mindful of Prayer Opportunities. I'll be going about my day, and I'll think of someone. That's normal. But now instead of just thinking of that person, I'll pray for them. For instance, I thought of my friend Tiffany this week and remembered her asking for prayer for her husband as he was taking a difficult course this summer. So I'd pray, God, be with Chris today. Help this classwork come easier for him, and give him the strength to persevere.
Take Every Thought Captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." At times I get overwhelmed, and sometimes I start to let bitterness creep in. One of my weak points is after I get home from working 9 hours, and after I cook dinner, clean dishes, put up laundry, and do anything else needed, I start to get bitter and have a tendency to want to take it out on my husband. So when that bitterness creeps in, I have started to pray, Father, this is how I feel. I want to take captive these thoughts, so help me understand the way I should react and feel in this situation. God always answers that prayer! Even if I may not like the answer, I see my situation in the light of the holiness of Christ and I get a whole new perspective.
Tear Down Strongholds. If there is anything in my life preventing me from that close communication with God, I try to analyze it and take it out of my life if necessary. For example, I got hooked on a certain reality TV series that consumed my thoughts and kept me from the pure thoughtlife God wants for me. It was a hard break, but I stopped watching it mid-season. Now that was a big sacrifice! But by doing that, I was able to not only clear my mind of those thoughts but also make more time for my family and other things I felt I needed to spend my time doing.
These are just a few suggestions based on what I've learned in past months. Don't get me wrong and think I am a success at these 100% of the time. That is most definitely not the case. Today in particular I failed at the "Taking Every Thought Captive" part. But you see, I know the goal isn't perfection because we'll never attain it this side of heaven. The goal is the journey. The blessing is seeing where I am compared to where I was. The blessing is seeing God respond in the quiet whispers of my heart because that day I took the time to listen. The blessing is knowing that although today didn't go as I had planned, there's still tomorow.
When we start making "praying without ceasing" too complicated or give up before we even start because the task seems impossible, we completely miss out. God wants our relationship, not to be a part of our daily to-do list. Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Our daily walk with God is not to be a burden, but a blessing. And God just waits to bless us for our obedience and our yearning to know him more and more.
I remember reading this verse in high school and thinking, "Well, how in the world is that possible?" Pray without ceasing or pray continually as the NIV states it. Reading it over and over I still couldn't figure out why God would put such an impossible command in the Bible. So I put it aside in my mind figuring I'd learn how to do that another day.
I recall such explanations as, "It means to continually have the mindset of God in your everyday life." Okay. That was a little more believable, but still a bit out of touch with my reality. I even recall in my young adult years, having my quiet time in the morning, fully intending to conversate with God at various times during the day, and laying my head on the pillow at night feeling that God was by my side all day long. Yet in reality, I found myself laying my head on my pillow wondering where my good intentions went. I wondered how in the world I had managed to leave God at the same place I met him that morning.
You can probably relate. And, like me, you have the best of intentions but just can't seem to grasp how to put that verse into practice. Now, I'll warn you, I don't have the secret code. I don't have a guaranteed method. But I have made progress and hopefully my experience will help you.
My progress has been born out of adversity, I must admit. If you've read my other posts, you know my family has been in some turbulent times in past months. My seeking to have God a part of my whole day has come out of desperation. I simply couldn't make it through each day without seeking him more than just in the morning. I'll warn you. If all is well in your life, this may be a little difficult. When we're not facing trials, it's easy to depend on ourselves and not see a need for a daily relationship with God. But the need is there all the same.
Having a set-aside time alone with God every day is vital. What kind of relationship could we have with a spouse or any other close friend only speaking to them once a week, if then? It certainly wouldn't be a thriving one. So the first thing to do is set aside a time to spend with the Father. It doesn't have to be a long time. Many people start at just 5-10 minutes. I choose the morning. It's the one time of day that I am free of distraction. I make my coffee and start my time with God. It's just like any close relationship. Back when we were in college and were roommates, my friend Tiffany and I used to cherish our "coffee talks." I would make cappuccino back then (sometimes bake cookies), we'd sit together, and talk. Even today when either of us needs some "girl time," one of us suggests coffee. It's our catalyst to an intimate conversation between friends. In the same way, I look forward to my "coffee talk" with God each morning. My routine is to have some sort of Bible study. Sometimes I do a Beth Moore study. Right now I'm reading Women of the Bible. Sometimes I put the study guides down and just read a book of the Bible chapter by chapter. The key for me is variety. I change things every so often to keep myself fresh. I ask God to speak to me through His Word. Then, I pray about what he might bring to my heart. I pray for my family. I pray for him to be with me during my work day. I confess any known sin. If he has brought a verse to my heart, I pray that verse. There's no scientific formula. The main thing is being sensitive to God's leading in this time. The last thing I want to do is make my quiet time another thing on my "to-do" list to check off. When I start leaving my quiet time the same way I began it - unmoved - I start examining my heart. Is my mind distracted? Do I need a change in my routine? What is keeping me from a lively conversation with God?
I choose the morning because it's best for me. Morning may not be best for you. You might be more focused after the kids go to bed at night. The only time you might have is on your lunch break. Maybe it's on your commute to work and you can listen to a Bible study on CD or MP3. (Isn't technology great?)
Now, these other ideas I'm going to suggest are simply what has helped me to stay in more consistent communion with God. Pray about these ideas as well as others that work for you.
Scripture Memory. It seems like a pastime, but Scripture memory is as important as ever. I've found the easiest way for me to memorize Scripture is to put it on my mirror for me to go over as I'm getting ready in the morning. When we memorize Scripture, we're essentially acquiring weapons in our daily battle. The Holy Spirit is amazing. He'll bring that Scripture to your mind just when you need it.
Inspirational Music. Listening to inspirational music on my commute to work helps me to stay in the mindset in which I need to be. If I'm listening to a Christian radio station, God has a way of "playing" the songs that I need most. In addition to my commute, I am also able to listen to Christian music at my computer at work. This keeps Christian songs in the background while I'm doing my daily tasks.
Be Mindful of Prayer Opportunities. I'll be going about my day, and I'll think of someone. That's normal. But now instead of just thinking of that person, I'll pray for them. For instance, I thought of my friend Tiffany this week and remembered her asking for prayer for her husband as he was taking a difficult course this summer. So I'd pray, God, be with Chris today. Help this classwork come easier for him, and give him the strength to persevere.
Take Every Thought Captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." At times I get overwhelmed, and sometimes I start to let bitterness creep in. One of my weak points is after I get home from working 9 hours, and after I cook dinner, clean dishes, put up laundry, and do anything else needed, I start to get bitter and have a tendency to want to take it out on my husband. So when that bitterness creeps in, I have started to pray, Father, this is how I feel. I want to take captive these thoughts, so help me understand the way I should react and feel in this situation. God always answers that prayer! Even if I may not like the answer, I see my situation in the light of the holiness of Christ and I get a whole new perspective.
Tear Down Strongholds. If there is anything in my life preventing me from that close communication with God, I try to analyze it and take it out of my life if necessary. For example, I got hooked on a certain reality TV series that consumed my thoughts and kept me from the pure thoughtlife God wants for me. It was a hard break, but I stopped watching it mid-season. Now that was a big sacrifice! But by doing that, I was able to not only clear my mind of those thoughts but also make more time for my family and other things I felt I needed to spend my time doing.
These are just a few suggestions based on what I've learned in past months. Don't get me wrong and think I am a success at these 100% of the time. That is most definitely not the case. Today in particular I failed at the "Taking Every Thought Captive" part. But you see, I know the goal isn't perfection because we'll never attain it this side of heaven. The goal is the journey. The blessing is seeing where I am compared to where I was. The blessing is seeing God respond in the quiet whispers of my heart because that day I took the time to listen. The blessing is knowing that although today didn't go as I had planned, there's still tomorow.
When we start making "praying without ceasing" too complicated or give up before we even start because the task seems impossible, we completely miss out. God wants our relationship, not to be a part of our daily to-do list. Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Our daily walk with God is not to be a burden, but a blessing. And God just waits to bless us for our obedience and our yearning to know him more and more.
Be Careful Where You Visit
Focal verse: "And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah" (Genesis 38:1 NASB).
Through preparing for my Wednesday night Bible study lesson on Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah, I have been surprisingly enthralled with the story of Judah himself. Judah had a long period of rebellion, but overall my heart has been softened reading about the man whose descendants would include King David and Jesus Christ himself.
Looking at the opening verse of Genesis chapter 38, we see that Judah left his father and his brothers. The only clue we see of why he departed from his family is the timing: "at that time." Reflecting on chapter 37, you see the famous Bible story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. Although the eldest Reuben is most known for wanting to spare Joseph's life, Judah is just as determined to prevent Joseph's murder. For some reason Reuben departs from the brothers temporarily, and it is Judah who comes up with a plan to save Joseph's life. Now I'm not excusing Judah's plan to sell his brother to the Ishmaelites. This was most definitely wrong. But you see in his argument to the brothers that his desire was to spare Joseph's life: "Judah said to his brothers, 'What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.' And his brothers listened to him."
After this, Judah along with his brothers had to share the devastating news with their father. The brothers lied to him, telling him Joseph was dead. Then Judah and the brothers saw what their actions did to their father. I can only imagine all of the emotions young Judah felt. Matthew Henry suggests that he was only 15 or 16 at the time. He felt guilt for his role in the ruse to get rid of Joseph. He felt sorrow for his father, who only about a year after losing his beloved wife, he had to lose his favorite son. Yet, he also could have felt bitterness that Joseph was loved so much more than he and the rest of his brothers were. Judah had had enough. All of this was just too much for this young man to handle. So he had to get away.
Circumstances in life sometimes make us want to do the same. Sometimes we just want to go so far away and come back when life is better. Feeling a need to withdraw after intense stress is completely natural. Even Jesus did it. But the difference between Jesus Christ and his ancestor Judah was to whom they went when they felt the need to withdraw.
Jesus went to his Father. On the heels of the murder of John the Baptist, Jesus withdrew to pray. John the Baptist was not only Jesus's cousin, he was also his friend. He was the one person who knew Jesus the best at that time. He was his predecessor who had given his life to preparing the way for Jesus. The loss of John the Baptist hit Jesus hard. But what did he do? "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place" (Matthew 14:13). Although this verse doesn't specify he went to the Father, you can look at another time he went to a "solitary place" and be assured that this is most likely exactly what he did: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35).
Whereas Jesus went to his Father when he needed to withdraw, Judah went the opposite direction. He went to Hirah, a Canaanite. This is the first mention of Hirah so we don't know where Judah first met him, but we assume they were friends. Going to our friends when tragedy strikes isn't a bad thing. It becomes a snare when those friends are not dedicated to God and can influence us in the wrong direction. According to the New American Standard Version, Judah "visited" his friend Hirah. This tells me that he didn't intend to settle there. He probably just wanted to take a "road trip" to get his head back on straight.
But something happened on his "visit." He met a woman and married her, and instead of taking her back to his family, he settled there. She birthed him 3 sons. The first one, Er, was so wicked the Lord "put him to death." This is the first account in Scripture of the Lord putting an individual to death for his sins. That tells me not only how evil Er was, but also that Judah didn't instill the fear of God into him. Then his second son, Onan, committed a wicked act, and the Lord put him to death as well. So much for one rebellious child. The fact that two of Judah's sons were so evil the Lord had to put them to death tells me that Judah - whose name meant "praise the Lord" -had strayed incredibly far from his God.
But God didn't forget him. After he refused to give his third son in marriage to Tamar, as was the custom, Tamar trapped him by disguising herself as a prostitute and slept with him. She became pregnant by him, and ultimately he repented for his actions and returned to his father's household, a respected leader among his brothers and blessed by his father on his father's deathbed.
The story of Judah is an amazing one to study. You see a hint of righteousness in the midst of bad decisions in his teen years. You see a long period of rebellion in a land away from his family. But then you see him return to his family and his God and ultimately be the father of the mighty tribe of Judah, from where the Messiah comes. Incidentally, the line of David and Jesus did not come from Judah's third son Shelah. It came from the son he bore through the incestuous tryst with Tamar. It is so amazing how God can and will still bring good out of our mistakes.
Judah's story and his weakness can be our example. Even if we just plan to "visit" somewhere that God isn't, we could easily be snared to "live" there a lot longer than we had ever anticipated. And although God is always there to rescue a repentant heart, we would save ourselves - and our Father - the grief not to go "visit" there in the first place.
Through preparing for my Wednesday night Bible study lesson on Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah, I have been surprisingly enthralled with the story of Judah himself. Judah had a long period of rebellion, but overall my heart has been softened reading about the man whose descendants would include King David and Jesus Christ himself.
Looking at the opening verse of Genesis chapter 38, we see that Judah left his father and his brothers. The only clue we see of why he departed from his family is the timing: "at that time." Reflecting on chapter 37, you see the famous Bible story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. Although the eldest Reuben is most known for wanting to spare Joseph's life, Judah is just as determined to prevent Joseph's murder. For some reason Reuben departs from the brothers temporarily, and it is Judah who comes up with a plan to save Joseph's life. Now I'm not excusing Judah's plan to sell his brother to the Ishmaelites. This was most definitely wrong. But you see in his argument to the brothers that his desire was to spare Joseph's life: "Judah said to his brothers, 'What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.' And his brothers listened to him."
After this, Judah along with his brothers had to share the devastating news with their father. The brothers lied to him, telling him Joseph was dead. Then Judah and the brothers saw what their actions did to their father. I can only imagine all of the emotions young Judah felt. Matthew Henry suggests that he was only 15 or 16 at the time. He felt guilt for his role in the ruse to get rid of Joseph. He felt sorrow for his father, who only about a year after losing his beloved wife, he had to lose his favorite son. Yet, he also could have felt bitterness that Joseph was loved so much more than he and the rest of his brothers were. Judah had had enough. All of this was just too much for this young man to handle. So he had to get away.
Circumstances in life sometimes make us want to do the same. Sometimes we just want to go so far away and come back when life is better. Feeling a need to withdraw after intense stress is completely natural. Even Jesus did it. But the difference between Jesus Christ and his ancestor Judah was to whom they went when they felt the need to withdraw.
Jesus went to his Father. On the heels of the murder of John the Baptist, Jesus withdrew to pray. John the Baptist was not only Jesus's cousin, he was also his friend. He was the one person who knew Jesus the best at that time. He was his predecessor who had given his life to preparing the way for Jesus. The loss of John the Baptist hit Jesus hard. But what did he do? "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place" (Matthew 14:13). Although this verse doesn't specify he went to the Father, you can look at another time he went to a "solitary place" and be assured that this is most likely exactly what he did: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35).
Whereas Jesus went to his Father when he needed to withdraw, Judah went the opposite direction. He went to Hirah, a Canaanite. This is the first mention of Hirah so we don't know where Judah first met him, but we assume they were friends. Going to our friends when tragedy strikes isn't a bad thing. It becomes a snare when those friends are not dedicated to God and can influence us in the wrong direction. According to the New American Standard Version, Judah "visited" his friend Hirah. This tells me that he didn't intend to settle there. He probably just wanted to take a "road trip" to get his head back on straight.
But something happened on his "visit." He met a woman and married her, and instead of taking her back to his family, he settled there. She birthed him 3 sons. The first one, Er, was so wicked the Lord "put him to death." This is the first account in Scripture of the Lord putting an individual to death for his sins. That tells me not only how evil Er was, but also that Judah didn't instill the fear of God into him. Then his second son, Onan, committed a wicked act, and the Lord put him to death as well. So much for one rebellious child. The fact that two of Judah's sons were so evil the Lord had to put them to death tells me that Judah - whose name meant "praise the Lord" -had strayed incredibly far from his God.
But God didn't forget him. After he refused to give his third son in marriage to Tamar, as was the custom, Tamar trapped him by disguising herself as a prostitute and slept with him. She became pregnant by him, and ultimately he repented for his actions and returned to his father's household, a respected leader among his brothers and blessed by his father on his father's deathbed.
The story of Judah is an amazing one to study. You see a hint of righteousness in the midst of bad decisions in his teen years. You see a long period of rebellion in a land away from his family. But then you see him return to his family and his God and ultimately be the father of the mighty tribe of Judah, from where the Messiah comes. Incidentally, the line of David and Jesus did not come from Judah's third son Shelah. It came from the son he bore through the incestuous tryst with Tamar. It is so amazing how God can and will still bring good out of our mistakes.
Judah's story and his weakness can be our example. Even if we just plan to "visit" somewhere that God isn't, we could easily be snared to "live" there a lot longer than we had ever anticipated. And although God is always there to rescue a repentant heart, we would save ourselves - and our Father - the grief not to go "visit" there in the first place.
But You Have Said
Focal Verses: Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,' I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.' " (Genesis 32:9-12, emphasis mine)
Have you ever received news of a possible impending tragedy that made you panic in fear? This type of thing isn't pleasant to think about, but it's even less pleasant to experience. My family has had its share of these instances in the last year. Last July, my father-in-law was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer, and at times the prognosis wasn't good. Then in January, in the midst my father-in-law's fight, my husband was laid off from his job. Six weeks later, he was blessed with a job, but then six weeks after that, he was told his office was shutting down. We had the option to transfer out of state but chose not to, so he is currently on the job-hunt again.
I'll never forget hearing my husband tell me about his dad over the phone. I can't forget the clarity of that day and every event, whether large or small. I'll never forget when my husband came to my work and told me he had been laid off. I'll never forget when he called me to tell me his office was shutting down and that he would be facing unemployment for the second time in 4 months. When those types of events happen, it's natural to panic. It's natural to question God. But in the midst of the panic, we need to be equipped to handle a tragedy when it comes our way.
I find so much comfort in how Jacob handled such news. He had been in Haran with his father-in-law, wives, and children, when God told him to leave Haran and travel back to his home country. Without question, Jacob did it.
At first glance, this journey seems to bear no significance except for Jacob to return to the land God promised him. But if we look a little deeper, we will see that this journey probably caused Jacob much anxiety. You see, going back to his homeland meant an almost certain encounter with his brother, who decades earlier wanted to kill him for deceiving their father and stealing Esau's rightful blessing as firstborn. Looking at the map to see Jacob's journey from Haran to Beersheeba, where he eventually settled, the land where Esau lived wasn't far off the path. And since his father Isaac was still alive in Beersheeba, a reunion with his brother was an almost certainty.
We don't know if worry consumed his thoughts like it does mine, but I have to think it probably did. But then on his way, angels of God met Jacob, and he received comfort from them. According to Matthew Henry's commentary, this comfort was preplanned by God: "The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of the Divine protection. When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts."
After this encounter, Jacob decided to be proactive in regard to Esau. According to Genesis 32:3-5, "Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: "This is what you are to say to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.'"
At first glance this message from Jacob to Esau appears to be one big attempt to "kiss up" to Esau by offering him animals and servants. But as Matthew Henry points out, this message is probably designed for Esau to know that Jacob wasn't coming to demand his birthright. If you recall, Esau gave up his birthright for a pot of stew when they were younger, and since Jacob fled for Haran with nothing, he clearly hadn't "cashed in" on it.
I imagine Jacob probably had trouble concentrating on much else as he awaited his messengers' return. He had no idea how Esau would respond. But then, at last, the messengers returned, but it wasn't with good news. "We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him" (verse 6).
Jacob panicked. All his worst fears were coming at him all at once. Esau's army will slaughter my whole family. God's plan for a mighty nation will be thwarted. Nothing good will come of this. The New American Standard Bible says Jacob "was greatly afraid and distressed." And in the same sentence he quickly devised a plan. He divided his family and everyone with him into two groups, so at least one group could possibly get away while the other was being annhilated. There didn't seem to be a favorable outcome here.
But then, after Jacob panicked, he did something that we all need to look to as the ultimate example. He prayed...but he not only prayed, he recalled God's promises. Look back again at the focal verses for today. Note the order of his prayer:
Verse 9: He acknowledged God and who God was. He "reminded" God that he was doing what God had commanded. Then he "reminded" God that He said if Jacob obeyed, he would prosper.
Verse 10: He humbles himself before God, acknowledging that everything he has is because of the grace of God and not of himself.
Verse 11: He presents his request.
Verse 12: He "reminded" God once again of His promise: "But you have said...."
Jacob's prayer is an excellent example of what we can do when terrifying circumstances present themselves. By acknowledging - and worshipping - God, humbling ourselves and recognizing everything we have comes from him anyway, presenting our request, and resting in God's promises, we can have a peace that truly transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
When Jacob did this, I believe he experienced peace. But his circumstances didn't go away immediately. He kept planning. He selected gifts for Esau, sent more messengers, and proactively worked to gain Esau's favor. That brings us to another lesson from this story. Trusting in God doesn't necessarily mean doing nothing. Yes, sometimes God will tell us to just be still and trust him, but other times we are to continue working to resolve circumstances. How do we know the difference? The first thing is to tune in to God, ask him what we are to do, if anything. Then we can look at our options. Does any action present itself as a way to end the circumstance? (With my family it was my father-in-law going for chemotherapy and my husband applying for jobs.) If nothing presents itself, that probably means that we are to be still and wait...and not give in to worry. When worry strikes, we whip out the promises of God. Satan uses worry to keep our focus on our circumstances and off of God. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The last thing our enemy wants us to do is keep our eyes on God, trusting in His provision, and many times planting the seeds of worry and fear is his best weapon.
Two nights passed between his faithful prayer and meeting with Esau. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. Esau met Jacob with love and acceptance. Obviously not every situation is going to have a happy ending, and I don't have the wisdom or knowledge to even try to address the "whys." But what I do know is that God gladly gives peace to those who faithfully recall his promises and pray them.
Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." How do we attain - and retain - this peace in the midst of terrifying circumstances? According to this verse, we are to trust in God and keep a steadfast mind. How do we keep a steadfast mind? By filling our mind with God's Word. It's not easy, but through all of my experiences in the past year, I can testify that it works. God's Word is amazing.
Here are a few promises to get you started:
Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 37:5-6: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
John 14:1: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
Deuteronomy 31:8: The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
My prayer is that we all will use the love letter of God's Word and his promises to keep our eyes on Him when terrifying circumstances arise.
Have you ever received news of a possible impending tragedy that made you panic in fear? This type of thing isn't pleasant to think about, but it's even less pleasant to experience. My family has had its share of these instances in the last year. Last July, my father-in-law was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer, and at times the prognosis wasn't good. Then in January, in the midst my father-in-law's fight, my husband was laid off from his job. Six weeks later, he was blessed with a job, but then six weeks after that, he was told his office was shutting down. We had the option to transfer out of state but chose not to, so he is currently on the job-hunt again.
I'll never forget hearing my husband tell me about his dad over the phone. I can't forget the clarity of that day and every event, whether large or small. I'll never forget when my husband came to my work and told me he had been laid off. I'll never forget when he called me to tell me his office was shutting down and that he would be facing unemployment for the second time in 4 months. When those types of events happen, it's natural to panic. It's natural to question God. But in the midst of the panic, we need to be equipped to handle a tragedy when it comes our way.
I find so much comfort in how Jacob handled such news. He had been in Haran with his father-in-law, wives, and children, when God told him to leave Haran and travel back to his home country. Without question, Jacob did it.
At first glance, this journey seems to bear no significance except for Jacob to return to the land God promised him. But if we look a little deeper, we will see that this journey probably caused Jacob much anxiety. You see, going back to his homeland meant an almost certain encounter with his brother, who decades earlier wanted to kill him for deceiving their father and stealing Esau's rightful blessing as firstborn. Looking at the map to see Jacob's journey from Haran to Beersheeba, where he eventually settled, the land where Esau lived wasn't far off the path. And since his father Isaac was still alive in Beersheeba, a reunion with his brother was an almost certainty.
We don't know if worry consumed his thoughts like it does mine, but I have to think it probably did. But then on his way, angels of God met Jacob, and he received comfort from them. According to Matthew Henry's commentary, this comfort was preplanned by God: "The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of the Divine protection. When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts."
After this encounter, Jacob decided to be proactive in regard to Esau. According to Genesis 32:3-5, "Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: "This is what you are to say to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.'"
At first glance this message from Jacob to Esau appears to be one big attempt to "kiss up" to Esau by offering him animals and servants. But as Matthew Henry points out, this message is probably designed for Esau to know that Jacob wasn't coming to demand his birthright. If you recall, Esau gave up his birthright for a pot of stew when they were younger, and since Jacob fled for Haran with nothing, he clearly hadn't "cashed in" on it.
I imagine Jacob probably had trouble concentrating on much else as he awaited his messengers' return. He had no idea how Esau would respond. But then, at last, the messengers returned, but it wasn't with good news. "We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him" (verse 6).
Jacob panicked. All his worst fears were coming at him all at once. Esau's army will slaughter my whole family. God's plan for a mighty nation will be thwarted. Nothing good will come of this. The New American Standard Bible says Jacob "was greatly afraid and distressed." And in the same sentence he quickly devised a plan. He divided his family and everyone with him into two groups, so at least one group could possibly get away while the other was being annhilated. There didn't seem to be a favorable outcome here.
But then, after Jacob panicked, he did something that we all need to look to as the ultimate example. He prayed...but he not only prayed, he recalled God's promises. Look back again at the focal verses for today. Note the order of his prayer:
Verse 9: He acknowledged God and who God was. He "reminded" God that he was doing what God had commanded. Then he "reminded" God that He said if Jacob obeyed, he would prosper.
Verse 10: He humbles himself before God, acknowledging that everything he has is because of the grace of God and not of himself.
Verse 11: He presents his request.
Verse 12: He "reminded" God once again of His promise: "But you have said...."
Jacob's prayer is an excellent example of what we can do when terrifying circumstances present themselves. By acknowledging - and worshipping - God, humbling ourselves and recognizing everything we have comes from him anyway, presenting our request, and resting in God's promises, we can have a peace that truly transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
When Jacob did this, I believe he experienced peace. But his circumstances didn't go away immediately. He kept planning. He selected gifts for Esau, sent more messengers, and proactively worked to gain Esau's favor. That brings us to another lesson from this story. Trusting in God doesn't necessarily mean doing nothing. Yes, sometimes God will tell us to just be still and trust him, but other times we are to continue working to resolve circumstances. How do we know the difference? The first thing is to tune in to God, ask him what we are to do, if anything. Then we can look at our options. Does any action present itself as a way to end the circumstance? (With my family it was my father-in-law going for chemotherapy and my husband applying for jobs.) If nothing presents itself, that probably means that we are to be still and wait...and not give in to worry. When worry strikes, we whip out the promises of God. Satan uses worry to keep our focus on our circumstances and off of God. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The last thing our enemy wants us to do is keep our eyes on God, trusting in His provision, and many times planting the seeds of worry and fear is his best weapon.
Two nights passed between his faithful prayer and meeting with Esau. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. Esau met Jacob with love and acceptance. Obviously not every situation is going to have a happy ending, and I don't have the wisdom or knowledge to even try to address the "whys." But what I do know is that God gladly gives peace to those who faithfully recall his promises and pray them.
Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." How do we attain - and retain - this peace in the midst of terrifying circumstances? According to this verse, we are to trust in God and keep a steadfast mind. How do we keep a steadfast mind? By filling our mind with God's Word. It's not easy, but through all of my experiences in the past year, I can testify that it works. God's Word is amazing.
Here are a few promises to get you started:
Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 37:5-6: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
John 14:1: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
Deuteronomy 31:8: The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
My prayer is that we all will use the love letter of God's Word and his promises to keep our eyes on Him when terrifying circumstances arise.
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